Share the Gospel
First Corinthians 15:1-11
Sunday, April 23, 2017
TESTIMONY - NEW AGE SPIRITUALISM TO CHRISTIANITY
I love testimonies so I share them. Of course, use your own discernment but I sure feel he is being totally honest. May God bless him
WHAT'S YOUR CALLING? DO YOU KNOW?
We are all called to a purpose for Kingdom work. Are you blessed to know yours? Or are you like me and not sure. Some days I feel it's for this reason, other days another. However, I do feel like I should start a home church OR get involved in one. I've decided to step out in faith and let the Holy Spirit take over. I have a park 2 blocks from my home and as soon as possible, I plan to get as many Bibles and other credible (and 100% free) reading material based on sound doctrine and just go spread a blanket, have some tea or other drinks and maybe snacks and see who God sends to me. It's His call, not mine. I also plan (and this is a HUGE leap of faith) to design a necklace of an empty tomb. Not to sell but to open up a dialogue with others on what it is. We're supposed to go OUT into the world, not invite them in. The wolves will be the ones who enter. We cannot be a pure church if we compromise the Word of God to tickle the ears and give false hope of salvation for gain. We are officially wolves in sheep's clothing and turning in our houses of worship into dens of thieves. Whatever happened to freely given, freely give?
Where are our food banks, community outreach programs, at risk youth groups and helping the needy pay their bills? Ever notice in First Corinthians 13 that the word for LOVE is CHARITY? Where did that go? I've talked to so many people who've been to countless churches and get 2 bags of food that MUST last for 3-6 months for families of 6. I see junk food and stuff even pigs would turn down. We go home and have dinner, throw away enough to feed one of those families for 2-3 days and it's the best food. Yet we feel so good by giving someone a box of macaroni and cheese but not the butter or milk required to make it. You buy $500 dresses and find the rattiest, most used items of clothing to give to the poor. We give them make-up and they can't eat. Starve but be beautiful?
BTW, you self-righteous, judgmental and holier than thou "givers" who carry water and a thing of cookies to give to the poor instead of your precious dollars. Don't tell me it's not because you "know" they'll buy drugs or alcohol with your money. I gotta secret...they need to eat too. Every dime helps. Besides, since when are you held responsible for what they do with their money. Once given, it's theirs and you have no right to tell them what to do with it. It's insulting to them. I knew a family whose husband had to beg cos he couldn't get a job. Not a druggie or drunk, a man trying to buy food.
I'm going to risk it all. Any extra money, my hatred of begging to get people to donate, design a piece of jewelry and then any $$$ somone freely gives me, will go back into the ministry and I'm donating one year of my time unless God tells me more. My ultimate prayer is to have an oceanside service at least 2 x month. Please pray. It won't happen overnight but I am preparing. Is this my calling? If the Spirit is willing but if not, He'll show me the way. Of that, I can take it to the bank! STEP OUT IN FAITH AND RISK IT ALL!
Where are our food banks, community outreach programs, at risk youth groups and helping the needy pay their bills? Ever notice in First Corinthians 13 that the word for LOVE is CHARITY? Where did that go? I've talked to so many people who've been to countless churches and get 2 bags of food that MUST last for 3-6 months for families of 6. I see junk food and stuff even pigs would turn down. We go home and have dinner, throw away enough to feed one of those families for 2-3 days and it's the best food. Yet we feel so good by giving someone a box of macaroni and cheese but not the butter or milk required to make it. You buy $500 dresses and find the rattiest, most used items of clothing to give to the poor. We give them make-up and they can't eat. Starve but be beautiful?
BTW, you self-righteous, judgmental and holier than thou "givers" who carry water and a thing of cookies to give to the poor instead of your precious dollars. Don't tell me it's not because you "know" they'll buy drugs or alcohol with your money. I gotta secret...they need to eat too. Every dime helps. Besides, since when are you held responsible for what they do with their money. Once given, it's theirs and you have no right to tell them what to do with it. It's insulting to them. I knew a family whose husband had to beg cos he couldn't get a job. Not a druggie or drunk, a man trying to buy food.
