Scared to Witness? - Part 2

In Part 1 of this study we started by noting Paul’s inspired words, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5:20). We said that verse contains a great honor, privilege, calling and responsibility and that it is directed to every Christian. Then we asked why aren’t Christians fulfilling this calling. Our answer was the fear of man and its kissing cousin a desire to please people. How do we overcome this problem?

Where does fear come from? We need to understand that there is good fear that is God given and there is bad or sinful fear that comes from Satan. There is a fear of the Lord, a holy awe and reverence for God that is edifying. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom (Prov. 1:7; 9:10), helps us hate evil (Prov. 8:13), brings confidence (Prov. 14:26), brings riches, honor (Prov. 22:4), leads to life (Prov. 19:23), and is a fountain of life (Prov. 14:27). The fear of the Lord is associated with peace, life, comfort and spiritual growth (Acts 9:31), is an incentive for holy living (2 Cor. 7:1) and to serve the Lord (Heb. 12:28-29). The fear of the Lord is also an incentive and motivation for evangelism (2 Cor. 5:11). The fear of the Lord is a healthy fear of harming or bringing any pain, sorrow or disappointment to the one you love. The fear of the Lord is something that is good and that we need. But there is a satanic counterfeit fear.

The big strong fisherman Peter once expressed a commitment to stand by Jesus no matter what only to later deny Jesus three times because of his fear of people (Mat. 30-35, 69-75). Later, after Jesus had restored him, he wrote, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). Satan is a bully. He seeks to manipulate by intimidation. He deceives and instills fear in us by getting us to look at ourselves and our weaknesses. He puts thoughts in our heads that tempts us to focus on perceived weaknesses in relation to the opportunity to witness at hand. Sinful fear comes from the enemy and always aims at getting us to disobey God or turn a deaf ear to God’s calling and direction. This kind of fear is not from God (2 Tim 1:7). How can such fear be overcome?

We need to realize having fears is not abnormal. The apostle Paul experienced fear in ministry. He testified, “I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Cor. 2:3). Paul trembled? Yes, he did. Courage is not the absence of fear but the management of fear. How can we manage our fear so that it is only good fear of the Lord and not satanic sinful fear of people? The next verse after Paul speaks of trembling with fear gives us the answer. He says, “And my speech and preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:4-5). The second reason Christians don’t witness is they are not empowered by the Holy Spirit. The solution to the fear problem is the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

What was it that changed fearful Peter into fearless Peter? What was it that changed all those fearful disciples, (who ran away when Jesus needed them most) into fearless disciples? What was it that changed the 150 cowering in the Upper Room to those who busted out of that room preaching the gospel powerfully in a way that impacted the entire world? One thing, One Person, made the difference, the empowering of the Holy Spirit. In fact Jesus instructed the apostles and others to wait for the empowering of the Holy Spirit before they went out witnessing (Acts 1:4-5, 8). They waited in prayer and when the Spirit came upon them in power they were transformed into a mighty force of unstoppable ambassadors for the Lord (cf. Acts 2 and the rest of the book of Acts). The solution to our sinful fears is the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

How can we be empowered by the Holy Spirit? Later in Acts when Peter was describing this empowerment he said, “So God who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:89). Notice God does not discriminate and this empowerment is available to all (compare Acts 2:39). What God did in empowering the early believers with the Spirit He will also do for us. What happened to them? It says God purified their hearts by faith. What does this mean? It means God purified the hearts of the people who fully surrendered to Him through faith in Christ and His promise of the Spirit.

There were probably a lot of things God cleansed out of those Christian’s hearts. One thing He cleansed and purified out of their hearts was fear of people. On his own big strong Peter who had boasted of his loyalty and steadfastness to Jesus, cowered and ran due to the words of a woman (Mat. 26:71). But once He was empowered by the Spirit He stood with the other apostles in Jerusalem, right where Jesus had been crucified and boldly proclaimed the gospel in the presence of the enemies of Jesus. Pentecost is a testimony to the power of the Spirit to overcome paralyzing fear.

