HeartCry!

A Mission to Seek and Save

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Luke 19:9-10

As with millions of other Christians, I am so very much aware of the wonderful saving hand of Christ upon my life, and how I was dead in my sins at one moment, and then saved for all eternity the next. I am constantly reminded of how the simplest victory would have been absolutely impossible without His sacrifice, and I am also aware of how fully and completely His sacrifice has redeemed my life.

Obviously I would never wish to be forgetful of these things, yet it has begun to dawn on me recently, and to my deepest shame, how I have been ignorant to something of equal importance, and that is the way in which Christ indwells believers by His Spirit, not purely for their own benefit, but that they may become vessels to continue His mission to seek and save the lost in this world. We are reminded of this in His Word quite clearly:

How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!”

Isaiah 52:7

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

Romans 10:14

For far too long I have allowed myself to be insulated against the shame that accompanies the Gospel message. I can join the throng of professing believers in the West and say to myself that I do not face persecution because I live in a Christian nation, or I can be honest with myself, and say that the reason I do not face persecution for the namesake of Christ is because I fail to live as the witness He commands me to. Yes it’s true that on the ‘net, behind my own little PC monitor I may have quite a loud voice at times, and I thank the Lord each day for the way He has allowed me the privilege to be involved in such ministry. However truth be told, in my personal life, face to face with the hard and Godless of this world, I remain as a dumb and silent bystander, and this truth is splitting me in two!

It is my prayer that the Lord will take me as I am, and use me as a tool for His glory, living to boldly proclaim the Gospel message to all who will listen, and regardless of personal cost. I don’t know what that may mean in practical terms, but I do know deep down in my heart that these are desperate times, calling for desperate measures, and oh how I pray that I may enter the Kingdom of God on that Final Day, bruised and battle scarred, along with the true and faithful saints from through the ages.

Originally posted 2010-03-13 13:04:56. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

God’s Measure of Success – David Wilkerson

[This is an excellent article I blogged from David Wilkerson's website.]

Success in God’s eyes is being totally fulfilled in ministering to him. Such servants aren’t striving to “make it” or seeking earthly security. They only want to know their Lord and to minister to Him.

Think about the 100 prophets hidden by Obadiah (1 Kings 18:4). They lived an isolated existence in caves for at least three to four years, during a severe famine. These men had no outside ministry. They were completely out of the public’s view, forgotten by most people. They couldn’t even share in Elijah’s victory on Mount Carmel. No doubt, the world would call them failures, insignificant men who hadn’t accomplished anything.

Yet God had given these devoted servants the precious gift of time. They had days, weeks, even years to pray, study, grow and minister to the Lord. You see, God was preparing them for the day when he would release them to minister to his people. Indeed, these same men would shepherd those who returned to God under Elijah’s ministry.

Years ago, the Lord blessed me with this gift of time. Before I ever pastored a church, I went into the woods and preached to the birds and trees. I had no plans, no agenda, no dreams. I only wanted to get to know God’s heart. So I prayed daily, seeking the Lord and ministering to him. And I marked my Bible from cover to cover. I was hidden, not seen by anyone. But God knew my address all along.

My advice is, “Quit looking for ministry. Spend your time seeking God instead. He knows where to find you. He’ll summon you when he sees you are ready. Forget what others are doing. Strive to be a success at God’s throne. If you’re ministering to the Lord and praying for others, you are already a success in his eyes!”

Originally posted 2009-08-22 13:14:11. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Serving God With Our Minds

Romans 7:23-8:6
23  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24  O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
25  I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.
1  There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2  For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
3  For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
4  that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
5  For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6  For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace

We must remember as Christians that we are creatures of both spirit and flesh, and whilst those born again from above are new creatures in Christ, fully redeemed by His blood and justified in the sight of God, the same is not true of our flesh. Our flesh is as corrupt after becoming born again as it was prior to this happening, and until the time comes when Christ calls us into His eternal glory, no good thing shall ever be found within our flesh.

The reality a Christian believer has been called into, is that of putting to death the members of his flesh on a daily basis, by the power of the Spirit of God Who dwells within them.

