NOTHING can separate us from the LOVE OF GOD (Romans 8:38-39)...but WE can separate OUSELVES from the WILL OF GOD.
Hosea 8 NKJV
1 "Set the trumpet to your mouth! He shall come like an eagle against the house of the Lord, Because they have transgressed My covenant And rebelled against My law. 2 Israel will cry to Me, 'My God, we know You!' 3 Israel has rejected the good; The enemy will pursue him. 4 "They set up kings, but not by Me; They made princes, but I did not acknowledge them. From their silver and gold They made idols for themselves-- That they might be cut off. 5 Your calf is rejected, O Samaria! My anger is aroused against them-- How long until they attain to innocence? 6 For from Israel is even this: A workman made it, and it is not God; But the calf of Samaria shall be broken to pieces. 7 "They sow the wind, And reap the whirlwind. The stalk has no bud; It shall never produce meal. If it should produce, Aliens would swallow it up. 8 Israel is swallowed up; Now they are among the Gentiles Like a vessel in which is no pleasure. 9 For they have gone up to Assyria, Like a wild donkey alone by itself; Ephraim has hired lovers. 10 Yes, though they have hired among the nations, Now I will gather them; And they shall sorrow a little, Because of the burden of the king of princes. 11 "Because Ephraim has made many altars for sin, They have become for him altars for sinning. 12 I have written for him the great things of My law, But they were considered a strange thing. 13 For the sacrifices of My offerings they sacrifice flesh and eat it, But the Lord does not accept them. Now He will remember their iniquity and punish their sins. They shall return to Egypt. 14 "For Israel has forgotten his Maker, And has built temples; Judah also has multiplied fortified cities; But I will send fire upon his cities, And it shall devour his palaces."
The list of verses and passages throughout Scripture which denote DISOBEDIENCE and its CONSEQUENCES are SO EXTENSIVE that attempting to even BEGIN to list them seems fruitless. Yet…we find that the LOVE of God for us is EVERLASTING. But many in the Church fail to recognize that the EXTENT of God’s LOVE does not measure our RELATIONSHIP with God.
God has and DOES love every human that He has ever created! Hitler…Saddam Hussein…Mussolini…Jack the Ripper…the Boston Strangler…Jeffrey Dahmer…child molesters…rapists…murderers…sexual deviants…adulterers…liars…racists…ME…and YOU!
God “so love the world, that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). And, as Romans 8 tells us, NOTHING can separate us from that love! No matter what we do…no matter how sinful we are…God LOVES us. Jesus didn’t die for good people: Jesus died for SINFUL people. And the Bible tells us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
But…and this is CRUCIAL to understand…God’s LOVE for us does not translate into SALVATION for us. God loves us whether we get SAVED or whether we remain a SINNER! The LOVE of God never ceases…it never changes! You see…Jesus died so that ALL may have life…and that ALL includes EVERYONE! Jesus died for us whether we love Him back or not!
The Bible tells us that it is God’s WILL that EVERY PERSON come to know and accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. The Bible says:
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV)
This text PLAINLY STATES the WILL OF GOD: that God is “not willing that any should perish.” Yet, here is a fact of history (life past), a fact of life (life present), and a fact of generations (life future): not EVERYONE has…or is…or will…accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. Thus, we KNOW that God does not ALWAYS get what He wants. Notice in the passage quoted at the beginning from Hosea…when, in verse 4, we find God saying “They set up kings, but not by me.” You see…what God DESIRED was NOT FOLLOWED by the Israel. The Bible is an OVERWHELMING display of God’s WILL being ignored by humanity…WITH the very EXISTENCE of DISOBEDIENCE being the mark of a CREATION which chooses to DISOBEY the WILL OF GOD.
How do we reconcile that God CAN DO ANYTHING and that GOD IS SOVEREIGN with the existence of DISOBEDIENCE?
We could/can NEVER truly understand what I call the WHY’S of God. We do know this: God is God…and He can do ANYTHING that He wants…and NOTHING can happen unless God ALLOWS it.
But…we must ALSO recognize THIS truth: that God often does not WANT what He ALLOWS!
Follow me here: The Word of God in its entirety shows us a God Who is ONLY:
GOOD
HOLY
RIGHTEOUS
MORAL
TRUE
LIGHT
The list could go on and on.
There is no EVIL or UNHOLINESS or IMMORALITY or UNRIGHTEOUSNESS or LIE or DARKNESS in God! These are works of EVIL…and NOTHING which comes from God is EVER evil! Therefore…the WILL of God is ALWAYS for GOOD! God can NEVER desire EVIL for ANYONE.
Again…“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV)
Does that passage say that God wants “some” to perish and “some” to repent?!? Or does that passage say that God does not WILL anyone to PERISH?!?
You see…God loves us SO MUCH that He wants us SAVED. Regardless of our evil ways…no matter how evil we may get…God, through His Holy Spirit, STRIVES with us in an effort to GIVE us the FREE GIFT of eternal life. That love took Jesus to a CROSS…the ULTIMATE ACT of LOVE towards a depraved humanity! And Jesus did NOT WAIT until we were GOOD before He died for us: He died while we were UNLOVABLE and STILL SINNERS (Romans 5:8 NKJV “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”)
Understanding that God WANTS all of humanity to receive the free gift of SALVATION is THE essential truth of Scripture. But…again…what God WANTS is NOT always what He gets. Yes…God CAN do ANYTHING…and NOTHING can happen unless He chooses to ALLOW it. The old saying “God is in control.” is true…but only IF we APPLY it correctly.
The very fact that God IS in control is what means we MUST ACCEPT that God can CHOOSE whatever He wants! And…God can therefore CHOOSE to NOT CONTROL certain things!
There is an old question that said “Can God create a rock that He could not lift?” The answer, based on the LIMITLESS POWER of God is “No.” God can do NOTHING that in and of itself LIMITS His power. You see…if the ROCK could be so big that the ROCK limited God’s power…then it is the ROCK that would then be in control! Many say that it is THAT fact that means that EVERYTHING that happens is GOD’S WILL. But…that is NOT true!
You see…NO CREATION can LIMIT the power of God. But…God cannot TRULY limit His Own power either. Herein lies the misunderstanding of God…His power…and how He allows mankind to CHOOSE obedience or disobedience.
When God allows mankind to CHOOSE to obey…or to choose NOT to obey…God is NOT LIMITING His power. The POWER OF SALVATION has ALREADY BEEN MANIFEST in the DEATH of Jesus Christ! Jesus became “the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world.” The work of salvation is ALREADY DONE! There is NOTHING ELSE that God has to do!
Yet…Jesus made salvation a FREE GIFT. Notice that salvation is denoted in Scripture as PAID FOR…and that it is OFFERED to EVERYONE. But…we ALL know that NO ONE has to accept ANYTHING which is OFFERED. God WANTS us to accept His FREE GIFT…but He CHOOSES to allow us to make that CHOICE.
It is not EASY to mesh the TRUTHS that God can do ANYTHING…and God ALLOWS things…with the TRUTH that God gives us CHOICES. If we seek to cling to a God who CONTROLS every aspect of mankind on this earth….then we struggle with God giving mankind a CHOICE.
The fact is this: God CAN control EVERYTHING and ANYTHING…yet He CHOOSES not to. That in NO WAY makes God any LESS God. You see…it is GOD who CHOOSES to ALLOW mankind CHOICES! If it was MANKIND dictating to God what we can CHOOSE…then THAT would be UNBIBLICAL.
So…we see this: When GOD chooses to NOT CONTROL...then God made that choice…and THAT still keeps God as SOVEREIGN.
Maybe we will NEVER understand the ways of God completely. We OFTEN ask “Why did God allow that?”
We often fail to understand ONE ESSENTIAL TRUTH: If God did not ALLOW a sin in one area…then God could not ALLOW a sin in ANOTHER area.
Here is an example: A man is about to rape and murder a child. The Spirit of God does not WANT that child raped or murdered. (If you do not understand THAT truth of God…then you TOTALLY misunderstand God!) God NEVER wants ANYONE to sin…EVER! In this situation…the love of God is shown in His love for the CHILD…yet, it is also shown in His love for the RAPIST/MURDERER. God wants to save BOTH lives in this situation! God is URGING the man to NOT rape and murder…as He is PLEADING with the man to SPARE the life of the child. Truth: rape and murder are DISOBEDIENCE to the WILL of God!
Sin is ALWAYS disobedience to God’s WILL! We ONLY get SIN when we DISOBEY what God is wanting…and what God is wanting is GOD’S WILL in that situation!
We can…and MUST…NEVER attribute to GOD the works of SATAN! And…ANY disobedience is SIN and of the DEVIL! It was NOT God who urged Hitler to MURDER and SLAUGHTER the Jews in the Holocaust! It WAS God trying to change the heart of Hitler…in hopes that Hitler would find ETERNAL LIFE and that Hitler would NOT murder and slaughter ANYONE!
Some use the truth that God CAN CONTROL everything as a basis for saying that God DOES CONTROL everything. NOT TRUE! God did NOT control Hitler as He murdered MILLIONS…SATAN did!
But that leads many to ask “Then why would God permit such evil?” Let’s face it: that question is born out of a belief that HITLER’S sins are WORSE than OUR sins! You see…we NEVER seem to ask that question about sins that we see as LESS EVIL (do not get me wrong…in the realm of what is EVIL, I do believe that LYING is NOT as EVIL as the MURDER OF MILLIONS: but, BOTH are STILL SINS!) But…we do not go around asking (after we have lied)…”Why would God permit such lying?”
God PERMITTED…ALLOWED…Hitler to murder millions because God ALSO allows men and women everywhere to LIE and to CHEAT and to LUST and to STEAL and to HAVE PERVERSE SEX and to BEAR FALSE WITNESS…get the point?
God is NO LESS GOD because He allows CHOICE…and DISOBEDIENCE. It is ONLY GOD that can ALLOW CHOICE.
God’s ways are not OUR ways….not always. Sometimes we OBEY God…and sometimes we DISOBEY God. Sometimes we FOLLOW God’s WILL…and sometimes we DO NOT FOLLOW God’s WILL.
