Should we Embrace Positive Thinking?

For many years millions of people have flocked to any minister or evangelist who focusses their messages on positive thinking, and uses "faith" as the Christianize means for all our lofty dreams to come true.  Their central message is, if we just have enough faith, or the right kind of faith, and keep repeating certain verses (like a mantra), our lives will magically be transformed and all our dreams will come true.  We will have enough money to help people, we will be strong enough to do mighty things, and happy enough to attract the lost, and the list goes on.   

What many people don't realize is that the teaching of positive thinking as it is so often presented by televangelists, as one example, sounds good on the surface, but what is really behind it is a secular and humanistic belief system that, Biblically, can be proven to be another doctrine contrary to what Scripture teaches.  It can even be grouped as a false doctrine once you really take a close look at it and put it under the microscope of Scripture.  We need to be careful to study the roots of a movement or author of positive thinking books we are drawn to.  After doing some research on some popular positive thinking authors, whose books I had gobbled up years ago, I was shocked to discover they were using techniques like "imagery," the same techniques used by the New Age, and can be classified as sorcery.  They teach that faith itself (independent of God) is the tool that will reel in whatever we imagine we want.  It's interesting, also to note, that faith teachers, positive thinking gurus, and motivational speakers and authors make a lucrative living from their teaching.  After all, who doesn't want to hear positive sermons and not worry about things like personal conviction and repentance, and that a heart change is needed?  

Having said that, if someone told you that you are going to a church or are involved in a ministry that has another agenda, other than what is soundly Scriptural, would you think twice about attending there?  Yet, this is exactly what is happening today.  What is that agenda? If the message is all positive, and lacks the depth of conviction that the true teaching of repentance and salvation include, then beware! This church/ministry likely has another agenda, ever so subtle, and they are teaching another gospel that the Bible warns about.   

Gal 1:8    But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Gal 1:9    As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Gal 1:10    For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Gal 1:11    But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

Gal 1:12    For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

Is the teaching pleasing to hear?  Beware, for Scripture says that the Gospel is a "stumbling block."  It will bring persecution and rejection. 

1Co 1:21    For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

1Co 1:22    For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

1Co 1:23    But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 1Co 1:24    But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

1Co 1:25    Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1Co 1:26    For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

1Co 1:27    But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

1Co 1:28    And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

1Co 1:29    That no flesh should glory in his presence. 

Is someone preaching that we must be well off financially in order to reach the lost?  Are they teaching that we must be healthy, wealthy and wise before God can really use us? Look at verse 26 - not many wise, mighty, noble are called.  We think that we need to be and look happy, or perhaps be successful in order to reach the lost.  But in verse 27, God chooses things that are foolish (they don't make sense to the world).  And in verse 28, he chooses things which are despised.   Notice the last verse 29, that no flesh should glory in His presence.  More like, He is able to use us when we are spent, weary, tired, exhausted all our own strength and resources, and come to the end of ourselves. 

We need to ask ourselves if the books we are reading merely entertain us, or draw us closer to Jesus.  Do they convict us and change our heart, or do they promise us a false and fabricated future if we merely focus on what we desire and then believe really hard that we will receive it?  I have read books that were so convicting, I only had to read them once and never forgot what they had written.  These types of books are heavily into teaching Scripture and sound doctrine, from authors like Watchman Nee, and a recent book by Dennis Bank, Sanctiprize.  Both of these authors had suffered great hardship to glean the deeper truths from the Bible, and they are known by their works.  Sometimes these types of books are difficult to read through, and yet these books are without a doubt, inspired and they are heart-changing.  You come away having digested the meat of the Word, and you do not have to read them over and over again like taking positive-thinking pills to keep you on a high.  Positive thinking books and materials, in most cases, have such a temporary effect that you have to keep reading them because they do not change our heart (which is deceitful above all things and wicked- see Jeremiah 17:9).  At least this has been true for me. 

