tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-279420262024-03-12T22:40:30.831-05:00Following Judah's LionA devotional site that lifts up Jesus our Lord as well as confronting the falling away of the modern church.Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.comBlogger2023125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-1955867482914937792015-08-29T21:16:00.003-05:002015-08-29T21:17:52.943-05:00Dad<!-- Start of StatCounter Code -->
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hello Dear Followers of the
Risen Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>My name is Jonathan and I am Rick’s oldest son. I wanted
to give you an update on my dad’s condition and post a little something I wrote
last night on the five hour drive to the airport.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Dad has had heart issues for many years and at this point
his heart is damaged passed the point of a bypass or stent placement. They are
now giving him blood thinners to regulate the arrhythmia and he will be in the
hospital until Thursday. With that said, Dad is in good spirits! He is light
hearted and his main concern is not that of his heart condition, but rather the
‘heart’ condition of every nurse that passes by and through his room. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Before I post what went through my mind last night, I
want to say thank you to the many readers of this blog. Internet fellowship has
its wonderful and strange dynamics. I have often wondered who was behind many
comments within this blog and the writings and comments from other Christian blogs/sites.
The reason I express such a thought is this: in some of the hardest times,
struggles, victories, and passion filled moments my father has been edified by
all your love, encouragement, and fellowship. I believe that your Jesus filled
fellowship is what truly prompts my dad to keep writing and in turn search the
heart of the Lord. Many retired pastors (especially those who have had
heartaches after stepping down) struggle to find their place outside the
pulpit. Where will they be used and is their voice now a tool un-useful? It has
been your fellowship, regardless of theological agreements or disagreements
outside of the wholesome truths of the gospel of the eternal risen Christ, that
has been such a joy to him. Through this fellowship his talents have been used
by the Lord, even though he is an imperfect vessel. May the Lord continue to
bless you and thank you for the Godly friendship you have shown my father…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">When life melts into the
everlasting <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">and the praises once sung
soften unto the sounds of the cherubim,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">His Face grows ever closer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">As many memories group into
the defining one, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">the heart of the Lord
rejoices <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">and His eternity is laid forth
before the ones who, with flaw, knelt before the cross<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Though the physical heart
paces toward its final beat,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">the perfected heart beats
evermore <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">pounding with a rhythmic
pattern of hosanna<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And though our lives are full
of imperfections <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">and the weariness of time
stains every sandy foot print, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">He is faithful to all that
come with the broken fragrance that proclaims “have mercy of me, a sinner”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">But though our lives are that
of vapor <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">and our physical destiny is
that of the grave, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">we look to Him who conquered
death and carved our salvation clear<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Lay calmly children of
promise, for your salvation draweth nigh <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">and with His pierced hands He
takes you within His perfect time, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">ones for whom He died.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-50801020608678221082015-08-20T06:04:00.004-05:002015-08-20T06:04:33.794-05:00How Whole is Your Eye?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<!-- End of StatCounter Code --><span style="font-size: large;">HOW WHOLE IS YOUR EYE?</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: proxnov-reg; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Matt.6: </span><sup>22 </sup>The
light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body
shall be full of light.</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">23 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But if thine eye be evil, thy whole
body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be
darkness, how great is that darkness!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">24 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">No man can serve two masters: for
either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the
one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: proxnov-reg; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">This is a post about compromise. All of
us have been compromised at one time or another. Even if it isn’t one of the “major”
sins we still have been subtly drawn into compromise concerning the purity of
God’s will and Jesus’ teachings. None of us can stand and proclaim complete
purity as it pertains to obeying all of Jesus’ teachings from the heart, but
this post is about understanding His teachings through a singular eye or
understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: proxnov-reg; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Almost every true believer will know
and agree with the teaching about being unequally yoked with unbelievers. You
will get little argument about that. But they make a startling exception in
application. Most see this teaching as heavily weighted toward dating and
marriage. But when it comes to politics the deception and compromise is
breathtaking in its depth and scope. And there are two primary and overarching
reasons why a true believer can be allured into such an obvious cesspool.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: proxnov-reg; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">One reason continues to be nationalism
which is a love and allegiance to an earthly country. This phenomenon is
worldwide but perhaps much more intense in America. Why is it more intense in
America? Well we are taught that America is a product of divine providence and
even Christians believe the hand of God orchestrated its inception. You see the
freedom to worship scenario has been used to capture the hearts and minds of
many millions of believers. The Pilgrims were fleeing English persecution and
came to America to be free to worship God without governmental direction or
interference. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: proxnov-reg; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">But we remember Daniel as he flung open
the window and prayed anyway knowing he might be persecuted. You see if we can
only worship God under the protection of earthly freedom how committed is our
worship? Our worship must be sacrificial and unmoved despite any governmental
system. The teachings of Jesus are replete with admonitions to endure and even
rejoice when we are persecuted. Nowhere does He advise us to find an easier
path and a more comfortable environment. And let us pull back the curtain even
further to reveal a shocking aspect of this manmade teaching. When we say
America was a divine creation and that God was leading His people away from
persecution we also are saying that God’s will is to kill those who will not
let you worship openly. It is commonly called the Revolutionary War.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: proxnov-reg; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We know that war was primarily over
money, but if we connect the dots it suggests that God wants war to create </span><span style="color: black;">a better worship atmosphere. The absurdity and even the
blasphemous nature of such a suggestion is breathtaking. But somehow it has
been force fed into an unbiblical narrative, taught to pew dwellers, and is now
embraced as truth. I submit to you that if a sinner was born again on an island
where he was never exposed to such a teaching, and if after becoming a
passionate disciple and student of the Word, if you then informed him of that
scenario he would be shocked and offended. Does that not clearly indicate that
much of our belief system has been taught by culture and tradition and not by
God’s Word?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Another
reason why the deception is so very strong is due to a misguided elevation of
moral issues. Once we lose a gospel perspective we are prone to all sorts of
moral crusades which have gospel implications that we normally would be against
but because of the moral issue we cannot see the connection and the compromise.
It should be clear to any sincere student of the Word that abortion is a sin
and a serious sin. But our calling as disciples has never been to crusade
against sin. We are to teach each other about sin and its poison and among the
fellowship of disciples we are to acknowledge and teach about sin so that our
walk can be pure. However when we cull out a certain sin and make it a ministry
we inadvertently compromise the gospel and we can be led to be unequally yoked
with unbelievers and even cultists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">It is
commendable to be against abortion and be a part of center which helps unwed
mothers bring their babies to term. And many of those place share the gospel to
those precious mothers. That is the hands of Jesus in action. But when we
believe that we can legislate morality we veer off the gospel course. It leads
many to spend time and energy on political causes and even to try and elect
unbelievers to places of authority simply because they claim to be pro-life.
That is compromise. There is no other way to look at it. We have placed our
faith in a fallen and wicked system, and even though our motives may be pure,
our position is unbiblical.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">In effect
we have allowed a moral issue to override our commandment not to get entangled
with the affairs of this world. And we have made democracy an idol and we have
left even the example of the early believers who did not voice any concern for
Roman politics at all. Many people are blinded by the “civic duty” principle
and they cannot see the great compromise to their spiritual lives. In fact many
take great solace in their moral activism and political energy, but they are
standing shoulder to shoulder with the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of
Latter Day Saints and many other cults. Yes, it is subtle and has been reinforced
over many, many decades.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">But our
spiritual eye must be whole or focused on Christ and His kingdom. Do you think
God is interested in purifying an earthly culture or nation? Do you really
believe God’s favor would rest upon a nation that outlawed abortion but
rejected His Son? We have created some kind of parsed view of the gospel, have
we not? Did the early believers gather together and petition Rome to quit
crucifying people, which they did unmercilessly? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;">Again, it
is so tempting to get angry over some sin and even cultivate compassion for the
unborn and then allow that to cloud our view of discipleship and the gospel
commission. This is not a fringe issue at all. This is another trick of the
evil one who is so cunning he can even use Biblical morality to detour us from
the saving message of Jesus Christ. And in time we have grown to love a fallen
nation and to place some faith in an antichrist political system. And we now
believe that God will bless us if we vote according to God’s will on a moral
issue even if that candidate is not a believer or who gives money to a false
cult. When the Spirit awakens us to that perspective we look back and shake our
heads because we were likewise as deceived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-font-kerning: 14.0pt;">I will tell you this and I believe I speak for other brothers and
sisters in Christ. When the Spirit penetrates your heart and you see the
greater picture concerning the gospel kingdom and the worthlessness of earthly
crusades and causes, you are ushered into an uncommon freedom. It does not mean
we are perfect or even sit in a higher place than anyone else. In fact it means
we now sit in a lower place we never knew existed, but it is filled with a
spiritual freedom we never knew before we were brought low. And our eye has
become a little more whole than before.</span>Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-55772329226258791912015-08-12T07:10:00.002-05:002015-08-12T07:11:03.533-05:00Much More From Facebook<div style="text-align: center;">
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong> </div>
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<span style="color: #141823;">I
Cor.6: </span><sup>19 </sup>What? know ye not that your body is the temple
of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your
own?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">20 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For ye are bought with a price:
therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #141823;">All of
us who have been born again and have the Spirit illuminate us can look back to
a former, hollow and self serving and in many cases a destructive life. When we
were in charge of our lives we made a real mess even if we succeeded as the
world defines success. But when Christ came into our lives we could clearly see
just how worthless our former lives were when this world was all we had. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">So much
of the church has emphasized Jesus as a ticket to heaven. The refuse to press
the issues of cross bearing and self denial and walking in the Spirit and the
cost of true discipleship. And so you have millions upon millions of church
members whose lives tell an unsettling tale. Can anyone who is a genuine
student of the life and teachings of Jesus seriously suggest the institutional
church is filled with disciples? The word “disciple” itself has fallen out of favor
in the modern church. People are much more likely to use the words evangelical
or Christian or even conservative. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">But we
have been bought with a price unless you are illegitimate. Not only are we not
in charge of our own lives, but they are literally not our lives at all
anymore. Why is that not taught over and over again? Could it be because most
of the pulpits are filled by men who believe they not only own their own lives
but that they own their church as well? We have lost what it means to be a
disciple. The way Jesus spoke about being a disciple is an extremely difficult
path bordering on impossible. In fact Jesus sometimes presented such a graphic
depiction of what it means to be His disciple that many left the pews and never
returned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">But
there is a incredible and supernatural paradox in all of this. The disciple’s
path is very challenging and requires complete surrender, but that same path
brings a freedom in the Spirit that cannot be experienced in any other way. The
bondslave is more free than any man. The servant is served. The last is first.
The least is the greatest. The humble is exalted. It is a miracle within the
Spirit that the earthly mores are rendered useless. All the cultural rules are
broken. All human logic is foolishness. What a glorious life to which we have
been called.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">What
can pressure do when your life is His? How should we worry when He owns us? How
can we be offended when we have no reputation but His? What place does ego have
when all is His? If we truly desire to hear the Spirit’s guidance we will
understand the glory of His life lived through us. Be committed. Be
surrendered. Be faithful. But most of all be dead.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Men and
women who are running for political office will present their church affiliation
as proof they are Christians. And yet they will spew incredible disparages about
their opponents while inflating both their records and the promises they are
able to make and keep. And some even desire to send more young men and women
overseas to defend the indefensible. And yet they claim to be…well…a Christian.
How can these things be?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Sometimes
a person can be a Christian and yet not be a disciple. He can be a member of a
religion but not a member of Christ’s body. We live in very dark days indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">It is
when I see myself as the most worthless and undeserving sinner is when the
Spirit leads me closer to Him. When I am impressed by myself in any way the
gates of heaven turn to stone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Ex.12: </span><sup>12 </sup>For
I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the
firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of
Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">13 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And the blood shall be to you for a
token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over
you…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">This event was the first Passover and was it not aptly named? The death
angle only respected the blood. You could adorn the doorposts with gold and
silver and your Jewish pedigree but that would not suffice. You could have
written all your good works and how you helped the poor and nailed it to the
doorposts but the death angel would have visited your house. The blood of the
lamb would be the protection against the wrath of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">This was a symbol, a type, and a foreshadowing of what would later be the
final Passover. This time the Lamb would be God’s only begotten Son. And it
would be His shed blood in which all sinners must find redemption or suffer the
eternal consequences. All your good works multiplied by millions could not
forgive one seemingly insignificant sin. But one drop of Christ’s blood applied
to a lost heart can transform a sinner into a saint. Who was once an enemy of
God can be not only a friend of God’s, but His child. This what Passover taught
us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The blood is rarely preached in these man centered days. But without the
shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Does that seem archaic and brutal?
So you have given yourself the authority to decide truth? God must discuss with
you His gospel and find out what you think? No, God alone has already set in
motion His eternal plan for mankind. Could He have done more than suffer and
die for us?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">As the Lamb of God was bleeding upon that cross the evil one remembers
back to Egypt. Now he knows his doom is sealed. Even the angels looked upon the
scene in wonder and horror. Jesus said He could have called thousands of angels
to rescue Him and they stood ready at His command. But no, He thought of us and
not Himself. If you corral your mind and make it sit down and meditate deeply
for more than a passing moment you will have to admit that the entire spectacle
at Golgotha is supernatural in every way. God is a man? God suffers? God
bleeds? God dies? Who can really know such a thing? The words flow oh so freely
from our lips and yet there is truth at Calvary which is unfathomable and
bottomless.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And when a sinner embraces Christ as Savior and Lord that sinner is not
just forgiven. He is transformed. He is forgiven forever and transformed
forever. He has become a true child of God not just through human reproduction
that reflects divine creation. That is fleshly. But that sinner has become a
child of God through the power of the Spirit and because of the blood of the
Lamb. There is no other way. None.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Calvary is the one and only portal to life eternal. But the church
preaches and lives and loves this life and rarely draws men into the eternal
realm. Somehow and someway God required blood to forgive sins. And only God
could provide that blood. And He did. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">So when we take the Lord’s Supper we are remembering His sacrifice. And
remember the only reason the death angel, the second death angel, will not
visit your soul is because God said “When I see the blood I will pass over
you”. But allow me to more accurately depict what has happened in this New
Covenant. In the Old Covenant God called believers His “people”. And He would
pass over them when He saw the blood upon the door posts. But here in the New
and Better Covenant God does not just pass over us without condemning us. And
we are not just His people. We are His children and part of His very family.
And God does not have to pass over our house anymore. Why? Because if we are
true disciples God Himself lives inside our house. Go ahead and allow that to
marinate in your minds and hearts. What a God we serve!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Matt.24:
</span><sup>13 </sup>But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall
be saved.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">14 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And this gospel of the kingdom shall be
preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the
end come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Ominous
words from our Lord’s lips. Could there be any part of the world which has not
heard the gospel witness? I do not know. But the thirteenth verse is also an
ominous warning. While preachers by the tens of thousands lavish their
listeners with all kinds of assurance concerning their salvation Jesus warns us
to endure. I realize verses like this confront many church doctrines and men
must explain them away. But I will admit these kinds of warnings must be taken
very seriously regardless of how it might mess up our pretty doctrines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">What
are you saying, Rick? I am not presenting any theology here except that Jesus’
words are deeply unsettling and should be presented to church members without
human varnish. Do we have the right to make the words of Jesus fit into our
theologies or should we make His words our very theology? In times past I have
given people assurances about which I could not know. And in so doing we make
room for spiritual laziness and even sometimes give assurance to lost church
people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">You see,
the most disturbing words Jesus spoke in these two verses are “…and then shall
the end come”. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Matt.9:
</span><sup>20 </sup>And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an
issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his
garment:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">21 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For she said within herself, If I may
but touch his garment, I shall be whole.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">22 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But Jesus turned him about, and when he
saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.
And the woman was made whole from that hour.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">If can
even reach a point where you are broken and desperate you can find the path
which leads to Jesus. This woman suffered for twelve years and being
embarrassed was no longer relevant. She was broken. She was desperate. But many
times good circumstances keep us from being broken and desperate. When things
seem to be good who needs to be broken? Who needs to be desperate? We will
“seek” Jesus Sunday mornings for a few minutes of indeed that can honestly be
called seeking. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">But
what if you circumstances do not lend themselves to being desperate? What if
you have not suffered for twelve years? Well that is how most people see being
desperate. But are we desperate to know Him and the fellowship of His
sufferings and the power of His resurrection even if our earthly situations are
acceptable? Does our heart pant after Christ like a deer pants after water? Is
it possible to have all your earthly needs met and a loving family surrounding
you and yet deep inside you are still desperate to know Him deeper and with
much more intimacy? That should be every disciple’s desire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">You see
when people are desperate they lose all inhibitions. They will pay any price.
They will act with abandoned relentlessness. They feel as though they have
nothing to lose and everything to gain. And many times they find strength they
never thought they had. It does not matter if she bumps people lining the
street gawking at Jesus. It did not matter if people pointed a mocked. She
desired more than just a glimpse. She pressed through and touched the hem of
His garment. In retrospect that was some touch. She touched Him and He then
touched her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">People
want heaven and they will use Jesus to get it. But do they want to touch Him?
Will they push through the church crowd in order to touch Him? Will they
sacrifice time and energy in order to touch Him? Will they suffer rolled eyes
by others in order to touch Him? Will they allow their hearts to become
desperate and broken enough to pursue Him in ways generally unknown to this
modern day church?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">But the
absolutely amazing truth is that we no longer have to touch the hem of His
garment. We can, by the power of His Spirit and through the depth of His
written revelation touch Him. And that is an ongoing life changing event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">II
Cor.9: </span><span class="text"><sup>15 </sup>Thanks be unto God for his
unspeakable gift.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">I Pet.1: <sup>8 </sup>Whom
having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye
rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">The word
unspeakable indicates an inability for human words to completely define and
communicate something. In this case it speaks of our salvation in Jesus Christ
which is unspeakable indeed. There are three New Testament Scriptures that use
that word. Here is the third:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">II Cor.12: </span><sup>3 </sup>And
I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God
knoweth;)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">4 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">How that he was caught up into
paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to
utter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">The
Apostle Paul was brought into heaven and returned to earth. While he was
“caught up” he heard things that were unspeakable. Can you imagine such a
thing? They were even unlawful to be uttered by a man. They were so sacred, so
holy, and so unlike anything heard upon this earth that they either should not
or could not or both be repeated. This is truly holy ground upon which we walk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">And
even though they could not be uttered the Spirit graciously chose to make us
aware they exist and just how supernatural and separate they are from all who
know this side of heaven. It should bring chills to our spirits when we even
entertain the thought of heaven and all the sights and sounds. Paul heard
things about which he had no words and was not allowed to even try. But place
that against the backdrop of what we do know by the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Rev.4: </span><sup>5 </sup>And
out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there
were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits
of God.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">6 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And before the throne there was a sea
of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the
throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">7 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And the first beast was like a lion,
and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and
the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">8 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And the four beasts had each of them
six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day
and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>
God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">This is
a revelation from the Spirit of God. Look at the sights and sounds that
surround His throne. Listen to the angelic beings as they say over and over
again “</span>Holy, holy, holy, <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>
God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” Now stop and think for a
moment. Paul is actually hearing angelic voices saying that phrase while they
hover around God’s throne. What? I mean what do their voices sound like and do
their lips move and how loud is it?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
As powerful and awesome was Paul’s
heavenly visitation, John’s was even greater. And John shared a vision which
eclipses the vision of angels and gates of pearl and streets of gold and all
the surroundings. John shared an incredible vision of the Risen Christ with the
only words he knew.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Rev.1: <sup>13 </sup>And in
the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with
a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">14 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">His head and his hairs were white like
wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">15 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And his feet like unto fine brass, as
if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">16 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And he had in his right hand seven
stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance
was as the sun shineth in his strength.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Do you
really think human words can be arranged to fully capture His glory? Even the
word “glory” is intended for human understanding but cannot fully enter into
the full weight of His eternal majesty. Oh how could such a Perfect Being every
love such imperfect being such as we? We will have an eternity to love Him for
it. John sees His vision and falls down at His feet as though dead. This
disciple who often laid his head upon the chest of Jesus now is rendered broken
before Him. What a Savior! What a King! What a Lord! To think He desired me and
you to be with Him for all eternity. Who among us can really understand that
kind of love?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">This is
our Risen Lord. He is our eternal reward. There is no other. Please, Holy
Spirit, keep our hearts and minds stayed upon Him. Thanks be to the Unspeakable
Savior for His unspeakable gift!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Let us
say you were introduced to someone as a candidate for you to date. But you
looked her up on the internet and your uncle was in law enforcement and looked
her up as well. You found out she was a liar, a thief, a child molester, a drug
dealer, a prostitute, a murderer, and has been massively unfaithful in every
single relationship she has had. Could you really love someone like that if you
knew those things to be true? Would you try and woo her to be your wife?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Read
Jn.3:16 again. God knew all those thing about the human race and yet He loved
us and sought us to be His bride. Go ahead and try and explain that. It will
take you literally a life time, and the moment you lay your new eyes upon the
Risen Redeemer you realize your words were almost an affront to Who He is and
what He has done. God so loved the world…simply amazing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Pet.2: </span><sup>18 </sup>For
when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts
of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them
who live in error.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">19 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">While they promise them liberty, they
themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of
the same is he brought in bondage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">20 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For if after they have escaped the
pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse
with them than the beginning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">These are ominous words indeed. They do not refer to disciples who stumble
and are imperfect. We all are that. This refers to false teachers who have
twisted God’s Word in order to accommodate a lifestyle that is displeasing to
God and at odds with the life and teachings of Jesus. The phrase “live in
error” is very descriptive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">There is freedom in walking in the truth which is THE Truth. When Jesus
walks with and in and through us there is nothing that can compare. And that
brings up the other side of the discernment coin. I have hear men who
accurately discern error in Joel Osteen and Rick Warren and Rob Bell and all
the usual suspects. Their presentation is well researched and documented. And
many who have come out from some of those can say a loud amen. And others who
have recognized their error can also say amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But we must never rest in our discernment laurels. It is not enough to
identify error. We must be humble conduits of the truth. I do not refer to
doctrinal truth. The homeless guy and the prostitute and the drug addict do not
know any doctrine nor is that what they need. They need Jesus. They need
someone to be and share Jesus to them. Sharing Jesus without being Jesus is a
technique and not a disciple’s path. The gospel has hands and legs as well as
mouths. And contrary to these pompous false teachers humility, extreme and
excruciating, is foundational. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And if that is foundational, then how many are really on the path of
discipleship? Let us continue to seek a humility which denies ourselves every
single day. To be sure that is no easy task. Yes, it takes a cross.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Lk.16: </span><sup>11 </sup>If
therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit
to your trust the true riches?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">12 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And if ye have not been faithful in
that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">13 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">No servant can serve two masters: for
either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the
one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">To me,
this is a foundational admonition for all who wish to be His disciples,
especially in a money obsessed culture. I would suggest this: I we were taken
to a deserted island with just a Bible and left there for three entire years do
you think our view of discipleship and money would change? In other words do
you think the culture has in some way has found its way into our thought
processes? Of course it has.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">But where
do we begin to unravel the layers of mammon attachment and begin to allow the
Spirit to reform our thinking and our hearts? Let us back track even further.
Where can we find the passion and profound desire to have the Spirit do that at
all? Anyone can be open to a few painless alterations, but who lies down upon
the threshingfloor and says, “Do what pleases you, Lord.”? Who opens their
hearts completely and invites the Spirit to do extensive surgery with no
compartments withheld? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Is it
not way past time they we as the church realize just how much we have been
affected and infected by the mammon of this world? Until we truly realize the
serious compromises that have emanated from this fallen culture we will not be
able to proceed any further in Christ. And just what is holding you back from a
thorough assessment fueled by a spirit of repentance? Is it your affection for
a certain pastor? Is it a saved family member who you love and respect? Is it a
fear of fanaticism? Is just plain old laziness? Or is it a subtle fear of what
the Spirit may show you and then you will be faced with a difficult decision?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">The
love of money runs wide and deep within the church. So often we think the love
of money is defined by Donald Trump or Bill Gates or other profoundly rich men
and women. But that is not the case. A poor person can be imprisoned by the
love of money. I remember sitting in on a committee meeting which was to decide
then pastor’s salary next year. The pastor told the committee what he could
make in the secular world and that they should adjust his salary to reflect
that. That man had the love of money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">What
concerns us? Lost souls or rising gas prices? Lost wages or the wages of sin? A
broken air conditioner or a broken prayer life? I rising interest rate or a rising
exhibition of sin? A compromised credit score or a compromised church? If we
examine what concerns us generally will we find much of it, if not most of it,
is connected to money? This is what separates the believers from the disciples.
Anyone can say they believe, but to be a disciple takes observable features.
Perhaps the most glaring feature would be carrying a cross and denying one’s
self.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">There
are a multitude of believers who do not even know what that means much less
living it. And that is an unsettling prospect as it pertains to the separating
of the sheep and the goats. If, in the end, God requires more than just become
a church member to reveal saving faith how many who see themselves as sheep
will be shocked?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Sinners
are looking for someone who truly loves with no agenda. They can sense when you
are doing your duty or when you are representing a certain local church or when
you are using techniques. But when you are willing to share Jesus with humility
and compassion, and when you truly love sinners then the Spirit can use you.
The world needs to see a love which can never be found in this world. That is
only God’s love. Everything else has man’s agenda attached to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">So I am
standing in line waiting at the auto tag and tax building to open and the woman
behind me is smoking a cigarette and wearing a winter coat – in Florida. So I
strike up a conversation with her. It seems she has just moved to Florida and
needs an auto tag. She has recently gotten out of jail (drugs) and she works at
a strip club now in Tampa and is a prostitute as well. So for the next twenty
minutes I got to share Jesus with her. Her cigarette smoke did not bother me in
the least. I never asked for her name so just pray for her God knows who she
is. She told me some “church ladies” come by every month and bring them nail
polish and snacks (bless them). The sad thing is that because of crack cocaine
her eyes looked hollow and unresponsive, but the Spirit can break through that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Lk.12: </span><sup>22 </sup>And
he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your
life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">23 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The life is more than meat, and the
body is more than raiment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">24 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Consider the ravens: for they neither
sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how
much more are ye better than the fowls?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">25 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And which of you with taking thought
can add to his stature one cubit?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">26 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">If ye then be not able to do that thing
which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">“What to eat…what to wear”. Our culture is dedicated to these things. A
restaurant on every corner and clothing stores galore including online. And
people’s minds are drawn to both. If you have the resources you can dine and
pay a couple of hundred dollars for a dinner for two. And you can purchase some
shoes for one thousand dollars. How much time do we spend picking out a wedding
dress and lining up the caterer? If we seek to be spiritually honest, and if we
are willing to step off the treadmill temporarily, we can see with the Spirit’s
help how Jesus’ words are so applicable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The overarching theme to these verses pertains to our obsession with the
things of this world. In verse 34 Jesus says that where our treasure is that is
where our heart is too. That is some principle and yet so called ministers by
the tens of thousands teach people how to get “what they want”. Denying self
has been replaced by Your Best Life Now. And it can all be traced back to not
knowing Jesus at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">That statement is not doctrinal hyperbole. It is a shocking and tragic
fact. Think about the ingenious nature of such a strong deception. Here you
have people who say they believe the Bible. Sometimes that nebulous
generalization does nothing but soothe people’s conscience. But can you believe
the Bible and not believe and follow the true Jesus? That, my friends, is an
impossibility. You can be religious, and you can be moral, and you can be
active at church, and you can even read that which is colloquially called “the
Bible” and still not know or follow Jesus. Can there be any more powerful
deception than that?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And within that deception are many deceptive tributaries. That which Jesus
warned against has become that which people seek in a capitalist culture.
Again, is that not an amazing feat of spiritual skullduggery? Jesus warns us
about “giving thought” to food and clothing and yet the church teaches that God
desires to shower you with all kinds of material gifts which are the very
things Jesus warned us about. And earthly and carnal preachers tell willing
ears “You can have all sorts of these things as long as they don’t have you”.
And anyone who has lived knows that again is a misnomer. Whatever we acquire in
some ways enters our hearts and has a voice within us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">It would have been one thing for Jesus to say “Do not think about gold and
silver and precious jewels” and He did in other places of Scripture. But here
He refers to food and clothing. Even those things which we need must be guarded
so that they do not consume our thoughts. And when we worry or fret we reveal a
lack of trust for God. And when we allow our thoughts to go to these things it
reveals self centeredness. As we watch the decadence of this culture we tend to
think more highly of ourselves than we ought. But when Jesus speaks of clothing
and food then we have no place to hide. We have been found out by the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">So continue to present yourself to the Refiner’s fire and with food and
clothing be content…in Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-size: 12pt;">Once your eyes are opened and you gaze
into eternity then nothing on this earth makes any real sense. You can enjoy
some things, but this fallen world becomes both your enemy and your mission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Hector of Troy:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">“</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;">All my life I've
lived by a code and the code is simple: honor the gods, love your woman and
defend your country. Troy is mother to us all. Fight for her!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt;">Doesn’t that sound very familiar?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Lk.14: </span><sup>12 </sup>Then
said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call
not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich
neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">13 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But when thou makest a feast, call the
poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">14 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And thou shalt be blessed; for they
cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of
the just.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Many times we have been guilty of lavishing church picnics and suppers and
banquets upon ourselves while a multitude of “others” live all around us. We
have been processed to look out for number one and to make humanitarian outreach
a separate ministry within the church and not the Siamese twin whose heart
beats simultaneously with the gospel. If we spent as much money and effort and
planning ministering to the down and out as we do to the membership we might
reach many more lost hearts. How have we made the church resemble and Eli
Whitney invention and not a cauldron on intense ministry which stretches forth
to the helpless with His arms covered in flesh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Do we really understand just how far the so called church has strayed? Can
we even imagine the impact money and capitalism has had on the institutional
church? Look at what Jesus said. He called us to go out of our way to minister
to the needs of the poor who can never repay us. And we are willing to pay
handsome sums to youth ministers because we expect them to help grow our
children. Yes, we expect a recompense. So what can we define as a sacrifice? If
we supply things to the needy who have no substance with which to repay would
that be considered a sacrifice? And just where is that in the church? Oh yes,
it must be an organized ministry headed up by someone which opens it
humanitarian doors at special times. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But if the pulpits exhort people that ministering to the poor is not
relegated to someone just so we can avoid the inconvenience of finding them and
supplying them would we feel so wonderful about dropping off some unneeded
clothing or food stuffs? You see, I hope, what I am driving at here. Read the
Book of Acts and the life and teachings of Jesus and you will find humanitarian
compassion interwoven in all of it. Salvation is by grace alone but the earthly
acts which draw attention to the gospel of grace as well as reveal a
cornerstone of the disciple’s path have everything to do with the poor and
rejected and even sinners repulsed by the ecclesiastical Bourgeoisie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">God
does not measure a disciple by his church membership or the cut of his
doctrinal jib or even how many tracks he passes out. Over and over again the
Scriptures make clear just how God sees the unfortunate and the sick and the
poor and the very sinful. And one way we pick up our cross is to minister to
others who hate us or who are in desperate situation or who are hated by
others. Can you not see His cross doing just that? The church was never meant
to be introverted and organized to pile up spiritual knowledge within itself.
If you believe you have gone deeper in the knowledge of Jesus and yet your
heart has not been enlarged to the down and out class then you have only gone
deeper in yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">But
when you deny yourself and fully surrender to Him you find the unction of the
Spirit calling you to go outside the camp bearing His reproach and laying down
your life for others. You see this Christian thing has nothing to do with being
a 501(c)(3). The church is not a building nor a collection of earthly
memberships. The church is His mouth and His eyes and His hands and His feet
and all of it given life with the blood of His heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">I love
Christian quotes from men and women of God which provide insight, conviction,
and a revelation of Jesus Christ. My dear brother/pastor Chuck posts one every
day and I like 99.9 % of them. Most of you can guess which ones I am not so
effervescent about! But we must never see spiritual things through the eyes of
another. Allow wonderful quotes to become your own through the power of the
Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Lk.12: </span><sup>4 </sup>And
I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after
that have no more that they can do.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">5 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But I will forewarn you whom ye shall
fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I
say unto you, Fear him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Chilling
words. Even when they are spoken behind a pulpit they are usually couched in
terms so that ever baptized church member believes he is safe. We will have to
wait and see on that one. These words seem out of character for the caricature
of Jesus we have created. This business about eternal life or eternal death is
no game. It is way beyond serious. There are several general reasons why few
take them seriously including the church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">All of
them can be traced to unbelief. Yes the cares of this world choke out the Word
but that leads to unbelief. In other words people don’t really believe in
heaven or hell. They believe in a human imagery of heaven but not in the true
heaven. They believe in a manmade picture of hell where serial killers go but
not most people especially when you have church membership credentials. It is
all so self serving and manipulated by the evil one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">This
was a very disturbing warning from the lips of our Lord. When will take His
words as truth and pray and act accordingly? In forty years of being a believer
there were times I walked in the flesh and was not concerned with such things.
We must repent of such a mindset which honors the world with its presence but
dishonors God through an empty prayer closet. If we believed what Jesus said
with all our beings would it not change our behavior? Would it change our
prayer lives? Would we fast for some lost loved one or lost people who are
being ministered by missionaries?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">The
church has lost all semblance of the fear of God. In fact most preachers
whittle its potency down by insisting it means a holy reverence and not a fear
as we define the word. The Scriptures beg to differ. Along with a holy
reverence is a holy fear. If a sinner dies without Christ he will be cast into
the eternal lake of fire. When was the last time you heard that sentence from a
pulpit, and if you do hear it it was probably once a year…perhaps. This is mind
blowing. One day it will be revealed we were playing some glorified Dungeons
and Dragons game which can be picked up from time to time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">The
pulpits are cold. The pews are cold. The church is cold. But the fires of this
world are raging and how many believers are warming their hearts and lives
around that fire? Most will never have ears to hear until it is too late. Watch
and pray and fear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Matt.18:
</span><sup>3 </sup>And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be
converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom
of heaven.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">4 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Whosoever therefore shall humble
himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">So
where did this so called “warrior spirit” come from?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Oh Lord
let my heart be a sanctuary where You are not just welcomed, but You are
pursued and hungered after. Let my heart be a place that is always Yours. A
place where You are exalted and worshiped and adored. Let my heart break open
so that I can be drained out and You can fill it completely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Matt:25
- </span><sup>34 </sup>Then shall the King say unto them on his right
hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from
the foundation of the world:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">35 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For I was an hungred, and ye gave me
meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">36 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick,
and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">How
very interesting. Hidden within the original Greek must be “Because you voted
conservatively and because you were pro-life and because you attended a local
church and because you stood up for America”. That seems to have been lost in
the translation. Oh how the modern church has refused to walk in His steps and
instead beat a path filled with man’s steps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">I have
heard many a preacher place these verses within his own context in an effort to
avoid a works centered salvation. But in so doing the reduce and redefine what
it means to be a disciple. There is only one work that is exclusive in its
redemptive power and that was finished at Calvary. But after one has been born
again the path leads to ministry to other human beings and especially the poor
the hated the sick the disenfranchised the weak the different and many times
the rejected of this world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">And if
that is the core element of being a disciple why is it not the core element of
the church? You see we are His hands which reach out with earthly ministry so
that the Spirit can lead them to the Reason we do such things. But much of the
church is in deep debt and surrounded by material things which require much time
and money just to keep them in good working order. And the organization called
the church also is heavily weighted by debt or upkeep and maintenance or
salaries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Have I
ever mentioned how strongly the culture has imprisoned the institutional
church? I believe I have mentioned it. We do not need some serious renovation
in order to return to Christ. We need a revolution. The entire ecclesiastical
culture must be dismantled and destroyed and His Spirit allowed in to replace
it. However even in that scenario given the depth of the spiritual departure it
would take years for the Spirit to bring the church back to Christ in belief
and practice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">But
each individual believer cannot abrogate his spiritual calling just because the
church is a wild ass kicking and sniffing at the earthly air and jumping the
fence to graze in greener pastures rather than the table of the Lord. But we
owe a debt we could never repay to our Risen Lamb. But could we not read and
heed His words as a testimony and a tribute to His glorious gospel? We could
not labor to attain salvation, but now we are His laborers in the whited
fields. Let us gird up our loins and be about our Father’s business and our
Savior’s commission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Eph.3: </span><sup>17 </sup>That
Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in
love,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">18 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">May be able to comprehend with all
saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">19 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And to know the love of Christ, which
passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">There
are two things which really reach out and grab me about this portion of
Scripture. One is the phrase “that you might be filled with all the fullness of
God”. That in and of itself is something so dramatic and so massive that it
really cannot be encompassed by one thought or even one mind. The other is that
thought about the fullness of God is in the context of God’s love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">If we
take John 3:16 as a foundation for God’s love we must return yet again to the
cross. It was there where God opened up His eternal heart and displayed a love
so breathtaking and shocking that it takes a lifetime of meditation and prayer
and visitation to glean from that act this thing we so glibly call “love”. No
doctrinal voyeurism will suffice. No jewelry or steeple ornament nor fish
bumper sticker adds anything to this glorious sacrifice and probably in most
cases it diminishes the cross in people’s minds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">You see
we have so symbolized the cross that when it is mentioned people think of a
symbol rather than His followers. Do you understand the tragic implications of
what I just said? The faith called “Christianity” was supposed to be all about
Jesus and His earthen vessel disciples showcasing Him and His gospel. But
instead we have buildings and preachers and holidays and moral causes and slick
phrases and symbols galore. That was never meant to be. We were supposed to be
His building. We were supposed to be His servants. We were supposed to be His
cause. We were supposed to be His symbol, or better yet His life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">It was
never supposed to be like this. We should have been continually challenged to
be filled with all the fullness of God. Instead we were exhorted to be good
patriots and conservative Republicans and prolifers and faithful givers to the
local church. The entire “concept” of the Christian faith was seriously altered
until it could not be recognized through a New Testament lens. But who really
was using the unvarnished truth of the New Testament as the brick and mortar
with which to build up the body of Christ?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">But as
I read the above verses I saw more clearly that it all was tied into God’s
love. Not a syrupy and saccharine kind of Teddy bear love. No, this love is
tangible, visceral, and completely out of the context of human experience. Even
the Scriptures uses a mother’s love as a metaphor but that is for our learning.
The greatest love any mother has ever had pales in comparison to God’s eternal
love. All the fullness of God is contained in that love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">It is
easy to look at the heavens on a clear, dark night and as you wonder at
creation you can sometimes get the wrong impression that God is a cosmic
scientist who is aloof and august and without feeling. But God’s love which is
His essence cannot be measured or even understood through comparison. Yes we
can see Jesus heal people and forgive the adulterous woman and feed people and
we hear His words exhorting us to lend ourselves to our fellow human beings.
That gives us a glimpse into God’s love. And that glimpse is wonderful and
exhorting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">But it
isn’t until you reach the cross that the entire length and breadth of God’s
Love is taken out from behind the veil and revealed in all its fullness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">It is
at Golgotha that God’s love was fully made a spectacle. A glorious spectacle. A
majestic spectacle. An excruciating spectacle. A bloody, bloody spectacle.
Covered in wounds and thorns and spit and nails and blood, that was God saying,
no screaming, I love you! This cross was all the fullness of God on a riveting
and repulsive and yet alluring display. The moment you can shake your head and
admit to yourself you have only scratched the surface is the moment you can
proceed further into the wonder of His cross. We so minimize the incarnation.
We so minimize man’s depravity. And with those two dilutions we so minimize the
cross.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">God suffered
and died for you. Behold, all the fullness of God. Be ye filled with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">I have
visited men in prison and shared the gospel. I have heard testimonies of
salvation behind prison walls. But the two most moving testimonies to me have
been Karla Faye Tucker and David Berkowitz. With those two people you can sense
the Spirit in their demeanor and their voices and humility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Jn.10: </span><sup>9 </sup>I
am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and
out, and find pasture.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">10 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The thief cometh not, but for to steal,
and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they
might have it more abundantly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">“Your Best Life Now”, a book and philosophy of Joel
Osteen and people like him, is humanism and vanity at its zenith. The culture
has redefined happiness and contentment and the church has dined sumptuously at
that table. Who considers communion with Jesus the abundant life anymore? We measure
the quality of life with material things, earthly success, and with a
comparison with others. It all comes down to the definition of the word “life”.
If we understand it within the context of the temporal that it is a
free-for-all. Anyone’s definition is valid. But if we define it within the
confines of New Testament Scripture then we are confined to certain borders of
spiritual truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">People are searching and some are not. Some are embracing
what hirelings are telling them while others wander about unfulfilled still
seeking contentment. They believe the abundant life can be found in the right
set of earthly circumstances. They have absolutely no clue at to what the word
“life” represents in the realm of the Spirit. You see there is a place, a life,
within Jesus the Lord God which will bring contentment and fulfillment in
immeasurable abundance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">But please understand the distinct and profound
difference between this temporal life and the life in the Spirit. The temporal
life demands ease and comfort and prosperity, but the life in the Spirit can
find ease and comfort and prosperity while being chained to a prison wall. Can
you understand such a truth? And if you understand my words can you actually
embrace that truth? And if you embrace that truth are you willing to forsake
all to find it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Actually the life in the Spirit cannot be defined and
comprehended through human words. It is not of this world at all. In fact it
goes against everything, and I mean everything, that the world defines as life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-size: 12pt;">But for all who have never entered into
that life how can we explain it? We cannot. All we can do is create a thirst in
others and allow the Spirit to take our limited words and reach hearts. We are
not trying to elevate some personal experience. We are trying to share a life
by comparing our experience with Scripture. Only the Holy Spirit can reach a
human heart with the reality of such a life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="color: #141823; font-size: 12pt;">But this is the earthly reality which
men like Osteen live in and preach. Heaven isn’t even mentioned to say nothing
of Jesus and the cross. And church members by the millions embrace and even
love their earthly lives. They have no concept of the things of the Spirit. And
preachers feed their carnal nature. I fear for their eternal destiny. Not
because they embrace that fallen existence but because many have embraced a
false Christ.</span><span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">ollowers of </span></span><span style="color: #141823; font-size: 12pt;">Jesus must never see people as liberal
or conservative, or black or white, or prochoice or prolife, or American or
Russian. We must see people as saved, lost, or unsure which. But God just sees
people as saved or lost because He knows with a certainty. The Lord knows those
that are His.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">The church expends much money and energy of marriages.
There are seminars and workbooks and retreats and guest speakers aimed at
strengthening marriages. That can be a form of self serving narcissism. I have
a great way to strengthen marriages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Have both partners begin to passionately pursue Christ
individually and together. I also can suggest a woprkbook for that. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">The Book of Revelation is a prophetic narrative of end
times history. It contains shocking imagery and violence and judgment. The
messages to the churches are observably different than the messages spoken by
pulpiteers today. The stark descriptions of Satan are unnerving, or at least
they should be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">But the book is called The Revelation of Jesus Christ.
How can we change people’s minds about the caricatures about Christ they cling
to? Sadly the visible church is promoting a golden calf and calling it Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Lk.19: </span><span class="text"><sup>10 </sup>For the
Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">It
seems like almost every person and every church has some kind of agenda. Well
Jesus summed up His agenda in this one sentence. So if we are to seek and
follow and be like Jesus then we will be conduits for reaching the lost. It is
a miracle of deception that so much of the church has redefined the mission of
Jesus. Instead of laboring in prayer and the Word in order to be transformed
and thereby reach others with the gospel most of the sermons are about elevating
our earthly lives as if they were to go on forever.</span><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Could there by anything more worthless and more hollow
and more warping to the mind than the hot air lying done at political debates?
Yes there is one thing that rivals that nonsense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Elections.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Ps.142: </span><span class="text"><sup>4 </sup>I
looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me:
refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">This
verse could be speaking rhetorically through a lost person. I have watched
Christian television for forty years and I have never seen a preacher weep
uncontrollably over the plight of the lost. Even the ones which shamelessly
show starving African children lived in large and expensive homes. When was the
last time you sat in a pew and the Spirit of God descended upon the
congregation and en masse you were broken over lost souls and everyone was
crying. If indeed such a visitation occurred I suggest people would not be
sharing about wonderful the worship service was and how the presence of God
gave them goose bumps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Let
us all come clean before God. None of us do all we could or should in reaching
lost souls. We have wasted money over worthless things. We have neglected the
prayer closet. We have walking years with no tears for the lost people we rub
shoulders with every day. We have spent countless hours being interested in
politics and yet have we shown the same concern for the gospel cause? Where did
the church lose its heart for lost souls? When it became obsessed with itself
and this earthly life evangelism became a side issue. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">We
say, we proclaim, and even write it in our statements of faith that we believe
every single person who dies without being born again spends eternity separated
from God in a place of much torture. And then most of us say we believe Jesus
died for every soul and offers eternal life for every single sinner. That is
what we say we believe, but I have often felt we are the greatest hypocrites of
all. Have we allowed the Spirit to change our hearts? Do we seek to feel the
heartbeat of God as it pertains to souls? Can we even suggest that our lives
and even our hearts line up with our so called theology?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">And
have we become so calloused that we cannot, or will not, see the shameful
discrepancy? The cross of course is a complete and utter denial of self. But it
is also the very heart of God as it pertains to the plight of deserving hell
bound sinners. It is grace painted in blood. It is love expressed by thorns. It
is mercy shown by gaping wounds. The person in Psalms can say “No man cares for
my soul” and be somewhat accurate but he cannot say no God cares for my soul.
Calvary is the eternal proof that God cares and cares with His own life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">It
is not enough to believe in the cross. We must seek to die upon it ourselves
and invite the heart of God to be our heart. That, my friends, is a monumental
challenge but that is true Christianity.</span><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Rev.1: </span><span class="text"><sup>7 </sup>Behold,
he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced
him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">In
reality this world is just marking time until the Creator returns. So many seem
to be concerned with signs but not concerned about Him. But on that day Jesus
comes back it will not be as men envisioned it. It will be spectacular in its
violence. It will be shocking in its vengeance. It will make every movie script
seem timid. This entrance will not come via Bethlehem. This is when as the
lightening can be seen from the east to the west so will His terrible return
come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Do
I sound like an alarmist? I am just repeating what the Scriptures teach and we
must sound the alarm near and far. Behold He is coming and who will stand
before His holy power? There is only one safe place and that is within the
redemption He Himself purchased. All others will face immeasurable judgment far
worse than anything ever seen upon this earth. His judgment will sound eternal
thunder and His eyes will be a penetrating fire. Adam was sentenced to death
for one seemingly minor infraction so what will happen to those whose resume of
transgressions is almost endless?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">The
battle between sin and divine holiness has been raging since Adam fell. Without
holiness no man will see Christ and since we have no holiness of our own we
must repent and run into the sacred holiness that is found in Jesus. There is
no other shelter from what is coming. The church desires to hear good things
and it recoils at such truth. Religious man will defend at all costs his own
sphere of life against almost all inconvenience to say nothing of hardship. And
he will conform his theology to accommodate his desires. That is exactly what
the church has done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Imagine
a speeding train is heading for a cliff and the engineer says he is aware of
it. But on his train people are laughing and drinking and being entertained and
enjoying sleep. No one goes back and tells them to buckled their seat belts and
prepare for what is coming. But as the train barrels toward catastrophe the
engineer walks back to the passenger cars and tells people uplifting stories
and informs them that there is nothing at all about which to worry. What kind
of an engineer would that be? He would be a blind and ignorant engineer. And
that is exactly what we have leading the churches today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">And
this gives us a greater revelation to just how unbiblical the Jesus is which is
sung to and preached on Sunday mornings. People worry about gas prices and the
economy and ISIS and illegal immigration and all kinds of things. But who is
worried over lost and dying souls? And who worries about the unsaved souls
which are alive when He comes in great power? Who really even stops to think
about things like that in this self centered religious system where God is
treated like a servant who helps us get what we want? Time is now a great enemy
and yet where are the watchmen? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">The
engineer is not asleep at the switch. He is throwing a party and he presents
God as the party host. He is coming with clouds. Soon…</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Think about a place where colors can be heard. Where
sounds can be seen. Where hands can smell. Where spoken words are light. I am
just attempting to wrest your minds from the prison of this temporal existence.
