Churches Need to Step Up

One nasty problem that festers in too many churches is the debt load they carry on their buildings. When debt hangs over a pastor's head, it can tempt him to avoid controversial issues. He knows that if he does, he could offend those who pay the mortgage. So he is forced to choose between taking a stand along with significant risks or to preach from only non-controversial Scriptures. - Ralph Barker, Vice President of American Vision Ministry

AMERICA’S CHURCHES MUST STEP UP AND STEP OUT

Enoch, The Seventh from Adam

Today, we take a look at Enoch's prophecy about how God will deal with false teachers some day.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.

America Gives Egypt F-16 Fighter Jets

“Dear brothers, we must not forget to nurse our children and grandchildren on hatred towards those Zionists and Jews, and all those who support them," he said. "They must be nursed on hatred. The hatred must continue.” - Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/01/22/gift-us-f-16-fighter-jets-en-route-to-egypt-amid-criticism/?cmpid=cmty_twitter_fn

America Passes 55 Million Abortion Mark

Jeremiah 1:5  Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee...

Baptist Press - America passes 55 million abortion mark - News with a Christian Perspective

Obama Embraces Progressive Agenda

Well, here we go! America will look a whole lot different when this term is over. But, hey, it's apparently what the majority of us wanted. God help us.

Obama embraces progressive agenda in second inaugural address | The Ticket - Yahoo! News

The Gainsaying of Core

Today, we take a closer look at why Jude accuses false teachers of going the way of the "gainsaying of Core" and what Jude means by that.

The Error of Balaam, Part 2

Today's study is part 2 of Jude 11 where Jude accuses false prophets of going after the "error of Balaam". Who was Balaam and what was his "error"?

America Should Declare Bankruptcy?

Here's a very interesting article on how truly in indebted our nation is. Here are some quotes: "It's the money that America owes above and beyond the official $16 trillion in national debt that is the real issue. With unfunded liabilities such as Social Security and Medicare, the federal government’s actual liabilities are in excess of $86.8 trillion, or 550% of GDP."  "This debt will be defaulted on, it’s simply a question of how.”

America Should Declare Bankruptcy: Doug Casey | Daily Ticker - Yahoo! Finance

Gun Laws

Nine of the most dangerous cities in the world are in Mexico and yet it is illegal to own a gun there. We are greatly deceiving ourselves if we think gun laws are our only way out of this.

Ten Most Dangerous Cities in the World

Guns are Illegal in Mexico

The Error of Balaam, Part 1

Today's study comes from Jude 11 where Jude accuses false prophets of going after the "error of Balaam". Who was Balaam and what was his "error"?

Please feel free to share or respond to this study using some of the options below.

The Way of Cain

In today's study, Jude says that false teachers have followed the way of Cain. What exactly is that?

Please feel free to share this study using some of the options below.

Filthy Dreamers

In today's study we take a look at a further description of the false teachers that Jude is warning us about. They are filthy dreamers, defile the flesh, reject authority, and speak evil of things they don't understand.

Please feel free to share this study using some of the options below.

The Sin of Sodom

Today, we take a close look at why God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah from Jude 7.

Click Menu to Share, Email or Download.

Shift in Public Opinion

What a difference one year can make in public opinion. Be that as it may, God has not changed His mind and never will.

Revelation Study Guide

In preparation for the class that I'm going to be teaching this coming semester, I've updated the formatting of my Revelation Study Guide. It's located in the Study Guides section of this blog or you may click HERE.

Historic, Biblical Christianity is Now Out of Bounds

"The Presidential Inaugural Committee and the White House have now declared historic, biblical Christianity to be out of bounds, casting it off the inaugural program as an embarrassment. By its newly articulated standard, any preacher who holds to the faith of the church for the last 2,000 years is persona non grata. By this standard, no Roman Catholic prelate or priest can participate in the ceremony. No Evangelical who holds to biblical orthodoxy is welcome. The vast majority of Christians around the world have been disinvited. Mormons and the rabbis of Orthodox Judaism are out. Any Muslim imam who could walk freely in Cairo would be denied a place on the inaugural program. Billy Graham, who participated in at least 10 presidential inaugurations is welcome no more. Rick Warren, who incited a similar controversy when he prayed at President Obama’s first inauguration, is way out of bounds. In the span of just four years, the rules are fully changed." - Albert Mohler

The Platform of Romans 1

Evangelical pastor and author John MacArthur said that the Democratic Party has “adopted the sins of Romans 1 as their platform."

