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We must follow God and not man as to how we do Church

Posted: March 6, 2024 in Kingdom Teaching, Remnant, Spiritual warfare
Tags: bible, Bride of Christ, Christian life, christianity, disciples, faith, God, Kingdom teaching, Spirit led life, truth

Welcome to our exploration of the profound meaning of 1 John 2:19 and its implications for how we approach Church. In this section, we will delve into the biblical interpretation of this verse and discuss the importance of following God’s will rather than human agendas when it comes to our faith community.

Key Takeaways:

1 John 2:19 reveals that there are those who were never meant to be with us in our fellowship.
This verse invites us to critically assess and discern false teachings and false prophets.
We should prioritize following God’s will and aligning ourselves with His truth, rather than being swayed by human influence.
Understanding the implications of 1 John 2:19 can help us cultivate authentic faith communities and overcome divisions.
By nurturing discernment and wisdom, we can safeguard ourselves and our fellow believers from falling into false teachings.

Understanding 1 John 2:19

In order to gain a deeper understanding of the biblical meaning of 1 John 2:19, it is crucial to carefully examine the specific words and context of this verse. This will provide us with insights into the implications of false prophets and the fulfillment of biblical prophecies.

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.”

This verse clearly highlights the presence of false prophets who may have initially been part of the community but eventually departed. The phrase “they went out from us” indicates that these individuals were once among the believers but were never truly aligned with the genuine teachings and spirit of Christ.

When we analyze the expression “they were not of us,” it becomes evident that these false prophets did not share the true faith and were not genuine members of the community. They may have presented themselves as part of the fellowship, but their departure reveals their true colors.

Furthermore, 1 John 2:19 conveys the idea that the departure of these false prophets serves a greater purpose in the divine plan. It states, “But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” This suggests that their departure serves as a means to expose their false motives and teachings, ultimately revealing the authenticity of the genuine believers who remain.

This verse also emphasizes the fulfillment of biblical prophecies regarding the presence of false prophets and their eventual exposure. It echoes the warnings of Jesus in Matthew 7:15-16, where he cautions about false prophets and instructs us to be discerning in recognizing them by their fruits.

Thus, by understanding the specific words and context of 1 John 2:19, we gain valuable insights into the biblical meaning of this verse and its relevance in identifying false prophets and the fulfillment of divine prophecies.

Key Points	Implications
False prophets departed from the community	They were never truly aligned with the genuine teachings of Christ
Their departure serves a purpose in divine plan	Exposes their false motives and teachings
1 John 2:19 aligns with Jesus’ warnings about false prophets	Reveals the importance of discernment in recognizing false prophets

The Role of Predestination in 1 John 2:19

In this section, we will explore the concept of predestination and its connection to 1 John 2:19. Understanding the role of predestination in this verse is essential to grasp the profound nature of God’s sovereign plan and the fulfillment of His promises.

Predestination is a biblical principle that suggests God has predetermined certain events and destinies according to His divine plan. It is a topic that raises questions and invites contemplation, particularly when it intersects with verses like 1 John 2:19. To better comprehend the significance of predestination in this context, let us examine this verse and its implications.

“They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” – 1 John 2:19 (NIV)

This verse highlights the departure of certain individuals who, despite being part of the community of believers, ultimately revealed that they were not truly aligned with the teachings and convictions of the group. While it may appear as a straightforward observation, a deeper analysis reveals the theological concept of predestination.

When we consider the idea that those who departed were never truly meant to be in fellowship with the believers, it raises the question of God’s predestined plan. The verse suggests that their departure from the community was not accidental, but rather a manifestation of their true nature.

Within the framework of predestination, this verse implies that some individuals were never destined to be a part of the faithful community. Their departure serves as evidence of this predetermined outcome. This understanding aligns with the broader biblical narrative that speaks of God’s sovereignty and His fulfillment of prophetic promises.

By recognizing the role of predestination in 1 John 2:19, we gain insight into God’s divine plan and how it involves the formation and refinement of His faithful community. It highlights the importance of discernment and staying true to the teachings of Christ, as those who truly belong will remain while others may fall away.

Key Takeaways:

Predestination is a biblical concept that implies God’s predetermined plan for certain events and destinies.
1 John 2:19 suggests that some individuals who departed from the community of believers were never meant to be a part of it.
Understanding predestination in this verse reinforces the idea of God’s sovereign plan and the fulfillment of His promises.
Discernment and adherence to the teachings of Christ are essential in identifying those who truly belong to the faithful community.

Discerning True Fellowship

1 John 2:19 offers invaluable guidance when it comes to discerning true fellowship within the Church. This verse helps us identify individuals who may be false prophets or not genuinely aligned with the teachings of Christ. By understanding the significance of this verse, we can navigate the complexities of spiritual discernment with wisdom and clarity.

The Impact of False Prophets

False prophets have existed throughout history, and their influence continues to present challenges within the Church. These individuals may claim to speak on behalf of God, but their teachings and actions contradict the truth found in the Bible. They may deceive and mislead others, leading them away from the path of righteousness.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” – Matthew 7:15

False prophets can cause divisions, confusion, and harm to the spiritual well-being of believers. Their deceptive practices pose a threat to the unity and authenticity of the Church. It is essential, therefore, to discern true fellowship and identify those who may be false prophets according to the teachings of Scripture.

Never Meant to Be with Us

1 John 2:19 provides a powerful reminder that those who depart from the teachings of Christ were never genuinely meant to be with us, the true followers of Jesus. This verse states:

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” – 1 John 2:19

This verse emphasizes the distinction between those who are true believers and those who merely associate themselves with the Church for the wrong reasons. It helps us recognize that genuine fellowship is built upon a firm foundation of faith in Christ and adherence to His teachings.

Discernment and Wisdom

Discernment plays a vital role in identifying false prophets and discerning true fellowship within the Church. By immersing ourselves in the Word of God and seeking wisdom from the Holy Spirit, we can develop the discernment necessary to differentiate authentic believers from those who may be false prophets.

It is crucial to remember that discernment is not about judging others, but rather about safeguarding the integrity of the Church and protecting ourselves from spiritual deception. By cultivating discernment and seeking God’s wisdom, we can foster a community of genuine believers who are united in their faith and work together to further God’s kingdom.

Avoiding Spiritual Deception

1 John 4:1 instructs us to test the spirits to discern whether they are from God, highlighting the importance of discernment in our spiritual journey:

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” – 1 John 4:1

By relying on the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit, studying the Scriptures diligently, and seeking accountability within our faith communities, we can guard ourselves against false teachings and spiritual deception.

Identifying True Fellowship

True fellowship encompasses more than simply attending Church gatherings or belonging to a religious community. It is about aligning ourselves with believers who share a genuine commitment to living out the teachings of Jesus and growing together in faith.

Characteristics of True Fellowship:

Love for one another: True fellowship is marked by genuine love and care for fellow believers.
Alignment with Scripture: True fellowship is founded on a shared commitment to the truths of the Bible and the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Accountability and growth: True fellowship encourages mutual accountability, growth, and edification in the faith.
Unity in purpose: True fellowship involves coming together for the purpose of advancing God’s kingdom and sharing the Gospel.

Identifying False Prophets	Characteristics of True Believers
1. Promote teachings that contradict Scripture	1. Align their beliefs and actions with the teachings of Jesus and the Bible
2. Display self-centered motives and agendas	2. Demonstrate selflessness and humility in their interactions
3. Do not produce genuine spiritual fruit	3. Exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control
4. Cause division and strife within the Church	4. Seek unity, reconciliation, and harmony among believers

By discerning true fellowship and identifying false prophets, we can safeguard the authenticity and integrity of our faith communities. Let us strive to build relationships rooted in the teachings of Jesus, growing together in genuine fellowship, and advancing God’s purposes in unity and love.

Applying 1 John 2:19 to Church Practices

In this section, we will explore practical ways to apply the teachings of 1 John 2:19 in our Church practices. By understanding the interpretation of this verse, we can discern false teachings and ensure true alignment with God’s will in our fellowship.

Discerning False Teachings

One crucial aspect of applying 1 John 2:19 to our Church practices is the ability to discern false teachings. In today’s world, there are many voices competing for our attention, claiming to represent the truth. However, not all teachings align with the teachings of Christ.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” – 1 John 4:1

By testing the spirits and comparing teachings to the Word of God, we can identify false prophets and avoid being led astray. Prayer, study of Scripture, and seeking guidance from trusted spiritual leaders can help us develop the discernment needed to navigate the complexities of false teachings.

