An Unholy Mixture

As I sit and read the Word, I am often reminded that again there is nothing new under the sun. What an encouragement to see that the Lord has given us His Word to remind us and strengthen us when the enemy comes back to attack again. How often we see and learn that the tactic has not changed, only the package.

The apostate church today stands to learn much from the Words of the Lord in Ezra 4.  They have compromised holiness and purity by allowing a mixture and now have found themselves working, not for God, but for the enemy himself. What has always been a strategy tool for Satan, has now become a tool for today’s church.  Post-modernism/liberalism screams from the outside to be a part. “We worship the same God,” they cry.  The church, using no discernment, (but hungry for numbers) welcomes and tolerates all in. Once in, the leaven begins to ruin the whole lump. Before to long you can hardly recognize truth, and the few who still stand for it are weeded out, and told to catch up with the times and be more loving. In my study time I was amazed to see that this was not the first time this tactic was used by the enemy. I was even more excited to see that during Ezra’s point in history, God’s people did not give in to the attack of the enemy and yoke with those who proclaimed to serve the “same” God. Of course that response was not at all warmly recieved.

Ezra 4-  When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, “Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here.”  But Zerubbabel, Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, “You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.” Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building. They hired counselors to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.

Even in Ezra’s time there were the many who proclaimed loudly, that they worshipped the same God and deserved to be a part of what God was doing. What a blessing that God’s people knew enough to be exclusive when it came to yoking with just anyone to do God’s work.  Even though in this day we have become the temple for the Living God, we are still commanded to be seperate and use the same discernment and authority that the Jews in that day used, even when our enemies come railing against us. Sadly enough, many of the men in the church today take no stand. Instead they just hold the door open wide and invite all in to join. Don’t get me wrong, we are called to GO OUT and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, and there is no exclusivity in that. All are welcome to repent and respond. But to worship and carry on God’s work, well that is exclusive. That is reserved only for those who have truly been changed by the work of the Lord. The fruit of that will be a surrendered life, one who has cast aside self and idols and instead is living a life of obedience to the Lord.  Lest we think that these commands were only for the Old Testament, we need look no further than 2 Corinthians 6:14. The Lord commands us not to be yoked together with unbelievers (that includes those we have discerned to be false teachers or brothers).  As the people of Ezra’s day had learned, an unholy mixture could have dangerous consequenses. Will we learn from Israel’s history, or will we continue on the path of destruction? Our only hope is repentance. Then the Lord will hear and forgive us and welcome us richly into the Kingdom He has prepared for us!

Obama, Bringing Miracles

Miracle (Obama Remix)

So Barack is an icon that will bring us a miracle. He will lead us to walk on water (walk across the ocean). That is a miracle. He is a light, rightousness, rolling like a mighty stream. Really, I thought those things describe Jesus Christ. In these last days, I guess they are one of the many things that describe Obama. Is the King of “Mystery” Babylon rising? Just keep praying and watching. Your lives are about to change!

Emerging Arguments

The Lord has had me speaking out against the seeker-friendly, emerging movement for a little over 3 years now. Because I have those that are just entering the battlefield for the souls of men to fight these decieving spirits, I thought it best to warn you ahead of time of the arguments you may hear from these “followers”. This is only my personal experience, though others may find they too have heard these arguments. I would have no doubt about that if it were true because the spirit that leads this movement is lead by one spirit. The spirit of anti-christ. So here they are:

1. Stephanie, have you read that book?  ( In other words, we don’t believe the Holy Spirit speaks and warns, we want you to really study and read and then make an intelligent descision.) By the way, I have read several of the books, but only up to point. Kinda like pornography, you only need look at the first page to tell where it is going!

2. I don’t agree with everything he says, but I don’t agree with everything someone else says either. (In other words, I’ll over look all the false stuff and only pay attention to what I think is truth.)

3. Stephanie your just being judgemental, a legalist. ( We hate authority or accountability. You have no right to inspect our fruit or teachings!) Oddly enough many of them will then begin to make fun of me or after the Holy Spirit has spoken to me through the Word and led me to write, they begin to judge those writings and belittle them. Huh?

