Can You Imagine?

murjahel · Aug 30, 2013

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

CAN YOU IMAGINE
DEPARTING FROM JESUS?

　
　
We were called out of darkness, out of sin, out of a life bound for hell fire eternally. We left that when we found Jesus and the salvation through His atonement on the cross for us. It is so wonderful being saved. We are forgiven, made justified of our former sins, and now bound for heaven.

I Peter 2:9
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should shew forth the praises of Him Who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."

God has called you out of the darkness of sin. Now, being out of darkness, now able to see, you can see sin as never before. The wicked walk in darkness. They do not see, but now you can see.

The wicked:
don't see what is wrong with .......
don't see a lie as evil...
don't see signs of the second coming...
don't see the need to go to worship...
don't see need to pray for others...
don't see - blind...
God has called you out of that darkness...

The world was darkened after the sin of Lucifer and of the pre-adamites on the original earth. A dark nebula covered the earth and kept it in total darkness. Sin had ended the light that once shined upon that earth. The darkness that covered the earth before the re-creation was ended when God said, "Let there be light..." (Genesis 1:2)

A command brought light to the world. God made Adam and Eve to be sinless and innocent, until they entered into a spiritual darkness when they sinned. Sin brought spiritual darkness.

Sin is darkness, for when in sin, even the saints do not see the light of righteousness for everything is darkness to them. It takes a miracle of light to awaken the sinner to righteousness.

Many of the last days are in darkness. Even some in the church cannot see due to their own darkness. Jesus spoke to them in Revelation 3, to the Laodiceans (Revelation 3:18), and the Lord says:
"anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see..."

They need the "eye salve" in the last days, for they are in blindness, which is a total darkness. Some today are in total darkness, and do not notice that the Lord is no longer in the crowd. They do not see their own sins, their own bitterness and judgmentalism. They are blind to their nakedness, poverty, destitute, etc. Somewhere they chose to depart the light, depart into darkness again.

As prophesied in Joel, there will come, perhaps already has come, a day of darkness, where many have chosen to depart the Light, depart from Jesus our Light.

Joel 2:2
"A day of darkness, and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains; a great people and a strong. There hath never been the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations."

Spiritually, this predicted day of great sinfulness. There is homosexuality, murder of the unborn, fornication, disobedience to parents, false prophets and false prophecies. Some claim to sin and still be righteous. Some call good to be evil, and evil to be good.

Amos 5:18-20
18. "Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! To what end is it for you? The day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.
...20. Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it?"

The Bible clearly predicts a time of darkness to come, both spiritually and physically. This darkness is to come very soon, as prophesied in Zephaniah.

Zephaniah 1:14-15
14. "The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord, the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.
15. The day is: a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness."
　

The ten virgins of the parable of Jesus showed that all then were in darkness, until a call of warning went out. The five wise awaken to be ready to enter into the wedding festival. The 5 foolish awaken to see their lack of preparedness means remaining outside of the feast the others enter into that feast.

We are not to depart the world of LIGHT, we are not to go back into darkness.

I Thessalonians 5:1-11
1."But of the times (kairos, clock time) and of the seasons (chronos, period of time) brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord cometh as a thief in the night.
3. For when they shall say Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them as travail (periodic and intermittent, but the pains come closer and closer, harder and harder) upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day shall overtake you as a thief.
5. Ye are all children of light, and the children of the day, we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6. Therefore, let us not sleep (physical sleep as the 10 virgins) as do others, but let us watch (stay awake, gregorio) and be sober (be serious).
7. For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8. But let us, who are of the day, be sober (serious), putting on the breastplate of faith (trust), and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
9. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.
10. Who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him (a resurrection is coming).
11. Wherefore, comfort yourselves together and edify (encourage, and uplift) one another, even as also ye do."

Can you imagine ever leaving this light, this lack of darkness that hides the evil and destruction of wickedness? The devils and seducing spirits use of television programs, rock music and the foul words that some unwittingly hear, sing, and tolerate in their minds. Peer pressure and the ideas espoused by them permeate, and get programmed into the minds of many. We need to avoid such sources of evil, and program the Word of God, and its truths, into our minds. They weaken our judgment against the darkness.

John 8:31-32
"If ye continue in My Word, then are ye My disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Proverbs 23:7
"As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he."

We become what we think. We think what we have entertained into our minds. We believe what we allow our minds to dwell.

The foolishness of having open ears to every wind of doctrine, to every voice of false prophets, is foolish. The most foolish of us, do not go to a garbage dump, and eat all that slightly looks edible. We discriminate upon what we put into our mouths, and we should be careful to discriminate upon what we allow into our minds, through our eyes or ears.

Can you imagine going back into darkness? Perhaps not. But if you allow the corruption of the devil into your mind, from multiple sources, you may be deceived enough to walk back into darkness.

Too many have substituted messages from various sources. They have forgotten or been intimidated to not test, not try, not research nor study doctrines, teachings of some so called ministries.

There is currently the foretold famine for hearing the Word of God in our world. Those who listen to all but do not verify by the Word are going to become dull of hearing (Matthew 13:15, Hebrews 5:11-14). The allowing of many, varied, corrupted ideas into the mind, is resulting now in many becoming victims of the demons and evil spirits who are seducing to depart Jesus, to enter again into the darkness of sin.

Matthew 13:15
"FOR THIS PEOPLES HEART (MIND) IS WAXED GROSS (MADE FAT BY OVERINDULGENCE) AND THEIR EARS ARE DULL OF HEARING AND THEIR EYES THEY HAVE CLOSED, LEST AT ANY TIME, THEY SHOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND SHOULD UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART, AND SHOULD BE CONVERTED, AND I SHOULD HEAL THEM."

The minds of many Christians is being cluttered with television and radio talk shows, and the myriad of false, heretical ideas being espoused thereupon. The gossips and complaints of others is influencing many in their attitudes toward God, church, faith, and the Lord. Meaningless talk of chatter and idle discussion has led many to horrible ideas that demons can use to seduce saints from the faith.
　
　see part 2

murjahel · Aug 30, 2013

part 2 of CAN YOU IMAGINE EVER DEPARTIG FROM JESUS?

The Spirit is ‘expressly’ speaking to the Christians. Yet, some are often not listening. In Revelation chapters 2 & 3, we find to each church, these words (Rev 2: 7, 11, 17, 29, 3:6, 13, 22):
"HE THAT HATH EARS TO HEAR,
LET HIM HEAR
WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYETH TO THE CHURCHES."

Yet many do not hear the messages of the Spirit. To every church age, the Spirit speaks. Paul heard the Spirit speaking expressly in I Timothy 4, and that message was for the last days. The Spirit is still speaking it today, and yet, many are not listening. Some are not hearing it today. Priorities of some have been shifted to allow the implanting of false messages from other spirits, and not allowing the reception of the Holy Spirit’s messages.

Jude 1:3 (KJV)
3 ... and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

Jude 1:19 (KJV)
19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

Jude warned of many coming in the last days, with ‘half or part truths’. These ‘apostates’ attack the faith, and bring upon themselves horrible consequences. They are like the angels who had known the joys and blessings of God for millennia, and yet, chose to sin.

Jude urges us to ‘contend for the faith’. Many in the last days will ‘separate themselves’. Those are our choices. ‘Contend for,’ or ‘separate. Yet, many do not even know there is a battle going on, which demands each make such choice.

Jude’s message is more for our age, than it was for the age in which Jude wrote it. The apostates are within and without the church. The internet boards are full of those who are ‘attacking’ the faith, the basic doctrines of the faith. Many Christian television programs spew forth false doctrines, and many saints ignorantly sit there, soaking up the false with the true.
Jude warns us that false prophets, like unto Cain, Balaam, and Korah will permeate the Christian churches.

Jude 10-11
"BUT THESE SPEAK EVIL OF THOSE THINGS WHICH THEY KNOW NOT: BUT WHAT THEY KNOW NATURALLY AS BRUTE BEASTS, IN THOSE THINGS, THEY CORRUPT THEMSELVES. WOE UNTO THEM! FOR THEY HAVE GONE THE WAY OF CAIN, AND RAN GREEDILY AFTER THE ERROR OF BALAAM FOR REWARD, AND PERISHED IN THE GAINSAYING OF CORE."

1. Cain speaks of religion without a cross. Cain neglected God’s instruction. Cain grew jealous and envious of the blessings of another. Cain thought his good works would satisfy God.

2. Balaam speaks of religion without morality. Greed, sexual license, and prosperity seeking are all found in the doctrines of this false prophet.

3. Korah speaks of religion without absolutes. Selfishness, denigration of God’s ways. He was self-seeking, acclaim desiring.

All three kinds of false doctrines are a darkness that some have entered again. Some are easily found spewing their vomit today.

We are supposed to build ourselves up in the faith, but some few will stroll back into darkness.

Jude 20
"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit."

‘Building up’ is akin to, and related to the ‘contending for’. It will take attention, work, battle, to win and not be overcome by the false doctrines of devils, the seduction of saints from the faith.

II Timothy 4:1-5
"the time will come, when they shall not endure sound doctrine..."

Already, we have seen many false, heretical, demon inspired doctrines permeate the church. Demons are trying to bring in doctrines like ‘reincarnation’, ‘out of body experiences’, necromancy (talking with the dead). They are trying to remove morality and decency, inserting tolerance to perversion and license to fornicate. Repentance is being replaced with laughing and seeking for wealth. Gold cellophane imposter miracles impersonate the real miracles of God. Marriage is being discouraged and belittled. Doctrines of the coming of Jesus are being attacked and hated.

Currently, according to some reports, one in four Americans believe in reincarnation.

Two million Americans claim out of body experiences.

Over 20 million seek advice from mediums and psychics.

Forty-two per cent say they have talked with the dead.

And in the Presbyterian church, only 5% of the clergy, and 16% of the laity think the Bible should be taken literally.

Some few will and do ‘separate themselves’. They are divisive.
They also are ‘sensual’, depraved, immoral, and carnal. And finally, they do not have the Spirit, are backslidden, not blessed by God, and hear demon voices, not the Holy Spirit’s voice.