Aligning with God’s Will

Another crucial aspect of applying 1 John 2:19 to our Church practices is ensuring true alignment with God’s will. It is easy for human agendas and personal preferences to overshadow God’s purpose for His Church. To avoid this, we must constantly evaluate our actions and decisions, making sure they align with the teachings and principles of Scripture.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6

Through prayer, seeking wisdom, and relying on the Holy Spirit, we can prioritize God’s will in our Church practices. It requires humility, a willingness to surrender our own desires, and a deep trust in God’s guidance.

Nurturing Authentic Fellowship

Finally, applying 1 John 2:19 to our Church practices means nurturing authentic fellowship built on the foundation of God’s truth. This verse reminds us that not everyone who claims to be part of our community truly belongs.

Click here to view the Book “The Father’s House”

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” – 1 John 2:19

By fostering an environment grounded in genuine fellowship, love, and accountability, we can create a space where true believers thrive and where false teachings find no fertile ground. Building relationships based on mutual support, biblical truth, and shared faith encourages spiritual growth and helps us stay grounded in God’s purposes.

Table: Practical Steps to Apply 1 John 2:19 to Church Practices

Steps	Description
1. Prioritize prayer and study of Scripture	Commit to regular prayer and study of God’s Word to deepen spiritual discernment and understanding.
2. Seek guidance from trusted spiritual leaders	Consult with trusted pastors, mentors, or spiritual leaders for guidance and accountability.
3. Evaluate teachings against the teachings of Scripture	Compare teachings and messages being shared in the Church to the truths found in the Bible.
4. Cultivate a culture of humility and surrender	Encourage an environment where personal agendas are set aside in favor of God’s will.
5. Foster genuine fellowship and accountability	Build relationships based on authentic fellowship, love, and mutual accountability.

The Dangers of Human Manipulation

In our journey of following God and His will, it is crucial to be aware of the dangers that human manipulation can pose to our Church practices. When we allow human agendas to overshadow God’s plan, we risk deviating from His teachings and straying from the path of truth. This danger is aptly expressed in the biblical meaning of 1 John 2:19.

According to 1 John 2:19, there are those who were “never meant to be with us.” This verse serves as a reminder that not everyone who claims to be part of the Christian community truly aligns with the teachings of Christ. It highlights the existence of false prophets and individuals who manipulate the truth for their own gain.

The consequences of succumbing to human manipulation within the Church can be far-reaching. It can lead to the misinterpretation of Scripture, the promotion of false doctrines, and the disruption of genuine fellowship. Moreover, it can hinder the growth of believers and impede the manifestation of God’s purposes in our lives.

As we navigate the complexities of Church practices, it is essential to remember that our focus should always be on God and His truth. By remaining rooted in the Word of God and guided by the Holy Spirit, we can discern false teachings and overcome the dangers of human manipulation.

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.” – Matthew 7:15

Jesus Himself warned us about false prophets, indicating the significance of discernment in our faith journey. The biblical meaning of 1 John 2:19 serves as a constant reminder to stay vigilant and steadfast in the face of human manipulation within the Church.

In conclusion, by recognizing the dangers of human manipulation and striving to stay aligned with God’s will and teachings, we can safeguard the authenticity of our faith and ensure the growth of genuine fellowship within our communities.

Nurturing Authentic Faith Communities

In our pursuit of a vibrant and thriving church, it is essential to nurture authentic faith communities that align with the teachings of 1 John 2:19. This verse holds profound insights into who was never meant to be with us, guiding our understanding of fellowship and unity in Christ.

Genuine fellowship plays a pivotal role in fostering an authentic faith community. It goes beyond superficial connections and enables believers to support, encourage, and challenge one another in their spiritual journeys. When we embrace genuine fellowship, we create an environment where individuals can grow in their faith, share their struggles, and experience the transformative power of Christ’s love.

“By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” – John 13:35

In our pursuit of unity, it is essential to prioritize values and principles that align with 1 John 2:19. This verse warns us against embracing false ideologies and individuals who deviate from the teachings of Christ. As we cultivate authentic faith communities, it is crucial to discern the authenticity of our leaders, teachings, and practices, ensuring they are rooted in biblical truth.

Cultivating an Authentic Church Culture

To foster an authentic faith community, we can implement the following practices:

Teach Biblical Discernment: Equip believers with the knowledge and tools to discern false teachings and distinguish them from God’s truth. Invest in biblical education, small group discussions, and discipleship programs that prioritize the accurate interpretation of Scripture and its practical application in daily life.
Encourage Vulnerability: Create space within the church for transparency and vulnerability, where people can share their doubts, struggles, and victories. Facilitate small groups, mentorship programs, and counseling services that promote emotional and spiritual well-being.
Emphasize Servant Leadership: Cultivate a culture of servant leadership, where leaders prioritize humility, integrity, and selflessness. Encourage leaders to exemplify Christ’s servant-heartedness, leading by example and empowering others to use their gifts for the glory of God.
Foster Authentic Worship: Create an atmosphere of genuine worship that enables individuals to connect with God on a deep and personal level. Focus on Christ-centered worship that invites the Holy Spirit’s presence and encourages heartfelt expression of praise and adoration.

By implementing these practices, we can create a nurturing environment where individuals can experience authentic fellowship, grow in their faith, and impact their communities with the love of Christ.

Benefits of Nurturing Authentic Faith Communities	How It Impacts the Church
Genuine spiritual growth: A nurturing environment encourages believers to deepen their understanding of Scripture, develop a personal relationship with God, and grow in their faith.	A vibrant and thriving church: Authentic faith communities lead to a church that is vibrant, united, and actively living out the Gospel. This inspires others to join and experience the transformative power of Christ.
Healthy relationships: Authentic faith communities provide opportunities for meaningful connections and friendships based on mutual support, care, and encouragement.	Unity and harmony: When believers experience authentic fellowship, it fosters unity within the church, breaking down barriers of division and promoting harmony.
Impactful witness: Nurturing authentic faith communities equips believers to effectively share their faith, extending the love of Christ to others and making a positive impact in their communities.	Relevance in society: Authentic faith communities demonstrate the relevance of the Gospel in today’s world, attracting those who are searching for genuine relationships and answers to life’s questions.

Overcoming Divisions and Conflict

In our journey of faith, conflicts, and divisions often arise within the Church. However, understanding 1 John 2:19 can provide us with valuable insights on how to navigate these challenges. By focusing on God’s truth and unity, rather than personal agendas, we can overcome the divisions that threaten to weaken our communities.

1 John 2:19 states, “They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.” This verse sheds light on the fact that not everyone who claims to be a part of the Church truly aligns with God’s will.

When conflicts arise, it is important to discern whether the source of division is rooted in God’s truth or in personal opinions and desires. By seeking wisdom and guidance from Scripture and prayer, we can distinguish between genuine disagreements and divisive attitudes that threaten the unity of the Church.

Instead of allowing conflicts to escalate, we must actively work towards reconciliation and unity. Jesus prayed for unity among His followers in John 17:21, saying, “that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” When we prioritize unity, we bear witness to the love of Christ and present a powerful testimony to the world.

Overcoming divisions and conflict requires humility, forgiveness, and a commitment to the truth. By setting aside personal agendas and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can find common ground and work towards reconciliation. As the apostle Paul exhorts in Ephesians 4:3, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”

Let us strive to foster an environment where love, understanding, and respect flourish. By embracing God’s truth and pursuing unity, we can overcome divisions, heal wounds, and build a stronger, more vibrant Church.

Cultivating Discernment and Wisdom

In our journey of faith, it is essential to cultivate discernment and wisdom, especially in light of 1 John 2:19. This verse reminds us that there will always be false prophets who were never meant to be with us. Therefore, it becomes crucial to be rooted in Scripture and guided by the Holy Spirit to protect ourselves from their misleading teachings.

The Bible offers valuable guidance and insights to help us develop discernment and wisdom. By studying and meditating on God’s Word, we gain a deeper understanding of His truth and can distinguish between genuine and false teachings. The Scriptures provide a solid foundation upon which we can build our discernment.

My book “Warrior’s Arsenal dives into the scriptures regarding the gifts of discernment that every believer has, along with how to activate them and the power the gift contains in discerning between what is of the Kingdom and what is not.

Click here to view the Book Warriors Arsenal

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1)

This passage from 1 John serves as a reminder that we should not blindly accept everything that we hear but rather test the spirits to determine if they align with God’s Word. It encourages us to exercise discernment and evaluate teachings, ensuring they are in line with the teachings of Jesus.

