The Word of God makes us clean

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. John 15:3 (NASB) 

All people are born dead in their trespasses and sins. (Ephesians 2:1; Colossians 2:13) This condition of spiritual death also means that each person, though desperate for fulfillment that can only be satisfied in God, cannot come to God, know God, or even seek Him. Because of this, they pursue fulfillment from everything around them. The number one method of doing this is via the flesh. The flesh is all about self and self-gratification. The problem with this is that nothing works for very long, including religiosity. Continue reading →

Charles Stanley Said ‘God Told Me Which Thanksgiving Turkey to Buy’

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Stop telling people that God told you to do something or that God laid something on your heart that isn’t in Scripture — there simply is no way to validate or verify and you run the risk of blaspheming when you do.

Charles Stanley, the slightly more theologically conservative father of Andy Stanley, the rank heretic, told a television audience that God spoke directly to him telling him which turkey he needed to buy. Continue reading →

Trump Adviser, Paula White, Says it’s God’s Command to Support Jim Bakker

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Donald Trump & Paula White. Photo credit: Christian Today

“Is there no end to these hucksters and their repeated money-grabbing? Gullible saints and deluded folks that are in the “Get Rich Quick” approach to religion are taking big risks. They are urged to write checks in the thousands and hundreds of thousands to get a return on their investment. But, unlike venture capitalists that have done their homework and know a good deal when they evaluate it, these greedy givers are the ones being taken.”

(Theodore Zachariades – Pulpit & Pen)  Jim Bakker recently enlisted Trump’s “spiritual adviser”, Paula White, to help him collect the money of gullible believers so he can build a greater venue for spreading his message. The tactic he used was ingenious. Continue reading →

Second Willow Creek Campus Pastor Resigns

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“I’ve longed for and encouraged Willow to pursue a different path toward healing. But due to a difference of opinion on what that path should be, I believe I must depart.” 

(Julie Roys)  Willow Creek Crystal Lake‘s Lead Pastor Marcus Bieschke today announced he’s resigning his position with the church, saying his “heart and values are not in full alignment” with the church’s current direction. Bieschke is the second campus pastor to resign from one of Willow Creek Community Church’s eight Chicago-area campuses this year. Just three months ago, Reece Whitehead resigned as lead pastor from Willow Creek Wheaton. 

Continue reading →

How Sinful Is Man?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching ∙

For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. Romans 3:22-25

Imagine a circle that represents the character of mankind. Now imagine that if someone sins, a spot—a moral blemish of sorts—appears in the circle, marring the character of man…. Continue reading →

ANTIFA Radicals Support LGBT Exploitation of Kids in Child Drag Show

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“The extreme left works in tandem to mainstream pedophilia while committing acts of domestic terrorism on the streets. Western Civilization will not survive unless this agenda is soundly defeated. Church Militant published a report on how ANTIFA’s domestic terror agenda intersects with the LGBT’s aggressive recruitment agenda…”

(Jim Kouri – News With Views)   Despite the Deep State/Democratic Party’s lip service regarding child welfare and protection, they are quick to abandon their rhetoric on protecting children from bodily and mental abuse by members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual and Queer Community. Continue reading →

William Barr’s right about left’s designs on religious freedom

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“These people are not only anti-religion, but they also are anti-science, anti-history and anti-liberty. Alexander Hamilton would weep if he knew the power these people now hold in his beloved republic.”

[Charles Hurt – The Washington Times] As the Caribbean saying goes, “I chucked a rock in the pen and a pig squealed.”

This explains all the frenzied squealing and indignant grunting we heard in response to the speech Attorney General William Barr gave last week to law students at the University of Notre Dame about the increasing hostility toward religious liberty in America. Continue reading →

Jeffress Defends Endorsement of Paula White’s Book, But Admits He Hasn’t Read it ‘Word for Word’ or Researched Her Theology

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UPDATE

When I asked Jeffress if he’s sure that White’s theology is orthodox, and that she is not a proponent of the prosperity gospel, Jeffress said, “All I can say is she claims not to be.”

(Julie Roys)  Prominent Southern Baptist Preacher, Robert Jeffress, is defending his decision to endorse a book by controversial preacher, Paula White, saying her book does not promote “prosperity gospel.”…. Continue reading →

Why are so many believers looking for more?

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“Sarah Young of Jesus Calling regularly hears whispers and voices from the other side, so much so she filled a book with His exact words, allegedly. Or two. Or three. If she is hearing from Jesus and writing His words down in quotes, she is writing scripture. Do you believe Jesus Calling is scripture?”

