Awakening to Spiritual Reality
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Important messages
There is an idea these days that deceives a lot of Christians. More or less, this is what it has to say: “It’s not so important that we know and understand a lot about the Bible. What is important is that we live it, because there are people, who study a lot, but don’t live it.” Of course, any faithful Bible expositor will teach that it is not enough to be a hearer of the Word, but also a doer. That is truth beyond question, but here is the problem. There are deceiving spirits that can take a portion of truth, but apply it incorrectly, adding a few examples to support their claims. In this case before us, they create an impression that one will be a better Christian, if he doesn’t study very much, and those who are diligent students, possibly are religious hypocrites. The result is that they create a dangerous prejudice in the heart and mind against an intensive study of the Word and also against the person who is studious.
This mentality had been formed already in the 1980’s and Martyn Lloyd-Jones became aware of it. He was an old man, when he visited the United States for the last time and one of the final messages that he ever preached was against this error. He showed how Paul indoctrinated the Thessalonians, raw Gentiles and idolatrous pagans. He wrote of the “reception” (1:9) that they gave him, meaning their response to his presentation of the gospel. He had to begin by teaching them of the one true and living God and demanded that the repent of their idolatry… the worship of many gods. After that, he taught them concerning the person of God’s Son, Jesus. Because he was the Son, He was equal to the eternal God, but He was made flesh and lived among humanity. He spoke of His death and resurrection and also of His second coming from heaven to earth. He taught them of the wrath of God and coming eternal judgment. Oh yes, Paul’s converts were well informed about good theology; they knew and understood important doctrine (see 1 Thess.1:9-10).
The truth of the matter is that the person who gives himself to Bible study, but does not live accordingly, is an exception, not the rule. Likewise, the person who does not give himself to a serious study of the Scripture is an impoverished Christian, if he is a Christian at all. How can he know if the life that he lives is, according to the Bible, the Christian life, if he has not launched a serious study? I think, he really needs to examine himself to see if he is in the faith at all, because he has certainly been exposed to a monstrous lie.
Love that Covers Sins
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Important messages
I read in the news last weekend about Pope Francis. He confessed that the church has been obsessed with abortion, homosexual marriage and other moral issues. He is calling on his people to “heal wounds” and “warm hearts”. Putting aside the many difficulties that we have with doctrines and practices of the Catholic Church, because of its power and its millions of members worldwide, up until now, it has helped to stem the tide of legal abortions and gay matrimony. Those who are challenging the Bible and historic principles have won the battle already in the political world, but now are gaining rapidly in religious circles.
Some Protestant churches have fallen to the attack, even before the Catholic Church, but now we begin to hear evangelical leaders carried by the current of tolerance. Not long ago, I listened to an interview with the new leader of a well-known, conservative Christian organization. He said that the conservative Christian has a reputation for rigidity and hardness, so we need to reach a better understand of our opponents and have dialogue with them. He ascertained that we have to be more tolerant of those who are not in agreement with us. Because I work in Spanish circles, I am aware of some of the statements of world famous leaders among the Spanish-speaking people. One singer was interviewed on CNN and proclaimed that his concerts have adopted the purpose of bringing people together on common ground and that includes uniting Christians and Moslems. (There is a movement today among Arabic people called Crislam – a combination of Christianity and Islam.) Another singer in Spain preaches that since Christ was born, we no longer have to deal with the wrath of God, nor should we refer to it in our evangelistic efforts, but rather to the love of God.
What in the world is happening? The standards clearly set in the Bible do not change, but the teacher who interprets the Bible, I’m afraid, in these cases that I have referred to, is not the Holy Spirit, but a “spirit of tolerance”. This spirit is not holy and is actually preparing the world’s population for apostasy and the reign of anti-christ. But is it not true that we should present the love of God to the world? My friend, first we had better be sure that we have a clear understanding, as to what is the love of God! Please read the following article, in which I attempt to clarify the nature of God’s love and show that it is not the love that the world knows and understands. It is not human love, but actually something very distinct from it. It is a holy love that gives no place to sin. It is that love alone, which the Bible and the Holy Spirit teach us:
What Our Hands Have Handled, chapter three
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personal testimonies
Jesus told His disciples, “Without Me you can do nothing.” Because they believed Him, they gave themselves to prayer. Prayer was and still is the backbone of any church or any ministry that can expect eternal results. It calls upon God to do what man cannot do. Prayer is the power generator behind everything that brings glory to God. Earthly success is not to be taken into consideration at all. It must be understood as plain Bible teaching that His house is to known among all nations as the house of prayer. Only that which is birthed in prayer will walk on streets of good.
