Core Convictions About Prayer

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To experience God in our midst we must be people of prayer. To be people of prayer we need to know what prayer is. From the example of David in Psalm 109, we can see that prayer is the total offering of oneself to God for everything that is needed. Because of this people of prayer affirm several core convictions.

God invites us to pray.

Through the psalmist the Lord invites us, saying, “Pour out your hearts before him” (Ps. 62:8). When he walked this earth our Lord showed that he invites us to pray, saying three times in his teaching on prayer, “When you pray,” and then he said, “Pray then like this” (Matt. 6:5, 6, 7, 9). Clearly, God desires and delights in our prayers. Continue reading →

New Science Says Chocolate Fights a Cough Better Than an Rx Medication

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Smother your cough with yummy chocolate without the sleepy side-effects of codeine? It’s almost enough to make you welcome winter.

(Shape)  Good news for chocoholics. The next time you come down with a cough, just pop a piece of your favorite treat and you’ll get all the cough-suppressing effects of codeine syrup without the fuzzy-headed side-effects. Here’s how it works.

Professor Alyn Morice, a respected authority on all things related to coughs and respiratory medicine, wrote in the Daily Mail that chocolate can soothe coughs better than codeine syrup by forming a sticky coating that protects the nerve endings in your throat that cause you to cough. Continue reading →

Mohler Says Women Shouldn’t Preach in Long-Winded, Barely Coherent Statement

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Opinion ∙ , , , ,

Like clockwork, Mohler espoused straight-line, solid and correct doctrinal positions with his words. That Mohler will be orthodox in his words is predictable. And in reality, Mohler’s position doesn’t sound any different than Dr. John MacArthur (except he did not apply it to a specific person).

(Pulpit & Pen)  In a barely intelligible, stuttering, vaguely-coherent and painfully long answer on his podcast to a question about female preachers, Mohler claimed that the Bible does not allow women to preach to men. Continue reading →

Gay Christianity and the Local Church

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“It is the local church that is to instruct and hold their members to these God-ordained roles and standards. Should members of that covenant community defile what God has blessed, the church calls them to repent. And if they do not repent, they are to be put out of the local church (Matthew 18:15-20).”

(Tedd Mathis)  In this essay I address how a local church is to respond when a member practices sexual sin. Since the Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever, let’s remind ourselves of what He has commanded His people in the past. Continue reading →

Our Old Natures Never Die (Reprise)

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And Abimelech said to Abraham, “What did you see, that you did this thing?” Abraham said, “I did it because I thought, ‘There is no fear of God at all in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.’ Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father though not the daughter of my mother, and she became my wife. And when God caused me to wander from my father’s house, I said to her, ‘This is the kindness you must do me: at every place to which we come, say of me, “He is my brother.”’” Gen 20:10-13

Has anyone had to say to you, As a Christian, what were you thinking of when you did this thing? Have you ever had to say it to yourself: What got into me anyway? I thought I was further along in the Christian life than this….. Continue reading →

The Return of Jesus Christ

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. 37 For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then there will be two men in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left. Matthew 24:36-44 (NASB) (Read verses 42-44 on the site)

Jesus Christ is returning to this earth. However, if you look at the havoc the enemy is causing in the visible Church in our time it would appear that many, if not most, professing Christians are unconcerned about it…. Continue reading →

If Your Church Truly Loved LGBTQ People, There Won’t Be Very Many of Them There

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If we’re faithfully preaching the full counsel of God in our churches, homosexuals will have two choices; repent or flee. However, unless they repent, they will likely not hang around too long.

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  I recently heard one of the most absurd statements on homosexuality in the Church that I’ve heard in a long time. Someone told me that his church was “gay-friendly,” but that they still preached the true gospel…. Continue reading →

Chick-fil-A Touting Work of ‘LGBTQ-Inclusive and Affirming’ Covenant House on its Website—a Partnership that Will Expand in 2020

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“Covenant House also proudly supports the New York City Gay Pride parade with its own float, banners, t-shirts, and hashtag #CovUnity. Covenant House is recognized as a national funder of LGBTQ causes. And Covenant House does not stop at LGBTQ activism; it also takes girls to abortion clinics.”

