Whats next?

I have been hearing from more and more people regarding their kids leaving the faith and claiming atheism. They wonder how this could be happening in Christian homes? The truth that we must ask is it really happening in Christian homes or is it happening in homes where they claim Christianity but in reality practice something completely different. IS Christ the center of the home or is He simply something they do when the church doors are open? The truth is that I cannot tell you that you are not living for Christ only He can tell you but if Satan is convincing you that you are fine then you have to look for tale tell signs. Kids will rebel and they will live their lives opposite of God's word but if they have grown up in a home where Christ is the head do you really think they would deny Christ? Look at Paul's words to Timothy in the book of 2nd Timothy chapter 1.

2Ti 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

There was an unfeigned faith in him which began in his mother and grandmother. The home was where Timothy had his faith instilled in him. The world around them was changing. The Gnostic church was rapidly growing and being of Greek heritage he would have had the education of the Greeks which is in intellectual thinking so it would have been easy to succumb to all of the outside influences that surrounded Timothy and yet he became Paul's right hand man on many occasions and the pastor of one of the churches started by Paul. So why did this young man not become a statistic? It was because of those at home who lived the life, not in word but in deed as well. It is easy for a child to be persuaded that something is not true when they do not have it constant in their lives. It is easy to believe a lie when there are no stones set aside as a reminder of what God had done in their lives. Many of us grew up being told that our fathers worked hard to provide us with the things we had, which may be true but it is not just him it was God through him. It was not our parents who provided the money for college but God who gives to all men liberally and yet we so often take the credit for what He has provided us. The very essence of our being is a gift from Him. He knew us before we were born and knows the depths of our hearts yet we deny Him in word and deed.

Throughout the wanderings of the Israelites God continually commanded them to build altars. Not just for their sake but also for the sake of their children so that they would be reminded of all the great things He had done for them. When they crossed the Jordan into the promise land God commanded Joshua to have a man from each of the tribes to carry stones to the place where they would camp to build an altar with so they would be reminded of when God brought them into the promise land. Through good kings and bad, through disobedience and denial these stones stood to remind them of the one true God and were the cause of surrender to Him over and over again. When they would see these altars in times of trouble they would be reminded of God's goodness and love for them. They were reminded of His provisions for them during the years in the wilderness and during their times of captivity. If these things were so important for them to remember do you not think that we should also remember the times He has been there for us and do you not think that we should build these same altars for our children so they can be reminded of His goodness. As a child if all of the things we have are because of our parents sacrifices then why should we see God as anything other than the crutch that the world tells us. After all He didn't provide for us growing up, our parents did. We might go to church but that is so that we can feel good about ourselves and not for Him. If we then deny His provisions then we deny His ability to provide and if He is not important to us as parents to give Him praise and glory for everything we have then it is easy to see how our children can deny His very existence later in life. If our children do not see our complete surrender to Him then why should they themselves surrender to a being whose only appearance is in a book that they are told is full of myths and stories. On a day to day basis they are faced with people who deny Christ and deny His word and they need to see Him through us the same amount of time if they are to continue in the faith when they are older. They may stray from it but they will not deny it completely. However we are a greedy people and we like to take credit for everything if it makes us look good. We have believed the lies of Satan who has convinced us that we do not need to live every minute of every day for Christ. We believe that we are good enough and as long as we go to church we are okay and our kids will be okay. We do not meet the needs of others whether in word or in deed. We look down on those who may be going through unfortunate times. We talk about others at church and about the man that God has given us to lead us. Our kids may receive love from us but they do not see us loving others. We are told in the Old Testament, "My people confess me with their lips but their hearts are far from me." The same is even more true today and the cost is even greater now.

2Ti 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2Ti 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

Paul stirred up the remembrance in Timothy and I stir the same up in you to remember why we are called. It is not for ourselves but for Him. it is not so we become somebody but that He becomes everything and through us others will come to Him not for our glory but for His. We have limited the power of God long enough and it is time we redeem it. It is time that we acknowledge His creation and that we give Him the glory for all we have and maybe just maybe by our COMPLETE surrender He will pour His blessings out upon us and we can see the changes in our children.

I want to leave you with a thought. Why do we see so many kids who come from an unsaved family be more on fire for Christ than kids who come from a saved family? Think about it?

Guest or Party Crasher

Recently while studying in 2 Corinthians I was reminded of the passage regarding the wedding feast. Several things stood out to me regarding this passage. One was that when the original guest refused to show up that the servants were sent into the highways and bi-ways. Second was the guest who refused to put on the wedding garments who was then bound hand and foot and cast out into outer darkness. I have been in the Old Testament for several weeks as of late and only recently returned to the New during my Bible studies and the one thing that I have been seeing has been the similarities between God's chosen people (Israel) and those grafted in (us). Once hungry for the word of God and eager to partake in the promises we now become as they, following traditions and religion rather than obeying the commands of God. As the Pharisees we put on the cloak of righteousness all the while covering the sin that we proudly display to those in the world. As events in the world begin to happen we see not that these are signs of God but we cry out woe is me and yet continue in our own ways instead of repenting and turning back to Him. Lately my pastor and I have seen more salvation's coming from outside the church rather than in it. We have seen lives being changed, while those in the building are refusing to budge. Have we now become the invited guest who refuse to show up? With the stepping down of Billy Graham, who once led many great evangelistic meetings, who do we have taking his place? While we still have evangelist out there we see more of those focusing on smaller groups. They are creating disciples to go out rather than reaching the masses that were once reached by God through Billy Graham. I am not saying that this is a bad thing only that there is a trend happening here that we need to recognize. We need to recognize the time and repent to be found a good and faithful steward.

The Pharisee's were worried about the income of the temple when many turned to Christ and they began persecuting those new believers. Today we are in an economic crisis as well as a moral crisis and we must look at what is more important. God tells us that if His people who are called by His name would humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Choosing economics over morals will not heal our land and before you claim that both candidates have morals you must look at how they consistently vote. As in the Old Testament when God gave the children what they wanted in the form of King Saul they were then at the mercy of the morals of their king. From that moment on Israel was know by the type of king they had and eventually they were sent into captivity because they refused to repent and turn to God. We do this in the church as well. When we have a man who preaches the word of God and steps on our toes we either leave or get enough people on our side to remove the man and once we remove the man God had for us He gives us what we want and we end up with a dead church but to us that's okay because we like the way we are living. We enjoy being told that we are good people and our works are good because look at what we are doing for these poor unfortunate lost people and just for good measures we will allow a few of them to come to our church to remind us how loving we are. It is just that we will not invite any of them into our homes nor will we allow our children to date them because they are dirty and beneath us. We then stand there with our heads lifted up and pray saying Lord at least I am not like the Pharisees, look we allow these poor wretched people into our church and the Pharisees wouldn't allow them in the temple we help them out from time to time but it is not our fault they can't keep a job nor is it our fault they can't find work. You know Lord if it were me I'd be working two or three jobs doing whatever it takes. When it is all over and done with they pat themselves on the back and go there way. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians Chapter 4;

2Co 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2Co 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.
2Co 4:3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

If our examples are anything less than this I believe we need to examine ourselves. Yet we are told that the end will not come unless there is a falling away first. I believe that this is happening even more now than ever before. The other thing we need to look at is the one at the wedding feast who refused to wear the wedding garment. As you think about that, think how many may be left sitting in the pews if Jesus returned on Sunday?