Romans 6:19
19  I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness.

Colossians 3:4-5
4  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5  Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

The crucial thing we often tend to miss however, is the role the mind of a believer plays in bringing the flesh into submission. In truth, the mind of a true believer becomes the battleground on which spiritual war rages, and is only won as the Spirit of God is allowed to wield the Sword of Truth against all the lies of the flesh that have been allowed to fester there.

Contrary to the popular teaching of spiritual warfare, where the believer is encouraged to bind the devil in every manifestation of evil around, as though some sort of spiritual Wyatt Earp. Instead the believer is exhorted to a constant process of self examination in the Light of Scripture, whilst maintaining an attitude of total surrender to the Holy Spirit, that He may cut away everything within the believer’s heart and mind that is offensive to the Lord Himself. This may well be a long hard process, but it is this very process of bringing the believer into the Kingdom through many tribulations, that prepares each one of us for an eternity spent with Him.

There will always be an urgent need for us to lift up those around us in our families and communities to the Lord, that He may impact their lives for His glory. And for those who sincerely want to live as beacons reflecting His glory and love in the community surrounding them, ongoing, fervent prayer must be as second nature as breathing. However if we are sincere in our desire to take the offensive, and put to death our members in the earth, bending the desires of our flesh to the will of our Lord instead; we must focus on serving the Lord with our minds in order to acheive this.

Contrary to the popular tendency within much of the charismatic church to bypass the mind and intellect, to focus solely on the spiritual, we must learn to harness the mind as a tool that drives down our flesh for the glory of Christ. But if we are not careful how we do this, we may find ourselves simply on a path of operating in the flesh still, like some sort of guru using the power of his mind to dominate matter. Or alternatively, we could find ourselves as many in the emergent church, who use their own intelligence and reason as the benchmark for what is right or wrong in the eyes of God, and end up attempting to create God in their own image.

It would be an absolute fool who would suggest their mind has no power in their lives, for it is the very part of us that, whilst completely invisible, has a control over every action of our body like nothing else. It would also be just as big a fool who would suggest that God has no desire for us to train and use it for His glory, for the Scriptures tell us quite clearly we are to serve Him completely with body, spirit and mind. The way we will find the victory in this then, just as with every other area of our lives in Christ, is through complete surrender.

With these things in mind, it is clear to see how the following portion of Scripture is primarily talking about the battle within the mind of the believer, where the goal is complete surrender to the will of God, revealed through His Word. And not necessarily talking about us binding and loosing external elements we can neither see nor touch, but simply “sense” as being some sort of spiritual activity.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6
3  For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
4  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
5  casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,
6  and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Let every sincere Christian serve the Lord with all their mind, surrendering totally every thought and preconceived idea willingly in faith, choosing to believe that the Word of God alone is true, and every man a liar if necessary. For if this attitude is predominant in the believer, the Holy Spirit is able to renew his mind, and through the truth of God’s Word, conform the mind of the believer to the mind of Christ.

Romans 12:2
2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

1 Corinthians 2:9-16
9  But as it is written: “EYE HAS NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NOR HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN THE THINGS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
10  But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
11  For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
13  These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14  But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
15  But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one.
16  For “WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD THAT HE MAY INSTRUCT HIM?” But we have the mind of Christ.

One last thing to consider on this subject which is also in relation to spiritual warfare, is that of the spiritual armour of God spoken of in Ephesians chapter 6. In Ephesians 6:17 we are instructed to “take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God;” When we persevere and abide in the Word of God, earnestly seeking to find out what the Lord has to say concerning the salvation Jesus Christ has secured for us, we grow in confidence in Him. We find that the promises of His Word shore up our minds, as a helmet protects the head of a soldier in battle. As the lies of the devil creep into our thoughts, with the aim of turning us to fear and robbing us of our blessed assurance, the mind of Christ established within us by the knowledge of His Word, rises against all the lies of the enemy and makes their power of no effect.

