Articles

Emergent Church: Beware

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

TROUBLING QUOTES FROM CHRIST-DENYING,
“EMERGING CHURCH” LEADERS
Bastion for Spineless Moral Cowards

“My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.” Psalms 89:34

The so-called emergent or emerging church is a bunch of moral pansies who refuse to believe, embrace, and to obey the absolute truth given to us in God’s written Word. These moral cowards want to converse about it or explore it, but God forbid that anyone get literal or absolute. They stand for nothing except their own self-serving agenda which is pure rebellion against God. They are definitely ‘light in the loafers’ as the saying goes. Oh, and you can tell them I said so!

***Every Emergent Church leader I’ve ever heard speak sounded and seemed effeminate, and so I call them the ECP’s which stands for Emergent Church Pansies. Not only are they physically and verbally effeminate, their vague, questioning methods are sissy-fied. They are slick, slimy, and and spineless as they stand for nothing. The Bible tells us that effeminacy is a sin that will send one to hell (1 Corinthians 6:9). God created MEN to be masculine and therefore for a man to manifest feminine qualities either morally or physically, is an abomination to Him.

No apology for pointing out the obvious feminine nature of these guys. I never said they are gay but pointed out that they ARE “effeminate” which is a Bible word and a sin (1 Cor. 6:9). It would not be a surprise if it comes out that some of them are gay. A man doesn’t have to be manifestly a sodomite. God says if a man is even “effeminate” that he is hell bound, period (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

These guys are blinded due to the rejection of the LORD who must be approached on HIS terms and no other. He gave us HIS terms in HIS Word which these guys reject as divine, final authority.

“And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?” Luke 6:39

They sound like reasonable people while they are reasoning away non-negotiable, divine truth. Who shall we follow?

These godless wolves prey upon young people who are naive but don’t know it yet. They prey upon the younger generation because they are easily beguiled.

Any leader or local church connected with emergent church leaders via their books, CDs, DVDs, radio programs, websites, or otherwise, should also be marked as a vile wolf who has insidiously crept into the church to deceive and lead to damnation precious souls! There IS a conspiracy among false leaders! Wolves operate in packs. Wake up or perish! Be not ignorant, gullible, stupid, or naive or you will perish!

“Conspiracy” is not a theory but rather a divine revelation! “Conspiracy” is a divinely-given truth, a reality, and a fact of life:

“There is a CONSPIRACY of her prophets (apostate leaders) in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have DEVOURED SOULS; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. ²⁶Her priests (leaders) have violated my law (Word), and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. ²⁷Her princes (leaders) in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to DESTROY SOULS, to get dishonest gain (greed mongering hirelings).” Ezekiel 22:25-27

Virtually all new “churches” such as community churches, emergent or emerging churches, communal fellowships, seeker-friendly cult churches, all missional churches, and otherwise are totally apostate. They are led by spineless moral cowards who call themselves pastors but have rejected the divine revelation of Jesus Christ and His truth given us in Holy Scripture. These are the wolves Christ and His apostles so often warned us about. Beware!

Quotes from the Vile Emergent Wolves

“We do not think this [Emerging Church Movement] is about changing your worship service. We do not think this is about…how you structure your church staff. This is actually about changing theology. This is about our belief that theology changes. The message of the gospel changes. It’s not just the method that changes.” –Tony Jones (“A New Theology for a New World.” A workshop for the 2004 Emergent Convention in San Diego)

“I must add, though, that I don’t believe making disciples must equal making adherents to the Christian religion. It may be advisable in many (not all!) circumstances to help people become followers of Jesus and remain within their Buddhist, Hindu, or Jewish contexts.” –Brian McLaren

“I now believe that GLBTQ [Gay, Lesbian, Bisexuals, Transgender, and Queers] can live lives in accord with biblical Christianity (as least as much as any of us can!), and that their monogamy can and should be sanctioned and blessed by church and state.” –Tony Jones

“I am not sure I believe in God exclusively as a person anymore either…. I now incorporate a pantheistic view, which basically means that God is ‘in all,’ alongside my creedal view of God as Father, Son, and Spirit.” –Spencer Burke (A Heretics Guide to Eternity, p. 195)

“I don’t think we’ve got the gospel right yet….I don’t think the liberals have it right. But I don’t think we have it right either. None of us has arrived at orthodoxy.” –Brian McLaren

“God is going to judge the life and repair, and restore and heal the life of everybody in the same way.” –Doug Pagitt (in an interview with Todd Friel on Way of the Master Radio)

“Ask me if Christianity (my version of it, yours, the Pope’s, whoever’s) is orthodox, meaning true, and here’s my honest answer: a little, but not yet…To be a Christian in a generously orthodox way is not to claim to have the truth captured, stuffed, and mounted on the wall…But we keep seeking.” –Brian McLaren (A Generous Orthodoxy, p. 333)

“The Christian faith is mysterious to the core. It is about things and beings that ultimately can’t be put into words. Language fails. And if we do definitively put God into words, we have at that very moment made God something God is not” –Rob Bell (Velvet Elvis, p. 32)

