Bible teaching, encouragement, homiletics, exegesis, etc.

The Sermon on the Mount, Part 19

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4 And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. 9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. 11 “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12 “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. 13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 14 “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matt. 24:4–14, NASB

When I encounter those whose theology and eschatology has been colored by presuppositions, philosophies, and the teachings of some theologians that the Church’s main function is to establish and prepare God’s Kingdom here on this Earth so the Lord will return and claim it, I wonder how seriously these people take Scripture passages such as Matthew 24:4–14 (above). These same people are all about making secular culture conform to Christianity. I find it very difficult to line that up with what our Lord said in Matthew 24 about what things would be like before he actually did return. What is the reality? Will the Church totally take over the world in this age? From what I have studied in the New Testament, the Church is a called out “congregation” of people that are despised, persecuted, and put to death for their faith as they live for the glory of their Lord in this life. The point of that is to attain a greater resurrection in the next age. Let’s see what our Lord said about the reality of what we have to deal with in this age as the Church. View article →

Rick Warren Mentor Peter Drucker: “I am not a born again Christian”

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Apprising Ministries brings you an exclusive video clip where you’ll hear the late business guru say this on his own.

You’ll also hear him tell you that his interest in megachurches was not from a religious standpoint, but one of social phenomenon “period.”

Now stop and think about how much influence his admitted secular business practices have had upon the huge Seeker Driven sectors of contemporary evangelicalism. View article →

Contemplative Deeper Life Pietism

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Apprising Ministries has been talking for the past year or so about the syncretism being ushered in by contemplative mysticism as it slithers deep into evangelicalism.

In this piece, with an assist from Christian apologist Bob DeWaay you’ll see that at its root is the false teaching of those who practice it are the elite “enlightened” class of Christians. View article →

The Sermon on the Mount, Part 18

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1 I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:1–4, NASB

In the passage above (2 Timothy 4:1-4) the word “myths” translates the Greek noun μύθους (mythous), the Accusative, Plural of μῦθος (mythos). It is where we get the English words myth and mythology. In Classical Greek, this is a tale or fable that is “fabricated by the mind in contrast to reality.” In the New Testament, μύθους is always used to denote a cunning fable full of falsehoods and pretenses for the purpose of deceiving others. Those who willingly turn from God’s truth will unwillingly be deceived. Is this happening in our day? Yes it is. Why? It is because most of the visible church won’t tolerate true preaching, which proclaims truth and confronts sin; doctrinal error is everywhere: God’s sovereignty has been redefined in the “Open Theism” movement; Christians seek extra-biblical revelation through mysticism and so-called prophecies; hell is denied as a reality; the roles of men and women are blurred or destroyed altogether; homosexuality, fornication, abortion, and other immorality is condoned and even defended; et cetera. This deception has resulted in most of what we call the “visible church” having zero discernment. Error is rampant because they have willingly turned from God’s truth. In this they have proved that they have not entered by the narrow gate. View article →

Rick Warren, Manny Pacquiao and the Influence of Peter Drucker

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Apprising Ministries walks you through a recent Rick Warren public relations event, billed by him as a Bible study, and explains that quoting Bible verses doesn’t make Roman Catholics Christians.

If Pacquiao has really come to Christ as Warren alleges, then he needs to leave the apostate Roman Catholic Church, which has anathematized the Gospel of Jesus Christ. View article →

Interview With Brittany Koper, Granddaughter Of TBN’S Paul And Jan Crouch

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With the Elephant Room 2 mainstreaming T.D. Jakes, not to mention CGM megastar Bill Hybels’ own promotion of the heretical Word Faith preacher, WF mythology slithers deeper into the mainstream of Christendom.

Therefore, Apprising Ministries believes this interview with Koper, which you listen to at AM, is now quite relevant as it concerns Trinity Broadcasting Network, a home to T.D. Jakes, and a haven for heretics of the WF movement. View article →

The Sermon on the Mount, Part 17

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14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Galatians 5:14–16, NASB

Even as we exercise discernment, withstand wolves in sheep’s clothing, false professors, false teachers, apostates, and even those who would slander us for standing firm in our obedience, in these things we are not to respond to them the way the world does. I listened to a sound clip from Chris Matthews’ show the other day in which he used his usual ambush tactics in having a Christian leader there who had gone on record saying that his children were not going to be homosexuals because of the way he and his wife were raising them. Matthews had Barney Frank on the show who is a homosexual and “gay rights” advocate as well as a legislator from Massachusetts. Both he and Matthews jumped all over this man for daring to state that children are not born with a certain sexual orientation, but instead, it is something that is a learned behavior that is exacerbated as the sin nature takes over. Of course, this really set them off. They even kept replaying his words trying to get him confused and, of course, to court outrage in the listening audience. What was this man’s response? He remained calm in demeanor. He never lashed out. He never went on the offensive. He simply remained Christlike in telling the truth and never backing down, but also, never allowed these men to cause him to lose his cool. I’m not so sure I could have handled it that well. View article →

Oral Roberts’ Homosexual Grandson Randy Roberts Potts Marries Former Mormon Keaton Johnson

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While on one level this might not be important, in this piece Apprising Ministries details my past history with Potts and shows why you need to be aware that his prominence is rapidly growing.