I'm going to risk it all. Any extra money, my hatred of begging to get people to donate, design a piece of jewelry and then any $$$ somone freely gives me, will go back into the ministry and I'm donating one year of my time unless God tells me more. My ultimate prayer is to have an oceanside service at least 2 x month. Please pray. It won't happen overnight but I am preparing. Is this my calling? If the Spirit is willing but if not, He'll show me the way. Of that, I can take it to the bank! STEP OUT IN FAITH AND RISK IT ALL!
JUST THINKING....LET'S TALK! WHOSE FAULT IS IT THAT WE HAVE SO MANY WOLVES TODAY?
Briefly, on FaceBook I'm on a secular page called "Just Saying..." and while it may not be Christian, there's absolutely nothing on it that tells me it's wrong. It's not vulgar, filth nor in any way go against the Word of God. So I stay, listen and occasionally comment. It's about bringing hot issues of today that actually have logical, reasonable and oftentimes common sense and cheap solutions are blaringly obvious. White it rarely does talk about the Bible, when it does, it's on track and inline with Biblical principles. So, I decided I'd like to make this a regular thing on my blog. Maybe not every single day but 2-3 x per week if for no other reason than to challenge you. I may be intentionally wrong, I may not know, it could be personal opinions and thoughts but it's meant to make YOU AND ME a good Berean. Don't know what I mean by that, find out for yourself. Don't depend on me or any other "man" (always means "mankind" feminists) to tell you. Stop relying on a person but God. "It is better to put your trust in God than your confidence in man." Psalm 118:8 and is the VERY center verse of the Bible. Could that be a hidden mystery? All I know is that there is nothing hidden that will not be made manifest and that the explosion of knowledge at the end-times (is it the internet?) not only means secular but also Spiritual knowledge as well. I too have noticed some things in the Word of God that wouldn't have made much sense pre-9/11 that today make me reconsider what the Bible really says.
So, today I want to sort of and not, at the same time, apologize for my rabid attack on what I consider to be false prophets. I saw a video by a pastor I sort of liked but yet didn't feel right about so I did a bit of research, found a site I find highly reliable and, sure enough, he was on there AND for the very things that caused me concern. So, anything I've previously shared by Discover Ministries, I am not sure he falls into that category but I do feel he's walking a thin line between the Spiritual realm of God and the satanic realm of the occult. He does study astronomy and numbers, believes in a Bible code but I don't necessarily believe this is what I would call a "false prophet." Supposedly he's one of the new "Word of Faith," Wealth and Prosperity preachers and believes in the doctrine of Speaking in Tongues. Does this qualify him as a false prophet? He does appear to have the Gospel of Salvation according to First Corinthians 15:1-11 one hundred percent correct, to the best of my knowledge.
Here's my point...I got concerned as I'd find a pastor I was really impressed with, liked and agreed with what he said and there was not one thing unBiblical about that particular article, video, sermon, or whatever. Maybe my standards are too lenient in some areas, too strict in others. Yes, I hold every single "man of God" who claims to be an ordained minister to a much higher standard than I do their flock. They are students, the leaders are the teachers. You either teach ALL truth or shut up and go form a cult. Any pastor that teaches we are still required to give 10% even if we cannot pay our rent, electricity bill or buy food, we are robbing God. It's all His anyway. Is it right to give $100 to a pastor or church that is not even going to use your tithes in any way like the Bible commands but for his own gain or to buy fancy materialist stuff. Where are the food banks and the money we give in order for you to help the needy? We don't need more seats, we need more truth. Separate the wheat from the tares now. Stop tickling ears so you can own 3-4 jets, million dollar houses (low side) and 10-15 cars. Yet I cannot eat tonight and neither can my neighbor buy both their food and medicine. Oh, and for the churches who teach the truth, they get an average of 22% in tithes (well, offerings actually) but the others get exactly, down to the penny 10%. How to tell a false prophet? Do they tell you ALL truths or just what benefits them. THAT is my standard. You're entitled to your opinion on the rapture, tribulation, God's "real name" (NO ONE KNOWS YET) but if you lie, you are not His. You're nothing but noise even if you cast out demons, prophecied, spoke in tongues, had all wisdom, healed, etc. without love and love means telling the truth and actually teaching true salvation rather than fake, I said a Sinner's Prayer once so I'm covered by grace. UTTER NONSENSE. That's "just in case" faith. Who wouldn't do that? It's ALL about faith.
