Archive for August 2008
Shame on you Christian.
I’m talking to myself today ok, just feeling a bit sorrowful for my own wretchedness. It’s Sunday the 31st August. Should be just resting but need to write. I’m in pain, not physical pain but a sense of anguish.
Anguish! What does that mean, just looked it up : Mental pain, regret, torment. Yep, that’s me.
Had a great morning at church, but no peace right now. I was talking to someone today about how the Mormons and Jehovas witnesses get around town with their version of the faith. I think I was struck by the thought that they do it exactly as Christ commanded them to do it. They go out in pairs with the message, if anyone receives them, then they spend time with them, attempt to convert them.
The thought makes me sorrowful. Here are a bunch of religious people, with a twisted gospel which will for the most part lead men to their destruction, and they are doing it exactly as Christ commanded it be done.
Here I am, in my church, safely contained within it’s walls, unwilling to endure trials or embarrassment for the sake of mens souls. The average Christian church has sufficient truth that will see men saved, but what are we doing with the truth.
Is this what Jesus meant when He said that in the latter days the love of many shall grow cold. Are we so cold in our love for souls that we are unwilling to suffer, as Christ suffered, to endure under trial.
How I wish I could weep……..please pray for me?
Hoarded wealth for the last days
Yeah I’m on about money again, and yeah I’m pointing to the economy again and the present talk of trouble with the debt of the US as highlighted in a recent movie release, I.O.U.S.A.
You might wonder why I keep doing this, after all our faith ought to be about Jesus right! about church, or about praying or something a little more religious.
The truth is that our faith, or rather our faith in action ought to ensure we are good stewards of that which the Lord has entrusted to us, and that means talking about money, possessions and alike.
But I reckon with the release of this latest movie damning the excess of the average American and their love of debt it’s a good opportunity to have a good long hard think about our own situation, especially in regard to righteous stewardship.
With so many of us Christians out there who are pretty much living like the world, investing like the world and so forth, I’m wondering how many of us really know if the wealth we are accumulating from our investments is actually being accumulated in an unrighteouss or oppressive manner.
Do we know if it is being accumulated by organisations that line the pockets of their board members and senior executives, whilst they withhold the wages of third world nation workers. With so many organisations moving their manufacturing to nations such as China I’m pretty sure there is plenty of it going on.
Maybe you think God doesn’t care, cause you’re covered by the blood of Jesus right! Good luck with that one Christian!
James had an inkling that the last days would be marked by such an abundance and hoarding of wealth and prosperity at the expense of the poor that he wrote these words.
James 5:1 Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. 2Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.[a] 6You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.
I’m pretty sure that the unrighteouss, unjust, system of greed of which James speaks is non other that “Mystery Babylon” of the book of Revelation. The modern day Babel.
When God called His old covenant people out of Babylon, and when God called His new covenant people out of Mystery Babylon, I think He was really hoping that they were listening.
Jeremiah 51:6 Flee out of the middle of Babylon, and deliver every man his soul: be not cut off in her iniquity; for this is the time of the LORD’s vengeance; he will render to her a recompense.
Revelation 18: 4 4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
For the old covenant believer, failure to flee from her, to come out of her, would cost a man his soul.
More bad economic news : I.O.U.S.A.
Another angle on the problem with Western Christianity.
In this message Paul Washer asserts that American Christianity is more like a cultural religion than a religion of faith in Christ, based on the word of God.
Is something wrong with American Christianity?
There are some concerning signs in the world today which I believe directly reflect the state of western Christianity. None more so than the signs eminating from the United States.
I’m going to make a bold assumption here and so I’ll be as straight as I can and tell you how I’ve come to this conclusion.
Could it be true as I’m suggesting that much of the nation is presently in the process of turning away from the one true God. That is to say that the nation is well down the slippery slope of apostate Christianity, “the falling away” referred to in 2 Thessalonians 2.
How can I be sure that we are in the midst of departing the One true God, of His faith and calling.
I’ve said this before, I’m an Aussie, and maybe it looks like I’m pointing the finger at the US, but truthfully, we are in this thing as well. I just think the U.S. is leading the way. Ultimately I think the falling away will be evident in all of the prosperous Western “Christian” nations.
Now to the evidence. All the way back at the beginning of the Good Book, the Lord assures His people of great blessing if they follow Him and walk in his ways. Deuteronomy 28.Perhaps the most telling of these promises in light of the day we live, would be a promise to the nation of Israel that it would not be the tail, but the head. Would not be below, but above, and most tellingly, would lend to many, but borrow from none.
Deu 28:12 He will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.
Deu 28:13 “And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.
Deu 28:14 “So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
Deu 28:15 “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you:
Today the US is still the head in many respects, it still takes the leading role in world affairs as it seeks to influence the world for it’s own benefit. Though you will note that this influence is diminishing with the rise of Europe, China, and now Russia making a comeback.