(Heather Clark – Christian News) The popular fast food chain Chick-fil-A has been touting the work of a pro-homosexual organization since May of this year — long before the recent outcry over its plan to halt donations to the Salvation Army, which also boasts of its service to homosexuals, and in 2017, actually cancelled a contract with another Christian charity due to its anti-inclusive views…. Continue reading →

Beth Moore Insinuates MacArthur Has ‘Wrong Jesus’ at National Preaching Conference

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“Moore said that the Bible does not “show women displacing men but being placed in positions of ministry along with men.” Of course, of Jesus’ 83 ecclesiastical appointments (counting the 70 witnesses and his apostolic selection), not a single one was a woman.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  Beth Moore was welcomed ‘home’ at the National Preaching Conference earlier this week, hosted by progressive Baylor University and its liberal theology school, Truett Seminary. Continue reading →

Pete Buttigieg Twists Christianity: ‘Salvation’ Depends on Being ‘Useful’

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“Then he will say to those on his left [goats], ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Mat 25:41

The Bible is also clear on homosexual activity. God saves all kinds of sinners, and that emphatically includes gay people. But homosexual activity — like Trump’s pride — is not something to take “pride” in. Yet Buttigieg and his fellow Democrats seem intent on not just celebrating LGBT “pride” themselves, but punishing those who disagree.

(Tyler O’Neil – PJ Media)  On Wednesday night, Mayor Pete Buttigieg took a break from lecturing the Religious Right about how it isn’t Christian enough. Instead, he decided to spout heresy about salvation.

While talking about systemic racism and his challenge connecting with black voters, Mayor Pete said, “I care about this because my faith teaches me that salvation has to do with how I make myself useful to those who have been excluded, marginalized, and cast aside and oppressed in society.”  Continue reading →

Donald Trump Previews ‘Historic’ Inspector General Report Going to ‘Highest Levels’ of White House

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“He cited the actions of former CIA Director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and President Obama’s National Security Adviser Susan Rice, suggesting it would be “impossible” for them to be doing what they did without permission from Obama.”

(Breitbart)  President Donald Trump previewed Friday the release of the Department of Justice inspector general report set down for December, describing the information as “historic.” Continue reading →

Why Do These Pastors Desire to Dress and Act Like Effeminate, Homosexual Men?

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Hipster pastors Carl Lentz & Judah Smith

“The argument is that making yourself relevant to the world will attract people to the gospel. Historically, church-hating people have always argued that church is boring and that they would probably go more often if Christians wouldn’t be so dull.”

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  An unsettling trend in the church is that men who presume to speak on behalf of God want to dress and act like effeminate, homosexual men. The “hipster” pastor movement is a phenomenon unbeknownst to the early Church and to practically every historic expression of Christianity since Christ walked the Earth…. Continue reading →

Tim Keller’s Redeemer Church Calls for More Same Sex Intimacy in Churches

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Sometimes it helps to see things in black and white. It is shocking to realize how low TGC has sunk. Yet, far from this being an extreme event with no impact on other Bible-believing churches, it must be noted again that Rebecca McLaughlin is a spokesperson for a “Same Sex Attracted” movement with many tentacles. Being a TGC and ERLC spokesperson, she speaks for Albert Mohler, Ligon Duncan, Russell Moore (who promotes her frequently), her fellow Same Sex Atteacted authorities at The Gospel Coalition, and any church that encourages the sheep to wander into these poisoned pastures. 

(Diane Gaskins – Pulpit & Pen)  Last week Redeemer Church in Manhattan sponsored a training event for all their New York City churches which featured Tim Keller and Rebecca McLaughlin. Tim Keller is the founding pastor of the highly influential Redeemer enterprise and co-founder of The Gospel Coalition (TGC), a political organization which aims to move Evangelicals away from their Biblical and conservative moorings. Continue reading →

True Fruit of the Fear of God

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

13 The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. 14 For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (NASB) 

The total lack of the fear of God is what marks the ungodly. (Romans 3:18) On the other hand, genuine believers in scripture are described as those who do fear Him. Tragically, when moral issues between professing Christians and the unchurched are compared there is very little difference. There is the same level of divorce, adultery, pornography, dishonesty, et cetera; in both groups. This should not be so. Continue reading →

Pope Francis Cites Fictional French Epic to Prove Christians Are Violent

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“In his address, Pope Francis was attempting to show that it is not just Islamic extremists who practice violent fanaticism, but that Christians are equally guilty of religiously motivated violence.”

(Thomas D. Williams – Breitbart) Pope Francis trotted out a scene from the 11th-century French epic poem La Chanson de Roland this week to prove Christians have tried to convert Muslims by the sword, just as Muslims have done to Christians. Continue reading →

Village Church Pastor Says if Paul Were Here Today, He’d Write a Letter Endorsing Beth Moore

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“Now, joining the chorus of Beth Moore apologists is J.T. English, a pastor alongside Matt Chandler at The Village Church. English takes his defense a step further — he puts Words in the Apostle Paul’s mouth claiming that if Paul were writing to the American Church today, he’d endorse Beth Moore and Karen Swallow Prior.”

