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

Posted by ∙ ∙ In News ∙ , , , , , , , ,

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 →

California Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs Bill Mandating Free Abortions at All Colleges and Universities

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Womb baby at 8 weeks.

“California Department of Finance report predicted that the donations will not be nearly enough to fund the program over the next several years. That means California taxpayers and students will be forced to pay for unborn babies to be aborted across the state.”

(Steven Ertelt – Life News)  California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law a radical bill that would force colleges to provide free abortions on campus.

The pro-abortion bill, which passed the state legislature in September, mandates that all public colleges and universities provide abortion drugs for free to students up to 10 weeks of pregnancy starting Jan. 1, 2023…. Continue reading →

ERLC Promotes Man-on-Man ‘Intimacy’ As a Substitute for Traditional Marriage

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“Roach argues that lifelong celibacy is as valuable and respectable a lifestyle as marriage (it, of course, is not). This is a necessary talking-point to affirm Same-Sex Attraction (SSA) in evangelicalism.”

(Pulpit & Pen)  The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) – the leftist lobbying PAC owned by the Southern Baptist Convention and run by Democratic staffer, Russell Moore – just posted an article about 4 Things God Wants Us to Know About Sex. The post minimizes and trivializes “traditional marriage” while encouraging man-on-man “intimacy” as a replacement for real marriage. Continue reading →

It’s been called the world’s largest ouija board and it’s about to descend on Salem

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The word occult means “hidden.” Occult practices are forbidden by God. These practices include the ouija board, holding séances, tarot card reading, numerology, palm reading — in other words, dabbling in the magic arts (Gen. 41:8). God’s people are not to participate in sorcery, i.e. witchcraft (Deut. 18:10). No on astrology (Isaiah 47:13), spell casting (Deut. 18:11), consulting with spirits (Deut. 18:11), and spiritism (Deut. 18:11).  “The LORD your God has not allowed you to do this.”

(Arianna MacNeill – Boston.com)  Whose spirit will be summoned with the help of the what’s being touted as the world’s largest ouija board? Those visiting Salem on Saturday are about to find out. Continue reading →

Preaching the Word Out of Season

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

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. 2 Timothy 4:1-2 (NASB) 

Without a doubt the culture in the 21st Century is “out of season” for the Gospel. Resistance to the truth of God’s Word is strong because our society has rejected absolute truth…. Continue reading →

Liberalism or Christianity?

Posted by ∙ ∙ In Devotion/Teaching

There are really only two groups of people. There are those who are in Christ and those who are in their sins. These are Jesus’ own words, “I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24 ESV) Any form of Christianity that seeks to subvert the clear message of the Gospel is not Christianity, but instead, is some heresy. Any form of Christianity that is bound in relativism has its roots in liberal philosophy not the Word of God nor is it a product of the pure light of God’s truth. Continue reading →

A Meme of Mass Violence: ‘Joker’ and the Rise of ‘Demonic Anti-Heroes’

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“But I have seen “The Dark Knight” and, despite Heath Ledger’s incredible performance, his Joker—like Milton’s Satan—is not the intended hero. The fact that so many received the character as a hero says a lot about our culture. It betrays a culture-wide fascination with evil we now bring to the theater.”

(John Stonestreet & Shane Morris – Christian Headlines)  Batman’s arch-nemesis is back on the silver screen in full face paint and purple suit, along with the uncomfortable questions his character raises about the state of our culture. Continue reading →

Planned Parenthood: The Killing Machine

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“In our day, when there is a greater outrage to cutting down a tree or to hunting an animal than to the relentless killing of unborn children, we are sliding headlong into the oblivion that such prior monstrous societies have erstwhile gone speedily.”

(Theodore Zachariades – Pulpit & Pen)  The Killing Machine, Planned Parenthood, is planning to dump 45 million dollars into a concerted effort to oust President Trump and thereby secure the continuing validity of Roe Vs. Wade…. Continue reading →

He’s Just Blind

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“Perhaps there’s someone in your life you’ve shared the Gospel with time and time again. You’ve explained the Gospel so clearly. You have poured yourself out to them,  you’ve listened to them, and have answered their questions as best you can,  and yet they simply will not believe. You need to be reminded of the blindness of man.”

(Jordan Standridge – The Cripplegate)  It doesn’t matter how many times you share the Gospel, you still need encouragement from time to time. Continue reading →