But tellingly the US is also the greatest debtor nation in the world today. She was once the greatest lending nation in the world but now owes substantial amounts to the poorer nations of the world. She no longer lends to many but the reverse is true, others lend to her. Interestingly the nation started this love affair with borrowing back in the 50s, not long after the restoration of Israel to the land.
How can we be sure something is terribly wrong with Western Christianity. Because God said it in His word in Deutoronomy, and now it is being fulfilled.
When the nation which is supposed to be the head, becomes the tail, we know that all is not well.
The warning bells ought to be ringing rather loudly for those of us who have any sense of just how God will deal with His people. Always, long suffering, slow to anger, abounding in Grace, He relents from doing harm. What does all that mean……….well it just means it all takes a little while for His correction to take place.
Remember when Christ looked over His nation of Israel and wept, “How I longed to gather you together …………but now your land is left to you desolate” Mat 23:37 . Well it was another 40 years or so before the fullness of that statement came into effect. It was AD 70 when Rome overan Jerusalem and an estimated one million perished. Wikipedia ref.
Look I’m pretty sure it’s all coming undone, and all according to His word which He gave us, from the beginning. Clearly we are no longer walking in the fullness of the blessing as promised. From this authors perspective we are well on our way down the slippery slope of apostasy. This is simply one more sign.
Hold on Christian!
Here is short clip on the topic of US Debt.
Economic News – August 20th, 2008
Ive included some links to some current world financial news below.
Maybe I’m wrong about this, maybe it’s all too soon. Maybe there are a whole lot of people wrong about this talk of a world depression, a financial apocalypse. Perhaps Babel is not in the process of crumbling just yet.
Whatever happens though, I believe those of us who call ourselves by the name of Christ ought to make sure we haven’t stored up treasure on earth in the days ahead. Nothing like a stock market or housing crash to assist the transfer of your wealth into the hands of others. I’m pretty sure God would liken it to theft, but we label it capitalism and call it “all good”.
Matthew 6:19 “Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.
The apostle Paul taught Timothy that food and clothing ought to be sufficient, and that we ought to be content with these. My goodness, how far we have come from this doctrine.
Be careful Christian!
1 Timothy 6:6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, [fn3] and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Large US bank collapse ahead, says ex-IMF economist : Reuters August 19, 2008. U.S.
Do you look like Jesus?
No of course I don’t mean, do you physically look like Jesus. The question is do I, or do you look like the picture that Christ painted in His words?
I’ve included an audio link to Mathew 6 below. In this one chapter alone, Matthew 6. Christ paints a clear picture of several aspects of the life of the one who would call themselves “Christian”.
In one short chapter He addresses
1. Giving in secret, 2. Praying in secret 3. Forgiveness 4. Fasting in secret 5. You can only serve one master
6. Don’t expend all your efforts on carnal needs 7. Seek first the kingdom
Enjoy the word, but ask yourself. Does this sound like me?
Lukewarm Church – Why are we blind? Part 2.
Rev 3: 17 “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’–and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked–
Perhaps the most tragic part of the above statement of Christ’s, to His lukewarm church, is the bit about being blind. For if we are not able to see our sorry state, how ever shall we know.
It’s a bit like that question you will often hear in church “how do you know if you are deceived?” Well you don’t, how can you, for you are deceived!
But the question begs asking, how does a church that has so much, that believes it has need of little, find itself here, in a state of spiritual blindness. Undoubtedly they had plenty of access to bible teachers, to the word of God, to biblical recources, for as they themselves declare, there is nothing we need…..
I guess the dilemma is once more to be found in our unwillingness to grasp hold of the word and count the cost in our lives. If we had been willing to truly believe Christ’s teaching I doubt we would have found ourselves in this blind condition.
The following words of Christ on the subject of spiritual blindness are to the point and don’t leave alot of room for us to manouvre.
Mat 6:23 “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! Mat 6:24 ”No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.
Paraphrased: You cannot serve two masters, you cannot serve God and mammon. If you attempt to, I want you to know how it will affect your walk with Me. Here is what will happen ; Your eye will be full of darkness, you will be spiritually blind.
Here is the problem of the Laodicean church…….. Spiritual Blindness.
It’s no mistake that the stumbling block of the Laodiceans was their prosperity. Now don’t get me wrong, the Lord does want you to prosper, but He also said “sell what you have, give alms ; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old…………..for where your treasure is, their your heart will be also”
I suppose from my perspective the issue I see today is that most Christians think they are serving God with their church attendance on Sunday and Bible study on Wednesday night.
Reality is that most of us labour like the world; for food which perishes, we give like the world; to worthy causes, we are enslaved like the world; to bankers and financiers, we invest like the world in the area of sharemarket and investments, which are exactly the things Christ told us not to do.
Do not live like the world Christian!
