Archive for the ‘Kingdom Teaching’ Category

Calling for the Nehemiah’s of this generation

Posted: February 16, 2015 in Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic
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The Lord awoke me this morning at 4:00 am with the following message:

Let us pray that the spirit of Nehemiah comes upon the Church in America that we stand with a trowel in one hand and a sword in another. For we must continue to advance the Kingdom message in this nation while at the same time war against the anti-Christ spirit that is over taken it.

The hour is urgent let us pray that Holy Ghost wakes up the sleeping Bride for we may be living in the worlds cultures but we live by the culture of the Kingdom of Heaven. Let us not be fooled for if one looks across the Christian landscape in America with spiritual eyes open we would with righteous judgement see that the culture of the world has invaded its walls.

We must end the silence which is woven in the spirit of cowardice as many seek to avoid the very persecution our Lord stated we would face. I fear that some in the Church have had their mouths shut for fear of losing their 501 C 3 status if they were to speak out against the political rage against Christianity. Is not our God all sufficient or are we no better than Judas in that we are willing to sell out the Lord for a few coins?

The Church to a large degree has been silent in recent years over such issues as the abortion issue and have foolishly left it in the hands of the same political system that has removed the Bible and prayer from school. Just recently a few towns from where I live a youth in school was disciplined for saying God bless in the morning announcements. Where was the Church? Should they not have been at the door of school protesting against this statement against our God?

The Church as well has remained silent in the face of the gay agenda that has swept across this land forcing changes in the definition of marriage with some denominations actually shaking its fist in the face of a Holy God proclaiming the worlds ways are above His and condoning homosexual marriage within its own house.

Sodom and Gomorrah would be justified to ask the Lord where is His justice concerning the sins of this nation for we have as a nation become as bad if not worse than they.

It is time for Kingdom men to take their rightful place and stand up against the erosive cultural wave that has invaded the Houses of God across this nation. It is time for a Spiritual revolution that will open the doors of Heaven to see the winds of a Spiritual reformation blowing across this land.

We live in a day when many of our seminaries have sold out to the ways of the world to where they are more concerned with training business men to run the Church rather than men who have worn knees from the hours spent in the prayer closet seeking the will of the Father. Warring in the Spirit for this generation and standing against spiritual wickedness that seeks to tare down the very constitution of this nation that was formed to protect our rights to worship our God in public and private.

I would encourage all to read Bonhoeffer’s “Cost of discipleship” for the political spirit in this present hour in this nation is closely aligned to that of Germany in his day when the Church in Germany embraced the political change out of fear as well as greed.

Has the main stream Church’s in this nation been lulled to sleep out of the desires of worldly wealth while at the same time trading it in for the anointing and blessing of our Lord? Let the Word be the judge though I discern that the scale of such judgement would not be tipped in favor of this present Church generation. We have whole Christian TV stations sold out to the riches of this world propping up their prophets/ puppets of the false prosperity and false grace gospel attracting and getting rich from the masses with tickling ears running to hear a sweet message while at the same time cutting off support to our brothers in sisters in other nations as well as in this nation who need our financial support. Does not James make the statement that sending one away in need with but a prayer was seen as though we’ve done nothing at all (James 2:16)

Have we traded in the treasures of Heaven for the riches of this world? Is Christ our Lord not more precious than anything this world has to offer?

What will it take to wake up the Bride in this hour? Or will she remain in a sleep, silent to what is warring around us til she wakes up to find that it is no longer legal to be a Christian in this nation? Or is the American Church the Laodiceans Church spoken of on the Book of Revelations:

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Rev 3:14-18)

If so, then let us repent for there is still a window open though it is swiftly closing. Let us hear the Word of the Lord:

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches (Rev 3:19-22)

For again looking out across the Christian landscape of this nation I liken it to the House of Israel in Ezek 10 as I witnessed in the Spirit, the Lord removing His presence and Glory for many Houses in this nation leaving them spiritual dry & cold with but dead religion. Let us cry out for the Breath of His Spirit to blow upon these dry old bones (Ezek 37:1-14)!!!

The hour is now, and the hour is urgent and we must pray that the Spirit wake up those in who are a sleep in a drunken stupor caused by the spirit of this world for they have drank in the lie of a false security in the riches of this world. Awake an repent seeking the guidance of the Spirit of the Living God to re-position us in the will of the Father that we may gear up in the Spiritual armor that He has prepared for us and let us advance empowered by His anointed Grace and take back what the enemy has stolen. Let us rebuild the Spiritual walls which once defined this nation as a nation unto God. Let us awake and see that we have been slumbered into a sleep while the enemy has been transforming us from a sheep into a goat.

The Lord has already won the Battle for us, He has already overcome the prince of wickedness in this world yet we confess the sin of a rebellious spirit & repent with to commitment to not bowing to anything or anyone save the Lord God Almighty that we may stand in the victory He has already won. Let us turn back to the Word of God, allowing it to bath us in its purity that our hearts and hands may be cleaned.

Musicians of the Lord, take to the walls and sound the alarm – Let us rise up to war in the Spirit till His House throughout this nation is cleansed from false shepherds, false prophets, and false doctrines and let us disciple the next generation in the Way of our Lord that they too may stand, not wavering if our Lord so chooses to tarry til His return.

There is til time though it be short to re-build the Spiritual walls from which our nation had and was a blessing unto other nations. As well we must war in the Spirit that we remain a nation who blesses and supports Israel. So again let us pray for the Spiritual winds of a national Spiritual revolutionary reformation blow across this land, raising up a generation who hates sin and fears none God, bowing not to the cultural attractions of this world but rather serves God in all truthfulness.

Father, we pray right now that even as You rose up Nehemiah in Ancient Israel, so rise up Nehemiah’s across this land in this hour and may all to the praise, glory and honor of Your Great Name.

~Russ Welch

THE KING’S SERVANTS

Posted: February 11, 2015 in Kingdom Teaching
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My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My Kingdom is not of this realm. (John 18:36)

Too many believers today are trying to find fulfillment and significance through human means. They are trying to discover their destinies through man’s methods. However, man’s methods have never accomplished God’s goals. Jesus revealed that fully when He answered Pilate straightforwardly. Jesus said, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My Kingdom is not of this realm” ( John 18:36).