The place commonly called “heaven” is unlike anything we can ever imagine. It
is not a much better earth. It is not better than anything. It is august and
unique and filled with God’s glory. Who can know it? But that is our
destination because Jesus desires our presence. Let that truth marinate in your
soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">But the “place” where God dwells is not a place like we
understand a place here. It has no boundaries and no floor etc.. I truly
believe the place is God. Think about that. I cannot explain it and I do not
argue about it. But what if heaven really was a place within God Himself? What
if the Risen Christ was that place and the theological term “in Christ” was now
a shocking and glorious reality? I really do not know how to understand it and
perhaps I am wrong, but one thing I do know for a certainty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Our awe for our Redeemer will exclipse any awe we have
about that place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Providence: </span><span class="ssens"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">God conceived as the power sustaining and
guiding human destiny.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="ssens"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">(Websters)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="ssens"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">In this generation of human labor and human achievement
the providence of God has all but vanished in the church and in the minds of
professing believers. We can no longer accept disease or hardship or ridicule
or any financial setback as coming from the hand of God’s providence. We want
answers. We need answers. We demand answers. You see we have been taught a
false god for so many years that we refuse to see with the eyes of faith
anything that is unpleasant or even inconvenient. And yet believers all over
the world endure great hardships and yet trust God and His loving providence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="ssens"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">After the Industrial Revolution this
capitalistic and competitive culture presented all kinds of opportunities and
people began to set their hearts upon such opportunities. And that atmosphere
has dome great harm to the faith of Jesus. If we sing “We are warriors!” we can
praise God. But which worship leader sings a song which says “It was good that
I was afflicted!” and then all praise Him? Paul sought the Lord to remove his
thorn in the flesh but God said “No.”. Paul was being taught that His strength
is made perfect in Paul’s weakness. And Paul gloried in his affliction.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="ssens"><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">Do we receive personal affronts with grace? Do
we receive financial setbacks with grace? Do we embrace our physical
afflictions with grace? Do we understand everything through the prism of our
Loving Father’s providence? We must cleanse our hearts and minds from a “I can
do it” spirit and recline under the shadow of His mighty wings. Providence is a
theological term but it just means that God is always in charge. It does not
mean God is directly causing everything, but it does mean that God is weaving
every thread of your life into a quilt which honors Him. And that is what we
must infuse our unruly minds with every day.</span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Mk.5: </span>And they came over unto the other side of
the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">2 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And when he was come out of the ship,
immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">3 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Who had his dwelling among the tombs;
and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">4 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Because that he had been often bound
with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and
the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">5 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And always, night and day, he was in
the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">6 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran
and worshipped him,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">7 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And cried with a loud voice, and said,
What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure
thee by God, that thou torment me not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">8 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For he said unto him, Come out of the
man, thou unclean spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">9 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And he asked him, What is thy name? And
he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">10 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And he besought him much that he would
not send them away out of the country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">11 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Now there was there nigh unto the
mountains a great herd of swine feeding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">12 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And all the devils besought him,
saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">13 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And forthwith Jesus gave them leave.
And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran
violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and
were choked in the sea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">14 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And they that fed the swine fled, and
told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was
that was done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">15 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And they come to Jesus, and see him
that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed,
and in his right mind: and they were afraid.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">16 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And they that saw it told them how it
befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">17 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And they began to pray him to depart
out of their coasts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Here we have an
incredible narrative. Jesus has cast out devils before and after this event.
The possessed man was delivered from a legion of demons. And Jesus sends the
demons into the pigs and they commit suicide. But I want to draw your attention
to an astounding element of this story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">In verse 6 we see
the demon possessed man ran and worshipped Jesus. But in verse 17 we see the
pig farmers wanted Jesus to leave. Think about that paradox.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">You see demons
know who Jesus is more than some church members. And what was the reason these
men asked Jesus to get away from them? It was money. They could care less about
the demon possessed man now being in his right mind. There swine were gone and
they blamed Jesus. This is a great lesson for all of us. What is money compared
to the presence of Jesus? And in a clever and nefarious way the modern church
now teaches Jesus wants you to have a large herd of swine and that His presence
almost guarantees it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">But I will ask you
this: Do you think the man who was delivered from demons cared about the swine?
Do you think he followed Jesus or set about to get more swine? Think about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****</span><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Seven
Steps to a Successful Life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">1.
Jesus is Lord<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">2.
Jesus is Lord<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">3.
Jesus is Lord<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">4.
Jesus is Lord<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">5.
Jesus is Lord<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">6.
Jesus is Lord<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">7.
Jesus is Lord<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">This study
comes with a 66 section guide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">I
Cor.1: </span><span class="text"><sup>18 </sup>For the preaching of the
cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the
power of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Notice the words
“but unto us which are saved”. This is spoken to the church. So often in these
days men and women believe that the cross is not relevant to a saved disciple.
They think after you get saved you can leave the cross and move on to deeper
and more relevant issues. The cross is merely a symbol for jewelry and church
steeples. But notice also the words “it is the power of God”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">This is a great
mystery. People can understand the blood sacrifice but how many understand the
spiritual power inherent within the cross? How many realize that the same
divine power which saved your soul emanates from that cross in order to
transform your life? This cross of Calvary where God suffered and died was not
here today and gone tomorrow. It was eternal from before time unto all
eternity. This was the portal through which God rolled up His sleeve and
revealed His strength through the most unlikely of demonstrations. And the
awesome and unequalled power in that cross still roams the world and in the
lives of His true disciples. The power of life birthed through death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">So when the church
goes a-whoring after other earthly issues that divine power is gone. We then
need lights, camera, action as a substitute for God’s power. You see the cross
really has no place in a fallen culture which deals in self esteem, human
intellect, and success through human labor. Who needs the cross within that
kind of atmosphere except as a talisman? Who can afford to waste time
meditating on the cross? I mean we have heard that story many times. It is time
to move on and address the needs of man. That is what wets the carnal appetite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">But even though
the power of the cross is without measure it will not force itself upon anyone.
It stands before you if you have eyes to see and ears to hear. By the Spirit it
calls softly but distinctly. But when it is rejected and marginalized that
calling becomes very faint and almost imperceptible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Here is a man who
takes the stage and flexes and poses to show off his physique. The crowd
applauds loudly and they are impressed. But a man walk into the room wearing
glasses and as he looks upon the stage he sees a malnourished and emaciated man
flexing. He asks the person next to him why the crowd is applauding. The person
says because of his great muscles and build. The man shares his glasses with
that person and he then sees things as they. The flexing man is but skin and
bones.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">So it is with this
crossless church. Through carnal eyes people see great and swelling messages
that excite and fill the room with enthusiasm. But through the eyes of the
Spirit we see an emaciated gathering which parades itself with all kinds of
human machinations and appears vibrant and alive and yet it is a show of death.
And parched corpses applaud marionettes adorned with grave clothes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Without the
preaching of the cross there can be no life and there can be no church. Without
the preaching of the cross there can be no disciples and there can be no
Spirit. Without the preaching of the cross all you have is blah-blah-blah and
yada-yada-yada and the enticing words of men’s wisdom. You may draw large
crowds but the Spirit will not be there. And if the Spirit’s ministry is not
present then we labor in vain. Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow, or today,
we die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">There is only one
walk of death about which God approves. It is the walk of the cross.</span><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Jer.33:
</span><sup>2 </sup>Thus saith the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>
the maker thereof, the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> that
formed it, to establish it; the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>
is his name;</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">3 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Call unto me, and I will answer thee,
and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Jeremiah was attacked by his own brothers and beaten and
placed in stocks and in prison. He is known as the weeping prophet. But in the
midst of all this God’s message was “They surely will attack you but they
surely cannot overcome you”. Here he was still confined to the courts of the
guards and betrayed on all sides. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">But he receives a Word from God. God does not show him
how to escape, nor does He promise to get Jeremiah out of his persecution. But
the Lord exhorts Jeremiah to prayer and promises He will show Him things which
Jeremiah still does not know. Well, what are these things and how can they help
Jeremiah’s situation? I mean the Lord does not say “Call unto me and I will
open the prison doors and break your chains”. So what lesson can be gleaned
from this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Jeremiah is recognized as a prophet who seemed to emphasize
a personal relationship with God. And this is an Old Testament revelation which
will find its greater fulfillment under the New Covenant. You see the Spirit
shows spiritual truth and revelations of Jesus to those who hunger and thirst for
them and are willing to labor in prayer. Which is the greater blessing, to be
set free from prison without any deeper revelation from God or to remain in an
earthly prison and be saturated with untold revelations of the Holy One?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">You see in today’s mindset we demand a pleasant place. We
need a place of flowers and not thorns. We want uplifting experiences not life
challenges. And so often we do not see unpleasant situations as spiritual
cauldrons which God desires to use to make us seek Him not just because we want
a way out but because we need more of Him. Can we recline and rest in a very
difficult situation and allow the Spirit to illuminate us with more of Christ
Jesus? Have we ever considered that in times of trouble we may be able to
understand the cross just a little bit better that we can in times of plenty?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Spiritual truth is not just knowledge if it is received
as a revelation through the Spirit. It is a life force which can fill a being
with divine life even in the most trying of circumstances. It is not a
“rah-rah” type of you can do it. It is not even an earthly encouragement. It is
a spiritual enlightenment which spreads throughout our lives and not only
provides nourishment for our souls but lifts us into the realm of the eternal.
So throughout the centuries disciples have been cast into prisons and tortured
and chained to walls and as the guards peer into that prison to make sure their
prisoner is still there they see a human figure but many of them are not really
there. They have been transported into the eternal realm and the chains meant
to bind them have become wings which caused them to soar high above their dire
circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Let us all learn from them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Hab.1: </span>The burden which Habakkuk the prophet did
see.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">2 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">O <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>,
how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of
violence, and thou wilt not save!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">3 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and
cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and
there are that raise up strife and contention.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">4 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Therefore the law is slacked, and
judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous;
therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">5 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Behold ye among the heathen, and
regard, and wonder marvelously: for I will work a work in your days which ye
will not believe, though it be told you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">6 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For, lo, I raise up the Chaldeans, that
bitter and hasty nation, which shall march through the breadth of the land, to
possess the dwellingplaces that are not their's.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">The
prophet Habakkuk sees the Chaldeans descending upon Israel and wreaking havoc.
He does not understand why the Lord is not protecting them against this heathen
onslaught. The Lord tells him that if and when He tells Habakkuk he will not
even believe it. So with Habakkuk’s attention the Lord reveals that it is He
that is raising up the Chaldeans to chasten His own people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Can you
imagine such a thing? Do we not understand that God will chasten His own
people? Look at what has happened to the visible church. The heathen have taken
over and hiding behind church membership and great music and ordination papers
and even the word “evangelical” they have swooped down and ravaged the entire
ecclesiastical community and structure. The discipleship bar has not been
lowered…it has been removed altogether. In fact the word disciple is rarely
used at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Not one
of us can stand publicly and exhort everyone to follow us because our
discipleship is impeccable. No, God forbid. But when we remove the ancient
landmarks and just feel our way along the inevitable happens. The spiritual
essence of the church dwindles away until most of the church is little more
than a mirror of the heathen with a veneer of Scripture and a Jesus who bows to
the culture and is our cheerleader but not our Lord. And people by the millions
can sit and listen to the most egregious error and nonsense and yet nod and
clap and shout even as the Chaldeans are ravaging their souls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Habakkuk
realized the heathen were committing violence in their midst but today’s church
not only is ignorant of such violence but it embraces the ways of the heathen.
I just wonder how long God’s patience will hold out before Jesus returns and
reveals a wrath about which we are ignorant in this cotton candy community of
faith. The Chaldeans are now the singers and the elders and the preachers. They
have not taken over through physical force. No, by smooth sounding words and
well dressed orators and moving music they have subtly elevated themselves and
now they are in complete control.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">This is
a day of great spiritual peril. This is a day where each individual believer
must seek Christ and His Word with passion. This is a day where we must be
fervently testing the spirits. Perhaps it would have been much easier in the
1700s attending a small local church without the onslaught of secular media,
but we do not live back then. The challenge is great, but so is our Lord.
Deepen the stakes and lengthen the cords of your spiritual tent. Behold He is
coming and no man can withstand His power. No man…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">I am an
outspoken advocate for showing Christ’s love to everyone. I do not join moral
crusades about anything. I take no political stands. But within the church, the
body of Christ, we need to understand some things about which we will not fly a
public flag. Gay marriage is one of these things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">You
cannot endorse gay marriage as being Biblical unless you feel the Scriptures
are malleable and ever changing. That does not mean we tip our hand to the
curious and the fallen public at large. Ministers give way too many interviews
and as this article shows the public is interested in controversy not Christ.
Preachers have now become famous and just like the world give interviews.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">And
when you have a large and growing church the tendency will always be to
accommodate sin in a lot of areas. When tens of thousands of people attend your
weekly services what accountability is there? And in an effort to open your
already bulging doors you begin to soften you stand, not just your tone, on any
number of issues. The pastor of Hillsong Church is a prosperity preacher who
peddles in falsehoods. Now he is sliding on the issue of gay marriage. It will
not be long before gay marriages are being performed regularly in evangelical
churches across America.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Do we
just sit and watch God’s wrath approaching and say nothing? Do we not want to
be seen as negative and even fanatical? Should we close our mouths and just
watch it like we are watching some sporting event? And if we remain silent will
we give an account to Almighty God some day? Are we afraid of our own family’s
scorn? Are we afraid of being seen as some religious monster? Do we shy away
from being labeled as unbalanced? Do we bow to doubt or do we speak those
things the Spirit has shown us? What do we do?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">I must
speak that which I believe is truth. The Lord is coming and he will bring
judgment. How can I sit life a fool and say nothing? I realize most will not
believe my words. But I know I will answer to Him one day. Behold He comes!
Repent and believe the gospel. The time grows ever shorter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">**** <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">II
Chron.36: </span><sup>15 </sup>And the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>
God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and
sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">16 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But they mocked the messengers of God,
and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> arose against his people, till
there was no remedy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">I do
not believe there is a remedy for the visible church. It has gone way too far.
What pathway leads out of such deep apostasy and back to Christ? Perhaps there
is a path of repentance however I personally doubt it. Sorry. The visible
church is a spiritual whore. There is no remedy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Matt.26:
</span><sup>6 </sup>Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon
the leper,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">7 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">There came unto him a woman having an
alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat
at meat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">8 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But when his disciples saw it, they had
indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">9 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For this ointment might have been sold
for much, and given to the poor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">10 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">When Jesus understood it, he said unto
them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">11 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For ye have the poor always with you;
but me ye have not always.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">12 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For in that she hath poured this
ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">13 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this
gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this
woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">There is much debate about who Simon the Leper was. I
find it quite curious that he was known as a leper and yet here was Jesus
eating inside his home. It surely reflects the love and nature of our Lord. But
in the midst a woman appears carrying a box of expensive ointment. Now women
are not allowed to make such a bold move in the presence of men. But boldly she
comes without shame.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">She pours the expensive ointment upon the head of Jesus.
At this time no one really knew who Jesus was and what His mission from heaven
was all about. But this woman sensed something special. And empowered by that
sense she anointed the head of Jesus with very precious ointment. Had she been
saving this ointment for something else or some future occasion? No one knows,
but we do know whatever she was saving it for was not as important as lavishing
it upon Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">And those who claimed to be His disciples called this act
of love a “waste”. Obviously they had a more limited knowledge of who Jesus was
than did this woman. What a scene. But I was intrigued by the words of Jesus
when He said, “She hath wrought a good work upon me”. Think about that
statement. This was a selfless act which did not feed the poor. It healed no
one. It did not bless enemies. But Jesus said her act would be preached all
over the world. Why? I believe this reveals something very special about true
worship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Worship, true worship, is a special “work” in God’s eyes,
especially that which costs something. How easy is it to raise your hands and
sing loudly on Sunday morning? But if you have given a sacrificial gift to
foreign missions about which no one knows does that make raising your hands any
different? I do not mean something you did or money you gave expecting a return
to your own bank account. I mean something you gave which was a financial
sacrifice and you do not expect anything this side of heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">You see, this woman did not expect anything in return and
neither should you. Extravagant worship is all to His glory and is never a
waste. It is an offering of love which needs no return at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Worship is not music. It is not a great and energetic
crowd. It is not a conference. It does not take place in a building. It is not
dependent on overhead projectors. It does not need a human leader.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">True worship takes place in the heart of a broken
believer who is seeking God from an altar of sacrificial humility.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">There is a vast difference between the presence of God
and the music fueled energy of the congregation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">In response to the wanton corruption in American politics
former President Jimmy Carter said:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-line-height-alt: 9.0pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">“It
violates the essence of what made America a great country in its political
system. Now it’s just an oligarchy, with unlimited political bribery being the
essence of getting the nominations for president or to elect the president.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-line-height-alt: 9.0pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">His
first sentence is wrong but his second sentence is right on. An oligarchy is a
government which is controlled by a small group of people. You see the country
known as America has never been nor will it ever be great in God’s eyes. In
fact God could care less about America. America is in the same boat as all
other nations. They are just a collection of people who happen to live in the
same geographical area and call themselves by that country’s name. The real
problem is that the western church itself has become an oligarchy when it
should have always been a Monarchy.<br />
****</span><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">I Sam.16:
</span><sup>6 </sup>And it came to pass, when they were come, that he
looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>'s
anointed is before him.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">7 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>
said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature;
because I have refused him: for the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>
seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> looketh on the heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Jesse had proudly presented all of his sons before
Samuel…all of them except one who was the runt of the litter and still outside
attending to sheep. Jesse’s sons were impressive but God spoke to Samuel about
the danger of relying upon the outward appearance. Samuel asks Jesse if these
are all is sons and Jesse told him of his youngest. So David was brought before
Samuel and in a moment the little shepherd boy, stinking of sheep, feels oil
running down his head and he hears men speaking of a king.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Oh how holy and righteous are the ways of God! God will
not use a self righteous man. Neither will He bow before the schemes and
religious machinations of the church. God is not only not impressed by our
outward appearance or our oratorical prowess, He rejects it all. He who exalts
himself will be abased and he who humbles himself will be used of God. David,
flawed without question, was a man after God’s own heart. Would to God that
would be said about us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">The name of David is the one most frequently used in the
New Testament when referring to Jesus. Look at his beginning. Guarding and
feeding the sheep this little boy was chosen by the Most High God to be a king
over His people. God gets glory from humility and brokenness and repentance and
by someone who actively and sincerely shies away from any personal praise. God
uses earthen vessels who adamantly point to Christ and away from themselves.
The true man of God knows the anointing of God and knows just how quickly it
can leave. He treats God’s blessing upon him as a sacred and undeserved gift of
grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">The true many or woman of God sees themselves as a
conduit through which Jesus can live and share His gospel. Men are just
spiritual instruments who have no incandescence of their own. All the light
belongs to God and if we extinguish our own earthly wicks He will light within
us His own wick that burns with the light of Christ! And what, pray tell, can
be more glorious than that? Never hold any man’s person in admiration and think
he is something when he is nothing. He who loves the praise of men is a
strutting peacock having the plumage of fallen humanity. But he who refuses
applause and who never seeks human adulation can indeed be used of God. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Keep ministering to God’s sheep and seeking the souls of
goats, and if God chooses to lift you up to greater responsibility be careful
and quick to humble yourself and remember the oil is His, the Word is His, the
anointing is His, and the Savior is Him alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">When you realize that the foolish virgins missed the
banquet of the Bridegroom not because they weren't </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/virgins?source=feed_text&story_id=10153545668342498"><span class="58cl4"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="color: blue;"></span></span></span><span class="58cl4"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">virgins,</span></span></a><span style="color: #141823;"> but because they
were </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/foolish?source=feed_text&story_id=10153545668342498"><span class="58cl4"><span style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="color: blue;"></span></span></span><span class="58cl4"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">foolish</span></span></a><span style="color: #141823;">, that's when your
Christianity wakes up. And when you give more than a mental consent to the
truth that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom is when you begin to
truly prosper spiritually.<span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;">And when you
give more than a mental consent to the truth that the </span></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/fear?source=feed_text&story_id=10153545668342498"><span class="58cl4"><span style="display: none; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="color: blue;">#</span></span></span><span class="58cm2"><span style="color: #3b5998; display: none; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Fear</span></span></a><span style="color: #141823; display: none; mso-hide: all;"> of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom, <br />
That's when you beginning to truly prosper. <span class="textexposedshow2">when
your christianity </span></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/wakes?source=feed_text&story_id=10153545668342498"><span class="58cl4"><span style="display: none; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="color: blue;">#</span></span></span><span class="58cm2"><span style="color: #3b5998; display: none; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">WAKES</span></span></a><span class="textexposedshow2"><span style="color: #141823;"> UP.</span></span><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<span style="display: none; mso-hide: all;">And when you
give more than a mental consent to the truth that the </span></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/fear?source=feed_text&story_id=10153545668342498"><span class="58cl4"><span style="display: none; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="color: blue;">#</span></span></span><span class="58cm2"><span style="color: #3b5998; display: none; mso-hide: all; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Fear</span></span></a><span style="color: #141823; display: none; mso-hide: all;"> of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom, <br />
That's when you beginning to truly prosper. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Jam.3: </span><span class="text"><sup>15 </sup>This
wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.</span><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">The mindset of most of the evangelical community is
earthly, sensual, and devilish. This verse is in the context of strife and
bitterness but the concept of being earthly, sensual, and devilish can apply to
almost all situations and even as a pervasive mindset and atmosphere. That
mindset is not devil worship as we normally would associate with the term. It
is not a scene taken from the Exorcist movie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">No, it indicates a mindset where we see and understand
everything through earthly prisms. It is a fallen view of things of this world.
All of us can be susceptible to it from time to time. But much of the church
has adopted that mindset as their ears and eyes and in so doing they are deaf
to God’s Word and the voice of the Spirit. They live fully within the temporal
and sacrifice the eternal on the altar of the here and now. This is no minor
point of doctrine. This kind of mindset undermines the essence of the faith and
remolds the teachings of Jesus and presents them in nice packages with temporal
ribbons and bows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">When we see things with earthly eyes and minds we soothe
and harden our consciences. We cannot feel any real pathos for lost souls. We
cannot embrace the cross other than in sentimentality and doctrine. We cannot
see the hand and purposes of God. We belong to a community of faith which has
all but lost the eyes and ears of the Spirit and is contented to be so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Be aware, though, it is extremely difficult to walk in an
eternal perspective. Everything and everyone all around us is pulling our minds
away from the spiritual and into the earthly. It does not mean that everything
that pulls at us is sin in and of itself. But even good things can become sin
if they become stumbling blocks which keep us from Him and the mind of Christ.
I realize this makes no sense to most of the church membership. Almost twenty
five years ago it would have meant nothing to me as well. But by God’s grace I
have had my eyes and ears opened to things about which I was ignorant. Yes, I
do not always walk in an eternal perspective however I k=now know what an
eternal perspective is and I now can repent and run back to the Shelter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">But the problem with earthly religion is that it is never
stagnant. It has an earthly life which seeps into everything upon this earth.
It demands the minds and hearts of people, and with the help of earthly
preachers it reinforces the ground it has already taken. It refuses to give an
inch and it always desires more and more. Like junk food it gets people
addicted and welcomes them back for more. Eventually you are left with a
powerless and hollow religion which hangs its hat on certain morals and earthly
allegiances and even fallen legislative processes. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">The mind is an unruly power. It is influenced by many
things among them other people, family members, preachers, books, news
programs, radio programs, and all kinds of moral philosophies. The mind must be
forced, yes I said forced, to submit fully to God’s Word and the guidance of
the Spirit. This is only done through a passionate and consistent hunger for
God’s Word, intermittent fasting, and a surrendered desire to be corrected by
the Spirit. We must be open and ready for repentance. Not a legalistic prison
but a life giving repentance which forgives our sin and leads us into greener
pastures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">Repentance should be the joy of a disciple. But until we
repent of an earthly mindset we will never understand that we need repentance
or what we should be repenting of. The days are well spent and the time grows ever
shorter. If ever we are going to pursue Him with all of our hearts it must be
soon…or today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">The church tosses around the word “holy” as if we know
all about it. We use it in our doctrines and theologies. We even have some
pitiful definitions. But until we see the Holy Lamb of God we are doctrinal
blind men playing pin the tail on the theological donkey. We really have no
clue and the sooner we confess that the closer we can draw near to Him who
alone is holy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #141823;">I am convinced that when we sense the unusual presence of
God either in private or corporate worship it does not mean God's presence is
any more real. It means we are more humble, broken, and repentant. You see the
cleansing of the receptacles is what is always needed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Jam.2: <sup>26 </sup>For
as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">The significance
of this statement should not be minimized. And if it is important than what are
the “works” the Spirit identifies here? Just what are works that substantiate
our profession of faith. Does that not seem to be of great importance? Forget
about your baptism or church membership or your senseless seed faith gifts.
These works are those which reflect the life and ministry of Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">And is the church
consumed with ever learning about the life and ministry of Jesus? Why not? If
His works must be our works you might think preachers would harp on them
continually. But so much of the church has created their own earthly theology
and in so doing they have left Jesus altogether. You can be very wealthy and
not be doing His works. You can be very successful and not be doing His works.
You can be on television preaching and not be doing His works. You can be very
conservative and not be doing His works. You can be pro-life and not be doing His
works. You can voice solid support for Israel and not be doing His works. You
can be against gay marriage and not be doing His works.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Let us be honest
and open here. Jesus never mentioned supporting Israel. He never mentioned the
gay community. He never mentioned politics. He never mentioned allegiance to
any country. He never mentioned abortion. That does not mean that we should not
have any stance on some of these issues. But what it clearly reveals is a
divine set of priorities. Are not the teachings of Jesus are template? Are they
not our statement of faith? Are they not our doctrine?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">So what did Jesus
speak about? He spoke about helping the poor and loving sinners and showing
mercy and being humble and denying yourself and rejecting hypocrisy and unconditional
forgiveness and a pure heart and being salt and light and blessing your enemies
and hundreds of other avenues of divine characteristics. Where are those not
family values? Why are they not considered morality? Why are they not viewed as
conservative? Those are the works to which we have been called and taught by
our Wonderful Master.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">They are a steep
ladder to climb and we are completely dependent upon the Spirit to give us
wisdom and strength. But when you tear things about which Jesus never taught as
the core of our faith you have changed the nature of the faith. Think about the
tragic implications of that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">After many months
debris from a plane which disappeared washed up onshore. One day all your sins,
some of which you may have forgotten, will be brought up before you. Your only
hope will be in your sins are buried forever in the wounds of the Sin Bearer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">There is no
greater act of selflessness than the cross. It cannot be compared with anything
in human or angelic history. It stands alone and radiates the glory of God.
Just the incarnation was selflessness in its purest form. But the cross goes
beyond even the angelic mind to comprehend the profound implications of such an
act. He, Jesus, He, God, He, the Spotless Lamb willingly went to suffer and
die. Do we still tremble sometimes as we understand a little more of that
glory?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Well keep
trembling because we have been called to live and die upon that cross. Tremble
indeed…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Bruce Jenner won a
gold medal in perhaps the most challenging event called the decathlon. I
watched him do it on television. But inside he lived with a great battle.
Eventually he changed his name and now lives as a woman. He was awarded by ESPN
for his courage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">I do not make
light of anyone’s struggles due to the ravages of sin. That may be courage to
the world and I guess it did take some worldly courage to expect ridicule and
rejection. But that is not my definition of true courage. There are three
people with whom I associate spiritual courage and whose life and testimony has
challenged me for forty years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Joni Erickson Tada
became a paraplegic due to a diving accident. But she allowed God to transform
her life and became a shining light for Jesus Christ. She has spoken all over
the world and shared the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is true courage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Jim Elliot heard
the Spirit’s call to reach the unreached tribe in the middle of Ecuadorian
jungles. He was murdered by the people he was trying to reach. But his legacy
lives on and many have responded to the gospel because of his legacy. That is
true courage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Corrie Ten Boom
endured unbelievable hatred and torture from with a Nazi concentration camp.
She saw part of her family die because of that hatred. But when she was freed
she became an incandescent witness for Jesus Christ around the world. And she
openly forgave her captors. That is true courage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">These are three
who I look to as examples of surrendered and humble courage. They received no
earthly awards. But they will be given an eternal gaze upon the Risen Lamb.
There is no reward greater than that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Tests the spirits.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Most error being
taught is man centered. It revolves around man, It gives promises to man. The
hearer holds a man in admiration and therefore will believe whatever he tells
them. And they hold themselves in high esteem. That is a deadly combination
which continues to lead many to shipwreck. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">So many today have
taken the word “anointed” and used it to elevate themselves. If a preacher can
convince his listeners he is anointed by God they will believe God is speaking
through him. The Word of God is no longer relevant. And someone can pull out a
verse and concoct some message filled with greed and success and all kinds of
spiritual error and the pew dweller who has come to hear from God embraces what
he hears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">How many true
believers actually know how to study and rightly divide the Word of God? I do
not suggest we walk around with a spirit of cynicism. But we must not eat from
every table without discernment. We live in a day of great apostasy and even the
most orthodox among us can be compromised by religious spirits and the mores of
the culture. We must do more than just know about the Word. We must know the
Word on paper, in Spirit, and the Word Himself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Emotions can be
used for all kinds of deception. There is nothing wrong than having emotions
which spring from truth and the love of our Savior. But we can never be guided
by emotions. It is literally astounding what passes today for Bible preaching.
Men and women can share philosophy and self help and self esteem and promises
of money and people will flock to hear them. Just the fact that large
convention centers will be filled with paying customers just to hear some
famous preacher is a sign of the times.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">When was the last
time you heard a preacher strongly tell you that you must die? That message is
still in Scripture but it has fallen completely out of vogue in this man
centered religious business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Jam.1: <sup>26 </sup>If
any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but
deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">There are two
levels of spirituality as it pertains to the tongue. The lower level is to
bridle that tongue so that no unwholesome words come forth from it. In other
words do not say what you are thinking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">The second level
is to bridle your mind and bring every thought into the captivity of Christ.
This is the deeper level since your tongue will speak words of the Spirit that
proceed from your mind. If your mind is unruly and not filled with God’s Word
eventually your tongue will speak things which it ought not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">We have grown up
in an era of decadence. Webster defines decadence as “</span><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">having low morals and a great love of pleasure,
money, fame, etc.”. And the culture in which we live is rife with all those trademarks.
In fact many of those sins have found their way into what we would call the
normal life of American citizens. They have crept in unawares and camouflaged
by the extreme versions but they are still part and parcel of the culture on
all levels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">And
in an astounding revelation many of those attributes are embraced by the
average citizen although he would not label them as such.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">Everything
is relative. Everything can be compared with a worldwide vision. And ultimately
everything will be compared with the Word of God. So what seems to be measured
and normal can indeed be seen as extravagant and excessive if God’s Word is the
standard. When those who are barbaric and wild are the measuring stick than
indeed we can hide and redefine what we do. Normal, as it is within a fallen
culture, is completely at odds with God’s Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">And
what would be seen as decadent according to God’s Word is now seen as God’s
blessing. I want to go further into territory which may seem shocking and
offensive to most professing believers. You can turn on the television and
watch male preachers dressed in expensive suits and women who look like whores
and yet there they are speaking the name of Jesus. They have succumbed to the
ways of the world and fashioned themselves likewise and feel absolutely no
conviction. In fact many of them suggest and teach others that this is God’s
will.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">I
Pet.1: </span><sup>13 </sup>Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be
sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the
revelation of Jesus Christ;</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">14 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">As obedient children, not fashioning
yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">15 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But as he which hath called you is
holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">This concept is not a practical suggestion. This comes from the lips of
the Spirit and we are bound to strive to obey it. And it is a spiritual
principle that should never be diluted by any culture. If we take God’s Word
and understand it as holy and absolute apart from any cultural understanding
then how would we embrace and practice it? If someone surrendered to God’s Word
completely and with any shred of compromise at all or any vestige of cultural
influence would he blend in with today’s local church? Perhaps he would be
considered unbalanced and a nut.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The mere fact that we can blend in with so many is not just a clue to our
compromise. It is an open indictment. I will get into specifics later but for
now let us receive the enlightenment and correction of the Spirit. We have come
a long way but in the wrong direction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">****</span><span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Lk.23: <sup>27 </sup>And
there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed
and lamented him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">These people were
weeping because of sentimentality. They did not know who Jesus was nor could
they know why He was headed for Golgotha. But among those who do know now, and
who should have an understanding, where are the tears? I do not mean tears of
sentimentality. I mean do we ever come before Him in prayer or hear a song or
hymn of the cross, and do our hearts break because we do know why He came to
Golgotha? Is it ever so personal that we weep because we know just how unworthy
we were are are? Do we ever allow the Spirit to reveal a little bit more of His
sufferings and do we see our sins within those wounds, those gasps, that blood
filled sweat?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">I do not claim to
be the perfect example by any stretch but I can still weep before Him because I
do know who He was and what He did and who I am without Him. The entire specter
of that spiritual knowledge breaks me and allows me to worship Him with the
same tears as did that sinful woman. Because I too know how much I have been
forgiven. It is almost endless and there is nothing in any of it which would
engender such love. God did not see some good in me and decided to grasp hold
of that and suffer for that little glimpse of goodness. There was no good thing
found in me and knowing that Jesus still went willingly to the slaughter for
such an one as me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">You see, if that
does not make you weep sometimes you have a deeply flawed view of the cross.
But, you say, I am not like that. Go to Golgotha armed with the knowledge of
your sinful depravity and behold the man. And if you allow the Spirit to
illuminate God’s bloody sacrifice to you will become something you are not like
in the natural. Any believer who cannot ever weep needs to be broken by the
Spirit of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">In 2014 Japan
experienced an earthquake of 9 on the Richter scale. What made that earthquake
even more horrific is that it lasted for a full six minutes. It ruined the
nuclear power plant at Fukushima and the cleanup will take fifty years. In fact
the technology for the cleanup is not known yet. The event came very close to
making Tokyo uninhabitable. But the reason for such a breakdown was due to
careless safety regulations and in general human hubris. This will not be the
last of such events.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Jn.19: 5 - Behold
the man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">When you live and
breathe within a fast paced and all consuming culture there is little time to
“behold” anything really. The word implies more than just a casual glance or eve
a good look. I would suggest that to really behold Jesus takes time. It takes a
relentless spirit and a true spirit of worship. You cannot behold Jesus only
through a twenty minute music session on Sunday mornings. To behold is to
invite His Person and His presence into your very being. That even by
definition is a sacred and monumental experience which requires a level of
surrender, brokenness, and commitment rarely seen in this jingle-jangle western
church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Behold the man.
Behold the God. Behold the Redeemer. Behold His cross. The narrative we call
the Passion Week cannot be completely captured by the human mind. Who among us
know all the mysteries of the incarnation? Gethsemane? Gogotha? The empty tomb?
Who is so filled with self righteousness that he could suggest his theology and
doctrine explains it all and uncovers all the mysteries? Only a fool would say
such a thing. To see with the eyes of faith the whips and the thorns and the
punches and the robe and the plucking and the lashes and the mocking and the
nails and all the rest is life changing if we really see it and absorb its
boundless truth. But when and if we, surrounded by all those things, bow and
behold the man at the very center of it all then we must be undone and made
whole simultaneously. Again a great mystery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">But when you
behold Jesus clothed in humility and with a Spirit given knowledge of who is
was and is something happens to you. Yes, it is a deep and profound experience
however most earthly experiences soon fade into a memory file. But this
experience sears itself, sears Himself, into your innermost being. It is
difficult to explain with temporal words what happens when you truly behold Him
in faith and love and complete surrendered awe. He is glorious beyond words.
And when we think that what we know of His glory transfixes our hearts and yet
we touch just the hem of His garment? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Today we see with
the eyes of faith. Tomorrow we see Him face to face and we behold Him as He is.
So many make much of heaven and to be sure it is a place of great glory. But to
be in His very presence and behold His glory and be allowed the unspeakable
privilege to worship His holinesss is beyond our weak minds to fully
comprehend. Perhaps that why there was silence for about a half an hour in
heaven. Perhaps we will be so overtaken and immobilized by His glory we will
not be able to speak at all and then we will raise our spiritual voices in a
worship which may not need any music nor overheads.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">This will not be
beholding Jesus as a shepherd as some have painted Him. This will be the God of
all eternity unveiled without any obstruction. And we will be there…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Jn.19: </span><sup>2 </sup>And
the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on
him a purple robe,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">3 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and
they smote him with their hands.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">How many today
sing “Hail Jesus!” and yet smite Him with their hearts and lives?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Humans are the
only species that purposely terminates a pregnancy. It reveals the level of
depravity that courses through our veins. And if that is not shocking enough,
mothers will actually pay someone to invade their body and violently bring the
unborn baby death by human hands. And let me reject any logic or sense of
morality on my part concerning being pro-life. The only reason I am pro-life is
because the Spirit of Life dwells within me and has taught me the will of God.
Without Christ I would be staunchly pro-choice so all the glory is His.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Jn.1: </span><sup>10 </sup>He
was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">11 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">He came unto his own, and his own
received him not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">12 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But as many as received him, to them
gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">13 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Which were born, not of blood, nor of
the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">The world was made
by Him. So many professing believers forgot the totality of the Person called
Jesus. He has all power and to those who believe on Him He saves them to the
uttermost. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Before we can even
begin to understand the nature and scope of redemption we must first understand
we are in cieshow to articulate it or even how to make sense of it in your own
mind but the drawing is unmistakable, relentless, and irresistible if you have
ears to hear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">The sad irony is
that His “own” still do not know Him. I had a dream last night where one of the
television preachers was holding a rally and doing flips on a trampoline to
the4 sheer delight of the crowd. They are being thoroughly entertained. I did
not need an interpretation…I knew what is represented.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">But for those
whose hearts have been transformed by the power of Christ let us carry the Ark
with sacred care. The Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament was a gilded
box. The Ark of the Covenant in the New Testament is Christ Himself. And we
carry that Ark in earthen vessels so that the glory is all His forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">There are only two
overarching divine covenants which apply to all men. One was limited and
temporal while the other is unlimited and eternal. One was cut with the blood
of animals while the other was cut with the blood of God’s Dear Son. One
forgave sins for one year at a time while the other offers sin forgiven
forever. One was a foreshadowing of another while the other was a fulfillment
of the other. One has passed away fulfilling its purpose while the other will
remain forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Matt.7: <sup>12 </sup>Therefore
all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to
them: for this is the law and the prophets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">In one sentence
Jesus sums up the entire Old Testament as it pertains to the path of a follower
of His. This is an amazing statement from the lips of our Lord. You who desire
the law read these words carefully. Nowhere in the Old Covenant do these words
or even this sentiment appear and yet Jesus says all the law and the prophets
are contained in that one sentence. It quite the revelation and 2without the
guidance and illumination of the Spirit you would surely miss the profound
implications of this verse. That is why most professing believers do miss it
completely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Let us be honest
here. This sentence, this revelation, this exhortation is literally an
impossible task as is so much of our Master’s teachings. The church has either
ignored or declawed His teachings so that every pew dweller who is not doing
heroin or actively committing adultery believes he or she is obeying Jesus
generally. Nothing could be further from the truth. Just this one sentence
destroys the comfortable doctrinal oasis we have created for ourselves. Come
on, we are supposed to do to others what we desire done to us? Who are we
kidding?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">So why do we not
hear humble yet powerful pulpit voices presenting this truth before us on a
consistent basis?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Jesus walked this
earth for over 33 years and you know there were people committing adultery all
over the place and gay behavior and many others sins which He had to know were
going on. And yet the only time He was forced to confront some woman caught in
the very act of adultery He forgave her. You know this Jesus, His life and
teachings, has been repackaged by the church and His teachings have been
retooled so as to make them much, much easier to read. In fact most of the
church does not even attempt to reach the diluted version much less the pure
revelations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">We have heard this
teaching before presented like “Do unto others as you…blah, blah, blah.” We
receive it generally as a good thought. But when has the church embraced it the
colossal command it really is? If indeed church members suddenly were awakened
by the Spirit to the purity and meaning and implications of just this one verse
would not the altar be filled with weeping and repentance this coming Sunday
morning? Perhaps even before the so called service even began? As it is in
reality what happened last Sunday morning will be the template for what will
happen this Sunday morning and the following Sunday and on and on it goes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">It is one thing
though to try and do good unto others in the same way you desire to have good
done unto you, but it is on a higher level to have your heart changed so that
the golden rule is a driving force in your life. That is a supreme challenge
and in reality John the Baptist summed it up perfectly when he said “he must
increase and I must decrease”. To be Jesus in this world is monumental. But so
often the church has drawn up its own spiritual guidelines instead of His. And
even church membership subtly and not so subtly anoints people as saved and
disciples in good standing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">The entire
ecclesiastical structure and practice resembles man and not Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Matt.13: <sup>22 </sup>He
also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the
care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he
becometh unfruitful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Rom.12: <sup>2 </sup>And
be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your
mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of
God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">I Cor.3: </span><sup>18 </sup>Let
no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world,
let him become a fool, that he may be wise.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">19 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For the wisdom of this world is
foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own
craftiness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Jam.1: <sup>27 </sup>Pure
religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the
fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from
the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Please understand
that the word “world” can be interchanged with the word “culture”. In another
words all human cultures, regardless of how interesting and quaint are enemies
of the Spirit. They are all at odds with the kingdom of God. It is not wrong to
observe some things or even travel to other countries and observe the different
traditions of each culture. But the believer must never submit or love any
culture. If any man love the culture the love of the Father is not in him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">You see the world
and all that is in the world is not innocuous nor benign. Even the good lends
itself to humanism and self righteousness. The church has lost the understand
of just deep and profound and diabolical evil really is. Evil is everywhere and
has tainted everything. There is nothing that has not been infected by evil.
For example feeding the poor is a good thing in this world. But feeding the
poor in your own name or in the name of some organization or nation is evil
since it does not lead to Christ. Can you have ears to hear such a thing? Does
that not make sense to you? If so then you have been affected by the spirit of
this world and you fail to realize the preeminence and soaring majesty of the
Lord Jesus. I understand that in this compromised church atmosphere words like
that seem harsh and fanatical. But the nature of evil which lives and moves and
has its being within this world is unfathomable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">The church has
embraced the wisdom of this world and in so doing its members have become foolish.
The pulpits deal in worldly issues and ignore the cross. Preachers pay homage
to America and resist the denial of self. Retributive violence against enemies
is approved of and championed by most evangelical churches. Politics is not
just a distraction but has become a driving force. All of these things are part
of a fallen culture and yet the church frolics passionately within the culture.
That is loving the world if the phrase means anything at all. It is extremely
difficult to remain apart from the world while being in it, but it is
impossible if we do not see things as they are in the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">But the
evangelical assembly line is still in full force. It is an easy line which
produces church members by the hoards but few disciples. In order for the church
as an institution to become what God has always desired the situation, as it
stands, demands a complete dismantling of everything empowered by a full
throated repentance. Do you see that anytime soon? As is human nature the
things of this world work in orchestration to avoid at all costs any genuine
introspection so as to cement the current beliefs and practices. Family
members, likeable pastors, past financial investments, close friends, your
children’s fondness and stability, and the pieces of God’s truth taught from
the pulpit all conspire against even the slightest comparison with God’s Word
to say nothing of a passionate pursuit of ecclesiastical truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">So after many
decades and centuries the surrounding culture sits in church pews and claps and
smiles and gives but also brings in its own poisoned fruit. And eventually,
shocking and almost unbelievable in its depth and scope, the church teaches and
practices things openly at odds with New Testament truth and the narrative of
Jesus’ life. And yet all seems right and our doctrinal statements are finely
polished and grammatically correct. And so there is no need for inspection
especially for the very foundations of it all. Let the ornery and the negative
and the self righteous speak things like this but please turn down volume on
the alarm clock. It bothers us and rocks our contented worlds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Loving the world
is actually the spirit of antichrist. Try that one at the next business
meeting. But can we face spiritual reality regardless of where it might lead
and what verbiage it may engender? We are scared of Iran but show no fear
whatsoever of Almighty God. We fight against the gay agenda while we embrace a
worldly agenda of our own. We are playing tidily-winks while the evil one plays
with a vast arsenal designed to damn souls. And we who claim to know Him
embrace a culture which is designed in every way against Christ and His
kingdom. How can these things be? Am I a misguided voice who is wrapped up in
some kind of Dungeons and Dragons fantasy? Until we see the earthly culture as
an enemy, and until we see the culture as part of a fallen world, we will still
enjoy our local clubs which do not impose on our cultural lives at all. In fact
they promote it. You see instead of prayer and fasting and repentance we can
have our overheads and our staff and our church gymnasiums and our statements
of faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">And really, isn’t
that all we want anyway? After all I am a voting member.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Gal.6: <sup>14 </sup>But
God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by
whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Once again Paul
speaks to believers in Galatia and presents the cross of Jesus Christ as the
source for all glory. This is not an evangelistic statement. This brings forth
the true disciple’s heart. This brings forth the true church’s heart. Here is a
great sports enthusiast. He has a favorite team for which he constantly roots.
He wears the team’s shirt. He has their bumper sticker. He wears their logo on
his hat. He reads about them almost every day. He speaks about them with
others. He watches them on television. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Now I ask you,
does that man ever grow tired of learning about his team? Does he grow weary of
the year after year redundant cheerleading? Does he eventually believe his support
is for new supporters but more mature supporters move on? I mean how much can
he hear about this same old team? It must get old after a while, right? Wrong!
The overwhelming majority of sports enthusiasts who have a favorite team stick
with that team for life and never grow tired of watching them and discussing
them. Some have even made that team an obsession.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">So let us
understand the place that the cross of Christ has in the life of the church and
of each individual believer. First of all there would be no church and no
believers were it not for the cross. Not one sin could ever be forgiven without
the cross. Without the cross there would be only powerless and humanistic
religions. The cross is the centerpiece and the foundation for everything that
calls itself “Christian”. Everything else is a fraud. The cross is not a
beginner’s guide to the faith. It is the beginning and the end and everywhere
in between.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Most believers
assume that learning about the cross is just reexamining the same facts over
and over again. They grow tired of hearing the same old things. Outside of
church I have rarely heard a believer speak of the cross with passion and
intimacy. Even within church walls I have rarely heard that kind of discussion.
In fact, buckle your seat belts, I have heard church members speak about the
local sports team many, many times and I have rarely heard them speak about the
cross. That, my friends, is a shocking tragedy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">The cross of Jesus
Christ gave to us eternal life. But it continues to give life to those who
meditate upon it and take it up and follow Jesus. It should be the cornerstone
of our lives. We should speak of it often. We should speak of it to God daily.
We should remember it at the Lord’s Supper. We should remember it when we look
upon the lost for whom we sprung. We should remember it when we think about
heaven. We should think about it when we pray. Jesus Christ is our life, and
that life was purchased on that cross…forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">And in that alone
we glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Heb.4: <sup>12 </sup>For
the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,
piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and
marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Notice the word
“sharper”. In these days of arrogance and self awareness men have made the Word
of God a blunt instrument. What they preach under the guise of Holy Scripture
is not quick nor powerful and certainly not sharp. The thoughts and intents of
the heart? Who are we kidding? They are sweet sounding self help messages which
activate the fleshly senses and are counter productive to any authentic
spiritual growth. And in a stunning display of humanism many exhort their
listeners to repent of having a spirit of poverty. I am not sure I have ever
met anyone with that spirit in America. The rich want to be richer and the poor
just want to be rich.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Jesus said, My
words are spirit and they are life”. You see God’s Word is not just ink on a
paper which are good or even insightful thoughts. They hole a spiritual power
that no other words can hold. They have the power to save. They can enter a
human being and illuminate his mind and change his heart. It is a great
mystery. The power of God’s Sword transcends different languages. A person can
read a sentence and by the Spirit’s enlightenment his whole life can be changed
forever. People have picked up a Gideon Bible in a motel and flipped around and
read something and in that room they were saved.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Some believers
make a huge deal over which translation to use and there are a few that have
problems. But the Spirit is not bound by translations. And it is the height of
self righteousness to proudly proclaim how orthodox you are and how you believe
every word is inerrant and all the rest. God is not interested in what you
believe about the Bible. He is interested in how much you believe and how much
of it you obey. And when your souls has been saved through the believing in the
Truth, who is Jesus and who is the Word of God, then God’s Word becomes your
way of life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">This isn’t a case
where you can receive eternal life and then live according to your own word.
