All the swaggering and boasting in the world will not save this country from its God ordained conclusion. Try as you might to fight to get your own way like a spoiled child, God will still have His way.
As believers we must be focused on the gospel and encouraging others toward holiness.
We can place our thumbs in our suspenders and walk around as though we are David to the governments Goliath, but it will not change the direction God has for us. It will only make us look silly.
Our best effort to save this fallen government will not override God's Will.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
More on the Bundy Range War
Bunkerville Nevada was founded by a Mormon named "Bunker" who had several wives. Cliven Bundy is a devout Mormon. He is not defending his land, but the right to freely use government land without paying for the rental of it....or should I say taxes on the use of it.
Be careful Christian who and what you defend.
Is the Rancher Grateful?
We are hearing in the news recently about a rancher in Nevada, who is ignoring the restraining orders sent out by the government to stop grazing his cattle on government land. The government is not taking his own land from him, it is only telling him, he can no longer graze on government land.
I understand that the authorities have allowed his family to graze his cattle on these lands for several generations. It may be an injustice to the man, of sorts, while harming his business. I feel badly that this is happening to him and his family, however we are not called to fight back when the authorities have spoken. Using legal and peaceful means to redress grievances is acceptable, but to pick up arms is not an option for the believer, especially when what we fight for does not belong to us to start with.
When we know as believers that God is in control of all of these things, we can do what is legal and allowable, while trusting God when things are taken from us. Since the land is not the property of the rancher, he must understand that he really has no rights to it, unless there is a written agreement. And even then the all powerful government can revoke that right at any time, in this present administration.
So often we think we have a right to things, simply because we have been using them. Our government is controlled at this time by a socialist, communist mentality, they are less likely to allow the use of anything that belongs to the government, by individuals who will prosper from it.
During the time of Paul the Apostle, the Romans controlled everything, those who were not Romans were subject to them. God spoke the words in the passages of Romans, to instruct those under Roman rule, not to resist the authorities.
My hope is that there are no believers who are marching to Bunkerville Nevada to fight the government. When we love Christ, we know that He uses all things, even our losses to train us. How are we to learn to submit under injustice if we never have to endure it?
Even if the government is corrupt, God has placed it there for our training, and to learn to depend entirely on Him. When we are spoiled children who think we must have our way, no matter what, then we will ferociously fight for what does not even belong to us.
Perhaps the rancher would do better to obey the law and be grateful for the years he did have, rather than being angry he cannot have more. Think about that for a moment.
Romans 13:1-8
Submit to Government
"1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor."
Matthew 22:20-22
"20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way."
I understand that the authorities have allowed his family to graze his cattle on these lands for several generations. It may be an injustice to the man, of sorts, while harming his business. I feel badly that this is happening to him and his family, however we are not called to fight back when the authorities have spoken. Using legal and peaceful means to redress grievances is acceptable, but to pick up arms is not an option for the believer, especially when what we fight for does not belong to us to start with.
When we know as believers that God is in control of all of these things, we can do what is legal and allowable, while trusting God when things are taken from us. Since the land is not the property of the rancher, he must understand that he really has no rights to it, unless there is a written agreement. And even then the all powerful government can revoke that right at any time, in this present administration.
So often we think we have a right to things, simply because we have been using them. Our government is controlled at this time by a socialist, communist mentality, they are less likely to allow the use of anything that belongs to the government, by individuals who will prosper from it.
During the time of Paul the Apostle, the Romans controlled everything, those who were not Romans were subject to them. God spoke the words in the passages of Romans, to instruct those under Roman rule, not to resist the authorities.
My hope is that there are no believers who are marching to Bunkerville Nevada to fight the government. When we love Christ, we know that He uses all things, even our losses to train us. How are we to learn to submit under injustice if we never have to endure it?
Even if the government is corrupt, God has placed it there for our training, and to learn to depend entirely on Him. When we are spoiled children who think we must have our way, no matter what, then we will ferociously fight for what does not even belong to us.
Perhaps the rancher would do better to obey the law and be grateful for the years he did have, rather than being angry he cannot have more. Think about that for a moment.
Romans 13:1-8
Submit to Government
"1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.
6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor."
Matthew 22:20-22
"20 And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their way."
Friday, April 11, 2014
Snoopy Marched at the Wedding
A few years ago I attended the wedding of a friend of a friend. It was held in a prominent mega-church a few miles down the road from us.
