Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Ichabod...The name your church doesn't want
I Samuel 4:21-22--Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel!" because the ark of God had been
captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. And she said, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been
captured."
Ichabod, what an inglorious name. Sadly, it is a name that could be written over many church doors today. The glory, or presence, of the Lord has departed from their midst. They have chosen to ignore the pleas of the Spirit and to turn their ears away from His rebuke. So, in turn, He has departed. What do you call a Christian without Christ? A church without God? A fellowship without the Spirit? Dead! That is the state of modern Christianity...Dead! John Piper once said, "If you erect enough regulations and build a big enough endowment, an institution can endure for decades after the spiritual dynamic that brought it into existence is gone." Need an example? Look to Yale and Harvard University. Both started by Christian men, desiring to further Christian teaching. Would you say they have the same desire today? Far from it. How can this mess be fixed? How can a church that desires to have the Presence of Almighty God be sure He is present? Let me provide one suggestion from Scripture.
The Sure Foundation. Matthew 16:18 says, "An I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." What is the "rock" that Christ will build His church upon? Verse 16 tells us that it was the confession that Peter made saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Every true church must be built upon this very confession, that Jesus is the Christ(Anointed One), the Son of God. How could one tell if this is the foundation their church is built upon? What is their view of Scripture and how often is it used in the service? Many groups today view the Bible as outdated, unreliable, and corrupted by man. Some view it as a book of good moral stories, lacking authority or power to change man. It is these groups that should be very concerned about the presence of the Lord. Where would your church rank? Do you fellowship with those that view His Word as living and powerful or dead and worthless? Are your "brothers" in Christ more concerned about the predicament of the society or the predicament of their soul? Examine to see if the name Ichabod would fit in your fellowship.
May the Lord dwell richly in those that call upon the name of the Lord with a pure heart.
Ichabod, what an inglorious name. Sadly, it is a name that could be written over many church doors today. The glory, or presence, of the Lord has departed from their midst. They have chosen to ignore the pleas of the Spirit and to turn their ears away from His rebuke. So, in turn, He has departed. What do you call a Christian without Christ? A church without God? A fellowship without the Spirit? Dead! That is the state of modern Christianity...Dead! John Piper once said, "If you erect enough regulations and build a big enough endowment, an institution can endure for decades after the spiritual dynamic that brought it into existence is gone." Need an example? Look to Yale and Harvard University. Both started by Christian men, desiring to further Christian teaching. Would you say they have the same desire today? Far from it. How can this mess be fixed? How can a church that desires to have the Presence of Almighty God be sure He is present? Let me provide one suggestion from Scripture.
The Sure Foundation. Matthew 16:18 says, "An I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." What is the "rock" that Christ will build His church upon? Verse 16 tells us that it was the confession that Peter made saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Every true church must be built upon this very confession, that Jesus is the Christ(Anointed One), the Son of God. How could one tell if this is the foundation their church is built upon? What is their view of Scripture and how often is it used in the service? Many groups today view the Bible as outdated, unreliable, and corrupted by man. Some view it as a book of good moral stories, lacking authority or power to change man. It is these groups that should be very concerned about the presence of the Lord. Where would your church rank? Do you fellowship with those that view His Word as living and powerful or dead and worthless? Are your "brothers" in Christ more concerned about the predicament of the society or the predicament of their soul? Examine to see if the name Ichabod would fit in your fellowship.
May the Lord dwell richly in those that call upon the name of the Lord with a pure heart.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
The Jesus Deception
John 9:48--Then the Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?"
Many "churches" today have a wrong understanding of who Jesus is. Some say He is the first being that God created, others say He is the 1/2 brother of Lucifer, some that He was just a good man, others, that He is like Santa Claus, one who we ask things of and expect to give nothing in return. It is amazing to me to see how well Satan has accomplished his goal of blinding the eyes of mankind on who Jesus truly is. This blindness is not new, but has been around for thousands of years. Let us spend some time getting to know who Jesus really is and what He has accomplished for us.
He is God. John 1:1-3 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." In verse 14 we learn that this Word became flesh and dwelt among us, Jesus. Jesus was in the beginning with God and He is God. Making Jesus lower than God causes all types of problems, mainly your salvation. Romans 10:9 says, "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (ESV) To be saved, one must acknowledge and surrender that Jesus is LORD Jehovah. I am deeply concerned that many believe they are saved, when in reality they have yet to surrender to the first command.
Please understand that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. (Phil. 2:10-11) Do not be in the crowd that makes this acknowledgment too late, and misses Heaven. Surrender your life today to the King of kings and Lord of lords, the One who created you and desires your worship....God the Son, Jesus Christ.
May Christ bless you richly.
Many "churches" today have a wrong understanding of who Jesus is. Some say He is the first being that God created, others say He is the 1/2 brother of Lucifer, some that He was just a good man, others, that He is like Santa Claus, one who we ask things of and expect to give nothing in return. It is amazing to me to see how well Satan has accomplished his goal of blinding the eyes of mankind on who Jesus truly is. This blindness is not new, but has been around for thousands of years. Let us spend some time getting to know who Jesus really is and what He has accomplished for us.
He is God. John 1:1-3 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." In verse 14 we learn that this Word became flesh and dwelt among us, Jesus. Jesus was in the beginning with God and He is God. Making Jesus lower than God causes all types of problems, mainly your salvation. Romans 10:9 says, "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (ESV) To be saved, one must acknowledge and surrender that Jesus is LORD Jehovah. I am deeply concerned that many believe they are saved, when in reality they have yet to surrender to the first command.
Please understand that one day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. (Phil. 2:10-11) Do not be in the crowd that makes this acknowledgment too late, and misses Heaven. Surrender your life today to the King of kings and Lord of lords, the One who created you and desires your worship....God the Son, Jesus Christ.
May Christ bless you richly.
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