Joshua 22:5 NKJV
But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul."
2 Samuel 22:22 NKJV
For I have kept the ways of the Lord, And have not wickedly departed from my God.
Just as with these two passages, we are able to understand that the OPPOSITE of these two passages is an “understood” truth. In Joshua, we see the command “to walk in all His ways”…but the people eventually disobeyed and DID NOT “walk in all His ways.” And…in Samuel, any act which departs from the “ways of the Lord” is noted as something done “wickedly.”
Now…back to the beginning:
NOTHING can separate us from the LOVE OF GOD (Romans 8:38-39)...but WE can separate OUSELVES from the WILL OF GOD.
And…if we SEPARATE ourselves from the WILL of God…we enter into DISOBEDIENCE. And that DISOBEDIENCE can lead us to an ETERNAL SEPARATION from God.
God LOVES us all. God loves ME. And God loves YOU.
You can NEVER be separated from the LOVE of God…found in Christ Jesus. Find that LOVE of God…and then remain in the WILL of God.
Make GODLY, OBEDIENT choices.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Origins of Evil: Was Evil Created By God?
Many struggle with the fact that EVIL exists. The thought is “Did God create evil? If God created Satan…and Satan is evil…then God MUST HAVE created evil!” The supposition is that if something EXISTS…then God must have created it.
Is this true? The Bible tells us this:
1 John 1:5 NKJV
“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”
So, in the Biblical/Spiritual analogy, LIGHT is GOOD…and DARKNESS is EVIL.
We see in Scripture the point at which God created the Universe. Stars…planets…the earth. Then, we come to this passage:
Genesis 1:3 NKJV
“Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.”
Many assume that this was the “creation” of light. Yet, again, we KNOW that God IS light…and, thus, we KNOW that light has ETERNALLY existed because God is ETERNAL…”from everlasting to everlasting.” (Psalm 90:2) Thus, we can KNOW that God was not CREATING light in Genesis 1:3. Instead, God was BRINGING...or REVEALING...light.
So, if God is LIGHT…then what is DARKNESS? Herein lies the misunderstanding of God which leads to MULITIPLE questions…and which often leads to BAD THEOLOGY.
One ESSENTIAL principle and truth of God which MUST be PROTECTED is this: God can do no evil…and NOTHING which comes from God can be evil. Therefore, we can ASSUREDLY answer the question “Did God create evil?” with a resounding “NO!”
But how do we rectify the prevailing thoughts and seemingly “contradictory” truths of God’s Word regarding EVIL and DARKNESS which DO exist? It is really not such a troublesome conundrum as many view it to be.
So…TRY to follow me here (lol):
1. LIGHT is GOD…because GOD is LIGHT. (This is seen earlier in 1 John 1:5.) If God is eternal (which He Is), then LIGHT itself was NOT created…it simply IS. Thus, that is why I noted that God did not CREATE light in Genesis 1:3...God was simply bringing the REVELATION of light into the created Universe.
2. DARKESS is not created: DARKNESS is simply the ABSENCE OF LIGHT. Merriam-Webster defines the word “dark” as “devoid or partially devoid of light : not receiving, reflecting, transmitting, or radiating light.” Thus, we see that when something is DARK, that “something” is not “receiving, reflecting, transmitting, or radiating light.” Further, we see that DARKNESS is NOT the PRESENCE of something…DARKNESS is the ABSENCE of LIGHT. As Einstein mused: “Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it is, well you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?” DARKNESS cannot even EXIST in LIGHT. You see…DARKNESS does not “exist” in DARKNESS…it only “exists” in the realm of LIGHT, and that LIGHT must be ABSENT to give “existence” to DARKNESS. (Whew! Lol)
You see, in Scripture we learn about the fall of Satan from Heaven. (Luke 10:18...Revelation 12:7-9) The details are few, but we discover that Satan was cast down to earth. I readily admit that we cannot KNOW everything regarding this process. We simply do NOT have enough information within God’s Word to KNOW FOR SURE.
But we CAN KNOW this: that, after God created the heavens and the earth, we find the earth “without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.” (Genesis 1:2 NKJV) So, we see that LIGHT is not present, as the verse says “darkness was on the face of the deep.” With DARKNESS being an ABSENCE OF LIGHT, then we KNOW that LIGHT is ABSENT.
Yet, notice this: Genesis 1:2 continues on to say “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” Then, in verse 3, God brings LIGHT into the world!
If the Spirit of God was PRESENT over the waters…then WHY was there DARKNESS??
Let's check Scripture for the answer.
Satan had been cast down out of heaven…and Satan had been cast down to earth. Satan is described in Ephesians 2:2 as “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience…” Therefore, the REALM of Satan is within the REALM of the EARTH…a SPIRITUAL realm which seeks to BLOCK the Spirit of God in the lives of those who live upon the earth.
Therefore, Satan BLOCKS the LIGHT of God! Throughout the Word of God, we see the workings of Satan as he tries to THWART and BLOCK the LIGHT OF GOD. In this way, Satan produces an ECLIPSE!
As with an earthly ECLIPSE of the SUN, Satan comes BETWEEN the LIGHT OF GOD and the EARTH. In its full form, Satan attempts to BLOCK the LIGHT of the SON…Jesus Christ! Within the lives of individuals, Satan is often SUCCESSFUL in that spiritual ECLIPSE, as men and women continue to walk in darkness…and many DIE in darkness.
So…let’s bring all of this back to the question: “Did God create evil?” Again…the answer is “NO!” We can never FULLY understand the workings of evil and its presence. God must ALLOW evil…that is sure…for it to even BE. But EVIL was not CREATED: EVIL is simply what is seen when DARKNESS comes. In other words, EVIL is the ABSENCE of GOD…the very ABSENCE of LIGHT.
DARKNESS cannot be made DARKER by ADDING more DARKNESS: DARKNESS is made DARKER by REMOVING LIGHT. Therefore, we realize that darkness NEVER has power over the light! You can never “bring darkness” into LIGHT: you can only bring LIGHT into DARKNESS! There is NEVER a possibility that DARKNESS can be used to OVERCOME the LIGHT. LIGHT is ALWAYS the CONTROLLING FACTOR in the situation!
Is anyone getting this?!? There are some POWERFUL truths born out of this revelation!
In reality, we see that DARKNESS can NOT WIN against the LIGHT OF GOD! Yes…there is EVIL in the WORLD. Yet, EVIL has NO POWER over the LIGHT! We too often give Satan MORE power than the Bible ascribes to him. Evil…DARKNESS…does NOT win due to its POWER…it only “wins” at times because the LIGHT has been REJECTED. The LIGHT can EASILY expel darkness…but that LIGHT must be BROUGHT into the situation...REVEALED!
You see…DARKNESS has no CREATIVE power. God “created”…He ALONE is CREATOR. God is LIGHT…therefore it is ONLY light that is CREATIVE. Again…DARKNESS is simply an ABSENCE OF LIGHT…so DARKNESS only exists when LIGHT is REJECTED or REMOVED.
Notice this about an ECLIPSE: it is DANGEROUS and DESTRUCTIVE to look on a SOLAR ECLIPSE! The DARKNESS which seeks to HIDE the light of the SUN is not TOTALLY successful! So, if you try to view the ECLIPSE with your naked eye, the POWER of the LIGHT of the SUN which still shines AROUND the DARKNESS becomes BLINDING in its POWER!
Can you see it?!?
The POWER of the LIGHT of the SON…Jesus Christ…may at times be ECLIPSED by SATAN and DARKNESS…but the LIGHT of the SON can NEVER be completely BLOCKED or ERADICATED in the world! And…it is DURING an ECLIPSE…a time of DARKESS…that the POWER of the SON can be seen in its TRUE POWER!
Mankind is allowed CHOICES by God. God does not BRING…or “create”…EVIL in our lives. We make the CHOICE to have EVIL…or DARKNESS…in our lives. And that DARKNESS does not come because of its own POWER…but it comes as a result of our REJECTION of LIGHT. When we choose DARKNESS…even then, that DARKNESS can only come if the LIGHT is removed. It is STILL the LIGHT which CONTROLS the DARKNESS…not vice versa. You see…DARKNESS has NO POWER over LIGHT.
We face TRIALS and TRIBULATIONS as we live here on earth. Those times are noted by Satan’s attempts at ECLIPSING the LIGHT OF GOD in our lives. Yet…we also know that there is LIGHT at the end of every tunnel. Trials come to an end. An ECLIPSE is only MOMENTARY…and it is not TOTAL even in its existence.
As we struggle with the fact that EVIL is in this world…and we recognize that EVIL is INCREASING in these last days…we must understand that God is NOT the one behind the evil. Mankind…individuals…are in DARKNESS because they have REJECTED the light. Many will NEVER accept the LIGHT…and they will forever live in darkness…even throughout eternity.
But…be clear in this truth…God did not create evil. EVIL is an untouchable, intangible DARKNESS which comes when mankind REJECTS the LIGHT of God in their lives. To live in DARKNESS…someone has to WANT to live in DARKNESS. EVIL is the ABSENCE OF LIGHT in the world.
So…a sobering thought: When we question the WHY of the existence of EVIL in the world, remember this truth:
Matthew 5:14 NKJV “You are the light of the world.”
If DARKNESS exists in the world around US…then maybe we have FAILED to BE the “light of the world.”
Why does evil exist in the world? Maybe because the Church has only shined its light in its magnificent structures that we call CHURCHES. And…maybe the LIGHT that “appears” so bright THERE in the CHURCH is ACTUALLY no more than a FLICKER from an EMBER of a FIRE that ONCE WAS!
So…a FAKE LIGHT or a WEAK LIGHT cannot DISPEL DARKNESS! Only TRUTH…LIGHT…can DISPEL DARKNESS! You see…FALSE DOCTRINE cannot DISPEL DARKNESS! But…we can look more closely at THAT truth at another time.
So…walk in the LIGHT…and DISPEL the DARKNESS. Evil CAN, and one day WILL, be defeated!
Be one who helps DEFEAT the DARKNESS of EVIL around you!
God bless,
Ron
Is this true? The Bible tells us this:
1 John 1:5 NKJV
“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.”
