Seducing Spirits Sounding the Same

By Ken Silva

 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons. (1 Timothy 4:1)

Demons Do Have Doctrines and One Of Them Is So-Called Great “Human Potential”

As an example of what I mean in the title of this semi-reductio Apprising Ministries piece, here’s Purpose Driven/Seeker Driven pastor Steven Furtick, disciple of Perry Noble and one of the Popes of the Carolinas. In Changing the world is hard work Furtick muses:

We’re all learning how to do this thing together, and God knows we all need grace. But we’re not going to lower standards and accept excuses. We’re going to confront mediocrity and abolish it. We have a high and holy calling, and we are expected to live a life worthy of that calling… When you make a choice, you change the future. (Online source)

Well, actually the last sentence is a tweet from New Spirituality guru Deepak Chopra:

 (Online source)

Now here’s Word Faith preacher Joel Osteen from his book Your Best Life Now:

See your dreams coming to pass. You must conceive it and believe it is possible if you ever hope to experience it… To experience this immeasurable favor, you must rid yourself of that small-minded thinking and start expecting God’s blessings, start anticipating promotion and supernatural increase. You must conceive it in your heart and mind before you can receive it…. No matter what seems to be going on around you, in your heart you’ll know that you can do anything. (Online source)

Well, once again that last sentence is a tweet from Deepak Chopra, a guru long associated with the spurious spirituality of the new age of an expected Global religion:

(Online source)

I’m just sayin’…when the fallacious philosophies of pagan Eastern religions are also coming out of the mouths of men considered to be evangelical Christians there is certainly reason for concern. You think I overstate this; then you’d better re-think…real hard. I’ll warn you again; you’d best be aware of the new “big tent” version of Progressive Christianity [read: universalism] still being cobbled together by the likes of uber-liberal Harvey Cox along with his friend panentheist progressive/liberal theologian Dr. Philip Clayton, himself friends with Emerging Church guru Brian McLaren.

We know from Scripture that the enemy controling the deceitful spirits, using such as these, is already driving them all toward a Global religion anyway; and because of this, we will be seeing them cross pollinating more and more. You know, like I just showed you above. I think that the wise person will closely consider the following names below, which appear on the back cover, all endorsing the latest book by liberal/progressive theologian Harvey Cox The Future of Faith.

Note that you have a progressive/liberal Roman Catholic, the president of an obstensibly *cough* evangelical seminary, then three so-called Red Letter Christians—each of whom also adhere to the same new progressive Christian theology I mentioned above—and which guru McLaren began laying out in his latest book. Lastly you’ll again see Deepak Chopra, a pantheist pagan New Age mystic; and what do you know, they’re all enamored with this supposed “resurrection of a new global Christianity.”

And what do you suppose that they all have in common; I’ll tell you,  the personal practice of transcendental meditation in an altered state of consciousness. This pagan practice, which in a slightly sanitized version lightly sprayed with Christian terminology, is known to Christians who are lacking in discernment as Contemplative/Centering Prayer. You’d do well to prepare for some very rough spiritual waters, which unfortunately, lie dead ahead:

Harvey Cox is the most important liberal theologian of the last half century because he could see around corners…. The Future of Faith is, quite simply, a beautiful book and a Cox classic.
—E. J. Dionne Jr., author of Souled Out

The Future of Faith is insightful, provocative, and inspiring—I found myself uttering a hearty evangelical ‘Amen’ at many points!
—Richard Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary and author of Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport

This important book has not only helped me understand the past, present, future of this amazing phenomenon called Christianity . . . it has also motivated me to keep working to help make actual the possible future Cox envisions.
—Brian McLaren, author of A New Kind of Christian

The Future of Faith is a tour de force. As passionate and challenging as his classic, The Secular City, Cox’s new book invites the faithful, the skeptical, and the fearful intp a spirit-filled version of Christianity that can renew a hurting world.
—Diana Butler Bass, author of A People’s History of Christianity

Cox brings the eye of an historian and the heart of a theologian to explain where we’ve come from and where we’re going. The Future of Faith is an essential guide to that future.
—Jim Wallis, president of Sojourners and author of The Great Awakening

Harvey Cox has been a voice of both reason and faith in our cynical times. Now, he offers a fresh vision for the resurrection of a new global Christianity that will restore our faith both in ourselves and in the divine.
—Deepak Chopra, author of Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment

Just so you’ll now have all of this in its proper perspective, when a pantheist proponent of New Spirituality aka New Age like Deepak Chopra can sign on to your “big tent” supposed “resurrection of a new global Christianity,” then it’s safe to say that you’ve officially departed from anything even remotely resembling the historic, orthodox, Christian faith.

