Fri, Aug 31st - 5:16PM

Christian or Idolatrous Nation?

Christian or Idolatrous Nation?

Recently on an internet forum, a question was asked in regard to the following news clip:

Lutherans Urged Not to Punish Gay Clergy in 'Faithful' Relationships

“The largest Lutheran body in the nation caused a stir Saturday after controversially deciding not to punish homosexual clergy who are in sexual relationships.

At its annual assembly, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) passed by a vote of 538-431 a resolution urging bishops to refrain from disciplining pastors who are in “faithful committed same-gender relationships.”
http://www.christianpost.com/

The question was, “Does the Scripture, Romans 10:2, apply here in your opinion?  Romans 10:2 states, "For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge."

Actually, Romans 10:2 does not apply to this particular group of people.  These individuals, though certainly ignorant, as verse 2 states, do not really have “zeal of God.”  It’s more like a zeal of the devil.

However, Romans 1:18-32 certainly applies! "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; [19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. [20] For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: [21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things. [24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: [25] Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. [26] For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: [27] And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. [28] And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; [29] Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, [30] Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, [31] Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: [32] Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

Idolatry has been the root of all the abominable immoralities of the heathen. Idols have been the patrons of licentiousness (Romans 1:23-32). When they formed their gods in human shape they endowed them with passions and represented them as slaves to disgraceful sexual perversions and as possessing unlimited powers of sexual gratification.

The idolatry of this country has taken the same turn. We have established idolatry for true worship; a lie for the truth; and worshiped creatures more than the Creator.

I realize this kind of preaching, teaching or writing will not win me any popularity contest, but guess what… I am not trying to gain anyone’s approval except for God’s.

You don't have to be a rocket scientist or even a theologian to understand verses 26 and 27. Verse 26 is referring to lesbianism—unnatural, homosexual relations between women. Verse 27, of course, refers to sodomy or homosexuality. Anyone who refuses to recognize that is just willfully and woefully ignorant.

I don't have enough time or space to elaborate as much as I would like to, but I think verse 22 sums it up better than I could: "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools..."

When are common-sense and Godly people going to have backbone to stand up and call sin, "sin"? It’s not “an alternate life-style”, its sin; it’s not a disease or an illness, it is willful, chosen sin.  Even if we didn’t have a Bible, common-sense dictates that men were not meant to go to bed with men, nor women with women. 

When will more men and women of God stand and boldly proclaim the truth of the Word of God and declare that God will not condone sin simply because He loves us.

If my own child were to commit a crime such as murder, though I love him or her that does not change the fact that their action would be wrong or sin.  As much as my heart would be broken and I would still love them, they would have to answer for or receive the consequences for their crime.  Loving someone does not mean automatic approval of them, their actions or life-style.

In fact, it is because you love them that you would do everything you could to keep them from committing such a heinous act.  God has done everything He can to warn people of the consequences of dying in their sin because He does love us.

When will we realize that this is the case even more so with God?  God loves sinners, but He hates sin!  How much sense does one need to comprehend that?

In Christ,

Pastor Mike

Thu, Aug 16th - 2:48PM

Secrecies Versus Certainties

Secrecies Versus Certainties

Deut. 29:29 - "The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law."

Two types of realities or "things" are mentioned in this verse: The "secret" things and the "revealed" things. Obviously there are some things which are not meant for us to know. Some things we aren't meant to know right now and some things we will probably never know at all on this side of eternity. God has various purposes for withholding from us various things for various reasons, among which are discipline and development. God's Word is as prudent in its reservations as it is in its revelations. However, enough is revealed to make faith intelligent. Enough is hidden to give faith range for growth. The bottom line is that the things that are not revealed belong to God and we do not know them as yet; but the revealed things of Scripture belong to people forever, that they may know and do the will of God.

Why don't we just admit what we cannot deny, that is, that in spite of the volumes of revelation that we have already had made known to us, we are encircled by yet, many baffling mysteries or secret things.

Jesus told his disciples in John 16:12 "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now." I believe He still conveys this to us by His Spirit at times. The word, "bear" in the Greek is the word, "bastazo" (pronounced - bas-tad'-zo), and it means "to carry or bear what is burdensome, not able to understand a matter or receive it calmly." The Amplified version puts verse 12 like this: "I have still many things to say to you, but you are not able to bear them or to take them upon you or to grasp them now." To paraphrase, He was saying, "It would be best for Me not to tell you that the whole Mosaic system must be set aside. Right now, you can't handle the fact that the Sabbath and Jewish festivals will be abolished. If I tried to tell you now, you're not ready to grasp that Gentiles must be equal members of the church. Because of your religious upbringing and traditions, you will have problems comprehending that many cherished dreams of yours about what the Messiah will do when He comes will not come to pass at this time. However, don't fret about it guys, I will reveal these things to you when the Holy Spirit shall come (John 16:13-15)."