Perhaps if we are seeking positive thinking, we are doing it for the wrong reasons.  We are seeking something for ourselves, so it becomes a pursuit for self, and not a godly thing.  Perhaps too often our focus is on self and not on Christ.  Jesus said: If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto Me (see John 12:32).  Are we pointed to Him and pointing others to Him or are we deceived into falsely pointing them to what they can get from Jesus and Christianity?  When they look at us they should see every evidence of the work of the cross in our lives (we have died to sin and self and are alive unto Christ).  When they look at Jesus they should see their own opportunity to repent and be saved, and know that they are loved as they are.  We are not salespeople, we are sinners saved by grace and our true salvation testimony is our greatest witness, not how happy we are because we are positive thinkers.  People want and need what is real, not what is fabricated. 

How are we to think positive in a right and trusted Biblical way?  We are to delight in The Lord, keep our heart pure, be thankful (stop grumbling and complaining), be content, fight the good fight of faith, stop focusing on self and get out there and lovingly help others, make witnessing a habit.  Paul beat his body into submission, realizing he was running a race (see I Cor.9:24-27).  We need to stop trying to weasel out of running this difficult race, and stop trying to find a comfortable place to soak up the presence of God.  Meanwhile we are letting the outside world remain lost in their sins, die without hope, and suffer in hell forever.  Let us be faithful to the cross and do our part, foregoing the fluff of positive thinking beliefs, and get to the enormous task at hand, as faithful and good servants of The Lord. 

NOTE:  When I researched this, there was so much material, I had to break it up into a series of blogs.  Please watch for my next blogs in this series about positive thinking.

The Deception of Movements

In my last blog, Are You a Movement Junkie?  I discussed how to tell if you are addicted to movements within the Christian context.  Since then, I have had much further insight into the deception of movements that I feel compelled to share.  Please read it through and consider sharing it with your friends and contacts, or anyone else you know that is caught up in a movement that is not God-centered, or soundly Biblical. 

I decided to research a little deeper about current movements, and found one that I was particularly drawn to.  This one kept using the word "unity."  I shuddered when I read this because all the years I witnessed to friends, co-workers, and many others God had placed in my path who were involved in a false cult or worldly religion always used that same word.  And it was never used properly within the context intended in the Bible back then, and, not surprisingly, it is not used properly now within this movement.  Look at the following: 

Eph 4:1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Eph 4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Eph 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  

In this context, notice the words walk worthy (conduct ourselves befitting of the sacred Gospel and holiness - honor God and His Word).  Lowliness and meekness (consider that we are unworthy, weak, and apt to fall), longsuffering - be patient with one another.  In verse 3, keep the unity in the bond of peace means that when disagreements occur, resolve it until peace is restored. It does not mean to break away in a spirit of bitterness and unforgiveness.  These verses that speak of unity are hardly within a context of breaking up a fellowship and starting up a movement independent of the local church. 

Jesus said He came to bring a sword, and His truth will actually divide us when we properly use it.  Even and especially, families will be at variance. 

Mat 10:34    Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Mat 10:35    For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.

Mat 10:36    And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.

Mat 10:37    He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

 That sword that Jesus is referring to in verse 34 is the Truth, the Word of God, and the Bible.  In Scripture it is referred to as a two-edged Sword. 

Heb 4:12    For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

There are many hardships in being a follower of Jesus, and it is never easy.  Yet movements seem to try and find an easy way out of these hardships, without counting the cost.  Jesus talks about the cost of being His disciple. We must forsake all to follow Him.   

Mat 10:38    And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 

What does it mean to take up our cross and follow Him?  Where did Jesus go?  He went to the cross, was beaten and crucified, mocked and hated, and finally He died in our place.  He rose again three days later.  Then He ministered to those in need and did so in a pure spirit of truth, humility, love and obedience.  We must do the same, die to self.  Jesus was not ever popular and for the majority of the world, He is not popular today.  Neither should we expect to be. When we are sincerely following Him and our heart's desire is to serve Him and minister to others, we will be under a constant attack and we should expect this.  When we are experiencing rejection and hardship, we know we are on the right track, because this is what Jesus experienced. 

This is in stark contrast to the goal of movements that many times, are looking for the supernatural experience, and the pie in the sky religion that makes them feel good.  As I read this one particular movement's beliefs and posts, I couldn't help but notice that it was all centered on exactly what I talked about in the last blog, "What can I get from this?” rather than having a humble servanthood attitude of, "What can I humbly offer God, and how can I be used to serve Him in whatever capacity is needed?"  

