Look around and you can see the words of Paul to Timothy being fulfilled. We are indeed living in an age where sound doctrine is no longer tolerated. The truth is rejected, and people only want to hear things that "tickle" their ears (1 Timothy 4:3-4).
We may be shocked at some of the things now being debated by Churches and Denominations. We wonder how a Church could even consider these issues, based upon the clear instruction given to us in the word of God.
Take a look at the words of Paul in the first chapter of Romans. We see that the truth has been suppressed (Romans 1:18), and it has been exchanged for a lie (Romans 1:25). Men have rejected the worship of God for idolatry. Read Romans 1:18-32. It shows us how all of the sinful practices mentioned flow out of a heart that has rejected the truth that has been revealed to it. Such an individual has been turned over to a depraved mind by God (Romans 1:24,26).
I believe that is why we see such a falling away today. Many movements that were once on fire, gloriously used by God in the past, have grown cold. They have lost the fear of the Lord, and compromised the truth. The gross sin we see allowed, and even supported today in the "Christian" world is a result of exchanging the truth for a lie, compromising the truth to be pleasing to men and not to God.
In contrast the Church of God is the pillar and support of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15). The word of God is living and empowered through the Holy Spirit. It exalts Jesus Christ, the head (Col 1:18). The truth is found in Jesus, we hear Him, and are taught in Him (Eph 4:21).The truth is allowed to cleanse and sanctify those who have faith (2 Thess 2:13).
Jesus said that as His disciples we must continue in His word. Then we will know the truth that will set us free (John 8:311-32). What a contrast! Instead of being enslaved to our evil passions, we find freedom!
Beware of compromise! It is dangerous to play with the truth! Allow the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth as revealed in the word of God, to you. Let it transform you into the image of Christ. Do not get caught up in the "ear tickling" going on today. Run away from it as fast as you can!
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
Saturday, July 26, 2014
The Greatest Commandment.
Like the Church of Ephesus, many of us are faithful to our doctrines, zealous in routing out false teachers, and persevere steadfastly in the truth (Revelation 2:2-3). This is a lot more than we see other Christians, Churches, and Denominations doing, so we feel as though we are getting along fairly well.
The truth is, without love being the motivating factor in what we do, it means nothing (1 Cor 13:2-3). The Church in Ephesus, for all they stood for, had forsaken it's first love (Rev 2:4). This is what the Lord Jesus Christ rebuked them for.
An expert in the law of Moses asked Christ what was the greatest commandment in the law (Matt 22:36). Jesus told him to love God with all your heart, soul, mind. (Deut 6:5). This is the greatest commandment, followed by loving your neighbor as yourself (Lev19:18) (Matt 22:37-39).
Paul states that what matters to God is faith that works by love (Gal 5:6). Love is the fulfilling of the law (Gal 5:14, Romans 13:8-10). When we love God with all that we are, we will find ourselves fulfilling the commandments concerning Him and our worship of Him. When we truly treat others as we want them to treat us (Matt 7:12) we will find ourselves living a life that is free from theft, dishonesty, covetousness, anger, murder, lust, etc. The law concerning our neighbor will be fulfilled by us.
So what about you? Did you once have a passion for Jesus that led you to serve Him with all your heart? Is that passion still there motivating your actions, or has it dwindled? Are you still doing good deeds, but for the wrong reasons? Can you say you love your neighbor as yourself, and back it up with your actions, or do your actions say otherwise? Maybe you are an honest person, trying to be good all the time, but without love.
The answer is found in Jesus, at the foot of the Cross. There you will find grace. Look back on your life and see how far you have fallen! Repent and do the deeds you did at first (Rev 2:5). Let Jesus fill you once again with His presence! Be empowered to live a life of love.
The truth is, without love being the motivating factor in what we do, it means nothing (1 Cor 13:2-3). The Church in Ephesus, for all they stood for, had forsaken it's first love (Rev 2:4). This is what the Lord Jesus Christ rebuked them for.
An expert in the law of Moses asked Christ what was the greatest commandment in the law (Matt 22:36). Jesus told him to love God with all your heart, soul, mind. (Deut 6:5). This is the greatest commandment, followed by loving your neighbor as yourself (Lev19:18) (Matt 22:37-39).
Paul states that what matters to God is faith that works by love (Gal 5:6). Love is the fulfilling of the law (Gal 5:14, Romans 13:8-10). When we love God with all that we are, we will find ourselves fulfilling the commandments concerning Him and our worship of Him. When we truly treat others as we want them to treat us (Matt 7:12) we will find ourselves living a life that is free from theft, dishonesty, covetousness, anger, murder, lust, etc. The law concerning our neighbor will be fulfilled by us.