4. You know, Rob was not denying the virgin birth when he was casting doubt on it. He was simply saying if it wasn’t true that he would still follow. He and his son could keep jumping. (  Sounds like such devotion and love for the Lord in the midst of planting seeds of doubt in the Lord. Sadly Rob, you can keep jumping all you want, and you can even keep following, but it would be pointless. For your faith would be like that of every other false religion out there. Your god would have to be a liar and your following futile. Without the virgin birth there is no salvation for man and Jesus would not be who He said He was. So yes the virgin birth really does matter.

5. Paul became all things to all people for the sake of trying to win some over. ( You can see my devotion on A Visit to Mars Hill for that one)

6. Who am I to say that they won’t go to heaven. Their religion has some truth in it. 

7. What is hell really? I think it could just be the suffering we endure here on earth. ( I wish I even knew how to answer this, but some things are just better off left alone.)

8. Why would I want to point out that sin in their life (fornication, homosexuality, etc.) What is the difference in that sin Stephanie and say…. over-eating?  (In other words, we just want to love them in their sins. Who cares whether they turn from them or not any time soon. I mean, what is sin anyway? There’s just to many of them and who are we to say which one is worse than the other. So, just keep quiet.)

There are many more arguments that I have come up against from way to many of these guys. Amazing thing is that since the Lord has moved us around in 3 different states over the last 3 1/2 years, I have found these guys all have the same arguments. Though they have never met, you can tell the spirit that has gained control over their thoughts. Their arguements are almost carbon copied, or should I say cookie-cut. It is so scary that all around the U.S. they use the exact same attacks against me, from the West Coast to the East Coast. Sometimes it is like a bad dream. Anyway, I share all of this to prepare those of you who the Lord has called into the battle and to encourage those of you already in it. Know that you are not alone in the attacks. Maybe you even have some you can add to my list!

A Word From The Lord

For all who will hear and pray, I am writing what the Lord has just been speaking to me as I am reading and praying. This morning when I awoke the Holy Spirit began to burden my spirit strongly for our nation and for Israel. He asked me to grab my Bible and Read Isaiah 14. The Lord says to all who will hear that the Day is near. The Anti-Christ is among us brothers and sisters. “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth you who once laid low the nations!”  Satan knows his time is short dear friends. How America must pray and all who will repent should seek the Lord’s face and make Him the Lord and Savior of your life. For the days of judgement are here. The famines are just beginning. The storms are just beginning. The attacks are coming. Syria would be wise to turn away from their wicked plans and turn to the Lord the God of Israel. For when they go against the Lord’s land, He will crush them.  A cloud of smoke is coming from the North and who can stop it? Though you oh Palestine will not be able to stand, you oh Israel will. For the Lord will have compassion on Jacob, for once again He has chosen Israel.

The Anti-Christ Spirit Is Alive And Well

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/01/obama.evangelicals/index.html

Of course it is of little shock to me that these two are merging. Obama, clearly having a spirit of anti-christ would eventually merge with the apostate “emerging church”. The declaring of their kingdom now and the social gospels of social gospels will pave the way for this last days movement. They will set themselves up against the true Jesus Christ and the persecution of the true remnant will begin soon (5th seal.) Oh how we must pray for the persecution that is about to begin. My dear sisters and brothers it is like nothing you have ever seen. Pray that the Lord will enable you to stand firm and to endure the persecution (even the smallest amount i.e. speaking out against sin.)

Signs Of The Times

Season of Signs Passover Through Pentecost 2008

Watchers Lamp has a great video pointing to the signs that are all around us. It is so close brothers and sisters! I can hear the footsteps at the door. Let us stand firm and keep the faith in the One who has promised to return and will grant us eternal life.

How’s That Extra Money For Our Economy Working For Ya Arnold?

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/Schwarzenegger_marriage/2008/05/23/98593.html

 

What is the silver lining Arnold? Clearly, whether you did a “study” to determine what kind of economic impact this would have or not is irrelevant. You should have consulted the only One who matters, the God of the Bible. Clearly, had you sought His face He would have warned you on how this would impact your economy. I am glad you were speaking at the Enviromental Defense Fund when you gave your speech though. It will be appropriate when all of the money gained from mocking God and the Words of Jesus Christ need to be used to defend our economy (and enviroment) from burning up. Sadly enough this is what happens when you promote tourism that burns anger within God. You will have to trade one for the other!

http://my.earthlink.net/article/nat?guid=20080628/4865b740_3ca6_1552620080628-994795254

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,371922,00.html

http://abcnews.go.com/US/Weather/wireStory?id=5231557

Is Repentance Neccesary?

