 May 18, 2012 – Deceivers are Flunkies
7 For many imposters (seducers, deceivers, and false teachers) have gone out into the world, men who will acknowledge (confess, admit) the coming of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) in bodily form. Such a one is the imposter (the seducer, the deceiver, the false teacher, the antagonist of Christ) and the antichrist. – 2 John 7 AMP
The Apostle John in today’s verse is warning Christians about imposters in the world. Even in the first century there were people spreading lies about the Christian faith. Some were even Christians, as Paul points out in several of his letters. If John were still alive, his words of warning would probably be much more in depth than it was nearly two centuries ago.
We live in a world today where people build a set of religious beliefs around just about anything. There are groups that worship the sun, moon and stars. There are people who worship mother earth rather than Father God. Some Christian denominations build their entire doctrine around things like prosperity or works. Some churches have even watered down Scripture so much that theologians have labeled them part of the Gospel-lite movement.
Now if you have followed my blogs closely since we started here at the Revelation310 Foundation, you should know where I personally stand on these issues. If you haven’t been with us since the beginning, I encourage you to take a look back and see where Marlo and I both stand on issues facing Christians daily. Let’s face it. The Christian faith is running rampant with false doctrine nowadays.
So how do you spot a deceiver? How do you spot those in the Christian faith who would try to lead others astray? John tells us to test the spirits.
1 Beloved, do not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world. – 1 John 4:1 AMP
Test the spirits? How in the world are we supposed to do that? In the verse following John’s instructions to test the spirits, he plainly says that any spirit that confesses that Jesus came in the flesh is of God, while all others are not. That seems easy to me.
So, that tree worshiping cult is not of God. Witchcraft is not of God. The Methodist, Baptist, and Pentecostal Holiness denominations are of God. I could go on for days like this, but I will not. Here’s what I’m getting to. Church leaders as well as pastors confess Jesus came in the flesh, so they must be of God, right? In some cases I would say yes, but then there are others where I’d have to stop and think again.
I have heard the test the spirits verse used in a church setting on several occasions. The only problem was that it was used by the same man, who happened to be a pastor, over and over. Any time this man failed to get what his way, he would have to test the spirits to be sure there were no demons afoot. He would do it in the middle of a church service or in a one-on-one meeting as a form of manipulation to get those who disagreed with him to come over to his side. And he acknowledged Jesus as his Savior, but he also set himself up as the god of his church. He portrayed himself as a man of God, but in actuality he was a deceiver.
What we all have to do in a case like this is not allow the deceiver to put us to the test; we have to put them to the test. We first have to always check in with God ourselves to make sure there are no issues in our own life. When we are able to get close to God on our own, we can then test those who may be deceiving us. Then we can see if they make the grade.
First, listen to what the person says. Do their words line up with the Bible, or are there half-truths taken and parts of Scripture omitted? Do they continually talk about one passage in the Bible and not look at the entire content of God’s Word? If they do, you can best bet that the Scripture they are using meets their personal goals.
Second, observe if these people practice what they preach. False teachers will have one set of rules for themselves and another set for their flock.
Third, look at the fruit in their lives. Are their children well behaved? Are they reaching out to others out of love or in order to control? Are they preaching Jesus but also setting themselves up as an intermediary between you and God? Instead of building a congregation that works together, they will leave behind a tail of broken ties and shunned members.
The sad thing about church leaders is that many times people are drawn to them. There are people hurting in the world and looking for someone to help them through serious trial in their life. Some turn to adultery, some turn to professionals like psychiatrists, and some turn to Jesus. When they turn to Jesus, churches are places where they often meet Him. And sometimes, there are deceptive leaders waiting to prey on them rather than pray for them.
So whatever you do, don’t think that deceptive people live only in the world we live in. Don’t think they only go to church at the local Kingdom Hall for Jehovah’s Witnesses. They can also be in the church down the street. Don’t let any of them lead you astray. Either way, rest east knowing the deceiver will always flunk his test.
Now the true soldiers of Christ must always be prepared to do battle for the truth, and must never, so far as lies with them, allow false convictions to creep in. ~Origen
 May 17, 2012 – Please Pass the Salt
34 Salt is good [an excellent thing], but if salt has lost its strength and has become saltless (insipid, flat), how shall its saltness be restored? 35 It is fit neither for the land nor for the manure heap; men throw it away. He was has ears to hear, let him listen and consider and comprehend by hearing! – Luke 14:34-35 AMP
In today’s passage Jesus is talking about salt and He is comparing it to our faith. For years the whole salt thing has been confusing to me, but after thinking about it a while, I began to understand the concept, but probably not to the point that some have.
First let me set things up a bit. Have you ever eaten at what I like to call one of those greasy spoon grills? I hope you know the kind of place I’m talking about. They are not franchise restaurants and from the outside most of the time they look like places to avoid. It looks like the local health inspector has never visited the establishment, but it smells so good from the outside that you can’t help but go in and place an order. You wouldn’t dare carry your wife there for a date night, but you could easily get into a habit of going there so much for lunch with her that the staff would reserve you a table daily.
These dives serve up some of the best fast food you’ve ever tasted. Some I have visited over the years have rice mixed with salt in their salt shakers. Why in the world would they do that? No one likes rice with salt. They don’t do it for the mixture, as the rice is too large to exit the holes on the shaker; they do it so the rice can absorb any moisture.