In essence, He said, “My method reflects My source.” As believers, we are called to be in the world, but not of the world. Similarly, a boat is made to be in the water but not of the water. If the boat begins to be of the water and starts taking on water inside of it, it will soon go down.

To be in the world and yet not of the world means that worldliness does not define your decisions, relationships, priorities, or even the cadence of how you flow. The King and His kingdom controls your methodology. You seek Him first.

For His Kingdom.

Tony Evans

Mark 10:23 – Jesus was really joking, Right?

Posted: February 8, 2015 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching
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In 1 Timothy, we read the words Paul writes, “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs” (1 Timothy 6: 9-10).

We need to be clear here, money is not evil by nature. We also need to use spiritual wisdom, money in the hands of sinful people—even the righteous—can be dangerous, deadly, or even damning.

In the scriptures we read where Jesus himself says, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10: 23, NIV).

Yet so many, due to the abundance of prosperity messages out their seem to file away what Jesus is attempting to say here. In fact our fleshly nature will run from Church to Church, teacher to teacher in search of the one who will boldly proclaim that Jesus didn’t really mean it the way that it sounds. And sadly a large majority of Christians in the western Church just don’t believe Jesus on this one. Most people in our culture—and in the church—believe wealth is always a sign of blessing from God, and we have almost no category for understanding wealth with a wrong heart is a barrier to God. I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard pastors make this claim in defense of their lavish life styles and could fill a moderate town with their followers who will run to their defense. With the wealth of freedom we have in this nation to possess Bibles and the right to study them it shocks me how so many are so easily deceived.

Just as 1 Timothy says, money can be a powerful snare. If we look across the Christian landscape in America alone we can see how this snare has entrapped Gods people leaving them enslaved to the lenders to such a degree that they can’t find peace, are unable to help others in need, can not support missions and missionaries and some are so filled with the fear of financial loss they can’t even tithe. We also see how such a lfestyle robs their children of the joy of spending time with mom and dad as they are pre-occupied with working more hours with the hope of just paying the bills on time. Even more saddness is added to this within the fact that many are raising their children with a false understanding of faith and or causing a spiritual dysfunction in the family as their desire for more money is like an idol demanding all the worship.

The modern day prosperity message has allowed the seduction of money to imprison Gods people by the masses.. We think, I want more, but we don’t realize that the desire for more is a trap. With the hunger for “more” the creation of an appetite that will never satisfy is birthed and it grows into a baby all in on itself with a 24 hr feeding schedule as it can not get enough. Blindly as we indulge in this desire, we are shut off from seeing how it destroys our spiritual lives bit by bit. Sadly for many it may destroys them forever. Now just in case you missed the Word of God earlier, hear it again: the desire for riches “plunge[ s] people into ruin and destruction.”

Praise God, for He has not left us in the dark for we find in His Word a remedy to the allure of money. Right before these warnings in 1 Timothy, God speaks to us in His Word that, “Godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content ” (6: 6-8). So again Praise God for these words, as our loving Father prescribes the antidote: a simple life of contentment that prioritizes necessities and minimizes luxuries. Paul says the same thing in 2 Corinthians 8– 9, where we learn that God provides enough for us (2 Cor 9:8) and excess for others (2 Cor 9:11).

Make no mistake brothers and sisters, the gospel compels us to humbly identify what is enough for us in order to freely give away our excess to others. By voluntarily surrendering our riches for others’ good, we avoid the snare and enjoy the contentment that these describes.

The question is are we willing to allow Holy Spirit to train us up in these Words. Are we willing to humbly look to Him to bring our minds in to conformity of what the scriptures call us to do – live a simple life.

We really do need Holy Spirit influence

Posted: February 8, 2015 in Kingdom Teaching
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I can remember as a young Christian I was compelled to seek the Spirit in all matters. Then as I started earning my degrees and hanging out with “seasoned” ministers I started making decisions based upon what I had learned and or heard from the experiences of others. All the while I thought I was doing great with one exception – I noticed that I was having little effect in reaching others with the Gospel and those whom I counseled who were Christians didn’t seem to get any break-thru’s.

In 2010 when I stepped down from leading a ministry I had started in 2004 in order to begin serving as an co-pastor in a start-up Church, believing this was where the Lord wanted me to serve. During this season of transition the Lord hit me with one verse and for several months everywhere I turned it popped up:

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1 Cor 2:10)

Then one day during a prayer session I finally got it. I had unknowingly traded the indescribable and inexhaustible wisdom of Holy Spirit for the wisdom of men and myself. It was like a light going off and then Holy Spirit started showing me places in the Word that I had missed as well as taking me back to times that I had thought I was given sound advice only to see how far off the target I was. Even in my personal and business financial decisions I had made countless mistakes all the while believing that I was using sound Biblical principles.

Now today I am continuously asking Holy Spirit to guard my heart and thoughts that I don’t err back to my old patterns. Even when I open the Word I welcome Him to join me in my studies. Especially before going out to witness I have disciplined myself when I out to evangelize the homeless or others whether it be by myself or with a group. In fact I serve as an associate pastor at a Church because Holy Spirit spoke to me with a clear directive – “the Father wills you to serve here” – which was at a time in my life when I had no earthly inclination to serve in a Church that from the outside is heaped in the traditions of doing Church. I am so thankful today for the directive Holy Spirit gave me as this ministry is exactly what the Lord prepared me for.

Looking back I could kick myself and it sometimes saddens me knowing that I had the availability to lean upon His wisdom and didn’t. I know that more than likely the out-come of these times would have been a whole lot different. How many lost souls did I not impact, how many business decisions did I make or not make that could have created more seeds for the Kingdom. Recently while in a teachings session with several of the men that I mentor I told them that if I had different color socks I would more than likely seek Holy Spirit’s directive as to which color to wear. Does this sound a bit over board or extreme? Well what if I had a pair of green socks and sitting on a bench or in a public place these socks opened the door for a conversation to share the gospel.

