Greetings once again! Let's get right into our text, Hebrews 5:11-14, KJV:
"...we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. for when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. for everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."
The Writer(s) of the epistle say it was difficult for them to communicate with their audience due to their lack of spiritual maturity! The "strong meat" spoken of here means deep spiritual truths, revelations way over some believers' heads. We're talking Theology & Doctrine here....too "boring" for many believers who just want candy! Paul warned Timothy, "...the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine: but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears: And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:3-4)
That is, immature Christians who just wanna hear junk will surely find "teachers" who will feed them a steady diet of spiritual junk food. The more they listen to junk, the less able they will be to process TRUTH!
Christ rebuked the Church of Pergamos for allowing Balaam, the for-profit prophet whose motto was, "Show me the Money!". We have so many hucksters out there writing books & blogs, giving seminars & conferences, airing TV shows & movies, getting rich and famous as "Bible Prophecy Experts". (There are at least 3 who call themselves "THE LEADING Bible Prophecy Expert"!
Moses & Jesus both said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD OF GOD" : EVERY word has to include sound doctrine and Theology. Believers need to be taught the ABC's of the faith before they can go on to maturity. People say, "Doctrine divides!"; yea, it divides those who want to grow up from those who don't.
I'll have more to say. Grace, peace, and thanks for stopping by!
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Who is a False Prophet?
"False Prophet" is a term that gets bandied about quite often in some circles. But what is a false prophet? To some, it's pretty much anyone who doesn't accept their eschatology! When the Bible uses this expression, it has a specific meaning.
A false prophet is NOT someone who misses a prediction. I could look at data & analyze trends, review history, consult experts, construct a hypothesis and make a prediction based on the available data & my understanding of it. If I say, "I think the New England Patriots win will the Super Bowl this year" and they don't even make the playoffs, am I therefore a false prophet? No, because I was just telling you WHAT I THINK, and made it clear that's what I was doing.
A few years ago, comedienne Tina Fey did a skit where she impersonated Sarah Palin and said, "I can see Russia from my house". People got confused and thought that was an actual quote from Palin. She never said anything like that! And Palin never authorized Fey to speak on her behalf. What Fey did to Palin is just what the false prophet does to God!
A false prophet claims to speak for God, saying, "God told me" or "thus saith the LORD" as if God spoke in their ears a word to give the rest of us. They act presumptuously! Just as Sarah Palin never gave Tina Fey permission to speak in her place, so God never called or anointed the false prophet to speak for Him. "I sent them not, yet they ran" Scripture says (Jeremiah 23:21).
Do you even know what a true prophet looks like? He or she will be heart-broken over the sin of God's people. When they intercede, they include themselves in confessing the sins of their people. The true prophet fears God, and is careful what he says & how he says it. The true prophet will warn people to turn from their sin.
A false prophet, on the other hand, denies Divine judgement on sin is coming! "It's OK; God understands; we're only human, it's natural, blahblahblah!" A false prophet condones sin, excuses it, allows it. He or she uses the same logic as the serpent in the Garden: no, God didn't really mean that, nothing's going to happen, go ahead, have fun.
Under Mosaic Law, a false accuser would receive the penalty for the crime he accused the innocent person of. So be careful who you call a false prophet: it's a serious charge, and you'd better be able to back it up.
A false prophet is NOT someone who misses a prediction. I could look at data & analyze trends, review history, consult experts, construct a hypothesis and make a prediction based on the available data & my understanding of it. If I say, "I think the New England Patriots win will the Super Bowl this year" and they don't even make the playoffs, am I therefore a false prophet? No, because I was just telling you WHAT I THINK, and made it clear that's what I was doing.
A few years ago, comedienne Tina Fey did a skit where she impersonated Sarah Palin and said, "I can see Russia from my house". People got confused and thought that was an actual quote from Palin. She never said anything like that! And Palin never authorized Fey to speak on her behalf. What Fey did to Palin is just what the false prophet does to God!
A false prophet claims to speak for God, saying, "God told me" or "thus saith the LORD" as if God spoke in their ears a word to give the rest of us. They act presumptuously! Just as Sarah Palin never gave Tina Fey permission to speak in her place, so God never called or anointed the false prophet to speak for Him. "I sent them not, yet they ran" Scripture says (Jeremiah 23:21).
