Hall of Fame

I'm still stirred up over Charisma Magazine's honoring of the 40 church leaders who they say radically changed the world. They were a bit off -- the majority changed the church for the worse and had little or no impact on the world whatsoever.

Charisma had a similar article back in the year 2000, honoring Christian leaders whose pictures were featured on the cover of their magazine. The feature article was celebrating their 25 year anniversary. As you can see from my response to that article, some of the same movers and shakers were on both lists. Their lists should be the Hall of Shame. [ http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/fruit.html ]

I'd like to honor a list of Christian leaders who are worthy of the distinction. How I wish that the LORD would raise up more like these. For some on my list, changing the world was not their aim, but being set apart from the world and bearing the reproach of Christ was their legacy.

1. Dave Hunt -- His book The Seduction of Christianity opened the eyes of countless believers to the nature of deception coming into the church. He documented the sources of those evil influences and helped those with eyes to see avoid pitfalls of satanic traps.

2. Walter Martin -- His ministry assisted so many people in helping to get loved ones out of destructive cults. He was bold in his witness to Christ and his encouragement to others to learn how to defend the faith. He is famous for his pet verse: Jude 3 -- it was even on his personal car's license plate.

3 Chuck Smith - the founder of Calvary Chapel -- the LORD used his voice and father-like love of God's hippie children to teach the Bible verse-by-verse to baby Christian who were hungry for God's Word. He fed them and because of his ministry God raised up many teaching voices. The nearness of the LORD's return was front and center at all the CCs in its heyday as the signs of the times were so evident during that last great revival.

4. J. Vernon McGee -- the funny accented man on the radio who consistently taught the Bible in a style all his own. He spoke out against the evils of the world with boldness, but with deep insights and biblical application.

5. Hal Lindsey -- Despite personal failings, no other man since the Apostle Paul heralded the soon return of the LORD as he did. His book, The Late Great Planet Earth, had a tremendous impact on the church and even on the world as he put eschatology into modern man's lingo so all could understand the truth of the times we are in.

6. John MacArthur, like him or not, has been a powerful representative of the church on programs such as the Larry King Show, taking on the new agers and false teachers to their faces. He also has been a mainstay on the radio for decades and his mega-church and seminary are still educating many.

7. David Breese, former host of the weekly broadcast, The King is Coming, loved the LORD and it showed. His little books like The Marks of a Cult and His Infernal Majesty were so helpful in understanding the wiles of the enemy. He is missed.

8. David Wilkerson -- A Pentecostal power preacher and founder of Times Square Church, he seemed tireless in his exhortations to his listeners to serve the LORD without compromise and he never shrank from pointing out false teachings in the church and reproving and rebuking those who were bringing in deception. His sermon, Pillow Prophets, is a classic.

9. Joni Eareckson Tada, a quad­riplegic since the age of 17 after a car accident, has been encouraging suffering believers for decades. She is an inspiration to those who are going through difficult situations and her ministry touches countless needy souls.

10. Jacob Prasch, a teacher with a Hebraic lineage has helped many to understand the big picture of God's purpose for creating man, tying in the Old Testament with the New to see how all of Scripture connects together into a seamless whole. His zeal against false teaching and false prophets in the church has steered many out of dangerous groups.

I'm not saying these individuals were flawless - but their impact on the health of the church was unmatched by any in Charisma's roster.

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." - Heb 11:13-16

I love Jesus!!

I love Jesus. And you too love Jesus if you live each day in anticipation of His soon return. If eschatology doesn't interest you, then neither does Jesus. The Spirit of Prophecy confirms to our spirits that He will soon return and rule and reign over this Earth with us by His side. Scripture testifies to that and our hearts cry out to Him from the depths of our souls -- Maranatha -- even so, come LORD!!

To disinterested professing Christians, Jesus has this to say:

"These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me."
- Matt 15:8

If the fire for Jesus has gone out in your life -- or is fading away as life takes its toll on us all, stop what you're doing and pray. "LORD, help my unbelief." It isn't something one can do on one's own. 

Walter Martin used to love to quote D. L. Moody who was once asked why he urged Christians to be filled constantly with the Holy Spirit. "'Well,' he said, 'I need a continual infilling because I leak!'" 

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'” - John 7:38
So be filled with His Spirit today. 

"Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, 'How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?' (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, 'If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.' She said to Him, 'Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?' Jesus answered and said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.'” - John 4:9-14

On The Road

Each of us are on a different location on the narrow road to the Celestial Kingdom. Some are forging ahead nearing the finish line; others are straggling behind being distracted by worldly glitter. Pilgrims Progress is a classic book personifying the travelers and the pitfalls.