Over the next few weeks I am going to be studying certain words in the Bible, due to the fact that there is such a wide view that is held on certain words. You would be suprised the teachings I hear, or even the articles I read by “pastors” who are supposed to be teaching the flock the truth about salvation and their walk with Jesus Christ. Instead, in this apostate day, you are hard pressed to find one truth, one interpretation. And the defense from the church today becomes, “We just agree to disagree”.  Well let me tell you, that is a lame cop-out and in the end could prove to be very dangerous. I have decided to look only at the Word of the Lord for the meaning, without someone else’s opinion. By faith we must believe that if we come to Christ hungry for the truth, with no personal agenda and ready to learn even if we were wrong that He will guide us into all truth.

So the many teachings I have heard on repentance go from one extreme to the other. One says repentance is absolutely neccesary, and the other says it dosen’t matter because that would be considered a work. One teaches repentance is from sin and you must change, the other says repentance is changing your mind about who can save you and you can’t quit sinning.  Okay, so what does the Lord say?

First I looked up the definition for repentace. Repent means- to turn, change in behavior, turning from sin toward God. A changed life has new, different behavior. This shows salvation is real.

Several times we see repentance mentioned in the Bible. John the Baptist, the forerunner to Jesus started with this same message. Yet Jesus in Matt 4 :17 starts His own ministry with that very word. If repentace was not a condtion for true salvation, then there would by no means be any reason to mention it. In fact He could have started with the very word, “Believe”.  I fear today, and all to often see that in the cheap grace that is preached, many individuals start by believing they can continue on the same path they are currently on. Someone tells them to say a prayer and believe. The preacher then tells them they are now a part of God’s family and are covered by grace. There is nothing they can do to be snatched away from God’s hands. So the so called “new believer” has been left with a feeling of security, from a human. They pick up that grace and continue on their same path, in the same direction. Now if somewhere along the way someone stops them on that path (which by the way really wouldn’t happen much today) and tells them their life is not pleasing to the Lord or that they must turn around and go in the opposite direction, they say “No, who are you to judge me or my salvation. I have grace, but your preaching works. That is legalism.”  So they continue on thier way, same direction and sadly I know to the same destination (if they do not truly repent.)  When John the Baptist came teaching about repentace what was the response of those who heard His cry? Matt 3:6 clearly gives us a picture of what that repentance was about. Confessing their SINS, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.  I realize there is such a broad belief about what sin really is. Sin has been so watered down today, that the Church as a building does not even agree on what are true sins and what are just genetic problems. In fact, just like with divorce many teach that the Lord is not against it, but will even bless it. How is that any diffrent than any other sin? Before to long, you can’t really define sin and then it all becomes excusable. Others teach we are forgiven of all our future sins. Will someone please email me a scripture where it says that. Not for a debate, but because I need something in the Word that says that. Romans 3:25 speaks of past sins and I am aware that 2 Peter 1:9 teaches that we have been cleansed from our PAST sins, allowing us a new start, but where does it say future sins?  The only thing I would ask is that the scripture “There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus”,  not be used. After all my studies to keep it in context and just reading the scriptures around it, I see that this one scripture can be used to justify alot of wicked behavior. The Lord has already opened my eyes to the context of Romans 7 and 8. But any other verses would be great. Based on all the scriptures I have read once we repent and believe on Jesus Christ as our only Lord and Savior, we are cleansed of all our past sins and given a fresh start. We are also given a helper (the Holy Spirit). But we must continue to repent (meaning to acknowledge when we sin and turn from it) if our salvation is genuine and we would enter into eternal life with our Father. If repentance was not neccesary for one’s salvation or for the Church, then every letter to the Church in Revelation must be thrown out. Jesus was speaking to believers here, and yet in almost every letter He gave them a serious warning, Repent or else. For example, the Church of Sardis was warned to obey and repent. Those who repent and overcome will be dressed in white. Do you understand that just like the parable of the wedding banquet, you can not get in without the wedding garments. You must be dressed in white, not soiled garments.  Repentance was not just spoken of by Jesus, or John the Baptist, but by Peter, Paul and many others. Paul speaks of it in Acts 26:20 where He told King Agrippa, “First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and to the Gentiles also, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.”  Peter declared the same message to all who would hear in Acts 2:38. He asked for all to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  What need was their for repentance to be forgiven of sins. Why not just declare, “believe and be baptized?” Because dear friends, without true repentance we will never see our need for a Savior.  Without true repentace and a disgust for what we once were, we will never feel the desire for Jesus to be Lord over our life. We will never want authority or “rules”, we will reject it. We will never be able to hear His way, we will only see our own way. The good news is not that Christ died to follow our path and cover us in spite of our sins, the good news is that while we were still sinners Christ died for us, to set us free from sin. It is not just pardon, it is power. Power to follow and obey His way, His desires and His authority over our lives. Equipped to obey, when we were once unable to because we were a slave to sin. There are many other scriptures on repentace that you can take the time to study if you would like. But I am firmly convinced, after prayer and the teaching of the Holy Spirit that repentance is not only neccesary, it is essential.