Sourced from: Townhill Christian Fellowship Blog

Originally posted 2009-11-19 02:13:15. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Are we being flanked by the N.A.R.?

A couple of years ago now, my attention was drawn to the apostate circus of signs and wonders that went on over in Lakeland, Florida. I remember experiencing the rebuke of other Christians at the time for daring to speak out against what was happening, albeit from confusion more than understanding, and from this place of isolation a springboard appeared that launched the Faith Defenders ministry, along with many other blogs and websites devoted to a return to Scriptural truth.

Since that time, the fall of Todd Bentley seemed to assure those who stood against the display at the time, and everyones attention seems to have been diverted towards the next bogus movement on the agenda of us all; the emergent church. I don’t know about others, but for someone like me coming from a spiritual background of Biblical ignorance, things seemed to change slightly. Whereas Bentley and his brigade seemed so over the top out of sync with that which I already knew from the Bible, those of influence in the emergent movement were a different kettle of fish. Many made all the right noises, but it took a real effort in immersing myself in the Scriptures, before I began to see clearly the lies and error that was being promoted.

This is all highlighted to bring me to the point I am at today. I cannot help but notice that with many having fully decided that Todd Bentley and his cohorts were pretty much a ridiculous joke in hindsight, everyone’s attention seems to be captivated by the likes of Brian MacLaren and his totally heretical books, and still trying to decipher the garbage that comes out of the mouths of such people as Rob Bell and the like, and how on earth they can proclaim such things as denying many fundamental orthodox Christian doctrines if they are truly saved.

With everyone’s attention captivated, I can’t help thinking about the murky figures who seemed to be pulling the strings at Lakeland, and how truly dangerous is their doctrine in stealing away for themselves the authority the Scripture gives to the apostles who founded the Church, and the unparalleled authority given to those who spoke prophetically under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, prior to the canon of Scripture being closed. I can’t deny having a very uneasy feeling that these shadowy figures are very much alive and active, and quite gladly remain outside of the limelight.

If any Christian comes from a similar background as myself, and is thankful for being forced into the Bible out of a sense of self preservation, then I encourage you to hone further still you new found ability to discern Scripturally, by peeling back what you can concerning the New Apostolic Reformation, and it’s associated ministries. Considering that many Christians I have spoken to, who seem to be full of knowledge concerning things in vogue currently, are virtually unaware that such a movement as the N.A.R. exists, or what indeed it actually stands for.

I’m not going to give out a load of different links etc. to highlight those involved in this movement, apart from maybe suggesting a good place to start is with a guy named C Peter Wagner, who is the main man, and just happened to be almost invisible but very influential at the time of the Lakeland fiasco. I have given a link at the foot of this message that leads you to a section of Wagner’s website that highlights his views on the subject of apostles and prophets for the Church of today.

All I can say that will hopefully help to keep a right perspective is this: If we agree that we now have a closed canon of Scripture that is sufficient for all our faith and practice:

But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

(2 Timothy 3:14-17)

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

(Jude 1:3)

Originally posted 2010-04-12 14:53:57. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

To live is Christ, and to die is gain!

Philippians 1:18-21
18  What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
19  For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20  according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
21  For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

When I read these words of Paul, they make me long for the same attitude to be manifested in my own life too. I can talk the talk with the best of them, and maybe on the surface at least, it may appear that I walk the walk. But with hand on my heart, I could not confidently and boldly make the statement Paul makes above, and truly mean it from the heart.

I pray that the Holy Spirit does a work in my heart to make that type of belief I long for, to be that which is truly on display in my life. As much as I cherish my family and those dear to me, and the creature comforts that the Lord has graciously bestowed upon me, I long for sincerity of heart to consider those things as nothing before Him. Even my health, and every moment I live and breathe; how I long to truly let go of it for His glory alone.

Yet in all this longing, can I say that I am anywhere near my goal? Unfortunately not. However what I do have in my favour is the life surrendered by my Lord and Saviour, whose redeeming blood has purchased my own redemption before a Holy and Righteous God, who has sworn to judge the sin of this world in His Wrath. In Him my life is hidden, and His righteousness has been astoundingly credited to my own account.