Can you imagine being that stupid, to leave the joy and peace of the true faith, the fellowship with the Lord, the life of cross bearing next to your Lord, on your way to a heaven that comes to those who ‘contend for the faith’?
　
These apostates, false prophets, departers from the faith, are victims of the doctrines of demons, and have been seduced from the faith they once had.

Their pride led them to become a ‘drop-out’. Their have wanted to be acclaimed, rather than be persecuted.

They have wanted pleasure, not cross-bearing.

They have found a price, for which they sold out their Lord.

They have found others to be inconsistent, unstudied, and ignorant, and followed those examples rather than following the Bible way.

They have avoided true Bible study and reading, gaining its cleansing and enlightening help.

They have not gone to prayer, seeking God’s confirmation of winds of doctrines either.

They have avoided gathering with saints, and discussing Bible truth, and how to avoid evil doctrines. And the lusts of the world have drawn them away, making them to be no longer inheritors of the kingdom of God.

They chose to depart, to separate, due to their allowing the seductions of the devils into their mind. Can you imagine doing that too?

The Word of God needs studied, and used to test all doctrines that are being propagated in our time.

Ephesians 5:26
"THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY AND CLEANSE IT (THE CHURCH) BY THE WASHING OF THE WATER, BY THE WORD.’
I Timothy 4:5
"FOR IT IS SANCTIFIED BY THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER...’
John 15:3
‘NOW ARE YE CLEAN, THROUGH THE WORD WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN UNTO YOU.’

It is wise to ‘contend for the faith’, and not to depart Jesus. I hope you cannot imagine ever leaving Jesus.

murjahel · Aug 31, 2013

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

CAN YOU IMAGINE
FALLING IN THE RACE?

　PART 1

　
Hebrews 12:1-17 (KJV)
1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Paul used many references to sports in his writings. He referred to athletic contests, physical well-being. In chapter 12 of Hebrews, Paul pictures a race. He emphasizes the endurance needed in the race (12:1,2,3,7). The Hebrew Christians were weary and wanted to give up, they were seriously thinking of ending the race.

In watching the Olympics, I have seen a few races. Some in swimming, some in track. The athletes are admirable for their dedication, their long training, and their great desire to win and be considered the fastest in the world in their event. We, as Christians, are in a race, and none of us are capable of being the best, for only Jesus can claim to have won this race. Yet, we strive to be accounted worthy to be in this race with Him. We want to run, to show we have trained, prepared, and are anxious to show a respectable performance worthy of Jesus approval.

Sometimes the race can seem long, arduous, and almost more than we can endure. There is a temptation to stop, and sometimes, we dont purposely stop, but we fall down. At that point, we need to make a decision of whether to get up and finish the race, or stay there flat on our faces. Paul tries to inspire the Christians who consider stopping their running in the race, to:

Have you fallen in the race?

Can you imagine if you did fall in the race of life?

We race in front of a large crowd. Somehow, someway, the ones in heaven are able to view our race. Like watching the Olympics, even though there is an ocean between myself and the racers, I am able to watch them. Though there is great distance between here and the saints in glory, they are still called a (Hebrews 12:1) "great cloud of witnesses". They are watching, the Lord is watching. We are a spectacle to all.

REASONS WE FALL,
in the race...

Paul tells all racers in this spiritual race to look at themselves, and to see is there any reason for our fall, or any reason we are being tempted to quit.

CARRYING UNNECESSARY WEIGHTS
THAT CAN MAKE US FALL

He says: (Hebrews 12:2) "lay aside the weight... and the sin that doth so easily beset us."

Running and trying to carry the baggage of life with us, is very hard. Our own hopes and dreams, our own extra attachments to this world, are a weight that we cannot afford to try and carry in this race of life. They will slow us down, make us fall at times, and tempt us to quit the race.

TAKING OUR EYES OFF THE GOAL, I.E. JESUS,
CAN MAKE US FALL

Finally, Paul says to look at our Lord and Savior, Jesus, Who has run this race before us. He went through great trials, gave up the glories of heaven, to come to this sinful earth, and show us how to run this race properly. Paul says: (Hebrews 12:2-3) "Looking unto Jesus... For consider Him."
There are many that have run this race before, and we run with some others currently in the race now, and yet, none as great as Jesus. The Lord has allowed us to have greater blessings, and greater possibility to run a great race, than many of those who ran this race in previous generations.

Hebrews 11:40
"God having provided some better thing for us, that they with us should not be made perfect."

The coming of Jesus, in His first advent, provided for us a better and greater ability to live our lives in great faith. We now have the historical account of His running of this race.

He sent back the Holy Spirit to run with us now, and to provide supernatural gifts to help us in our running of the race. We are greatly privileged to live in these last days. We have far less excuse than they if we fall, or quit.

GIVING UP, TOO EXHAUSTED AND OUT OF SHAPE TO FINISH THE RACE

Hebrews 12:1-4
"Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.
Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him that endured such contradictions of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin."

We watch different kinds of races on television. Yet, these Old Testament heroes are still able to watch us here on earth, and as they watch, probably even more attentively than we watch the Olympics, we need to avoid being weighted down by the hindrances of life, the sins that keep us from God's best. Instead we need to look to Jesus as an example.

Sometimes, when we have fallen, been tempted to quit, wish we had never started this race, we need to look to how Jesus did it. Note that Jesus looked to the joy set before Him. Jesus therefore could endure the cross. Jesus despised the shame.

Therefore, Jesus now is set down at the right hand of God to intercede for us.

There were many reasons that Jesus could be tempted to quit, but Jesus endured the challenges of sinners against Him. That example of Jesus is meant to make us realize that we should not allow weariness to make us faint, give up, or cease the race. We may think that our troubles are great... but not as great as was our Lord's. We have not resisted unto blood in our striving against sin.

　
NOT PROPERLY TRAINED FOR THE RACE CAN RESULT IN A FALL
　
Hebrews 12:5-13
"And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him;
For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards and not sons.
Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence; shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?
For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; be He for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness.
Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them that are exercised thereby.
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;
And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed."
　

In order to make us better in our race of faith, the Lord sometimes needs to CHASTEN us. To run the race, we need to be chastened by our loving Lord to be in shape for the race of faith. Chastening of the athlete involves child training, instruction, and discipline. Chastening is more of athletic training, not punishment.

The trials of life are like the "work out" in the gym, preparing us for the future battles. Instead of trying to escape the difficulties, we should be exercised thereby, to grow. The athlete who misses practice and training does not do well in the game or in the race.

It is the love of the Lord, and His desire to make us "heroes" of faith, that has Him chasten us. God does not want us to be pampered babies, spoiled rotten brats, or sniveling wimps, but wants us to develop faith, fitting the age we live in. If left to ourselves, we will grow up in weakness and deficient in faith. A good father therefore will discipline his children. Why should we be spared? If there is no discipline, then we are "bastards".

Training for the athlete, means the Coach is going to call them to the track, the place of running, and run them and run them, till their muscles feel like they can run no more.

Our heavenly Coach, i.e. Jesus, has and will keep on calling us our of our bed and easy chair, to the track, to the weight room, to the training facility that is not as pleasing to us as the couch and recliner. The struggles we go through are training us, preparing us for the race.

Training hurts, but "afterward" it yields the "peaceable fruit of righteousness". This means that the "chastening" of the Lord will yield a faith that is at peace with the turmoil, hardship, patient awaiting of the promises of God. Rebellion and frustration against the trial of our faith.

MORE TO COME　

murjahel · Sep 1, 2013

CAN YOU IMAGINE
THE FALLING OF JESUS
DURING THE RACE?

　
We have many excuses for falling down. Yet, even Jesus fell during the race, but He did not sin when He fell. The devil has placed stumbling blocks on our race track. There are others who will try to lure us off the track.,

There are temptations to leave the track and go to places of rest and recreation. The race is hard, the spiritual weather through which we run, is often too cold, too hot, too sad, too much fun, too confusing, too dark, too bright, and too distressful.

Yet, remember, we were told to consider Jesus. Have you remembered how hard a life He lived in His race? Jesus fell in exhaustion, in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus did not sin in His fall, and often, some of us do fall into sin when we fall in the race.

Some have fallen down, some dont even realize they are face down, and the race is going on without them. Some are struggling to keep from falling... Some dont even know they are in a race...

Can you imagine making excuses for every fall, trying to justify our poor performance in the race?

Some do. Lets run the race aright.
　

THE BETRAYAL was very hard on Jesus.

Jesus foretold about His betrayal.

Matthew 26:2
"...after two days is the feast of the Passover, and the Son of Man is betrayed to be crucified."

To have a friend betray Him, was very hard on Jesus. He knew it was going to happen, but His soul was in great pain due to that betrayal.

Jesus had to pray ALONE IN GETHSEMANE. He had fallen in His race, not into sin, but in weariness of the race.

Jesus had foretold that the disciples would flee and leave Him to face His fate alone.

Peter led a chorus of objection, and they all declared that they would die with Him first.

These disciples became tired, and slept when Jesus simply asked them to stay awake and pray with Him in Gethsemane.

They were not strong when the trial came. (Matthew 26:40-46)
Christ had not asked them to die with Him, but He did ask them to stay awake a few hours, and pray, so they could be strong for the trial.

We may be left alone in our times of falling and of weakness in this race.

Yet, Jesus endured, despite being alone. Jesus was left alone for the intercessory prayer. The disciples could not stay awake and pray with Jesus when He needed them most.

Matthew 26:36-46
"... to a place called Gethsemane ... took with Him Peter and two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy... tarry ye here and watch with Me... fell on His face and prayed... ."

THE TURNING ON HIM BY PETER,
AND THE DENIAL OF PETER
GREATLY HURT OUR LORD
IN THE FINAL STEPS OF HIS RACE.

　

Jesus had foretold the denial of Peter. First, it was told Peter in the upper room:

Matthew 26:31-35
"Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended of Me this night: ... This night before the [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse] crow, thou shalt deny Me thrice... though I should die with Thee, yet will I not deny Thee... Likewise said all of the disciples..."

Peter fell, and sinned. Jesus fell in the garden, but in prayer and in desperate intercession for others.
　

THE RACE of JESUS,
GREW EVEN MORE HARD,
WHEN CAME HIS ARREST.

