The truth about Santa

"You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout. I'm telling you why; Santa Claus is coming to town. He's making a list and he's checking it twice; gonna find out whose naughty and nice. Santa Claus is coming to town. He sees you when you're sleeping; he knows when you're awake. He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sakes. You better watch out. You better not cry. You better not pout. I'm telling you why; Santa Claus is coming to town."

Now does that threaten you? That is a very threatening poem. That is intended to scare children. Now listen, if you look at the letters of Santa, you will see that Satan is hidden in Santa. When we teach a child to sing this song, we are teaching him a false theology. We are teaching him a false set of doctrine. Let me see if I can explain it to you.

First, that song teaches that Santa is a transcendent being. He lives on a higher plane. He lives on another level. He transcends time and space. He has powers equal to whom? God! Not only that, he knows everything. He's omniscient. "He knows when you're sleeping. He knows when you're awake. He knows when you're naughty. He knows when you're nice." He knows everything.

Not only that, he's everywhere. "He sees you when you're sleeping." He's not only omniscient, he's omnipresent. And he is watching to see whether you have been good or bad. And not only that, but he bestows favors. Now on what basis does Santa give his favors? What must I do to receive good things from this transcendent being, called Santa. Well it is very simple, I have to be what? Good. I can "earn" Santa's favor. If I am good, Santa will give me gifts. After all, he's making a list and he is checking it twice to make sure that we've been either naughty of nice. And on the basis on how we've been, he'll deal with us.

And if I'm not nice and good, I won't get any gifts. So I better be good for goodness sake, not to mention for my own sake or anybody else's sake. But do you want to know something about Santa? He may be transcendent, and he may be omniscient, and he may be omnipotent, and he may be omnipresent. He may be dispensing all of the good things, but you know what? You can't trust him. You can't trust him. You say, "What do you mean by that?"

It says, "He's checking to see if you are naughty or nice." And you better be good for goodness sake, because if you aren't good, you won't what? You won't get anything. You want to know something? That's not true. Plenty of times I haven't been good and I get something anyway. Every year I get something. And you want to know the truth of it? There are a lot of naughty people that get a lot and there are a lot of nice people that don't get anything.

Do you know what about Santa Claus? You can't trust him. He doesn't even stay true to his own word. He's blustering around and warning everybody to mind your manners and be good all the time; be nice and not naughty and good and not bad. And then you know what? When Christmas comes he caves in, and even when we have been naughty he gives us all that stuff. And sometimes he overlooks people that are nice. He really can't be trusted. His threats are meaningless and so are his promises. But that's good because it takes the sting out of him. And there is another good thing about Santa; you only have to worry about him once a year. He only shows up once and you know when it is; it's always on Dec 25th, so you can get your act together just a few days before. You say, "Well where is he the rest of the time?" Oh, he's in the North Pole. Could that be heaven in Satan's little scheme? "What's he doing?" Oh, he has all these elfs around him. "What are they doing?" Whatever he tells them.

Mostly, meaningless things like make toys. He is sort of inane isn't he? He threatens but never fulfills his threats. He promises but doesn't always fulfill his promises.

Is it any wonder that if I believe all that as a child, when I come to be an adult, I might have a hard time believing in a Transcendent God who does know everything, who is everywhere, who does have all power, who does keep his promises and his threats, and who does not save me and give me good gifts on the basis of my works but on the basis of His grace. If Santa has been my understanding of God, then I am in trouble. That's why I say, hidden in the letters of Santa is Satan.

I am glad for a God who is absolutely dependable. I can trust His promises. I can trust His threats. He is everywhere at all times and He doesn't just show up once a year. He is here all of the time. And He gives His great gift, not on the basis of our works but on the basis of His grace through faith."

- John MacArthur

Are You Born Again? by JC Ryle

Are you born again? This is one of life's most important questions. Jesus Christ said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

It is not enough to reply, "I belong to the church; I suppose I'm a Christian." Thousands of nominal Christians show none of the signs of being born again which the Scriptures have given us—many listed in the First Epistle of John.

No Habitual Sinning

First of all, John wrote: "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin" (I John 3:9). "Whosoever is born of God sinneth not" (5:18).

A person who has been born again, or regenerated, does not habitually commit sin. He no longer sins with his heart and will and whole inclination. There was probably a time when he did not think about whether his actions were sinful or not, and he did not always feel grieved after doing evil. There was no quarrel between him and sin; they were friends. But the true Christian hates sin, flees from it, fights against it, considers it his greatest plague, resents the burden of its presence, mourns when he falls under its influence, and longs to be completely delivered from it. Sin no longer pleases him, nor is it even a matter of indifference to him; it has become a horrible thing which he hates. However, he cannot eliminate its presence within him.

If he said that he had no sin, he would be lying (I John 1:8). But he can say that he hates sin and that the great desire of his soul is not to commit sin at all. He cannot prevent bad thoughts from entering his mind, or shortcomings, omissions, and defects from appealing in both his words and his actions. He knows that "in many things we offend all" (James 3:2). But he can truly say, in the sight of God, that these things cause him grief and sorrow and that his whole nature does not consent to them. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Believing in Christ

Second, John wrote: "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God" (I John 5:1).

