Thursday, September 22, 2016
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Beware of False Teachers
2 Thessalonians 3:6 "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us."
I began to seriously question Kent Hovind some years back because of his arrogance. However, I thought his creationism teaching was good so I ignored any warning signs I saw.
A few years ago another red flag arose when he was sentenced to jail for tax evasion, arrogantly thinking he could get away with disobeying the government authority, by not paying any taxes. A very real violation of the Word of God.
Another red flag was raised when he began to praise the book, "The Shack", a deeply blasphemous book, claiming that it as a wonderful spiritual book that everyone should read. It doesn't take a whole lot of discernment about that book, the blasphemy screams out at us in the description of the story.
While in jail, Hovind did much study using books other than the Bible and was turned from his belief in pre-trib rapture while claiming that the Jews are not God's chosen people.
Further red flags emerged as it was exposed that he claimed to have a dream in which God showed him the next wife he would be marrying after his divorce from his first wife.
It has been my experience that we can discern a person's heart early on if we pay attention to the signs. Of course we don't quickly judge someone as a deceiver, it is over time that the clues pile up and the ministry continues a downward spiral, before we see clearly.
A godly man walking in obedience to Christ does not backup but rather grows in holiness and truth.
We all have been deceived at one time or another, after we find out the truth it is important to reject the teachings of these false teachers, while warning others.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us."
I began to seriously question Kent Hovind some years back because of his arrogance. However, I thought his creationism teaching was good so I ignored any warning signs I saw.
A few years ago another red flag arose when he was sentenced to jail for tax evasion, arrogantly thinking he could get away with disobeying the government authority, by not paying any taxes. A very real violation of the Word of God.
Another red flag was raised when he began to praise the book, "The Shack", a deeply blasphemous book, claiming that it as a wonderful spiritual book that everyone should read. It doesn't take a whole lot of discernment about that book, the blasphemy screams out at us in the description of the story.
While in jail, Hovind did much study using books other than the Bible and was turned from his belief in pre-trib rapture while claiming that the Jews are not God's chosen people.
Further red flags emerged as it was exposed that he claimed to have a dream in which God showed him the next wife he would be marrying after his divorce from his first wife.
It has been my experience that we can discern a person's heart early on if we pay attention to the signs. Of course we don't quickly judge someone as a deceiver, it is over time that the clues pile up and the ministry continues a downward spiral, before we see clearly.
A godly man walking in obedience to Christ does not backup but rather grows in holiness and truth.
We all have been deceived at one time or another, after we find out the truth it is important to reject the teachings of these false teachers, while warning others.
2 Thessalonians 3:6 "Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life that is not in keeping with the tradition you received from us."
Church Goers Think They are Fine.....But They Are Not
We are living in prophetic times, things WILL get worse, no amount of prayer will save us as a nation. Our focus must be on Christ, completely for everything. We must be about the job of warning people what is coming for those who are not yet saved.
We are in the gleaning times now, one person here and one person there, at least in America. In other parts of the world the scene is very different. Many people are finding Christ in the Middle eat and third world countries, but in America, our many years with the gospel and churches on many street corners in our towns, have exchanged the Bible and Christ for the secular social experience.
The warning: turn from your foolishness and go back to your first love! What is that first love? It is Christ!!!!
Even though the following passage was written to Israel, I believe it is a warning for us now.
Jeremiah 11:13-15 "…13 "For your gods are as many as your cities, O Judah; and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to the shameful thing, altars to burn incense to Baal. 14"Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster.
15"What right has My beloved in My house When she has done many vile deeds? Can the sacrificial flesh take away from you your disaster, So that you can rejoice?"…"
There is no indication of the slowing of sin or the desire for righteousness here. We have had 300 years to raise up a culture that serves God but the worship of the god of freedom and affluence has only created monsters of self indulged people, who will not turn from their sin to Christ.
We are in the gleaning times now, one person here and one person there, at least in America. In other parts of the world the scene is very different. Many people are finding Christ in the Middle eat and third world countries, but in America, our many years with the gospel and churches on many street corners in our towns, have exchanged the Bible and Christ for the secular social experience.
The warning: turn from your foolishness and go back to your first love! What is that first love? It is Christ!!!!
Even though the following passage was written to Israel, I believe it is a warning for us now.
