02/14/22 STILL TRUE

02/14/22 STILL TRUE

Sometimes, only the name of the sin is secret, but its influence is disturbingly present. You can count on it, when a church is not experiencing overcoming victory, it is likely that there is sin in the camp, probably hidden sin.

Christians must make sure that they are walking in the light, rather than sweeping through other people's lives. If sin is made known it must be dealt with by the guilty party or it will have to be dealt with by the church.

There is no room for sin, regardless of how large or small.

Sin kills.
It kills individuals.
It kills families.
It kills relationships.
It kills churches.

The only legitimate response to sin is God's response.
If you hold on to sin, it will hold on to you.
If you don't turn from sin, it will turn you eternally from God.
Don't play games with your soul or the souls of your loved ones.
You are not wiser than God.

02/14/22 BE PENTECOSTAL, NOT BENTECOSTAL

02/14/22 BE PENTECOSTAL, NOT BENTECOSTAL

Don't confuse the Biblical Pentecostal with the unreasonable wannabee, which I call a Bentecostal (because they have a bent belief system and present a warped message).

The Baptism with the Holy Spirit was given by God to believers to purify them (sanctify them completely) and equip them for holy, self-denying, Christ-exalting service. This fullness of the Holy Spirit enables and empowers believers by delivering them from all unrighteousness and giving them a single eye.

A simple, but careful reading of the New Testament makes it clear that there is no, "God Language," "Angelic Language," or "Heavenly Language" referred to in the Book of Acts. The "other tongues" that the believers spoke at that time were human languages that were not known to the speakers. It was for the purpose of communicating the gospel to those who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate the Jewish Passover and Pentecost. It was during this season of Jewish celebration that Jesus died on the cross, arose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sent His Holy Spirit to baptize (fill) the believers.

God continues to save sinners (cleanse your hands you sinners) and to purify believers (purify your hearts you double-minded). God not only forgives our sins at regeneration (though He does not purify our hearts at that time), He also cleanses, delivers from the sinful nature, sanctifies believers entirely when they are filled with the Holy Spirit, as the believers were on the Day of Pentecost in Acts.

Jesus requires believers (saved people) to wait for the outpouring and fullness of the Holy Spirit before they launch out into ministry. A believer who is still carnal is not fit to serve God, since that believer still has a double mind, a carnal mind, and is still wrestling with the law of sin and death. It is only when a believer has been crucified with Christ that he is dead to the world, the flesh, and to sin. Until the Old Man is destroyed, the carnal believer is not single-minded or of one mind with God, therefore not fit to be a Christian leader.

Physical manifestations and signs are not given as proof that we have the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The proof of our total commitment is conformity to the likeness and image of Jesus, which comes to us at the time of our Baptism with the Holy Spirit.

The true evidence of the Holy Spirit's fullness is not miracles but holiness of heart and life, conformity to the image of Jesus.

02/14/22 A BIBLICAL PENTECOSTAL

02/14/22 A BIBLICAL PENTECOSTAL

A Biblical Pentecostal is a saved person who asks for, seeks, and knocks for God's promised gift of the of the Holy Spirit,

Luke 11:9-13
9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

A Biblical Pentecostal is a Christ-follower who waits expectantly, faithfully, obediently for the heart purifying fullness of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 24:49
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

A Biblical Pentecostal is a Holy Spirit filled (baptized) believer who is walking in the Spirit, dead to the world and the flesh, delivered from the Old Man as well as the law of sin and death, and is conformed to the image of Jesus, being cleansed from all sin and created in true holiness.

A Biblical Pentecostal is a Christian who manifests the fullness of the Holy Spirit by the evidence of a pure heart, a faithful life of obedience, Christ-likeness, perfect love.

If you want Biblical references, let me know.

02/12/22 THE KIND OF CHURCH THE WORLD NEEDS

02/12/22 THE KIND OF CHURCH THE WORLD NEEDS

A quote from A.W. Tozer, which says,
"A scared world needs a fearless church."

I thought about this and added:
An evil world needs a holy church,
A selfish world needs a sacrificial church,
A darkened world needs an enlightened church,
An angry world needs a loving church,
A confused world needs a convinced church,
A doubting world needs a trusting church,
A broken world needs a stable church,
A lost world needs a saved church,
A wandering world needs a Spirit-led church.
A weak world needs a dynamic church,
A divided world needs a unified church,
A deceitful world needs an honest church,
A gullible world needs a discerning church.
(this is just a shortlist).