So, in the Biblical/Spiritual analogy, LIGHT is GOOD…and DARKNESS is EVIL.
We see in Scripture the point at which God created the Universe. Stars…planets…the earth. Then, we come to this passage:
Genesis 1:3 NKJV
“Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.”
Many assume that this was the “creation” of light. Yet, again, we KNOW that God IS light…and, thus, we KNOW that light has ETERNALLY existed because God is ETERNAL…”from everlasting to everlasting.” (Psalm 90:2) Thus, we can KNOW that God was not CREATING light in Genesis 1:3. Instead, God was BRINGING...or REVEALING...light.
So, if God is LIGHT…then what is DARKNESS? Herein lies the misunderstanding of God which leads to MULITIPLE questions…and which often leads to BAD THEOLOGY.
One ESSENTIAL principle and truth of God which MUST be PROTECTED is this: God can do no evil…and NOTHING which comes from God can be evil. Therefore, we can ASSUREDLY answer the question “Did God create evil?” with a resounding “NO!”
But how do we rectify the prevailing thoughts and seemingly “contradictory” truths of God’s Word regarding EVIL and DARKNESS which DO exist? It is really not such a troublesome conundrum as many view it to be.
So…TRY to follow me here (lol):
1. LIGHT is GOD…because GOD is LIGHT. (This is seen earlier in 1 John 1:5.) If God is eternal (which He Is), then LIGHT itself was NOT created…it simply IS. Thus, that is why I noted that God did not CREATE light in Genesis 1:3...God was simply bringing the REVELATION of light into the created Universe.
2. DARKESS is not created: DARKNESS is simply the ABSENCE OF LIGHT. Merriam-Webster defines the word “dark” as “devoid or partially devoid of light : not receiving, reflecting, transmitting, or radiating light.” Thus, we see that when something is DARK, that “something” is not “receiving, reflecting, transmitting, or radiating light.” Further, we see that DARKNESS is NOT the PRESENCE of something…DARKNESS is the ABSENCE of LIGHT. As Einstein mused: “Darkness is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light. But if you have no light constantly, you have nothing and its called darkness, isn’t it? In reality, darkness isn’t. If it is, well you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn’t you?” DARKNESS cannot even EXIST in LIGHT. You see…DARKNESS does not “exist” in DARKNESS…it only “exists” in the realm of LIGHT, and that LIGHT must be ABSENT to give “existence” to DARKNESS. (Whew! Lol)
You see, in Scripture we learn about the fall of Satan from Heaven. (Luke 10:18...Revelation 12:7-9) The details are few, but we discover that Satan was cast down to earth. I readily admit that we cannot KNOW everything regarding this process. We simply do NOT have enough information within God’s Word to KNOW FOR SURE.
But we CAN KNOW this: that, after God created the heavens and the earth, we find the earth “without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.” (Genesis 1:2 NKJV) So, we see that LIGHT is not present, as the verse says “darkness was on the face of the deep.” With DARKNESS being an ABSENCE OF LIGHT, then we KNOW that LIGHT is ABSENT.
Yet, notice this: Genesis 1:2 continues on to say “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” Then, in verse 3, God brings LIGHT into the world!
If the Spirit of God was PRESENT over the waters…then WHY was there DARKNESS??
Let's check Scripture for the answer.
Satan had been cast down out of heaven…and Satan had been cast down to earth. Satan is described in Ephesians 2:2 as “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience…” Therefore, the REALM of Satan is within the REALM of the EARTH…a SPIRITUAL realm which seeks to BLOCK the Spirit of God in the lives of those who live upon the earth.
Therefore, Satan BLOCKS the LIGHT of God! Throughout the Word of God, we see the workings of Satan as he tries to THWART and BLOCK the LIGHT OF GOD. In this way, Satan produces an ECLIPSE!
As with an earthly ECLIPSE of the SUN, Satan comes BETWEEN the LIGHT OF GOD and the EARTH. In its full form, Satan attempts to BLOCK the LIGHT of the SON…Jesus Christ! Within the lives of individuals, Satan is often SUCCESSFUL in that spiritual ECLIPSE, as men and women continue to walk in darkness…and many DIE in darkness.
So…let’s bring all of this back to the question: “Did God create evil?” Again…the answer is “NO!” We can never FULLY understand the workings of evil and its presence. God must ALLOW evil…that is sure…for it to even BE. But EVIL was not CREATED: EVIL is simply what is seen when DARKNESS comes. In other words, EVIL is the ABSENCE of GOD…the very ABSENCE of LIGHT.
DARKNESS cannot be made DARKER by ADDING more DARKNESS: DARKNESS is made DARKER by REMOVING LIGHT. Therefore, we realize that darkness NEVER has power over the light! You can never “bring darkness” into LIGHT: you can only bring LIGHT into DARKNESS! There is NEVER a possibility that DARKNESS can be used to OVERCOME the LIGHT. LIGHT is ALWAYS the CONTROLLING FACTOR in the situation!
Is anyone getting this?!? There are some POWERFUL truths born out of this revelation!
In reality, we see that DARKNESS can NOT WIN against the LIGHT OF GOD! Yes…there is EVIL in the WORLD. Yet, EVIL has NO POWER over the LIGHT! We too often give Satan MORE power than the Bible ascribes to him. Evil…DARKNESS…does NOT win due to its POWER…it only “wins” at times because the LIGHT has been REJECTED. The LIGHT can EASILY expel darkness…but that LIGHT must be BROUGHT into the situation...REVEALED!
You see…DARKNESS has no CREATIVE power. God “created”…He ALONE is CREATOR. God is LIGHT…therefore it is ONLY light that is CREATIVE. Again…DARKNESS is simply an ABSENCE OF LIGHT…so DARKNESS only exists when LIGHT is REJECTED or REMOVED.
Notice this about an ECLIPSE: it is DANGEROUS and DESTRUCTIVE to look on a SOLAR ECLIPSE! The DARKNESS which seeks to HIDE the light of the SUN is not TOTALLY successful! So, if you try to view the ECLIPSE with your naked eye, the POWER of the LIGHT of the SUN which still shines AROUND the DARKNESS becomes BLINDING in its POWER!
Can you see it?!?
The POWER of the LIGHT of the SON…Jesus Christ…may at times be ECLIPSED by SATAN and DARKNESS…but the LIGHT of the SON can NEVER be completely BLOCKED or ERADICATED in the world! And…it is DURING an ECLIPSE…a time of DARKESS…that the POWER of the SON can be seen in its TRUE POWER!
Mankind is allowed CHOICES by God. God does not BRING…or “create”…EVIL in our lives. We make the CHOICE to have EVIL…or DARKNESS…in our lives. And that DARKNESS does not come because of its own POWER…but it comes as a result of our REJECTION of LIGHT. When we choose DARKNESS…even then, that DARKNESS can only come if the LIGHT is removed. It is STILL the LIGHT which CONTROLS the DARKNESS…not vice versa. You see…DARKNESS has NO POWER over LIGHT.
We face TRIALS and TRIBULATIONS as we live here on earth. Those times are noted by Satan’s attempts at ECLIPSING the LIGHT OF GOD in our lives. Yet…we also know that there is LIGHT at the end of every tunnel. Trials come to an end. An ECLIPSE is only MOMENTARY…and it is not TOTAL even in its existence.
As we struggle with the fact that EVIL is in this world…and we recognize that EVIL is INCREASING in these last days…we must understand that God is NOT the one behind the evil. Mankind…individuals…are in DARKNESS because they have REJECTED the light. Many will NEVER accept the LIGHT…and they will forever live in darkness…even throughout eternity.
But…be clear in this truth…God did not create evil. EVIL is an untouchable, intangible DARKNESS which comes when mankind REJECTS the LIGHT of God in their lives. To live in DARKNESS…someone has to WANT to live in DARKNESS. EVIL is the ABSENCE OF LIGHT in the world.
So…a sobering thought: When we question the WHY of the existence of EVIL in the world, remember this truth:
Matthew 5:14 NKJV “You are the light of the world.”
If DARKNESS exists in the world around US…then maybe we have FAILED to BE the “light of the world.”
Why does evil exist in the world? Maybe because the Church has only shined its light in its magnificent structures that we call CHURCHES. And…maybe the LIGHT that “appears” so bright THERE in the CHURCH is ACTUALLY no more than a FLICKER from an EMBER of a FIRE that ONCE WAS!
So…a FAKE LIGHT or a WEAK LIGHT cannot DISPEL DARKNESS! Only TRUTH…LIGHT…can DISPEL DARKNESS! You see…FALSE DOCTRINE cannot DISPEL DARKNESS! But…we can look more closely at THAT truth at another time.
So…walk in the LIGHT…and DISPEL the DARKNESS. Evil CAN, and one day WILL, be defeated!
Be one who helps DEFEAT the DARKNESS of EVIL around you!
God bless,
Ron
Monday, December 17, 2012
Weapons of Our Warfare
In Spiritual battles...the weapons of our warfare are forged in the furnace of TRUTH.
FALSE DOCTRINE sends people into battle with TOY WEAPONS...leaving the Church wondering why Satan seems so victorious in these last days.
Satan's lies are NO MATCH for TRUTH!
But...against PLASTIC WEAPONRY...Satan has been having a field day!
The results? Deceived soldiers enter battle believing their toy guns can wipe out the enemy. As the toy gun makes the SOUND of battle, its lack of REAL AMMUNITION becomes gravely evident...as soldiers are quickly overpowered and subdued, lying wounded and broken...many unto death.
FAKE WEAPONRY only works in FAKE BATTLES!
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."
Knowledge and wisdom are founded in TRUTH...and only TRUTH can bring "every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." Our minds are CAPTIVE...whether to TRUTH or to LIE...whether to CHRIST or to SATAN.
FALSE DOCTRINE is the equivalent of asking SATAN to supply the WEAPONRY by which we are to defeat him! In so doing, the Church has been handed TOY GUNS with which to fight...toys equipped with REALISTIC SOUNDS and ACTIVE TRIGGERS...but toys ABSENT of any REAL POWER and AMMUNITION.