No, you are now bought with a price and you are not your own. And now God’s
Word is a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path. He who does not love
God’s Word cannot love Jesus either. The two are one in the same. Another
glorious mystery. Most professing believers do not read God’s Word at all. Most
who do still only understand and receive it in a surface way. But blessed is
the believer who seeks God’s Word as if they are the words of life and embrace
their wounds as love from God as He seeks to conform us to the image of His
Dear Son.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">The way of the
cross is not as esoteric nor ethereal as some might suggest. It demands arms
and legs as well as mouths. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">It is on days like
today in which I see my own shortcomings so clearly and I am ashamed at my own
ignorance and rejection of His teachings. I stand before Him without excuse.
But it is on days like today when I submerge myself in His grace and against all
evidence I am strengthened. How can I think such a Savior? How can I express my
love for One so gracious? And with what words can I convey my heart without
receiving any credit for a semblance of humility? It is on days like today when
I relive my conversion over and over and over again. And I fall in love with
Jesus over and over and over again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">So many
evangelicals allow fundamentalists of all stripes dictate what they
"must" believe. And that creates a very grave situation. I used to be
a fundamentalist and I was very proud of it. Just attend one of their
conventions and you will be bathed in an atmosphere of self righteousness. And
they shield their self righteousness under a cover of doctrinal self depravity.
Just because you say you believe in salvation through faith alone does not mean
you are free from self righteousness. In fact many times that doctrinal
profession seems to be used as the basis for self righteousness. Self
righteousness is a very slippery fellow. It can hide behind truth. It often hides
behind moral or doctrinal truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Humility has been
so redefined and diluted and marginalized that we no longer even know what it
looks like anymore. But how can we even suggest we are followers of Jesus
without humility? He who left the glories of heaven and wore the robes of
humanity carved out our path and yet have we followed in His steps? Does the
western church even know His steps anymore? We have embraced human doctrine
over divine truth. But the tide is turning for some. For some the times they
are a changin’. We can no longer embrace what we have been force fed. We must
embrace what He said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">For almost twenty
years I have tried to convey the truth of God even in the face of evangelical
tradition. The Spirit has been able to reach open hearts and but some hearts
have hardened and labeled me. I gladly wear His reproach. They have called me a
liberal or a compromiser or a gay lover or many other things. But I am what God
calls me. I am a servant of the most high. I am a member of a peculiar people and
a holy nation and a chosen generation. I am still strongly resisting the
temptation to defend my reputation especially when the castigations against me
are inaccurate and spurious and lies. I have had a struggle laying them down at
the feet of Him who ignored His own immaculate reputation and submitted Himself
to that cross. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">You want
fundamentalism? Well then you must embrace then cross as did He. And that, my
friends, will take a lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Matt.5: </span><sup>43 </sup>Ye
have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate
thine enemy.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">44 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But I say unto you, Love your enemies,
bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which despitefully use you, and persecute you;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">45 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">That ye may be the children of your
Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the
good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">46 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For if ye love them which love you,
what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">47 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And if ye salute your brethren only,
what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">48 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Be ye therefore perfect, even as your
Father which is in heaven is perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">This portion of
Scripture is taken from the most famous sermon spoken by our Lord. It is
commonly called the Sermon on the Mount. It is this message which should form
the basis for the faith we call by His name. How many preachers have held high
the Bible and declared proudly they believe it to be God’s inerrant Word? And
yet when faced with words like this directly from our Lords lips they run to
shelters of common sense, reason, and patriotic necessities. But has never been
able to change these inerrant words they profess to believe. If we allow any
earthly reason to make exceptions to God’s Word than we allow almost anything.
Once the dike is breached error can come in like a flood. The same people who
make exceptions for these verses recoil when gay people make exceptions for
other verses. You see, you cannot embrace your own exceptions and castigate
exceptions by others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Once you embrace
“what ifs” and “How abouts” and the long list of “Buts” you now are creating
man’s word and not God’s. If God’s Word is not unreasonable and extremely
difficult and supremely inconvenient then it is not His Word. If it does not go
against the culture in ALL aspects than it is a culturally homogenized version
that blends nicely with earthly thoughts. And you are left with a doctrine
which says one thing and does another. Why call Me Lord and do not do the
things that I say? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Do you think it
was easy to come to the place where you take these kinds of teachings as
absolute? When you have had men and women of God who have taught you otherwise
is it easy to pursue a different path? But let it be known that once the Spirit
opens your heart and fill it with light you had not seen it does not matter if
Spurgeon himself taught something. You must either repent and seek or reject
and stay put. As I have said many times before it is easy to be against
abortion. But let us see you love your enemies. That, my friends, divides the
followers from the professors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">None of us can
claim to follow Jesus and all He taught with perfection. None of us. But if we
move the goal posts a little closer we can never please God. To remove the
purity of God’s Word and interject the poison of man’s reason makes the Word of
God “of none effect”. I have not loved my enemies like Jesus taught, but I
refuse to make an excuse by suggesting certain situations are immune to His
teachings. And allow me to interject something very important here. This
teaching in Matter five is part of the foundation for the entire faith. Did you
understand what I just said? To deny this teaching or to marginalize it with
earthly situations that seem unreasonable is to change the faith itself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Jesus said there
are two commandments upon which everything rests. Love the Lord with all your
heart and love your neighbor as yourself. Well Jesus included your enemies as
your neighbors. There is nowhere to hide. There are no arguments that can alter
His words. We must either believe and obey them or change them which is
unbelief. Those are the only two choices. You must choose one. Be advised
though bombing your enemies cannot be seen as loving them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">You can find all
sorts of people who have been born again and changed. Child molesters. Racists.
Murderers. Hedonists. I have known racists who hated black people but now love
them. I have known violent people who are now peacemakers. I have known people
whose life was money but now live without greed. Jesus does things in people’s
hearts that no amount of psychology could ever do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Col.3: </span><sup>3 </sup>For
ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">4 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">When Christ, who is our life, shall
appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">When we bury someone
people often say the laid him to rest. When we reckon ourselves dead to this
world and alive only to Christ we can find untold rest. While the world frets
over everything the believer whose mind is stayed upon Christ can walk in an
inward rest unknown to this world. Notice Paul says Christ does not just give
us life but He IS our life. What a glorious and transcendent truth!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Without Christ we
have nothing and we are nothing. This is not some transcendental mind trick.
No, this is a soaring and eternal truth which was purchased for us at
Golgotha’s bloody sacrifice. Is it not an affront to your intellect to wonder
at such an eternal gift and yet to understand it happened through something so
grotesque and offensive and barbaric? We desire some lofty principle which
requires our genius to figure out so we can claim some of the glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">But the glory of
the cross is shared with no man…ever. It stands alone as a testimony to the
Lamb of God, and within those wounds are revealed the love and mercy and grace
and power of Almighty God. It should make us tremble. And when a poor sinner
looks upon that cross with the opened eyes of faith, that sinner dies. And a
new life is born which is hid and secured and protected within that same Lamb
forever. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">But think on this:
The majesty is His. The labor is His. The light is His. The redemption is His.
And the glory is all His. But Paul says we shall appear with Him in glory. We
shall be with Him in His glory. It is difficult to fully imagine because we
have so distilled the concept of heaven. We speak glibly of pearly gates and
streets of gold and chit chatting with loved ones. Oh my dear friends have we
no shame? Do we even know Him at all? We treat heaven like some kind of
glorified pot luck dinner and in so doing we turn our backs on who will be the
very center and heartbeat of that dwelling place we call heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">There we will be
basking in His glory. Paul speaks of the glory that shall be revealed in us.
And just what glory will that be? It will be Christ Himself who now lives
within us. Like the Moon which only reflects the Sun’s light we have no glory
of ourselves. The only glory associated with us is His reflected glory. On that
day all remembrance of our sins, which were many indeed, will be gone. They
aren’t just erased from our memories. No, they are gone from the history books
forever. It is part of the miracle of grace. Our Wonderful Redeemer spared no
expense and lavished His love upon us in so many ways.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Why should I
desire to hold onto this corrupted life when a life incorruptible is reserved
for me with Him. Oh Lord let me die that I may live forever. The temporal,
earthly life is but a march toward death, but the life which bears His name is
eternal in the heavens and saturated with His glory. And this God who made this
universe so complex and so vast that the most brilliant among us are but
babblers before His creation, this God about whom the word intellect has no
meaning, this God is all knowledge. And this God, high and august and separate
from sinners, this Holy God purchased redemption through His sufferings and His
death. No man can boast of anything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">It is Him…and Him
alone…forever. Selah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Heb.11: <sup>26 </sup>Esteeming
the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had
respect unto the recompence of the reward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Sadly, today
American believers want the reward now and they react viscerally if criticized
and they have made Egypt their friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Heb.11: Now faith
is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">The phrase “hoped
for” is a little misleading in the English. It would be better translated
“waited for”. I am both heartbroken and angry over what the church has done to
faith. Men and women now teach fait as a force which can be wielded to get
earthly things from God. No longer is a patient trust in Christ our Redeemer.
It is now another human tool.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">But life in the
Spirit is one which looks at the unseen and embraces that kingdom and its King.
The things of this world may be utilitarian and some of them necessary, but if
you lay open our hearts they are not there. Today men decree and pronounce and
prophecy and no longer to professing believers say, “Be it unto me according to
Thy Word O Lord.” Today substance means things that can be touched. But the
true substance cannot be touched by hands but by hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Have we not lived
long enough and made enough mistakes and sought earthly rewards sometimes that
we now understand the fleeting satisfaction this world has to offer? Just by
experience we should be at a place of true surrender. Christ, who is our life,
says Paul. Yes and amen. We have no other God before us. This world is forever
attempting to tear us away from our Blessed Savior. But in the end to whom
shall e go, Lord, for Thou hast the Words of eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Most people think
of life as a heart beating and lungs breathing. But true life is a soul that
knows the Giver of all life…Jesus. I have done a lot of things in my earthly
life. But I never knew life before Christ and now I have been given eternal
life. Tell me, what is better than that? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Rev.3: <sup>22 </sup>He
that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Oh how the church
loves to speak. It loves to preach and prophecy and teach and sing. But do we
have ears to hear the Spirit and what He is saying? Do we even close our mouths
and minds long enough to hear His voice? What would happen if people filed in
on Sunday morning awaiting the latest version of what we call a “service” and
the pastor stepped behind the pulpit and said God wanted us to spend the next
hour or so praying and listening to the voice of the Spirit? Could we even
abide such a thing in this fast paced, filled with noise culture?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">All night prayer
vigils? Museum artifacts. Solemn assemblies? What? Fastings often? Let us not
lie. We have our heads filled with Biblical and religious knowledge. Our
auditoriums are bursting with people and excitement. We love our churches. We
love our preachers. We can hear the preacher and the talk show host and the conservative
politician and the celebrities and the President and we embrace the voice of
our own minds. But is the voice of God’s Spirit familiar to us through hours of
listening? We are quite adept and polished talkers but are we skilled
listeners?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">The Spirit of God
is still speaking to God’s church but who is listening? Listening to the voice
of the Spirit requires a knowledge of God’s Word, and time of separation from
the cares of this world, and a season of being silent before Him as you bring
your mind into His captivity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">One of the most
disgusting things I have witnesses in my lifetime occurred in 2003. While
thousands of graves were still warm with American lives, and while one hundred
thousand graces were still warm with civilian Iraqi lives, and while thousands
of men and women lay in great distress in hospitals, President Bush walked the
deck of the Abraham Lincoln under a banner which proclaimed “Mission
Accomplished”. This man who avoided active service himself was dressed in
fighter pilot garb and gave a self righteous speech which reveled in war. Like
a scene from Gladiator this spectacle made my soul sick.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">But what was just
as sickening was the victorious spirit promoted in church gatherings. I was
about five years from leaving patriotism and politics and war and I saw with
greater clarity just how deep idolatry had entrenched itself within the hearts
and lives of church members. Do not think I am singling President Bush out
because every president in my lifetime was a hawk on some level including
President Obama. But we have not learned that from Jesus. In fact we have
learned the exact opposite.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">I Pet.2: </span><sup>9 </sup>But
ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of
darkness into his marvellous light;</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">10 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Which in time past were not a people,
but are now the people of God:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">God’s chosen people under the Old Covenant were the Jews. That does not
mean every Jew was a part of it. There were many infidels among Israel (God’s
people). But God’s chosen people today are those who have believed on His only
begotten Son. We are called His church but just as in the Old Covenant not all
who call themselves the church are God’s people. We are now His nation. Jew or
Gentile, male or female, free or under an earthly regime, if you are in Christ
you are part of God’s chosen people. And we are called to show for His praises
to every creature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">In the Old Covenant God called His people out of the physical country called
Egypt. Today God calls His people out of spiritual Egypt which is the darkness
of this world. In the Old Covenant God led His people into a physical land
which flowed with milk and honey. Today God leads His people into His marvelous
light which is found in Jesus Christ our Lord. In the Old Covenant God met His
people’s needs in a physical wilderness. Today God meets His people’s need in a
spiritual wilderness called the world. In the Old Covenant God’s people found a
home in a physical place called Canaan. Today we have no enduring city here on
this earth. We look for a city whose builder and maker is God. Today God’s
people will only find a home one day when we reach His dwelling place called
heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But no Jew nor Gentile, no black nor white, no male nor female, no one
will see that Celestial City who never believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and
was born again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">We think of
immorality as confined to sexual sins. But greed is also immoral. We live in an
age where sin is accepted. I am a proponent of forgiveness and grace to the
extreme, however we must be vigilant about condoning sin of any kind. Picture
the evangelical church 50 years from now. And the practice of becoming pregnant
has not only become widespread but it accepted and applauded within the church.
No one even sees anything wrong with it. I am not speaking about tacitly being
against it but accepting its reality like the church does with divorce and
remarriage. I mean supposed the church defended unmarried sex and pregnancy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Preposterous, you
say? Well if I had told the evangelical church 100 years ago that the day would
come when the church would not only accept greed and avarice as part of a
Christian lifestyle, but that the church would consider almost any raise, any
new car, any new house, any new clothes, any unexpected money, and approved
loan, anything having to do with some monetary gain as a direct blessing from
God they would have been as shocked as you are when I suggest the church would
embrace premarital relations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">There is a saying
which goes “Time heals all wounds”. Allow me to tweak that and say, “Time makes
sin less sinful and eventually not sin at all”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">And Mary said,
Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">What a vessel of
the Lord. I am sure she did not realize the eternal implications of the angel’s
message, but she still submitted herself to God’s will. I mean just the sheer
shock of such a message should have given some real concern and even pause, but
not Mary. She had kept herself pure and yet here was something that would
change her life forever. Did she know many would not believe her story? And
what about Joseph? I cannot begin to imagine how she could digest such a thing
and offer an immediate reply of submission to God’s Word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Mary is one of my
Biblical heroes. She gets dragged out once a year during a man made feel good
carnival but she deserves much better. What a woman of strong faith and perhaps
strong physically as well. She seemed to fare well travelling all over the
Middle East while she was pregnant as well as caring for a toddler. And of
course she was there at the cross.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Mary stood and
watched Jesus on the cross. Think upon that for a moment. Think about that all
you mothers. I believe she knew by then generally who He was and what was
happening, but not in all it fullness. And Jesus, while dying for the sins of
the world, tells John to look out for mother. It gives me chills. Mary helped
prepare the body for burial and anoint it with spices. Mary was there as they
told the disciples that He had risen. And Mary was in the upper room when the
Holy Spirit was given and the church was birthed in earnest.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Oh what
faithfulness. Mary gave her entire earthly existence to Jesus. When they came
to her at a marriage feast because they had run out of wine she told them “Do
whatever He says”. Oh my…oh my. In these days of political correctness and the
blurring of genders Mary has always been to me a shining light of humble
obedience. She was a servant of the Most High God. She was a handmaiden of the
Lord. She was His mother. She was His disciple. I truly love her and I am
challenged by her walk of faith. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">I am often
offended these days when I see how the church and the world uses a caricature
during a false holiday and reduces her to sentimentality and even some sects
worship her. But if we were to be transported into heaven and we could scan the
blood washed throng we would see Mary. She now is a worshiper. She has taken
her place within the redeemed and wears a robe of white and bow before her
Lord. The former narrative has been washed away. But I choose to think of when
Christ gives out rewards. And Mary’s name is called. I can hardly write. And as
she is given untold rewards she bends over and places them at the feet of, not
her son, but her Risen Lord. And I hear her words once again, “Be it unto me
according to your Word.” Selah…selah.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
II Pet.3: <span class="text"><sup>18 </sup>But
grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">This is one of the
most succinct and profound statements of true discipleship. There is no deeper
life than that which seeks to know Jesus more and more and more. He that has
that continuing thirst pleases God and is an example to the church. There is so
much in Jesus which awaits our genuine pursuit. Just Bethlehem presents
countless vaults of precious jewels of truth. A baby. Born of a peasant. Born
to a virgin. Born amidst cattle breath. Laid in a feeding trough for animals.
This was God. This was the Creator. Have you fully exhausted those truths? Have
you wrapped your mind, and your heart, around those sacred revelations? Until
you reach the point where you understand you have only scratched the surface
you will remain outside the gate which guards the entrance to His truth. If you
can be satisfied with doctrinal crumbs you will be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">The knowledge of
Jesus far exceeds mind knowledge. Anyone who can read can recite His biography
taken from the gospel narratives. But revelation comes only through the Spirit.
And when it does you immediately realize how little you really knew and
understood. The light has been turned on and you see things that were hidden
before. And at the center of these revelations is Jesus the Christ. All the
promises and all the truths are found in Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">The more you learn
of Jesus the more you learn of grace. I submit to you that until we see the
Risen Lamb adorned in all His glory will can never know fully the grace of God.
If it were not for our new, spiritual bodies we would perish as we gazed upon
the Creator Lamb. By the way preachers preach you would think they have
exhausted describing Jesus and His redemptive work. It seems like gospel
revelations are mere child’s play and the appetite in the pew desires topics of
interest which lend themselves to our own well being and earthly success. So learning
of Jesus is rendered to the elementary department. Adults have move on to more
relevant subjects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">How sad. How
carnal. How utterly shocking to think that He who paid everything for us is not
the center of our church gatherings. Even the worship music is about being an
overcomer and having power over demons. But even the ones that mention Jesus
seem to elicit excitement rather than sacred brokenness and humble worship. And
in that atmosphere the concept of divine grace gets lost. Paul says that to grow
in grace we must learn of Jesus. And learning of Jesus grows us in His grace.
And I can testify that when the Spirit brings grace to you in a wider and
deeper and more Jesus centered way you are moved emotionally and spiritually.
It affects and infects you entire being. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Grace is not an
excuse to sin. It is the power to resist. And within that grace there is a
revelation of Jesus Himself. There is no greater experience than seeing more of
Jesus. It is life changing. It builds upon the first time you believed. It
cannot be communicated by human words. If you have never been ushered into a
clearer and fuller revelation of the Redeemer than you might think my words are
mysticism. They are not. This thing we call revelation is a gift of the Spirit.
It takes the invisible and shows it to the human heart. Most times it does not
appear as that which human eyes could see. Most times it impresses visions and
truths upon hearts which have no human eyes but which see things in the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Oh dear brother or
sister if you cannot understand then I implore you to pray and fast and pray
some more and fast some more and like Jacob tell the Lord you will not let Him
go until He reveals His immeasurable presence to your being. Once you have had
such an experience you can be blessed by other things but you will always
hunger for more revelation. Men like me may exhort you but you must seek Him
yourself. Jesus is no respecter of persons. He will reveal Himself to every
seeking heart. And in these days of self elevation the Spirit seeks those who
truly seek Christ. He awaits your knock. He will answer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I Pet.1: <sup>3 </sup>Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant
mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">4 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">To an inheritance incorruptible, and
undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">5 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Who are kept by the power of God
through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">6 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now
for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">7 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">That the trial of your faith, being
much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire,
might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus
Christ:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We live in perilous times. It is
going to get worse…much worse. Everything is rapidly coming together in these
last days. Violence is rampant; perversion is widespread; infidelity is
commonplace; hatred is increasing; rumors of wars abound; and the faith that
follows Jesus Christ has been highjacked so that now it follows man.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But in the midst of great and
growing darkness the light of His gospel can shine more brilliantly through His
disciples. We have an opportunity to be luminescent conduits who walk after the
Spirit and not the flesh. This world is not our home. It never has been. We
should pray, yea beg, God to separate us more and more beginning with our
hearts. We live in a fallen world of death. All around us is death even
sometimes dressed up as life.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
There is no more room for
ambivalence. No more space for a benign faith whose most prominent feature is a
round trip on Sunday mornings. All that is worthless and eternally dangerous.
All true believers will soon see His face. These are the days many of us have
learned about. The Scriptures are clear and sometimes very specific. It will
get worse but the beginning is over. We are squarely in the midst of a coming
apocalypse. That does not mean we should store up dry foods or dig bomb
shelters in our back yards. It does mean we must live with a vivid expectation
of His coming and a vivid spiritual life which seeks Him with passion.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Everything is vanity. But our faith
is more precious than gold, and our inheritance, purchased by His sufferings,
are safe and reserved for us in heaven. Do we believe that? Then why do we
chase green paper or cars or houses or things that glitter here on earth? Take
hold of your heart and point it toward heaven. In these final days the Spirit desires
to pry us more and more away from this present world. Jesus is all we have.
That reality must be seared into our beings every single day. All of our hope
must be in Him. Do not despair our King is coming. All that is in the world,
the lust of the flesh and eyes and the pride of life, has never been of Him.
The spirits of antichrist roam with seeming impunity.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Oh but the glory which shall be
revealed in us will eclipse by far anything evil on this earth. We have this
treasure in earthen vessels and the glory has always been His and not ours. But
here we stand. Redeemed by His blood by faith alone. In the midst of great
darkness we are recipients of God’s eternal grace. We still do not deserve it
but we embrace it nonetheless. Throw out a gospel net as the world consumes
itself and perhaps some will be saved. But keep looking up because our
redemption is nearer than when we first believed! Halleluiah!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The deepest sadness ever known met
the deepest glory ever known at a place called Golgotha. And in the midst of
the deepest emotions ever known as well as the deepest sufferings ever known
life was given at a place called Golgotha. The deepest expression of hate met
the deepest expression of love at a place called Golgotha. The deepest
revelation of man met the deepest revelation of God at a place called Golgotha.
The deepest reality of sin met the deepest reality of holiness at a place
called Golgotha. In six temporal hours eternity was loosed at a place called
Golgotha.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And for over two thousand years one
sinner at a time has found redemption, cleansing, and eternal life at this
place called Golgotha. It was just another hill. Just another place. It was
even outside the walls of Jerusalem. Insignificant. Common. And completely
nondescript. But it was there where the Lamb of God which takes away the sins
of the world accomplished what He alone could. And because of Christ and His
shed blood that place called Golgotha was sanctified forever. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
There have been millions of
tourists who have come to this place called Golgotha. But if you desire
forgiveness and the gift of eternal life you cannot find it as a tourist. You
must come as a broken and needy and repentant pilgrim. And you can never be a
tourist again.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Matt.16: <span class="text"><sup>15 </sup>He
saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Peter confesses
with his mouth that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of the Living God. But then
Peter rebukes Jesus for suggesting He must go to the cross. Do you see how easy
it is for our mouths to say something and then our flesh takes that same mouth
and openly denies what we said we believed. Our faith must never rely on how we
feel or how we think or even what we think we know. It must stand upon God’s
Word even when nothing makes any human sense at all. That is the supreme fire
which will test our faith and if we remain weak in our own understanding and
strong in His Word then our faith will come forth as gold.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But Jesus also made
this observation about some:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Matt.15: <span class="text"><sup>8 </sup>This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth,
and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Lips
often walk a sooth path but hearts are called to the threshingfloor. Lips tell
but lives show. Doctrinal tests pale in comparison to life tests. If
professions were actions the entire world would be evangelized. The easiest
phrase to say is “Jesus is Lord”. The more difficult and observable phrase is
“Jesus is my Lord”. Both phrases can be said by anyone with a mouth. But the
latter phrase must be proven and tested daily.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Have you ever been
dressed up and had to open the car hood and check your oil or something and you
do your level best not to get any dirt on your clothes or hands and yet you
cannot help it? Somehow and someway dirt found you.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
That is how I feel
about self righteousness. If we are taking a stand for righteousness or for
salvation by grace through faith or for God’s Word or for the gospel and Jesus
Himself if we are not careful self righteousness seems to creep in uninvited.
You think you are free from pride and yet there it is. You feel good about
yourself which is the definition of self righteousness. There is only one way
to came against self righteousness. Know it is always lurking and finds its way
through many portals.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Then visit the
cross. I mean really visit the cross and gaze at Him. Watch Him writhe in pain.
Watch His breathing becoming labored. Look at the wounds and all that blood.
Look at it fully and see the spotless Lamb suffer greatly. And then know you
did that to Him. I am sure self righteousness cannot stand being in a heart
that embraces that.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
No one can
recapture time. No one can live yesterday again. Time slows for no man. It is
the unstoppable force. It never speeds up and it never slows down. As each
piece of sand hits the bottom of the hourglass it will never again be seen at
the top. It is impossible for us to define time. We just know what it is. It is
the past, the present and the future all in one moment…of…time. The Spirit
exhorts us to redeem the time which is another way of saying make good use of
our time.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Meditate upon Him.
Tell people about Him. Pray to Him. Help others tell people about Him. Yes have
fun, and yes be entertained, and yes embrace your family, and yes enjoy some
down time. But remember time is God’s gift. All of us have wasted God’s time.
Shame on us. Let us endeavor to do better for Him. The time is His; the life is
His; and eternity is His. There will come a day when time as we know it will
cease. No one can witness to anyone anymore. No missionaries can be sent. No
more praying. No more giving. In that day there will be no more darkness
because He will be heaven’s brilliant light.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And all who walked
in darkness will be banished…forever. Does it seem like we are overly
concerned? The church is playing the harlot and is concerned with numbers and
budgets and activities and good music and political issues and many other
things. But time still passes away with predicable regularity. And with each
piece of sand that falls souls fall with it. Does it seem like we are overly
concerned? But, you say, I don’t want to get obsessed and become some kind of
fanatic.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Don’t worry…you
won’t.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
It is easy to be
pro-life. It is easy to be pro-traditional marriage. It is easy to be a Bible
believer. It is easy to believe in the virgin birth. It is easy to believe in
salvation by grace through faith. It is easy to believe in non-violence. It is
easy to be non-political.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
It is very
difficult to be like Jesus.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Is.6: In the year
that king Uzziah died I saw also the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>
sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">2 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Above it stood the seraphims: each one
had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his
feet, and with twain he did fly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">3 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And one cried unto another, and said,
Holy, holy, holy, is the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> of
hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">4 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And the posts of the door moved at the
voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">5 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Then said I, 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 mine eyes have seen the King, the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> of hosts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">This is worship. This was a true encounter with the Living God. No music,
no lights, no worship leader, only God’s powerful presence. </span><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823; font-size: 12pt;">It is
astounding just how creative the fallen flesh is as it creates elaborate
carnivals and calls it "worship" as if worship is an entity all to
itself. "What a worship service we had this morning!" can be heard at
many restaurants at about 1:00 o'clock Sunday mornings. I submit to you that
more often than not if we actually found ourselves in God's literal presence,
like Isaiah, we might not be so quick to go to a restaurant. In fact many times
we would not be hungry for anything but Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823; font-size: 12pt;">But here we
have a revelation from the Spirit and not some slick advertisement about some
worship service. And there is something very striking about Isaiah’s worship.
When the presence of God surrounded him Isaiah was broken over his own sin and
the sinful culture in which he lived. He had been given a vision of Almighty
God. But do not treat Isaiah’s experience as special and relegate it as just an
historical event. We who live in the New Covenant and who are indwelt by the
Spirit of God and who have the written revelation of Jesus Christ have been
given a more complete vision of the Christ God than Isaiah ever dreamed of.
What? Isaiah did not have the complete revelation that we have in our Lord
Jesus Christ and by the power of God’s Spirit. But even with an incomplete
revelation Isaiah was undone. He melted under the weight of God’s majesty and
glory. Do you believe Isaiah went out to eat right after this vision? Do you
believe Isaiah felt wonderful about himself and thought that the God he saw was
his servant? Did Isaiah hurry to plant a gold seed faith gift so he could get a
new set of clothes?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823; font-size: 12pt;">We need to go
deeper…much deeper if we desire to truly worship the glorified and risen
Christ. If at some point you are not broken before Him then He is not there.
And what was the Lord’s request of Isaiah or anyone else?</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Is.6: </span><span class="text"><sup><span style="font-size: 12pt;">8 </span></sup></span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Also I heard the voice of the Lord,
saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send
me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">You see, true worship will always
lead to true service. Worship, true spiritual worship, creates legs. And those
legs will take us to where we can serve the One who we worship. They are His
legs and by His power we are called and strengthened to serve our Wonderful
Master. Service is not worship, but worship demands service. Oh please jesus
reveal things to us that we know not so we may see You more clearly and serve
You more faithfully.</span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
II Sam.23: <sup>15 </sup>And
David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well
of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">16 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And the three mighty men brake through
the host of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that
was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David: nevertheless he would
not drink thereof, but poured it out unto the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">17 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And he said, Be it far from me, O <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, that I should do this: is not this
the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? therefore he would
not drink it. These things did these three mighty men.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">What a man of honor! Today lying men and women live off the offerings of
older and poor people because they have promised them heretical lies. But David
would not even drink the water that his men had so sacrificed to bring to him.
Again I ask all of us, what do we sacrifice in our lives? Can we point to
something that from time to time we resist even though we could enjoy it or we
could spend that money on ourselves?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">There are men and women who labor in whited fields all over the world.
They have given up the comforts we take for granted so they might be used to
bring living water to parched and dying souls. They receive no applause and no
accolades nor do they desire them. Do we pray earnestly for such as these? Do
we faithfully send them support in Jesus’ name? Or do we enjoy all the
accoutrements of western life with very little thought of our fellow servants
in Christ? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">This is the same David who refused a free offering from someone but
insisted on buying it because he said he would not offer unto God that which
cost him nothing. Think about the many millions of people who occupy a pew on
Sunday and sing and raise their hands and are offering unto Christ that which
cost them nothing. But God has not only called us to sacrifice, He has called
us to be a living sacrifice. And that means everything. Perhaps if God had just
said “Poof!” and forgave our sins He would have no place to exhort us to
sacrifice. But when we realize the eternal sacrifice of the cross and just what
Jesus sacrificed for us collectively and personally, well, God has every right
to call us to sacrifice as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">So much of the western church loves to identify enemies. They point to
liberals and to Muslims and to Russia and to China and to gays and to atheists
and to socialists and to Mexicans and to many others. But I am convinced beyond
any doubt my greatest enemy is none those at all. It is me. And that enemy I
call “me” is relentless and seemingly tireless and clever and cunning and loves
it when I point to the devil or anything or anyone else and create some false
excuse. Me will gladly agree and soothe my conscience and tell me how good I am
and that my motives are sincere and all sorts of self flattery. I used to fall
for it way more often than I do now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">I know me’s voice because it sounds so much like mine. And when I hear it
I shut it out because me never, and I mean NEVER, seeks my spiritual welfare.
He seeks to make to make me feel superior or intellectual or anything which
makes room for self righteousness. Me is a deadly poison. Yes there are enemies
of the gospel and there are demonic forces, but the most powerful enemy I have
ever encountered is “me”. I hate him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">****</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Matt.19: <span class="text"><sup>30 </sup>But
many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Whenever I need to
be appreciated and recognized and stroked and respected and praised and honored
and elevated in the eyes of man, and I have, I know that is me and never Him. I
must repent and until I do the Spirit is far from me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
II Cor.5: <span class="text"><sup>21 </sup>For
he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">It is very
difficult to put this in a spiritual context since it rises above the mundane
doctrinal recitations. Many define it with utilitarian words, clean and neat.
Jesus died for our sins and we are now made righteous before Him. That is truth
indeed, but this verse as well as the entire chapter digs much deeper and
reveals a spiritual truth which should render us as broken vessels beseeching
Him to fill us with His Spirit so we may understand such a soaring revelation.
We can hardly understand divine righteousness, and we have sterilized the
concept of sin so how can we understand the eternal transfer accomplished upon
that Roman cross? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">There is a vast
difference between a mental ascent which understands doctrinal logic and having
your inner man soaked with a truth until your mind admits its spiritual poverty
so the mind of the Spirit can infuse your being with…Him. And in Him is where
the entire library of truth resides. To know Him and to learn of Him and to
seek Him and to lay prostrate before Him are the vehicles by which God’s Spirit
infuses His life into us. And therein is truth, THE Truth, made alive within
us. Head knowledge is self righteousness on some level. But to be enlightened
in a way which astounds your sensibilities and literally changes you reveals
head knowledge as a place for spiritual curiosity rather than a sacred
threshingfloor. If you can still cling to the chaff then you have checked out
that truth only to return it later. But if it seared into your being you cannot
escape it. So here we have the Spirit telling us that Jesus became sin. Such a
simple statement and yet it boggles the mind. How can a man become sin? How can
a sinless Lamb become sin? I mean we are body, soul, and spirit so can any of
us become wholly sin? It seems illogical and impossible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">But this man was
God in the flesh. Paul says “He who knew no sin…”. Jesus never sinned. I think
most of us can understand that. But when the Spirit speaks of Jesus becoming sin,
well now we are standing like beggars at a door that shuts us out unless the
Spirit opens it unto us. It is impossible to fully comprehend the holiness of
God. Jesus the Christ was completely holy. I do not pretend to know just how
the incarnation worked. Was His humanity meshed with His divinity? I doubt it.
But I have often in forty years been confounded when I try and even define
holiness much less understand its depth as it pertains to Christ Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I have tried to come up with one of
my illustrations that reveals what happened and to no avail. I thought about a
white dress being splattered with feces or a sterile operating room being
invaded by cock roaches but they did not come close to the sinless Son of God
becoming sin. These kinds of truth must be taught by the Spirit because we have
no object lessons that can help. They might only detract.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But the other side of the coin is
that fallen criminals like us are made righteous through His sacrifice. Another
great mystery of grace. The word righteous does not just mean forgiven of our
sins. It isn’t that we stand before God as a blank slate and therefore are
benignly guiltless. No, we have been made the righteousness of Christ. How can
we even begin to fully grasp that? The filthy become not just the clean but the
sterile? The criminal becomes the honorable? The thief becomes the
philanthropist? The liar becomes the truth teller? This goes way beyond
theology. This is deep within the sacred heart of God. This is untold, eternal
treasure. This…this is love fully revealed and fully proven and fully sealed
forever.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
II Tim.4: <span class="text"><sup>7 </sup>I
have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">What does it mean
to keep the faith? I would suggest that first you must have the true faith
before you can keep it. And then we must keep it and not be moved. That is not
easy. It will require a fight. It will require going through discouragement. It
will require going through trials. It will require battling depression. In the
temporal realm there will be ups and downs, sickness and health, abundance and
lack. And in the spiritual realm there are demonic forces that are smarter and
more clever than you ever hope to be. But we must keep the faith.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">We might waver. We
might lose strength. We might feel alone. We might have doubts. We might even
despair. But we must keep the faith. I have found an important principle in my
forty years of knowing Jesus. Regardless of how low I get and how defeated I
feel and how dire the circumstances seem…tomorrow is a brand new day. His
mercies are new every morning. I have gone to sleep at night feeling a deep
despair and feeling none of the Spirit and when I awoke the next morning I was
able to get up and seek the Lord once again and sometimes by the evening I am
filled with faith and joy. That, my friends, is the power of our faithful Lord!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This morning something came to me.
In America we see church services on television and almost without exception
there is applause and even shouting in each one. I mean watch T. D. Jakes or
Rod Parsley and they strut their one man thespian shows and people will clap
and hoot and holler and if they say something that did not get the response
they desired they will either widen their eyes and look out at the congregation
or they might say, “You didn’t hear what I said” which is designed to get more
clapping etc.. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But if you really think about it
that atmosphere is all American. It mirrors a sports event or an Amway
convention or a music concert. You will never see people weeping over their sin
nor will you see people being deeply moved by Christ’s cross because His cross
is never part of the message. The entire spectacle is choreographed in order to
create great excitement and that excitement is many times how they feel about
themselves. Can you even imagine such a thing? Did Paul preach so as to make
people feel good about themselves? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
What we are witnessing in America
is not the faith which believes in or follows Jesus. We are seeing an American
flavored gathering that just happens to take place on Sunday but which props up
and presents another Jesus and another gospel. And tens of millions of people
embrace it. What does that say about their eternity. Only God knows that but it
should make us tremble.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Matt.16: <span class="text"><sup>15 </sup>He
saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
It continues to be a phenomenon
within evangelical Christianity which blurs the gospel and rejects the power of
the Spirit and embraces the power of argument, reason, and political power. It
is so ingrained that most professing believers will not even entertain the
suggestion that it is wrong. And this phenomenon imprisons the church and
resists the Spirit of God. It has shredded the gospel of Jesus and has deeply
misrepresented the teachings of Jesus. I cannot over emphasize what I have just
said.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
This phenomenon is generally called
nationalism. It suggests that God allows and even support allegiances to
earthly nation as a subset to showing allegiance to Christ. And the allegiance
to America is the most grievous example of this since most American believers
consider America to be a divine creation of God. This is no small issue. In
fact this an issue which deceives more believers than Rob Bell or even Joel
Osteen. In fact Rob Ball and Joel Osteen and Rick Warren and Kenneth Copeland all
agree that America is a divine creation of God. That should be revealing in and
of itself.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
It is quite astounding that men can
turn the Lordship of Jesus into an earthly amalgam. What then is exclusive? If
acknowledging Jesus as Lord is not paramount and exclusive then what is? And I
truly believe the entire American construct which purports to be His bride
grieves the heart of God and is a fraud. I do not claim perfection or anything
close to it. But what I am suggesting is the mark to which we should be
pressing has been changed and dilute and leads to something far from Christ and
His kingdom.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But it is very difficult to
communicate that position to most people much less to see them investigate it
with passion and a Scriptural adherence. So many read our stance as prideful or
hateful or just trying to be different. But that is very far from the truth.
Nationalism has killed the church in many, many ways. And this come from one
who was inside that very poison. You cannot understand the spiritual revelation
and freedom which comes from walking away and being completely released. It is
almost like being born again again. Why? Because nationalism and patriotism is
a massive idol which is against everything Jesus lived and taught. It is
earthly, fleshly, carnal, and it invades every area of a believer’s mind,
heart, and life.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Nationalism stifles spiritual air.
It breeds self righteousness. It lends itself to hatred. There is nothing
redeeming about it. But it is a pervasive hindrance throughout the American evangelical
church. To be sure it is not the only problem but it is unquestionably a major
problem. You cannot have a passion for Christ and His cross and embrace
something so earthly and lend your heart to it. But this deception is very
clever. While it encourages an earthly allegiance to a fallen nation it makes
room for a perfunctory allegiance to Christ. This is not some hobby horse. This
is a sincere plea to all who are still imprisoned by these spirits. And this
comes from one who has been on both sides of those prison bars and I must
testify that freedom is eternally better.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Pray, and pray, and consume Gods
Word and listen for His voice.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
II Cor.3: <span class="text"><sup>18 </sup>But
we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are
changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the
Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">II Cor.3: <sup>18 </sup>And
we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being
transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the
Lord, who is the Spirit. (NIV)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Here once again we
have the fine china of spiritual truth. But like so many other spiritual truths
ones like this go largely unnoticed and surely unpracticed. Most evangelicals
are not eager to hear “don’t do this” or “do this”. And they consider this kind
of truth rather esoteric and intangible. How does beholding Christ’s glory help
me at work or in my bank account? How can that make me happy? Most will never
understand because most will never seek much less with passion.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">What usually
passes for discipleship is when the church purchases some manual like “40 Days
of Purpose” or something similar and many of the people do the homework and at
the end feel a sense of accomplishment. But that is not discipleship. That is
just following a man’s book and placing more money in his pockets. But if we
truly desire to follow Jesus we must yearn to know more and more of Him. Notice
I did not say about Him. I said we must know more of Him. And we must seek Him
with a relentless spirit which says with Jacob “I will not let You go until You
reveal more of yourself to me”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">It is only through
this sacred spiritual process that we can be changed by the Spirit. Two hours
in broken prayer is worth more than reading any one Christian book. In fact one
small glimpse of His infinite glory will not only change you but it will create
a hunger for more. Most of us can remember when we were saved and we desired to
love and serve Jesus and to an extent we did. But we also can remember when a
veil was lifted and we suddenly realized there was more…much more. And as that
veil was lifted we began to see a light we had not seen before. It came from
Christ and its glory was unmistakable. It thrilled us and led us into
repentance and contrition. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">And the NIV uses
the word “contemplate” or meditate. How many professing believers meditate upon
Jesus throughout the day or ever? But oh what a glorious privilege to cast our
hearts upon Him and allow the Spirit to paint a spiritual picture and impress
it upon our hearts. That is truly life itself.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I Jn.3: <span class="text">Behold,
what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called
the sons of God:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Can we even
embrace the fullness of such a truth? The holy and majestic Creator now calls
us sons. It does not seem possible. But what is impossible in the natural
became a reality through the unsearchable sufferings upon Golgotha’s place of
eternal glory. It was there where the temporal met the soaring glory of the
eternal. It was there human works were no longer required of those who could
never provide them. It was there were sin’s awful price was paid in full and
awaited an eight year old little girl’s faith to transform her soul into a
child of the Living God. It was there simplicity became the only pathway to
eternity. It was there where extreme violence was meted out upon the Sinless
Lamb and through that horrific scene peace was made with a holy and righteous
God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">What manner of
love is this? All the complex and fancy theologies merely touch the edges of
such an unfathomable love. The word love itself is a poor descriptor which
could never provide a revelation into the deep and profound motive exposed
through Calvary’s bloody sacrifice. The lamb who writhes upon those Roman
planks does not just project an incomprehensible love, but He is love. But rest
assured only God’s Spirit can reveal that to a human spirit. Without the
illumination of the Spirit we are left with an injustice or a martyr or an
example but without the essence of what actually took place just outside
Jerusalem’s walls. How can someone “pay” for even one sin? Tell me what good
deed or what sacrifice could eradicate one sin from our resume? How many good
deeds exonerate us from one small sin?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">But in the unseen
world of the Spirit in which the Holy God reigns only the cross can remove the
awful stain and present us as righteous before Him. It is a miracle of grace
which is another word bandied about like some topic for a thesaurus. You want
grace? You desire God’s grace? You cannot have it without it being covered in
suffering and blood. A bloodless faith is humanism indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Call it archaic.
Call it barbaric. Call it nonintellectual. Call it Neanderthal. Call it a
religion that has not kept up with the times. But I call it the Truth of God
forever.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The only time Jesus showed anger
was when He scourged the temple because men were making money inside the house
of God. I wonder how Jesus feels about what goes on in today’s visible church.
Take it a step further. The temple of God in the New Covenant is found within
the heart of every true believer. So what does Jesus think about it when we are
given to money? When our hearts are driven to make money and store it up and
our thoughts are how to make more and more. I have heard television heretics
tell people that God will give them divine ideas for great businesses and the
Spirit will show them how to gain great wealth.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Can you imagine the power of a
deception which purports to speak for Jesus and then literally tells people
things that are diametrically opposed to all He taught? And people, with Bibles
upon their laps, nod and smile and clap and even stand to their feet in
exuberance even though what is being said are diabolical lies. Never discount
the power and creativity of deception. And deception is many faceted and
behaves like a multi-level marketing scheme. It employs many people to spread
its product, and like an Amway meeting it gets people excited to go out and
bring others into the fold.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Excitement has replaced the Spirit
and has become the ecclesiastical opiate among the pew dwellers. Promises of
success and power over demons and wealth are part of the pulpit narcotic and it
mesmerizes the hearers. You see they hear what man is telling them and not
God’s Word by the power of the Spirit. It is designed to be upbeat and positive
and to elicit appreciative applause but it is void of the engrafted Word. What
a spectacle of death even amidst much fanfare and revelry!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But again I must insist you look at
what has been done to the preaching of the cross. It is nonexistent in most
churches and certainly it is a stranger to “Christian” television. And when the
cross is minimized, to say nothing of completely ignored, then all is vanity
and vexation of spirit. Let us not be timid about the nature of such crossless
gatherings. They are demonic exhibitions of the flesh. There is no other way to
describe the frivolity which calls itself “church” but shies away from Golgotha
as if that were a symbol of defeat. Yes, it is horrific, sacrilege and indeed demonic.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I Cor.2: And I,
brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom,
declaring unto you the testimony of God.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">2 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For I determined not to know any thing
among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">3 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And I was with you in weakness, and in
fear, and in much trembling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was no open air meeting that was
evangelistic in nature. Paul was ministering to the saints. And yet Paul says
the cross of Jesus Christ was his message to them. Do you understand what that
means juxtaposed upon the modern relevant pulpit oratory? Where is the
weakness? Where is the fear? Where is the trembling? Finney used to wonder how
a preacher could speak about the fear of God and judgment and then glad hand
everyone at the door as they left as it he had just finished a performance.
Without the preaching of the cross all you have is a Dr. Phil talk show with
some religious icing.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Do not our hearts grieve within us
when we hear how the cross is treated as some bygone relic which has lost its
relevancy? To think how He suffered for us and all He asked us was to believe
and then to spread the gospel, and yet we could not abide even that? Shame on
all who preach another gospel which hides the cross. Away with those who strut
and speak self help messages which cannot save the lost nor edify the saved. Be
gone all you false conduits who excite men’s flesh and do despite unto the
Spirit of God. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But let us cling to that old rugged
cross as if it were our lives…because…it is and always will be.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
You have a daughter. She gets
pregnant and she and her husband are very excited as are you. The birth goes
smooth and a healthy baby comes into your life. But something tragic happens.
When the child is less than one year old he is kidnapped by Muslims. Everyone searches
for clues but to no avail. You are devastated. One year goes by and then two
and three. Two decades go by and there is still a whole in your heart.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Then one day you turn on the
television and you see several Muslims shouting words of hatred. But one face
stands out among the rest. You squint your eyes and you believe that is the boy
that was kidnapped twenty years ago. His features are unmistakable. You call
your daughter and she agrees through tears. That young man is her son. He has
been raised by Muslims and brainwashed. You feel absolutely no feeling of hate
or disgust. You only feel love for this young man who is spewing hatred.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
You begin to pray fervently and you
do everything you can to reach out to him. Even when your efforts see many dead
ends, and even though you are many times rebuffed, you are not deterred. Why?
Because he is yours and you love him and it wasn’t his fault he was
brainwashed. Well all Muslims were babies and grew up being brainwashed so why
do we not see them with the same love through which we would see our own child?
Oh my dear friends we have a long way to go, haven’t we?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I Jn.:<span class="text"><sup> </sup></span><sup>3 </sup>And
every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not
of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it
should come; and even now already is it in the world.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">4 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Ye are of God, little children, and
have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in
the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
By His power we have overcome the
spirits of antichrist. Oh my…</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I Jn.2: <span class="text"><sup>6 </sup>He
that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">I Pet.2: <sup>21 </sup>For
even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us
an example, that ye should follow his steps:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">I Jn.4: <sup>17 </sup>Herein
is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment:
because as he is, so are we in this world. Tinge <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Please read those
four verses again. I was led to them by the similarity of their messages. And
after reading them several times I was overwhelmed at their message. The
phrases “even as He walked” and “that ye should follow His steps” and “as He is
so are we in this world” are not just lofty goals but they are seemingly
impossible and way out of our reach. And when I pause to soak in the essence of
their teaching I am convicted greatly. In fact the Spirit revealed to me just
how many times I have set good and wholesome goals which are above the average
evangelical goals and yet I have not placed these before me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">And armed with
diminished goals I can skip the light fandango and feel like I am being a good
disciple. Do you understand what has happened when I have done that? I am
comparing myself with other and not with Him. I will openly and humbly and even
sheepishly admit it is a daunting task to juxtapose His life against ours. Oh
we can nod in agreement and then shake our heads in some false humility and
admit how far short we fall. But there is a prerequisite which must be pursued or
any desire we have is futile. In order to walk in His steps we must seek to
uncover and understand and learn of His steps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">But please allow
me to draw your attention to something important and indispensible if we desire
to seek Him in that way. I have in forty years studied the Scriptures
especially the New Testament even with a semi-working knowledge of the original
language. I have outlined entire books and memorized chunks of books. And that
is a good thing. But if we are to embrace the verses I have shared we must read
the gospels and the epistles and be cognizant that we are searching for truth
and searching for revelations of Jesus with a surrendered heart which is ready
to crucify the flesh and obey what we read and what the Spirit teaches us.
