Daily Archives: May 18, 2012

The Time Has Come by Christlike Ministries Arkansas

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Message Scripture: 

  • “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but will heap for themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” – 2 Timothy 4: 3-4

Introduction:

I hardly  believe we’ve been around long enough to have what I’d classify as a “Classic Ministry Message”, but I believe that in light of the study we’ve been doing on the Battlefield of the Mind that this one bares repeating.  I wrote this quite a while back, but I think that this might be a good time to bring this message back.

Today’s Message:

I recently read something that changed my perspective on what these verses really are talking about.
Usually when these verses are preached upon the emphasis is always on sound doctrine, but I agree with what I read. The emphasis really should be on “they will not endure” specifically…the word “endure”.
The word “endure” translates to the word for tolerate.
In this Burger King generation where everything has to be quick, my way, and entertainment…the church has sadly obliged people. The church has sacrificed sound doctrine for the sake of church growth.

There are some seriously dangerous doctrines and ministries out there that are more interested in making a buck, filling seats, selling books, and being seeker friendly…and this is all done at the cost of the Word of God.  We all who are in ministry are exhorted by Paul to “Preach the Word”.

Their services have entertainment value, but they offer very little in terms of eternal value because they refuse to preach the Word of God.  They also refuse to take the correct biblical stance on major issues…like gay marriage, Jesus being the only way to salvation, and they are very afraid to offend people…but have no problem when it comes to offending God.

I can only imagine what Jesus would write-through John today.  I read the seven letters to the seven churches that He spoke to John in the Book of Revelation, and I can only imagine that the rebukes to some of these ministries and churches would be much…much more stern.  In fact, where the Lord had threatened to remove some of the lamp stands of those churches…I believe Jesus wouldn’t threaten to remove them…He would walk right up…and remove the lamp stand.

I can tell you this.  I believe there are going to be an amazing number of preachers who are going to stand before God on the day of the Great White Throne Judgment, and they are going to be rebuked sternly for leading thousands astray before they are sent to hell.  Remember Jesus said that it would be better for them to tie a stone around their ankles, and drown in the sea than to harm one of His children.  I think there’s going to be a large majority of pastors who think they’re going to heaven that are going to be shocked when Jesus says:  “You denied me before man, and now I’m denying you before my Father.  Away from Me you workers of iniquity…I never knew you.”

I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t want Jesus to say that to me.  So, I  am committed to preaching the Word.  I am committed to taking stances on subjects like Gay Marriage, Abortion, and Jesus being THE only way to salvation the same way the Bible teaches them. 

  • Gay Marriage is wrong, it’s an abomination, and no matter what…there are no gray areas on this matter.  The Bible is clear, and that’s the stance and side I’m going to be on.
  • Abortion is wrong.  As soon as a baby is conceived that means it’s a life, and no matter when it becomes a fetus or what anyone else wants to call it…as soon as a baby is conceived it is a life.  When you take that life it is murder, and no where is it okay to murder.  So, as far as the Bible is concerned Abortion is murder…and that’s the stance I have taken as well.
  • Everyone is going to heaven.  No…they are not.  In John 14:6 Jesus says:  “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No man comes unto the Father, but by Me.”  There are no gray areas here neither.  This verse is not open to many interpretations…there is only ONE conclusion to draw from this verse…the ONLY way someone becomes a believe and is assured of eternal life in heaven is if they believe in their hearts and confess with their mouths that Jesus Christ is Lord.  Therefore, since the Bible says that’s the ONLY way to heaven…then I believe that the road to heaven is only as wide as Jesus’ shoulders.  If you have never confessed Christ as Lord then you are not going to heaven unless or until you do.

There are many other areas that I could speak on, but those are the main ones that seem to come up in conversation.  I used to be a big fan of Joel Osteen until I heard the interview he once did on CNN’s Larry King Live. 

Osteen: Jesus Isn’t The Only Way

If I didn’t hear this with my own ears I wouldn’t have believed he said this, but he did.  This is the kind of thing that’s dangerous to the body of Christ.  He is a “rising star” in Evangelism.  A number one selling author, but when it comes to the truth of God’s Word…he had the greatest opportunity to really give people the TRUE Gospel…and he chose to not offend people and offend God instead.  Here are the words from the person who posted this video.

