The Fool Says in His Heart....

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 Today my mind kept thinking on this Bible verse:

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
1Co 2:14  (ESV)

I'm guilty of sometimes (often?) going round and round and round in an argument I cannot win. I still am infected with the idea that if I can find the correct words to say I can convince others of the truth, and can save them from their foolishness and their ultimate self-destruction. My husband chides me about it. He often says to me "A stupid person doesn't know he is stupid". He's great about coming up with such witticisms. He's right you know. How often have I done really foolish things without realizing just how foolish it is? I don't want to answer that question on the grounds it will definitely incriminate me. And then I find a wonderful quote like the one above (which reminds me of the P.T. Barnum quote: "There's a sucker born every minute")...and realize just how easily people will believe a lie, any lie, over the truth.

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. 
Psalm 14:1 (ESV)

and

Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
 Proverbs 26:12 (ESV)

Ok, that one pinches a little...


A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.
Proverbs 29:12 (ESV)

OUCH!

Thankfully the Lord is patient, and LONGsuffering, and my trust is in Him to teach me His ways. Woe is me if I trust only in my own wisdom to carry me through. I have had much experience in viewing my life in hindsight and in that rearview mirror I can see that the Lord has been patient and gracious with me for a very long time.... even when I was VERY foolish.

 I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. 
Psalm 146:2 (ESV)

Amen, thanks be to God who is merciful and forgiving forever!

Saved? or Self Deceived?

In this 2 part sermon, John MacArthur pours out his heart to exposit on the passage:

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.   And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:   And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.   And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine
Matthew 7:22-28 (KJV)

Pastor MacArthur explains what he sees as marks of a true believer, and the evidences that expose those who may be false and self deceived "followers" of Christ.

False "believers":

1. Want signs and healings
2. Want gimmicks
3. Want to feel good
4. Want to receive blessings
5. Or they may be religionists. Many "Christians" that aren't are simply trying to work their way there by doing all the moral and religious works they believe will make them good enough...

True believers:

1. Want only Jesus
2. Are penitent and truly sorry for their sins

He says much more, take a listen...the good medicine convicts and brings you truly to the throne of forgiveness and God's grace:

Phil Johnson Interview

In this radio interview on Pirate Christian Radio, Phil Johnson dissects and explains what is missing in Rick Warren's message in his (Warren's) interview with John Piper. It is pointed out that John Piper often assists Warren with what Warren believes in Piper's attempts to reconcile Rick Warren's message with what the Bible actually teaches. Also understood from this interview critique is Warren's superficial treatment of the Bible compared to Piper's deeper understanding and conviction. It is a matter of quantity vs. quality (as also pointed out by Pastor Johnson). Warren says he wants to reach the many with the gospel, but then when talking with his audiences he neglects to present the gospel and often doesn't ever mention the name of Jesus (especially to his Jewish and Muslim audiences). He (Warren) jokes about his superficial understanding towards the end of this analysis. I personally believe pastors like Warren (and I use the term pastor very loosely in the case of Rick Warren) cause many to think and believe they are saved when actually they are not...some of his listeners might be saved but it isn't because they were convicted of the truth because of what Mr. Warren teaches. God will prick the hearts of His own through the power of His word, not the inconsistent and superficial ramblings of someone like Mr. Warren.

 I listened to this while doing housework, and got a lot done during this time (two and a half hours). It is time well spent.

Let me also say (maybe I should amend my commenting instructions) that if you comment without listening to this presentation I won't answer the comment. If the comment is completely irrelevant to what this post and conversation in the Youtube video is about I may choose to not post your comment. Thank you for your understanding in this matter and I hope and pray that many might be blessed by this interesting critique of how God's word is being presented.

The Problem of Sin

One thing I have noticed over the past few months : the main problem that atheists have with Christianity (and that all people in general have a problem with, myself included) is the problem of sin, and it stems from the problem of pride, or more specifically: our vanity. We would all rather say that we aren't "that bad" especially if compared to someone like Jeffrey Dahmer or Hitler.