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Adultery: Not just a sin of the flesh PartII

Adultery;
Not Just a Sin of the Flesh II


Matthew 5:27, 28
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.


It was during this discourse that Jesus revealed the essence of the Law. His statement showed us how we tend to look at the letter of the commandment to justify our behaviors and actions instead of realizing that the essence of the commandments shows us how we could not possibly stand on our own before God. There is no way that we could ever be seen as righteous without being seen through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. It also reveals to us how God looks at not only the outside of the individual but the inside as well. He sees the deepest parts of our heart and knows the darkest secrets of our minds. We may be able to fool those around us regarding our salvation but Christ knows who belong to Him and who do not. I believe that if we are truly His children then we can not stand in sin long. In other words; there is no way that you can accept Christ as your Savior and still be living in habitual sin.

After the city of Jerusalem was taken by King Nebuchadnezzar there was a remnant that was left behind in the city. They had the promise of God that they would be able to stay within their land as long as they obeyed Him, yet they went to Jeremiah after the ruler who was left there by Nebuchadnezzar was killed and asked him for a word from the Lord. They were fearful that Nebuchadnezzar would avenge the death of his ruler but Jeremiah assured them that if they were obedient to God, they would be protected. Instead of heeding this word from God they called Jeremiah a liar and headed to Egypt, taking Jeremiah with them. True to God's word Nebuchadnezzar hunted them down and killed all but those who had escaped to Jerusalem. It was during this time that Jeremiah had found that many of the people had been worshipping the gods of Egypt, instead of the true God and as he warned them about this and the eminent judgment that would come they insisted on continuing their adulterous ways. Case after case is laid out in this awesome book of Jeremiah regarding the warnings of God and the punishments which will follow if these warnings are not heeded, yet time after time regardless of the things that God shows the people, they refuse to obey.

Paul discusses grace in Romans chapter 7. He reviews how we ought to act under grace and that we are to not look at grace as liberty to sin but that we should look at it as liberty to live even more so for Christ. As we look at grace, we claim that we are no longer under the law therefore we are not bound by the law to act any certain way. We begin to justify our lack of service to Christ by looking at the letter of grace and thereby are actually putting ourselves back under the bondage of sin, when the very essence of grace should push us to respond to Christ in such a way that we could not even think about living in a way that would be displeasing to Him. If we looked at it in the context of scripture we would see it like this. If we, being born again are married to Christ by the shedding of His blood on Calvary, which basically bought and paid for us. In essence a dowry was paid for our hand in marriage and after this marriage we begin to look at the world longing after the sinful life we once led; we are committing adultery because as Christ stated if you lust in your heart it is the same as committing the act. So if we are His how can we justify not only lusting after the world but in many cases continuing in the same things that we did prior to our salvation? When we were commanded to love our neighbor as ourselves; how can we justify our actions that we show? We are told that true love is this; that a man lay his life down for his friends and yet many of us wouldn't even cross the road for them. We shake each others hands in church and that is the last we speak to them until next Sunday, and we call this love. We are this way because we can't stand to look them in the face because we know that we are guilty of adultery with the world and we feel that if we let someone get to close they may find out. This is the reason we don't have anyone over to our house for dinner. This is why we don't invite guest over from church and why we are putting guest speakers up in motels when 20 years ago they would have been spending the night in one of the church member's homes. If we had them in our homes they would see the signs of adultery. The soft lights, music, and video of our adulterous affair with the world would be so apparent to others that we determined that no one would come over. Oh there may be those who are in the same worldly affair as we are that we may let in but for the most part it is a very small group and not open for new members.

Like the children of Israel when they confessed to Jeremiah in Egypt of their worship of idols, we will continue to deny the word of God because we were alright when we were doing these worldly things. They told him that until they stopped offering incense to the queen of heaven everything was going good. They had peace and plenty of food and then their wives spoke up and said yes but then we started baking cakes for her in private. We started burning incense and pouring out drink offerings to her and everything was okay but now that we have stopped it has gotten worse and we are going to do it again regardless of what God says. I see people in the church today saying the exact same thing. Preacher, you know everything was okay until you started preaching this way. Business was good and money was coming in and then you started preaching this stuff and I changed the way I did business and it didn't work so I am going back to what I was doing before because then I was profitable. I am going to go back to over charging and looking out for number one; me and my own and I don't care what God has to say about it because He is not paying my bills. It is my actions that put food on my table and without me He can't do it. Meanwhile their wives are sitting back there saying that's right. I told him not to change the way he does business and when he didn't listen I reminded him every day how much less money we had coming in; I mean seriously I had to quit getting my nails done every week and they looked awful. I haven't been able to buy a new outfit in over two weeks and my car has 20,000 miles on it and we really need to trade it in. Honestly pastor if you are going to keep preaching this way we may just have to find a new church and meanwhile God is saying if you do not heed my word I will wipe your memory from the earth with pestilence, famine and the sword. If you are My child I will chastise you until you return or until I have had enough and bring you home and if your not My child I will give you over to your own delusions and let you continue in your way until it consumes you. And we wonder why our children are not in church. We wonder why they deny God's very existence. Beloved, I am telling you that if we do not stop this adulterous affair with the world that we will reap the whirlwind that He has prepared for us. It will cost us! It will cost us our homes, our families, our children and our grandchildren. God tells us in the book of Revelations that because you are lukewarm I will spew you out of my mouth. This is no a maybe I will do it or a possibly I will do it; it is a firm promise that you can stand on when all else fails, I WILL spew you out. Yet we continue on day after day in the same manner that we have always done because after all it has been over 2000 years and nothing has happened yet.

Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Rom 8:7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
Rom 8:8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man, have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Beloved we are not going to be perfect this side of heaven but it can not be an excuse to continue to live in habitual sin. It can not be an excuse to continue an adulterous relationship with the world and the only way that we can break the holds that it has on us is to be in a daily relationship with Christ both in prayer and in reading His word. I don't mean reading it like you would a novel but digesting it word by word and sentence by sentence. It is going to take the complete surrender of your will for His. It's going to take walking away from the things that drag you back into the lust of the flesh and walking towards Jesus Christ.