Revelation from God comes to us in increments. Paul said in 2 Cor. 3:18, "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." Again, let me render to you how the Amplified Bible says it: "And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit."

Some folks pick up the Word of God, upon getting saved and starting a new relationship with Christ, only to put it down in disappointment because they were thinking; "well now I can understand the Bible". You can, but it will take time. For example, you can't start teaching first-graders twelfth-grade subjects. That's why we have grades in school beginning with kindergarten all the way up through college.

Knowledge and learning come by way of a process (unless you're a child prodigy). Why do we think that learning from and about God is going to be over-night? Jesus said in Matthew 11:29, "…learn of Me;"

Yes, I did say earlier the revealed things of Scripture belong to people forever, that they may know and do the will of God. However, I did not say that we are going to have an instant comprehension of those revealed things. That is going to come through and by time spent with the Father in His Word.

Paul said that his prayer, or one of his prayers for the Ephesians was, "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:" (Ephes. 1:17) Read this well: There is NO REVELATION (disclosure, discovery, exposure, eye-opener, realization) without R-E-L-A-T-I-O-N-S-H-I-P (association, connection, affiliation, rapport, bond, link, correlation, correspondence)! Your "revelation" will only go as deep as your "relationship" with God. So, let me go ahead and burst your bubble, as lovingly as possible, so it will hopefully spur you on to a new level: If your relationship with God amounts to a few minutes on Sunday morning, YOU HAVE NO RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD. That's not a relationship, that's merely a duty visit.

I have heard people who rarely, if ever, attend church anywhere make statements to the effect that "I don't feel led (by the Holy Spirit) to do this or that". I've got a news flash for you: IF THAT SPIRIT THAT YOU ARE BEING LED BY DOESN'T LEAD YOU TO JOIN YOURSELF UP TO AND WITH A LOCAL BODY OF GENUINE BELIEVERS, A LOCAL CHURCH, YOU'RE LISTENING TO THE WRONG SPIRIT AND IT AIN'T THE HOLY SPIRIT! (I just threw that little smidgeon of revelation in for free. It won't cost you a thing.)

Now back to the point. God does not play hide and seek with us, especially His children. He desires for us, as Paul said, to have "…the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:" Yes, the secret things do belong to the Lord, but there is still much, much, much more about Himself that He desires to reveal to us and, even more so, in us. The question is: Are we able to bear it?

Pastor Mike

Thu, Aug 16th - 2:42PM

When God Says: "I Don't Want To Talk About It"

Deut. 3:23-29 

"And I besought the Lord at that time, saying, 24 O Lord God, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might? 25 I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. 26 But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me: and the Lord said unto me, Let it suffice thee; speak no more unto me of this matter. 27 Get thee up into the top of Pisgah, and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and southward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes: for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. 28 But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see. 29 So we abode in the valley over against Beth-peor." 

This was Moses' last plea to enter the land and not be denied because of the one sin of striking the rock twice (Deut. 3:23-25; Deut. 4:21 22; Numbers 20:8-13).  A deeper study of Numbers 20:8-12 gives us a fuller insight into the severity of his punishment.

Speaking to the rock was all that was required of Moses, and it would have been effective in proving to Israel the benefits of the Messiah who was typified by the rock (2 Cor. 10:14). The rock had already been struck once, typifying Christ's crucifixion which was only to happen once for all men.  Merely speaking to the rock now would have brought the same benefits as striking it before. 

The same is true now of Christ: all we must do is ask and receive.

Let's take a few play by play looks at our passage here in Deuteronomy.  Verse 24 - "...thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand:" 

Moses may have hoped to persuade God to let him go into the promised land.  Perhaps he thought God would relent by now, in view of his long period of faithfulness.  Moses made the plea in his dying hour. Man may become especially merciful at such times, but God is merciful all the time, not just at a person's death.  God knew what was best; He could not afford to allow or encourage crucifying Christ afresh in type any more than He will tolerate it in reality.  He continues, "For what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?"  Have you ever tried to pull a "snow job" on God?  Let's learn from Moses:  That ain't gonna happen!  And Moses began to realize this and says in verse 26, "But the Lord... would not hear me:  and the LORD said unto me, Let it suffice thee: speak no more unto me of this matter."  God says, "I'm not talking about it anymore, Moses."  We find here another valuable...