Moreover, cultivating wisdom involves seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit serves as our counselor and guide, providing us with wisdom and discernment as we navigate the complexities of life and faith. By inviting the Holy Spirit into our hearts and relying on His guidance, we open ourselves up to a deeper understanding of God’s truth and can discern His will for our lives.

As we cultivate discernment and wisdom, we must also rely on the support and accountability of our faith communities. Surrounding ourselves with fellow believers who are grounded in Scripture can help sharpen our discernment and provide valuable insights. Through prayer, fellowship, and the sharing of wisdom, we can grow together in our understanding of God’s truth.

Practical Steps for Cultivating Discernment and Wisdom:

Regularly read and study the Bible, searching for God’s wisdom and truth.
Pray for discernment and wisdom, inviting the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and actions.
Engage in meaningful discussions and fellowship with fellow believers, seeking their insights and perspectives.
Attend Bible study groups or join a discipleship program to deepen your understanding of Scripture.
Seek mentorship from mature believers who can offer wisdom and guidance in your spiritual journey.

Cultivating discernment and wisdom is an ongoing process that requires dedication, prayer, and a commitment to growing in our knowledge of God’s Word. By doing so, we can guard ourselves against false teachings and navigate the complexities of our faith with confidence and conviction.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our exploration of 1 John 2:19 has provided a deeper understanding of who was never meant to be with us in the context of the Church. We have emphasized the importance of prioritizing God’s will over human agendas, recognizing the significance of discerning true fellowship, and nurturing authentic faith communities.

By applying the teachings of 1 John 2:19, we can overcome divisions and conflicts within the Church, cultivate discernment and wisdom, and ultimately strengthen our relationship with God. It is essential for us to stay rooted in Scripture and guided by the Holy Spirit in order to protect ourselves from false teachings and manipulation.

As followers of Christ, let us strive to uphold the truths revealed in 1 John 2:19. By doing so, we can foster unity, authenticity, and spiritual growth within our Church communities. May our pursuit of God’s will lead us to a deeper understanding of His love and grace.

FAQ

What does 1 John 2:19 mean?

1 John 2:19 states, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.” This verse emphasizes the distinction between true believers and those who may appear to be part of the Christian community but eventually reveal that they were never truly committed to Christ. It serves as a reminder to discern the authenticity of one’s faith and the importance of remaining faithful to God.

How can we interpret 1 John 2:19 in light of false prophets?

1 John 2:19 warns against the influence of false prophets or those who twist the teachings of Christ. The verse suggests that these individuals may enter Christian communities, but their departure exposes their lack of genuine belief. It is crucial for believers to exercise discernment and to be cautious of false teachings, ensuring they remain steadfast in the true teachings of Jesus.

Does 1 John 2:19 refer to the fulfillment of biblical prophecies?

While 1 John 2:19 does not explicitly refer to the fulfillment of biblical prophecies, it emphasizes the fulfillment of the prophecy that some individuals would depart from the Christian community. This departure illustrates the accuracy of biblical prophecies regarding the presence of false prophets and those who do not truly belong to the body of Christ.

How can 1 John 2:19 help us identify false teachings within the Church?

1 John 2:19 assists believers in discerning false teachings by highlighting the distinction between true believers and those who merely appear to be part of the Christian community. This verse encourages us to examine the teachings and actions of those who claim to follow Christ. By staying grounded in the truth of God’s Word and being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit, we can identify false teachings and ensure that we align ourselves with authentic, biblically sound doctrine.

How can we apply the teachings of 1 John 2:19 in our Church practices?

To apply the teachings of 1 John 2:19 in our Church practices, we must prioritize discernment and fidelity to biblical truth. It involves carefully vetting leaders and teachings, and being aware of any signs of false teachings or questionable motives. Additionally, fostering a sense of community and accountability can help ensure that individuals who do not truly belong to the body of Christ are not accepted as part of the fellowship.

What are the dangers of allowing human manipulation in our Church practices?

Allowing human manipulation into our Church practices can lead to a deviation from God’s will and the teachings of Scripture. It opens the door for false teachings and individuals who may not have the best interests of the Church at heart. This can result in division, confusion, and a departure from the true essence of Christianity. By remaining steadfast in following God and His Word, we can safeguard the integrity of our faith communities.

How can we foster authentic faith communities in accordance with 1 John 2:19?

To nurture authentic faith communities, we must prioritize genuine fellowship and unity in Christ. This involves valuing each member’s unique contribution, cultivating an atmosphere of love and acceptance, and encouraging one another in the faith. By letting go of personal agendas and focusing on God’s truth and will, we can develop vibrant faith communities that reflect the teachings of 1 John 2:19.

How can understanding 1 John 2:19 help us overcome divisions and conflict in the Church?

Understanding 1 John 2:19 helps us overcome divisions and conflict in the Church by reminding us to prioritize God’s truth and unity over personal agendas. It allows us to discern false teachings and actions that may contribute to division. By focusing on the common foundation of our faith and maintaining open dialogue, we can work toward resolution and foster unity in the body of Christ.

How can we cultivate discernment and wisdom in light of 1 John 2:19?

Cultivating discernment and wisdom in light of 1 John 2:19 requires being rooted in Scripture and seeking guidance from the Holy Spirit. By immersing ourselves in God’s Word and spending time in prayer, we can develop a deeper understanding of His truth. This enables us to discern false teachings, counterfeit spirituality, and individuals who may not truly belong to the body of Christ.

Russ G. Welch is an author and pastor, who is currently shepherding a local Congregation in Jacksonville Florida. He and his wife, Emelie Welch, co-founded Remnant Warrior Ministries.

Time to come out of the religious harlot

Posted: August 17, 2023 in Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, Remnant, wilderness
Tags: disciples, kingdom growth, Kingdom teaching, Prophetic Warning, Spirit led life

“The Remnant knows that it is not pleasing to the Father when people attempt to “do” Church in a style that is pleasing to Him. For it is only when His sons & daughters live out the revelation of “being” His Church that His heart is moved” #SELAH

In the years that followed the pagan emperor Constantine’s establishment of the Roman Catholic Church, they brutally overtook the “The Way”, that is, those dedicated and faithful followers of Christ’s teachings as passed down from His Apostles.

Thus they placed the narrow path of being the Lord’s disciples into a blurred maze of religious doctrines. We need to realize this truth for the reality is that although the protestant Church has tried, they are still deeply settled in the Romanization of the Church.

Luther never desired to not be a Roman Catholic. However he was booted out (excommunicated), but his desire to remain in their rituals and traditions was clearly transferred over to the Protestant Church, with a basic change in terms, names, and titles. And with the continued practicing of pretty much of the same religious ritual practices, it is clear that they are still steeped in the confines of religious doctrines.

Nonetheless, because of the unwillingness to totally become separated from Catholicism, the leadership of the modern-day Church remained removed from the governing authority of Holy Spirit and continued to be placed in the hands of men (especially those who adhere to and remain entrenched in the doctrinal teachings of Western theological Christianity).

But that is all about to radically change, as Holy Spirit is currently moving Heaven and Earth as He re-establish His Government in and over the Lord’s Ekklesia. He is doing so with the help of His Angel army in unison with the LORD’s remnant in this generation who have commissioned and Spiritually empowered to expose and tear down the walls of religion that have been keeping the Lord’s children in the dark.

~WindWalker

What happened to reaching the least of these?

Posted: March 10, 2023 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic
Tags: Bride of Christ, disciples, discipleship, Kingdom teaching, radical christianity, radical disciples

Then the King will turn to those on his right and say, ‘You have a special place in my Father’s heart. Come and experience the full inheritance of the kingdom realm that has been destined for you from before the foundation of the world! For when you saw me hungry, you fed me. When you found me thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I had no place to stay, you invited me in, and when I was poorly clothed, you covered me. When I was sick, you tenderly cared for me, and when I was in prison you visited me.’ “Then the godly will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty and give you food and something to drink? When did we see you with no place to stay and invite you in? When did we see you poorly clothed and cover you? When did we see you sick and tenderly care for you, or in prison and visit you?’ “And the King will answer them, ‘Don’t you know? When you cared for one of the least important of these my little ones, my true brothers and sisters, you demonstrated love for me.’ (Matthew 25:34-40 TPT)

I will stay away from the political side of the debate and stay within my sphere of representing the Kingdom. When I look out at the homeless issue in this nation and see the amount of United States veterans living on the streets not only does my heart break, I hear the cry of Heaven as well, and this isn’t dismissing the totality of the homeless crisis in this nation. However, to be the America we were born to be and not do more for the men and women who sacrificially put their lives on the line for this nation is a crime in and of itself. Then to see so many governmental officials throwing more and more money at those individuals who have “Illegally” entered this country should be an indictment to see them removed from office.

