One of the best ways to lose friends and be rejected is to go all the way with GOD. Get serious about spiritual matters; forsake all your idols; turn to the Lord with all your heart and become possessed with Jesus; get your eyes off the things off this world - and you have suddenly become a religious fanatic! If you are set on going all the way with God, you can expect three reactions: (1) You will be rejected. (2) You will be cast out. (3) You will be stoned.
You Will Be Rejected
Give up on this world and they give up on you (Jn 15:19). Jesus had many followers, until the word He preached was perceived to be too hard - too demanding. The crowd of miracle-lovers heard His claims and forsook Him, saying, "Too hard! Who can receive it?" Peter and the twelve would not go away because the word that most people said was too demanding they loved -because it was producing in them eternal values. They would stay with the truth, no matter the cost.
Will you tum aside from truth that convicts you, truth that removes and blasts your idols? Truth that calls you to get your eyes off the things of this world, off self and off materialism? Or will you turn aside to ear-tickling, soft, soothing, all-is-well preaching? The truth does set free. There are multitudes of Christians today who do not love the truth. These compromising pleasure-lovers are in horrible deception.
They Will Cast You Out!
Don't be surprised when the lukewarm church throws you out (Jn 16:2). If they persecuted and reproached Christ, they will do the same with all who die to self. Who reproached Christ? The man-centred church crowd! To cast out godly believers is the greatest favour a man-centred church could bestow upon them! I hear Christians say, " I will stay and try to change things." That can be dangerous and it is unscriptural- We are to come out of everything that is of Babylon!
Do as Paul did and get out (Acts 13:51)! If you are in a fellowship or church which has heard the truth and turned aside, leave it! Get out - or your children may backslide! Forget about saying, "Well, my kids have friends there." You are not going to change anything -in no way! But they may change you. What fellowship hath light with darkness? "Come out from among them and be separate and clean - THEN I WILL RECEIVE YOU."
You Will Be Stoned!
You will be stoned by the majority (Acts 7:59). Who stoned Stephen? The most prestigious religious council of the day (6: 12)! It was one man against the crowd! He preached truth that cut them to the heart. He had to preach the truth (7:41-43)!
The Reward of Going All the Way
What is the reward? Having Christ stand with you! There are many other rewards for going all the way. This is all we will ever need. Paul was incarcerated with the whole religious system wanting to kill him. The church was in an uproar. He was accused of "polluting the holy place, of preaching false doctrine." Even the soldiers "feared lest Paul be pulled to pieces"; so they took him by force and imprisoned him. "And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul; for as thou has testified of me in Jerusalem, so must though bear witness also at Rome" (Acts 23:11).
The Lord Himself spoke to Paul - not an angel! And what a word; CHEER UP! THERE'S MORE TO COME! But you can face anything or anyone if you know THE LORD STANDS BY YOU!
(Alan & Lesley Doolan, Victory is in the Battle, 9/97)
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Mt 5:10).
In England of old, when the Pope led our leaders
The Bible was burned at the stake with its readers
But strange to relate that, in spite of disaster,
The truth only flourished, and grew all the faster.
The fires and the rack, and the nameless perditions
increased the demand for still further editions:
And so, by degrees, people couldn't help learning
That the Bible could not be demolished by burning.
(Extract from poem)
I am multi-coloured. I am sometimes desired and sometimes not.
I can upset man's equilibrium. I am moved in the jungle.
I hang around in groups. I am appreciated by both man and animal.
I contain water. I am moved in the city. I am never straight.
I sometimes get mixed up. I often get a ride in a truck.
I must be uncovered to be appreciated. I am made up of atoms.
I am sometimes big & sometimes small. My value may change.
I sometimes fall from great heights. My consistency may change.
GOD MADE ME!
Have fun with this little quiz, and I hope it doesn't drive you bananas.
(The Lepke Family)
Unsaved sinner, you shall be turned in there; God says it. You may wish it otherwise, you shall wish in vain. Turned in there! Your companions fiends, and murderers, and adulterers, and hypocrites, and blasphemers.
There is no death in hell; mark that, unbeliever. Death, which is a monster on earth, would be an angel in hell. If Death went there, all the damned would fall down and worship him, and a shout of triumph rend the fiery vault till all was still! But there is no death in hell. Long as heaven lasts hell will last!
Farewell, offers of mercy and wooings of love! Farewell, voices of mirth and songs of gladness! No more for ever shall mercy woo thee. No more for ever shalt thou rest in thy sin. It was sweet. Now it will hunt you, and scare you; and as you rise to your feet, it will hurl you down again--your sin! Never shall you rest again! Black clouds thunder it from above, "No rest," and tongues of flame around say, "No rest," and the tortured everywhere shriek, "No rest!"
You must go there. You shall be turned into hell. It will be by force. No entreaties shall save you. No power can rescue you. The arm of God Almighty will turn you into hell! Drunkard! You shall be hurried from your cup, smitten of everlasting thirst. Swearer! God will rivet the last oath on your tongue, and drag you to judgment. The last laugh you have at Jesus, scoffer, will remain in your lungs, and echo there for ever.
I warn you, decent and respectable sinners, you shall be turned into hell. All ye that forget---not despise, nor reject, nor hate, nor deny, nor blaspheme--merely forget God, ye shall die the second death. Cowardly and unbelieving, you shall have your portion with the hypocrites, where is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. Your decency is damning you while it keeps you from Jesus. The harlots and the publicans shall go into heaven before you who make a Christ of your morality. Decent unbelievers, you are going from the communion-table to an endless hell. "He that believeth not shall be damned" (Mk 16:16.). "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (Jn 3:36). (George G. MacLeod, Carnwrath, Scotland)
This is the age of the great god Jazz, and he is pervading the most sacred precincts of our present-day life with the noisy sounding brass and tinkling cymbals that are inevitable tokens of his presence. He seems to dominate nearly everything we do today.
"Home" now, to multitudes of people, is only a series of domestic lockers where they keep their spare clothes and go when they want to dress and go out to the show or the chop-suey joint for the real entertainment and nourishment of their Jazz-ridden lives.
The Jazz spirit dominates a great part of the newspaper and magazine press of to-day. The newspaper not so very long ago used to be a respectable public forum for the discussion of things worth while; but in how many instances to-day they have degenerated into mere printed movies! News is not measured by its value in giving information, but by the amount of exciting, sensational pep that can be put into it. The newspaper reporter of the day is too often a fiction artist, who does not hold himself seriously to any responsibility for what he writes.
The churches are being invaded by this spirit of Jazz, to their very great loss. It has turned the church in many instances away from its mission. The Church must revive its deep Christ-given purpose to preach the Gospel of Christ to every creature, and call aloud until the whole world shall hear of the power of Jesus Christ to save from sin and satisfy all the deep longings of man's soul. (This article was written earlier this century by L.A. Banks, a Wesleyan evangelist, quoted in Inner Witness, 6/74)
Blessed are they who are too tired and busy to assemble with the church on
Sunday; for they are my best workers.
Blessed are they who are bored with the minister's mannerisms and mistakes;
for they get nothing out of the sermon.
Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church for
he is important to me.
Blessed are they who do not meet with the church on Sunday; for they cause the
church to say, "The church is failing".
Blessed are they who are easily offended; for they get angry and quit.
Blessed are they who do not give to carry on God's work and mission; for they
are my helpers.
Blessed is he who professes to love God, but hates his brother; for he will
be with me forever.
Blessed are the troublemakers; for they shall be called the children of the
devil.
Blessed is he who has no time to pray; for he shall be easy prey for me.
(Parish Bulletin; quoted in Inner Witness)
A tax assessor asked a poor minister of the Gospel, "What property do
you possess?"
