Crucified?

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." John 10:10a

Many know that in coming to faith in Christ, we must acknowledge who we are: sinners.  Yet, I wonder if that admission really brings home the severity of who we are without God.  Even in that admission, we may tend to subconsciously believe our sins are not as bad as the sins of others, that we still had some "good" qualities.  In this way, being a sinner can almost become whitewashed in our minds because, after all, everyone is a sinner.  It becomes no sweat off of our backs to admit because the word can gloss over the reality of what we truly were.

This morning as I pondered God's word, I began to think about how God sees the matter; and it is not in such generalities.  It is an image which is crystal clear via the Scriptures, but it may be hard to reconcile if you have not considered it before.

God didn't just see us as sinners.  He saw us as a reflection of the very nature of Satan himself.  In God's eyes, fallen man had become just like his "Daddy" (John 8:44).  Man had become a thief, a murderer, & a destroyer.

What Do You Mean There's No Santa??!!

Gifts Lying Under a Tree

Today, many children - even children of Christian families - will be getting up to see what gifts "Santa" has brought them.  We never misled our children about the myths of Santa.  It didn't have anything to do with whether it was right or wrong to celebrate Christmas; we just couldn't justify lying to our children.

I can remember finding out that Santa was not real at around age 6.  I had gone to my mother's room and was sitting on her bed watching the typical Christmas shows (i.e. Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, etc.).  Also on the bed - unbeknownst to me - were some of the things "Santa" was going to give me in the morning.  I had seen the Toys R'Us bag and the items in them, but just didn't think much of it.  Mom was wrapping presents for the family and maybe those were just some of them.  My focus was on my shows.

However, when my Mom came in and saw me, she became quite excited and quickly pulled the things off of the bed.  Again, I paid no attention as my focus was on the TV.  Then, the next morning, I saw all of those items under the tree marked as things that "Santa" had given.

As the realization hit me, I looked at my Mom and shouted, "These aren't from Santa!  I saw these in the Toys R'Us bag on your bed!" "No you didn't.", my Mom insisted, "Those are from Santa."

Put on Garments of Vengeance

A Shaking Should Lead to a Waking

"For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them. O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end! How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the LORD had shut them up? For their rock is not as our Rock, even our enemies themselves being judges. 

For their vine is of the vine of Sodom, and of the fields of Gomorrah: their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter: Their wine is the poison of dragons, and the cruel venom of asps. Is not this laid up in store with me, and sealed up among my treasures? To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left. 

And he shall say, Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted, Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink offerings? Let them rise up and help you, and be your protection. See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever. If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. I will make mine arrows drunk with blood, and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives, from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy. 

Rejoice, O ye nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people." Deuteronomy 32:38-43

In the wake of the recent tragedies such as the shootings at Sandy Hook, many ask why this is happening and where is God.  Yet, amazing as it may be to think, this too will soon become a distant memory and life will resume as "normal" for many.  Some might call this return to normalcy God's mercy as He enables us to cope with what has happened.  However, is it?  What if our "normal" was a life devoid of God and with no thought to His will and His way?  What if "normal" was a life filled with lots of religious activity, but with the majority of hearts being far away from God?  What if God lets such things happen in order to shake us from "normal" and wake us from a spiritual stupor?

Controlling Our Tongues

The following is a message from Pastor Zac Poonen called, "Controlling Our Tongues".

I appreciate Pastor Poonen because God has anointed him to teach the Scriptures plainly, but with great spiritual conviction.  I know that this is an area God still works with me on; to resist the temptation to respond "in kind" to others or to give folks a "piece of my mind" because of how they interact with me.  Sometimes people say to me, "Oh, you are so patient in how you respond to others."  Yet they don't know the inner battle which can sometimes occur between what "I" really want to say and what the Holy Spirit will not let me say.  LOL

If it were not for the Holy Spirit, surely a different "me" would be seen.  And while I am so grateful for the work of the Spirit in this way, I also know that this inner struggle is merely evidence that the old man is not as dead as he should be.  There is still a little too much life left in the flesh, which must be further crucified.  I look to the day when the Holy Spirit no longer has to muzzle me in such instances because even the urge to justify or defend "self" is gone.  That is my prayer.

Anyway, I hope this message is a blessing to you!

• We must to glory in the small things while ignoring the weightier things of God.
• The way you know that you are walking in the light is that you get personal light or revelation on your own spiritual condition.
• The word being a two-edged sword means it cuts me (applies to me) before it cuts others (before it can be applied by me to others).
• Many professing Christians still do not have control over their tongue.

The Right Attitude To Money

The following is a message from Pastor Zac Poonen on, "The Right Attitude to Money."