Do you even know what a true prophet looks like? He or she will be heart-broken over the sin of God's people. When they intercede, they include themselves in confessing the sins of their people. The true prophet fears God, and is careful what he says & how he says it. The true prophet will warn people to turn from their sin.
A false prophet, on the other hand, denies Divine judgement on sin is coming! "It's OK; God understands; we're only human, it's natural, blahblahblah!" A false prophet condones sin, excuses it, allows it. He or she uses the same logic as the serpent in the Garden: no, God didn't really mean that, nothing's going to happen, go ahead, have fun.
Under Mosaic Law, a false accuser would receive the penalty for the crime he accused the innocent person of. So be careful who you call a false prophet: it's a serious charge, and you'd better be able to back it up.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Date Setters, Beware!
I recall years ago a little book came out called, 88 Reasons the Rapture Will Be in '88. I never read the book, 'cuz I knew it wasn't going to be in '88. But, Dude, how does it feel to be wrong 88 times?! Yet the date-setters continue: 2000, 2012, etc. "Family Radio" guy announced Big Day three different times! I think he should have retired after the first miss! So what's my problem?
It's that the Church has like zero credibility with the unbelievers after all the foolish talk and predictions that don't come true. They're laughing at us: The Simpsons did a parody of Left Behind! The Scripture says, "My Name is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you." (Isaiah 52 & Romans 2) Newsflash folks: unbelievers can read the Bible too, and they can see it doesn't say what you're preachin'.
Don't you realize you can't possibly predict the day of the Lord's return? For Jesus said, "The Son of Man comes at a time when you think not". So any date you pick is automatically wrong because it's not a day you think not! Some of you, that went right over your head. If you say He's coming next Christmas, then next Christmas is a time you think so, not a time you think not.
Moreover, Christ told the Apostles, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons" concerning the end & the Second Coming. If it ain't for us to know, then the Holy Spirit ain't telling, and you're only guessing. I don't care how many trips you've made to the Holy Land, or how many years you've studied Greek! Nobody knows, OK? Here's a tip: next time you think you got it figured out when the Rapture happens, just keep it to yourself, huh? Then when nothing happens, no one will label you a false prophet.
It's like these guys who think they've ID'd the AntiChrist cuz they tallied up the letters in the dude's name and it works out to 666 with a little creative math. (FYI: no one was ever named DCLXVI) Well, your Bible says the Son of Perdition will be revealed in his time. So it won't be revealed until then, and trust me, your puny mind ain't twisted enough to figure out Satan's plan for global domination. Plus, he's had a 5,000 year head start on you.
Bottom line: God "...frustrates the tokens of the liars, and makes diviners mad; that turns wise men backwards, and makes their knowledge foolish." (Isaiash 44:25) Those who presume to figure out hidden knowledge just make themselves, the Church, and God look bad. You don't know, and can't know, so just say you don't know. You'll look a whole lot smarter. Pardon my attitude.
It's that the Church has like zero credibility with the unbelievers after all the foolish talk and predictions that don't come true. They're laughing at us: The Simpsons did a parody of Left Behind! The Scripture says, "My Name is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you." (Isaiah 52 & Romans 2) Newsflash folks: unbelievers can read the Bible too, and they can see it doesn't say what you're preachin'.
Don't you realize you can't possibly predict the day of the Lord's return? For Jesus said, "The Son of Man comes at a time when you think not". So any date you pick is automatically wrong because it's not a day you think not! Some of you, that went right over your head. If you say He's coming next Christmas, then next Christmas is a time you think so, not a time you think not.
Moreover, Christ told the Apostles, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons" concerning the end & the Second Coming. If it ain't for us to know, then the Holy Spirit ain't telling, and you're only guessing. I don't care how many trips you've made to the Holy Land, or how many years you've studied Greek! Nobody knows, OK? Here's a tip: next time you think you got it figured out when the Rapture happens, just keep it to yourself, huh? Then when nothing happens, no one will label you a false prophet.
