Friday, October 21, 2011

False Perceptions

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Revelation 3:1

Scripture says, "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death"  (Proverbs 16:25).  Many see attaining heaven as a stair step approach of good works.  This "way" disregards the utter holiness of God and the guilt of even one sin.  How many sins did it take for Adam and Eve to be removed from the presence of God and bring death on themselves anyway?  Just one!  Yet, this verse also deals with false perceptions in many other areas.  It is important that we allow scripture to guide us always as well as ask the Holy Spirit to show us our constant need to stay near the cross.  He needs to help us crucify this flesh daily.


False perceptions  stymie the effectiveness of local churches.  Both Sardis and Laodicea saw themselves with a completely different viewpoint than Christ the Truth saw.  Sardis saw themselves as vibrant, alive, and as a living testimony to God's glory.  The piercing eyes of Christ saw them as near death.  Laodicea, sated with the worlds temporary goods and believing it was a sign of God's blessing, was actually revealed to be wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.  Their lack of discernment about their true spiritual condition led them both to a very poor walk with the Savior.  Again, Jesus is not even seen in the church of the Laodicean's.  Its name, the people's justice or the church of the people, was an apt description.  



Remember, listen to God before you listen too much to what others say about you or your church.  It keeps us on the path that the Lord wants us to walk on.  It is so easy to get caught up with flattery that we lose sight of reality.  Have you ever had a guest preacher or evangelist praise your church as the most loving or most spiritual?  It happens all of the time.  Sadly, these vanities are often said in order to assure a return revival next year, but the truth is that the church or individuals need to be at the altar praying about their critical spirit or lack of spirituality.  What is even worse is when we convince ourselves of our importance or level of spirituality. If not checked by the Word and the Spirit, these type assessments can lead us down a spiraling slope into a worthless witness while we think we are doing so well.  Just a few words of caution that was on my heart and mind.  Blessings!

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:
Revelation 3:17

Today's News 
Godlessness in the Last Days

Israel and the Middle East
Fox News  Even Qaddafi believes in Jesus now!

Potential Disasters--A Rise in Global Catastrophes

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

11-11-11 Confusion Caused By Sin

And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair to be a covering upon the tabernacle: eleven curtains shalt thou make. The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure.
Exodus 26:7-8

Eleven!  What a number in scripture.  It adds to the perfection of Divine order seen in the number 10, and it is just shy of God's perfect government seen in the number twelve. In short, it represents chaos, confusion of God's ways, and the confusion caused by sin.  It adds to what God has done or subtracts from what He wishes in right government.

When Joseph was sold into Egypt leaving only 11 sons at home, Israel descended into great anguish until Joseph was revealed to be alive.  His entire family became disorganized, hurt, and confused over the sin that sold a brother into slavery.  While the nation of Israel was at Mt. Horeb, they enjoyed the presence of God.  After an eleven day journey as recorded in Deuteronomy 1:2, the wheels fell off at the rebellion of Kadesh Barnea.  They were left to wander in the wilderness for forty years.  Two of Judah's wicked kings ruled for eleven years, Jehoiakim and Zedekiah.  It was in the 11th year of the reign of Zedekiah that Jerusalem was lost to the Babylonians and the temple was destroyed.  What was worse for Israel than the loss of that temple?  Maybe losing sight of the Son of God who was 3 x 11 at His crucifixion and resurrection.  Whose death was prophesied in the Psalm 2 x 11 or Psalm 22.  Christ the second person of the Trinity associated with the confusion caused by sin in this world.  Thank God!  He has overcome the world.  Also, let's not forget the confusion caused by sin when Judas Iscariot betrayed his Master leaving only eleven of the original apostles.  



So why all the talk about eleven?  It has to do with the significant date 11-11-11.  On this date according to a JPost article,  the UNSC may vote on a Palestinian State.  Talk about confusion caused by sin.  An organization that has left Christ out voting to cast His blood relatives from their God given home land--that is confusion.  It is also a part of prophecy.  It may signal that the eleventh hour of humanity is well under way!  


What a fateful decision. This is a significant date too.  It was the Balfour Declaration that led to the eventual fulfillment of the prophecy of the reestablishment of the nation of Israel.  Chaim Weismann's assistance in the creation of Chordite had greatly helped the British and the Allies in winning WWI.  Lord Balfour issued his famous decree as a result of this achievement making a way for the growing Zionist movement to reclaim the Promised Land.  It also shortened the war and on the 11th day of the 11th month at the 11th hour of 1918 the war ended.  Most see WWI as the tipping of the end time hourglass.  Here again on 11-11-11 we will see what could be the tipping point to the world's collision course with the holiness of Almighty God!


If you are unprepared for the coming darkness caused by the confusion of sin--there is a neat pattern of eleven to address it.   One of the sections of coverings for the tabernacle was a section that was made from 11 panels of goat's hair.  Why eleven?  Notice the placement--five over six.  Five is the number of grace and six, of course, represents man.  God in His infinite grace has covered man.  Man brought sin and confusion--God covered it by the grace of Christ at the cross.  Are you covered by the grace of God offered to you through the blood of Jesus Christ?  If not, ask today as He is truly Soon2Come! 

And thou shalt couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tabernacle.
Exodus 26:9

Prophetic News 

Monday, October 17, 2011

The Justice of the People--Lukewarm

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
Revelation 3:15-16

Lukewarm water--nearly good for nothing!  Lukewarm Christianity--just as useless. The people decided that they knew better how to run God's church, so they had put Him out.  It was their plans, their programs, their doctrines, their ideas, and their ways that ran the organization of Laodicea.  God did not want an organization but a living organism.  One that relied on, trusted in, clung to, and lived for the Word of God and the Holy Ghost.  


He still wishes this for His church today, a church that sees its life as wholly dependent on the bloody cross of Calvary.  One that sees the great and overwhelming cost of salvation which Jesus Christ the God/man paid on that cross.  One that loves the Lord their God with all of their heart soul mind and strength.

So what would a lukewarm church look like today?  Maybe it is a church that would rather be entertained than to dig deep into the infinite well of living water.  It would be a church that needed to be pampered and coddled or else they will run off huffy puffy to another fellowship until they find someone who will treat them like the immature believer that they are.  They might be one like the ones discussed in this recent Christian Post article that discussed churches spending more money on making their members happy than seeing the lost saved. Tithing Hits Record Low; Churches Spend More to Make Congregants Happy, Christian News  It is a church that needs to restore its fear of the Lord and the Judgement Seat of Christ.   Judgment Seat of Christ - Leonard Ravenhill - YouTube



What is a lukewarm church.  It's one that hides from the great wickedness of the world for fear of being politically correct or controversial.  While it hides as an ostrich with its head in the sand, the world begins to get darker and darker as the light of Christ is purposefully being hidden.  In a society such as that gross sin and immorality would set in.  Immorality such as:

It seems that there are many signs pointing to a lukewarm church!  What about you?  Are you going to leave Jesus Christ standing at the door or your heart or the door of your church?  Let Him in!  He wishes to sup with you.  You better let Him in--He is Soon2Come!