A man who is born again, or regenerated, believes that Jesus Christ is the only Saviour who can pardon his soul, that He is the divine person appointed by God the Father for this very purpose, and beside Him there is no Saviour at all. In himself he sees nothing but unworthiness. But he has full confidence in Christ, and trusting in Him, he believes that his sins are all forgiven. He believes that, because he has accepted Christ's finished work and death on the cross, he is considered righteous in God's sight, and he may look forward to death and judgment without alarm.

He may have fears and doubts. He may sometimes tell you that he feels as if he had no faith at all. But ask him if he is willing to trust in anything instead of Christ, and see what he will say. Ask him if he will rest his hope of eternal life on his own goodness, his own works, his prayers, his minister, or his church, and listen to his reply. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Practicing Righteousness

Third, John wrote: "Every one that doeth righteousness is born of Him" (I John 2:29).

The man who is born again, or regenerated, is a holy man. He endeavors to live according to God's will, to do the things that please God and to avoid the things that God hates. He wishes to continually look to Christ as his example as well as his Saviour and to prove himself to be Christ's friend by doing whatever He commands. He knows he is not perfect. He is painfully aware of his indwelling corruption. He finds an evil principle within himself that is constantly warring against grace and trying to draw him away from God. But he does not consent to it, though he cannot prevent its presence.

Though he may sometimes feel so low that he questions whether or not he is a Christian at all, he will be able to say with John Newton, "I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am." What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Loving Other Christians

Fourth, John wrote: "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren" (I John 3:14).

A man who is born again has a special love for all true disciples of Christ. Like his Father in heaven, he loves all men with a great general love, but he has a special love for those who share his faith in Christ. Like his Lord and Saviour, he loves the worst of sinners and could weep over them; but he has a peculiar love for those who are believers. He is never so much at home as when he is in their company.

He feels they are all members of the same family. They are his fellow soldiers, fighting against the same enemy. They are his fellow travelers, journeying along the same road. He understands them, and they understand him. They may be very different from himself in many ways—in rank, in station and in wealth. But that does not matter. They are his Father's sons and daughters and he cannot help loving them. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Overcoming the World

Fifth, John wrote: "Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world" (I John 5:4).

A man who is born again does not use the world's opinion as his standard of right and wrong. He does not mind going against the world's ways, ideas and customs. What men think or say no longer concerns him. He overcomes the love of the world. He finds no pleasure in things which seem to bring happiness to most people. To him they seem foolish and unworthy of an immortal being.

He loves God's praise more than man's praise. He fears offending God more than offending man. It is unimportant to him whether he is blamed or praised; his first aim is to please God. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

Keeping Oneself Pure

Sixth, John wrote: "He that is begotten of God keepeth himself' (I John 5:18).

A man who is born again is careful of his own soul. He tries not only to avoid sin but also to avoid everything which may lead to it. He is careful about the company he keeps. He knows that evil communications corrupt the heart and that evil is more catching than good, just as disease is more infectious than health. He is careful about the use of his time; his chief desire is to spend it profitable.

He desires to live like a soldier in an enemy country—to wear his armor continually and to be prepared for temptation. He is diligent to be watchful, humble, prayerful man. What would the apostle say about you? Are you born again?

The Test

These are the six great marks of a born again Christian.

There is a vast difference in the depth and distinctness of these marks in different people. In some they are faint and hardly noticeable. In others they are bold, plain and unmistakable, so anyone may read them. Some of these marks are more visible than others in each individual. Seldom are all equally evident in any one person.

But still, after every allowance, here we find boldly painted six marks of being born of God.

How should we react to these things? We can logically come to only one conclusion—only those who are born again have these six characteristics, and those who do not have these marks are not born again. This seems to be the conclusion to which the apostle intended us to come. Do you have these characteristics? Are you born again?

How Great is our God

If we hollowed out the Sun to fill it with the Earth, the Sun would hold
1,300,000 planet Earths.
The star Anteres would hold 67 Suns.
There is a star in the constellation Hercules that has the capacity to
hold 100,000,000 Anteres.
The largest star known to man Epsilon can hold 3-4 Million of that star
in Hercules which can hold 100,000,000 Anteres that can hold 67 Suns
that could hold 1,300,000 planet Earths.

And the Word of God says that Heaven and the Heaven of Heavens cannot
contain Him. 1Kings 8:27

If we rode a beam of light traveling at the speed of light (186000 miles
per second),
We would reach the moon in 1 1/2 seconds.
It would take 8 minutes to reach the sun 93,000,000 miles away.
It would take 4 years to reach the closest star Alpha Centauri.
It would take 100,000 years to travel from one end of the Milky Way to
the other.
There are over 100,000,000,000 galaxies, with over 100,000,000,000 stars
in each galaxy.

The Bible says God spans the heavens with His Right Hand. Isaiah 48:13

And yet He chose to step down into time, and become a man to live a
sinless life and reconcile us to God by taking our punishment on the
Cross.

All Glory be to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Sorrowing I shall be in spirit,
Till released from flesh and sin,
Yet from what I do inherit,
Here Thy praises I'll begin;
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day. 