1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

He makes the way, but it takes action on your part. Are you willing to take that action?

SFT
9/30/08

Adultery: Not just a sin of the flesh

Adultery:
Not Just a Sin of the Flesh



Exodus 20:14 Thou shalt not commit adultery.


Mentioned several times not only in the Old Testament but in the New Testament as well it is often connected with the physical aspect. Christ used this commandment in His discourse with the rich young ruler and Paul mentions it several times in his epistles yet there is another aspect of adultery that is often passed over. We rarely hear it being preached from the pulpit because I believe it hits too close to home for many of us; not only those in the pews but those behind the pulpit as well. God spoke of this aspect of adultery several times in the Old Testament to describe the children of Israel and given the condition of the church today it is time we start using the term about ourselves.

Jer. 3:7 And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it.
Jer. 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also.
Jer. 3:9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks.

Jer. 5:7 How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.
Jer. 5:8 They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbor's wife.
Jer. 5:9 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
Jer. 5:10 Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD'S.

The concept that I am speaking of is one of spiritual adultery. In the promise that God had made to Abraham, He made Israel His chosen people and after the resurrection the promise was extended to the rest of the world because of Israel's refusal to acknowledge Christ as the Messiah.

Rom 11:17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;
Rom 11:18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.
Rom 11:19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.
Rom 11:20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear:
Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.
Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

The warning is posted here in regards to our position with Christ. Peter tells us in 1 Peter chapter 2.

1Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Peter 2:10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
1Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

When we look at the scripture, both Old Testament and New, and compare the actions of the children of Israel and then see what God says to us in the New Testament we should see that He has not changed His mind in regards to our actions and behaviors regarding Him. John tells us in Revelations that we the church, are going to be presented to Christ as a bride, spotless and without blemish. While we know that we can have forgiveness for sin and be seen as spotless to the Father through the blood of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ how can we thereby justify our continual whoring after the flesh? If we are to be new creatures in Him, how can we still refuse to live for Him or is it that we merely said a prayer as a security blanket; having no intentions of leaving our sinful lifestyle that we continue to hold so dear to our hearts.

As I have been stuck in the book of Jeremiah over the last several days; I have felt the heartbreak of this prophet as he gives the words of God to the children of Israel because I feel that same heartbreak over the church today. As I read through much of his book I have seen the comparisons jump out at me regarding the church today.

Jer. 5:1 Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.
Jer. 5:2 And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.
Jer. 5:3 O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.
Jer. 5:4 Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God.

Look specifically at verse 3 of chapter 5 and then consider verse 4 and tell me that you do not see this today in our congregations. I have heard my pastor preach his heart out and could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in the pew where I was sitting. I have had tears running down my face and have looked around to see many sitting there stone faced. In the last three weeks we have had four salvations and baptisms' and still there were no tears. As I shared these thoughts with my pastor, I shared a story I had heard on the radio regarding a prodigal daughter who left home at 18. Her parents didn't hear from her for six years yet every night her mom would leave the porch light on for her and every Christmas she would set a tree up on the porch just as she had done while her daughter was growing up. Finally after six years her daughter came home. She said, "Mom, I was so embarrassed that I could not come home but every couple of nights I would drive down our street. Every house would be dark except ours and at Christmas I would see the tree on the porch and know it was for me." Even now as I retell this story I still have tears just as I did when I shared it with the pastor and I asked him; why? Why are we not seeing the tears fall from the faces of those in the congregation? Why are we not seeing hearts being broken and contrite to the point that there is true repentance? As I researched information for the ministry that God is leading us into; which is working with troubled youth I came across an article regarding teenage prostitution. In this article the detective is telling how he has girls that he is arresting who are only 13 and 14 years old. One girl who was arrested due to an add on Craig's list was 14 at the time and had been doing it since she was 11 years old. She claimed that she did it because she wanted to feel loved. If that is not breaking your heart then you need to look again at Jeremiah 5:3, because I believe that you have played the harlot so long that your face is as a rock and the only way it is going to break is if the Holy Spirit gets a hold of you and you surrender to the will of the Lord Jesus Christ, yet I wonder if it may be too late for many of you out there. I wonder if God has not already turned you over to your delusions because He had called and called and you wouldn't answer.

Isa. 66:4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

For many it may already be too late but there are some of you still out there that have the opportunity to repent. You have trusted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior yet you have chosen the relationship with the world over your relationship with Him. You have chosen to commit adultery with the things of the world rather than be presented to Him without spot or blemish. You may be having an affair with your job instead of spending quality time with Christ. You may be sleeping with your money instead of laying your head on His shoulder at night. It could be that new car or the new house that has taken His place. It could be that you are like Abraham was with Isaac, putting your child before Christ. It could be the music you listen to or the shows that you watch or the lust in your heart for the things of the world. You may not want to let go because you are enjoying the things of the world too much and if you surrender to Him then you have to give those things up and you feel it is just not worth it. Remember what Paul said in Romans.

Rom 11:21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

Rom 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

We are promised goodness if we continue in His goodness, otherwise we will be cut off. This is not saying that you can lose your salvation because we are promised that no one can pluck us out of His hand, but what it is saying is that if there is a chance that you are not His child, you can lose your opportunity. Even worse than that is that there is a chance that your child can be cut off because of their hard heart. Your spiritual adultery will carry a greater impact on the lifestyle your child will decide to live. If all Christ is to you is a Sunday morning service then you can bet the chances that your child will even go to church when they are older diminishes. I have spoken and debated with many who went to church when they were young and now claim to be devout atheist because they did not see Christ in the daily lives of their parents.

Jer. 4:22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are silly children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

So, what's it going to be? Is today the day that you break the habit of adultery or is it going to continue to be business as usual for you? God is patiently waiting for you. He is longsuffering but there will come a time just as there did for Israel when He will say enough and that time could be today for you or it could be tomorrow.

Jer 5:21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:
Jer 5:22 Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
Jer 5:23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.


Jer 6:11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the LORD; I am weary with holding in: I will pour it out upon the children abroad, and upon the assembly of young men together: for even the husband with the wife shall be taken, the aged with him that is full of days.
Jer 6:12 And their houses shall be turned unto others, with their fields and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD.
Jer 6:13 For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

He is calling for us to return to Him. The time will soon come when He will return in His glory but He is waiting for you first. Will you make the right decision?

