An Endtime Dilemma
Labels:
Important messages
“There will be terrible times in the last
days. People will be lovers of themselves.”
2 Timothy 3:1, 2
When
Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, the human race separated from its
Creator and consequently died spiritually. For six thousands years, it has been
putrefying and an ever-increasing stench fills the nostrils of God. As bad as
the history of mankind has been, it still awaits its worst moment. Paul prophesied
that there would come a generation in the last days, who would surpass all
others for indwelling wickedness. Heading Paul’s list of godless
characteristics, and probably the cause of all those that follow, is self-love.
When Jesus spoke of the last days, He first
mentioned deceit and He repeatedly warned His disciples, during that discourse,
that there would come an unprecedented deception. I believe, the father of lies
brought into play two great factors, conceived in the nineteenth century, one
after the other, which have contributed to the development of a unique
mentality, deeming man the master of his own destiny and determining that he
should stop at nothing to fulfill his dreams. It is the mindset at the
beginning of this millennium and is preparing the world for the reign of
anti-christ. One factor is the theory of evolution (Charles Darwin, 1809-1882)
and, although I may offend some, I will dare to say that the other is
psychology (Sigmund Freud, 1856-1939). These relatively new doctrines are
prominent and almost universally accepted as legitimate sciences.
Romania… Words are not Enough
Labels:
personal testimonies
“Revival
is not for those who want it; it is for those who want nothing else.”
I was in Romania from May 31st to
June 12th, returning home on the 14th. I´m sitting here
thinking about writing an article for my blog about what I observed in that
country. My special interest is with a group of younger Christians, couples and
singles, with Brethren background, who have been praying for revival before I first
met them.
 |
| Eliza and Vali |
Vali was a roommate at a camp
maybe 10 years ago, probably more, and when I arrived, the camp director,
another roommate, said, "There is a 26-year-old young man at this camp
with a special hunger for God. I hear him crying even in the bathroom, as he
prays for revival." Since that time, I have come to know Vali well; in
fact, I spoke at his wedding. He has become a publisher, who translates and
publishes the very best in Christian literature. (http://www.perlasuferintei.ro/)
One book that has had a
tremendous effect, as well as serious repercussions, upon Romania is "Joy
Unspeakable" by Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Because Jones, a theologian, pastor
and writer, highly respected in all of Europe, advocates a post-conversion
baptism in the Holy Spirit, people in the “Brethren” movement had denied Vali
any position of leadership in the church, as well as any opportunity to preach.
Seeking the Spirit of the Kingdom, chapter eight
Labels:
Important messages
Has anyone suggested
selflessness as the evidence of a Spirit-filled life? Should it not be? To be
filled with the Holy Spirit, certainly means to be emptied of self. The eighth
and final chapter of this book considers one of the most beautiful stories in
the entire Bible. Its beauty lies in the spirit of the main character. Did I
say main character? He certainly isn’t seeking that position; in fact, he would
turn our attention towards others, who play a part in this account… to Isaac,
to Abraham, or to Rebekah. He is only on a mission for his master. Open your heart and learn from a slave the
meaning of being wholly under the control of the Holy Spirit. Does his example
evoke a cry from your heart to be like him?
CHAPTER 8
CHARACTERISTICS OF A
SPIRIT-CONTROLLED LIFE
AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE ETERNAL PLAN
 |
| The final and perhaps best chapter |
The word genesis means
beginning or origin. The book of Genesis takes us to the
beginning of everything that we know. There begins a revelation of the
personality of God and His eternal purposes. It speaks of creation and we can
see in it the first steps in the development of the plan for which the universe
was created. We begin to enter into the book and we discover Abraham, a man who
only existed for the Kingdom of God. God’s specific purposes for Abraham in His
Kingdom were two: First, Abraham was to be a patriarch of a nation that God was
raising up, through which He would manifest Himself to the entire earth. The
second reason was that he would be the father of all that would come near to
God by faith.
Genesis 24 relates a story
that occurs as Abraham’s life was coming to an end. Sarah, his wife, had died
and Abraham begins to think about the next generation and how the divine plan
would unfold. It is obvious that his son, Isaac, would have to be married and
have a son, who would carry the seed that God had promised. Therefore, Abraham
sent his slave to Mesopotamia, where Abraham had his roots and where his
relatives still lived, to seek a bride for Isaac.
You Must Be Born Again!