Satan never even FLINCHES at a TOY SWORD swung in defiance as the soldier proclaims "God wants us RICH and COMFORTABLE!"
It is only when the TRUE SWORD...the Sword of the Spirit...is wielded by the hands of a soldier established in TRUTH...as that Soldier proclaims "Jesus is Lord! And Jesus calls us to accept His gift of GRACE through faith, believing that He IS the Son of God...Who was crucified, buried, in the tomb for 3 days, and Who rose again after 3 days...and He is sitting at the right hand of the Father, ever making intercession for you and for me! And the call of Jesus to each of us who accapts that free gift? A call to BATTLE...as He commands us to TAKE UP THE CROSS, AND FOLLOW HIM!"...it is only THEN that TRUTH is able to PULL DOWN STRONGHOLDS...STRONGHOLDS of:
Sin and Sorrow!
Deception and Doubt!
Pain and Persecution!
When the Church lays down its TOY GUNS and once again picks up the SWORD of TRUTH...it is THEN that the works of Satan in the lives of the members...AND in the lives of those we encounter daily...will begin to CRUMBLE, as TRUTH bombards the STRONGHOLDS of DECEPTION that has, for so long, given the people a FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.
Let me be clear:
Satan basks in SAFETY when pulpits are filled with the message of EARTHLY GAIN and RICHES...but Satan COWERS in DEFEAT when the Body of Christ...the Army of God...takes up their CROSS and their Sword of Truth and they BOLDLY march into battle...willing to DIE for the CAUSE OF CHRIST in defense of TRUTH.
The preaching of FALSE DOCTRINE actually EMPOWERS Satan: the preaching of TRUTH actually DISARMS Satan!
The WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE are forged in TRUTH...and the CROSS we bear is NOT a hindrance...it is our STRENGTH in battle!
It is time the Church lays down its TOY GUNS and, once again, firmly takes hold of the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT as it marches into battle. If we march in OBEDIENCE ("...and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.")...the battle is already won...through the power of Jesus Christ!
In Christ,
Ron
FALSE DOCTRINE sends people into battle with TOY WEAPONS...leaving the Church wondering why Satan seems so victorious in these last days.
Satan's lies are NO MATCH for TRUTH!
But...against PLASTIC WEAPONRY...Satan has been having a field day!
The results? Deceived soldiers enter battle believing their toy guns can wipe out the enemy. As the toy gun makes the SOUND of battle, its lack of REAL AMMUNITION becomes gravely evident...as soldiers are quickly overpowered and subdued, lying wounded and broken...many unto death.
FAKE WEAPONRY only works in FAKE BATTLES!
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV
"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."
Knowledge and wisdom are founded in TRUTH...and only TRUTH can bring "every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ." Our minds are CAPTIVE...whether to TRUTH or to LIE...whether to CHRIST or to SATAN.
FALSE DOCTRINE is the equivalent of asking SATAN to supply the WEAPONRY by which we are to defeat him! In so doing, the Church has been handed TOY GUNS with which to fight...toys equipped with REALISTIC SOUNDS and ACTIVE TRIGGERS...but toys ABSENT of any REAL POWER and AMMUNITION.
Satan never even FLINCHES at a TOY SWORD swung in defiance as the soldier proclaims "God wants us RICH and COMFORTABLE!"
It is only when the TRUE SWORD...the Sword of the Spirit...is wielded by the hands of a soldier established in TRUTH...as that Soldier proclaims "Jesus is Lord! And Jesus calls us to accept His gift of GRACE through faith, believing that He IS the Son of God...Who was crucified, buried, in the tomb for 3 days, and Who rose again after 3 days...and He is sitting at the right hand of the Father, ever making intercession for you and for me! And the call of Jesus to each of us who accapts that free gift? A call to BATTLE...as He commands us to TAKE UP THE CROSS, AND FOLLOW HIM!"...it is only THEN that TRUTH is able to PULL DOWN STRONGHOLDS...STRONGHOLDS of:
Sin and Sorrow!
Deception and Doubt!
Pain and Persecution!
When the Church lays down its TOY GUNS and once again picks up the SWORD of TRUTH...it is THEN that the works of Satan in the lives of the members...AND in the lives of those we encounter daily...will begin to CRUMBLE, as TRUTH bombards the STRONGHOLDS of DECEPTION that has, for so long, given the people a FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY.
Let me be clear:
Satan basks in SAFETY when pulpits are filled with the message of EARTHLY GAIN and RICHES...but Satan COWERS in DEFEAT when the Body of Christ...the Army of God...takes up their CROSS and their Sword of Truth and they BOLDLY march into battle...willing to DIE for the CAUSE OF CHRIST in defense of TRUTH.
The preaching of FALSE DOCTRINE actually EMPOWERS Satan: the preaching of TRUTH actually DISARMS Satan!
The WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE are forged in TRUTH...and the CROSS we bear is NOT a hindrance...it is our STRENGTH in battle!
It is time the Church lays down its TOY GUNS and, once again, firmly takes hold of the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT as it marches into battle. If we march in OBEDIENCE ("...and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.")...the battle is already won...through the power of Jesus Christ!
In Christ,
Ron
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
MORALITY versus TRUTH?
Many in the Church today cannot understand the many differences in doctrinal positions which are being taught within various churches and denominations.
Through study and research, I am finding that most people who label themselves as "Christian" have a false belief that “all churches are basically teaching the same things.”
Yet...as clearly shown in God’s Word...there are a MYRIAD of false teachings and false doctrines…all being propagated by throngs of false teachers and false prophets.
For so long, I have wondered WHY so many “Christians” are blind to false teaching…failing to know WHAT is false...failing to know that the Bible specifically mentions the SUBJECT MATTER of false doctrine.
The Bible did not simply deal with false doctrine in some abstract way...and...in most cases...the SPECIFIC false doctrine was mentioned within the context of Scripture.
Here is a passage I have used often…but...once more...examine this passage…noting the FALSE DOCTRINE which Paul was speaking AGAINST.
1 Timothy 6:1-11 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
1. Paul mentions two groups…bondservants and masters.
2. Paul mentions two types of masters…believing and unbelieving (mentioned abstractly in nature).
3. Paul tells servants to serve faithfully…not to “despise” the position of servant.
4. Paul transitions by saying that this situation…this position of faithful, honoring servant…is to be taught and desired, saying it is a “doctrine which accords with godliness”.
5. Paul labels those who preach OTHERWISE…those who despise being a SERVANT...those who believe that they are made to be the MASTER…are “proud, knowing nothing” and they are actually birthing “envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wrangling of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth…”
6. Paul then exposes the erroneous belief of those who teach “otherwise”…as he says they “suppose that godliness is a means of gain.”
7. Paul says “withdraw yourself” from anyone who teaches that “godliness is a means of gain.”
8. Paul states that “godliness” is NOT marked by EARTHLY RICHES…saying “godliness with contentment is great gain.”
9. Paul shows the fleeting nature of EARTHLY RICHES…saying “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
10. Paul says we are to be CONTENT if we have food and clothing…to be CONTENT if we have what we NEED.
11. Paul SPECIFICALLY says “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
12. Paul exposes why some seek RICHES and the “evil” behind that desire: GREED.
“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness…”
13. Paul says this “greediness” is actually like committing spiritual suicide: “…for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
14. Paul says “flee from these things”….RUN AWAY from the false teaching that he has just mentioned!
15. Paul says to pursue “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness” INSTEAD of seeking to be wealthy and falsely believing that “godliness is a means of gain"...which fully renounces ANY belief that being a Christian comes with a "promise of God" by which He makes believers WEALTHY!
So…in this passage of Scripture, Paul SPECIFICALLY and PLAINLY states that it is FALSE TEACHING when someone says “God promises every Christian EARTHLY WEALTH and RICHES if they follow certain principles. We are to seek what God wants for His children…and God wants His children RICH!”
But...what about the more SUBTLE misrepresentations of God’s Word by MANY famous preachers today?
Why does it seem that so many believers cannot see what…at least TO ME…is so plain and evident:
Many doctrines being preached by the most famous ministers of our day...and their faithful minions…men with HUGE churches and HUGE followings…are simply FALSE DOCTRINE!
God HAS revealed that answer.
I often say:
“It isn’t rocket science!”
The answer to the deception is really so simple! The reason so many people cannot see the TRUTH is clear!
As I have often said…if Satan came in screaming “I AM SATAN AND I CAME TO DESTROY YOU! JESUS IS NOT LORD…I AM!” we would all KNOW that it was Satan…now wouldn’t we!?!
You see…Satan comes as an “angel of light”…and his FALSE TEACHERS and FALSE PROPHETS come as "wolves in sheep's clothing."
Satan “introduces destructive heresies” silently…”secretly." Satan PACKAGES his lies in a FACADE of TRUTH.
But…my real purpose today is to expose one MAJOR deception of Satan which is POWERFUL…a method of Satan that is SO DECEPTIVE that I would call this tactic BRILLIANT!
Satan has MASTERFULLY crafted a method that is AMAZINGLY ADEPT at DECEIVING even the elect!
I have to say…Satan has done his homework well…and he has truly found a way to become the MASTER DECEIVER.
So…"What is that method?!” you are asking.
Well…here it is:
Satan has successfully infiltrated the Church with the preaching of MORALITY!!!
Some of you are saying:
“WHAT!?! What could POSSIBLY be wrong with MORALITY!?!”
Listen to me…and pay close attention...discerning this truth prayerfully:
Preaching MORALITY does not equate to preaching TRUTH.
Plato, Socrates, Confucius, Gandhi, The Dali Lama…each of these preached MORALITY!
The writings and teachings of the men just listed are FULL of MORALITY.
These men taught:
Wisdom, love, care, spirituality, helping the poor, feeding the hungry, being “good”, pursuing a higher power, seeking peace…the list can go on and on.
But...what these men did NOT preach is this:
THE WORD OF GOD!
These men did NOT preach TRUTH!
These men did NOT preach JESUS CHRIST!
Can you see it!?!
Preaching MORALITY is not the same as preaching THE UNCOMPROMISING WORD OF GOD!