In this sermon Pastor Johnson takes a deeper look into the sin problem and why there had to be a solution which involved a substitutionary payment by Jesus on the cross. Pastor Johnson explains how the "liberal church" is editing Jesus sacrifice for sin out of our salvation equation, making it a "moral gospel", one of works instead of faith:

Man's Way or God's Way?

This morning I revisited the idea of man's desire for advancing himself by his own means, and lately it is taking the form of what is called "transhumanism". Technology can be our friend, and, as these videos reveal to anyone given God's discernment, man's advancements contain the seeds for our own destruction as well.

This first video talks about the recent discoveries and experiments which the videomakers themselves admit has a similarity to Frankenstein's Monster. They confess that their desire is to remove man's consciousness and implant it into a machine which can go on forever, and admit that they do not know if that will equate to eternal life because they do not know what life consists of, nor do they know what a soul is, and what love is, etc, so in their minds they believe that what we experience now might not be so different from what we can experience through being conscious in a machine...forever.

To me that sounds like hell, trapped in a machine kind of like Dr. Reinhardt in "The Black Hole" wanting to do that to his crew, and himself becoming trapped in his robot "Maximilian" and burning in what looks like a lake of fire.

Anyway, I think it is good to know what these guys are up to, they spin it as a good thing, of course. God tells us that man's ways are not God's ways. These things are man's attempt to circumvent God's plans for us, thinking they can find "a better (or have convinced themselves this is the way God plans to perform His next step for us) way":




Then part 2 uses many of the terms used in the Bible such as redemption, salvation, born again, etc, and interestingly they talk about eternal existence and it's possible (or probable) contrast to eternal life...the contrast of course is man's way vs God's way. 

Frank J. Tipler (professor in New Orleans) in this film uses many of these Biblical terms to represent what will happen through our advances in technology. At 44 min mark Prof. Tipler says that the name God gives as His Name to Moses is "I will be who I will be" and stresses the future tense, however it actually is past present and future, best translated "I am that I am". This video, although rather disturbing, is important (approx 1 hour) to understand where these guys want to take mankind:



We need to be thankful that the Lord is allowing us time to see what is coming, to understand our need of His redemption, not this false means of "eternal existence" which will cause many to be thrown into the lake of fire with the Beast and his false prophet. Pray for strength and wisdom to withstand the evil that is increasing and that which was held back by the restraining power, is soon to be unleashed on the world, however those who are in Christ and sealed with His seal will be able to stand against it, and die a martyr's death if need be, to oppose this false system.

Pray for the perseverance of the saints, and to be found in Him when this beast is unleashed.

The Gifts of the Spirit Part 2

In Part 1 I shared a video of a debate between well-reasoned Christian brothers on whether the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit have ceased, and I mention the fact that there are charlatans on either side of the debate.

The Strange Fire conferences point out some of the charlatans on the charismatic side. For the most part they are respectful in their rebukes of the stupidity on display by the "anointed" (self proclaimed as such, though I see no evidence for it). Some of the time they giggle and joke about it, which I believe is not helpful. John MacArthur gives sound arguments for the damage that these strange fire people are doing.

Although I fully agree with the fact that the people they are joking about, and the videos they show attest to the fact that these "pastors" and performers haven't a clue about the Holy Spirit, or anything Biblical, I don't think it would be fair to classify all who believe in the gifts of the Spirit with this class of heretical wolves in sheep's clothing. I personally wish they could have been more respectful (although I think John MacArthur was very sober and respectful) regarding this, and been more clear about the fact that this is not the prevailing norm with all churches that classify themselves as charismatic.

On Finding Contentment With God

Many have already spoken about the modern fallacies being promoted from many modern pulpits. Some of us realize that it is foolishness to pray for worldly stuff like money or fame or even long life if it goes against the plans the Lord has already designed for us. I'm not saying having lots of money or being famous or wanting to be healthy is wrong in and of itself. What I am saying is that those things can become our god and be put in place of true worship of God. True worship, by the Biblical standard, says we will trust God even when we go through extreme hardship or poverty and lack of worldly comforts.

Again I hope that when you read what I'm saying you don't think I'm promoting being a monk, or nun, or Amish, and I'm not saying that the Lord cannot reach such persons as they mortify their flesh in these externals, but that isn't what I'm talking about.

Well then, what am I talking about? I'm....