Let us ponder this thought for a moment – If God is so concerned with us that He even takes time to number the hairs on our head, why would we think anything was too small of a concern for Him. Where would our ministries be today if we were to be totally sold out on not moving to the left or right lest Holy Spirit said which way to go? We read in scripture of how Paul desired to go many places and at times even had his friends attempt to persuade him to either go or not to go yet Paul writes that the Spirit with-held him. He obviously was in communication with Holy Spirit to hear this.

So again, How important is seeking and hearing Holy Spirit in your life – Church – Ministry???

For does not the Bible declare “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Rom 8:14)

Fellow saints, let us not disregard this awesome gift that the Father has given us: But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:26)

The time of silence must end – The hour of action is NOW

Posted: February 7, 2015 in Kingdom Teaching
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What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:14-17)

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Are we really that blind to the attack against God is His Word?

We live in a day when we are at war on all sides as Christians. From abortion, the gay & lesbian agenda, the renunciation of all that is Christian to the out-right attack on marriage we see the battle lines not only have been drawn but they are ever increasing in size and pressing in on the Church.

We have raised a generation in the Church who has jumped on the social justice band-wagon yet they have forgone the Biblical truths as they rally for “every-one” has a right to be married, women have a right with regard to their own bodies to the support of a current president who is dead set on erasing the truth from our history and depicting Christianity as evil as the radical Islamic fundamentalist of in this hour. Look at the message from not long ago and see how it paints a picture not only of the current state of the Church but the ever increasing disobedient silence of Gods people:

We as Bible-believing evangelical Christians are locked in a battle. This is not a friendly gentleman’s discussion. It is a life and death conflict between the spiritual hosts of wickedness and those who claim the name of Christ. . . . But do we really believe that we are in a life and death battle? Do we really believe that the part we play in the battle has consequences for whether or not men and women will spend eternity in hell? Or whether or not those who do live will live in a climate of moral perversion and degradation? Sadly, we must say that very few in the evangelical world have acted as if these things are true. . . . Where is the clear voice speaking to the crucial issues of the day with distinctively biblical, Christian answers? With tears we must say it is not there and that a large segment of the evangelical world has become seduced by the world spirit of this present age. And more than this , we can expect the future to be a further disaster if the evangelical world does not take a stand for biblical truth and morality in the full spectrum of life. ~Francis Schaeffer

We are a country are not merely sitting on the cliff of moral depravity we have already begone the slide down. The hour is urgent and we must act now. We must wake up and pray like never before. We must repent and cry out to God for a Holy boldness to sweep through every Church in this nation. We need not a small reformation rather we need a tidal wave of Pentecostal flames to blow across this land with a stand against compromise and a Holy desperation for all that is good according to the Lord. We must stop the silence and release the Roar of the Lion of Judah.

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The time of comfort is over – the word tolerance has no place in the Christians life. God has given His Church the Armor to battle not to be hung up collecting dust as an antique of yesterdays war. We must enter into the command post (prayer closet) seeking the directives of He who leads the army of Heaven joining them with the army of His earthly warriors. The call to a national fast is here, the trumpets of warfare have been sounding the alarm for too long and now we must arise and gather together for the war over the greatest harvest is before us. The time of retreat is over and all who chose such are nothing more than traitors to the Kingdom. If ever the call to count the cost was most urgent it is now upon us. Do you wish to save your own life? The Lord clearly said in doing so you shall lose it. Glory be to the Lord for those who are willing to lose their lives for His sake for in doing so you shall find true life and that life is eternally abundant.

Now is the hour – are you going to stand up for Christ or are you going to remain silent for in remaining silent you make a loud declaration for the things of this world turning your back on the God who saved you!!!

~Russ Welch

Time to tear down the walls…

Posted: November 17, 2014 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching
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Even as Russia after WW2 built the wall to separate Germany into two nations, so has the prince of this world sought to build a wall dividing the Church.

For there seems to be an ever increasing gulf between Right & Wrong, Truth & lies. Love & hatred in this nation and all nations for that matter that has caused a stumbling block for many in the Church. It is the area of homosexuality and the Church. Even as President Reagan called out to Gorbachev to “tear down the wall” so do I hear the Spirit crying out to the prince of this world holding captive a division of the Church to tear down the walls of deception!

Did Jesus die for homosexuals? Truth

Jesus did, even as He died for adulterers, thieves, drunkards and other sinners.

It is true that Jesus, because of His love for all, will accept any person into His Kingdom even if they do not repent from their sinful life style and continue to live a life as a murderer, adulterer, thief, and or homosexual?   LIE

The Bible states that:

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor 6:9-10) TRUTH.

We are to stop all murders, thieves, adulterers, drunkards, homosexuals and any other person bound in sin from entering our Churches. Wrong – HATRED.

In fact we are mandated to invite all people into the Church to hear the Gospel message proclaimed that they may come to the saving Knowledge of Christ and His cross so that they may be set free from the prison of DARKNESS and brought into the Kingdom of God. Right – LOVE.

Jesus said that greater love hath no man lest he lay down his life for his friends. Even as Christ was a friend to sinners, so must His followers to the very point of putting to death their personal prejudices with regard to those living a life opposition of a Christian and be willing to reach out to them with the saving Truth of His Gospel, even if that means being spit upon, beating, put in jail and or put to death. Truth, Right and Love.

The Church needs to realize that in its accepting all life styles as being acceptable to God is not based in love rather it is actually based in hatred, birthed in Hell in order to keep a people from coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, leaving them in the prison of darkness destined for an eternity in Hell separated from God and His Love. Yes, the Gospel preached in truth is offensive to the sinner yet it must always be presented in Love and not hatred. For we too once were separated from God in fact the Bible states we, while in our sinful state, were enemies opposed to God.

So let us always remember the Mercy that God showed us and walk in the Grace of our Lord in our delivering the Gospel. While at the same time let us not be silenced by the world’s view of what is politically correct or incorrect or what is or isn’t hate speech. For the worst kind of hate speech is the silence of a people who know and hold the keys of truth to set the captives free. Such a people are those who consider themselves before the welfare of their neighbor and Jesus calls us to love our neighbor before ourselves.

Silence does not equal love any more than the shout of truth equals hatred.