It's like these guys who think they've ID'd the AntiChrist cuz they tallied up the letters in the dude's name and it works out to 666 with a little creative math. (FYI: no one was ever named DCLXVI) Well, your Bible says the Son of Perdition will be revealed in his time. So it won't be revealed until then, and trust me, your puny mind ain't twisted enough to figure out Satan's plan for global domination. Plus, he's had a 5,000 year head start on you.
Bottom line: God "...frustrates the tokens of the liars, and makes diviners mad; that turns wise men backwards, and makes their knowledge foolish." (Isaiash 44:25) Those who presume to figure out hidden knowledge just make themselves, the Church, and God look bad. You don't know, and can't know, so just say you don't know. You'll look a whole lot smarter. Pardon my attitude.
Monday, May 26, 2014
The Birdcage
REVELATION 18:2 reads, "...Baylon the Great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird." It is the story of a once great nation that has declined and decayed into a rat's nest of demonic activity. Particularly disturbing is John's repitition of the word every.
America was once a people that did fear God; they acknowledged the Bible as His true Word; they had standards of decency. Yes, we've always had evil with us: racism, imperialism, and greed, to name a few. And there have always been pockets of the occult. But we've reached a stage in our culture & society where devils feel right at home and act like they own the place!
Look around! Our books, TV shows & movies, kids' cartoons & toys---what do you see? I could list specific examples: I'd be here all day! There's weird stuff going on out there! And we are opening doors to all kinds of evil.
Roughly 70 years ago, America & her allies defeated Hitler. BUT DID WE WIN??? We imported the Nazi's evil here....took the treasures they had stolen from the Jews; put Nazi scientists to work for us; used their spies against the Communists. It's as if Satan transferred his headquarters from Berlin to Washington, D.C. Not long after the end of WWII, stange things emerged here. A new technology- television- came into every home. A new musical genre appeared: Rock 'n' Roll.....which parents had dubbed "the Devil's music".
Strange sights were seen in the skies, and the whole UFO pheomena took off. The 60's & 70's brought mind-bending drugs and legalized abortion.
And here we are today, where many people believe we were created by alien races....that man himself is a GMO, a hybrid between aliens & apes. Where deceased Pop stars magically appear singing & dancing on stage. Where people believe in vampires, werewolves, ghosts, zombies, mermaids, dragons- you name it. Where they worship not only every god & goddess from ages past, but make up new ones for themselves.
"...And I heard another voice from Heaven saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues..." (Rev 18:4) Amen.
America was once a people that did fear God; they acknowledged the Bible as His true Word; they had standards of decency. Yes, we've always had evil with us: racism, imperialism, and greed, to name a few. And there have always been pockets of the occult. But we've reached a stage in our culture & society where devils feel right at home and act like they own the place!
Look around! Our books, TV shows & movies, kids' cartoons & toys---what do you see? I could list specific examples: I'd be here all day! There's weird stuff going on out there! And we are opening doors to all kinds of evil.
Roughly 70 years ago, America & her allies defeated Hitler. BUT DID WE WIN??? We imported the Nazi's evil here....took the treasures they had stolen from the Jews; put Nazi scientists to work for us; used their spies against the Communists. It's as if Satan transferred his headquarters from Berlin to Washington, D.C. Not long after the end of WWII, stange things emerged here. A new technology- television- came into every home. A new musical genre appeared: Rock 'n' Roll.....which parents had dubbed "the Devil's music".
Strange sights were seen in the skies, and the whole UFO pheomena took off. The 60's & 70's brought mind-bending drugs and legalized abortion.
And here we are today, where many people believe we were created by alien races....that man himself is a GMO, a hybrid between aliens & apes. Where deceased Pop stars magically appear singing & dancing on stage. Where people believe in vampires, werewolves, ghosts, zombies, mermaids, dragons- you name it. Where they worship not only every god & goddess from ages past, but make up new ones for themselves.
"...And I heard another voice from Heaven saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues..." (Rev 18:4) Amen.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
The Bottle or the Well?
In the 21st chapter of Genesis, we read the story of how Abraham & Sarah sent away Hagar & Ishmael. We're told Abraham gave her a supply of bread, and a jug of water for their trip to nowhere. After a while, the water was used up, and the woman and her son faced death by dehhydration. But God had already promised to make a great nation of Ishmael, so He sent an angel to help.
