Poster | Thread |
| Re: | | Quote:
enid wrote: Not disprove, question. Growth has slowed down, definitely. But then, prayer is not what it was back then. That is less prayer, less souls, more prayer, more souls. God bless.
You have to mean less relationship with the Father, less souls saved, correct?
God bless you,
Orm |
| 2006/7/18 9:27 | | enid Member
Joined: 2006/5/22 Posts: 2680 Nottingham, England
| | 2006/7/18 9:32 | Profile | OverSeer Member
Joined: 2006/7/15 Posts: 153 Geneva, Alabama
| Re: To Deceive Even The Elect | | Dear Brothers and Sisters:
What is being described by this thread is exactly what God has told us in His Word will happen in the last days. The Bible teaches that there is a coming counterfeit revival.
It is predicted (prophesied) that before the Lord Jesus Christ comes back that the apostasy must come first (2 Thessalonians 2:1-3). There will be a turning away from [i]the faith[/i] which was once for all handed down to the saints. This is brought about by false prophets proclaiming a false, wide-gate gospel that is based on pragmatism (results) and humanism (man-centered instead of God-centered)and ultimately ends in Socialism/Capitalism. This false gospel offers response to Jesus without repentance; it offers grace without guilt; and it offers a crown without a cross.
The coming counterfeit revival is also illustrated in the Bible in Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43, in the Lord's parable of the wheat and the tares. This parable teaches of the corruption of the kingdom with a false growth. But to me the interesting aspect of the parable is the fact that the Divine order of harvest is, "[i][b]First[/b][/i] gather up the tares and bind them in bundles..." (v. 30). The tares are bundled up before the wheat are gathered into the barn. God is going to clean His church up before He presents her to His Son. The tares (counterfeit Christians) will be drawn in by the false prophets and their false gospel of "easy-believism."
The coming counterfeit revival is also elucidated (clarified) in the Bible. The Bible tells us of [i]the people[/i] of the counterfeit revival - unregenerate church members who have a form of godliness but deny its power (2 Timothy 3:1-5). The Bible tells us of [i]the problem[/i] that leads to the counterfeit revival - itching ears that turn (literally apostasize) from the truth (2 Timothy 4:3-4). And the Bible tells us of [i]the purpose[/i] of the counterfeit revival. It is a just and judicial judgment of God who gives to people who would not believe the truth what they want - lies! (see 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12).
While these are "difficult days in which to minister", don't give up. Now more than ever there is the need of the church being the pillar and support of the truth, holding forth the Word of life and leading people to the knowledge of the truth. "Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever" (Daniel 12:3).
_________________ Olan Strickland
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| 2006/7/18 9:52 | Profile |
| Re: | | Quote:
"Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever" (Daniel 12:3).
"Insight" being the key, eh?
How does one get that?
Orm |
| 2006/7/18 9:56 | | freedbyjc Member
Joined: 2004/7/29 Posts: 204 Jacksonville. Florida
| Re: | | Insight comes through a personal intimate relationship with Christ.
Living in His light and power moment-by-moment and seeking the Holy Spirit's discernment in all manners and matters.
Knowing the Word of God, it precepts and its promises. _________________ bill schnippert
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| 2006/7/18 10:11 | Profile | OverSeer Member
Joined: 2006/7/15 Posts: 153 Geneva, Alabama
| Re: | | You're right brother, insight and discernment are synonyms and it is the Word of God that gives it - "I have more [i]insight[/i] than all my teachers, [i][b]for[/b][/i] Your testimonies are my meditation" (Psalm 119:99).
Also Proverbs 2:1-12 teaches the same truth on how to have insight and discernment - it comes from receiving God's Word and treasuring His commmandments within you.
Grace and peace Olan _________________ Olan Strickland
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| 2006/7/18 10:34 | Profile |
| Re: | | Quote:
freedbyjc wrote: Insight comes through a personal intimate relationship with Christ.
Living in His light and power moment-by-moment and seeking the Holy Spirit's discernment in all manners and matters.
Knowing the Word of God, it precepts and its promises.
And of course learning obedience as He learned it; by the things He suffered, eh?
Question: That verse ever bother anyone? ...and yes, I am going somewhere with this. :-(rm |
| 2006/7/18 10:43 | | murdog Member
Joined: 2006/2/4 Posts: 352 Fort Frances, Ontario
| Re: | | Brothers and Sisters,
I guess I should not be shocked by the state of the North American Church, but at the same time it is disheartening. Jesus, Peter and Paul all warned that there would be false apostles, false teachers and false brethren.
Of course people would rather believe that they don't have to live a holy life, when there is the Jesus presented in the other gospel that is your best friend no matter what you do.
I think what frightens me the most, is the extent of the people deceived. I mean senior pastors, deacons, and Christians who have been going to church for thirty years are buying in to a gospel which entertains but does not convict people of sin. The holy scriptures are not read aloud. Prayer is hollow and hurried. The messages given are meant to pump you up and at the same time assure you that you are a friend of God while living a worldly existance.
Everyone wants to be exalted. Everyone wants to be appreciated. Everyone wants to be rewarded.
Lord, I want to overcome. It is my heart that I don't compromise. Lord help us, teach us, please don't spew us out of your mouth.
Murray _________________ Murray Beninger
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| 2006/7/19 0:19 | Profile | freedbyjc Member
Joined: 2004/7/29 Posts: 204 Jacksonville. Florida
| Re: | | Ok...I'll bite! ;-)
Which verse? Where are you headed?
Take us upward, Dear one... ;-) _________________ bill schnippert
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| 2006/7/19 7:53 | Profile | Limey153 Member
Joined: 2005/8/3 Posts: 114 Berkshire, England
| Re: | | It certainly is amazing how so many people get tricked by false teaching, I think it very comes down to the fact that all too many people are led according to the lusts of their flesh and not the spirit of God.
Galatians 5 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery,[c] fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders,[d] drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christs have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Like me I'm sure you all could write a huge long list of preachers (oops, sorry I mean False Prophets), who love to teach selfish ambitions, heresies and envy as described in Vs 20 & 21 as lusts of the flesh. How increasingly rare it is to find preachers who preach things like longsuffering and self-control.
Praise God though that by his spirit we can stay clear of such flesh driven teaching, I have to confess that if it were not for his awesome faithfulness and his steady hand that guides me I may very well be one of these false prophets myself. Praise God for sites like Sermon Index, it certainly is like breath of fresh air to find a website with such an abundance of sound teaching. :-) _________________ Darren Broadhurst
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| 2006/7/19 9:07 | Profile |
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