I pray for a movement of the Holy Spirit to move across this nation and raise up an army of new believers, for this nation to turn back to GOD in a major way. May this be the reason why we (the United States) are not to be found in scripture: Because of this mass turning back to GOD we all will have been raptured away prior to the tribulation.
I pray that we all begin to study the word daily if we are not already doing so.
Charles Stanley calls the Word “Fuel for Faith”. "Faith comes by hearing, hearing the word of GOD".(Romans 10:17) Dust off those Bibles and start reading. Don’t know where to start? Start reading Proverbs, a chapter a day for 1 month. I trust the Holy Spirit to lead from there.
I pray that the evil doers be swept from office, that the modern holocaust called abortion be stopped, that the culture of death be swept away to be replaced by the culture of life, life in Christ. What else matters?
I pray that professing churches, the congregations of true believers in the LORD Jesus Christ, drop the drama and get back to basics, drop the fleshy displays of emotion and get back to the word, drop the peer pressure antics and become more Christ like.
I also pray that the true church become Gospel driven. Let's drop the "ology's" and "isms". The church will be inherently more seeker sensitive when we become Bible centered again and the purpose driving us is to spread the word.
What are you praying for? Will you also join me and pray for the same things?
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Monday, November 21, 2011
1 Timothy Chapter 6 - Part III
Last week we discussed how the bible shows us that contentment in ALL our circumstances is what we should striving for, not wealth.
1 Tim 6: 8-10 drives home the point even further:
"8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
Paul then exhorts Timothy to flee from all of these fleshly desires:
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Now to be clear, there is a huge difference between God’s provision for our needs, and for our wants. Many times in scripture GOD says he will take care of our needs if we are faithful believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, but not our “wants” via some sense of entitlement due to some bad hermeneutic leading to a poor scriptural exegesis or simply because we put our faith in Christ and Tithe.
I need to state here in no uncertain terms that we have been a great beneficiary of God’s provision. As a family we make about half of what we did at the peak of our earning power but through his provision we are actually much better off. This has nothing to do with any prosperity doctrine, only GOD’s word and promise.
When dealing with people who follow prosperity teaching please handle them with care. I hear too many get angry when dealing with them. I believe that there are misguided believers among them so remember what James says:
James 1 :19-20
19 My dearly loved brothers, understand this: everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for man's anger does not accomplish God's righteousness.
James 5:19-20
"19 My brothers, if any among you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 he should know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his life from death and cover a multitude of sins."
It is my earnest prayer that this series has helped somebody who has been struggling with some of the teachings of the Word of Faith and Prosperity gospels. I can say with certainty that there are different levels of these teachings going from one church body within this “ology” to the next. We also need to keep in mind that the mainline beliefs they hold are identical to “orthodox” Christianity. Some would argue we should not separate over non-essentials. I’ll leave that decision between you and the Holy Spirit.
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
1 Tim 6: 8-10 drives home the point even further:
"8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs."
Paul then exhorts Timothy to flee from all of these fleshly desires:
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
Now to be clear, there is a huge difference between God’s provision for our needs, and for our wants. Many times in scripture GOD says he will take care of our needs if we are faithful believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, but not our “wants” via some sense of entitlement due to some bad hermeneutic leading to a poor scriptural exegesis or simply because we put our faith in Christ and Tithe.
I need to state here in no uncertain terms that we have been a great beneficiary of God’s provision. As a family we make about half of what we did at the peak of our earning power but through his provision we are actually much better off. This has nothing to do with any prosperity doctrine, only GOD’s word and promise.
When dealing with people who follow prosperity teaching please handle them with care. I hear too many get angry when dealing with them. I believe that there are misguided believers among them so remember what James says:
James 1 :19-20
19 My dearly loved brothers, understand this: everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for man's anger does not accomplish God's righteousness.
James 5:19-20
"19 My brothers, if any among you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 he should know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his life from death and cover a multitude of sins."
It is my earnest prayer that this series has helped somebody who has been struggling with some of the teachings of the Word of Faith and Prosperity gospels. I can say with certainty that there are different levels of these teachings going from one church body within this “ology” to the next. We also need to keep in mind that the mainline beliefs they hold are identical to “orthodox” Christianity. Some would argue we should not separate over non-essentials. I’ll leave that decision between you and the Holy Spirit.
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Monday, November 14, 2011
1 Timothy Chapter 6 - Part II
Continuing with 1 Tim Chapter 6 this week we will look at verse 6-7.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. NIV
Many purveyors of the prosperity doctrine twist this statement or ignore it completely since it contradicts their assertion. The twisters say something to the effect “of course we must first be content with what we have before God can bless us with more!” Can you imagine such nonsense being taken seriously? Well, sad to say, it is taken seriously.