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments. I am praying for each and every one of you out there and I pray that God has touched someone's life today through this message. It was not what I had written in my notes. I know it was changed for a reason and there is one of you who was supposed to read this.

SFT
9/29/08

Is Your Walk a Delusion?

Is Your Walk a Delusion?

Isa 66:1 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?

Isa 66:2 For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

Isa 66:3 He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog's neck; he that offereth an oblation, as if he offered swine's blood; he that burneth incense, as if he blessed an idol. Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations.

Isa 66:4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

As I was looking at some of the possible reasons that many in the church are not surrendering wholly to God I came to this verse. My Pastor and I were speaking about several of these issues today after church. The conversation came after we had four people come forward and two for sure who had trusted Christ as their Lord and Savior. The thing is that this happened before service began. As I was in the room with one of the young men he was out there preaching with more liberty than he has had in awhile. We spoke about what had happened and how we do not see the body being affected. With the upcoming elections we see it as the potential for judgment upon America and yet many Christians have given into the affairs of the world which are apart from God. We discussed how they sit back and hear the word yet see it as meant for someone else. They are happy with the way things are and don’t want things to change. As I read through Matthew 24, I saw Christ telling what to look for concerning the end times and as I look around today I see it around me. I then turned to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and again the comparison is there as I turned to 2 Timothy chapter 3 and again it was there. I then turned to the book of Jude. The more I read the more I wondered how we cannot see things that are before us and then I turned to the book of Isaiah.

It is not the church building that God wants. It doesn’t matter how big it is or what kind of media equipment we have in it or what programs we have going on in the church because these things are nice but they don’t really do anything. It doesn’t matter how much we tithe to the church or how often we volunteer to work at the church or the position that we hold within the church while they are all nice they don’t really mean anything. Now look at verse 2 and see what means something to God. This is the reason we don’t see the power in the church today. It is why the messages do not accomplish anything to the existing congregation and it is why we can’t get them excited about the things of God today. The only way to accomplish revival today is to get people broken and contrite over their sin and their lack of service to Him. In Sunday school we discussed when things seemed to change and we all agreed that a lot of change happened in the 80’s but I am sure it started before then however God tells us here that He has been calling us and no one responded and as He continues to call and none respond He sends them delusions that continue to allow them to think that they are okay. Just listen to the things that they fear. They worry about jobs, about the economy, about their health, their families, their savings, and as the list goes on we can see that none of the things that they mention concern God or the lost. As we come to the end of verse 4 we see that they did the things that do not delight Him. It is not about us but about Him when it comes to our service and our worship.

In Exodus chapter 33 we have God telling the people to go on into the land flowing with milk and honey but He was not going to go with them. Moses replied that he would not go without God and set His tent out away from the people and the presence of the Lord followed Moses and stayed by his tent. Moses would rather stay in that dry desert with God than to go into the promise land without Him and the problem today is that we would rather go into the promise land without Him if it is going to give us a life of ease, a life of comfort and we count the cost as minimal. This is the condition that we currently have in the body of Christ. We go into our churches, sing the praises and worship Him but the problem is that His presence is not even there and what is worse is that it doesn’t even bother us because we are enjoying ourselves. Just what is the importance of chapter 33 of Exodus? It comes on the heels of God giving Moses the moral law. Moses had gone up into the mount to receive the tablets from God and while He was gone his return was delayed so the people built an idol to worship. When Moses came down off the mount the people were naked, dancing around and worshipping the idol.

Today we have gone off worshipping other gods. We claim to worship God yet it is not Him but an image of Him that we have created in our mind. As God called these people stiff-necked so we too are stiff-necked because we refuse to hear Him and refuse His power in our lives. As they denied Him in their release from Egypt, as they denied His continual presence in the cloud by day and fire by night so we deny His miracles over the years. We deny His presence and power in our ability to work, we deny Him His money that He gives us and we deny the sacrifice that was His Son the Lord Jesus Christ and the result is that He has turned us over to our delusions and removed His presence from us. Many times as I walk through our church I can feel sections where the presence of the Holy Spirit is powerful and in other sections are like walking into a brick wall.

Exo 33:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I swore unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it:

Exo 33:2 And I will send an angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:

Exo 33:3 Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way.

Exo 33:4 And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments.

Exo 33:5 For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee.

Exo 33:6 And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb

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Exo 33:7 And Moses took the tabernacle, and pitched it without the camp, afar off from the camp, and called it the Tabernacle of the congregation. And it came to pass, that every one which sought the LORD went out unto the tabernacle of the congregation, which was without the camp.

Exo 33:8 And it came to pass, when Moses went out unto the tabernacle, that all the people rose up, and stood every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he was gone into the tabernacle.

Exo 33:9 And it came to pass, as Moses entered into the tabernacle, the cloudy pillar descended, and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.

Exo 33:10 And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.

Exo 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.

Notice that when the presence of God departed from the people Moses went out from the people as well. He camped a long way off from them. These people saw the presence of God and still they would continually disobey Him and rebel against Him and we claim that if God would reveal Himself today that we would be better than they. I say we would be no different than they were. God reveals Himself daily and we refuse to acknowledge Him, we refuse to obey Him in even the smallest of things. Also notice that the presence of the Lord descended upon the tabernacle once Moses had entered in. The one thing that protects many of our churches is the presence of one godly man or women and generally when you find one there will always be another who is willing to stand with them, who will not be willing to leave the tabernacle. We see this in verse 11 in Joshua; even when Moses went back out into the people Joshua refused to leave the tabernacle. He was intent on remaining in the presence of the Lord because he felt as if there was no other place to be. If God was there he wanted to be there! He did not want to relinquish God’s presence to anyone or anything. Is it any wonder that later in life he would state “as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” Every person who is willing to stay in the presence of the Lord needs a Joshua because they keep their focus where it needs to be and that is on the presence of God; for we have too many who are willing to leave His presence for the comforts of the world.