　

The betrayal by Judas, and the arrest by the servants of the High Priest came quickly. Jesus fell in weakness and in weariness. Yet, He did not fall into sin. We too can fall in the race, but we must not fall into sin.

Judas was a disciple about whom Jesus had said, that his name was written in heaven. Yet, this one who had been saved, betrayed the Lord Jesus. It is "funny" how the religious people of then and now can betray, let down, turn on, and attack each other.

　

THE TRIAL WAS
A PUBLIC MOCKERY OF THE LORD
AS HE RAN THIS RACE FOR US.

　
Jesus not only took your death, He also took your trial. Pilate was the Roman governor of Judea between 26 to 37 A.D. He ruled that area for a bit longer than Jesus was there to minister. The plotters of Jesus death, knew also of the evil nature of Pilate, and felt sure they could get this Galilean, i.e.
Jesus, condemned to death too. Yet, in Jesus, at His trial, Pilate saw a man in whom even he could find no fault. So, the judge of the trial was blackmailed and coerced to bring a guilty verdict, and bring death to an innocent man, i.e. Jesus. The trial was at an illegal time of day, the death sentence was carried out illegally, but it worked together for good, because Jesus died for our sins at that crucifixion.

The pharisees provided lying witnesses at the trial. The crowd was stirred up to yell crucify Him, when several days before many were shouting hosanna to the same Person. The intimidation against Pilate brought therefore the death sentence at that trial.

This was a trial of an innocent man, Who died for the sins of every generation. We can claim, if we choose, to let His trial be ours, His death be ours, His resurrection be our guarantee of ours. He went to trial for us, for we are more than guilty, He is totally innocent.

Judas had proclaimed Jesus to be innocent.

Matthew 27:4
"I have sinned in that I have betrayed innocent blood."

Pilates wife had claimed Jesus to be innocent. A dream had shown her in the night that this man was innocent. It is said, she later became a Christian. Pilate is said to also have then been led to accept Jesus due to her witness.

Matthew 27:19
"his (Pilates) wife sent unto him, saying, Have nothing to do with that just man..."

Pilate had realized Jesus was innocent of the charges even at the trial.

Matthew 27:24
"...washed his hands... saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just Person."

Herod had realized Jesus was innocent.

Luke 23:15
Pilate said of Herod, "I sent Him unto him (Herod), and lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto Him.

A thief of the cross said of Jesus:
Luke 23:47
this Man hath done nothing wrong.

The centurion who led the soldiers of the crucifixion said:
Luke 23:47
Certainly, this was a righteous Man.

Those that one would not suspect of mercy, saw in Jesus though, that He was a just, righteous, innocent Person. Those that should have known that Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah, the Savior, were the ones pushing for, providing liars against Jesus.

The trial began with a betrayal from one of Jesus own disciples. Jesus knew that betrayal was coming. Jesus knew from the beginning of His ministry which one would betray Him. He also wept greatly in Gethsemane, knowing this betrayal was being carried out by His friend. The betrayal was finalized with a kiss upon the cheek of Jesus, an event that must have previously indicated devotion and love for the Messiah.

The verdict of death was already decided by the perpetrators of the trial. They would not settle for any punishment less than death.

Jesus was sent first to Caiaphas house, and there faced Annas, the former High Priest. Then later faced Caiaphas. They already had decided to have Jesus killed, but the method of doing so was still being decided.

Annas questioned about Jesus teaching. This was illegal, for the proper way to charge Jesus with heretical teaching was to produce witnesses of it having been taught. The duty of an accuser is to produce witnesses as evidence, but to question one on their own teachings was not allowed by Jewish law.

Then the Sanhedrin assembled. They needed at least a two thirds quorum to be authorized to make decisions. The law also said that a night session of the Sanhedrin was illegal, and this was a night session.

Two false witnesses were brought forth, and of course, lying witnesses are forbidden in the law. They said that Jesus had said that He would destroy the Temple and then rebuild it in three days. The two witnesses could not agree on the lie they told, and the falseness of their witness was evident.

Then, Jesus was asked if He were the Son of God? Jesus said to them, Thou sayest it."

False accusers were brought to Pilate. If they were to enter the court of this Roman, they would feel defiled, especially since the Passover was about to begin. So, they had Pilate come out to them. That feeling of needing purity, did not stop them from lying to Pilate, from falsely accusing Jesus. One kind of purity was important to them, purity of speech was not. This is not unlike many today.

Therefore, the sentence of Pilate to kill Jesus, was judicial murder, for Jesus had not been found guilty of any crime. The trial was illegally held. The witnesses were deemed to be liars. Jesus had uttered nothing that made Him self condemned.

Consider Jesus Who endured all this, and still kept in the race. Have we endured anything this bad?

see part 2

murjahel · Sep 1, 2013

part 2

THE MISTREATMENT OF JESUS was incredible, and hard to believe that they could enjoy doing these things to One Whom no one could find a charge that was true to incriminate Him as worthy of mistreatment. Here was One Who had healed the sick, raised the dead, taught love and mercy, and offered salvation to all who would accept, and they did these horrible things to Him.
　

This was sport to these soldiers. They enjoyed the mistreatment. People may watch gory movies on television, and yet, it is far beyond that to treat people as these men did Jesus. None of us, who may be tempted to quit the race, have ever been mistreated as was Jesus. We often deserve our mistreatment, but Jesus did not. We have failed, done wrongly, been stupid in even our unintentional wrongs, and yet, Jesus was perfect, undeserving of this mistreatment.

THE CRUCIFIXION was the ultimate of pain, the death is an ultimate fall, and yet, still without sin on the part of Jesus. The sinners hated, berated, spat upon Him, beat Him, nailed Him to a cross, and He forgave them.

Four soldiers were detailed to each cross in those days. They were under the command of a centurion. The centurion led the way, and carried a white wooden board on which was written the crime of the one to be crucified. It was this sign, that Pilate ordered to be put upon the top of the cross. It angered the Jews, for it had no crime written upon it. For Jesus, it read- "The King of the Jews." This was the charge they brought to Pilate, and there was no wrong of Jesus to put upon the cross, so Pilate had them carry a sign bearing the one truth about Jesus that caused these Jews to want Jesus dead.

Usually the longest way to the place of crucifixion was taken, to attract public attention, some feel that it was different here because of the nearness of the Passover. Jesus was followed by two thieves who each had their own soldiers.

When a person was crucified, the cross was first laid down upon the ground. The sufferer was laid upon it. A strong nail was driven first into the right hand, and then into the left. A rest for the body was fastened to the cross. The feet were then nailed, either together, or separately. The body was hoisted on the cross, and the body hung two to three feet above the ground level. The sign was put atop the cross before it was raised up from the ground. Upon that type of cross was our Lord nailed.

CONSIDER JESUS,
AND THEN
GET UP FROM YOUR FALL.

　

Yes, we run a race, not as hard as was His. We deserve many of the hard knocks we endure. The stumbling blocks we trip over are often the same ones we fell over last time around the racetrack. We have not learned, we have not progressed. The race is hard, and if we want to win the prize, finish the race, we need to stay the course and not quit.

2 Timothy 4:7-8 (KJV)
7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.

Can you imagine the fall of Jesus?

It was harder than any of our falls. Yet, it was without sin. We may fall in the race, we may fail the Lord, we may fail our fellow man, but we can always find a loving Savior Who also fell in exhaustion in the race. He can pick you up, dust you off, and put you back in the race.

murjahel · Sep 2, 2013

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

CAN YOU IMAGINE
BEING AN ABSALOM?

　

We are all supposed to be sincere, Jesus loving, witnessing disciples. Yet, we see many kinds of people in the church. Some are sincere, some are not. Some are truly what they portray, some are deceptive, putting up a front, like a mask, not truly loving, not truly sincere in their dedication to the Lord.

The devil is also called a wolf, and we are told that some people come as wolves in sheeps clothing. These ones come seductively, deceptively, like that wolf in sheeps clothing.

Some are very active in opposition. We are told to resist these deceptive ones, to not be fooled by them.

These wolves are actually warring against the saints, destructive to the work the Holy Spirit is trying to do in the saints.

One deceptive and alluring type of wolf in sheeps clothing, that we face is the Absalom type. This kind of person is much the same kind as Absalom, Davids son, who worked hard and evilly against David.

Absalom, Davids son, took Tamar into his home. That act of love for his sister, who had just been raped by her brother, Amnon, shows that Absalom could present a good front, and seem to be a loving person. Absalom spirits will seek to always have good motives in their deeds, so as to fool the other Christians. You will hear or read words from those like Absalom of trying to persuade their intended victims that they are good people, loving saints. Their inner nature still will be seen soon, as they work dastardly against their intended victims. Their pretend act is sheeps clothing meant to disguise the wolf beneath.

Absalom instructed some servants to kill his brother Amnon. Absaloms of today will also seek to get others enlisted to do the harsh attacks on saints, especially the prophets. They stir up others, to attack, and then if they can, they stay and watch the deeds of attack. The other sons of David fled at this time, for they likely knew that Absaloms motive was not just to defend Tamar, but his goal even then was to be king.

Can you imagine what it must be like to be this kind of evil person? Could you imagine yourself pretending kindness, pretending empathy, pretending a godly nature, but inside being evil to the core?

Absaloms will cloak themselves with some good facade, but the real desire they have is to take over power. Power is their goal, control is their desire, and until they have converts to their personal cult of followers, they are not satisfied. They will lie, steal anothers good name, cheat, berate, in the attempt to turn others from hearing Bible truth, to instead follow the mild, meek looking, caring (at least they pretend to be) saints.

Could you be that insincere, deceptive, cunningly manipulative? I hope not, but it is not totally unseen even in churches of our time, for these kind of people to be at work.

Who would want to forsake the loving, genuine, sharing, compassionate Savior to be a con artist person seeking power?

David was devastated by his Absalom, for he loved him.

Absalom fled from the possible consequences, expecting David to be more wrathful. Absaloms seek to get the ones who do stand up to them to flee, but in reality the Absaloms themselves will flee quite readily when saints recognize their true intent and say no.

Absalom later returned to Jerusalem, after finding that David was not desiring him dead. This Absaloms flee from consequences of their actions, but usually, you see they do not stay gone long.