For Osteen not to say that the unbeliever is on his/her way to burn in hell for eternity, when the vast majority of Larry King’s viewers are unsaved, atheists, heathens, etc., is one of the most egregious sins a so-called ‘man of God’ can commit.
To say that Jesus told us not to judge another person’s heart is an out right lie. Jesus said that “every tree is known by his own fruit.” Luke 6:44; “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Mat. 12:34. Jesus told us to “judge righteous judgment.” John 7:24. “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” 1 Tim. 5:20.

There’s more that this poster wrote, but the point is that Jesus is not “a” way to salvation, but He is THE way of salvation.  

I am not going to spend more time on this.  There’s a lot more I could go into, but I’m not going to for the sake of time.  I don’t want this to be a message about false teachers and prophets…and I’m certainly not picking on Joel Osteen…but what I am saying is that this was one of the “rising stars” of Evangelism…and he’s chosen to take a path of inclusion and least resistance instead of the path of truth, righteousness, and standing upon the Word of God.

Part of the blame is on the church because sound doctrine requires time, work, and study…and people have become too busy to do that.
The blame also falls on pastors who have become so concerned with attendance, finances, and making sure they are entertainment for a congregation that they will lose if it goes too far into the first half of the Cowboys game.
Also, in this desire of pastors to entertain is a turning away from the truth of God’s Word.

Some pastors are so busy doing everything else in the ministry that they short cut it when it comes to their messages.  What do I mean by short cut?  There are many online resources for pastors that have ready-made sermons complete with scriptures, notes, illustrations, and it’s all done.  Just pick a subject, select a sermon, print it out, and you have a sermon. 

Preaching the Word of God does require work.  I may take quotes from other people’s studies, but the commentary is my own.  The commentary I rely upon the Holy Spirit to give me unction and utterance for.   I also do the best I can to make sure what I’m writing is sound, biblical truth…and it’s my own work.  The quotes may not be, but the commentary is all mine.

I can sit and write anywhere from an hour to an entire afternoon based upon what I feel the Lord is leading me to do.  I may write one message, I may copy and paste a Tweet, or I may do like I’m going to wind up doing today and writing three separate messages…but they are all written by inspiration of the Holy Ghost…and when you write that way it’s hard to not take a stand upon the Word of God because that’s exactly what the Holy Spirit does.  Leads and guides us into all truth…what is all truth…the Word of God.

Most Christians today are hard pressed to explain what they believe, give scripture to back up what they believe, and do not know the basic foundational truths of Christianity.
Why? Because the time has come. The time has come where people prefer three songs and a short half hour message about some passage in Rick Warren’s latest book over really taking time to worship & meet with God, get a message full of sound life altering doctrine, and then doing something really peculiar…studying the Bible for themselves.

There’s a whole bunch that could be said here.  Let’s take a bit to see what I can pull out of my message.

  1. Most Christians today have no idea what the basic foundational truths of Christianity are.  They have no understanding of who or what the Trinity is, they don’t know what the ministry of the Holy Spirit is or what He does, they don’t know water baptism from baptism in the Holy Ghost, they have no belief or faith in Divine Healing, and I’m guessing that you’re getting the point of what I’m getting at by now.
  2. Most services today are a couple of songs, and a half hour message about half a verse, and what Rick Warren’s book says about it.
  3. There isn’t hardly any mention of sin, righteousness, and there’s no real challenge to anyone’s lives about anything.  Why?  Because challenging people will offend them, and offending people will cause them to leave…and the almighty dollar is at stake here too.  Here’s a simple equation:  Fewer people = less money.

I’m not going to labor the point here again.  I think that by now you’ll have an understanding of where I’m going with all of this.  I just wanted to give you some bullet points, things to think about, and maybe some motivation to get out your Bibles…dust them off…and start reading them again.