See also:

STEVEN FURTICK CALLS JOEL OSTEEN GREAT MAN OF GOD
TRANSFORMING CHRISTIANITY THROUGH EASTERN-STYLE MEDITATION
USING CONTEMPLATIVE/CENTERING PRAYER AS “CHRISTIAN” MEDITATION

(HT: Apprising Ministries)

The Sacrifice of the Mass: Blessing or Bondage?

By Mike Gendron

Many former Catholics have described their experience of going to weekly Mass as a prison sentence, something they had to do in order to avoid the penalty of a serious sin. Others remember it as a mindless ritual of standing, sitting, kneeling and reciting as the priest performed his religious duties. There are many practicing Catholics who feel the same way but are bound by the laws of their church to attend church every week: “On Sundays and other holy days of obligation the faithful are bound to participate in the Mass” (paragraph 2180 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church). With this law so explicit and demanding, the question that begs an answer is: Why is participation so compulsory for Catholics? The answers are complex, controversial and authoritative. They are also found in the Catholic Catechism and are noted by paragraph numbers in parenthesis.

First let us look to the Catechism for the definitions of the Mass and the Eucharist.

The Mass is…the sacrificial memorial in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated (1382). The Eucharist is thus a sacrifice because it re-presents [makes present] the sacrifice of the cross…and because it applies its fruit…the forgiveness of the sins we daily commit. The sacrifice of Christ and the sacrifice of the Eucharist are one single sacrifice: The victim is one and the same. In this divine sacrifice which is celebrated in the Mass, the same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross is contained and is offered in an unbloody manner (1366,1367). It is the seed of eternal life and the power of resurrection (1524).

Catholics are given no choice but to believe these inconceivable teachings. Is the Lord Jesus really physically present in the Eucharist? How Catholics answer this question has serious consequences. If they deny the presence of Jesus they are condemned by their church. Canon I of the Council of Trent states, “If anyone denies, that in the sacrament of the most Holy Eucharist, are contained truly, really and substantially the body and blood together with the soul and divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and consequently the whole Christ, but says that He is in it only as a sign, let him be anathema.” Conversely, if they believe Jesus is present in the Eucharist they are committing the most serious sin of idolatry, showing their hatred toward God and breaking His second commandment (Deut. 5:8-9).

Based on these teachings Catholics are taught their redemption comes not from the perfect and finished sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross but through the liturgy of the Eucharistic sacrifice.

For it is in the liturgy, especially in the divine sacrifice of the Eucharist, that the work of our redemption is accomplished. Every time this mystery is celebrated, the work of our redemption is carried on (1068, 1405).

Incredibly the Vatican teaches the Eucharist has the power to produce divine life and to unite the people of God.

The Eucharist is the efficacious sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People of God. It is the source and summit of the Christian life. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself (1324,1325).

Yes, the Catholic Church teaches the Lord Jesus Christ returns to the earth every day to be worshipped and sacrificed.

In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained (1374). In the liturgy of the Mass we express our faith in the real presence of Christ by genuflecting or bowing deeply as a sign of adoration of the Lord (1374, 1378). The Church knows that the Lord comes even now in his Eucharist and that he is there in our midst (1404).


How can that be? Why would Jesus return to the earth in a different way and not to the Mount of Olives as God pre-ordained? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven (Acts 1:11). Why would Jesus change His mind about how and when He would return to the earth? He said, “For just as the lightning comes from the east, and flashes even to the west, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be…immediately after the tribulation…and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory” (Matt. 24:27-30). Father John O’Brien answers these questions from his book, The Faith of Millions:

When the priest announces the tremendous words of consecration, he reaches up into the heavens, brings Christ down from His throne, and places Him upon our altar to be offered up again as the Victim for the sins of man. It is a power greater than that of saints and angels, greater than that of Seraphim and Cherubim. The priest brings Christ down from heaven, and renders Him present on our altar as the eternal Victim for the sins of man—not once but a thousand times! The priest speaks and lo! Christ, the eternal and omnipotent God, bows his head in humble obedience to the priest’s command.

As preposterous and unthinkable as this may sound, the Catholic priest is said to have the power to call almighty God down from heaven to continue to do what the Lord Jesus said was finished. Over 200,000 times each day, on Catholic altars throughout the world, priests believe they re-present Jesus as a sacrificial victim for sins. When we reflect on the excruciating pain and torture Jesus endured to redeem mankind, it is unconscionable that Catholics would want to continue His suffering and agony.