Guess what? That angel didn't bring her another bottle of water!!! No, HE OPENED HER EYES so she could see the WELL that was right there! Now she could go and fill the bottle herself. Simple enough? Sure, but like most Scripture, there's a deeper meaning here. Jesus told the Samaritan woman, "Lady, if you knew Whom you were talking to, you would ask, and I would give you that Living Water!"(John 4) Your spirit needs God just like your flesh needs H2O.
This imagery of water representing the Spirit of life is used throughout the Bible. Now notice that Abraham (a prophet) gave Hagar a bottle of water. So many believers walk into church Sunday morning to get their weekly bottle of water from their Pastors, then go their ways, and in a few days dry out again! They go to service, get refreshed & revived by the fellowship, the worship, and the teaching, but by mid-week they're running on fumes! Would to God they would learn, like Hagar, to go to the Well themselves!
I want all Christians to reach that level of maturity where they're not dependant on the Pastor or others for their RDA of God's Word & Spirit! To be able to get into God's presence and tarry there, to get into the Word and get fresh revelation and a Rhema word on their own! Where they can find encouragement for themselves, and be able to reach out to others with God's power & grace!
How can I help anyone else, either to reach out to the lost, or to edify the saints, if I myself am drying out? "I am the Vine, you are the branches" says the Lord, and unless I abide in Christ, I cant' bear fruit or be of any use to anyone. Pastors, teachers, elders: we've got to train our people, show them, teach them, how to get God's anointing and inspiration themselves: Our folks need to be "weaned" like Isaac was!
Moses struck the Rock and water flowed out (foreshadowing Christ's crucifixion where blood & water flowed from His side). Afterward, Israel sang to it, "Spring up, o Well!"(Numbers 21:17) Let the Spirit of Christ spring up in all His children as it is written, "He that believes on Me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water!" Amen! Grace, peace, and as always, thanks for stopping by!
Guess what? That angel didn't bring her another bottle of water!!! No, HE OPENED HER EYES so she could see the WELL that was right there! Now she could go and fill the bottle herself. Simple enough? Sure, but like most Scripture, there's a deeper meaning here. Jesus told the Samaritan woman, "Lady, if you knew Whom you were talking to, you would ask, and I would give you that Living Water!"(John 4) Your spirit needs God just like your flesh needs H2O.
This imagery of water representing the Spirit of life is used throughout the Bible. Now notice that Abraham (a prophet) gave Hagar a bottle of water. So many believers walk into church Sunday morning to get their weekly bottle of water from their Pastors, then go their ways, and in a few days dry out again! They go to service, get refreshed & revived by the fellowship, the worship, and the teaching, but by mid-week they're running on fumes! Would to God they would learn, like Hagar, to go to the Well themselves!
I want all Christians to reach that level of maturity where they're not dependant on the Pastor or others for their RDA of God's Word & Spirit! To be able to get into God's presence and tarry there, to get into the Word and get fresh revelation and a Rhema word on their own! Where they can find encouragement for themselves, and be able to reach out to others with God's power & grace!
How can I help anyone else, either to reach out to the lost, or to edify the saints, if I myself am drying out? "I am the Vine, you are the branches" says the Lord, and unless I abide in Christ, I cant' bear fruit or be of any use to anyone. Pastors, teachers, elders: we've got to train our people, show them, teach them, how to get God's anointing and inspiration themselves: Our folks need to be "weaned" like Isaac was!
Moses struck the Rock and water flowed out (foreshadowing Christ's crucifixion where blood & water flowed from His side). Afterward, Israel sang to it, "Spring up, o Well!"(Numbers 21:17) Let the Spirit of Christ spring up in all His children as it is written, "He that believes on Me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water!" Amen! Grace, peace, and as always, thanks for stopping by!
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Why Am I Afflicted?
"Many are the afflictions of the righteous" is a passage we often take comfort in, and offer comfort by. And that's legit. But what about those times in our lives when it's one crisis after another, "all Thy waves and billows are gone over me", and we're just buffeted with all kinds of junk!? Are we being tested like Job?
What's the deal?