One Absalom personality that I once had to deal with announced when recognized that God had told her to leave, and not come back. Some have coffee breaks longer than her absence. The desire for power keeps bringing the Absaloms back. Again, a bit later, supposedly this oft mind changing god she served, told her to leave again, but then she came back under a different name, and pretended to be a different person. Funny that God only wanted her name to leave, not the real person. It was all right to come back as a fake name, but not all right to be honest as to who she was. Later, her god who was telling her to do all this, had her come back with her original name and she actually talked to her new name, praising herself under the old name.

Wow, it soon became confusing, but in the end, what became very apparent, is that what she wanted was people telling her how wonderful, holy, spiritual she was. She wanted attention, acclamation, and if she did not get it, leaving was a ploy to try to get some to give it to her. When the good byes to her, every time she left, she ceased to be satisfied, so she came back. She made attempt after attempt, to get everyone to see her as goddess. When it failed, she would leave again.

This is the Absalom personality that has this desire for acclamation, and leaving periodically to bring attention to them. We are to glorify the KING, not seek attention away from the King. Absalom wanted Davids throne. The devil wanted Gods throne. Many today seek some of Gods throne. They want people to see them as lords, and as ones to be in awe of.

We are not to be this kind of person, nor have that kind of goals in life. We are to glorify the King of kings, and serve Him willingly. We do not need the acclaim that belongs only to Him.

We need to seek to serve, to share His love, to look forward to His coming for us.

Can you imagine the horror of being someone in search of acclaim, of a cult following, or of a private kingdom of ones own, as Absalom did?

Some think being a pastor will fulfill that desire, but pastoring is serving not ruling.

Some think claiming apostleship will give them a private kingdom of followers. Apostles are missionaries, not rulers.

This desire to have a personal following, of trying to take followers from King Jesus and make them our personal slaves, is an Absalom personality.

Could you imagine having that kind of motivation in life? I hope not.

Like the original Absalom, the obsession to gain ones own kingdom keeps them returning with new attempt after attempt. This nature is due to brazenness, and pride. They cannot leave a conquest, if it is not yet won. They want a throne, like Absalom wanted Davids. The real intent, while switching from evil deeds to wolf in sheeps clothing smiles, is always, get the throne.

　
Absalom, after returning to Jerusalem, prepared for the next part of the plan. He prepared chariots, horses, and 50 men (to run ahead of him, announcing his coming, proclaiming his greatness). The Absaloms today get their victims to encourage others to proclaim their greatness. They want it well announced, and often announced.

Then Absalom sat by the gate to Davids court. When individuals had disputes, David would listen to each side, and make a judgment on who was right, who was wrong. Absalom would question them when they emerged from that conference. Absalom would always side with the one not chosen to be right. He would tell them that if he were king, judge, he would have ruled for them. He said Oh that I were made judge... I would do ... justice."

We can hear a version of those words, coming from those with Absalom natures, today. They seek to rob others of power by alluring them to their side. They fool many with this tactic, and this type of device is the main feature of the Absaloms.

Absalom would extend his hand to all that felt wronged, even if the judgment of David had been fair. He would then kiss their hand, pretending friendship and support. He stole the hearts of the people in this way. The Absaloms will also seek to steal affection that belongs only to Jesus.

They follow after saints, seeking to separate and replace Jesus in their admiration.

Can you imagine being so proud and arrogant as to even think oneself anywhere close to being a replacement for Jesus?

　
It is the devils goal to separate the saints from Jesus, and the Absalom personality is one of his ways. We are to stay close to Jesus. All our worship is to be given to Him. No person is to take the place of Jesus in our admiration, in our glorying. Jesus went about destroying the works of the devil. There are many today who go about encouraging those with Absalom natures.

　see part 2

murjahel · Sep 2, 2013

part 2 of CAN YOU IMAGINE BEING AN ABSALOM?

We are to test all doctrines, try all those who profess to have ministries for the Lord. We are to do this with the Spirits help. Sinners are totally unable to see and know what the saints see and know, so when Absaloms present to them someone who claims to be their guardian, their savior, their champion, they fall into Absaloms fake kingdom. We, the saints are not to be so naive, nor be vulnerable to Absalom attempts.

I Corinthians 2:12-16
"...natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.

The world does not receive the message and discernment from the Holy Spirit as we are supposed to receive. Therefore, victims of Absaloms are easily seen. Yet, we the saints, the Spirit filled, anointed saints of the Lord are to be quite resistant to the wolves in sheeps clothing.

Despite the criticism and upsets of the carnal or unsaved within the congregation, the saints of today must test, prove, and identify the Absalom natured ones.

I Thessalonians 5:21
"Prove all things, hold fast to that which is good.

　

If satan can come as an angel of light, then so can his workers come with that same disguise.

II Corinthians 11:14-15
"And no marvel; for satan, himself, is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works."

　

The counterfeits are very deluding, very cunning, very deceptive. Absalom natured ones can be compared to a fowler, who lay snares to trap the fowl.

Psalms 91:3
"Surely, He shall deliver thee
from the snare of the fowler."

　

Absalom sent spies to be ready to announce his ascension to the throne, at the first possible time. These spies pretended loyalty to David, but in reality were wanting to devastate the real supporters of David, by suddenly seeming to change their loyalty to Absalom. This was meant to devastate those who supported David.

The Absaloms today, like to get their friends to pretend allegiance to the ones they want to harm. Then suddenly, the spies turn on the other ones, swear allegiance to the Absaloms. True saints need discernment, words of knowledge, words of wisdom to defeat this type of attack.

David was a godly man, and told Joab to deal gently with Absalom. In many situations, we see saints today dealing gently with those with Absalom natures.

The long hair of Absalom was caught in some branches as he rode beneath the tree. Hanging by his hair, Joab came up and pierced the still living Absalom with three darts. The end of Absalom was not pretty, and we are blessed to be in the age of grace, in a time of mercy, where the Lord gives chance after chance, mercy upon mercy, and only judges when absolutely necessary.

If you can imagine yourself as an Absalom, give thanks that you are in an age of grace and mercy, with delayed judgment, giving you time to reevaluate your life from your decision to be an Absalom personality.

A heap of stones was built with Absaloms body within, and the name of that place is called Absaloms place. Many will follow the Absaloms of today, fooled by their allurements, and by their stealing of the affections of others. The church has found this Absalom personality increasing in this last time. It is time the we make ourselves aware of the Absalom personality. To be forewarned enables us to be forearmed in readiness.

　

Can you imagine ever wanting to be that Absalom kind of person?

I hope not. It is not a pleasant life, it is deceptive to even the persons who are that kind. Their life is filled with defeat and frustration.

Can you want to be that way, or be a loving disciple, a fellow servant to your fellow man?

The attempting of taking part of the kingdom of Jesus may seem alluring, but it an awful life.

Jesus alone is Lord, He alone is the King of kings, and all of us are His servants.

murjahel · Sep 3, 2013

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

CAN YOU IMAGINE
ASSEMBLING THE PERFECT CHRISTIAN?

　

We all would like to be PERFECT. It is a goal we all have, should have. Yet, there are some hazards even in looking to reach that goal. How do we do it, can we do it? The Lord tells us to be perfect, so we are to seek such a goal, if we can.

Matthew 5:48
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect."

The word perfect, in the Greek, is telios, meaning "complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, completeness, of full age, man, perfect." (Strong's).

So, we are told to grow up mentally and morally. We see many Christians who are not grown up, not complete in their mental thinking, in their morality. Some feel so secure in their salvation, that they live sinfully, are apathetic in their study and search to please their Lord that saved them. They can lie, abuse, hate, have grudges, be unforgiving, etc and still call themselves "Christian", i.e. "Christ-like." They do not shoot for any more growth than that. It is shameful and not what God wants for His redeemed to be.

God lists some great heroes of faith in the Book of Hebrews, and tells us that for their maturity and growth in the faith, He is not ashamed to be called their God. Yet, there are so many that I am sure He is ashamed to be called the God they claim to serve. We need to strive for growth in morality, growth in mental completeness. We need to study to show ourselves approved, inferring those who dont study are not approved.

　
　
Hebrews 11:15-16 (KJV)
15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

　

Christians are to aim toward being morally, ethically, mentally, Christ-like. The aspiring to perfection has not led to any totally perfect ones yet, however.

Christ alone has been the only perfect, righteous example.

The striving for completeness in morality, in mental faith, has often degenerated into legalism, judgmentalism, and pride.

The church is full of judgmental, bitter, and proud aspirants. That is not to what we were supposed to aspire.

How do we assemble such a perfect saint?

The methodology used in the past has been seriously flawed, and many have just resigned themselves to remain weak, defeated, and apathetic Christians.

This is not acceptable in any age, and much less tolerable in the latter rain revival, wherein we should be nearing the best that Christianity can produce.

ASSEMBLING A PERFECT SAINT!

There is a story told of "the mad scientist and Igor." They both were saved, and then attended Bible school. After graduation, they took a church to pastor. Pastor Mad backslid a bit, and opened a laboratory in the basement of the church. He began to create the "perfect Christian."

Mannequin parts began disappearing all over town. Electricity was seen shooting from the chimney of the church on dark nights. Finally, Pastor Mad felt that he had finally succeeded in creating a "perfect Christian."

He called for his assistant pastor, Igor, to come to the church. Pastor Mad asked Igor to approach the communion table, which had sheets spread over it.

Removing the sheets, Pastor Mad revealed an image of a perfect man.

There was a large Bible in its hand. A smile was upon its face.

In its head was a slot for putting computer programming with all sorts of Biblical knowledge.

"What if he fails?" asked Igor.

"Oh, we don't have to love it, we just take it apart and reassemble it, if we can." answered Pastor Mad.

There are many Christians like Pastor Mad. There have been far too many who are either:
1. trying to manufacture "perfect Christians",
or
2. are trying to "take apart" the imperfect ones.

　

The lack of love is evident in both groups. We need to improve our striving for "perfect Christians" to something more in line with God's plan revealed in the Scriptures.

Can you imagine trying to make perfect Christians?
Can you imagine taking apart imperfect ones, and reassembling those who are imperfect?