So does this mean I should quit being concerned about my sincerity of heart concerning surrendering to my God? Shame on me if I ever stop doing so in this lifetime, for what else do I have to offer in thanksgiving for all that He has done for me, apart from the wretch that I am? Yet at the same time, I have no need to be anxious and worried about my lack, for the Lord has given me His own life as my own, and taken my sin upon Himself as if it were His own, nailing it to the Cross of Calvary and covering it with His own blood.

When I look at the life of the apostle Paul, from whose lips came the title of this article, and then I look at my own pathetic attempt to live a life holy unto the Lord, I am ashamed of myself. But by the faith that Christ has placed within me as a gift, and because of His magnificent grace and mercy, I am clothed with the same righteous clothing as the apostle Paul Himself, no more and no less. And out of an eternally grateful heart, I will endeavour to follow his example, and others like him, who were completely surrendered to the service of God, and to the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ crucified and risen again.

What more can I say regarding this life here on earth, or how I should live it for His glory? One thing I do, is remember that I have a sure and confident hope in Christ, that gives me great and glorious promises of that which is to come. And though it is true that the thought of pain, suffering, and mortal death can at times strike me with fear, I have absolutely no doubt at all that when the chips are down, and I am called to take a final stand, even if similarly extreme to that taken by some of the early believers; the Holy Spirit within me will keep me standing until the bitter end, and once again it will have nothing to do with me, and everything to do with Him.

I know full well what it means when Scripture tells us such things as, “it is impossible to please God without faith” and “the righteous shall live by faith”, for it is all about what someone else has done, and has absolutely nothing at all to do with what I have done. For pity’s sake, I was unable to even choose of my own accord to follow Him in the first place! How on earth could I place any hope or expectation in being able to measure up to His righteous standards? Instead I will glory in all that Christ has accomplished on my behalf, patiently and eagerly awaiting the promise of Heaven that is sure to come.

Colossians 3:1-4
1  If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
2  Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
3  For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
4  When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Originally posted 2009-12-27 01:13:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Who is really being legalistic?

I’m sure that I’m not on my own in recognising this,  there seems to be a growing number who are quick to turn away from the truth declared in the Bible, and are even quicker to condemn those who choose to cling to that which the Bible declares as the truth, as being legalistic. Through the rank and file of the emergent church, this sentiment is always boldly on display. There is always an attitude of wanting to attempt to twist the Scriptures with human intelligence, in order to justify a love of sin within us, which is usually recognised by an unwillingness to condemn sin for what it is. As a result, we are left with a growing band of self professing Christians, who denying the right of God to be true and every man a liar, choose rather to use their own knowledge of good and evil, and their own ability to discern between the two elements, to trump that which God has chosen to reveal to us through His Word. My own concern is that this “emergent church” is not really confined to a denomination or movement in its own right, but seems to be a cancer that is riddled right the way throughout Christendom, from the most traditional to the most progressive of church fellowships.

Ironically what those who cling to this mentality seem to miss, is the very thing they seem to be searching for! In a well meant desire to tell everyone of the love and freedom to be found in God, they display their own ignorance of God and His ways, by attempting to find a more effective, relevant and convenient way to share the good news of salvation. In choosing to ignore the truth of God’s demand for holiness, and the sheer magnificence of His Righteousness, and the utter dreadedness and certainty of His Wrath one day being poured out upon the ungodly of this world; a warped gospel is presented to the lost, that in reality, is no gospel at all.

The true Gospel of Christ will have a magnificent and saving effect on those who hear and believe, for it will drive the proud to their knees before the Cross of Christ, causing them to experience the reality of their own sinfulness and wretchedness. At the same time, it will take those who are already broken and willingly casting themselves upon His mercy, and lift up their heads that they may cast their eyes upon the One who is their Deliverer. Through a legal application of God’s Law, and a liberal measure of the Grace and Mercy of God, all who will believe are brought to the place of justification through His blood. This will go on to a transformed life, being lived out for His glory alone, and will lead to an ongoing sanctification of the believer, as they are conformed day by day into the image of their Saviour. The truth is, this is the place of freedom, for it is the place, and the only place, where we experience death and rebirth in a real and tangible way. We are as far removed from the struggle of self justification under a harsh and unmerciful law, as a dead man is removed from his duties on this earth.