“Ultimately, I hope Jesus will save Buddhism, Islam and every other religion, including the Christian religion, which often seems to need saving about as much as any other religion does.” –Brian McLaren

“God has an incredibly high view of people. God believes that people are capable of amazing things. I have been told that I need to believe in Jesus. Which is a good thing. But what I am learning is that Jesus believes in me. I have been told that I need to have faith in God. Which is a good thing. But what I am learning is that God has faith in me.” –Rob Bell (Velvet Elvis, p. 134)

“Stop looking for some objective Truth that is available when we delve into the text of the Bible.” –Tony Jones

“What we know means nothing. What we live means everything.” –Barry Taylor (from a talk at Capo Beach Calvary in San Juan Capistrano, California). (In response to this, contrast Taylor’s words with Jesus’ in John 8:32 and Paul’s pattern of starting off with doctrine in his letters to the Romans, Ephesians and Colossians before talking about how to live. Right actions follow right beliefs. That is the pattern set up in the Bible).

“The church has been preoccupied with the question, “What happens to your soul after you die?” As if the reason for Jesus coming can be summed up in, “Jesus is trying to help get more souls into heaven, as opposed to hell, after they die.” I just think a fair reading of the Gospels blows that out of the water. I don’t think that the entire message and life of Jesus can be boiled down to that bottom line.” –Brian McLaren

“Emergent doesn’t have a position on absolute truth, or on anything for that matter. Do you show up at a dinner party with your neighbors and ask, ‘What’s this dinner party’s position on absolute truth?’ No, you don’t, because it’s a non-sensical question.” –Tony Jones

“Well, for our community, this [living an environmentally conscious life] isn’t rooted in the fact that it’s gaining steam in popular culture. It’s always been rooted in the very nature of God. The central Hebrew prayer, Deuteronomy 6, says, “Hear O Israel the Lord your God, the Lord is One,” so we live with awareness that all of reality is one. [How does he get that from this passage? He sounds like a pantheist.] We are connected with all things everywhere, and I would argue that in the last couple hundred years, disconnection has been the dominant way people have understood reality. And the Church has contributed to that disconnection by preaching horrible messages about being left behind and that this place is going to burn [Uh, yeah read 2 Peter 3:7ff Rob.]–absolutely toxic messages that are against the teachings of Scripture, which state that we are connected to God, we are connected to the earth, we are connected to each other. When any of those connections fracture, the whole thing starts to fall apart. Your relationship with God is tied into your relationship with the soil. Go back to Genesis.” –Rob Bell (Relevant Magazine, “Rob Bell Tells it like it is,” January/February edition, 2008)

“Let me offer 10 suggestions for reclaiming the Bible for contemporary readers…Drop Any Affair You May Have with Certainty” –Brian McLaren (Adventures in Missing the Point, p. 81-84)

“We should consider the possibility that many, and perhaps even all of Jesus’ hell-fire or end-of-the-universe statements refer not to postmortem [after death] judgment but to the very historic consequences of rejecting his kingdom message of reconciliation and peacemaking. The destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 67-70 seems to many people to fulfill much of what we have traditionally understood as hell. ” –Brian McLaren

“For Jesus, heaven and hell were present realities. Ways of living we can enter into here and now. He talked very little of the life beyond this one…” –Rob Bell (Velvet Elvis, p. 147)

“When I say I’m a universalist, what I really mean is that I don’t believe you have to convert to any particular religion to find God. A I see it, God finds us, and it has nothing to do with subscribing to any particular religious view.” –Spencer Burke (A Heretic’s Guide to Eternity, p. 197)

“I’m writing with the assumption that most of you who are reading this book have concluded what I have: Preaching doesn’t work…preaching, as we know it, is a tragically broken endeavor….The value of our practices—including preaching—ought to be judged by their effects on our communities and the ways in which they help us move toward life with God.” –Doug Pagitt (Preaching Re-Imagined, p. 18, 19, 28)

“[In Yoga] it’s not how flexible you are, it’s not whether you can do the poses, it’s not how much you can bend yourself, it’s can you keep your breath [breathes in and out] consistent [breathes out] through whatever you are doing. And the Yoga Masters say this is how it is when you follow Jesus and surrender to God. Is it’s your breath being consistent. It’s your connection with God regardless of the pose you find yourself in. That’s integrating the divine into the daily.” –Rob Bell (transcribed from his sermon on breathing)

“What’s more, I’m not sure I believe in God exclusively as a person anymore either….I now incorporate a pantheist view, which basically means that God is ‘in all,’ alongside my creedal view of God as Father, Son, and Spirit….As I see it, we are in God, here on earth. This is how our relationship is defined. God does not just have to be reached up to; he is hear as the surrounding Spirit.” –Spencer Burke (A Heretic’s Guide to Eternity, p. 195)