Sinner's Prayer

Have you seen or read articles which discuss the problems with alter calls and the sinner's prayer? The problems which they cite state, in essence, that it causes a person to believe that it is in their own power to be saved by doing the things and saying the words that will bring about their salvation. As a consequence they believe they have become saved ....and perhaps they are---or perhaps they are not. The "magic" (because truly this is the same as magical thinking) isn't in the saying of words, or the coming forward when told to do so, or by raising of the hand, or what-have-you, to signify to the pastor in charge that you want and need Jesus. The grace of God comes on His terms at the time He chooses, not on our timetable or our terms. He saves us because we do not earn it in any way, not even our asking "earns" this for us. He saves us even while we were His enemies. How is that possible??? Because God is God. That answer may seem too simplistic, and perhaps it is. Have you ever said to your son or daughter "Because I'm your mommy (or daddy), that's why!". Sometimes nothing else needs to be said. End of story. God is good because He is...and He does what He does because He is good, not because we did something that caused Him to act. If anything at all, He put the desire in our heart, and then He drew us to Himself by supplying us with our desiring Him, because it all came from Him. But then why doesn't He do that for everyone? Because then it wouldn't be grace, it would instead be universalism, and universalism is unbiblical. God's grace extends to all, but not all are saved. It's simple, and yet it's complicated...and a sinner's prayer doesn't solve our sin problem, Jesus does.

There it is.

 People put faith in a prayer, or in their faith, or in their works.... in ANYTHING BUT JESUS.

It is Jesus who saves, not ourselves with our wishing and praying. When He has mercy on us, He saves us by His power, not the power of our prayers. The power is of Christ not of ourselves. Too many are putting their faith in the wrong thing (self/works/formulas), but the Holy Spirit will come upon His own in power and reveal His glory, the glory to save even one such as I.

"God Doesn't Make Junk" Part 2

From Part One:

"In the post to follow I'll explore the contrasts the Bible gives of people that are headed for hell, and those whom the Lord restores by the power of His might, myself being one of the latter. He didn't have to save me, He could have let me continue to follow the piper happily dancing my way to a hell that I fully and truly deserve. However His grace stopped me from continuing on that path, and He provided me with the wisdom that had me put down my fleshy philosophizing, and all my worldly arrogance, and seek Him with my whole heart though at times I thought I would die from the horrid things I had to face about myself as His Spirit revealed what He had to clean up in me...."

Contrasts are quite revealing, and there are many in the Bible. Today I took a page of printer paper, folded it in half, and listed the traits

The "god" of This World

The devil is deceitful, everyone knows that, right? Well, maybe with the exception of outright satanists, who in a sense have it the most correct of the worldly religions. The satanists worship Lucifer, satan, as "god". Everyone who worships any other god  than the "God of the Bible" worships satan. This world's false religions include The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, Buddhism, Mohammedism, Roman Catholicism, the Sikh religion, Shintoism, Seventh day Adventism, secularism, humanism, and even Judaism, just to name some of the more common ones, and ALL OF THESE worship satan, whether they know it, or believe it.....or not. The truth remains what it is no matter who wants to believe whatever they may want to believe. Their god that they worship (even if it is themselves that they worship---truthfully it usually is) well, this "god" is the god of this world, and he (satan) is powerless to save them. He (satan) can only keep them deceived and worshiping himself to their complete destruction and downfall. How do I know this? The Bible tells me this.

2Co 4:2  But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God.
2Co 4:3  And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.
2Co 4:4  In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.(ESV)

Faith and Trust

Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (KJV)

I was thinking about these two words today. They go together, don't they? The faith that we have in Jesus comes from developing a relationship of trusting Him. It is the belief that what He says is true, whether other people believe Him or not, whether it seems to make sense to us or not, an assurance and a conviction that He is and does all the things that are written about Him and more. He is more real and true than anything we now experience as real and true in this world of shadows though we only "see" Him in what He does for us...IF we have the eyes to see. He provides for all that we need, and even those in deepest poverty have all that they truly need in Him because the suffering that they now have to suffer will be turned to joy as they are the first and most honored of His brothers and sisters in His kingdom though at this time, in this world, they are the last, the bottom of the barrel. He asks those who have more to show their trust and devotion to Him by providing food and raiment to those who don't have much here. That is how we "the bride" care for His home on earth, to care for His children in need...to pray for those who are lost, and blind, and needy.