You see we are too much like Israel who turned to their idols because of the delay of Moses. Since it has been so long and Christ has not returned we have determined that He will not return anytime soon and therefore we are content to live in continual disobedience to Him. We do not concern ourselves with the lack of His presence and to be honest I don’t think many of you would notice the feeling of His presence in the first place because you have aligned yourself with the world so much. We whore ourselves out to the latest fashions the newest cars the larger salary, the bigger houses, the 401k, the huge retirement account and the people who can help us obtain these things and then sit back and claim to be blessed by God when all the while He is the furtherest thing from your heart and minds. We dance around naked in the streets, shaming ourselves and His name and then wonder why people think Christians are hypocrites. We claim to be loving and kind to others when very few of us would actually put our hands into our pockets and pull money out to hand to someone in need. We give to the church so we can justify not giving to others claiming we have tithed our 10% when it all belongs to Him anyways and then we holler about the fact that homelessness and poverty is at an all time high. We blame our governing officials just as the children of Israel blamed Moses for all their trials when it was their disobedience that caused their continual wanderings just as the condition of our country is the result of our own disobedience because as He has been calling us we have refused to hear Him because He might actually require us to sacrifice one of our creature comforts. We blame the school systems for our children’s behaviors when we are to blame because we are too busy to truly pay attention to them after all we have the right to have our own time. We lay the blame everywhere but where it truly needs to be which is on ourselves because we refuse to hear Him when He calls. Our failed marriage is not our fault it is because of society or the other person where our spouse was working; our pregnant teens are not our fault it is because they hand out condemns at school; our convicted child is not our fault it is because of rap music; our money troubles are not our fault it is because of who is in Washington; and the list goes on when in reality it is our fault because we refused to put ourselves under God’s authority first and foremost. Then we refused to treat our spouse as God commanded, we allowed our daughters boyfriend to spend the night and just what are we doing allowing them to date at 13 or 14 years old anyways. Our child is a felon because we were too busy making money to be home with them and because we deny authority in our lives how can we expect any difference in them. We have money problems because we are too busy buying things we really don’t need. We refuse God His portion. Our country is in the shape it is in because we refuse to stand up for the principles this country was founded on and have deemed it more important to please the flesh than to please God. Do you really want to see where the problem is start by looking in the mirror for one because until you surrender it is not going to change a thing. Until you seek to be in His presence continually it is only going to get worse and before you know it the trumpets will sound and it is entirely possible that you will be left behind. It is possible that tomorrow will be the last day for you and when you stand before Him He may say depart from me you worker of iniquity instead of enter into my rest my faithful servant..

The Path to Perdition

The Path to Perdition

I have written many things over the last several days but none that I felt that should be posted just as yet and while they were things laid on my heart they didn’t have the ingredients that I felt necessary to warrant a posting. Over the last several days I have watched some of the happenings concerning the upcoming elections. This prompted some further research on the two candidates and listening to their speeches. The one thing I have felt concerning this election is that the choice for our next president is going to determine the future of our country; whether it will be judgment or a reprieve. The votes are going to determine where our morals are; if we in fact have any or not and where our heart truly is. However it merely takes a look around us not only in the world but also the church to see where we are fast heading. As I listened to the candidates I heard one speaking of a global community. That we need to not only focus on America but that we as Americans can be better as a global community. From the other candidate I heard the focus on keeping our rights intact; the strengthening of America and her economy; the return to what our country was built upon and the deterioration of government as a whole. The one thing that drew me to the one candidate was his choice for a running mate and it is her steadfastness that makes his appearance all the better for me. Yet this is not all I am going to talk about because it is your choice to make as far as the election is concerned and I know that God will put who He wants in office to do His will, whether to usher in His glorious appearing or to lengthen the time till He returns. My self I welcome His return but in another sense I would like to see more time to harvest.

During His ministry here on earth the disciples asked Jesus what the signs would be of His return to earth. As He answered them He gave some specific requirements for His return and we find these in Matthew chapter 24. We have seen many prophecies fulfilled during our lifetime yet none more compelling I believe than the one found in verse 12, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” The New King James replaces “lawlessness” for “iniquity” however I like iniquity better because it has more power. As the last “Christian” nation; America is fast becoming a cesspool for iniquity. Man is doing what seems right in his own eyes and insisting that everyone conform to his viewpoint. A government that was set up on the principals of the Bible is now insisting that the Bible be ignored and taken out of anything having to do with the governing of our country. The remnant that is left has an even more difficult time in getting those who claim His name to glorify Him and it’s in the leadership of the church as well. Look at 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse, 3; Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition. Verse 4 goes on to describe what the son of perdition will do and how he will promote himself.

2Ti 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

We can all agree that there have been a lot of perilous times as of late, between hurricanes, terrorist attacks, earth quakes as mentioned in Matthew chapter 24; the list goes on.

2Ti 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

I have never seen these attributes so prevalent in the church as much as I do today. The complete lack of self sacrifice among many is appalling. I have seen people who claim to have a burden laid upon their heart for someone and insist that the church do something to help that person when if it was laid upon their heart, it is for them to meet the need of that individual yet because of co-op programs we feel that our job of giving is complete. I am totally against co-ops because of this very reason just as I am against so many so called Christian finance programs that are supposedly designed to help Christians save for their retirements, but we will discuss that later.

2Ti 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

There has never been so many grandparents raising their grandchildren than there is today and it is not only in the world but in the church as well.

2Ti 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Just take a look around the church today and you will see this unless you are among those who practice these things. Our deacons are no longer going out and visiting those in our church; instead they are giving their phone numbers out expecting us to call them if there is a need. What better way to justify ourselves when a need is missed. I think we must ask ourselves why there is no physical touch anymore within our church. Oh, we may have a meet and greet time but how much can we do in that short 5 minute or less time span? The thing is that we quickly want to get it over with because we can’t be burdened with someone else’s problems.

2Ti 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2Ti 3:8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

What is the knowledge of the truth? It is knowing what God says in His word, it is understanding what He asks of us and being obedient to His call verses our own desires. The truth is going beyond our time of handshaking and going to peoples homes to see how they are doing during the week. It is going the extra mile for our seniors and single parents. It is not just saying I love you but showing you that love them. We cannot just hear the word but we have to live the word; however we have gotten so good at assuming the messages are meant for someone else that we are walking further and further away from God. We are so close to the falling away that Christ had spoken of that I fear it may be too late for a reprieve. This probably won’t be read because many of us do not want to hear anything that would confirm the seriousness of our depravity nor do we want to be reminded how little He really means to us. Don’t get me wrong, I know that you love Him and all but the truth is that you really don’t because if you did you would be doing what He asked you to do. If you loved Him it wouldn’t be hard to live for Him every day, if you loved Him you wouldn’t have a problem putting others before yourself and if you loved Him it would show in you. So as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do you because you want the gift but you want it in a way that will allow you to continue to live your life for yourself. You gather others around you that feel the same way because you really don’t want the truth to be pointed out to you and when it is you quickly convince yourself that it is only their interpretation of the Bible. You avoid studying the word of God because you do not want the truth, oh, you may read it but you are not getting what God wants for you from it. When I was running from God I read all the time and it was amazing how often I felt that my life was okay based upon what I read in His word but when I surrendered the blinders came off and when they came off so did the muzzle that was over my mouth and with boldness I can now speak.