His tribulation began the night before He was crucified. In the garden He agonized over His Father’s wrath that would soon come upon Him. Hours later He was whipped, scourged and spat upon. After His beard was plucked from His face, He humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross (Psalm 50:6; Phil. 2:8). Like a lamb He was led to slaughter (Isaiah 53:7). Bystanders sneered at Him and He was mocked as a Roman legionnaire hammered heavy, square, iron nails through his wrists and feet producing excruciating pain. He was pierced through for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities (Isaiah 53:5).

Later, as the King of Glory hung in torment on the cross, His arms began to fatigue, and great waves of cramps swept over his muscles, knotting them in throbbing relentless pain. He could draw air into His lungs, but it was nearly impossible to exhale. Jesus strained to raise Himself for each dying breath. But as He moved up and down against the rough timber, tissue was torn from His lacerated back, adding to His agony. His compressed heart struggled to pump the blood that was being shed for the redemption of man. His bones were out of joint and His heart was like wax (Psalm 22:14).

After several hours of this agonizing and horrifying pain, with all His strength dried up and His tongue cleaving to His jaw, Jesus gasps, “I am thirsty” (Psalm 22:15; John 19:28). After a sponge full of sour wine was shoved into His mouth, Jesus said in anguish, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Then, with one last surge of strength, He pressed His torn feet against the nail, straightened His legs, took a deep breath, and cried out, “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). To ensure His death, the legionnaire drove a lance through His ribs and into His heart. Immediately there came out blood and water (John 19:34).

Not only does Rome purport to continue this horrific sacrifice with Jesus as its “victim;” it dares to say the sacrifice on its altar forgives sins.

As sacrifice, the Eucharist is also offered in reparation for the sins of the living and the dead and to obtain spiritual or temporal benefits from God. Holy Communion separates us from sin. I should always receive it, so that it may always forgive my sins. Because I always sin, I should always have a remedy (1393, 1414).

What absurdity! The perfect and actual sacrifice of Jesus, who poured out genuine blood and died a real death is said to be insufficient to forgive all sins, but its blasphemous re-presentation on Catholic altars is said to forgive sins that Jesus could not. Yes, the Catholic Mass blatantly denies the sufficiency of Christ’s atonement that is so clearly stated in Scripture. In the book of Hebrews we read the believer’s redemption is eternal because of a finished transaction. “By His [Christ’s] own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us” (9:12). We also read, “So Christ was once [not many times] offered to bear the sins of many” (9:28). Again, “we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once [no re-presentations] for all” (10:10).

Continuing, “But this Man [Jesus] after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God…. For by one offering [not many] He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified” (10:12,14). It is perfectly clear that this one offering of Jesus took away sins. We also read: “And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin” (10:17,18).

God’s promises revealed in the Gospel are null and void to those who teach and believe the doctrine of the Mass. Those deluded followers who faithfully participate in the Mass throughout their lives are not offered the peace of heaven on their death bed, but the fires of purgatory. Once they die, purgatory demands more Masses to get them out, and so the deception and bondage perpetuates.

The sacrifice of the Mass more closely resembles the Old Testament animal sacrifices which had to be repeated and could never take away sins. By re-presenting Jesus as a sacrificial “victim” in the Mass, the Catholic Church keeps Him cursed on the cross and forsaken by God instead of glorified at His Father’s right hand. Catholic priests have robbed the Lord Jesus of His highly priestly office of intercession, assuming the responsibility themselves. Yet, their role as priest is spurious and fraudulent. The only true priesthood on earth that is recognized in the New Testament is the spiritual priesthood of all believers (1 Pet. 2:9).

When the doctrine and practice of the Mass is tested against the word of God, the only standard for measuring truth, we find definite and conclusive misinterpretations, errors, fallacies and heresies:

1. Jesus was never a “victim” but went to the cross in humble obedience to His Father (Phil. 2:8).

2. When Jesus demands that men eat His flesh and drink His blood, He said it had a spiritual meaning, not a literal one (John 6:63). He often spoke to them in figurative language (John 16:25). The Jews were familiar with “eating and drinking” being used figuratively to describe appropriating divine blessings to one’s innermost being (Jer. 15:16; Isa. 55:1-3). To take His words literally would cause everyone to become cannibals, that is, to eat human flesh.

3. If we take Christ’s words literally then “eating and drinking” is necessary for eternal life. This directly opposes hundreds of scriptures that reveal salvation is by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ alone. If eating and drinking is necessary for salvation it presents a dilemma, “What if a person eats and drinks but does not believe?” Or “what if a person believes but does not eat and drink?”

4. Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper as a memorial not a sacrifice (Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:24).

5. The sacrifice of Christ was a once for all event (Heb. 9:12,26,28; 10:10,12,14).

6. A sacrifice without blood cannot atone for sins (Lev. 17:11; Heb. 9:22).

7. Catholic priests violate Christ’s unique role as mediator between God and men (1 Tim. 2:5).

8. No where in the first century Church do we find priests offering sacrifices for sin or Masses for the dead (Acts).

9. Prayers and rituals for the dead are abominations before God (Deut. 18:9,11; 26:13-14).

10. The alleged changes of bread and wine into flesh and blood are not miracles but counterfeits because they remain unchanged in appearance, substance and taste. True biblical miracles were real and observable.

11. Worship of the elements of the Mass is idolatry (Ex. 20:4-5).

12. Jesus will return to earth the same way He left, not in the form of a wafer (Acts 1:11).

13. Drinking blood was forbidden. Jesus would not have asked the Jews to break the law (Lev. 17:10-14).

Clearly the Mass violates biblical integrity and is a powerful deception that holds its adherents in bondage. May the truth of God’s word set Catholics free. His word promises eternal life through Christ’s once-for-all and finished sacrifice. The Lord’s Supper is a blessed memorial for all who believe this!

(HT: Apprising Ministries)

Judging Planet Earth

By Jack Kelly

The combination of the Rapture and the Battle of Ezekiel 38 will fill the world with anguish and uncertainty as Daniel's 70th Week begins. Where did all those Christian people go? How did Israel so utterly destroy that massive invasion force all by itself? Who caused the nuclear exchanges in various places? How did all these things happen so suddenly? Why didn't somebody see this coming and do something about it?

The Seal Judgments

In the midst of the chaos and confusion a man with an incredible ability to restore the world's hope for the future will emerge, promising to bring peace. (Rev. 6:2) The frightened populace will listen and will quickly persuade themselves to follow his lead. He'll agree to Israel's demand for a Temple, not because He wants to help them honor God for securing their victory but because he has plans of his own for the Temple. (Daniel 9:27)

From their own Scriptures (Ezekiel 48:1-10) he'll show Israel why their new Temple shouldn't be built where the old ones had stood. Instead it should be located a few miles north, in ancient Shiloh, where the Tabernacle had been located. This will leave the Moslem facilities intact for a time on the current Temple mount. After the disappearance of the Church Islam will fast become the dominant religion of the world and they believe their third most holy place is on that mount. With this bold stroke he'll bring a semblance of peace to the region, demonstrating that Jew and Moslem can live in peace as neighbors in a brave new world (Dan 8:25). The people of Earth will breathe a collective sigh of relief.

But all too soon wars will start to break out in various places (Rev. 6:3) because this leader's ultimate goal is world domination and some nations will resist. He'll convince people it's only a necessary inconvenience and assure them that everything will soon be all right again. But the combination of wars, food shortages, and runaway inflation will begin taking their toll (Rev. 6:6). The deadly effects of this combination will be felt across one fourth of the Earth.

Though it's often called a religion of peace, Islam offers the world only two options, submission or death, as the martyrs among believers of other faiths will soon learn. For the multitude of new Christians who witnessed the disappearance of friends and family in the rapture and know from first hand experience the truth of the gospel, conversion to Islam will be impossible and the number of those who will die for their faith will mount rapidly and steadily. (Rev. 6:9) They'll cry out to the Lord for vengeance but He'll caution them to be patient for a little while longer because many more will die just as they have (Rev. 6:10-11).

A great earthquake that will be felt world wide will trigger volcanic action spewing millions of tons of ash into the air, blotting out the Sun and bringing the Blood Moon (Rev. 6:12-14). Some will blame the earthquake on a unique planetary alignment predicted by the Mayans long ago. Others will say it's due to the return into the Solar System of a long lost planet. The upper atmosphere will literally burst into flame because of the simultaneous magnetic polar reversals on the Sun and Earth.

