Tuesday, January 27, 2015

The Truth Shall Make You Free Part II

Since the Bible is clear on the WHOSOEVER will and the ALL of who can accept Christ, let's talk about that false teacher who promotes anything other than the true gospel of Christ.


A doctrine that teaches God has chosen some of us for Heaven and the rest of us for Hell is a lie and nothing but religious rhetoric and heresy.


Jeremiah, speaking to Hananiah the prophet, in Jeremiah 28:15 said, "The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie."


Anyone who promotes this type of doctrine is deceived and those who preach it are liars.  Plain and simple.  Their gospel is a gospel of man.  Not the gospel of Christ.  Jesus said that He came to SEEK and to SAVE that which was lost and that WHOSOEVER called upon His name would be saved.  Anything contrary to that is a lie.


People who teach anything other than the TRUE gospel of Christ are grace perverters.


Galatians 1:6-8 says, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel; which is NOT ANOTHER; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach ANY OTHER GOSPEL unto you than that which we have preached unto you, LET HIM BE ACCURSED"


Accursed?  That means let him be under a curse. Let him be condemned.  They take grace and make it only for themselves.  It is a selfish gospel of man.  An arrogant gospel of man.


People who teach anything other than the TRUE gospel of Christ are truth resisters.


II Timothy 3:8 says, "Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of CORRUPT MINDS, REPROBATE concerning the faith.


Jannes and Jambres were the magicians who stood against Moses when he approached Pharaoh to let God's people go.  Of course, we know the outcome of that.


In this verse, Timothy is comparing those who speak against the truth to those magicians.  They are of corrupt minds.  That means they're dishonest.  Well yeah.  They're speaking a false doctrine.  They are of a reprobate mind.  Anywhere in the Bible  you see the word reprobate,  you can know it means this: bad, corrupt, degenerate, immoral, foul, wanton, improper, incorrigible, lewd, rude, sinful, unprincipled, vile, and wicked. 
Anyone preaching anything other than the TRUE gospel of Christ are these things. 


People who teach anything other the TRUE gospel of Christ are destitute of truth.


I Timothy 6:3-5 says, "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our LORD JESUS CHRIST, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is PROUD, KNOWING NOTHING, but donting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and DESTITUTE OF THE TRUTH, supposing that gain is godliness: *FROM SUCH, WITHDRAW THYSELF.*"


To withdraw ourselves from these people that preach another gospel is to stay away from them.  We're to have nothing to do with them.  We don't promote them, we don't read books they've written, we don't watch videos of them on youtube, we LEAVE THEM ALONE!  The reason it's necessary for us to do that is because no matter how well we THINK we know the Bible, the more we have fellowship with lies, the more we begin to believe them.  God knows that.  That's why we're told to withdraw ourselves from them.  Also, to protect our reputation and the truth of the TRUE gospel of Christ, we need not to associate ourselves with those who preach a lie.


Ephesians 4:14 says, "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; BUT speaking the truth in love, many grow up into HIM in all things, WHICH IS THE HEAD, even CHRIST:" 


We need to stay focused on the true gospel of Christ.  We need to take our eyes off man and his teachings and get our eyes on Christ and HIS teachings. 


The gospel of Christ says that a holy sinless God was birthed from a virgin, lived a holy and sinless life on this earth, died the death of a guilty man, even though He was perfectly innocent, rose again the third day, and ascended into Heaven where He awaits The Father to tell Him to come back and catch His bride away.  The gospel of Christ says that WHOSOEVER believes this and calls on Him and accepts Him as their Savior can and will go to Heaven. 


If God had chosen beforehand who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell, then what would be the point of leaving the Holy Spirit here on earth to woo and draw us unto Him?  What would be the point of suffering on the cross?  What would be the point of any of it?


Christ came for the WHOSOEVER will.  That included me.  And that includes you too!    






 






Thursday, January 22, 2015

The Truth Will Make You Free Part 1

Recently, there was a picture quote on facebook that said:


"If the truth offends, let it offend.  People have been living their whole lives in offense to God; let them be offended."


Now, for a Christian to read that, it sounds pretty good on the surface.  But let's discuss who it came from.  A man that teaches Christ's blood was not shed for ALL, the way Scripture teaches, but for a select group.  A man that teaches an arrogant and heretical gospel of man instead of the precious gospel of Christ.  So let's back this up a minute and see what Scripture has to say about salvation and the TRUE gospel.