In contrast, the modern or emergent church, leads those who listen to its message, not into freedom and liberty of justification in Christ, but simply a place of ignorance. The place they are led to may well seem different, even refreshing, but it is not salvation in Christ. Rather it is a place where the Law of God is willingly ignored, and the ungodly mass together in defiance of God’s truth, but feeling strength in numbers they preach messages that scratch one anothers ears, and put their consciences back to sleep.

For those who profess Christ as Saviour I urge you to consider something. Whilst we live and breath the air of this world, we await a city to come, and whilst we do so, we share in the reproach of our Saviour until He returns and receives us eternally unto Himself. Although we share the blessedness of knowing Him, and though spiritually we are perfect in Him, in the flesh we are as evil and wretched as we always were. The instrument that connects our spiritual nature to that of our flesh is our mind, and that is now where the spiritual battle between good and evil rages. When we are in a position of understanding this truth, we will begin to take every thought captive to Christ and submit it to His Word. We will be so aware that our mind can be used for both the glory of Christ, and the wickedness of our own sinful flesh, we will eagerly and willingly surrender it back to the Lord at every point we can.

The proud, lofty and self righteous will always attempt to take the moral high ground in order to impose their proud and legalistic thoughts upon others, even to the extent of trying to impose them upon God Himself if that were possible. Whereas those who have looked upon the perfect Law of God full in the face, and felt the stab of pain as their wretchedness is exposed for what it is, the reality of God’s grace and mercy toward them is beyond measure. As a result, instead of attempting to take any high ground at all, instead you will find their lives laid down at the feet of their Saviour in total and utter submission to all that He is, and all that He has said and done on their behalf. This is the true place of freedom in Christ, and where the fullness of His love is expressed, for it is a place of complete death to oneself, and being made alive in Him as a new creature. What’s more, it is a place that will never be found when one follows the path of the false gospel preached by those who deny the truth of His Word in even the smallest part.

Originally posted 2009-11-13 21:17:33. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Lest We Forget.

2 Corinthians 4:1-5
1  Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.
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.
3  And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.
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.
5  For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

In the years I spent in the charismatic church, I came to a realisation that the true Gospel of Christ crucified for a sinful and fallen world, was far removed from the gospel message I had heard preached. I came to realise that the so called freedom of the Spirit claimed by many charismatic churches, in fact masked a deeper works righteousness buried deep within the congregation itself. It was often about what we could do, who we were in the Lord, how great our worship leaders were, how wonderful our preachers were etc..

The teaching in this type of church I have since found to be based far more deeply in the mind of the flesh, rather than founded in the Word of God by His Spirit, and as such, it caused a reaction within me to dive headlong into the Word of God in my desire to seek out the truth. What I found for the first time in my Christian life brought me to my knees in awe, for many of the uncertainties that had been built up in my life were quite literally obliterated in the blink of an eye. I found myself drawn to men of God who were skilled to rightly divide the Word of God. Firstly and foremost to the apostles, who were chosen by Christ Himself to convey His teaching to the world under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit. But from that time onwards, God has continually brought forward men who would continue faithfully in the tradition of the apostles, accurately and precisely feeding those around them with the Word of Truth revealed by God Himself through the pages of Scripture, that we may be equipped to last the course.

For the past year or so I have spent much time, repentantly and earnestly putting out of my life those things which are offensive to God by the power of His Holy Spirit within me, and attempting to rebuild the alter of my heart in the proper manner, as seen in the example given by Gideon in the Book of Judges:

Judges 6:25-26
25  Now it came to pass the same night that the LORD said to him, “Take your father’s young bull, the second bull of seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that your father has, and cut down the wooden image that is beside it;
26  and build an altar to the LORD your God on top of this rock in the proper arrangement, and take the second bull and offer a burnt sacrifice with the wood of the image which you shall cut down.”