If salt becomes wet then dries, it cakes together and forms a solid mass. I’ve seen it happen in restaurants as well as anywhere there are moisture issues with salt. Now when the salt solidifies like that it can be broken apart again and even used. But very often, especially if there were some serious moisture issues, the salt has no more flavor and is worthless.
Some of you are probably begging me to get to the point already. Okay, here it is. Why did Jesus mention the salt analogy at all? What in the world does Christianity have to do with salt? Jesus’ analogy about salt has nothing to do with nutritional value, as some salt contains a necessary nutrient called iodide and has this added health benefit. His comparison instead is about being an effective witness for Him.
On our farm in rural America we have several cows. These animals eat grass, hay, and grain from the local feed store. But we also have minerals for them to eat when they choose. One of the ingredients of the minerals they eat is salt. But these minerals are stored for consumption in a container with weatherproof lid so that the salt is kept dry and in turn continues to be effective in the nutrition of the animal. If we left these minerals out in the open, a heavy rain could come and wash away the salt and the mineral would no longer be effective in keeping our animals healthy.
That’s how it works with our faith. As a Christian, Jesus says that we are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). When we go out into the world by means of our job, shopping, or even church, we are supposed to give the world a better flavor just as salt gives your favorite food a better flavor. When we fail to have that positive effect on the world around us, we run the risk of failing to be an effective witness. Sadly there are many Christians who would rather let the world affect their behavior than their behavior having an effect on the world.
Sure, that’s a hard truth to swallow, but many Christians and even churches try to blend into the world under the guise of reaching others. Christians get tattoos even though the Bible explicitly prohibits them (Leviticus 19:28) because they are free and use them as a tool to reach a different kind of people. Some believers use foul language among the unsaved because it’s the only way they know how to communicate with them. And some Christians get on worldly power trips inside church walls and run over anyone that gets in their way. All such things are far from Christian behavior. Would you please pass the salt?
I do not ever want to come to a point in my faith where I fail in my witness to Him. As far as our effectiveness, I really don’t think any of us will truly know the full effect our lives have had on others until we get to heaven. I hope at the end of my days that I can look back and see that I carried that flavor with me and was uncontaminated by the world when I finished my race.
In the opposite end of the spectrum, I don’t want to be one of those obnoxious, better-than-everyone-else Christians who are always ready to point their fingers but never able to walk in love. They always seem angry. Sure, we should all be angry at the world we live in, but how effective would any Christian be if we were continual grouches? They are like one of those salt shakers the lid falls off of as you’re seasoning your food. When that has happened to me in the past I just wanted to throw my meal in the trash.
If you’re going to be one of those in your face Christians, let me give you one word of advice: Christians need more correction than people in the world. The people living worldly lives need Jesus, not some guy screaming in their ear that they are going to hell. How do we lead them to Him? We do it by passing the salt. When you pass the salt to others in your life, they will get a taste of the best flavoring ever. And rather than throw it in the manure heap, they’ll want it for themselves and keep it forever.
 May 16, 2012 – Dirty Cups, Cold Milk, and Double Stuf Oreos
25 Woe to you scribes, Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but within they are full of extortion (prey, spoil, plunder) and grasping self-indulgence. – Matthew 23:25 AMP
I briefly mentioned Chapter Twenty-Three of Matthew yesterday. I didn’t do it to set up today’s blog by any means, but I did end up there today. It must be a God thing.
Most of Chapter Twenty-Three of Matthew is Jesus speaking to the religious leaders in His day about not practicing what they preach. They said one thing and did another. They would strictly adhere to portions of Mosaic Law, but neglect the big picture and get involved in legalism. And in today’s verse, Jesus even compares the religious leaders’ hypocrisy to a dirty cup.
Have you ever drunk anything from a dirty cup? Most people nowadays would probably immediately say no, especially considering the great lengths people, businesses, and government agencies go through to ensure safe sanitation practices. Household automatic dishwashers usually have a sanitize cycle which heats the water hot enough to kill bacteria. Restaurants have commercial equipment and sanitizing solutions to keep bacteria from spreading throughout their facilities. And government agencies from local health departments to several federal entities are always there to ensure the health and safety of the populace.
Okay, so dirty cups are hard to come by in the world, but let me assure you that they still exist. Have you ever had a cold cup of milk at home with about seven Double Stuf Oreos? I have, and indulge in that enjoyable experience more often than I should. When I finish, I put the cup in the sink so that it can be loaded in the dishwasher when we have a full load. But if I want some again a few hours later, do I grab the same cup and do it all over again? No way. If I do use the same cup, let me assure you that I clean it before I get started.
So why do I clean the cup? I’m putting both milk and Oreos back in it all over again, so what’s the big deal? It’s nasty, that’s the big deal. The cup containing the leftovers of milk and Oreos is just a few crumbs and a miniscule amount of milk at best. If unattended and left in the sink alone, the mixture has dried and stuck to the bottom of the cup. If it were not for hot water, the leftovers would have formed an impenetrable layer of filth. It’s sad to say, but many Christians as well as churches drink from such a dirty cup every day.
I can see the noses turning up in the air now and hear the huffs and comments from all over. People are saying whoa buddy, I never drink from a dirty cup, or you’ve got the wrong guy; I’m too self-conscious about spreading germs and disease to even think of doing that, or how dare you insinuate I would get milk on my fingers by actually dipping Oreos? Whatever your defense, consider that Jesus was speaking figuratively as I’m doing now.