 

Learning to Tremble

Learning to Tremble, by Kimberli J. Brackett

You know why I think sin is so easy for me to choose -- because I've forgotten to tremble. I guess if I'm really honest, I can't remember ever trembling.

I went to a Mercy Me concert a few weeks ago and during the concert they sang a song by Audio Adrenaline. They chose to have all the lyrics of the song come up on the screen and God kept directing my camera to take pictures of the screen every time it said, "I tremble." I know it was God because I took a picture each time the screen said "I tremble"and I had no idea why I was doing it until I looked at my pictures. I knew God must be trying to tell me something but even as I got them developed, I wasn't quite sure what He was trying to say.

A few days after the concert, I was driving to Dallas early in the morning and I put in an older Nichole Nordeman CD called "This Mystery." Guess what the second song on her CD was called? "Tremble." The song convicted my heart in a way I can't express in words, and I wept in my car as I realized I had never trembled.

A few days later, I flew to Nashville to do a seminar and I met a woman named Charlotte. I happened to be speaking on holiness and she found me after the conference and told me I would love Henry Blackaby's book, "Holiness." I am now aware when God has people tell me to read books that He wants me to read and I knew without a doubt this was one of those times, so I went to Lifeway later that evening in Nashville and guess how many copies of Holiness they had in stock? You guessed it, they had one!

I bought it and read almost the entire book on the plane coming home.

In the very first chapter, Blackaby writes, "I trembled before God as I realized God's people no longer feared God nor sin, and no longer sought holiness" (Page 6). Henry was talking about me! He not only writes about trembling before God in the first chapter, but used Scriptures and thoughts about "trembling" throughout the book (Pages 6, 8, 27, 47, 72 and 99)! God obviously had my attention and I was listening!

Well, if you think God was finished convicting me of forgetting to tremble, you're wrong. Just a few days ago, I was reading something about the power of God's word in my quiet time. I felt God's Spirit prompting me to read Psalm 119, so I turned to it in my bible. Psalm 119 is all about the power of God's Word, but as I kept reading, guess what David addressed? You guessed it, trembling! "My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws" (Psalm 119:20). He came back to the subject again, "... but my heart trembles at your word" (Psalm 119:161). David trembled in fear of God and was in awe of God's laws and God's Word.

I can't recall there being any immediate consequences.

This is what I believe God has revealed to me about why I don't tremble. Honestly, I believe it is because for most of my life, I can't recall there being any immediate consequences for my sin. Unlike Ananias and Sapphira, I wasn't struck dead by God the first time I lied. I wasn't struck dead the second time either, or the 15,894 time.

I forget to tremble because most of my life I have watered down in my mind, in my heart, and in my own words the sin I have sometimes blatantly chosen. When I lie, I call myself "untruthful" instead of calling myself a liar. When I talk bad about people, I call it "being unkind" instead of calling myself a slanderer and a gossip. When I had sex outside of marriage, I called it "premarital sex" instead of calling myself a prostitute or an adulterer. When I am mean and prideful, I call it "snobby" instead of calling myself self-righteous.

When I am self-righteous and judgmental in my Christianity, I call it "opinionated" instead of calling myself legalistic. When I put my job before God and my family, I call it a "strong work ethic," instead of calling myself an idolater. When I watch filth and ungodly things on television, I call it "inappropriate" instead of admitting I am condoning, justifying, and embracing sexual immorality. I deceive myself in every way, so that in my self-absorbed sin, I see nor feel any reason to tremble.

I wonder, will I ever tremble? Will I ever really understand the depth of David's words in Psalm where he trembles in fear of God and His word? I know in the past year God has shown me through so many ways the depth of my sin and my pride because He wants me to know that until I acknowledge the depth of my sin, I will never comprehend the depth of the blood that covers it! Until I can see my sin through the eyes of God, until I acknowledge the holiness and deity of God, I will never understand the powerful relationship I can have with my Heavenly Father. I will never understand the awesomeness of God until I tremble.

Holy Father, I want to tremble. Will I ever tremble, God? Show me, convict me, teach me to tremble! Oh to tremble in fear of you God so I can truly tremble at my sin ... let me not forget to tremble.

---------
(c) 2006 Kimberli J. Brackett < kimberli@thefaithbuilders.net> This article can be found on the web at: http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200611/20061107_tremble.html

On just such husks do the religious swine feed

(Arthur W. Pink)

"Take heed what you hear." Mark 4:24

The word hear obviously includes what is read, for
that which is written or printed is addressed to the
ears of our intellect. Few people today realize the
urgent need for 'taking heed' unto what they read.
Just as the natural food which is eaten either helps
or hinders the body; so the mental food we receive
either benefits or injures the mind, and that, in turn,
affects the heart. Now just as it is harmful to listen
to the rubbish and poison which is being served from
the great majority of present-day pulpits, so it is
exceedingly injurious to the soul to read most of
what is now being published. Take heed what you
hear--and read!

"Those who are after the flesh do mind the things
of the flesh" (Romans 8:5), and are charmed with
oratorical eloquence, catchy sayings, witty allusions,
and jocular displays. On just such husks do the
religious swine feed; but the penitent prodigal
can find no nutriment therein!