John 3:30  He must increase, but I must decrease. 

Our attitude should be, What can I give God that is pleasing to Him?  The Bible says that the sacrifices of God are a broken and contrite heart.  

Psa 51:16    For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

Psa 51:17    The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 

Isa 57:15    For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

We think of the word obedience and the story of Saul and his disobedience.  Samuel rebuked him for disobeying God and said:   

1Sa 15:23    For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king." 

 As soon as we want things our way, we are in rebellion against God. 

Also, as I researched, I noticed that the words "repentance" and "salvation" were not once mentioned.  Also void was the word "outreach."  There was absolutely no mention of any plan to go out and witness to the lost.  The only inference I noticed was that if you go to enough of these meetings and "soak" up the presence of God, you will be happy and smiley and people will notice you are different. And we all know how short-lived that temporary feeling is! Although it does command it in the Bible that we should love one another, and others will know you by the love you have for one another, that love is a costly one, not a touchy-feely one. 

Joh 13:34    A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

Joh 13:35    By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. 

Notice that there is stipulation to the kind of love He expects:  Jesus said that we should love one other as He has loved us.  How is this done? Does He mask the truth? You will not find this in Scripture.  Agape love means to lay down your life for one another.  It is not self-serving (see I Corinthians 13), it rejoices in the truth (yes, this means you also rebuke your brother or sister in The Lord when they err).  It means a deliberate and visible dying to self.  There is nothing artificial about it - it all ties in with the unity mumbo-jumbo they talk about.  We are only one in a spiritual sense (positionally), but this must be worked out on a case-by-case basis - repentance and forgiveness.  It is not a cover-up for our sin, but true love exposes our sin.  

Pro 27:5    Open rebuke is better than secret love.

Pro 27:6    Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. 

How are other ways we discern truth from error? You shall know them by their fruits. 

Mat 7:16    Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

Mat 7:17    Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Mat 7:18    A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Mat 7:19    Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Mat 7:20    Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 

When people come into your church and create a stir and a discontentment, then try to draw you away and then split the church, beware.  They are wolves in sheep's clothing.  Then in the next breath they talk about unity.  If it was really unity, why would they split up the church? They would have stayed and humbly tried to work it out according to the methods outlined in Scripture.  Without repentance and humility, there is no unity and never will be.  Nor do they really love you as Christ loves you, because they have not laid down their life for you in a Christ-like way.  So if a movement is started as a result of a break-off from a church, then the seeds of that movement are rebellion and witchcraft.  Nothing good can ever come from that, and God will never endorse it or bless it. 

Today if you are involved in a movement that you have even the tiniest doubt about, please pray and ask God to reveal His Word to you and open up His truth in ways to you that will clearly show you the next step you need to take. And like I requested earlier, please do not be shy about sharing this blog with your circle of contacts.  We must keep Jesus front, center and our all-in-all.

Are you a Movement Junkie?

How do you know if you are a movement junkie? Do you run from one church to another, or one seminar to another looking for the latest and greatest answer to your besetting problems? Is someone promising you that you'll get wealth if you just attend this one prosperity conference? Or is someone promising you that you'll lose weight if you just perform this one simple thing? Or perhaps it is healing that you need - are you going beyond your local church to find this? Perhaps you seek more power in your life, and someone has taken Scripture and is promising you a power that is just now being revealed and unleashed in the world.   

Dear friend, if this describes you, you are not alone. I am a recovered movement junkie. I've been there many years ago, and I know what I'm talking about.  Since then, the Lord has taught me many things from His Word about movements in the Christian world, and how to detect and discern which ones are of Him and which ones are not! Overwhelmingly, most of the movements I was a part of were not of Him. This is not to say I have not experienced supernatural occurrences in my life, because I have, in fact, many times.   