Otherwise we are reading a history book with an interest which quickly fades as
we go about our earthly lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Every single day
all of us are faced with opportunities to be Jesus and walk in His steps in
many different circumstances. And there again we must walk in the Spirit and be
ready to bring all disobedience, even thoughts, to the cross immediately.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
II Cor.10: <span class="text"><sup>5 </sup>Casting
down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the
knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of
Christ;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">And therein lies
the distinct and disarming difference between Biblical knowledge and being a
true disciple. Believe me I have been both at times. But I have seen something
new and fresh which has caused me pain as well as rejoicing. I welcome the
Spirit’s correction because I know God does it in love and because I
desperately need it. I must unfurl my sails much higher and catch the wind if
the Spirit and not just my good intentions which are mixed with self serving
comparisons. Have I ever felt a tinge of satisfaction or pride as I spoke truth
about Joel Osteen’s heresies? Or Christian television? Or the western church in
general? And have I walked in the plush carpet of discernment and avoided the
threshingfloor of God’s Spirit? Oh my dear friend yes I have far too many times
regardless of how I try to present my good motivations and the words of truth
the Spirit gave me as mitigating factors?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">This morning I am
inside that threshingfloor without Osteen and Warren and Copeland to point to.
All I can see is Him and me and sometimes it is not a pretty picture. I am not
trying to enjoy a bit of self flagellation which sometimes is couched in a
false humility which can feel very good. No, I am speaking from my heart and
with all the transparency and humility that the Spirit’s grace can give to me.
To be Jesus in this world. Not just to spread His Word or embrace His name but
to be Him. What a great mystery the Spirit lays out before us. I may revisit
this again and soon, but until then I have seen His steps with blurred vision.
I have walked along the path which is more narrow than what is preached but not
as narrow as He walked. I have been a good me in this world and not Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">May the Spirit
illuminate my heart and empower my life and lead me to a fruitful repentance.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #333333;">When
you juxtapose reality with our western lifestyles we live in a fantasy. And yet
Jesus spoke often and passionately about the poor. Just what are we doing? Just
who are we? Just who is He? Just who is our neighbor? Don’t worry we will
travel in our air conditioned cars and sit and be entertained and return to a
life which for the most part ignores the words of Jesus. But we have an
orthodox statement of faith. Let’s hope its fire proof.</span><span class="text"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">If we just pause
and examine the sufferings of Jesus in the natural considering He was an
innocent man we should tremble. But when we consider who He was and what He
suffered it should…well…it should reduce us to an undeserving pile of humanity
which seeks to worship His majesty. And if that be so then we are positioned
for His use and glory.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">There is a genie
called sin. He calls and reasons from with his bottle and all of us have
thought that if we let him out for a spin we could control him and he would go
quietly back into his bottle when we wanted him to. But when that genie emerges
from his bottle he comes with much more than he had said. And he is a demanding
genie. And when you realize you made a mistake he will not return to his bottle
quickly or quietly. He is not only out and wishes to stay out, but he goes and
lets his friends out of their bottle as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Now you have quite
a mess. In fact you have invited a hit squad who seek your life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">If Jesus is not
everything then He is nothing. Although all of us are still imperfect disciples
that does not mean we can make Jesus a spiritual smorgasbord where we can take
what we like and leave the rest. That is why we all need a fellowship where the
calling of God is on a pastor or preacher and the Spirit strongly challenges us
to a greater level of pursuit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">To lower the bar
and hop over it only impresses you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">II Tim.3: </span><sup>12 </sup>Yea,
and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">13 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But evil men and seducers shall wax worse
and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">14 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But continue thou in the things which
thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned
them;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">I sincerely
believe times will become worse than we could ever imagine. I do not pretend to
know the dates or the specifics, however the clouds of evil cover the earth.
Even those things which seem to be good are vacuous distractions used of the
evil one. And when the gatherings we call church become havens for greed and
avarice and compromise and pleasure and the enticing word’s of men’s wisdom
then you can rest assure sin will abound. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Evil men and
seducers are legion all around the world. It isn’t just confined to America and
the west. You can find mega centers of heresy in South Korea and the
Philippines and Australia and their impact covers the globe. But make no
mistake America is fertile ground for all sorts of heresies and money centered
churches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">We must deepen the
stakes of our spiritual tents. These are not only the times which try men’s
souls, but they are the times which will damn men’s souls. You make think that
men like me are redundant in our rebuke of what is being presented as spiritual
truth but perhaps we are too reticent to speak louder and with more of an
emotion of crisis. This is no game. This is not about oil prices and stock
markets and real estate. They will go up and down as fallen men watch and hope
in them. This about the wrapping up of the gospel age. And when that happens
there remains no hope at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">What does a man
think and feel when he suddenly realizes the kingdoms of this world have never
offered the slightest sliver of hope and all hope must be found in Christ and
His gospel…and then he realizes it is over? The gospel is not offered anymore
to anyone. That man realizes there is no hope at all. There was hope but he
ignored it and now he has no hope. He is not in hell yet but there is nothing
at all that can prevent his journey from ending up there. Usually when a person
arrives at a place with no hope they may take their own lives or even kill
others. Think about the violent chaos which will cover the earth when hope is
gone and billions have awakened to that awful truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Keep your life
well inside Christ. Be not troubled when you see these things come to pass.
What does it take nowadays to shock us? Nine church people are butchered in
Sunday School and in a day or two we move on. We don’t understand that event
and others as part of a coming holocaust. Perhaps men will be shocked when that
kind of wanton violence comes to the street in which they live. Until then men
will rest with their locks and their guns and their savings accounts and their
Social Security and they will comb their hair, go to church, and be told sweet
sounding and even interesting stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Sleep on church.
But let it be known the alarm has been sounding for many, many years. But if
the Spirit has awakened your heart you are called to two main things. Pursue
Christ with all your heart with prayer and fasting and devouring His Word, and
witness Christ and support foreign mission. In reality the end is not coming…it
is here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">We live in a
culture which exhibits and encourages pride in many, many ways. This culture
holds award ceremonies in order to award themselves. Politicians sing their own
praises. Resumes are created to elevate some person. Even titles are given
which wreak of pride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Sadly the church
has followed suit. Who could have ever predicted the church would hold award
ceremonies just like the world and in direct violation of God’s Word? Who would
have thought that pastors and preachers would embrace worldly titles like “Dr.”
before their names when Paul called himself the least of all saints? Preachers
are introduced as “anointed” or “gifted” or “powerful” and yet our calling is
we must decrease and He must increase? The entire spectacle flies in the face
of all Jesus taught.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Humility is an
elusive trait. And to be clothed in humility is an incredible challenge. It is
impossible in the flesh and when the ecclesiastical construct mirrors the world
then it is altogether impossible. When the church walks in and perpetuates its
own reputation then we are walking in ourselves and not in Christ. We are
nothing and He is everything. Keep seeking to die tom yourself and rejoice when
you are slighted and maligned and ignored and not given the credit for
something you might deserve. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">There is coming a
true award ceremony which measures justly. But even though our names may be
called when the award is given the name upon it will say “Jesus”. Halleluiah!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">One important
principle which is foundational to rightly dividing the Word is that we must
make the New Testament the cornerstone of our faith. Yes the Old Testament is
part of God’s Word but when men inaccurately make a doctrinal garment by sewing
the New with the Old you can come up with many errors. Even Jesus said “You
have heard but I say” which reveals the level; of importance. The Old Testament
must be supportive and not competitive, but the New Covenant is where we live.
There are many things in the Old Testament which are mysteries and which do not
seem congruent with the teachings of Jesus. But we must leave them with God. So
many of the false teachers take come story from the Old Testament and make up
force feed it upon people usually to elicit some money. But we have not learned
that from Jesus. Start with Jesus and end with Jesus in your book of truth.
That IS truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Lk.4: </span><sup>16 </sup>And
he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he
went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">17 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And there was delivered unto him the
book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place
where it was written,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">18 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me
to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">19 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">To preach the acceptable year of the
Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Every church
should be built upon, and preach, and live the gospel. Anything else is
humanism.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Until you are born
again and until the Holy Spirit enters your being you can only believe what you
have been told.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">So a man leads
another man who happens to be blind and stands him before a wall. He asks the
blind man to tell him what color is the wall. The blind man does not know. The
man grows impatient with the blind man and raises his voice. Still the blind
man does not know about the wall color. The man gathers a crowd of sighted
people and they all shout at the blind man to identify the color. He cannot, so
the crowd looks at each other and labels the man a liberal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">That is an
illustration of the church demanding dead people see morality as do we.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-66923011833828077172015-08-03T04:45:00.004-05:002015-08-03T04:45:53.921-05:00The Worthless Outward Appearance<div style="text-align: center;">
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<!-- End of StatCounter Code --><strong><span style="font-size: large;">THE WORTHLESS OUTWARD APPEARANCE</span></strong></div>
<br />
<strong><em>I Sam.16: 6 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD's anointed is before him.<br />7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.</em></strong><br />Jesse had proudly presented all of his sons before Samuel…all of them except one who was the runt of the litter and still outside attending to sheep. Jesse’s sons were impressive but God spoke to Samuel about the danger of relying upon the outward appearance. Samuel asks Jesse if these are all his sons and Jesse told him of his youngest. So David was brought before Samuel and in a moment the little shepherd boy, stinking of sheep, feels oil running down his head and he hears men speaking of a king.<br />Oh how holy and righteous are the ways of God! God will not use a self righteous man. Neither will He bow before the schemes and religious machinations of the church. God is not only not impressed by our outward appearance or our oratorical prowess, He rejects it all. He who exalts himself will be abased and he who humbles himself will be used of God. David, flawed without question, was a man after God’s own heart. Would to God that would be said about us.<br />The name of David is the one most frequently used in the New Testament when referring to Jesus. Look at his beginning. Guarding and feeding the sheep this little boy was chosen by the Most High God to be a king over His people. God gets glory from humility and brokenness and repentance and by someone who actively and sincerely shies away from any personal praise. God uses earthen vessels who adamantly point to Christ and away from themselves. The true man of God knows the anointing of God and knows just how quickly it can leave. He treats God’s blessing upon him as a sacred and undeserved gift of grace.<br />The true man or woman of God sees themselves as a conduit through which Jesus can live and share His gospel. Men are just spiritual instruments who have no incandescence of their own. All the light belongs to God and if we extinguish our own earthly wicks He will light within us His own wick that burns with the light of Christ! And what, pray tell, can be more glorious than that? Never hold any man’s person in admiration and think he is something when he is nothing. He who loves the praise of men is a strutting peacock having the plumage of fallen humanity. But he who refuses applause and who never seeks human adulation can indeed be used of God. <br />Keep ministering to God’s sheep and seeking the souls of goats, and if God chooses to lift you up to greater responsibility be careful and quick to humble yourself and remember the oil is His, the Word is His, the anointing is His, and the Savior is Him alone.Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-24434005484857197452015-07-17T18:34:00.003-05:002015-07-17T18:34:15.911-05:00<!-- Start of StatCounter Code -->
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">I am not as afraid of radical Islam as I am </span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">of nonradical Christianity.</span></strong></div>
Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-87334458293062700782015-07-10T05:50:00.002-05:002015-07-10T05:50:20.177-05:00Facebook<div style="text-align: center;">
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<!-- End of StatCounter Code --><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">FROM FACEBOOK</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;"></span></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">Jn.4: </span><sup>23 </sup>But
the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father
in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">24 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">God is a Spirit: and they that worship
him must worship him in spirit and in truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">I watched a little of a conference
on worship and in these last days worship is almost all music. Wonderful music,
complete with harmonies and many instruments and clapping and dancing and an
atmosphere of excitement. It moves the emotions and makes people feel oh so
good. It has become almost a science. Even worship leaders, if there is any
Biblical office as such, are exalted and promoted in advertisements.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">But worship, true worship, is done
in the chambers of our hearts. Music may be a part and clapping and raising of
the hands and sometimes even dancing, but if true worship is not present within
our hearts all the rest is then sounding brass and clanking cymbals. Worship
must never be for man. It must always be an offering unto God…sacred and humble
and holy. Excitement may be a part sometimes but that must never be the
prominent emotion. We must be humbled and grateful and filled with an unspeakable
love and awe and reverence. If God is truly present it should shake us and even
change us as we bow before Him in complete surrender and brokenness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">It is shocking that men have become
so wrapped up in themselves that so many make worship a thing which seeks “success”
by manipulating people and through music and decibel levels bring the crowd
into some kind of frenzy. And when that happens people will actually say (over
lunch at a restaurant later) “What a great worship service that was!” That might
seem innocuous but in reality it diminishes God and it refers to the service
and our emotional experience rather than to Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">I would suggest that when God truly
visits a worship time we might say, “Halleluiah! What a Savior!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">Or better yet, we might not be able
to speak at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">Phil.1: </span><span class="text"><sup>29 </sup>For
unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but
also to suffer for his sake;</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">Oh the sacred
privilege of suffering for Jesus’ sake. And yet some of these “Christian
conservatives” squawk loudly about how Christians are being stripped of their rights
and how they are being forced to bake cakes they do not want to and almost
every slight pokes the bear and brings loud complaints.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">But that is not
the spirit of Christ. Paul rejoices in his imprisonment because it seemed to
embolden his brethren to preach the gospel. I am not really sure we here in
America really know or understand what true persecution is. We love to take a
political stand against gay marriage or abortion or even socialism, but that
cannot be compared with what some of our brethren in other parts of the world
must endure. The very lives of many of our brothers and sisters are in peril
every day as well as their children. And yet they pray and serve Christ as best
they can. But the American church continues to bathe itself in self serving
activities. Hold a conference on world hunger or world evangelism or
ministering to innocent civilians who have been harmed by war and you may get a
corporal’s guard to attend. But hold a financial seminar or a marriage seminar
or even a self esteem conference and the place will be packed with people only
too willing to pay the entrance fee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">But when true
humility is absent from the community of faith then we will not only drum up
hollow ghosts and call them persecution, but we will posture while we do it.
Our Master went willingly as a Lamb to the slaughter and yet must we publicize
some political inconvenience and demand satisfaction? How can it be “given in
the behalf of Christ” to suffer for His sake and yet God allows us to complain?
How far off course have we strayed from the true faith which follows and
exhibits Christ and His kingdom? And in face of such godly believers like
Corrie Ten Boom and Elisabeth Elliot the western community of faith has constructed
a political group which calls itself “Christian” like an antiseptic political
identity with no deep and intimate relationship with Jesus Himself. Issues are
their gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">But let us not
only endure persecution and hardships for His sake but let us embrace them. We
must relearn everything about Jesus and everything He taught and everything
about His kingdom. We must unlearn the lies and hypocrisies we have swallowed
in years past and become a sponge that is ready and willing to receive true
revelation regardless of how convicting and how inconvenient and how it goes
against the ecclesiastical establishment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">Yes, we must learn
what it truly means to follow Jesus and not what men have told us. That just
may mean persecution from within the visible church itself.</span><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">Lk.22: </span><span class="text"><sup>44 </sup>And
being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great
drops of blood falling down to the ground.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">This is a great
mystery indeed. Jesus prays so earnestly that He sweat drops of blood. What
kind of pathos is this? I have often guessed about the nature of His sadness
and pressure but I have only scratched the surface. How can we pull out God’s
hearty and examine it like it was a medical procedure? And just how can we
understand the communication within the Godhead? How do we even understand the
Trinity itself? This is holy ground in which we are spectators. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">But here Jesus
exhibits His feelings and heart and His human side mingled with His divinity.
Many assume He is dreading His coming sufferings. But what if He is
experiencing the burden for lost souls and how many will reject Him? But
whatever the source of that emotion what remains is that God Himself sweat
great drops of blood in prayer. And now I ask you and I ask myself. Am I that
committed in prayer? Do I labor in prayer with such intensity?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">Let us reexamine
ourselves in the light of His life and see how we measure up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">We in America live in an unbridled
hedonistic culture. The pull and allure of money is all around us. The culture
itself is based upon capitalism. The country was birthed over money and taxes.
Every politician will make all kinds of economic promises which appeal to the
base senses of people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">But in the midst of such a culture
the church began to slip little by little first into some benign acquiescence
and then to major compromises until the church surrendered completely and even
endorsed this money culture. In fact we have grown accustomed to calling every
monetary success “God’s blessing”. We fail to recognize the utter foolishness
of such a tradition. Is God blessing Donald Trump? Hugh Hefner? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">But the pattern is revealing. No one
calls suffering a blessing. No one calls a financial setback a blessing. No one
calls an illness a blessing. And yet Paul gloried in his infirmities, and he
considered financial hardships an opportunity for God to provide or for God to
whittle away more of Him so more of Christ could come forth. But even our
verbiage has succumbed to the mores of this fallen culture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">Eph.3: </span><sup>17 </sup>That
Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in
love,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">18 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">May be able to comprehend with all
saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">19 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And to know the love of Christ, which
passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">20 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Now unto him that is able to do
exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power
that worketh in us,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">When you attempt to look at and
absorb and even study the love of God you must realize you are a blind man looking
at and attempting to describe color. I love the way the Spirit through Paul
makes such a vivid metaphor by using words that usually describe some geometric
shape. He showcases God’s love with words like depth and width and other
tangible descriptions and he then says that we may able to comprehend God’s
love, and then He turns right around and says God’s love passes knowledge. Is
your head spinning yet?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">One of the problems is with human
language. We say we love this pizza and then we use that same term to say the
love of God. And then we say we love pizza and we love Jesus. Do you see just
how meaningless the word can become because it is used to define such a large
range of things including food and cars and sports teams etc.? And then we
speak of God’s love using the same word we use about our pets. That is not just
a major problem. That reduces the essence of God Himself because we define His “love”
with the same verbiage we use for inanimate things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">But I guess we are stuck with that
word. But let us fully understand the difference between human love and divine
love. In fact there is a great divide and disconnect between the two. Human
love demands a feel good emotion and human love is almost always displayed to
someone of something which positively affects us. The object of our love is
almost always that which deserves our love. Even if we extend some kind of love
to those who do not deserve our love part of that equation is that it makes us
feel good to do so. Do you understand what I am most ineffectively trying to
communicate here?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">And then there is this: God’s love
is most clearly and even fully realized at Golgotha. That alone should shock
us. Where is the romantic music and the flowery meadows? Where is date night?
Where are the Valentine’s Day cards? This scene at Calvary with all its
visceral visuals and emotions as well as the spiritual understandings must take
us aback. This…this is love? Blood and sweat and suffering and wounds and
mangled flesh and cruel mocking and matted hair and thorns and spears…this
somehow is love? Given that how have we so minimized the cross many times
through the use of human language? Yes, that is all we have, but as I have said
so many time even when we read and use human language the Holy Spirit of God
can illuminate our hearts and minds and we are led into understanding that soar
way above the confines of human language even while we use the same words.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">So when we associate God’s love with
God’s death we must surrender to the Spirit or else we are just prisoners of
human words and human understandings. And to be sure that is a prison. All of
us have been in that prison. It is cold and doctrinal and empty and full of
some truth written on dry paper without life and treasure. Yes, we believe the
Bible is God’s Word, but if ink and paper are the extent to which we understand
then we belong to a doctrinal community which reclines on well organized verses
connected by topic and applauded by men but which so often do not lend themselves
to the glorious mysteries of Christ and His cross and His everlasting gospel.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">There is a great difference between
being able to regurgitate doctrine and allowing Christ to transform our minds
and filleting them wide open before Him so that the Spirit can inject life
giving and convicting truth eternal in the heavens. And if we are given to
seeking an understanding of God’s immeasurable love through His immeasurable
sacrifice, well then, we must surrender completely to the Spirit. We can read
words and they are very important, but without the Spirit they can only carry
us to the doorstep of glory. But the Spirit can take those words of truth and
expand them into powerful instruments that teach and reveal and transform.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">God is love. About what man can that
be said? The essence of God who is a spirit is love itself? Again we find
ourselves in a realm about which we are completely dependent upon God’s Spirit.
Who really can love one’s enemies without being overwhelmed and empowered by
the love of God? And who can love an enemy even when it does not make us feel
good, nor does it seem to affirm us, or that we cannot tell anyone to receive
our rightful praise? God’s love revealed through the cross is in a completely
different realm. Human words can describe the event in some detail, and human
words can illuminate some of the redemptive doctrines found only in that sacred
event, but how can we connect the word “love” with such a savage display? Only
the Spirit can enlighten our understanding and usher us into realms about which
we not only did not know and understand, but that we never knew even existed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">The world can never understand how
anyone can glory in such a vicious act of injustice. They are confounded by our
claims that we find life in all that blood and gore. And much of the church
world as almost offended by such talk. It is almost like they are saying, “We
have heard that story before, tell us something new”. Well there is nothing new
except that newness and freshness which emanates from that same crimson tree.
It grieves me to think how many professing believers know nothing of the
glories of those Roman planks which served as an altar to show God’s eternal
love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">So allow me to end this post by
setting up a tabernacle at the cross. I have been a believer for over forty
years and yet I can gaze at that cross and still find exhilaration and life
every time I visit that hill. I cannot fully reveal God’s love with my feeble
words. Only the Spirit can take blood and ripped flesh and labored breathing
and communicate love. Only the Spirit can take written doctrines and breathe
life into them and infuse that life into a human being. So look at and gaze at
and meditate upon that crucifixion. Take it in and embrace all its majesty. Enter
into its sufferings. Nail yourself upon its wicked but loving stakes. Surrender
to its death and open your eyes inside that tomb. Let your being be filled with
all its smells and sights and emotions and truths and open your heart to the
fellowship it offers. This is God’s love. This is God’s sacrifice. This is God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">Ez.33: </span><span class="text"><sup>6 </sup>But
if the watchman see the sword come, and blow not the trumpet, and the people be
not warned; if the sword come, and take any person from among them, he is taken
away in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at the watchman's hand.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">God has placed
watchmen within the church. In fact the spirit of a watchman is for every
believer. The spirit of a watchman, or discernment, looks above the fray and
sees what the evil one desires to do and he warns the people. His vision is
most clear in the night and when the situation is most dire. We live in a day
of great spiritual darkness camouflaged in a wrapping of peace and prosperity
and personal fulfillment. The so called leaders of the church have filled their
own pockets and are very well off. They speak with enticing words of men’s
wisdom and they have piped and many have followed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">Those of us who
reveal such things are often labeled as negative people and wet blankets who
sound alarms where there is no fire. But how can we remain silent when the
Spirit has opened our eyes? What kind of believers are we if we watch deception
swallow up people’s lives and keep quiet? Surely there is great glory and
spiritual refreshing inside the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ and we must not
get so wrapped up in discerning falsehoods that we leave the sacrifice. But we
still cannot help but speak that which we have seen and heard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">But the tower in
which we can see the farthest is in the valley of humility. On our knees,
physically and spiritually, is where our eyes can pierce the darkness and
expose the falsehoods being propagated upon and within the visible church.
Gospel truth is not just something to be discussed or argued over. To defang
the gospel is to place souls in great jeopardy. We see and hear these
diabolical falsehoods being preached and we hear the truth not being preached
and we must warn others. The watchman is many times a thankless job except in
heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Jn.3: <sup>12 </sup>If
I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I
tell you of heavenly things?</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">It is simple. If
we are not willing to believe and abide by the teachings of Jesus which apply
directly to our earthly lives and practices then how will the Holy Spirit teach
us things that pertain to Christ and His spiritual kingdom? And, sadly, that is
where most of the western evangelical community lives. They live within a world
of their own making which has been taught to them by a fallen culture and
therefore they actually know very little of Christ at all. And, sadly again,
they are very comfortable living in that world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">But if you truly
wish to know Him you must bow before all His teachings not just the ones which
cost you nothing. The Holy Spirit is ready to lead hungry hearts into greater
revelations of Christ’s glory. But where are these hungry hearts? You see you
cannot fool most of us because we sat in the pews. We spoke with other church
people and we sat and listened to pulpiteers. We remember clearly just how
blind we were and we remember clearly just how blind everyone was. We were
there and we were one of them. And knowing all this our heart breaks for the blind
mice who run to and fro from a building of activities but have no real and self
denying hunger to know and follow and worship Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">Do we desire to
know heavenly things? If so we must be faithful to what He teaches about
earthly things. I can remember the metamorphosis and the evolution that took
place within my heart and soul. One by one the Spirit would bring before me
something I had blindly believed and I was challenged again and again to
prayerfully reexamine all of it. I did not want to change for change’s sake or
to be controversial or hailed as some rebel. But when the Spirit opens your
eyes you cannot turn away and live just as you had before. You see authentic
revelation changes you or it is nothing but some new perspective which changes
nothing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">Men stand behind
pulpits and try and present some clever point by point verbiage which will
entertain people for about an half an hour. And people file out with a sense of
a fulfilled obligation and they head back to the lives they led before and
await next week’s choreography. What percentage will search the Scriptures
looking for more of Him? How many will actually engage in sacrificial prayer?
How many will seek the riches of Christ and be rewarded by the Spirit through
the grace of God? How many will fast and pray for greater revelation concerning
heavenly things?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">The answer would
be shocking but we have nothing in ourselves with which to boast. By God’s
grace we have been plucked from the hollow and mundane exercise which passes
for Christianity and we have been brought before Him and His cross. And there we
have found true life indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">II Cor.11: </span><sup>9 </sup>And
he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made
perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">10 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Therefore I take pleasure in
infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for
Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">There are so many paradoxes in
Scripture. The first shall be last; he who would be master must be the servant
of all; we must die to live; and others including when we are weak we are
strong. In fact Paul says through the Spirit that his strength is made perfect
in weakness. Think about the implications of that truth. But until we
understand what “weak” means in the Spirit we will cling to earthly definitions
and thereby be deceived.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">Please be aware that the truth we
are to walk into now goes against everything the world knows, believes, and
practices. It is the fine china of spiritual truth. It is the hallowed ground
of following Jesus. It is the sacred key which unlocks the door to Jesus
Himself. But it does not come without cost. And just what is that cost? It will
cost you yourself. It will cost you everything. It will cost you your life. And
yet the cost is so very small compared with the eternal reward that soars above
all we could ask or think. The weakness of which Paul speaks is actually the
glorious exchange which remits a cost and receives a reward immeasurable and
filled with His glorious Person. It is the mystery of mysteries which carries
with it such an eternal treasure of His grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">This weakness is fully realized by
one’s own self denial and even one’s death. Oh that we could grasp this truth
and embrace it every moment of our earthly lives! How much we have missed by
inviting our own whims and desires and intellects and even our own thoughts to
rule, or even be a part, or our beings? And the apostle says that he actually
glories in his infirmities because they remind him of who he really is and Who
Christ really is. I have experienced that place far too infrequently in my
life, but oh the glory that has flooded my soul when I have! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">“That the power of Christ may rest
upon me.” Such a thought! Such a desire! When that power rests upon us the
whole world means nothing to us. It is within that sacred place where Christ is
revealed through our mortal beings and He alone receives all the glory. I
hunger and thirst for that place, but I am well aware that the cost for such is
within my own hands. I have no one to blame for any insufficiency in that
regard but myself. How often have I offered most of myself and yet held back a
portion about which I thought was hidden from His view? How often have I
redefined “surrender” to mean “with conditions”? Oh when I think of what I have
forfeited so many times because I refused to embrace the weakness which would
result in my ridicule, or my demeaning, or my misunderstanding because I
refused to defend myself? My flesh demands a hearing so I can defend myself
even when my intentions were righteous. I refuse to stand mute as did my Lamb
before His shearers. Oh no, even if I am to be sheared I need tom explain
myself so that I can be seen as better in the eyes of men. This weakness thing
can only go so far.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">But if that be so then the cost is
far too high. If I must mitigate my persecution than His footsteps are not my
path. If I must receive some earthly satisfaction then His glory cannot be
mine. If I must embrace a partial weakness then I cannot enter into the sacred
life of weakness found only inside the cross. If I cannot be weak with all its vulnerabilities
and implications than I cannot follow Him into the eternal treasures which He
has prepared for the disciples who will die.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">This is no game. This is life and
death. Please, Holy Spirit, let me choose both.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">I Cor.1: </span><sup>18 </sup>For
the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us
which are saved it is the power of God.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">19 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For it is written, I will destroy the
wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">Surely the preaching of the cross is
archaic and foolish and even Neanderthal within this sophisticated church
structure and practice. We hear much about marriage and finance and self image
and boldness and charting our own earthly course. But the cross? Oh no, it is
such a downer and a doctrinal relic. It is relegated to metaphors unless it is
ignored altogether. Men seek riches and self worth and all kinds of worldly
thing which are just ways to seek themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">But without the cross men seek in
vain even if they gain the whole world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">Phil.3: </span><sup>18 </sup>(For
many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that
they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">19 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Whose end is destruction, whose God is
their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">That shocks me to my core. To be an “enemy of the cross” is a spectacular
evil indeed. And Paul says there are many. If Paul lived today he might have
used a much more descriptive word when describing ministers. He might have said
“most”. God forbid that we should not only ever be called an enemy of the
cross, or that we should even support or endorse any who are. Test the spirits
my dear brethren.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond;">Heb.12:
</span>Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of
witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily
beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">2 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Looking unto Jesus the author and
finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of
God.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And here it is once again. We are to
keep looking unto Jesus by keeping the cross ever fresh in our hearts and
minds. The word the Spirit uses here is “joy” when referring to how Jesus
viewed the impending suffering upon that cruel tree. And as we gaze upon this
selfless act of love we do well to remember that word love. For it is in this
scene upon Golgotha’s hill where we see love exposed and unfurled in all it
eternal power and elegance and divine glory. Who can measure the length and
width and depth and height of such a love which reveals itself within bloody
wounds? Who among us can question the sincerity of God’s love once we have been
led to that cross and taught by the Spirit its wonders?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">We, by faith, and children of the
cross and by that moniker we are followers of Jesus. Let us never forget that
the Spirit beckons us to embrace, and yea carry, that same cross as we walk
through this darkened world. What does success mean to one who embraces that
cross? How can riches tempt a cross carrier? What temptation does that glitter
of this world have to one whose glory is found in His cross? There is no way
anyone can truly follow Jesus without forsaking himself and loving the cross.
In fact who can even live without it? No one…no one at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">“…for there are many, nowadays, who
do </span><i><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-CondItalic","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-CondItalic; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">not </span></i><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">glory in it, but forsake it! Alas
that it should be so, but there are </span><i><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-CondItalic","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-CondItalic; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">ministers </span></i><span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">who ignore the Atonement! They conceal the Cross, or say
but little about it. You may go through service after service and scarcely hear
a mention of the atoning blood—but Paul was always bringing forward the
expiation for sin—Paul never tried to explain it away.” (C. H. Spurgeon)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">What is there in which we can glory
save in the cross of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? It was there where the
death we earned was placed upon Christ and the sins which were the cause of our
death were forgiven and atoned for through His sufferings and death. This is no
Sunday School lesson nor is it some example of self sacrifice which we should
emulate. Oh no, my brothers and sisters, this was the place where the door to
eternity was opened and through which all sinners could pass by true faith
alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "TimesNewRomanMT-Cond","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-family: TimesNewRomanMT-Cond; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Those who do not speak often of its
glory are no ministers of Christ at all. Those who have truly been to Calvary’s
spectacle and seen and heard His sufferings can never assign the cross to a
spiritual aside. It is our life. It is our core. It is our glory.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Many conservatives and evangelicals
say that “Muslims hate Christians!” and supposedly that should make everyone
take action against them. But there was a time when you and I hated God and
lived in defiance of the Lord Jesus. And Jesus knew all this when He walked
this earth. So what action did He take because of that knowledge?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The cross.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Ti.1:<span class="text"><sup> </sup></span><sup>2 </sup>In
hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world
began;</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">3 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But hath in due times manifested his
word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment
of God our Saviour;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
God cannot lie. Man’s promises are
never ironclad and many times self serving. But God is not a man that He should
lie. One day kneeling before His presence we will understand just how powerful
and faithful He was to every syllable of His Word. By faith alone in Jesus who
IS the Word we have been grafted in and now we are the sons of God. Does that
thrill your soul and draw you to Him all the more? Yes, we are part of His
eternal family and we will be forever.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
How can we know this? God has
promised it and He cannot lie. Praise His name!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Ps.33: <span class="text"><sup>12 </sup>Blessed
is the nation whose God is the </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span></span><span class="text">; and the
people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">I Pet.2: </span><sup>9 </sup>But
ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of
darkness into his marvellous light;</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">10 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Which in time past were not a people,
but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have
obtained mercy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">So many define the word “nation” as a country. In the Old Testament it
meant God’s people, and the same in the New Testament. In fact most times the
Greek word “nation” is ethnos or ethnicity. Our ethnicity in found in Christ.
There is no Jew nor Gentile, no slave nor master, and even no male nor female in
Christ. It is a great and glorious mystery which has no equal. So much of the
American evangelical community commits two glaring errors which have many
spiritual consequences. They have given their hearts to America as well as
Israel. Both are secular countries and not God’s people at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">God’s true people come from all over the world out of every race and every
age and both genders and we are called the Bride of Christ. Can you even fathom
such a thing? To be His Bride awaiting the marriage feast of the Lamb? So what
would you think of a bride to be committing adulteries while she awaits her
marriage? But that is exactly what has happened. You may go with your family to
watch fireworks because they enjoy it, but is your heart given to that spirit?
You may choose your words carefully because you do not desire to be a stumbling
block, but is your heart His alone? Yes, we must be wise as serpents but
harmless as doves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But let me make this bold proclamation. Unless you see yourself as a part
of an unseen kingdom and as a humble but completely separated spectator in the
kingdoms of this world you can never go deeper in Christ. You might be saved
but you will always be playing with idols and believe God approves of them.
Those of us who have been there can testify that when you leave the kingdoms of
this world and cling to Him alone your eyes and your heart is opened to the
wonders of His sacrifice.<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I realize many people do not
understand or appreciate what I write about sometimes. They cannot understand
what I find so offensive about Joel Osteen or patriotism or even capitalism. I
know and I do not judge them. But please remember this from Acts 4 - <span class="text"><sup>20 </sup>For we cannot but speak the things which we have
seen and heard.</span> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Gen.3: 6 - <span class="text">And
when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to
the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit
thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">The fruit of evil has
always been pleasant to the eyes and is desirable.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Rev.1: <sup>13 </sup>And in
the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with
a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">14 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">His head and his hairs were white like
wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">15 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And his feet like unto fine brass, as
if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">16 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And he had in his right hand seven
stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance
was as the sun shineth in his strength.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">17 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And when I saw him, I fell at his feet
as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the
first and the last:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">18 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">I am he that liveth, and was dead; and,
behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Let the world obsess over politics
and sports and fashion and Hollywood and world events. But let us, who are not
of this world, obsess over Him. He is all glorious and yet He whose face shone
brighter than the Sun places His nail scarred hand upon John and He says, “Fear
not…” There is coming a time when men’s hearts will fail them for fear. But for
those who have been found safe inside this glorious King, for us we will be
afforded the greatest gift of all…the privilege of worshiping the Lamb forever.
Who can even fathom such an eternal gift of grace? He who holds the keys to
death and hell pointed the scepter of grace upon me the moment I truly
believed.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And now I am headed for that
Celestial City where the light of the Lamb permeates every corner of eternity.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
With each passing day things of
this earth become more and more meaningless. Empty shells aimed at entertaining
men’s darkened hearts. While men and women and children search for food and
water in many parts of the world the western church continues to borrow and
build and invent creative ways to entertain goats and sheep together. Millions
are dying as you read this post and most of us will lay our heads upon dry
pillows and with air conditioned homes knowing when we awake we will eat
anything we want.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I often wonder just how God feels
about all this hedonism while others suffer and die. And this Sunday thousands
upon thousands of churches will celebrate the modern Babylon. The nation in
which it is legal to rip unborn children from the supposed safety of a mother’s
womb and men are paid to do so…that is the nation professing believers will
celebrate? In what kind of spiritual fog do we live? Do we even know God at
all? Have we treated Jesus like a coupon which can allow us into heaven? We
dwell in a land of great apostasy and millions who name His name seek their own
comfort and wealth.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This is not the Bride. This is a
whore.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Rom.2: <sup>21 </sup>Thou
therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that
preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">22 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Thou that sayest a man should not
commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost
thou commit sacrilege?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Do you ABHOR idols?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
...I have now to ask whether you
can consent to part with your daughter early next spring, to see her no more in
this world? Whether you can consent to see her departure to a heathen land, and
her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of a missionary life? Whether
you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal
influence of the southern climate of India; to every kind of want and distress;
to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death? Can you consent
to all this, for the sake of perishing immortal souls; for the sake of Zion and
the glory of God? Can you consent to all this, in hope of soon meeting your
daughter in the world of glory, with a crown of righteousness brightened by the
acclamations of praise which shall redound to her Saviour from heathens saved,
through her means, from eternal woe and despair?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Adoniram Judson</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Let me beg you, not to rest
contented with the commonplace religion that is now so prevalent.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Adoniram Judson</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p><span style="color: #232323; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">If I had not felt certain that
every additional trial was ordered by infinite love and mercy, I could not have
survived my accumulated sufferings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #232323; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -0.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Adoniram Judson<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
There it stands at the very core
and heart of the faith and yet it is so neglected. It is treated like a symbol,
a talisman, or a tenant of doctrine. But it alone is the source of all true
life. That power is not confined to history. It is alive today. It is the power
of the cross. It has been rejected by so called Christian television. It is
ignored by millions who profess His name. Men seek relevance and earthly
success but not the cross. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But it is the zenith of all truth
and under its shadow men die to live.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
In the midst of all the hoopla and
all the violence and all the screams and all the pain and all the suffering and
all the sin there is still a sacred place to for those who know and seek Him.
Let the world spin out of control. He alone reigns supreme and His presence can
saturate the humble and listening soul. The whirlwind desires to take me away
but His holy presence gives me life and anchors me to Him alone. It cannot be
fully revealed with words. Only the Spirit can show you. And when you have
found that place you want it again and again and again. And one day, one
glorious and eternal day, we will experience His presence without a da4rkened
glass or without our own hindrances. Now…we see Him in the Spirit. But then
face to face. Oh my…</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Bondage and more bondage. Bondage
to money and events and the things of this world. Bondage to worldly thoughts
and aspirations. Bondage to worry and the merry-go-round of human machinations.
Bondage to politics and patriotism and hatred and even war. The chains of
bondage are invisible but extremely powerful. Men and women live within their
power and yet are unaware.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But when you are born again by
God’s Spirit you suddenly realize just how imprisoned you actually were. And
now you are free and liberated from your own sin and earthly designs. Who the
Son has set free is free indeed! Halleluiah!!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Demonic forces are all over the
world. They are much more intelligent that so many realize. They know if they
appear as they did in the exorcist that people will know they are there. They
know that so many attribute their power to many of the moral sins in America.
They hear what people say and they create their strategy accordingly. Their
power is in subtlety and suggestion and sophisticated errors which promote some
truth. Their greatest power is in changing the gospel and presenting Jesus as
man’s bell hop. That is what men desire and demons give it them.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
When every atom has been demolished
and the proverbial dust settles and time is no more, than Christ Jesus and His
kingdom and all those who have been redeemed will be left alive…forever.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
II Pet.1: <span class="text"><sup>16 </sup>For
we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the
power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his
majesty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">And oh what
majesty! Our hearts cannot only grope and lay hold of the hem of His garment,
but one day we will see Him as He is. Can you even fathom such a thing? To see
the Risen and Glorified Christ! So many think we cleaned up our lives when we
believed in Jesus but they are wrong. Our lives are just outward manifestations
of an encounter with this Eternal Being of Light. I was not just made whole. I
was given a new man which is eternal. And it is this new man which worships
Jesus and seeks to obey Him and to know Him in all His fullness. I look the
same on the outside but on the inside I am inhabited by this same Jesus. Yes we
are supposed to love others and be kind and show mercy, but that is not why
Jesus came. Jesus came to pay for our sins and offer every man eternal life
through faith in Him and His sacrifice on Calvary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">They took Him down
from that awful yet beautiful tree and He was a bloodied bag of bones, covered
in wounds, and smelling of death. This was God? Natural man designs his own god
and makes him a super human. But God came in the likeness of sinful flesh and
laid down His life a ransom for whosoever will believe. But days later this
same Jesus ascended into heaven and there He sits and reigns in a majesty we
can never know this side of the temporal/eternal curtain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">This is no
sentimental religion we follow. We have met Jesus and we have believed. And
within that faith the Spirit has changed our hearts and our minds. We now believe
things we never could have before. We now have compassion we never had before.
We now worship like we never could before. We now see the cross not as a
doctrinal tenant but as life itself. We can never hear enough about it. And
Jesus…this Jesus, is our Master. We seek no other, we know no other, and we
reject all others. And as Peter said we look for the “power and coming of our
Lord Jesus”. This is our very life. We do fall short but we can never turn
back. We know too much to ever search again. We have met Him and He is
everything to us…forever. Selah.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
It is extremely easy to get
spiritually sidetracked and lose God’s perspective on things. We may think we
are being champions of truth and morality when in fact we have strayed from the
path, and yes, the Path Himself. We must daily remind ourselves that we are
citizens of an unseen kingdom and we have no part in this world. But we live in
this world do we not?, you ask. No, we do not. We live and move and have our
being in Christ Jesus and our lives are hid with God in Christ. But how can
this be in reality and in practice?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This kind of mindset emanates from
a heart which has been strengthened by God’s Word and the Spirit and which is
pursing Jesus. And that kind of soaring and overcoming life must be pruned
daily. The flesh is eager to guide us away from the true riches as we grapple
for crumbs. Stay the course always looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher
of our faith and our life.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
II Pet.3: <span class="text"><sup>9 </sup>The
Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to repentance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">There is no
ambiguity here, and the implications are explicit. God would not have be
longsuffering in order to see sinners come to faith in Christ if God already
had chosen which He would save and who He would not. Just a cursory reading of
the sentence clearly establishes some kind of fee will for each and every man.
That is why when we witness we do not have to wonder if we are just wasting our
time because the lost sinner to whom we speak was not remembered at Calvary.
Salvation has been offered to every man and it is God’s will that none should
perish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">But, certain
theologians protest, does that mean man can override the will and purposes of
God? Well, yes and no. When you sin was that God’s will? Absolutely not. But
God’s will concerning forgiveness kicks in. It is unimaginable to me how men
can teach that Jesus did not die for every sinner but only for a relative
handful when compared with the entire human race. And God must have really
loved Americans and Canadians and Brits and, well, you get the picture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">It is a wonderful
paradox that the same Spirit which reveals to us the redemptive patience of God
also says “Even so, come Lord Jesus”. There are so many glorious wonders that
can be found in Scripture. Some are low hanging fruit which burst with the
nectar of truth even as we read them. But others require prayer and fasting and
meditation which can bring about a treasure uncovered which ministers and
convicts and feeds our souls. And God, in His infinite love and wisdom, shares
truth with us in ways we can understand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">But the
longsufferings referred to in this verse is in the context of the return of
Christ to this earth. Men love to identify signs and the Scriptures do speak of
such things. Today it sells books and keeps programs on television. But I think
there are two overarching signs that are unmistakable as Jesus prepares to
return.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">The sins of the
world are getting worse and more open.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">The sins of the
church are getting worse and more open.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">****<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Let us be honest about America. If
you are a believer in Jesus Christ you must face facts or retreat into your own
rebellious sense of truth. America was birthed by war and killing over taxes
which is another way of saying “over money”. And more than half a million
slaves were sold in America which resulted in great economic growth. Millions
of slave died en route to the Americas and many more died at the hands of their
owners. Most of these owners were church going people who considered slaves as
a sub-human species. Over 500,000 people died in the Civil War as the states
battled over the right to slavery. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Since Roe v. Wade became the law of
the land over 50 million unborn babies have been untimely ripped from their
mother’s womb. Abortion and prejudice still exist today. America is the only
nation to use an atomic weapon which killed tens of thousands of innocent
civilians. Now America is no worse or no better than any other country. But if
we as believers are to understand the kingdom of God then we must face what
should be obvious. If America was completely pro-life, and if it never promoted
slavery, and if it outlawed any gay marriages, it still would not be a green
light for a true believer to pledge their allegiance to it.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
We have but One Master and He is
not an American.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jonathaned192677.html" title="view quote"><span class="bqquotelink1"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Helvetica;">Grace is but glory
begun, and glory is but grace perfected.</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/jonathaned192677.html" title="view quote"><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: black;">Jonathan
Edwards</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]-->
<!--[endif]--></span>The kingdom of God is here. It
lives within every true believer in Christ Jesus. It is we who must die to
ourselves and allow the Spirit to manifest that kingdom as well as the Lord
Jesus Himself. But sometimes deception is very subtle. What may seem right just
may be a deceptive tool being used very effectively by the evil one. Jesus must
be high and exalted by His followers.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Somewhere along the line the church
capitulated to the dictates of this fallen world and became involved with
things which only hinder the gospel. This is very sad. You see sometimes the
divine will is sacrificed upon the altar of what is right. The calling we have
is the gospel and our Master is Jesus Himself. The world will argue back and
forth and one side will claim victory when certain legislation seems to
accommodate them and vice versa.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But we must remember and let is sear
into our hearts that we are not of this world. All the wrangling and
histrionics are not part of us. I watch as people stand outside the building
where nine robed men and women decide things and I grieve for their souls. They
may have an answer but they do not have THE answer. The greatest freedom a
believer can experience is when he leaves the systems of this world and he
recognizes that the kingdom in which he lives and breathes is an invisible
kingdom.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Yesterday President Obama spoke at
a church. He spoke about a bloodless grace which God gives so we can see the
evils in the culture and fix them. That is not the grace of God. And grace that
does not emanate from and draw sinners to the cross is a worldly grace invented
by men in order to help them make their world a better place. This is not our
world. It never was and it never will be. One day Jesus Himself will come with
a world of His choosing and He will summon us to His world. That world, my dear
friends, will be something to behold. The lion will lie down with the lamb and
men will make their instruments of war into instruments used to feed others.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But as wonderful and amazing such a
place will be it will not be that place which astounds us and captures our
hearts. Oh no…never. It will be the amazing and brilliant and beautiful
spectacle of the Lord Jesus Himself which will permeate our beings. And as
Spurgeon once said we then will think ourselves a thousand fools to have ever
desired anything of this present world. Amen and amen.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> I</o:p> do not believe any honest reading
of the teachings of Jesus can suggest He was in favor of war and violence…ever.