For a church to fit this bill, a church NEEDS BELIEVERS who are: holy, sacrificial, enlightened, loving, convinced, trusting, stable, saved, Spirit-led, dynamic, unified, honest, discerning

Remember the rhyme,
What kind of church would my church be,
If all of the members were just like me?

As you gather and as you worship, surrender yourself into the hands of the One who took nothing and made it into a universe, and allow Him to make your life what He wants it to be.

 

02/12/22 GOD CLEARLY SAID

02/12/22 GOD CLEARLY SAID

Don't let devil-inspired, errant, human wisdom determine your belief system.

2 Timothy 4:3-4

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

 

The Father did love all sinners before they repented.

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

 

John 1:7

7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

 

John 1:11-12

11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

 

Romans 5:8

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

Jesus did die for the whole world.

Romans 5:6

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

 

Romans 5:8

8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 

Romans 5:18

18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.

 

Hebrews 2:9

9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

 

The Holy Spirit does call people to salvation but only some are chosen because only some respond to His call with obedient faith, repentance, confession, and loving surrender.

Matthew 9:13

13 But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

 

Matthew 23:37

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

 

2 Peter 3:9

9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

 

Revelation 2:21

21 And I gave her space (chronos, TIME) to repent of her fornication; and she repented not.

Believing on Christ, and receiving Christ is essential to becoming a child of God.

 

John 3:36

36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

 

John 20:31

31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

 

1 John 4:14

14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

 

1 John 4:15

15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

02/12/22 MAINTAIN DOCTRINAL INTEGRITY

02/12/22 MAINTAIN DOCTRINAL INTEGRITY

Don't excuse an erroneous doctrinal position for... (at this point I had several thoughts, but settled for) ANY REASON.

 

Doctrinal error is a devilish invention followed by deceived people. Christians should recognize error, renounce it and denounce it, regardless of any relational or emotional attachments, which may exist.

 

2 Timothy 3:5

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 

2 Timothy 4:1-4

1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

02/11/22 LET GOD RENEW YOUR MIND

02/11/22 LET GOD RENEW YOUR MIND

Never think you can expand your knowledge or understanding beyond eternal truth. At that point, you will move from an expanding worldview to a collapsing, recessing worldview, while being heralded by the darkened masses of the mindless as a brilliant thinker.

Ecclesiastes 12:10-14
10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

It can be a very good thing to learn and keep learning, however, it is possible to be ever learning, but never coming to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Timothy 3:7
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

If knowledge, understanding, education, wisdom is in conflict with the Jesus of the Bible, then it is anti-truth, since Jesus is The Truth, it is anti-Light.
John 14:6
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

02/11/22 THE POWER OF WORDS

02/11/22 THE POWER OF WORDS

Words (spoken or written, teaching or preaching), can build up or tear down, encourage or defeat, comfort or intimidate, guide or mislead, lighten or burden, enlighten or confuse, help or hinder.

Sadly, the dangerous words can sound more positive than poisonous, more loving than lethal.
Sadly, people are drawn to poison peddlers, scalp hunters, lying sirens (male and female), based on appearance, popularity, personal charisma, communication skills, entertainment appeal, worldly wisdom, and devilish deceit.

Your spiritual, your Christian preachers, teachers, pastors better be God-loving, God-fearing, God serving, godly, self-denying, Christ-following, Holy Spirit transformed, Bible-believing men of God.

Through the years I have watched family and friends follow after silver-tongued, popular, high-powered wolves in sheep's clothing. I have watched as loved ones, who were raised in Bible-believing, God-fearing, Christ-exalting homes and dynamic churches, turn away from the truth, deny that they had ever heard the gospel, and defame their loving family and sincere believers.

To this day I am not able to talk with them unless I am willing to coddle their godless insanity, accept their blasphemous lies and allow them to trample over God's truth and the people for whom Christ died.

It is not easy when people turn their backs on family, mock Biblical truth, spew toxicity over impressionable children, and undermine parental authority.

You must close out destructive, hateful, divisive words and you must embrace true, loving, and faithful words.

02/10/22 CREATION, NOT EVOLUTION; OLD UNIVERSE, YOUNG EARTH

02/10/22 CREATION, NOT EVOLUTION; OLD UNIVERSE, YOUNG EARTH

I believe in the Biblical record of creation.
God created everything (time, matter, space) instantaneously from nothing.
God created the heavens, and the earth.
God, being a God of order, created the heavens and the earth to be orderly.
He did not create the earth as chaos, emptiness, and without light, (yet verse 2 indicates that the earth became chaotic, empty, and shrouded in darkness).