Hebrews 13: 5 says “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.” NIV
There is a huge difference between Gods provision and a doctrine that espouses entitlement and wealth. Hebrews 13:5 shows that the point is not even arguable.
Still not buying it? Try Phil 4:12 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” NIV
Wow! Being content in EVERY Situation!!! What a concept!
Here is the Coup de Grace and this one is self explanatory :
2 Peter 2:3 “In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.” NLT
I’ll close this study out next week but I want to warn you to be discerning about ALL that you hear on radio and see on T.V. from alleged Pastors, teachers who all come in the name of Jesus. This is the age of apostasy that the Bible warns us about. Believe nothing until you check out what you hear in its full context. Ripping a verse out of the bible and running with it as a stand alone truth is dangerous. Please be vigilant!
Video for this week, Jeremy Camp, "This Man"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C_BBl6T2Jk&feature=related
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. NIV
Many purveyors of the prosperity doctrine twist this statement or ignore it completely since it contradicts their assertion. The twisters say something to the effect “of course we must first be content with what we have before God can bless us with more!” Can you imagine such nonsense being taken seriously? Well, sad to say, it is taken seriously.
Hebrews 13: 5 says “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.” NIV
There is a huge difference between Gods provision and a doctrine that espouses entitlement and wealth. Hebrews 13:5 shows that the point is not even arguable.
Still not buying it? Try Phil 4:12 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” NIV
Wow! Being content in EVERY Situation!!! What a concept!
Here is the Coup de Grace and this one is self explanatory :
2 Peter 2:3 “In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.” NLT
I’ll close this study out next week but I want to warn you to be discerning about ALL that you hear on radio and see on T.V. from alleged Pastors, teachers who all come in the name of Jesus. This is the age of apostasy that the Bible warns us about. Believe nothing until you check out what you hear in its full context. Ripping a verse out of the bible and running with it as a stand alone truth is dangerous. Please be vigilant!
Video for this week, Jeremy Camp, "This Man"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C_BBl6T2Jk&feature=related
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Saturday, November 5, 2011
1 Timothy Chapter 6
Pardon my silence over the past few weeks. I have been trying to be still, not striving, and trying to let the LORD lead on my journey through this life.
Today and over the coming weeks I wish to revisit 1 Timothy chapter 6. There are things going on the name of Christ that simply ignore what Paul is teaching Timothy in these passages. Let’s start at verse 3 and continue to verse 5:
1 Timothy 6:3-5
“3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” NIV
There has been a movement afoot for some time now that teaches that if you are truly born again, that you should be prosperous. This teaching runs contrary to the above, particularly to verse 5. It out born out of materialism, the want for more and more stuff and this drive for stuff actually becomes the GOD that they worship which is idolatry. The worst part is that sincere believers start to question their salvation if they are not well off financially.
It is a satanic trap laid by the master of lies to ensnare even the most sincere believer and render them useless, which is what he wants.
Remember this, Jesus taught about spiritual things, the people who were listening often mistook his teaching as for the physical. “unless one is born again”, “ I am the bread of life”, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Or “more abundantly” is the translation the teachers of this error like to emphasize.
All these statements of the LORD the hearer commonly mistook as teaching about the physical, that were intended as spiritual teaching. This error is still prevalent today.
Remember this, when a teaching you hear contradicts anything in the Bible the teaching is in error. People who grew up on these erroneous teachings will go to the grave defending them so it is best to broach these things cautiously, with agape love, and not rail against the error. Pray that their eyes be opened, that they heed the full council of God and learn to recognize and avoid error.
More next week.
Video for this week: Tenth Avenue North "By Your Side"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHgNCj4DU_M
Until next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Today and over the coming weeks I wish to revisit 1 Timothy chapter 6. There are things going on the name of Christ that simply ignore what Paul is teaching Timothy in these passages. Let’s start at verse 3 and continue to verse 5:
1 Timothy 6:3-5
“3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, 4 they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions 5 and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.” NIV
There has been a movement afoot for some time now that teaches that if you are truly born again, that you should be prosperous. This teaching runs contrary to the above, particularly to verse 5. It out born out of materialism, the want for more and more stuff and this drive for stuff actually becomes the GOD that they worship which is idolatry. The worst part is that sincere believers start to question their salvation if they are not well off financially.
It is a satanic trap laid by the master of lies to ensnare even the most sincere believer and render them useless, which is what he wants.