Lesson on Prayer

Notice very carefully that this refusal to answer Moses is not an example of God saying no to men who pray according to His will and the Word of God. Some carelessly say that God always answers prayer, but sometimes says no. This is a deceptive excuse of unbelief.   Understand this:  God never has and never will say no to any child of His—anyone who is in Christ and is sincerely asking according to the promises given. God may say it to people who live in unbelief and use this and every other kind of excuse of unbelief in prayer, but He will surely not say it to people of faith who ask in faith in the name of Jesus Christ, and according to His promises. God cannot and will not refuse to fulfill His own Word.  He will meet His own obligations as plainly stated (Numbers 23:10; Psalm 89:34; Psalm 119:89,90,160; Isaiah 46:11; Isaiah 55:10-11; 2 Cor. 1:20; Titus 1:2; Hebrews 10:28).  When prayer is not answered, unbelief (Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:22), faithlessness, sin and/or judgment are plainly involved (as in the case of Moses here).  The will of God is not a question where one is truly a child of God, and asking according to the promises, for it is the revealed will of God for His children to ask what they will and desire (Mark 11:22-24; John 15:7).

So, let us be mindful that if God says He doesn't want to discuss it anymore, He has a very valid, righteous and pure reason as to why He doesn't.  The best policy for us to strive for is to not get ourselves into a position, such as the one Moses found himself in.

There are multitudes of God's people who may see their promised land, but may never get to experience it for themselves.  I don't know about you but, I want to not just see my destiny,  but I want to fulfill and complete it! 

Pastor Mike

Thu, Aug 16th - 2:38PM

This article comes to us from Brother Rick Mathes of Mission Gate Ministry, Chesterfield, MO.  I trust it blesses you as much as it did me. - His web address is: www.missiongateministry.org and he can be emailed at MissionGateMinistry@msn.com .

GABRIEL AND MICHAEL

It was a gray, drizzly daybreak as I drove my car within sight of the cold and foreboding walls of the double-fenced penitentiary. The guards were cautiously stirring about in the look-out towers with their high-powered rifles plainly in sight. The razor wire was twisted over what seemed to be an illimitable perimeter around this bizarre city, a community of captives. The human garbage of society had been dumped on this sight.

I parked in a visitor designated lot and felt a thousand eyes upon me as I briskly walked to the main gate. The noises that only prisoners make were bouncing off of the stone walls as I caught glimpses of convicts spying out between the steel bars. They had already begun the news broadcasting by word of mouth and runners, that general population would be permitted to attend my chapel service. I had no idea that within a few hours a surge of inmates would be gathering to join me I just walked in forced boldness to cover up my fears and apprehensions I knew the Lord was with me and that this was going to be one of those times when I would need to step out of the boat and not hold on to the sides.

Once cleared at the electric eye and after a very thorough search by a stoic matter-of-fact officer, I was taken into the cool morning air. That first deep breath freed my lungs of the stale prison pungency of the central control quarters. A world within but without the real world. A society of degenerates that only an ex-convict can truly comprehend and yet fail to explain to outsiders.

Across the metal walkway, down the loose clanking steps and through the yard to my assigned housing unit. A muscular, tall C.O. with a disgusted look on his face was my pathfinder through the shadowy passageways to the prison chapel. Needless to say, I was quite dependent upon him and noticeably astonished that he had no weapon whatsoever. The meaning of vulnerability was taking on a whole new dimension for me. I discovered I could walk and pray at the same time!

My first scheduled stopover was a dormitory housing fifty prisoners in an open security area. Each cubical had three waist high walls in open sight to those officers securing the area. A space with a sense of property; home. They were mostly all still asleep with only a few shuffling about. A coffee aroma sweetened the otherwise rancid air. I surveyed the challenge that lay before me. It was my dubious blessing to go from bed to bed and tell them about Jesus while they were still asleep on a Saturday morning. I was permitted only two hours to circulate the room and then move on to the next clearance area, the hole. I felt like David when he first faced Goliath.