So what about you? Did you once have a passion for Jesus that led you to serve Him with all your heart? Is that passion still there motivating your actions, or has it dwindled? Are you still doing good deeds, but for the wrong reasons? Can you say you love your neighbor as yourself, and back it up with your actions, or do your actions say otherwise? Maybe you are an honest person, trying to be good all the time, but without love.
The answer is found in Jesus, at the foot of the Cross. There you will find grace. Look back on your life and see how far you have fallen! Repent and do the deeds you did at first (Rev 2:5). Let Jesus fill you once again with His presence! Be empowered to live a life of love.
Friday, July 4, 2014
Consecrated To The Calling.
I believe the full gospel! I believe in the pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit, with signs following. I am in no way a cessationist. I believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is for today. I believe that the New Testament gifts of the Holy Spirit are for us today as well. Jesus Christ is the same Jesus today. We need the presence and power of God in our lives today, just as the early Church needed it two thousand years ago.
It was the Holy Spirit who gave witness to the resurrected Christ in power through the Apostles and early Christians, with signs and wonders. He anointed the words of the early witnesses, bringing conviction to those who heard. The gospel was spread in the power of the Holy Spirit then, and nothing has changed now either.
The great evangelists of former times believed that they were powerless without the Holy Spirit's fullness in their lives. Charles Finney preached, and wrote extensively on the subject of the Holy Spirit, and the utter necessity of His power to convert sinners. John wesley preached in the power of the Spirt, as did Jonathan Edwards, and many others. These men believed that they had to have the Spirit's presence and power to successfully carry out the great commission.
The thing that strikes me is this. These men believed in persevering prayer for this blessing. They believed in a full consecration of oneself to Christ and the spreading of the gospel (Mark 8:35). They sought for the presence of the Holy Spirit. They emptied themselves of everything. They committed themselves to the work of saving sinners. They were entirely dependent upon God to enable them to do this work. They confessed sin, renounced anything that stood in the way of more of Christ in their lives. They were filled, and preached with a power that few have since preached with.
We are so weak today! Even those of us who call ourselves pentecostal! We claim to be Spirit filled, we speak in tongues, discern spirits, prophesy, and walk in the gifts. Don't get me wrong. I am not a cessationist. I believe that the spiritual gifts are still valid today (1 Cor 12:4-11). What is lacking is the power in the pulpits. The power in personal one on one witnessing. We see little results. Do we depend too much on ourselves and not enough on God? Many people seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit, but remain empty. We are told to just ask in faith. I agree, we receive the Spirit by faith (Gal 3:2, Luke 11:13). However we tend to forget why we need the Holy Spirit. We too often forget the great commission. We are not fully surrendered to the Lordship of Christ. We are not committed to the salvation of souls as our chief work for Christ on this earth. I understand we have different callings and vocations while on this earth, but our chief aim is the glory of God regardless of what we do.
The strange thing is this. The mighty men of the last few centuries believed in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They claimed it and preached in it's power. Multitudes were saved and set free from sin. Years later the majority of them were still saved and serving Jesus Christ. These ministers and evangelists said nothing of tongues. They had power though!
I believe in tongues, but I fear that the modern pentecostal view may have shifted from the presence and power of the abiding Holy Spirit to change the lives of men, to something that excites us on Sunday morning! This sounds harsh, steps on toes, maybe offends some of you. I don't wish to offend, but to challenge us all to rise up to the high calling of Christ to spread the gospel into the whole world (Matthew 28:18-20), with the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us to the glory of God.
Examine yourself! Are you empty or full? Are you committed to Christ and the spreading of His kingdom? Is it your life's work? Are you willing to give up all for the gift of the Holy Spirit? You are nothing without it. The world goes lost without your witness. God is calling you to greater things.
It was the Holy Spirit who gave witness to the resurrected Christ in power through the Apostles and early Christians, with signs and wonders. He anointed the words of the early witnesses, bringing conviction to those who heard. The gospel was spread in the power of the Holy Spirit then, and nothing has changed now either.
The great evangelists of former times believed that they were powerless without the Holy Spirit's fullness in their lives. Charles Finney preached, and wrote extensively on the subject of the Holy Spirit, and the utter necessity of His power to convert sinners. John wesley preached in the power of the Spirt, as did Jonathan Edwards, and many others. These men believed that they had to have the Spirit's presence and power to successfully carry out the great commission.
