And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary.
Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house. And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew in the city. ~ Ezekiel 9:4-7
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. …Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. ~ Luke 6:21 & 25
Take a look around you. There is much abomination in the land.
Are you crying...or laughing?
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Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Would You Dare Usurp the Holy Spirit?
Before you lead a person in the ‘Sinner’s Prayer’ to be saved, stop and ask yourself “Is what I am about to do biblically correct?” Then go and read the entire New Testament and search for the answer to that question. See if you can find one example of the apostles or disciples doing such a thing.
You may be very shocked to find the answer is...NO! No where in scripture will you find the apostles or disciples leading a person in a ‘Sinner’s Prayer.’ Search for it, you will not find it. The ‘Sinner’s Prayer’ is a man made evangelizing technique which is unbiblical and actually usurps the authority and work of God the Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, this technique can give a person a false sense of security. He is led in a prayer by someone else, given the very words to pray. Afterwards he is told something like “Congratulation, you’ve been born again.” or “Welcome to the family, you’re now a Christian.” He believes he has done what was necessary to become a Christian. He is assured that all is well with his soul. But, in fact, it is not. He has been converted by men but not the Spirit of God.
Certainly it is true that all who call upon the Lord shall be saved. But, calling upon the Lord goes way beyond simply repeating by rote some words given to you by another person to pray. It is not some quick “Repeat after me” prayer man has invented. Rather, it is the work of God! Consider Jacob of old who wrestled with the Lord through the night until he received the blessing and Saul (later named Paul) who was blinded and in agony of soul for three days.
For a person to be born again, he must be born by the power of God, not the crafty persuasions of man! The Bible says:
"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” and “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing" (John 6:63, John 1:13)
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" (Romans 8:14-16)
When the Spirit of God converts a man, that man does not need someone else to tell him how or what to pray. The Holy Spirit will do that. Neither does he need man to assure him that he has been born again. The Spirit will do that also. Truly, salvation is the work of God!
Consider this before you lead another person in the “Sinner’s Prayer” and remember that only God has the right to tell someone he is His child. We have no right to usurp His sovereign authority and will in this matter. Salvation is of the Lord!
As Paris Reidhead said: “No one in the universe has the right to tell a person they’re born of God except the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of adoption. He has never ceded that right to anyone. He reserves that as His sovereign prerogative. The only one that has the right to tell a person they’re born of God is God the Holy Ghost.”
Would you dare usurp the Holy Spirit?
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You may be very shocked to find the answer is...NO! No where in scripture will you find the apostles or disciples leading a person in a ‘Sinner’s Prayer.’ Search for it, you will not find it. The ‘Sinner’s Prayer’ is a man made evangelizing technique which is unbiblical and actually usurps the authority and work of God the Holy Spirit.
Furthermore, this technique can give a person a false sense of security. He is led in a prayer by someone else, given the very words to pray. Afterwards he is told something like “Congratulation, you’ve been born again.” or “Welcome to the family, you’re now a Christian.” He believes he has done what was necessary to become a Christian. He is assured that all is well with his soul. But, in fact, it is not. He has been converted by men but not the Spirit of God.
Certainly it is true that all who call upon the Lord shall be saved. But, calling upon the Lord goes way beyond simply repeating by rote some words given to you by another person to pray. It is not some quick “Repeat after me” prayer man has invented. Rather, it is the work of God! Consider Jacob of old who wrestled with the Lord through the night until he received the blessing and Saul (later named Paul) who was blinded and in agony of soul for three days.
For a person to be born again, he must be born by the power of God, not the crafty persuasions of man! The Bible says:
"Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” and “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing" (John 6:63, John 1:13)
"For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:" (Romans 8:14-16)
When the Spirit of God converts a man, that man does not need someone else to tell him how or what to pray. The Holy Spirit will do that. Neither does he need man to assure him that he has been born again. The Spirit will do that also. Truly, salvation is the work of God!
Consider this before you lead another person in the “Sinner’s Prayer” and remember that only God has the right to tell someone he is His child. We have no right to usurp His sovereign authority and will in this matter. Salvation is of the Lord!
As Paris Reidhead said: “No one in the universe has the right to tell a person they’re born of God except the Holy Spirit who is the Spirit of adoption. He has never ceded that right to anyone. He reserves that as His sovereign prerogative. The only one that has the right to tell a person they’re born of God is God the Holy Ghost.”
Would you dare usurp the Holy Spirit?
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Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Are You Sitting In Darkness?
The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
(Matthew 4:16, 6:23; Luke 11;35; John 1:5, 3:19, 8:12, 12:46; Acts 26:18; Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 John 1:6)
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And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
(Matthew 4:16, 6:23; Luke 11;35; John 1:5, 3:19, 8:12, 12:46; Acts 26:18; Romans 13:12; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 John 1:6)
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