God created the angels and placed Lucifer as the head angel.
Lucifer coveted God's authority and position.
Lucifer decided he would overthrow God.
One-third of the angels sided with Lucifer and rebelled against God.
There was war in heaven.
(War against God is futile.)
But the war resulted in chaos and destruction.

God cast the evil angels, the fallen angels, (hence called demons), along with their evil leader, down to the earth (which apparently suffered in the heavenly war).
Satan is known as the god of this world, the prince of the power of the air, prince of this world, indicating his connection with this world, with the earth.

At some point, the earth became formless and void.
This chaotic condition of the earth was the result of Satan's rebellion in heaven. Remember, the Bible says;
Isaiah 45:18
18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

Something dramatic and terrible happened to the earth because God said in Genesis;
Genesis 1:2
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Satan had been cast down to earth.
The Bible does not say how much time elapsed between the between creation of Genesis 1:1 and the angelic rebellion.
We also do not know how long Satan had been exiled to the dark, chaotic earth before God restored the world in the Six Days of Creation.

Those six days included creating Adam, including Adam's inner man (making something from nothing), and Adam's outer man, physical body from the earth (forming something from existing materials).

Genesis 1:27
27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 2:7
7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

The six days were literally six days, the animals were perfect at the time of their creation (they did not evolve), and Adam and Eve were perfect in their creation (they did not evolve).

The Bible does not say that there was a time lapse between Genesis 1: and Genesis 1:2, but the evidence indicates there was.
If there was a time lapse between verses 1 and 2, we do not know how long it lasted.

The heavens (including earth's atmosphere, starry space, the throne of God), and the earth were created instantaneously by God.
God restored the chaotic, formless, empty, dark rubble of earth to perfection in six actual days.
Adam was created on the sixth day by God.

The possibility of a period of time between Genesis1:1-2 does not mean I am trying to align God's word with "science." I am simply wanting to align God's word with God's Word.

There are many different versions of the "Gap Theory." I am not arguing for any one of them. I am simply pointing out that a time gap does exist Biblically and we don't have to force the six days of creation into the initial creation mentioned in Genesis 1:1.

Some (but not all) well-meaning and well lettered Christians believe God created the earth in chaos, I do not. They also believe that Satan was created during the six days of creation and that rebelled, raised a demonic army, and was cast out of heaven during those six days. I do not.

I have no problem believing that an old universe and a "young earth" are consistent with Biblical revelation.

Genesis 1:1-3
1 In the beginning God created the heaven(s) and the earth.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.
Verse 3 is the beginning of the Six Days of Creation.

God had created light and stars when He created the universe. However, the earth was in darkness after Lucifer's rebellion, therefore God restored light.

02/08/22 GOD IS FAITHFUL

02/08/22 GOD IS FAITHFUL

I know Jesus saved me through obedient faith.
I know Jesus has kept me through obedient faith.
I know Jesus is saving me through obedient faith.
I know Jesus will keep me through obedient faith.

BUT I don't know what I will be or do tomorrow.
(Keep in mind, there is no saving faith except obedient faith).

I do know what God will do tomorrow.
God will do what is consistent with His nature and His word.
God will do what He has promised to do.
This is because God is the same, He does not change.

I am not worried about what God will do; He is always Faithful and True.
I am concerned about what I will do because, unlike God, I am changeable.
While living in faith I am saved.
When I become faithless, I am not saved.
Remember, we are saved by grace THROUGH FAITH., and WE LIVE BY FAITH, and WE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD BY FAITH (Biblical truths).

I encourage you to read God's revelation to Peter and Jude, concerning our need to make our calling and election sure. If we do not continue to live in faith, we will fall. As recipients of this great grace, we escape the corruption that is in the world through lust and we become partakers of the Holy Spirit (vs 4). I have separated and formatted verses and used asterisks (...) to draw your attention to specific ideas. Look for the gems of truth.

2 Peter 1:1-12
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power hath
given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye
might be partakers of the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this,
giving all diligence,
add to your faith virtue;
and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance;
and to temperance patience;
and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness;
and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound,
they make you that "ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren,
give diligence to make your calling and election sure:
for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things,
though ye know them,
and be established in the present truth.

Notice also what Jude said:
Jude 1:21
21 "Keep yourselves in the love of God,"
looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.