Awake, awake o Sleeper, for indeed it is time to wake up from your slumber you precious Bride, for your Warrior Husband has issued to call war…….for the war has intensified as the wedding is soon to take place!!!

So let us start being such a people, sounding the Trumpets of Truth as loud as we can till we see the true walls of hatred being torn down……

~Russ “Rush” Welch

Obituary for the American Church

Posted: December 28, 2013 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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by Mike Breen

From time to time I will have the people I’m discipling write out their own pastoral obituary. I ask them to write out how our enemy would take them out, rendering them unable to serve their family and communities. As you can imagine, the answers vary, but always serves as a really helpful exercise as they are forced to confront issues of character, etc.

You see, taking the same exercise I’ve used with pastors, for the past year I’ve been thinking how the enemy would/might be trying to take down the American church. Now what I’ve noticed is that the original temptations Jesus faced (which can best be boiled down to Appetite, Affirmation and Ambition) are somehow warped and insinuated into the culture. As each culture is distinct and different, a smart enemy would come at each culture in subtle ways, tempting them in ways they don’t see or expect, and with things that would look different from culture to culture.

For instance, the issues the European church deal with are actually quite different than the ones the American church is dealing with – even though often times they are put under the same broad umbrella of “Western Church.” Sure, there are some similarities, but the attack is different. More nuanced.

But those original temptations of Appetite, Affirmation and Ambition are slowly insinuating themselves into everything we call CHURCH. We just often don’t recognize it or see it.

And so this is how, if our enemy gets his way, the American church could be taken out:

A culture of CELEBRITY (affirmation)

A culture of CONSUMERISM (appetite)

A culture of COMPETITION (ambition)

The original temptations of Appetite, Affirmation and Ambition are creeping into everything we call CHURCH.

CELEBRITY

The idea of celebrity is deeply woven into American culture and values. All you have to do is look at the ridiculous nature of Reality TV and you see how Americans are constantly craving celebrity (either to be a celebrity or to find the next celebrity and stalk their every move). Now there is nothing dark or sinister about “celebrity” in and of itself. You can’t find an argument that says Jesus wasn’t a huge celebrity in his day.

However, there is a difference between being famous and being significant. If Jesus was famous, it’s because he was doing something significant. The problem with many pastors is they make decisions, develop personas and define success from the lens of what will make them a celebrity/famous (even if they don’t know it or see that they are doing this). So in American church culture, it’s pretty easy to become a celebrity: Grow a HUGE church. Now all in all, it’s not terribly difficult to grow to be a giant church if you have the right tools at your disposal – but that doesn’t mean the ends justify the means of getting there.

For instance, though Jesus was a celebrity in his day, he was willing to say things that ran people off in droves. In fact, the book of Mark chronicles the way (from about the mid-point of the book on) how people left Jesus to where, at the end, virtually no one was left. NO ONE wants to be associated with him for fear of the consequences. That’s a Charlie Sheen-esque flameout (obviously without the character issues!). That’s not something you see too often in American churches.

I suspect it’s because riven deeply into the American psyche is the desire to be a celebrity. And American pastors are very susceptible to this. Many subtle things happen in people who desire to this kind of celebrity status:

* They can disengage community and isolate themselves, setting themselves up for moral failure.

* They can make decisions that are numbers driven and not always Kingdom driven.

* They can skew to a shallow understanding of the Gospel as opposed to a holistic one that leads people to discipleship.

* They can put the good of their church (their personal Kingdom) over the good of God’s Kingdom.

Question: In what ways are your decisions made by a subtle undercurrent of ambition and a hope for celebrity?

CONSUMERISM

We live in a culture that revolves around consuming. Every TV commercial, every store, every credit card company, every bank, every TV show or movie, every piece of clothing, car or product, every website, every restaurant every everything is tailored to fit your desires, needs or personal preference. We are easily infuriated when things don’t happen exactly as we want them. We exist in a place that implicitly says this: “We are here to serve you and meet your every whim and desire. Let us take care of you.” What’s more, it’s never enough.

We live in a culture that revolves around consuming.

Eventually the house or the car get older and we want new ones. The clothes aren’t as fashionable and we want something more in style. That restaurant is getting boring, we must find another. Our favorite TV show is wearing thin, so the search begins for the next favorite. And on and on and on. This is how we are wired to think in the United States. And it is all backed up by this rationale: You’re worth it. You deserve to have what you want, how you want it, when you want it. And for the most part, the church plays the exact same game.

We do as best we can to provide as comfortable an experience as humanly possible, using every means at our disposal to attract them in (and then keep them in). So we tailor what we do around their wants and desires. That’s Marketing 101, right? The problem is at the end of the day, the only thing that Jesus is counting is disciples. That’s it. He doesn’t seem to care too much about converts, attendance, budgets or buildings. It’s about disciples. And, by nature, disciples are producers, not consumers.

Yet most of our churches are built around feeding consumers. I’d argue 90% of the church’s time, energy and resources are linked to this. But the issue is this: The means you use to attract people to you are usually the means you must use to keep them. In other words, if you use consumerism to attract them to your church, it often means you must continue using it to keep them or else they will find another church who will meet their “needs.” And yet, that consumer mentality is antithetical to the Gospel and to the call of Discipleship.

Disciples aren’t consumers, they are producers. Jesus cared about disciples more than anything else.

The means you use to attract people to you are usually the means you must use to keep them.

Question: In what ways is your church community using consumerism as the means to draw people to a Gospel that is, in and of itself, anti-consumerism?

COMPETITION

You will never find a more hyper-competitive culture than you do in the United States. As a foreigner living in this land, I can attest to that with the utmost respect. Americans love to win, they love the struggle of the journey and love holding up the gold medal of victory. Now don’t hear me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with being competitive, it’s just how competition has become warped and twisted within our culture. And it’s that, at least in the church, we are competitive about the wrong things.

Much of the American church finds itself competing with the church down the road. “Are we bigger than them? Do we have more influence than them? Do we have the best/biggest youth group in town? Do people like to get married in our church building? Do people like our church better than theirs?”

