9-30-2022 Devotion: More Prayer

 We continue our study of some devotional writings from Andrew A Bonar. Bonar (1810-1882) was a minister in the United Kingdom. His devotional writings are very special to me. Today, we look at more on prayer. "Let us seek to be delivered from trifling prayers, and contentment with trifling answers." "I was living very grossly, namely, labouring night and day in visiting, with very little prayerfulness. I did not see that prayer should be the main business of every day." "Prayer, prayer, prayer, must be more a business than it has been." According to a Barna study, the average Christian prays one (1) minute a day and the average pastor prays five (5) minutes a day. With that information, are you surprised that the church is in the condition it is today? Are you surprised that there is no revival for souls? When I was a full time pastor and a husband and a wife came for counseling over a troubled marriage, I would begin the session with prayer. Then, I would look directly at the husband and ask, "How long do you pray for your wife every day?" Then, I would do the same with the wife. What I consistently discovered was that the spouses were not praying for their partners much at all. I would counsel them to pray for their spouses with their spouses present. Surprisingly, the people who followed the advice experienced a revival in their marriage of love and closeness. Simply put, we need to pray more.

9-29-2022 Devotion: Temptation

 We continue our study of some devotional writings from Andrew A Bonar. Bonar (1810-1882) was a minister in the United Kingdom. His devotional writings are very special to me. Today, we look at temptation and prayer. "Many a temptation has been baffled, many a difficulty faced successfully, and many a sorrow calmed by a song of praise." "I do not think we ever pray the Lord's Prayer with all our heart without laying up something we shall be thankful for in the future." Temptation begins in the mind. When the enemy whispers a suggestion of lust or greed, or other sin to your mind, if you respond with prayer, you will find an avenue of escape. The Lord's Prayer is an excellent response to temptation. I don't suggest you rush through it. Instead, meditate on the words. Start with "Our Father which art in heaven." Think about that you have a Father that loves you, cares for you, and sent His Son to die for your sins. Consider Who you would be sinning against if you follow the sinful thought. That should be sufficient to stop the temptation. If not, keep going, "Hallowed be Thy Name." Think about the holiness of God. How pure and perfect He is. You aren't but He is still your Father. That should do it.

9-28-2022 Devotion: Praise

 We continue our study of some devotional writings from Andrew A Bonar. Bonar (1810-1882) was a minister in the United Kingdom. His devotional writings are very special to me. Today, we look at praise and thanksgiving. "We should be always wearing the garment of praise, not just waving a palm now and then!" "Thanksgiving is the very air of heaven." "When we have real confidence in exercise it will manifest itself either in prayer or in song, oftenest in prayer. In heaven it manifests itself in song." 1 Chronicles 16: 8 reads: "Give thanks unto the LORD." Bonar had it right. Praise wasn't just a show or entertainment. Rather, praise and thanksgiving is like air which we need to live. As we breathe thanksgiving and praise for our LORD, you can have confidence to face the challenges of the day. Take some time to pray and praise. I find when I do both, whatever that was troubling me doesn't seem to be as formidable as it was before.

9-27-2022 Devotion: Trembling

 We continue our study of some devotional writings from Andrew A Bonar. Bonar (1810-1882) was a minister in the United Kingdom. His devotional writings are very special to me. "Christ is not censorious (one who blames, condemns, or is overly critical). He comes to see if He can find just a grain of faith in your heart, and that pleases Him well."  "There was a defect in the faith of many who came to Christ to be healed. But it was not the strength of their faith Christ looked to, but the reality of it; and they got the cure., though the hand that touched Him trembled." We often overlook the fact that our Savior is a gentle loving Lord. He knows when we struggle with faith. He asks us to look at Him even if our knees are knocking. He will take that mustard seed faith and bring about His perfect will. Remember, it is not your power that makes things happen, but His. Don't fall into the heretical trap of the Word of Faith/Prosperity teachers that preach that man is in charge. You aren't. He is! Trembling is fine.

