The Curse of Calvinism

1 Timothy 2:3-4  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

1 John 2:2  And he[Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Luke 12:8  Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Acts 2:21  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Verse after verse we see the heart of God: He desires all men to be saved. He hasn’t designated some for heaven and some for hell. He desires ALL to be saved. I could have posted a multitude of verses. That means that Calvin’s limited atonement is a damnable heresy.

5 Point Calvinism seems to be taking over the landscape of Bible preaching churches in America today. And why not? It’s easy to shirk our human responsibility when we chalk it all up to God’s sovereignty!

The curse of Calvinism: Creating dead churches: Creating self righteous people: Placing academics over authenticity….

A Congregation’s Relationship with it’s Pastor

Lately I have been having talks with a number of pastorless churches. Most have a punch list of things they are seeking in their next pastor. Often, a man hits all the right buttons, there is a vote, and they extend a call to him as pastor. But was this God’s will for the church? Sadly, many churches play musical pastors and never seem to get it right. It is my heart to be a help to you if you are seeking a pastor. Please consider what I have to say in this blog.

Most churches struggle with 2 main things:  #1 – Most people don’t have a clue what to look for in a pastor: #2 – Most people don’t understand what their relationship with the pastor is supposed to be. I am going to try and simplify this as much as possible.

#1 What do you look for in a pastor?

The first thing you should do is look at the man’s family. The state of the man’s children, especially when they are half grown or older, will tell the tale of how qualified he is to lead the church. Read the actions of his wife. Are they in love, or is it a business relationship? Read 1 Timothy 3….

Often times in the punch list of requirements we see the desire for one to have a Masters degree. But what you may not know is that alot of fellows that have a M div, M th, etc. have an undergrad in business or other secular profession. That means that a country preacher with an associates degree from a local church Bible Institute often has twice the hours of formal Bible study. There are many men pastoring churches that don’t know their Bible, but they have a real nice piece of paper on the wall.

So what should you look for in a pastor?

1. Look at the state of his home. It will tell the tale.
2. Qualified as per 1 Timothy 3?
3. Does he have a true handle on the Word of God? This will not be proven by what degree he has, it will be proven by questioning him about the things of God. Be sure to ask about the deep things and foundational.
4. A God call preacher truly hungers and thirst for righteousness, knows the Word, is humble, and is full of the power of the Holy Spirit.
5. Ask yourself – who does God want to shepherd this church?

#2 What is the relationship with the pastor supposed to be like anyway?

The relationship between the pastor and his people is like a marriage. There must be a mutual respect for one another, and also a submission one to another.

Like Christ (the Good Shepherd) gave His life for the sheep, so does a God called under-shepherd. When God calls a man to the ministry, that man gives up his life, his dreams, and his goals, to serve his fellow man in the name of Christ. Often there comes great hardship and difficulties. By the time he gets to the pastorate, he and his family have already been tried greater than the average believer, because he must be an “ensample of the flock”. Does your candidate have fruit in his life of a true calling?

In response, the congregation should love, respect, and defend their pastor(not chew him up). He has given his life for you. He bears your family’s burdens as well as his. He is never off, and often times the only family being short changed, is his.

A church is a family. Families may sometimes not like each other, but they never stop loving one another. They should hold each other in high regard and prefer one another.

A church is part of the Body of Christ. Every member, from the pulpit to the pew plays an integral part in the function of the body. The congregation’s relationship with the pastor is either going to further or stop the vision God has for the church.

SO IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A PASTOR ASK THESE QUESTIONS

1. Does this preacher have a solid family and do we get along?
2. Does this preacher know his Bible and have the God given ability to communicate it’s truth?
3. Has the Holy Spirit orchestrated this union?

Unless you know God has called a man to be your pastor, don’t even bring it up for a vote. Spend time getting to know each other.

The only way to beat death

TRUTH OF THE MATTER

1 Corinthians 15:54-57  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?   The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Victory over death is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ. Scripture teaches us that it is appointed unto man once to die, but after this we are judged. This judgment is not based upon our good works, but on who we know. Someone has already stepped in on our behalf and paid the penalty of our sin so we do NOT have to be judged.

1 John 2:1-2  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Jesus paid the price for all man’s sin. Our forgiveness is purchased. We just need to access it.  Accessing the salvation of the Lord is to beat death, for it is already defeated. But How?

ACCESSING SALVATION: OUR RESPONSIBILITY

The Apostle Paul expressed the common salvation like this: “repentance towards God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ“. Notice the actuator – FAITH.

John 3:16-18  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. BELIEVE

Ephesians 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: FAITH

Acts 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. BELIEVE

To be delivered from death, we must believe. We must turn from our ways and trust in God’s way. God’s way is through His Son Jesus Christ. He is the only mediator between God and man. He is the only way of salvation. Religion and belief in God is NOT enough. Jesus said in John 14: “You believe in God, believe ALSO in me” “For I am the the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh to the Father except by me”

Do you believe was the Son of God? Do you believe He rose from the dead? Do you believe He died for YOUR sin? If you answered yes to these questions, turn and trust in Christ alone. He shall save you from eternal death. Go spend time alone in prayer, communicate with God, and go tell someone that you are trusting in Christ for your salvation.

Romans 10:9-13  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

 

Earthquakes in divers places

Japanese Earthquake & Tsunami

Before reading my commentary, I ask that you would take a moment and pray for the Japanese people. They are a wonderful people with an ancient and glorious culture. The nation was the 3rd greatest economic power in the world. But because of this horrifying natural disaster, much of their nation lies in ruin, and the dead are innumerable.