Jeremiah 11:13-15 "…13 "For your gods are as many as your cities, O Judah; and as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to the shameful thing, altars to burn incense to Baal. 14"Therefore do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster.
15"What right has My beloved in My house When she has done many vile deeds? Can the sacrificial flesh take away from you your disaster, So that you can rejoice?"…"
There is no indication of the slowing of sin or the desire for righteousness here. We have had 300 years to raise up a culture that serves God but the worship of the god of freedom and affluence has only created monsters of self indulged people, who will not turn from their sin to Christ.
Follow Christ Not Man
In these last days of apostasy and humanistic thinking within the church, I feel led to stress that we evaluate everything we have been taught.....EVERYTHING!
The churches today are full of unBiblical teaching that fosters an attitude that the "leaders" also known as "Pastors", tell us what to do rather than depending on the Holy Spirit to instruct and guide us.
No man should take priority over our lives, they may influence if they are correct but they should never be above God or above correction themselves.
John 14:25-26 "…25 All this I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you."
We have become lazy in our Christian walk, expecting others to seek the Holy Spirit on our behalf, sort of like the workings of the Catholic church. That system calls the Pope the advocated between us and God, he has all authority over the parishioners. This is exactly opposite of what God tells us.
Each one of us is to seek the Holy Spirit personally for our answers. The preachers share, just as we share, we are influenced and we influence, but no one "lords it over" anyone else.
1 Peter 5:2-3 "…2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."
We listen to the preachers, the may influence us but they have no authority over us, only the Holy Spirit does. The whole hierarchy system of "religion" is not at all described in the NT for believers.
Matthew 28:18
"And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
James 4:7
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Notice the verse in James tells us to "Submit to God." We submit to one another because of our love for the brethren, but only when the brethren is obeying Christ and when the Holy Spirit guides us. We are not called to obey self or organization appointed individuals.
No one has the authority over us to command things of us such as tithing or mandatory church attendance. Such things are between us and Christ.
Romans 14:4-6 "…4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One man regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.…"
If we evaluate every action and reaction we encounter in light of the Holy Word of God with guidance from the Holy Spirit, we would soon learn that many things we do are nothing more than traditions of men that have little or no value.
The sad thing is that the more we follow the mandates of men, the less likely we are to seek the Holy Spirit for His will and purpose. When we place our trust in man, we have created an idol for ourselves, pushing away Christ in favor of being accepted by man.
Preachers of our day would rather we trust them than Christ, that way they can keep us chained to their will and paying their salary, much the same way the Catholic church did when we were there before finding Christ.
Bottom Line: TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE, not only for salvation but also for everything else. Others may influence us but never blindly, mindlessly. If we are influenced by someone, it ought to be because the Holy Spirit in them spoke truth and acted what they spoke, not because we were intimidated to obey to be accepted by men.
2 Peter 3:17
"Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard not to be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing."
You see by the following passage that Christ should be the one to tell us what to do and where to go. He never instructs us to follow a man.
Acts 16:6
"After the Holy Spirit prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia."
The churches today are full of unBiblical teaching that fosters an attitude that the "leaders" also known as "Pastors", tell us what to do rather than depending on the Holy Spirit to instruct and guide us.
No man should take priority over our lives, they may influence if they are correct but they should never be above God or above correction themselves.
John 14:25-26 "…25 All this I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you."
We have become lazy in our Christian walk, expecting others to seek the Holy Spirit on our behalf, sort of like the workings of the Catholic church. That system calls the Pope the advocated between us and God, he has all authority over the parishioners. This is exactly opposite of what God tells us.
Each one of us is to seek the Holy Spirit personally for our answers. The preachers share, just as we share, we are influenced and we influence, but no one "lords it over" anyone else.
1 Peter 5:2-3 "…2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock."
We listen to the preachers, the may influence us but they have no authority over us, only the Holy Spirit does. The whole hierarchy system of "religion" is not at all described in the NT for believers.
Matthew 28:18
"And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."
James 4:7
"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
Notice the verse in James tells us to "Submit to God." We submit to one another because of our love for the brethren, but only when the brethren is obeying Christ and when the Holy Spirit guides us. We are not called to obey self or organization appointed individuals.
No one has the authority over us to command things of us such as tithing or mandatory church attendance. Such things are between us and Christ.