No matter where any of us are in the journey, we need one another's assistance along the way. The more mature Christian needs to help the weaker, less experienced, member of the body of Christ. It is so easy today to get the attitude "every man for himself," but that is not God's way. We are our brothers' keeper.

Priscilla and Aquila demonstrated the right response when they came upon Apollos, one who loved God but didn't have it altogether in his understanding. 

"When Aquila and Priscilla heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately." - Acts 18:26

We're also instructed to "accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions." - Rom 14:1

I think it is more difficult today than in those days to follow these principles, though we must try our best. We're always trying to figure out if someone's incomplete faith is valid or not. Those who have 30 years of grounding in the Word might look at a baby Christian with feelings of superiority, doubting their testimony if it doesn't fit a theological pattern they think it should. 

Someone recently on facebook read my testimony and told me my salvation process missed the mark. He couldn't be sure whether it was suitable or not. He was offended that I was assisted by someone from a Calvary Chapel since he figured none of their converts were valid. Maybe if they didn't give out the "four spiritual laws" they fell short or something.

We're not all going to be in agreement in the application of biblical principles in our walk. Yet we need to not grow weary in encouraging one another to good works. I love the way the late Walter Martin used to put it:

"If two people agree on everything all the time, one of them isn't thinking."

Social media like Twitter and Facebook may actually work against this as it is easier to take something the wrong way when it is in print, since you cannot hear the others tone of voice or see the expression on their face. Yet somehow we need to learn to reason together in the new medium without conveying aggression. 

I doubt if they offer such a class in the 'School of the Prophets.' (eye roll)

“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy." - Rev. 3:2-4

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." Rom 12: 9-18

Only the Wise Will Understand

Did you know that the great reformer, Martin Luther, argued that the books of James and Revelation should not be included in the canon of Scripture? 

It is understandable that one who discovered God's amazing grace might not like James' admonition to do good works to testify to your faith; but what did he have against the apostle John's record of what Christ showed him and instructed him to write and deliver to the saints regarding the time of the end?

We can't say for sure, but it could be that it was just too hard to understand and made no sense to his medieval mind. Just like the prophet Daniel was perplexed with what the angel showed him, the angel's response could be said also to Luther: "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end." (Dan 12:9)

Sadly, many churches that spun off from Rome in the Reformation to this day do not like the Book of Revelation. Like the official Roman Catholic teaching, the book is just a metaphor to show that ultimately good shall conquer evil and there will be a judgment of all humans at the end of the world. It would be a demotion for Christ to leave His throne in heaven to rule and reign here on earth -- that's all just metaphorically speaking.

You hear them often say to us prophecy watchers, 'The church through history has not believed in any rapture so therefore there is no rapture.' Or, 'the church has always taught that Christ is present in the eucharist so you can't call it false teaching today.'

But, we do not get our teaching from the 'church.' We get our teaching from the Word of God that was delivered to the saints. Even if those in the church preserved God's Word, that does not make the 'church' the author or their clergy the official interpreter. Truly the Reformers held onto Rome's false authority for themselves.

As events unfold in these end times, the Spirit of God is truly unveiling the Book of Revelation and the Book of Daniel to His faithful servants. God will not add to nor take away from His revealed Word, but as the angel said, we at the end who are wise will indeed have understanding that the reformers did not have in their day.

Abide in the Vine and keep on the lookout so that you can have greater understanding as prophecy plays out. And at the same time, watch out for deceivers -- for they are on the increase even as prophecy foretold.

Keep on the alert!!

"Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?... 'Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,' says the Lord. 'AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,' Says the Lord Almighty." - 2 Cor 6:14-15, 17-18

“Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand." Daniel 12:10

The Good Old Days

Cheer up! These are the good old days.

Enjoy your time with family and friends -- and if you have no family or friends -- enjoy the peace and serenity you get from nature and a good meal amidst sounds of gaiety. The time is short.

We see the writing on the wall here in America that those using the name of Jesus as a cuss word are in the majority. Tolerance toward us who lift up the name of Christ and love God with all our hearts is just about over. One commentator, mocking believers who mourn over the court decision to make being gay a civil right, wrote that Christians are being driven "back into the catacombs, where they tremble at the tread of the legions and hear the distant roar of lions."