The thing that strikes me is this. These men believed in persevering prayer for this blessing. They believed in a full consecration of oneself to Christ and the spreading of the gospel (Mark 8:35). They sought for the presence of the Holy Spirit. They emptied themselves of everything. They committed themselves to the work of saving sinners. They were entirely dependent upon God to enable them to do this work. They confessed sin, renounced anything that stood in the way of more of Christ in their lives. They were filled, and preached with a power that few have since preached with.
We are so weak today! Even those of us who call ourselves pentecostal! We claim to be Spirit filled, we speak in tongues, discern spirits, prophesy, and walk in the gifts. Don't get me wrong. I am not a cessationist. I believe that the spiritual gifts are still valid today (1 Cor 12:4-11). What is lacking is the power in the pulpits. The power in personal one on one witnessing. We see little results. Do we depend too much on ourselves and not enough on God? Many people seek the baptism in the Holy Spirit, but remain empty. We are told to just ask in faith. I agree, we receive the Spirit by faith (Gal 3:2, Luke 11:13). However we tend to forget why we need the Holy Spirit. We too often forget the great commission. We are not fully surrendered to the Lordship of Christ. We are not committed to the salvation of souls as our chief work for Christ on this earth. I understand we have different callings and vocations while on this earth, but our chief aim is the glory of God regardless of what we do.
The strange thing is this. The mighty men of the last few centuries believed in the baptism of the Holy Spirit. They claimed it and preached in it's power. Multitudes were saved and set free from sin. Years later the majority of them were still saved and serving Jesus Christ. These ministers and evangelists said nothing of tongues. They had power though!
I believe in tongues, but I fear that the modern pentecostal view may have shifted from the presence and power of the abiding Holy Spirit to change the lives of men, to something that excites us on Sunday morning! This sounds harsh, steps on toes, maybe offends some of you. I don't wish to offend, but to challenge us all to rise up to the high calling of Christ to spread the gospel into the whole world (Matthew 28:18-20), with the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through us to the glory of God.
Examine yourself! Are you empty or full? Are you committed to Christ and the spreading of His kingdom? Is it your life's work? Are you willing to give up all for the gift of the Holy Spirit? You are nothing without it. The world goes lost without your witness. God is calling you to greater things.
Monday, June 16, 2014
Living For The Glory Of God.
What would our lives look like if we took the admonition to do all for the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31), literally?
I believe that most of us would find that our lives would become much simpler. We would find ourselves eliminating much of what clutters our time, much of what stresses us out, and the things that waste our time.
Our lives would be lived with purpose. We would be better employees, better spouses, better parents, better children.
Our lives would reflect Christ to the world around us. We would have a powerful witness. The concerns of Christ and His kingdom would be our utmost priority. We would be consumed, poured out like the Apostle Paul, in the service of Christ, instead of being consumed in the pursuits of everyday life.
We are worn out, burned out, stressed out, as we live our lives for the temporal things that do not truly matter. We need a change of purpose, we need to live for Christ alone.
I believe that most of us would find that our lives would become much simpler. We would find ourselves eliminating much of what clutters our time, much of what stresses us out, and the things that waste our time.
Our lives would be lived with purpose. We would be better employees, better spouses, better parents, better children.
Our lives would reflect Christ to the world around us. We would have a powerful witness. The concerns of Christ and His kingdom would be our utmost priority. We would be consumed, poured out like the Apostle Paul, in the service of Christ, instead of being consumed in the pursuits of everyday life.
We are worn out, burned out, stressed out, as we live our lives for the temporal things that do not truly matter. We need a change of purpose, we need to live for Christ alone.
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Set Apart.
O God, my prayer for the church is that she would be separate unto You. I pray that she would come out of the world, and cast the world out of her midst. God come and purify your bride with the cleansing fire of Your blessed Holy Spirit. Come and fill Your cleansed temple once again. Come and ignite a holy passion within our hearts. May they burn for you. Give us the pentecostal power that we have heard of but not experienced. O God send the fire! We desire to see Your glory fill this land! We want to see You lifted up and exalted in our midst. Purity and power are what we so desperately need. We cry out for Your presence. Come Lord Jesus Come, and turn our hearts back to You.
Amen.
Amen.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Contending for the Faith: Entire consecration.
Contending for the Faith: Entire consecration.: I would like to share an excerpt from the book Sanctification, by B. Carridine D.D. written in 1890. He is writing to Christians, encou...
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
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