“…my point in all this is that the doctrine of the Trinity is still on the table. Some people, it seems to me, would like for us to no longer debate certain ‘sacred’ doctrines — the Trinity, the nature of Christ, the nature of scripture, the nature of marriage etc. And these persons tend to get very jumpy when emergent-types discuss these sacred doctrines, especially in books and at conferences that are being taped. ‘This is dangerous,’ they say.” –Tony Jones

“Repentance is what happens when your eyes are opened and you see what has already been done. ‘I’ve missed it, and now I see it’.” –Rob Bell

“Anytime someone makes you feel guilty about how you are living, that is part of the old system (pre-Christ).” –Rob Bell

“And so these first Christians passed on the faith to the next generation who passed it on to the next generation who passed it on to the next generation until it got to us. Here. Today. Those who follow Jesus and belong to his church. And now it is our turn. It is our turn to step up and take responsibility for who the church is going to be for a new generation. It is our turn to redefine and reshape and dream it all up again” –Rob Bell (Velvet Elvis, p. 164)

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Emergent Seeker-Friendly

My Journey Into and Out of the Emergent Church
By Jason Carlson

The growing influence of the so-called emergent church movement has generated much interest and debate in recent times. As a columnist for the Christian Worldview Network, people often ask me for my take on the emergent church movement. Thus, the purpose of this article is simply to offer my humble perspective on the emergent church movement, based upon my unique firsthand interactions with many of its leaders, many of whom I count as friends in-spite of my disagreements with them.

My initial entrance into the emergent church conversation came about six years ago while I was a student in seminary. One of the key figures in Emergent, the official title of the organization that is the primary voice for the emergent church movement, Doug Pagitt (Pastor of Solomon’s Porch in Minneapolis), is a close friend of mine. Doug had a profound influence on my life during his time as my youth pastor when I was in high school. Between my years in youth group and my entrance into seminary, Doug became intimately involved with many of the key movers and shakers who would eventually form the organization, or “generative friendship” as they call it, which is now Emergent. During these formative years of Emergent, actually back then it was called The Terra Nova Project, Doug invited me to many of the early gatherings of this group, it was at these events where I was introduced to and spent much time with people like Brian McLaren, Tony Jones, Pagitt and others.

During my interactions with my friends from Emergent, I was challenged both intellectually and spiritually through what I encountered, and I was really forced to wrestle with what I believe and hold dear. Over the course of about three years of fairly regular interaction with members of Emergent and participation in many of their gatherings and events, I became increasingly concerned over what I believe are serious deviations from biblical truth taking place within the Emergent “conversation” (how they refer to the movement). Many other commentators have drawn attention to these dangers within Emergent, but here are some of the key errors that I observed, errors that eventually led to my disengagement with the movement:

– A highly ambiguous handling of truth.

– A desire to be so inclusive and tolerant that there is virtually no sense of biblical discernment in terms of recognizing and labeling false beliefs, practices, or lifestyles.

– A quasi-universalistic view of salvation.

– A lack of a proper appreciation for biblical authority over and against personal experience or revelation.

– Openness to pagan religious practices like Hindu Yoga and incorporating them into the Christian life and Christian worship.

– Openly questioning the relevance of key historical biblical doctrines such as the Trinity.

– An uncritically open embrace of the Catholic and Orthodox churches.

– An unbridled cynicism towards conservative evangelicalism and fundamentalism.

– A reading of scripture that is heavily prejudiced towards a social gospel understanding.

– Little or no talk of evangelism or saving lost souls.

– A salvation by osmosis mentality, where if you hangout with us long enough you’re in.

– And many other things that I won’t get into…

Needless to say, today I no longer actively participate in the Emergent conversation. While I do maintain my friendships with many people involved in Emergent, I cannot openly participate in or support this movement due to my spirit’s uneasiness with the errors I listed above. I am not ashamed to call the people I mentioned above my friends, but friends don’t always have to agree; and sometimes the best thing a friend can do is to point out the error in the other’s ways. So, for now you could call me a friendly critic of Emergent.

How did I make it out of my time in Emergent to return to a solid Christian worldview? I owe it all to my parents who raised me with a deep appreciation and respect for God’s word and the truth it reveals. For as far back as I can remember, my parent’s trained me in a biblical Christian worldview. I was taught from a very young age to test all things by God’s word and I was regularly exposed to the writings and teachings of great Christian apologists and theologians like Josh McDowell, Norman Geisler, Ken Ham, and Walter Martin. Through reading solid Christian scholars and attending numerous high quality Christian worldview-training conferences, like Worldview Weekend, I was equipped with the tools I would need later in life to discern truth from error.

Parents, you cannot take lightly the influence that a godly, biblically based upbringing can have on your children! Each generation will be faced with their share of trials, tribulations, and errors which threaten the integrity of the church, but when our young people are raised up with a firm foundation in God’s truth, they will be able to discern truth from error and will have the tools they’ll need to overcome any challenge to their faith.

If you would like more information on Emergent and the emergent church movement from a solid biblical perspective, I would highly recommend D.A. Carson’s excellent book, Becoming Conversant with the Emergent Church.