When I came out of the movements, I came crashing down like anyone who had been high on drugs.  Movements give you a temporary feeling of a spiritual high, and you start to think that you should be on this high all the time.  But when reality hits and you crash, it can be so devastating that you can lose your faith altogether.  In my case, it drove me to the feet of Jesus and I begged Him to show me the truth of His Word so that I could be set free from being a movement junkie.  He did just that.  What I learned was that I had very subtly put more importance of what I was seeking ahead of seeking God.  I trusted the movement itself, and that this is the only place where God was going to really move, rather than believe He can move anywhere and in whatever way He chooses.  Mainly, we need to seek Him, and not the supernatural manifestations of Him.  Does that make sense?  Scripture says that we are complete in Him, not in the spiritual manifestations of His Spirit.  After all, it is a walk of faith and not according to the senses.  Look at this verse: 

Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Col 2:9  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Col 2:10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:  

We are complete in Him - we need nothing more.  Isn’t it far more important to do His work, and then receive His reward of the supernatural in our lives as a result of walking in obedience to Him?  What matters most to God?  Is it how good we are, healthy we are, wealthy, or powerful we are?  No.  According to Scripture, what matters most to God if we’re going to be religious about something is found in the following verse:  

Jas 1:27  Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.  

Turning to movements takes our mind off of God and the much work He has for us to do.   Are we running to special services, and on the way there, by-passing people who are truly in need?  Too often we forget about the widows and the fatherless, the lonely and the bereaved.  Too often we try to get our needs met in supernatural ways, rather than through the hard work of dying to the flesh and humbly serving our great God in whatever capacity He has called us.  I believe that our needs get met when we apply the following: 

Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  

It’s really quite simple - he supplies our needs as we do His work.  There is no need to strive, and we are not to be moved away from the simple, but profound Gospel message.  In addition, we need to know our doctrine, know our Bible, and study to show ourselves approved unto God. 

1Ti 4:16    Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. 

Eph 4:14    That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Eph 4:15    But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 

Notice in verse 15 it is time to grow up.  We need to move beyond our childhood of looking for the gospel goodies, and believe whatever comes along, and instead seek to know and speak the unchanging and solid truths of the Bible.   

Col 2:6    As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

Col 2:7    Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 

Notice again in verse 7, a great sign of maturity, to be rooted and built up in Him (not the movements that are out there).  God uses suffering to grow us - we want to run to the latest and greatest movement out there, and when that fails, we run to the doctor or bank to meet our needs, but God wants us to run to Him. Sometimes He answers right away, other times, He makes us wait. While we are suffering, we are growing, and our faith is getting stronger because we seek Him and His Word to meet our needs.  There is no magical formula – we can do this in our private time of devotions, in our local church, or in a small Bible study.  The Lord can do anything for us, and He will not go back on His Word.  He promises us that if we seek Him He will reward us. The greatest reward is a closer walk with Him.  We stop focusing so much on our own needs and start caring about our relationship with Him more.  A natural outgrowth of this is that we also care more about what He cares for - other people! 

Today there are many different movements sweeping through Christendom.  Some of them might be beneficial, and others very destructive.  I encourage you to test everything by prayer and the Word of God.  If you are in question about anything, ask a pastor who is sound in the Bible and someone you know you can trust.  It may save you from a great deal of grief later on.

Faithful and True

Rev 19:11    I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.

Rev 19:12    His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.

Rev 19:13    He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

Rev 19:14    The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

Rev 19:15    Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.

Rev 19:16    On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.  NIV

At this festive time of year, we hear a lot about the baby Jesus wrapped in swaddling clothes, and how He came to earth with  the announcement of bringing "good tidings of great joy."  For over 2000 years, nations all over the world have been celebrating His birth and proclaiming His good news. Through Him, we are saved and given new life, when we receive Him and His finished work on the cross because He sacrificed His own life for us at the age of 33.  Then He died and rose again and lives forevermore in heaven with His Father.  He also dwells in the hearts of all those who believe in Him and trust Him as their personal Lord and Savior.

But this morning the words "faithful and true" kept coming to mind and the verses above had particular meaning for me, especially after the Newton tragedy where 20 children were killed.  Some people may question where God is when such a thing happens.  My heart goes out to all the parents and anyone affected by this tragedy of so many young lives lost, and also the teachers and principal whose lives were taken.  I pray for God's comfort in a very special, real and tangible way at this time.  A few days after the tragedy, the Lord gave me a vision, which I recently shared on my Facebook page.  Here it is:

I see Jesus and his white robes, and the glow of His deep love and compassion surrounding the slain children. He's gathering them in His strong arms of love and protection. Then they are gone and the room is empty, swept clean. All that is left is His assuring presence.