Romans 14:4-6 "…4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One man regards a certain day above the others, while someone else considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes a special day does so to the Lord; he who eats does so to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God.…"
If we evaluate every action and reaction we encounter in light of the Holy Word of God with guidance from the Holy Spirit, we would soon learn that many things we do are nothing more than traditions of men that have little or no value.
The sad thing is that the more we follow the mandates of men, the less likely we are to seek the Holy Spirit for His will and purpose. When we place our trust in man, we have created an idol for ourselves, pushing away Christ in favor of being accepted by man.
Preachers of our day would rather we trust them than Christ, that way they can keep us chained to their will and paying their salary, much the same way the Catholic church did when we were there before finding Christ.
Bottom Line: TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE, not only for salvation but also for everything else. Others may influence us but never blindly, mindlessly. If we are influenced by someone, it ought to be because the Holy Spirit in them spoke truth and acted what they spoke, not because we were intimidated to obey to be accepted by men.
2 Peter 3:17
"Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard not to be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing."
You see by the following passage that Christ should be the one to tell us what to do and where to go. He never instructs us to follow a man.
Acts 16:6
"After the Holy Spirit prevented them from speaking the word in the province of Asia, they traveled through the region of Phrygia and Galatia."
Tuesday, September 20, 2016
Our Boot Camp
All that I have encountered in this life, taught me many things I would not otherwise know and made me stronger in Christ.
I believe that we are on earth to learn lessons that will help us rule in the Millennium. I count the training ground here as valuable.
When we learn to ignore our emotions in favor of truth, we can see the purpose in everything that happens to us and even laugh at some of the calamities.
We weep with sorrow over those who have rejected Christ and us because of Him. We feel down at times discouraged over all we see around us, but we are not destroyed. Christ Who lives in us has a purpose for this boot camp in which we live.
2 Corinthians 4:7-14
"7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 So death works in us, but life in you.
13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak,
14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you."
I believe that we are on earth to learn lessons that will help us rule in the Millennium. I count the training ground here as valuable.
When we learn to ignore our emotions in favor of truth, we can see the purpose in everything that happens to us and even laugh at some of the calamities.
We weep with sorrow over those who have rejected Christ and us because of Him. We feel down at times discouraged over all we see around us, but we are not destroyed. Christ Who lives in us has a purpose for this boot camp in which we live.
2 Corinthians 4:7-14
"7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;
8 we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;
9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;
10 always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.
11 For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.
12 So death works in us, but life in you.
13 But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed, therefore I spoke,” we also believe, therefore we also speak,
14 knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you."
A Few Knocks Grows Them
Our culture has lost it's mind!
I heard a news report this morning on the radio instructing parents what to do when their children come home from school and have an "after school meltdown."
The answer of the psychologist was to give them treats, not require them to do homework and distract them with a movie or other activity to allow them some "down time."
After listening for a few minutes I felt the sense that I should go and vomit. This is where our culture has gone, the children must be worshiped, babied and manipulated to be keep them calm and happy.
The idea that they should be trained to honor and respect, learn self discipline in their feelings and do as they are told by the parental authority, has been thrown away, even treated as wrong or bad.
Perhaps children are having "melt downs" after school because the teachers have not been commanding and stern enough.The children come home and think they should be catered to rather than obey their parent.
When a child will not do what he should unless he likes to or is manipulated into through tricks to make him think it's his own idea, then he has not learned obedience, but has learned that he doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to.
We didn't have "melt downs" when we were children, if we did it once it was handled with a spanking and we didn't do it again. We learned self control over our feelings at a young age and we never raged at our parents.
Sadly many parents like myself have given up trying to reason with this very selfish and arrogant generation, in favor of the peace we have without them.
This monstrous generation have no honor or respect, nor are they ever embarrassed or saddened by their disrespect and rebellion. The more they are told they are walking in these ways, the harder their hearts become, the more staunch their resolve to make us suffer for speaking about it.
We are living in the 2 Timothy 3 generation. One that cannot be corrected, instructed or disciplined without consequences to the righteous who expect decency.
Our generation as a whole honored our parents, valued them and sought to be a companion to them. The opposite is true now, our children's generation have a sense of entitlement to praise, material goods and even our homes. We can only expect to be treated with love and dignity if we do and say everything this narcissistic generation likes.
I continue to be astonished at the number of rebellious 30 somethings who still live at home. They contribute nothing to the household, cause nothing but trouble for their aging parents and are ungrateful.