The world's leaders will run for cover, some intuitively knowing that the Wrath of God they were warned about by the Christians who've all disappeared has already begun and they'll be shown no quarter. (Rev. 6:16-17)

The Trumpet Judgments

As if to confirm the worst fears of these leaders, a storm of hail, fire, and blood will rain down upon the Earth burning up a third of it. A third of the trees and all the green grass will go up in smoke. (Rev. 8:7) A meteor-like object the size of a huge mountain will crash into the sea. The resulting contamination will turn a third of the world's oceans to blood killing all the marine life in the affected areas. The tsunami this causes will capsize and destroy a third of the ships in the world. Over 50,000 commercial ships will disappear in a single day. (Rev. 8:8-9)

Then another star will fall to Earth and when it does a third of the fresh water will be contaminated. It will be toxic and foul tasting and many people will die from drinking it. (Rev. 8:10-11)

Both the day and the night will lose a third of their light due to the smoke and ash from the fires and volcanos. Through the smoke and haze a messenger will bring a warning from the Lord, “The worst is yet to come.” (Rev. 8:12-13)

A fallen angel will open the shaft of the Abyss and smoke will billow forth, further contaminating the already toxic air. Creatures resembling locusts will fly from the smoke and for 5 months will inflict scorpion like stings on the people. These stings will be so painful people will wish they could die, but there'll be no escape (Rev. 9:1-11). The only people on Earth who will be immune from their venom will be the 144,000 evangelists the Lord will have commissioned from among 12 named tribes of Israel (Rev. 7:1-8).

Four angels who've been bound at the gateway to the East (the Euphrates) will be released to kill one third of the Earth's remaining population with plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur. (Rev. 9:13-19) The East is far different from the West and because of Hinduism, Buddhism, and other Eastern religions the Far East will be the most difficult to bring under the Islamic one world banner. Since 40% of the world's population lives there the number of casualties will be enormous.

Between the Rapture, the martyrdom, the wars and the judgments well over 2 billion people will no longer be found among the living on planet Earth as Daniel's 70th Week approaches the mid point. And yet the Bible gives no indication that the unbelievers who remain will see the error of their ways and change their minds. This is the hardest core of the unsaved, the ones who refused to believe the truth of the Lord and accepted the lie of the anti-Christ instead (2 Thes. 2:10). In their deluded state they'll think they're on the side of light not darkness, and right not wrong. They'll see God as the invading enemy and Satan as their leader. Spiritually, everything will be upside down.

But at the blowing of the 7th Trumpet, the Lord's reign will begin (Rev. 11:15). Having used every device at His command to persuade the people of Earth to change their minds and accept His offer of pardon, He will now take action to unseat the usurper from the throne that's rightfully His and claim for Himself that which He's purchased with His own blood, Planet Earth. Those who've sided with Satan will now face the worst time of judgment in the history of mankind. Were it not for a remnant of the Lord's people among them, not a single soul would be left standing when this is over (Matt. 24:21-22).

The Bowl Judgments

The Bowl judgments make up the 3 1/2 year period of time we know as the Great Tribulation. The Seal and Trumpet cycles of judgments were partly for the purpose of demonstrating evidence of God's existence to the undecided among the people of Earth. But that will have come to an end with the Bowl judgments. They're strictly for the purpose of bringing judgment upon those who've rejected Him. In the process the Lord is going to completely destroy all the nations to which His people have been scattered (Jeremiah 30:11). Today there are nearly as many Jews in America as there are in Israel, so you know this country will not escape.

By now Satan will have been expelled from Heaven (Rev. 12:9), taken up residence in the body of the anti-Christ (Rev. 13:4) and unleashed his full fury on those who refuse to bow before him. Three angels will have delivered God's final messages to mankind. The first one will offer one last chance to accept the Gospel, the second will announce the coming destruction of Babylon and all the city represents, and the third will warn mankind against taking the mark of the beast. (Rev. 14:6-11)

People who will have disregarded the warning against taking the mark will be treated to a dose of ugly and painful sores (Rev. 16:2) All the water on Earth will turn to blood, whether in the sea (Rev. 16:3) or in springs and rivers (Rev. 16:4). All sources of water will now be contaminated. The angel in charge of the waters reminds us that God is just in doing this because those He's judging have shed the blood of God's saints and prophets. Now He's giving them blood to drink. (Rev. 16:5-7)

The Sun will go super nova at this point becoming so hot people will burst into flames just by going outside. Again they will curse God but refuse to repent. (Rev. 16:8-9)

Then the Sun will go totally dark turning day into night, and still the people of Earth will curse God but refuse to repent (Rev. 16:10-11).

The anti-Christ will gather the armies of the world to Armageddon in a final effort to repel the Earth's “invaders”. From Heaven a loud voice will shout, “It is done!” and the full fury of God's wrath will be loosed on Earth. Lightning, thunder, and the worst earthquake man has ever experienced will be followed by a torrent of 100 pound hail stones. (Rev. 16:17-21) The punishment for blasphemy is stoning, and the blaspheming people of Earth will suffer the most extreme form of this punishment for their behavior.

Then God will turn to Babylon, headquarters of the forces who've defied Him since the time after the flood. There are three components involved, governmental, commercial, and religious, and among them they have enslaved the people of Earth for several millennia.