The apostle John said, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith” (1 John 5:4). The empowerment of the Spirit that helps us overcome fear to witness is the full surrender in faith to God so that our love for Him is our supreme motivating force in life. The empowerment of the Spirit is loving God so much you’d do anything for Him. It is loving God so much you live your life to please Him. With that love we will follow His every command. It is that love that is poured out into our hearts by the Spirit (Rom. 5:5). It is that love that assures us Jesus is always by our side (Heb. 13:5). It is that love that helps us overcome our fears because in the face of the fear of people we hear the assuring words of the Spirit saying, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). With God on our side whom shall we fear? No one! (Rom. 8:31-32). Nothing can separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8:38-39).

Fear the Lord. Receive the empowering of the Holy Spirit. In faith completely surrender to God and His call to be an ambassador. If you do, sinners will be reached and those who are saved will be a source of great rejoicing. Serve the Lord and enter into the joy of the Lord. Witness!

In the final part of Scared to Witness? we will look at a very effective yet unintimidating entry level way to get involved in sharing the gospel. I invite you all to read on and I hope you’ll invite your friends to do the same. Be His ambassador and let Him plead with the lost through you. God bless you.

A Comment on the Consequences of the Recent Rally Led by Glen Beck

The following article by Brannon Howse should give those pause who have accepted the recent "spiritual" revival rally led by Glen Beck. I encourage you all to read this prayerfully and ask the Lord for discernment. We are responsible to "Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil" (1 Thess. 5:22-23). God bless you all.

Glenn Beck Rally Set Stage for "Christians" to Accept Paganism, and Mormons Say Beck Achieved 200 Year Goal of Getting Evangelicals to Declare That Mormons Are Christians

by Brannon S. Howse

www.worldviewweekend.com

I tried to warn evangelical leaders about Glenn Beck's rallies but most of them laughed at me. Now Satan is the one laughing at them as "Christians" run head-long into embracing non-Biblical theology and call it "Christian".

Greg West in the Mormon LDS Examiner validates my pre-Beck rally warnings to Evangelical leaders on my radio program, columns, e-mails, and phone conversations. I told them that partnering with Beck in a spiritual enterprise would send the message that Mormons are Christians.

Greg West writes:

As a Mormon, I have to consider an unintended message throughout Beck's work, which has culminated in this event. That message is: "Mormons are Christian believers." Despite nearly two centuries of misrepresentation and religious envy by sectarian Christianity, Beck has achieved the visibility, prominence, and has had the time day after day, week after week, to speak openly and truly about his core beliefs. Those statements of faith have disoriented and confused those who had previously believed the lies about Mormons.

Jim Garlow, a popular and influential pastor who partnered with the Mormon faithful in California to defend traditional marriage was quoted recently in CNN's Belief Blog, saying, "I have interviewed persons who have talked specifically with Glenn about his personal salvation - persons extremely well known in Christianity - and they have affirmed (using language evangelicals understand), 'Glenn is saved...' He understands receiving Christ as Savior."

Hallelujah! The light bulb has been switched on after nearly two centuries! Every single member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes that a person must be "born again" and receive Jesus Christ as his Savior and Redeemer. Our holy books teach that salvation comes only in and through the atonement of Christ and that there is no other way a person can be saved…Glenn Beck's beliefs are mainstream Mormon beliefs. Joseph Smith, the Church's founder, was a Christian prophet. He was an apostolic witness of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
http://www.examiner.com/lds-church-in-national/glenn-beck-and-the-restoring-honor-rally

Notice that West admits that what Beck has said on his broadcasts about his faith has "disoriented and confused" people who thought that Mormonism was not consistent with Christianity. However, Beck has now convinced them that Mormonism and Christianity are compatible with the help of America's Christian leaders.

The actor Kirk Cameron is the only one I personally know of that took to heart my pre-Beck rally warnings and reversed himself. Kirk really encouraged me when I needed it by calling to thank me for the column and sharing with me how it helped him understand why he must not take part in Beck's 8-27 event. Kirk even had the courage to come on my national radio program and speak about this issue publically.

The irony is rather thick. Kirk played "Buck Williams" in the Left Behind Movies. Buck was a famous secular journalist who became a believer and then set out to warn Christians not to accept the demonic spirituality of a one-world religion that was unfolding through national and international figures.