The fact of the matter is that there is a battle, we do have an enemy and we should be competitive – but against our enemy! What we haven’t seen is how crafty he is. This seems to be the alliance he has struck with the American church: “I’ll let a good chunk of your churches grow, just not at the expense of my territory.”

Disciples aren’t consumers, they are producers. Jesus cared about disciples more than anything else.

And so what happens? 96% of church growth is due to transfer growth and not churches striking into the heart of our enemy’s territory. We’ll consider it a win because we have the new service or program that is growing – but that growth is mainly from people coming from other churches. That’s not a win! That’s a staggering loss.

Furthermore, for many pastors, we don’t think we’ve won until we’ve won AND someone else has lost. Seriously?! For sure, we have an enemy and we should be competitive, but we should be competing against our enemy, knowing that the final battle has already been won, and not competing against our own team members.

So gifted and skilled is our enemy, so conniving is he, that he has convinced us that beating the people on our own team is victory while he stands back and laughs, rarely having to ever engage in conflict, protecting his territory. He is beating us with a slight of hand, with a clever distraction, turning us against ourselves. Question: In what ways are you competing (both in actuality or simply in your mind) against people who are on your own team?

In all honesty, it isn’t that the American church will ever truly die or cease to exist. It will always be there. But it is entirely possible that if these three critical issues aren’t addressed and dealt with, it will be a hallow shell that is spiritually listless.

If we think through Celebrity, Consumerism and Competition, the anti-body against all of these is sacrifice. Learning to lay down what builds us up and giving to others instead. Learning to serve, rather than to be served. Looking for anonymity rather than celebrity. To build a culture of producers rather than a consumers.

To live in a vibrant, sacrificial community fighting a real enemy rather than competing against the same community God has given us to fight WITH rather than AGAINST. It’s about sacrificing what we want for the glory of God and the advancement of his Kingdom, regardless of our advancement or desires.

Clearly this is what Paul was getting after in Philippians 2:6-11 when describing the attitude of Jesus as taking on the attitude of a servant, willing to sacrifice all acclaim and equality with God. It was a willingness to set aside and sacrifice celebrity, consumerism and competition at the altar of the incarnation.

Fifty years ago, as these three subtle threads were being woven into the American church, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., serving as a prophetic voice, said this:

If today’s church does not recapture the sacrificial spirit of the early church, it will lose its authenticity, forfeit the loyalty of millions, and be dismissed as an irrelevant social club with no meaning for the twentieth century.

We are now into the second decade of the 21st century and we find ourselves still, for the most part, refusing to sacrifice what we want for what God is asking of us and his Church. Will we have the courage to sacrifice as Christ sacrificed? Will we do the things that cost us so that his Kingdom may advance?

About The Author

Mike Breen has been an innovator in leading missional churches throughout Europe and the United States for more than 25 years, and leads 3DM, a movement/organization that is helping hundreds of established churches and church planters move into this discipling and missional way of being the church.  Twitter: @mike_breen

Another Gospel Revisited

Posted: July 30, 2013 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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Another Gospel Revisited

The Mrs. and I have been occupied with interior work at the house for what seems like forever and I have been unable to get to our computer most of the time. Obviously, this has put me behind on the articles I write, but finally I am able to squeeze in some time.

I wrote an article last month titled “Another Gospel” of which most people followed my line of thought, but with no surprise, there were a few who zeroed in on one issue that was totally irrelevant.

The accusations were primarily that I supported Hank Hanegraaff, simply because I mentioned a book, one book, he wrote, and recommended it for reading since it pertained to my subject matter. I have written numerous articles, and those who have taken the time to read them should know I do not support everything Mr. Hanegraaff believes. I was even accused of speaking unfavorably of Billy Graham. I still haven’t figured out where that one came from.

Let me see if I can make this real simple for some of you. The subject matter of the article was about “another gospel by false prophets.” It had nothing to do with the Rapture, dispensations, replacement theology, or anything else. That was it; “another gospel by false prophets.” I even gave a few examples of my line of thought, as shown in the following paragraph from the article:

Some of the blasphemies these scoundrels spew from their venomous mouths strive to elevate themselves over God. For example they teach: Jesus is not God; We are gods; Jesus suffered in hell and battled Satan; God can do nothing without our permission; God lost His right to rule; We can speak into existence anything we want; God wants us to be rich; Jesus was rich; If we are sick or poor, it is because we lack faith; Our money to their ministry is “seed” faith; We can order Satan around; There are three gods; and on and on and on they go. This is just a sampling! It seems they each try to top their buddies by coming out with something even more ludicrous than what has been said beforehand by another of their kind.

Toward the end of the article I stated the following:

While writing this article, I came across a book on this very subject that I would recommend. It is called “Christianity in Crisis 21st Century” and it is written by Hank Hanegraaff. He goes into the specifics of what I have been warning about for a long time now and examines the false teachings of many of these false teachers with another gospel. In his book, many quotes from these false teachers are discussed.

I still recommend this book, not every book he wrote, but this one, for further reading for those who are interested. Does that mean that I agree with everything in the book? Of course not! You’re adults. Read the book. Check the information as best as you can. Compare what is said with God’s Word, the Bible, and let God guide your thoughts.

The “Dear Abby” column is in most all newspapers and is heavily slanted toward support of homosexuality and gay marriage, not to mention other atrocities. Does that mean you aren’t going to read another newspaper? Of course not! Does that mean you and I support all that we read in the newspaper? Of course not! Common sense people! Use it! I might recommend you read my hometown newspaper, but I certainly do not support much of what is written in it.

Mr. Hanegraaff and I do not agree on some issues, but I feel he is a Christian and understands how and why God saved him. I do not know the man, but he is my brother in Christ, I am not going to turn my back on him simply because we do not agree on some issues that are not of an eternal consequence, or just because a few people are so narrow minded.

This reminds me of all the attacks by Christians against one of their own when a book called The Harbinger was introduced. There is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Jonathan Cahn is a Christian and my fellow brother in Christ, even though I’ve never met him either, and what he had to say was well worth reading.

Instead of attacking the veracity of those who are truly Christians, we need to stop turning a blind eye from those who are nothing but charlatans and leading people away from Jesus Christ instead of toward Him.