Today…many have followed this EXACT SAME path of preaching…preaching a “form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”
Instead of “Thus saith the Lord!”...many ministers are preaching “Thus saith the MORAL CODE!"...or..."Thus saith the MOTIVATIONAL PERSPECTIVE!"
MORALITY is not CHRISTIANITY!
MORALITY will not get you to heaven…SALVATION will!
MORALITY is not JESUS!
MORALITY is a TRAIT…not a CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE!
We are not called to be MORAL…we are called to be HOLY and RIGHTEOUS!
The Bible is CLEAR:
A MORAL man can still die and go to hell if he does not receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior by repenting of his sins and accepting the grace of Jesus by faith.
MENTIONING Jesus in a sermon does NOT equate to preaching the GOSPEL!
In MOST sermons today we hear MORALITY being preached…NOT truth…NOT real Christianity!
The sermons are motivational speeches intent on helping someone live a life of morality and contentment…even HELPING people ACCEPT their spiritual existence “as is”…expressing the mantra “Hey, we all sin and we are imperfect! Accept your faults and do not judge yourself for them."
Yet…The BIBLE says that we NEED to “judge” ourselves…to “search” ourselves…and we are to pray:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my anxieties. And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)
---MORALITY preaching most often steers away from mentioning SIN and the need for OBEDIENCE.
---MORALITY preaching most often tells the listener what they GAIN (in the earthly realm) by serving God.
---MORALITY preaching is most often concerned with "Living in FAVOR!" instead of "Take up your cross..."
---MORALITY preaching most often makes its focus EARTHLY WEALTH instead of ETERNAL GAIN.
---MORALITY preaching most often says "God loves you just as you are!"...while never QUALIFYING that truth by saying "In Christ, we are a new creation...never again to be who we once WERE! If we are SAVED...then we must be CHANGED!"
Simply put…MORALITY preaching gets our focus on MORAL STANDARDS instead of GOD’S STANDARDS…and there IS a difference!
So many of the men I mentioned earlier were MORAL…yet they were men who followed FALSE GODS! They MET the standards of MORALITY…but they FAILED to meet the standards of GOD!
Lives are NOT CHANGED by the preaching of MORALITY...lives are changed by the preaching of the GOSPEL…the Gospel of Jesus Christ...Him crucified and risen from the dead!
Lives are NOT CHANGED by MORALITY…they are changed by TRUTH!
John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
J.C. Ryle once said:
“There are three things which men never ought to trifle with: a little poison, a little false doctrine, and a little sin.”
May we search the Scriptures to find TRUTH...not just in a search for MORALITY.
Through study and research, I am finding that most people who label themselves as "Christian" have a false belief that “all churches are basically teaching the same things.”
Yet...as clearly shown in God’s Word...there are a MYRIAD of false teachings and false doctrines…all being propagated by throngs of false teachers and false prophets.
For so long, I have wondered WHY so many “Christians” are blind to false teaching…failing to know WHAT is false...failing to know that the Bible specifically mentions the SUBJECT MATTER of false doctrine.
The Bible did not simply deal with false doctrine in some abstract way...and...in most cases...the SPECIFIC false doctrine was mentioned within the context of Scripture.
Here is a passage I have used often…but...once more...examine this passage…noting the FALSE DOCTRINE which Paul was speaking AGAINST.
1 Timothy 6:1-11 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed. 2 And those who have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren, but rather serve them because those who are benefited are believers and beloved. Teach and exhort these things. 3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, 4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, 5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself. 6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.
1. Paul mentions two groups…bondservants and masters.
2. Paul mentions two types of masters…believing and unbelieving (mentioned abstractly in nature).
3. Paul tells servants to serve faithfully…not to “despise” the position of servant.
4. Paul transitions by saying that this situation…this position of faithful, honoring servant…is to be taught and desired, saying it is a “doctrine which accords with godliness”.
5. Paul labels those who preach OTHERWISE…those who despise being a SERVANT...those who believe that they are made to be the MASTER…are “proud, knowing nothing” and they are actually birthing “envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wrangling of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth…”
6. Paul then exposes the erroneous belief of those who teach “otherwise”…as he says they “suppose that godliness is a means of gain.”
7. Paul says “withdraw yourself” from anyone who teaches that “godliness is a means of gain.”
8. Paul states that “godliness” is NOT marked by EARTHLY RICHES…saying “godliness with contentment is great gain.”
9. Paul shows the fleeting nature of EARTHLY RICHES…saying “we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
10. Paul says we are to be CONTENT if we have food and clothing…to be CONTENT if we have what we NEED.
11. Paul SPECIFICALLY says “those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
12. Paul exposes why some seek RICHES and the “evil” behind that desire: GREED.
“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness…”
13. Paul says this “greediness” is actually like committing spiritual suicide: “…for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
14. Paul says “flee from these things”….RUN AWAY from the false teaching that he has just mentioned!
15. Paul says to pursue “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness” INSTEAD of seeking to be wealthy and falsely believing that “godliness is a means of gain"...which fully renounces ANY belief that being a Christian comes with a "promise of God" by which He makes believers WEALTHY!
So…in this passage of Scripture, Paul SPECIFICALLY and PLAINLY states that it is FALSE TEACHING when someone says “God promises every Christian EARTHLY WEALTH and RICHES if they follow certain principles. We are to seek what God wants for His children…and God wants His children RICH!”
But...what about the more SUBTLE misrepresentations of God’s Word by MANY famous preachers today?
Why does it seem that so many believers cannot see what…at least TO ME…is so plain and evident:
Many doctrines being preached by the most famous ministers of our day...and their faithful minions…men with HUGE churches and HUGE followings…are simply FALSE DOCTRINE!
God HAS revealed that answer.
I often say:
“It isn’t rocket science!”
The answer to the deception is really so simple! The reason so many people cannot see the TRUTH is clear!
As I have often said…if Satan came in screaming “I AM SATAN AND I CAME TO DESTROY YOU! JESUS IS NOT LORD…I AM!” we would all KNOW that it was Satan…now wouldn’t we!?!
You see…Satan comes as an “angel of light”…and his FALSE TEACHERS and FALSE PROPHETS come as "wolves in sheep's clothing."
Satan “introduces destructive heresies” silently…”secretly." Satan PACKAGES his lies in a FACADE of TRUTH.
But…my real purpose today is to expose one MAJOR deception of Satan which is POWERFUL…a method of Satan that is SO DECEPTIVE that I would call this tactic BRILLIANT!
Satan has MASTERFULLY crafted a method that is AMAZINGLY ADEPT at DECEIVING even the elect!
I have to say…Satan has done his homework well…and he has truly found a way to become the MASTER DECEIVER.
So…"What is that method?!” you are asking.
Well…here it is:
Satan has successfully infiltrated the Church with the preaching of MORALITY!!!
Some of you are saying:
“WHAT!?! What could POSSIBLY be wrong with MORALITY!?!”
Listen to me…and pay close attention...discerning this truth prayerfully:
Preaching MORALITY does not equate to preaching TRUTH.
Plato, Socrates, Confucius, Gandhi, The Dali Lama…each of these preached MORALITY!
The writings and teachings of the men just listed are FULL of MORALITY.
These men taught:
Wisdom, love, care, spirituality, helping the poor, feeding the hungry, being “good”, pursuing a higher power, seeking peace…the list can go on and on.
But...what these men did NOT preach is this:
THE WORD OF GOD!
These men did NOT preach TRUTH!
These men did NOT preach JESUS CHRIST!
Can you see it!?!
Preaching MORALITY is not the same as preaching THE UNCOMPROMISING WORD OF GOD!
Today…many have followed this EXACT SAME path of preaching…preaching a “form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”
Instead of “Thus saith the Lord!”...many ministers are preaching “Thus saith the MORAL CODE!"...or..."Thus saith the MOTIVATIONAL PERSPECTIVE!"
MORALITY is not CHRISTIANITY!
MORALITY will not get you to heaven…SALVATION will!
MORALITY is not JESUS!
MORALITY is a TRAIT…not a CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE!
We are not called to be MORAL…we are called to be HOLY and RIGHTEOUS!
The Bible is CLEAR:
A MORAL man can still die and go to hell if he does not receive Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior by repenting of his sins and accepting the grace of Jesus by faith.
MENTIONING Jesus in a sermon does NOT equate to preaching the GOSPEL!
In MOST sermons today we hear MORALITY being preached…NOT truth…NOT real Christianity!
The sermons are motivational speeches intent on helping someone live a life of morality and contentment…even HELPING people ACCEPT their spiritual existence “as is”…expressing the mantra “Hey, we all sin and we are imperfect! Accept your faults and do not judge yourself for them."
Yet…The BIBLE says that we NEED to “judge” ourselves…to “search” ourselves…and we are to pray:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my anxieties. And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24)
---MORALITY preaching most often steers away from mentioning SIN and the need for OBEDIENCE.
---MORALITY preaching most often tells the listener what they GAIN (in the earthly realm) by serving God.
---MORALITY preaching is most often concerned with "Living in FAVOR!" instead of "Take up your cross..."
---MORALITY preaching most often makes its focus EARTHLY WEALTH instead of ETERNAL GAIN.
---MORALITY preaching most often says "God loves you just as you are!"...while never QUALIFYING that truth by saying "In Christ, we are a new creation...never again to be who we once WERE! If we are SAVED...then we must be CHANGED!"
Simply put…MORALITY preaching gets our focus on MORAL STANDARDS instead of GOD’S STANDARDS…and there IS a difference!
So many of the men I mentioned earlier were MORAL…yet they were men who followed FALSE GODS! They MET the standards of MORALITY…but they FAILED to meet the standards of GOD!
Lives are NOT CHANGED by the preaching of MORALITY...lives are changed by the preaching of the GOSPEL…the Gospel of Jesus Christ...Him crucified and risen from the dead!
Lives are NOT CHANGED by MORALITY…they are changed by TRUTH!
John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
J.C. Ryle once said:
“There are three things which men never ought to trifle with: a little poison, a little false doctrine, and a little sin.”
May we search the Scriptures to find TRUTH...not just in a search for MORALITY.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Welcome to OBLIVION
WELCOME TO OBLIVION…the city of the masses!