Please take a moment and ask God’s mercy, peace, and comfort for Japan.

Then ask the Lord what HE would have you to do to help these people. If you have the means, go and serve your fellow man. I am praying for the opportunity.

THE   POINT   OF   THIS   BLOG   ENTRY

I have heard mention several times by scoffers on CNN and the like, how believers of the Bible are quoting “earthquakes in divers places”, and how stupid we must be for believing such things. This upsets me that the liberal God haters should use a time of tragedy to bash another man’s faith. But I could not help but thinking of the following scripture: 2 Peter 3:3-4  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? …all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

You read so many times, that there are “no more earthquakes than there used to be”, that you almost believe it. So I decided to do some fact finding. I got my facts from the USGS website.I pasted the web link below.

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/year/graphs.php

One thing I learned is that records for earthquakes begin in 1900, so accurate numbers prior won’t be found. But what I did find was staggering. If I read correctly, the death figures do not include the residual deaths due to tsunami, etc. simply earthquakes.

SIMPLE STATISTICS

1980 – 1989 saw 58,880 total deaths due to earthquake. AVG 5888 deaths yearly.

1990 – 1999  saw 114,646 total deaths due to earthquake. AVG 11,465 deaths yearly.

2000 – 2009 saw 471,015 total deaths due to earthquake. AVG 47,101 deaths yearly.

2010 – 2011 (not including current Japan quake) saw 226,922 deaths due to earthquake.  AVG 113,461 yearly.

It’s scary to think what the toll may be by 2019. Based upon death tolls, there has been an astronomic increase of earthquake ramifications. You can also see the number reflected in the number of 8+ magnitude quakes. The average of 8+ quakes has truly increased with the number spiking ever higher in the past decade. Numbers don’t lie, but men sure do.

GOD  IS  TRUE  BUT  ALL  MEN  ARE  LIARS

God’s Word is always true, even when men don’t believe it. The scripture says in  Matthew 24:7b …there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

There will be an increase in earthquakes in divers places. In just recent years there have been devastating quakes in Sumatra, Indonesia, Chile, Samoan Islands, Kuril Islands, China, Haiti, and now Japan. In 2010 we had significant quakes on our own continent: The Pacific Coast, Texas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Missouri, and Maine. When does the big one hit us?

Jesus tells us that “the rain falls on the just and the unjust”. That is to say, bad things happen to ALL people. The teaching of scripture also is that our world is “devolving” not evolving. We are actually on a dying planet, not one getting better. Therefore we should be expecting cataclysm on a Biblical scale.The Bible says that when these things begin to unfold, it’s gonna start happening fast.

Matthew 24:21  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

For those of you buying into global warming, I’ll give you some Bible to think on.  2 Peter 3:10  But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

THE  GOOD  PART

John 3:16-18  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

If you find yourself mustering up any faith that the Bible Prophecy may be true, please ask God to reveal himself to you. Trust in Christ. It is the only hope for your soul.

A great need filled

As you know from my prayer requests, we were in great need for a vehicle. This life of faith has many twists and turns, locations and relocations, summits and valleys, yet always… our God provides! I needed a vehicle that I could work out of, yet something that was also a family vehicle that I could travel in. WE were thinking a club cab pick-up, but God had greater plans. Let me bare witness:

Monday 1/17/2011 was our coldest day of the winter yet. It was the day that did my old Jeep in. It had close to 200k on it, transmission was slipping bad, and the brakes needed complete overhaul. That morning it overheated from either a cracked engine block or bad head gasket. Either way – she was done. That’s when I sent out the urgent prayer email.

That afternoon: I could drive the Jeep about 3 miles before she started to overheat, so I loaded up the wife and kids and made our way to the local post office. Tricia went in to send a package. I turned off the motor while she went in, but when she came out, I turned the key to only get click-click-click! The sub-zero temps had cause the battery to freeze and I lost a cell. Drats! So I called a customer of mine who lived around the corner and asked him for a jump so I could get it home.

When he saw that my Jeep was dead(and new our situation), he said he had something for me. He had just acquired a mid 90′s Toyota pickup and it could be mine for only $200!! And I could pay him when I had the money. I expected to see a real rust bucket, but the truck was solid through and through and has a strong motor. All I needed was a cap and I would have an excellent work truck. The Lord was putting it all together.

Tuesday 1/18/2011 – I was able to get back to work on Tuesday, because I was able to register the truck. In the evening when I got home I checked my email.  A brother in the Lord had pledged to send us $1000 towards getting a car. I looked on Craigslist for an old ladies car with low mileage. There are about 6 cars manufactured during the 90′s which are notorious for making 250k + in mileage. So finding one with low mileage was my target.

Thursday 1/20/2011 – The check for $1000 came in the mail so I deposited it. I then went to look at a 97 Chevy Lumina with only 90k on it. It turned out to be pretty solid, belonging to an older man who had it since 99. He took very good care of it, but his son had gone overseas and left him with a brand new Honda. His landlord told him that he had to get rid of the second car. (It was a row house with limited parking) He was asking $1500, but I offered $800 and he accepted.

SO LISTEN: My Jeep died because of the ware and tear of being a dual purpose vehicle in it’s old age. But God was able to provide a separate work truck AND a separate family car capable of traveling  for only $1000.. and HE provided that too. No more breaking down my work truck to have a family vehicle. No more having to move all my ladders off of the roof to go to church, etc. etc, etc……..

In spite of the fact we had no money… In spite of the fact we lost our only vehicle and had no way of getting to work… God provided above and beyond our expectations! Jehovah – Jirah – Our Lord truly provides for the needs of His children.