The wedding was a large gathering, in the smaller second chapel hall in that huge building. Within the walls of that monstrous structure was a coffee shop, an ice cream parlor and a book store. In the front lobby, was an immense fountain in the shape of a cross modeled after modern art, standing about ten feet tall. This cross could be transformed into a baptismal.
The lobby was so large that it could easily hold a couple of hundred people milling around visiting with one another.
As I looked around me I wondered what kind of people would love coming to a place that would have caused Christ to wield a whip in protest.
The main pastor of the church, also a radio personality, performed the ceremony, in which the entrance music was of the sixties rock vintage, the ending music was the "Snoopy" theme. As I watched the bride and groom come down the isle, I didn't see a bride and groom, I saw the Snoopy Dog, I was used to seeing on television when I was growing up.
Upon entering the reception for this couple, who claimed to be believers, I witnessed this celebrity pastor wearing a long black woman's wig. The groom asked him to do it as a joke while he greeted the 300 guests that came through the line.
YES! This wedding was a joke and in a building that was supposedly dedicated to Christ and His Work. I milled around for a short time at the reception mostly out of curiosity. I saw young women in very short skirts, no coverings on their shoulders and much silliness happening in groups all over the huge reception hall.
There were two short verses from the Bible mentioned in the wedding ceremony and none in the reception hall.
My heart was very heavy as I walked out the front doors of that church. The family of the bride had raised her to only wear dresses and she was chaperoned everywhere she went to protect her reputation and virginity.
The rules they had for this young lady protected her, but did they bring spiritual maturity? Not one bit! Sometimes our rules on our children are really for our own reputation rather than their spiritual well being of the child.
Why were the parents not mandating what was to be done in the wedding, after all they were paying for it. My belief is, since the young woman was still under her father and he was paying for it, she should have been directed the kind of music that was acceptable, as well as the goings on at the reception.
Too often we are more concerned about being liked and how things look rather than what God thinks about matter. This was the most unholy wedding I had ever attended, orchestrated by those who uphold themselves as godly people, at least morally and outwardly. But where is the holiness?
Welcome to our world of apostate Christianity.
The wedding was a large gathering, in the smaller second chapel hall in that huge building. Within the walls of that monstrous structure was a coffee shop, an ice cream parlor and a book store. In the front lobby, was an immense fountain in the shape of a cross modeled after modern art, standing about ten feet tall. This cross could be transformed into a baptismal.
The lobby was so large that it could easily hold a couple of hundred people milling around visiting with one another.
As I looked around me I wondered what kind of people would love coming to a place that would have caused Christ to wield a whip in protest.
The main pastor of the church, also a radio personality, performed the ceremony, in which the entrance music was of the sixties rock vintage, the ending music was the "Snoopy" theme. As I watched the bride and groom come down the isle, I didn't see a bride and groom, I saw the Snoopy Dog, I was used to seeing on television when I was growing up.
Upon entering the reception for this couple, who claimed to be believers, I witnessed this celebrity pastor wearing a long black woman's wig. The groom asked him to do it as a joke while he greeted the 300 guests that came through the line.
YES! This wedding was a joke and in a building that was supposedly dedicated to Christ and His Work. I milled around for a short time at the reception mostly out of curiosity. I saw young women in very short skirts, no coverings on their shoulders and much silliness happening in groups all over the huge reception hall.
There were two short verses from the Bible mentioned in the wedding ceremony and none in the reception hall.
My heart was very heavy as I walked out the front doors of that church. The family of the bride had raised her to only wear dresses and she was chaperoned everywhere she went to protect her reputation and virginity.
The rules they had for this young lady protected her, but did they bring spiritual maturity? Not one bit! Sometimes our rules on our children are really for our own reputation rather than their spiritual well being of the child.
Why were the parents not mandating what was to be done in the wedding, after all they were paying for it. My belief is, since the young woman was still under her father and he was paying for it, she should have been directed the kind of music that was acceptable, as well as the goings on at the reception.
Too often we are more concerned about being liked and how things look rather than what God thinks about matter. This was the most unholy wedding I had ever attended, orchestrated by those who uphold themselves as godly people, at least morally and outwardly. But where is the holiness?
Welcome to our world of apostate Christianity.