Whilst I give thanks for the restoration the Lord has brought into my life in recent times, the reverence for His Word that has been established in my heart and mind, and the wonderful teachers of God’s Word from various times throughout history; these things have brought me back to one thing above all else, namely for what is the purpose of this work in my life. Without doubt or any pause at all, I can state that it is all for the furtherence of the Gospel of Christ. I know from my recent studies that the work of salvation is of the Lord from start to finish, and what He has begun, He will complete. However for some strange reason that I cannot give an answer for, He has chosen weak and foolish sinners such as myself, to bring the glad tidings of Christ crucified to a fallen world. Bearing in mind the truth that with every second I live and breathe in this world, there are those who breathe their last, and die in their sins being blinded by the devil to the ONLY truth that could have ever set them free. How then should I go about performing this task faithfully, that I may be pleasing to my wonderful Saviour, and also witness with my own eyes the genuine fruit of my labour in the Gospel?

As with Paul and the other apostles, firstly I will “not lose heart”, for ultimately I know the work is of the Lord, through His mercy and grace, and nothing of my own flesh, no matter how noble it may appear on the surface. It is with all humility that I have come to realise that Jesus Christ does not need me for anything, but I need Him for everything! By His mercy and grace He has chosen wretches such as me, that His own loving kindness can be seen clearly through the frailties of sinful flesh. Therefore in my efforts to preach the Gospel, I am above all committed to doing so His way, and not my own. I too now renounce my ways of the past that are to my shame; the craftiness, the deceitfulness, the trickery, and the appealing to the flesh. These things I have not had to work on perfecting, for as with anyone else departing from the truth of the Word of God, to behave in a sinful manner is as natural as breathing! I am committed to never again preach myself, my experiences, my relationship with the Lord, or anything else of my self. I will preach Christ crucified for the sins of those who will believe upon Him, without embellishment, and without adding and detracting from His Word in any way.

Romans 1:14-17
14  I am a debtor both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to wise and to unwise.
15  So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also.
16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
17  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”

Originally posted 2010-01-06 14:50:04. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Order of Salvation Part 3: Conversion (Repentance & Faith)

As pointed out in the first two parts of this series of articles, the work of salvation is completely out of our hands, and entirely in the hands of God. Through the call of the Gospel, and His act of choosing us and making us alive to believe and receive the Gospel (regeneration), we are graciously brought to the point of believing what Christ has done on our behalf, and trusting our very lives to His completed work at Calvary. However our salvation does not end here, for us to idly sit back, embrace the ways of the world, and wait for Christ to return for us. Rather it is the very beginning of our walk with the Lord, and it is a path that we should tread reverently with all fear and trembling, remembering full well it is really a path we have no right in walking, save alone for the grace and mercy of God Himself.

For those who would consider themselves to be a Christian, and yet display very little fear of God in their lives, and do not acknowledge what He is able and willing to do to those who mock Him, I suggest you listen to these words very carefully:

So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace. What then? Israel failed to obtain what it was seeking. The elect obtained it, but the rest were hardened, as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that would not see and ears that would not hear, down to this very day.”  ———

——But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are, remember it is not you who support the root, but the root that supports you. Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

(Romans 11:5-8 & Romans 11:17-22)

The sorrow of the worldly is directed in a selfish manner, usually producing an attitude of self pity that tends to blame others for the predicament that our own sinful desires place us. However Godly sorrow is of an entirely different nature. The believer is convicted of their own sinfulness and selfish ways, and made completely aware how this attitude has grieved the Lord and Saviour they so love and desire to follow. It is from this place of harsh realisation, that the true believer will desire to put away all that offends the Lord, and instead seek to replace their own ways with His ways, by the power of His Spirit. This attitude of repentance and faith towards the Lord is both the beginning of conversion, and the process by which the believer is transformed from glory to glory into the likeness of Christ Himself.

Originally posted 2010-02-26 09:03:40. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Righteous Judge, and Merciful Justifier.