It is a quaint place…a place where there is no trouble, no dissension, no clutter, no hardship, no judgment, no worry, no pain, no rebuke, no reproof, no discomfort, no repentance, no confession, no conviction, no remorse, no death, no wrath, no tomorrow, no eternity…and NO REALITY.
You see…the path leading to this city is DECEPTION AVENUE. Once inside the city limits, you will find EASY STREET and COMFORT COVE and PROSPERITY LANE. You will find no dead ends in OBLIVION…every path leads to BLESSINGS PARKWAY which feeds back in to PROSPERITY LANE.
The town square is lined with ROSES…because EVERYTHING is always coming up ROSES in OBLIVION. The historic homes which surround the square are all in pristine condition…at least on the OUTSIDE. The laws of OBLIVION regulate the APPEARANCE of the residences…and so much time is spent maintaining the FAÇADE that there is no time left to deal with the INTERIOR of each dwelling place. The landscape is IMMACULATE…a source of PRIDE of the community.
There are no JUDGES in OBLIVION: they are just not needed…nor are they welcome. The LAW? No…there is no SHERIFF, no POLICE: who needs law enforcement when no one breaks the law!
There IS a FIRE DEPARTMENT…just in case a FIRE breaks out and it needs to be QUENCHED quickly! Oh…do not misunderstand: there ARE fires…but those are CONTROLLED burnings which are PURPOSELY SET. But be sure…the FIRE DEPARTMENT is on top of things…and no FIRE will break out on its own…especially one fueled by a CLEANSING WIND.
The Newspaper is a source of GREAT PRIDE within the community! THE NEWS LEADER always contains such POSITIVE MESSAGES. You never read anything which isn’t UPLIFTING and ENCOURAGING! And the ADVERTISEMENTS are TERRIFIC! Of course…there are no WANT ADS: I mean, in OBLIVION, everyone already has all they could possibly want. Every desire is met as it is simply DECLARED and PROCLAIMED. Long ago, the founders of OBLIVION realized that they could CREATE by the power of their SPOKEN WORD. So…day in and day out…THE NEWS LEADER makes sure that what is spoken into the lives of the OBLIVIONS are words of POSITIVITY.
Of course…there is no ELECTRICITY within the boundaries of OBLIVION: Negativity is NOT ALLOWED…and, as you know, you cannot have POWER without a POSITIVE and a NEGATIVE. But…the OBLIVIONS see that as a BLESSING: that way, when darkness comes, they cannot see what is staring them right in the face…and they, therefore, do not have to DEAL with what they CANNOT SEE.
The RECREATIONAL AREAS of OBLIVION are IMMACULATE…and they are ALWAYS FULL! People FLOCK to the PLAY AREAS daily! They are the MOST POPULAR places in the whole city! Well…they share that honor with the CHURCHES of OBLIVION.
The Churches? OH…WHAT A SIGHT! They are all WHITE and they are sources of GREAT PRIDE within the community. Never before has MAN built such EXTRAVAGANT EDIFICES…with STAINED GLASS WINDOWS through which light can enter, yet you cannot see the INTERIOR through them. But…they are OH SO BEAUTIFUL in their APPEARANCE! The ACTIVITY around the CHURCH is only equaled by the AMUSEMENT found in the RECREATIONAL AREAS! You can depend on the CHURCH to be a CONSTANT: always there, always encouraging, never judging. The sermons are PRACTICAL…not CONFRONTATIONAL: no DISCOMFORT or UNEASINESS in the message which would create a sense of CONVICTION. NO! The Churches in OBLIVION realize that ATTENDANCE is the KEY to GROWTH…so APPEALING is the CENTRAL GOAL of its existence. The ULTIMATE GOAL is…and must be…to GET PEOPLE TO CHURCH. If they are CHURCHED…they MUST be OK!
LOOK! I see the Mayor of OBLIVION coming down EASY STREET now! Let me introduce you to him: he is a GREAT man!
Everyone…this is our LEADER. Say hello to…the Honorable Dr. D.C. Lucifer!
Come be a part of OBLIVION! It is a place where YOUR DESIRE is OUR DEVOTION...and YOUR PLEASURE is OUR PURPOSE! It is a great place to live…and a great place to raise your children! You will LOVE it!
Hope to see you there: god BLESS!
It is a quaint place…a place where there is no trouble, no dissension, no clutter, no hardship, no judgment, no worry, no pain, no rebuke, no reproof, no discomfort, no repentance, no confession, no conviction, no remorse, no death, no wrath, no tomorrow, no eternity…and NO REALITY.
You see…the path leading to this city is DECEPTION AVENUE. Once inside the city limits, you will find EASY STREET and COMFORT COVE and PROSPERITY LANE. You will find no dead ends in OBLIVION…every path leads to BLESSINGS PARKWAY which feeds back in to PROSPERITY LANE.
The town square is lined with ROSES…because EVERYTHING is always coming up ROSES in OBLIVION. The historic homes which surround the square are all in pristine condition…at least on the OUTSIDE. The laws of OBLIVION regulate the APPEARANCE of the residences…and so much time is spent maintaining the FAÇADE that there is no time left to deal with the INTERIOR of each dwelling place. The landscape is IMMACULATE…a source of PRIDE of the community.
There are no JUDGES in OBLIVION: they are just not needed…nor are they welcome. The LAW? No…there is no SHERIFF, no POLICE: who needs law enforcement when no one breaks the law!
There IS a FIRE DEPARTMENT…just in case a FIRE breaks out and it needs to be QUENCHED quickly! Oh…do not misunderstand: there ARE fires…but those are CONTROLLED burnings which are PURPOSELY SET. But be sure…the FIRE DEPARTMENT is on top of things…and no FIRE will break out on its own…especially one fueled by a CLEANSING WIND.
The Newspaper is a source of GREAT PRIDE within the community! THE NEWS LEADER always contains such POSITIVE MESSAGES. You never read anything which isn’t UPLIFTING and ENCOURAGING! And the ADVERTISEMENTS are TERRIFIC! Of course…there are no WANT ADS: I mean, in OBLIVION, everyone already has all they could possibly want. Every desire is met as it is simply DECLARED and PROCLAIMED. Long ago, the founders of OBLIVION realized that they could CREATE by the power of their SPOKEN WORD. So…day in and day out…THE NEWS LEADER makes sure that what is spoken into the lives of the OBLIVIONS are words of POSITIVITY.
Of course…there is no ELECTRICITY within the boundaries of OBLIVION: Negativity is NOT ALLOWED…and, as you know, you cannot have POWER without a POSITIVE and a NEGATIVE. But…the OBLIVIONS see that as a BLESSING: that way, when darkness comes, they cannot see what is staring them right in the face…and they, therefore, do not have to DEAL with what they CANNOT SEE.
The RECREATIONAL AREAS of OBLIVION are IMMACULATE…and they are ALWAYS FULL! People FLOCK to the PLAY AREAS daily! They are the MOST POPULAR places in the whole city! Well…they share that honor with the CHURCHES of OBLIVION.
The Churches? OH…WHAT A SIGHT! They are all WHITE and they are sources of GREAT PRIDE within the community. Never before has MAN built such EXTRAVAGANT EDIFICES…with STAINED GLASS WINDOWS through which light can enter, yet you cannot see the INTERIOR through them. But…they are OH SO BEAUTIFUL in their APPEARANCE! The ACTIVITY around the CHURCH is only equaled by the AMUSEMENT found in the RECREATIONAL AREAS! You can depend on the CHURCH to be a CONSTANT: always there, always encouraging, never judging. The sermons are PRACTICAL…not CONFRONTATIONAL: no DISCOMFORT or UNEASINESS in the message which would create a sense of CONVICTION. NO! The Churches in OBLIVION realize that ATTENDANCE is the KEY to GROWTH…so APPEALING is the CENTRAL GOAL of its existence. The ULTIMATE GOAL is…and must be…to GET PEOPLE TO CHURCH. If they are CHURCHED…they MUST be OK!
LOOK! I see the Mayor of OBLIVION coming down EASY STREET now! Let me introduce you to him: he is a GREAT man!
Everyone…this is our LEADER. Say hello to…the Honorable Dr. D.C. Lucifer!
Come be a part of OBLIVION! It is a place where YOUR DESIRE is OUR DEVOTION...and YOUR PLEASURE is OUR PURPOSE! It is a great place to live…and a great place to raise your children! You will LOVE it!
Hope to see you there: god BLESS!
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Righteous Indignation and Holy Discontent
Here is a my response/comment to a post today. I feel so strongly that God is speaking this. No...let me rephrase that...I am SURE that God is speaking this. How you read this will determine your willingness to accept what God is speaking: it can be read with SKEPTICISM or it can be read with CONVICTION and DISCERNMENT...allowing God to begin a REVIVAL in each of us...a REVIVAL which begins with REPENTANCE and OBEDIENCE to God...and a REVIVAL that could TRANSFORM our lives and our churches and our communities and even our Nation and World. It is up to US...it is NOT up to God! God WILL do HIS PART...He is simply waiting on US to do OUR PART.