Let the Dead Marry the Dead
Let the Dead Marry the Dead
Believers should not perform the marriage ceremony for
non-believers.
The reason for the believer to be marred by a man of God, is
for a witness before God to the oneness and purpose in the lives of the couple
who wish to become one.
Non-believers who are getting married are in sin without
Christ, whether they live together or not, their marriage is not blessed by
God, neither is anything else they do. They do not love Him, they do not want
accountability on the part of the church, nor will they honor God in their ways
after marriage.
It is a blessing to believers to be married by a man of God
and held accountable by the Christian community. Those who love Christ will
submit themselves to the church concerning their marriage, there is wonderful
support from other strong believers when they are a part of witnessing the
proceedings, or there should be. The making of promises and the commitment that
is made before God.
Non-believers do not submit to God, have little if any
regard for their vows and will disappear from the church after the ceremony,
never to return. Let the non-believer be married by the justice of the peace,
or any one else who is qualified.
In our state of Washington ,
anyone can marry a couple. All that has to happen is that the couple go to the
license bureau and pay for a certificate and have others sign and witness the
marriage. For a non-believer to make a vow before a man of God, when they have
no reverence for God, is a sham.
Christ made a statement once, to a man who wanted to go back
and wait for his father to die before following Him. Christ said "let the
dead bury the dead." Christ made it clear that our business, in our
ceremonies is with believers, not non-believers.
We can witness to non-believers, we can pray for them to
become born again, but we cannot participate in their rituals in any way.
2Cor. 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for
what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has
light with darkness?
2Cor. 6:15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what
has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
Self Esteem Is A Lie
Next time someone quotes the mantra "we must love ourselves", quote them this verse given by God as a description of the last days.
2 Timothy 3:1-2
King James Version (KJV)
"3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,"
2 Timothy 3:1-2
King James Version (KJV)
"3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,"
Worship, Holy Spirit Led or Humanisticly Concocted
Worship, Holy Spirit Led or Humanisticly Concocted
In recent years, the past 40, there has been a concept that
has taken over nearly every church gathering, that is not only not Biblical but
fosters showmanship.
The concept I speak of is "worship leader", in
churches where several people get up on stage, with their instruments in
"stage production" fashion to "lead the people in worship."
God expressly taught in His Word that the Holy Spirit leads
worship. In this world of make believe, many who are playing church have
invented tactics to manipulate the emotions of the people.
The apostate church, because it lacks faith and true worship,
has to control the masses while elevating popular people in the gathering.
Nearly everything being done in church gatherings today,
especially the mega-church situations, is for the purpose of controlling the
people to appear spiritual, when in fact, they are not only less spiritual but
grievous pretenders. This is nothing more than theatrics to entertain the
masses.
Playing church, is not at all what God had in mind for the
worship of His people.
John 4:24 ""God is spirit, and those who worship
Him must worship in spirit and truth."
We see no mandate in Scripture to place anyone on a stage to
help others worship. All worship is led by the Holy Spirit.
There is no substitute for the Holy Spirit when a soul is
submitted to Christ. No other person can help another person worship, they can
only manipulate feelings.
An outward display of feelings is not the measure of the
true worship of a man.
As we have seen many times, whole congregations can scream,
cry, jump up and down in ecstatic excitement, while having on leanings at all
toward God. The pagan religions do it all the time.
John 7:37-39 "From the innermost being"
"37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast,
Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me
and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From [c]his
innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’” 39 But this He spoke of the
Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not
yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified."
Acts 11:16-17
"16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used
to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy
Spirit.’ 17 Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also
after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s
way?”
Romans 5:5
"5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of
God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given
to us."
Zechariah 4:6
"6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to
Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord
of hosts."
I have attended churches that have "worship
teams", as soon as I see this, I do not stay, because a congregation that
would accept a substitute for the Holy Spirit to lead them in worship, are
probably substituting many other man made concepts to guide their people.
We might be shocked to find out, when we pass into glory,
that there was far more foolishness accepted in the gatherings than we thought.
Nearly all of us have been indoctrinated into unBiblical practices in our
churches, so much so that they no longer look like the first century church. I
am quite sure that gathering did not call their worship "services."
Perhaps if we evaluated everything in light of the Bible
guided by the Holy Spirit, we would not be so quickly manipulated by the modern
form of worship.
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