"I am wealthy", replied the minister.
"First, I have everlasting life (Jn 3:16),
Second, I have a mansion in Heaven (Jn 14:2),
Third, I have a peace that passeth all understanding (Phil 4:7),
Fourth, I have a divine love that never faileth (1 Cor 13:8),
Sixth, I have a faithful, pious wife (Pr 31:10),
Seventh, I have healthy, happy, obedient children (Ex 20:12),
Eighth, I have true, loyal friends,
Ninth, I have songs in the night (Ps 42:8),
Tenth, I have a crown of life (Jas 1:12),
Eleventh, I have a Saviour, Jesus Christ, Who supplies all my need (Phil 4:19)."
The assessor said, "Truly, you are a rich man, but your property is not
subject to taxation."
(Inner Witness)
False Apostles
False apostles teach things that are of men, such things as are pleasant and plausible... At this day we find many who seek to please men, and to the end that they may live in peace and security of the flesh, they teach the things which are of men... But we, because we endeavour to please God, and not men, do stir up against us the malice of the devil, and hell itself. (Martin Luther)
Has anything changed all that much over the hundreds of years since that was penned? Is there anything new under the sun??? (Kim, Boreen Pt, Qld)
He is FAIRER than the fairest (Ps 45:2);
DEARER than the dearest (Eph 1:6);
NEARER than the nearest (Mt 28:20);
HUMBLER than the most humble (Mt 11:29);
PURER than the purest (1 P 1:19, 2:22);
RICHER than the richest (Eph 1:17, 18);
HOLIER than the holiest (Acts 4:27);
MIGHTIER than the mightiest (Rom 8:37);
GREATER than the greatest (Lk 1:32);
SWEETER than the sweetest (S of S 5:26);
GENTLER than the most gentle (2 Cor 10:1);
HIGHER than the highest (Ecc 5:8).
Pasadena archeologist, Harry A. Eisenberg, declared that all men of Christ's day, no matter what their profession or social status, wore their hair short. Prior to the coming of the Romans, the Hellenistic Greek culture dominated the Eastern Mediterranean. Even in Christ's day a large segment of the Jewish population was Greek-speaking and Hellenistic in outlook. "The Greek Hellenistic style for men was to wear their hair short." As for non-Hellenistic Jews: "The Talmud, which is anti-Hellenistic, states that all priests would have their hair cut once every 30 days. These Jews were aware of the statement in Ezekiel 44:20, "Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long". The Talmud states that the hairstyle was the Julian -ie, like Caesar. "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?"(2 Cor 11:4). It is just as applicable today as it was in the days of Christ and New Testament times. (Inner Witness, quoting Baptist Bulletin, 1/72).
Some suggestions for enjoyable travel along the King's Highway. Look to the following before you start on your journey:
Two pastor's wives sat mending their husbands' pants. One of them said to the other, "My poor John, he is so discouraged in his church work. He said just the other day he was considering resigning. It seems that nothing goes right for him."
The other replied, "Why, my husband was saying just the opposite. He is so enthused, it seems like the Lord is closer to him than ever before."
A hushed silence fell as they continued to mend the trousers; ONE PATCHING THE KNEES AND THE OTHER THE SEAT.
A colored preacher of the deep south always prayed this prayer before his sermon, and as a result the pews were always filled, "Oh Lawd, give thy servant 'dis mawnin' de eye of de eagle, and de wisdom of de wolf, connect his soul with de gospel telefome in de central skies; 'luminate his brow with de sun of Heaven; saturate his heart with love for de people; turpentine his 'magination; grease his lips with possum; lossem him with de sledgehammer of thy power; 'lectrify his brain with de lightenin' of thy word; put 'petual motion in his arms; fill him plum full of de dynamite of glory; 'noint him over with de kerosene oil of salvation and sot him on fire. Amen. (Inner Witness, 12/73)
Don't come. Rather be ready with an excuse. But, if you do come, make sure it is late. If the weather doesn't suit you, don't think of coming. If you do come - or attend a meeting - find fault with the music, the reading of scriptures, the hymns, the sermon, the officers, and other members. Never- if you are a member of the voting assembly- accept an office; it is easier to criticize than to do things. Nevertheless "get sore" if you are not appointed on a committee, but, if you are appointed, do not attend the committee meetings. If asked by the chairman to give an opinion regarding an important matter, tell him you have nothing to say. After the meeting tell everyone how it ought to be done. Do nothing more than is absolutely necessary, but when other members roll up their sleeves and do it all, howl about how the congregation is run by a clique. Hold back on your giving to the Lord's cause as long as possible, or don't give at all. Don't bother about getting new members, but criticize the inactivity of pastor and officers. "Let George do it all"
I have covenanted with my Lord that he should not send me visions or dreams or even angels. I am content with this gift of the Scriptures, which teaches and supplies all that is necessary, both for this life and that which is to come. (Martin Luther)
If you wish to know God, you must know his Word. If you wish to perceive His power, you must see how He works by his Word. If you wish to know His purpose before it comes to pass, you can only discover it by His Word. (C.H. Spurgeon)
Quite a number of us have left ... church and we are now meeting in homes. I hear this is becoming more and more the order of the day. (Dagmar, Randwick, NSW)
(We need) an organism, (not organisation) of small churches to relate together. (Kurt, Avonsleigh, Vic)
We haven't been able to find a church which is not "conformed", where Christ crucified is preached. (Brian & Winnie, Noranda, WA)
Satan is very clever, and some who have accepted Jesus as Lord can still be drawn into some false beliefs. ... Our hearts should be very sad for anyone who is deceived... Let's feel and think as Jesus would. Let our hearts break for our brothers, and let us begin fighting the evils in the world all around us which is what is badly needed in these last days. (Anonymous, Qld)
First: He brought me here: it is by His will I am in this strait place:
in that I will rest.
Next: He will keep me here in His love, and give me grace in this trial
to behave as His child.
Then: He will make the trial a blessing, teaching me the lessons He intends
me to learn, and working in me the grace He means to bestow.
Last: In His good time He can bring me out again--how and when He knows.
SAY: I am here--
1. By God's appointment.
2. In His keeping.
3. Under His training.
4. For His time (Ps 1:15).
Andrew Murray.
There is a deadly infection which has been spreading through Churches and it is reaching epidemic proportions in some places. It is the infectious disease called apathyitis and it is quite contagious. How do you get infected with apathyitis? It is quite simple really, for it subtlely creeps upon its victim.
First, a person may see that many others are infected with the complaint, and they can even despise them. However the next step is quite short, when the thought enters their mind, "well they are not doing anything, so why should I bother." Alas the very condition that was once despised now becomes copied by the new host. The new host may not realise that they display the very symptoms they once rejected, and that they are contributing to the spread of the disease to others.
So what is the cure, and what is the vaccine to avoid catching this illness? The first thing is to be aware that apathyitis is around and that it is contagious. The second thing is to keep looking at Jesus on the cross. When a person's thoughts continually focus on this they will never catch this debilitating condition. Thirdly if a person sees another whose life is victorious over apathyitis, and they listen to and role model them, then the risk of catching the disease is remarkably diminished. By doing these things they can not only avoid the disease, but they can become examples to others of how they can be cured. (Ken, Innisfail, Qld)
Discernment is sadly lacking among many Christians today. There is a great
lack of sound solid Biblical preaching of the word of God. The telling of experiences
is the order of the day. People flock to so called miracle services to have
their ears tickled and to watch a show; which is far easier of course than having
to bring their Bible and do a bit of study which involves thinking. When Pastors
magnify an experience above the word of God with very little or no scriptural
credence to it, then it becomes experiential theology and is prone to error.