Remember this, Jesus taught about spiritual things, the people who were listening often mistook his teaching as for the physical. “unless one is born again”, “ I am the bread of life”, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Or “more abundantly” is the translation the teachers of this error like to emphasize.
All these statements of the LORD the hearer commonly mistook as teaching about the physical, that were intended as spiritual teaching. This error is still prevalent today.
Remember this, when a teaching you hear contradicts anything in the Bible the teaching is in error. People who grew up on these erroneous teachings will go to the grave defending them so it is best to broach these things cautiously, with agape love, and not rail against the error. Pray that their eyes be opened, that they heed the full council of God and learn to recognize and avoid error.
More next week.
Video for this week: Tenth Avenue North "By Your Side"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHgNCj4DU_M
Until next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Seeker Sensitive Movement?
First off, all churches within the body of Christ should be seeker sensitive, looking to save the lost, bring them into a place to hear the Gospel. I don’t have an issue with churches using technology, media, music, etc to draw in the lost as long as the Gospel is preached within that body of believers. What I have a problem with is the use of course language that has become prevalent within this “movement”, the “Sermon Series” that doesn’t use much scripture or no scripture, the tawdry appeal to emotions, to the flesh, in order to build up a congregation numerically, which is yet another way of building up a “Jesus Business” as opposed to going about doing the business of Jesus. A lot of the shenanigans that go on in some of these churches do nothing to build up the body of Christ, and in many cases do more harm than good. Worse yet, it has nothing to do with the Gospel.
EPH 5 3-4
“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” NIV
There are varying degrees of the nonsense highlighted above going on in the name of Christ these days. Be alert, be aware of the difference between a body of church goers and a body of believers. Stay in the Word, read it daily, stay in prayer and ask for discernment. It is way too easy to get fooled these days.
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
EPH 5 3-4
“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.” NIV
There are varying degrees of the nonsense highlighted above going on in the name of Christ these days. Be alert, be aware of the difference between a body of church goers and a body of believers. Stay in the Word, read it daily, stay in prayer and ask for discernment. It is way too easy to get fooled these days.
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Looking to be Blessed? First Count Your Blessings
How many of us are always looking for blessings from the LORD, pray for them constantly but never once take an inventory of the blessings we have already received? How can GOD continue to bless us if we never thank him for the blessings he has already bestowed on us and that we be content with his provision?
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
While many people constantly quote Phil 4:13 “ I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” I rarely hear the preceding verses quoted
“11b….for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
Think about what GOD has done for you, the most important being the free gift of salvation, eternal life through his son Jesus Christ: All else pales in comparison.
Song of the week: Matthew West Strong Enough
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8JsRxVczmQ
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
While many people constantly quote Phil 4:13 “ I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” I rarely hear the preceding verses quoted
“11b….for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
Think about what GOD has done for you, the most important being the free gift of salvation, eternal life through his son Jesus Christ: All else pales in comparison.
Song of the week: Matthew West Strong Enough
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8JsRxVczmQ
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Assurance – How We Know We Have Eternal Life
Regardless of denomination, “ology” or “ism’, one thing many struggle with is
assurance, knowing you are saved and have eternal life.
Take comfort in the following:
1 John 2:12
“I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.”
1 John 5:13
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
1 John 5: 20
"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."
Romans 8:1
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”
And the clincher, probably the most used verse in the New Testament:
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
There are many more but these should help put your mind at ease. If you are not saved and are reading this, here are a few just for you:
Romans 10:9
“That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
If for some reason you think you are not worthy, worthy has nothing to do with anything.
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 10: 11-13
“As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Anyone means just that, anyone. Everyone means just that, everyone. Whoever believes means exactly that. This means YOU!!!!!
Video of the week, Jeremy Camp - The Way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q6o4sbndVE&ob=av2e
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
assurance, knowing you are saved and have eternal life.
Take comfort in the following:
1 John 2:12
“I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.”
1 John 5:13
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
1 John 5: 20
"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."
Romans 8:1
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”
And the clincher, probably the most used verse in the New Testament:
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
There are many more but these should help put your mind at ease. If you are not saved and are reading this, here are a few just for you:
Romans 10:9
“That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
If for some reason you think you are not worthy, worthy has nothing to do with anything.
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.
Romans 5:8
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 10: 11-13
“As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Anyone means just that, anyone. Everyone means just that, everyone. Whoever believes means exactly that. This means YOU!!!!!
Video of the week, Jeremy Camp - The Way:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9q6o4sbndVE&ob=av2e
Until the next time, may the LORD bless us and keep us, in Jesus name I pray.
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