He is Lord of all and in all circumstances, He reigns supreme.

It is the last part that was especially revealed to me.  HE IS LORD OF ALL AND IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES HE REIGNS SUPREME.  This is extremely significant to me because, in spite of the many human atrocities that occur in our fallen world, Jesus is still on the throne, He is still in control, and this is His world and always will be.  No one owns the earth or any part of it; we are simply renting a space, and all is on loan while we are allotted our time on this earth.  Evil will not rule forever, even though it may seem like it is out of control. 

So at this time of great loss and also celebration of Jesus' birth, may we keep in our hearts and mind that Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  May His excellent and glorious name be continuously praised.  

Grief and Gifts from God

Jas 1:17  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. NIV

Rom 11:29  for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable (unalterable). NIV

Its Christmas time and this is the time of year when our emotions can run high.  We fluctuate between the joy of the celebration, and the sadness of remembering those we love that are no longer with us.  Financial pressures mount as we want to take in as many festivities as we can, and we want to buy appropriate gifts for our loved ones and friends.  Some of us want to remember to help the needy as well.  Today I want to talk about grief and some insights the Lord has opened up to me.  Above all, I think it’s appropriate for this time of year.

This past year has been difficult for me in terms of grief.  In the late winter, almost a year ago, we discovered that one of our beloved cats had an inoperable internal problem, and he was suffering, so we had to make the difficult decision to put him down.  We still have his brother with us.  At first when we got these two cats, I was really hesitant because I had just lost my orange tabby of 15 years, days before and the pain was so great I wondered how I could go on. But the Lord had gently assured me that these two black cats would be no problem.  He didn’t tell me I’d only have one of them for five years, and then I would lose him.  He didn’t tell me that I would grieve so much for so long and wonder if I’d ever stop feeling so much pain.  After my cat died, the Lord kept saying, “Your joy will be full,” and I keep waiting for that to happen.  But today I realized that there is a purpose in all this pain and suffering.  Each person in our life, whether it’s a child, a friend, a spouse, or even a pet, is a gift from God.  But in our busy day-to-day lives, we often take for granted the great gifts God has given us, even to the point of taking God for granted.

Some thoughts went through my mind about God’s gifts being irrevocable.  If my cat was a gift from Him, then why was he allowed to be taken from me when he was only five years old?  Other people who have suffered great loss came to mind, friends that lost babies and children, and some have lost both parents and siblings as well.  We hear of huge losses, and many this year in our own city, where many young people senselessly died in freak car accidents, some leaving behind small children, others just beginning their your adult lives.  Two young girls in their 20s both died in a house fire, one leaving behind a small boy.  For families and loved ones left behind, it is and can be so devastating and painful as they go through the grieving process.  Today, I wondered, why do some grieve and grieve and never seem to heal from the pain of these great losses?  What would God have us learn from all this pain and suffering?

I had to ask myself what I have learned from this on-going grief from losing my cat.   One thing was a surprise to me, and that is that I made him an idol, because so much of my time and energies went to thinking about how much I missed my cat.  Gifts are just that – gifts.  They are not and should not be our whole life.  Only the Lord can be our whole life because we are commanded to love Him with ALL our heart, soul and mind.  So I have had to repent of making my cat into an idol, whereas my love and energies should have been focussed on the Lord.  I also learned that when it comes to grief, Jesus took all our pain and suffering on the cross when He died for us.  We don’t have to bear it.  He already bore it for us:

Isa 53:3  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Isa 53:4  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

Isa 53:5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Everyone grieves a little differently.  Some make a point of remembering their loved ones on their death anniversary, and they write memorials.  They never want to forget the people who meant so much to them.  For me, I try to reach out to those who are alive and in need in some way right now.  This gives me the most peace and provides a healing balm for my sometimes troubled and sad soul.  Those who are gone have lived their life in the time they were allotted.  Now life still remains for me and many others who are reading this right now.  So we must carry on and help each other through life.