Conclusion:

I, however, am still called by God to preach the Word. I still get out my Bible to study & show myself approved, and the football game…well…I can check the scores later.
God is a priority…scratch that…is THE priority in my life. I want sound doctrine, I hope that I teach sound doctrine, and I don’t go to church to be entertained…I go to meet with Jesus.
I’m tired of prosperity, I’m tired of feel good religion.
I’m tired of empty messages.
I want a real authentic walk with God…that only comes from revelation from the truth of the sound doctrine of God’s Word

As the pastor of Christlike Ministries NWA this is my pledge and promise to all who visit, like us, and read the messages.  I am called by God to “preach the Word”, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.  I want to have a real authentic ministry that if Jesus would to write me one of those letters like He did to the churches in Revelations I’d like Him to write a good letter.  I’m sure I’m not perfect, and that He’d have some things against me…but for the most part I would like to have Him have more good things to say…and I want one of them to be that we never strayed from His Word.

I hope that I can come back to this message again knowing that it’s still a timeless message, and that I’ve adhered to the pledge that I just gave.  I hope that when I come back to this message I can be proud of the fact that I stayed true to the Word of God, and hopefully that I won’t have to spend so much time writing about people who haven’t.

Battlefield of the Mind Devotional – Day 13 of 14 – Suspicious of Suspicion

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Today’s Scriptures:

  • “ 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Introduction:

This study will be wrapping up tomorrow, but no study series is complete without taking time to stop over in 1 Corinthians 13…the love chapter.  If you ever want a picture of how God loves us…just read this chapter.  If you ever want a picture…husbands…as to how we are to love our wives…read this chapter.  In reality…this is also the way we’re to love one another whether people are in the body of Christ or not.

So, today’s message is titled Suspicious of Suspicion, and I’m really interested to know how Joyce gets the title for this message of our this passage of scripture.  So, I’m not going to be long-winded here in the introduction.  Grab your Bibles, read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, and let’s see how Joyce ties love and suspicion together.

Today’s Message:

In today’s scripture, these words about love are familiar to most of us, but I can honestly say that living them has not always been easy for me. As a child, I was not exposed to this kind of love–in fact, I was taught to be suspicious of everyone. I was told that the motives of other people were not to be trusted.

Right out of the gate Joyce helps us to understand where she’s going with the title of this message.  I started out as a child wanting to believe the best in everyone, and I did.  As a young adult, however, that sense of purity and wanting to believe the best in everyone turned into believing and trusting no one…not even God.  I had a skeptical view of everyone, and never really got to trust that anyone’s motives were pure at all…not even my own.  That is not a good place for an aspiring man of God to be.  I was never truly able to allow the love of God that has been shed abroad in my heart by the Holy Spirit out because I had such a hard time not being suspicious and skeptical of anyone.

After all, when the people you believe the best out of turn around and burn your behind time and time again…you tend to learn to do things to stop being burned.  One of those things is to put up walls, and build a nice protective shield of skepticism.  You learn to keep everyone…including those closest to you at arms distance, and instead of bringing them in during the times you need them the most…you push them away further because eventually you learn the only one you can truly depend upon is yourself.

That was my attitude for most of my adult life, and even since I’d rededicated my life to the Lord my attitude was that everything would be handled by my and God.  Which is a great thing for developing your relationship with God, but not so great for developing relationships with other people.  The mentality of living life just me and God really taught me that I can truly rely upon God, and I learned much from life on life’s terms that way.  However, I can also tell you that it was a lonely time because I had relatively little human contact, and those I did have contact with were only allowed to be so close to me…because of my suspicions and skepticism.  I knew that the Lord wouldn’t ever hurt me, I knew that God was never out to hurt me, but when it came to other people…I began to assume that everyone would hurt me…or that I would hurt everyone I came into contact with…and I would because I never learned how to express the love in my heart towards others.

In earlier messages I may have mentioned that probably the first 36 years of my life could be summed up in the words of Johnny Cash’s version of the song “Hurt”.

When I Wrote My Story

When you hear a song like this and tears roll down your face because you relate to it in so many ways that you just can’t explain it…you reach a point where you realize that the wrong person has written the story of your life.  At least, I figured that out the first time I heard this version of this song.  I know.  It originally was release by Nine Inch Nails, but the reflective tone in which Johnny Cash sings this song caught me, and made me realize that I needed to put the pen down…and let God start writing.

While it is wise to be aware of people’s motives, we must be careful that we don’t allow our suspicious nature to negatively affect our feelings about everyone. An overly suspicious nature can poison your mind and affect your ability to love and accept other people.