“Throwing Our Future Church Leaders to the Wolves”
Jim Brown

An estimated 25,000-30,000 young people are expected to attend “Student Life” events with their church youth groups this year in twelve different locations across the U-S. Headlining the 2006 tour are worship leader Charlie Hall, the drama team “All Things to All People” and Los Angeles pastor and author Erwin McManus, a leader in the Emergent Church movement.

But before you pay to send your teenager off to one of the Student Life conferences, be aware that Emergent leaders such as McManus, Leonard Sweet, Andy Crouch, Brian McLaren, and others are pushing liberal theology under the guise of “postmodern” Christianity. The movement assails absolute truth, the inerrancy of Scripture and justification by faith in Jesus Christ alone, and instead embraces spiritual relativism and mysticism. Sound like something you want your son or daughter dabbling in? This “New Kind of Christianity,” as McLaren calls it, is distorting the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler has said “When it comes to issues such as the exclusivity of the gospel, the identity of Jesus Christ as both fully human and fully divine, the authoritative character of Scripture as written revelation, and the clear teaching of Scripture concerning issues such as homosexuality, this movement simply refuses to answer the questions.” Yet, the movement continues to gain traction among undiscerning believers young and old, as well critics of traditional evangelicalism.

In an interview with www.freshministry.org, McManus was asked what advice he would give preachers that want to minister in the postmodern age. He responded by saying, “First, The sermons that are changing the world are the ones where the pastor is real–sharing his journey with the congregation. Second, stop preaching sermons and start telling stories. Third, Break through the pressure to be a great preacher and become a great leader.” In other words, away with sound doctrine if it’s not culturally relevant or entertaining to your audience.

Perhaps more troubling, McManus endorsed Gregory Boyd’s book “Is God to Blame.” Boyd is a leading proponent of open theism, which denies God knows all of the future. In the book, Boyd argues that Almighty God suffers from self-imposed limits on His power. At the very least, it’s apparent McManus is willing to tolerate a heretical view that undermines the doctrine of Christ’s Atonement and the authority of Scripture.

One has to question why Student Life would feature McManus at its popular conferences and why any youth pastor would wittingly allow his youth group to sit under an Emergent pastor’s teaching. I think the answer can be found in II Timothy 4:3-4: “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Christian young people need sound doctrine to grow in Christ and reach a lost world for Jesus, not a “postmodern” or culturally relevant gospel.

LINKS EXPOSING THE EMERGENT CHURCH MOVEMENT:

The Church is Changing, What is Emerging?

Emergent Church Leaders: Wolves in Shepherds’ Clothing!

http://www.apprising.org/archives/2005/11/emergent_church_3.html

http://www.erwm.com/TheNewSpiritualFormation.htm

http://www.christianresearchservice.com/EmergingChurch.htm

http://www.studentlifetour.com/index.php

Jim Brown is an education reporter for American Family Radio News. His stories appear frequently at www.agapepress.org and other Christian websites. He can be contacted at jimbrown@afa.net.

ROB BELL is a WOLF! Marked!

Emergent Seeker-Friendly

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From Apprising.org

Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism

This time we live in is marred by the false philosophy of postmodernism, which is more deeply entrenched within the gates of Christendom than most realize. Circa 2000 mainstream evangelicalism made the ill-fated decision to embrace the sinfully ecumenical neo-liberal cult operating within the Emerging Church aka the Emergent Church.

Sadly, the EC—headed by, among others, its trinity of apostates, Living Spiritual Teacher and EC guru Brian McLaren, universalist Emerging Church pastor Doug Pagitt, and his friend Dr. Tony Jones, the progressive “theologian in residence” at Solomon’s Porch—would prove to be a Trojan Horse literally filled with heresy.

One of its most pernicious teachings was corrupt Contemplative Spirituality/Mysticism (CSM), Roman Catholic mysticism “discovered” by Living Spiritual Teacher and Quaker mystic Richard Foster, now spread within the heart of evangelicalism as supposed Spiritual Formation with an assist from his spiritual twin Dallas Willard,

This spurious CSM was a core doctrine in the EC right from its slithering into the mainstream circa 2000. In fact, this was all a part of the plan of Druckerite Leadership Network to move away from sola Scriptura to man-centered dominionist theology. This CSM has horribly corrupted the younger sectors of the visible church.

No longer do they practice the proper Christian spirituality of sola Scriptura; instead, so-called “spiritual disciplines” of CSM have convinced them they are receiving direct revelations from God. From years of studying mystics of all stripes I can tell you their perceived revelations then trump the texts of Holy Scripture for them.

In other words, rather than testing these experiences by God’s Word, now these practitioners of CSM are instead using their feelings to interpret the Bible through what they think God is saying. I’m telling you, the tragic fact is, the mainstream of professing Christendom is rapidly devolving into all kinds of silly superstitions.

The FORGOTTEN Sins of Sodom [podcast]

Articles

The Victory of the Cross [podcast]

“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the

Lord Jesus, THAT the life also of Jesus might be made

manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are alway

delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life

also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal

flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.”