If the truth offends, let it offend.  Ok, sir...  here's some truth for ya from God's Word...


Romans 3:10-12 "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.  They are ALL gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one." 
If we look at this verse, the ENTIRE world is not up to God's standards.  Of course not!  That's why He sent His Son to die.  For the sins of mankind. 
John 3:16 "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."


Romans 3:23 "For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."  There's that word "all" again.  Yep...we're ALL sinners, short of God's glory.


Romans 6:23a "For the wages of sin is death..."  Because of sin, we all have a sentence of death upon us.  An eternal death. 


Romans 5:8 "BUT God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for US." Hmmm...  "us."  Who is "us?"  Oh yeah...  back to John 3:16...THE WORLD, meaning me, you, and anybody. 
Romans 5:9 "Much more then, being now JUSTIFIED BY HIS BLOOD, we shall be saved from wrath through him."  Hmmm... "we."  Who is "we?"  Oh yeah... back to John 3:16...THE WORLD, meaning me, you and anybody.


Romans 10:9 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."  Hmmm... "thou."  Who is "thou?"  Oh yeah...back to John 3:16...THE WORLD, meaning me, you, and anybody.


Romans 10:13 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."  "Whosoever."  That means me, you, and anybody! 


Now that we know WHO can be saved, in the next part we'll discuss arrogant false teachers and their heresy.
 















Friday, January 16, 2015

Time to Duke it Out!

So this week Duke University announced they would allow the bell to ring from the chapel for the Muslim call to prayer, Adhan.  Two days later they reversed the decision.


I suppose for Christians this would be considered a victory.  But let's break this down a minute.


For a few years now, the adhan has been done in the basement of the chapel.  The decision was reversed, but the prayer will still continue.  In the basement.  Of the same chapel.  So is this a victory for anyone?  It is somewhat a victory for the Muslims.  They still get to use the chapel.


Duke University is a school with Christian history.  As a matter of fact, they still have a school of divinity and are proud that: "Duke Divinity School’s student body consists of about 635 students from 40 states and several foreign countries. Approximately 45 percent of the student body is United Methodist, 12 percent is Baptist, and other students come from more than 50 different denominations in the Christian faith."


To be a Christian does not mean we have to accept other beliefs.  If anything, the gospel of Christ is 100% against this thought.  JESUS said in John 14:6, "... I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."  Of course we are to love those who do not know and do not accept Christ.  Even though it can be extremely aggravating dealing with someone who doesn't believe the same way as you do.  But as a Christian, I get more aggravated at other Christians who seem to think that in order to reach others, we have to give in to their demands and sometimes join hands with them. 


In my opinion, Duke University should never have allowed any type of Muslim worship in the chapel of the school.  They should have never even THOUGHT about ringing the bell and having a call to worship for the Muslim students from the tower of the chapel.  And if they're going to reverse that decision, how about taking it a step further and ceasing the prayer in the basement too?  You're either for it or you're against it.  Either way it's taking place.  On a so-called Christian campus.


They can play some b-ball, but let's face it...when it comes to being a Christian school, they're failing.


One lady told me we worship the same God as the Muslim.  No, ma'am, we don't.  My God came to seek and to save that which was lost.  Not seek and destroy the infidel.  My God sent His only begotten Son to shed His holy and sinless blood at Calvary to save ME!  He DESIRES worship from me.  He does not DEMAND it from me.


If Christians were as upset about them having Muslim prayer on campus at all, I wonder if there would still be allowance of the prayer, even in the chapel?  I can pray to my God anywhere.  It doesn't have to be a mosque or a rent-a-chapel. So why can't they?  I pray all day long and when I need to get in touch with God.  Why can't they?  I have a relationship with Christ.  He is a part of History, Who once was dead, but lives again and reigns on high for eternity.  They follow Muhammad who is a part of history that has been snuffed out.  Nothing but dust and bones remain. 


I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you want to practice Islam, practice it and don't expect the private institution you attend to bow to your demands and open the door to your false religion.  And if you're a school who was founded on and promotes Christianity, take a stand for Christ and say, "Nope. No way.  No how.  We're not doing that here.  At all.  Anywhere on campus.  Including the basement of the chapel." 