Suppose

Suppose you continue to raise up a great nation from this one man. You lead them to ancient Egypt where they are forced to live together for hundreds of years and become a distinct people. They grow to over a million. Yet they soon forget the miracles you did for their forefathers. At the right time you bring them out of Egypt with an incredible display of mighty miracles. In one final demonstration of your power, you show them that it is only by covering their dwelling with the blood of the most innocent of creatures (a lamb) that they can be spared judgment.

You continue to teach them a pattern. You bring deserved judgment on an evil Egyptian nation and kill the first-born child in every household. You separate your people from the influence of an evil world. You bring them through a sea with a wall of water on their right and a wall of water standing on their left to demonstrate that they are being baptised into a new life. Yet, incredibly, they immediately return to their evil ways. They build idols to other gods. They refuse to enter the land which you have provided. They are a stubborn and rebellious people. But you have a plan.

Suppose you allow your chosen people to spend 40 years wandering in the wilderness in order to teach them many lessons. You teach them that they must depend wholly on you for their sustenance and that they must come back to you each day for refilling. You teach them that they will be healed when they look upon a symbol of evil which is raised up on a wooden pole. You teach them that they must put their sins upon something other than themselves because they can never pay for their own sins. You teach them that life-giving water comes from a rock. You begin to teach them that it is only by the shedding of innocent blood that their sins can be forgiven. Each year they must bring an innocent creature - a spotless lamb - and slit its throat in a gruesome, bloody sacrifice. It makes no sense. But you are laying a pattern. Suppose you finally bring them into a special land made just for them. You delayed until the people living in that land had been given every possible opportunity to turn from their wicked ways. Then you win battle after battle for your people. You show them that you are giving this land to them. You drop walls of impregnable cities...You hurtle meteorites from space to destroy enemy armies...You stop the sun in the sky at their request...You drop giants with a single stone...You destroy entire enemy armies at the request of those who love you. Yet your people refuse to obey you. But it’s okay, you have a plan.

Suppose that time and time again you send messengers to tell your people how to behave. Yet they kill the messengers and always drift back into their evil ways. But you love this people. You tell them over and over again that you are going to send a Savior. You tell them where He will be born. You tell them, hundreds of years before it happens, the exact day when He will enter Jerusalem and declare Himself their eternal King. You tell them that He will become their eternal sacrifice so that they can end their pitiful and hopeless pursuit to work their way into your favor. You describe in minute detail over 300 specific details of what you are about to do for them. Their response is to kill the messengers who bring the promises. But you love these people. Through them you will show all people how much you love them. The time for your plan has come.

The time to complete the plan which You conceived before laying the foundation of the universe...the plan started before the first molecule was created and the first electromagnetic wave appeared... the plan laid out before the first animal was made and you breathed life, spirit, and part of yourself into these people whom You love so much...had arrived. You become a man. Permanently, for all eternity, you become human.

Suppose, at just the right time, thousands of years after history began, it was time to demonstrate to humanity what love means. You did not come to earth as an arrogant ruler... but as a humble servant to wash the feet of others. You did not arrive with fanfare and pomp ... but left the glory of heaven to become a baby born in an animal stall. Your prophets had told of this... but this was not what your people expected.

Suppose that you start your ministry to your chosen people by announcing that you are the Lamb who has come to take away the sins of the world. Surely they will understand the implication after 2000 years of teaching. You demonstrate who you are by healing sickness, restoring blindness, and allowing the lame to walk. You cast out demons which have oppressed your beloved people for millenniums. You show that you control creation by calming storms with a word and walking on water. You create wine from water and food to feed thousands. Yet they still follow you with their stomachs and not their hearts. Your prophets had told them these things would happen... but this was not what your people expected.

Suppose you spent three years patiently teaching your people how to live and who you are. You repeatedly teach them that you are the rock upon which they must build their lives. You hate the arrogant lie that Your children can earn their way into your presence. Your character is justice and justice requires payment for sin. Yet no man can pay the price. Throughout history Satan has deceived your children into believing that religion can save them. You expose the lies and hypocrisy of salvation by religious acts. You hate religion. Your harshest words are for these religious leaders. They are the ones who should know you best...but you are not whom they expected.

Suppose that the climax, which has been building since man first sinned, arrives. You pray for some other way to save mankind from his sin and restore fellowship with the Father. But there is no other way. You allow yourself to be taken. You make no defense in mock trial after mock trial because whom you represent (mankind) is guilty and deserves judgment. You allow Satan to pour his fury out upon you. You are beaten so severely that you hardly look human. You are whipped so severely that your back resembles raw hamburger. Your beard is ripped out, thorns are thrust onto your head, you are slapped, cursed, and spit upon. Nails are driven through your feet and wrists and you are left hanging on a pole to die. You could destroy the entire universe with a word, but you chose instead...to suffer. You become that symbol of sin lifted on a pole which will heal your people. But this is not what they expected.

But suppose this is not the worst. For the first time in eternity, you are separated from the Father. You actually become sin and the part of yourself left in heaven, the Father, pours out his wrath upon you. You pay the price for every sin ever committed by every person in the past, present, and future. The anguish is incomprehensible. Your innocent blood is shed for the sins of humanity. You are the innocent lamb sacrificed for others. You die for them. It is not what they expected ... they do not understand.

Suppose that three days later you rise from the dead to show that...at long last, they can have victory over death. Death has lost its sting. You have shown that there is nothing they can do to bridge the chasm between themselves and their Maker...you have done it all. But it is not free. They must love you more than their wickedness. You have shown them that there is no other way. There is no religious system, or set of rules which will allow them to earn their way to heaven. They have been trying to do this since they first sinned. They have been trying to cover their sins with fig leaves from the very start. You showed them that innocent blood...your blood would be required. But is was not what they expected.

The plan was finally complete. The path back to you is open to all who are willing to accept it. You have done everything you could possibly do to restore fellowship between sinful man and yourself. You have satisfied the perfect justice required of your nature. You took the penalty which they deserved. You have shown absolute mercy by providing a bridge over the chasm between sinful man and a perfect God. You have made it so simple that anyone can understand it. You have done it all. But it was not what they expected.

Suppose that this is history. It is Christianity. It is reality.

Will you accept His love?

Evolution: Approaching the Subject

Evolution: Approaching the Subject

Any of you that have teen age children will probably have a difficult time approaching the subject with them because they have already been thoroughly indoctrinated in the subject. You may feel extremely nervous about it because you may feel as if you do not know enough about the subject or about creation for that matter. You may be nervous about having proof for creation versus evolution, especially if you watch the Learning Channel you will see their supposed factual evidence supporting evolution and you can believe that your children have had this information provided to them from an early age. So how do you discuss it? First off if you haven’t been on your knees before God, surrendering your life to Him, I would not even attempt to discuss it with them because as I stated before if they do not see the obedience in you they are not going to believe what the Bible has to say, but if you have surrendered and committed your life to Him the next step is being familiar with the creation story in Genesis. If you have a study Bible use the reference verses to look up other verses that may have relevance. You can also go to Ken Hamm’s “Answers in Genesis” web site to help you in this area.