Randy Roberts Potts finds his late grandfather’s name opens doors into Christendom for his pro-homosexual agenda, and his friendship with Emerging Church “pastor” Jay Bakker will even usher Potts into more mainstream evangelicalism. View article →

The Budding Femance Between Word Faith Pastrix Christine Caine And Kay Warren

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The Southern Baptist Convention finds itself chasing the wind as, yet again, an attack has been launched within it upon Calvinist brothers in Christ.

Apprising Ministries show you here that, instead of attacking the Biblical doctrines of grace, the wise SBC leaders will encourage people to focus on real problems such as major SBC figures—like Kay Warren and Beth Moore—embracing people who’re in open rebellion against the Word of God. View article →

The Sermon on the Mount, Part 16

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14 And having come to the crowd, a man came to him kneeling down before him 15 saying, “Lord have mercy on my son for he is an epileptic and suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples and they were not able to heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered saying, “O faithless and depraved generation, how long with you will I be? How long will I endure you? Bring him here to me.” 18 And Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out from him and the child was healed that hour. 19 Then the disciples approaching Jesus privately asked, “Why were we not able to cast it out?” 20 And he said to them, “On account of your little faith. Amen I say to you, ‘If you have faith like a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain move from there and it will be moved and nothing will be impossible for you.’” Matt. 17:14–20, Possessing the Treasure New Testament v1

We have reached that part of our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:7-11) that has been used by the Word of Faith preachers and the Health, Wealth and Prosperity hucksters as a “proof-text” of sorts for their agenda. In fact, in some study bibles with outline headers, this section is often labeled with something like “Ask and it will be given…” All through this sermon we have seen how our Lord has drawn the distinction between those truly in his Kingdom from those who are not. Some of those who are not may very well believe they are and may even look like it to most of us, but these distinctives do indeed mark the genuine one who is of the Kingdom of heaven from those who are not. View article →

Rick Warren, Michael Horton, and doing the Daniel Diet

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Time magazine has done a story on Rick Warren’s Biblically warped Daniel Plan as well as a short video interview with the Southern baptist megapastor.

Dr. Michael Horton of the White Horse Inn has also weighed in on the Time article. So, this gives us a chance to revisit the TDP, which featured very questionable teachers.

Apprising Ministries looks briefly at Daniel Amen, the only one reputed to be a Christian, and via an exclusive video clip shows you him teaching unbiblical mantra meditation to Rick Warren.

Then I point to Dr. Horton’s salient comments; you can also watch the Time video interview with Rick Warren as well. View article →

The Sermon on the Mount, Part 15

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1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith, but not for the purpose of passing judgment on his opinions. 2 One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only. 3 The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him. 4 Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5 One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God. 7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. 9 For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. 10 But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. 11 For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.” 12 So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. 13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way. 14 I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another. 20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense. 21 It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles. 22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. 23 But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin. Romans 14:1–23, NASB

When God caused all things to work out so that I became Reformed in my theology, so also the precision of my teaching in my Bible classes at my old church caused me to not only discard the SBC material I was given from which to teach my class, but also when I was asked to explain certain passages such as John 6:22-59 or Romans 1 & 2, there would arise such acrimony that it became nearly impossible for me to continue there. However, along with that commitment to never compromise came a deepening discernment for which I prayed along with wisdom every day. When the leadership began the process of going Purpose Driven I detected it very early and began asking very direct questions and received deceptive answers and was actually lied to many times about what was going on. So when I finally was asked to come on board I had been working with Ken Silva quite some time on the old Slice of Laodicea web site in dealing with apostasy that is the “Seeker Sensitive” movement. My stance against it made it impossible for my wife and I to remain there so we left. View article →

Bob DeWaay on the Colossian Heresy—Part 1

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It is the nature of error that there’s really nothing new under the sun. Satan can only repaint and reintroduce them over and over.

With this in mind Apprising Ministries is pleased to point you to Christian apologist Bob DeWaay’s insightful post concerning the Colossian heresy.

As you read and study through this article, you’ll begin to see it is alive and well in the visible Christian community today.

View article →

Christian, You Are Not On A Picnic

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As the evil tentacles of the Church Growth Movement reach further into contemporary evangelicalism the syncretism it causes has changed the Gospel.

Apprising Ministries show you how the new man-centered mantra is peace with the world and reminds you, rather, we are actually in a war zone. View article →

The Sermon on the Mount, Part 14

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31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, “FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.” 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:31-39, NASB

As part of our annual insurance sign up each year where I work, I undergo various physical examinations and some of those results lead to further testing, but most of the time, I just get counseled to get such and such level more in line with what they consider to “be healthy.” They attempt to force us to do this by elevating the cost of our insurance if we don’t meet certain goals, et cetera. While I was I at my doctor’s office a few months ago undergoing my annual tests to see if certain prescription medications I take need to be changed or whatever, he asked me to take a blood test as well, which included a test for a PSA level. My tests came back 0.2 higher than what is normal for may age which is 60. I just shrugged. There are medications to shrink the prostrate gland after all, right? Well, my insurance company insisted that I go to a urologist and undergo a combination ultrasound/biopsy test, which took place last Friday. View article →