Labels:
Important messages
I invite you to enter into a
study that I am undertaking, concerning the theme of the new birth. In the
book, God Made the Country, I wrote on the same theme, but in this work,
I am approaching the subject in a different manner with a different purpose,
emphasizing some things that I didn’t mention in the book. Also, I am
presenting this more in the form of an outline, recognizing that it lacks
substance and details. But using the outline, you can develop the subject,
jotting things in a notebook or your own computer that will help explain to you
the things that I am presenting. So, we can join and learn together from this
study…
New
Birth or Regeneration
“As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to
become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born,
not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 1:12-13
Introduction:
In this introduction, I want to first make a general
appeal for basic truth, for pure doctrine and biblical theology: Above all, the teachers and preachers of the gospel,
myself included, have a responsibility to present truth. There are many things
that we may not like, as we learn, but we cannot change divine, eternal truth. We
are not the fountain of righteousness, and our view of what is righteous, at
best, is imperfect, therefore, we must learn to yield to God and learn to love the
truth that He teaches in His word. There
must be no selfishness in our quest, which we may try to disguise as something
more spiritual, but is actually a lust for recognition for our cleverness in
our presentation or for any other personal benefit that we might attain as
expounders of spiritual themes. We must be on a single-minded mission to bring
honor to God.
This is also a plea for an expectation of definite divine
intervention in the work of personal salvation. Such an intervention does not take place automatically,
as a result of having taken certain steps towards salvation: i.e. “Recognize,
this, this, this and that, then pray and you will be saved”. God must be in
every conversion. Good doctrine states
that you are adopted into the family of God, when you place your trust in the
person and work of God’s Son. Regeneration demonstrates
that you are in the family, in plain view of the entire universe. If there is
no new birth, there is no adoption.
Seeking the Spirit of the Kingdom, chapter seven
Labels:
Important messages
There are evangelistic methods, probably
many, that are pragmatic… that is, they produce results… just as surely as
McDonald’s and Coca Cola produce results. But, if you intend to see that the
people you contact in evangelism walk on streets of gold some day, you had better
be sure of two things: 1) That you are using Biblical principles and 2) that
these principles are anointed with the Holy Spirit.
Abraham and Sarah put two and two
together and produced an Ishmael. It was a successful plan and totally within
the realm of human possibilities… and therein lay its weakness. It was not
according to God’s promise or His supernatural power. God simply was not in it.
Every person who comes into the Kingdom of God enters through a supernatural,
God-exalting, heavenly new birth. God, and only God, can do that work
(Jn.1:12,13) Read in this chapter about the essential work of the Holy Spirit
in evangelism.
CHAPTER 7
THE
HOLY SPIRIT IN EVANGELISM
THE MESSAGE OF THE LOVE OF GOD IS FOR BELIEVERS
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Jesus also spoke of the Holy
Spirit in the work of evangelism: “And He, when He comes, will convict the
world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because
they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the
Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of
this world has been judged” (John 16:8-11). It is important, before we
consider these verses, to see a question put to Jesus by Judas (not Iscariot): “Lord,
what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to
the world?” (14:22). Jesus first answered the part of the question,
concerning manifesting Himself to His own, and afterwards the part about the people
of the world: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will
love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him” (verse 23).
Jesus’ purpose was to establish a personal relationship of love between His
disciples and God. In His prayer to the Father in chapter 17:3, He showed us
that eternal life consists in knowing the Father and the Son: “This is
eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom
You have sent.”
Quotes from People Who Understand the Righteousness of God
Labels:
Important messages
I
hope that you will not misinterpret my intentions, as I post various articles
that have to do with the justice and the wrath of God… not that any
misinterpretation will make any difference in the posts that I present in this
blog. I realize that modern mentality will judge this “unbalanced, judgmental,
and lacking of love”. But the comments that I will post will deal with that
opinion.
First,
I have a book of daily meditations that major in that subject throughout the
month of June. Secondly, there is a tremendous lack of emphasis in this area in
the church in general. Come on folks, let’s wake up from the sleepy diabolical
notion, dominating the evangelical pulpits in our times, that God will overlook
our sin and love us, even though we love our sin more than we love Him. So,
please pay attention to the following excerpts from various authors, present
and past:
Franklin Graham calls them cowards!!
Labels:
Important messages
I guess one of the things that most provokes
my ire are "Christians", who pretend to have convictions in private
conversations, but when it's time to express themselves publicly against
sin, false doctrines and false prophets, they hide under
the bed. They think themselves prudent and
wise Christians. But Franklin Graham in this article categorizes them
where they belong... among the cowards who will take their place in the
Lake of Fire...