Psalms 7:8-11
8 The LORD shall judge the peoples; Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, And according to my integrity within me.
9 Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.
10 My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.

Romans 2:1-3
1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

We all have a basic understanding of justice, and how it works. That someone who has been wronged by another, is compensated by a judge as they evaluate the circumstances, and then administer punishment against the guilty party on behalf of the innocent party. We also have a practical understanding of injustice, as we witness a liberal attitude within society prevent that act of true justice taking place. This can be seen clearly when those who have victimized, robbed, raped or even murdered others, seem to get away without any adequate punishment at all. When this happens we shout injustice, and when it affects us directly, we realise just how unfair it is.

As the Scriptures make perfectly clear, God is the Just Judge who shall judge the peoples of the whole world according to His Truth, and absolutely nothing shall go overlooked. Justice is not simply something that will hopefully happen, but it is something that MUST happen, for God IS Truth, and justice can only truly be carried out according to the truth. The verse above in Romans 2:3 when read in context, is not a command for us not to judge, but points out the hypocrisy of judging others by our own standards, for we do precisely the same things. As it states in Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Therefore we must learn to judge by God’s standards, and not our own, which can only be done by the knowledge of His Word. And according to His Word, His judgment must begin with those who confess His name. US!

It is not the job of the church to judge God’s Word, but by faith believe it, proclaim it, and surrender to it! For there has been no other thing given to us by God, including the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, that stands higher and more important than His Word, in discerning that which is true from that which is false. We must cease trying to justify anything in our life that conflicts with His Word, and instead repent and cast ourselves on His mercy in order to be set free from the desires of our flesh. This is the only true indicator in our lives that our faith in God is true, and our love for Christ is sincere.

John 14:15
15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.

Matthew 7:21
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

If any professing Christian, church, or ministry, does not hold the Truth of Scripture above all else as the standard by which to judge that which is the truth, they will be led astray, and they will lead others astray. Just as it is also true that anyone, professing Christian or not, whose teaching contradicts that which is revealed through the Word of God, they are not of Him, and unless they repent and believe, they shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

These statements may sound harsh, and may be disagreed with by many people, but they are the truth nevertheless, according to the Scriptures. God is not interested in our opinion of what He reveals as the Truth, only that if we believe in His Son, then we shall submit to His Will, revealed through His Word.

With regard to the outcome of our lives, there are no grey areas at all. We shall all be raised up on the Last Day, and given an eternal body to match our eternal souls. Then we shall be judged before God Almighty Himself, and shall either be saved or unsaved. Either declared righteous before God and received into His presence for all eternity, to become co-heirs with Christ in all things, and receive the reward that is stored in Heaven for the righteous. Or declared unrighteous, and cast into the Lake of Fire, where we shall suffer eternal destruction under the Wrath of the Living God. Which is the destination of every person whose name is not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

Providing our confession of faith in Christ as Saviour, is also accompanied by a sincere belief in Him, and His power to save us. Then we shall most definitely find our names in the Book of Life, and need never doubt that to be true. If we cling to the truth of God’s revealed Word given through the pages of the Holy Bible, then we shall be given the Holy Spirit to lead us from within by the power of God Himself. He shall never leave us, nor forsake us, and no power of darkness can remove us from His hand. Not only this, but He will also become the deposit that guarantees our salvation to come, and will testify in our spirit that we have truly become the children of God.

Galatians 4:6
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

John 15:26
26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.

The bottom line is that, if we trust in His judgments, by believing what His Word states as the truth, proclaiming it as the truth ourselves, and surrendering ourselves to live by its truth, regardless of what our own personal opinions may be. Then we show true faith in His Sovreign authority, and will be judged righteous in His sight because of the price paid on our behalf by the Blood of His own Son, Jesus Christ.

1 John 4:10
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

In other words, the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf, is the ONLY acceptable sacrifice before the Judge of the whole earth. But for those who believe, and trust in Him, then His sacrifice not only justifies us before a Holy God, but causes God to consider His Son cursed in our place, and us His own children for all eternity. And because Christ is completely sinless, death had no hold over Him, and God was able to raise Him back to life, and draw Him back to Heaven, where we will spend all eternity together.