(Elizabeth Prata – The End Time) Sufficiency of scripture is an important topic for me as a woman, because so many of the books aimed at women loading the shelves at Christian bookstores, and so many women’s ministries telling us we should be hearing from God or are touting some author’s experience from having heard from God. Continue reading →

Death in Adam Life in Christ

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come. Romans 5:12-14 (NASB) 

Those professing Christians who for one reason or another believe they should attack the doctrines of grace usually begin with arguments against the Doctrine of Original Sin…. Continue reading →

Conservative Baptist Leaders Remove Tweets Endorsing Paula White’s Book

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UPDATE

“Both Greg Laurie and Franklin Graham have removed their tweets endorsing White’s book.  I reached out to everyone except Laurie for comment. … Graham’s press person responded that he is not available for comment. Jeffress called me today and I will be posting his response on Thursday. The others have not yet responded.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  After widespread outrage for tweeting endorsements for Paula White’s new book, a number of prominent conservative Christian leaders deleted their tweets. Continue reading →

James MacDonald Makes First Public Appearance at Men’s Retreat for Chicago-based Megachurch

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On Sunday, my husband, Neal, attended New Life Covenant’s 10 a.m. service … After the service, Neal approached Marrero and engaged him in conversation. However, Neal said that when he identified himself and inquired about James MacDonald speaking at the retreat, Marrero’s eyes got wide and he made a cut motion with his hand across his throat, saying, “I’m not answering any questions about James MacDonald.”

(Julie Roys)  Disgraced former celebrity pastor, James MacDonald, this weekend made his first public appearance since being fired from Harvest Bible Chapel for engaging in conduct “harmful to the best interests of the church.” MacDonald reportedly taught at a men’s retreat for New Life Covenant Church, a Chicago-based megachurch that boasts a weekly, global attendance of 17,000. Continue reading →

Using Children as Political Props

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Trotting out children, the younger, the better, to make political points—does that strike you as creepy? Or honest? “If I go up there and bloviate about lunch shaming, they’ll all just laugh at me. But they wouldn’t dare laugh at a kid! They’ll have to sit there and take it from a kid! Heh-heh.”

(Lee Duigon – News With Views)  Suddenly we have a lot of adults getting their marching orders from children. Is that shameful, or what? World leaders sit in deferential silence as they’re scolded by a Swedish teenager for not “Doing Something” to “Stop Climate Change”—like, “how dare you” not set up a global government and… and… and… Well, as long as they “Take Action,” the kind of action doesn’t matter. Continue reading →

Satan’s Strategies for Temptation – Part 2

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At The Crossroads by Hugo Simberg

“Sin leads toward death. It kills relationships. It destroys families. It ruins careers. It may seem fun for a season but it will leave you destitute, despised, and miserable. No sin can leave you fulfilled in life because you weren’t made for sin. Sin only destroys.”

(Alan Nelson IV – Things Above) Last time, we saw that Satan tempts us in doubting God’s Word and downplaying the consequences to sin. In this post, we will look at 2 final strategies Satan uses for temptation in Genesis 3:1–5.

 

Distorting God’s Character Continue reading →

Surprise ‘coming out ’ middle school assembly angers parents

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“Sharing one’s sexuality to 11-year-olds, many who aren’t even thinking about sex, has absolutely no place in our publicly funded schools. Why did they think this was appropriate? And why did they think it was okay to teach our children without our knowledge or consent? And on top of that, use our tax money to teach our children beliefs we disagree with?

(Linda Harvey – Mission: America) Most parents don’t like to be the last to know what’s being presented to their children, and Dayton, Ohio-area families were appalled to learn about a school-wide assembly held at a middle school. Continue reading →

What divides what should be unified in the Body of Christ?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

9 Therefore, we also from the day which we heard, do not cease praying for you and asking that you be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding,10 to walk worthy of the Lord in every way pleasing to Him in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God;  Colossians 1:9-10 (translated from the NA28 Greek text)

In discussions with other believers we have all come to the conclusion that our walks in this life are actually a continuous series of tests and trials, putting us into places of contention in which it is has become apparent to us that the way we have gone before is not how God would have us go and be walking worthy of the Lord in every way pleasing to Him in every good work bearing fruit and growing in the knowledge of God…. Continue reading →

ERLC, Cru, Gospel Coalition, NAE Among Soros-Funded Organizations

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The Gospel Coalition: This organization receives “Dark Money” through Soros’ numerous grant-funded shell charities that keep the organization pushing evangelicalism to the left, trying to turn a key conservative voting demographic against the GOP.