Yet, from the Kingdom perspective, has the “Church” truly done her part, or has she in the cover of darkness placed the responsibility given to her by the Lord over to the government of this world?

Then to hear celebrity pastors who continue to increase the franchised religious clubhouse across this city bragging about how much they have spent on sound systems and other items to attract and entertain the masses causes me to incision the Lord with whip in hand turning over the tables.

The sad part is this is going on across the nation with a rise in user-friendly Church models that make the leaders multi-millionaires while leaving the members of their congregations impoverished regarding the unadulterated Gospel.

It is why I am excited to see where the Lord is taking the family at Highway To Heaven this year regarding our own location. There was a time that we would meet, make sandwiches, pray, and then hit the streets to minister to the homeless community in this city.

As well we would have cookouts at the Church and feed them for free, Always sharing the Gospel with them and doing everything possible to get them off the streets.

With the millions being spent on just maintaining the mega Churches in this City, that money could have been used to buy property 25 plus acres, build a discipleship community to house, disciples and grow enough food for hundred, plus have a storehouse of natural food to share with the Christian community in this city and region.

Along with that I believe by discipling these individuals on a farm, with livestock and agriculture, the Gospel would come to life and we would then see Mountain-Moving Disciples being raised up. Such would be those who would be the radical disciples of Christ going back to the streets to witness and pull more from the throngs of death, and begin discipling them as sons and daughters of God.

The Lord gave me this vision with the name of “New Creation Ranch” and I am believing this to be the year to break ground. With the plan the Lord gave me, within 3 years the community would be completely self-supported.

But in the meantime, I am praying for a Holy Conviction to fall upon the religious leaders in this city and region to stop playing religion and begin to transform this area, and truly lead by example of “Loving the least of these”.

~Wind Walker

www.mightyarmmin.org/new-creation-ranch

A different kind of discipleship

Posted: October 29, 2021 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
Tags: Christian life, disciples, discipleship, Kingdom living, Kingdom teaching, radical disciples

“He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

There are two Universal Spiritual Principles found in John 3:30 that express two very fundamental truths.

First, that Christ must increase.

This is a principle that most Christians can agree with.

Are there any Christians who do not desire more of the Lord?

Are there any believers who do not long for a greater expression and revelation of Christ – in their personal walk, as well as in the world around them?

It is easy to align ourselves with this principle and pray in agreement with God’s Will – that Christ would be increased, and that the knowledge of Him would continue to grow and expand.

What is more difficult to affirm is the decrease of Self.

Yet this principle is as powerful and as sure as the first.

With more of Christ, there is less of me.

With more of me, there is less of Him.

And so, in order to cooperate with the first principle, we must overcome the “but” that stands between the two. “He must increase, but…”

Something hinders.

What gets it the way?

What prevents the increase of Christ?

It is me – or more accurately, the “I”, or the “Self” keeps getting in the way. And so, “I must decrease.”

The Disciple’s Journey

The Self-Life resists the Christ-Life.

The Holy Spirit seeks to increase Christ, while the human spirit seeks to increase Self.

We can have either one, but we cannot have both.

As Christ is increased, Self is decreased.

As Self is increased, Christ is decreased.

We begin our journey through life in a self-centered existence instead of a Christ-centered existence.

This is why we must be “born again.”

To be born again is to interrupt the self-centered pattern of our lives and open us up to the possibility of taking a different route and living a different life – a life that is Christ-centered instead of Self-centered.

Until this happens, it is impossible to love God and love our neighbor.

These two great commands are impossible to those who maintain a healthy connection to their Self-Life.

Loving others is impossible for ones who mostly love themselves.

This is the way of the world.

The way of a disciple of Jesus is a different way.

It is a way that cuts at the heart of self-love by making it possible for us to rise above Self-centeredness through Christ-centeredness.

Jesus describes it as a difficult, narrow way that few find.

Why is it so difficult? Because it strikes to the very core of who and what we are.

Even our very desire to follow Jesus can be self-centered.

Of course, we want to serve God; but we also hope to get a little something for ourselves.

Many people are drawn to the Lord with mixed motivations.

For example, the promise of a home in heaven is very appealing, as is avoiding the fires of hell.

But the Self-life is revealed in these subtle expressions that often appear spiritual and religious.

To follow Jesus for nothing other than the love of Jesus is the way of the disciple.

It is true that many follow Him imperfectly, and do so for many different reasons that they cannot fully explain or understand.

Fortunately for us, Jesus does not demand sinless perfection from the ones who follow Him.

His disciples make many mistakes and they often stumble and fall. Nor does Jesus require that we be spiritually mature and perfectly free from our Self-Life before He accepts us as disciples.

Dealing with the Self-Life is part of His discipleship program.

The very act of following Him begins a process that, if followed all the way to the end, results in what I call being reduced to Christ.

What does this mean? It means that when I began to follow the Lord, I may have had all kinds of motivations for doing so, and many of those motivations were self-serving and self-centered.

My very existence was rooted and strengthened by my Self-Life. But as I follow Him, and as He increases, more and more I find my self-centered ways being stripped away.

I find the power of Christ increasing within me, and I also find the power of Self is decreasing. With this process working simultaneously to increase Christ and decrease me, I find my motives are becoming more and more singular.

I am no longer following Jesus for what I hope to get out of it. Even my “mansion in heaven” does not seem so important anymore.

My many needs I find are not as urgent as they once were.

My many questions are not as essential as I once thought they were.

I have fewer questions, and so I require fewer answers.

Where I used to be troubled and vexed and concerned and stressed over “many things” it is becoming easier to focus on the “one thing” that is needed.

Christ is increasing, and everything else is decreasing.

My life, my purpose, my focus, my very existence is being condensed from many paths in pursuit of many things so that I am becoming more and more narrowly focused upon one thing.

Paul expresses it perfectly: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).

The Resolutions of Jonathan Edwards

Posted: July 19, 2013 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
Tags: Christian life, disciples, faith, grace, Jonathan Edwards

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

The End of the Age of Grace Is at Hand

Posted: July 12, 2013 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, wilderness
Tags: Christian life, deception, disciples, Doctrines, eternity, grace

I am not a prophet. In-fact, I do not even have the gift of prophecy. Instead, I am a Christian who reads the news each day, including the prophetic news websites and I consider myself a “watcher on the wall.”

As such, I feel the need to sound the alarm. The signs in the world today all point to the end of the Age of Grace and to the imminent arrival of the Rapture. We are, quite literally, in the very last moments of the opportunity that mankind has to find salvation through repentance of sin and faith in Jesus as the Savior of the world. At this moment eternal life in heaven with Jesus is a free gift. Very soon now that will change. Salvation will still be attainable, but at a very high price.

The vast majority of people seem to feel exceptionally uncomfortable when I mention the word “Rapture.” Perhaps this is because date setters, such as Harold Camping, have all been wrong in the past and have lost all of their credibility. I tend to believe that people today are uncomfortable with any mention of the Rapture and the end of the Age of Grace, because they have a well-founded fear deep in their soul that something really big is about to happen and they know that they are going to be left behind to face a horrible fate of some kind.

There are signs out there that flood us with warnings that the end of the Age of Grace is here. In fact, there are so many signs that it is becoming all but impossible to see the road on which we are traveling. Every person on this planet has been impacted by these signs in one way or another. Let’s take a look at a few of the signs that have occurred recently. Space does not permit me to list them all or to delve very deeply into specifics, but we can certainly look at some of the major signs of the time.

The earth, itself, is groaning. Our weather is nothing less than freakish. It seems that every place that is not experiencing a drought is under water from floods of biblical proportions. Freak hailstorms now seem routine. Dormant volcanoes all over the planet are coming back to life as we see a major up-tick in earthquakes. Tornadoes have become super-sized and almost seem to have a mind of their own at times – a mind that does not seem to like us very much. Wildfires appear much more frequently and also seem to be much more destructive. Natural disasters displaced 32.4 million people in 2012.

Incidents of mass-animal die-offs are averaging more than two per day. Strange, creepy, and very loud sounds are being hard over large areas and nobody has been able to explain them, or even discern the direction they are coming from. The earth’s magnetic poles are moving at an accelerated rate while sinkholes are popping up in diverse places around the world.

