Evangelical Time Capsule

Traditional church services are a bit like a time capsule: it’s a little like being transported back 2500 years to ancient Israel to participate in the Temple worship in Jerusalem. You have the holy temple building, you have the outer courts for the common people, and the inner courts, the holiest place and altar for the priests, which is the platform and pulpit, where men stand as mediators between God and the common people. None of this has any relevance, resemblance or connection to the church you read of in the New Testament, which Jesus and His Apostles established – they had none of this stuff, as it was all fulfilled in Christ.

History Lesson

If the Jewish religious culture wasn’t enough to save the Jews from destruction, then the Christian religious culture will definitely not be enough to save Christians from destruction.

Imagine…

In response to John Lennon’s song “Imagine”…. Imagine if every person on earth had Jesus living in their heart and was filled with His love?

There would be no wars, no killing, no armies, no guns, no nukes, no missiles, no armies, no need for police or courts, no jails, no divorce, no crime, no locks on doors, no security checks, no guards…

…no jihads, no terrorists, no more abuse, no more suffering…

…we could go on and on.

…And no religion too… Yes, John, you got that right.

If everyone had Jesus love in them then this planet would be nearly like heaven. There would be no conflict at all. There would be peace.

THAT is the reality of the power of His love to transform lives.

John Lennon did not understand the problem. God is not the problem, the Bible is not the problem, it is normal, sinful men and women without Christ as their Lord and Savior who are the problem. Mankind without Jesus is the problem.

The world is the way it is bcos people don’t know Jesus Christ and don’t have His love in their hearts for others.

John Lennon did not understand that HE was the problem, and that Jesus is the answer.

Good mission statement

And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him. Acts 28:30-31

Here’s a good mission statement: To preach the Kingdom of God, and to teach those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ….And not to teach those things which do not concern the Lord Jesus Christ.

Notice how Paul was housebound (literally) and yet the Lord drew people to him to hear the message. God is never restricted by our restrictions.

They were a little confused…

However we know this man where he is from: but when Messiah comes, no man knows where he is from. John 7:27

And then…

We know that God spoke unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from where he is. John 9:29

Or…

They answered and said unto him, Are you also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee arises no prophet. John 7:52

And then…

Nevertheless the gloom shall not be such as was in her distress, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more heavily oppress her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined. Isaiah 9:1-2

A question of honor

Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and fit for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. 2 Tim. 2:19-21

Therefore, departing from sin is a question of honor – God’s honor. It should be far more than self-preservation, or escaping punishment, it should be a question of honor. The man who truly departs from sin honors God, and he becomes a vessel of honor – one who carries honor to God, who gives Him glory.

Therefore, if we put the honor of the Lord Jesus Christ above all else, as the guiding principle of our life, that is, that what we believe and do MUST honor Him, then we are fit for His use, and ready to serve Him.

But this concept has largely been lost to Christendom. People now think in humanistic terms with a pragmatic mindset – that is, “right” becomes what is advantageous for you, and the honor of God is hardly cognizant.

Our text tells us that the man or woman who truly honors God will be used by God. The one who would rather die than dishonor Jesus is a candidate for servant-hood.

But those who lust for power, and don’t honor Him above all else, and are pragmatic and selective in their values and ethics, find they get a counterfeit power, and satan uses them. Satan uses the vessels of dishonor. All they care is that they get what they want, they don’t care whether Jesus is truly honored.

This is one of the foundational principles of the Christian life: whatever situation you find yourself in, the thing that matters most to God is that you honor Him in that situation. You may think you have nothing left in this life to give Him, but you can still honor Him by trusting and obeying, today, where you are at.

Antisemitism

When Jesus got really angry

When the Lord Jesus cast the merchandisers out of the temple and commanded the Jews that they not turn His Father’s house into a market place, what He was establishing is that God has zero tolerance for people selling the gospel for profit. We, the body of Christ, the Church, are the Father’s house, His habitation in the Spirit, we are the temple of God, both individually and corporately, and therefore it is immoral to turn this spiritual house into a marketplace, or to treat God’s Word as a marketable commodity which can be traded for gain.

Paradox of NT leadership

It seems like a paradox, but the role of leadership in the NT churches was to bring the body of Christ to a level of maturity where they did not depend on leaders to lead them. If you look at the chapter on church meetings (1 Cor. 14) there is not even a hint of a leader leading a meeting. Leaders led by example and by their teaching, more than by directing the church. It was a different paradigm of leadership than Christian leadership today.

Love is a bridge for the truth

When you face any person or group to preach to them, the first consideration is, do you love them? If you don’t love them, then don’t preach to them. Love is a bridge which God builds to communicate the truth from the preacher to the hearer. Love is the medium or atmosphere in which Jesus works.