When I was first saved, I really cleaned up my act as most new Christians do. I went to church every time the door was open, stopped using profanity, and quit telling obscene jokes. I purchased a new Bible, a zippered Bible cover, a Bible highlighter, a Jesus fish for my vehicle, and plenty of tee shirts proving I was a good, church-going, God-fearing, family man. The outside of my cup was spotless. But the inside of my cup, my heart, was still full of lies, manipulation, greed, and enough hidden sin to cause the Pope run out of holy water.
Churches today are the same way. Now I firmly believe that churches are supposed to be a place where the weary and brokenhearted can come for healing. Those individuals have dirty cups and need to Jesus’ help to clean them. But how many times do we see news stories about pastors committing everything from adultery to suicide? How often do we hear about church leaders being caught stealing money or defrauding members of the flock? Those guys are understood to be godly examples for the unsaved, yet their cups are full of what Jesus called self-indulgence in today’s verse. They are serving themselves rather than Jesus.
The disturbing part of this analogy is that it hardly takes anything at all to make a cup dirty. One dry speck of Oreos in the bottom of the cup dictates to us that we need to clean it more so we can have a refill. One small organism of bacteria can grow and spread through the whole cup if left unattended. Likewise, one small sin can grow and contaminate your whole life if you are not willing to clean up your act.
The world’s solution for the dirty cup has been the advent of the single use, disposable cup. You use it once and throw it away. The problem with this scenario is that as a Christian, our lives are not disposable. God has a purpose in life for each of us, and it doesn’t include throwing our life away.
What’s the answer? Always keep your cup clean. As a Christian, your beliefs, your convictions, and your reactions to life in a wicked world are continually monitored by everyone you come in contact with. If we don’t keep our cup clean, Jesus’ words are very pointed: woe to you hypocrite! As for the Double Stuf Oreos, I’m still dipping them in that cold milk completely submersed for no more than seven seconds. I even lick my fingers to make sure the milk doesn’t drip from my elbows. It’s okay; I’m at home and the cup is clean.
 May 15, 2012 – Keeping Secrets and Big Surprises
4 And when the seven thunders had spoken (sounded), I was going to write [it down], but I heard a voice from heaven saying, Seal up what the seven thunders have said! Do not write it down! – Revelation 10:14 AMP
Today’s verse occurs during the sixth trumpet judgment during the seven year tribulation as described in the Book of Revelation. At the beginning of this judgment, an army two hundred million strong will begin to make its way westward to Jerusalem in order to oppose the worldwide rule of the antichrist (Revelation 9). At the beginning of Chapter Ten, an angel shouts and is answered by the seven thunders (Revelation 10:3). As the apostle John was getting ready to write down what the thunders said, he was stopped. No one knows what was said except John. The only time any of us will be able to figure out what was said will be when the event actually occurs. This message from the thunders is one of the best kept secrets in the Bible.
Have you ever been told to keep a secret like John was? I must admit that I have never been one that secrets have been told to over the years. Historically speaking I have never been a good listener. But Marlo is just the opposite. She is one of those people who have never met a stranger and when she does meet one, she knows their life story in just under thirty minutes. She just has that way with people. I consider it one of her greatest gifts from God, other than me of course. Anyway, when someone tells her something in confidence, I can assure you that she is an absolute vault. If you need to get something off your chest and not worry about everyone in the world eventually hearing about it, she’s the one. She can lock away a secret and throw away the key. Like John, she can keep a secret for what seems like forever.
On the other hand, I am one of those guys who do not keep secrets very well. I even like to give presents early because I cannot contain my excitement. But there was one time when I nearly pulled off one of the major coups of my life.
When Marlo was getting ready to celebrate her second twenty-ninth birthday (that’s right, she never actually turned thirty), I planned a surprise birthday party for her. I invited dozens of friends, planned the meal, and even devised a plan to get her away from home. After weeks of planning and scheming, I was ready for the big day.
Then her birthday arrived. As usual, in my excitement, I gave Marlo her presents first thing after she woke up. But there was a problem. I saw the disappointment on her face. It was a milestone birthday for her, and I could tell that she expected more. So I caved. I told her about my brilliant plan. Looking back I can see where I erred in that I gave her no anticipation of the surprise to come.
You see, in today’s verse, we all know that the seven thunders are going to speak. Yes, raptured Christians will be in heaven participating in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb at this time and probably won’t even know what’s going on, but there will be billions of people on earth who will hear it. And if they are familiar with the Book of Revelation at all, it will hardly be a surprise to them.
Christians today are a lot like the secrets we keep. In our lives, there are always hints of secrets in the life of a believer. Some secrets are fun and anticipated like presents on a birthday or at Christmas. Some secrets are kept close when those in need reach out in desperation. And some secrets are those which are never meant to be kept in the first place and always end in a big surprise.
Those secrets that are hidden represent the dark side of both humanity and Christianity. These hidden secrets occur when believers keep sin hidden behind closed doors. And whether you’re willing to admit it or not, Christians everywhere, every day try to pull them over the eyes of their peers. Churches are running rampant with more sin than they are willing to admit, and it’s time for them to get real with themselves or be ready for a big surprise.