Sadly just as I was able to see my life in light of a Johnny Cash song I can also relate to what Joyce writes here about having such a skeptical mind about everyone’s motives and intentions that it saps your ability to truly love anyone else because you never really learn to trust anyone else.  When your constantly skeptical and suspicious of people then there’s no room for the ability to trust, and when there’s no trust there’s no relationship.  You spend most of your life waiting for the other shoe to drop so that when that person hurts you, and it’s inevitable that they will…even though it still stings…it hurts less and less because you shield your heart, and it becomes hardened and calloused…and even worse…eventually you don’t have emotions…you become numb.

Consider this example.
Suppose a friend approaches you after a church service, and says, “Do you know what Doris thinks about you?” Then the friend tells you every detail of the things Doris said. The first problem is that a true friend wouldn’t share such information. And the second problem is that with an already suspicious mind, you now believe secondhand information.
Suppose that one day in church, Doris is sitting just a few rows in front of you, praising the Lord. Immediately you think, “She’s such a hypocrite.”
Then the Holy Spirit directs your thoughts to your own condition, and the fact that you were praising the Lord while harboring bad feelings toward Doris.

Yes.  Has anyone other than me ever been in this place?  I’ll admit I’ve been here a time or two.  You know what happens and how this example ends just like I do:

Didn’t Jesus tell us to make peace with others before we present our gifts to Him? (See Matthew 5:24.)
Convicted by these words of Jesus, you apologize to Doris for the bad feelings you have toward her…and she stares at you in absolute shock. Then you realize your mistake. You misinterpreted the information your friend shared with you about Doris, allowing the devil to turn you against a wonderful, godly woman.

Here’s a quick tip that’s free of charge.  Never believe second-hand information.  Don’t listen to gossip, and don’t be one who spreads gossip.  The Bible has a lot to say in Proverbs about being a talebearer.  I would encourage you to take your concordance and look up “talebearer” and see how God views those kinds of people.  Never…ever accept second-hand information as fact…especially in this situation.  I have learned to go directly to the person in question, and let them know that an un-named source had brought it to my attention that you have said this about me.  Give them the opportunity to give merit or disprove what was said…and rely upon the Holy Spirit to help you to discern whether or not that person is being truthful.

Don’t go confronting someone with a skeptical ear, and don’t go there angry.  Take some time to seek the Lord, and then find out if what they supposedly said was said or misinterpreted.  It saves a lot of hassle, and it’s much better to do it that way than any other way.

This is a good example of how suspicion can cripple relationships and destroy our joy while it leads us astray.

So, now that I’ve put down the pen to my life, and allowed God to write the rest of my life’s story it’s been a better road.  I am still learning to overcome that suspicious mind, and that’s one of those giants I’m going to have to defeat before I enter into the promised land that God has for me.  I definitely have to do so before I wind up serving the Lord full-time.  You can’t serve the Lord with a suspicious mind…I have to get back to the place I was as a child…always believing the best in people.  There is such a thing as “healthy skepticism”, but for the most part I like to refer to that as discernment from the Holy Ghost.  Oh…and there’s a new song to my life as well.

He Became My King Forever

Let me just take a moment to ask you a simple question to close out this message…Who has the pen and is writing the story of your life?

Conclusion & Prayer:

It took me a while to overcome a lifetime of suspicions, but I finally learned that when we love God’s way, we have no place for suspicions of others.

As I shared, it has taken me a while to overcome that myself, and I am still overcoming the skepticism that had invaded my life for so long.  It became a save and protective shell that really was more like an egg-shell than that of a turtle.  However, the longer I worked at that shell the harder it got.  The good news is that the Word of God says that we overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony.  So, I believe that God’s softening my shelf and my heart, and that eventually I’ll get to having the heart of flesh that ministers need in order to effectively minister to the sheep in which the Lord entrusts to our care.

Pray: Lord, I thank You for showing me how to overcome my suspicious nature by teaching me how to love others with Your kind of love. Thank You, Jesus, for being patient with me and for being my great example. Amen

I guess I feel like posting songs that reflect God’s work in my life:

Thank You God for Redeeming Me!!!

* Quotes are from the book Battlefield of the Mind Devotional by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2005 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

*  Johnny Cash- ‘Hurt”

*  Michael English“Feels like Redemption “

*  Klaus:  “I Give You Glory”