Death swallowed up by LIFE

When there is death to sin, death to the flesh, death to self, pride and ambition, and a living faith in the Lord Jesus, then the LIFE of Christ EXPLODES inside us by the Holy Spirit, and death is swallowed up by life, HIS LIFE.

Equality and God’s impartiality

For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, And said unto them; Go you also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and said unto them, Why stand you here all the day idle? They said unto him, Because no man has hired us. He said unto them, Go you also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall you receive.

So when evening came, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the owner of the house, Saying, These last have worked but one hour, and you have made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden and heat of the day.

But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do you no wrong: did not you agree with me for a penny? Take what is yours, and go your way: I will give unto this last, even as unto you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? Is your eye evil, because I am good? So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many are called, but few chosen. Matthew 20:1-16

It’s not an easy parable to fully grasp at first glance.

And when they had received it, they murmured against the owner of the house, Saying, These last have worked but one hour, and you have made them equal unto us, who have borne the burden and heat of the day. Vs. 11-12

Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own? Is your eye evil, because I am good? Vs. 15

Here is the crux of the matter: Certain of these called ones have a problem with God’s judgment, and they are scandalized by the fact that God treats everyone the same, without partiality. They accuse God, saying, you have made them equal unto us, as if God is doing something wrong by making everyone equal.

You would be amazed how many Christians today do not believe in true equality among the members of the body of Christ – they either idolize heroes, or they feel inferior to the supposedly superior ones.

The point is, the terms are the same for all. Every called one must accept God’s terms.

Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with my own?

Jesus is saying that they are accusing God of being unjust for doing what HE chooses to do, rather than what they think He should do. You would be amazed how many “Christians” call God’s choices and judgments into question and put Him in the dock.

When people are called, and yet don’t like God’s terms – they disagree with His will and word, then, Jesus concludes the matter by saying that many are called, but few are chosen. The ones who cannot accept God’s judgment shall be last. They may not even be counted among the chosen. They were called but not chosen.

So there is a calling and there is a choosing by God: many get called by God, but out of this great number He calls, He chooses a few of them.

When you look at the Throne of God

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness… Genesis 1:26a

Here we have the plurality of the Godhead declaring there is one image of the Godhead, and as He made man in His image this means that man is made like God, as distinct from all other creatures including angels. And it had to be this way in order for the incarnation to happen, for God could only become a Man if man was made in the image of God. When you see the risen Lord Jesus you will see a Man, and yet a Man who is God, with the full glory of God, and when you see the Father you won’t see a man, but you won’t see someone very different from man, for Jesus, in His humanity, is the express image of the Father.

Where we sit today

…But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, has made us alive together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;) And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus…
Ephesians 2:4-6

How’s it going for you today, sitting together with Jesus in the heavenly places?

Back to the future

Israel should “withdraw” to its 1000 BC borders…… :)

https://ianvincent.wordpress.com/israel-timeline/

When demons speak thru the Pope’s mouth

Pope’s latest statement says that Mary is the spiritual mother of the world, and those who don’t believe she is their spiritual mother are “orphans”, and when one joins the RCC it becomes one’s spiritual mother. He says that these two “mothers” are the hope of the world. Good luck with that.

http://en.radiovaticana.va/news/2014/09/15/pope_at_santa_marta_learning_from_our_lady_of_sorrows/1106542

Kindle a flame

When you read the Word of God or when you contemplate on who Jesus is, the Holy Spirit within you should cause your heart to burn with love for Him. When we preach Jesus, by the Spirit, then the Spirit of God should touch the hearts of men, and a flame of love be kindled there.

Testimony

From Yasmeen Suri (on Facebook)

Well…a friend called me today. He is a man of God. His son has been addicted to pain killers. He is 17. He started manifesting DEMONS and his Dad called me and put me on the speaker phone while his son was manifesting. His son started cussing me out calling me names and speaking in an unknown tongue. I have to say it was the first time I have EVER heard a demon speaking in tongues. God wanted to show me all the false prophets out there that also speak in tongues. WOW is all I can say. It sounded like the real gift but was not.

I had to keep commanding the demon to be silent in the authority of Jesus name! Especially since they are liars and I am not to communicate with them.

My friend’s Pastor and his wife finally arrived and the son’s head turned 180 degrees and his body was contorting in all different ways and his eyes turned black and it took them a bit but they cast the demon out. PRAISE GOD!!! His son accepted Jesus this afternoon and got saved.

Remember…Jesus has given you power over all the power of the enemy. This is one of many calls I have been getting. It’s going to get worse in the days we live in. Get ready church. (Luke 10:19)

Cottage

A nice little getaway. Only the BBQ is missing.

A reflection of a simpler way of life and simple pleasures.

Are you blessed?

…Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.

Luke 11:28b