Christian reader, if you value the health of your soul,
cease hearing and quit reading all that is lifeless,
unctionless, powerless--no matter what prominent or
popular name is attached thereto. Life is too short
to waste valuable time on that which profits not.

Ninety-nine out of every hundred of the religious books,
booklets, and magazines now being published, are not
worth the paper on which they are printed! Take heed
what you hear--and read!

 

 

I had to punish him

I had to punish him

(Arthur Pink)

"We are being disciplined so that we will not be
condemned with the world." 1 Corinthians 11:32

"Is not Israel still My son, My darling child? I had to
punish him, but I still love him. I long for him and
surely will have mercy on him." Jeremiah 31:20

O the bitterness of provoking Him to punish us, our
best Friend; that One who poured out His life's blood
for us; who endured the sharpest inflictions of justice
to screen us; Him whose heart is love, and on the sense
of whose love all our happiness depends! Yet, we forfeit
all, and compel Him to restrain His lovely smile, put on
instead a frown, take the rod in His hand, and chasten
us for our folly! Then we cannot escape: smite He will.
How long and how much, we must leave to Him. We are
completely in His hands; His power over us is supreme,
entire; resistance is vain, and will certainly increase the
affliction. There is nothing to be done, but humbly to lie
down before Him, and submit to His will. He may punish
severely; often He does. He may punish long; and there
is no promise that it shall not be so. The suffering child
has but one resource, but one door of hope; it is love,
the exquisite, surpassing love of Him who is chastening.
On that he throws himself. Yes, there is none other. He
who inflicts the pain can withdraw His hand; He who has
wounded, can bind up; He who has laid us in the dust by
His frown, can raise up by His smile. Yes, He can forgive,
He can restore; He can heal.

This, this is a mercy, an infinite mercy, that we are in
the hands of One so tender, so loving, who does not like
to put us to pain, who does it unwillingly, and longs to
restore us to favor.

"Is not Israel still My son, My darling child? I had to
punish him, but I still love him. I long for him and
surely will have mercy on him." Jeremiah 31:20

 

 

 

Will you do it for me?

So, we all have those people in our lives.  The ones that rub us the wrong way, that we don’t like, that don’t like us that have been unkind to us.  Our instinct is to cut them off, not be kind to them, not treat them well, ignore them, avoid them. He hurt me, she said this about me, and she was mean to me.  Why should I be nice to her? Why should I be the one? Why me? Why me? Why do I have to change?

 

Oh how we resist! I don’t want to! I don’t want to be nice! That person drives me crazy. I can’t stand her.  Do you know what she did to me? Do you know what she said? He hurt my feelings. He treated me wrong. He got me in trouble with my boss…it goes on and on.

 

Why can’t we just forgive? Why can’t we repay evil with good? Why do we want to act the same way they do? Aren’t we different? Isn’t Jesus Lord of our lives? Do we not have the Holy Spirit living in us?

 

I can see Jesus. He says, ‘I know you don’t want to. I know you don’t feel like it, but will you do it for ME? For Me? ‘ He holds out His scarred hand to me, He has such love on His face, He says, “Will you do it for Me?” 

 

How can I deny Him? How can I say no to the ONE who gave everything? I know it was for HIS Glory. But what price He paid that I might live.

And I know I should.  But I don’t want to, so maybe I won’t.  What is wrong with me? Why? Why? What is it in me that would refuse Him?

 

God, help me! I need so much more of You and so much less of me.

 

Lord, be Lord of my life, I must lay it down.  I need You to change me. Transform my mind, my heart, my spirit, into the Image of YOU.  Help me to hide Your Word in my heart, so that I will not sin against you. I am rebellious. Lord, forgive me.  Why am I disobedient? Why? I hate it! I want to do Your Will! Why do I run from You? What makes it so hard for me? It’s me. That is it. My self.  My pride.

 

Please Brothers, Please Sisters, pray for me.

 

 

Jesus' Birthday

When was Jesus born?

 

Introduction

Most Christians don’t speculate about the date of Jesus’ birth, but celebrate it on 25 December, even though they may suspect there is no Biblical basis for choosing that date. However, in Israel at that time of the year, it's usually much too cold for shepherds to have their sheep out at night, and there's a widespread belief that Jesus was actually born around late September to early October.

In fact if we know what to look for in the Bible, the true date of Jesus’ birth is quite easy to identify.

Conception of John the Baptist

John’s father Zacharias was a priest, a descendant of Abijah (Luke 1:5). The priests of Abijah ministered in the temple during the eighth week of the Hebrew year (1 Chr 24:10). The eighth week begins near the end of the second Hebrew month (Iyar), and continues into the third Hebrew month (Sivan). This is the anchor point for discovering Jesus’ birth date.

Luke 1:24 tells us that when this week ended and Zacharias went home, his wife Elizabeth conceived. This was likely to be Shavuot or the Feast of Pentecost, which is in the second week of Sivan.

Conception of Jesus

Six months later, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary (Luke 1:26). It was now near the end of the ninth Hebrew month of Kislev.