(Evie, Para Vista, SA)
The US President can immediately action "the Power of Executive Order",
to:
-take over all communications media;
-take over all power, fuel and minerals;
-take over all food resources and farms;
-take over all transportation, highways and seaports;
-draft all citizens into work forces under government supervision (slave labour);
-take over all. health, welfare and educational functions;
-register all citizens nationwide;
-take over all airports and aircraft;
-take over housing and finance authorities, and relocate populations;
President John F. Kennedy, at Columbia University in 1963 said it perfectly,
"The high office of the President has been used to foment a plot to destroy
America's freedom and before I leave this office, I must inform the citizens
of their plight." Ten days later, President Kennedy was eliminated.
(Signs of the Times)
The last Youth Alive meeting I attended some years ago featured smoke billowing from the stage, and very loud music. The song leader with his dress, earrings, and hairstyle, looked more like a TV pop star than a Christian Youth leader. Before salvation I attended many worldly discos. At this Youth Alive meeting, had you not known this was a "Christian" meeting, I would have thought I was back in a disco! The atmosphere was the same... Many churches are now also accepting music that is called "heavy metal" - a fierce and rebellious form of worldly music, well known and documented for its adverse, demonic and suicidal effects on teenagers... Our music and our youth meetings should be distinct from rock music and the ways of the world. They should be holy and uncompromising in standards. (Terry Arnold, Diakrisis, 7/97)
Street evangelists are being arrested in Yorkshire, England as part of a wave of anti-Christian discrimination. (Moriel, 6/97)
In 1996 some 60 percent of all PG rated movies contained obscene language and over one-third had profanities. (Bible Advocate, 10/97)
A Bill has been introduced in the US which requires would be parents to have a license to have babies! (Biblical Fundamentalist, 8/97)
As prime time programs have become more and more saturated with sex and violence (since 1965), the teen pregnancy rate has doubled, the teen violent crime rate has tripled, the teen abortion rate has tripled. (CVN, 9/97)
Today the largest Christian publishers are owned by secular corporations or have shares held by Wall Street investors. As ministries turn into big businesses, theological integrity can easily give way to marketing considerations. In a typical Christian bookstore today, books now make up only 28% of sales. T - shirts, CDs, videos, inspirational plaques, greeting cards, and knickknacks take up two-thirds of the shop space, leaving little room for the display of books that are not best sellers. The Christian marketplace follows the lead of the world's pop culture. A common saying in the industry is, whenever a trend emerges in the secular arena, wait six months and a customised version will appear in the religious bottles. Romances, horror novels, management books ... all have their counterparts in Christine bookstores. Our culture's obsession with physical beauty gives rise to Christian diet plans and Christian exercise videos. One phenomenon of America's pop culture is celebrity worship. Books by sports stars, entertainers, or other icons of the pop culture - a significant number of which are ghost written - have become big sellers for Christian publishers. (CVN, 10/97)
A new superhero has emerged especially for the under 14 year old crowd called Spawn. He's a hip counterpart to obsolete traditional heroes like the Lone Ranger, Superman, and Captain Marvel. They were pictured as the epitome of wholesomeness and decency. But this new superhero, Spawn, is a war - like killer from hell. Spawn is a minnion of the devil. His face is horribly burnt... He lives in dark, shadowy allies among rats... He wears a crimson cape. He bleeds green goo... And he's the good guy Spawn is further described as dark, moody, and extremely gory. The plot of the movie has a murdered man going to hell, but asking Satan to be allowed to come back to earth to exact revenge. Satan makes a covenant with the man who becomes Spawn. The devil allows the superhero to return to earth to do his deeds, but Spawn agrees to return to hell afterwards to lead hell's army against humanity in the apocalyptic battle of Armageddon. The Rock generation finds Spawn to their liking, describing him as a "superhero for the Millennium".
(Texe Marrs, Flashpoint, 9/97)
My wife Edna and I have just returned from a successful trip to the Philippines. It was an adventure because the monsoon season came upon us a bit early, which challenged our determination to accomplish our goal to outreach the poor squatter people with the Word of God and food and toys for the children. (Peter, Warnbro, WA)
We send many tracts overseas and are continually asked for more. This includes Nigeria, Kenya, Zaire, Ghana, India, Philippines, China. (Malcolm, Maitland, SA)
The Gospel band that I am part of have just come back from the Philippines after spending many weeks going from island to island sharing the good news! Our music is straight from the Bible and all the proceeds support a feeding programme. We thank God every moment for the opportunities that He has prepared for us. (Kevin, Eagleby, Qld).
Alistair Welch from Liverpool, NSW, is developing a Christian based newspaper. He plans outreach through "Independent Austral Announcer". It will carry free ads for businesses, and Gospel truth.
Percentage of Americans who believe:
The other twenty million finalists might as well give up. One of the gold-sticker-laden sweepstakes entry forms and magazine sales pitches that show up just about weekly in most Americans' mailboxes has been sent to God. American Family Publishers sent its computer-generated entry form to "God of Bushnell," at the Bushnell Assembly of God, a church in central Florida. "God, we're searching for you. You've been positively identified as our $11 million mystery millionaire," the form read. The fine print showed the Creator was merely a finalist, but the letter encouraged him to try his luck.
"Imagine the looks you'd get from your neighbors - but don't just sit there, God, come forward now and claim your prize." Bill Brack, the church's pastor, told the Tampa Tribune that he had not yet decided whether the church would enter the sweepstakes. "God already has $11 million," he said.
To the...
Artist the Lord Jesus Christ is the One Altogether Lovely.
Architect He is the Chief Cornerstone.
Baker He is the Living Bread.
Banker He is the Hidden Treasure.
Biologist He is the Life.
Builder He is the Sure Foundation.
Businessman He is the source of wealth
Carpenter He is the Door.
Doctor He is the Great Physician.
Educator He is the Great Teacher.
Engineer He is the New and Living Way.
Farmer He is the Sower and the Lord of the Harvest.
Florist He is the Rose of Sharon.
Geologist He is the Rock of Ages.
Horticulturist He is the True Vine.
Judge He is the Righteous Judge of all the earth.
Juror He is the Faithful and True Witness.
Jeweller He is the Pearl of Great Price.
Lawyer He is the Counsellor, the Lawgiver~ the Advocate
Newspaper man He is the Good News of Great Joy.
Philosopher He is the Wisdom of God.
Publisher He is the Tidings of great joy
Scientist He is the Wonderful Discovery
Sculptor He is the Living Stone.
Servant He is the Good Master.
Soldier He is the Lord Commander
Statesman He is the Desire of all Nations.
Student He is the Incarnate Truth.
Theologian He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith.
Labourer He is the Giver of Rest.
Sinner He is the Lamb of God that taketh away his sins.
Christian He is the Son of the Living God, Saviour and Lord.
HALLELUJAH! WHAT A SAVIOUR
Selected.
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Be instant in season, out of season.
Commit thy way unto the Lord.
Delight thyself in the Lord.
Endure afflictions.
Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.
Grieve not the Holy Spirit of God.
Hold fast that which is good.
If it be possible, live peaceably with all men.
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Keep thy tongue from evil.
Let your speech be always with grace.
Mind not high things.
Not slothful in business.
Overcome evil with good.
P ray without ceasing.
Quench not the Spirit.
Resist the devil.
Search the Scriptures.
Trust in the Lord and do good.
Use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh.
Vengeance is Mine, saith the Lord avenge not yourselves.
Watch and pray.
e'Xamine yourselves.
Yield yourselves unto the Lord.
Zealous of good works.