9-26-2022 Devotion: Peace

 We continue our study of some devotional writings from Andrew A Bonar. Bonar (1810-1882) was a minister in the United Kingdom. His devotional writings are very special to me. "The Lord does not wish the sinner to get into safety only. He wishes him to get into a paradise of joy and peace." "The Spirit of Liberty delivers us from the bondage of mere religion. He not only does this in a certain measure, but in a very full measure. He brings us into a large place. You are not to think He takes us out of the deep waters and makes us stand shivering on the shore." As I have gotten older, I have come to embrace the old Puritan writers. They were serious about their faith. They had no time for games, entertainment and "fun" which is a word I hear so often in church promotions. "Come and join us for some fun this Sunday." Can you imagine the Lord Jesus Christ, Peter or Paul saying such a thing. As Bonar wrote, the Lord Jesus Christ wants to be in a place of peace. That means a place of peace with God. We can have this when we have repented of our sins, turned away from them and come to the foot of the cross. The Lord Jesus Christ will meet you there.

Faith Series 2: False Faith

 Today's lesson is part 2 in our faith series. Last week, we instructed on what is saving faith? Now, we look at Satan's counterfeit faith designed to deceive a soul into an eternity of hell. Thank God, we have His Word, and He will guide us. We can know the truth and that truth will set us free. Prayerfully read this lesson and ask yourself, "Do I have saving faith or a false faith?

Section 1: Satan's Imitation Faith

Satan as an imitator does his best work in the realm of faith. Satan is a greater imitator in the area of faith than in probably any other realm of religious experience. We live in a day when there is much talk about faith. A few years ago, and it continues today, there was a movement called the "Word of Faith" heresy led by men and woman such as Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Hagin Jr., Kenneth Copeland, Jesse Duplantis, Fred Price, Joyce Meyer, Andrew Wommack, Paula White and many others too many to name. They talked about "your great faith," the exercise of your faith," "putting your faith to work," "turning your faith loose," and all such expressions are examples of a false faith. The emphasis is on the wrong place. The emphasis is on the person's faith. Read this entire article and you will see why this is a Satanic faith. 

Here is a faith that is satanic, that is of the flesh, which is not saving faith. 1 Corinthians 13: 2 states: "And though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity (love), I am nothing. Paul knew there was a faith, a great faith that could be exercised by the flesh that is not saving faith. It is not the faith of the true Christian. When you hear someone talking about his faith, and putting the emphasis on faith, you should note that his faith is his god. That is what he knows and what he worships. Most of the books on prayer emphasize faith, the exercise of faith to secure what the individual wants. The faith most talk about today is nothing, but soul force put forth to get what they want. They have made faith a god. Faith is the object of their worship. It becomes a form of witchcraft to get their fleshly desires. Such faith is satanic. It is a faith of the flesh. 

Faith is a gift from God. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8) If faith is a gift of God, no sinner outside of grace has it. Faith is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 5:22) Faith is a grace: "And they believed through grace." (Acts 18: 27) There is such a thing as increasing in faith, because our Lord said, "O ye of little faith." Faith is of the Lord Jesus Christ: "The life which I know live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Saving faith, living faith, is the faith of the Son of God that is given to the individual when he comes to know Christ as his Lord and his Savior. There is no such saving or living faith, apart from the Lord Jesus Christ. 

The born-again believer is always putting the emphasis on the Lord Jesus Christ and not on his faith. The unsaved religionist is always putting the emphasis on faith instead of Christ. Do you see the difference? The individual who is always making over his faith has not the faith of the Son of God: he has the faith of the flesh. His faith is satanic. Such a false faith is always required to be built up, propped up, worked up, prayed up, and kept up. True faith of the Son of God lives within and is a gift. It is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit. You don't have to continually work it up. Satan wants to keep you from real faith and keep you deceived.

Section 2: Receiving True Faith

How does one receive saving faith? Romans 10: 17 teaches us that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. There is no such thing as saving faith apart from repentance. Trusting "Jesus" doesn't save you because repentance is the foundation of saving faith. God does not give faith to any heart, regardless of what they know, apart from repentance. If you have built your religious superstructure, or religious life, without repentance, then your faith is void--it is not saving faith. Acts 20: 21 reads: "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." Can you see it? You cannot have faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ until you have repented toward God. The Mercy Seat sat on top of the Ark of the Covenant and was associated with the Day of Atonement. Listen very closely: THE SINNER MEETS GOD AT THE MERCY SEAT, BUT GOD MEETS THE SINNER IN REPENTANCE. When the lost soul comes to the Mercy Seat as a brokenhearted sinner, guilty and condemned, seeing that he is to blame, God will meet this person in his repentance. God will give faith to him to receive the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. 