Not everyone who remains at home with parents are this way, but most are sucking resources off of their parents while ungratedful to them, rather they demand things, don't give anything back and are angry when they are told no.
It was common and expected that children left home at 18, either to go to college or get their own jobs, in our day. Now the children think they are entitled to the things their parents have, that the parent worked hard for all their lives.
This, my friends, is what the "self esteem" doctrine has created. The churches have been just as guilty as the public institutions in leading children to believe they are so wonderful they should have anything they want and no one should expect anything out of them.
The "me" generation has rejected authority in varying degrees while treating with disrespect anyone who expects them to act decently and with gratefulness. There is no telling them anything, not even if it would help them.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 is now here! We are living it, watching it and grieved about it. Thankfully we do not have to live with it in our own homes, we can say "no" while sending them out the door with a hug and prayers.
Remember this generation is one that are masters of manipulation and guilt tripping, we can ignore that and do what is best for them. Stop the coddling, the praise and the fear of losing them to be able to help them go through some hardship that will grow them. Perhaps they will find Christ because of their trials, we prevent that when we will not allow them to go through what is normal to be strengthened. Life is hard, without that hardship, we help children to remain emotional and spiritual babies all their lives.
"3:1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
I heard a news report this morning on the radio instructing parents what to do when their children come home from school and have an "after school meltdown."
The answer of the psychologist was to give them treats, not require them to do homework and distract them with a movie or other activity to allow them some "down time."
After listening for a few minutes I felt the sense that I should go and vomit. This is where our culture has gone, the children must be worshiped, babied and manipulated to be keep them calm and happy.
The idea that they should be trained to honor and respect, learn self discipline in their feelings and do as they are told by the parental authority, has been thrown away, even treated as wrong or bad.
Perhaps children are having "melt downs" after school because the teachers have not been commanding and stern enough.The children come home and think they should be catered to rather than obey their parent.
When a child will not do what he should unless he likes to or is manipulated into through tricks to make him think it's his own idea, then he has not learned obedience, but has learned that he doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to.
We didn't have "melt downs" when we were children, if we did it once it was handled with a spanking and we didn't do it again. We learned self control over our feelings at a young age and we never raged at our parents.
Sadly many parents like myself have given up trying to reason with this very selfish and arrogant generation, in favor of the peace we have without them.
This monstrous generation have no honor or respect, nor are they ever embarrassed or saddened by their disrespect and rebellion. The more they are told they are walking in these ways, the harder their hearts become, the more staunch their resolve to make us suffer for speaking about it.
We are living in the 2 Timothy 3 generation. One that cannot be corrected, instructed or disciplined without consequences to the righteous who expect decency.
Our generation as a whole honored our parents, valued them and sought to be a companion to them. The opposite is true now, our children's generation have a sense of entitlement to praise, material goods and even our homes. We can only expect to be treated with love and dignity if we do and say everything this narcissistic generation likes.
I continue to be astonished at the number of rebellious 30 somethings who still live at home. They contribute nothing to the household, cause nothing but trouble for their aging parents and are ungrateful.
Not everyone who remains at home with parents are this way, but most are sucking resources off of their parents while ungratedful to them, rather they demand things, don't give anything back and are angry when they are told no.
It was common and expected that children left home at 18, either to go to college or get their own jobs, in our day. Now the children think they are entitled to the things their parents have, that the parent worked hard for all their lives.
This, my friends, is what the "self esteem" doctrine has created. The churches have been just as guilty as the public institutions in leading children to believe they are so wonderful they should have anything they want and no one should expect anything out of them.
The "me" generation has rejected authority in varying degrees while treating with disrespect anyone who expects them to act decently and with gratefulness. There is no telling them anything, not even if it would help them.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 is now here! We are living it, watching it and grieved about it. Thankfully we do not have to live with it in our own homes, we can say "no" while sending them out the door with a hug and prayers.
Remember this generation is one that are masters of manipulation and guilt tripping, we can ignore that and do what is best for them. Stop the coddling, the praise and the fear of losing them to be able to help them go through some hardship that will grow them. Perhaps they will find Christ because of their trials, we prevent that when we will not allow them to go through what is normal to be strengthened. Life is hard, without that hardship, we help children to remain emotional and spiritual babies all their lives.
"3:1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these."
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