What’s the big surprise? What bombshell do Christians have awaiting them if they don’t shed that hidden sin in their life? Rejection by Jesus is awaiting them. Read Chapter Twenty-Three of the Book of Matthew and compare Jesus’ remarks to the Pharisees to the current condition of the church. The similarities are enough to give even the most devout Christian something to think about.
The truth is that there are no secrets with God and therefore no big surprises. Now as a Christian, we may all have others confide in us regarding a particular problem in their life, but that is so we can pray for them, not so we can make sure everyone knows about the big surprise in their life.
In a perfect Christian world, those who confide in us are seeking prayer and a godly solution to their problem. God already knows their problem as well as their solution, so pray with them. Don’t go telling everyone else their problem. God’s not using you to be a gossip; he’s using you to use what he gave you for His glory.
What’s your story? Are you hiding a secret gift from a loved one? That’s a good secret and a great surprise. Are you keeping a secret in confidence? That’s okay, as long as you’re lifting up those who confided in you in prayer and no one is directly affected by your confidence. For example, if a friend of mine were to confide in me that he was having an extramarital affair, he would have to end the affair immediately and confess it to his wife, or I would step in. Are you keeping such secret sin in your life? You may be in for a big surprise.
Like I said earlier, secret sins can lead to rejection by God, but they can also have consequences here on earth. They can cause financial hardships, folded ministries, and broken families. The results are big surprises to those who have been hurt. Like the seven thunders, God saw what was going on before anyone else did, including the guilty party. With Him, there are no secrets or surprises. Get those hidden sins out of your life and stop living in a world of big surprises.
 May 14, 2012 – A Cry for Help, a Call to Action, and Miracles
16 Jesus said, They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat. – Matthew 14:16 AMP
The background for today’s verse is an extremely rural one. Jesus and His disciples had withdrawn from the crowds to a remote and barren place (Matthew 14:15), but the crowds followed them. The disciples didn’t want the responsibility for feeding the crowd of people, so they asked Jesus to send them into nearby villages. But Jesus’ reply was a simple you feed them.
Now put yourself in the shoes of the disciples. You look out over the crowd that contained five thousand men and an unnumbered amount of women and children. What are we going to do? There’s some kid here with five loves of barley and two fish. That’s all the food there is! Philip even told Jesus that eight months of wages would only buy enough for each person to have one bite of food (John 6:7, NIV).
Now ask any Christian at this point and they will tell you the outcome. Jesus took the only food available in this mass of people, blessed it, and fed everyone. No one left and went into the villages. There were no hot dog stands set up over the ridge. The people all sat down, ate, and were satisfied. And there were twelve baskets of leftovers taken up (Matthew 14:19-20).
My focus today is not on the miracle Jesus performed that day; it’s on what Jesus said to His disciples. You give them something to eat. This one sentence alone spoke volumes to me and I believe should speak to every church, church leader and lay person in the church alike. And it is a far cry to simply feed the hungry.
Don’t get me wrong; I believe that there is a call for all Christians to step up and help those in need of basic human necessities.
35 For I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you brought Me together with yourselves and welcomed and entertained and lodged Me. 36 I was naked and you clothed Me, I was sick and you visited Me with help and ministering care, I was in prison and you came to see Me. – Matthew 25:35-36 AMP
You see, Jesus wants us to care for those in the most desperate of needs, but through today’s verse, things should go much deeper than that, especially if it within our capacity to do so.
Several years ago Marlo and I were involved in a church that became a literal hell because of an extremely abusive pastor. At the end of the line, this merciless minister was removed from his position. Marlo and I had been involved in leadership in this church and knew that there were members who were hurting and ready to turn completely away from God because of the abuse suffered at the hands of this man. So in an attempt to make the transition better, Marlo and I asked the pastor who ordained this man to hire a professional Christian counselor to help members through their problems.
This pastor led a congregation of one thousand plus members nearly two hours away, and we felt like it was his duty to aid these members since he was the one who placed this abusive man in his position in the first place. His response when we asked about counseling for this hurting congregation was I don’t believe in counseling. I believe that the Holy Spirit will work in each of their lives individually. Sure, that answer sounds spiritual enough and is true, but it’s also a load of baloney when there are people hurting. There were members who needed to actually talk to someone because they thought that they did something wrong or could have done something different to prevent the abuse or even that every church was like that. They needed to know that they were still loved by God which was hard to do when the pastor who was just deposed was the only one who talked to God for you.
The truth was that the pastor who ordained this man didn’t have time to counsel the hurting flock; he had his own flock to tend to. At every turn he was trying to distance himself from the ousted pastor in order to avoid potential embarrassment and media backlash. He did have the available resources to feed those who needed something. But rather than help them any way he could he sent them into the local villages to buy food for themselves.
Churches, though not necessarily full of abusive pastors or leaders who try to sweep things under the rug, are full of people starving and crying out for help. Some are addicted to drugs, some are involved in extramarital affairs, some don’t have the money to buy food, and some have even been hurt by the church. What is your church going to do? Better yet, what are you going to do?
There was a small boy in the country that day with five loaves and two fish. He didn’t turn away with his food; he gave it so the people could eat. Do you have something to contribute to those in need no matter how small it may seem? Are you willing to answer a cry for help with action or will you refer those in need to someone else or ignore their cry altogether?