First God will use the governmental component to destroy the religious one.

“The beast (anti-Christ) and the ten horns (ten kings who assist him) you saw will hate the prostitute (religious Babylon). They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to give the beast their power to rule, until God's words are fulfilled." (Rev. 17:16-17)

Then He'll turn to the commercial component. It will be so totally destroyed that Earth's leaders will stand aghast scarcely believing what their own eyes are telling them.

They will weep and mourn and cry out, "Woe! Woe, O great city, dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet, and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls! In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!” (Rev. 18:16-17)

Finally the governmental component.

The beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh. (Rev. 19:20-21)

For six thousand years God has worked tirelessly to reconcile Himself to man, even giving His own life in exchange for ours, and all of His efforts have ended in failure. Covenant after covenant was instituted and broken due to man's unfaithfulness. The only one that wasn't is the one the Father made with His son to save us. But even then man, given the choice to participate as a beneficiary, refused. Soon, His patience exhausted, God will remove the remnant that chose the pardon He offers, and judge the rest. Can you blame Him?

(HT: Rapture Ready)

Come Out of Babylon

By Justin Edwards

Loran Livingston continues in the When Christ Returns series with a message to come out of the world system. Revelation 18:4 says,

And I heard another voice from heaven saying, “Come out of her, my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues.

1 John 2:15-17,

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. ¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Scripture is clear that those who who love the world and pursue the worldly pleasures of life instead of pursuing the holiness of God through the Lord Jesus Christ will pass away with the world and have no inheritance in the Kingdom of God. Rather, they will be partakers with the world and her final judgment.

Christians have gotten lost in the things of this world. We have become consumed with entertainment, politics, careers, and success. But the children of God have been called to do the good works of the Lord. Ephesians 2:10,

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

This world is temporary and is passing away. Instead of serving Jesus Christ in all areas of their lives, we are caught in the mire of a fallen system. Many care more about their retirement than the lost souls they speak to every day. Their priorities are upside down.

Are you dependent on the Lord and seek to be more like Him? Are you anticipating His coming? Or are you dependent upon the world system and indifferent to the things of God and serving yourself instead? Examine yourself to see if your life reflects the following words in Titus 2:11-14,

¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Are you zealous for good works? Are you pursuing godliness and fleeing from the riches of this world? Dwell in the mirror of Scripture and make certain you are coming out of Babylon.

Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Direct mp3 download: Come Out of Babylon mp3


Come Out Of Babylon

Predestination and the Free Offer

"All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out."—John 6:37.

These two sentences have been looked upon as representing two sides of Christian doctrine. They enable us to see it from two stand-points—the Godward and the manward.

The first sentence contains what some call high doctrine. If by "high" they mean "glorious towards God," I fully agree with them; for it is a grand, God-honoring truth which our Lord Jesus declares in these words,—"All that the Father giveth, me shall come to me." Some have styled this side of truth Calvinistic, but while it is true that Calvin taught it, so also did Augustine, and Paul, and our Lord himself, whose words these are. However, I will not quarrel with those who see in this sentence a statement of the great truth of predestinating grace.

The second sentence sets forth blessed, encouraging, evangelical doctrine, and is in effect a promise and an invitation,—"Him that cometh to me I will an no wise cast out." This is a statement without limitation of any kind: it has been thought to leave the free grace of God open to the free will of man, so that whosoever pleases may come and may be sure that he still not be refused.

We have no permission to pare down either sentence, nor is there the slightest need to do so. The first sentence appears to me to say that God has chosen a people, and has given these people to Christ, and these people must and shall come to Christ, and so shall be saved. The second truth declares that every man who comes to Christ shall be saved, since he shall not be cast out, and that implies that he shall be received and accepted.

These are two great truths; let us carry them both with us, and they will balance each other. I was once asked to reconcile these two statements, and I answered, "No, I never reconcile friends." These two passages never fell out: they are perfectly agreed. It is folly to imagine a difference, and then set about removing it. It is like making a man of straw, and then going out to fight with it.

The grand declaration of the purpose of God that he will save his own is quite consistent with the widest declaration that whosoever will come to Christ shall be saved. The pity is that it ever should be thought to be a difficulty to hold both truths; or that, supposing there is a difficulty, we should have thought it our duty to remove it. Believe me, my dear hearers, the business of removing religious difficulties is the least remunerative labor under heaven.