Mary immediately went to visit her relative Elizabeth (Luke 1:39), which is estimated at about three days travel. When she arrived, Elizabeth called her “the mother of my Lord”, confirming that Mary was now pregnant (Luke 1:43).

Because Jesus is "the light that has come into the world" (John 8:12, 9:5, 12:46), it is likely He was conceived on 25 Kislev, which is the first day of the Festival of Lights (Hanukkah). We need to remember that God did not pick random dates for the feasts, but positioned them carefully in the Hebrew calendar some 1500 years earlier, to help identify the coming Messiah.

Birth of John the Baptist

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months (Luke 1:56), until the birth of John the Baptist. Since a full pregnancy term is 41 weeks, by counting the weeks we discover he was born around the middle of Nisan, when Passover is observed.

According to the law, John would have been circumcised on the eighth day. Therefore it is likely he was born on the first day of Passover (15 Nisan), and circumcised on the eighth day (Feast of Unleavened Bread).

Birth of Jesus

Jesus was born six months later, around the middle of Tishri (the seventh Hebrew month), which coincides with the Feast of Tabernacles. Luke 2:21 tells us He was circumcised on the eighth day.

As this feast also runs for eight days, it is likely He was born on the first day of the feast (15 Tishri), and circumcised on the last day of the feast. In 2006, 15 Tishri falls on Saturday 7 October. (To find the date in other years, go to http://www.hebcal.com/converter/).

The year is less certain, but commonly believed to be around 3 or 4 BC. The actual year is not significant here.

Only Two Feasts are 8 Days long

God provided two feasts that were exactly eight days long, the first corresponding to the birth of John the Baptist, and the second corresponding to the birth of Jesus. In both cases, the eight days corresponds to the time between birth and circumcision. All other Biblical feasts are of shorter duration.

One of these Feasts is Very Special

“And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain...” (Zech 14:16)

When Jesus returns, and the nations are expected to go to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles each year, is it coincidence that this will “just happen” to coincide with His birthday, and even allow for a temporary period of living away from one's normal home (Lev 23:42)?

Conclusion

Many nations commemorate the birthday of their head of state, even having a national holiday in their honor. How much more worthy is the King of Kings to have His birthday honored, on the day set by Him?

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.” (Isaiah 9:6)

This season of Tabernacles, may we give the honor due to Jesus, who (because of His great love toward us) came into this world to give His life in exchange for ours, that we might be saved and live forever with Him!

A Formal Complaint by Paul West

A Formal Complaint

We refuse to go and rescue the lost from wicked camps,
And glow for Jesus pure and holy with oil in our lamps.
We refuse to fast and pray for the death of a selfish will,
And nail our affections upon the cross and give up our flesh to kill.

Because we refuse to die to self and all our worldly winning,
We can't weep for hell bound lost who blindly go on sinning.
We back down from demonic holds in cities, in schools and jails;
And because our swords are in their sheaths, the evil one prevails.

We refuse to yield our lives, our dreams, our ambitions to Christ;
And we're afraid to stake a claim because the world won't think it's nice.
We refuse to fill ourselves, daily overflowing with God,
And thus we're unable to mortify the deeds that our joy in Christ do rob.

We refuse to see God's heart is broken and crushed and grieved,
Because we refuse to be the church of glory He so needs.
We refuse to walk rejected and mocked by all who see us,
For it's far too costly to walk and talk a life that glorifies Jesus.

We refuse to work this day as Jesus did with the lost,
And we refuse to die this day as Jesus did on the cross.
We only need His love, His blessings, His favors, His pleasures, His gain,
But we refuse to carry His burdens, His sorrows, His tears, His pain.

We refuse to fast the flesh and feast the spirit well,
And thus we never last in prayer where our groanings throttle hell.
We refuse to soar to heights so near the Father's heart;
We're only content to hear nice sermons and on Sundays play the part.

We refuse to stunt the growth of the devil's vile plan.
We refuse to quench the darts that burn the soul of man.
We refuse to spread the story of the precious gospel seed,
And by shunning this, we strip the glory of Jesus to those in need.

We won't carry the bloody cross; our pride, our comfort we must keep,
And thus we murder by shutting the gate and starving the blind, lost sheep.

 

 

Hello All. This is a 58 second video clip of a short drama on the rapture. It's pretty cool. Watch here: http://www.youtube.com/v/SmLhyPjHVes

 

 

MS

 

The Rhyme of the Modern Parishioner

It happened in the vestibule

At ten one Sunday morn

A haggard-looking churchgoer

Sat plaintive and forlorn

Then suddenly he rose and found

A hungry-looking Christian

He took his hand, took him aside

And asked him a straight question

You know the Word,

You know the Book,

The promises are clear

But have you seen the Living God

Have you found Him here?

Have you experienced Holy Fire?

The Spirit in His Power?

A mighty wave, a rushing wind,

A flame that does devour?

Is there something more you’re seeking,

So high, so wide, so deep?

Do you find yourself frustrated?

Is church putting you to sleep?

Then listen well,

Your heart is right.

My tale I will tell

This story is your story too

And it’s your tale as well.

For 30 years I’ve been in church

Seemed like a good show.

But now I have to meet with God

Do you know where to go?

