Wednesday, November 19, 2014
10 Indictments Against the Modern Church in America - Paul Washer
A convicting word for the modern professing church. We need the real power and presence of God in our midst.
It is time to seek the Lord and pray that He would send a spirit empowered revival to our land.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Is God Unjust?
There seems to be this idea that a God who would punish evil doers is somehow unjust. This idea has even been accepted by many who profess to be Christians. They believe that somehow God is too kind to send someone to hell, that in fact it would be unjust.
Now tell me, would it be unjust if a convicted mass murderer stood before a courtroom filled with the friends and relatives of his victims, and was released with no sentence whatsoever, because the judge was kind, and thought it would be unfair to lock this man up?
We would consider that a gross travesty of justice, yet so many today think that God is like that. They would consider it a gross travesty if He punished someone for their sin.
Paul writes about God's wrath, patience, and justice.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
Romans 1:18 NASB
And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.
Romans 2:2 NASB
This verse refers back to the sins listed in Romans 1:18-32.
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubborn and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Who will render to each person according to his deeds.
Romans 2:4-6 NASB
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous is He? (I am speaking in human terms). May it never be! For otherwise how will God judge the world?
Romans 3:5-6 NASB
Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God.
Romans 3:19 NASB
Friend, there is coming a day when God will judge this world by Jesus Christ (Acts 17:31). God will be perfectly fair, He will be completely just. He will make no mistake. He will not meet out any undeserved punishment, and He will also not leave any deserved punishment unfulfilled.
As we read in the above verses, all mouths will be shut before Him. We will stand before Him with all secrets exposed. We will be confronted with all the evidence of all our wicked deeds. All will be laid bare for all to see. We will be without excuse. We will have nothing to say in our defense. We will know then without any doubt that God is indeed just and fair in all His dealings with mankind.
We also read that God is patiently waiting for our repentance. He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). While He is just, He is also merciful, and has made a way for us to receive His grace through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who gave Himself to redeem us from this wicked age (Gal 1:4).
You see God loves us enough to provide an atonement for our sins. We can stand before His judgment seat with a clean record, totally forgiven. He has upheld the righteousness of the law by the death of Christ on the cross. He can now be just, and the justifier of all who come to Him by faith in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:21-26; 1 John 1:9).
Don't fall for the lie that God has to forgive you because He is too kind to punish you for your sin. Don't believe the heresy that a loving God will not send someone to an eternal hell. This was the same basic lie that the serpent used on Eve (Genesis 3:4). He has used it in various forms through the ages to lead souls to hell.
What good will it be to have believed a lie on the day we stand before God? Then it will be too late. Run to Christ in repentance and faith, and follow Him in submission to His word.
Now tell me, would it be unjust if a convicted mass murderer stood before a courtroom filled with the friends and relatives of his victims, and was released with no sentence whatsoever, because the judge was kind, and thought it would be unfair to lock this man up?
We would consider that a gross travesty of justice, yet so many today think that God is like that. They would consider it a gross travesty if He punished someone for their sin.
Paul writes about God's wrath, patience, and justice.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
Romans 1:18 NASB
And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.
Romans 2:2 NASB
This verse refers back to the sins listed in Romans 1:18-32.
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubborn and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. Who will render to each person according to his deeds.
Romans 2:4-6 NASB
But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous is He? (I am speaking in human terms). May it never be! For otherwise how will God judge the world?
Romans 3:5-6 NASB
Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God.
Romans 3:19 NASB
Friend, there is coming a day when God will judge this world by Jesus Christ (Acts 17:31). God will be perfectly fair, He will be completely just. He will make no mistake. He will not meet out any undeserved punishment, and He will also not leave any deserved punishment unfulfilled.
As we read in the above verses, all mouths will be shut before Him. We will stand before Him with all secrets exposed. We will be confronted with all the evidence of all our wicked deeds. All will be laid bare for all to see. We will be without excuse. We will have nothing to say in our defense. We will know then without any doubt that God is indeed just and fair in all His dealings with mankind.
We also read that God is patiently waiting for our repentance. He is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9). While He is just, He is also merciful, and has made a way for us to receive His grace through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, who gave Himself to redeem us from this wicked age (Gal 1:4).
You see God loves us enough to provide an atonement for our sins. We can stand before His judgment seat with a clean record, totally forgiven. He has upheld the righteousness of the law by the death of Christ on the cross. He can now be just, and the justifier of all who come to Him by faith in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:21-26; 1 John 1:9).