I believe what happen over the weekend was a seismic shift within evangelicalism; an historic event that will go unnoticed by most Christian leaders. A few leaders may eventually understand the nature of what happen but it will be weeks if not months before they respond. Many of these leaders waited years to provide the defense against Oprah's pagan spirituality and when they did it was too late for many of the goats within their flock of sheep that had already consumed Oprah's spiritual poison.

Sadly, most Christian leaders and pastors are completely deficient in understanding the ideas and philosophies that have, and continue, to be the force behind the rushing cultural stream. As a result; the members of their own congregation hear no advanced warning of the coming spiritual undertow nor do they acquire the needed Biblical knowledge that keeps them from being children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, (Ephesians 4:14).

The compromise by evangelical leaders and pastors by spiritually uniting with "all faiths" with the theme of "looking to the one god", as described by Beck, has laid the foundation for untold numbers of self-professing Christians to now embrace pluralism and pagan spirituality. Pastors and evangelical leaders literally locked arms with all faiths, including Imams, in a spiritual endeavor despite the clear Biblical warnings of II Corinthians 6:14.

The Mormon Church is now rejoicing over the public relations success that these undiscerning evangelical leaders have handed the Mormon Church by uniting with Glenn Beck in the two events that were promoted as spiritual.

I believe that Beck does not only embrace the pagan spirituality of Mormonism but also Cosmic Humanism. Cosmic Humanism is known by most as the New Age Movement. Cosmic Humanism says that man is god. Mormonism says that man can become god. See the similarities? Before you react listen to what Glenn Beck said on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace on the Fox News Channel. Glenn Beck said that his rally was not political and the reason for his rally was because "there's nothing that we can do that will solve the problems that we have and keep the peace unless we solve it through God, unless we solve it in being our highest self. Be your higher-self."

Beck used the phrase "higher self" three times in the interview with Chris Wallace. No one talks that way unless they know exactly what they are saying. One New Age website says:

There are many great words to describe Who or What your highest identity or Self truly is. Below are just a few: Higher Self, I am Presence, I Am That I Am…Cosmic Consciousness, God, Christ, Holy Spirit And the list goes on…

Notice that "I AM that I AM" is another word for "higher self". Last week on his radio program Beck said, "I Am That I Am is the most powerful phrase in any language as it is the name of god, never use it in vain; use it to create who you want to be. I AM blank."

I AM is a title that is to be reserved for God Himself. In Exodus 3:13 God told Moses that when the people of Israel ask for My name tell them, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" In John 8:58 we read, "Jesus said to them, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.'"

"I AM" is to be reserved as a title for God yet it is being blasphemed in the pagan practice of what is called "the law of attraction." In the book The Secret, that was promoted by none other than Oprah Winfrey, Rhonda Byrne wrote:

· The law of attraction is the law of creation….You create your life through your thoughts." [p. 15.]

· There isn't a single thing that you cannot do with this knowledge. It doesn't matter who you are or where you are, The Secret can give you whatever you want. [P. xi]

· With this powerful knowledge, you can completely change every circumstance and event in your entire life…" [p. 17]

The fact that people like Beck on the right and Oprah on the left are proclaiming the "I AM" message is a sign that we are living in the last days according to Jesus Himself in Luke 21:7-8:

And they asked Him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, "Take heed that yet be not deceived: for many will come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near; go ye not therefore after them."

Former New Ager, now Biblical Christian, Ray Yungen writes:

Notice, "Christ" is italicized in verse 8, meaning that it was not in the original manuscript. The translators of the King James Bible probably thought it awkward that it said "Many shall come saying, I am." Probably for the sake of clarity and to be consistent with Mathew 24, the translators added the word "Christ."

Did you catch that? Jesus was saying that when people say they are god by using the title "I AM" it is a sign that we are living in the end times. We are also told to run away from the people saying "I AM". Sadly, many of our nation's pastor's and Christian leaders did not run from Glenn Beck but ran to join him in a spiritual service and enterprise.

Beck on his radio program last week also declared, "Hell is an eternity of regret not being able to forgive yourself." This is a completely unbiblical statement. Nowhere in the Bible do we see instruction to "forgive yourself" because it is impossible. 2 Corinthians 5:15 says, "He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." Verse 17 is what brings me peace since I have repented of my sins and placed by faith and trust in the Jesus of the Bible. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

Grace and forgiveness is provided to those who repent and therefore there is no need to believe the lie that you can "forgive yourself" of your sins.