Repentance is acknowledging to God what He shows you about your old, wicked heart and life. There is no partial repentance. You have either repented or you have not. It is not a question of whether you have repented enough. God will save every repentant sinner. He puts Himself under obligation to save a sinner when he repents, when he comes to the Mercy Seat, when he comes to Christ taking his place as a lost guilty sinner with a rope as it were around his neck. That is repentance toward God. True faith says, "I want Christ! I want Christ! The seeking soul says "Lord, give me faith to trust Christ. Give me faith to just trust Him. I can't live without Him!" Our Lord will not disappoint or turn away the person that comes in this type of repentance. 

Section 3: Faith as a Gift

Saving faith is a gift of God. When the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to the heart at the Mercy Seat, then the individual can lay hold of Christ, the Object of his faith, because the Holy Spirit has wrought faith in the heart through the Word of God. At this point, you can believe His Word, you can believe His promises. You can lay ahold of Christ as the sinner's substitute. Now that is saving faith!

It is not faith that stands out, it is the Lord Jesus Christ. If you listen to most word of faith preachers, i.e. prosperity preachers, they faith an idol. They claim faith as a possession. They are lost unsaved religionists. It is Christ that stands out, not faith. The born-again believer is talking about the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God. CAN YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE? The unsaved world places the emphasis on their faith, not Christ. However, the saved individual says, "I have the greatest Savior that God ever gave a poor old wretched sinner like me." It is Christ that stands out, not faith. That is one of the many errors of the word of faith movement. 

A faith that is given to you doesn't have to be worked up, prayed up, read up or kept up in any way. The oil of grace is constantly being poured into that heart by the Holy Spirit. When you really know Christ, you can see Him in every Scripture. You are not conscious of your faith; you are conscious of the Christ that is constantly revealed through and in the Word of God.

Section 4: Examples of Satan's Imitation Faith

Satan will do all he can to fool you into thinking you are saved when you are not. In this section, we will examine some of his best tactics. II Corinthians 11; 13-15 reads: "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transferred into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works." 

First, Satan capitalizes on the fact that every individual wants something tangible to hold to as an assurance that he is saved. In some groups, they adhere to a strict dress code, e.g., women don't wear pants, women don't cut their hair, they don't go to movies or watch television. They perform these acts and say, we must be saved because look at what we do and don't do. Anything that draws your attention away from the Lord Jesus Christ is of Satan. He wants your eyes off Christ.

Second, people like to believe they have received some sign, vision, or experience and they base their faith on some sign, wonder, or experience. "I speak in tongues so I must be saved." It is not a vision or a dream, not a religious experience, not anything but the pure Word of God that will save you through the blood redemption provided by the Lord Jesus Christ. 

You must not rest your faith on anything tangible that you do. You must rest 100% on the Word of God, and rest on Christ, the living Word. The living Word, Christ, and the written Word of God go hand in hand. The Bible says that Jews seek for a sign and Greeks seek wisdom. The religionists of today seek a sign. You will hear something like this, "Yes, I know I'm saved because back years ago I had a great religious experience, I saw a vision, saw Christ, or a face in the clouds." The emphasis on experiences is Satan working as an angel of light. Again, anything he can do to get your eyes off the Lord Jesus Christ is a win for him. Don't be deceived. Don't have a false faith!

People that base their faith will have doubts about their salvation once the emotion of the experience wears off. This is so because the experience was all he or she had. They never got to the Lord Jesus Christ. They got to a sign, a wonder or an experience, but not Christ. 

Conclusion 

If the Holy Spirit ever takes hold of the heart of such an individual for salvation, He has to bring him out of, and away from all feelings and emotions except those accompanying repentance and brokenness before the Lord. The individual must be brought to the Word of God, look to Christ and to Him alone for salvation. Anything else is a false faith. Don't be fooled. Look to the Lord Jesus Christ and to Him alone.

Next week: The Evidences of Saving Faith. 

9-25-2022 Devotion: Thank you

 We continue our study of some devotional writings from Andrew A Bonar. Bonar (1810-1882) was a minister in the United Kingdom. His devotional writings are very special to me. "The work of Christ is the open door for the sinner, but Christ Himself stands behind, waiting to welcome him." "A child does not ask, 'How am I to take the gift?' but 'Is it for me?'" "He has pardon for you, and the moment you touch that pierced Hand, and say, 'I have come for payment,' you get forgiveness." "One day is enough for any man's salvation." When you realize that salvation is a free gift from God, not dependent on your will or works you will come to a place of being humbles and thankful that God has extended the amazing gift of salvation to you. It is available to all who will come. He will turn no one away. He has a pardon for you. Let that sink in. The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross to save people from their sins. Oh, this makes me want to shout and scream, "Thank you!!!" When you realize that salvation is a free gift to you (it costs the Lord Jesus Christ His life and blood), it should humble you and make you want to worship and serve Him. I referenced being in a denomination that believed you had to labor and pray through and make restitutions for the wrongs you had committed before you could get saved, the error of this approach is that you are seeking salvation through your works. You pray through. You make restitution. You, you, you... Can you see the error? Salvation is of the Lord, not you.