Truth

Do we, as Christians, believe Jesus words? Is God's word true? Or are the philosophies that say "There are distortions" or "There are contradictions" or "The Bible's message changed throughout the ages, hell was added later" are these the ones telling the truth?

What did Jesus say?

Jesus said "there WILL BE weeping and gnashing of teeth"  5 times recorded in the gospels.

Matthew 8:12

Matthew 22:13

Matthew 24:51

Matthew 25:30

Luke 13:28

Regarding the sheep and the goats, Jesus said:

Matthew 25:46  And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.(KJV)

He couldn't really have meant EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT could He? That's probably a mistranslation...or probably that was added later by a monk who was having a bad day...either we believe the Bible, or we will want to change it and believe those who say "it couldn't really have meant it the way it is being exegeted, it must have changed over time or mistranslated". Jesus is "too loving" to allow for this, isn't He?

What about this famous passage:

Matthew 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Matthew 7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (KJV)


The way that leads to Jesus is narrow and few find it...what? How unfair! No that cannot be true. The Bible must be lying. It actually says "EVERYONE GOES TO HEAVEN, THERE IS NO HELL" doesn't it? I heard a college professor tell people so when she explained how the Bible's message added hell after the time of Daniel. That's probably where Jesus got the idea, right? Then do you also not believe that Jesus is God and was with the Father from the beginning? Do you also not believe that He raised Lazarus from the dead and that He Himself is raised from the dead?

Jesus said:

Luke 16:31  And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (KJV)

So who shall we believe? Jesus? Or shall we change things around a bit so that we will "feel better" about ourselves and get around those sticky verses that make us uncomfortable. Let's just make it that EVERYONE goes to heaven. Forget about what Jesus said, that stuff about the straight and narrow that not many will find. Who needs it? Too depressing. Everyone can go, because all we have to do is change what we believe and then all is well. Who cares where such philosophies will lead to because everyone will go to heaven. Period. End of discussion. You can talk all you want to, but now that I have my mind made up, no one, not even Jesus, can change it.

REALLY?

Matthew 7:22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Matthew 7:23  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Matthew 7:24  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Matthew 7:25  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
Matthew 7:26  And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
Matthew 7:27  And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. (KJV)


What foundation do you have your ideas based on? Feelings? Theories? Someone's new religion? Or is it based on what Jesus said?

The only sin that can keep us from truly being born again is rejecting the truth and filling ourselves up with vain doctrines of men. Jesus said to enter into His kingdom we must be born again. It has to be all of Him in our lives, to be regenerated by His Spirit.

 Romans 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Romans 8:10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Romans 8:11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (KJV)


and remember:

 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,  
 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.   
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.  
 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 
 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 
 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.  
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.   
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.   
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
Matthew 5:2-13 (KJV)

Don't believe the lies. There are many of them "out there". Some do it to make a profit. Some do it to get around the truth of God's word because they think it is "too hard"...it's impossible without the Spirit...you must be born again. There's no way around it. Is that unfair? Is that mean and unloving? No. It just is the way it is. Those who reject it are the unloving ones, because they reject the way of Truth, the way of our merciful and loving God.

The Root of the Problem

In Monday's blog entry I included an excerpt by C.H. Spurgeon that had this quote:

"Piety produced by the damps of sorrow and the heats of terror is of mushroom growth; it is rapid in its springing up—"they enquired early after God"—but it is a mere unsubstantial fungus of unabiding excitement."

It reminds me of this from Jesus:


 Luke 8:6  And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.


Luke 8:9  And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
Luke 8:10  And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

 Luke 8:13  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

There are a few things to notice in this passage:

!. In this soil-type (rock) Jesus first says as soon as it was sprung up it withered away "because it lacked moisture" but in His explanation He says "these have no root".

Think about this for a moment...if a plant has "no root", how can it draw up moisture into the plant? How can it draw up "living water" into the plant?