The Doom of False Teachers

In today's study, we are looking looking at verses 5-7 in the epistle of Jude to see how God has dealt with false teachers and those who followed them in time past.

Click Menu to Share, Email or Download.

Certain Men Have Crept In

Today in our study, Jude tells us that while he intended to write about our common salvation; he decided to write instead about the rise of false prophets who had already begun to creep into the church unawares.

Click Menu to Share, Email or Download.

Jude, a Servant of Jesus Christ

Today, I'm going to began doing a study through the book of Jude. I will record a new message each day and they will be no more than 15 minutes. Why don't you join me each day and we'll go through it together. Feel free to ask questions or make comments through the comment section below. Let's go!

A Predicted End

Here is some reading to start your day. "When a society has entered on this downward progress (e.g. a ruinous load of taxation laid on the rich for the purpose of supporting the poor in idleness) either civilization or liberty must perish. Either some Caesar or Napoleon will seize the reins of government with a strong hand; or your Republic will be as fearfully plundered and laid waste by barbarians in the twentieth century as the Roman Empire was in the fifth; with this difference, that the Huns and Vandals, who ravaged the Roman Empire, came from without, and that your Huns and Vandals will have been engendered within your country by your own institutions." - Lord Macaulay on American Institutions and Prospects, May 23, 1857

You may read the entire article HERE.

God's Perspective

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

Notice what they say of themselves as compared to what God says about them. They felt that they were rich, increased with goods and had need of nothing. And yet God says of them that they are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked. That's quite a disconnect? They had apparently lost their focus on God because they were too concerned with themselves.

I believe that just like the church of Laodicea, the church of our day has lost its focus as well. Most are content to see who can build the tallest steeples in town, have the biggest sanctuaries and the the prettiest parlors; while the world at their doorsteps is sadly going to Hell. 

It’s amazing how God’s perspective can be so different than ours. You see, God sees the motivations and the intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). He sees the hypocrisy behind the big steeples and the padded pews and knows when we're just playing church or when we're not.

We're Not Home Yet!

Revelation 3:11 says, Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

I believe this verse is speaking of the rapture of the church and as such, we need to hold fast to what we have until that time. We are encouraged to diligently and faithfully occupy until the Lord returns for us to take us home to be with Him.

I'm reminded of a story that has been told about two missionaries who had spent their entire lives on the mission field and they were finally coming home. They just happened to be on the same boat as the Queen of England. Upon arrival the Queen was greeted by thousands, with music, and applauds and the husband said, "You know we’ve spent our entire lives serving the Lord, and come home to nothing.  This lady has done nothing, but was born into it."  The wife said, "But, we’re not home yet!"

We need to remember that as well.

Nothing Else Can Satisfy

Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Our Lord here says that he is the Alpha and the Omega. That means that He is A to Z! (cf. Revelation 1:8; 1:17; 2:8; 21:6; and 22:13).

It’s also interesting that God also says He is the Alpha and the Omega over and over in the book of Isaiah (cf. Isaiah 41:4; 4:6; and 48:12). What better verses to prove to the cults that Jesus is indeed God.

Notice also that our Lord says I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. Jesus said the same thing to the woman at the well in John 4:13-14. He also said the same thing in the temple in John 7:37-38.

People are thirsty for things today that cannot satisfy them: money, possessions, and relationships, but there is a thirst that all men have that cannot be satisfied by anything or anyone, but Jesus Christ.

The Two-Edged Sword

Revelation 1:15-16 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.  (16)  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

We know that the sword is the Word of God. The writer of Hebrews said For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). Also, Ephesians 6:17 encourages us to take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 

If you study the history of the two-edged sword, you will find that it was developed and mastered by the Romans. As a matter of fact, it is credited with the rapid rise of the Roman Empire. While other nations were still using a single-edged sword that could only cut one way, the Romans had mastered the double edged sword that could cut two ways. This gave them a huge advantage on the battle field. It made the Roman Centurion lethal. It would be the equivalent of a single-shot firearm as compared to an automatic. The later will do much more damage, much more quickly.

The two edges can also represent the Truth and the Severity of the Word of God. If it is allowed to cut one way, Truth can be like a surgical scalpel that the Master Physician uses to repair, heal, remove, and restore our lives. However, if it is allowed to cut the other way, Severity can be an instrument of judgment against those who choose to not repent after having been exposed to the Truth.