Glenn Beck has accomplished what neither Oprah Winfrey nor Shirley McClain could. I believe that Beck used his conservative veneer and doublespeak to co-opt leaders of the religious right. Beck and these evangelical leaders have sent the message that it is acceptable for millions of "Christians" to embrace humanistic spirituality and paganism for the purpose of social activism and social change. These pastors should re-read Luke 17:2 where we read; "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones."

Beck has set the stage for "conservatives" to accept a one-world religion and numerous leaders of the religious right pulled the ropes that raised the curtain on this ecumenical stage. Christian leaders that should have known better nodded in agreement and provided the backdrop as Beck preached his sermon of pluralism and universalism on 8-27 and 8-28.

Perhaps sooner, rather than later, the world will be in massive economic, political, and spiritual chaos and a leader will step on to the world stage and this anti-Christ will call for the religions of the world to unite and embrace spirituality. He will declare that he is not about politics but about bringing peace, unity, faith, hope, charity, stability, freedom, and prosperity under the common god of all religions. This world leader will perform counterfeit miracles signs and wonders and those who reject Biblical truth will follow him [2 Thessalonians 2:9-12] and embrace his plan for restoring honor.

If I had told you five years ago that a "conservative" radio and TV personality would have millions of viewers, would talk about the spiritual battle being waged in America, would be a self-confessed member of a cult, would quote New Age phrases, would call for Christians and conservatives to look to the "one god", would seek to unite all faiths and would convince dozens of evangelical pastors and leaders to support him in a spiritual service-you would say I was writing fiction and that this would never happen.

Do you now understand the magnitude of the spiritual shift that occurred this past weekend? The millions that see nothing wrong with the messages of Beck's 8-27 and 8-28 rallies reveal that the religious left and the religious right will be easily merged together in the coming one world religion under the coming one-world spiritual leader as prophesied in Revelation 17:8.

Ephesians 5:11 commands all Christians to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." That is exactly what we have done and will continue to do in spite of e-mails and voice messages that are filled with cursing and insults. Our response must simply be, "Have I become your enemy because I tell you the truth?" [Galatians 4:16]

Scared to Witness? Part 1

In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians he was inspired to write, “Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” (2 Cor. 5:20). That’s a pretty awesome honor and privilege; to be God’s representative and instrument of outreach and witness to the lost. That’s a pretty serious calling. It’s also an intimidating responsibility. But most importantly, this verse is not directed at a select few with the gift of evangelism, it is directed at “we,” that is, every Christian.

Why is it then that there are so many closet Christians? Why are so many Christians incognito? Why are so many Christians scared to witness? How is it that despite the numerous clear statements in scripture that the believer is to witness, that it is estimated that 55% of Christians still don’t believe it is their responsibility to witness? Why is it that estimates indicate that only about 2 % of Christians share their faith on a regular basis?

There are two basic reasons for this terrible situation. Before we go to those reasons for the lack of witnessing we need to ask is the lack of witnessing terrible? Yes, it is terrible. Why is it terrible? Because while Christians are neglecting their God given opportunity, privilege, calling and responsibility to witness people are going off into a permanent dark tormenting eternity in a place called hell where there is no love and only loneliness and regret. That is terrible. Hell is just as real as heaven and just as permanent (Mat. 25:46). When we don’t witness it is as though we stand outside a burning home where its occupants are asleep and though we could wake them up so they could get out, we refuse to do so. That is not only terrible in its consequences, it is terribly immoral.

Why aren’t Christians witnessing? First, people don’t witness because they are paralyzed with the fear of man. Proverbs 29:25 states, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” Fear of man ensnares us and keeps us from the joy of God’s calling on our lives. The Bible says heaven rejoices over one sinner who repents (Luke 15:7, 10). It’s a joyful thing when someone is saved from their sin and its consequence. But the fear of people keeps us from that. The fear of people causes us to care more about what people may think about us or do to us. The fear of people and what they might do to us or think about us short circuits any use we might be to God and for His glory.