Don’t think a call to action will require a financial commitment. You may have an extra blanket a mother needs to keep her baby warm at night. You may be able to pick up that old lady who sits on the front row and bring her to church because her doctor has told her not to drive anymore. You may be the person who speaks the encouraging words to a fellow church member contemplating suicide. You don’t have to give a million dollars to your church to make a difference. If it’s in your power to do it, when the cry for help comes, act.
It’s time for church leaders as well as lay people in the church to stop passing the buck. God doesn’t want us to sit by idle and wait for a miracle and He sure doesn’t want us running away from problems. When the cry for help comes, He wants us to do something. He can make something out of we think is almost nothing. No matter how insignificant what you think you can do is, act, give it to God, and watch miracles happen.
 May 11, 2012 – Best Wrestling Match Ever!
24 And Jacob was left alone, and a Man wrestled with him until daybreak. – Genesis 32:24 AMP
Today’s verse occurs in the midst of one of the most famous passages of the Bible. Jacob was moving his family to the land of his youth from the land of Padan-aram. He had just moved his entire family over the ford of the Jabbok and was the only person left on the other side. Then, out of nowhere, a Man pops up.
This was no ordinary Man. It turns out that it was the Angel of the Lord and He wrestled with Jacob all night long. Okay for starters I can say with all certainty that if I saw a complete and total stranger suddenly appear that I would have been scared out of my wits and would have run as fast as I could away from him. But you have to understand Jacob.
Jacob was a man who never backed down from a challenge. Even as the second born son, he was scheming a way to make his way to the top. He purchased his brother Esau’s birthright over a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:29-33). He later stole Esau’s blessing from their father Isaac by impersonating him (Genesis 27:23). But he later had the tables of deception turned on him, as his father in law Laban continually tricked Jacob over a period of twenty years.
Through the course of his life, Jacob had been one who endured and persisted. So when a stranger showed up on the banks of the brook, Jacob didn’t back down. The wrestling match lasted all night long. In the end, Jacob would not let go of the stranger until he received a blessing from him (Genesis 32:26). How ironic is that? Isn’t it almost laughable that a man who became Israel can be compared to Christianity today?
Before I fully explain things here, I would like to make a personal confession. I have never wrestled with God. Now as far as my faith in Him is concerned, I wrestled for years with it. I rode the roller coaster of belief versus doubt. I had more fire sometimes than the Energizer bunny then at other times wonder if any of it mattered or was even true. I would act pious to show off my Christianity and keep sin hidden in my life. My heart would want what God wanted, but my mind would not and could not nor care how in the world He was going to do it. I was saved and absolutely miserable.
Sometimes the wrestling match we have within ourselves can resemble the match between Jacob and the Angel. But consider this: the night of Jacob’s confrontation with the angel was the night his name was changed to Israel. He was changed from a supplanter to a contender with God.
There are countless things Christians struggle with in their walk with God. Other than sin, there could be anything from unbelieving or unfaithful spouses to abusive church situations to simple bitterness because that financial windfall promised by that televangelist has yet to arrive. Our reaction to such situations is typically the same. Why is God letting all this happen to me? Why doesn’t He just bless me after all I’ve been through in my life? Then the wrestling match begins all over again and can be a never ending cycle.
The worst part is that sometimes Christians believe that they have an entitlement to a blessing because they are a Christian. Isn’t our salvation alone the greatest blessing ever bestowed on us by anyone? How arrogant can we get?
Now don’t get me wrong, I believe that God blesses Christians every day in ways other than salvation. But there should never be that prideful, okay God. I’m following you and have for a long time. I know that you love me more than anyone else, so prove it attitude. Maybe you’re never met anyone like that, but I have and have even had that attitude myself before.
Why don’t we all take some notes from Jacob? He wouldn’t let go until the Angel blessed him. Are you willing to do that? Are you willing to hold onto your faith no matter what happens? Sadly too many Christians aren’t. In our world today Christians are ready for the express lane, drive thru special. They want their faith like they want their pizza; delivered straight to them in thirty minutes or less or you get your money back. Boy would that be a tall order for the church!
12 Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ). – Philippians 2:12 AMP
The apostle Paul says that we are to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling but look at it closer in the Amplified version. Self-distrust and serious caution are not things that should be taken lightly. We are supposed to shrink from whatever might offend God or discredit the name of Christ. That’s what I’ll do. I wasn’t any good at wrestling anyway; I’ll let Jacob do it as I spectate. Besides, our salvation is ultimately the best blessing we’ll ever get.
 May 10, 2012 – Would the Real Prophets Please Stand?
7 Jehoshaphat said, Is there not another prophet of the Lord here whom we may ask? – 1 Kings 22:7 AMP
In today’s verse, King Ahab found himself in a sticky situation. Four hundred prophets had assembled before King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Ahab wanted to know if the two of them should lead their respective armies into battle against Syria. The decision of the prophets was a resounding yes. But after this consensus, Jehoshaphat asked a million dollar question.
Is there another prophet of the Lord here whom we may ask? I guess four hundred in agreement seemed to Jehoshaphat to be too good to be true, so he wondered about one of God’s prophets. The question was simple enough, but to Ahab it was a source of contention. Why? Because there was one, named Micaiah, but Ahab hated him as he always bore bad news for him (1 Kings 22:8). So if these four hundred men were prophets, who were they prophets for?