Despite so many floods, water is becoming scarce. One-third of the world’s population has limited access to fresh water. Most of the major rivers in the world are experiencing reduced rates of flow. Egypt is ready to go to war with Ethiopia over the Nile. The Colorado River, the High Plains Aquifer, and the entire western half of the United States, are rapidly drying up.

There are many signs in the heavens. Large meteors and fireballs are hitting the earth. Solar flares are unusually intense. Solar and lunar eclipses, complete with blood moons, are occurring and they are occurring on Jewish feast days. Near misses by asteroids now occur on a seemingly regular basis. A huge chunk of space rock recently struck the moon and produced an impact so large it was visible from earth without a telescope. God told us in the first chapter of Genesis that He put the stars, planets, and moon in the heavens as signs for us. Perhaps we should believe Him and look up once in awhile.

The stars remain fixed in their relationship to one another as the planets wander through them, telling a story that is constantly changing (and often difficult to interpret). Later this month the Star of David planetary alignment will occur for the last time leading up to the Tetrad of blood moons that will occur in 2014 – 2015 and will not occur again for another century. What exactly does this mean, or is it just a coincidence?

There is a huge increase in sickeningly evil acts throughout the world, just as Jesus said there would be. I will not list examples here. They are too horrible to think about. How could mankind have become so grotesque in its inhumanity?

Islam has experienced a rabidly intolerant worldwide awakening. Muslims slaughter Christians and Jews for the most seemingly trivial of excuses while demanding that the world accept Sharia law with all of its cruelty. The cruelty of Islam intensifies daily with each new act seemingly more cruel and inhuman than the last.

Christian persecution has increased to the point that Christianity is literally threatened with extinction in many areas of the world. The Vatican just declared that 100,000 people are killed each year for their Christian beliefs. North Korea alone has imprisoned an estimated 70,000 people for being a Christian. The Christian population of the Holy Land is rapidly heading toward extinction, as is the rest of the Middle East as well.

Egypt’s Christians face arson, beatings, and forced conversion among the upheavals. Here at home in the United States an Arizona pastor was just imprisoned for holding a Bible study in his home. He was sentenced to 60 days, plus 3 years probation, plus a $12,180 fine. However, it is not a crime to have an unlimited number of buddies over to watch a football game on TV while drinking as much beer, wine, or hard liquor as one can consume.

Christian fundamentals are crumbling. Upon his confirmation as the new pope,

Francis dedicated his reign to Mary and promised redemption for the “good atheists.” Lutherans have elected their first gay bishop. The Church of Scotland has voted to allow gay ministers. The Church of England has formally given up the fight against gay marriage. In the UK there are more people who believe in aliens than believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The White House has formed a petition to ban teaching creationism and intelligent design in schools. The rising new religion of Chrislam is replacing the one true God with the Islamic god known as Allah. Blasphemy and mocking abound as Hollywood releases two new movies ridiculing the Rapture. Saint Malachy’s pope number 112 has come to power as lightning strikes Saint Peter’s Basilica (twice). Meanwhile a pro-abortion mob chants “God is dead,” and “Hail Satan,” on the steps of the Texas Legislature during a session considering legislation to save unborn children.

Anti-Semitism is increasing across Europe once again, as well as on college campuses around the world.

Homosexuality is not only becoming legalized, but is becoming morally acceptable all over the world. Those who believe it is wrong are accused of being the ones who have the mental disease or defect. Brazil has paved the way for gay marriage. France has become the fourteenth country to legalize gay weddings. Cubans are holding marches to protest “homophobia.” Tel Aviv recently had a turnout of 100,000 for a gay pride parade. In France, mandatory sex education for 6 year olds aims to shift the perception of traditional biological roles.

A former police officer was just arrested in the UK for publicly stating that he believes homosexuality to be a sin. Third-graders introduced President Obama at an LGBT pride event at the White House in June. A Milwaukee school held a “gender-bender” day where boys came dressed as girls, and girls came dressed as boys. A children’s television network has launched a transsexual superhero show. The Boy Scouts of America voted to accept gay youths and then marched in a gay pride parade in Salt Lake City. Not to be out done, over 90 Girl Scouts marched in a gay pride parade in San Francisco.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled against the Defense of Marriage Act, and also ruled in such a manner as to allow gay marriages to resume in California. The bells of our National Cathedral in Washington D.C. rang for joy as celebrations broke out in major cities around the world regarding our Supreme Court’s decision. It would almost seem that our highest court has become the mouthpiece of the homosexual cause.

Our Pentagon held a formal ceremony to celebrate our gay troops, declaring our nation to be a safer place because of them. Oklahoma suffered two F5 tornadoes after proclaiming that their state homosexual pride week would begin at 4 PM on Pentecost. And in Seattle, gay pride participants viciously beat a Christian street preacher.

The rise of sexual perversion defies imagination. The White House marked Mothers Day by celebrating birth control. Recent legislation allows 15-year-old girls to purchase the morning after pill without parental permission or knowledge. The California legislature passed the kindergarten through 12th grade transgender rights bill that allows children to use whatever bathroom, or shower room they identify with.

Wars and rumors of wars seem to be at an all-time fever pitch. Chemical weapons have been used in the Middle East. Syria and Israel are exchanging fire in the Golan Heights while Assad has announced that he is serious about opening a new front against Israel. Conservative reports estimate that 100,000 have been killed so far in Syria’s civil war. The Syrian conflict has spread to Lebanon. Russia has been taking an increasingly active interest in Syria, sending Assad ship killing missiles. Iran has sent 4,000 of their top troops to Syria.

Egypt and Jordan have expelled their ambassadors from Israel. Muslims are turning against Muslims in many places such as Turkey and Syria. Egypt has cut all ties with Syria and closed the embassy in Cairo, and has withdrawn the Egyptian envoy from Damascus because of Hezbollah’s aggression in the Syrian conflict. Australia has abandoned the Golan Heights. Egypt teeters on the brink of civil war after Mohammad Morsi’s overthrow. A recent anti-Muslim Brotherhood protest in Egypt was the largest political event ever in world history. And finally, North Korea continues with its short- range missile tests and threatens nuclear war with the United States.

The economy of the entire world is a house of cards in which the financial system of one bankrupt nation artificially holds up another using imaginary currency that exists only in the electronic memory of world banking computers. Such a Ponzi scheme cannot last forever, and it is nothing short of a supernatural miracle that is has been able to last this long. Taxes on the wealthy in France top 100 percent. Cypress has already confiscated a large chunk of the bank accounts of their wealthy. Suspicious sales of gold have caused the price to plunge. The Eurozone is now in the midst of its longest recession ever.

In Greece 65.5 percent of young people are out of work. In Spain it is 56.4 percent. In Portugal it is 42.5 percent. And in Italy 40.5 percent of young people are out of work. The financial system in Japan is beginning to spin wildly out of control. The dreaded “Hindenburg Omen” appeared in the stock market during the first week of June. Egyptians have never been in such dire economic straits. America’s mortgage rates have just taken their largest jump in 26 years.

Our military is shutting down due to budget cutbacks. We have aircraft carriers sitting in port because we cannot afford to fix them. One-third of our Air Force has been shut down because we cannot afford to continue training. Recent reports to our Congress speak of “rot” in the ranks of our nuclear launch corp. An average of 22 veterans commit suicide each day─as well as an average of more than one active duty soldier each day. Sexual assaults are up 35 percent since 2010. Military members are punished for their Christian beliefs and our president threatens to veto the proposed religious protection clauses now being considered.

Our political system is collapsing. Polls show a growing support for the impeachment of our president over the Benghazi scandal, the IRS scandal, the Fast and Furious scandal, and the Associated Press Scandal. There is a total lack of leadership at the top. While Egypt erupted in chaos, our president went golfing and our Secretary of State took the day off to spend sailing on his private yacht. Neither lifted a finger or said a word to help.

Our nation is on the verge of a moral collapse. At last count 27 NFL players have been arrested since the Super Bowl. Vermont has become the third state to legalize assisted suicide. More Americans are committing suicide now than during the great depression.

I have often said that I do not believe in government conspiracies and yet it is becoming increasingly more difficult to deny their existence. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has purchased well over 2 billion rounds of hollow point ammunition and has another billion, or so, more rounds are on order. The Geneva Convention forbids the use of hollow point bullets in war, so the only possible use of these rounds that are expressly designed to kill (rather than for target practice) is to be used right here at home in the United States.