(Inner Witness)
What most people believe lies in the distant future is waiting just around the corner. Our children will wander digital malls, buy goods with digital money, explore multimedia libraries and play games or study with friends on a screen. For them, participating in distant lectures, being tutored by computers and conducting business with co-workers around the globe will be the norm.
The average car today has more computer power than the first Apollo astronaut took to the Moon. As we move into the infomedia age, the last few wrinkled, faded paper dollars in our pockets will disappear. Technology will replace paper money with credit card - sized computers called "smart" cards. Your children and mine will live to see the last dime and dollar bills change hands. Over time, the last dollar bill will disappear and the need for bank branches will be all but eliminated. The only teller our children will see is a smiling face on a screen, either in a kiosk or at home. They will touch the last paper dollars.
Even today as people hack their way through the buying jungle, they leave a trail of information behind. Every time we use a charge card, the information is stored. Every time a barcode scanner reads our groceries, the information is stored. Every time we board a plane, rent a car or check into a hotel, we leave an information trial. When we file our taxes, go to the doctor or check into a hospital, traces of information are left behind.
There is an uneasy feeling that our children could become the first generation of "vidiots", endlessly glued to the TV, video games and interactive networks. (Frank Koelsch, The InfoMedia Revolution, 1995)
Clubs have replaced the prayer meetings, parties are accepted instead of power, dancing substitutes for devotion and piety, amusement is now desired above holiness, membership drives have long since taken the place of revivals and the mourner's bench, the preachers give book reviews, placing emphasis on the "positive message". With their "itching ears" they want jitterbug tunes and are not too keen on the old hymns that were used in the days of great revivals. Look at the average church today and you can see that people are "lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God." The day of Christ will not come except there be first "a falling away." "Even so, come, Lord Jesus". (W.C. Standridge, Central Contender, quoted in Inner Witness, 12/67)
In the spirit of Paul,
Renounce all the policy of the age.
Trample on Saul's armour.
Grasp the Book of God.
Trust the Spirit Who wrote its pages.
Fight with this weapon only and always.
Cease to amuse and seek to arouse.
Shun the clap of a delighted audience and listen for the sobs of a convicted
one.
Give up trying to please men who have only the thickness of their ribs between
their souls and hell.
Warn, plead, and entreat as those who feel the waters of eternity creeping in
upon them. (Archibald Brown)
A.W. Tozer said that among many believers Christ is no longer Head, He is simply a figure-head. Sometimes He has been displaced by denominationalism, intellectualism, sensationalism, clericalism, traditionalism, formalism, modernism, liberalism or legalism. However, we believe, that in the midst of all the spiritual barrenness, there are many who are crying like the Greeks of old, "Sir we would see Jesus."(Jn 12:21) The answer to every problem, spiritual, doctrinal, moral, or personal, is Christ (Col 2:3). (Ian Robertson, Editorial, Things Concerning Himself)
Millions of fish are being killed by a tiny parasitic micro-organism that feeds on their blood. The organism is called pfiesteria, but biologists are calling it "the cell from hell". Pfiesteria is like the piranha of the microbial world. It eats holes in its prey, and slowly poisons them as it feeds. Ultimately, the victim is paralysed and suffocates.
Infested areas turn a rust brown, blood like colour. Contact with the brown water of a pfiesteria infestation is dangerous to humans as well. More than a dozen fishermen, divers and researchers have found open sores on their body, reported feeling faint or complained of memory loss after coming into contact with brown water fouled by dead fish.
Interest in the organism has grown since the release of a new book about the pfiesteria, called, "And the Water Turned To Blood" by Rodney Barker. Barker picked an intriguing title for his book. It coincides with another Book - the Book of Revelation. In its description of one of the judgements of the Tribulation Period, Revelation 16:3,4 says; "The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead man, and every living thing in the sea died. The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood."(Prophetic Alert)
- the information that is supposedly so precious - is presented to us in "bites" of 45 seconds or less succeeding one another without any coherence or interconnection. According to one survey, 51 percent of American viewers cannot remember a single report half an hour after the news is over. But even those who do remember find themselves well informed only about the last 24 hours, but hardly at all about the last sixty years. Even what they learn about recent events is frequently skewed. Television, like the print media, seems to have at least a moderate leftward tilt. (The Religion & Society Report, 6/97)
Scientists have succeeded in growing flies with large, perfectly formed eyes on the most inappropriate parts of their bodies: on their wings, on their legs, and on the quivering tips of their antennae. Some of the flies have as many as 14 eyes apiece. "This is Frankenstein science at its best", one scientist noted. (Koinona House interactive, quoted in Update international 10/97)
Sin (Job 33:27),
Riches (Pr 11:4),
People (Is 30:5),
Idols (Is 44:9),
Works (Is 57:12),
Lying Words (Jer 7:8).
More Things That Do Not Profit:
Word without faith (Heb 4:2).
Faith without works (Jas 2:14).
Works without love (1 Cor 13:3).
Some people are strange! They go out of their way and spend money to watch movies and videos about great disasters of cataclysmic proportions; hideous monsters; and aliens from outer space decimating whole populations on earth, and inflicting misery of the most wretched kind. These block-buster movies rake in millions at the box-office. The masses love this stuff, and call it ENTERTAINMENT... and yet if someone talks about the Judgment of Almighty God which is about to fall on an unbelieving and wicked world, they don't want to know about it. They shun such talk and call it "morbid and depressing. (James Bavas)
Christian books and music are a very large commercial business for many. Some years ago a large secular recording company bought out a "Christian" recording firm. Of course they would only do this if it was a profitable business.
Unfortunately, many who publish solid material for Christians who really have a desire for the milk of the Word are struggling these days. It is far easier to sell shallow material from well known authors and psychologists than it is to sell books that actually teach the Word of God. Sadly, many Christians are spending their time and money on this type of material. This being true there can be no doubt in our minds why there is such little Bible knowledge among many saints today. They will sell "anything for a profit." Sadly, Christians buy it too! (Steve Hulshizer)
Mr. Truman lived five miles from Mount Saint Helens on the edge of Spirit Lake. Experts expected the mountain to explode at any time and repeatedly informed those living in the area of the great danger. Despite the many warnings, Mr. Truman stayed. Perhaps he felt it would never happen, or if it did happen, it would not be as destructive as predicted.
On Sunday, May 18, 1980, it happened. An unbelievable explosion took place, blowing away the top 1,300 feet of the mountain. 400 million tons of ash were thrown into the earth's atmosphere. Trees which towered 150 feet high were blown over like match sticks as far away as 17 miles. Over 200 square miles were devastated. A massive mud slide pushed water out of the lake, causing a 200-foot-high wall of water to crash down through the valley below. Extremely hot gas, ash, and rock travelled at the speed of 200 miles per hour, destroying everything in its path. Automobiles miles away were buried, with occupants suffocated by ash. Two photographers who were eight miles from the blast were killed. Yakima, a city 85 miles from the blast had midnight blackness at 9:30 in the morning due to the pillar of ash which was over 10 miles high. And yes, Harry Truman was killed and his home destroyed. In fact, neither he, nor his home were ever found again. For whatever reason, he just would not listen and ignored all the warnings.