• People used to think that all wholehearted Christians must be poor.  Now there is the teaching that wholehearted Christians must be rich.  Both are unscriptural extremes.
• The two masters Jesus tells us we cannot serve (we must hate one and love the other) are God and mammon (which is money).
• If money rules over you, you cannot serve God.
• If you are not faithful in unrighteous mammon, how will God trust you with the true riches of Heaven: revelation from God's word, transformation into Christ's character, and anointing for the ministry.
• To be devoted to God is to despise money.  You must come to the place where if you gain money it doesn't excite you, and if you lose money it doesn't depress you.

The Right Attitude To Correction

In a recent conversation with fellow believers, we spoke of how many are unable to take Godly correction.  I am not speaking of the type of soulish control that others may try to wield over you as so-called "correction", but that discipline which through conviction, the Holy Spirit confirms is from the Lord.

The following is a message from Pastor Zac Poonen on "The Right Attitude to Correction."  The wrong attitude can make the difference between those who are sons of God and those who are not.

• There was no good thing Jesus could say about the Church at Laodecia.  Yet Jesus says that He still loved them (Revelation 3:19).
• Rebuke & discipline from the Lord is a sign of His love so that we zealously repent.  It is the proof that we are not bastards, but one of His children (Hebrews 12:6-8).
• God gives you little warnings to save you from head on collisions (spiritually) later in life; do not be offended by them.
• The Lord is so interested in making us perfect that He is not happy with just 99.9%.
• You have to be very high-minded to tell God that He must correct you directly and not through any of His servants.

Shedding of Innocent Blood

"That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and so blood be upon thee." Deuteronomy 19:10 

Congress singing "God Bless America" in the U.S. Capital steps
as part of a 9/11 tribute.

I post this, not in some insensitivity to the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, but for us to take an honest look at the spiritual condition of our land...and our hearts. No one could look at the loss of life in that shooting and not be touched by the sheer senselessness of it.

Surely the type of mourning being experienced as a result is heavy - especially for the life loss of little children.  We should keep the families affected in our prayers, for God's healing, comfort, and grace.

However, was this just an anomaly or have we allowed a spirit of murder to be released in this country by our own actions...and inaction?  If we do not recognize the spiritual underpinnings of what we see in the natural, then how will we ever be empowered to overcome it?

Getting Your House in Order

The below message is audio from the second part of a sermon from Pastor Voddie Baucham on "Legacy" where he discusses the discipleship of our children.

• The most important tool used in the discipleship of our children - in terms of establishing and passing on multi-generational legacy - is the home.
• Like Israel going into the Promised Land, Christians are called to be a distinct people in the midst of a culture of opposition; otherwise, they would be completely absorbed into the culture and no longer bear their distinction.
• God had to raise up a Joshua generation to claim the promises after allowing the faithless generation of Israel to die off in the wilderness.
• The Promised Land was not simply a blessing for that generation, but was to make it possible for them to pass on to their children and their children's children the fear and knowledge of the Lord.
  
• To a born again Christian, the most important thing in their world is knowing & serving Jesus Christ; as such, the most important thing we can do is teach those with whom we have been entrusted by God to know & serve the Lord.

Receiving the Fire of the Holy Spirit

"But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Luke 22:32

We have talked about doing the works of the ministry, but in order to do that we need to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.  Many are attempting to follow Christ, to live a Christian life, but are not availing themselves of the power of God: His Holy Spirit.  It is all just the flesh...or the workings of "another spirit" (II Corinthians 11:4). Now more than ever we need to seek God to be filled and for power to stand against the wickedness of the time in which we now live.

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8

Take a moment to listen to this message from brother Emmanuel K. on "Receiving the Fire of the Holy Spirit".

"For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call." Acts2:39

Just DO it!

Christianity is Not a Spectator Sport 

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." James 1:22

When I was a teenager, someone I respected was a moderator at a political event. After the event, a man ran up to him enthusiastically saying, "I was so impressed with you. You have a great understanding of the issues and can speak to them so well. You ought to run for office. You are just the type of person we need."  To that he chuckled and responded, "Why would I run for office when I can just sit on the sidelines and critique those who do?"

I was so disappointed at that moment. I could not understand the mentality of preferring to criticize those who serve instead of offering one's own self for service...and I still don't.  It just seems hypocritical to me.  If you don't have any skin in the game (so to speak), then you are just not in a position to critique anything.

Yet, such is a trait we see even in the churchworld.  You know the type; they always have something negative to say, but don't bring anything of their own to the table.  They do nothing to build up a ministry, but are often the first to start prattling on about what they think others are doing wrong.  They sit in fellowships week after week becoming engorged on the word of God, yet it never translates into practice where the word becomes life to others around them.  They can only [mis]use the letter to bring death (II Corinthians 3:6).

Thank You Lord!

Don Moen is one of those men of God who has touched my life in untold ways and drawn me closer to the Lord over the years. If you are interested in true praise & worship, I recommend you look into brother Don.