Don't fall for the lie that God has to forgive you because He is too kind to punish you for your sin. Don't believe the heresy that a loving God will not send someone to an eternal hell. This was the same basic lie that the serpent used on Eve (Genesis 3:4). He has used it in various forms through the ages to lead souls to hell.
What good will it be to have believed a lie on the day we stand before God? Then it will be too late. Run to Christ in repentance and faith, and follow Him in submission to His word.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Full of the Spirit
Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God
1 Peter 4:11a NASB
As Christ's ambassadors we must be empty of self, and full of Him. Just like John the Baptist, we must decrease so that He can increase (John 3:30).
Our message must be God's message delivered by God the Holy Spirit, through individuals empty of self, and yielded to His impulse.
For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction.
1 Thessalonians 1:5a NASB
For this reason we constantly thank God that when you received the word which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which performs its work in you who believe.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB
If we would see true results it must be all of God through empty vessels. We must give up all reliance on self, our natural strengths and talents, our persuasiveness, our programs, and lean completely on Christ, relying on the Spirit to give us the message in power and conviction.
It is hard to completely die out to the flesh, and this is where we see so little accomplished for the kingdom. The cost is great, but the one dead to self and yielded to God will shake souls, and see God move.
1 Peter 4:11a NASB
As Christ's ambassadors we must be empty of self, and full of Him. Just like John the Baptist, we must decrease so that He can increase (John 3:30).
Our message must be God's message delivered by God the Holy Spirit, through individuals empty of self, and yielded to His impulse.
For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction.
1 Thessalonians 1:5a NASB
For this reason we constantly thank God that when you received the word which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which performs its work in you who believe.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB
If we would see true results it must be all of God through empty vessels. We must give up all reliance on self, our natural strengths and talents, our persuasiveness, our programs, and lean completely on Christ, relying on the Spirit to give us the message in power and conviction.
It is hard to completely die out to the flesh, and this is where we see so little accomplished for the kingdom. The cost is great, but the one dead to self and yielded to God will shake souls, and see God move.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Are You Loved by the World?
There are many scripture passages which we can judge our lives by to show us whether our Christianity is real or not.
If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
John 15:19 NASB
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
1 John 3:1 NASB
As Christians we have nothing in common with this world. We are called out to follow Christ, and the world cannot comprehend this. This world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19), and men love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil (John 3:19).
We have been delivered from this present evil age (Galatians 1:4), rescued from the domain of darkness, and placed into the kingdom of Christ (Col 1:13).
Therefore, what fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness, or light with darkness, or Christ with Belial? What do we as believers in Christ have in common with unbelievers, or the temple of God, which we are, with idols (2 Cor 6:14-16).
Get the idea? As Christians we go against the grain, we are not following the selfish pursuits of this world. Following Christ runs in opposition to the ways of this world, and the world hates us for this.
Just as Cain killed Abel because his deeds were evil, and Abel's were not, the world will also hate those who live righteous lives in Christ Jesus (1 John 3:12-13). Everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to it because he does not want his evil deeds exposed (John 3:20).
This is how it is, and is an indicator of the validity of our commitment to Christ. There is a line of separation drawn in the sand so to speak. You are either of this world and loved and accepted by it, or you belong to the kingdom of God, and bear its reproach (Hebrews 13:12-14).
If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
John 15:19 NASB
See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
1 John 3:1 NASB
As Christians we have nothing in common with this world. We are called out to follow Christ, and the world cannot comprehend this. This world lies in the power of the evil one (1 John 5:19), and men love the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds are evil (John 3:19).
We have been delivered from this present evil age (Galatians 1:4), rescued from the domain of darkness, and placed into the kingdom of Christ (Col 1:13).
Therefore, what fellowship does righteousness have with lawlessness, or light with darkness, or Christ with Belial? What do we as believers in Christ have in common with unbelievers, or the temple of God, which we are, with idols (2 Cor 6:14-16).
Get the idea? As Christians we go against the grain, we are not following the selfish pursuits of this world. Following Christ runs in opposition to the ways of this world, and the world hates us for this.
Just as Cain killed Abel because his deeds were evil, and Abel's were not, the world will also hate those who live righteous lives in Christ Jesus (1 John 3:12-13). Everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to it because he does not want his evil deeds exposed (John 3:20).
This is how it is, and is an indicator of the validity of our commitment to Christ. There is a line of separation drawn in the sand so to speak. You are either of this world and loved and accepted by it, or you belong to the kingdom of God, and bear its reproach (Hebrews 13:12-14).
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