I’m trapped in mundane worship times

The praises have grown cold

The preaching’s dry and dusty

The teaching stale like mold.

Each service feels like a rerun

The songs all sound the same

The prophesies are so hollow

Not worthy of the name

Words more words they’re everywhere

But oh there is a stink

Words more words they’re everywhere

But none to make us think

We lack the Heavenly Presence

It’s clear we’re in a rut

I’m desperate for revival,

It burns within my gut.

I’m lovesick for my Jesus

So hungry for my Lord

Just longing for my Savior

God knows that I’m so bored.

Is there someone who can help me?

Whose touched the real thing?

A man whose heard from Heaven?

Who’s heard from God to bring?

Are there prophets burning with fires?

Servants who are ablaze?

Anointed and overflowing

Appointed for these days.

Do they carry the Spirit’s burden?

Breathe the Lord God’s breath

Are they set apart and holy?

Obedient to death

I hear the words of the Master

Come follow me, He said.

If some Christians go their own way

I’ll go with Him instead

Oh please don’t do as I have done

And waste so many years

Don’t wait and wait for endless months

Move on, outgrow your fears

Forget the twelve step programs

A seminar won’t do

You need a touch from Heaven

To fill you through and through

There must be change in your life

A work of God that’s real

Don’t fool yourself with warm clichés

Don’t let the devil steal

Don’t miss out on God’s presence

Or let these hours pass

Don’t stop your soul from hungering

Get out of the morass

Dear friend, you are not crazy,

Dear saint, you are not mad

There really is a problem

It’s true you have been had.

There’s more, there’s more

Believe it

There is that place in God

There are holy visitations

New paths that must be trod.

Will you get up like old pilgrim?

And seek that better way

Will you go forth on that journey?

No matter what men say?

Will you go now out now?

And meet him and leave the crowd behind

Forsaking dead traditions if Jesus you will find?

It’s not in another meeting

A nicely packaged hour

Another harmless service

Devoid of Heaven’s power

It’s not in another teaching

Three points to fill your head

The Word is always vibrant

But this stuff is so dead

We need God to send His Spirit

To fully take control.

To transform every member

To come and make them whole.

Enough with man’s religion

Enough with earthly plans

Enough with our new programs

Produced by earthly hands.

Just then in strode the Pastor

His calling to fulfill

Just doing his weekly duty

Then he became frozen still

For astir was that parishioner

He grasped the preacher’s clothes

And grasped the preacher’s soul as well

And in that grasp he froze

Oh, Pastor, enter the prayer room

And shut yourself inside

Be emptied of competition

And crucify your pride

Pray for Holy Visitation

Just caught up alone with Him

Consumed with Heavenly Vision

That’s where you must begin

You won’t find him in a textbook

Buried on page 22

He is the Living God who acts

He wants to move in you.

It’s not only the Apostles

He’ll bless and send and use

He’ll saturate your own soul

If you will not refuse

So arise get up pursue Him

Jesus your true best Friend

He is worthy of devotion

He is faithful to the end.

Why should you starve on crusty bread?

And crawl along the ground

Your Savior is your Source of Life

Seek Him, let joy abound.

Renew your life, refresh your heart

Press in, take hold, pray through

Put first things first make God your goal

What else have you to do?

Your Bible schooling stole your zeal

Church life has drained you dry

You used to have such child-like faith

Now budgets have your eye.

You used to be so passionate,

So innocent and free

Now you’ve become professional

You’ll preach for a good fee.

Oh, set your sight on higher goals,

And not on dollar bills

Live in the light of judgment day

Ambition always kills.

Let Jesus be your daily guide

Put Him where He belongs

And soon His Presence will arrive

His Praise will fill your songs.

Simplicity will be your style

Devotion your new goal

Communion will become your aim

God’s Life will flood your soul.

Oh, take your eyes off numbers,

Church growth can be a trap

Go out and make disciples

Go out and bridge the gap.

Pour your life out for broken lives

Let God your heart break too.

Take up your cross deny yourself

Just live His will to do.

Wake up, be brave, be honest

Oh today oh hear His voice.

Be ruthless with your schedule,

Seek God make that your choice

You won’t find Him in your planner

No committee has the key

You’ll find Him when your soul cries out

There must be more for me.

There must be more than building funds

And sessions past midnight

And endless talks with leadership

Disputing who is right.

Somehow I know I’ve been misled

The model doesn’t work

I’m not called as an executive

Nor should I be a clerk

I’m called to be a man of God

A man whose Spirit-led

Healer of the sick and lame

Someday to raise the dead.

And with that cry

New life will rise

Your heart will be revived

Heaven’s light will flood your soul

You will not be denied

The parishioner then turned his gaze

Away from flesh and blood

He looked to Him who sends the showers

To Him who sends the flood.

Today oh Lord do hear our voice

And pour Your Spirit out

Saturate the thirsty ground

End the Spiritual drought.

Revive us with Your Presence

Renew us from Above

Touch the flock called by Your Name

Come fill us with Your Love.

Do greater works in our day

Than that which you have done

Bring the fullness of your Rains

And Glorify Your Son

That old churchgoer spoke no more

Another voice was heard

Yet not the voice of flesh and blood

It was Our Father’s Word

And if you listen closely

Beyond this little rhyme

You’ll hear the Father say

My children it is time.