So, how do we solve this problem? By realizing who allowed it to happen and I feel it's the churches fault. We stopped being the true Church of God and invited in the predators. Church, in the Bible was about the saints, not the sinners (unrepentant unbelievers) and embraced their sinful lifestyle because it became about money and numbers. Who ever coined the phrase "win souls to Jesus" needs tongue-lashing. Who wins? You? Nope. Not a contest. I'd say the person who got saved won and Jesus Christ was GLORIFIED. We are to gather together as believers for fellowship, to encourage, support, correct, chastise and taught in order to GO OUT into the world to share the Gospel. Instead, we have turned our churches (or houses of worship) into nothing but dens of thieves and let the predators come in by our own choice. There's always CDs, T-shirts, keyrings, bumper stickers, books, etc. to be bought. That's after tithing, free will offerings (sometimes 3-4 x a sermon) and I gotta ask, if this information is so critical to one who is born again, HOW DARE YOU SELL IT? You were freely given...FREELY GIVE. Take up a donation if you must but it must bee a free will donation.
Finally, I googled every single "famous" pastor from Billy Graham to today and someone has put every single one of them on a false prophet list. Well, here's some cults to stay away from...
THE Seventh Day Adventist
Jehovah's Witnesses
Mormons
The Roman Catholic Church
Christian Science (not to be confused with Christians who are scientists)
Scientology
ANYONE WHO WORSHIPS THE LEADER
Wealth and Prosperity
Seeding Sowing Doctrine
Word of Faith
Faith Healers
Name it/Claim It
Best Life Now (WOW, DUMB-FOUNDED ON THAT TERM)
CULTISH OR CULT-LIKE
The United Pentacostal Church
Some SDA's fit more into this category than full-blown cult. Pray for discernment
Sorry if the truth of your religion hurts. Research why. Very Biblical and sound doctrine on why. Work out your own salvation. Leave mine alone. Also, if a JW comes to your door, do NOT engage them, do not allow them into your house and don't wish them Godspeed. If so, that makes you a partaker of their evil. Oh, and don't try to spread the true Gospel unless you know how. You cannot and will not do it and watch their face if you try, these sweet old ladies WILL turn into a wolf. Let's talk now and if you use scripture, it must be by the KJV ONLY, it must be by clear language of scripture (no twisting or assuming) and no outside publications allowed ever! If you decide to debate me on this, as I could be wrong (along with many others), I will be checking where you get your info. NO WATCHTOWER ALLOWED. To the UPC, there ARE 65 other highly relevant books in the Bible. Acts is NOT the final authority as it is an awesome, exciting and wonderful transitional book. Paul is highly credible too.
So, today I want to sort of and not, at the same time, apologize for my rabid attack on what I consider to be false prophets. I saw a video by a pastor I sort of liked but yet didn't feel right about so I did a bit of research, found a site I find highly reliable and, sure enough, he was on there AND for the very things that caused me concern. So, anything I've previously shared by Discover Ministries, I am not sure he falls into that category but I do feel he's walking a thin line between the Spiritual realm of God and the satanic realm of the occult. He does study astronomy and numbers, believes in a Bible code but I don't necessarily believe this is what I would call a "false prophet." Supposedly he's one of the new "Word of Faith," Wealth and Prosperity preachers and believes in the doctrine of Speaking in Tongues. Does this qualify him as a false prophet? He does appear to have the Gospel of Salvation according to First Corinthians 15:1-11 one hundred percent correct, to the best of my knowledge.
Here's my point...I got concerned as I'd find a pastor I was really impressed with, liked and agreed with what he said and there was not one thing unBiblical about that particular article, video, sermon, or whatever. Maybe my standards are too lenient in some areas, too strict in others. Yes, I hold every single "man of God" who claims to be an ordained minister to a much higher standard than I do their flock. They are students, the leaders are the teachers. You either teach ALL truth or shut up and go form a cult. Any pastor that teaches we are still required to give 10% even if we cannot pay our rent, electricity bill or buy food, we are robbing God. It's all His anyway. Is it right to give $100 to a pastor or church that is not even going to use your tithes in any way like the Bible commands but for his own gain or to buy fancy materialist stuff. Where are the food banks and the money we give in order for you to help the needy? We don't need more seats, we need more truth. Separate the wheat from the tares now. Stop tickling ears so you can own 3-4 jets, million dollar houses (low side) and 10-15 cars. Yet I cannot eat tonight and neither can my neighbor buy both their food and medicine. Oh, and for the churches who teach the truth, they get an average of 22% in tithes (well, offerings actually) but the others get exactly, down to the penny 10%. How to tell a false prophet? Do they tell you ALL truths or just what benefits them. THAT is my standard. You're entitled to your opinion on the rapture, tribulation, God's "real name" (NO ONE KNOWS YET) but if you lie, you are not His. You're nothing but noise even if you cast out demons, prophecied, spoke in tongues, had all wisdom, healed, etc. without love and love means telling the truth and actually teaching true salvation rather than fake, I said a Sinner's Prayer once so I'm covered by grace. UTTER NONSENSE. That's "just in case" faith. Who wouldn't do that? It's ALL about faith.