2 Corinthians 4:10-12

Many feel hopeless, like they can never overcome the flesh.

Yet, we know that God is able to bring the victory He

ordained in our lives through the crucified life He

commanded that we walk in. “For ye are dead, and your life

is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).

Powerful ministry that bears fruit for the glory of God only

comes out of the cross life with Christ whereby you are dead

and buried and Christ is raising you up by His grace, and His

power is filling, propelling and flowing through your life to

minister His truth and love to others (2 Corinthians 4:10-12).

As we consent to our own death and burial, Jesus raises us

upward in HIS divine strength. Divine empowerment in the

life of the disciple of Jesus comes from His resurrection grace

working in our lives as we consent to our own dying—death

and burial. Death and burial precede God raising us up. God

cannot raise us up if we aren’t dead and buried. This cross

concept is at the center of our walk with Jesus, whose death,

burial and resurrection are enacted in our own lives daily

(Romans 6).

Prayer: Father, in Jesus’ name, I am here and now crucified

with Christ. I am dead and my life is hidden with Christ in God.

Living the Crucified Life

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The Cross Imperative [podcast]

The cross is not about self effort but rather self denial. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 Dear LORD Jesus, please take all of me. Have Your way in this life. “not my will, but thine, be done.” Luke 22:42 The cross, the blood of Christ’s cross is what He commanded we take up daily in order to follow Him (Colossians 1:20; Luke 9:23-24). The divine economy is a cross economy and that is the only way one can truly walk with the LORD, pleasing Him in all things. Pouring over the words of 2 Corinthians 4:10-12 is […]

Judgment to Come Necessitates the Crucified Life [podcast]

“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” 1 Corinthians 9:27 In light of “eternal judgment” (Hebrews 6:2), the apostle speaks here of his preparation for it. Paul knew that eternal damnation awaited him if he dared not keep under his body, to crucify the deeds of the body to “bring it into subjection” by the daily crucified life. Keeping under our bodies speaks of a continual essential. Keeping under means subduing the old man by crucifying it daily. “For […]

Abiding

Supplying Saints and Sinners with Heavenly Sustenance

HIS TRUTH IS MARCHING ON – THROUGH HIS PEOPLE

“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” Psalms 68:11

THERE is no time to waste – Jesus is coming. We must get the Word of God into the hearts of people, in every way, via any and all communication mediums available to us today. And this is the fulfillment of Matthew 24:14 – “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Let’s roll saints!

“We are labourers TOGETHER with God.” 1 Corinthians 3:9

The graphic below is for the order I just placed with the publisher for a fresh supply of the ministry books.

This ministry outreach, ministering God’s Word to thousands daily, is a vehicle for our LORD’s Word. What’s needed is more disciples who will monthly support it, who will put fuel in the tank in order to propel it forward to reach more and more people with the Gospel of our LORD Jesus. Will you answer that call?

“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) 11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-11

Does it make sense to put a percentage of our earnings into a 401K (or other earthly investment) and not force feed a portion off the top, with a cheerful heart to Christ’s eternal kingdom work? (Read Proverbs 3:9-10; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11)

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

It has been wisely concluded from what Jesus taught, that:

“The way we spend our money is a direct reflection of the priorities of our hearts.”

Is God truly first in your life? (Proverbs 3:9-10; Matthew 6:33, etc.).

There are no rich men, there is no religious or otherwise organization supporting this Gospel ministry outreach. Just regular people who know and love Jesus and the whole counsel of His truth and are growing in His grace daily with the other members of His remnant body (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18). There are monthly bills that only get paid by having the actual, the literal money in the account. In turn God turns that giving of earthly money to HIS work into heavenly treasure for all who give (Luke 16:9-11; Acts 20:35). These expenses are incurred by pushing the Word of God to the hearts and minds of the people and available to be paid and that’s God’s opportunity placed in YOUR lap to supply. In response, what is the LORD going to do? (Matthew 6:19-21; 2 Corinthians 9:6-11; Philippians 4:17, etc.)

“And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. 10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. 11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?” Luke 16:9-11

When Jesus says here to “Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness …,” what does He mean? This writer would like to encourage the reader to delve into this passage, to pray that the LORD will open the eyes of your understanding concerning what He seeks to communicate to your heart.

Of this passage, the Believer’s Bible Commentary notes:

“16:9 We should make friends for ourselves by means of unrighteous mammon. That is, we should use money and other material things in such a way as to win souls for Christ and thus form friendships that will endure throughout eternity. Pierson stated it clearly:

‘Money can be used to buy Bibles, books, tracts and thus, indirectly, the souls of men. Thus what was material and temporal becomes immortal, becomes non-material, spiritual and eternal. Here is a man who has 100. He may spend it all on a banquet or an evening party, in which case the next day there is nothing to show for it. On the other hand, he invests in Bibles … It buys … copies of the Word of God. These he judiciously sows as seed of the kingdom, and that seed springs up into a harvest, not of Bibles but of souls. Out of the unrighteous, he has made immortal friends, who when he fails, receive him into everlasting habitations.’

