Posts tagged ‘Christians’

We Must Judge Or Risk Being Counted As Guilty With The Offenders

By LaVrai, 21 January, 2010, 4 Comments

I was reading through 1 Corinthians today and came across a startling passage… and it is partly startling because I had just visited some of my bookmarked blogs to see what those professing faith in Christ are up to. One of the last blogs I read shared a letter from a reader who was apparently concerned about the idea of Christians judging other Christians. There is a persistent argument among believers (and non-believers, too) that Christians are not supposed to judge others… because Jesus Christ said something to that affect in Matthew 7 — “Do not judge, lest you be judged by the same standard.” Some people trumpet this verse without putting the entire passage in context and studying what Jesus Christ was trying to teach against — hypocrisy. If you read Romans 2, you will see how Paul expounds upon Jesus’ words even further in warning against hypocrites judging others.

Romans 2:1Romans 2:1
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
2 ¹ Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

WP-Bible plugin Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

GOD teaches HIS children through the Holy Scriptures that we must indeed be properly equipped and wise in discernment, another term for judgment. We must be able to judge ourselves rightly (i.e., whether our thoughts, deeds and words line up with the holy standards GOD requires of us) and we must be able to judge whether the thoughts, deeds and words of our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus also line up with GOD’s holy standards. If GOD makes us witness to a brother or sister’s failings, we are required to go to that brother and sister and discuss this error, whether it be against us personally or against GOD (and indeed, sinning against a brother or sister is also an offense to the FATHER).

Jesus tells us in Matthew 18:15Matthew 18:15
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.

WP-Bible plugin “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. …”

We are instructed to confront one another peacefully and in love when we are in error, and if the party in error refuses to realize his/her wrong, then others should get involved to lend support to the argument against the party in error. If then, the person in error still refuses to heed sound reason, then the church is called on to get involved… and if the person in error still refuses to repent, then he/she must be put out of the assembly and have no part with the church.

Christ Is Coming Soon, Let’s Get Ourselves Right While There’s Still Time

By LaVrai, 15 January, 2010, No Comment

Folks have probably been saying this since HE ascended back to Heaven to sit at the FATHER’s right hand, but Jesus Christ is coming shortly. I don’t say it lightly, but with fervent urgency. Is HE coming tomorrow? Next week? Next year? According to the Scriptures, no one knows the exact time. But HIS coming is sure and soon, as the signs of the time suggest.

The latest sign — a devastating earthquake in Haiti — serves as an urgent reminder that we all need to take stock of ourselves and where we stand in our relationship with Christ Jesus. It’s been estimated that about 50,000 Haitians have died since the quake struck a few days ago. These people were just going about their normal business — walking home from work; headed to the grocery store; taking a bath; sleeping in bed; playing with their children; sitting in a classroom… some were likely even in church. And what happened in Haiti could easily happen where we are now. Just because a group of scientists have said the danger is elsewhere, doesn’t necessarily make it so. GOD IS SOVEREIGN and HE can easily bring calamity at any time. As the saying goes, tomorrow is not promised… live each day as if it were your last.

Well, I say this to each and every brother and sister in Christ Jesus — get right today, right now! We have no idea when the heavens will break and Christ Jesus will be revealed for every eye to see HIM — even the ones who pierced HIM. Take a look at the letters written to the churches in the Book of Revelation. Yes, they were letters written specifically to local churches at the time, but as any student of the Bible will tell you — what occurred with the Church in its founding days is still occurring today.

End Time Alert: Gerald Celente Predicts Obamageddon In 2012

By LaVrai, 21 August, 2009, 1 Comment

Gerald Celente, a self-styled trends forecaster, discussed recently about what he sees happening to the United States’ economy based on the programs being implemented by the government. Mr. Celente doesn’t color his predictions with religious tones, just with numbers and what he sees as straight facts. People simply paying attention can also see what appears to be the deliberate dismantling of America (and perhaps the world’s) economy. Based on what I read in the Holy Bible, the world will be brought to its knees when the Anti-Christ’s religious and economic agent, the Anti-Christ implements a mark for everyone on the planet to do any kind of business. When will this be? Who knows, but as the LORD has spoken it, surely it will come to pass.

Vee at Living Journey has a related posted you can check out here.

Also, you can test some “forecasting” from the religious end here.

Revelation 13:11Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. 12It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 14and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived.