Yes, pain and suffering have a definite purpose and a place in our lives, but I believe that it is only for a time, and then we must seek to move on, and live fully, richly and with great purpose.  Suffering can most definitely make us better, but too much suffering and for the wrong reason can make us bitter and serve no useful purpose, especially when it comes to the things of God.  We are never to become immobilized by our grief and suffering. We are to continue to live a life that is praiseworthy to God and be thankful in all things. There is a time we must let go of our grieving and trust God fully with our lives.  Perhaps today it is your time.

May we, like Job, be able to say:

Job 23:10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

This Christmas season, there will be many people who are grieving and will need a friend and some Christmas cheer.  This is an opportunity to bear one another’s burdens, and offer friendship and encouragement.  After all, isn’t this all a big part of what Christmas is all about?

Truth or Error?

In the past several months, my husband and I have been involved in a ministry of sending forth and defending the Word of God to people who claim to be Christians, and yet, do not believe in hell as an eternal place of punishment.  We have responded to their outright denial and dismissal of the Word of God, and the many passages of Scripture that emphatically state the existence of hell.  As I've continued to read their responses to us, I couldn't help but notice they seldom, if ever, use Scripture to back up their heady opinions.  And I've also noticed they seldom, if ever, mention Jesus.  They have never mentioned Him in the context of the full salvation and His work on the cross to save us from such a horrible place as hell.  But then again, why would they mention Jesus?  They don't need Jesus, the cross, or salvation if they don't believe in hell as a place of eternal torment.  This is and has been deeply perplexing and disturbing to me. 

As a Christian, my new life in Christ began with confession.  I had to confess that I was a sinner, and I had to repent of my sins and literally abandon and turn away from the sinful life I had led.  Then I publicly confessed Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and continue to confess Him as such to this very day.  Jesus is my life and my all in all, because He gave His life for me and I owe Him more than I could ever pay.  I am constantly challenged to put Him first and love Him above all, even my own self.  I realize that a person can be a Christian and not love Jesus as fully as they should.  In fact there are different degrees of love towards Jesus, since Jesus Himself pointed this out in the Book of Revelation. 

Rev 3:14    And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Rev 3:15    I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

Rev 3:16    So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 

Today’s message is for us to clearly be able to discern those who have the spirit of error, and those who have the spirit of truth, so that we are not easily deceived.  In I John, we see how this is done.  

1Jn 4:1    Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

1Jn 4:2    Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

1Jn 4:3    And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

1Jn 4:4    Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

1Jn 4:5    They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

1Jn 4:6    We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

1Jn 4:7    Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

1Jn 4:8    He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1Jn 4:15    Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 

If we are truly a born-again Christian, it all has to be with heart-felt and sincere confession.  Jesus must be first, right, left and center.  He must be our all in all.  And our lives and our works will reflect our allegiance and faithfulness to Jesus. We may falter, but the Spirit He puts within all those who are saved according to the Bible, never will.  He will always bring us back to the place of confession, and our lives will noticeably be changed. 

Today there are many false doctrines and false prophets among us who are deceived and trying to deceive.  Our greatest defense is the Word of God.  We must get back to reading and studying our Bible, the precious and powerful Word of God given to us to live by (in fact, we are to live by EVERY WORD of God - see Luke 4:4).  There is a great added benefit to turning to the Word of God - as we read the Word, we will grow in our faith, and become ever stronger to stand against the evil work of the enemy performed through those who are deceived.

The Distinction between the Believer and the Unbeliever

Last week after seeing the movie “Hellbound?” I kept thinking about the belief they were pushing that all people eventually make it into heaven regardless of whether or not they accept salvation while still alive on this earth.  In other words, we have to question whether the makers of the movie and many of the men and women interviewed have a true grasp of salvation, and the great price Jesus paid in order to spare us from eternal separation from God.  Scripture makes it clear in John 3:16 that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  As much as they will try to explain that “perish” is not eternal and does not mean eternal separation from God, there is more than enough Scripture elsewhere to indicate that that’s exactly what it means.  Also, it is alarming to me that they seemed to skim over major portions of the Bible that clearly state the conditions for entering heaven.  With this kind of erroneous thinking, our life here on earth might as well be lived any way we please, because there will be no dire consequences to our choices and actions in the hereafter.  In today’s blog, I’d like to share Scriptures that absolutely refute these destructive and heretical lines of thinking.