Two correctional officers with short clubs hanging from their belts greeted me with broad smiles. "So you're the one that's going in there to talk religion, are you?" The tall skinny one taunted. "Yes, I am,"  I replied. "Well, let me remind you that you will be entering at your own risk and the waiver you signed releases us from any personal liability that may occur."  "I understand perfectly," I replied nervously. I continued, "But let me ask you a very obvious question. What happens if I go in there and a serious problem should develop?" They both laughed out loud and when they regained their composure, the inconsiderate obese guard responded, "You see, it's like this. We secure the gate from the outside and when the clamor dies down, we go in to see what happened and the medics tend to the injured! There are only two of us and neither of us wants to go home on a stretcher!"

My heart sank to my socks. I had imaginations of brutal beatings, gang rape, torture and maybe a violent death racing through my brain all at the same time. My body, not just my hands, but my whole body began to visibly tremble. I though of the fiery furnace, the den of lions, then dropped to my knees. They turned their heads as I cried out to the Lord. "Oh, Jesus, you got me into this and you're going to have to get me out of this!"

After a moment of prayer, a peace flooded my soul and I knew it would be OK. I deliberately rose to my feet and clutching my well-worn Bible, I stepped through the open gate. The two COs didn't say another word but the clank of the key and the squeaking of the hinges triggered my adrenaline. With a pounding heart, I walked into the dormitory and was greeted by a nerve shattering crash behind me as the steel gate slammed shut and was bolted!

At once my eyes were drawn to two powerfully built inmates that were quickly approaching me! Both topped six feet and I'm sure tipped the scales at a muscular 250 pounds each!  One was black and the other white. I stopped breathing as they reached out for me!

"Praise the Lord! Glory! Hallelujah!," the black convict bellowed as the other gave me a bone crushing bear hug and said, "You just stick with us and we'll tell these clowns about Jesus together! And don't worry. Nobody is going to mess with you unless they come through us first! You can take that to the bank."

Jesus Himself had sent Gabriel and Michael to lift my arms. Over twenty first time decisions resulted from the three of us witnessing the Gospel according to Jesus.

Rick Mathes

Mission Gate Ministry

Thu, Aug 16th - 2:34PM

Guest Article - "Sufficient Seed!" by Pastor Tim Hodge

Thu, Aug 16th - 2:28PM

Just Do It! (No, it's not Nike)

Thu, Aug 16th - 2:26PM

Hearing His Voice

The following article is used by permission of Harold Smith from his e-newsletter "He That Has An Ear..." His web address is http://hethathasanear.com 

He That Has An Ear To Hear...

"…let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to
eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God." Revelation 2:7

HEARING HIS VOICE
by Harold Smith

"My sheep know and recognize My Voice."
John 10:27

I was desperate. The circumstances I found myself in were overwhelming and demanded that I hear a clear and concise Word from the Lord. I had left everything behind to arrive at this place and, at the time, it seemed as though my very life depended on hearing God. The whole evolvement of events in my life had taken on an atmosphere of extraordinary surrealism.

After a couple of hours of praying all that I knew to pray and not getting anywhere, I picked up a Bible from off the nightstand next to my bed, opened it and began to read. It was then that I became aware of a still, small voice speaking from within me that said, "Put the book down and don't pick it up again until I tell you." Absolutely knowing that God would never tell me not to read the Bible, I began to rebuke the devil in all the ways that I had heard others do over the course of my short life among God's people.

The voice persisted, however, and after repeatedly commanding the enemy to "be gone in the Name of Jesus" and it stayed, I started to think that maybe this was God after all. So, (remember, I was desperate to hear anything) I laid the Bible back on the nightstand.

Encouraged that something, anything was happening, I began praying out loud and interceding for those persecuting me (wanting to heap fiery coals on their heads).

Once more, the same unction arose from within only this time it said, "Be quiet." Again, being absolutely convinced that the Lord would never give me a commandment not to pray, I started rebuking the enemy - louder this time - but, again, that still, small voice persisted when I got quiet enough to listen.

Finally, as I went back and forth wrestling with the thoughts in my head, I became aware that a scripture from Psalm 46, "Be still, and know that I am God;" was floating over and over in my mind. Quieting myself, it became obvious to me that the Holy Spirit was directing me to just be still before the Lord God Almighty. It was with much reverence and humbleness that I then began to comply, not saying or doing anything but merely sitting like a puppy before his owner, waiting on God to speak to me.

Two hours later, I woke up from a sound sleep not having heard anything and left my room very frustrated. But, I was desperate. So, the next day, I went back into my room and began the whole process over again. "Put the book down and don't pick it up again until I tell you," and "Be quiet" kept being repeated to me. After 15 or 20 minutes of complying with this solitude, I again fell asleep.