Consequently our hearts are not truly invested in the eternal unseen kingdom of heaven, but in the kingdom of this world. We may tell everyone we meet that we love Jesus, GREAT…..but do you really if you haven’t done what He asked you to do.
How do we find this eyesalve that Christ desires to give us that we might see.
We repent, that means we change our ways, we stop living like the world, we stop loving the things of the world, and we truly invest our lives into advancing the kingdom of heaven. Giving alms to the poor, not labouring for food which perishes, and investing ourselves wholeheartedly into the unseen kingdom come.
If we do these things then we will love the things Christ loves, we will be conformed into the image of the glorious saviour and He will gladly cover our nakedness with His garment of righteousness.
Brooke Fraser – Albertine
In some ways it’s a shame that Brooke is such a beauiful looking woman. I know that might sound a bit weird but it’s the message she has for us here that we need to focus on. I find the song beautiful to listen to, and it leaves me wanting to impact this world for Christ.
The tragedy that the nation of Rwanda endured in a short lived genocide that cost some 800,00 lives has no doubt left many wondering why? Never the less, we can ponder the whys and what fors all day and do nothing, or we can act.
This song challenged me quite profoundly with what I would consider to be almost haunting lyrics.
“Now that I have seen, I am responsible” and secondly in the words of the apostle John, “faith without deeds is dead”
This song became a motivation for our youth group’s first sponsor child.
In the day in which much of the world wallows in abject poverty and violence, we wealthy Western comfy Christians have a big responsibility to bare in reaching out to a lost and dying world with both the words of life, the gospel, but secondly reaching out with hands of mercy, to feed the poor, clothe the homeless and comfort the sick.
Now that I have seen, I am responsible !
PS. I hope this is legit, putting this link up.
There is also a movie which tells the story of the Rwandan tragedy, most likely available at your local video store : http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0395169/
Wrath of the Lamb
A short message from Paul Washer on the Wrath of God on Unrighteousness. A inspiring word for those willing to hear the profound and challenging message that “it pleased God to crush His son” on the cross of Calvary.
Chastening of the Lord
Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? Hbr 12:10 For our fathers indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He (God) for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Hbr 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
As the scripture above declares : “Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?”
All too often I see rather profound similarities between the present day spiritual world and the present day physical world. I’ll do my best to explain.
I think most people would agree that one of the areas of child rearing that has changed quite profoundly over the past 30 years or so is the area of discipline. Smacking is often frowned upon and spoken of in terms of being a precursor to physical violence. Rousing on children or speaking harshly to them is not something to be encouraged. Today the theme very often seems to be that we should reason with our kids.
When our boys were younger I did smack them from time to time, if their behaviour warranted it. The most amazing thing was that it produced in them a sense of repentance, and they would return to their parents will, somewhat humbled. One might have thought that the infliction of a smack to the child would cause them to turn away from their parents, not so.
Increasingly in our culture today we are concerned for the behaviour of children and youth in general. I’m sure disobediant and disrespectful children have always been with us, but in this generation we are continually amazed by the media stories which reflect a lack of disrespect by children and youth for men and women of authority such as police, teachers and parents. Adding to this problem further is fatherlessness and the breakdown of the family unit.
But now to the spiritual equivalent. Is it possible that many who confess to be Christ’s today, have gone down a similar path? Have we also refused to heed the chastening of our heavenly father, refused to be disciplined by His word, refused to tremble at His word (isa 66:2), refuse to allow it to bring correction to our lives. For if we have, then we will end up with a body of believers not unlike the present physical culture. Self willed, disobediant to parents, proud, etc.
Interestingly the picture that the Apostle Paul paints for the latter day church would indicate such a scenario.
2Ti 3:1 BUT know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2Ti 3:2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 2Ti 3:3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 2Ti 3:4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
A people of God who refuse to heed the word of correction, the chastening of the Lord, will in like fashion to those of this present physical world, end up in a perilous state.
Part of the error of lukewarm teaching is to make us feel comfortable in our sin. Be assured, we all have sin in our lives. God desires to chasten us, to correct us, to lead us down paths of righteousness, and if we are not willing to listen, we will go astray.
Today in many of our churches the messages have to be encouraging, uplifting, feel good, self improvement proograms for the believer, and there is a place for these type of messages, but if we lose sight of the chastening of the Lord, we are in perilous days.
To me it almost seems a profound mystery that we must not overlook, that through a rebuke, through chastening and discipline, God is able to bring a repentant heart and turn a “self will” to a “God will” and return to Him.
It worked for my kids, I do not doubt whatsoever that it works for His children as well. This is a mystery of both the present physical world and the spiritual eternal world.
Proverbs 3:11, 12 (Hebrews 12:6) “My son, despise not the
chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: For
whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in
whom he delighteth.”
Revelation 3:19 “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten; be
zealous therefore, and repent.”