I am sure some of you can imagine that, for we see it daily in church circles. The yelling and complaining on the Christians boards of those who do not like what they see in us. The name changing, personality readjustment of some who find that they want to appear to be a different person at times.

An unloving, cold, and systematic approach as was Pastor Mad's, will never work. Love is the most essential ingredient to the plan. Re-assembling oneself to be a different person at times, and back to the former person at other times is not the true goal we should have.

　

What is a "perfect Christian" like?

If we don't even know what one is, how can we ever hope to produce one?

The problem is that we all have different ideas on the subject. We vary in our description of even the goal we seek. I could sign in as Educated Bible scholar one day, and give Scriptures galore.

The next day, I could be Loving, tolerant, and accepting saint the next day and be accepting of all kinds of sins the Bible says are unacceptable.

The next day we could think a perfect saint is one who judges the sin of the day to be horrible and dooming.

The following day, the perfect saint is one who thinks all are going to be saved, and none doomed.

So, some choose different forum names, and can appear each day with the name of the one who is that day acceptable. Some days they can appear as both names, and even cheer themselves, and give themselves reps.

The idea of what is perfect changes amidst those who call themselves to be saints. We cannot change perfection by changing our names on the forum. We cannot try to be both by having multiple names. We need to decide ourselves what is really a perfect saint, and not change that daily.

It is much like the story of the blind men who were trying to describe an elephant. They approached the animal, and the one blind man came to the leg of the elephant, and said that the elephant is like a tree trunk. The second one came to the tail of the elephant, and decided the elephant was like a rope, or snake. The third discovered the trunk of the elephant, and decided that the elephant was like a cable. The last one came to the side of the elephant, and therefore believed the elephant to be like a wall. All were right, and all were wrong. The ideas of what a "perfect Christian" is like, similarly, are both right and wrong.

A powerful, perfect saint must be an intercessor, a person of the Word, a person who fasts, a person who has genuine Christian love, and a person who exercises the gifts of the Spirit. Powerful, perfects Christians have many such ingredients. Yet, these persons who have all those ingredients, still may differ one from another in many ways.

Though they should all have some ingredients alike, there are some things that may vary greatly between them.

Paul differed from Peter, Elijah differed from John the beloved. Job was much different from Moses. God knows how to take those who come to Him, and make them into His perfect, powerful, and victorious saints. He has an agenda for us, and we must go personally to Him for His plan for our development. It will vary, and we must submit to His conception of perfection for us.

I have seen various times where all want to look, act, and seem just like C.M. Ward. Then in a later time, the goal was to look, seem, and sound like Jimmy Swaggart. Then came a time when many imitated and tried to look like Oral Roberts.

Then came a time of masking oneself to look and sound like Kenneth Copeland. We can go on and on, of different models that some try to make themselves into. God is not wanting to make us clones of some great saint. We are not to pick a saint of Bible times even and try to press ourselves into cookie cutter versions of that saint of the Bbile.

There is a plan for our lives, and we do have a part in its implementation in our lives.

It is much like the way we take care of ourselves physically. We need to get 6 to 8 hours of sleep for our physical well-being. We cannot skip a night's sleep. We need to eat two or three meals a day on a regular basis. We must get enough liquid each day. We wash and cleanse our body regularly. We use grooming aids to make ourselves presentable to others. We make sure we dress in clothes that are updated and laundered. In that way, we physically can be deemed to be acceptable.

Spiritually, we also need to take proper care to make ourselves presentable to the Lord. With proper spiritual care, our lives can develop into the powerful and perfect condition that the Lord desires. Daily we need to get into the presence of the Lord. We must never miss a day of prayer. There needs to be regular times of daily prayer. We need to experience God's blessing daily. There should also be daily repentance for our failures, and mercy sought for the defilements that affect us regularly. We need to allow God to use us daily. God deserves to be thanked daily for His goodness and blessings to us.

Like the normal hygienic care for our bodies, this spiritual care for our souls will allow the Spirit to help us mature into the powerful, perfect, victorious saints that we should be. We wont need to come up with new forum names to make us sound more spiritual than others, we wont have to tell tales of our spiritual victories to have others acclaim us as deserving sainthood. We are just to be the person that God is developing. We are to be awed by His greatness, and lifting Him up to the world, not lifting up our own selves. The name on our office should be glorifying Him, not be 8 foot tall well lit, letters that spell out our own name.

Step by step, we grow from "glory to glory." Little by little, Christ produces in us a spiritual work that astounds the world.

Colossians 1:28-29
"...we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Whereunto I also labor, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily."

Thus, let us not be forgetful of the fact that it is the Lord working this maturing process in us. It is our part to present Him with a body, soul, and spirit that is yielded to His working. We do not need a professor Mad to put us together.

We do not need thirty "Igors" to praise the creation we think we are. We need to humbly let the Lord daily put together the perfect saint He desires us to be. It will be a wonderful creation, if the Creator is the Builder.

see part 2

murjahel · Sep 3, 2013

part 2 of CAN YOU IMAGINE ASSEMBLING A PERFECT CHRISTIAN?

We are to present ourselves to Him, and let Him transform and create us.

Romans 12:1-2
"I beseech ye therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present yourselves a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable, unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God."

　

HOW TO REACH PLACE WHERE
GOD CALLS US =PERFECT !

　
　
How does Christ and the Holy Spirit work in us? There is a process which varies in specific content from one of us to another. Yet, there are some similarities that are alike for all of us.

ACCEPT THE SEED blessings that God gives. Just as He gives us children to raise, not adults. He gives acorns to plant, not full grown oak trees. He likewise gives us blessings in seed form, and we are matured by learning how to plant the seed, and water, tend, and see the bountiful harvest come.

We do not start out mentally and morally perfect. We are to work out our own salvation. This is a process though that starts with the great work God has done for us in salvation, and now we add our efforts. He did the work to save us, we now must do some work in making Him not ashamed of us. He loves us all, but He has desires for us to choose to be like Jesus.

We may pray for revival, and He tells us to intercede. We may pray for our enemies to cease their attacks, and He tells us to love them. We may ask for financial blessings, and He provides us a new job. We may ask for a great ministry, and He gives us one gift to begin to use.

As we use the "seed" blessing, the Lord develops great things in and through us. We must learn to cooperate in this plan, and not to demand the final form of the blessing to start. I recall while attending Bible school, many of the ministerial grads sought the Lord to give them a full time ministry as their first church. They thought they had paid their dues in Bible school, and now deserved to take over a congregation of several hundred. Most found that they had just begun in the education of the Spirit, and a small "seed" blessing of a ministry awaited them. The huge congregation, that they assumed they were ready to pastor, awaited the completion of the growth of the "seed" that they were given.

Many in the church have corrupted the seed concept, and watered it down to the idea of planting money in their back pocket and that would make the giver to be blessed and righteous. That is not what God is desperate for in our lives.

He wants us to take the seed blessing of salvation, and let it bear a fruitful life of morality, of faith, of righteousness, of sanctification.

　

ACCEPT THE WALK WITH THE LORD.

Matthew 19:21 (KJV)
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.

If our lives revolve about a past event, we are miserable. If life revolves about a future goal, we are happy. God saves us in a moment of repentance and faith. His grace floods us. Yet, that is not the end, it is the beginning of the walk. Some never reach perfection, because they sit down at the cross, upon which Jesus died for them, and gaze upon it. Jesus said take up your cross. We have a walk with Jesus. It will be hard, it is not an easy chair on golgotha, it is an uphill walk carrying our own cross. We walk with Jesus.

The rich man was to unload the cares he had already in life, and take up the life of serving His new Master, i.e. Jesus. He was unwilling, and perhaps never became perfect, unless he later changed his mind.

On this walk, we may have pass through "desert experiences" as did Moses.

We may have enemies chasing us about in anger, as did David. We may have ill health, loss of children, loss of possessions, or betrayal of friends, as did Job. We may be disliked by our family, or imprisoned, or forgotten by those we helped, as was Joseph.

The secret of moving toward perfection and power with God, is to not get our eyes upon those problems, but to put our eyes on the future goals provided by the Lord. If we put our eyes on the problems, and fill our selves with self pity, thoughts of misery, or depression, we will hinder the Spirit's work of development within us.

If Moses had pouted about his 40 years in the backside of the desert, or if David had grown angry at the fact that Saul sought to kill him, or if Job had blamed and cursed God and died as his wife suggested, or if Joseph had sought revenge against his brothers they would not be heroes of faith to us, or to God.

HOW DID JESUS BECOME PERFECT?

Luke 13:31-32 (KJV)
31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Jesus came to His perfect plan, in dedicating Himself to the life of giving Himself for us. He died, and was resurrected, to be able to give to us eternal life. His life had purpose for the plan. He was morally, ethically, mentally completing this plan. We are to get into Gods plan, and positively more forward toward the goals God gives us.

Jesus became perfected by His emptying of self, by His living a sinless life that He might redeem others. We need to become perfected in our cross carrying life. When we, like Jesus, hang upon that cross, and soon walk in resurrected life, we will then be PERFECT. Till then, we are on the way toward it, allowing Jesus to perfect us.

Too many want to do the work of the Lord, and take apart any we find imperfect. We can preach the gospel, but to name names, to call out others for us to take apart, we are trying to do Gods job.

We need to get rid of the "take apart, and concentrate on the evil - syndrome." Like Dr. Mad in the story, too many Christians become distracted by the tendency to "take apart" other Christians who are imperfect. These type of saints are on the attack, they are critical, they are judgmental. This type of Christian never gets near "perfection." This critical attitude keeps God from even forgiving them their own sins, let alone for Him to be able to perfect them toward the powerful and victorious kind of saint that He desires them to be.

There are two circles of saints. Some in this latter rain revival talk of miracles, healings, and salvation. Some others talk of backsliding, sin, failings, judgment, and how hard it is to witness. Both of these extremes are present in this latter rain revival. The Lord can do little with the second group, but the first group who see the "silver lining", instead of the "dark clouds" are more easily moved by God toward perfection, power, and victory.

Two can look out of the same window, and one can see the "muddy ground," another will see the "starry sky." In churches today, one may find both types of saints. In twenty years, return to such a church, and you will find the one who saw the "starry sky" will possess more perfection, power, and victory than the other. The one who saw the "muddy ground" may not even be still saved. That one will move more and more toward discouragement and failure.