I now recommend that you read the following Psalm offered up by David shortly after committing adultery with Bathsheba. It reflects David’s understanding of how God alone can cleanse us of our sins by His own volition, but there is nothing we can do or offer to demand His forgiveness. All we can do is realise our brokenness and cry out for His mercy to save us, but when we humbly surrender in such a way, He never turns us away.

Psalms 51:1-19
1 To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David When Nathan the Prophet Went to Him, After He Had Gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin.
3 For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me.
4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight— That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge.
5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice.
9 Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
11 Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.
13 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.
15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
16 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.
17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise.
18 Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion; Build the walls of Jerusalem.
19 Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, With burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.

Originally posted 2009-09-26 14:16:32. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Order of Salvation Part 4: Justification

Sometimes as Christians, we can have a very lop-sided view of God, for we equate His mercy and compassion with His love, and pretty much cast out His holiness and wrath as something that no longer applies. This is completely in error, for our God is love, and is just and perfect in all His ways, which includes His righteousness, holiness and wrath. The God we serve and worship today as New Testament believers, is exactly the same God who made Himself manifest to the Old Testament believers too!

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
Revelation 1:8

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
James 1:17

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Hebrews 13:8

As mentioned previously, everyone who comes to salvation in Christ comes in the same likeness, and that is as a guilty sinner condemned to the wrath of God against sin. This is not the opinion of any man, but of God, for He gave His Law that everyone should stand guilty before Him, leading all who believe to the saving grace of Christ crucified (Rom 3:19 , Gal 3:24).

What is more, as guilty sinners before a Holy, Righteous and Unchanging God, we must be totally aware of His attitude towards man in His fallen, wicked and unrepentantly sinful state.

God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day.
Psalms 7:11

For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness, Nor shall evil dwell with You. The boastful shall not stand in Your sight; You hate all workers of iniquity. You shall destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
Psalms 5:4-6

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10

These references to Scripture are not intended to beat up sinners with, nor is the descriptive list in the verse above an exhaustive one, intended to point self righteous fingers at some particular sin or another. Rather these passages have been included to show that, regardless of how righteous we may be in our own eyes, we are sinners before God, and have no right to enter His presence and Kingdom whatsoever. If we are to do so at all, it is solely by His hand, by His choice, and by His provision. For He is a Just and Righteous Judge who cannot overlook our sinfulness, for to do so would be to deny the very Justice He promises.

He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.

From this place of accepting the true character of God Almighty revealed through His Word, and understanding that He is not the One who is ever going to change, the whole Gospel message begins to make sense. For it is only when we begin to understand these things, that we can begin to see the reason God had to do something to save us, rather than just change His mind towards us, which in itself would mean that He is no longer unchanging, which in turn would bring His Eternal Perfection into question.

The amazing thing about the Gospel is that through Jesus Christ the Messiah, we have revealed to us Almighty God who so loved those He has created, He sent His own Son directly into creation to bridge the gap between the perfection of God and sinful man. By His own will, and through His own blood, Jesus Christ paid the price acceptable by God, that would clear the penalty of sin for all who would choose to accept this sacrifice, and put their trust in Him.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:16-18

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
Romans 3:23-26

Therefore through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the Cross, a divinely planned exchange takes place, wherby the penalty for sin that is rightfully ours is placed upon the shoulders of Christ instead, and the Righteousness of Christ is imparted to us as if it were our own. This is the miracle of the Gospel message, and is found absolutely nowhere else!

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:21

To even begin to understand our salvation in Christ then, we must come to terms with the true nature and character of the Unchanging One we dare to call Father. For we cannot truly claim to come into an intimate and personal relationship with God the Father without recognising Who He actually is. Nor can we claim to stand in His presence without acknowledging the enormous price that was paid upon the Cross by His own Son, in order to cleanse us from our sin and declare us to be justified before God in the first place.

Originally posted 2010-03-08 12:54:46. Republished by Blog Post Promoter