Whenever I speak to anyone concerning evolution they are always bringing up proof that supports evolution and that if the earth was as young as the Bible claims then there would be sufficient evidence to support it. The problem is not the evidence because the very evidence that they have to prove their point is the very evidence that we have to support creation the difference is the way the evidence is viewed. The important thing is to never lose your cool when discussing it when they can’t seem to see it your way. This is extremely important when it is your child because you are trying to reveal Christ through you. Remember that we are told that the world cannot discern the scriptures because they are spiritually discerned, so do not start by quoting a bunch of scripture. Now if you have younger children reading the creation story is a good way to start teaching them creation.

Much of science is best guess when it comes to determining the answer, while you run test you will always have a percentage of inaccuracy within the test to obtain the desired result so the way that the test is conducted depends upon the result that is desired. If all of my conclusions are based upon the fact that the earth is billions of years old then I know that the different strata layers depict age so if I have retrieved a fossil from the layer that I have already determined to be millions of years ago and I have run a test that shows it to be only a few thousand years old then I am going to add a percentage of inaccuracy to accomplish my desired age of several million years. Now on the creation side because I know from God’s word that the Bible is true then I do not have to add those percentages because the result is accurate. You see the evidence is proof yet it is the presupposed result that generates the difference.

Evolutionists believe in natural selection—that is real science, as you observe it happening. Well, creationists also believe in natural selection. Evolutionists accept the science of genetics—well, so do creationists.

‘However, here is the difference: Evolutionists believe that, over millions of years, one kind of animal has changed into a totally different kind. However, creationists, based on the Bible’s account of origins, believe that God created separate kinds of animals and plants to reproduce their own kind—therefore one kind will not turn into a totally different kind.

‘Now this can be tested in the present. The scientific observations support the creationist interpretation that the changes we see are not creating new information. The changes are all within the originally created pool of information of that kind; sorting, shuffling or degrading it. The creationist account of history, based on the Bible, provides the correct basis to interpret the evidence of the present—and real science confirms the interpretation.’

My point is that if we Christians really understood that all evidence is actually interpreted on the basis of certain presuppositions, then we wouldn’t be in the least bit intimidated by the evolutionists’ supposed ‘evidence.’ We should instead be looking at the evolutionist’s (or old-earther’s) interpretation of the evidence, and how the same evidence could be interpreted within a biblical framework and be confirmed by testable and repeatable science.

In my discussions I attempt to get them to let go of those biased opinions in order to see the results as they are. No matter how much evidence I was to provide for them, they will never see it from the Bible’s viewpoint therefore I must allow God to work in order to break down those presuppositions. When they realize that their logic does not make sense then they will change direction of the conversation to prove their point in another area and even go as far as denying their own theory when discussing morality. In my discussion with the atheist when he had no where else to go he then brought up the legitimacy of the existence of Christ and when that didn’t work he proceeded to call me a liar. He then changed direction and stated that even if there was proof of Christ and His miracles there was no proof that He was the Son of God.

As you look at the many changes in direction it is only to get you first of all angry so that you might say something that you shouldn’t say therefore they have you because if Christ was really the Son of God and you believed in Him the way the Bible says that you should then you wouldn’t say the things that you say, which enforces their theory of evolution with reverting to the animal tendencies. The other reason this is done is to get you to throw out one of the debunked evidences of creation such as the moon dust. You can find these on the Answers in Genesis website. The reason I say they are debunked is because again they utilize the presupposed results, in other words I can run the same test and come up with an answer that would also support evolution in the result. Again if you fall into the trap you will be ridiculed and any progress you had made up until that point will be lost and you will have to start all over again.

The one thing I love is to get them to begin thinking beyond the limits of their teachings, when they have to reach outside of the box in order to provide an answer it is like watching the light bulb go off in their head. The same thing can be realized in a text message because the order of their words reveals the thoughts going into what they are writing. In dealing with your teen it can be the same experience. The best way to discuss evolution with them is in nature itself because when they see the remarkable creation before their very eyes it is hard to deny. Of course the alone time with them is very important for the discussion because it shows them that they are important to you. The other thing that you have to realize is that by forgoing what they have been indoctrinated with at school they are going to be giving up a lot preconceived rights. They will have to begin being responsible for their own actions, which you will have to enforce. The purpose is to draw them to Christ not just remove evolution from their thinking. Again Christ does the work not you; your job is to be obedient to Him. Once we see them begin to understand it then makes it easier to show them the gospel because until this point it is important to remember that to them God has no power and Jesus was just a good man and not the Son of God. They do not see their sins as exceedingly wicked nor do they see their need for a Savior but hopefully with the aid of the Holy Spirit you can plant the seed that God uses to draw them to Him.

Uncovering Hidden Effects of Evolution

Uncovering Hidden Effects of Evolution

As we continue I want to look at one of the effects of Evolution; since evolution in essence denies God or His power it opens up the thinking that we are inherently able to determine for ourselves what is basically good or evil and since these differ from one person to the next just as they do within nature then we are unable to negate another persons beliefs thus the introduction of tolerance. In being tolerant one must accept another’s beliefs regardless of the harm it may to do that person or others around them. It is also indoctrinating others beliefs into your own to create a belief system that will; in their thinking; enhance you as a person. The question then becomes how does one generate this thinking into the general public and especially into the bible believing community? With the general public it was easy because with the teaching of evolution it was obvious that by eliminating a supernatural power, (God) you could essentially establish your own moralistic community in which everyone could do what was right in their own eyes and because man has evolved from animals any behavior that was deemed against the moral laws of the government could be blamed on the influence of their surroundings; and if that is the case, we can then soften those laws through the court system. This concept worked excellently for them and they were soon able to either forego sentences with probation or the transgressor was able to receive psychological evaluations which ultimately proved their case because in most cases the patient recalled suppressed memories. Whether these memories were true or false did not matter because they provided the ammunition that was needed to wage war on those who did not readily accept their new belief system.