The truest way is to accept the difficulty wherever you find it in God's word, and to exercise your faith upon it. It is unreasonable to suppose that faith is to be exempted from trials: all the other graces are exercised, and why should not faith be put to the test? I often feel a joy within my spirit in having to believe what I cannot understand; and sometimes when I have to say to myself, "How can it be?" I find a joy in replying that it is so written, and therefore it must be so.

In spite of all reasoning stands the utterance of God. Our Father speaks, and doubts are silenced: his Spirit writes, and we believe. I feel great pleasure in gliding down the river of revelation, upon a voyage of discovery, and hour by hour obtaining fresh knowledge of divine truth; but where I come to an end of progress, and see my way blocked up by a sublimely awful difficulty, I find equal pleasure in casting anchor under the lee of the obstacle, and waiting till the pilot tells me what next to do.

When we cannot go through a truth, we may be led over it, or round it, and what matters? Our highest benefit comes not of answering riddles, but of obeying commands by the power of love. Suppose we can see no further into the subject—what then? Shall we trouble about that? Must there not be an end of human knowledge somewhere? May we not be perfectly satisfied for God to appoint the boundary of understanding? Let us not therefore run our heads against difficulties of our own invention, and certainly not against those which God has seen fit to leave for us.

Take, then, these two truths, and know that they are equally precious portions of one harmonious whole. Let us not quibble over them, or indulge a foolish favouritism for one and a prejudice against the other; but let us receive both with a candid, large-hearted love of truth, such as children of God should exhibit. We are not called upon to explain, but to accept. Let us believe if we cannot reconcile.

Here are two jewels, let us wear them both. As surely as this Book is true, God has a people whom he has chosen, and whom Christ has redeemed from among men; and these must and shall by sovereign grace be brought in due time to repentance and faith, for not one of them shall ever perish. But yet is it equally true, that whosoever among the sons of men shall come and put his trust in Christ shall receive eternal life. "Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

"None are excluded hence but those
Who do themselves exclude.
Welcome the learned and polite,
The ignorant and rude."

The two truths of my text are by no means inconsistent the one with the other: they are perfectly agreed. Happy is the man who can believe them both, whether he sees their agreement or does not see it.

I was cruising one day in the western Highlands. It had been a splendid day, and the glorious scenery had made our journey like an excursion to Fairy Land; but it came to an end, for darkness and night asserted their primeval sovereignty. Right ahead was a vast headland of the isle of Arran. How it frowned against the evening sky! The mighty rock seemed to overhang the sea. Just at its base was a little bay, and into this we steamed, and there we lay at anchorage all night, safe from every wind that might happen to be seeking out its prey. In that calm loch we seemed to lie in the mountain's lap while its broad shoulders screened us from the wind.

Now, the first part of my text, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me," rises like a huge headland high into the heavens. Who shall scale its height? Upon some it seems to frown darkly. But here at the bottom lies the placid, glassy lake of infinite love and mercy: "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." Steam into it, and be safe under the shadow of the great rock. You will be the better for the mountain-truth as your barque snugly reposes within the glittering waters at its foot; while you may thank God that the text is not all mountain to repel you, you will be grateful that there is enough of it to secure you.

- Charles H. Spurgeon

(HT: Pyromaniacs)

The Day Is at Hand - Awake from Your Slumber

By Justin Edwards

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. ¹² The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:11-14

The Lord Jesus Christ is returning not some time in the distant future, but perhaps today, tomorrow, next week, or next year. The signs are clear that His return is at the doorstep and Jesus Himself told us to be aware of the events that would preempt His coming. By glancing at today's headlines, one would have to have their head deep in the sand to not realize we are in the season of His promised return - a failing economy, the bridging of all religions, the threat of global war, the looming apocalyptic confrontation in the Middle East, the apostate condition of the visible church, the increase in frequency and catastrophic impact of natural disasters, and the exponential advancement of technology, just to name a few.

With this in mind, what are you doing to prepare yourself to meet the God of all creation?  For many years, I wore the badge of "Christian" and played the role when convenient but never had a lasting commitment to the One who purchased me for such a great cost. I would often think (or hope) I would live long enough to see an obvious sign that Jesus was returning soon, and at that point I would give everything of me to Him. Praise God for His grace and patience with me, because that's what happened in August of 2008 when Russia invaded the Republic of Georgia. This was the wake-up call I had expected for so long and it is what stirred me to start seeking after God that led me to my full surrender in March 2009.