Get away from it. Stay away from it.  It's false.  It's a lie.  And it's sending people to Hell. 















Monday, January 12, 2015

Of Answered Prayers, Calendars, and Soup

Well, here we are in the middle of the first month of 2015.  How's it going for you?


It's going great here!  We just finished up a fantastic revival with Brother Mark Stroud last week and what a great way to kick off the new year!
We've prayed about some things recently and seeing God answer those prayers has been a good thing.  He's actually answered them more than we could have anticipated.  When I think about it I think of that song our choir sings that says,
If I hold my peace,
let the Lord fight my battles
If I sing and shout,
have faith and never doubt
It shall be mine,
Victory shall be mine, shall be mine
Victory, victory shall be mine


Also, Marie got some good news from her last doctor's visit last Thursday.  It was kind of surprising, I think, to both of us because we weren't expecting it.  But the doctor gave her a great report so far and said there was no reason for her to have 24hr assistance any longer.  I stayed with her Thursday night anyway, then Friday my little family came for supper at her house before revival and after revival we all came home.  I went over to Marie's house Saturday to wash my bed sheets, clean up a little, and pack all my stuff to take back home.  They should be calling her this week to set up her schedule for cardio rehab.


I guess I'm next in the surgery department.  My ankle is getting worse every day and seems to be sore all the time.  I could really use some prayer for that.  This is not an easy surgery.  We're talking twelve weeks of non weight bearing and eight weeks physical therapy.  Ugh!  That's TWENTY weeks.  But I've seen the Lord do great and mighty things.  I am trusting Him.  Just waiting for the right time.


We have some good things on the calendar already for this year.  Looking forward to these events and hoping time passes quickly so we can get these shows on the road.  :)


Bruce should be getting home soon.  Any minute, actually.  I'm making cheesy broccoli and potato soup for supper.  It just seems like a good soup day to me with it being so damp and cold. I think he'll probably enjoy that. 


Stay warm people!

























Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Happy New Year!

Wow!  2014 has come and gone and we have welcomed in the new year.  What are you expecting in 2015?


I've heard some different people say different things...


"Let the Holy Spirit be seen in 2015."
"Becoming lean in 2015."
"On Jesus lean, in 2015."


What's your slogan for this year?  I haven't really thought of one, although the ones above are pretty good ones to live by this year.  And every year.  But Happy New Year!  This is going to be a great year.  God has answered prayers in some situations and we are already seeing His hand moving and guiding. 


Marie is doing pretty good.  Her surgery did not go as planned.  Well, not as easy as planned, I should say.
She flat lined twice during surgery, then had some internal bleeding in the artery of her leg while in ICU.  Her chest was beat near to death when she flat lined and her little hips and thighs were so bruised from the clamps on her legs from bleeding out that she was just absolutely black and blue, barely able to walk and breathe.  I'm living with her right now and she is gaining strength every day, praise the LORD! Her legs and chest are better, but she is still black and blue on one side.  Waiting for that to heal. She is sailing through this time in her life and I keep saying she is a SUPER TROOPER!!


Our church is in revival with Brother Mark Stroud this week.  Last night was our first night and it was really good.  We had a great time in the Lord.  I'll be honest, I felt like the devil was fighting through to try and disturb things, but boy did he lose!  We were there to worship and receive, and the Holy Spirit walked through there and gave us exactly what we needed.  I am looking forward to this evening and thankful for a brother in law willing to stay with Marie so we can attend revival as a family!  Lord willing we'll be able to go every night this week and I sure would like to take Marie one night.  Pray she'll be up for it!  She's missed being in church and I know she'd rather be in her own church, but it would be great to take her one night for this. 


I know the Lord was good in 2014, but I am sure looking to see His goodness again this year.  Isn't He wonderful?  I am looking to see the Lord give my mother in law a great healing and strength she hasn't felt in several years.  I am looking for Him to do a miracle for my mom THIS WEEK with a situation she's dealing with.  I am looking for Him to bless my children and my husband.  I am looking for Him to do a miracle in the sick bodies of people in my church that need a special touch from Him.  But I am looking to draw closer to Him this year and for Him to show me how to love others the way He loves me!  Someone undeserving and unworthy of anything that comes from His sweet hands. 


What are you hoping to see in this new year?