The subject matter of “another gospel” and the false prophets delivering a false gospel that is not Christ’s Gospel is of extreme importance. Millions of people today are being duped into believing much of this garbage that is being shoveled out. Why is that? It is so because most of those who call themselves Christians are ignorant of God’s Word. They’re generally fine people, but many are blind to what God actually says. They wouldn’t know the truth of God’s Word if it bit them on the nose. For those who are not Christians and believing this nonsense, their eternal state may be at stake.

Now if I may, I’ll throw in a little end time “stuff.” We are in the last days of the Church Age. Some of the greatest signs that the Church Age is nearly over are apostasy, false prophets, false teachings, greed and indifference from alleged church leaders, etc. These so-called leaders are everywhere. They are in the pulpits, on the stage, on the television, on the radio, on the Internet, and they love to write books.

I have personally heard much of what has been said by these false prophets (teachers) mentioned in Mr. Hanegraaff’s book, and he didn’t address them all. There are too many. He mentioned some that “maybe” I would not have been as critical, and others he mentioned that I would have been even more so.

The false teachings coming from these snakes can only come from one source. That source is an evil heart being guided by sin and nudged forward by Satan’s influence.

Partly due to the saturation of false teachers in our society with another gospel, which is a false gospel, we are most definitely in the Laodicean age of the church. If you haven’t read Revelation 3:14-22 lately, maybe you should. It is a very clear photograph of our current spiritual condition in this country.

[Jesus said,] “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” (Matthew 7:15-16)

Often these false prophets come across as God-fearing folks, but that isn’t the case. They always mix some truth in with their false teachings, and if you are not familiar with what the Bible actually says, you will likely become another one of their victims. They know what to say, and how to say it. They often use the righteous tone of voice that is normally accepted as being very Christ-like, but they are far from Christ. They take verses and even passages and twist them to their own perverted gospel. They are not of God! Beware of them!

The apostle Paul told the Corinthians, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 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” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

Paul is saying the same thing that Jesus said. The false prophets are devious in portraying themselves as belonging to Christ, but they do not. Satan also masquerades as a Christian, if I may put it plainly, but we all know, or should know, where he stands.

Paul told Timothy, his protégé, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4, NKJV).

This is EXACTLY what has happened today. Another gospel sounds so much nicer to the ear than the gospel which says that we are condemned without true faith in Jesus Christ, that Jesus is the only way to God, that there is no other way, that God is in charge and He will have His way regardless. In other words, the true Word of God is found in His book He provided for us; i.e. the Bible, not from the mouths of arrogant apostates.

My dear friends, Jesus was not rich while on earth. His desire is not for us to be materially rich (even though some may be) but spiritually rich.

Our physical healing is not nearly as important as our spiritual healing. By His stripes we are healed … spiritually, if we will just repent and believe.

God is in absolute control of everything, and it is by His grace that we are saved.

Jesus did not suffer in hell. It was finished at the cross. He said so.

Jude wrote a very short book, but what a punch it packs. He said, “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts” (Jude 17-19).

Many, many, many of the so-called spokesmen (and women) of today who say they speak for Jesus, are lying to you. They mock God, and if they do not repent and call upon Jesus to save their souls, they will spend eternity in hell. There may be even some who are Christians, but are out of God’s will. Their soul is secure, but they are inviting the Father to take them out to the woodshed, and they will have no reward in heaven.

Folks, just because these false teachers may look nice, wear nice clothes, have the “churchy” smile, provide beautiful music, pray, and maybe even produce a tear now and then, does not mean they are of God. Their father is Satan.

Jesus says of them, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not” (John 8:44-45).

The Pharisees, Sadducees, false prophets, scribes and hypocrites of yesterday are the false teachers of today. They will lead you away from God, not toward Him. Beware of another gospel.

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel–not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ” (Galatians 1:6-10, ESV).

Grant Phillips

Email grantphillips@windstream.net

http://www.raptureready.com/featured/phillips/phillips205.html

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

Posted: July 19, 2013 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God’s help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ’s sake.

Remember to read over these Resolutions once a week.

Overall Life Mission1

1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.

2. Resolved, to be continually endeavoring to find out some new invention and contrivance to promote the aforementioned things.

3. Resolved, if ever I shall fall and grow dull, so as to neglect to keep any part of these Resolutions, to repent of all I can remember, when I come to myself again.

4. Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it.

6. Resolved, to live with all my might, while I do live.

22. Resolved, to endeavor to obtain for myself as much happiness, in the other world, as I possibly can, with all the power; might, vigor, and vehemence, yea violence, I am capable of, or can bring myself to exert, in any way that can be thought of.

62. Resolved, never to do anything but duty; and then according to Eph. 6:6-8, do it willingly and cheerfully as unto the Lord, and not to man; “knowing that whatever good thing any man doth, the same shall he receive of the Lord.” June 25 and July 13, 1723.

Good Works

11. Resolved, when I think of any theorem in divinity to be solved, immediately to do what I can towards solving it, if circumstances don’t hinder.

13. Resolved, to be endeavoring to find out fit objects of charity and liberality.

69. Resolved, always to do that, which I shall wish I had done when I see others do it. Aug. 11, 1723.

Time Management

5. Resolved, never to lose one moment of time; but improve it the most profitable way I possibly can.

7. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if it were the last hour of my life.

17. Resolved, that I will live so as I shall wish I had done when I come to die.

18. Resolved, to live so at all times, as I think is best in my devout frames, and when I have clearest notions of things of the gospel, and another world.

19. Resolved, never to do anything, which I should be afraid to do, if I expected it would not be above an hour, before I should hear the last trump.

37. Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent, what sin I have committed, and wherein I have denied myself: also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722.

40. Resolved, to inquire every night, before I go to bed, whether I have acted in the best way I possibly could, with respect to eating and drinking. Jan. 7, 1723.

41. Resolved, to ask myself at the end of every day, week, month and year, wherein I could possibly in any respect have done better. Jan. 11, 1723.

50.Resolved, I will act so as I think I shall judge would have been best, and most prudent, when I come into the future world. July 5, 1723.