But many years ago the king of that country would lead the warriors into battle
and risk his own life. Today leaders sit in air conditioned offices and eat the
finest foods served by servants and take lavish vacations and read the daily
casualty reports. And after thousands of men and women have died, these leaders
retire to a wonderful life of retirement. It is absurd but it is the norm.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Is.40: <sup>28 </sup>Hast thou
not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, the Creator of the ends of the
earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his
understanding.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">29 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">He giveth power to the faint; and to
them that have no might he increaseth strength.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">30 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Even the youths shall faint and be
weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">31 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But they that wait upon the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> shall renew their strength; they
shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they
shall walk, and not faint.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Oh how great is our God! Have we
even understood His majesty and His power toward us? He who created everything
exhibits that same power toward us who are but dust in His sight. And yet He
loves us with an everlasting love. Who can know it? We sometimes think we can
summon up our own power when in truth we have none. The young and vigorous men
shall utterly fail. I have absolutely no strength at all.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But think on this. This powerful
and awesome God of all creation who created everything out of nothing just by
the word of His own mouth came as one of us and went willingly to that cruel
cross which savaged Him and mocked Him and made Him the object of man’s own
torture. There He hung and writhed in physical and spiritual pain and then
recorded it for all to know it. Just what kind of monarch, separate from
sinners, removes His robes and steps right into the hands of wicked men like
you and like me? He who could have destroyed creation with one word or even one
divine wink went to Golgotha for the likes of me. It is overwhelming.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But in order to open our hearts to
His loving power we must wait upon Him. This does not mean to sit like we would
sit on a park bench and wait for a bus. This waiting means to minister as well
as casting all our cares upon Him. To pray, to read, to meditate, to fast, to
praise, to worship, and to seek His glorious face so that we might die to
ourselves and rise fully in Him. That is waiting on the Lord. What a privilege
of grace. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Thank you, Father, for your
unending and undeserving love. Thank you for being always there. Thank you for
listening to me even when I was babbling. Thank you for sending me comfort when
I was the victim of my own undoing. Thank you for being my shelter when storms
hit hard. There is no one like You. I praise Your Holy Name. I am, by faith,
your child. I call You Daddy, Father.</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
What if there were never supposed
to be church buildings?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What if there were never supposed
to be congregations over 75 members?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What if gatherings were never
supposed to have any business meetings?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What if ministers were to teach
young called ministers and not some big colleges?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What if believers were to be
accountable to one another?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What if the gatherings were to be
an all day affair?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What if the pastor was paid a
modest salary and not the salary packages which mirror the world?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
So what if a man named Constantine
changed the very spiritual fabric of local gatherings and now hundreds of years
later the structure is not only completely different than the Spirit intended,
but it is at odds with what God designed? If the church never acquiesced to the
carnal demands of a dictator just how would the church look today? How many
billions and billions of dollars that were spent on buildings and mortgage
payments could have been used to send missionaries around the world? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
What if the body of Christ was to
be more than theology?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What if we all were to be
unmistakable lights in the midst of a perverse nation?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What if we were never supposed to be
entangled with the affairs of this world? </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What if the gatherings were filled
with much prayer?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What if there were never supposed
to be professional Christian singers?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What if the cross was supposed to
be the very heart of our faith?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
What if we were supposed to allow
Jesus to live the same way He did through us?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But how many even ask such
questions to say nothing of examining what is practiced in the modern version
of what is called colloquially “church”? Symbols and days and seasons and
holidays and church mottos have replaced the Spirit. But now the burden of
obedience lies before each and every one of us. We are now accountable directly
to God. We have been granted the privilege of seeking His face through the
indwelling of the Spirit. There is no excuse. Just because most of the modern
church structure has eviscerated the Word of God does not excuse any of us. We
have the Word, we have the Spirit, we have prayer, and we have divine power
that empowers us to seek and to find. Let us do just that. What if we did just
that?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
To ignore the statistics that
openly and undeniably show a direct link to murder and violence when guns are
more available to the average citizen is to be willfully ignorant as well as
culpable to the many innocent lives that are being lost. To be sure gun laws
can never change the human heart, but keeping guns out of the hands of fallen
and wicked hearts would seem like a very good idea. But how many who name the
name of Christ will cling to their guns regardless of how many lives are lost?
It is way past time for us to acquiesce to that which has been obvious for a
very long time. It isn’t liberal to be in favor of stricter gun laws. It is
just common sense. You may never use your guns to kill innocent people but what
about your neighbor? Are you willing to take that chance?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Yes, I guess you are.</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
****</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Perhaps 15 years ago a missionary
family to Pakistan sat in Sunday morning church service. The couple had three
young children. Some terrorists threw several hand grenades into the church and
several people were killed. The missionary mother’s leg was badly mangled and
their 8 year old little boy was flown to Germany with life threatening
injuries. Two years later and after the little boy had undergone many surgeries
the family climbed the platform to address the church body. The wife limped
noticeably and the now 10 year old little boy seemed to be doing well.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The father first thanked God for
His grace. He praised the Lord Jesus for their salvation and for seeing his
family through this crisis. And then the father asked for prayer for his family
because they were returning to the mission field to reach the lost in the same
general area. You think you endure hardship? You think you sacrifice for Jesus?
I was there and wept with those who heard that man. There are many, many
families who have left all and endured great hardship and even tragedy and yet
stayed the course and remained faithful to Christ and His gospel.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
One day these families will be
recognized openly in heaven and allowed to present the Redeemer with jewels for
His eternal crown. It is testimonies like these that forbid me from thinking
too highly of myself. Let Jesus Christ be praised!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Mk.8: <sup>34 </sup>And when
he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them,
Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow me.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">35 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For whosoever will save his life shall
lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the
same shall save it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">36 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For what shall it profit a man, if he
shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">37 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Or what shall a man give in exchange
for his soul?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The world presents things as
precious. Careers, physical appearance, business success, intellect, cars,
national identity, and all things that pertain to money. But how value does the
world place upon a person’s soul? The answer is none. That is because the world
cannot know spiritual things or the True and Living Jesus. But just absorb
those words from the lips of our Lord. They are powerful and unnerving as well.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you took all that is in the
world and gave it to one person it would not match the value of his own soul.
How do we compare a few decades with eternity? But so often we walk by sight
and not be faith and the eyes of the Spirit. We look at the temporal and not
the eternal. But where will you be one billion years from this very day? That
is no trick question. That is a probing question which should give us all
pause.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The church has reduced it to a
heaven and hell question and to be sure they play a part in redemption. But the
words of these four verses go deeper than just punching a ticket to heaven.
They speak of losing our very lives for Jesus’ sake. Think about what that
means and all the implications. And when our Lord says to for us to deny
ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him just how does that translate
into our temporal lives? What indeed does that look like in the natural? When
we sincerely embrace those words it must find some unmistakable expressions in
our lives that even lost people can see.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The gospel of Jesus Christ is a
message of eternal redemption which is spread through lips and lives.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
THE DISCIPLE’S QUEST</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Sometimes we are prone to make a
list. We love to make a great and swelling theology and doctrinal dissertation.
But in the end, if we truly are a disciple of Jesus, we are on a quest to seek
and to know and to follow His heart. There…simple but unfathomable.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Gary Ridgway is the Green River killer.
He murdered at least 48 women. At his sentencing many relatives came forth and
shouted accusations at him. But then one man with a long white beard and
dressed like a very poor man came to the lectern and looked directly at Gary.
He said, “I am want to hate you but my God says I must forgive you. I forgive
you.”</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ridgway had listened to many, many
people scream at him and he sat stoically. But when that one poor man said “I
forgive you” Ridgeway broke down and cried.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There is great power in forgiveness.
Just visit the cross and feel it.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I unfriended another man. To be my
Facebook friend is no great honor. But I feel like some monarch who points his
scepter and says, “Off with his head!” And “The rest can stay…they amuse me.”
You know, in reality, I have come to cherish this FB thing. I realize many do
not understand some of the things I write. And I love them for their
forbearance. I love my FB brothers and sisters in Christ with a deep and
abiding passion.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I do not know almost all of you in
the flesh, but I know you in the internet spirit. I have grown in Christ being
a part of this mysterious communicative vehicle. But be aware some of you are
hanging by a thread! (Only kidding) The only way you can be unfriended by me is
to consistently post hatred, racism, or just being a jerk of which I am the
sole discerner. ( laugh out loud)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Eph.6: <span class="text"><sup>8 </sup>Knowing
that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the
Lord, whether he be bond or free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">This principle
should permeate itself within our very beings. How often have I done what I
think is right without embracing this truth? How often have I not done right
without even considering this truth? I serve Jesus alone whatever the
circumstance. The relatives of the slain victims in South Carolina deeply
convict and exhort me. They have come forth with a manifestation of Christ
which should exhort us all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">Jesus is greater
than any sin a man can commit! Halleluiah and [praise His eternal name!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
It is entirely possible and many
times most convenient to embrace “Christian values” without embracing Christ.
You see men have invented so called “Christian values. But Christ IS our value
and everything He teaches is devoid of us and all of Him. Let me explain
something or at least try to. If you take a right principle or moral truth and
separate it from Christ it becomes an instrument of human self righteousness.
Without Christ is brings death. But that very same truth when seen through
Christ brings life regardless of what it may mean to men.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But it is so very easy and self
affirming to champion certain truths, but it will take a lifetime to follow
Jesus as Master and Lord. And once you follow Him as Lord you will not dare
present any truth without presenting THE truth Who alone can heal and redeem
the sin sick soul.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I can only find peace in Christ
Jesus. When I find myself in turmoil or discontent or entertaining a judgmental
spirit the Holy Spirit reminds me of something.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I forgot to die that day.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Who am I? What am I? I do not
engage in inerrancy debates. When I get to heaven if God told me that the story
of Jonah was a parable much like the ones Jesus told it would not shatter me at
all. If a gay couple moved in next door I would invite them over for dinner. I
embrace some theology but I do not form it into a club nor do I wear it as a
badge. I do not vote nor do I pledge allegiance to the flag. I am against war
and violence. And yet I believe with all my heart Jesus Christ is the only
Savior and a personal born again faith is required to gain an entrance into
heaven.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So I am not a conservative nor a
liberal. I am not a fundamentalist nor am I ecumenical. I am not a Baptist nor
am I a Pentecostal. I am not an evangelical and yet in some ways I am. I guess
I am just a common, humble, and manifestly imperfect follower of Jesus the
Christ. And that is all I ever want to be.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
“I have one desire now - to live a
life of reckless abandon for the Lord, putting all my energy and strength into
it.” <br />
― <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6264.Elisabeth_Elliot"><span style="color: blue;">Elisabeth
Elliot</span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I have a soft spot in my heart for
those believers who have left family and friends and travelled great distances
and placed themselves in harm’s way just to reach sinners who they have never
met and in the natural should not care about or maybe just remember them in
prayer. Here is a woman who followed God through her husband and then was there
when God took her husband at the hands of the very sinners they were sent to
win. It is an amazing story of God’s grace and love exhibited through common
and yet uncommon followers of Jesus. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Many who found themselves in
Elisabeth Elliot’s shoes may have questioned God or at least shrunk back and
engaged in self pity. But this wonderful lady of God kept being used of the
Spirit and has often been used of God to challenge and convict me. I have read
her works and her life story. “Through Gates of Splendor” is one of the deepest
Christian books ever written. And it is testimonies such as hers that make me
cringe at what passes for discipleship today.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
There are Alcu Indians who today
are following Jesus and some who are in heaven because of the Elliot’s and the
others. Jesus Himself made mention of those who have left earthly comforts in
order to bring the gospel to strangers abroad. Their reward in heaven will be
great. But think on this: What kind of ecstasy, what kind of immense pleasure
and privilege, and what kind of worship experience will there be for those who
have such rewards and are allowed to place them before two nail scarred feet?
Oh my…just oh my. May Jesus Christ be praised.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Eph.4: <span class="text"><sup>21 </sup>If
so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in
Jesus:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">Jn.14: <sup>6 </sup>Jesus
saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">Jesus not only
speaks truth. He not only teaches truth. He not only lived truth. But Jesus IS
truth.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Jn.18 37… <span class="text">Every
one that is of the truth heareth my voice.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">So much of
moralistic Christianity culls out some principle or proverb and presents it as
God’s truth. But not only is that incomplete, but it is a form of law.
Everything presented to the lost world must be covered in the redemption which
only comes from Christ. You see, Christ is the truth and attempting to force
feed some truth to a lost world without Christ is like demanding a person start
a car without the key. Even further it is like demanding a corpse straighten
his tie. And yet not only do so many professing Christian practice that kind of
useless law, they also condemn lost people for being…well…lost. Jesus did not
come to condemn the world because they are already condemned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">Our calling is to
present Christ and in Him alone we will find all truth. Truth presented apart
from the gospel to the world is hollow and on some level self righteous. In
fact the ONLY reason you even embrace ANY truth is because of Jesus. So how can
expect others to understand and embrace any truth without Jesus? The gospel of
Jesus Christ has become hidden under a blanket of moral, political, and
national truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">Someone once said,
“If I be lifted up I will draw all men…” That, my friends, is truth spoken by
THE Truth.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Phil.4: <span class="text"><sup>11 </sup>Not
that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am,
therewith to be content.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Oh that the Spirit
would sear that into me heart and into my being. Why, oh my soul, am I ever
discontent in any state as long as I am the dwelling place of the majestic Son
of God? What condition could be greater than that? And you, my wandering heart
should be ashamed. That God Himself would pay for my redemption and then come
to abide within me should be the end of the matter. But how often some
inconvenience or some trial draws my attention away from Him and onto myself?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="text">Oh keep me looking
unto Jesus not only as the Author of my faith, but as the Finisher as well.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
II Cor.12: <sup>2 </sup>I knew
a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell;
or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up
to the third heaven.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">3 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And I knew such a man, (whether in the
body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The presence of God was so real and
so tangible that Paul could not even tell if it was in or out of the body.
Think about that for a while.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
****</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> P</o:p>hil.3: <sup>7 </sup>But what
things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">8 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Yea doubtless, and I count all things
but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom
I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may
win Christ,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">9 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And be found in him, not having mine
own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of
Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Oh the soaring majesty of the grace of God through Christ Jesus our Lord!
In the previous verses Paul lays out his Hebrew qualifications which are
impressive. He was a Pharisee of Pharisees and was zealous of the law. His Old
Testament credentials were impeccable. If anyone could have passed on Christ
and relied upon his obedience to the law it was Paul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But Paul makes a shocking pronouncement. He gathers all his qualifications
and adherence to the law and even his personal resume and calls them dung. That
in those days was a startling acclamation and it was meant to be so. So after
he rejects everything he has worked a lifetime to achieve he counts them all as
dung and concludes with this: And being found in Him. And therein lies the
distinct line of demarcation. When we come to faith in Christ Jesus we must
reject our past whether it be good or bad. As we embrace Him we must see all
our sins and all our so called good works as chains of self righteousness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Paul says he has suffered the loss of all things for the knowledge of
Christ. But in today’s heaven stamp Christianity you can gain heaven and pretty
much keep everything you have and even pursue getting more and more. You have
had your ticket punched now you can return to whatever you desire to do. But is
that New Testament Christianity? Sure we can count doing drugs and being
immoral as dung, but can we count our obsession with money or politics or our
allegiance to America as dung? Or can we count our pride as dung? And is our
faith in Him so deep and so unlike anything else that it makes it seem like we
actually hate everyone and everything else?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But if we truly catch a glimpse of our Risen Lord our hearts will be
changed and the things of this world, good or bad, will grow strangely dim in
the light of His glory and grace.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-19805812206450194682015-06-14T04:27:00.005-05:002015-06-14T04:27:45.339-05:00From Facebook<div style="text-align: center;">
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">FROM FACEBOOK</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
II Pet.1: <sup>3 </sup>According
as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and
godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and
virtue:</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">4 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Whereby are given unto us exceeding
great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
What a treasure trove of truth is
brought forth in just these two verses! We see the divine power. We see all
things that pertain unto life and godliness. We see glory and virtue. We see
exceeding great and precious promises. We see the divine nature. All these
taken by themselves are volumes of eternal and glorious truth. But as we read
do not miss the phrase most important and tucked away within these two verses.
It is the very path to all these and everything eternal and spiritual.</div>
“Through the knowledge of Him that
hath called us”. Oh please do not skip lightly over these words for in them are
the issues of life and life everlasting. It seems so simple and logical and yet
it seems to be overlooked and diminished by the things of this world as well as
most of the teachings of the church. Jesus Himself exhorted us to learn of Him.
How then is it possible that most professing believers do not seek to know Him
at all? Yes, they know His name and they know His story and they call Him
Savior. But do they really know Him and do they pursue the knowledge of Him
with an unmistakable passion?<br />
It reminds of the story of a man
looking under a street light. Another man asks him what is he looking for and
the man says he lost a twenty dollar bill. “Where did you lose it?” asks the
man. The man points down the street and says he lost it over there. The other
man asks him why he is looking for it here. The man says, “Because the light is
better here!”<br />
And so it is with the western
church. Seeking Christ is not easy and is not convenient and sometimes the
effects are not seen immediately although they often are. The world’s light is
much brighter on money and politics and wars and gays and sports. But to
earnestly seek Him requires sacrifice. It isn’t a switch that can be turned on
and off when the whim strikes us. It is serious spiritual business and it is
there where the devil will fight most ardently. The devil is not worried so
much when you learn about money or politics or marriage techniques or when the
rapture will take place or who might be the antichrist. But if you set your
heart to learn the heart of Jesus then you will encounter demonic forces
instantly.<br />
Where and when did the church get
detoured into morality and patriotism and boycotts and all kinds of self help
principles disguised as Biblical truth? And where and when did we leave
learning and pursuing Christ and what He lived and taught? Where and when did
Jesus become a redemption stamp and not the Master who we love and honor and
follow with all our hearts? It is most difficult when we set our hearts to
sincerely and deeply follow Him, but it is impossible when we concentrate on
everything else and use Jesus for our own self interests. Nationalism at is
very heart is self centered and seeks to create and defend a culture which
benefits us.<br />
The only answer is Jesus. The only
path is Jesus. The only way to interpret the New Testament is Jesus. We are not
just a collection of religious people who say Jesus is the way. We are to be
living epistles read of all men. And what should they be reading when they
watch us and come in contact with us?<br />
They should, they must read Jesus.
When the conservative world feels comfortable joining hands with the church
then we know the church has ceased to be the church. I submit to all of us that
we have completely redefined what it means to be a Christian and we have
created our own set of accepted practices which are antithetical to all Jesus
lived and taught. Is that too strong for your sensibilities? Well in God’s eyes
it is probably not strong enough. We must humbly repent and return to learning
of Christ and allowing His transforming life to replace ours and in so doing
Jesus will once again walk this earth through humble and meek and self denying
disciples.<br />
Until then we will keep practicing
a redundant religious structure which is a conservative, moral, American, capitalist
exhibition with a little Jesus sprinkled on top to give a conscience soothing
flavor.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
And so the days dwindle away like
snowflakes under a summer Sun. One day after another brings about mostly the
same thing perhaps arraigned sometimes but work and play, work and play. But to
the seeking believer each new day is another step, another piece of the
picture, in knowing and serving Jesus the Christ. It is an adventure, and many
times words and truths you have heard a hundred time unfold before your heart
as if they were brand new and create in you a new heart of worship once again.
This is not mouthing the words on a overhead screen urged on by a paid staff
member.</div>
No, this is a fertile meadow of
worship in which the Spirit brings new life to your spirit and you are broken
in love and adoration before Him. Who can explain such a thing? It is a
priceless treasure offered to us in a sacred place within the heart of those
who humbly seek Him. And sometimes we are taken by surprise. How often have I
read some portion of Scripture or some message by a man or woman of God and
suddenly, unexpectedly, I am overwhelmed by His presence?<br />
Jesus is not just the truth
revealer. He IS the truth. And in Him we find and unfathomable ocean of eternal
life. Without the Spirit no man can understand any of it. But when we yield to
the Spirit in humility and utter dependence, well, we will find Christ. And
when we find Christ He is everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, we can possibly
want or need. Praise the Christ of God forever!<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Unsaved sinners come in all skin
colors. White, black, brown, red, and yellow. But their souls are the same
color – black and lifeless. But when they come to Jesus their souls are as
white as fine linen. Their skin color remains the same but now their souls are
whit as wool and made in the righteousness of Christ.</div>
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
A California brought her Bible to
the floor and told everyone that unless California restricts abortion the
drought will continue at the hands of God. What a pitiful God that is. He could
not just kill all the abortion doctors and nurses? He could not control the
legislature and make them pass such a bill?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He could not write a message in the sky?</div>
But in reality that woman and many
like her refuse to see the God who went to the cross and who desperately
desires to see sinners come to salvation. They create and amalgam between the
Old Testament and the New and they present a false God. The God called Jesus
through the Spirit is calling people to Himself. The plagues and locusts and
famines and all the rest are common to man. But life comes through Jesus
Christ. Oh how the Bible and the name of God have been used for battering rams
and not to clearly allow men to see God’s redemptive love. I guess the droughts
in Sudan which killed hundreds of thousands were God’s hands because He was
angry about abortion, uh no, about gay marriage…uh no, or maybe because they
were poor and black. BTW many Sundanese women experienced still births because
they were so undernourished and thirsty their baby died in their womb. If God
caused those circumstances then He is an abortionist.<br />
We are caretakers of the true
gospel. Let others play their moralistic games. We will hold high the cross of
Calvary!!<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Jn.3:<sup> <span class="text">16 </span></sup><span class="text">For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">We as humans see
love as flowers or gentle words or marriage vows or even the love we have for
our own offspring. But while all of those are human expressions of sincere love
they are not in the same league as the love of God. You see the love of God
comes forth with the fragrance of blood and sweat and with the visual of a
massacre. It is impossible to fully plumb the depths of such a love as this. We
can never completely understand the Trinity, however God gave His only begotten
Son…for us, His sworn enemies and joyful rebels. It soars way above our ability
to comprehend such a truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="text">And yet there it
is…the very center of divine love. The cross. We have made it so neat and
sentimental and a religious talisman which can bring us good luck. But the
cross is a shocking explosion of divine truth. Many films have been made which
picture the crucifixion and some have tried to be true to truth but they, in
the end, are just men playing a part. To understand that the man being
mutilated was God Himself should break us of our intellectual and religious
posturing. How can this be?? I say again, how can this be??<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text">This display of
man’s viciousness meted out upon the sinless Lamb of God is the only path to
eternal life. But let us not just use it for a stepping stone for our own
advantage. Even after we have been grafted into God’s family through that
awesome sacrifice let us not treat it as old news. This cross, this crucified
Lamb, should pulsate through our beings as we seek to know Him more and more.
It is at Golgotha where God’s love was displayed in a Person. And suffer He
did. Inside those wounds were my own sins and yours. Every time I sin His
sufferings increased. Again, how can this thing be??<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text">He knew I did not
deserve Him. And He knew I would fail Him even after He saved my soul. And yet
He despised the shame because of the joy that was set before Him? Oh my dear
brothers and sisters, we walk on holy and sacred ground here. McCartney said “The
love you take is equal to the love you make”. He was completely wrong. God’s
love through Christ can never be duplicated and it has no competitors. And even
our love for Christ comes from the Spirit and not our own power. But regardless
of how we love Him it can never approach His love for us.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text">This is our
legacy. This is our gift. This is our life. There is no other. None.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Lk.14:<span class="text"><sup> </sup></span><sup>27 </sup>And
whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">28 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For which of you, intending to build a
tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have
sufficient to finish it?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Cost? What cost? To present a
sinner with a “count the cost” message would be diametrically opposed to modern
evangelistic strategies. Members of the body of Christ live here in a fallen
and hedonistic and violent culture which exists antithetical to Christ and His
teachings. And yet where is the persecution? Where is the ostracizing? But in
fact most professing believers pledge their allegiance to this culture and many
die to defend it. It is an incredibly strong deception.</div>
Is it possible that the true path
to disci0pleship has been lost to the western church and the Spirit is now
calling out believers one by one and leading them back to Christ and His
teachings? I believe that to be the case. Many of us have received startling
revelations over and over again. And to many of us the Word of God has come
alive and is changing our hearts and lives even though we may have been
faithful church members and, yes, even preachers. But when the Spirit
penetrates your heart and opens the eyes of your understanding your spiritual
life takes on an entirely new focus and passion.<br />
No one has arrived and indeed no
one can. We are called to a journey whose means are the end and with the Lord
Jesus not just our Guide but indeed our very life. After so many years to be
resurrected spiritual is a miracle of grace. We did not earn anything. And our
hearts grieve for those who are still on the western evangelical treadmill
believing they are serving Christ. We pray for them.<br />
Look at those words “bear his cross
and come after Me”. You see, there is only one cross and that is the cross of
Jesus. So His cross must be ours and our cross must be His. Bearing His cross
has nothing to do with politics or taking a stand. It begins with a profound
and passionate embracing of personal humility. We must reject the praises of
men and the lies our own minds tell us about ourselves. This humility is not to
become a spectacle which draws attention to us. No, through prayer and fasting
and a devouring of God’s Word we must come to a place where we actually live in
Christ and reject the flesh. <br />
How can we do such a thing and
where can we find that power? The power to be clothed with humility comes from
a continuing quest to see and understand the Lord Jesus. He must be much more
than a doctrine embedded in the plan of salvation. We must see Him clearly as
Savior and Lord and a thousand other revelations. You see, seeing Jesus, the
true and exalted Jesus, cannot help but humble us and create in us a
perspective of truth. If a man thinks he is something when he is nothing he
deceives himself. How many professing believers are self deceived? And how many
professing believers are walking happily upon a path with ne sacrifice, no
cost, and no cross?<br />
This is the state of the
institutional church and many, by God’s gracious power, are being called out.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Jude 1: <sup>24 </sup>Now unto
him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before
the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">25 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">To the only wise God our Saviour, be
glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
To present me faultless? </div>
Oh my…oh my. His love and power are
twin pillars which join together to make a miscreant like me faultless. The
list of my faults is endless and well documented. And if my thought life was
added I would be well deserved of hell itself. Would it not be an act of grace
just to allow me to squeak by through heaven’s gates? Just to be allowed in
would be monumental. But to present me faultless before the presence of His
glory is almost too much to bear. I am undone when I think of what that
actually means.<br />
This God we serve…this Christ is
above all that we could ask or think. We speak these words and yet the coming
reality will render all human words and all theologies as completely
insufficient and even pitiful. One day, one glorious day, God’s grace purchased
at Calvary will come forth and change every born again sinner into a faultless
being of worship before His amazing glory. That coming reality casts a dark
shadow upon the reality of this present world. This will pass and that which is
Him will come forth with an eternal brilliance no one has ever seen or
imagined. And there will be you and I. Faultless. Oh my…<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
A CHRISTLESS GOSPEL</div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We live in an era and in a culture
which is filled with selfishness and political maneuvering. And little by
little the church has learned the ways of the world and the culture as is
practiced here in America. The first step is bowing in allegiance to this
earthly nation and the rest follows suit. Once your heart is invested your thoughts
and actions will reflect your heart.</div>
And so much of the church separates
certain sinners for castigations above and beyond what is given to other
sinners. In fact certain sinners have been so singled out that it now clouds
spiritual discernment about other sinners. The man seeks his fortune and
becomes a millionaire but because he is a patriotic American and a member of a
Christian church he can be seen playing golf with well know evangelists. His
sins are ignored and even embraced. But if that same person comes out of the
closet and admits to having same sex attractions he will be soundly scolded,
called to repent, and will see no more golf dates.<br />
This obsession with gay sinners is
unseemly and flies in the face of Christ’s ministry and gospel. But it makes
for good publicity and engenders much moral support. You see the gay thing
invokes confusion and fear in people. And those who profess Christ and yet are
invested in this American culture and nation see it as an open threat to the
moral fiber of their existence. That is because they do not understand the
utter fallen nature of this nation and culture. <br />
But more importantly they are blind
to the power and exclusivity of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This gospel is not
just a moral change in a sinner’s life. This gospel, when truly believed,
creates a brand new person from the inside out. The change in moral perspective
is residual and subordinate to the change in a sinner’s heart and soul. And
after that sinner is changed and created in the image of Christ Jesus he must
see sinners as did our Master. Nowhere did Jesus lead a crusade against sinners
of any kind. In fact He was accused of being a friend to sinners. Indeed!<br />
It is a million time easier to
castigate a sinner than it is to love him. Self righteousness is fueled by such
castigations and the flesh loves a good boycott. But to be sure Christ is not
in that kind of false gospel. The true gospel of Jesus Christ recognizes the
fallen nature of sinners but still reaches out in love with the good news of
Christ Jesus. You cannot be double minded. You cannot champion worldly causes
and still claim to follow Jesus and preach His gospel. But that is exactly what
many are attempting to do in this nationalistic fervor. <br />
Submit yourself to the Spirit and
to His truth and live as well as die for the gospel. But be careful, if you do,
the dust of sinners might soil your reputation in the eyes of moralists. But
rejoice! That same dust was found in Him while He walked this earth and while
He was lifted up off this earth!<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Heb.9: <sup>8 </sup>The Holy
Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made
manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">9 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Which was a figure for the time then
present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make
him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">10 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Which stood only in meats and drinks,
and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of
reformation.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">11 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But Christ being come an high priest of
good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with
hands, that is to say, not of this building;<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">12 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Neither by the blood of goats and
calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having
obtained eternal redemption for us.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
After Christ died and rose from the
dead the law was dead and gone. But men still cling to it in parts or even in
whole. The law is a murderer of souls. Christ gives life to souls. You cannot
mix the Lifegiver with the dictates of death. But allow me to pull back the
veil and expose the unspoken motivation for law keepers and moralists. It is
raw self righteousness and it diminishes Christ.</div>
Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-53398768578136520792015-05-02T12:25:00.005-05:002015-05-02T12:26:04.259-05:00Facebook<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Men open their mouths, force air with their diaphragm
over their vocal chords, and it is manipulated by their lips and mouths to form
sounds called words. But without the Spirit they are just air echoes received
by human ears and enchanting the fallen human heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Heb.6:</span></span><span class="text"><sup> </sup></span><sup>25 </sup>Wherefore
he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing
he ever liveth to make intercession for them.</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">26 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For such an high priest became us, who
is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the
heavens;<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="chapter-2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">God is and always has been and
always will be holy. But we have been made holy by faith in Jesus Christ. We
are a holy nation by His grace. But just what is holiness? What does that mean,
and how does holiness work itself out in a believer’s life?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">From Webster’s:<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Holy - </span></span><span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">: connected to a god or a religion : religious
and morally good<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">The world hasn’t got a clue, and neither does
the church. Who even speaks of holiness anymore? And when the subject comes up
it is usually in the context of does and don’ts. But there is no holiness apart
from God. God alone is holy, and He has bestowed His holiness upon His
children. Holiness is an attribute, even a core element, of the Divine Being we
call God. His name is Jehovah and even more specific Yeshua, Jesus. And that
holiness is the DNA of true divinity. It is difficult to cull out and examine,
and even more difficult to explain or define.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">It is what separates the divine from the human.
It is much more than just the absence of sin. It is a force, a quality, an
essence, an empirical evidence of the presence of Jehovah God and of Christ.
Human nature is foreign to holiness. Human understanding dilutes it, and as can
be seen by Webster’s, it molds it into some religious association.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">But true holiness is infinite and unfathomably
deep and profound in all aspects. It isn’t just moral absolutes captured in an
attribute. It goes way beyond morals or principles or religious thoughts. It is
purity but much more. In fact, only withi9n the Godhead can holiness be fully
understood. It is that word “holy” which the Seraphim repeat as they hover
around then throne of God.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">So in the end it is the holiness of God which drives
every penitent sinner to worship the Lamb.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans";"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; vertical-align: top;">
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">True prophets warn people of sin and the evils
of the day especially within the church. Considering the spiritual climate in
today’s church if a preacher is not warning people and exposing the sin and
apostasy within the church then he is not speaking God’s Word and he is not a
voice of the Spirit. Sometimes that which seems positive is a lie and that
which seems negative is the truth. The deception is widespread and powerful,
and that which is completely at odds with Jesus is practiced and preached openly
within the organized church. Truth has been sacrificed upon the altar of
personality, oratory, ceremony, nationalism, and a general willingness to give
people want they want, which is self pleasure and indulgence on many levels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Open Sans";">Christianity has been reduced to heaven, and
God’s grace has been expanded to include all and any unrepentant sinners. God’s
Word lies slain in the streets of religious humanity.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="chapter-2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Heb.12: </span></span>Wherefore
seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us
lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us
run with patience the race that is set before us,</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">2 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Looking unto Jesus the author and
finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of
God.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="chapter-2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="chapter-2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">When a secular music artist
makes a Cd/album what does he do? That artist usually goes on tour to promote
that album. Now let me ask you this: If you already have the album why do you
need to go see that artist in person? The answer is because of the show and the
entertainment. You will pay more than you did for the album because you desire
to be entertained.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">So when a Christian singer
makes an album what does he usually do? He goes on tour in order to promote his
album. And why do people pay money to hear him sing songs they already have on
a Cd? It’s because they wish to be entertained. And that artist makes a great
deal of money and the process mirrors that of the secular world. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">And if music suddenly
disappeared from the human experience how many professing believers would fall
away? Or if there was no money at all to be made through music how many
Christian artists would travel and do “concerts”? How much of the western
Christian experience is built upon secular practices and not the life and
teachings of Jesus? Hmm…<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="chapter-2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">I Tim.1: </span></span><span class="text"><sup>15 </sup>This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all
acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I
am chief.</span><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="chapter-2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Heb.12: </span></span>Wherefore
seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us
lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us
run with patience the race that is set before us,</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">2 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Looking unto Jesus the author and
finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the
cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of
God.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">After reciting in chapter 11 a list of faithful people in the Old
Covenant, the Spirit illuminates us to a better covenant. And is so evident
throughout the New Testament the Spirit once again refers us to the cross. Do
you think there is a purpose in all of that? Yes, there surely is and always
will be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">The news coverage of Baltimore
is endless. But within the hearts of millions of Americans in every city and
town rioting and looting and stealing and killing and racism are raging. From
the so called street thugs to the well dressed business man to the polished
politicians and to the worldly wise preachers the hearts are full of wickedness
and deceit. But once something which means something to people like stores and
material goods and their own physical safety are at stake people demand action.
Strip clubs and casinos and liquor stores thrive without any protests. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">But that is the nature of the
fallen man. What does he have but the things of this world? Do not touch the
golden goose because it is there where the fallen man worships.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">From the Dark Knight:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">“This faith community deserves
a better class of heretic and I intend to give it to them.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Joel Osteen<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">You will never understand the
grace of God until you understand your own complete and utter depravity. Even
your well intentioned attempts at goodness are filthy rags when presented
against the canvass of a Holy God. Everything you thought, everything you felt,
everything you did, and everything you were was depraved and fallen and without
a single shred of righteousness. And with that truth fully intact and
observable…God sent His Son.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">But now you believe your good
works and your good intentions mean something. So many believe they can add
something to God’s grace, and if they try hard enough they will polish the gold
of God’s grace and make it shine because of what they have done. Again, that is
still fallen thinking. Anything you do as a believer that is righteous in His
eyes is because of the Spirit within you and because you are His child and not
because you can ever increase the grace of God in your life.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Grace, God’s grace through
Jesus Christ, is complete and without any caveat. There is no breach. It is
revealed within His own words, “It is finished”. God’s redemptive grace is not
parceled out piecemeal or as a reward for philanthropy and humanitarian acts or
even the denial of self. God’s grace is absolutely foreign to everything our
minds can fathom. It goes against all reason and fairness. And the strength of
that grace lies within the blood that was shed and the sacrifice that was
given. And that crucifixion cannot be undone. It stands as the event and the
only event which can atone for the sins of any man. And it offers a grace which
bestows upon the very sinners which approved of and carried out that
crucifixion another gift unsearchable to our earthly minds.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">It offers eternal life through
that same grace. Now how can cars and houses and land and money and fame and
the entire world compete with that gift? Everything in this world, all of it,
must blush and bow before such a gift. He who owns the entire world but has
lost his soul has nothing. But he who stands completely within God’s grace stands
as a joint-heir with Him who bought and purchased and offered that grace. You
and I can never understand it, but we can receive it and worship the Author
forever. Selah.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"></span></span> </div>
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Eph.4: </span></span>I
therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the
vocation wherewith ye are called,</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">2 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">With all lowliness and meekness<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Meekness and lowliness and humility and denying of self. Do you wonder how
the faith that follows Jesus which is defined by these words can be presented
by men and women who show none of these and teach wealth and self image and
pride? And do you wonder how anyone who has even perused the gospels could ever
embrace things that are diametrically opposed to all Jesus lived and taught?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Wonder no more. It is called deception and it is a powerful force.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<a href="http://bereanresearch.org/christians-are-leaving-the-faith-in-droves-and-the-trend-isnt-slowing-down/"><span style="color: blue;">http://bereanresearch.org/christians-are-leaving-the-faith-in-droves-and-the-trend-isnt-slowing-down/</span></a><span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">This article chronicles a shift in people’s faith. Some
who had classified themselves as “Christian” are now exploring and even
embracing other religions. But there are several streams of truth here. One
truth is that many who professed themselves as Christian were never born again
and so their religious affiliation is cultural at best. So they cannot leave
what they never truly embraced in the Spirit. They are just changing
affiliations.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">But then there are a small number of true believers who
are renouncing their faith altogether. Only God knows who these people are, but
to be sure there are some who openly reject Christ even though they once
embraced Him. They are small in number but they are embarking on a serious path
with eternal consequences. It is these people to whom Hebrews chapters six and
ten refer. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">But the article does not address what is the largest
group of people. These are the people who fill large evangelical churches and
who follow ecclesiastical stars like Joel Osteen and Rick Warren and the
prosperity hucksters. It is these colossal multitude about which the article is
silent. Why? Because most people cannot understand how anyone could possibly be
against such a winsome and positive person like Joel Osteen and others. The
majority of religious and non-religious people are blind to the evil which
lurks underneath the positive and culturally drenched message of these men. But
in effect millions are leaving the Christian faith even while joining
“Christian” churches.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">It is that phenomenon which the article ignored.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">One day all the wealth and fame and power and wisdom of
this world will be exposed as hollow vapors and all men will be on the same
hollow ground. And when it all vanishes and is revealed for what it always was,
then will the cross, that which has been maligned and mocked and changed and
demeaned and treated life a religious token and symbol, then will that cross be
unveiled as the power of God throughout all eternity. Those that have knelt
before it will live, and those that have resisted it will die. Forever.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"></span></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Phil.2: </span></span><sup>5 </sup>Let this mind be
in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">6 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Who, being in the form of God, thought
it not robbery to be equal with God:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">7 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But made himself of no reputation, and
took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">8 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And being found in fashion as a man, he
humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">This is an incredible and even incredulous call to
discipleship. This doesn’t just tug the coattails of humility. This is a
profound revelation of a mindset called humility which soars far above anything
man has ever thought. To have such a mind and such a heart has been so lost to
the church that it seems like a foreign language indeed. What kind of humility
does it take to mirror God taking on human flesh and offering His life upon the
cross? Is that not an impossible thought?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">But here Scripture, the Scripture we so often tout as
literal and inerrant, presents to us this inconceivable challenge and yet the
church continues to meander through some earth bound religious form
colloquially called “Christianity”. If we understand English what are we to
make of this? Or are we to hear it sometimes and file it away which is a
synonym for ignore it? Can it possibly be that this spiritual discipline is
inspired by the Holy Spirit? And if we give lip service to that inspiration
then where oh where do we start?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">The word “humility” seems so insufficient as it applies
to a cross mindset which takes it model from the mind of Christ as He came and
went to the cross. Let us not treat it like we treat most other spiritual
“discussions” which are mostly verbal exchanges which engender curiosity and
thought provocation. That which is thought provoking is of little value if it
indeed finds permanence inside our minds. Unless the power of a Scriptural
truth escapes our minds and invades our hearts and finds tangible expression
through our lives then it is all religious talk.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">But when this kind of truth is openly presented in
Scripture it requires prayer and fasting and an uncommon pursuit to know its
verity, its power, and the purity of its calling to us personally. This
thought, this principle, this spiritual calling is arresting if believed. To
unravel the all the facets of this lofty diamond, and then to embrace it for
what it is saying, and then to place it in the setting of our very lives
demands an interest which can be called an obsession. Anything less makes it
just another thought provoking curiosity which we have become expert at assigning
it to Jesus and rejecting our own assignment.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">What could be some of the signs of such a humility? We
might see sinners with love. We might be immune to offense. We might see the
things of this world for what they are. We might place a watch by our lips. We
might embrace repentance. We might be free from all the issues of this world.
We might become a living sacrifice. Yes, we might…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Matt.9: </span></span><sup>36 </sup>But when he saw
the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and
were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">37 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Then saith he unto his disciples, The
harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">38 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pray ye therefore the Lord of the
harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">When I see the rioting I thought of this verse which
tells us of Jesus’ heart. I see sinners with no Shepherd.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">It is so easy to assess everything by the eye gate. But
our understanding must always be through the Spirit and the Word of God.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When people loot a store they commit a
criminal act. But every day people steal from other people while dressed in
expensive suits. Politicians steal from an entire nation. But because they are
not photographed leaving a CVS with handfuls of items we do not react as
viscerally as we do when we see things like we are seeing in Baltimore. All
have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. There is none that doeth good,
no not one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">I have heard commentators say it is only a few “bad
apples” that are causing problems. What should we feel as followers of Jesus?
Take the kid who was born to a 16n year old mother and never knew his father.
His mother neglected him as she did drugs and slept with whoever. He grew up in
abject poverty and learned stealing and violence and drugs were a part of life.
Most of the other kids had money but he had to get it illegally. No one helped
him with his homework. No one cared. No one. He is one of those “bad apples”.
Is that how Jesus sees him?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">I knew a real bad apple. He did and sold drugs and was
violent. He stole and was immoral. And yet he grew up in a caring and stable
family. He had help with his homework. He had new clothes. His parents loved
him. And yet he became a bad apple. That bad apple was me, and yet Jesus called
to me and took me in. Should I turn away in disgust from that other bad apple.
God forbid. Jesus loves bad apples…all of us.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">The city of Baltimore has become an expose of man’s
fallen nature. What you see has been in the hearts of men. It is just now
coming forth in open deeds. And make no mistake that same fallen nature lurks
inside the hearts of many policemen as well. The only answer is Jesus. We will
pray, but let us never be sucked into the world’s battles because all sides are
guilty before God. But we are a peculiar people who have no continuing city
here on earth. This world is not our home. If you believe more police, or more
earthly justice, or better government officials is the answer you are greatly
mistaken.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">All this must take place before He comes. Even so, come
quickly, Lord Jesus…<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">The timetable is in God’s hands, and the chronology of
events is already known by God. There will be wars and rumors of wars, there
will be earthquakes and famine, and violence will cover the earth. To argue
over timetables is useless and is on some level self righteous. There are
passionate and even aggressive people who present one of the many rapture
theories and it consumes them. But the church misses the entire point.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">It isn’t when things will happen. And if God Himself told
us the world would end in two years would it change you and me? So when God
tells us the world will end and judgment will come it’s like water off a duck’s
back unless we know for sure when it will come? And with all the charts and
books and television shows and teachings and Cds about the end times all things
remain the same? Just who are we kidding?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">The end is coming. Judgment is coming. Jesus is coming.
Do not ask when. Prepare your heart and life and look toward heaven. I truly
believe that if all of us were absolutely convinced that Jesus was coming again
in great power and judgment it would revolutionize our lives. Until then we
will nibble around the edges.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">II Cor.2: </span></span><sup>14 </sup>Now thanks be
unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the
savour of his knowledge by us in every place.</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">15 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For we are unto God a sweet savour of
Christ<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="chapter-1" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Eph.5: </span></span>Be ye
therefore followers of God, as dear children;</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">2 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And walk in love, as Christ also hath
loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for
a sweetsmelling savour.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">How sweet are we known to be? And just what does sweet
mean, and what does it look like through a human life? The Greek indicates an
aroma that others can smell and of which they are aware. So when a person walks
into a room wearing strong perfume or cologne most people notice the aroma and
check to see who it is that smells so strong.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">But as a follower of Jesus the aroma does not come to the
olfactory nerve. No, the aroma we should have is the sense, albeit unrecognized
by the lost, of the Person of Jesus. Now the unbeliever may not know it is
Jesus but he should sense something different about you. This does not mean you
shove a tract in his face, or blast the word hell to him, or shout in his face.</span></span></div>
Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-37045411003125317132015-04-19T11:33:00.005-05:002015-04-19T11:33:35.137-05:00From My Facebook Posts<!-- Start of StatCounter Code -->
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<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
An astronaut climbs into the
replica spaceship and goes through all the procedures. He does that again and
again and again until he knows exactly what to do. The simulator has taught him
what he needs to know. Then the day of blast-off comes and the real spaceship
is ready to go. But the astronaut demands that the simulator and the real
spaceship are joined together for the trip into space.</div>
The NASA officials inform him that
the simulator cannot fly and every time he climbed into that simulator he was
learning about the real spaceship. There is no need for that simulator, and in
fact its usefulness and mission are now over.<br />
Some believers are like that
astronaut. They want to reach back into the Old Testament and attach it to the
New Testament. The Old Testament was just a simulator in which sinners
practiced the blood atonement but that was only until the Lamb of God came and
shed His blood. There is now no need for the Old Covenant because it has
fulfilled its mission which was to teach sinners about the blood atonement. And
they rehearsed it again and again and again. But when the real and eternal
blood was shed the rehearsal is not necessary.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The simulation is over. The Lamb of
God has died. </div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Redeemer, Creator, Jehovah Rophe,</div>
The Strong and Mighty Tower, the
Author of faith.<br />
Lilly of the Valley, Bright Morning
Star,<br />
Blessed Hope, that’s what You are.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Chosen One of Israel, God’s Holy
Son,</div>
The Christ and Messiah, Anointed
One.<br />
The Living Word of God, Faithful
and True,<br />
Jesus, Savior are You.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
You save me, delivered me and
called me Your own.</div>
You now are preparing my eternal
home.<br />
You said you’d be with me both now
and always,<br />
Jesus, You’re worthy of praise.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
One true glimpse of the cross,
unimpeded by religion and human dilution and empowered by the Spirit, will
break a sinner and remake him in Christ’s image.</div>
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We have such a fallen view of God
sometimes. This marks the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing which killed
168 innocent people. Did you read what I just wrote? I said “innocent people”.
There are no innocent people in God’s eyes and in truth all are guilty. How
could anyone be so cruel and evil as to destroy the lives of these people?</div>
Well one day Christ will come and
destroy the entire planet and most of its inhabitants. You see, all things must
be seen through a divine prism which is the Word of God. We do not rejoice in
murder, but we who are His understand things through His truth and not the
fallen compassion even God’s enemies can show. True compassion begins and ends
with the cross. All others are fallen.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I Pet.5: …<span class="text"> </span>Yea,
all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God
resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">6 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Humble yourselves therefore under the
mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
We have been so desensitized to the
things of the Spirit through this fallen culture that we are blind to much
truth. The fallen nature of men refuses humility and loves human exaltation.
Many things we deem innocuous are in fact poison to our spirits. Things like
competitive sports train us to win, win, win and to be champions and let all
the world know it. That seems so benign and yet it subtly and openly trains our
hearts in ways that remove any true humility in the Spirit.</div>
But we are exhorted to be clothed
with humility which seems like an enormous spiritual task. But how many of us
truly seek that kind of abject humility so that we are hidden in His likeness
and not ours? How many of us really understand what true humility actually is?
And if a believer is walking in spiritual humility will he get offended at all
about anything, especially any insult or slight to himself? <br />
And the Scripture clearly tells us
that God will give more of His grace to those that are clothed in humility. But
we live in a culture which has shifted our thought patterns and has sown seeds
of fallen fruit. And much of it has become so familiar to us that we no longer
investigate many things to see if they are of God because we are numb to all of
it. We have been instructed to live completely in moderation, but does that
have any effect upon what we buy or we wear or what we eat or where we live?
But all that must begin in the heart.<br />
When our hearts are completely
surrendered to Him, and when we have purposefully put our flesh to a certain
death, then and only then can we please Him. The mindset and heart attitude we
call humility pleases God and is a necessary component of worship and all
things spiritual. This humility is not confined to how we feel when we
understand our redemption although that is at the core. This kind of humility
is spiritual power disguised as timidity and graciousness and meekness. It
affects every area of our lives because it resides in our hearts and wields
God’s power in and through us.<br />
And oh how many infinite reasons we
have for being truly humble people. I can truthfully say before God and the
Holy Spirit I have absolutely nothing of myself whereof I can offer the
slightest boast. Without Christ I am not just worthless, but I am an aggressive
enemy who would strut my sinfulness and mock the holiness of my Creator. So
here I stand. Washed in the royal blood of God and made a child of the Living
Father God. I am a broken man who is so proud many times it pains my heart
before Him. Oh Precious Father, help us to see what we cannot see. Help us to
understand that which we cannot understand. Teach us, our Father, what it means
to walk in the humility which led Christ to walk as a man. Oh my…oh my. How we
love you Jesus and how we are in desperate need of Your Spirit to do more of
His work and ministry within us. This is no task…it is our living joy.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
No amount of scholastic attainment,
or exquisite understanding of Biblical theology, or able and profound
exposition of brilliant and stirring eloquence, can atone for the absence of a
deep impassioned sympathetic love for human souls.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Rev.13: <sup>8 </sup>And all
that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the
book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">9 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">If any man have an ear, let him hear.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Before God said “Let there be light” God knew the cross was waiting. Can
you even imagine such a love? It soars way past our feeble definitions of love.