Are you ignoring God's warning to you? The Bible repeatedly warns us of coming judgment. Like Mr. Truman, many just do not think it is going to happen. Noah warned the people of his day that judgment was coming, and they laughed at him. They thought he was just an old fool. Listen to what Jesus Christ said about Noah's day, and how He likens it to when He will come back as the Son of Man to judge the earth. "And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man. They did eat they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all."(Lk 17:26-27)
Just like with Mount Saint Helens, warnings were sent out, but the people ignored them. Then suddenly, without notice, the judgment came. This will be true when Christ comes again in judgment. Now not only will Christ judge the earth, but everyone who has rejected Him as their Saviour, will face Him as their Judge. "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." (Heb 9:27)
Are you putting off preparing for that day? Do you think it will not affect you, and that somehow you will be okay? Like Mr. Truman, it would be very foolish on your part to ignore the coming judgment. It will come, and it will come suddenly. Why not be prepared? Why not open your Bible and see how you can be saved from God's righteous judgment. Like the ark, God has provided a way of escape from judgment for those who respond to His warnings. "Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved .... " (Acts 16:30-31).
The curse of Hollywood style evangelism and a cheapened vulgar flesh centred type of Gospel preaching has resulted in the joy of the Lord being blurred and exchanged for 'strange fire' (Num 3:4).
Now we hear 'Let's get happy' or 'Come on everybody, join in the fun '. Alas! Do not confuse the joy of our Lord with a trip to the circus, a ride on the merry-go-round, or a weekend at the beach with all expenses paid. Such bright but carnal thrills and fleshly stimulants fade as the flowers. God's joy and delights are not demonstrated in the uncouth, theatrical performances given by many of today's 'famed Holy Ghost anointed' preachers and special singers. Their dress, hair-styles, body language, coarse jesting, nightclub presentation of Jesus, mixture of wrong with right, the flippant and frivolous remarks about sin, Hell, Satan and God's terrible judgements, do not reflect the demeanour of genuine spirit-filled Christians. (Henry Pike, 'Suffering & Death: The Saints' Highest Calling', P. 70-71; Quoted in Diakrisis).
Silent sense is better than fluent folly. (Inner Witness)
Wesley reached Newcastle on Friday, the 28th of May (1731). On walking out, after tea, he was surprised and shocked at the abounding wickedness. Drunkenness and swearing seemed general, and even the mouths of little children were full of curses. On Sunday morning at seven, he and John Taylor took their stand near the pump, in Sandgate, 'the poorest and most contemptible part of the town,' and began. One smiles often when reading incidents in their life. A string of packhorses is so driven as to break up a congregation, and a fire-engine is brought out and played over the throng to achieve the same purpose. Handbells, old kettles, marrow-bones and cleavers, trumpets, drums, and entire bands of music were engaged to drown the preachers' voices. In one case the parish bull was let loose, and in others dogs were set to fight.
Before Wesley finished preaching, his congregation consisted of twelve to fifteen hundred persons. When the service was ended, the people stood still gaping, with the most profound astonishment.
It was a blessed day when Methodists and others began to proclaim Jesus in the open air; then were the gates of hell shaken, and the captives of the devil set free by hundreds and by thousands. Once commenced, the fruitful agency of field-preaching was not allowed to cease. Amid jeering crowds and showers of rotten eggs and filth, the immediate followers of Wesley and Whitfield continued to storm village after village and town after town.
John Furz says, "As soon as I began to preach, a man came straightforward, and presented a gun at my face; swearing that he would blow my brains out if I spake another word. However, I continued speaking, and he continued swearing, sometimes putting the muzzle of the gun to my mouth, sometimes against my ear. While we were singing the last hymn, he got behind me, fired the gun, and burned off part of my hair."
John Nelson coolly says, "But when I was in the middle of my discourse, one at the outside of the congregation threw a stone, which cut me on the head: however, that made the people give greater attention, especially when they saw the blood run down my face; so that all was quiet till I had done, and was singing a hymn."
Other leaders came forward, and it was not long before their zeal called forth a host of fervent witnesses who could not be daunted by mobs, or squires, or clergymen; nor even chilled by the genteel brethren whose proprieties they so dreadfully shocked. Then came forth the old weapons in abundance. Agricultural produce in all stages of decomposition rewarded the zealous apostles - turnips and potatoes were a first course, and rotten eggs followed in special abundance, these last we note were frequently goose eggs, selected we suppose for their size. A tub of coal-tar was often in readiness, filth from the horse-ponds was added, and all this to the music oft in whistles and horns. Barrels of ale were provided by the advocates of "Church and king" to refresh the orthodox assailants, while both preachers and disciples were treated with brutality such as to excite compassion even in the hearts of adversaries. For Christ's sake they were content to be treated as vagrants and vagabonds, and the Lord put great honour upon them. Disciples were made and the Ranters multiplied. Even till a late period these devoted brethren have been opposed with violence, but their joyful experience has led them to persevere in their singing through the streets and camp-meetings.
Today, 4000 innocent precious lives of unborn babies were snuffed out. Their arms and legs were torn from their bodies, their skulls crushed. One and one half million times each year our "civilised" society will taken an innocent life. And 300,000 pulpits are silent.
Six hundred thousand children, between the ages of 3 and 18, are involved in child pornography. Twenty thousand of them will disappear each year, never to be seen again. And 300,000 pulpits are silent.
The networks make a mockery of Christians, the Christian faith and Christian values with nearly every show they air. Greed, materialism, violence, sexual immorality are standard fare. Program after program, movie after movie contains anti-Christian episodes and plots. News articles condescendingly refer to the "fundamental, right wing Christians". Those who speak out for the sacredness of life are branded as extremists. And 300,000 pulpits are silent.
Teenage suicide is the highest it has ever been. The number of teenage alcoholics and drug addicts is the highest ever. Christian morality cannot be taught in schools but atheistic immorality can. Divorce is taking approximately one of every two marriages. The number of children living in broken homes is fast becoming a majority. And 300,000 pulpits are silent.
Rape has increased 700 percent in the last fifty years, and that takes into consideration the population growth. The FBI says one in four 12-year-old girls will be sexually assaulted in her lifetime. Pornography has become an eight billion dollar business, with some of the largest companies in America involved -- CBS, RCA, Coca Cola, 7-Eleven, Time, Inc. And 300,000 pulpits are silent.
Rock music fills the airways and our children's minds with music which legitimizes rape, murder, sado-masochism, adultery, satanic worship, etc. And 300,000 pulpits are silent.
A majority of states now have lotteries. We have eliminated that crime by making it legal and putting it under the control of the state. And 300,000 pulpits are silent.
What important matters are being dealt with in our churches? The church bulletin says there will be a meeting to plan the church-wide supper. We are raising money to put a new floor cover in the kitchen. (The old one doesn't match the new stove and refrigerator.) The sermon subject last Sunday was "How To Have A Positive Attitude." We are organising a softball team. At a meeting of church officials a program was announced to recruit new members. We need the new program because we are losing membership. The new program was worked out by some of the very top professionals, people who have had success in gaining new members for the Lions Club, and other organisations. We really need professionals to do the job. (Donald E. Wildmon)
We often hear judge not lest you be judged. This implies that nobody should address error. Pastors and elders are given the responsible role of looking after the spiritual welfare of God's flock. If they see error and they are obedient and caring they will use the scriptures for the purpose of correct doctrine, reproof, correction and for instruction in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16-17). These days, to avoid rocking the boat, the spiritual leaders have become timid and frightened. They want to be seen in a positive light and thereby neglect their duty. People react in different ways when approached about some obvious error in their Christian walk. Some say "who do you think you are?" Others may say "it's none of your business". Very rarely do you hear, "Thank you dear brother for being concerned and bringing this to my attention. I know it is a problem, will you pray for me and encourage me in the Lord. Thank you". The word of God is very clear that we are to confess our faults TO ONE-ANOTHER. Only on this basis is Fair-dinkum fellowship in the Lord possible. (Henry, Buxton, NSW)
The scriptural warnings foretell the very delusion we find in our day:
That we must earnestly contend for the faith against those who have crept into the church implies that the battle is not so much one of faith against unbelief, but rather of true faith against false faith.