51.Resolved, that I will act so, in every respect, as I think I shall wish I had done, if I should at last be damned. July 8, 1723.

52. I frequently hear persons in old age say how they would live, if they were to live their lives over again: Resolved, that I will live just so as I can think I shall wish I had done, supposing I live to old age. July 8, 1723.

55. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to act as I can think I should do, if I had already seen the happiness of heaven, and hell torments. July 8, 1723.

61. Resolved, that I will not give way to that listlessness which I find unbends and relaxes my mind from being fully and fixedly set on religion, whatever excuse I may have for it-that what my listlessness inclines me to do, is best to be done, etc. May 21, and July 13, 1723.

Relationships

14. Resolved, never to do anything out of revenge.

15. Resolved, never to suffer the least motions of anger to irrational beings.

16. Resolved, never to speak evil of anyone, so that it shall tend to his dishonor, more or less, upon no account except for some real good.

31. Resolved, never to say anything at all against anybody, but when it is perfectly agreeable to the highest degree of Christian honor, and of love to mankind, agreeable to the lowest humility, and sense of my own faults and failings, and agreeable to the golden rule; often, when I have said anything against anyone, to bring it to, and try it strictly by the test of this Resolution.

33. Resolved, always to do what I can towards making, maintaining, establishing and preserving peace, when it can be without over-balancing detriment in other respects. Dec. 26, 1722.

34. Resolved, in narration’s never to speak anything but the pure and simple verity.

36. Resolved, never to speak evil of any, except I have some particular good call for it. Dec. 19, 1722.

46. Resolved, never to allow the least measure of any fretting uneasiness at my father or mother. Resolved to suffer no effects of it, so much as in the least alteration of speech, or motion of my eve: and to be especially careful of it, with respect to any of our family.

58. Resolved, not only to refrain from an air of dislike, fretfulness, and anger in conversation, but to exhibit an air of love, cheerfulness and benignity. May 27,and July 13, 1723.

59. Resolved, when I am most conscious of provocations to ill nature and anger, that I will strive most to feel and act good-naturedly; yea, at such times, to manifest good nature, though I think that in other respects it would be disadvantageous, and so as would be imprudent at other times. May 12, July 2,and July 13.

66. Resolved, that I will endeavor always to keep a benign aspect, and air of acting and speaking in all places, and in all companies, except it should so happen that duty requires otherwise.

70. Let there be something of benevolence, in all that I speak.

Suffering

9. Resolved, to think much on all occasions of my own dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death.

10. Resolved, when I feel pain, to think of the pains of martyrdom, and of hell.

67. Resolved, after afflictions, to inquire, what I am the better for them, what good I have got by them, and what I might have got by them.

57. Resolved, when I fear misfortunes and adversities, to examine whether ~ have done my duty, and resolve to do it; and let it be just as providence orders it, I will as far as I can, be concerned about nothing but my duty and my sin. June 9, and July 13, 1723.

Character

8. Resolved, to act, in all respects, both speaking and doing, as if nobody had been so vile as I, and as if I had committed the same sins, or had the same infirmities or failings as others; and that I will let the knowledge of their failings promote nothing but shame in myself, and prove only an occasion of my confessing my own sins and misery to God.

12. Resolved, if I take delight in it as a gratification of pride, or vanity, or on any such account, immediately to throw it by.

21. Resolved, never to do anything, which if I should see in another, I should count a just occasion to despise him for, or to think any way the more meanly of him.

32. Resolved, to be strictly and firmly faithful to my trust, that that in Prov. 20:6, “A faithful man who can find?” may not be partly fulfilled in me.

47. Resolved, to endeavor to my utmost to deny whatever is not most agreeable to a good, and universally sweet and benevolent, quiet, peaceable, contented, easy, compassionate, generous, humble, meek, modest, submissive, obliging, diligent and industrious, charitable, even, patient, moderate, forgiving, sincere temper; and to do at all times what such a temper would lead me to. Examine strictly every week, whether I have done so. Sabbath morning. May 5, 1723.

54. Whenever I hear anything spoken in conversation of any person, if I think it would be praiseworthy in me, Resolved to endeavor to imitate it. July 8, 1723.

63. On the supposition, that there never was to be but one individual in the world, at any one time, who was properly a complete Christian, in all respects of a right stamp, having Christianity always shining in its true luster, and appearing excellent and lovely, from whatever part and under whatever character viewed: Resolved, to act just as I would do, if I strove with all my might to be that one, who should live in my time. Jan. 14 and July 3, 1723.

27. Resolved, never willfully to omit anything, except the omission be for the glory of God; and frequently to examine my omissions.

39. Resolved, never to do anything that I so much question the lawfulness of, as that I intend, at the same time, to consider and examine afterwards, whether it be lawful or no; except I as much question the lawfulness of the omission.

20. Resolved, to maintain the strictest temperance in eating and drinking.

Spiritual Life

Assurance

25. Resolved, to examine carefully, and constantly, what that one thing in me is, which causes me in the least to doubt of the love of God; and to direct all my forces against it.

26. Resolved, to cast away such things, as I find do abate my assurance.

48. Resolved, constantly, with the utmost niceness and diligence, and the strictest scrutiny, to be looking into the state of my soul, that I may know whether I have truly an interest in Christ or no; that when I come to die, I may not have any negligence respecting this to repent of. May 26, 1723.

49. Resolved, that this never shall be, if I can help it.

The Scriptures

28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.

Prayer

29. Resolved, never to count that a prayer, nor to let that pass as a prayer, nor that as a petition of a prayer, which is so made, that I cannot hope that God will answer it; nor that as a confession, which I cannot hope God will accept.

64. Resolved, when I find those “groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26), of which the Apostle speaks, and those “breakings of soul for the longing it hath,” of which the Psalmist speaks, Psalm 119:20, that I will promote them to the utmost of my power, and that I will not be wear’, of earnestly endeavoring to vent my desires, nor of the repetitions of such earnestness. July 23, and August 10, 1723.

The Lord’s Day

38. Resolved, never to speak anything that is ridiculous, sportive, or matter of laughter on the Lord’s day. Sabbath evening, Dec. 23, 1722.