(Pulpit & Pen)  If you’re wondering why so many evangelical organizations are getting “woke,” wonder no more. This is a compiled list now circulating of the various organizations funded or partially funded by George Soros. In regards to evangelical or Christian institutions, we’ll remind you that Soros’ “rented evangelicals” are well-documented. Continue reading →

AG Barr Blasts ‘Militant Secularists’ in Speech on Religious Freedom

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“This is not decay,” he said. “This is organized destruction. Secular forces and their allies have marshaled all the forces of mass communication, popular culture, the entertainment industry, and academia, in an unremitting assault on religion and traditional values.”

(Caleb Park – Fox News)  Attorney General William Barr blasted “militant secularists” and their attacks on Judeo-Christian values in a blistering speech at Notre Dame Friday, saying “religion has been under increasing attack” over the past five decades. Continue reading →

Boldness not Insolence

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

7 Of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God having been given to me according to the working of his power. Ephesians 3:7-13 (translated from the NA28 Greek text) Read verses 8-13 on the site.

If we are honest, we must all agree that that there is a growing disrespect of God in today’s various teaching on prayer let alone worship. While boldness does mean that those who are truly in Christ need not have any inhibitions as they come before God, they must still never forget that God is God…. Continue reading →

Southern Baptist Pastors Promotes Prosperity Gospel False Teacher, Paula White

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“Robert Jeffress, a celebrity Southern Baptist pastor who is recognized in the convention as one of the most controversial political advocates for right-wing politics is promoting Paula White’s heretical book, Something Greater.”

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  When you have a common god, you share a common cause. In this case, their common god is right-wing politics.

Disclaimer: I am very conservative and support most of the Trump administration’s policies. Continue reading →

God Does Not Help Those Who Help Themselves Or Why The Reformation Still Matters

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“With the rise of the Modern missions movement in the 18th century and with the rise of the modern Pentecostal movement in the 19th and 20th centuries, the Reformation doctrine of sola Scriptura remains relevant. The history of Modern missions (since the 18th century) is replete with examples of unverified claims of apostolic-like direct revelation or other sorts of quasi-apostolic miracles and wonders. On this see B. B. Warfield,  Counterfeit Miracles (1918). The patterns that he observed a century ago have only intensified with the growth of Pentecostalism and the Charismatic movements. The claim that Muslims are receiving dreams, visions, and apparitions of the risen Lord is a part of the culture of Modern missions and especially of Modern Charismatic and Pentecostal piety. We are not obligated to accept these claims, which are almost always second or third-hand accounts.”

(R. Scott Clark – Abounding Grace) Sometimes when we talk about the Reformation we give or receive the impression that it was purely a historical event with no continuing relevance or even that Reformation is one thing and mission is another…. Continue reading →

Consumerism Is Driving the Church

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“I recently read an article by an Evangelical vicar of the Church of England warning of the church’s inevitable exile from the already estranged culture. So, in addition to the dangers of compromise that this fellow-Evangelical observes, I would add that the particular American danger for the church is its preoccupation with providing an entertaining experience for the 8:00 am, 10:30 am, and 11:30 am Sunday crowd.”

(Theodore Zachariades – Pulpit & Pen)  It should not surprise one that the church in its larger contours is eaten up with consumerist mentalities. The wider culture in North America is certainly rushing full-throttle on the capitalist train, so it should not be a shock to see the “church at large” imbibing marketing strategies and selling its product. Continue reading →

The Authority of the Son

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

25 Amen, amen I say to you that an hour is coming and now is when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those having heard will live. John 5:25 (translated from the NA28 Greek text)

The misunderstanding or false teaching about two truths pertaining to our Lord Jesus Christ and man are at the center of much of the false teaching that passes for “Christian theology.” It has always been so…. Continue reading →

Satan’s Strategies for Temptation

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At The Crossroads by Hugo Simberg

“We live in a day where the Word of God is abused, unheeded, twisted, unread, unlearned, not cherished, not prized, not studied, not properly preached, dismissed, set aside, not trusted, and doubted. And I’m not talking about the world right now. I’m talking about people who profess to be Christians and even entire denominations claiming to be Christian.”

(Alan Nelson IV – Things Above)  Genesis 3 is a horrific chapter in terms of the fall of humanity. What takes place in Genesis 3 is out-and-out rebellion against a and holy God, a God who had provided a very good environment, a luscious landscape, clear flowing rivers, and offered His very presence and blessing. Continue reading →