But what foolishness! Had I met my maker before March last year I have no idea what my fate would have been. The life I had been living, for the most part, was hardly exemplary of one who had been washed, justified, and sanctified by the precious blood of the Lamb of God. From my late teenage years to the age of 29 and at one point or another, while professing to be a Christian, I was involved in drugs, drunkenness, drinking and driving, stealing, premarital sex, lying, idolatry, serving my own selfish ambitions, controlling my own will, and telling God I was sorry of these things when I felt guilty. I attended church in between the antics sometimes, and would even go 2 or 3 weeks free from these sins, but ultimately would return to my own vomit. This is hopelessness.

Some might say if I was saved during those years I was merely being rebellious and like the prodigal son, I came back to the Father. Others might say there is no way I could have been saved while partaking in these gratifying lusts of the flesh. I tend to agree with the latter folks all things considered, as the life I walk now is markedly different than the one back then. The difference?

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. - Romans 8:1

The life I walk now is one that is dead to sin and alive in Christ. By the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit, I have made my mind up and chosen whom I will serve. Having crucified my flesh with its passions and desires, I am no longer a slave to sin but a slave to the righteousness of Jesus Christ. The hopeless remorse I used to have was changed to godly sorrow that led to life:

For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. - 2 Corinthians 7:10

This repentance will not be repented of. In other words, when one has repented unto salvation, this repentance will not be regretted and one will not return to the slavery of the flesh. It is a changing of the mind and a changing of the will. And when one has made up his mind that he is finished serving his flesh, he is finished pleasing men, he is finished pursuing riches, he is finished with the pride of life and the lusts of the flesh, and he is finished loving the world - he is then ready to surrender his life to the Lord Jesus Christ and commit his will to the will of God and God alone.

The passage of Scripture I posted at the beginning tells us it is high time - that is, now is the moment - to awake from our slumber. Now is the time to do away with the things affecting intimacy between you and Christ. This slumber is spiritual apathy and lethargy where one is unresponsive to the things of God. Paul is calling us to wake up! For the completeness of our salvation (redemption and glorification) is nearer than when we first believed. Satan's dominion is reaching its end, and the day of Christ's return is at hand. This urgency must motivate us to pursue holiness and the things of God now. We must repent and forsake our sins. Ask God to search your heart and reveal these things to you. Be proactive and diligent to cast off these works of darkness, doing whatever it takes to kill the misdeeds of the body. Do this to become holy as He is holy. Read your Bible every day, obey the Word of God, and pray without ceasing. This is how the Holy Spirit transforms you from the inside out.

I plead with you not to wait as I did for God to show you "one last sign". The time is now to make your calling and election sure. It would be terrible and devastatingly unfortunate for you to realize that you were not secure after all because you had one foot in the world while also professing to be a Christian. I say this not to instill fear of the world in you, but to instill the fear of the Lord in you to examine yourself to make sure you are in the faith. Our time is running out and the King of Glory is at the doorstep. He is worthy to be praised, and He is worthy for you to lay your life down so He can raise you up. He is worthy for you to present your body as a living sacrifice to Him, and He is worthy for you to love Him with all of your heart, mind, soul, and strength. In these last days, let us be diligent in serving and loving the Lord Jesus Christ with our every breath.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. - Titus 2:11-14

Public Repentance is Necessary for Your Testimony

Pastor Rod Mattoon gives advice on dealing with sin and Christian relationships: Wrongs Must Be Made Right with Others 

Acts 24:16—And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.

Restitution involves repairing or replacing that which was damaged. If you have damaged someone's reputation by slandering them, then you need to publicly restore their name because you don't know how far your slander has traveled. If you have offended someone privately, then you go to that person and seek their forgiveness privately. If you have done something that has entered the public arena such as a moral failure, then you seek repentance publicly, especially with your church family. You go as far as the ripple goes.

Public repentance is necessary for your testimony because people don't know what is going on in your life unless you tell them. If you got your life right with God, then tell them and seek forgiveness for your bad example and offensive behavior. After Zacchaeus met the Lord, he wanted to make restitution with others who were offended by his dishonesty.

Luke 19:8—And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

Unwillingness to get your life right with people indicates a pride problem and spiritual immaturity. You will continue to struggle in your Christian growth until you clear your conscience.

Paul has been presenting his case that he had no skeletons in his closet. His life was above reproach, his integrity was intact, his character was Christlike, his sincerity was sterling, his veracity was valid, his candidness was clear, and his faithfulness was flawless. The witnesses to his character were first of all his confidence and secondly, his conscience. The third area of evidence was his conduct. The principles that he shares about his own conduct should be mimicked in our own personal lives.

Copied from: Rod Mattoon, Mattoon's Treasures – Treasures from 2 Corinthians, (Springfield, IL: Lincoln Land Baptist Church, n.d.), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 39-40.

 

(HT: Jason Smathers)