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  It has to be exhausting — not to mention a monumental undertaking — to continually elevate, apologize for, and defend the indefensible. It is widely known by anyone who stands on the authority of God’s Word as believers that Beth Moore is a false teacher. Continue reading →

SEBTS Danny Akin Attempts Damage Control After Hiring of Infamous Liberal to Faculty

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“Polemics Report shared emails from Southern Baptist pastors saying they were withholding funds from the SBC over her hiring and several students withdrew from seminary and prospective students asked their applications be pulled from consideration.”

Thousands of Southern Baptists are gravely upset that Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary president Danny Akin – who only weeks ago laughably argued there “was no liberal drift in the SBC – added a radical leftist and feminist to the faculty. In response to the outrage, Danny Akin has released a letter accusing Karen Swallow Prior’s detracters of “lying,” but offered no specific rebuttals to the mountains of evidence against her. Continue reading →

Female Student Breaks Down In Tears As School Board Grants Boys Access To Girls Locker Room. This Is Simply Evil.

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Maday, sporting a “Queen” shirt and long pink hair, celebrates the decision. He says he is “ecstatic,” calling the new policy a “great step forward.” Naturally, however, he still complains that it doesn’t go quite far enough. “It’s not everything we wanted,” he says, but it’s a “first step” towards “many more steps.”

(Matt Walsh – Daily Wire)  The school board of District 211 in Illinois voted last week, in a 5 – 2 decision, to allow biological males into the female locker room at Palatine High School. The board said that all students should be “treated and supported in a manner consistent with their gender identity.” This “support” apparently necessitates obliterating the privacy and safety of every girl at the school. Continue reading →

Born Again or Born from Above?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

3 Jesus answered and said to him, amen amen I say to you, except one is born again, he is not able to see the Kingdom of God. John 3:3 (translated from the NA28 Greek text)

In John 3:3 (above) is a term that is unique to Christianity and is not well understood even by those have been γεννηθῇ ἄνωθεν. The word translated above as “again” is  ἄνωθεν or anōthen, which is comprised of ἄνω or anō, “above, upwards,” and the suffix θεν or then, which denotes “from.” Continue reading →

Teacher Defends Drag Queen Makeup Class: Parents ‘Don’t Know What’s Best’ for Their Children

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“Parents believe they should be able to storm the school in the name of political and religious beliefs if something happens in the school that they are morally opposed to. They forget that we make a promise to prepare their children to live in a diverse world. We are not required to protect the misguided, bigoted views of their parents.”

(Mikaela Mathews – Christian Headlines) A Texas school district has come under fire for allowing a drag queen to teach makeup to a high school cosmetology class. Continue reading →

Lesbians and Feminists Pose With Their Children in ‘Thank God for Abortion’ Gear

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“To thank God for something as wicked as abortion is to directly lift your finger to him and thank him for the eternal wrath and judgment you’re going to receive. Don’t worry, they got that covered too.”

(Jeff Maples – Reformation Charlotte)  Few have been clearer than Voddie Baucham on this, that feminism is the judgment and wrath upon a wicked and rebellious people. A nation given over to their sin is a nation given over to wicked women and effeminate men. Continue reading →

Chick-fil-A ‘Betrayal’ Will Have ‘Far Broader’ Consequences Than the Company Itself

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“The great irony was Chick-fil-A said, ‘We’re not going to work for the Salvation Army anymore because we’re going to focus on homelessness and feeding people,’ and they disassociated themselves from the number one homeless and feeding organization in the world,” the former governor added. “That makes no sense.”

(Susan Berry – Breitbart)  Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee said the decision of Chick-fil-A to end its charitable donations to Christian organizations such as the Salvation Army and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes “does not win them friends” but will, instead, “cost them friends.” Continue reading →

Boasting is Excluded

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; Romans 3:21-28 (NASB)  (Read verses 26 & 28 on the site)

Our pastor has been preaching through the first several chapters of Acts. In our small groups we have been taking a deeper look at the passages from which he gets his sermons. Last night was interesting because we talked a great deal about how each of us came to faith…. Continue reading →

Spiritual Warfare Is Real

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By Gustave Doré

“I’m not necessarily saying we should look for a demon behind every incident that doesn’t go our way, but perhaps we’re underestimating the influence of the kingdom of darkness.”

(Alan Shlemon – Stand To Reason) Angels and demons exist. I’ll admit that even though I believe that, I tend to downplay their reality. Daniel 10, however, offers us a glimpse of spiritual warfare that helps us glean some insights into their activity and their real-life impact. Continue reading →