So, how do we solve this problem? By realizing who allowed it to happen and I feel it's the churches fault. We stopped being the true Church of God and invited in the predators. Church, in the Bible was about the saints, not the sinners (unrepentant unbelievers) and embraced their sinful lifestyle because it became about money and numbers. Who ever coined the phrase "win souls to Jesus" needs tongue-lashing. Who wins? You? Nope. Not a contest. I'd say the person who got saved won and Jesus Christ was GLORIFIED. We are to gather together as believers for fellowship, to encourage, support, correct, chastise and taught in order to GO OUT into the world to share the Gospel. Instead, we have turned our churches (or houses of worship) into nothing but dens of thieves and let the predators come in by our own choice. There's always CDs, T-shirts, keyrings, bumper stickers, books, etc. to be bought. That's after tithing, free will offerings (sometimes 3-4 x a sermon) and I gotta ask, if this information is so critical to one who is born again, HOW DARE YOU SELL IT? You were freely given...FREELY GIVE. Take up a donation if you must but it must bee a free will donation.
Finally, I googled every single "famous" pastor from Billy Graham to today and someone has put every single one of them on a false prophet list. Well, here's some cults to stay away from...
THE Seventh Day Adventist
Jehovah's Witnesses
Mormons
The Roman Catholic Church
Christian Science (not to be confused with Christians who are scientists)
Scientology
ANYONE WHO WORSHIPS THE LEADER
Wealth and Prosperity
Seeding Sowing Doctrine
Word of Faith
Faith Healers
Name it/Claim It
Best Life Now (WOW, DUMB-FOUNDED ON THAT TERM)
CULTISH OR CULT-LIKE
The United Pentacostal Church
Some SDA's fit more into this category than full-blown cult. Pray for discernment
Sorry if the truth of your religion hurts. Research why. Very Biblical and sound doctrine on why. Work out your own salvation. Leave mine alone. Also, if a JW comes to your door, do NOT engage them, do not allow them into your house and don't wish them Godspeed. If so, that makes you a partaker of their evil. Oh, and don't try to spread the true Gospel unless you know how. You cannot and will not do it and watch their face if you try, these sweet old ladies WILL turn into a wolf. Let's talk now and if you use scripture, it must be by the KJV ONLY, it must be by clear language of scripture (no twisting or assuming) and no outside publications allowed ever! If you decide to debate me on this, as I could be wrong (along with many others), I will be checking where you get your info. NO WATCHTOWER ALLOWED. To the UPC, there ARE 65 other highly relevant books in the Bible. Acts is NOT the final authority as it is an awesome, exciting and wonderful transitional book. Paul is highly credible too.
CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS - STILL RELEVANT TODAY? BY CRI (BTW, MORE THAN EVER!)
“The apologists — I’m telling you they could make falling off a stool difficult. You’d have to go to college to learn how to fall off a stool if you were an apologist….So, I’m not impressed with the apologist any longer. And I may as well get it out — I used to be one! And God forgive me, and I promise not to ever do it again.”
So said prominent televangelist John Avanzini during TBN’s annual Fall “Praise-a-thon.” During a time when apologetics — the defense of the faith — is more important than ever before, Avanzini represents a growing number of Christian leaders who attack apologetics as being irrelevant and even divisive. In sharp contrast to Avanzini, Dr. Walter Martin believed that the apologetics ministry of CRI would be more important in the decade of the 1990s than it was when he originally founded it thirty years ago.