The early church had miracles, healings, salvations of multitudes. Church congregations were started, people experienced the miraculous gifts of the Spirit. Yet, that is not all that happened in the former rain revival. There were stonings, beatings, imprisonments. Some were crucified, burnt at the stake, thrown to lions, beheaded. There were bickering congregations, backsliders, persecutions, poverty. Some of the saints in Jerusalem were starving, some of the saints were sitting in prison.

Did Paul pout and complain? Did those saints stay home from church until the Lord changed their troubles to victories? Did they stay in the dumps? Probably -- some of them did. But the ones who moved toward perfection, power, and victory did not keep their eyes on such problems. Paul gloried in his troubles. He rejoiced in the weaknesses and afflictions. He became one of the most admired of saints, for he kept his eyes on the miracles, healings, power. God had to give him a "thorn in the flesh" to remind him that he was to not be too heavenly minded.

Paul could have appropriated the "take apart, and concentrate on evil - syndrome". Paul could have attacked the other so-called "saints" who were instigators of the problems. Rather, he did explain what the problems were, but then moved on to glory in the answers provided by the Lord for such problems.

We all face both trials and victories. We all see both "saints," and "aints". We all have both brothers and sisters in Christ, and those who would spiritually abuse us. On which are your eyes? Upon which group do you tend to think most?

So, can you imagine assembling in yourself the perfect saint? I hope that you no longer can. We are not to seek a Professor Mad who is trying to assemble a perfect saint out of us. We are not to seek Igors who will follow us and proclaim us to be the perfect saint. No, we need to walk with Jesus, humbly accept His work on us, carry our cross, and when we arrive in heaven, and take a look in the mirror, hopefully, you will see what Jesus has done in you, and see a perfect saint. If not? Well, the Lord has all eternity to keep working on you. LOL

murjahel · Sep 4, 2013

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

CAN YOU IMAGINE
THE FURY OF GOD?

　
　

Can you imagine making the Lord God, Who is known for love and for mercy to instead be furious with you? That is a scary thought.

The Lord is slow to anger, but slow does not mean that He never gets angry. He can and does, it is so recorded in the Bible, and recorded for prophetic revelation that He will continue to be angered by sin, till it is eradicated.
　

Nahum 1:3
"The Lord is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked..."

If only mankind could be so slow to anger as is our God. He has patiently awaited and borne His disappointment in our sinfulness. He has given thousands of years of grace to mankind. This undeserved favor has been ours, only because He is slow to anger. Yet, that does not mean that He will not be just. Sin will be punished. His wrath will someday be poured out upon all sinners.

As I recall the many times I did things that must have angered Him, and still the Lord mercifully forgave me, restored me, and continues to love me. Some people have gotten angry at me for no reason, some for misunderstood things, some for real reasons. The Lord only is angry at us if we choose sin. He picks us up lovingly when we unintentionally fall, but intentional straying, intentional insults to His greatness have always been, and always will be things that make Him furious.

Now, when sinners die, they go to hell. As strange as it may sound, hell is a more merciful place than they will someday be, the lake of fire. Hell is a place where only the soul is tormented. At the last judgment, the Great White Throne Judgment, the bodies of all sinners will be reunited with their souls which were in hell. They will stand before a just God Who will send the immortal bodies of the sinners to the LAKE OF FIRE. There, the soul and the body will be tormented for all eternity. Though, in this lifetime, God is showing mercy, and even in the "first death" God shows mercy, yet, someday, the God Who is "slow to wrath" will exhibit and release His wrath. The wicked will not escape justice.

Our Lord is of infinite mercy. He is not easily provoked. He desires to give mankind mercy. He wants mankind to repent. He is "not willing that any should perish."

God cares for His own. The Lord had mercy on Daniel in the lions' den. He had mercy on Hananiah, Azariah, and Mishael in the fiery furnace. He had mercy on Lot and his family. He had mercy on Noah and his family. He had mercy on Paul and Silas in prison. He had mercy on Peter in prison. He wants to have mercy on us also. We may sin and fall many times. He wants to forgive and bless us. If we accept the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can escape the judgment to come.

God is all powerful. He can speak a word of rebuke to the seas, and they would all become dry. His presence alone will make the sinful earth burn. After the millennium is over, the earth and all that is therein will burn when the presence of God comes down to the earth to judge.

Yet, this potentially angry God is known for His GOODNESS.

Nahum 1:7
"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble..."

The Lord is good, and will seek to help His own. He was there in the fiery furnace for the three Hebrew children. He will be with those who stand for Him... wherever ... whenever... and however.

We can count on our God to know even the number of hairs on our head. He, Who sees the sparrow fall, also sees every trial we suffer. He knows the answer to every question that we ask. He knows the way out of every mess we create.

However, there is one thing that makes our God furious. Sin is an attribute of God. Some of the Bible passages emphasize the love of God, and a few tohers emphasize the FURY of God. God is a revenger. He does get furious. He does not have fury as does mankind. He has a governable, and measured fury. The full measure of His wrath and fury will not be seen until the White Throne Judgment. However, even now, in measure, He does sometimes show His fury.

Nahum 1:6
"Who can stand before His indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him."

God will someday reckon with those who insult Him. God's enemies will receive their due. Sodom and Gomorrah saw the fury of God. Jerusalem saw the fury of an insulted god in 70 A.D. Nineveh saw the fury of God.

Nahum 1:8
"But with an overrunning flood He will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue His enemies."

Since God has irresistible power, His fury is beyond comprehension. He controls the atmosphere, the weather, and the elements. He controls the every breath of our lungs, the pulse of the blood in our veins. Every atom is held together by the power of the Lord. So, when He is angry, the universe feels and knows His power.

Nahum 1:3
"His way in the whirlwind and in the storm..."
Nahum 1:5
"the earth is burned at His presence..."
Nahum 1:6
"...His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him..."
Hebrews 12:29
"Our God is a consuming fire..."

Sinners are an unequal match for the wrath and fury of God.

No one can stand against His indignation. No one could possibly continue to live before this God if He were angry at them. We may fear standing before an angry judge in our own court system, but to stand before an angry God. is impossible.

The world's displeasure can be tolerated - but not God's fury. Even the mountains will melt at His presence.
　

Some take for granted the days of mercy, grace, and longsuffering. Yet, God's fury is soon to come. In the lives of many, God's longsuffering will end abruptly. None will be able to stand against a God of fury. The tribulation and hell-fire will come to all who reject Him and His ways. Finally, the full fury of God will be revealed by the Lake of Fire.

There is only one Hope for mankind. The Lord Jesus Christ is the message of all prophecy. He is the only Hope. The concern not to make our loving Lord ever angry at us, is a motivation that is wise. He is our only hope, and losing Him is our only fear.

Jesus saw that mankind had no hope to avoid this furious God, and He volunteered to make a way for God to change His fury at our sins, into forgiveness due to Jesus sacrifice for us on the cross. Jesus came to provide an escape for us from the fury of an angry God. We need to turn to Jesus before the day of the fury of God.

Can you imagine the terror in the hearts of those at the white throne judgment, having already been in hell, but now brought to trial, knowing that there is no longer a chance to repent, but the words depart from Me???

Those words of anger and of fury, are not desirable to hear at all.

Can you imagine if those were the last words the Lord ever spoke to you?

The horror of that imagining should keep us humbly seeking Him. He is a loving and good God, and the foolish sins that could make Him angry are few and we must make sure we stay in the mercy and love, not in the fury and wrath of God.

murjahel · Sep 5, 2013

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

CAN YOU IMAGINE
A LOCAL CHURCH
RUN LIKE A MESSAGE BOARD?

　

Can you imagine if you attended a church that was operated like a message board?

On a message board, there is quite a variety of beliefs. We find extreme Arminianism to extreme Calvinists. Some will argue any little sin dooms a soul back to hell, others will teach that if one becomes a mass murderer after salvation, they are still going to heaven. The rest are in the middle and some argue one side then the other, totally confused.

In our churches, we find that there would be a church split over that doctrine alone, and be two or three, perhaps more church buildings where each group could get past that argument, and get to worship, pleasant Bible study, soul winning, Sunday School and Bible study lessons.

Yet, back on a board, no one gets much to those things, for the argument continues. Once a thread has exhausted the subject, and a day or so goes by, and a newbie arrives and asks a question like what is calvinism? and the argument is resurrected and it is all gone through again.

What if we did that in the church buildings we attend? Would we ever get into enough harmony there to feed the poor, to do street ministry, to have intercession times, to worship with smiles, to be able to have a church picnic without someone starting a brawl???

On message boards, there is a degree of anonymity. That is good, for we do not know who all is reading these things, nor their mental state. I remember one Christian message board, where one of the disagreements that was the topic of debate was on the Trinity. Some oneness ones were very adamant, and I posted Scriptures to verify the Trinity teaching over and over. Finally, one took great issue with me, and said he was going to hunt me down and beat me up. He was a martial arts expert, who did work in the movies, doing the martial arts feats for the stars who could not do them, and it was made to look like the star was the one doing them. He got two friends and started across the country to find me. One person on the message board, who knew who I was had so kindly? given him my name and address. I even got threatening phone calls, that if I did not change my beliefs, my family would be hurt. Well, I had to trust the Lord, so I finally told him where to find me on Sunday, where I would be speaking, and he could come there. Somehow, someway, he never showed up, and I do not think I ever heard of him again. He and his two friends must have had a change of heart, or were somehow stopped in their quest to find me by the Lord.

That is one of the reasons we do not use our real names. Yet, in a church, we do, and we attend with people who are like minded and hopefully in one accord like the church at Pentecost. So, we do not use different names as we do on a message board.

What if we did at a church? What if someone wanted two votes at a business meeting called to vote for an election of pastor? What if he sat in pew one and called himself Joe, and then voted for the election of the person. Then what if he hurried over to the other side of the church, put on the name tag friendly joe and voted against the election of the person? The votes cancel out, but if the person is elected to be pastor, the one of the two who voted for him can be his friend and they can talk against the other one at will. Sounds silly doesnt it, when put into a physical church site?