There is a depth and quality to the plant that is in healthy soil which is lacking in this plant, which only grows "on the surface". Something deep where other people do not see, but Jesus sees, is not happening in these "plants" (converts). The book of Matthew (Matthew 13:21) adds that it is as persecution arises, they are offended. They want all of the goodies with none of the bother and difficulties. When they hear about hell, or suffering, they think "A God who truly loves me wouldn't put me through all of that. This isn't for me".

2. Notice that the disciples didn't understand the parable, and Jesus says to them that others have not been given, but they are given  to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God. Why? Because they confessed that they didn't understand, and they ASKED HIM to explain the meaning to them. They didn't go to a secular or "secular Christian" source to understand the meaning, the sought the answer from Jesus.

3. In the parable Jesus first says the seedlings on the rocky soil "sprang up", giving the picture that they rose quickly, and in His explanation He says that they receive the word with joy, and that they believe "for a while" What a sad commentary on what we see all around us. I can turn on TBN or other televised "Christian shows" which have people jumping up and down and crying or laughing and swaying with their hands up in the air. You would think this land is in full revival, and yet....where are these people in real life? What happens to them once they exit their pews? Will such "converts" still "love the Lord" when the heavy persecution comes? I hope so, but according to Jesus words, they have no real root. It is all on the surface for show. Their is no real depth to their love.

I too confess that this was something that I sought the Lord over. I didn't want to be a false convert, who only wanted to look pious so that others would admire me for "my goodness" because that is what Jesus rejected the Pharisees over. I knew that I had to be better than that, and saw from the scriptures if I relied on myself to understand the Lord, I would be "ever learning and never coming to a knowledge of the truth", even if I studied only the Bible every day of my life but never turned to Jesus to understand what I was reading, it would all be for nothing. He has to be the One to explain it, to give life and root to His word. Otherwise we become like the Greeks or the Pharisees and Sadducees in their vain philosophies and empty traditions. But Jesus brings true life to His word, and nourishes from the ground up in our inner being where no one but He can see our true development into members of His true kingdom.

I pray for more seed to fall on "good ground" that has deep roots into the truth of God's word, instead of shallow "Christians" that love all the vain philosophies that abound.

Dr. Jay Klopfenstein

I had the privilege and pleasure of going to The Metropolitan Bible Church in Ottawa yesterday with my husband, and his aunt and uncle. They had a guest pastor who they were hoping to vote into being their senior pastor, Dr. Jay Klopfenstein. I found a Vimeo of a previous visit he made there, in May of this year. This is an AWESOME sermon:


Dr. Jay Klopfenstein: A Case for Spiritual Insomnia from Metropolitan Bible Church on Vimeo.

oops! the video disappeared! But here is another link:

Do You Love Me?

Jesus asked that of Peter 3 times. "Peter do you love me?....Feed my sheep"

So often I hear people say that they "love" Jesus, and it might be true. However Jesus knows whether we really love Him, or whether the "love" we have is all just talk and no action.

Isa 29:13  Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men

Last night one of the girls I work with said when WTC was hit in 2001, she broke up with her boyfriend the following week. The reason? She said she found herself thinking of all the people she loved, but her boyfriend was the furthest thing from her mind. She realized then that she didn't really love him, so she broke up with him. At first I thought this strange but I realize now that she was right to do this. She was being honest and so she did what she knew she had to do, she had to do what is right.

There are things that you do for the ones you truly love. There is a communion that you have, you would suffer and even lay down your life for those that you love. You would know if that isn't there. How much more would that be true of our relationship to Jesus? He likens our relationship to a marriage. What kind of relationship would it be if the husband did all the loving, and the wife only gave lip service? Would the marriage last?

Joh 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Joh 15:14  Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

I was brought up Seventh day Adventist, so these verses were always used to say "You see? We have to keep the Saturday sabbath to prove that our love is real." Is that really what He's talking about here?
No, that isn't what Jesus is saying here. That would be too easy, and if that were the case, the pharisees would have been His biggest supporters and truest lovers.