Back in Chapter Eighteen of First Kings, the prophet Elijah challenged to prophets of Baal to a duel. In setting up this duel, he assembled four hundred fifty prophets of Baal as well as four hundred prophets of Asherah at Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:19). After the duel, the prophets of Baal were killed, but the prophets of Asherah were not (1 Kings 18:40). Following this victorious confrontation, Elijah fled Israel to the safety of Mount Sinai, where he tells God that he was the only prophet left in Israel (1 Kings 19:14). So, no prophets of God to Elijah’s knowledge, and four hundred prophets of Asherah left alive. These four hundred prophets encouraging Ahab to go full force into battle were not God’s prophets.
As for Micaiah, I can only guess that God raised him up without Elijah’s knowledge. Micaiah undoubtedly came from the seven thousand men who had not worshiped Baal that God told Elijah about (1 Kings 19:18). In the end, the word of the four hundred prophets prevailed over the word of the one. Ahab and Jehoshaphat went into battle, and Ahab was killed just as the one prophet said he would be.
Now that we have set up the story, let me say that I personally believe that the Christian fivefold ministry consisting of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers is still as active today as it was in the early days of the church. The only problem is one of identity. Evangelists, pastors, and teachers are easy to spot, and the only people who use the other two titles are usually those really weird guys we see on television or those that have a large congregation whose members seem more like brain washed cult followers than Christians.
That being said, here is my question today. Will the real prophets please stand? For years I have heard people say that their pastor was a modern day prophet, that guy on television was a modern day prophet, or even that they were a modern day prophet themselves. Maybe they were, but most of the time those words were a lot of hot air.
I heard a podcast of a once favorite televangelist of mine a few months back where he identified himself as a prophet. The Amplified Bible defines a prophet as an inspired preacher and expounder. In the respect of the definition I guess he could be one, as many times he expounded so much on a subject that I had to listen to his teachings more than once to really get the full meaning. But in the respect of the office as it existed in the Old Testament, prophets were normally called to a specific region to deliver a specific message to a specific people. The televangelist I am speaking of has a worldwide ministry of spreading the Gospel message. He may be a great evangelist, but whether or not he’s truly a prophet remains to be seen.
Now imagine my disgust a few months back when this evangelist, whom Marlo and I have partnered with over the years, sent out an email announcing that the ministry bearing his name would no longer air their weekly program on a national cable television station based out of Chicago. He even went so far as to say how many millions of dollars they had paid this station for airtime over the past twenty years. It was like he was trying to present his case before us to garner our support because the owners of the station had disagreed with his position on some controversial issues and refused to air some of his programs. Now I’m not taking the side of the television station by any means, as I believe that they are more than likely owned by a liberal group that doesn’t know Christ at all, but I’m saying he shouldn’t have got on his proverbial soap box over such an issue. The whole thing seemed to be motivated by greed on his part and he wanted everyone to know how much money he spent getting out his message.
What’s my point here? My point is that if this guy was the prophet he claimed to be, then he sure doesn’t need a television to get out his message. True prophets don’t throw tantrums through an email; they simply speak what God tells them to speak. I still respect the man and his ministry, but he also lost a lot that I had for him that day.
The truth about prophets is that they are everywhere and sometimes pop up when you least expect them. They could be at church, but they could also be in the cubicle beside you at work. They may or may not have an international ministry. They could be rich or poor. But there are some things that are a guarantee for them: they live a godly life, their prophecy never contradicts Biblical principles, and what they prophesy comes to pass.
Now don’t fall for the prophet who says that the sun will set sometime later today. Some things are just plain common sense. Don’t fall for the line thus says the Lord God just because someone says it with authority. And be especially leery of those people who have turned themselves into cult-like figures. Their close followers may call them a prophet or even an apostle, but if they are either, one of their non-brainwashed followers, a person without close ties to them, will confirm it.
Why am I rambling on about this today? First, I have seen too many people fall into a trap of believing in a ministry so much that they buy up every word the leader speaks as truth without backing it up with the Bible. I simply want them to see the error of their ways. Second, I’m frustrated. I’m frustrated because I know that God still raises up prophets in our world today to spread His message. Some, like Jonah, are running from God. Some are phonies preying on innocent people looking for answers. And some, like Micaiah, are waiting for God to open the door. Would the real prophets please stand?
 May 8, 2012 – They Don’t Make Them Like They Used To
12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers houses, old men who had seen the first house [Solomon’s temple], when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice, though many shouted aloud for joy. – Ezra 3:12 AMP
Today’s verse is a record of the reactions of people. The Book of Ezra itself was written as a historical account of the return of the exiles of Judah back to their homeland from Babylon. Upon their return, the Jews set out on the task of building a new temple to honor God. The new temple was to replace the one built by King Solomon and destroyed by the forces of Babylon during the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar. The leader of the remnant which returned was Zerubbabel, and he oversaw the construction of the new structure which later in historical records came to be known as Zerubbabel’s temple.
Zerubbabel’s temple was built on the original foundation of Solomon’s temple, so the buildings were the same size, or at least very close. But today’s verse is the reactions of the people as they saw the new structure. Some shouted for joy, while some cried. Why were the reactions so different?