The kissing cousin of the fear of people is the desire to please people. The apostle Paul wrote, “For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10b). It’s not a sin to want to please people. It’s a sin to want to please people more than to please God. When the world discourages witnessing by referring to it as proselytizing and Christians refrain they are putting the fear of people and desire to please them above their calling and command from God. Those who say Jesus is the only way to salvation are called intolerant, bigoted, narrow minded and a host of other derogatory things by the world. We don’t want to be seen as unsophisticated or shallow minded. We want to fit in and not stick out like a sore thumb. And so we keep our mouths shut and cower in what we often suppose people would think of us if we shared the gospel with them. They go off on their unassuming hell bent way and we shrink smaller and smaller spiritually with regret and guilt at having failed to heed God’s call.

It’s not a sin to have a healthy respect for people, it is a sin to fear people more than you fear and revere God. Jesus said, “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after he has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” (Luke 12:4-5). Based on what Jesus said, if we are paralyzed and prevented from witnessing because of the fear of people, we need to have a change in perspective. In Hebrews the Lord states, “But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him” (Heb. 10:38). If you want to please the Lord, (and any true Christian does) you must learn to deal with your fear that causes you to draw back from God’s calling; especially your fear of people.

Is fear ever good? What’s the difference between good godly fear and sinful fear? How can we overcome the fear that prevents us from witnessing? That is what we will consider in part two of Scared to Witness? I invite you all to read on and I hope you’ll invite your friends to do the same. Be His ambassador and let Him plead with the lost through you. God bless you

The Peace "of" God

When a person accepts Jesus as their Savior they cross a line that moves them from being at war with God to being at peace with God (Romans 5:1). Being at peace with God is a wonderful thing. Knowing you will spend eternity at peace with God is a stupendous thing. But did you know that it is possible for a Christian to experience peace with God but be missing the peace of God? It’s true; there are many born again believers who are wracked with anxiety and worry and lack Gods peace. Many Christians have peace with God but miss the peace of God.

In Romans 5 Paul uses phrases like “and not only that” (5:3), and “much more” (5:9.10.15, 17, 20) to show that God’s grace is limitless and inexhaustible. Just when we think God’s grace can’t get any better, He exceeds our expectations and understanding to bless us all the more (Ephesians 3:20-21). That’s the way God is, He just can’t stop loving us! Let me share one way God goes beyond our expectations.

It is one thing to have peace with God; it is another thing to have the peace of God. Not only does God provide peace with Him, but He also provides His peace to help us live in this life. The peace of God is that steadying force, that inner sense that God is in control no matter what. The peace of God is that settling effect that guards the believer’s heart from being overwhelmed as they trust hopefully in God to be faithful in all of life. How can we receive the peace of God? There are two practical steps to experiencing the peace of God.

First, the peace of God is received as we commit all things to Him in prayer. Paul speaks of this to the Philippians when he is inspired to write:

• 
  Philippians 4:6-9 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.”

The peace of God can permeate the believer to the depths of their being and take up residence in the mind and heart. By prayer in all things, we declare our dependence upon God who comes to us in our time of need to guard and quiet our anxieties and fears. Fear is the foe of faith and is overcome by prayerfully putting faith in God. In prayer we can literally cast our cares upon the Lord; we can throw off our worries; we can ax our anxieties (1 Peter 5:6-7). Then we rest in the peace of God trusting the Lord to be in control.

The way we think can also determine if we experience the peace of God. Paul tells us if we meditate on the pure, true, noble, just, lovely, good report and praiseworthy things it will facilitate Gods’ peace being poured out in our lives. He then says if you “do” the things you learned, received and heard and saw in him “the peace of God will be with you.” Put God’s word into practice friend, and God’s peace will be with you! If you want the peace of God there is no substitute or alternative to saturating yourself with God’s word.

Second, the peace of God is fueled by the word of God, worship and Christlike doing. Paul was inspired to write to the Colossian church:

• 
  Colossians 3:15-17 – “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Paul says, “Let.” This is an exhortation that implies God wants to give you His peace. All we need do is let Him give it to us. The peace of God is from Him and received by faith. Paul tells us to let God’s peace rule our hearts and be thankful for it. That means we let God’s peace be our referee to determine the way we ought to go in life.

The word of God fuels the peace of God in us because the word of God testifies to the faithfulness and provision of God. The word of God also guides us so that when we cast off our cares it does not lead to irresponsibility. One of the best ways to counter anxiety and fear is to consume the word of God, read it, meditate on it, and study it prayerfully. Paul points us to the psalms in particular. I always find the psalms comforting to read during times of trials or difficulties.