DHS has also purchased a couple thousand bulletproof checkpoint booths. Why? Even more shocking, DHS has purchased around 2,700 tanks. Please explain to me why DHS needs its own private fleet of tanks (totally separate from what our military has). And to top that, IRS agents are now training with AR-15 fully automatic assault rifles as well as rat-holing away millions of rounds of ammunition. Who does the IRS plan to use these weapons against? Is the IRS going to start collecting taxes from American citizens at gunpoint? Now I can understand why our government has suddenly become so obsessed with the confiscation of all privately owned firearms. It is preparing for an armed conflict against its own citizens.

The Bible tells us that the Antichrist will use the mark of the beast to control the entire worldwide economy and that private transactions will not be possible. The only way the Antichrist will be able to accomplish this will be for him to have a huge database in which he knows virtually everything about everybody. Such a database will require astronomical amounts of storage capability. Does this storage capability exist today? The answer is yes. The United States government currently has data storage facilities in Salt Lake City, Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas and Fort Mead, Maryland that each hold storage capacities in the multiple-yottabyte range.

A yottabyte is the largest named classification to date for data storage. One yottabyte of data typed out in standard type on 8 ½” x 11 paper would be a stack of paper approximately 3 light years tall (16 quadrillion miles). Why does our government need to collect and keep forever so much information? America is fully embracing a police state culture.

Virtually everything that we do is watched, monitored, tracked, or recorded in some way. Our government is monitoring all phone calls, emails, credit card transactions, and Internet activity. The IRS improperly seized ten million medical records. A federal judge has ordered Google to hand over customer data to the FBI without warrants. The NSA and the FBI are collecting all cell phone calls. The front and back of every single piece of mail is photographed and the images are stored. In 2012 there were 160 billion photographs of mail taken and permanently stored by our postal system.

Our government keeps a list of the names of 8 million people it considers to be a threat. Likewise, our government has built a photo recognition database of 120 million American citizens from driver license records. License plate readers mounted on cars have recorded photographs and the location of millions of motor vehicles in the United States. Satellites have taken billions of photographs from space with resolution so precise that documents on the ground can be read. With so much information collected on each and every individual I can see how it would be completely possible to control all financial transactions, both personal and public, with a single biometric mark on either the right hand or forehead.

Israel is God’s chosen people as well as being God’s time clock. I truly believe that we can tell exactly how close we are to the end by watching what is happening in Israel. One huge sign that we are at the end is that Israel has stopped issuing aliya visas. Aliya is the return of Jews to the Promised Land during the last days and it is now another biblical prophecy that has been fulfilled. Israel has struck energy gold in the form of oil and natural gas. Here is the reason that Gog, from the land of Magog, will attack Israel to seize a spoil, which is straight out of Ezekiel 38. Israel is surrounded in exactly the manner described in Ezekiel 38 and Psalm 83.

Let’s look at one little sign from Psalm 83 that nobody ever seems to mention. When Asaph wrote Psalm 83 back in the days of King David, he described one of antagonists of Israel as the “Tents of the Edomites.” There has been a lot of blending and mixing over the past 3,000 years (plus or minus), but the Edomites can be traced back to the people who now identify themselves as the Palestinians. Now ask yourself, who lives in tents? The answer, of course would be a people who do not have a nation of their own, just like the Palestinians of today. I would say that Asaph certainly had a clear vision of the current political situation of today.

The political situation in the Middle East is very fluid. It is constantly changing. At this very moment everything is lined up exactly as the Bible says it will be during the last of the last days and it will not remain this way for very long. Therefore, I expect the end of the Age of Grace to occur extremely soon.

Other signs of the end of the Age of Grace would include the specter of the black horse of the Apocalypse that now looms on the horizon. World food sources are being attacked on every front and we are just one disaster away from mass starvation. The European commission is attempting to criminalize nearly all seeds and plants that are not registered with the government.

One-third of America’s bees died last winter, aggravating the threat of famine from reduced pollination. Disease is spreading through the continent of Africa destroying entire crops of casaba. Japan and South Korea have banned US wheat out of fear from our genetic modifications. Most of Haiti is malnourished and starving. Syria’s crop destruction from civil war is worsening food shortages. Crops all over the world have been damaged and destroyed by the freakish weather.

Disease and pestilence are two things that are mentions by Jesus in Matthew 24 as signs of the end of the age. The H7N9 bird flu has killed or caused the destruction of millions of birds. The new sex super-bug has been declared worse than AIDS. A flu is rising among pigs in China. Chinese officials have also confirmed that the latest bird flu strain is fatal in one-third of patients.

Singapore is suffering an outbreak of the Dengue fever virus. There has been a huge outbreak of hemorrhagic fever in Argentina. The World Health Organization is warning that the Saudi coronal virus is spreading and the Middle Eastern MERS virus is a threat to the entire world, with mortality rates currently at 65 percent.

The east coast of the United States is being overrun with a plague of cicadas. Israel was hit with a plague of locusts─just days before Passover. Billions of locust eggs have hatched in the Negev Desert. Bosnia has been experiencing a plague of flies. Fully one-third of the world’s food supply is currently destroyed each year by pestilence.

The Bible tells us that one of the signs of the end of the ago will be an increase in knowledge. With an increase in knowledge comes an increase in technology. Currently we are on the brink of creating a computer that not only thinks for itself, but will actually be aware of its own existence. This will be a new form or life created by Man instead of God. In the meantime we have hacked our way far enough past the firewalls of God’s computer to gain access to the DNA codes of life, and we have begun the incredibly dangerous and irresponsibly foolish act of tinkering with them.

The first genetically modified babies have now been born. Scientists have created a living embryo of a formerly extinct frog and have cloned a mouse from a single drop of blood. The UK plans to approve creating babies with DNA from 3 parents. I believe that chapter 6 of Genesis makes it quite clear that tampering with DNA is what made God so angry that He ended the Antediluvian Age, and I believe that tampering with DNA will be a major contributing factor in God’s decision to end the Age of Grace really soon, before any more damage can occur.

In recent weeks the talk of rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem has become surprisingly more serious despite Islamic objections.

The Bible tells us that even the very elect will be deceived in a great deception during the last days. This makes me highly suspicious of the Vatican’s increasing interest in space and alien life. There seems to be a lot of recent evidence to suggest that the Vatican is preparing to announce the existence of alien life and that it is not a violation of Christian (Catholic) dogma. I find it really strange that the Catholic Church owns several state-of-the-art observatories and telescopes, including one with the strange acronym “Lucifer.”

UFO activity has certainly spiked in recent months. About a year ago a UFO was photographed from several angles descending and hovering over the Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount. A UFO was also photographed descending and hovering over the Vatican, and a UFO was recently photographed entering Mexico’s Popocatepetl volcano.

The European Union has taken the Tower of Babel and the woman riding upon the beast as its symbols. I find this a bit unnerving, a bit blasphemous, and very prophetic. Is the European Union daring God to strike it down? Has the challenge been made to God to remove the Restrainer and allow the Tribulation to begin? Is Isaiah 17 on the very verge of fulfillment? Is Isaiah 19 on the very verge of fulfillment as well?

The Bible tells us that during the last days young men will see visions and old men will dream dreams. A lot of people are reporting dreams and visions of the Rapture and Tribulation. Most of these dreams seem to contradict each other as far as specifics, but I have noticed a very marked increase in urgency that seems to tie them together. Something incredibly big is definitely about to happen.

The gift of prophecy is not required in order to sense that something huge is happening right now in preparation for something even more important. When this event occurs it is going to be spectacular beyond our present ability to comprehend. Christians feel the building urgency with either a sense of peace or else a sense of anxiety that comes from a knowledge that they still have issues to be resolved with God and that there is precious little time remaining.

Those who do not believe also sense the urgency of the hour and are angry that there unbelief and present lifestyles are being challenged. The unbelieving are also frantic because they sense that time is running out, just as Satan must be frantic because he knows so little time remains.

Fasten your seatbelt and lovingly remind the person next to you to fasten their seatbelt as well. Then close your eyes and think about this verse, which seems to apply to us now more than ever:

“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).

Carl Worline

http://www.raptureready.com/soap/worline7.html

Do you really know your Father who art in Heaven?

Posted: July 6, 2013 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
Tags: Christian life, disciples, radical love, salvation, Son ship

Many Christians today have never experienced the true intimacy of son-ship in having a relationship with God the Father. There are many who can only relate to God the Father thru the eyes of who their own earthly father was, thus they have a wrong perspective of God. Some may view Him as being a absent God because their own father was never there or left the home when they were a child. Others may view Him as a God of punishment their own earthly father was that way and the list goes on. In this Fathers day message I seek to pull down the barriers that separate so many from the awesome relation with Father God that Jesus Christ has paved the way for all His followers to experience.