The topic on everyone's lips and mind today is revival. Christian TV and radio and bestselling books persuasively argue that we are in the midst of the greatest revival of Christianity in the history of the world. Enthusiasts point to the signs and wonders occurring in such places as the former Toronto Vineyard, the Brownsville Assembly of God in Pensacola, Florida, Benny Hinn's church in Orlando, Florida, his huge televised crusades, etc.
It comes as a shock to many to learn that the word "revival" does not appear even once in the entire King James Bible. The hope of revival which excites so many today is not even a biblical concept. Ask yourself a few questions: Is Christ not indwelling us? Is He not in our midst each time we meet? Are we not to be filled with the Holy Spirit at all times? Is not the Word of God sufficient? Why, then, run after signs and wonders as though unusual manifestations prove that God is at work, while neglecting what God has already given us? Study to see what the Bible says. (Dave Hunt, TBC, 10/97)
For two years, charismatics and others have flocked to Pensacola's Brownsville Assembly of God church to witness the "outpouring." The pastor says "God sent pandemonium in the church." John Milton coined the word "pandemonium" in 1667 as "the capital of Hell." The word literally means "place of all the demons," or "any place of wild disorder, noise or confusion."
A Washington Post writer says of Pensacola: "If it weren't for the cross and stained glass behind the altar, you might think you were at a rock-and-roll show." (Foundation, 4/97)
The earth rotates on its axis at the speed of 1000 miles per hour. If this were much slower the sun would begin to burn the vegetation and disease from over radiation would increase. The nights would be so cold that new vegetation would freeze. The sun is the exact distance from the sun that we do not fry or freeze. If the moon were closer, the tides would be much bigger and more difficult for civilisation to live with... The earth is tilted at 23 degrees. This gives us our seasons. If this were not so the air flow and precipitation from the ceans would move to the bottom or top of the earth and increase the ice caps greatly, causing massive weather changes. The atmosphere of the earth is 50 miles deep and exactly the right density and the right mixture of gases to sustain human life! Who gave humans a conscience and a brain that no computer can match, yet denied it to animals? Birds migrate from Canada to Argentina at precise times and speed. What calendar do they use? There is no God...? 'For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse' (Rom 1:20). (Terry Arnold)
Have you ever seriously considered the words of the Apostle Paul: 'All who desire to lead a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" (2 Tim 3:12)? Probably not, because we have lived through a period in which the freedom of conscience has been recognised. The right to worship God in the way we see fit, a fruit of the Reformation, has been generally accepted in our society.
As we move further into a post-Christian world, many of the benefits of Christianity are being lost. There are clear indications that the freedom of worship is being threatened and we could again face religious persecution. If we do, how will you react?
We all admire the courage of Daniel and his friends who took an uncompromising stand for God and His truth. Similarly, the early Christians confronted the lions in the Roman arena, knowing that a crown of righteousness awaited them.
Polycarp, saintly Bishop of Smyrna, was one of the martyrs of that period. "What harm is there to say: 'Lord Caesar' and to sacrifice and save yourself?." advised those sent to arrest him. "Consider thyself and have pity on thy own great age," urged the Roman proconsul. "Reproach Christ and I will release thee.""Eighty and six years have I served Him and He never once wronged me," responded Polycarp. "How then shall I blaspheme my King, Who has saved me?"
"I will tame thee with fire unless you repent," warned the proconsul. "You threaten me with fire which burns for an hour and is soon extinguished, but of the fire of the future judgment and of eternal punishment reserved for the ungodly, you are ignorant," replied Polycarp.
He was not a political rebel, but his refusal to carry out an act of worship to a man who had made himself God cost him his life! In addition to these, there are the countless unsung martyrs, like the sick Christian in newly independent Zaire who died because he refused the offer made by a male nurse of medicine in exchange for sexual relations with his teenage daughter!
Yet persecution also produces its compromisers. Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, was a godly and learned scholar who spearheaded the Reformation in England. He wrote the introduction to the Great Bible, the first translation in English to be widely distributed. A kindly man he freely forgave false friends who plotted his downfall when he had power to have them executed. But when the Catholic Mary Tudor became queen, he was imprisoned and was subjected alternatively to threats of torture and an agonising death and false promises that his life would be spared and he would be restored to high position. He compromised. Five times he recanted publicly and returned to the Catholic faith. But when it became obvious that he had been deceived, he declared courageously, to the consternation of his deceivers: "As for the Pope, I refuse him as Christ's enemy and antichrist, with all his false doctrines!"
As a final sign of the withdrawal of his written recantations, when he was burnt at the stake in 1556, he first thrust his right hand into the flames so that it burned before his body was touched!
Richard Wurmbrand tells of the Cambodian village which fell to the Marxist Red Khmers. On Sunday, just a handful of the more courageous Christians gathered in the little church. The Red Khmers entered the hut, took the pulpit Bible and threw it on the ground just outside the door. They then instructed the Christians to leave, one at a time. Those who spat on the Bible could go their way unharmed. Those who refused would be killed. The first man to leave hesitated at the door. He thought of his wife and children. How would they manage without him? He compromised and spat on the Bible. (Would you have acted differently?) The others followed his example. One of the last to leave was a young girl. She too hesitated. Then she fell to her knees and kissed the Bible covered with spittle. Still kneeling, she was shot. If persecution were to come here, would you be a martyr or a compromiser? (Signposts, 97)
Salvation Verses (Roman Road);
Rom 3:10; Rom 3:23; Rom 5:12; Rom 5:8; Rom 6:23; Rom 10:13; Rom 10:9-10
More Salvation Verses
Is 53:6; 1 Pet 2:24; Rom 3:21; Heb 7:25; Mat 1:21; Jn 1:12; Rev 3:20
Assurance Verses
Jn 5:24; Jn 6:37; Jn 10:28; 1 Jn 5:13; Jude 1:24; Is 41:10; Jn 3:36; Acts
13:39; Is 55:6-7
Developing Confidence
Pr 3:26; Pr 14:26; Gal 6:9; Phil 4:13; 1 Pet 2:9
Discipline Through Difficulties
Rom 8:28; Heb 12:7.
Faith
Rom 10:17; Eph 2:8-9; Heb 11:1; Jas 1:5-6.
God's Love
Jn 3:18; Rom 8:38-39; 1 Jn 3:1.
Obedience
1 Sam 15:22; Ps 119:2; Mt 6:24; Jn 14:1-2.
For Backsliders
1 Jn 2:1-2; 1 Jn 1:9; 2 Chron 7:14.
For those lacking victory
2 Cor 5:21; Rom 5:1; Eph 6:17.
Forgiveness
Ps 32:5; Pr 28:13; Is 1:18; 1 Jn 1:9.
Temptation
1 Cor 10:12-13; Heb 2:18; Jas 1:14.
Trust
Ps 37:5; Pr 3:5-6.
Strength
Deut 33:25; Ps 27:14; Ps 28:7; 2 Cor 12:9.
Guidance
Ps 32:8; Is 30:21.
Spiritual Growth
Col 3:16; 2 Tim 2:15; 1 Pet 2:2
(from John Mills)
A missionary friend of ours told us "you know when you're being fruitful for the Lord - that's when Satan really sinks the boot in."
That newsletter I sent a few months back, with my testimony, was the last I've been able to produce. Since then, the disease (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) has really struck me down - I've only been able to preach three times since, and once almost collapsed on leaving the pulpit.
I have long been used to opposition to the work here, which has gone well (all praise to Him), but I have pressed on as I am able. But for the last few months I have felt as though I am wandering in some weird intermediate state between waking and sleeping. I have felt the Lord's nearness to be very dear.