No sentimentality or saccharine here. This is a love about which man has never
known. None of us would do something we knew would end up causing us great
suffering and death. And if we knew it would be for our enemies we would shun
the slightest inconvenience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But God spoke into existence the creation He knew would one day demand His
Son. We tend to dismiss some of it because after all He is God. And in the back
of our minds we know He knew Christ would resurrect. And with that kind of
thinking we render the gospel a divine play. But even the slightest hint of
that kind of thinking removes the eternal pathos embedded within the cross. You
could search and seek and seek and search for all eternity and still you would
not understand all of the divine love exhibited in the cross. It is a colossal
mystery.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And yet God saw it coming and created us anyway. And Jesus, God manifested
in the flesh, came knowing the cross was His destiny. “Oh yes,” you say, “But
He knew He would rise again!” You do not have a clue, and until we understand
we do not have a clue, we can never touch the hem of the cross garment. It is
an impossibility to over emphasize the cross of Jesus Christ. It is an
unfathomable treasure of all the mysteries of God’s kingdom. It is the purest
expression of God’s love. It is the open revelation of the Divine Being. It is
the mystery in which all other mysteries live. It stands apart from created
time. Its power is past finding out. It is the place of eternal birth.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But the price was unthinkable. To say the price was high is to diminish
the price that was paid. It was there, on Golgotha’s hill, which was created by
God Himself, that God Himself suffered and died at the hands of His created
enemies. The nails, the hammer, the fists, the thorns, the spit, the spear, the
planks, the voices, the eyes, were all created by that writhing Lamb. Can you
even dare to ponder it? Can you stop and gaze with your heart’s eye and look
upon it? Dare you enter into it looking to understand its life changing love?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Before the worlds were ever made the Lamb created Bethlehem, Nazareth,
Galilee, Jericho, Bethsaida, Jerusalem, and yes, Calvary. And then He came and
walked among His creation disguised as one of us. And with His face set like a
flint He went to Jerusalem seeking and embracing His own death. What is man
that Thou art mindful of Him? Golgotha was no surprise. In fact it was the
final scene of redemption’s plan. This was in God’s heart before Adam was ever
made. Who can know it? Who among us dare to insist we understand all its
fullness?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The most wonderful thing the cross can do for us is to break us
completely. And when we no longer have any strength of our own, perhaps then we
can understand the first portion of an eternal crucifixion whose glory will
shine forever and forever. Amen.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div class="chapter-2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Prayerlessness
denies the existence of God.</div>
<br />
<div class="chapter-2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>I truly believe the
most despicable sin I have committed since I became a believer is when I have
not prayed. That shames me to my very core.</div>
<br />
<div class="chapter-2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p>Gal.6: <span class="text"><sup>17 </sup>From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear
in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="chapter-2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text">Paul
states that he has scars in His service for the Lord Jesus. And given that Paul
grows weary of disputes about the law which minimizes the cross. So those
scars, received by beatings, remind Paul of whose servant he is and what his
calling will always be. The word translated “marks” is “stigma” in the Greek.
Those who truly follow Jesus must live with His stigma.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="text">We
should be kind and loving and humanitarian, but there are unbelievers who are
also those things. Jesus must be openly our Lord and that Lordship must be communicated
through life actions as well as words. You are in no danger of having His
stigma if others do not know Jesus is your Lord. I do not speak of being
aggressive and irritating, but we should lovingly communicate Christ to others.
How shall they believe in whom they have not heard?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text">There
are things about which we should not get into disputes. I have my own list of
things that I consider counterproductive to the gospel. Yes, we should confront
serious error, but certain arguments do not promote Christ and His gospel. You
will not hear me argue about the rapture or the creation day or many other
incidentals. They seem to promote clashes which most times lead nowhere.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text">But
Paul refers to the Lordship of Christ and how his service to his Master has had
consequences even in his own body. Paul lives with the stigma of Christ. But
please know that having that kind of stigma takes more than just a church
membership or a baptism certificate or taking certain moral stands. It even
takes more than just lip service or handing out tracts. To walk in His shadow
and with His stigma takes much prayer…much prayer. It means you are walking in
the Spirit and your heart and mind are being controlled by that Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text">That
path is not easy. It does not open up just because we desire it to be open. In
fact we can be kind and polite and generous and yet not be walking in the
Spirit and therefore His stigma is absent. This is the fine china of a
spiritual life. This must be our hunger, our pursuit, and our unquenchable
thirst daily. It must be our very life. And we can never know His stigma while
we are still alive. We must die. We must die. We must die. And He then must
rise up from our death and live through us. That is no small task and few there
be that seek it and fewer still there be that find it.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="chapter-2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div class="chapter-2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Jn.19: Then Pilate
therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">2 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And the soldiers platted a crown of
thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">3 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and
they smote him with their hands.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">This was the Creator of the Universe. There He is…shamed and mocked and
scorned like some pitiful fool. Like some pitiful fool. And yet it was for
pitiful fools like you and like me He stands there and takes, no embraces, the
beating and the insults and the mock laughter. And the Spirit is there
recording it so all can see it forever. And He, the Lamb of God, knows it will
be recorded forever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">They punched Him. The spit upon that wondrous face. They plucked His
beard. They whipped Him. They dressed Him as a mock king. It was unfair. It was
inhuman. It was tragic beyond words even in the natural. And yet in the spirit
realm the angels looked with horror! They can never really understand the depth
of what happened here, and without the Spirit neither can we. But when that
Spirit enters your being and makes you a child of God you become more and more
aware of what happened and who it was for which Christ endured such things.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And yet this can never be completely surrounded by a human mind. And it is
that very mystery which enlightens our hearts again and again and again. The
sufferings of Christ must never get stale and relegated to dust filled
doctrines. His sufferings must penetrate our hearts again and again and again.
It is those wounds and that mocking which have our names written all over them.
I can see just how wicked I was when I see just how punished He was. And
somehow the Spirit feeds me another sliver of illumination about His love. It
is a glorious journey to point your heart toward Christ and understand again
and again and again just how He suffered and bled and died. That is our
redemption. That is our life. That is His glory…forever. Selah and amen.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Of what use is preaching by men whose consuming purpose is to gain fame
and prosperity and to make and keep disciples of their own? Much of western
Christianity is a multi-level marketing scheme no different than Amway or
Herbalife. But many churches are more successful than some of these secular
companies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Rom.10: <sup>13 </sup>For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">14 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">How then shall they call on him in whom
they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not
heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">15 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And how shall they preach, except they
be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the
gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">How can sinners be saved under the preaching of another Jesus and another
gospel? There is more to this modern day compromise than just an earthly
deception. Men like Joel Osteen and thousands like him are drawing men to a
false gospel headed by a false Christ and in so doing men’s souls will be
damned. Paul calls them “</span><span class="text"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">false
apostles, deceitful workers” and the Spirit says:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="text">Gal.1: </span><sup>8 </sup>But
though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that
which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.<br />
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">9 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">As we said before, so say I now again,
if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him
be accursed.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">This is very strong language in the Greek. It indicates God reserves a
special damnation for false preachers of a false gospel. I have no human words
to convey to you the severity about which the Spirit speaks of these men and
their self serving gospel. We show love to sinners, but to men and women of
this ilk we rebuke soundly and with the harshest of terms. A sinner can only be
saved through faith, but when that faith is placed upon sinking sand that
sinner will perish as will the person to whom he listened. We are seeing a
literal sea of people who are believing a false gospel and following ministers
of Satan. Of Satan, you ask?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
II Cor.11: <sup>13 </sup>For
such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the
apostles of Christ.<br />
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">14 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And no marvel; for Satan himself is
transformed into an angel of light.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">15 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Therefore it is no great thing if his
ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end
shall be according to their works.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">This, my dear friends, is no difference of opinion or some minor doctrinal
squabble. This cuts to the very core of redemption and its consequences are
eternal. The Spirit Himself calls these men and women “ministers of Satan”. Can
there be any more serious accusation? He does not say compromisers or double
minded or worldly. No, He calls them the very ministers of Satan. And they
operate with smiles and positive speeches and messages that uplift the human
condition and they insist that within every person there is a great reservoir
of goodness. It is a lie from the very pit of hell and it deceives men’s hearts
and damns their souls. Is that too harsh for your sensibilities? Well then you
must take it up with Paul, or better yet question the wisdom of the Spirit. I
think you dare not enter into those dangerous waters.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And so we have church building bursting at the seams. And we have
membership rolls growing exponentially. And we have large and accomplished
church staffs. And we have professional music ministries. And we have polished
oratorical thespians. And we have local banks thankful for the billions they
hold in church loans. And we have pew dwellers who love their church and their
country. It is all so wonderful to the natural and religious man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But when we uncover all the fluff and activity and earthly power we will
find another Jesus and another gospel. Can it really be possible that Satan has
come and sown so many tares among the wheat? Can it be possible that Satan has
manipulated the entire western ecclesiastical construct to this extent? Can it
be possible that men’s hearts have been so deceived that they desire the things
of this world and still believe they are following Jesus? Can it be possible
that so many nice and charming men and women are workers of iniquity?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Well there is only one way to evaluate those questions. Hold up the mirror
of the Word – all of it – and see if the western church is even attempting to
adhere to it. Do not read their statement of faith and be satisfied with things
they know will please those who are looking for such things. Listen to their
words and look at their lifestyles. Remember, when a man speaks from both sides
of his mouth in truth he is only speaking from one side. His and not God’s.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Once you have seen His beautiful
face, and once you have been touched by His wondrous grace, your heart may be
prone to wander sometimes, and the cares of this world may choke your spiritual
air sometimes, and the flames of your fire may become embers sometimes, but if
you have seen Him and have been changed by Him you…can…never…forget.</div>
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
I Cor.1: <sup>17 </sup>For
Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of
words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.</div>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">18 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For the preaching of the cross is to
them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of
God.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">19 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For it is written, I will destroy the
wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">20 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Where is the wise? where is the scribe?
where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of
this world?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">21 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For after that in the wisdom of God the
world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to
save them that believe.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
The preaching of the cross has
become blasé in today’s fast paced – church growth atmosphere. It may find a
spot amidst the statement of faith, but is it the core of the pulpit? You see,
the cross demands the believer to slow down and leave this world and meditate
and envision and gaze and embrace that event and the Figure which is central to
it. The cross never elicits a desire for money and material things and
individual human power and that is why it continues tom drift silently into the
background of the church as a whole.</div>
Watch the secular television shows
have some famous preacher and they will discuss gay marriage and abortion and
President Obama and Israel but the cross remains uninteresting and without
discussion. It is a downer for today’s upbeat culture which thrives on dreams
and positive thinking and human achievement. And the Sunday gatherings are
designed to uplift the human spirit and make people want to come back because
they feel good as they leave. Introspection? Contrition? Repentance? Or a deep
and heart rendering vision of the Messiah as He writhed in pain for our sins? <br />
You may as well resign yourself
that if you desire the Spirit to do that kind of ministry in your heart you
must seek it personally or through other outlets than church. Sad, but true.Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-80618742472128354882015-04-03T05:43:00.001-05:002015-04-03T05:43:19.979-05:00Baking a Cake<div style="text-align: center;">
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<!-- End of StatCounter Code --><strong><span style="font-size: large;">BAKING A CAKE FOR SINNERS</span></strong></div>
<br />
A bakery owned by professing believers refused to bake a cake for a gay couple. The cake, I believe, was going to be used at their wedding. There was much discussion about this. Let me add my perspective by this narrative.<br />
A man walks into your bakery and orders a cake. But you have just been informed that tomorrow this man would publicly deny Jesus using foul language. Would you still bake his cake and sell it to him?<br />
Well Jesus did not bake that man a cake. He washed his feet.Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-37931254164982145652015-03-29T03:55:00.000-05:002015-03-29T03:57:36.815-05:00Communion<div style="text-align: center;">
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<!-- End of StatCounter Code --><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">COMMUNION</span></strong></div>
<br />
Last night I led a Communion observance online on Facebook. Can you even imagine such a thing? Several years ago when David, my youngest son, signed me up for Facebook I thought it was kinda like a dating site. But I have found believers read and post there and in a few years I have found fellowship there. And in the past month I felt led of the Spirit to lead a Communion service online there.<br />
I had never heard of an online Lord's Supper but I went by faith knowing that with the Spirit there is no time or space which can hinder Him. And so it was a glorious time in Christ. We will be observing it again on the last Saturday in April. Everyone brings their own juice or wine and bread and you just go to me timeline on Facebook. I post some worship music in order to prepare our hearts and then I post a devotional concerning Communion. Then I post about the bread along with a worship song, and then a devotional about the blood along with a worship song, and then a final prayer with a hymn.<br />
There are prayers throughout and we wait for everyone. It was a genuine miracle. I invite you to join us at the end of April. My FB name is of course Rick Frueh. E-mail me at <a href="mailto:spcrick@msn.com">spcrick@msn.com</a> with a friend request. Below are some of my devotionals.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Before we remember our Lord Jesus in the elements please
allow me the undeserved privilege of sharing a devotional concerning Jesus and
the glory of His cross. What tongue can do it justice? What mind can ascend to
its holiness? The world is unconcerned and religion clings to Cain’s works and
most of the church practices a self serving form without the substance. But
this is Jesus. There is nothing within the elements themselves, but there is
the presence of God Himself in this observance. Baptism happens but once, but
our Lord gave us a gift which we can experience as often as we desire.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">The cross itself is a great mystery. And within that
mystery are other mysteries. The Incarnation, the love of God, the grace of
God, and other mysteries are all unfurled in the cross. The unregenerate man
sees nothing and the religious man see jewelry. Place yourself at the scene.
Blood and seat and odor and moaning and wounds. There is nothing that would
draw fondness or even curiosity. In fact it is repulsive in the extreme. And
when we realize Who it is that is being tortured and mocked and slain we are
shocked and repulsed as well we should be. This is man’s worst in full display
as well as God’s best in full display. The schemes of men can never defeat the
purposes of God and the acts of men have provided redemption for multitudes.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Do not deceive yourself. This was not just for thieves
and murderers and adulterers and vicious criminals. This was for vicious
criminals like you and like me who hid behind self righteous cloaks while dead
men’s bones rattled inside our own hearts. Yes, this bloody sacrifice was
provided and offered for deep and unworthy sinners like us. And who can really
know such a thing in all its glory and wonder? That a Holy God would come in
the likeness of one of us and then die at all, much less die upon the cross and
in public for all to see and for some to mock is the highest of mysteries.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">The millions of gallons of blood drawn for the veins of
goats and lambs and bulls could never wash away one sin forever. But the blood
of this Scapegoat can make sinners like you and like me clean forever. Who can
know such a thing? But he who has been plunged beneath its cleansing flood is
not only awakened to its power, but he must sing its praises forever. Golgotha.
There is our place of redemption. There was the blood applied. There we were
raised from death to life everlasting. This is no religious talisman. This is
the place that our eternity was changed and our redemption was sealed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">So as we begin this Communion service let us not discount
its importance and the presence of the Precious Holy Spirit. We do not approach
it with religious superstition, nor do we see it as adding to our eternal
redemption. No, this is a spiritual feast, instituted by Christ the Lamb, and
is fed to our hearts. This is another gift of grace where we can remember
Jesus. Should we not stop from our busy earthly lives often and remember Him?
But this is a special time unlike any other. This is worship at its zenith if
we take our eyes off ourselves and off the world and we mentally and
spiritually drown ourselves in His remembrance and His presence.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">This is not a celebration of Passover. This is a
celebration of Jesus who IS our Passover. Can you fully understand such an
incredible love God has for His people? Not only has Christ suffered and died
for us, and not only has the Holy Spirit drawn us the Jesus, and not only have
we been born again in the Spirit and made partakers of this holy sacrifice, but
Jesus Himself ordained an observance whereby we can remember Him and His cross.
Even though others may misuse Communion let us never discount its sacred
mission. Through it let us remember Him, and that, my friends, is the highest
though ever allowed a human heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">“Oh Dear Lord Jesus we enter into Your presence with
hearts of faith and gratefulness. We bow before You majesty and we humbly thank
You for Your redemption for our souls. May You receive the praise of our hearts
as we partake of elements which represent Your body and blood. And we submit to
the Spirit for only He can make us one regardless of distance between us as
believers in Your name. Amen.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">I Cor.11: </span></span><sup>23 </sup>For I have
received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus
the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">24 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And when he had given thanks, he brake
it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in
remembrance of me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Here we see Jesus breaking the bread with His own hands.
What a spectacle of amazement. This bread represents His body which is the
Bread of Life come down from heaven and yet He Himself is breaking it for His
followers. Jesus had said no man takes His life but He Himself lays it down.
This, when understood, should present to us a sacred foreshadowing when He did
it and a sacred remembrance today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Oh how easy it was to tear a loaf apart, but oh what
suffering there will be when His body is torn apart…for us. The giving of His
body upon the cross is not just emotional sentimentality however it is filled
with emotional sentimentality. The clearer we see the truth, and the clearer we
see ourselves in that cross, the more we rejoice, the more we remember Him, and
the more we experience a holy emotion. This sinless Lamb was not giving His
body for His followers. No, that would come later. He was allowing His body to
be shredded and tortured and murdered for miscreants and sinners who desired no
part of Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">And in His eternal plan God in the Person of the Holy
Spirit would draw uncaring rebels like you and like me so that we could see
with spirit eyes who He was and what He has done. So as we partake of the bread
let us deeply remember everything about this sacrifice, and above all let us
remember Him.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Let us pray: Lord we come to you without one plea.
Without your sacrifice we would be condemned forever and yet here we are your
very children. It is a miracle more wonderful than words could ever fully
reveal. This bread represents your batter and bruised and torn body which you
willingly gave for us. We bow in worship and glory and as we eat this bread our
hearts are partaking of Your precious body. This we do in remembrance of You.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Now partake of that which represents His body…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">I Cor.11: </span></span><sup>25 </sup>After the same
manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new
testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">26 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For as often as ye eat this bread, and
drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Here we have a heart rendering scene. Jesus shares what
He calls the “cup” to His disciples. This will not be a cup of blessing for
Him, but it will be a cup of eternal blessing for all who drink of it. This
will be a cup of suffering and anguish for the spotless Lamb of God. And this
man, this God, will drink fully from it. The Scriptures speak of the “blood of
God” and surely it is that. That God would come as a man is beyond us
altogether, but that God would submit Himself to the fists and spittle and
mocking of spiritual criminals cannot be understood by any natural mind.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">And then we see the blood. Before the cross sinful men
drew from the veins of God the crimson flood which carried in it eternal
redemption. By the time the Lamb of God reached Golgotha He was a scarlet
massacre. Who can even fathom such a sight! Who among us would not have the
urge to hide our eyes, and yet because we have been cleansed by that sea of red
we gaze at it will eyes full of tears and hearts full of love. What
unregenerate man can understand those who see a man being tortured beyond
recognition and yet bow in love and gratefulness? It is past knowing to the
natural man.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">And instead of leaving that vision forever the Lord
Himself beckons us to remember. And His words say “Remember Me” and happy and
eager we are to do so. The world can never understand the power of the blood,
but to we who have been washed and made alive by its power we will never
forget. It is to us the life force of all eternity, and He alone is our Savior.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Let us pray: Once again we are at You Supper which You
gave to us. We are ever mindful of what this juice means. We can never fully
fathom a love which drew the blood from Emmanuel’s veins. But what we do know
humbles us and draws our hearts to worship You the Lamb which takes away our
sins. You shed Your blood, Jesus, and as we drink of this symbol our hearts
remember the blood You shed for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="uficommentbody"><span style="color: #141823;">Let us drink of the juice which represents His blood…</span></span></div>
Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-46377112761264522372015-03-19T03:25:00.001-05:002015-03-19T03:25:47.500-05:00Chinese Church<div style="text-align: center;">
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This is what it truly means to gather in His name.</div>
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The American church service is a scam and a fraud,</div>
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<a href="http://christianvideotv.com/this-rare-footage-of-illegal-chinese-house-churches-will-mess-with-your-idea-of-what-it-means-to-love-god/">http://christianvideotv.com/this-rare-footage-of-illegal-chinese-house-churches-will-mess-with-your-idea-of-what-it-means-to-love-god/</a><!-- End of StatCounter Code --></div>
Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-76845651603265629612015-03-14T15:26:00.003-05:002015-03-14T15:26:50.959-05:00Brothers and Sisters<!-- Start of StatCounter Code -->
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Rick FruehRick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-11462694655440908652015-03-03T09:27:00.004-05:002015-03-03T09:27:41.183-05:00Going to Church???<div style="text-align: center;">
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<!-- End of StatCounter Code --><strong><span style="font-size: large;">CAN YOU WALK WITH GOD</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">AND NOT "GO TO CHURCH"?</span></strong></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong><span style="font-size: small;"></span></strong> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="chapter-2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he phrase “going to church” is a misnomer
and misleading. The word “church” itself has become a colloquialism for all
sorts of things which in truth are not the church. In the Old Testament words
and phrases like Tabernacle and Sanctuary and tent of meeting were used. They
more accurately described what that building was used for. But today we call a
building a “church” which not only is inaccurate but has over the years
completely changed the meaning of the word church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>n the New Testament the Greek word
“ecclesia” is translated “church” and it depicts a gathering, a group, or the
called out ones. It has absolutely nothing to do with a building. In fact large
buildings came into existence during the time of that carnal and wicked emperor
Constantine. He built buildings for Christians as well as other pagan religions
and believers adopted his self serving offering. Since then buildings have been
built all over the world including large and ornate edifices that are now
called a church. And so here we are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he more correct question would be can a
believer not interact and fellowship with other believers and still walk with
Christ? To that I would say no. But there are many shut ins who derive their
meat from the Scripture and perhaps a few visitors. The visitation from pastors
to shut ins has become a lost practice but decades ago it was part of a
pastor’s ministry. And if the religious organization (church) is large then
good luck with having the pastor visit you for any reason. They have a staff
member assigned for those mundane irritants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut I do believe reading or hearing Biblical
messages by a man of God must be a mainstay in a believer’s spiritual life.
That can be done through the internet these days. I would strongly advise
against Christian television. Most “churches” do not have any corporate prayer
of any significance so you are not missing that. But now there are blogs and
websites and FaceBook where you can interact and fellowship with other like
minded believers. You see, many if not most of the “churches” in your area are
man made constructs and follow the spirit of this world. They are patriotic and
moralistic and money dependent as well as war supporting institutions which
really have very little to do with Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></strong>o the ultimate question is would God desire
His people to gather in a local institution which is built and operates in the
strength of man? Can that possibly be the will of the Spirit just so you can
“punch your ticket” and say you “went to church”? I know scores of people who
have grown spiritually because they left the institution commonly called
church. They no longer sit under utilitarian messages designed to make you
successful. They no longer have to endure 4<sup>th</sup> of July services
filled with idolatry. They no longer have to be in the midst of pastor
idolization. And many have found it a great blessing to use their money for
missions and the ministry to the poor and not have it go to buildings and large
staff. They feel like they have been set free.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut there is a responsibility that comes with
leaving the institution known as church. You must feed your spirit. You must be
in the Word. You must deepen your prayer life. You must fellowship with other
believers somehow. And you must not allow your distaste for the system you left
to puff you up. You must allow the Spirit to strip you of any pride or self
righteousness. And any spiritual progress you make must make you grateful and
more humble. And when you interact on the internet you will find those with
whom you must break fellowship because some are self righteous and caustic, but
the Spirit will also teach you that no one will completely agree with you. And
when a believer has a different perspective about something, even something
about which you feel strongly, if the brother or sister is humble and seems to
love Jesus then you can overlook other things.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Y</span></strong>ou are the church, or at least part of it.
In these last days there are many ways to interact with other true yokefellow
and to benefit spiritually from other’s gifts. But we must be diligent in our
seeking of Christ. I personally have benefitted greatly from internet fellowship
with other believers. I have written extensively about the compromises of the
local “church” constructs” elsewhere so I will not belabor the point. But what
good can it possibly be to sit in a pew and feel nothing but uncomfortable?
What good can it be to hear ear tickling messages? When you go Sunday after
Sunday only to revisit the same redundant construct you did the Sunday before
is that of the Spirit? When no one weeps with repentance and the service is
designed to be “uplifting” so people will return…is that of the Spirit?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong> suggest all of pray without ceasing and
allow the Spirit to use these internet forums to edify, convict, and exhort us
as we continue in His Word and watch the power of the Word break us and remake
us into His image.</span></div>
Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-21288058541874898492015-02-15T10:47:00.007-05:002015-02-15T14:23:53.827-05:00Retouching the Cross<div style="text-align: center;">
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<!-- End of StatCounter Code --><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">RETOUCHING THE CROSS</span></strong></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em>Matt.27: <sup>28 </sup>And
they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.</em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">29 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And when they had platted a crown of
thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed
the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">30 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And they spit upon him, and took the
reed, and smote him on the head.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">31 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And after that they had mocked him,
they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him
away to crucify him.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
</em></strong><br />
<div class="chapter-2" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em>Jn.19: Then Pilate
therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.</em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">2 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And the soldiers platted a crown of
thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe,<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">3 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and
they smote him with their hands.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">4 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Pilate therefore went forth again, and
saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find
no fault in him.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">5 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Then came Jesus forth, wearing the
crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the
man!<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>here have been millions of crucifixions, but no one crucifixion has been
so detailed as the crucifixion of Jesus the Christ. We have a detailed
narrative which begins at His arrest and follows Him all the way until His
death on the cross. And in the natural it is a very gruesome scenario. And just
in the natural we are aware that He was innocent of any charges to say nothing
of the death penalty. But in order to understand and attempt embrace the
totality of what we are witnessing through the written word we must be aware
that this was God in the flesh. And this God man was completely holy and
without sin so it is an understatement to say He deserved no punishment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">J</span></strong>esus had washed the disciple’s feet a few days ago, and the night before
He was arrested He instituted what we now call the Lord’s Supper or communion.
That supper would present a redemptive picture for what He would endure and
what He would pay for in His own body.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut now He willingly submitted Himself to the hands of wicked men. And
these men spared nothing and showed no mercy. They stripped Him of His clothes
and wrapped Him in a purple robe in order to mock Him as a king. They made a
ring of very sharp thorns and crushed it down upon His head, and they put a
reed in His right hand and bowed down and mocked Him. Now in the natural this
was humiliation at is zenith, but to understand that Jesus was the Son of God
then this humiliation becomes mind boggling. And to further understand that
Jesus would soon give His life for the same men who were mocking Him is beyond
anything we can understand.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>t is difficult to imagine what a human figure would look like after such
a beating and such savagery. The Scriptures declare He did not even resemble a
human being. But His sufferings were far from just physical. It is my personal
belief that the first slap or punch or mocking is where His redemptive
sufferings began. In fact, it was when He sweat great drops of blood in the garden which began His redemptive sufferings. And they lasted until the last breath escaped from His lips.
And within each slap and punch, or with the thorns or when they plucked out His
beard, or when they lashed His back, within all of the abuse our sins were
being placed upon Him. He was the sin bearer, the scapegoat, the bronze serpent,
and He was the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd then after a world of savage torture He was laid down upon two Roman
planks. It is fitting and metaphorical that it was carried out by Roman
soldiers. This was an earthly kingdom that was consumed with power and violence
and money and was pagan at its core. The Roman religion was practical and their
gods in their view helped them and their country. Does it not have a modern day
ring to it? Yes, you say, but we believe in one God? Do we? Visit a thousand
Christian churches across America and you may well hear several hundred
different gods being preached even though they all call them Jesus. And all those
churches believe their god helps them achieve their own dreams. You see, we
live in a modern day Roman Empire.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></strong>o they laid Him down and stretched out his arms. And they drove a nail
through each hand or wrist. And they placed one foot on top of the other and
drove a spike through them both. He was now impaled on a Roman cross just as
many thousands of criminals had been before Him. He was now contemptible…a scourge and an object to be mocked. They raised up the cross which bore the
Lamb and they placed it in the hole already dug with a thud! There He is. Earth
has rejected Him and He is now temporarily separated from heaven as well. He alone
must bear the awful pain and punishment for sins He never committed. And for
six hours He would hang there. What a scene! What a spectacle! This is human
brutality at its finest. And like hangings of old a crowd would gather and
watch a human being bear an agony known only to those who experience it and
about which none lived to tell. Beside all the wounds and the awful pain of the
nails it was almost impossible to breathe. One would have to press hard on the
nail which pierced the feet and lift up one’s body weight in order to gasp a
short breath. It was an excruciating process.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut the pain of the flesh can never compare with the pain of sin. The
crowd saw a Jew but God saw a Lamb. Who among us can know the pain of sin? We all
can testify of the results of sin and how we paid on earth somehow because we
had sinned, but to experience the pain of eternal divine judgment we cannot
tell. But only the Spirit can illuminate a human understanding as to who this
Jew was. Before we are born again we see a good teacher and a kind man and a
victim of injustice. But when the Spirit of God reveals to your heart who Jesus
is, was, and always will be then the eyes of your understanding are opened for the
very first time. And please allow me to say from experience you will never, you
can never, be the same again. To the world it is foolishness, but to us who are
redeemed it is the power of God.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>s is our custom we try and make anything uncomfortable smoother and more
palatable. When we say Jesus died for our sins we seem to minimize two features
of His sacrifice. We seem to gloss over His sufferings, and we seem to gloss
over the depth of our sin. The way and extent of His sufferings are past
finding out. He suffered eternal punishment for the sins of the world. Oh how
that sounds like hyperbole and yet it is true for all eternity. I cannot fully
understand how person can suffer for sins at all much less the sins of the
entire world. He bore our pain. He bore our curse. He bore our guilt. He bore
our blame. He bore our disgrace. He bore our punishment. He bore the eternal sentence
about which we so richly deserved. And the word “bore” means a profound and indescribably
suffering.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>hen a redeemed person looks at the cross he or she is filled with awe and
wonder and gratefulness and pain and worship and a hundred other emotions and
enlightenments. For forty years I have heard about the cross, I have read about
the cross, and I have preached about the cross and yet I still am overwhelmed
by its beauty and wonder and the redemption I have found in it. The sufferings
were far above what is common to man. They can only be truly understood by the
One who endured them, but we are graciously called to embrace and seek them in
all their glory.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut is so many ways we say the word “sin” with a layer of safety. It is a
catch all word, but let us unpack it a little and reveal the vileness of sin
and what our Blessed Savior took upon Himself. Sometimes we like to equate sin
with lying or stealing or cursing or even some sexual infidelity, and yes all
those fall under that heading. But that is not all of what Jesus took upon
Himself. Think about infant rape. Think about child murder. Think about beheading.
Think about ripping a child from its mother’s womb. Think about purposely
infecting a person with a deadly disease. Think about killing one hundred
thousand people with one bomb. These and other more heinous sins were all
placed upon the Scapegoat.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut please do not minimize your own sins just because you deem the sin of
others greater. Your sins and mine are worthy of eternal punishment. The most
commendable unregenerate sinner is vile beyond words when revealed in the light
of a Holy God’s glory. Can you now just shake your head in awe and wonder when
you think that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son”?
This event, this cross, is a selfless act of such magnitude that it stands
alone not only as the only path to God, but what act of compassion can compare?
That which we call the Incarnation represents that God came in the form of a
man. That is a divine miracle worthy of our awe and worship.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong> have presented all that and I hope you have been edified as I have in
writing it. But I want to return to the title of my post. There are many, many,
many, and many more preachers and teachers who have retouched the cross to make
it more pleasant to the human taste and sensibilities. They wish to remove the
blood or at least sanitize it. They will not reveal the gruesomeness of the
cross. They much prefer it as jewelry than they do as a bloody vision filled
with the smell of pain and sweat and fresh blood mingling with dried blood.
That should not be articulated in mixed company. You can speak of success and
prosperity and fulfilling your dreams but the cross needs some retouching lest
it offends us. Just what kind of manmade religion is that which the church now
embraces?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Y</span></strong>es there are heretics which deny that Jesus was wounded for our
transgressions, but I speak of the modern church which loves it professional
praise and worship times but never hears about the viciousness of the cross.
And if they do hear some of it then Easter is the “appropriate” time. That way
we can spray fake blood on a man and let it entertain us before we leave church
and fill our bellies once more. But a steady diet of the cross? Please, we have
bigger fish to fry. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he word “cross” can be used as some redemptive talisman but to describe it
with some morbid detail does not minister to the flesh. To the natural man it
just relives history instead of looking forward to a prosperous earthly life. And
that is why the colors need to be pastels, and the sounds need to be muffled,
and the darkness needs to lifted, and the sin needs to be theological, and the
entire event needs to be stuffed and placed upon the wall of doctrinal
taxidermy. That way we can say we are orthodox without any personal introspection
and without entering into the fellowship of His sufferings.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut the very worst and most sacrilegious thing the church can ever do is
to soften the preaching of the cross. The word is commonplace but the vision is
sacred. It is now served on a platter of humanism and theological hubris but
without the spiritual pungency which can pierce the spirit and lead men to
repentance and worship. The cross when preached in all its glory can set the
captive free and bring the prodigal back home. It is our shelter and our
refuge. It is where we see Jesus most clearly. It breaks the prideful heart and
mends the broken heart. It is not just the symbol of our faith. It is the very
center of our faith for if there was no cross there can never be eternal life.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut let us never avert our eyes form the startling reality of His
sufferings and death. The wounds and the thorns and the blood and the death are
used of the Spirit to make us whole. But if we retouch that sacred cross in
order to pacify and buffer and protect us from the visceral realities of true
spirituality then all we have left is human reasoning with Jesus pasted on top.
And that, my friends, is spiritual death.</span>Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-38978115831558656662015-02-10T19:14:00.000-05:002015-02-10T19:14:17.427-05:00Victory at Golgotha<div style="text-align: center;">
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<!-- End of StatCounter Code --><strong><span style="font-size: 180%;">VICTORY AT GOLGOTHA</span></strong></div>
<br />
<strong><em>Jn.19:16-18 - Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led Him away. And He bearing His cross went forth into a pace called the place of the skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha. Where they crucified Him, and two other with Him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.<br />I Sam.17:54 - And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem.</em></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong>G</strong></span>od. Jehovah. Jesus. All the attributes of God are interconnected and are inseparable and exist as one. But if there is one central revelation of the nature and fullness of Almighty God that more wholly unveils who God is to man it is the cross. If you could take all sixty-six books of the Holy Scriptures and follow each verse and each sentence like a divine path to its source and intended destination they would all gather at the cross. It is this magnificent act of sacrifice, death, and victory that defies human understanding and without the personal apocalypse of the Holy Spirit it is foolishness. Justice and injustice; death and life; angels and demons; beautiful and grotesque; eternally planned but captured in 360 minutes; lamb and lion; goat and ram; common and royal; Roman and Hebrew; and God and man.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong>A</strong></span>nd the Savior Himself told us that the Old Testament Scriptures that the Jews studied, recited, and even wore as jewelry spoke of Him. If you took a verse from Chronicles that only listed three men in a genealogy and as such seemed insignificant and unrevealing, and if you distilled it down by the power and guidance of God’s Spirit using the context in history, and the lives of the men listed, and other interconnections of the Spirit you would still find the cross. And with that understanding, the following story of David and Goliath is an historical and Scriptural alabaster box that when broken fills the heart of the spiritually minded believer with another glorious glimpse of the cross.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong>E</strong></span>ven the little four year old vacation Bible school child has heard the story of how David defeated Goliath with just one God empowered stone to the center of Goliath’s forehead. It is a true story of God’s great and miraculous power over evil that can be revealed through any surrendered vessel and with the weapons of God’s own choosing. God sends His prophet Samuel into the house of Jesse and He instructs Samuel to anoint the future king inside this humble house. Now Jesse brought seven of his sons before Samuel being sure that the king would come from one of these. But Samuel did not have the witness of the Spirit about any of those seven and after inquiring about any other sons Jesse sends for his youngest, David. And David comes into the house stinking of sheep and in a blur he feels oils running down his face and hears Samuel talk of the King of Israel. The Word tells us at that very day the Spirit came upon David.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong>N</strong></span>ot too many days later the Philistines were locked in battle against the children of Israel and they sent out a giant named Goliath to challenge anyone from the Israeli camp to fight him and decide the war. All the Jews were afraid and they did not know what to do so they did nothing. As it happened in God’s providence Jesse sent David with some food for his brothers and when he arrived at the camp he heard Goliath defying the army of the children of God. So David, anointed by God’s Spirit, asks, <strong><em>“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the Living God?”</em></strong>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong>T</strong></span>hey eventually let David face Goliath and with one providential stone Goliath is hit in the head, falls to the ground, and dies. So David runs to the corpse of Goliath, picks up Goliath's own sword, and severs his head off of his body, and upon seeing this the Philistines fled and the victory was won. Why did David cut off Goliath’s head? Well it represented a visual display of total victory and was proof that the enemy was completely defeated. But now follow as we go further through this historical account that will lead us to, yes, the cross.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong>M</strong></span>any times after a battle in Old Testament times the victorious army would behead the vanquished army or its ruler using that bloody act to symbolize how great their victory had been. In those days it was also a common practice for armies to display their victory by placing the heads of the slain rulers or military leaders upon stakes so other would be adversaries would take notice and fear. In Judges chapter seven and II Kings chapter ten and elsewhere are examples of the heads of the defeated being used for emblems of victory.<br />
<br />
But I draw your attention to <strong><em>I Samuel 17:54 - And David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem; and he put his armor in his tent.</em></strong><br />
<span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong>T</strong></span>here are at least two things that are peculiar to this verse. Why did David take the head of Goliath to Jerusalem? And also it should be noted that the city of Jerusalem did not as yet exist. It would be founded by David at a later date but it seems that the Holy Spirit was proclaiming it prophetically as "Jerusalem" for a reason. The practice of placing the heads of defeated enemies upon wooden stakes also served to warn travelers of the power that was in the city because many times the heads were staked high outside the city. Of course after many days the weather and the birds would strip the heads of all their flesh and eventually all that was left was a skull attached to the top of a wooden stake.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong>S</strong></span>o when David took the bloody head to the future city of Jerusalem he would have placed it high on a stake to warn others of God’s power and to proclaim this great victory over the Philistines and that this city belonged to the Most High God. Several years later David would take over the city from the Jebusites and name it Jerusalem, the city of peace.<br />
<br />
<strong><em>Rom.16:20 - And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet.</em></strong><br />
Fast forward approximately one thousand years and journey to a place just outside Jerusalem. Look, there is the place of a skull, Golgotha. Close to four thousand years earlier God had prophesied this day by telling Eve that her seed, the Lord Jesus, would bruise the head of the serpent. <strong><em>(Gen.3:15)</em></strong> Oh yes, there was something significant and symbolic about the head of Goliath.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong>M</strong></span>ore than any other identification in the New Testament Jesus is referred to as the son of David. In <strong><em>Matt.1:1</em></strong> it is the first description in the New Testament of the Lord Jesus as <strong><em>“the son of David”</em></strong>. And in the very last chapter of Revelation Jesus refers to Himself as <strong><em>“the offspring of David”.</em></strong> So from the beginning of the New Testament all the way through to the end Jesus is named the son of David. The greatest Patriarch, the greatest king of Israel, the greatest warrior, and the most compassionate and intimate servant of Jehovah was David. And of course he was just a shadow of the coming Son of the Living God. But Jesus, at the place of a skull, annihilated the enemy and won the victory over sin, death, and Satan himself. This was the prophetic fulfillment of the victory David had won over Goliath when he had placed his severed head at Jerusalem as a sign that loudly spoke of a coming victory at Golgotha.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong>T</strong></span>hrough all those centuries the skull itself was now gone but because the event was so significant people had referred to this place as the place of a skull. It was at this very place that King Jesus, still wearing human appearance, slew the giant and forever severed his head and held it up openly throughout the world and for all eternity. And just as the skull was placed upon a wooden stake to display the victory, the Lord Jesus, Moses’ serpent, was placed high upon a wooden beam just outside of the city of Jerusalem to warn and woo the whole world to the everlasting victory.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong>A</strong></span>nd everyone who looks and believes in true faith that this sacrifice is the complete and only way into the Celestial City of Peace, the heavenly Jerusalem, will be allowed into the Great City and more importantly the very presence of the Risen Christ, the Son of David. And the Scriptures declare that one day the Lord Jesus will actually rule and reign for one thousand years sitting upon the throne of his father, King David.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 180%;"><strong>R</strong></span>emember, this magnificent and everlasting victory was once pictured in the story of a little shepherd boy who defeated the enemy with one stone and the anointing of God. Every Word that God has spoken is intertwined with all His Words and they are sewn together with one scarlet thread that winds around and through the victory that was won at Golgotha, the place of a skull.<br />
<br />
<div align="center">
Bethlehem, David, the valley of Elah, a stone, victory, a head, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jesus, Nazareth, Passover, Jerusalem, Gethsemane, Ciaphas, Pilate, Herod, thirty-nine stripes, a robe, thorns, mocking, a sentence, a street, a walk, a skull, two thieves, soldiers, Mary, John, nails, a spear, </div>
<div align="center">
blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="font-size: 130%;"><strong>blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, blood,</strong></span> </div>
<div align="center">
<span style="color: red; font-size: 180%;"><strong>blood, blood, blood, blood, blood, </strong></span></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
<strong>death</strong><br />
<span style="color: #3333ff; font-size: 180%;"><strong>******Victory****** </strong></span></div>
Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-57969531256442896122015-02-09T11:51:00.003-05:002015-02-09T11:51:34.496-05:00What does it Mean to be a Christian?<div style="text-align: center;">
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<strong><span style="font-size: large;">WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CHRISTIAN?</span></strong></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em>Lk.14: <sup>12 </sup>Then said
he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not
thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours;
lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee.</em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">13 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But when thou makest a feast, call the
poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind:<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">14 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And thou shalt be blessed; for they
cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of
the just.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
</em></strong><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em>Lk.14: <sup>25 </sup>And there
went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,</em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">26 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">If any man come to me, and hate not his
father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and
his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
</em></strong><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em>Lk.14: <span class="text"><sup>33 </sup>So
likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot
be my disciple.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he word
“Christian” is a moniker given to early believers. It indicated that certain
people reminded the lost community that they were followers of Jesus and their
behavior reminded lost people of Jesus. Over the many years the word has become
a catch all and has lost any real significance. If a person is not a Muslim and
is an American he is considered a Christian in many circles. Even the term
“born again” has fallen on hard times and is no longer used within the wider
evangelical community.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut let us use the
word Christian in the accepted and colloquial sense just for a reference point.
No one can be considered a Christian without being born again by God’s Spirit.
No amount of theology, and no amount of doctrinal degrees, and no amount of
original language credentials can make a person a Christian. No amount of
catechism, and no amount of Biblical morality, and no amount of denominational
acceptance can make a person a Christian. There is nothing a person can do that
can transform his soul and make him a Christian. Only God’s grace empowered by
God’s Spirit can lead a sinner to Christ and have that sinner truly believe
that life changing gospel. There are many millions who actually believe the
gospel with their religious and moral minds who have not really been born
again. They are as lost as the heroin dealer and the gay atheist.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></strong>o when a sinner
truly believes in Jesus and his heart and life is changed and the Spirit comes
to live inside his being, now what? What should we expect of that sinner now?
What changes should we see being made in his heart and life? It is here that
even those who preach and believe the born again experience begin to deviate
from the Scriptures they claim to embrace as literal and inerrant. It is here
where the church has followed earthly mores rather than the New Testament
teachings of Jesus. In the basic sense when you are born again you are a new
creature in Christ and you know are commanded and certainly you now desire to
follow Jesus. I mean that should be elementary however it has become blurred in
these last days until almost all that is left is Jesus the Savior and not Jesus
the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><em>“I don’t have
abortions and I do not do drugs and I am not homosexual and therefore Jesus is
my Lord.”</em> Really? Jesus actually did not deal with any of those sins. Yes, I
said sins. But the church has created its own fig leaf aprons consisting of a
few moral leaves and now it claims to be following Jesus. And millions upon
millions of people who embrace those kinds of moral issues consider themselves
Christians because they have believed and they have been baptized and they are
church members and they take stands against a very small set of moral sins. But
it goes much deeper than that.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I </span></strong>would like to
use a certain Alabama judge who happens to be a Baptist as an example of what I
am attempting to communicate. The judge’s name is Roy Moore and he is a Vietnam
vet as well as a judge. You can read about him <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgKAyqs_Jbo">HERE</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span></strong>e is
representative of millions of evangelical Americans who have blended earthly
allegiances and conservative morals with Christianity. This is no small issue
and in reality it cuts to the very core of what it means to be a Christian. So
many people believe a Christian is conservative on moral and financial issues,
and he holds to the accepted list of orthodox doctrines that have been spoon
fed by a man who knows more Bible than do they. And almost without exception
they believe that a Christian is a patriot and supports America. That is
regularly reinforced from the pulpit as well as testimonies from men and women
of the military who also consider themselves as Christian. And in many cases
the allegiance to America trumps the allegiance to Jesus as can be witnessed by
the “American Sniper” man who could find humor and glee in killing and use all
kinds of profanity and yet is considered a Christian based solely upon his
patriotism toward America as well as his hatred for Muslims.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut the standard
checklist of moral issues never includes war. Most evangelical will say they do
not like war but it is sometimes necessary. There are so many things wrong with
that statement the foundational error would be no New Testament support as well
as the belief system of the early Christians. But let us assume there is a
country in which citizenship was only offered to born again believers. Let us
assume that all the usual moral issues seemed to be aligned with Scripture.
Then those who would take up arms to defend it might be understandable even
though still not Scripturally defensible. But that is not the case here.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>e live in a
fallen world. And the country known as America is part of this fallen world. It
is consumed with money and earthly success and makes its rock stars and
Hollywood actors and sports heroes millionaires. And it legalizes abortions and
marries same sex partners. It has a history of racism and it was birthed by a
war over taxes. To suggest that America is a Christian nation or that is was
founded as a Christian nation is both absurd and a damnable lie meant to
elevate America into a divine favored status. And yet this lie is not only
perpetrated among those who call themselves Christians it is celebrated.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd what has
happened is that the faith commonly called “Christian” has become part of an
earthly culture and has thereby been compromised, diluted, and morphed into a
religious phenomenon which bears little resemblance to the words and teachings
of Jesus. Does the judge in the article I linked to believe that posting the
Ten Commandments on public walls will have some redemptive effect upon this
fallen culture? No, he does not. His belief system is a self righteous and
moralistic attempt to preserve an idol he calls America and the “good old” days
he longs for.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut is that what
it means to be a Christian? Think about that for a moment. How self centered
and narcissistic is that? Millions of evangelical are not worried about the
earthly state nor the spiritual state of billions around the world. How much
money goes to the poor? How many prayers are sent for the poor? How many tears
are shed form those who are one heartbeat away from a lost eternity? And yet
these same “Christians” would energetically go to war in order to protect “their
way of life” which means earthly life. How can you not see the utter paradox in
such a position as it pertains to following Jesus and forsaking all? There is
no common ground here. None.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">P</span></strong>atriotism is a
form of apostasy plain and simple. It deceives the mind. It divides the heart.
It compromises the faith. And in the end it changes everything about what it
truly means to be a Christian. And as I said for this article we will
understand the label “Christian” as meaning a born again follower of Jesus. It
breeds hatred. It breeds self righteousness. It breeds greed. And there is
nothing holy or sacred or humble about any of it. It is in its entirety
antithetical to all Jesus lived and taught. So the question is how did we get
to such a place?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span></strong>f course it all
began with taxes and the Revolutionary War and an increasing spirit of American
exceptionalism. Even President John Adams disavowed the word “Christian” as it
pertained to America when Muslim countries were wary of trading with America.