A call to a new kind of church for a new culture

Posted: June 22, 2013 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
Tags: Christian life, disciples, discipleship

We’ve all seen the recent developments in our day that just don’t align with the way things used to be. The statistics used to be that more than half of our country consisted of followers of Christ. There used to be a time when we could freely speak about prayer, Jesus or sin without much criticism or debate. Before, in the 70’s, 80’s and even 90’s, the Christian seemed to be the majority. Mega Churches, national days of prayer and para-church organizations led the way, but now we have seen a radical shift in that culture. The United States lived up to the moniker of the “Last Christian nation” back then, but as we can see, we are seeing a great shift into something increasingly more un Christian.

STATE OF THE CULTURE AND IT’S RAPID SHIFT

In this century, church is dying. Less people are going to church now than ever before. More importantly, less people understand and agree with the foundations of scripture and who Jesus is. Young people especially have completely abandoned traditional biblical principles in favor of the new ‘tolerance culture’. This new culture is a pluralistic, therapeutic one that says everything, no matter what, is tolerated and accepted by all, with one exception, Christianity. John Dickerson writes in his book The Great Evangelical recession, that culture is shifting faster than it ever has. If we look back to the 70’s or 80’s or even early 2000’s we will see the most rapid cultural shift our nation has ever seen. In the last 15-20 years, culture has shifted more than it had in the previous 100 years.

Simply looking at the occurrences of our day can help prove this point. Last year, for the first time ever we had a presidential election without an Evangelical Christian as a candidate. At President Obama’s most recent inauguration, evangelical Christians lacked a representative for the first time in the nation’s history. 25 years ago, it is hard to imagine we would see the full-fledged acceptance of things like abortion and homosexuality as we do today. TV shows like Glee and the New Normal are promoting homosexuality. Entire networks like MTV have dedicated their programing to miserable celebrations of sin with shows like 16 and pregnant, the Guy code and Jersey shore. And the most obvious occurrence of all is the suppression of Christians who speak in opposition to any of the above. Christianity is downright hated in today’s culture.

THE CHURCH BUBBLE

Before I venture into the 21st Century Church and how we can better reach todays young people I need to preface with something. Many older people reading this perhaps have something around them I call the “Church Bubble”. Many were raised in the church, serve in the church, all of their friends are part of a church and all of the activities they do are church related. These people have few if any non-Christian friends; they only read Christian media and watch Christian friendly programming. SO when they read the idea that culture is changing, they vehemently disagree. They have no clue what it means that things are changing, and to them, we still are a strong Christian nation. As John Dickerson writes in his book, “You don’t have to talk, work or study outside evangelical circles long to realize that we (Christians) are not possibly that much of the United States population I the 21st century.” I encourage anyone in the Church Bubble to step out and take a look around. For those that spout of a bloated statistic like “75% of the country is Christian,” or “at least 50% of the nation is evangelical”, I would challenge them to reconsider. Do we really believe that if we asked 10 people to come forward in a grocery store in Los Angeles or New York that 7-8 of them would say they are a bible believing Christian? If we were to ask a few sub questions like, “is Jesus the only way to heaven?” “Is there a hell?” “Can you be a good person without Jesus and go to heaven?” or, “Does your sexual orientation matter to God?” Do we really think that even 5 out of 10 people would still align with Christianity? We must look at the sobering facts of reality.

THE SAME OLD CHURCH

Since I work in ministry a little, I hear the calls of some to continue pressing on with what we have been doing the last 30 years, particularly with young people. Many suggest being more and more relational. Some want to abandon teachings of the cross in favor of more worship, games and one-on-one hangouts. Multiple retreats, secular games and vague, vanilla teachings of Jesus are tactics of old. They perhaps worked on the majority of youth in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. When most churches spoke the hard truth of the gospel, these methods were great ways to show the youth that you can relax about Jesus, be informal and not get hardcore every second of every day. But this dynamic has shifted. The majority of our churches have adopted this soft form of church. The vanilla, plain Jesus message coupled with the omission of calling people to repentance has entered our churches in the name of making church non-Christian friendly. Unfortunately, everything in the culture is giving us a plain, relaxed, no pressure way of doing things. Additionally, the culture treats children like adults more now than they every have. Flick on the Disney Channel or MTV to see that. We still want to get 17-year-old boys to stuff marshmallows in their mouth and play board games, instead of dealing with their sexual sin and their call to manhood. Unfortunately, kids aren’t kids anymore. But, as a result they are far more receptive to direct teaching

We cannot assume that the youth of the 70’s and 80’s are the same as the youth of 2013. They are different. They need a different style of church to fit their different personas. If you don’t agree, just look at the numbers of youth walking away from church and never coming back put out by Lifeway, Barna group, Josh McDowell and even secular researchers at UCLA. All of these researchers agree that somewhere in the neighborhood of 70-80% of young evangelicals are leaving church, never to return (Dickerson, The Great Evangelical Recession).

21st CENTURY CHURCH

Today, people lack knowledge of the bible. Many have no clue what the bible says about key issues. They have been fed this watered down Christianity for so long they don’t know who Jesus really is and what the Gospel really says. Take, for example, the number of “evangelicals” who recently affirmed the coming out of the closet of Jason Collins, the NBA player. Or the number of “Christians” who are undecided about a real hell or if Jesus really said he was God. Here are a few key components we will need going forward to assimilate to the 21st century

1. PREACH THE WORD

The art of sharing the true gospel has been lost in our day. We must hold fast to the teachings of scripture, call people to repentance of sin and faith in Jesus. For our youth, this method is extremely effective. I recently took over a young adults group. I changed nothing except I opened the bible and preached the word of God. I told them that God doesn’t like the sins they commit and desires more for them: to be reconciled to Him through Jesus death on the cross. Bang. All that happened is that they went home and came back the next week with more people! The group has grown 10-fold all because God’s word changes people lives. If we back down from preaching it because we are afraid of what people think, then we are in sin. God wants his Word preached.

2. CONTEXTUALIZE OUR CHURCHES

The Apostle Paul said, that we should become all things to all people so that we may save some (1 Corinthians 9). We must do this for this new generation. Older, Godly people should be humble and assimilate their church to what helps people get saved. Our processes and method of church is secondary to people meeting Jesus. I once heard Missiologist Ed Stetzer say, “I am convinced that some churches want to die holding on to their method of church while the region around them goes to hell.”

We must alter our church to fit the 21st century. This does not mean the word of God Changes one bit, but that if we need to become more technologically sound, get a better website, use social media and get more modern décor then we should do it for the sake of the Gospel

3. MAKE DISCIPLES

We need to quit feeding and tending to the same sheep for 20 years and instead make that sheep a co-laborer and a disciple that can go serve the lost. Non-Christians are out there waiting. We often let our ministry turn in on itself. Its time to turn our ministries outward and be instruments for Jesus in his saving work to those outside of our church.

4. LETS PRETEND THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS A SAY

Have we forgotten that God sends the Holy Spirit to save? We are not the salvation police. So why do we soften the message of Jesus to make it easier to swallow? Don’t you remember that the God of the Universe is greater than any culture and any strong spirit? I think it’s time we pretend Jesus is in charge and we do as he asks, to boldly proclaim the gospel in His name. We have shared the gospel for too long. Sharing it worked for a season. But we must return to proclaiming the gospel.

The new church we must present to the lost is not anything spectacular or crazy. What it is is a radical call back to the gospel of Christ. We must boldly share our faith in a way that can be understood by the lost, and we must not be a afraid of the consequences. The criticism of Christianity is as harsh as it’s ever been. let us hold fast to the teaching of Jesus, let the Holy Spirit do his work.

Eddie Williams(Twitter: @realewilliams) is a Christian, a husband and a father, and public speaker, he also leads a ministry as a pastor, called REACH, a young adults ministry at his home church. The 5 year NFL veteran (Cleveland Browns, Seattle, Seahawks) speaks weekly at the ministry and has spoken across the U.S. at high schools, colleges, conferences and ministries about a vairety of topics, including leadership, hea’th and faith. Eddie has been a part of numerous programs for youth, including NFL Play60. He has also given back to the community at organizations like the Cleveland Foodbank, Feed My Starving Children and Veterans hospitals.For more on Eddie, visit: Eddiejwilliams.me

Profile of the Lukewarm, Part 2

Posted: June 14, 2013 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
Tags: disciples, discipleship, faith, Francis Chan, lukewarm Christian

This is a continuation of my previous post. Again, this was taken from the newsletter from Crazy Love authored by Francis Chan.