This then is the teaching of our Lord. By the wise investment of material possessions, we can have part in the eternal blessing of men and women. We can make sure that when we arrive at the gates of heaven, there will be a welcoming committee of those who were saved through our sacrificial giving and prayers. These people will thank us saying, ‘It was you who invited me here.’”

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed (God’s Word), shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves (eternal harvest, reward) with him.” Psalms 126:5-6

Christ’s Kingdom and His Gift to us to Participate, is Practical

Will you choose to part with temporal money to reap eternal, unending, irrevocable benefits?

An order has been placed for 20 more of the ministry books from the publisher ($125). The plan is to order this supply monthly for the next 3 months – and hand them out, person-to-person. Face-to-face, person-to-person gifting people on a daily basis, usually after they’ve received ministry, is a super-charged transfer of heavenly blessing (Philippians 1:19). As you know if you’ve read any of the ministry’s books, they are Christ-centered, Scripture-rich original Gospel volumes. Holy Scripture is on each page and put in bold print. In the rear of each book is the way to make peace with God. It leads them right to Jesus via and beginning with the biblical truth that we have “all sinned” against our God (Romans 3).

If you wish, feel free to help fund this part of the ministry exploits currently transpiring to get God’s Word in the hearts of more and more people.

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

The glorious Gospel of our LORD Jesus is communicated, disseminated, and received via His Word.

“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his GRACE, 16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might PREACH him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:” Galatians 1:15-16

As we can all witness, there are so many hungry souls wandering about in this fallen world who desire to receive the Word of God. The personal touch, contact is powerful – as it was when our LORD directed beloved Philip to minister to the Ethiopian eunuch whom our LORD consequently saves (Acts 8:26-40). And some, many and actually most of the people being reached are our beloved brethren who are looking for sustenance. I meet them each and every week. They are hungering and thirsting after His righteousness. Let’s be there for them saints.

Perhaps this can spread to where we are able to drop ship a supply books to some of the ministries this outreach supplies and has for years. If each of us does our simple part, great blessings will result.

Lately I’ve been handing out lots of the Moments with Our Master devotional books. People love them……. This week I had a lengthy breakfast meeting with a rich young ruler type young man. He articulated that all of his earthly success has left him empty in this world. It was a Scripture-rich time. Garrett gladly received a copy of the Moments devotional book and said “Let’s do this again.” His heart was filled with joy during and after that fellowship. He told me that in the past, as he walked with the LORD daily, his life was so much better. With a large smile he said “Man, I’d just walk down the street like I was floating 2 feet off the ground, filled with the joy and love of Jesus, sharing it with others.” Garrett texted me back the next morning with this:

“Appreciate you giving me that book. It’s convenient to use in the mornings.” Garrett

So, as we can witness, this Scripture-rich devotional book is the launching place for this man to seek and walk with the LORD. As usual, all of the ministry’s materials constantly exhort the readers/listeners to get into God’s Word daily for themselves (2 Timothy 2:15).

I know you’ll agree that the Garrett’s of our world matter to our LORD and we are the very “ambassadors” Christ has sent to bless them (2 Corinthians 5:20)! We are the delivery personnel of Heaven – handing out to people the treasure of Christ!

Just a few days ago, I gave 1 copy each to a young couple who I’ve become friends with at the gym (18 years old each). They were happy to receive this gift. First, as I like to do, I asked them if they like to read. One of them said they were currently “searching for something to read.” As usual when giving them the books, I opened one copy of the books and showed them that “there’s one devotional for each day of the year, all on one page. It begins with a Scripture, a few words, and a prayer at the end.” This way they see just how simple it is – and gives them a track to run on, a foundation to build their day upon. EVERY searching person is looking for this very thing. Their lives are meaningless, empty, and lacking the presence of the LORD. This is where we come in saints. As usual, I like to share with them that “This is a great way to begin the day.”

After qualifying the situation by asking people “Do you like to read?” I then ask them if I can give them a book and the answer is always a “Yes.” I then go fetch a book and gift them with it.

The season must now end where the Great Commission work of our LORD is shorted. Let’s fuel up and fill the Gospel war chest saints. It’s right under out noses – as God has placed it there! Let us each do our part (John 4:36; 1 Samuel 30:24).

Anyone who wishes to jump in and begin underwriting the kingdom opportunity cost for this is welcome.

Earthly expenses to do ministry, the most important and only eternal work in the earth, is the kingdom opportunity lying right in front of each of us (Matthew 6:19-21).

“May God empower us through the Holy Ghost to bring not a few guests to the wedding banquet; as we walk in the Spirit with the love of Christ flowing in and through our daily lives, and as we sow in tears; knowing that we shall reap with joy: because He that promised is faithful. To God be the glory in Jesus Name, Amen.” Jon Crane

Let’s review:

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalms 125:5-6

YOU cannot do it. I certainly can’t do anything without Christ.