Are you playing the Christian Game?

The Christian Game
Jordan is a graceful blonde who is active in her church, has loving Christian parents, and is surrounded by wonderful Christian friends. She is gearing up for her first year at a well known Christian university. On the outside, her life seems perfect. But Jordan has a shameful secret. She is involved in an ongoing sexual relationship that no one knows about. She is living a secret life of compromise.

"I feel so far away from God right now," she whispered bitterly after explaining her dilemma to me. "I can't seem to stop sinning no matter how much I want to. I have prayed and prayed about this, but God never gives me any answers!

I really need to know something," Jordan pleaded desperately. "Does Christianity even work, or is it all just a fairy tale?"

Jordan is trapped in the Christian game.

And then there is Trent, a brainy history buff who wrote a lengthy email describing his spiritual struggle. Trent attended a Christian leadership retreat and got extremely excited about pursuing a deep relationship with Christ. But a few weeks after his return home, the passion faded.

"No matter how hard I try to grow in my walk with Christ," he lamented, "I just don't feel the fire. No matter what I do to stay pumped up spiritually, it just doesn't last." Trent attends church and studies his Bible, but inwardly he wallows in depression and disillusionment.

Trent is trapped in the Christian game.

How many of us have been in Jordan or Trent's position? We believe the right things, say the right things, and even do the right things, only to end up right back where we started: defeated, discouraged, and conquered by sin. We know the truth in theory, but it has no power to really transform our lives at the deepest level. We go through the motions of Christianity while secretly asking ourselves, Is this all there is?

We are trapped in the Christian game.


"Just Be Real" Christianity
Our generation has seen the hypocrisy of make-believe Christianity and, to put it mildly, we don't like it. Thousands of us are saying "Hasta la vista" to the playacting version of following God. While earlier generations were prone to super-stiff religiosity and legalistic formulas, many of us in this generation have headed in the opposite direction, determined to be real about our emotions, struggles, and failures.

This has led to a common form of imitation Christianity we call "just be real" Christianity. Don't get us wrong. Being real is important. Admitting that we aren't perfect is the first step towards discovering successful Christianity. But it isn't the final goal. Being real and finding a real Christian experience are two very different things.

Paul, a 23 year old Bible school student has decided to "be real" about his lustful addictions. "I'm hooked on pornography!" he blurts flippantly. "That's just the way it is. God knows I'm only human, and I'm not gonna beat myself up about it."

Tiffany, an 18 year old Christian, has chosen to be open about her burning anger toward her Creator. "I hate God sometimes," she boldly declares. "I wish I could scream in His face. He's treated me like garbage. And I think it's better to be honest about it than act like everything's fine."

The "just be real" version of Christianity removes the plastic bandage and exposes the infection underneath. But the "just be real" version doesn't allow the wound to be healed; it only acknowledges that the wound exists.

It is vital that we acknowledge the emptiness of the Christian game. But when we settle for the "just be real" version of Christianity, we are still miles away from the true Christian life. We admit defeat, but we never search for victory. We are honest about our problems, but we ignore the solution. We remain trapped in the Christian game.


"God Loves Me Anyway" Christianity
A common accessory to the "just be real" mind-set is the "God Loves Me Anyway" version of imitation Christianity.

The "God loves me anyway" attitude ignores God's command to "BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY." It shies away from the sting of conviction. It buries the prick of guilt. And it treats every spiritual challenge that triggers even the slightest emotional discomfort as if it were the first symptom of the bubonic plague. And the pain of sin's havoc upon our soul is alleviated with smooth religious rhetoric.

Kelly grew up in a strict religious home; full of rules but devoid of unconditional love. In college, when Kelly began a serious romantic relationship with a worship leader named Damon, things began to turn around. She felt loved and accepted for the first time in her life.

Though Kelly and Damon had committed to save sex until marriage, one night in the heat of passion, they gave in to temptation. Afterwards, Kelly was plagued with intense guilt. She sat alone in her room for hours, crying with remorse over the mistake she and Damon had made. She knew she had let God down.

But the very next night, she heard a message at church that eased her mind. The pastor seemed to be speaking directly to her. "Christ doesn't condemn us," he declared with conviction. "He loves us just the way we are in all our sin and weakness. God doesn't expect us to be perfect. He knows we are stuck in the mire of our sinfulness. He knows we can't achieve a holy life."

Then the pastor told his listeners to close their eyes and simply receive God's unconditional love. As the worship team played a soft reflective melody, Kelly closed her eyes and felt a sense of relief flood her soul. She repeated the pastor's words that God loved her in spite of her failure, that He didn't expect her to be perfect.

And Kelly's guilt floated away like a cloud.

Since then, Kelly and Damon have maintained an ongoing sexual relationship. Kelly continues to push away any feelings of guilty by listening to inspiring messages about God's unconditional love. She convinces herself that God accepts her in spite of her mistakes and that He doesn't expect her to change.