But after the Industrial Revolution that Christian narrative became a part of
the curriculum taught to children. And became ingrained and unquestioned in the
psyche of each successive generation. But as America prospered greatly and the
average man began to lust for money and things, and as America became a world
military power, the Christ nation narrative did not have to change, but what it
meant to be a Christian had to endure a facelift with the culture as the scalpel.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut when the love
of money and wielding violence as a determent became an acceptable part of
being a Christian because to suggest otherwise would go against the now
established culture, something else must take its place in order to maintain a
level of boldness which would soothe the conscience. And so a few moral issues
and a few doctrinal issues were called front and center. They became the
measuring rod of what it meant to be a Christian. Feeding the poor and loving
your enemies and being clothed with humility and being content with food and
clothing were residual and parts of a heart warming sermon. They were no longer
the absolutes of what it meant to follow Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd in an
incredible display of self righteous duplicity preachers would hold up a Bible
and declare they believed it was literal and the orthodox crowd would applaud
or say “Amen!” or nod in agreement. And yet all the while this same orthodox
crowd ignored what Jesus lived and said. Most of us were caught up in that scenario.
It was a great time and many of us would come away from some conference walking
on air as we headed for the restaurant and with fresh tapes and books in our
cars. And being filled with nationalism and moralism and sense of doctrinal
pride we lived to face another day ignorant of the Spirit and of the Master we
claimed to follow. And when someone mumbled a repeated prayer we could shower
him with all kinds of assurance that heaven was now his home even though a few
minutes ago he was a stranger.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut back to the
question contained in the title of this post. What does it mean to be a
Christian? The short answer is a born again follower of Jesus. But to follow
Jesus is to know what He taught and then obey it by the power of the Spirit. I
suggest you read the words of Jesus for many moths over and over again. I
suggest you pray over them. I suggest you beseech the Spirit to open the eyes
of your understanding. I have been on a post journey entitled, The teachings of
Jesus” and I suggest you read all of them. This is serious business if indeed
we wish to follow our Savior in word and deed. And if we truly desire to be a
Christian in the truest sense then we must cast off the old wineskins and drink
from the new wineskins filled with His Spirit and His words.</span>Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-58006600111971681442015-01-31T08:45:00.000-05:002015-01-31T08:45:01.305-05:00Teachings of Jesus - Part XI<div style="text-align: center;">
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS - PART XI</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em>Jn.9: <sup>39 </sup>And Jesus
said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might
see; and that they which see might be made blind.</em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">40 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And some of the Pharisees which were
with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">41 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind,
ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>here are many teachings of Jesus
about which people refuse to do any personal research to find the essence of
their truth. These verses are among them. Ask the average pew dweller to define
what Jesus is teaching here and you will hear varying interpretations as well
as many who will at least tell the truth and admit they do not know. The sad
thing is that most cannot be curious enough to find out, to say nothing of
being diligent. And among those who may even be able to exegete these verses
how many will observe a self denying obedience to their words?</div>
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut if we distill these words and
pour them out as one pure revelation we will understand that we are called to a
humility which rises way above the earthly definition. Sometimes we get the
idea that when an Oscar winner stands and acts humble that is what the Spirit
is saying here to us. It is far from that. Man’s humility is mostly pride
dressed up as humility.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em>I Pet.5: <span class="text">Yea, all
of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God
resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he Spirit exhorts
us to be clothed with humility. We are not just supposed to show humility but
we are to be covered and clothed with humility. As I take in these words I am
not sure I have ever been clothed with humility. And when I think of the
Scripture which says we should “Let this mind be in you which was also in
Christ Jesus” and it goes on to compare it with Christ leaving the glory of
heaven and coming down in the likeness of a man, well I am overwhelmed. I am a
man with unclean lips who dwells among a people with unclean lips. Oh how we
have lost the sense, to say nothing of the desire, for the kind of humility
which resembles our Master.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>atch as pompous
showmen strut on stage as if they were an actor which in most cases they are.
Listen to their words as they lift up man and lower God. Listen as they create
in their listeners a longing for prestige and material goods. There is no
humility in them at all, and in fact there is no Jesus in them either. The
majority of the American church is American but not Christian. In the verses I
first shared Jesus addresses those who lift themselves up and claim to be all
knowing. People sit on the edge of their seats and clap and nod as if they were
listening to a god, and in many cases they are. Watch as they jump to their
feet and applaud and scream wildly in approval of that man’s performance. No
tears, no repentance, no sacred awe. It is all thespian in nature and void of
the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>hese men and
women claim they see things in the Spirit that the average person cannot see,
Some liars even claim to have been to heaven itself and people by the millions
believe them. Jesus says that those who say they see are rejected and those who
say they do not are embraced. The teaching is clear. Jesus is using a Hebrewism
to teach the humility to the proud. It confronts and dismantles the struts of
the modern peacock preachers and gives grace to the humble. But let us not just
compare ourselves with these false teachers and self absorbed Americans. That
is low hanging fruit.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he humility of
which Jesus and the Spirit are speaking is a great challenge to us. When was
the last time you were offended? That is a sign. When was the last time you
felt smart? Or better than someone? Those are all bad signs. But those are only
signs of a surface problem. Remove your shoes and let us tip toe further into
the Spirit of truth. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><strong><em>Phil.2: <sup>8 </sup>And
being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto
death, even the death of the cross.<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span></strong>ur Savior humbled
Himself and became obedient to the cross. Oh my. Oh my. It was be a humility
about which we know nothing just to understand that God became a man. That
tests the human mind and finds it completely unable to process such abject
humility. But to understand that God submitted Himself and became “obedient” to
death, even the public and excruciating death of crucifixion is humility in its
unimaginable and purest form. We are called to a depth of humility that
experiences our own death and replaces it with His life. It is not enough to
just imitate Jesus as we believe He is and was. We must die. And often we treat
that as some kind of metaphor which just means we should not do or speak what
we desire.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>hat may reveal
some of it but that only touches the surface. Unsaved people can watch their
tongue and even direct their fallen hearts to have compassion for others.
Gandhi was a professed unbeliever and yet he showed uncommon humility on the
outside which was indeed much more than most professing believers in Jesus. But
our calling, our mandate, it to die to ourselves and to allow the Spirit to
resurrect the Lord Jesus within us. Oh does that not sound so metaphysical and
out of touch with reality? Well, because the church no longer teaches nor
endorses it then it might sound like so much mercurial philosophy. But in the
Spirit it is a glorious reality.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong> exhort you to
read the Book of Martyrs with a prayerful and contrite heart and you will see
believers walking to their death clothed in humility and full of Christ. There
are many moving and convicting narratives in there. But there is one account of
a believer who told his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that he would
glorify His Savior while being burned at the stake. He told them that he would
wait until the flames were climbing all around him and then he would raise up his
hand with his finger pointing toward heaven. Crowds would gather around these
horrific spectacles just as they used to watch hangings. Many of these martyrs
sang on their way to the gallows or the stake.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he man was
strapped to the stake and the faggots were set on fire all around his feet.
People watched and his brethren waited for his hand to rise. But soon the
flames became very hot and even covered his face until his brethren despaired
because they thought he had died too quickly to lift his hand or even remember
his promise. But from within those flames a scorched and blacked hand lifted up
and pointed to heaven for two seconds and fell back down in death. It may not
have seemed like much to others but to those who knew Jesus it was a miracle to
the glory of God. I would have rather seen that blackened hand for two seconds
the most of the sermons I have ever heard.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>hat, my friends,
flies in the face of what passes for the faith in these self centered modern
times. Oh that the Spirit would lead us all to our own place of death, and
after we die men would see a nail scarred hand rise up and live in our place.
The greatest enemy we face is when we try and live for Him without dying and
allowing Him to live for us. But be aware, my dear brethren, that will take a
cross.</span><br />
*****<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em>Jn.8: <span style="font-size: small;"><sup>31 </sup>Then said
Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are
ye my disciples indeed;</span></em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<span style="font-size: small;"><sup><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">32 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And ye shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free.<o:p></o:p></span></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">E</span></strong>very year a fallen nation
celebrates what is commonly called “freedom”. That celebration remembers how
America was released from British rule through a violent revolution. Many
thousands died from wounds or infection from both sides including the Germans.
That war was over unfair taxation. That war is now celebrated in America and
July 4<sup>th</sup> is recognized as the day of independence. </div>
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut millions upon millions of
Americans who also profess Jesus see nothing wrong with embracing Jesus as well
as the Revolutionary War. They have been raised from birth to embrace war and
that America is not only on the right side of wars, but that God birthed
America as His own. And in that convoluted thinking the line between earthly
freedom and redemptive freedom become blurred and in many cases they are looked
upon as one and the same.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut all that, and I mean all of it,
compromises the price that was paid at Calvary and obscures the image of the
Redeemer. It is probably impossible to overstate the damage that has been done
to the faith because professing believers who happen to live in America have
not only fallen in love with this fallen country, but have even woven a divine
quality within it which they say began with its creation. This is no small
issues and it has severely compromised the faith until the dilution has become
grievous and in many cases a mortal wound.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut true freedom, eternal freedom
is found only in Jesus. This must be our bedrock confession and the foundation
of our faith. To celebrate earthly freedom is to make it a cousin, even a
lesser cousin, to the freedom which was purchased at such a high price at
Calvary. We are believers and followers of the one true Redeemer who paid the
ransom in His own body and who has with an unsearchable loved granted us that
ransom through grace and faith alone. Can you not feel the Spirit well up in
you as you read these words? Remember, the same Spirit that was present at
Calvary lives in you and me. He was there. He heard the groans. He saw the
wounds. He saw the lashes. He saw the blood. He heard the last breath. And while
human men saw a crucifixion that was common to men, the Spirit knew the price
that was being paid. He existed with the Word now made flesh from eternity
past. They and the father were part of the mystery of the Godhead. So when we
speak of His sufferings the Spirit within us imparts knowledge and emotion and
spiritual truth which we could not know in our own strength.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">L</span></strong>et us never forget the bondage
from which we came. Those of us who were saved as a teenager or an adult can
remember vividly just how sin had imprisoned our hearts and minds, and how to
this very day it beckons to imprison us once again. But the King had triumphed
where we had so emphatically failed. Our father Adam had fallen just like we
would have if it were us in that garden. And just so there was no mistake about
that all of us born with Adam’s curse enthusiastically built upon his legacy
with uncountable deeds of our own. I still feel the shame of it all.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut then He came. Born among
animals. Born in our likeness. Fed from a fallen women’s own body and yet
without sin. Who can know such a thing, and yet the Spirit enlightens us to
that sacred knowledge. And He walks among us for over thirty years, and then in
the space of hours he suffers and bleeds with a divine power the blood of animals
could never know. God dies in our place. Oh my…what human mind deserves such
knowledge? What human soul earns such a ransom? And in one small but genuine
act of faith we were set free forever and forever. This is not some religion or
spiritual philosophy. This is the everlasting gospel and it has set men free
from the Day of Pentecost even unto this very day. Somewhere in the world today
souls are being set free.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>t may be in a church building. It
may be on the street. It may be in a thatched hut. It may be in a hospital. It
may be in Canada. It may be in Russia. It may be in Brazil. It may be in
Nigeria. It may be a businessman. It may be a young mother. It may be a little
child. It may be an old man. It may be someone dying of AIDs. It may be a gay
person. It may be an adulterer. But the power of the gospel still lives around
the world, and devout sinners like me are hearing the Spirit’s voice and
responding. It is the miracle of all miracles. And who the Son sets free is
free indeed! Halleluiah!<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>here should a word that is a
greater and more revealing word for freedom. The freedom we have in Christ is
unfathomable and without comparison. It is beyond our mental ability to
comprehend a freedom from sin and all the fires of hell. That is freedom about
which the world knows nothing. Millions of church members travel every Sunday
to sit in church pews who know nothing of that freedom. Only God knows who are
His but it is obvious that church members are consumed with money and politics
and the economy and sports and employment and even the nation in which
providence has placed them. But how many walk with the heart filling knowledge
of the freedom in Christ we have? Until we get serious about the Word, and
until we seek revelation knowledge about our salvation, it will all be so much
religion and moral standards. <br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span></strong>ne day we will receive the
fullness of our redemption. And we will understand in the eternal realm what
the temporal realm never could. We were ransomed from eternal death and set
free. But we weren’t just released from prison and sent to roam without
direction. We were set free and we were placed into Christ by the Spirit of
God. Rejoice all you who are in Him through no efforts of your own. Rejoice all
you who deserved eternal damnation but received eternal life! Rejoice all you
who were rescued from the penalty of death you so richly deserved! Rejoice all
you prisoners of sin for you have been set free forever! So follow Him and His
Word and do not return to bondage. Eat of His goodness and the milk and honey
of His Person and beckon others to follow. This is the legacy of the redeemed.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<em>And you are now free…free indeed!</em></div>
*****<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<strong><em>Mk.9: <sup><span style="color: windowtext;">35 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext;">And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto
them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant
of all.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">36 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had
taken him in his arms, he said unto them,<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">37 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and
whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em>Matt.20: <sup>25 </sup>But
Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles
exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon
them.</em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">26 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But it shall not be so among you: but
whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">27 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And whosoever will be chief among you,
let him be your servant:<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">28 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Even as the Son of man came not to be
ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>his teaching goes deep into the
heart of the western culture and mindset. The entire culture is about power.
Money and success and knowledge and material wealth and prestige are all
interwoven with the hunger and thirst for power. And what is power in this
fallen world? It is power over others. That is the essence of what is called
power. That is why the cross of Christ is so widely rejected or minimized
because it does not align itself with the human definition of power. In fact
those that crucified Jesus are the ones who wielded power in the earthly realm.
And much of the church subtly and openly aligns itself with the crucifiers
rather than the Crucified.</div>
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>e have to ask ourselves some very
serious questions if we are to ever be released from this fallen culture.
Please recognize that our upbringing within this culture has shaped, and
warped, our mindset. And most of that has impacted how we understand the
teachings of Jesus. Unless we understand that we will not and cannot receive
and understand the teachings of Jesus as taught by the Spirit. Confronting a
problem is first recognizing that problem before it can be overcome. And until
the church as a whole or individual believers recognize what has happened to us
we will never be able to enter into the glorious truths spoken and lived by
Christ.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>his culture lusts after power. It
demands power. It teaches power. It is built upon power. Political power;
financial power; physical power; military power; media power; gender power;
conservative power; liberal power; the entire culture seethes with power and
the desire for more power. And that spirit has permeated every area of our
lives including and perhaps most prominently our hearts and minds. And once
that spirit has unpacked and made itself at home within our hearts and minds it
is most difficult to evict it. Partly because it is cloaked in religion and
reason and common sense, and partly because it hides among many peers and its
voice is reinforced by others, and partly because it has sunk its teeth deep
within our minds and hearts. And it then subtly affects how we perceive things.
And even after we recognize on some level that it lies and must go that is no
small task. It is not an overnight challenge.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>hen you speak of spiritual power
you must reject earthly power. The two can never be partners. And the template
will always be the cross. The church has used the cross for salvation purposes
and then cast it off as a doctrinal relic that his no bearing on our earthly
lives. Jesus speaks about taking up our cross. What does that mean? Is the
church passionately on a quest to discover what that means? Why not? Living the
cross of Jesus is a great and glorious mystery which can only be realized if we
hunger and thirst for it. There is power in that death. And that power can only
released when we die. But unless we seek more than interesting metaphors we
still will be caught in an earthly labyrinth of human power.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>alking in newness of life and
walking in the power of His resurrection requires our own death. Again, an
interesting and striking metaphor which has absolutely no power until it is
implanted in the heart and thereby controls the life. Few implant it, and then
it needs water and more water and much water. There is power in relinquishing
all earthly power and resting in the power of death…His and yours. But the
flesh is very strong and has been made immensely stronger by the nourishment it
has received by the culture. It is a miracle of grace that we can even see just
how power hungry we really are. And then to see where Jesus desires to take us
is another miracle of grace. But when those two perspectives meet it requires
much more than just an accurate perception. <br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>hen you begin to watch for power
struggles and desires in your life you are amazed at just how much you like and
reach out for power regardless of how small it is. Power makes us feel strong
and significant. Power helps us win arguments. Power makes us right. Power
strokes our egos. Power helps us win in comparisons with others. Power gives us some contentment.
And sometimes in an ingenuous element of the flesh power allows us to forgive
or show mercy as long as we retain that power buffer lest we let others feel
superior to us. Oh how the flesh is so diabolical!<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut Jesus talks of servanthood and
in verse 28 He once again turns to the cross as the standard. Now think about
that for just an unguarded moment. Can there be any greater example of
servanthood and the rejection of power even when He had all power? The cross
undermines every vestige of earthly power and it points us to a power the world
knows not. The cross was a once in history event but its power will last
forever. And to anyone who truly meditates upon that cross it becomes obvious
that earthly power and divine power are unequal enemies. The power that comes
from the earth is sensual, carnal, self centered, and evil. But the power which
flows from God denies self, is spiritual, is clothed in humility, and embraces
the selfless death on the cross as its template and mandate.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></strong>o while others must be addressed as
“sir”; and while church leaders have “Dr.” in front of their name; and while
some set themselves as Biblical scholars; and while many receive the applause
of men; the calling of the Spirit will always be to a hill just outside of
Jerusalem where death met life and life won through death. And those who walk
through that mystery by faith come out of that tomb as servants. And that is
the highest calling of all.<br />
*****<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em><span class="text">Matt.15: </span><sup><span style="color: windowtext;">8 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext;">This
people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips;
but their heart is far from me.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">9 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of
men.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">10 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">11 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh
out of the mouth, this defileth a man.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">12 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the
Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">13 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not
planted, shall be rooted up.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">14 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead
the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">15 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">16 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">17 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth
into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">18 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart;
and they defile the man.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">19 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">20 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands
defileth not a man.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>here are many
applications here as well as a few different streams of thought. This is
another attack on legalism and the outward appearance as opposed to the intents
of the heart. It is light years easier to outwardly march to rules and laws
than it is to allow the Spirit to create a clean heart within us. Even the
unbeliever can obey rules, but only a surrendered believer can have his heart
sanctified and pleasing the only One who can see it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></strong>o Jesus is
clearly and unequivocally revealing how God sees things as opposed to how man
sees them. Man looks upon the outward appearance while God sees the heart.
Jesus is dealing with manmade religious traditions so this does not mean that
things which go into your eyes and mind cannot be detrimental to your spiritual
walk. We know that to be untrue. But to seek and maintain a clean heart is a
labor of the Spirit. How many professing believers live every day with a view
toward a clean heart? How many even know what that means? How many even care?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>n spiritual terms
your heart is you. Our lips can be such liars which create protections for some
of our inward flaws. “As a man thinketh so is he”. The only way to cultivate a
pure heart is through God’s Word and prayer, and I believe that is most
powerfully measured in private. It is easier to lie to others and ourselves than
it is to lie to God. Man looks upon the outward appearance but God ponders the
heart. Sports and Hollywood and politics and even much of the organized church
is fueled by the outward appearance and the power of human lips and the power
of performance.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut the secret
place of the heart is where the Spirit truly works. In the Old Testament God’s
presence dwelt in the Holy of Holy upon the Ark of the Covenant between two
angels. And only the High Priest was allowed to enter into that place and he
only once a year on the Day of Atonement. But after Jesus died and rose again
He sent the Spirit Who dwells within the heart of every true believer. And that
makes a believer’s heart the Holy of Holies and we have access to that place
every single moment of every single day. The blood of Jesus has been applied
and the presence of God through the Holy Spirit abides within us. So what we
say can only be authenticated by the Spirit for it is God Alone who lives in
and tests our hearts.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><em>It is a glorious miracle
as well as a great responsibility.</em></span></div>
Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-35151298139501727942015-01-29T03:39:00.000-05:002015-01-29T03:41:54.317-05:00The Walls are Down - The Gates are Burned with Fire<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE WALLS
ARE DOWN<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">
<span style="color: black;">THE GATES
ARE BURNED WITH FIRE<o:p></o:p></span></span></strong></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><em>I do not
normally link to something like this but I believe it is important to place
before our eyes the extent to which the church has fallen. This is a critique
of the popular movie “American Sniper” which has been heralded by millions of professing
believers. If bad language offends you even in this one instance then do not
click on the link. But if you do you will be shocked. And I do not wish just to
shock us. That would be useless. I pray it will lead us all to a deeper personal
repentance. The days are drawing to a close.</em></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><o:p><strong><span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article40817.htm">HERE</a></span></strong></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em><span style="color: black;">Neh.1: </span><sup>3 </sup>And
they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the
province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is
broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.</em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">4 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And it came to pass, when I heard these
words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and
prayed before the God of heaven,<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he walls are down. The gates are burned with fire. When the walls are
down the enemy comes in from everywhere. And when the gates are burned there are
no more gates. When the walls are down no gate is necessary. Sometimes I look
around. Most times it just comes to me without me looking for it, but sometimes
I look around. And what I see is astounding and makes me shake my head. I
cannot believe what has happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I </span></strong>have been a believer for forty years and in just four decades it has
gotten worse than anyone could even have imagined. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">What is colloquially called the “church” is a mockery of the Scriptures
and the life and teachings of Jesus. There are so many false teachers and false
teachings and compromises and passionless practices of the faith that it is
beyond belief. Nehemiah recognized the condition of Jerusalem and he heard the
commission of God, but the church is fast asleep with the exception of some discernment
which usually aims at the most obvious heretics but still is blind to the
overall condition of the church which includes all of us.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>his should be a sad time for all true believers. The church is in worse
condition than we all could have imagined, and that condition is much worse
than you may think. The office of elder/pastor is a sham and has become a
hideout for greedy and lazy men. Even some good things are brought into focus
at the expense of Jesus and the gospel. Some churches boast about their
ministry to the family unit and they treat the family like an idol. While it is
true that God desires families in line with His Word, it is also true that a
strong family means every family member must be a passionate follower of Jesus.
All things will work together for good when that is the case.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>s can be seen on some television shows you can have a loving and vibrant
family and not be a self denying disciple of Jesus. Can you see the subtly
here? We are not to follow the family unit, and just having a loving family has
never been our goal. In fact Jesus openly claimed that many times when someone
repents and seeks to be a passionate follower of Jesus it causes a schism
within the family. But again idolatry has taken hold within the church and good
things such as the family have become the core of the faith. People now seek a local
church they feel will minister to their family and not one that will deeply
challenge each individual concerning the quality of their discipleship.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>hat is just one of the ways in which the church has turned away from Jesus
and has turned unto idols. It is a stunning tragedy of epic proportions. The
fog of deception now blankets the whole ecclesiastical community in subtle and
open ways and even those who can see some of the more gross deceptions and
falsehoods walk in deception themselves. The carnal and deceptive climate that permeates
the western church cannot be overstated. That is not to say that no churches
are doing any of God’s work. No, there are still missionaries being sent all
over the world and that is wonderful. But here in America the average church
member lives a self centered life which is heavily weighted toward activity,
fellowship, and a soothing sense of community and belonging. But the hidden
spiritual and devotional life of the average church member is abysmal if not nonexistent.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">N</span></strong>ow think on this. If your eyes were opened and you could see and every
house on your side of the street was engulfed in flames would you not cry out?
Would your bloodstream be filled with adrenalin? Would you not forget about
embarrassment and run around the neighborhood warning everyone? But if you sat
on your front porch where you all the fires, including the one in your own
house, could be seen and yet you kept rocking and eating, what would that tell
us? It would clearly reveal you were blind to all of it, or perhaps you could
see the fire in a few houses but not all. The only other answer would be you
had utterly no regard for human life at all.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd so here we are and the fires of hell are consuming the community of
faith subtly and openly and yet there are those who say nothing. In fact
professing believers are wallowing in the fire ignorant of the burns they are
sustaining and ignorant of the life this fire is claiming from them.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd here sit a group of “orthodox” firefighters chatting among each other.
They have taken videos of some of the other houses as the fire rages and they
comfort each other with the fact that they see those fires and they are against
fire. But their house may not be engulfed in flames, but it is on fire
nonetheless and yet they do not cry out against the fire in their own house.
But, brothers and sisters, the whole neighborhood is on fire. Money and
material goods and entertainment and nationalism and war and prayerlessness and
many other things have become kindling to this fire. And there should be strong
and even panicked prophetic voices crying out to all of us, but where are they?
Cry out against Osteen and Warren and Copeland and all the obvious heretics,
but the Spirit desires to convict us as well. Our walls are down and our gates
have been burned. And that is why some of us have escaped and now are nomads.
But many of us cannot go back into a burning building.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">P</span></strong>rofessing believers are consumed with the most despicable forms of
entertainment. If the movie houses were showing what they show now fifty years ago
no evangelical would step foot in them. And yet today professing believers sit
and listen to movies laced with four letter words and sexual scenes and graphic
violence and think nothing of it. In fact many like it. Evangelicals by the
millions are consumed with money. They think about it, they dream about, they
stash it away, they labor hard for it, and compared with the time and effort they
expend on their spiritual lives it is easy to see where their hearts are. And
professing believers by the millions express their love and allegiance to a
fallen nation and will kill and die for it if need be in spite of the teachings
of Jesus. The entire “church” entity is a literal cesspool with very few
exceptions.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em><span style="color: black;">Josh.24: </span><sup>14 </sup>Now
therefore fear the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, and serve
him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served
on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.</em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">15 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And if it seem evil unto you to serve
the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, choose you this day whom
ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the
other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell:
but as for me and my house, we will serve the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span></strong>ere we stand in the midst of a smoldering pile of religious timber. People
continue to stoke the fire and warm their hearts and lives by it. This is not
the fire of God. This is the fire of hell and man’s fallen heart. Do not look
for a massive repentance that sweeps across the land in thousands of churches.
But God still does work within the hearts of individual believers just like he
did with Jeremiah. Seek Christ through the Spirit. Reject self righteousness as
strongly as you reject the compromised and deceived church. Seek to make Jesus
the absolute Lord of your life. Pray over everything and set your ears to hear
His voice. Fall in love with Jesus with a broken and contrite heart. Let
obedience be a sweet smelling savor to our Lord and make obedience be your
contentment. Pray much. Pray more. Allow the Spirit to revolutionize your
prayer life. All he needs is your heart and your time. The days are evil. Stay
under His shadow. Repent often. Rejoice in His love and forgiveness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em>Jer.9: <sup>23 </sup>Thus
saith the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>, Let not the wise
man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not
the rich man glory in his riches:</em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">24 </span></sup><span style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But let him that glorieth glory in
this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span> which exercise lovingkindness,
judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith
the <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Lord</span>.</span></em></strong>Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-20698211585449554752015-01-27T09:05:00.003-05:002015-01-27T09:05:56.012-05:00Those That Seem to be Somewhat<div style="text-align: center;">
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">THOSE THAT SEEM TO BE SOMEWHAT</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em><span style="color: black;">Gal.2: </span><span class="text"><sup>6 </sup>But of these who seemed to be somewhat,
(whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's
person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:</span></em></strong><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>n
certain ecclesiastical circles they hold conferences as do most circles, but during
the conference they have a handful of men sit on the platform and field
prepared questions read by the moderator. Then each man speaks as if he is “ek
cathedra” and the audience takes his words, his opinions, as inspired by God. I
abhor such a spectacle. It elevates men to the “inspired class” and sets them
up on doctrinal pedestals. And many times, if not most, it is a redundant
rehashing of the charismatic or word of faith errors. And they even put forward
the God accepted style of music as they/God sees it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I </span></strong>have
watched and listened to many such Q & A sessions which are mostly from the
orthodox wing and mostly from the reformed wing of the orthodox wing, and I
have yet to see anyone openly admit their own struggles and shortcoming. I have
yet to hear that they went through dry spells or that they were unsure as to
the meaning of a certain passage of Scripture. I have never heard one of them
share a personal experience in prayer which melted their hearts and brought
them to an unexpected state of brokenness and repentance.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>hey
often speak of repentance in the doctrinal abstract and insist it is part of
the gospel, but why do they not share some deep personal repentance of their
own even after they were saved or even while they pastored? I have yet to see
any tangible emotion probably because they eschew emotion as it pertains to the
faith. And as they go doctrinally skeet shooting with such large and easy
targets, they do not seem to address the dire need of spiritual awakening among
their own select community of faith.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>ll in
all it is presented as the authoritative council who know Greek and Hebrew and
who can rightly divide the Word and are sharing the Holy Grail with others. It
is doctrinal humanism at its finest, and even if they are accurate in certain
areas of doctrine, without personal and collective humility it becomes an award
ceremony for the ecclesiastical Bourgeoisie accompanied by the requisite books
and Cds and tapes.</span>Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-31408890665432312232015-01-26T18:43:00.002-05:002015-01-26T18:43:16.347-05:00Teachings of Jesus - Part X<div style="text-align: center;">
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS - PART X</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em><span class="text">Jn.11: </span><sup><span style="color: windowtext;">33 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext;">When
Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her,
he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">34 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">35 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Jesus wept.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">36 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
</em></strong><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><strong><em>Phil.3: <sup>10 </sup>That
I may know him…<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">L</span></strong>et us look at
terms first. The word translated “know” in that 10<sup>th</sup> verse in
Philippians is the same word the Spirit used in Matt.1: <sup>25 </sup>And
knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his
name </span><span class="small-caps"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Jesus</span></span><span class="text">. That is the level of intimacy to which the Spirit refers. But how
can we be that intimate with Christ? How can you communicate the depth of
intimacy we have with a Person we have never seen and never touched and never
heard? To the natural man it is complete foolishness and is a product of an
unbalanced life. We all have had earthly relationships which meant much to us.
We have shared emotions and feelings and secrets and we have loved with
vulnerability.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut there is a
spiritual intimacy available with Jesus to every true believer that the world
cannot know. In fact most professing believers are also ignorant of that kind
of relationship. But as with serious earthly relationships it requires time.
Can you remember falling in love with someone and you thought about them
constantly and could not wait to be with them again? And when you were able to
be with them were you in a hurry to do something else? Did you look at your
watch and think about cleaning the oven or did you gaze into their eyes hoping
time would stop? Oh that we would understand Jesus desires to have that kind of
love relationship with us.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong> do not suggest
we see Him as we see an earthly lover. No, but I am suggesting we treat Him
with far less intimacy and hunger and thirst than we do with many earthly
relationships. And the mystery and miracle of grace is such that we can see
Jesus with that kind of love and intimacy without compromising how we see Him
as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. It is an incredible and sacred gift. And
when you experience even a few minutes with Christ with that kind of intimacy
you can never be satisfied again with a long distance relationship which is
heavily weighted on organized doctrines and not that which comes from prayer,
fasting, and more prayer filled with the spirit and essence of God’s Word.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut the intimacy
of our relationship with Jesus surpasses anything here on earth. Words are
barriers as we try and describe that intimacy. How can you communicate the
ministry of the Spirit when He opens the innermost part of you being and Jesus
steps in? Oh I know, it sounds like some syrupy religious rhetoric but it is
the power of God. And this kind of heart rending intimacy changes you. It
affects you in many different ways. It is different than loving a girlfriend or
a spouse or a mother or even a child. How is it different?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>ell, I can't
really tell you if you don't already know. All I can say is that it is very
different. Eternally different. And you will never be able to understand until
you experience it. And then you will need no explanation. But as you walk
further and closer in this relationship you will be granted revelation about
which you could not understand before. The Spirit opens doors that are only
opened to born again seekers.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em><span class="text">Matt.13: </span><sup><span style="color: windowtext;">10 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext;">And
the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">11 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the
mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">12 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more
abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he
hath.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">13 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and
hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">14 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing
ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not
perceive:<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">15 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of
hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with
their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart,
and should be converted, and I should heal them.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">16 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">17 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have
desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear
those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">E</span></strong>ven unbelievers can read English words and understand
their common meaning. And professing believers by the millions sit in churches
and listen to preachers and they understand what He is saying but they are deaf
to what the Spirit is saying. Many carry Bibles and follow along as the
preacher reads some passage and they understand what is being said in English.
And they can also understand some of the applications made by that preacher and
they may even be interesting. But how many have walked into the gathering
filled with the Spirit and with their hearts and ears open to His voice?
English is common to man, but the Spirit chooses surrendered hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut most will walk content with their baptism and their
church membership and their doctrines. But most will not know, much less
pursue, the fellowship in the Spirit with the Lord Jesus. Over the years the
church first lost prayer, then it lost intimacy, then it lost the desire, and
finally it lost the knowledge that once was even exists. And when that happens
the church can only walk in a redundant practice and an earthly mindset which
has traded intimacy for programs, morality, and a love for country.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><em>And they shall hear and not understand and they shall see
and not perceive.</em> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
*****<span style="color: windowtext;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;">PUREST
DISCIPLESHIP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;">Would
you follow Jesus if He saved your soul but would not be involved with your
earthly life at all? If not then your discipleship is self centered.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><strong><em>Lk.14:
<span class="text"><sup>33 </sup>So likewise, whosoever he be of you that
forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I </span></strong>wonder what that
means. I wonder if we even wonder what that means. I wonder what the preacher would
say if you asked him what that means. I wonder if we even care what that means.
Well if you have a moment you can waste, I wonder if you could spend it with me
uncovering some rocks and opening some drawers and asking some penetrating
questions in order to flush out some of that verse without first making sure we
have safely hidden away anything that might be uncomfortable or costly or
embarrassing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>hat 33<sup>rd</sup>
verse is rather astounding if taken literally. But who takes the teachings of
Jesus literally? Even those who parade their “I believe the Bible is literal”
credentials shrink from that confession when it comes to His words. And the
“great” Bible teachers of our day are adept at compartmentalizing and
emasculating the words of Jesus because if taken literally, or even close to
literally, they would have dramatic consequences in the way we live. And the
church desires people to stop smoking and taking drugs and committing adultery,
but it must shy away from dramatic changes in the way we live, especially if it
involves money and material things. And that phrase “all that he has” is
shocking and attacks our common sensibilities. I mean come on. Let’s get real here.
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd that word
“forsake” must have some spiritual meaning since it cannot mean what it would
generally mean. I can recall many preachers say “It’s alright to have money and
wealth as long as it does not have you”. There are two problems with that. For
one much money always has the one who has it. And secondly that goes against
the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament in general. Imagine sitting in a
college classroom where science was being taught. The professor says that the
Neil Armstrong walked on the surface of the Moon. He says that will be on the
upcoming test.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>t lunch you are
speaking with other classmates and they are discussing what the professor
taught and they mention Neil Armstrong’s walk on the Moon. One of the boys at
the table says, “That was just a metaphor. Don’t take that literally.” The
whole table turns and looks at this kid like he is crazy. But the kid sticks to
his gins and insists Armstrong did not walk on the Moon and it was a literary
device meant to teach the possibilities of exploration anywhere. You would
dismiss that kid as unbalanced and not in touch with reality. So when Jesus
says “forsake all that he has” and preachers reject it as literal and mold it
into some ethereal life lesson why do we embrace him as a great teacher?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></strong>o, you say, does
that mean we should sell everything we have and follow Jesus? Does that mean we
should give everything we have to the poor and the cause of the gospel? Well,
does it? Ok, now we are getting somewhere. The first step into taking a fresh
look at the teachings of Jesus is to get us all off of our comfortable
interpretations and dare to pray for deeper understanding. To retreat into well
worn and safe mantras plants nothing, waters nothing, and harvests nothing.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>e must search our
hearts. Are we serving Jesus at all according to His words? And if so are we
serving Him because of His benefits or how it makes us feel? Or are we
committed to serving Him because of His majesty and glory and because He is
worthy? I realize we love Him because He first loved us. And I realize He gave
His life for us and that alone should propel us into His service. But the
highest form of service should always be because of who He is and not just
because of what He has done. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">D</span></strong>iscipleship is all about Him and less
about us.</span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="color: #141823; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">If we make discipleship
about Christ then we will follow. Rules have energy which quickly fades or they
become traditions inbred with self righteousness. But when Christ is exalted
and His words become reflections of Him, then we will have the will, the
desire, and the power to follow Him. What did we forsake when we came to
Christ? Was it only things that were destroying us? Was it only some major
sins? What of great value to us did we forsake? What did it cost us to follow
Jesus? What does it cost us today?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>oday’s Christian can attend filthy movies. He can join
hands with unbelievers in politics. He can use inappropriate language. He can
hate certain sinners. He can save up large amounts of money for himself. He can
go into debt. He can spend his money on the same accoutrements as his neighbor.
And he can spend enormous amounts of time on sports and recreation and
entertainment and almost no time in seeking the face of Christ through much
prayer and meditating within the Word of God. So just what does he forsake?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">D</span></strong>oes the average church member suffer for Christ? Oh it
rains on the just and the unjust and there are temptations and sufferings that
are common to man, but what sufferings are within the fellowship of His
sufferings? Ok, I will admit that when you understand the teachings of the New
Testament we can have family and a job and a dwelling place and clothing. But
what then do we forsake? Is that not a legitimate question given the words of
Jesus?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut allow me to take us a step further. Here is a man on
a very large ship. He has fallen overboard and is now flailing way in the midst
of large ocean waves. The captain signals the man overboard siren and all hands
on deck. The sailors pull down a life preserver and throw it out to that drowning
man. As he bobs up and down he is swallowing water and he is getting very
weary. The life preserver is right next to him, however he cannot grab it
unless he forsakes his own flailing. He must forsake his own efforts and then
he can reach for that life preserver.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Y</span></strong>ou see, we cannot lay hold of something unless we
forsake what is already in our hands. So if we are unwilling to forsake all
then we cannot lay hold of Christ, and then we cannot be His disciple. I do not
profess to know completely what that entails as it pertains to a western life,
but I do know this. We are all supposed to seek the answer to that and then
joyfully forsake all and follow Him. Be definition we cannot embrace our own
life and live His as well.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span></strong>orsaking does begin in the heart and mind. Repentance is
a change in your mind and it can only come by the power of His Spirit. And when
our minds are changed concerning the Lordship of Christ, then they are by
definition changed as it pertains to our own lives. We now are servants and even
bond slaves to our Wonderful Lord. And the Spirit desire to lead us to a place
that we do not count our own lives as dear. And then the Spirit desires to lead
us to count our lives as belonging to Him. And then, if we are relentless in
our prayerful pursuit, the Spirit just may be able to lead us to the place
where our lives ARE His. But before you get to that place please remove the
sandals off your heart for you will be walking on holy ground.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
*****<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;">THE
RESURRECTION OF THE FAITH<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><strong><em>Jn.8:
<span class="text"><sup>58 </sup>Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">C</span></strong>ontained in this
statement from our Lord is the very basis for our faith. Yes, it proves the
deity of Christ and His eternal existence, but it goes further than that. You
see Jesus wasn’t just interested in some study of Christology. And Jesus was
not just a representative of God the Father. Jesus came to die and in that
death would be two interconnected and eternal truths. And both these truths are
foundational and in a mystery they are actually one and the same. Jesus is the
Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world, and Jesus is the Chief
Cornerstone of the church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">L</span></strong>isten carefully
to what I am going to say. It is not enough to believe in the substitutionary
death of Jesus on the cross and that only through faith in Him can eternal life
become possible. That, of course, is foundational and nonnegotiable. But it
must also be foundational that Jesus is the Head of the church and what he
taught are commands to His church. In many ways the evangelical church has
embraced the former and compromised the latter. But Jesus is not only Lord of
our salvation, but He must be Lord of our new lives.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd given the
current state of the church we are in desperate need of a spiritual
resurrection of the faith which believes in and also follows Jesus. If you
believe we can tweak the current church system and please God you are greatly
mistaken. The situation is so dire and has taken a self serving journey which
is so far from Jesus that to return to a Christ centered experience and
practice is a monumental task. In fact it requires a level of repentance most
of us have never known. We have experienced a repentance which is aimed at
unkind words or some sinful habit or other personal attitudes.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut this repentance
is the portal through which we return to the true faith which follows Jesus and
His teachings. And to follow Jesus without following His teachings is to not
follow Him at all. That sounds so simple and it sounds like something you might
hear in a sermon, and in reality it is. It is something we have heard. But
through the years the essence of that truth has been lost within a maze of
religious rhetoric, ecclesiastical organization, and the power of a fallen
culture. And the repentance necessary to begin a return must begin with a
profound seeking of the Spirit which begs Him to open your eyes. And as you
beseech Him for such an awakening you must first place everything on the table.
Nothing can be stored or defended or protected from His searching power.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><em>And that is just
the beginning of a painful yet marvelous journey. Ok, you ask, just what are
you saying here? I am saying the western church for the most part believes in
Jesus the Savior of our souls, but it no longer follows Him.<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>n magic, especially
cards tricks and the like, the move known as the “sleight of hand” is employed.
It uses misdirection and an amazing dexterity to imprison the eyes and build
upon what the mind understands as normal and real and then reveals the
unexpected and the unexplained through confounds normal logic. And false
teachings use the sleight of truth by misdirection and reason. I have heard
preachers quote some portion of Scripture and then lead his audience to a well
known reality in their lives, and from there he takes some spiritual and
eternal truth and cleverly hides it within an earthly truth. And then he
teaches an earthly truth as if it were an eternal truth. The switch had been
made, and because the hearers can identify with that earthly truth and because
the speaker has used his personality and persuasiveness to elicit affection and
trust, the hearers understand the connection he is making and they embrace it
as God’s truth.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd there is a
tangible psychological phenomenon evident here as well. An audience desires to
be approved of by a speaker who they recognize as wise and a profound spiritual
conduit. They naturally listen eager to understand and enter into agreement
which subtly allows them to feel they understand on the speaker’s level. So
when the speaker says something and then looks at the people expectantly they
respond regardless if they fully grasp what he is saying. In fact you will hear
some speakers say, “I wish I could get a witness in here tonight!” or “You’re
not hearing what I am saying!” which is also a psychological tool meant to
nudge the audience forward into full and even effervescent agreement with the
speaker. I mean who wants to be left behind and seem ignorant?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>n the end that
speaker can almost preach Popeye and the crowd will clap for joy and more
importantly empty their wallets. The speaker has used all kinds of different
truths and made unholy alliances with earthly logic and Scriptural truth and he
now leverages them to control the listeners. The speaker has used a sleight of
truth and by the power of his personality and performance he has cleverly and
pleasantly deceived the people.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd this is what
has happened in the western church regardless of how orthodox they are in
theology. The church is Christocentric in is soteriology (doctrine of
salvation) but Christ and His teachings are no longer embraced in understanding
and practice. The switch has been made by cleverly directing our eyes to
orthodox doctrines about Jesus and about salvation while deftly discarding the
full weight and implications of His teachings as they apply to the lives of
believers. This is a deep and serious issue if we are to take the faith
seriously. Can we embrace Jesus as the I AM for salvation and then walk in WE
ARE after salvation?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he western church
for the most part believes in Jesus the Savior of our souls, but it no longer
follows Him. But do not assume that once you reach that conclusion that you
immediately are following Jesus. Oh no, my friend, your journey has just begun.
And this journey back to Jesus will be filled with many levels of repentance,
many levels of humility, many levels of sorrow, many levels of joy, many levels
of understanding, many levels of confusion, many levels of correction, many
levels of glory, and in the end you will recognize that this journey will only
end when you leave this life and enter the life to come. And then I believe we
will enter a completely different journey filled with many levels of worship
for all eternity. Oh my...dear Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>f we are honest
and do a complete and thorough examination of everything the church practices
and how the professing believer lives against the foundation of the literal
teachings of Jesus what will we find? Of course I do not expect the church at
large to even entertain the question, much less embark on such a quest. But
there remains this issue in this modern church era. The industrial revolution
gave birth to a materialistic culture and the average man was no longer a lowly
farmer. Now people could make enough money to buy many things and enjoy the
comforts of home, and the list of those comforts continues to grow every day.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd so under the
weight of the culture the church began an inconspicuous shift in its belief
system and practice. Many churches deemphasized doctrine while many others made
doctrine their one legged foundation. And the casualties were the teachings of
Jesus. One church reconfigured Jesus into a servant and entertainer of man
while the other church admired Him in a gilded doctrinal cage. And the
teachings of Jesus fell through the cracks and were absorbed by the religious
culture. So the church was considered orthodox if their theology was
Christocentric even if their practice was not. And that created a brand new
view of orthodoxy.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong> have posted nine
chapters of a series I called “The Teachings of Jesus”. The first step is to
recognize how earthly and self centered the church has become. The second step
is a journey of many steps to read and absorb and understand and submit and
obey the teachings of Jesus. Until we do that we are adherents of another faith
and a partial Jesus. Let us all resurrect a vibrant and passionate and
inconvenient search for Jesus in all His glory and through the prism of His
eternal teachings.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
*****<span style="color: windowtext;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><strong><em>Matt.11:
<sup>2 </sup>Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he
sent two of his disciples,<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">3 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for
another?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">4 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things
which ye do hear and see:<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">5 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed,
and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel
preached to them.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">6 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span></strong>f course one of the reasons Jesus did so many visible
miracles was to authenticate His divine status. But I am sure His compassion
was also a wonderful element. It has always been curious to me that John the
Baptist who proclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the
world!” would need more information later and more assurance. The only answer I
could come up with for John’s question was that without the indwelling of the
Holy Spirit it would be difficult to remain steadfast in one revelation
concerning Jesus. That should alert us to the absolute necessity of the power,
guidance, and revelation of the Spirit Who dwells in our very being. Let us
never rely on the arm of the flesh or the power of our own intellect. Without
the Holy Spirit we ourselves would be uncertain about Jesus and would need
daily reassurance as to the most basic truths. In other words our faith as to
Who Jesus does not require the initial revelation everyday because of the Holy
Spirit. It is not by might nor by power but by His Spirit!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>ll true believers understand the miraculous nature of
Jesus’ ministry. He did miracles that no man could ever do even though lying
preachers claim otherwise. Who among us have raised the dead after three days?
And even in the face of such divine power and wonders men still desire to rob
Jesus of some of His glory. They try in vain. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut my mind and heart zeros in on two distinct phrases
from our Lord’s lips in these verses. The first being, “The poor have the
gospel preached to them.” This is both revealing and powerful. It elevates the
gospel to the place of prominence it deserves. Pay no attention to these
prosperity liars that claim the gospel to the poor is the good news that God
wants them rich. They will one day stand before Christ and give an account for
their blasphemy. But it is curious that Jesus mentions the poor specifically.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">D</span></strong>id Jesus not say “every creature” just before He
ascended into heaven? So why does He single out the poor in this context? I
would invite you to read the entire chapter of Matthew 11 and see the entire
context. It does not say just why Jesus mentions the poor in the context of the
gospel but he must have had a reason which can be ascertained by the
overarching context of His ministry and teaching. The poor seem to have a special
place in God’s heart. And the poor many times do not have all the trapping of
this world that keep men from seeking God. Jesus said that it was very
difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. It isn’t because rich
men’s hearts are any less fallen than an unsaved poor man’s heart. But the
riches of this world often choke out the things of the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>hat is why we should all be poor in spirit regardless of
our earthly wealth or lack thereof. And within this culture of abject hedonism
and greed we as believers need to constantly search our hearts concerning the
riches of this world. Yes, there are believers who have wealth but they have a
great challenge to not let that wealth affect and infect their spiritual lives.
James warned about showing deference to wealthy people in the gatherings. The
love of money reveals itself in many subtle and overt ways.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut that last verse speaks of being unashamed in our
allegiance to Jesus. In these days where Jesus has been made an American
patriot where is the offense? The church treats Him like He is on their “side”.
They suggest He is a moral crusader who leads the charge against gays and
liberals and Muslims because they are enemies of the state. Nothing could be
further from the truth. Jesus is on no one’s side. He calls us to follow Him.