In Colossians 3:16 Paul also points us to worship as a means of bringing the peace of God into our lives. If you’re having a hard time of it, worship the Lord. Turn off the TV and turn on the praise and worship. Worship in the Spirit and the peace of God will come upon you and settle your heart and mind.

And lastly, we should do all that we do “in the name of the Lord Jesus.” That means we do all that we do in the power of Christ and in a Christ like way. When we do things in His strength His way we have no reason to regret and the peace of God is unleashed in our lives. Do your best and trust him with the rest and God’s peace will be released in your life.

God doesn’t only provide the opportunity to have peace with Him, but “much more,” He provides His peace to help us through life now. Charles Ryrie, in his book So Great Salvation, tells a story of a Father and child that illustrates the practical nature of peace with God.

The 3-year old felt secure in his father's arms as Dad stood in the middle of the pool. But Dad, for fun, began walking slowly toward the deep end, gently chanting, "Deeper and deeper and deeper," as the water rose higher and higher on the child. The lad's face registered increasing degrees of panic, as he held all the more tightly to his father, who, of course, easily touched the bottom. Had the little boy been able to analyze his situation, he'd have realized there was no reason for increased anxiety. The water's depth in ANY part of the pool was over his head. Even in the shallowest part, had he not been held up, he'd have drowned. His safety anywhere in that pool depended on Dad. At various points in our lives, all of us feel we're getting "out of our depth" -- problems abound, a job is lost, someone dies. Our temptation is to panic, for we feel we've lost control. Yet, as with the child in the pool, the truth is we've never been in control over the most valuable things of life. We've always been held up by the grace of God, our Father, and that does not change. God is never out of his depth, and therefore we're safe when we're "going deeper" than we've ever been. [1]

When we come to rest by faith in Christ, in the peace of God, we rest in His arms. Resting in His arms, we should fear nothing in this life. By faith we receive peace with God; by faith we receive the peace of God; and then no matter what happens in life, God holds us and we get through.

---

[1] Charles Ryrie, So Great Salvation, Victor Books, 1989, p. 137ff.

God, the Gospel, and Glenn Beck

God, the Gospel, and Glenn Beck

Three Things About Islam

The following 8 minute video is a secular presentation on Three Things About Islam. It discusses whether or not Islam has been hijacked by a fanatical few, the strategy of the gradual perpetuation of Sharia Law, and the Law of Taqiyya that allows Muslims to lie to infidels in order to forward their religion. Christians won't agree with everything in this video,(such as viewing Christianity as just one of many religions and that all contain contradictions - Christianity, rightly understood is without contradictions). But these three points are vitally important for understanding what is going on in the world today. At the end of the video are some links to do further research. I encourage you to get informed about Islam.

I invite you to watch the video and then read my comments.

Abraham Lincoln said You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time but you can't fool all of the people all of the time. It's time we wake up as a nation. It's time for Christians to equip themselves to share the gospel with Muslims. Politically it is doubtful the west has the wherewithal and courage to address honestly the danger of Islam. This is a spiritual battle. Wherever you find deception being used you know the devil is involved (John 8:44). The way to deal with the deceptions of the devil is to address and expose falsehoods and lies with truth.

This is a religio-political problem because Islam is a religious system that incorporates politics, a governmental system, and religious beliefs in one package. Islam is a works righteousness religious system. As such it binds and shackles people with guilt and oppression. Jesus, on the other hand said, "If you abide in My word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. . . . Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave to sin. . . . Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed" (John 8:31-32, 34, 36). Exposing the truth about Islam is important, but it is not enough. Addressing Islam from a political position is not enough. We have to go beyond the mere truth laid out for us in Three Things About Islam. We have to go to the the truth of Jesus.

Exposing the truth about Islam so that the world protects itself against it will only result in political freedom. In the United States right now there is a national conversation about the loss of freedoms. That is patriotic. That is important. But that is not enough. There is a greater freedom to experience. Jesus offers eternal freedom. Jesus offers freedom from the shackles of sin. If Islam is thwarted and our freedoms restored and secured in the United States, people will still remain bound in sin! We need to go beyond the mere secular, temporal addressing of issues in the world and address the eternal predicament of humanity.