This is just my personal take on this...based on what God is speaking to me: The Church has gotten so involved in pleasing people...based on what the people want to hear...that we have truly entered the time that Jesus spoke about...a time where people "will not endure sound doctrine." The Church no longer seems to want to hear about our sinfulness...our need of God...the need for repentance...the need for obedience to God in our lives. We have become complacent and somehow we believe we are to ATTRACT people to Church. God is telling me that as we seek to ATTRACT people...we are REJECTING and REPULSING Him. I was driving the other day and my fiancé and I saw a brand new church. It had just recently been built...it was not large...it was simple yet a very attractive structure. But as I looked to the right of the building...there I saw softball fields and soccer fields...all expertly manicured and kept so very nice. It was all part of the church's property. I immediately felt a STRONG impression (voice) from the Lord, saying "When did I ever speak to the Church to get into the softball and soccer business? The Church has become SO FOCUSED on keeping the people happy and entertained and LOYAL to them that they have left their primary purpose: to focus on and to worship ME." I immediately told my fiancé what I felt God was speaking. I was DEEPLY troubled…as I have been for SEVERAL years…but especially over the last 2 to 3 years. God continues to speak to me that we have fallen SO FAR from His desires and purpose in the Church. Yet…the Church is CONTENT in its present state…believing that CROWDS equate to God’s blessing on the Church. Yet…the Bible fully describes that CROWDS will gather around teaching and teachers who will say what they want to hear. And…nobody seems interested in EVALUATING their own ministry and their own church by GOD’S standards…they simply view a large crowd as the sign that they are doing things right and that they are obeying God and that they are preaching truth. There is no HOLY DISCONTENT with the status quo. Instead, happiness and busy-ness reigns. I think back to when I was young…and when ALL statistics show that the Church was at a point of some of its greatest successes. We had no gym. We had no softball and soccer fields. We had NO CONCEPT that the CHURCH was supposed to provide for us our ENTERTAINMENT in ANY area. Church was where we came to hear what God had to say to the people of God…and, even as a teen, with the same fluctuations that every teen seems to possess spiritually…I recognized the importance of distinguishing between ENTERTAINMENT and HEARING FROM GOD and WORSHIPING GOD. Church and the service was a VERY SERIOUS matter. It did not matter WHAT was going on with the youth…whether we were listening to the sermon or not…but when we KNEW God was speaking, we shut up and felt the HOLY PRESENCE of God…and a HOLY HUSH filled the room. You could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit…and the CONVICTION that was taking place. How small I felt in the Presence of God! How SINFUL I felt in His Presence! How UNWORTHY I felt before such a MIGHTY, HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, JUST, AND ALL POWERFUL GOD! Yet…today…I SELDOM, if EVER…see that occurring in MOST churches today! Instead…I see…and feel God noting in my spirit…that the Church wants to be MOTIVATED instead of MADE NEW…CHARMED instead of CHANGED…PAMPERED without God’s PRESENCE. You see…the TRUE Presence of God is AWE INSPIRING and THE MOST HUMBLING POWER ON EARTH! In Scripture…every person who faced ALMIGHTY GOD was brought down…with His Presence being SO OVERWHELMING and SO HOLY that those who experienced it fell before Him! When God’s glory filled the Temple…look what happened: the Bible says that it was SO OVERWHELMING that the priests could not even stand to minister! The Church has been told for so long that it is “the head and not the tail”…that God wants us “victorious”…that God wants us “financially wealthy”…that God’s focus in on our “blessing”…that we have forgotten to EXAMINE OURSELVES and we fail to realize just how GREAT God is and just how LITTLE and SINFUL and UNWORTHY and DEPENDENT we are on Him! We have become SELF-EXALTED by the MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING of ministers who seek to “make us feel good about ourselves”…but we have become SO FOND of ourselves that we have exalted US and relegated God to our ALMIGHTY helper and supplier! Today, most in the Church serve God for what they can GET from Him…NOT for Who God is! God has become our TICKET to wealth and health and happiness…and He has ceased to be the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lamb of God, the God Who will one day JUDGE all that has been said and done here on earth! We want God as the God of LOVE…but we reject Him as the God that we must OBEY and SERVE…and we reject Him as the God we must BOW BEFORE! We do NOT want to HUMBLE ourselves in any form or fashion…we want to be EXALTED and LIFTED UP and PRAISED and DEIFIED in many cases! We make GODS out of ministers who “build” a large church…falsely assuming that they did so by FOLLOWING GOD! We ignore the truth of God’s Word when He tells us that the CROWDS will follow those who say what they want to hear…a sign of the last days! Again…no minister or church seems willing to EXAMINE itself to see WHICH spirit it was that helped them grow! They ASSUME it was God…and that GROWTH is the sign of God in their ministry. Again…they are CONTENT with what THEY have built…never realizing that God’s Word shows TWO HOUSES being built…IDENTICAL in outward appearance, I always picture…yet ONE house was built on the ROCK…and the other was built on the SAND! And…WHEN the storms came…the foundation of each house was REVEALED. But…keep in mind…this parable was not just speaking of the Church…it was speaking of INDIVIDUALS who helped build each house. And…WHEN the storms come…those who built their HOUSE on the false beliefs and false teachings of false gospels will find that they do not have the FOUNDATION to endure the storm…and they will FALL in DESTRUCTION. Notice this SERIOUS distinction in this passage…as those who THOUGHT their house was built on the ROCK find out that they put their FAITH in a FALSE GOSPEL: they thought they were doing the work of the Lord…yet Jesus tells them otherwise:
Matthew 7:22-27
“Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
We NEED a HOLY DISCONTENT with our present status! We need REVIVAL…but that is NOT a good thing! As I wrote recently, the need for REVIVAL recognizes that we are NOT in the proper relationship with God. We have FALLEN! You only REVIVE something that is UNCONSCIOUS or NEAR DEATH or even DEAD! God CAN bring the DEAD back to life…but it is up to US to do this:
2 Chronicles 7:14
“…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
This is just my personal take on this...based on what God is speaking to me: The Church has gotten so involved in pleasing people...based on what the people want to hear...that we have truly entered the time that Jesus spoke about...a time where people "will not endure sound doctrine." The Church no longer seems to want to hear about our sinfulness...our need of God...the need for repentance...the need for obedience to God in our lives. We have become complacent and somehow we believe we are to ATTRACT people to Church. God is telling me that as we seek to ATTRACT people...we are REJECTING and REPULSING Him. I was driving the other day and my fiancé and I saw a brand new church. It had just recently been built...it was not large...it was simple yet a very attractive structure. But as I looked to the right of the building...there I saw softball fields and soccer fields...all expertly manicured and kept so very nice. It was all part of the church's property. I immediately felt a STRONG impression (voice) from the Lord, saying "When did I ever speak to the Church to get into the softball and soccer business? The Church has become SO FOCUSED on keeping the people happy and entertained and LOYAL to them that they have left their primary purpose: to focus on and to worship ME." I immediately told my fiancé what I felt God was speaking. I was DEEPLY troubled…as I have been for SEVERAL years…but especially over the last 2 to 3 years. God continues to speak to me that we have fallen SO FAR from His desires and purpose in the Church. Yet…the Church is CONTENT in its present state…believing that CROWDS equate to God’s blessing on the Church. Yet…the Bible fully describes that CROWDS will gather around teaching and teachers who will say what they want to hear. And…nobody seems interested in EVALUATING their own ministry and their own church by GOD’S standards…they simply view a large crowd as the sign that they are doing things right and that they are obeying God and that they are preaching truth. There is no HOLY DISCONTENT with the status quo. Instead, happiness and busy-ness reigns. I think back to when I was young…and when ALL statistics show that the Church was at a point of some of its greatest successes. We had no gym. We had no softball and soccer fields. We had NO CONCEPT that the CHURCH was supposed to provide for us our ENTERTAINMENT in ANY area. Church was where we came to hear what God had to say to the people of God…and, even as a teen, with the same fluctuations that every teen seems to possess spiritually…I recognized the importance of distinguishing between ENTERTAINMENT and HEARING FROM GOD and WORSHIPING GOD. Church and the service was a VERY SERIOUS matter. It did not matter WHAT was going on with the youth…whether we were listening to the sermon or not…but when we KNEW God was speaking, we shut up and felt the HOLY PRESENCE of God…and a HOLY HUSH filled the room. You could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit…and the CONVICTION that was taking place. How small I felt in the Presence of God! How SINFUL I felt in His Presence! How UNWORTHY I felt before such a MIGHTY, HOLY, RIGHTEOUS, JUST, AND ALL POWERFUL GOD! Yet…today…I SELDOM, if EVER…see that occurring in MOST churches today! Instead…I see…and feel God noting in my spirit…that the Church wants to be MOTIVATED instead of MADE NEW…CHARMED instead of CHANGED…PAMPERED without God’s PRESENCE. You see…the TRUE Presence of God is AWE INSPIRING and THE MOST HUMBLING POWER ON EARTH! In Scripture…every person who faced ALMIGHTY GOD was brought down…with His Presence being SO OVERWHELMING and SO HOLY that those who experienced it fell before Him! When God’s glory filled the Temple…look what happened: the Bible says that it was SO OVERWHELMING that the priests could not even stand to minister! The Church has been told for so long that it is “the head and not the tail”…that God wants us “victorious”…that God wants us “financially wealthy”…that God’s focus in on our “blessing”…that we have forgotten to EXAMINE OURSELVES and we fail to realize just how GREAT God is and just how LITTLE and SINFUL and UNWORTHY and DEPENDENT we are on Him! We have become SELF-EXALTED by the MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING of ministers who seek to “make us feel good about ourselves”…but we have become SO FOND of ourselves that we have exalted US and relegated God to our ALMIGHTY helper and supplier! Today, most in the Church serve God for what they can GET from Him…NOT for Who God is! God has become our TICKET to wealth and health and happiness…and He has ceased to be the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lamb of God, the God Who will one day JUDGE all that has been said and done here on earth! We want God as the God of LOVE…but we reject Him as the God that we must OBEY and SERVE…and we reject Him as the God we must BOW BEFORE! We do NOT want to HUMBLE ourselves in any form or fashion…we want to be EXALTED and LIFTED UP and PRAISED and DEIFIED in many cases! We make GODS out of ministers who “build” a large church…falsely assuming that they did so by FOLLOWING GOD! We ignore the truth of God’s Word when He tells us that the CROWDS will follow those who say what they want to hear…a sign of the last days! Again…no minister or church seems willing to EXAMINE itself to see WHICH spirit it was that helped them grow! They ASSUME it was God…and that GROWTH is the sign of God in their ministry. Again…they are CONTENT with what THEY have built…never realizing that God’s Word shows TWO HOUSES being built…IDENTICAL in outward appearance, I always picture…yet ONE house was built on the ROCK…and the other was built on the SAND! And…WHEN the storms came…the foundation of each house was REVEALED. But…keep in mind…this parable was not just speaking of the Church…it was speaking of INDIVIDUALS who helped build each house. And…WHEN the storms come…those who built their HOUSE on the false beliefs and false teachings of false gospels will find that they do not have the FOUNDATION to endure the storm…and they will FALL in DESTRUCTION. Notice this SERIOUS distinction in this passage…as those who THOUGHT their house was built on the ROCK find out that they put their FAITH in a FALSE GOSPEL: they thought they were doing the work of the Lord…yet Jesus tells them otherwise:
Matthew 7:22-27
“Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
We NEED a HOLY DISCONTENT with our present status! We need REVIVAL…but that is NOT a good thing! As I wrote recently, the need for REVIVAL recognizes that we are NOT in the proper relationship with God. We have FALLEN! You only REVIVE something that is UNCONSCIOUS or NEAR DEATH or even DEAD! God CAN bring the DEAD back to life…but it is up to US to do this:
2 Chronicles 7:14
“…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Created for Christ
The Modern Church seems to view God as though He exists to please them. The truth is this: WE were created to please GOD. When we return to the purpose for which we were created we will experience the Presence Of God again: not an EMOTIONAL experience...but a TRUE visitation of the Almighty God.