Thank you Lord for your glorious mercy & grace.  Thank you for working all things out for our good, even when we don't understand.  Thank you for your sacrifice for us and allowing us to be called your sons and daughters.  Thank you for the blessings you pour out on us each day and that you have in store for us in the days to come.  Receive our praises this day Lord and be exalted in our hearts always!

Balls

I was recently asked why there does not seem to be many messages directed towards men about standing up to be men of God.

First, let me say that we cannot buy into a tit for tat mentality.  If a message is targeted to women, there is no obligation to then give a message that deals with men.  Let us all - men and women - simply be at God's disposal.  If a word comes forth with deals with us - receive it, repent, and change.  If a word is not for us, then pray for those to whom it pertains and move on.  Let us not look to the left nor to the right, but keep our eyes on Jesus and let the Father mold us as He sees fit.

Okay, that said, the following is a message by Pastor Gary C. Price as he teaches a message called, "Balls".    In it, he speaks about the necessity for men to loose themselves from that which disempowers them and take their place in the spiritual war against wickedness.

The War on Men Through the VENERATION of Woman

For those who still don't see how evil this is after reading, please see the following: The End of Men. 

Notice that she is referenced as "Ms." vs. "Mrs.",
which is a title usually reserved for when it is unknown
whether a woman is married or unmarried.

"Then the angel that talked with me went forth, and said unto me, Lift up now thine eyes, and see what is this that goeth forth. And I said, What is it? And he said, This is an ephah that goeth forth. He said moreover, This is their resemblance through all the earth. 

And, behold, there was lifted up a talent of lead: and this is a woman that sitteth in the midst of the ephah. And he said, This is wickedness. And he cast it into the midst of the ephah; and he cast the weight of lead upon the mouth thereof.

Then lifted I up mine eyes, and looked, and, behold, there came out two women, and the wind was in their wings; for they had wings like the wings of a stork: and they lifted up the ephah between the earth and the heaven. Then said I to the angel that talked with me, Whither do these bear the ephah? And he said unto me, To build it an house in the land of Shinar: [Shinar is Babylon] and it shall be established, and set there upon her own base [a pedestal]." Zechariah 5:5-11

On December 1, 2012, Mrs. Jada Pinkett Smith posted a note on her Facebook page called, "The War on Men Through the Degradation of Woman."  It shows in a nutshell how the perversion of womanhood - such as promoted by Mrs. Smith - is contaminating the minds of young girls and is the cause of what she calls the "War on Men".

Begin to Love "Self"

It is only appropriate that - as we have been talking about the need to deny "self" and crucify the flesh - the new agers are preaching about the need to love "self".  We have spoken before about how the need for "self-love" is a major deception leading one to worship what is anti-Christ.

The following was sent to me by a brother in Christ.  Please review this prayerfully with an ear to understand what is happening in the world and a heart to solidify just where you stand.

Make no mistake that as God is preparing His people for these times, so is Satan preparing those who belong to him.  God will have a people who have divested themselves of "self" and self-centered pursuits in order to live for Him.  Satan will have a people consumed with "self" and living only for "self": the definition of a sodomite.

Remember, true love is selflessness; and God is love.  Love "seeks not her own" or in other words, is not selfish (I Corinthians 13:5).
_______

The following is shared from Gideon's Trumpet

This is what the new agers/false prophets in unison believe and teach.  This is the essence of the current 'ecumenical' movement.

Your Cross Is Meant to Bring You to Self-Denial

The following is a message from Min. David Wilkerson called "You Cannot Carry Your Own Cross" followed by a video sermon from Min. B.H. Clendennen entitled, "Self-Denial".

It goes hand in hand with the message from yesterday.  I hope that both messages encourage you to draw closer still to the Lord and experience His saving power in your life.
 _______________

You Cannot Carry Your Own Cross 

It's very true that Jesus said to His disciples, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me." But Jesus could not carry His cross - and neither can you! Jesus fell under the load of His cross, weary, exhausted, and unable to carry it another step. John said, "And he bearing his cross went forth into a place...called Golgotha" (John 19:17). the Bible doesn't tell us how far Jesus carried His cross. We do know they compelled Simon, the Cyrene, to pick it up and carry it to the place of crucifixion (Matthew 27:32).

Jesus did take up His cross and was led by His tormentors like a lamb to be slain. But He could not carry it for long. The truth is, Jesus was too weak and frail to carry His cross. It was laid on another's shoulder. He had reached the end of His endurance. He was a physically broken and wounded man. There is only so much one person can take. There is a breaking point. Why did they compel Simon to pick up that cross? Was Jesus lying on those cobblestone streets like a lifeless man, with the cross lying over him like dead weight? Did they kick Him, try to prop Him up, and attempt to force Him a step further? But did He just lie there, with not enough strength to move an inch? His cross had become too heavy to bear.