True vs. False Church

"For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." Matthew 24:24

Some read the above Scripture and think, "The deception in the last days will be very strong, so much that it could almost fool the elect!"  And that is true.

However, when I read that verse, one thing stands out for me: "There is no protection from deception apart from being one of the elect of God."

elect: eklektos, picked out, chosen by God for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus

A person recently commented on how to discern between the true and false church, wondering if the distinction between the two might not be as clear as people think.  While externally (in terms of outward appearance), the difference can be hard to decipher, internally (what happens on the inside) the difference is literally night and day.

First, let's establish that it is God's will to protect His people from deception. He is not nonchalant about this, leaving us to the whims of the Satan.  We belong to God and He is jealous for us (Exodus 34:14; Deuteronomy 4:24; Nahum 1:2; II Corinthians 11:2).  He would not send His only Son to be butchered for the lost, only to have them carelessly swept away by a delusion.

The Power to Lay It Down

"Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?" Acts 26:8

One day in prayer, I was asking about the power of God and where it was in my life.  God then reminded me of the following Scripture.

"No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."  John 10:18

I came to understand that the power I needed most was the power to lay down my own self life...and God would take care of the rest.

Jesus could not raise Himself from the dead. This was something He had to trust in and depend upon the Father to do. Yet in God's word, not once do we read about Jesus doubting whether the Father would raise Him.  Jesus knew why He had come and He also knew with certainty that the Father would be faithful to raise Him from the dead.  We know that the same was true of our forefather in the faith, Abraham, who knew the promises God had made and considered Him faithful to fulfill them, even to the raising of one from the dead (Hebrews 11:19).

Have An Unshakable Life In The New Year

Come & Die!

May the following message from Pastor Zac Poonen encourage you in this new year.

• Jesus said that in the world we would have tribulation, but in Him we have peace (John 16:33).
• The coming year is going to be a year of shaking.  The things which can be shaken, will be shaken.  The things which cannot be shaken will remain (Hebrews 12:26).
• If both of your feet are planted firmly in the Kingdom of God, then you will remain firm and unshaken no matter what happens.  Such persons will show gratitude by serving God in reverence and godly fear.
• Man is basically a selfish creature who does not think of expressing gratitude easily; not just saying "thank you", but having a deep condition of appreciation in the heart.
• Only service arising out of gratitude is acceptable to God.
• Today's Jesus is often presented by the church like He is our 'buddy', with no reverence.  This is why sin abounds so greatly in many lives.  We cannot approach Jesus like that.
• There is nothing physical which makes us priests for God, but the power of an endless life which is given to us through the Holy Spirit (Hebrews 7:16).

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?