With opposition possible in a local church, and having to literally face people, it seems silly to think that one could verbally attack, criticize, berate, and attempt to humiliate someone, then change their name the next week when it became obvious that they were wrong. Name changing has replaced repentance, asking for forgiveness, admitting one is wrong, that is more required in a church setting. If we eliminated that humbling reconciliation that is necessary in a church, with the callous disregard of ever righting wrongs done another, we would find the church to be quite grieving of the Holy Spirit.

In a church we have one pastor who chooses the sermon, who may invite a guest speaker, or may choose to show a video. The worship is planned to be on the general theme of the sermon, prayer is led by someone chosen by that pastor.

Yet, on a message board, we have sixteen preachers, each on their favorite subject. If you try to read and consider all of them, your head gets dizzy. So, most ignore some of them, listen to a few, debate and call judgment on several others, and consider that church in a way.

That kind of church is not possible in the real life setting. Imagine a building with sixteen sanctuaries.

Imagine sixteen choirs, sixteen pastors, sixteen Sunday Schools, all following the pastor of their chapel, all trying to ignore the others?

Imagine one group shouting louder lest the other sanctuary shouts would drown out theirs. Imagine the variety of decor, with one having red carpet, another having blue, etc.

Imagine the arguments in the parking lot, as the sixteen groups mixed there looking for their own car. The fist fights there might require a police security detail to separate the combatants. Some may have broken the windows on your car, but feel unguilty for they are Calvinists, another group may be repenting before leaving for they are afraid their spittle on your windshield will keep them from heaven, for they are Arminians. Yes, the parking lot would be a huge issue in that message board church.

The church bulletin would be quite a task for the church secretary. It would be hundreds of pages long each Sunday. A publishing house could keep from bankruptcy by printing it each week. Different sermon titles, different programs for each of the sixteen divisions of this one denomination. The lists of who did what would be long. Bragging rights debates, on who has done the most for the Lord, would require separate chapters for each groups bragging. The sick list would be for some groups, but the ones who think that sickness means one is not holy or pleasing to God, would want that same section to be entitled the backslidden, and unholy prayer list.

The financial section of the bulletin, showing offerings might be a hassle of reporting. The disbursements sections of the financial report might need to be sectioned off, with each group making sure that their portion of money given was not being used in certain ways disrespectful of their beliefs. Money for food for the hungry could be documented for groups wanting to be socially conscious of the needs in the community. Other groups may want only a get saved first notice on the disbursement page, with a note at the bottom, that if they do get saved, they should not confess that they are needy, and claim that their food shelves are already filled, and trust they will be when they get home.

Certain doors of the church would have to have people with rulers and inspection equipment to keep anyone from entering with too short a skirt, or too low a blouse. Other doors could admit even those in their swimming suit, for they have plans for after service to hit the beach. So, dress code guards would be necessary to keep the congregation from mixing, from using the same rest rooms, from bumping into one another in the hall.

Some who like long and untimed services might irritate those who want everything done and timed as in the bulletin. Bells to stop the preacher in one chapel might irritate the 50 minute begging offering in the other chapel.

Really, when I think of it, things would be hard in a church made up of a message forum group. The calling of guest speakers could result in riots. Certain named evangelists might start a riot, and some evangelists might need not told of who was speaking in another of the chapels or the first might flee in disgust from the building.

I remember the story told of John the beloved, as he went to the bath house in Ephesus one day to take his bath, and he was warned that the heretic Cerinthus was in the bath house already. John, it is reported, said, I will not enter in while he is there, lest the Lord call the roof to fall in on him, and I am there in the same building. That kind of attitude exists, sometimes rightly so, as in that day, but think of the stirrings caused by one group finding out who the guest speaker is for the other group.

Perhaps it might be wise to begin a banner printing business next to that church. One could print on a moments notice the banners required for each group for them to parade in front of the different entrances holding a banner condemning the people in that entrance. Yes, the banner business might make a lot of money.

Well, I guess we have figured out, we had better all meet on a message board forum. The name changes here are easier than they would be in a local assembly. The fist fights are more difficult to have. Repentance and lack of admitting error is easily ignored. And the world is not building emergency rooms next door to the message board to handle the wounded and beaten, like they would if we all met in a church building.

Considering the complications of meeting daily in person, it makes one wonder, what will happen when we all meet in the clouds to see Jesus on our way to heaven? Can you imagine the job the Lord is going to have to do, on the trip from the clouds to the gates of heaven, to straighten out all the wrongs, all the doctrinal disagreements, all the unrepented deeds and words spoken, by the crowd of many, multiple message boards. Wow... that is going to take a miracle beyond our comprehension.

Instead of waiting till the rapture, maybe, the Holy Spirit might lead some to suggest 'repentance of true wrongs that have been done', and forgiveness of others who seem to be so different, but do love the same 'Lord Jesus' as we. Perhaps we could find a way to respect the differing opinions on matters that do not constitute heresy, but are due to having been previously in a different setting and their ideas. Perhaps we could learn to pray together, worship together, with the Lord as Director, and our own personal agendas taken up with the Lord, not browbeaten on the others. Perhaps??? Well, if it happens, some of us will probably 'disagree' on whether it is revival or backsliding to do so.... LOL CAN YOU IMAGINE?

murjahel · Sep 6, 2013

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

CAN YOU IMAGINE
BEING IN
A CHURCH OF APOSTATES?

　
　
Can you imagine having a church in which all the others in the church were apostates?

We all have likely been in churches where most were saved, a few unsaved, and hopefully few if any apostates. What if all were apostates? Can you imagine?

It was prophesied that in the last days, there would be apostates in churches.

Jude 17-18
"But, beloved, remember ye the words (rhema) which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ: How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts."

Jude was likely referring to II Peter 3:3, which was Peters rhema word concerning apostates.
"Knowing this first, that their shall come in the last days, scoffers, walking after their own lusts, ...saying, Where is the promise of His coming..."

Jude could also have been referring to Pauls rhema word found in:
I Timothy 4:1-3:
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils."

It is not unlikely that Jude was familiar with both passages, and probably others also. We should not be surprised by apostates in the churches, we were foretold that there would be. We find them today in church congregations, on message boards, in chat rooms, amidst our own families, on television programs, amidst co-workers, etc. It is exactly as God predicted in Scripture. It tells us (in one more way) that we are in the last days."

We are currently experiencing in many congregations, the way of Cain, the error of Balaam, the gainsaying of Korah, and we find these ones to be feasting amongst us, like clouds without water, murmurers, having mens persons in admirations because of advantage, mockers, separating themselves, sensual, and not having the Spirit, preaching doctrines of devils.

The resultant sins of sexual revolution in the churches, sexual perversion plaguing the churches, speaking lies in hypocrisy, with consciences seared, with the encouraging of lasciviousness, "filthy dreamers, despising those that are of God, are far too common.

Once, these ones were saved, blessed, and to some extent, Godly. Yet, now they are apostates and under a curse. What if the whole church were made up of apostates? It would make the devil happy.

Jude 19
"These be they, who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit."

Jude herein tells us that apostates are they who separate themselves, sensual, and having not the Spirit. This means they willingly have chosen to separate from the godly. They may come to church, but remain separate, usually by claiming a special holiness or knowledge that makes them different from others.

Separate themselves

The word separate is apodiorizo in the original Greek. It means to disjoin, by a boundary, forming of a party, or sect. The apostates become divisive. The apostates all claim that those not apostate are divisive, but it is only to hide their divisiveness.

It is like the old story of two boys fighting, and then stopped by their mother. The one boy explained, It all started when he hit me back.

Those who come to church, but are divisive when there, seek others to agree with them that their ideas and doctrines are superior, and that everyone else is contrary to God. The division continues, and attempts to reconcile everyone to the Word, are met with challenges to the Word, attacks on those speaking the Word, and claims that everyone else in the parade is out of step but them.

Sensual

This word is the Greek word pauchikos", and this refers to the sensitivity of the carnal, fleshly nature. It is that easily aroused fleshly, carnal traits that are in control of the apostates. They are depraved, and corrupt themselves (vs 10). Apostasy and depravity are linked. Those who choose to leave the faith, to apostatize from the faith, are opened to the temptations of the flesh. Sexual thoughts, deeds become more and more dominant in their lives. The conscience is too dead to hold onto morals.
　

Not having the Spirit

This means they are none of His, for to not have the Spirit is to not have the Lord, for the Spirit brings conviction, leads one to Christ. The apostates are unsaved, backslidden to the extreme, and are the ones that Timothy describes as depart from the faith. (I Tim. 4:1). The apostates are not saved, not blessed by God, not right with God, but have crucified the Son of God afresh in their own lives. So, the Calvinists would say they were never saved to being with, the arminians would say they backslid.

The church full of apostates would not be giving glory to God, but would be trying to steal the glory due to God. The stealers of Gods glory, try to claim glory that God deserves as theirs; the stealers of Gods authority, try to make decisions for God, saying thus saith the Lord, when it was their words, not Gods; the stealers of Gods respectability, want others to see them as lord rather than Jesus; and these apostates are under the curse for such thefts.

They are ones who swear falsely and have claimed to be Gods messenger, Gods spokesman, but are not under mandate from the Lord, but speaking their own minds, or the words of evil spirits. They make claims that God is wanting this or that, but God never inspired such words.

The devil loves such a church. The devil loves false words claiming to be words from God. He has used that tactic since the beginning. The devils dream is to have a church completely of sinful heretics, apostates.

Apostates are far too common in churches, and even if not all in the church are apostates, there are far too many. What are we to do? First, we need to open our eyes, quit hiding, get our head out of the sand. Apostates bring apostasies into the church. They justify their sins, they have disdain for those who do recognize their sins. They try to sideline and distract those who would preach with the anointing. Minor debates wreak havoc upon congregations due to uncomfortable apostates. Hypocrisy abounds, and is learned by the younger saints, due to the apostates trying to imitate love.

In some situations, apostates have tried to take over churches. We see some who have taken over television programs. We get mail from some who are behaving as apostates, and soliciting us to join their apostate work. Some attempt to make their form of Christianity to be the dominant form.