Things have improved a bit since then, but I still get very tired, suffer pains in my arms and legs if I do too much, and cannot concentrate. It has taken me a month to write this letter. As yet I do not know what the prognosis will be, but we are greatly comforted to know that the Lord is in control of all, and I know that many people with this disease suffer worse than I have.
I knew that something would happen after that newsletter. There has been positive feedback, and it has opened people's eyes to what the Lord can do to call people to Himself. It has given some of our folk a vision for Mission. (Peter, Batesford, Vic)
It has been said, God recruits his best soldiers from the Highlands of adversary. It's probably because he knows that those who have learned faithfulness and obedience in this tough terrain, can be relied on to carry out difficult assignments for Him anywhere. The Christian on such an assignment therefore, may take its very difficulty as a measure of God's confidence in him/her and rejoice! (Leone, Perth)
At eight years old I was declared an uncontrollable child, was removed from my parent's care, and placed as a State Ward, into a Salvation Army boy's home, in Brisbane, for two years. When I was 12, I asked Jesus to come into my heart and life, and be my Saviour.
Growing up I had always believed God to be someone with a big stick, just waiting for me to do something wrong so he could whack me with it. However as I got to know him more and realise that he loved me, my attitude changed and I loved him.
When I was 17 years old I was involved in a serious road accident. I had been riding my pushbike (helmets were not worn in those days) when I was hit from behind by a car, and thrown through the air, landing head first into a gate post. My head was crushed by the impact, and my brain damaged. I should really have become a vegetable.
Because of the accident, I spent four years, in and out of hospital, with only occasional weekends at home. During the next seven years I suffered post traumatic epilepsy and often suffered seizures, collapsing without warning and being admitted into various hospitals on many occasions. I became a violent epileptic and spent some time as well, in a psychiatric hospital.
In 1964, I travelled to Brisbane to spend Christmas with my parents. Whilst there I attended a crusade. I went forward to receive prayer for healing, and to this day in 1997, I have not suffered another seizure.
My mother was diagnosed, in 1966, as having leukaemia, and though she was prayed for, and we believed she would be healed, she died in August of that same year. I couldn't understand it and blamed God for taking her from me. In the following eleven years I rebelled and backslid. I developed a drinking problem which eventually led to me becoming an alcoholic. Doctors told me if I continued drinking I would be dead within six months.
Easter 1978 saw me being admitted into a hospital in Melbourne, due to my pancreas collapsing. I was put on an intravenous drip for five weeks and five days - the significance of which didn't hit me till several years later. Following my discharge from hospital, I went and lived at a Christian camp in order to grow strong physically and spiritually. One thing I know is that God is faithful. Even during my backslidden years He guided me. Throughout the intervening years till now, he has worked in and through me, to touch many people's lives with his love. (Wally Holloway, Medina, WA)
We read in the papers and hear on the air
Of killing and stealing and crime everywhere,
We sigh and say as we notice the trend,
This young generation, Oh where will it end?
But can we be sure that it's their fault alone,
That maybe a part of it isn't our own?
Are we less guilty to place in the way
Too many things that lead them astray.
Too much money, too much idle time.
Too many movies, of passion and crime.
Too many books, not fit to read.
Too much evil, in what they hear said.
Too many children, encouraged to roam.
Too many parents, who won't stay at home.
Kids don't make movies, they don't write the books,
They don't paint gay pictures of gangsters and crooks,
They don't make the liquor, they don't run the bars,
They don't make the laws, and they don't sell the cars,
They don't make the drugs that addle the brain,
That's all done by older folks, greedy for gain.
Delinquent teenagers?
How we condemn the signs of the nation, and blame it on them.
(Rob, Whyalla, SA)
Hell-fire will be a fierce fire. The fire of God's anger and wrath will burn fiercely. Now it does but smoke against sinners, then it will break forth into aflame. Tongue cannot express how fiercely the wrath of God will burn, when hereafter it shall seize upon the ungodly. Who knoweth the power of God's anger? (Ps 90:11) It will be so fierce, as to torment every part from the crown of the head unto the foot, and every part in the utmost extremity.
Hell-fire will be an unquenchable fire (Mt 3:12). Where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched (Mk 9:44). Now the fire of God's anger may be quenched by the blood of Jesus Christ; and the fire of hell may be prevented. But hereafter it will be too late. No sacrifice will be accepted then to appease God's wrath, and if all the waters of the sea could be poured upon the flames of hell-fire, they would not put them out.
Hell-fire will be an everlasting fire. Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Mt 25:42). And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever (Rev 14:11). This fire will be ever burning, and the damned will be ever tormented therein.
How long will eternity last? Always. When will eternity end? Never. As long as heaven shall continue to be heaven, and God shall continue to be God, and the saints shall be happy in the enjoyment of God, so long shall the wicked be tormented in the fire of hell.
I beseech you examine which of the two ways you are walking in: is it the broad way of sin and wickedness, or is it the narrow way of faith and holiness?
How long will you sleep on, you sinners? How long will you slumber in such imminent danger, you graceless and Christless persons? Have you been told so often of your guilt and danger, and yet harden your heart? Yet will you hold fast your sins, resolving not to let them go whatever they cost you?
Oh, that yet at length you might be awakened, and by the Spirit of the Lord persuaded to lift up your eyes, and look a little before you, Yonder, Yonder! Look sinner - yonder is a horrible burning tempest driving towards thee, a dreadful burning lake preparing for thee, but you cannot see it. But the perspective of the Word will show it plain; if you look upwards with this perspective, you may see some glimpse of the glory of heaven, and if you look downward with it, you may see some glimpse of the fire of hell. Look do you not see a horrible deep and large pit filled with horribly burning fire, and that fire filled with damned men and women? Lay your ear to the mouth of this pit, and hear the shrieks and yellings of that cursed company.
Think what in hell will be taken from you. All your riches will be taken away. Riches will then take the wing and be gone, and you shall never set your eye upon them any more. Your honour will be taken away, and everlasting shame and contempt shall be poured upon you.
All your sensual delights and pleasures will then be at an end, they are now but for a season, (Heb 11:25), yes, but for a moment, (Job 20:5). In hell there will be no feasting, no singing, dancing, and making merry.
The glutton shall there have no sweet morsels, the drunkard no sweet droughts, no not so much as a drop of water to cool and refresh him. The wanton shall no more melt in lascivious embraces, nothing will remain of all your sweetnesses and pleasures here, but the bitter remembrances accompanied with unutterable grief and groans, and the intolerable sting and bitings of the never dying-worm of conscience, whatever you have prized and pleased yourselves with here. You will then be stripped of all, and oh how bitter will this be to lose all that which you now so much esteem and love, and place your chief happiness in?
Think what in hell will be denied unto you. You shall be denied admission into the Kingdom of heaven. When you shall see all the saints of all ages shine like the sun, and be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord, and be crowned by him and received to inherit the Kingdom prepared for them, you shall be shut out. No room will be found for you there. You could find no room for Christ in your hearts here, and he will find no room for you in his Kingdom hereafter. The loss of heaven of that unspeakable happiness, which the angels and saints shall have in the immediate vision and fruition of God, when you come to understand what it is, will appear as many observe to be greater than the punishment of sense, especially this loss will be most grievous unto you; who have had discoveries and proffers of it, but neglected and refused it, preferring some base lusts before it. Oh, how will you then be ready to tear yourselves to pieces for madness and vexation!