 Jesus laid down His life for the sheep. He died a vicious death why? Just for loving people, truly loving them, and being hated for it. How did He love them? He healed them of all manner of their diseases and told the hypocrites (the ones hiding behind their masks) the truth so that He could heal them of their hypocrisy. And how did they thank Him? You would think that they would love Him, and yet, when He was brought to the courts, even his closest disciples left Him. When He poured out His heart in Gethsemane, the ones who you would have thought would endure everything with Him, fell asleep! Then when Jesus went before the Jewish sanhedrin, the disciple who said he would never let Jesus down denied he even knew Him! That is the kind of love we have, the kind that Peter had, and the kind that I see all too frequently. It is a said love rather than a true love,  and I am ashamed of myself for being that weak. I definitely do not want to be comfortable in that weakness, and pretend to having "love" when I know it is all just talk.

I pray that the Lord would kindle His fire in me, and make my heart of stone into a heart that truly desires to do His will, to the laying down of my flesh.

 1Jn 3:16  Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 


No pretense of love or holiness will pass the test here. God desires our whole entire being. If we truly love Him, we would feed His sheep, the way He fed His sheep, even to the laying down of our lives as truly living sacrifices to the truth of His word, not caring whether people agree with us, or "love" (or say they love) us, but doing what Jesus did even if it gets us killed, but perhaps causes even one person to see the truth and become truly saved by God through any suffering we might suffer. That is true love. That is feeding God's sheep. Not fluffy words that get you "kudos" and empty words of comfort and praise that don't hold the forever test. Not things that stroke our egos into thinking we are something when we are nothing. How true is your and my love really? Can it go through the fires and endure the hatred of men and still all-the-while hold out hands to try to reach those who are lost? Or will we succumb to our flesh and come up with every excuse as to why God doesn't expect us to do that, and that He wants us to coddle our and each other's flesh. Loving our flesh....and each other's flesh....is that the love Jesus taught us? Is that what the Bible says? If your Bible says that, it isn't the same Bible I have been reading.

Prayers of the Saints

Link to this image

(this link focuses a bit too much on evil for my taste, but I like the picture)

“the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever” (Revelation 14:11)

A few years ago I had read something somewhere which talked about the contrasts in the Bible; the juxtaposition of opposites regarding good and evil, and light and darkness, etc. I've been wanting to explore that more, just one of those things that I have said I would get to someday...and then a few mornings ago, I couldn't stop thinking about that phrase about the smoke of their torment, which then got me thinking about it's opposite, the prayers of the saints.

Rev 8:3 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

Rev 8:4 And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand.

Rev 8:5 And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.

The prayers of all the saints are rising from the fire on the golden altar before the throne of God. The angel takes some of that fire that the prayers are rising up from, puts it into a censer, and throws it into the earth! And these verses come just before the 7 angels with 7 trumpets are introduced.

That fire brings this to mind:

1Pe 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

1Pe 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

Again we see that contrasting of “us” and “them”. They speak evil of the name of Christ, but the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon us and we glorify His name! The fiery trials that cause the world to curse, causes us to rejoice, because we can pray, and call upon His name, and He rescues us from our time of trouble, and this brings to mind another phrase regarding “them”:

“There but by the grace of God go I”

For anyone who has doubts about there being a hell, I would recommend reading this link.

image link

More links:

 http://www.gracegems.org/Miller/sweet_fragrance_of_prayer.htm

 http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Articles/Prayer/prayer.html

 http://apprising.org/2011/03/08/the-endlessness-of-hell/

This next link touches on opposites as contrasted in scripture, as well as some interesting thoughts on symbolism:

 http://home.comcast.net/~pastorbob/adultssclass/biblicalmotifs/bmtwo.html

This next one comes with a huge disclaimer, in that, I appreciate the list of opposites from the book of Revelation that is given on this page, but the website promotes "Bible codes" which I have heard is not a good thing (and am inclined to think it probably isn't, but having not fully researched what this site has to say about it so I cannot truly say anything except to "test all things" and pray). Therefore, if you'd like to look at this list here is the link, please do so prayerfully:

http://www.bible-codes.org/letters-contrast-devil-beast-lamb-God.htm

Bible links to what is known about the traits of being saved vs. the unrighteous:

 http://www.godswordforyou.com/bible-studies/developing-christian-community/593

Contrasting the old and new covenants:

http://www.bibletruths.net/archives/BTAR182.htm