It is much like a variation on the famous quote from John F. Kennedy: Ask not what God can do for you...ask what YOU can do for GOD!
In many Christian circles...the CROSS was simply NOT SUFFICENT...and Jesus' death was just NOT ENOUGH. In those circles and churches, God has to do MORE...and if He somehow fails to make them wealthy, He is not a worthy God. You see, it is a theology which negates the power of the cross, subordinating the death of Jesus to a "gospel" which seeks earthly blessings and financial wealth and earthly contentment...all while ignoring the truth: that we are to take up our CROSS and we are to follow Christ. We fail to realize the meaning of that calling...yet Paul saw it clearly as he said "that I may know Him (Jesus) and the power of His resurrection, and the FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS.."
Philippians 3:7-11 NKJV
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Jesus would define the price of DISCIPLESHIP:
Mark 10:17, 21 NKJV
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" …21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."
But there is something VERY TELLING and VERY SIGNIFICANT in this passage that is often overlooked or quickly skimmed over. First, notice the rich man comes asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. As we all know, Jesus responded with the words of verse 21 which I posted above. But…once the rich man walks away dejected, Jesus then reveals that the focus of our TRUST is essential.
Mark 10:23-27 NKJV
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 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." 26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
What we discover is that the rich man placed his TRUST in riches…as does the PROSPERITY GOSPEL. Not only is the PROSPERITY GOSPEL a FALSE GOSPEL, but the PROSPERITY GOSPEL is based on a society that places its TRUST in RICHES. The entire premise of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL is based on a false belief that RICHES are NEEDED to bring contentment and happiness. Face it…if RICHES were described by false teachers as “troublesome” and “fleeting” and “seductive” and “deceitfulness” then riches WOULD NOT be sought after NOR trusted. Yet…these are the words used by God throughout Scripture regarding RICHES.
The Church must realize that EARTHLY RICHES will pass away. Even Scripture describes a time when money will be USELESS. Yet…society and Christians alike place their trust in RICHES.
Jesus was inviting us to participate with him in something…yet it was NOT riches. Jesus called us to participate in the SUFFERING OF THE CROSS! Seeing Christianity as a PROMISE OF RICHES is to view God as existing for OUR enjoyment. Seeing Christianity as a CALL TO TAKE UP THE CROSS is to view US as existing to SERVE CHRIST.
The futility of riches? Here are just SOME of the passages in God’s Word about RICHES:
Psalm 37:16 A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked.
Psalm 39:6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.
Psalm 49: 6-7 Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches, None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him
Psalm 52:7 "Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness."
Psalm 62:10 Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them.
Proverbs 11:4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
Proverbs 11:16 A gracious woman retains honor, But ruthless men retain riches.
Proverbs 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.
Proverbs 13:7 There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
Proverbs 28:22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 I returned and saw under the sun that-- The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.
Jeremiah 9:23 Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
Matthew 13:22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
NOW…examine just a few passages that focus on TRUE riches:
Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Ephesians 1:7-14
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
The “inheritance” we have obtained is ETERNAL in nature…and the Holy Spirit is our “guarantee” of that inheritance (the guarantee is NOT earthly riches) UNTIL the day of “redemption” of that inheritance. You see…we will one day die…or we will one day be RAPTURED. And…on that day, we are able to REDEEM our INHERITANCE. Yet…even then…the RICHES will not equate to EARTHLY WEALTH: RICHES in heaven are measured SPIRITUALLY…not TEMPORALLY.
Have you ever REDEEMED anything? There was a time when people collected GREEN STAMPS…and those stamps could be REDEEMED for other things…you EXCHANGED your GREEN STAMPS for MERCHANDISE. Spiritually…our MORTAL will take on IMMORTALITY! We are REDEEMED by the BLOOD OF JESUS…and the Holy Spirit within us NOW is the GUARANTEE that we will one day EXCHANGE our EARTHLY existence for our HEAVENLY existence! Amen!
All of this is possible…when we TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS. Forsake ANY and ALL gospels that focus on the seeking of EARTHLY RICHES…supposing that we can TRUST God while TRUSTING in the futility of seeking wealth.
But…more than that…cease from seeing God as being there FOR US…and let us begin to see OURSELVES as existing for the GLORY OF GOD…to serve Jesus Christ…and to KNOW Him in the “fellowship of His sufferings.”
THAT is our calling.
It is much like a variation on the famous quote from John F. Kennedy: Ask not what God can do for you...ask what YOU can do for GOD!
In many Christian circles...the CROSS was simply NOT SUFFICENT...and Jesus' death was just NOT ENOUGH. In those circles and churches, God has to do MORE...and if He somehow fails to make them wealthy, He is not a worthy God. You see, it is a theology which negates the power of the cross, subordinating the death of Jesus to a "gospel" which seeks earthly blessings and financial wealth and earthly contentment...all while ignoring the truth: that we are to take up our CROSS and we are to follow Christ. We fail to realize the meaning of that calling...yet Paul saw it clearly as he said "that I may know Him (Jesus) and the power of His resurrection, and the FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS.."
Philippians 3:7-11 NKJV
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Jesus would define the price of DISCIPLESHIP:
Mark 10:17, 21 NKJV
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" …21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me."
But there is something VERY TELLING and VERY SIGNIFICANT in this passage that is often overlooked or quickly skimmed over. First, notice the rich man comes asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. As we all know, Jesus responded with the words of verse 21 which I posted above. But…once the rich man walks away dejected, Jesus then reveals that the focus of our TRUST is essential.
Mark 10:23-27 NKJV
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 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." 26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
What we discover is that the rich man placed his TRUST in riches…as does the PROSPERITY GOSPEL. Not only is the PROSPERITY GOSPEL a FALSE GOSPEL, but the PROSPERITY GOSPEL is based on a society that places its TRUST in RICHES. The entire premise of the PROSPERITY GOSPEL is based on a false belief that RICHES are NEEDED to bring contentment and happiness. Face it…if RICHES were described by false teachers as “troublesome” and “fleeting” and “seductive” and “deceitfulness” then riches WOULD NOT be sought after NOR trusted. Yet…these are the words used by God throughout Scripture regarding RICHES.
The Church must realize that EARTHLY RICHES will pass away. Even Scripture describes a time when money will be USELESS. Yet…society and Christians alike place their trust in RICHES.
Jesus was inviting us to participate with him in something…yet it was NOT riches. Jesus called us to participate in the SUFFERING OF THE CROSS! Seeing Christianity as a PROMISE OF RICHES is to view God as existing for OUR enjoyment. Seeing Christianity as a CALL TO TAKE UP THE CROSS is to view US as existing to SERVE CHRIST.
The futility of riches? Here are just SOME of the passages in God’s Word about RICHES:
Psalm 37:16 A little that a righteous man has Is better than the riches of many wicked.
Psalm 39:6 Surely every man walks about like a shadow; Surely they busy themselves in vain; He heaps up riches, And does not know who will gather them.
Psalm 49: 6-7 Those who trust in their wealth And boast in the multitude of their riches, None of them can by any means redeem his brother, Nor give to God a ransom for him
Psalm 52:7 "Here is the man who did not make God his strength, But trusted in the abundance of his riches, And strengthened himself in his wickedness."
Psalm 62:10 Do not trust in oppression, Nor vainly hope in robbery; If riches increase, Do not set your heart on them.
Proverbs 11:4 Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, But righteousness delivers from death.
Proverbs 11:16 A gracious woman retains honor, But ruthless men retain riches.
Proverbs 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.
Proverbs 13:7 There is one who makes himself rich, yet has nothing; And one who makes himself poor, yet has great riches.
Proverbs 28:22 A man with an evil eye hastens after riches, And does not consider that poverty will come upon him.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 I returned and saw under the sun that-- The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.
Jeremiah 9:23 Thus says the Lord: "Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
Matthew 13:22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.
NOW…examine just a few passages that focus on TRUE riches:
Colossians 1:27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!
Ephesians 1:7-14
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
The “inheritance” we have obtained is ETERNAL in nature…and the Holy Spirit is our “guarantee” of that inheritance (the guarantee is NOT earthly riches) UNTIL the day of “redemption” of that inheritance. You see…we will one day die…or we will one day be RAPTURED. And…on that day, we are able to REDEEM our INHERITANCE. Yet…even then…the RICHES will not equate to EARTHLY WEALTH: RICHES in heaven are measured SPIRITUALLY…not TEMPORALLY.
Have you ever REDEEMED anything? There was a time when people collected GREEN STAMPS…and those stamps could be REDEEMED for other things…you EXCHANGED your GREEN STAMPS for MERCHANDISE. Spiritually…our MORTAL will take on IMMORTALITY! We are REDEEMED by the BLOOD OF JESUS…and the Holy Spirit within us NOW is the GUARANTEE that we will one day EXCHANGE our EARTHLY existence for our HEAVENLY existence! Amen!
All of this is possible…when we TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW JESUS. Forsake ANY and ALL gospels that focus on the seeking of EARTHLY RICHES…supposing that we can TRUST God while TRUSTING in the futility of seeking wealth.
But…more than that…cease from seeing God as being there FOR US…and let us begin to see OURSELVES as existing for the GLORY OF GOD…to serve Jesus Christ…and to KNOW Him in the “fellowship of His sufferings.”
THAT is our calling.
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