CHAPTER 3
From the First Day Your Words Were Heard
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| A few people from the "String Band" and the Quinney group, 1936 |
Erwin Brueckner glanced down at his patent leather shoes, and then stepped back for a better view of his 10-piece orchestra. On each of the ten stands before him was a gold-and-blue banner, denoting The Brueckner Melody Kings. Each musician facing him was wearing a black tux. He raised his wand, just as the curtain began to lift. In those days, stage curtains rolled up. Tragically, Erwin’s swallowtail coat got caught in the rising curtain and before the stagehand noticed the dilemma, my dad was hanging between heaven and earth. An outside curtain was down, fortunately, so he was spared the embarrassment of dangling helplessly before the audience. Still, much damage had been done to the pride and morale of the orchestra and they could not recover from that horrendous start. After a dubious performance, they left the theater by a side entrance to avoid encounter with their listeners.
Prayer Answered with Crosses
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songs and poetry
I wonder what would happen, if someone would come forward in a meeting to give a testimony similar to the one we have posted below, only, of course, using modern terms. The person would get a favorable response at the beginning, making the following statement: “I hoped that in some favored hour at once He’d answer my request, and by His love’s constraining power, subdue my sins and give me rest.” But I can imagine puzzled looks on faces as the testimony continued, “Instead of this He made me feel the hidden evils of my heart, and let the angry powers of Hell assault my soul in every part. Yea more… With His own hand He seemed intent to aggravate my woe, crossed all the fair designs I schemed, cast out my feelings, laid me low.” It doesn’t seem too far-fetched to me for a leader to kindly pull this one aside and say, “Please take a seat until you have a more positive testimony to share. Here we preach that God alleviates our afflictions, not that He aggravates them.” I am certain that few… if even one… would be able to comprehend such words.
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| Please read "We Have an Altar" and identification with the cross. |
I know better than to relate some of my experiences publicly or even in private with the majority of Christians, leaders included. They would probably listen politely, but I think that I would be able to read their thoughts: “What kind of Christianity do we have here? This guy would do well to attend a conference on victorious living, or maybe see a Christian counseling expert with a degree in psychology.”
I have read enough biographies of people used of God, to know the serious difficulties that bombarded their souls. However, they are not too different from those that David expressed in his Psalms, certainly Job in his book, and Paul, writing of his thorn in the flesh, as well as other trials. It is the price that someone had to pay to be able to write such a hymn as “Amazing Grace”. That’s right, the following poem was another work of John Newton, written at a time of unbelievable difficulty in his life.
September 21 - 27 Daily Meditations in the Psalms
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Daily Meditations
September 21
Psalms 93:1-4
1. The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
2. Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
3. The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
4. The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
The Lord has girded Himself. John the Baptist was not worthy to unloose His shoe locket, though he was the greatest of prophets. He said, “I should be baptized of Thee.” His greatness stemmed from his proximity to the Lord Jesus and was dependent upon Him. Peter fell to his knees and cried, “Depart from me for I am a sinful man, oh Lord.” Who is worthy to gird the Lord? He, in His singular majesty and sovereign rule, must draw from His own omnipotence. There is none beside Him, no helper, no counselor, no equal, who can lend or contribute to His all-sufficiency.
His throne was already established before time began. Nothing threatens or influences it from the past, present or future. He is infinitely mightier than any would-be challenger. Though floods arise and carry everything in their path, covering land, tree and hilltop, they will not touch the Lord’s position. He is not even dampened by the spray. He is uniquely unassailable in His person and reign.
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