Part of this humanistic thinking affecting our world today is to tolerate the behavior of everyone under the guise of “love and acceptance,” and then attempt to lower God’s standards to ours, so that we feel more comfortable.  The truth is, whenever we try to lower God’s standards to suit us, we cannot have seen the depth of our own sin, or experienced any of the true love, grace, forgiveness, and holiness of God in a personal and life-changing way.  Clearly, we are all sinners, but we are not all saved and on our way to heaven, as humanistic and Universalist thinking would have us believe.  The Bible offers many distinctions between those who are saved and those who are not, and the Bible is unmistakably filled with them from cover to cover. Personal opinions based on misinterpretations or omissions of Scriptures do not count - this is classic false cult tactics. Take a look at these verses in Psalm 37 as an example.  Notice the different treatment/reward of the upright compared to the wicked/transgressors.

Psa 37:18  The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.

Psa 37:19  They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

Psa 37:20  But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.

Psa 37:37  Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.

Psa 37:38  But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.

See all of Psalm 37 for many more distinctions between the upright and the wicked.  This is only one Psalm.  You will find many more distinctions in other Psalms and other books in the Bible.  Let’s take a look at a few more.

Those that believe vs. an unbeliever:

Rom 4:5    But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Rev 21:8    But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Clearly, we are responsible for the choices we make in life, and in the following verses, we either reap corruption or life everlasting:

Gal 6:7    Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Gal 6:8    For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Many Universalists like to play with words, and many are not open to hearing the Word of God.  Are we so foolish to think that personal opinions will count for anything when we stand before God on judgement/rewards day? He will either say - Well done good and faithful servant, or He will say, Depart from me, I never knew you.

Mat 7:21    Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 7:22    Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23    And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Mat 25:21    His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Mat 25:41    Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Mat 25:42    For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

Mat 25:43    I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Mat 25:44    Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Mat 25:45    Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

Mat 25:46    And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Jesus Himself made the distinction of who are His children and who are not:

Joh 10:24    Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

Joh 10:25    Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me.

Joh 10:26    But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

Joh 10:27    My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

There is a personal responsibility whenever we are faced with choices, and we are held accountable for the choices we make. The idea of choice and consequence began in the Garden of Eden with the simple word - "but."

Gen 2:16  And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden;

Gen 2:17  but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die." NIV

Adam and Eve, when confronted by God to confess what they had done, tried to blame someone or something else. They had bought into Satan's lie about God, and this is what many misguided people are doing today.  Consequences for all of mankind was immediate - death to all, and no more pleasures in paradise. We should never take lightly the consequences of our choices, when God has clearly laid it out in Scripture.

This is a day and age of no-consequences, but just like Adam and Eve's response in trying to blame someone else, this does not get us off the hook - there is a day of reckoning and judgement coming - God will judge the quick and the dead. Our works will be tested. There is no turning back once you are dead – the choices we make today have consequences later on. This thought alone should give us a healthy fear of God, for He is righteous and Holy.  The only One who can save us is Jesus because when He died on the cross for us, He declared us righteous before God then. But we must receive Him and repent of our sinful life in order to benefit, now, today, BEFORE we die.

Clearly, there is a distinction between life and death and the choices we make.

Deu 30:15    See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;

Deu 30:16    In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

Deu 30:17    But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them; Deu 30:18    I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish, and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jordan to go to possess it.

Deu 30:19    I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

Deu 30:20    That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

From these and the many passages in the Bible, we can see that there is indeed a distinction between the believer and the unbeliever, the righteous and the unrighteousness.  And in the final chapter of the Bible, nowhere is it more evident that the two will never dwell together in heaven:

Rev 20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Rev 22:3  And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

Rev 22:4  And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

Rev 22:5  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

These are sobering thoughts.  May we always search the Scriptures and not waver when it comes to the reality of the two opposite destinations frequently mentioned in the Bible - heaven for the believer, and certain hell for the unbeliever.  If we are truly saved according to the Biblical way, may we in good conscience pray for and minister to the lost accordingly.