http://blog.faithandfreedom.us/2014/05/franklin-graham-to-pastors-god-hates.html#.U5oiUbEzKSo
http://blog.faithandfreedom.us/2014/05/franklin-graham-to-pastors-god-hates.html#.U5oiUbEzKSo
Seeking the Spirit of the Kingdom, chapter six
Labels:
Important messages
CHAPTER
6
THE HOLY SPIRIT
IDENTIFIES
WITH THE BODY
OF CHRIST
THE HELPER OR COMFORTER - THE PARAKLETOS
|
| Chapter 6 is taken from this book. |
The
one who seriously studies the Bible, at times must be willing to dig a little
on his own account into the classical Greek language. He does not have to learn
it entirely, nor become a Greek expert, especially in these days, when we have
been given much help. Anyone can get a Strong’s concordance, which
includes a good Greek and Hebrew dictionary that will give you the literal
meaning and, at times, the roots of the words. Also a Greek concordance of the
New Testament is very useful and I like an interlineal Greek-English New
Testament. Then, it is easy to find a study book about biblical words. Perhaps
one of the best is the edition by W. E. Vine.
Seeking the Spirit of the Kingdom, chapter five
Labels:
Important messages
CHAPTER 5
THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
THE AUTHOR OF SCRIPTURE
|
| Chapter 5 is taken from this book |
When
the writer of the epistle to the Hebrews cites a portion of the Scripture, he
does not attribute it to a prophet, or the Psalmist, or any other human
personality, but directly to the Holy Spirit. For example, referring to Psalm
95:7-8, he says, “Therefore, just as the
Holy Spirit says, ‘Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts” (Heb.
3:7-8).
In
Hebrews 9:8, he shows that it is the Holy Spirit who is teaching about the Holy
of Holies, mentioning that only the high priest could enter there and only once
a year: “The Holy Spirit is
signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed.”
For
the third time, in Hebrews 10:15-17 he cites Jeremiah 31:33-34, attributing
directly to the Holy Spirit, that which is written in the Old Testament: “The Holy Spirit also testifies to us;
for after saying, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those
days, says the Lord: I will put my laws upon their heart, and on their mind I
will write them,’ He then says, ‘And their sins and their lawless deeds I will
remember no more.’”
The Reality of Being in the Presence of God
Labels:
personal testimonies
It wasn’t long ago that we posted the testimony of Hector. If you haven’t
read it, be sure that you do. You will easily find it, just a couple articles
below this one. It would be good, if you read it first. Many told that God did
an important work through this entire circumstance. I believe that this
testimony is more than a comforting account; it was also a message from the
Lord, advising a people of things that will be taking place in the near future.
They will be very difficult days, but at the same time, very precious, in which
the eternal and heavenly things will become a clear reality. Paul called these
difficult things light afflictions…
compared to the exceeding weight of
glory. Jesus taught that the Christian does not ever die; he only departs
from his body to go immediately into the presence of God.
An individual who was present in the funeral parlor, where Hector’s body
lay, at that moment received a revelation and tells the story in the paragraphs
that follow…
Whenever I recall that time surrounding the accident of our dear Hector,
it comes with a sweet sense of the presence and glory of God, mixed, of course,
with the suffering and pain caused by such a situation, in the first place, that
of his family, and then others, whom God permitted to be part of his life, in
one way or another. There are many things and moments from those days that are
worthy of special mention, but there is something that stands out to me that
will be with me forever. I saw, as I have never seen before, the reality of
eternity and resurrection life. Human language, I know, is very limited, when
it comes to explaining things that are not of this world, but in spite of that,
and with the help of God, I will attempt to do so.
June 4 – June 14 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
Labels:
Daily Meditations
June 4
Psalms 47:5-9
5.
God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6.
Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing
praises.
7.
For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with
understanding.
8.
God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his
holiness.
9.
The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the
God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly
exalted.
We are coming close to the
day, when we will see the clear manifestation of His sovereign reign. From
resurrection to judgment, He must rule until all enemies are subdued under His
feet. Jesus has ascended up on high to the shouts and trumpets of angels. His
resurrection victory marks the pivotal point of history, though it was settled
in the mind of God before the foundation of the earth. Let us join with the
angels, as the revelation, which they have long known, becomes clear to us.
Jesus is victor! “His right hand and His
glorious arm have gotten Him the victory!” Shout and sing! He is the King
of all the earth. He reigns over the heathen upon the throne of holiness. All
the nations are as a drop in a bucket in comparison to His eternal kingdom. All
power is given unto Him in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore and proclaim in
the Holy Spirit that He is ruler over hearts. Observe a holy people snatched
from the heathen, as He gathers them from among the inhabitants of the earth.
They are made princes, who were conquered by His throne and inducted into His
kingdom. He calls them together now, the people of the God of Abraham, the
father of nations. The formation of that kingdom, which shall have no end, is
in progress. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. The silver and gold are
His and He possesses the shields of the earth. He has the resources to work all
things after the counsels of His will.
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