Just as Balaams advice on how to get Israel to stumble into sin, they offer advice and counsel that attempts to stumble others in the congregations. Balaam wanted to curse Israel, with his goal being payment from Balak. God had a dumb donkey rebuke Balaam, and an angel stood ready if Balaam had not listened to the advice of the donkey. Yet, the apostate, Balaam, was not satisfied. The welfare of Israel was not his concern, money was. Balaam told Balak to have the women of the Midianites to seduce the men, and many of Israel sinned.

Numbers 25:3
"...anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel."

The devil will use apostates to get sin within the congregations of the church. The devil would love it if we all joined the apostates, and became a church of apostates. The devils whose doctrines of devils were forewarned for the last days in I Timothy 4:1, are using apostates to insert their messages into the church.

The church of Laodicea, which is typical of many last day churches, has many apostates within it. Perhaps it is a church of apostates, for we do not know if any in it answered the knocking of the Lord at the door.

Revelation 3:17
"Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked...."

Jude describes the apostates of the last days very well.

Jude 10-11
"But these speak evil of those things which they know not; but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. Woe unto them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core...

Three apostates of the Old Testament, provide pictures of what apostates of the present day are like. Since we know therefore that not all apostates are exactly like each other, these three probably are what most apostates are like.
　

"The way of Cain" type apostate

Cain neglected Gods instruction. Cain got jealous of Abels righteous blessing. Cain was angry at the righteous. This describes some of the apostates of our day also. There is jealousy and anger against those blessed and used by God.

Error of Balaam type apostate

Greed was the error of Balaam. He wanted prosperity, and sacrificed a relationship with God in his pursuit of it. There are some today that seek wealth, money, carnal mammon. This is typical of apostates.

Gainsaying of Core type apostate

This refers to Korah of the Old Testament. He wanted priestly ministry, wanted the notoriety of being in the ministry. Yet, the consecration, dedication to God was not there. There are some in churches, who want positions and ministry, but lack dedication to God. They are selfish, self seeking.

Jesus cursed the fig tree for not having fruit. The tree withered in a day. (Matthew 11:21). If we have churches filled with apostates, we will have a vineyard of withered fig trees. We, if we were the only non apostate in the church, would need to intercede, and to lead to the Lord Jesus those that will to be saved.

Can you imagine the trials of being in a church filled with Cains, Balaams and Korah (Cores)? One would be rejecting all true doctrine, another would be seeking to get all in the church to give them an offering, and the third would be seeking acclaim and praise. Multiply that many times for all the rest of the congregation, and there would be a feeling when you left the services of that church that you had been to a WWF wrestling match, not to church.

The tendency might be to find another church and hope it is not filled with the same kind. Yet, the Lord might keep you in that church to pray and to intercede for this church full of apostates.

There must be great reward for being the only intercessor in a church full of apostates. So, if you are trying to imagine it, just add to the end of your imaging, the imagining of the reward for being the intercessor in that church.

murjahel · Sep 7, 2013

CAN YOU IMAGINE?

CAN YOU IMAGINE
THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACE
TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL?

The Lord told us to go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel. We call that the great commission.

Where is that? Where isnt that? Are we truly going into ALL the world or have we narrowed it down to only the SAFE places?

I have not seen many going to the bars at one a.m. and preaching there against alcoholism, and offering Jesus as the Real Answer. I have seen a few, and the salvation of souls seems surprisingly large when they do.

I have not seen many go to the brothels, or to the street where hookers offer their services to those driving past looking for such women. I have an idea that if some did, they may be surprised how many are desperately hoping God would forgive and cleanse them from that lifestyle.

I have not even found many going to hospitals where people in waiting rooms are desperately wanting prayer for a sick or dying loved one. The gospel message there to souls open due to their crisis could result in many being willing to listen to a message of hope.

There are not too many who venture near the homosexual party bars. There, those with the un-Biblical idea that it is right, is not where many go and preach the gospel. Even if done in a Biblical, loving, not condemning way, the sermon for Jesus, for Biblical family values is quite unpopular, and mostly left un-evangelized.

Jails where murderers are still going to court and lying that they are not guilty, is not a place where many go and preach thou shalt not kill.

Sporting events where the losing crowd are uttering blasphemies and curses in their anger at their team losing is not where many set up a soapbox to preach against sins of the tongue.

Super bowl Sunday is not a time when crowds of Christians gather to hold up banners, with sayings like did you attend church today first and worship your Lord?

No, those kind of things are rare, and the go ye into all the world has been narrowed down to go ye into the pulpit of your safe little unattended by sinners church, and there we preach Jesus, the Answer.

Not enough even preach the gospel in the voting booth, and preach that Godly principles make one superior to those with the worlds ethics.

Where are we preaching the gospel?

Can you imagine the most DANGEROUS PLACE to preach Jesus?

Jesus ate with publicans and sinners, and was sometimes challenged, but in reality was invited back, and sometimes had converts, and offered deep teachings to them. Not too dangerous a place for Him, but some in this day if ever in a banquet with sinners, do not even wear the cross symbol on their lapel. Scared to mention Jesus, ethics, the ten commandments, the Bible, church, and any known evangelist in such a crowd, the sermon usually offered is these are great snacks you have prepared, thank you.

Jesus preached the gospel to two thieves hanging on the crosses near Him. One was saved, one went to hell. But He preached. He was in a dangerous place, and could have irritated those crucifying Him more, but He prayed that God would forgive them, preached a it is finished triumphant message, and was offered gall, did not have His bones broken as was typical, and many called out during that time... surely this is the Son of God.

Where was the most dangerous place Jesus preached? Several times it was in the Temple, in the midst of the religious. They wanted to stone Him one time while there, they wanted to push Him off a precipice another time. The religious crowd seems to be the most threatening place to preach Jesus message yet today.

In the religious world, still today, the message of Jesus, the sermons sourced from the Bible, seem to stir anger, hatred, name calling, false accusations, and ones person is attacked more there than in the bars, on the streets, in the parties of the world. Your neighbor will be more loving as you preach to them about Jesus, than the pharisee in the front row of your church.

The religious community attacked some great leaders in the church when they failed God, and sermons on forgiveness then were hated, and sermons on the judgment of God flourished in the same crowd. Not many wanted the message that Jesus was trying to inspire then. The same is true when many fail God yet, and instead of lovingly pointing out the flaw in their walk, but seeking to lift up the fallen and restore them to Jesus, the message is hatred and attack. The true sermons of Jesus in such times are dangerous to preach.

Where is the most dangerous place to preach the gospel?
It is in the church.

You may say, Well we preach it there every week. No, that is not often true. There are sermons every week. We hear sermons preached against sins not present in the church. We hear sin condemned, as long as it is not the sins that are present there, like sins of the tongue, sins of anger and unforgiveness, sins of inappropriate contentography and homosexuality and abortion, and pride... etc. are not preached. Sins of not smiling at your neighbor, not bringing in cans of dated food to give to some hungry person, are preached. But, the hungry person has to come and beg to get the canned food, for no one wants to go to the part of town where they live.

The gospel message that needs preached is one that will wake up a comatose, sleeping, hiding church. That sermon is a dangerous one to preach. Where is the most dangerous place to go into all the world? It is in the sanctuary of your church!

There is an old story told of a man who went to candidate for the office of pastor in a church in another state. When he arrived, he was met by the church trustees, who told him not to preach against tobacco, for some of the members were tobacco farmers; not to preach against alcohol, for some of the members had their own stills; not to preach against inappropriate contentography, for one of the members owned a magazine stand; not to preach against adultery, for one of the members was living with a woman not his wife; not to preach against murder for there was an unsolved crime in town, and one of the members was under suspicion. The list went on and on.

The pastoral candidate finally asked: What can I preach against?

The trustees thought and thought, which sin could even be mentioned in this church! Finally, they came to agreement. You can preach against the Jews, we dont have any of those."

Well, being a Jew in itself is not a crime. It is only a group who need led to the true Messiah, and introduced to Him. Some even have already accepted Jesus as the Messiah.

Why then is there such a list of no no mentions in the church? One saying, my father used to use often, is that:
SOME PEOPLE LIVE SO CROOKED, YOU CANT PREACH ANYTHING STRAIGHT WITHOUT HITTING THEM.

In some churches this is so true. In these Christian communities, if you mention hell you are scolded or shunned.

If you mention judgment of the church you are black-balled.

If you mention repentance you are marked as a old fashioned, dated, judgmental bigot.

The language is abusive, the hatred is unmasked, the vicious attempts to discredit are undisguised.

Jesus was crucified due to the false charges brought by religious people. It was in the Temple, by the religious leaders, that a betrayal of Jesus was purchased. It was the religious leaders who paid some to lie in the trial. It was the religious leaders who organized an illegal trial to convict Jesus. It was the religious leaders who kept the pressure on with false accusations, intimidating pressure on Pilate, until the crucifixion orders were given.

Today, likewise, the place where it is most dangerous to preach the real gospel is in the church, in the Christian communities.

Surely, the world does not like to hear about sin either, but to the sinners of the world we offer Jesus as the Answer.

To the church, it is Jesus Who is wanting to come in and sup, but the possible hearers have the door locked to Him. Anyone in the midst of them that wants to mention the obvious sins of the religious crowd, are in danger of spiritual crucifixion too.
Jesus said take up your cross and follow. He expects us to have opposition as He did.

Some Christians keep quiet, do not preach the gospel to anyone, do not mention hell fire, do not talk of repentance. It makes them more popular in the church, but makes them useless in the mission of the church, to spread the real gospel of Jesus.

Lullabies are good for putting children and saints to sleep.

What is sometimes needed is a warning trumpet to wake up sleepy, apathetic, distracted, and misled saints.

Lullaby sermons are common, pablum diets are the norm, and the ten virgin parable of the whole church being low in oil, and sound asleep, is being illustrated for us in our churches.

Can you imagine?

Oh, nevermind, dont imagine, just look around!

murjahel · Sep 10, 2013

CAN YOU IMAGINE me running out of 'can you imagine's???

No, neither can I.

I enjoyed these postings... and hope some of you were reading them to see the humor of most... and the conviction that some may have inspired... thanks for reading... I will keep coming up with these somewhere... but I hope you all enjoyed these posted here... thanks for reading...

murjahel · Sep 12, 2013

Can You Imagine?

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