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5

Surrender, right? Yes.

Jesus Christ is LORD. He’s our coming King.

Christ Saved Katherine! Mexico Mission Part 27

UPDATE: Thank you for your praying for fruitfulness in the work of our LORD. The new ministry laptop is in and is mostly set up. Your prayers and support are vital as “WE are labourers TOGETHER with God” (1 Corinthians 3:9). WE the body of Christ, are a separate entity from the world (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). We are here on earth for but a short time more – saved and sent to do Christ’s Great Commission (Matthew 9:35-38; 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-20; John 4:34-38). Jesus foretold that these final days before His return would be tumultuous. And to “Let not your […]

Evangelism Adventures: Stories, Reports, and Testimonies of God's Amazing Love [podcast]

SO, we prayed for God to use us today right? …. He’s hearing our prayer. So, in the gym this morning, a lady near me was struggling to get a large plate on each side of the barbell. So, I began to help her and she said “No Ingles” which means she does not speak English. So, I affirmed that she speaks Spanish and I began to speak God’s Word to her in her language. Her face lit up and she thanked me. God is good! Jesus says “The seed is the word of God” and His people are planting […]

Sending the Divine Light into "The Prison House" [podcast]

Jesus is Bringing Incarcerated Souls to Himself: YOUR GIFTS ARE REACHING BEHIND THE COLD HARD WALLS OF PRISON CELLS – INTO THE SEARCHING, HUNGERING SOULS OF A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE OF MEN AND WOMEN: Inasmuch as there is financial supply, ministry books continue to flood jails across our nation – touching the hearts of the incarcerated for Christ! Each of these books will be read by many. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15 Support Here. | J6 Ministry Outreach category […]

Abiding

LIE OF THE AGES: From the Garden to Glory [podcast]

Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages

The First Lie and the Fall of Man

“Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” ~ Genesis 3:1-5

Have you ever wondered what the first lie ever told was? Who told it? Why was it told? What was the result of it? Can the fruit be seen and felt today? Can its effects be traced throughout history and even into the future?

According to the Genesis account, the Garden of Eden was the sanctuary of the Most High, where He communed with the first man and woman He had made in His very own image. The Garden was a sinless, guiltless sanctuary of unimaginable relational bliss between the LORD Almighty and the man and woman. The Garden of Eden was the place of pure truth and love—a place where lies were not even suspected.

Enter Satan.

Enter the lie.

Enter the seduction.

Enter no fear of God.

Enter stolen restraint.

Enter sin.

Enter the fall of man.

Enter alienation from the Creator.

Garden Scene—The First Lie

Do you think this first lie may hold some insight into the work of Satan and his war against God and His treasured people today?

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die…(Now here’s what the woman said:) But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. (Now here’s what Satan said:) And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.” ~ Genesis 2:16-17; 3:3-4

In the book of origins (Genesis) where every major biblical doctrine is rooted (has its beginning), there can be found the keys and answers to life. Mankind’s Maker, his beginning, his ultimate enemy, temptation, sin, the resulting fall, and the redemption of man are revealed in the first chapters of this all-important first book of the Holy Bible.

Perhaps there could be no greater occupation than for the student of Scripture to undertake, pour over, pray over, and dismantle the first three chapters of the book of Genesis. In this endeavor, he will gain insight into the origins and purpose of creation, pitfalls facing mankind, divine restoration, and the keys to living a victorious life in harmony with his Creator.

Sin entered the human experience through the temptation and fall of the first man (Rom. 5). By this the enemy gained a foothold and has warred with that sole creation made in the image of the Maker Himself. But it is sin that is man’s problem, not circumstance or self-esteem nor any other diagnosis. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (See Jer. 17:9.)

Someone has wisely stated: “The heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.”

From the very beginning, Satan has tempted man to believe that breaking the commandment of His Maker was not to be feared or avoided and could not harm him. The temptation for man is if he is going to determine truth on his own terms and how it fits his own lifestyle, or repent and humbly accept and obey what God says.

Cain was a religionist. He refused relationship with the LORD because he chose to do things his own way instead of God’s (Gen. 4:1-7). In his pride, Cain wanted to make up his own rules – he was lawless. Religion is where men have created a god in their own image and follow those teachings which render obedience to that false god. The most deceptive and evil form of religion is that which is close to the truth and uses Bible Scriptures out of context to make up that doctrine which circumvents obedience to the plain truth of God. (See Jesus rebuke the Pharisees in Matt. 23.)

Who are we going to believe and trust? Whose report will you believe? Since the LORD and the devil stated something in direct opposition to each other, we know that one of them is a liar. As He gave the first man and woman the option, so the LORD gives us the choice to trust and obey Him or not to obey Him. Each of us will decide who it is that is going to be a liar in our hearts—the Almighty, or Satan.

God said (Gen. 2:17): “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof THOU SHALT SURELY DIE.”

Satan said (Gen. 3:4): “And the serpent said unto the woman, YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE.”