Desperate circumstances call for desperate measures, however, and the situation I was in was driving me back into that room. I had taken some solace in the fact that, at least I was hearing something and slowly, over time, I noticed that two things were beginning to happen. The first was that, with each new day, the time before I fell asleep was getting longer and longer and the second was that I was beginning to become more engaged in a conversation, a communion if you will, with the Lord Jesus. This was not at all what I had expected. I was coming into an awareness that He was speaking to me about the things that concerned me, although, none of what He said was directed at the situation that drove me there in the first place.

He began to make me aware of what my response should be in adverse situations and began to expose the state of my heart, showing me that He has already given me all that I needed to overcome whatever obstacle life could put in my path (II Peter 1:3). So sweet had this communion become that, over time, I found that I was no longer being driven into my room as before. In fact, so rich was the experience, I found that I was actually looking forward with anticipation each day for the time apart when I could leave the worries of the outside world and shut myself away with My Beloved. I started to understand that when He spoke, it was not so much with a voice that I could hear, but it was more like the verse mentioned above in Psalm 46 - a "knowing". I just "knew" what Jesus was speaking to me. As I became familiar with that "knowing" and became obedient to the things He was telling me to do, I found the circumstances I was in began to take on less and less importance in light of the joy I was experiencing in just knowing Him. And I began to understand something I had never understood before - how Jesus could stay "all night in prayer" - when one day, as I looked out my window to see the sun rising, I realized that He, too, had not set out on an all-night marathon, but had just become so engaged in the moment with God that He looked up to remark, "Oh my, where has the time gone, it's dawn!" (Luke 6:12)

One day, about six months after He first told me to "put the book down", as I was in this place of communion with Him, a scripture started running through my mind, but I could not remember all of it - how it read, exactly. I reached over to the nightstand and found the verse in the Bible. As I was reading, it dawned on me what had happened and, in an instant, I realized what the scriptures were for: they are given to us to verify and to reinforce that what we are hearing is truly the Word of God.

Yes, there are many voices out there - believe me, I have heard many of them. What we can trust, however, is that Jesus said that He would give us someone who would "guide us into all truth" - the Holy Spirit (John 14:17). The scriptures state in I John 2:27 that I did not need any man to teach me, and again in John 14:25 that the Holy Spirit would teach me in all things, bringing to my remembrance all the things The Lord has spoken. In other words, if our heart is right toward Him, we can trust the Lord to teach us the truth and He gave the scriptures to validate that truth. If our heart is not right, we can trust Him to reveal that to us as well.

The woman I married could call me on the phone from anywhere in the world, speak one word and I would instantly know her voice. How did that happen? Because I spent a lot of time with that girl and my ear became trained to the sound of her voice. If we are to know and recognize the voice of Jesus, the same dynamic applies - we must spend a lot of time with Him, training our "spiritual ears" to hear Him. There is no substitute for that process. Jesus did it and if we are to walk as He did, then we must as well. But, when we do, then the verse in Proverbs will come alive to us and we will be able to discern Him speaking to us anywhere, anytime. You will hear His voice floating above the noise of the marketplace.

"Wisdom calls out in the street; she raises her voice in the public squares, she cries out above the commotion; she speaks at the entrance of the city gates:"
Proverbs 1:20, 21 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

"And you shall seek Me and you shall find Me, when you have searched for me with all of your heart." Jeremiah 29:11, 12.

The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is reaching out to all of those who call upon His Name to bless Israel and to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. If ever there was a time to proclaim our faith in Him, to arise in this hour of need and stand by Israel's side - it is now!

The devastation from the most recent war in Lebanon is still affecting many of the hardest hit in Israel. Although there is talk of peace, what is not reported in the mainstream news media is that Israel's enemies are continuing to arm, readying themselves to strike again so that their stated ambition - to wipe Israel off the face of the earth - may be accomplished.

"How can I do that?" you may ask, "How can I help?".

Please take a moment and visit our web site: http://hethathasanear.com and click on "PromiseLand Israel" to see first-hand how you can partner with the PromiseLand Foundation to send 100% of your tax-exempt donation to the worst hit areas of the Biblical Promiseland of God. Remember, God will bless those that bless Israel. (Genesis 12:3)

May the Prince of Peace, Sar Shalom,
be made manifest to you today,
Harold Smith
http://smithprints.net
http://hethathasanear.com
harold@hethathasanear.com