15And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain. 16Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, 17so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. 18 This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666. (ESV)

Global Persecution Of Christians – All Nations Will Hate You Because Of Me

By LaVrai, 14 August, 2009, 4 Comments

Christianity has been a threat to the world since Jesus Christ walked the earth (or perhaps since GOD gave Moses the Torah). After Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension back to Heaven, Christians became public enemy number one. The LORD even told the disciples (and all who have ears to hear) that the day would come that those persecuting HIS Church would actually believe they were doing GOD’s work. Most astoundingly, Jesus says HIS people will be hated “by all nations” because of our allegiance and faithfulness to HIM (Matthew 24:9Matthew 24:9
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

WP-Bible plugin). What a word!

Yes, Jesus was speaking of the time of the end, and the world has steadily been speeding towards that end since Christ Jesus accomplished the FATHER’s purpose on the Cross. The church fathers and the early Christians experienced this hatred and many confessing Salvation in Jesus Christ and HE alone today are experiencing it.

But Jesus said “all nations” would hate Christians. Do all nations truly despise Christianity today? Not yet, but there is a time promised when Satan will be granted power by GOD over the whole world and the power to persecute Christians (Daniel 11 & Revelation 13). And why would the LORD give HIS people over to persecution? – “To refine them, purify them, and make them white… (Daniel 11:35Daniel 11:35
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed. try them: or, try by them

WP-Bible plugin)” And also for HIS own glory, as HE explains in regard to HIS future saving of Israel – “Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. 11 For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should My name be profaned? And I will not give My glory to another. (Isaiah 48:10-11Isaiah 48:10-11
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
10 Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. with...: or, for silver ¹¹ For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.

WP-Bible plugin).”

There are many brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus being refined and purified today. For example, in Pakistan Christians are being murdered and their homes and churches destroyed by radical Islamists (BBC). In Nigeria, Christians are being murdered by those who want to impose Islam on them. And the death toll is well in the hundreds due to deaths on every side (BP). And most recently here in the U.S., a young Muslim girl fled from her Ohio family after converting to Christianity because she’s convinced her father will kill her for her apparent apostasy (OS). Two women are among dozens of Christians recently rounded up in Iran and imprisoned (CT). Four Christians were beheaded in Somalia for refusing to convert back to Islam (CP). These, of course, are just some very recent examples of Christian persecution going on today — there are dozens of other places and thousands of other situations where Satan is working hard to stomp out the faithful.

And the Devil is slowly working his way West, looking forward to the day when he has convinced the whole world that Jesus’ followers are somehow a global enemy.

So let us remember, when we’re praying to GOD in Jesus’ name for strength and mercy for our persecuted brothers and sisters, that we’re also in a way praying for ourselves. Their present trouble is our future promise. But thank the LORD we all share one very certain hope.

David Wilkerson’s Warning For The Assembly Of God Is Sadly Still URGENT

By LaVrai, 14 July, 2009, 4 Comments

I guess the Church has been heading down this road for a long, long time — and I mean the wide road. When I use the “Church” I do indeed mean the Bride, because as far as I can tell, Christ Jesus is letting the wheat and the tares grow together. Some of the tares are easy to spot, but sadly, the others won’t be visible until the great time of testing. The Bride will enter the Kingdom after shedding all of this dead weight.

If this message makes you sad and want to cry out to GOD, please re-post, re-tweet, re-whatever it. Perhaps it will convict someone and remind them of how far they have strayed.

The Dangers of The Gospel of Accommodation

A sermon given by David Wilkerson at an Assemblies of God headquarters chapel service.

By David Wilkerson

I am not coming to you as a pastor but with a prophetic word. God so shook me recently with this message that I should bring it somewhere, sometime in Springfield. This morning the Lord, by His Spirit, spoke to my heart that this is the time. He has called me to be one of His watchmen, and I have wept over this and prayed that He will help me deliver the message in a spirit of love. This is not a chastisement but a warning for the Assemblies of God.

A New Gospel

Accommodate means to adapt, to make suitable and acceptable, to make convenient. A gospel of accommodation is creeping into the United States. It’s an American cultural invention to appease the lifestyle of luxury and pleasure. Primarily a Caucasian, suburban gospel, it’s also in our major cities and is sweeping the nation, influencing ministers of every denomination, and giving birth to megachurches with thousands who come to hear a nonconfronting message. It’s an adaptable gospel that is spoon-fed through humorous skits, drama, and short, nonabrasive sermonettes on how to cope—called a seeker-friendly or sinner-friendly gospel.

To begin with, those terms are unscriptural. The gospel of Jesus Christ has always been confronting—there is no such thing as a friendly gospel but a friendly grace.