For starters, those who cried had actually seen Solomon’s temple. It was an absolutely magnificent building. It had a very ornate design and was trimmed in gold from top to bottom both outside and inside. Zerubbabel’s temple appeared to be just some old building to them. To the older people who had seen the original temple, it was hardly a building worthy of God. This could have been where the old saying they don’t make them like they used to originated.
Meanwhile, the new generation was overjoyed. They were excited to have their new temple and, even though they cared about the past and their heritage, they were equally excited about their future. Now my focus today is on both of these groups and how they relate to modern day Christianity.
I know what you’re probably thinking right now. How in the world is he going to parallel modern day Christianity to a bunch of returned exiles coming back to their homeland? Let’s turn the clock back. We’re not going back to the times of Peter and John preaching in the temple. We’re not going to look at the life of Paul and the impact he has had on our faith over the years. I simply want to go back to the formation of our country, the United States of America, and work forward. I’m not being prejudiced in just looking at my homeland, as I know this website has reached people all over the world. But here in the US we live in a relatively young nation compared to some, and those few years will be all that is needed to draw a parallel.
The United States was a nation which began with strong Biblical roots. In colonial times, pastors were also leaders in their community. Numerous Presidents and other political leaders throughout history have had strong Biblical beliefs. Some had parents and in-laws who were pastors. Many have held onto their faith publicly. And our young nation, just in the twentieth century alone, has seen the likes of Billy Graham and Bill Bright (founder of the Campus Crusade for Christ) lead countless of lost souls to the feet of the cross to receive their salvation.
But the past twenty or thirty years have also seen a dark side of Christianity. We’ve all seen the self-serving evangelists and preachers who continue to ask for donations on television. They buy new airplanes or even build new mansions for themselves. They write books by the dozens and make millions with their feel-good lighthearted message or their message of prosperity. And we also see the news stories about how these great ministers of the Gospel misuse the money given to their ministry. As we all see and hear these individuals on the airwaves, I look back on the storied past of our faith and realize that maybe they don’t make them like they used to.
But as I look at those in the crowd from today’s verse who rejoiced, I have hope. Since we have started this website, Marlo and I have met a faithful remnant like the Jews who returned from Babylon. They are the Christians who live it every day. They are the believers who are faithful to their spouse, train their children in the way they should go, and don’t conform to the world. They are the Christians who know false doctrine when they hear it and don’t let it get into their mind. They are the dedicated ones who, even though they know we are living in the last days, are not going to sit idly by as the antichrist comes into the world and takes over on a whim. Rejoicing? You bet we are!
Is there a Billy Graham or a Bill Bright waiting in the wings in our generation? Is there one in our children’s generation? Only God knows for sure. If you are discouraged and believe that they don’t make them like they used to, then it’s highly possible that all that’s left in our country to spread the Gospel are the prosperity and the half-calorie Christianity crowd. But don’t believe it.
The truth is that this is a time to rejoice. Jesus will return for us very soon. And when He returns, he’ll find a faithful remnant who are honoring Him with their temples (1 Corinthians 6:19). So be like those who rejoiced. Don’t cry. They may not make evangelists like they used to, but at least the Holy Spirit dwells in us all. We don’t need all the material adornments and prosperity of Solomon’s temple that today’s evangelist has. Remember: that golden and finely arrayed place was destroyed long ago.
 May 7, 2012 – Hard Work, Manipulation, and Lost Freebies
8 For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; 9 Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.] – Ephesians 2:8-9 AMP
Today’s passage written by the apostle Paul sums up our salvation: God’s grace alone saves us and there’s nothing any of us can personally do to gain it. He also says that if there were something any of us could do to gain our salvation that we would be able to boast of our great works to receive eternal life. If this is the case, why is there such a drive by the church universal to employ the body of believers in every ministry imaginable?
There are many out there who will jump headlong in defense of their ministry and even their church from many directions, but most will have to do with idleness. King Solomon speaks of idle hands causing leaks in the roof (Ecclesiastes 10:18). The apostle Peter speaks against idleness as we develop the eight Christian virtues in our lives (2 Peter 1:8). Paul even tells Christians living in Thessalonica in his day that if they didn’t work that they couldn’t eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
These Scriptures and many others are charges for Christians to not be lazy. But problems arise behind church walls often because of church leadership. You see, churches, although intended to serve God and reach the unsaved, are run by man. And just like those who deal illegally and immorally in the business world, there are church leaders who do the same. These church leaders are willing to go through any and all means to get members to serve in the ministry of the church. And often the leaders use manipulation as a tactic to get their way.
It may sound a bit weird, but hard work in a church setting is quite easy to manipulate out of others. I can say that because I have been on the receiving end of manipulative tactics from church leaders. The truth is that such leaders prey (not pray) on members of the flock. I have always been one of those members who have always jumped in with both feet first. I have never been a pew warmer by any stretch of imagination.
So if the church had any special need, they called on people like me. I was an easy target. But if I ever told someone that I had to think things over, I ran into some serious consequences. I hear things like well, I really believe that God can use you, or I know that God has led me to get you to do this, or even the more pointed God will be very displeased if you tell me no.
From those past experiences I learned that God has a ministry for all of us and it may not necessarily be inside the church. I learned that He wants me to love Him and serve His wishes before the wishes of any church. I learned that my family was infinitely more important than any church family. And I learned that I don’t have to be confined to the walls of the church be be an effective witness for Him.