Kelly, like so many in our disillusioned generation, has pitched her tent in the "God loves me anyway" camp. Though she is enslaved to compromise and defeated by sin, she has given up trying to overcome these obstacles. When it comes to her Christian walk, she doesn't even consider exploring the endless frontier of God's ways. She spends her energy reminding herself that God loves her in the midst of her miserable-but-forgiven state. And she has given up expecting anything more.

It's important to note that there is a thread of truth woven into the false foundation of the "God loves me anyway" attitude. It is true that God knows our sinful condition and loves us in spite of our failures. He is not looking down at us with angry eyes, burning with fury every time we make a mistake. He loves us more than we could ever comprehend.

But He loves us too much to leave us as we are.

Sin--the self-reliance and self-assurance at the core of our beings--is the very thing Jesus Christ came to this earth to conquer. And as long as this selfish rule is the controlling force within our souls, His mighty work on the cross two thousand years ago is rendered ineffective in our lives. While sin remains the ruler of our inner domain, we can never experience the true Christian life.

If we settle for the "God loves me anyway" approach to life, we will never experience more than a shallow, mediocre spiritual existence. We will remain under the thumb of sin's tyranny, trying to cover up our remorse with T-shirts that say, "I'm not perfect, I'm just forgiven."

God did not send His only Son to conquer sin and death on our behalf just so we could wallow in defeat and compromise while singing songs about His unconditional love. Jesus Christ died to give us true life--a life marked by a radiance and righteousness that transforms our entire existence.


"Professional" Christianity
Another modern pitfall is what could be called "Professional" Christianity.

Meet Mason, a 28 year old seminary graduate currently in search of a full-time pastoral position at a church. Mason knows Scripture better than most people know their own name. He believes all the right doctrinal truths. He even stands out to his non-Christian friends as a solid, moral guy who doesn't drink, do drugs, or sleep around.

But Mason's Christian life is hollow and self-constructed. There is nothing miraculous or supernatural about his spiritual existence. His aim in life isn't to climb God's holy mountain, but merely to live a life that is morally superior to those around him. He believes that God's expectations for his life equate to a little hill that can easily be tackled with some discipline and willpower.

Mason smirks at the concept of a God-written life. "God doesn't waste His time watching over us like a momma bear. He has better things to do. He doesn't care about the details of our lives. He just wants us to live morally and make good decisions."

Mason has pitched his tent in the "professional Christianity" realm. He has traded in the possibility of a radical pursuit of Christ for a predictable moral existence. He has baked Christianity down to a formula he can easily accomplish in his own strength.

All too many of us fall into the "professional Christianity" trap. We separate God from the details of our daily lives. We reduce our Christian walk to a set of reasonable guidelines to follow. We remove all the risk, passion, and radical obedience from our spiritual life. And we revel over the points we've scored in the Christian game.


Getting Out of the Christian Game
It's hard for us to admit when we are wrong. And it's especially hard for us to admit that we have bought into a cheap imitation of the true Christian life. But that's where the God-scripted adventure begins. Before a settler can be transformed into a pioneer, he must first become dissatisfied with his current surroundings. He must recognize his need for something better.

If you are ready to begin your pursuit into God's endless frontier, take some time to ask yourself these soul-searching questions:

* When it comes to knowing Christ, have I stopped growing and pitched my tent? Have I bought into an imitation version of following God?

* Have I settled for a "just be real" mind-set, admitting that I have problems but not believing that God can grant me victory over them?

* Have I settled for a "God loves me anyway" attitude, taking sin lightly and letting selfishness, rather than righteousness, rule my life?

* Have I settled for "professional Christianity," reducing God's expectations for my life to a set of reasonable guidelines I can hope to accomplish on my own?

Be completely honest as you ask yourself these questions. Don't compare your life to those of Christians around you. Let Jesus Christ be your only standard. And as God begins to show you areas of your spiritual life that are off track, put these in writing and make a commitment to shift from settler to pioneer in these areas.


taken from “When God Writes Your Life Story”, by Eric and Leslie Ludy

 

 

This was posted by a user at Sermon Index. You can find the post here : http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=11631&forum=35&12

 

I found it very intriguing. I have found myself in some of these situations as well. How about you?

 

Lord, help us not to play a game but to have a true relationship with You.

 

When It's All Said and Done

When it’s all said and done,

I will breathe the breath of Worship.

When my journey is through,

I will bend my knee in Awe.

When the song fills my soul

Joining voice with all creation.

I will sing when it’s all said and done.

 

When it’s all said and done

And my questions have been answered.

When the chords fade away

From this song of grief and pain.

When the pull at this flesh

Has no power in my tomorrows.

I will sing when it’s all said and done.

 

When it’s all said and done

And my final step is taken

When I stand face to face

With the One I long to know

When my heart understands

With convicting revelation

I will bow when it’s all said and done.

 

I love this song. I long for that day when I see Him face to face, when I will know Him in the way that I am known. Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ, the Messiah.  I will bow willingly, eagerly on that day.

 

Come soon, Lord Jesus!

 

The Professor and the Prophets

This was suggested to me by a person I met at Sermon Index.  It is pretty interesting if you take the time to watch it. It is about 27 minutes long.

 

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=8648337797409966990&q=professor+and+the+prophets

 

Hope you find it interesting too!