LUKEWARM PEOPLE are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor. They are quick to point out, “Jesus never said money is the root of all evil, only that the love of money is.” Untold numbers of lukewarm people feel “called” to minister to the rich; very few feel “called” to minister to the poor.

LUKEWARM PEOPLE do whatever is necessary to keep themselves from feeling too guilty.

They want to do the bare minimum, to be “good enough” without it requiring too much of them.

They ask, “How far can I go before it’s considered a sin?” instead of “How can I keep myself pure as a temple of the Holy Spirit?”

They ask, “How much do I have to give?” instead of “How much can I give?”

They ask, “How much time should I spend praying and reading my Bible?” instead of “I wish I didn’t have to go to work, so I could sit here and read longer!”

LUKEWARM PEOPLE are continually concerned with playing it safe; they are slaves to the god of control. This focus on safe living keeps them from sacrificing and risking for God.

LUKEWARM PEOPLE feel secure because they attend church, made a profession of faith at age twelve, were baptized, come from a Christian family, vote Republican, or live in America. Just as the prophets in the Old Testament warned Israel that they were not safe just because they lived in the land of Israel, so we are not safe just because we wear the label Christian or because some people persist in calling us a “Christian nation.

” LUKEWARM PEOPLE do not live by faith; their lives are structured so they never have to. They don’t have to trust God if something unexpected happens–they have their savings account. They don’t need God to help them–they have their retirement plan in place. They don’t genuinely seek out what life God would have them live–they have life figured and mapped out. They don’t depend on God on a daily basis–their refrigerators are full and, for the most part, they are in good health. The truth is, their lives wouldn’t look much different if they suddenly stopped believing in God.

LUKEWARM PEOPLE probably drink and swear less than average, but besides that, they really aren’t very different from your typical unbeliever. They equate their partially sanitized lives with holiness, but they couldn’t be more wrong.

This profile of the lukewarm is not an all-inclusive definition of what it means to be a Christian, nor is it intended to be used as ammunition to judge your fellow believers’ salvation. Instead, as 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, it is a call to “examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves? We are all messed-up human beings, and no one is totally immune to the behaviors described in the previous examples. However, there is a difference between a life that is characterized by these sorts of mentalities and habits and a life that is in the process of being radically transformed.

We’ll get to the transformation later, but now is the time to take a serious self-inventory.

So if you want to know more about this book, you can visit his site at http://crazylovebook.com.

Profile of the Lukewarm, Part I

Posted: June 10, 2013 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
Tags: Christian life, deception, disciples, false disciple, Francis Chan

Would you describe yourself as totally in love with Jesus Christ? Or do the words halfhearted, lukewarm, and partially committed fit better?

The Bible says to test ourselves, so in the next two emails, I am going to offer you a description of what halfhearted, distracted, partially committed, lukewarm people can look like. As you read these examples, I encourage you to take a searching, honest look at your life. Not who you want to be one of these days, but who you are now and how you are living today.

LUKEWARM PEOPLE attend church fairly regularly. It is what is expected of them, what they believe “good Christians” do, so they go.

“The Lord says: ‘These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men'” (Isa. 29:13).

LUKEWARM PEOPLE give money to charity and to the church… as long as it doesn’t impinge on their standard of living. If they have a little extra and it is easy and safe to give, they do so. After all, God loves a cheerful giver, right?

“King David replied to Araunah, ‘No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the LORD what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing'” (1 Chron. 21:24).

“As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘I tell you the truth,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on'” (Luke 21:1-4).

LUKEWARM PEOPLE tend to choose what is popular over what is right when they are in conflict. They desire to fit in both at church and outside of church; they care more about what people think of their actions (like church attendance and giving) than what God thinks of their hearts and lives.

“Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets” (Luke 6:26).

“I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead” (Rev. 3:1).

“Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi'”(Matt. 23:5-7).

LUKEWARM PEOPLE don’t really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. They don’t genuinely hate sin and aren’t truly sorry for it; they’re merely sorry because God is going to punish them. Lukewarm people don’t really believe that this new life Jesus offers is better than the old sinful one.

“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

“What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?” (Rom. 6:1-2).

LUKEWARM PEOPLE are moved by stories about people who do radical things for Christ, yet they do not act. They assume such action is for “extreme” Christians, not average ones. Lukewarm people call “radical” what Jesus expected of all His followers.

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22).

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins” (James 4:17).

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted? ‘The first,’ they answered” (Matt. 21:28-31).

LUKEWARM PEOPLE rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. They do not want to be rejected, nor do they want to make people uncomfortable by talking about private issues like religion.

“Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven” (Matt. 10:32-33).

LUKEWARM PEOPLE gauge their morality or “goodness” by comparing themselves to the secular world. They feel satisfied that while they aren’t as hard-core for Jesus as so-and-so, they are nowhere as horrible as the guy down the street.

“The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men–robbers, evildoers, adulterers–or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get'” (Luke 18:11-12).

LUKEWARM PEOPLE say they love Jesus, and He is, indeed, a part of their lives. But only a part. They give Him a section of their time, their money, and their thoughts, but He isn’t allowed to control their lives.

“As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, ‘I will follow you wherever you go.’ Jesus replied, ‘Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.’ He said to another man, ‘Follow me.’ But the man replied, ‘Lord, first let me go and bury my father.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.’ Still another said, ‘I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family.’ Jesus replied, ‘No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God'” (Luke 9:57-62).

LUKEWARM PEOPLE love God, but they do not love Him with all their heart, soul, and strength. They would be quick to assure you that they try to love God that much, but that sort of total devotion isn’t really possible for the average person; it’s only for pastors and missionaries and radicals.

“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment” (Matt. 22:37-38).

LUKEWARM PEOPLE love others but do not seek to love others as much as they love themselves. Their love of others is typically focused on those who love them in return, like family, friends, and other people they know and connect with. There is little love left over for those who cannot love them back, much less for those who intentionally slight them, whose kids are better athletes than theirs, or with whom conversations are awkward or uncomfortable. Their love is highly conditional and very selective, and generally comes with strings attached.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” (Matt. 5:43-47).

“Then Jesus said to his host, ‘When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous'” (Luke 14:12-14).

LUKEWARM PEOPLE will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give.

“All these [commandments] I have kept since I was a boy,’ he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked at him and said, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God'” (Luke 18:21-25).

LUKEWARM PEOPLE think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. Daily life is mostly focused on today’s to-do list, this week’s schedule, and next month’s vacation. Rarely, if ever, do they intently consider the life to come. Regarding this, C. S. Lewis writes, “If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.”

“For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:18-20).

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Col. 3:2).

Reflection Questions

Do any of these descriptions strike home for you?
What do you think is the long-term effect of being “lukewarm” in your spiritual life? What’s the effect on you, on your family, on your church community?
Have you ever gone through a period of lukewarm-ness, but regained your zeal? What needs to happen in order for a lukewarm believer to catch fire again?

Next week: Profile of the Lukewarm, Part 2

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Posts Tagged ‘disciples’

Key Takeaways:

Understanding 1 John 2:19

The Role of Predestination in 1 John 2:19

Key Takeaways:

Discerning True Fellowship

The Impact of False Prophets

Never Meant to Be with Us

Discernment and Wisdom

Avoiding Spiritual Deception

Identifying True Fellowship

Applying 1 John 2:19 to Church Practices

Discerning False Teachings

Aligning with God’s Will

Nurturing Authentic Fellowship

The Dangers of Human Manipulation

Nurturing Authentic Faith Communities

Cultivating an Authentic Church Culture

Overcoming Divisions and Conflict

Cultivating Discernment and Wisdom

Practical Steps for Cultivating Discernment and Wisdom:

Conclusion

FAQ

What does 1 John 2:19 mean?

How can we interpret 1 John 2:19 in light of false prophets?

Does 1 John 2:19 refer to the fulfillment of biblical prophecies?

How can 1 John 2:19 help us identify false teachings within the Church?

How can we apply the teachings of 1 John 2:19 in our Church practices?

What are the dangers of allowing human manipulation in our Church practices?

How can we foster authentic faith communities in accordance with 1 John 2:19?

How can understanding 1 John 2:19 help us overcome divisions and conflict in the Church?

How can we cultivate discernment and wisdom in light of 1 John 2:19?

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Good Works

Time Management

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