This new battle needed even more ammunition then what they had expected so in order to wage a good battle they had to strike at the core of their belief system, which was God. Since they already had evolution as a way to show how the earth could be created without God the next step is to remove God from the school system. When they accomplished that it was easy for them to promote their new belief system and many of the students eagerly accepted it because it diminished the power of the parents. They suddenly had rights that they never imagined and because sin is exciting they eagerly ran head first to these new found rights and while they had found some success it still was not enough. There had to be a way to gain a greater foothold. They needed to be able to establish laws that would protect their new belief system and without a greater foothold that would be impossible to do. They had to soften the views of the holdouts and the only way to do that was through media. What people watch on television and how they spent leisure time greatly affected their thinking, so if they could create media that would seem innocent enough in context they could eventually cause them to drop their guard; therefore allowing them to ultimately change their thought process and during that transformation they could install their new laws.

However; how can you change a person’s viewpoint on something that has long been seen as wrong or dabbling with evil? The answer is you change the perception by making it seem unbelievable or by changing the behaviors of the person performing the act by making them inherently good in deed even though their act is against someone’s beliefs. Hence you have now accomplished a difference in their view of the act. For example if someone has had a hard life and nothing ever seems to go right for them. They are a loving father or mother but they lose their jobs and begin stealing to provide food for their families and then they begin providing for their friends and before long you find yourself cheering for them and when they finally get caught you secretly hope they get let off. Now all along they had a neighbor who tried to help them by providing a job but he wanted them to clean up a little bit. The position required them to have contact with people who would view the way she dressed as inappropriate or the smell of alcohol on their breathe as unacceptable yet we find ourselves pointing our finger at the neighbor for requiring such things.

Let’s take a look at another situation. You have a young boy who is rather plain. He doesn’t fit in with many people and is kind of a misfit. Unbeknown to him he has magical powers that are revealed to him by a friend of his parents who happens to be a wizard and he is invited to a school especially for kids like him but even there he is outcast by the more popular students so he develops these powers and while he never outright attacks his tormentor he does spells to make him look stupid. The premises is that there is good magic and bad magic and one shouldn’t judge the act but the person who is performing the act regardless of where their powers came from. Of course this opens a huge problem because it encourages those who are not readily accepted by peers to seek out a way to obtain these powers and parents unwittingly allow them to not only watch these shows but read the books. The reality is that these powers do exist and they do not come from God but that is a topic for another time the purpose of this is to open your eyes as to how we allow our hearts and minds to be changed from what God tells us in His word to be true.

As you allow them to change your thinking you ultimately become more desensitized to the things of the world and you then begin to accept more and more of their ideology. As this happens you start walking further and further away from God until you no longer believe that He really requires a daily relationship with you and is happy with you living the way you are living as long as you mention Him now and then in a quick prayer or go to church on special occasions; after all He created nature for us to enjoy so what is wrong with worshiping Him at the beach on Sunday instead of church?

As I come to a close here you may be wondering how this applies to evolution? I want you to stop and think about that for a moment. Send me your thoughts on how it either applies or does not apply and I will attempt to answer all of them. Let me assure you of this one thing. Everything mentioned here does stem from the belief in evolution and the question is; how does it affect you.

Introduction to Destruction

This is a repost of my posting on Radically Persuasive.

As I have read the post here I have not only had my heart broken but I have also became quite angry at the insensitivity of others reading these post. I see the same response from many in congregations across America today. Could it be that we have desensitized ourselves to the things of God that when we read these things or hear the preaching of the word of God that we sit back and tell ourselves that it really doesn't concern us. It is like we think that we are okay and we don't have to worry about these things because we go to church every Sunday and we live in a nice subdivision. These things don't happen to people in our class; they only happen to those who are living in projects or to those who don't go to church. Let me assure you that the influence that is being reported here will affect you and your children much quicker than any one else and here is the reason. We have walked away from God, telling him that, He is fine for Sunday but as for the rest of the week, they belong to us. When scripture told us that we rob God in tithes and offerings it was not merely talking about the money we give but also the time that we need to spend with Him through out the rest of the week. When our children do not see God in us the rest of the week, they are being taught by us that He is not really all that important. We are saying that it is good to have a belief in something because it makes you a good person and this is where the worlds teaching comes in and takes over the job that we are supposed to have.

Look back at the Old Testament at the children of Israel. When they did not live for God their children chased after other gods; they took wives from the world and did what was right in their own eyes. When we allowed evolution to be taught in the schools as fact and not theory it was easy for them to grab the church kids who came from good homes. They were easy to manipulate because they did not see God in their home every day of the week. They did not see Him being important enough for their parents to have a daily relationship with Him and therefore it was easy for them to accept the concept that they were simply following a tradition instead of the living TRUE God.

Pro 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

The bible was not talking about insuring that your kids get a good education and make lots of money. It is speaking of raising them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. As a horse trainer I know that in order for me to properly train a horse it has to be done on a continual basis. it has to be a daily exercise in order to get the desired results. All of the athletes in the Olympics today will attest to this very same concept and yet we as Christians refuse to practice these things with our children. If they graduate from the best college and are making lots of money it does not mean a thing if they are living in habitual sin because the moment they die they are going to be standing before God and are going to have to give an account for their lives and who are they going to point the finger at. You see if you are telling them that they can't listen to Marilyn Manson because his music is bad yet every time you get into the car together you have Styx or Queen playing on the radio are you really sending him the proper message or if you have Faith Hill or Montgomery Gentry blaring on your radio; it is not sending him the proper message because to them you are just not being tolerant of their music just as your parents were not tolerant of the music you listened to at home. You see the daily training is not there.

Now does this mean that the child raised in a home where God is first and foremost won't rebel? No, it doesn't but there will be a less likely chance that they will. If they see the presence of God daily in your life they are less likely to fall into the teachings of the world. The failure of doing this is what evolution thrives on because it offers an explanation that makes sense to them when they do not see God working in your live daily. Let me attempt to make this a little simpler for you. If God is not powerful enough to keep you from listening to secular music then He must not be powerful enough to speak the world into existence therefore He must have used evolution to create the world or He simply does not exist and since He does not exist then there is no judgment for sin and I can live as I want and do what makes me happy regardless, because without judgment there is no condemnation so why should I go to church where there are rules set up by man. I hope that you can see the reasoning here. It is simply an attempt to justify ones actions and behaviors by eliminating God who to them is not worthy of their attention since He is not worthy of your devotion.

If this is getting you angry I hope that you realize it is the Holy Spirit working and not me for my intention is not to glorify myself but God. These are not my words but the words I have felt led to write based upon the scriptures. I have a series that I have put together involving evolution and how it is destroying our homes but more devastating than evolution is our continuance to refuse to surrender our lives to our Savior. The purpose behind the series is to show us how our disobedience is allowing the theory to shut out the truth.

2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

My prayer is this, that you will allow God to speak to you through this and that it would cause you to draw closer to Him.
Stephen (Hisway)