Not only is the unregenerate public winning the battle against any public show of love for Jesus, but churches too are leaving the practice of teaching the Word of God in exchange for preaching motivational messages with a scripture tacked on here and there. This prophecy is certainly coming true in our generation:

"Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD,
That I will send a famine on the land,
Not a famine of bread,
Nor a thirst for water,
But of hearing the words of the LORD."
-- Amos 8:11

We know things are getting worse. I don't suggest running off into hiding, but it would not be a bad idea to find a way to live closer to like-minded believers. There are some good churches in our country with discerning pastors. If you have none in your area, relocate if you can. In the day ahead, we may have to live like the Hebrew slaves did with their bags packed and their sandals on -- ready to move at the sound of the trumpet. 

Treasure these good times while they last. Don't let the pressure of this fallen world silence you or send you into hiding. Utilize your liberty while you still have it. And don't be shamed into silence.

“And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God." - Luke 12:8-9

“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved." - Mark 13:13

In God We Trust

Watching the events of Greece this week and the warnings by the economists of a potential domino effect - first striking Europe and then here - it can create fear of hard times ahead. But we already know hard times are coming. We already know that God's favor has lifted from America after its judges and president have shaken their fists at God. It is not God in whom they trust, but they trust their own strength and power. They are god -- a false god at that.

It is just a reminder that we must put no trust whatsoever in our government. They are not trustworthy. When crisis hits - crisis management will kick in -- and the global government the NWO is pushing for will be put in place when the world seeks human solutions to the mess they've made of things.

Now is the time to make sure we have the armor of God firmly in place. When hard times -- maybe even a global depression -- strikes home, we know Whom our Provider is. Perhaps only during such dark times will the Body of Christ be just that to one another. The local pastor will not have all the answers -- in fact, his salary may be cut off when the people no longer have an income from which to tithe. We'll then be forced to look at the model church in the Book of Acts. 

"Nor was there anyone among them who lacked;... they distributed to each as anyone had need." --Act 4:34a-35

We're going to have to stick together even more should an economic collapse happen -- and not look to the politicians for assistance. Perhaps that is one reason why we're instructed not to forsake the assembly together even more when we see the Day approach. 

Doomsday preppers are teaching people to look out for themselves -- stockpile provisions and defend themselves with their stock of weapons and ammo. That is not God's way. Should disaster strike, it will be easier to see who's who in the professing church. Join those who gather together to help one another. 

We may soon see the Body of Christ as it was meant to be.

Maranatha!

"The wicked plots against the just,
And gnashes at him with his teeth.
The Lord laughs at him,
For He sees that his day is coming.
The wicked have drawn the sword
And have bent their bow,
To cast down the poor and needy,
To slay those who are of upright conduct.
Their sword shall enter their own heart,
And their bows shall be broken...
The LORD knows the days of the upright,
And their inheritance shall be forever.
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
- Ps. 37:12-15, 18-19

Cup of Iniquity

Dear Saints -- particularly in America:

I am sure you share my feelings of loss over the state of our nation. A dark cloud seems to have descended upon the country. Pray with me that God would lower His own dome of safety over us, His people, and our households. It IS His nature to do so.

We know that these things must take place -- the cup of iniquity is not yet full. But we know it will rise to the top before God hurls it to the earth in His wrath. I thank Him that we are not appointed to wrath and that we can run to His arms for help in times of trouble.
Many of us have friends and loved ones who are celebrating the victory of sin in the hands of our judges. All I can say is, 'Forgive them LORD, for they know not what they do." They will be the same folks who will take the mark of the beast - the same folks whose skin will break out in boils -- the same folks who will be stung by demonic locusts and beg for death but death will escape them. PRAY FOR THEM!!!!

And MORE importantly -- pray for the saints (not to them as Catholics do). The living saints -- all of us -- have entered a time of persecution and we know it's only going to get worse. But through it all -- my prayer is that the LORD will make His presence known to His saints in these dark days -- regardless of what is happening in the world. That He would give us His peace -- even as war and devastations go on all around us.

Join me in that prayer:

Heavenly Father, we Your people come humbly before you on behalf of our loves ones, near and far. Forgive us our faults, known and unknown, and empower us to be Your witnesses in the coming days. Even if you have given over our country, keep us in Your care and show us Your hand of protection on our behalf, giving us the peace that passes all understanding. Raise up voices of Truth to rise above the voices of ignorance and as You promised, when we come before kings and rulers, put Your words into our mouths that they will not be able to refute. Revive Your people, pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us all, and let your grace and mercy cover our transgressions as we struggle to know how to respond to our culture without compromise. As we confess You before men, take the fear of man far from us and hold our heads high above the flood of dissipation in which we dwell. Send Your Son soon to restore all things. In Your name and Your Son's name in the power of Your Spirit - Hear our prayer. Amen!

“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.” - Luke 12:47-53

"Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?" - Luke 12:56