Proverbs 26:2 tells us, "the curse causeless shall not come". Now far be it from me to accuse any of you of harboring "some secret sin" when your life is upside down and you need answers. My plan here is to give you a checklist to pray over, and ask the LORD to show you the cause of the curse.
What's the deal?
Proverbs 26:2 tells us, "the curse causeless shall not come". Now far be it from me to accuse any of you of harboring "some secret sin" when your life is upside down and you need answers. My plan here is to give you a checklist to pray over, and ask the LORD to show you the cause of the curse.
- The most obvious- and least likely- is open unconfessed sin. Faithful believers really can't go long without conscience buzzing our ears. It can happen: think David & Bathsheba- but it's the exception, not the rule.Probably not your problem.
- How about disobedience? I don't mean willful disobedience, but maybe you got too busy, or you forgot, or weren't really sure it was God talking to you in the first place. It's happened to me- you think it's your own daydream, don't realize it truly is a vision inspired by the Holy Spirit. Remember how Moses almost died, because he hadn't circumcised his kids? Ask God to remind you-then do it!
- Our associations can bring trouble. "Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers" is sound advice! We can't always pick who we work with. I have a friend in law who also got involved with politics. Many judges and politicians are deeply into Freemasonry; being around them can expose you to their demons! Short of quitting your job, what can you do? Pray for their salvation & deliverance.
- The cursed thing. Remember how Achan brought spoils into his home? It ruined his whole family! Now you may not go out & buy something accursed, but someone may give you an item, and you accept it to be nice Some items are charged: it may be nothing to you, but to another it's a talisman or charm. Book, decoration, album....could be a conduit for evil forces, a very lightning rod!
- Last one, and easiest to fall into, is unforgiveness. Problem is, it's a passive sin, not an active one. We all know the parable of the servant who was forgiven but wouldn't forgive. It opens us up to spiritual assault!
Sunday, April 13, 2014
The Loaded Cross
Years back, I was visiting a church, and the Pastor was giving a sermon tiled, "The Empty Cross". He was going on about how mainline churches depict a crucifix with Christ nailed to it, and how they oughtn't do that since He isn't there any more. OK, point taken. But if your cross is empty, I feel sorry for you: because mine is full! It's loaded! With what? Glad you asked!
First off, I'm on it! I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ Who lives in me" according to Galatians 2:20. My flesh and its lusts are nailed there: Galatians 5:24. The world and its ways are condemned there to me, Galatians 6:14.
It gets better! All my sins are tacked up there: "...having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us and took it out of the way,nailing it to His cross!" Colossians 2:13-14. The Old Testament legal requirements are also there; I don't have to be concerned with crossing my t's and dotting my i's to please God!
Hallelujah! Know what else is on that old, rugged cross? ALL MY SICKNESSES AND DISEASES!
"Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed!" Isaiash 53:4-5, as if you didn't know!
I might just start preachin'! There's one more tihng on that ol' cross. An ugly, stinking horrible thing: MY PAST. All my failures, mistakes, disobediences, foolishness, and faults of any kind are posted there for it is written, "IF any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new and all things are of God"! 2 Corinthians 5:17
So you see my friends, I don't have an empty cross. My Saviour isn't there, but everything He saved me from IS! Grace, peace, and thanks for stopping by!
First off, I'm on it! I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ Who lives in me" according to Galatians 2:20. My flesh and its lusts are nailed there: Galatians 5:24. The world and its ways are condemned there to me, Galatians 6:14.
It gets better! All my sins are tacked up there: "...having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us and took it out of the way,nailing it to His cross!" Colossians 2:13-14. The Old Testament legal requirements are also there; I don't have to be concerned with crossing my t's and dotting my i's to please God!
Hallelujah! Know what else is on that old, rugged cross? ALL MY SICKNESSES AND DISEASES!
"Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed!" Isaiash 53:4-5, as if you didn't know!
I might just start preachin'! There's one more tihng on that ol' cross. An ugly, stinking horrible thing: MY PAST. All my failures, mistakes, disobediences, foolishness, and faults of any kind are posted there for it is written, "IF any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away, behold all things are become new and all things are of God"! 2 Corinthians 5:17
So you see my friends, I don't have an empty cross. My Saviour isn't there, but everything He saved me from IS! Grace, peace, and thanks for stopping by!
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