We have to go beyond secular truth and seek the Spirit of truth. We need the Holy Spirit who illuminates and reveals the truth of God (John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13). The truth we need to seek is the truth of God revealed in His word (John 17:17). We need the "truth of the gospel" (Gal. 2:5, 14). The early church turned the world upside down (i.e. right side up) (Acts 17:6). The Spirit filled disciples of the early church were faced with problems and religious systems just as oppressive and threatening as the ones we face today. They were imprisoned, tortured, stoned, sawn in two, decapitated (sound familiar?), and thrown to lions (cf. Heb. 11:32-40). But they were able to gain victory and glory for God no matter what the enemy threw at them. Why? How? Because they had "the truth of the gospel" (Col. 1:5). The truth of the gospel won the hearts of enemies as it was spread throughout the world in the power of the Spirit (Acts 1:8). That is what is really needed today; gospel truth spread in the power of the Spirit. Anything less is only a band aid.

The truth of the gospel is that there are none righteous, not one human being (Rom. 3:10, 23). Every person has broken not just one but many of God's Laws and done so many times over. God gave us His Law to show us the way to a peaceful abundant life (Deut. 30:11-20; Gal. 3:24). God's law is holy, just and good (Rom. 7:12). God is holy and sin is repugnant to Him (Hab. 1:13). Sin dirties us and separates us from Holy God (Ps. 66:18; Isaiah 59:2). Even one sin of breaking God's Law separates a person from God (Gal. 3:10; James 2:10). Sin is serious. Sin is like cancer, one cell, left unattended spreads and will kill the entire body. The wages of sin is death (Rom. 6:23a). Sin causes pain and sorrow. Sin is the result of pride, rebellion and selfishness. Sin is linked to everything bad in this world. And because of this God's righteous wrath is what awaits the sinner in judgment (Eph. 2:1-3). He will not allow sin into His heaven, a place of true peace, harmony and loving fellowship with Him (e.g. John 17:3). Sin separates us from everything good and we have a malignancy of sin. This is the bad news.

The good news of the gospel is that God, in a gift of His grace, has reached down to help us out of the mire of sin. The wages or debt of sin is the eternal death penalty. This death is not annihilation but the just sentence of eternal condemnation in a place called hell (Mat. 25:46; Rev. 20:11). But Jesus went to the cross and paid that penalty for us by dying a sinners death there (1 Pet. 1:18-19). God "made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that when we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21). We can be saved from our sins when we forsake our sin,put our faith or trust in Jesus and His work on the cross as the only sufficient means to ask for and receive God's forgiveness for for our sins (Mark 1:15; John 1:12; Acts 2:38-39; Rom. 5:1; 6:23; 10:9-10; 2 Cor. 7:10; Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:3-5). Grace therefore is God's Riches at Christ's Expense. Because this salvation is a gift of God's grace you can rest assured that you have it when you follow the gospel truth revealed to you by God (1 John 5:13). The person who receives the truth of God's gospel passes from death to life. No matter how great a sinner you are if you receive Jesus as Savior and Lord the Bible says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Cor. 5:17). Where the Spirit does His work, liberty from sin results (2 Co. 3:17-18). The evidence of this is the beautiful love of God poured out into you by the Spirit who indwells the believer (Rom. 5:5; 8:9-11; 1 John 3:14). That is the better way; love never fails (1 Cor. 13:8).

We need more than a political or military response to Islam and the various problems faced in this world. We need gospel truth applied. Let's make that our prayer. In fact, let's pray as Paul did when he wrote to the Colossians saying:

"We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all the saints; because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth; . . . ." (Col. 1:3-6).

Let's spread "the word of the truth of the gospel . . . in all the world." God bless you all. Speak the truth of God's word in the love and power of the Spirit.

Franklin Graham on Islam

The following is a CNN intereview with Franklin Graham who is to be commended for his steadfast stand for the truth about Islam. In the interview he keeps first things first by sharing the gospel. His deamenor and tone are gracious. He speaks truth in love. He does not react to the baiting of the interviewer. That is a good example and a scriptural one as well (cf. Eph. 4:15). I encourage you to pray for Franklin and pray God raises up others with the same integrity, courage and boldness to speak truth. God bless you all.