How relevant is apologetics today? How big a role should apologetics play in a Christian’s witness? And, above all, is apologetics biblical? Let us briefly consider these questions.
To see just how relevant apologetics is today, we need only take a quick survey of the world around us. Whether we look at the world on a global scale or merely peek into our own little “neck of the woods,” it certainly doesn’t take long to realize that we are literally being inundated with a plethora of beliefs and ideologies. From secular humanism to New Age mysticism, people everywhere are being bombarded with an onslaught of false ideas and world views. (A “world view” is simply an interpretive framework through which or by which one interprets the world around him.)
What makes these false world views so appealing is their apparent capacity to make sense of the universe in which we live. Each respective world view purports to give the correct account of reality, thereby giving people some point of reference by which to order their lives. And it’s fair to say that world views affect practically every aspect of a person’s life.
Consider, for example, a person with a humanistic/atheistic world view. Since such a person considers mankind to be “the measure of all things,” he or she generally believes that we need only turn to human ingenuity and wisdom to supply every needed answer. Transcendentally important issues dealing with the purpose and meaning of life are relegated purely to human thoughts on the matter; ethical and moral dilemmas are consigned to mere individual or cultural opinions; and the absolute foundation of truth is reduced to a rubble of relativism. Now, while some may hold this world view to be reasonably sound and personally satisfying, the fact remains that it is ultimately a road leading to eternal destruction (Prov. 14:12).
What is the Christian’s responsibility in the face of these competing world views? Certainly most Christians are aware of their responsibility to reach a dying world with God’s message. No less an authority than Jesus exhorts us to proclaim the Good News (Matt. 10:27) and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:19). However, the same Bible that compels us to preach the Good News urges us to contend for the faith as well (Jude 3). Apologetics is thus not a mere option left to the believer. Rather, it should be an essential element of the believer’s life.
Writing in a world steeped in mystery cults, the apostle Peter admonished believers to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have…with gentleness and respect” (1 Pet. 3:15 NIV). Only by meeting honest objections with biblical answers can we “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Cor. 10:5). It was in this spirit that Paul vigorously defended the gospel (Acts 26:1-2; Phil. 1:7, 16), charging Timothy and Titus to do the same (2 Tim. 2:23-26; 4:2-5; Titus 1:9-14).
In the Book of Acts, we find the early Christians presenting reasoned answers to a variety of charges made against Christianity. To the Jews the church pointed out that Christ was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (Acts 3:17-26). To the Gentiles the church argued that God was calling them to turn from superstitious religions to the true God revealed in Jesus Christ (19:1-22). In all their apologetics, the early church emphasized the undeniable event of the resurrection of Christ (4:10; 17:31). And, unlike some Christians today, the early church was not plagued by the disease “non-rock-a-boatus”; indeed, the early Christians defended the faith whenever and wherever the opportunity arose. We must commit to doing the same.
Far from being some abstract discipline or quaint pastime for a select few (such as theologians and ministers), apologetics is in reality an immensely practical tool for every single member of the body of Christ. And the need for apologetics today is critical. Believers must realize that we are living in a post-Christian era, with a host of religions, cults, and occultic systems vying continuously for people’s commitments and, indeed, for their very lives. We must face these challenges head-on.
Using apologetics, equipped Christians can show that the Christian world view is consistent, coherent, and corresponds to reality over and above all other competing world views. Apologetics also shows that Christianity is both spiritually and intellectually fulfilling, and that Christianity is nothing less than the truth (John 17:17). (That Christianity has an intellectual or rational element is clear in Jesus’ words about loving God not only with all our heart, soul, and strength, but also with all our mind; Mark 12:29.)
CRI is presently in the midst of a period of unprecedented growth. The volume of incoming correspondence and calls continues to mount with each passing day. All this leads me to conclude that the number of people hungry for sound answers is anything but diminishing. And because of this, we are more committed than ever — Avanzini’s comments notwithstanding — to uphold, defend, and promote the historic orthodox Christian faith, through which alone salvation is offered to humanity.
Is apologetics still relevant today? In my thinking, apologetics has never been more relevant than it is today. And all of us at CRI are deeply thankful for the numerous men and women worldwide who are willing to stand with us in the battle of defending the faith against all competing truth claims. May God continue to sustain all those committed to standing for truth.
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