As far as today’s passage is concerned, there is a little more to mention. You see, God’s salvation, through a relationship with Jesus Christ, is absolutely free. We cannot buy it, borrow it, steal it, or copy it. It is given to us. But like all the gifts we receive in our lifetime, we can lose it.
What? How can we lose our salvation? That remark probably messes with the theology of some, but consider this. God doesn’t revoke our salvation, but we can lose it. Have you ever lost a birthday or Christmas present? Now let’s be honest; if it was a present that we weren’t particularly fond of, it’s no big deal, right? Even if it’s later found, we just sit it aside again.
But what if our lost gift is something you held especially dear? Would you not tear your home apart in an effort to find it? Sadly there are Christians who treat the most valuable gift in their life as that lost gift without ever searching for it again.
I know, I know the once saved, always saved supporters are probably having a proverbial fit right now. Look at this verse.
5 Thus shall he who conquers (is victorious) be clad in white garments, and I will not erase or blot out his name from the Book of Life; I will acknowledge him [as mine] and I will confess his name openly before My Father and before His angels. – Revelation 3:5 AMP
Yes, Jesus can erase our name from the Book of Life. If your name is not in the Book of Life, your final destination is the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). So, does Jesus just get mad and reject us? No. Jesus gives us the gift of salvation, but through our actions and choices along the highway of life, we leave our salvation lying by the roadside.
So, work hard for God’s glory, not because you were swindled into it in a church setting, but because you simply want everyone to see Him at work in your life. As for the freebie from God that is our salvation, hold it dear to your heart and share it with everyone. And never, ever stick it in your closet next to that reindeer tie your great aunt gave you last year for Christmas.
 May 4, 2012 – Those Days, These Days, and a King
25 In those days, there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.– Judges 21:25 AMP
Today’s verse is the last verse in the Book of Judges. The Books of Judges in itself spans from the death of Joshua to the birth of Samuel. It encompasses a time period of several hundred years. It contains the story of Gideon, the man responsible for placing all those Bibles in hotel rooms everywhere. In it we learn about Samson and his superhuman strength. But more than anything, we learn about the nation of Israel’s failures and how they always seemed to move away from God.
Aside from a few heroic stories, the Book of Judges is a book of the Bible which is often overlooked, especially where modern day Christianity is concerned. You see, the Book of Judges is full of stories of gloom and doom. There is murder, strife, and no concern on the part of the Israelites for the rules God placed before them. Those things alone make the days of the past sound like the times we’re all living in now.
Now before all of you jump to nod in agreement about the evil world we live in, let me tell you that I’m not talking about our world. I’m talking about Christians today. The nation of Israel knew God’s laws for holy living even though they were living around a bunch of wicked neighbors. Today we, those of the Christian faith, have the Bible as a guide in a wicked world. But like the Israelites in those days, we are experiencing some difficult times in these days. So before you point the finger at others, let’s look inside our own faith a moment.
These days we’re living in today are not far removed from Israel’s days of old. Each time God raised up judges to call the nation Israel to repentance, they had hit rock bottom. They had been invaded and oppressed by their neighbors because of their apostasy (or falling away from the faith). Now maybe none of you have been oppressed by someone else. But I can promise you that if you’re living in apostasy, there’s a good chance that you have oppressed yourself figuratively without even knowing it. Maybe you lost your job and your finances are suffering. Maybe your marriage is falling apart. Maybe your children have begun to run out of control. Whatever the case, there has to be a point somewhere down the road where you either repent or fall flat on your face.
Society and our faith alike have become like today’s verse: everyone does what is right in their own eyes. In the Christian faith this is very dangerous and has led to such things as homosexual pastors and adultery among Christians. Why? It has such alarming outcomes because people say they have a relationship with Jesus, but they would rather do their own thing.
In a way I almost believe there’s a sense of arrogance surrounding Christians today and Israel of yesteryear. Let’s be honest. How many of you have done something you know is wrong in God’s eyes, but go into it headstrong thinking something like, it’s okay, God won’t mind it just this once?
I used to be like that. I could sing at church with the best of them, clap my hands, and nod and say amen to the pastor’s sermon. But when it was time to sin, I was first in line. The kicker in that was that God did care. I discovered that, like Israel in those days, the more you sin, the more your heart is numbed to the effects of it. One lie always leads to more lies. Israel undoubtedly didn’t run roughshod into their sin all at once; it was the one sin after another after another that numbed their hearts to God. And in those days, when things went from bad to worse, God raised up a judge to save them.
But these days are different from that perspective. God doesn’t need to raise up a judge anymore. Jesus is our Righteous Judge. The Holy Spirit dwells in the heart of every believer to convict us every time we get off track. But there has to be a point when we have to go against the grain of today’s verse.
When will these days change from those days? They will change when the church starts caring more about what God wants and less about how to appeal to the masses. They will change when Christians decide that God’s way is better than their way.
The truth is that these days are getting worse. I believe that the apostasy which precedes the rise of the antichrist is happening in these days (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Since we cannot put an end to these prophetic events, we must simply choose to let our lives not be affected by it by always putting God first.
The reason there was no king in Israel in those days was that God wanted to be their King. Likewise, He wants to be our King today. Sadly so many churches have twisted Scripture so much that they have basically kicked God out altogether. Please allow me to put a modern spin on today’s verse: in these days, there is no King in the church; everyone does what is right and feels good to them. Think about it…
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