The lie of the ages began in the very cradle of creation. The aim of the enemy of all souls was the first man and woman who were uniquely created in the image of the One who made all things. Adam and Eve were the subjects of Satan’s deadly lie—the first lie ever told. Apparently, this cunning enemy understood that if he could cause the man and woman to take things into their own hands and violate the instruction of their Maker, they would be ushered out of His Garden (presence) and forfeit their place with Him.

Mankind’s enemy led him to believe that he could violate the instruction of his holy Maker and still remain within His approval. Like Adam and Eve, it is readily observed that men naturally internalize this philosophy as “I can sin with no fear of consequences.” Is it possible that this lie is still leading men and women to believe that they “shall not surely die” if they live in direct opposition to the LORD?

Concerning this most insidious and destructive lie of the serpent, the Life in the Spirit Study Bible states:

“‘YE SHALL NOT SURELY DIE’…The first lie proposed by Satan was a form of antinomianism (lawlessness), denying the judgment of death for sin and apostasy. One of the basic sins of humankind is unbelief in God’s word. It is believing that somehow God does not really mean what He says about salvation, righteousness, sin, judgment, and death. Satan’s most persistent lie is that unrepentant, deliberate sin and rebellion against God will not necessarily bring separation from God and eternal condemnation.”

As he did with the first man and woman, the adversary tells us “Ye shall not surely die” (Gen. 3:4).

Escaping the judgment of a holy God has long been the vain imagination of depraved men, fueled by the enemy of all righteousness who has come “to steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (Jn. 10:10).

“Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” ~ Ecclesiastes 8:11

“Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.” ~ Psalms 10:13

Question: “Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God?

Answer: “He hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.”

The hearts of those who are not in fellowship with the LORD say “The LORD will not ‘require it’ of me. He will not bring me into accountability for my life in this world. After all, He has not done anything to me for my wrongdoing thus far. I am okay in my sins; God will just overlook them.”

Lucifer’s lure capitalizes on the sinful nature of men, preying upon his desire to be his own god, controlling his own destiny. Somehow, according to this revelation and others, it is within man’s makeup to believe that because his Creator is not presently executing tangible judgment for his sin, he believes that God is not going to judge him at all. So, unregenerate man goes on sinning with reckless abandon, not realizing that that Great and Terrible Day of Judgment lies just ahead.

The first man and woman bought into the first lie that claims there is no consequence for violating the command of the one true God. Such self-deception is no new thing. Since the first man and woman, people have sought to define right and wrong on their own terms instead of simply acknowledging what the LORD says. As the first couple found out, it is a losing endeavor to determine truth by how it fits one’s lifestyle instead of by God’s non-negotiable counsel given us in His Word (Jn. 17:17; Rom. 3:3-4; 2 Tim. 3:16). Defining truth on one’s own terms is buying into the lie of the ages presented to every man by the evil one who “walketh about seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8).

When men seek to redefine truth on their own terms, they unwittingly create a god in their own image—one who accepts them in their sins with no judgment. They then migrate to pastors and teachers who will tickle their itching ears with smooth messages void of the full-counsel revelation of Holy Scripture (Jer. 5:30-31; 2 Tim. 4:2-4).

After Adam and Eve, it was their son Cain who sought to make up his own way to God on his own terms. He failed. To Cain and to all who seek through religion, whether self-styled or organized, the Almighty would ask: “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door” (Gen. 4:7).

The LORD says to Cain “If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?” This simply means “If you will do things the way I prescribed, will I not fully accept you as I did your brother Abel?” Cain hardened his heart and refused to do things God’s way by offering the type of sacrifice God requires. Due to his own choice to rebel against the Most High he became so filled with the enemy that he killed his own brother (Gen. 4).

This is a classic example of how the enemy led this man Cain to believe that he could make up his own rules, violating the holy Creator and still escape His just judgment. Like Cain, millions of faithful religionists today have a mere formula of godliness while denying the power of a truly surrendered life to the one true God who sent His only begotten Son as the only sacrifice for the sins of men (2 Timothy 3:5).

When he was able to successfully persuade the first man to violate the command of the LORD, Satan gained access to authority over the man by the sin of the man (Isaiah 59:1-2; Ephesians 4:27; James 4:7). Jesus re-gained that authority for His highest and prized creation and all those who come into relationship with Him experience the abundant blessings that come along with being saved by His precious blood (Jn. 10:10; Rom. 5:17; 1 Pet. 1:18-19).

“For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)” Romans 5:17

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” ~ John 3:16-17

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, please unite my heart to fear Thy name and keep it from falling prey to this same lie that led to Adam and Eve’s fall. Quicken my heart in the fear of the LORD. Please teach me that there are many harsh consequences for disobeying You, by not doing what You say, by sinning against You. Convict my heart of sin, and I beg You to make my conscience extremely sensitive to Your conviction and leading. Change my heart, O LORD. Grant me a heart of flesh that delights to live in Your presence and do Your perfect will. In Jesus’ name, Amen.