Vivification of Righteousness

30. Resolved, to strive to my utmost every week to be brought higher in religion, and to a higher exercise of grace, than I was the week before.

42. Resolved, frequently to renew the dedication of myself to God, which was made at my baptism; which I solemnly renewed, when I was received into the communion of the church; and which I have solemnly re-made this twelfth day of January, 1722-23.

43. Resolved, never henceforward, till I die, to act as if I were any way my own, but entirely and altogether God’s, agreeable to what is to be found in Saturday, January 12, 1723.

44- Resolved, that no other end but religion, shall have any influence at all on any of my actions; and that no action shall be, in the least circumstance, any otherwise than the religious end will carry it. Jan.12, 1723.

45. Resolved, never to allow any pleasure or grief, joy or sorrow, nor any affection at all, nor any degree of affection, nor any circumstance relating to it, but what helps religion. Jan. 12-13, 1723.

Mortification of Sin and Self Examination

23. Resolved, frequently to take some deliberate action, which seems most unlikely to be done, for the glory of God, and trace it back to the original intention, designs and ends of it; and if I find it not to be for God’s glory, to repute it as a breach of the 4th Resolution.

24. Resolved, whenever I do any conspicuously evil action, to trace it back, till I come to the original cause; and then both carefully endeavor to do so no more, and to fight and pray with all my might against the original of it.

35. Resolved, whenever I so much question whether I have done my duty, as that my quiet and calm is thereby disturbed, to set it down, and also how the question was resolved. Dec. 18, 1722.

60. Resolved, whenever my feelings begin to appear in the least out of order, when I am conscious of the least uneasiness within, or the least irregularity without, I will then subject myself to the strictest examination. July 4 and 13, 1723.

68. Resolved, to confess frankly to myself all that which I find in myself, either infirmity or sin; and, if it be what concerns religion, also to confess the whole case to God, and implore needed help. July 23 and August 10, 1723.

56. Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be.

Communion with God

53. Resolved, to improve every opportunity, when I am in the best and happiest frame of mind, to cast and venture my soul on the Lord Jesus Christ, to trust and confide in him, and consecrate myself wholly to him; that from this I may have assurance of my safety, knowing that I confide in my Redeemer. July 8, 1723.

65. Resolved, very much to exercise myself in this all my life long, viz. with the greatest openness I am capable of, to declare my ways to God, and lay open my soul to him: all my sins, temptations, difficulties, sorrows, fears, hopes, desires, and every thing, and every circumstance; according to Dr. Manton’s 27th Sermon on Psalm 119. July 26 and Aug. 10, 1723.

Aug. 17, 1723

So as a Hyper-Calvinist you think you know the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

Posted: July 16, 2013 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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Though there are truths in Calvinism, as a whole it does not completely hold up to the Word of God. The truth is that Calvin did not originally even develop the system, but Augustine of Hyppo (354-430 A.D.) in the fifth century came up with this false idea. Augustine tried in vain to live a celibate life but because of his many sexual and other sins he concluded that man was totally depraved from birth. Since he chose to lead a sinful lifestyle he tried to justify himself by developing a theology to substantiate it.

Below is the true Gospel Jesus preached, Paul preached, Luther preached, Spurgeon preached, Jonathan Edwards preached and a host of other men faithful to the teachings of God’s Holy & Righteous Word.

Jesus said “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up on the last day.” (John 6:44). Many refer to this verse in an effort to support a man-made doctrine which says that only those whom the Lord “calls” in some mystical way can be saved. They will say that this calling is some sort of direct operation of the Spirit. Hyper-Calvinism teaches that man is totally passive and cannot do anything until God zaps him with some special anointing, thereby enabling him to believe. Such an idea is foreign to the scriptures.

Our Lord does draw people to Him, and no one can come to the Lord apart from God’s drawing power. But this is not a matter of God electing to save some of us and condemn others of us arbitrarily. Consider: God wants all to be saved, and the reason some are lost is not because God has unconditionally chosen them to be.

For Whom Does God Desire Salvation?

The good news is that God does not desire anyone to be lost. No one! God is “…patient, not wishing for any to perish.” (II Peter 3:9). God is “compassionate” (Matthew 9:36; Psalm 86:15) God is “…just” (Romans 3:24-26). God is “Sorrowful” that many are lost (Ezekiel 18:23; 31,32; cf. Matthew 23:37). To suggest that man cannot respond to God’s gospel apart from a special anointing or calling that God gives to them that He does not give to all others makes God responsible for the lost being lost. But that does not fit with the Biblical description of God’s character and nature.

God made salvation available to all. Salvation is available for all men, not just a select few. Jesus died for everyone (Hebrews 2:9; John 3:16). God wants all to come to know the truth (I Timothy 2:4). The invitation is open to all, 24 hours a day. There’s no such thing as waiting on God’s “special call.” (Matthew 11:28-30; Revelation 22:17). He has already issued His call, and it has gone out unto the whole world. Any of us can choose to answer it, or not. They have built the high places of Baal to burn their children in the fire as offerings to Baal—something I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind.

With confusing concepts and words that have just enough of a ring of truth and spoken with just enough “authority”, and systematic just enough..yes, this combination takes people right where they are dying to go. To the place where they are special and smarter than everyone else who foolishly think that what they see is actually what is real. And the really ironic part is that this kind of thinking is actually accomplished with doctrines like “total depravity”. Have you noticed the level of arrogance displayed by those adhering to this as reformed doctrine? Luther was the father of the reformation, and he did not teach this part of the reformed theology.

They speak to you like you are a child; or worse, rebuke your “heresy” or block you from their blogs altogether. As if somehow depravity doesn’t apply to them…as if, for some reason THEY are exempt from the depravity of the mind, and that through the mine-laden obstacle course of TULIP they have come out the other side with understanding. Which, of course, is completely contradictory to their doctrine, which categorically declares that men can know nothing at all. There is no human agency capable of understanding GOOD; which is to say TRUTH.

The Doctrine of Christ is the true doctrine for the Christian, upon which all other doctrines must be weighed. Although men have brought to light some truths in the Word, they have also in some instances such as such as this aspect of Calvinism.

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