Your bodies shall never die, and they shall be filled with pain in extremity, and that to eternity. If you live and die in sin, you shall be extremely and eternally tortured with pain in every part. Your eyes shall be full of pain, your tongues full of pain, your hands full of pain, your heads full of pain, your backs full of pain, your bellies full of pain, your feet full of pain, from the crown of your head unto the sole of your feet, no part shall be free. Your bodies shall roll and tumble in flames, and there burn with horrible pain, and yet never be consumed. But the anguish of your soul will far exceed the tortures of your bodies, and here words fail, conceptions fall short. Who can tell how the worm of conscience will bite! How dreadful the lashes of your consciences will be, when they are let loose (as God's executioners) with full rage upon you? Who can utter the anguish you shall endure under the immediate impressions of God' s wrath upon your souls.
Consider the sureness and unavoidableness of hell-fire. Nothing is more sure than what God has revealed in his Word, and nothing more unavoidable than what God has threatened; and such is the tormenting of the wicked and ungodly in the times of hell-fire. While you are here upon the earth, there is a possibility of escaping future torments. Pardon, peace, and salvation are attainable. ff you lay your sins to heart, if you confess and forsake them, you may find mercy. If by faith you apply yourselves unto the Lord Jesus you shall not perish but obtain eternal life. But if you live and die in a state of impenitence and unbelief, it will be impossible for you to escape. God will bind all the devils and wicked men and women together in chains of darkness, stronger than any iron chains, and none shall be able to make any resistance. Could you by your prayers and tears move God to compassion, and prevail for mercy as now you may do, there might be some hopes of avoiding this punishment. But soon God's ear will be shut, and the doors of mercy shut against you forever. Your knocking at the door will be in vain. It will never be opened. Your cries and prayers will be to no purpose. They will receive no answer. Hereafter the punishment of hell will be unavoidable by the wicked
Consider the nearness of this punishment of hell. The sands of your life are running swiftly. Your bodies will quickly be in the grave, and if you die in your sins, your soul will be as quickly in hell. You cannot long escape this punishment. You may shuffle the thoughts of God and future wrath out of your mind for a time. You may busy your thoughts about other things while you are here. But all these things will shortly shrink away from you, and leave you naked, and you must stand before God to be judged by him, and to be condemned by him, and to be punished by him. God will take you into his hand, and throw you out of his presence into the bottomless gulf of unquenchable burnings.
Consider the everlastingness of hell-fire, and your torment which there you must endure, if you be found in the number of unbelievers. The wrath of God will never be at an end. The worm of your conscience will never die, and the fire of hell will never go out; but the smoke of your torment will ascend up forever and ever.
I think these considerations should startle all you that are asleep in sin. I think they should make your hearts to quake, and every joint to tremble. I think the sinners in Zion should be afraid and fearfulness should surprise the hypocrites, and I should hear some of you cry out, Who among us shall dwell with devouring fire? (Is 33:14) Who among us shall inhabit everlasting burnings? and as the jailor in Acts 16:29, 30, when awakened by the earthquake, and the impression of guilt was made by God upon his conscience: Sirs, what shall we do to be saved?
Such of you as are righteous through the perfect righteousness of Christ made yours by faith... Jesus has delivered you from the wrath to come (1 Thess 1:10). Who shall lay anything to your charge, when God has justified you? Who shall condemn you when God has acquitted you? Need you value then the wrath of men, when you are delivered from the wrath of God? Need you fear mens' threatenings of temporal punishment, which can reach no farther than the body, when you are delivered from condemnation to the eternal punishment of soul and body in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone? What does it matter though you should lose your estates, since you are not in danger of losing your souls? What does it matter though you should be thrown into a prison on earth, since you are not in danger of being thrown into the prison of hell? You may take comfort and the consideration of this may alleviate all your fears and grief upon the account of any pains and afflictions, which in this life are upon you, or you are in danger of. You may say of them all, these are not the torments of hell. These are light, the other heavy; these short, the other eternal. Lift up then your heads with joy. Yet a little while and you shall see what a difference the Lord will put between you and the wicked. When they shall weep, you shall laugh. When they shall mourn, you shall be glad. When they shall cry and howl, you shall sing and leap for joy. When they shall go with fighting to hell, and everlasting horror in their hearts, and all mirth and joy shall flee away from them forever; you shall come with singing to heaven, and everlasting joy in your hearts, and all sorrow and mourning shall flee away and never any more be found.
And now sinners what will you do? Will you dare to go on in that broad way of sin, which before long will open under you, and let you down into the horrible gulf of unquenchable burnings? Can you be contented with a portion in this life, and to receive all your good things here, when fire and brimstone, and everlasting burnings shall be the portion of your cup hereafter? Will any pleasure of the flesh and sin for a season countervail that everlasting pain and misery, which will be the bitter fruit and consequent of them? Let me therefore exhort you without any delay to come out of the broad way of sin. It is the way of hell, and will you proceed any further in it?
Come out of the broad way, and get into the narrow way. It has a strait gate, namely the gate of regeneration. This you most pass through; you must become new creatures, get new hearts, and lead new lives.
The passage is difficult, and the way narrow, but both are necessary. It is the passage from death to life, and the way from hell to heaven. Such of you which read these lines, who have passed through the strait gate of regeneration, and are got into the narrow way; you are safe, you are in the way to heaven. Learn to admire free grace, which has made the difference between you and vilest sinners. Use your endeavour to bring others into the same way. Commend to them the ways of God, both by your word and example; and persevere in these ways to your life's end. Be faithful unto the death, that you may receive the crown of life. "Therefore my beloved Brethren be steadfast and unmovable, always abounding the work of the Lord; for as much as ye know your labour is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor. 15:58). When the wicked are steadfast and unmovable in the ways of sin, and no argument can persuade them to forsake those ways, when they abound always in the work of the devil, and the wages which they shall reap will be death, and wrath, and everlasting burnings in hell: be you steadfast and unmovable in the ways of the Lord. Be not allured by flatteries, not frightened out of them by threatenings, but abound more and more in the work of the Lord, and your reward shall be everlasting life and glory in heaven. (Thomas Vincent, 1634-1678)
My name is Gerhard Leinkauf and I was born in Vienna (Austria) in 1931. I lived my childhood in very turbulent times.
In 1939 after the 2nd World War was declared, all my father's relatives were taken to Concentration Camps in Poland , from which not a single family member was to survive. My father had to go into hiding, so as not to be taken by the Gestapo who were rounding up all the Jews for mass extermination.
I had to wear a large Yellow Star of David, both on the front and back of my jacket or pullover. I still remember the size: 30cm x 30cm. I lived with enormous fear from one day to the next. I had no friends any more because of my "identification".
We read the headlines daily and listen to the news,
We shake our heads desperately and glumly sing the blues
We are restless and dissatisfied and we do not feel secure,
We are vaguely discontented with the things we must endure
This violent age we live in is filled with nameless fears
As we listen to the newscasts that come daily to our ears
And we view the threatening future with sad sobriety
As we're surrounded daily by increased anxiety
How can we find security or stand on solid ground,
With this violence and dissension and confusion all around,
Where can we go for refuge from the rising tides of hate,
When we can we find a haven to escape this shameful fight
Instead of reading headlines that disturb the heart and mind,
Let us open the Bible and in doing so we'll find
That this age is no different from the millions gone before,
But in every hour of crisis God has opened up a door.
For all who seek his guidance and trust His all-wise plan,
For God provides protection beyond that devised by man
And we learn that each tomorrow is not ours to understand,
But lies safely in the keeping of the great Creator's hand,
And to have the steadfast knowledge that we never walk alone
And to rest in the assurance that our every need is known
Will help dispel our worries, our anxieties and cares,
For doubt and fear are vanquished in the peacefulness of prayer.
(Rob, Whyalla, SA)
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