When you can live in such a demonstrably fallen and hedonistic culture, and
when you claim to follow Jesus within that culture, and when your religious
community is treated with respect and invited to have a seat at the table of
the scornful, then you can be assured you are not following Jesus. Jesus was
rejected of men, and yet today those that say they follow Him are a welcomed
part of a worldly system that operates completely against the teachings of
Jesus. What does that tell you, class? It tells you that either that worldly
system actually loves Jesus or that the church does not. It tells you that
either an earthly country is part of God’s kingdom or the church is not.</span>Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-27553244950364257322015-01-25T10:26:00.000-05:002015-01-25T10:26:40.870-05:00The Resurrection of the Faith<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: windowtext;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE
RESURRECTION OF THE FAITH</span></strong></span><span style="color: windowtext;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><strong><em>Jn.8:
<span class="text"><sup>58 </sup>Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">C</span></strong>ontained in this
statement from our Lord is the very basis for our faith. Yes, it proves the
deity of Christ and His eternal existence, but it goes further than that. You
see Jesus wasn’t just interested in some study of Christology. And Jesus was
not just a representative of God the Father. Jesus came to die and in that
death would be two interconnected and eternal truths. And both these truths are
foundational and in a mystery they are actually one and the same. Jesus is the
Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world, and Jesus is the Chief
Cornerstone of the church.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">L</span></strong>isten carefully
to what I am going to say. It is not enough to believe in the substitutionary
death of Jesus on the cross and that only through faith in Him can eternal life
become possible. That, of course, is foundational and nonnegotiable. But it
must also be foundational that Jesus is the Head of the church and what he
taught are commands to His church. In many ways the evangelical church has
embraced the former and compromised the latter. But Jesus is not only Lord of
our salvation, but He must be Lord of our new lives.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd given the
current state of the church we are in desperate need of a spiritual
resurrection of the faith which believes in and also follows Jesus. If you
believe we can tweak the current church system and please God you are greatly
mistaken. The situation is so dire and has taken a self serving journey which
is so far from Jesus that to return to a Christ centered experience and
practice is a monumental task. In fact it requires a level of repentance most
of us have never known. We have experienced a repentance which is aimed at
unkind words or some sinful habit or other personal attitudes.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut this
repentance is the portal through which we return to the true faith which
follows Jesus and His teachings. And to follow Jesus without following His
teachings is to not follow Him at all. That sounds so simple and it sounds like
something you might hear in a sermon, and in reality it is. It is something we
have heard. But through the years the essence of that truth has been lost
within a maze of religious rhetoric, ecclesiastical organization, and the power
of a fallen culture. And the repentance necessary to begin a return must begin
with a profound seeking of the Spirit which begs Him to open your eyes. And as
you beseech Him for such an awakening you must first place everything on the
table. Nothing can be stored or defended or protected from His searching power.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><em>And that is just
the beginning of a painful yet marvelous journey. Ok, you ask, just what are
you saying here? I am saying the western church for the most part believes in
Jesus the Savior of our souls, but it no longer follows Him.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>n magic,
especially cards tricks and the like, the move known as the “sleight of hand”
is employed. It uses misdirection and an amazing dexterity to imprison the eyes
and build upon what the mind understands as normal and real and then reveals
the unexpected and the unexplained through confounds normal logic. And false
teachings use the sleight of truth by misdirection and reason. I have heard
preachers quote some portion of Scripture and then lead his audience to a well
known reality in their lives, and from there he takes some spiritual and
eternal truth and cleverly hides it within an earthly truth. And then he
teaches an earthly truth as if it were an eternal truth. The switch had been
made, and because the hearers can identify with that earthly truth and because
the speaker has used his personality and persuasiveness to elicit affection and
trust, the hearers understand the connection he is making and they embrace it
as God’s truth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd there is a
tangible psychological phenomenon evident here as well. An audience desires to be
approved of by a speaker who they recognize as wise and a profound spiritual
conduit. They naturally listen eager to understand and enter into agreement
which subtly allows them to feel they understand on the speaker’s level. So
when the speaker says something and then looks at the people expectantly they
respond regardless if they fully grasp what he is saying. In fact you will hear
some speakers say, “I wish I could get a witness in here tonight!” or “You’re
not hearing what I am saying!” which is also a psychological tool meant to
nudge the audience forward into full and even effervescent agreement with the
speaker. I mean who wants to be left behind and seem ignorant?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>n the end that
speaker can almost preach Popeye and the crowd will clap for joy and more
importantly empty their wallets. The speaker has used all kinds of different
truths and made unholy alliances with earthly logic and Scriptural truth and he
now leverages them to control the listeners. The speaker has used a sleight of
truth and by the power of his personality and performance he has cleverly and
pleasantly deceived the people.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd this is what
has happened in the western church regardless of how orthodox they are in theology.
The church is Christocentric in is soteriology (doctrine of salvation) but
Christ and His teachings are no longer embraced in understanding and practice.
The switch has been made by cleverly directing our eyes to orthodox doctrines
about Jesus and about salvation while deftly discarding the full weight and
implications of His teachings as they apply to the lives of believers. This is
a deep and serious issue if we are to take the faith seriously. Can we embrace
Jesus as the I AM for salvation and then walk in WE ARE after salvation?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he western church
for the most part believes in Jesus the Savior of our souls, but it no longer
follows Him. But do not assume that once you reach that conclusion that you
immediately are following Jesus. Oh no, my friend, your journey has just begun.
And this journey back to Jesus will be filled with many levels of repentance,
many levels of humility, many levels of sorrow, many levels of joy, many levels
of understanding, many levels of confusion, many levels of correction, many
levels of glory, and in the end you will recognize that this journey will only
end when you leave this life and enter the life to come. And then I believe we
will enter a completely different journey filled with many levels of worship
for all eternity. Oh my...dear Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>f we are honest
and do a complete and thorough examination of everything the church practices
and how the professing believer lives against the foundation of the literal
teachings of Jesus what will we find? Of course I do not expect the church at
large to even entertain the question, much less embark on such a quest. But
there remains this issue in this modern church era. The industrial revolution
gave birth to a materialistic culture and the average man was no longer a lowly
farmer. Now people could make enough money to buy many things and enjoy the
comforts of home, and the list of those comforts continues to grow every day.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd so under the
weight of the culture the church began an inconspicuous shift in its belief
system and practice. Many churches deemphasized doctrine while many others made
doctrine their one legged foundation. And the casualties were the teachings of Jesus.
One church reconfigured Jesus into a servant and entertainer of man while the
other church admired Him in a gilded doctrinal cage. And the teachings of Jesus
fell through the cracks and were absorbed by the religious culture. So the
church was considered orthodox if their theology was Christocentric even if
their practice was not. And that created a brand new view of orthodoxy.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong> have posted nine
chapters of a series I called “The Teachings of Jesus”. The first step is to
recognize how earthly and self centered the church has become. The second step
is a journey of many steps to read and absorb and understand and submit and obey
the teachings of Jesus. Until we do that we are adherents of another faith and
a partial Jesus. Let us all resurrect a vibrant and passionate and inconvenient
search for Jesus in all His glory and through the prism of His eternal
teachings.</span>Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-50878673586876141512015-01-24T06:47:00.004-05:002015-01-24T06:47:44.615-05:00Teachings of Jesus - Part IX<div style="text-align: center;">
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS - PART IX</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><strong><em>Jn.6:
<sup>50 </sup>This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man
may eat thereof, and not die.<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">51 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this
bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh,
which I will give for the life of the world.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">52 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give
us his flesh to eat?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">53 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat
the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">54 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I
will raise him up at the last day.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">55 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">56 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in
him.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">57 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that
eateth me, even he shall live by me.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">58 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did
eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>his is a hard saying and full of spiritual depth and
intrigue, and yet how easily do we allow our eyes to read them and move on. The
unbeliever suggests some form of cannibalism while some denominations make it
fit into their ceremony as literal flesh and blood. Jesus spoke in parables and
metaphors and yet the truth behind them all is literal. Jesus says He is the
door but are there hinges and a doorknob on His body? Dig deeper and you will
find truth and you will find Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>here comes a time in every true believer’s life when he
learns the glory of meditating and going deeper in God’s Word…or there doesn’t.
That is such a sad situation. Millions of Bibles are carried or owned by
millions of church members who never read them, or millions who read them
sparingly and with an earthly understanding. It is tragic. Like a man who
discovers a treasure chest filled to the brim with pure gold coins and he takes
one or two coins from the top and parades them around to prove he believes in
that chest. But just next door there is another man who finds the exact same
type of chest filled with gold coins. That man, for years, takes one or two
coins from the top and marches in the same parade as his neighbor.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut one day this other man sits next to the chest and
reaches his hand into the mountain of coins and pulls a few out from just under
the top layer. These coins seem to be shinier and they feel warm in his hand.
They seem to make his heart feel warm. His curiosity is now peaked and he
thrusts his hand deeper and deeper and pulls out all kinds of coins which get
more and more brilliant and although they are coming out from the same chest
and are made with the same pure gold they seem to be more brilliant and give
off incredible heat and even affect his entire being. He feels a sense of joy
and peace and humility and an overwhelming sense of gratefulness as well as an irresistible
desire to dig deeper still.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>hat is a poor illustration but I believe it proves a
point. Most evangelical church members, and dare I say pastors, are busy with
the top layers of God’s Word and so they do not dig deeper. And after a while
they lose any desire to go any deeper because the top layer will suffice. Oh
but my dear friends the absolute treasure that exists under the surface is
amazing! But the deeper you dig in God’s Word the more brilliant the truth and
the more that truth challenges you and the more that deeper truth, like clay in
the Sun, will either melt your heart or harden it. These deeper truths must
affect you. They refuse to be our doctrinal toys.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></strong>o when Jesus speaks of drinking His blood and eating His
flesh they are metaphors indeed but contained in those metaphors are glorious
truths which will not and cannot float on the surface. It is more than just a
representation of believing and more than just a passing reference to the Lord’s
Supper. If you are impatient and must honk your horn as you wait in the
doctrinal drive-thru line then you will miss it. But if you sincerely and passionately
ask the Spirit to open the eyes of your understanding and if you are willing to
wait upon the Lord the reward will be life changing. Why do you think most
church members cannot identify with things like that? Why do you seem like the
oddball? When you cry or feel a sense of deep conviction why are there so few
who can fellowship with you because they too have been to that place?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">J</span></strong>esus uses what some call a “Hebrewism” which means a way
of using shocking language in order to bring home a truth that needs more than
a shallow explanation. Jesus says if your eye offends you pluck it out or if it
your arm cut it off. Shocking? Yes, but it is meant to grab your attention so
you will seek its true spiritual meaning. The same is true when Jesus insist we
must eat His flesh and drink His blood. This is more than just the ceremony we
call communion. This is the communion in the Spirit. This not only breaks the
bread and the wine of His eternal Person, but this communion breaks our own
hearts. This eating and drinking does not require our mouths to eat and to
drink. This is a sacred communion that requires our hearts to eat and drink.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>hat, say most of the church world? But I can tell you
from experience that place of spiritual communion feeds and nourishes and convicts
the soul. You cannot eat from that table without desiring more, and you cannot
drink from that table without it changing you and directing you to change more.
It delights! It amazes! It astounds! It challenges! It impacts! It humbles! It
enlightens! It strengthens! It brings revelation! It brings repentance! It
brings holiness! It brings awe! It enlarges your heart and your understanding!
It brings Jesus to you upon the wings of the Spirit in ways you could never
experience any other way! And it invades your being with many thoughts and
emotions and in ways really without words to convey. Again, it brings Jesus to
you.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>hen you are young in Christ the Spirit will spoon feed
you on some level. But there comes a time when you are responsible for your own
spiritual journey. You can receive from preachers or teachers or devotional
books or other people, but unless you are willing to do serious business in the
Spirit you are at a standstill. You may know doctrine or some statement of
faith and you may know all about Jesus and the doctrine we call Christology.
But if you don’t eat His flesh and drink His blood all you have is head
knowledge without spiritual power.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">D</span></strong>o these words confuse you? Are you a little baffled?
Then I suggest you begin by reading a portion of Scripture which was spoken by
Jesus and pray and read and pray and read the same portion until the Spirit
brings them to life in your heart and you are impacted by them far beyond their
meaning in the English language. In fact in may take days or even weeks. But
wait and read and pray and wait and read and pray. “How long shall I do this,
Brother Rick?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">U</span></strong>ntil you see Jesus and begin to understand you are
eating His flesh and drinking His blood. And if when you get up from that table
because you have godly responsibilities, and if as you walk through the day
doing other things your heart is begging you to return to that table, then you
will know that you really have been with Jesus. And as the Spirit digests Him
within your soul you cannot wait to eat more. That, my friends, is the true
abundant life.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
*****<br />
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<span style="color: windowtext;"></span> </div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><strong><em>Matt.24:
<span class="text"><sup>11 </sup>And many false prophets shall rise, and
shall deceive many.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>here have always
been false prophets throughout the ages. But never before have there been so
many that deceive so many through trickery, witchcraft, lying spirits, and with
the help of all kinds of media avenues. One absolute kook can reach millions
through television or radio and regardless of how absurd and bizarre there will
be people who believe his words and respond to his schemes. A normal person
could watch some of these men and women and see immediately just how
preposterous and insane they and their messages are and yet thousands of people
will send them money in hopes of getting something. It is an horrific spectacle
which mocks and blasphemes God’s name while simultaneously claiming to speak
for Him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>hese sorcerers
offer red oil, prosperity billfolds, miracle water, magic coins, anointed soap,
healing cloths, and all kinds of other trinkets. They promise all kinds of
things and tell lie after lie after lie. Most of us would reject them
immediately and they mostly appeal to the poor and unlearned. But there are
other deceivers who are much more sophisticated than these other men and women.
Their deception lies in their appearance, their oratory, and the heresies they
teach. They appeal to a wider audience and leverage the lusts of the human
heart and the fallen human mind.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>ell groomed men
and women like Kenneth Copeland and Joel Osteen and T.D. Jakes and Joyce Meyer and
many others present programs which are as professional as most secular shows.
They offer books and CDs and pamphlets which they claim can bring you into a
greater dimension of faith and spiritual knowledge. And the golden goose is
when they get your mailing address. This has nothing at all to do with the
faith which follows Jesus. It is not enough to say they are compromisers or
they dilute the truth or even that they teach false doctrine. No, it has gotten
to the point when we must understand that these men and women do not teach
Christianity at all.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>hey teach another
Jesus and another faith even though they may use some of the same terminology.
Let us not step lightly here. They are the worst deceivers on earth and should
be seen in the same way we see the Mormon Church or the Jehovah’s Witness
Church. They are as much a cult as any other aberration. In some ways they are
even worst since they claim to be mainstream evangelical and orthodox. And
millions of evangelical church members watch them and support their ministries.
I would recommend not supporting any ministry that is seen on Christian television.
It is a literal cesspool of error and those preachers who are somewhat orthodox
have no business paying for air time and thereby supporting these avenues of
spiritual filth.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut there is a more subtle deception that has gripped the evangelical community. These are churches which would not support Osteen or Copeland or Jakes or others false teachers. These would be considered mainstream and orthodox within the evangelical community. Some of these churches may even teach against these deceivers and have discernment in that area. <span class="text">But many churches and many pastors who would not fall under the category of false teachers are still under the spell of this fallen culture. They do not offer trinkets nor promise instant healing or even prosperity on the scale as the other liars, but they still lead their flocks through paths which reflect the culture and the nation rather than Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>n fact the majority of so called “orthodox” churches walk in deception in practice and in belief. And in reality when you practice and believe things that are not of Jesus that is called unbelief. I hope this series on the teachings of Jesus has at least opened our eyes and reinforced the reality that so many are blind to the spiritual state of the church which professes His name but will not obey His teachings. And when a preacher or a church refuses the teachings of Jesus either by ignorance or exegetical dilution or by life practices which defy His teachings then that can also be called false teaching.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">L</span></strong>et us all strive to understand, embrace, and obey His teachings apart from the winnowing effect of the fallen secular culture as well as the fallen religious culture.</span><br />
*****<br />
<span class="text"> </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><strong><em>Jn.2:
<sup>13 </sup>And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to
Jerusalem.<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">14 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the
changers of money sitting:<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">15 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of
the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money,
and overthrew the tables;<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">16 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my
Father's house an house of merchandise.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>n England each party is allowed to spend 250 thousand
dollars in the election of a Prime Minister. In America 1 billion dollars will
spent in the presidential election of 2016. What part does money play in
politics? Now if this cesspool called politics derives it very life through
money, and if the Scriptures warn us again and again about the love of money,
then how can anyone who claims to follow Jesus be involved in that which Jesus
hates? Of course I did not mention the infestation of lies, personal boasting,
name calling, moral self righteousness, and even the using of one’s supposed
Christian faith as a marketing tool. So once again I ask you, how can anyone
who claims to follow Jesus be involved in that which Jesus hates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he answer is they cannot so you draw the inference from
that statement. Every you vote you are exercising your constitutional right as
well as besmirching the holy name of Christ. The political process is saturated
with the love of money. Not only does money run the entire spectacle, but most
people vote for the person they believe will help their own pocketbooks. And
that is an overt display of the love of money. The American culture runs on the
love of money.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut much more serious is the love of money exhibited and
even taught within the church. We should expect a fallen culture to love money
but not those who claim to follow Jesus. And this dramatically reveals the
immense challenge of living within a fallen culture and yet desiring to follow
Jesus and His teachings. If we are not vigilant and even militant about
remaining separate from the power, both subtle and overt, of the fallen culture
it will slowly but surely find its way into the practices of the church, and it
will eventually become part of our theology. I believe we have seen this come
to pass.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span></strong>ow much of our thought life has to do with money and
material things? The average evangelical church meets once a month or once a
quarter in a business meeting which may last the better part of an hour and
deals primarily with financial issues. How many hour long prayer meetings are
held every month? And what are we to glean from that? I think it is obvious.
The church in America has succumbed to the fallen culture and has incorporated
its practices, its design, and its belief system.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he behavior of Jesus against the money changers seemed
way of out character. But that only illustrates His deep hatred for the love of
money, and even deeper for embracing the love of money inside His people and
inside the places of worship. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><em>“The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” (I
Tim.6:10)<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></strong>o if the church is infected with the love of money then
all kinds of evils will grow and flourish because of it. And it’s not just lust
and greed and avarice. It breeds covetousness, self righteousness,
condemnation, evil surmising, hoarding, and a complete devaluing of all that is
truly sacred and holy. So a church which has succumbed to a money loving
culture either subtly or openly is serving itself and stands in open defiance
of Christ and His Word. Read that sentence again and allow it to pierce your
understanding.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he issue of being culturally compromised is no small
issue and especially when give the large scale in which it has infected the
church. And front and center is the way the church understands money. The
western church has long since defined God’s blessing in terms of money and
material gifts. It has gotten so bad and so sordid that people will praise God
because they were approved of a loan for a new car which will stretch the
limits of their finances. It is insane. But such is the state of things within
the visible church. The admonition to be content with food and clothing seems
like a joke and an outdated suggestion rather than a door to devotion to
spiritual things. Money drives our thoughts. Money is at the root of many
commercials. Money tempts. Money lures us into bad decisions. Money makes us
feel either secure or vulnerable. Money is at the root of most wars including
the war that birthed America. Money drives Wall Street. Money is what drives
prostitution and drug dealers. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd, sadly, money has become intertwined in the practices
and mindset and even the theology of the western church.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
*****<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext;"><strong><em>Matt.7:
<sup>24 </sup>Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth
them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">25 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">26 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not,
shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">27 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat
upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">28 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were
astonished at his doctrine:<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">29 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>hey who heard Him recognized the authority with which He
spoke. That is an understatement. He who spoke those words IS those words.
Jesus is the Word made flesh and His teachings are a revelation of Himself.
This is a great mystery but glorious in its truth. Jesus’ Words are truth and
Jesus is Truth and therefore Jesus is the incarnate revelation of the Eternal
Word of God. Jesus had no beginning and likewise God’s Word is eternal from
everlasting to everlasting. It is a sacred mystery into which the Spirit bids
us come and dine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut this parable reveals a bedrock truth upon which the
true church and every individual believer must understand and build. This is
not just some Hallmark card poetry. This is an eternal truth which teaches the
primacy of Christ’s Words and the nonnegotiable command for obedience. So often
this parable is reduced to believing that Jesus is the one and only Savior and
that is of course true. But there is much more here than just some statement of
faith doctrine. Notice the phrase “these sayings of Mine”. That is very telling
and must not be glossed over.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">J</span></strong>esus is the Rock upon which we build our faith, but it
goes deeper than just a study of who Jesus was and if you profess His divinity
you can rest on your doctrinal laurels. No, Jesus Himself teaches otherwise. So
there is a great disconnect and paradox evident within the evangelical
community. On one hand orthodox believers strongly believe Jesus was God in the
flesh and paid for our sins on the cross and was raised from the dead. Many can
recite some generally accepted version of the gospel. But again, Jesus delivers
words that point to a larger revelation of what He commands. And it is at this
intersect where the visible church departs from the words of Jesus while having
an orthodox dossier tucked neatly under its doctrinal arms.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong> hope you can understand what I am saying here. There is
a great chasm between embracing truth about Jesus and embracing the truth He
teaches. And when we have been raised in a church which touts who Jesus is
without deeply investigating what He teaches we end up being spiritually
compromised. But since our compromise mirrors what we learned in church not
only are we hesitant to question what we believe, but we are blind to our state
and therefore have no idea that there should be any question. But if and when
that door cracks open even slightly then all of a sudden we are faced with some
confusion and discomfort which hopefully and prayerfully turns into a desire to
seek more through the power and enlightenment of the Spirit.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd there comes a point in that kind of journey when the
teachings of Jesus become literal commands to us as individual believers. And
that is where spiritual labor actually begins. The parable I posted above is
often reduced to Jesus being the Rock of our salvation. And what that means is
that every baptized church member can say “Amen” to that truth, but they remain
clueless to the depth of what that parable is actually teaching. Again, the
church has condensed the teachings of Jesus into an orthodox doctrinal position
concerning who Jesus is and the doctrine of justification by faith. But please
understand that is so self serving and myopic in its depth and its scope.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I </span></strong>have found it very easy to be a Christian. I have
found it very difficult to follow Jesus. Do you understand that statement? How
convenient it is to study Jesus and yet walk in open defiance of what He lived
and taught. You see, m</span><span style="color: #141823;">any of the teachings
of Jesus are thought provoking and somewhat interesting. But until they become
literal and visceral elements of our lives they will remain historical remnants
of a thirty three year period which has long since outlived its relevance.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>n this parable to wind and rain destroyed the house that
was not built upon the teachings of Jesus. Does it not seem like believing in
Jesus is inseparable from obeying His teachings? Do you see the current
disconnect that exists within the ecclesiastical community? There is a great
emphasis upon Jesus as Savior but little emphasis upon Jesus as Lord Teacher.
And given the current state of affairs within the church I doubt we can
overstate the need to return to the teachings of Jesus as the natural result of
embracing Him as Savior and Lord.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #141823;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></strong>o hear
again the words direct from His divine mouth. “</span><span style="color: windowtext;">Therefore
whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto
a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:”<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext;"><em>Are
we clear? There will be a test.<o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
*****<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em>Jn.12: <sup><span style="color: windowtext;">20 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext;">And there were
certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">21 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and
desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">22 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">23 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man
should be glorified.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">24 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the
ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">25 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this
world shall keep it unto life eternal.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">26 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also
my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he Word of God is literally filled with metaphors and
symbols and gleanings into truths that in the particular passage does not
immediately jump out at you. You must seek and dig and pray. I love the
narrative which says that Greek Jews came to worship and said to Philip, “We
would see Jesus”. Oh how wonderful it would be if professing believers came to
the gathering and desired to see Jesus. We need not see the singers or the
speaker or even other friends, but our desire, our passion, our unquenchable
thirst is to see Jesus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd look at what happens. Philip tells Andrew and they
both tell Jesus what these Greeks had said. And then Jesus does something
amazing. Instead of setting up a book signing or standing in front of a long
line and shaking people’s hands as they file by, Jesus immediately goes into
the gospel. Someone desires to see Him? Well he shares the glory of the cross.
In fact He says the hour of His death will be the hour of His suffering.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span></strong>e speaks of dying. He speaks of being in the ground. He
speaks of death fruit. He speaks of death and life. He speaks about His
servants being where He is. Try and assimilate all that. It is a collection of
sacred truths which find their source and destination in Christ and His
passion. If we really step deeply into what Jesus is saying we immediately
realize these are eternal truths which carry an eternal weight of glory!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">J</span></strong>esus speaks about hating your life while men profit from
Your Best Life Now. So either Jesus is truth or men are truth. You cannot
believe both. The cross is a path of both death and life. It is a paradox along
with the first shall be last, and he who loses his life shall find it, and when
I am weak then am I strong. The words that Jesus says in response to the Greeks
desiring to see Him are telling. He is teaching the cross and the gospel and by
that He suggests that this is the way to see Him. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>hroughout the ages men have painted portraits of Jesus
and no one has seen Him. But through the eyes of the Spirit every believer can
see Him. He is truth and within that truth He lives. So the Greeks were right
in desiring to see Jesus, but they had no idea concerning the gospel. The
Scriptures tell us that the Greeks seek after knowledge and the Jews want a
sign. But the sign is the gospel and the knowledge is the cross. It all goes
against the spirit of this world and to the natural man it is so much
foolishness.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></strong>o what shall we make of the words, “If any man serve me,
let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be.”? So many of
the teachings of Jesus require prayer and meditation to uncover the gem stones
contained in them. This sentence has some mystery within it. How can we be
where Jesus is today? Over the years I come to detest easy and quick answers
when deep meditation is warranted. The current church climate quickly sees the
utilitarian aspects of Scripture that can benefit us and it leaves the deeply
spiritual aspects which require prayer and meditation and which may require
sacrificial service to the Christ.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut the obvious truth is that the visible church does not
desire to be where Jesus is, and it no longer serves Him. It would take layers
of repentance before the American evangelical church could return to the pure
faith which believes in and obeys the teachings of Jesus. Where is Jesus? He is
in the prisons. He is in the nursing homes. He is in the streets. He is in the
gay community. He is outside the abortion clinics. He is in the African jungle.
He is in Muslim countries. He is in small house gatherings. He is in very small
local churches. He is in many homes. He is in food pantries. He is in
ministries to the poor.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd by His grace He is in things about which He does not
approve. He is in some soldiers. He is in some liberals. He is in some
conservatives. He is in some who have same sex attractions. He is in some women
who have had abortions. He is in some rich people. He is in some patriots. He
is in some Baptists and some Methodists and some Episcopalians and some
Catholics and even some oddball denominations. Jesus finds His way into places
and people which are deceived and embrace things that displease Him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut make no mistake. Jesus is not in some Baptists and
some Methodists and some Episcopalians and some Catholics. In fact Jesus is not
in most of those. Jesus is not in some pastors. He is not in some elders. He is
not in some evangelists. He is not in most television preachers. He is not in
prosperity teachings. He is not in politics. He is not in patriotism. He is not
in violence and war. He is not in gay behavior nor is He in heterosexual
promiscuity and infidelity. He is not in most western church services. He is
not in capitalism. Jesus is not in this fallen culture.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></strong>o where do we go to be where Jesus is? In general we go
to the least of these. We go to the prisoners. We go to the homeless. We go to
the poor. We go to the gay community. We go to the rejected. We go to the
depressed. We go to those who mourn. We go to the downtrodden. We go to the
needy. And as we go Jesus goes with us with compassion and love and the
everlasting gospel. And how do we know we are where Jesus is?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>f you’ve done it to the least of these you have done it
unto me. In reality, Jesus is already there and waiting for us to arrive.</span>Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-15739967229584062692015-01-22T12:17:00.002-05:002015-01-22T12:17:17.747-05:00Teachings of Jesus - Part VIII<div style="text-align: center;">
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS - PART VIII</span></strong></div>
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<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em>Matt.10: <sup><span style="color: windowtext;">34 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext;">Think
not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a
sword.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">35 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the
daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">36 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
</em></strong><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em>Eph.5: <sup><span style="color: windowtext;">3 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext;">But fornication,
and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as
becometh saints;<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">4 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not
convenient: but rather giving of thanks.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">5 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous
man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of
God.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">6 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh
the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">7 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Be not ye therefore partakers with them.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
</em></strong><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><strong><em>Rev.18:
<sup>4 </sup>And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of
her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not
of her plagues.<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">5 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her
iniquities.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>here are a growing number of believers who do not belong
to nor attend and organized, local church. It started out as a curiosity, then
it became a small phenomenon, but now it is turning into somewhat of a
movement. Let me say that I thank God for some local churches that have not
bowed the knee to Baal and are ministered to by a sincere man of God. But they
have become few and far between and there are many believers who have not found
such a gathering place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd the situation being as it is more and more believers
have separated themselves from a local organized church and now find fellowship
with other believers within other types of media or in homes. But let me also
say that just withdrawing from a local gathering does not mean you are
spiritual or that you are seeking God. The two things are not completely bound
together. We still must seek Christ even more so and to tell you the truth in
many ways we have become free in the Spirit and led to places we could not find
within a compromised church. And let me also admit that I was a part of that
church at one time.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong> am convinced that most of the organized church has
become part of the Babylonian system that exists all around us. And in so doing
that organized 501c business does not represent Christ nor His body. The
organized church has moved so far away from Jesus that we cannot fully
understand the gravity of the situation. In so many ways that which we call the
“church” is not even Christian anymore. It has morphed into a religious club
full of fellowship and music and activities and organization and it operates
far more in that construct than it does in the Spirit. And those of you who
still attend a local church must prayerfully ask yourselves some questions.
Would I attend if I did not have friends. Does the pastor deeply challenge me
spiritually? What place does prayer have in the gatherings? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><strong><em>I
Tim.6: <sup>3 </sup>If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to
wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine
which is according to godliness;<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></div>
<strong><em><sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">4 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of
words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">5 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth,
supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></strong>o what are we to do? The Scriptures tell us to come out
and to withdraw from those who do not teach nor hold to the words of Jesus.
That covers much ground in today’s culturally imprisoned church organizations.
Many of us have been at our wit’s end and have searched the mind of the Spirit
and have felt a call to withdraw. It is painful and lonely and there is a
battle against bitterness and self righteousness as well as spiritual lethargy.
But again, what can we do? Many of us have found miraculous fellowship via
Facebook, blogs, and other avenues. Believe me when I tell you I would never
have believed it. I never desired to go on Facebook and it was only because my
youngest son signed me up. I had found likeminded brethren on my blog and on
other blogs, but again I was surprised at the number of brothers and sisters
with whom I found spiritual fellowship and spiritual nourishment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong> sincerely believe the western church is part of Babylon,
and if that is so than we have no other option than to come out from her lest
we be a partaker of her sins. Sadly, very sadly, it has come down to this.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
*****<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em>Jn.6: <sup><span style="color: windowtext;">33 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext;">For the bread of God is he which cometh down from
heaven, and giveth life unto the world.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">34 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">35 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me
shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">36 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>hink on this statement: “That you
also have seen me and believe not.” What an incredibly indictment. These people
had seen and heard Jesus and yet they would not open their hearts to Him. They
attended His teachings and the saw and heard of His miracles and yet they
remained in unbelief. That scenario exists today as well.</div>
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">M</span></strong>illions go back and forth to
church and are baptized church members and yet are in a state of unbelief. You
see unbelief is not just confined to atheists or pagans. It runs rampant
throughout the American church community. In fact the more I see and understand
the teachings of Jesus and the New Testament as a whole the more I am convinced
that more church members live in belief that we might even think. It is pandemic.
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd one of the most deceptive
features of unbelief is that many people think they believe when in fact they
are lost and in a spiritual state of unbelief. Think about that. I was raised
in church and we went almost every Sunday morning. We participated in church
activities and I was a member of the youth group. My mother was the choir
director, I completed three years of catechism and was confirmed as a member,
and I was an acolyte. And yet I was living in a state of unbelief. I was not
saved.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd when the Spirit finally reached
my heart and I believed on Christ and I was born again I realized almost
immediately that I had been a part of a religious system which soothes the
consciences of the lost and deceives people into thinking they believe. That is
a monstrous deception indeed. And that is where tens of millions of people are
today. They live in unbelief and yet think they are Christians just because
they go to a Christian church and denomination. But there are many like me who
were raised in all kinds of different churches. They come from Baptist,
Lutheran, Catholic, Methodist, and almost every other denomination and church
and after being born again testify of their walk in darkness even while
attending a church.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut these people had been with
Jesus and heard His name and heard His teachings and yet were still in
unbelief. You see the spiritual battleground is in the heart. So often men have
made church membership, or baptism, or communion, or good works, or systematic
theology the battleground for salvation when all the time it is within the
heart. The Spirit draws men to Christ but men must allow the Spirit access into
their hearts before they can truly believe. The Scriptures admonish us not to
harden our hearts. Regardless of any theological teaching to the contararyevery
man has a God given free will. This is not just some divine marionette show
where God manipulates the string to amuse Himself. This is serious spiritual
business.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>fter I was born again people
thought I had become unhinged, and because I had led such a wicked life they
assumed I had found a crutch that would help me mend my ways. They just could
not understand. I was naive back then and I literally assumed that when I
shared Jesus with my friends they would quickly believe like me. I was wrong.
After my final court date I went to a friend’s apartment where a handful of my
former friends gathered to see me. I told them that if I had offered them some
pills they would take them simply on the basis of my word, and yet I share Jesus
and they resist. Back then I thought the change in my life and the passion of
my witness would be irresistible. I now know only the Spirit can open a heart
to Christ and that only when a sinner truly seeks will that heart open.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">L</span></strong>ook across America. Churches by
the hundreds of thousands stand in every city and town, and yet how many are
born again? I have pastored Baptist churches and I would wonder how many were
truly born again. Oh they said they believed the Bible and they were against
tobacco and alcohol and they waived the flag and they voted in business meetings,
but how many were born again? Were they consumed with Christ personally? I am
not suggesting that every born again believer is always on the mountain top and
seeking Christ’s face with passion every moment, but there is a vast sea of
church members in which that never happens at all. And what are we to make of
that?<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I </span></strong>would say to people after I was
saved, “Do you believe in Jesus?” and many would reply yes, they do. And I
would say, “I don’t mean just believe, have you born again?” And they would
look at me very strange. Even in church when a person consistently speaks about
Jesus he is an oddball. Listen to the Sunday morning banter and see if you hear
conversation about Jesus. You might hear a “God is so good” phrase tossed out
once in a while, but to have a deeply spiritual sharing about Jesus is a
rarity. In fact, and sadly so, those kinds of conversations rarely take place
in the pulpit. When was the last time you witnessed a preacher break down
emotionally as he shared Jesus from the pulpit? So how is it we can weep over
the death of our precious dog and yet we can be in control as we speak about
our precious Savior?<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong> would suggest there are two
reasons for that astounding phenomenon. One is that so many believers are not
seeking Christ with all their hearts and their hearts have become spiritually
cold. The other reason is that many church members have not met the Living
Christ and they are in a state of unbelief. And there are many, many believers
today who can testify that they themselves were once a part of that group and
yet now are alive in Jesus Christ! Thank God for His grace!<br />
<span style="color: #141823;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Y</span></strong>ou can
eat the church and eat the fellowship and eat the pastor and eat the doctrine
and eat the country, but if you do not eat the Bread from Heaven you will not
die because you are already dead.</span><br />
*****<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em>Lk.14: <sup><span style="color: windowtext;">25 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext;">And there went
great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">26 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be
my disciple.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">27 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my
disciple.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">28 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and
counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">29 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish
it, all that behold it begin to mock him,<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">30 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he end of the sermon nears. The
preacher gives the gospel and prays for the Spirit to convict hearts. He
invites people to come down to the altar to speak with a worker. A young man
walks down to the front and shakes the outstretched hand of an altar worker.
The man asks him his name and why he has come. The young man tells him that he
wants to be saved. The altar worker looks him straight in the eye and says,
“Have you counted the cost, son?”</div>
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">C</span></strong>an you even conceive of such a
thing? I have been in altar training sessions and they are designed to help
altar workers quickly lead people in a sinner’s prayer after quoting a few
verses to which they nod. The key is to always close the deal. No talk of
sacrifice of counting the cost. That may turn away folks and we certainly don’t
want that. And many times, after the altar worker showers this stranger with
all kinds of assurances that he is now saved, the pastor may read a decision
card to which the crowd says amen or applauds.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut that is not the way of Jesus
nor is it the path to true discipleship. Can a person become saved without
becoming a disciple? I guess that depends on how you define disciple. If you
suggest that a person can get his ticket to heaven punched and then show little
or no interest in following Jesus then I would say that is unbiblical at best.
While it is true that some people get born again and it takes them some time
for fruit to become visible, but eventually it does. That is sometimes true.
But if we contend that a saved person can show no fruit then that is a very
dangerous doctrine to promote since it might give false assurance to unsaved
sinners.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he carnal and religious mind
thinks that you will judged fit for heaven if your good works outweigh your
bad, but nothing could be further from the truth. The Scriptures teach that all
our so called “good works” are filthy rags in the sight of a Holy God. To
attach merit to our works is to diminish the complete and finished work of
Jesus at Calvary. Let us not even entertain such a monstrous falsehood! The
shed blood and death of Jesus paid for the sins of the world in full. Can you
even comprehend such a thing? It seems like a phrase used in Sunday School but
it is in fact the greatest mystery of all eternity. What a child can understand
is unfathomable in depth and immeasurable in scope and infinitely profound in
its spiritual essence.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd here we enter into a paradox.
This salvation purchased by Christ is offered free by faith alone. But this
kind of faith can only come if we truly understand what we are believing. The
gospel has been so watered down that even unbelievers can embrace it without
being born again which is just a religious exercise with no eternal power. And
then there are those who attach some religious ceremony or human works which
again render that gospel powerless. But there is a sacred ground which stands
upon grace alone but which counts the cost. It seems like an incongruent
paradox but it is the everlasting gospel which only the Spirit can reveal to a
human heart. Those of us who have been born again, even those without any
theological training, know exactly what Jesus is saying.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">M</span></strong>any of us were redeemed in the
midst of a compromised church community, but by God’s grace we have come to
realize we were being called to deeper waters. And to our shame we discovered
we had been living mostly for ourselves and in many ways in defiance of the
teachings of Jesus. I can speak for myself I was horrified! And the more I
sought the Scriptures and the revelation of the Spirit the more I saw my utter
need of repentance. In fact, I am still deeply in the midst of that journey.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd now we come to the word “cost”.
Liars who call themselves preachers dress in fine linen and dine in the finest
restaurants and fly in private jets and store up large sums of money for
themselves. And what cost is there in that? But leaving that absurdity with
which we should not compare ourselves, let us bring that word to our own
spiritual neighborhood. Jesus said to count the cost. What cost is that about
which He speaks? You would think that in a culture consumed with money and
pleasure a true disciple would be remarkably different in almost every way than
the fallen kingdom around us. And you would be right.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut look around and do you see
professing believers eschewing the love of money? Do they buy the same cars as
the unbelievers? Do they move into the same houses? Do they seek the same
entertainment? Do they spend unreasonable time in prayer? Do they seek the
Lord’s presence with passion outside the church? So just what does it “cost” to
follow Jesus in America? Well, in the current acceptable form of discipleship
it costs nothing at all. In fact the slightest attack on our western lifestyle
will be met with outrage, voting registrations, and if need be war. My heart
grieves at such a thing.<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut as the Lord so accurately
points out the church deserves to be mocked because we have rejected the
foundation and built our own unfinished spiritual building. People refer to the
church as “You know the one on Main Street” or “The one with such a pretty
building” or “First such and such church”. Now stop for a minute and think
about how people would describe a church that met in homes all across a town.
How could they describe it to others? They might have to describe certain
people and the way they speak and act. “You know, those people who feed the
homeless and visit prisoners and love those gay people and who are always
speaking about Jesus.” Do you see the utter disconnect with what we have today?<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>hat is because we have made a
treaty with the world and by such a treaty we thrive in a costless construct
which in many ways behaves like the Elks club. Organization, buildings,
meetings, patriotism, and an overt embracing of capitalism in all its glory.
And now when we say cost we mean the 10 dollars to get into a “Christian”
concert. Oh my…<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
But in full disclosure I am still
on a journey to fully discover that cost.</div>
*****<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em>Jn.6: <sup><span style="color: windowtext;">26 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext;">Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say
unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat
of the loaves, and were filled.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">27 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth
unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath
God the Father sealed.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">28 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of
God?<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em>
<sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">29 </span></sup><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;">Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye
believe on him whom he hath sent.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: auto; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; punctuation-wrap: hanging;">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>his teaching captures the western evangelical mindset in
a nutshell. The church seeks their own best interests which they conveniently
define as “God’s will”. It grows increasingly difficult for individuals to step
back and peer through the Spirit and see the reality of what now passes for the
faith. And as difficult as that is for the individual it is next to impossible
for the church collectively. We have become a “people of the loaves”. It is our
bellies which guide us and not the Spirit. Does that way too harsh and
judgmental? Well that would only be accurate if indeed it were not true.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut notice the word “labor”. This western version of
Christianity requires no labor at all. The closest thing to labor is the
inconvenience of getting up early and getting dressed and travelling to church.
From there it’s all gravy.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong> have reached a point in this study of the teachings of
Jesus where I am compelled to speak about the state of the western church which
calls itself Christian. I realize it can get somewhat redundant, but
considering the seriousness of the issue I suggest the Spirit wishes to address
it often. There are those of us who have seen some of what the Spirit is
revealing. And being imperfect and not wishing to present ourselves as the
measuring stick, we have left the organized church. It’s like going to a
restaurant smorgasbord and getting plate after place but finding nothing
appealing at all until you have tasted everything. Would you go back anymore?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>hat is what has happened. I don’t mean the present
ecclesiastical construct is a little unbalanced or needs some fine tuning. I am
openly and Scripturally contending that the entire structure from the pastor to
the membership to the buildings to the 501c to the staff to the salary packages
to the voting and what happens during the gatherings is all wrong. Miracle Max
said the prince was “almost dead” but in this case the church is completely
dead. It has been completely swallowed up by the culture and the ideas of men.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he sentence in verse 29 sums up the will of God. “This
is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” Such a concise summation
and yet filled with eternal truth. If we are unwilling to unpack these kinds of
truths then we will remain without any hunger for the meat that does not perish
while we eat a steady diet of temporal meat that strengthens the flesh. These
kinds of metaphors are astounding! Later in this chapter Jesus speaks of
drinking His blood and eating His flesh which caused most to walk away from
Him. At least these people were honest. Today we have an entire ecclesiastical
crowd who have left Jesus yet still claim to believe in Him.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">W</span></strong>e want God to make loaves appear for us. We look for Him
to wait on us. If we have to labor to make our own loaves we would much rather
eat the loaves of the world. We want loaves, wherever they come from, to be
delivered to us already to eat. Spiritual work is foreign to us. Our time is
consumed with us and with others who mean something to us but Jesus can have an
hour or two in a corporate setting where we can sit and enjoy the sensory laden
pageant. But if you ask people what spiritual labor is you will probably
receive an answer that has some human activity like building or working in a
polling place or sending clothes to Good Will. But who could understand
laboring in the prayer closet? Or laboring in the Word? Or laboring in seeking
to know Jesus?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>o believe on Jesus is much deeper than just
acknowledging Him in a doctrinal sense. It is a simple equation in a sense, but
it is unfathomably deep as well. You must find out who Jesus was and is by
studying His Words and then you must obey Him. Seems pretty simple, right? But
unbeknownst to the masses there is a literal ocean of eternal truth in Jesus
which cannot be tapped without spiritual labor. Sometimes that labor comes
freely and the Spirit guides you into fresh life giving revelation, and other
times that labor is intense and frustrating and requires a relentless spirit.
And after you receive a revelation of what seems to be a simple truth you then
are challenged to die to yourself and live that truth.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>here is such a thing as spiritual inertia. To start an
authentic, self denying journey is very difficult. It’s not a downhill slide.
But once you are engaged in that journey the meat you ingest strengthens and
sustains you and beckons you to go further. I do not suggest that every day
will be filled with wonder. No, there will be days when your labor does not
seem to be producing much. But those are the days when we must persevere.
Picture a man waiting at a train station. He waits and waits and becomes
agitated. He was sure the train would have come by now. And then he cannot wait
any longer so he leaves. No sooner does he leave than the trains comes from
around the bend and picks up passengers at that station. The man missed the
train.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 0pt;"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">J</span></strong>esus is coming. Maybe soon and maybe a thousand years
from now. But He is coming. Let us not grow weary in well doing and continue to
labor to lay hold of Him. We now deal in Scriptural revelation through the
power of the Spirit. We see through a glass darkly. We feast upon scraps but oh
how glorious are these scraps! But there is coming a day when revelation meets
complete reality and we will stand before Him and gaze upon Him. Oh my dear
friends, if we only believed that with all our hearts and minds it would change
our lives. Let us continue to labor for the Master. Let us not just eat the
meat that He gives, but let us consume it carefully, relentlessly, and with
passion.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
*****<o:p> </o:p><br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<strong><em>Jn.5: <span class="text"><sup>41 </sup>I
receive not honour from men.<o:p></o:p></span></em></strong></div>
<strong><em>
</em></strong><br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><strong><em>Mk.7: <sup>6 </sup>He
answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as
it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far
from me.<o:p></o:p></em></strong></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">T</span></strong>he western
culture has robbed the church of what it means to exalt and honor the Lord
Jesus. This individualist culture that is permeated with gimmicks, advertisements,
and trinkets has seeped into the church. Like a sports team churches,
preachers, and ministries, have their logos and T-shirts and jewelry and
stickers and an array of other novelties. In fact the name and caricature of
Jesus is imprinted on such things including tattoos. But because we live in a
culture of gaud we cannot see it for what it is.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></strong>f you attend a
“Christian” concert you will see the trinket tables selling all kinds of
things. And the performers are well remunerated for their talents. Can we not
see that the entire construct is fleshly and against the teachings of Jesus? I
believe it would fill us with horror if we really understood how God felt about
the side show carnival much of the church has become. The money changers of old
had nothing on the western evangelical church.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">G</span></strong>one is the sense
of sacred and hallowed. Gone is an atmosphere of holiness and awe. The
Scripture tell us that Esau sought repentance diligently and with many tears
and yet he could not recover the birthright he had sold. How many professing
believers today seek repentance? How many seek it diligently with tears? The
Word of God has become a good advice book and a road map for earthly
prosperity.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd Jesus rides in
the passenger seat of your life and watches you drive. For the most part there
is little authentic conversation. The Word tells us that God desires obedience
rather than sacrifice and yet the church is filled on Sunday mornings with excitement
and the sacrifice of praise after a week filled with spiritual lethargy and
disobedience. There are many lips waiting in line to honor Christ, but few
lives that diligently seek to honor Him. We have settled into a cultural faith
which costs nothing, says nothing, follows nothing, hears nothing, and uses
almost all of its passion on family, occupation, recreation, education,
competition, and country. If there is anything left over it goes to Jesus, or
at least to the church.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span></strong>nd even in the
pulpit men receive honor from men. Parading secular titles like “Dr” men love
the best seats at banquets and conferences. To hear a preacher introduced is
like hearing the accolades of the angel Gabriel. Read his bio and you will want
to bow in his presence. The larger the church, the more glorious the spectacle.
The more books he has written elicit the greater homage. Good lighting and good
makeup and a good sound system help create the desired aura. The Man of God
steps behind the sacred desk and prepares to deliver a divine message to the
eager masses. And afterward his majesty makes himself available to sign books
and Bibles. It is so cultural, so capitalist, so rock concert, so celebrity,
and provides an event complete with the obligatory feasting afterward on the
way home. Meaningless…no wait…fleshly…no wait…entertaining…no wait…insulting to
a holy God. Yes, that’s it.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></strong>o what does a
life and a heart look like when it honors Christ? You might get a hundred
different answers from evangelicals and that should tell you something. But the
majority of pew dwellers are really not interested in that question at all and
especially if you are going to use terms like “sacrifice” and self denial” and
“surrender” and “forsake all”. Those kinds of expressions run counter to the
culture inside and outside of the evangelical community. The concept now
revolves around how God can honor us and not how we can honor Him. In fact even
when the pulpit discusses honoring God it always carries with it a reciprocal
promise that will benefit you because you honored Christ. I guess the martyrs
were not paying attention that day.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span class="text"><strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">B</span></strong>ut as it pertains
to honoring Christ our lips are last in line. Man looks upon the outward
appearance but God sees the heart. It is our hearts that honor Christ and our
lips and lives will follow suit. There is so much emphasis upon the outer man
and little upon the inner man. You see you can get up and get dressed and “go
to church” and look just everyone else without addressing anything in your
heart. That is completely between you and God. But to honor Christ we must come
with a broken and contrite heart. And that, my friends, is a labor of love
which only the Spirit can accomplish. All we can do is open or close the door.</span>Rick Fruehhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05879848568892457571noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27942026.post-22807553700870739232015-01-21T13:31:00.000-05:002015-01-21T13:31:16.511-05:00Ashamed<div style="text-align: center;">
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This made me cry and this made me ashamed.</div>
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