I Agree Obama, Change Is Coming!

Truth About Obama, A Speech Is A Speech & Reality Is Reality

Yes America, Change is coming! Our judgement is here, even now it stands in front of us. I pray many will have eyes to see what is about to begin. Once it has started, it can not be stopped. Oh, and for the seeker-friendly, emerging, social justice church, your leader is here!

To Judge Or Not To Judge

Judge Not

 

My devotion this week is going to be about my learning time with the Lord due to some personal comments I have had thrown at me over the last few years. As I hear from many facing the same criticism, I felt it best to look through the lens of scripture so as these attacks come we know how to deal with them. The very first comment that always comes back at me after I warn or rebuke or confront others of false teachings is this: I don’t think you are being very loving Stephanie. In fact that is dividing the Church and you better be careful about slander or defaming someone’s name. Sometimes I admit I just walk away or don’t respond, because I almost feel like I would be arguing a moot point with some.  John MacArthur could not have put my thoughts any better though. We must also look at the definition for slander or defame first. It is a word thrown around today by people who are either lazy and do not want to discern or have had others who do not want to be corrected throw that same attack at them.

Slander -a false and malicious statement or report about someone. To slander or defame someone’s name would mean that you knowingly have malicious intent to harm someones reputation with a false accusation. ( Please note, this does not mean teachings or writings that are available to anyone who will test for themselves. Testing someone’s teachings and writings is not making a false statement about something they said, if it can be verified.)

Gossip would be different. If we gossip then we take information around just for the sake of talking about others and pass it from person to person. There is no purpose for this information, except to share someone else’s business and should be avoided at all times.

With that being said, exposing others for their false teaching that is open for all to read, hear or see and warning others to flee from them is neither slander nor gossip. We must look at Scripture instead of opinion to see whether we are free to judge a person’s fruit and what they teach and if we should expose them.

Ephesians 5:6 says: Let no one decieve you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.

Ephesians 5:11 says: Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.

1 Corinthians 5:12-13  What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. Expel the wicked man from among you.

Romans 16:17 says: I urge you brothers, to watch out for those who cause DIVISIONS and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the TEACHING you have learned. KEEP AWAY from them. For such people are NOT serving our Lord Christ, but their OWN appetites. (emphesis mine). These men are the dividers not the exposer or the one who flees. Yet I can promise you the world and the enemy will certainly want to make you the divisive one. Keeping you involved and silent allows them to continue in their ways and for Satan to continue his job. Fleeing and exposing, causes a roadblock for them. If you are a false teacher or the Lord has revealed that you are dividing a church for false reasons or out of impure motives then you must get before the Lord now and repent. But if you are being obedient and exposing false teachers you are doing what must be done. Paul also says in 1 Timothy 1:20- Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.  Was Paul wrong for calling these guys out by name? We must always keep our motives and hearts open before the Lord, but judgeing someone’s fruit and teachings helps us to guard ourselves from false teachings and the snares of Satan, but more importantly it helps us warn others so that they are not taken captive by Satan to do his will. That my friends is what true love is all about!