9-24-2022 Devotion: Grace

 We have been in the book of Psalms for a few weeks. We will be taking a break from the Psalms and instead study some devotional writings from Andrew A Bonar. Bonar (1810-1882) was a minister in the United Kingdom. His devotional writings are very special to me. I hope you will enjoy our review of some of them. Read a few: "Divine grace pays everything and gives us the benefit of all." "We are asked to accept this salvation, to let this love into our heart, without shedding a tear, except it be a tear of love and gratitude." "As many as receive Christ, God receives them." "The Lord is so anxious to bless you that He will reward you for believing on Him. He will reward you for having confidence in Him. He will reward you for coming to drink of the living water." "The work of Christ is the open door for the sinner, but Christ Himself stands behind, waiting to welcome him." For many years I labored under the mistaken position that one could be born again one day and unborn the next. That one could be a child of God one day and not the next. I was preaching a revival one day and I was informed that this one person got saved for the 7th time. This is madness. Salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2:9), and He will preserve those that walk-in obedience to Him. His Divine grace will keep you if you really are a new creation in Christ. That is a comfort to me.

9-23-2022 Devotion: High Tower

 Psalm 18: 2: "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower." He calls the LORD his strength, his rock, his fortress, and his deliverer—in all of this He is his Savior, you see. Then he says again that He is his strength, He is his shield, his horn, and his high tower. He is my shield—He protects me. He is my horn, my power. By laying hold of the horns of the altar a person would be safe from his attackers. That is how we need to hold on to our God today. The Lord, our Savior, is our horn. He is our high tower. A high tower is also a good place for protection and a good place to get a vision and a perspective of life. Many of us need to go to the high tower. There is a place of safety even in the wicked godless world we live in today. That safety is found in the LORD. As we run to Him, he will be our rock, our fortress, and my deliverer. That is a comfort to my soul today.

9-22-2022 Devotion: Trap

 Psalm 17: 4: "Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer." The “destroyer” is none other than Satan. Because of his presence in the world, every child of God should be alert. David was in enemy territory, and he was aware of that when he was hiding from Saul. And we are in enemy territory—the earth is Satan’s domain. To the church in Pergamos the Lord said, “I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat [Satan’s throne] is …” (Rev. 2:13). I don’t know where you live today, but some of us think that Satan’s throne is very close to several cities that are known for their sinful practices and how some cities actually promote themselves as a sin capital. Our Lord didn’t fall into Satan’s trap and we must strive to resist the devil so that we, through God's grace, will not fall either. The psalmist acknowledges God's Words have kept him from being destroyed. I have seen over the years that when a person neglects or doubts God's Words in the Bible, it is a sure recipe for destruction. Stay in the Word.

9-21-2022 Devotion: Shaken

 Psalm 16: 8: "I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." This verse provides a good answer to the challenges and temptations of life. The psalmist states that he has placed the LORD always before me. The LORD is not behind you or off to the side. He is right before you. Every action you make should be done with an understanding that He is right before you. As a result of doing that, you will not be shaken. There are many things today that cause the Christian to feel like everything is coming against him. They may be, however, if the LORD is set before you and if He is your right hand, you may rest assured that He will see you through. A comfortable ride is not promised, but you will not be shaken by the world and fall back if you have set the LORD before you. That is a comfort.

9-20-2022 Devotion: Abiding

 Psalm 15: 1: "LORD, who shall abide (live) in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?" The answer to this important question is found in verses 2-5:  Those that (1)  walk blameless; (2) do righteousness; (3) speak the truth; (4) utter no slander; (5) do no wrong to their neighbor; (6) do not slur others; (7) despise a vile person but honors those that fear the LORD; (8) keep an oath even to his own disadvantage; (9) lend to the poor with no interest; and (10) and takes no bribe against the innocent. The Word of God leaves nothing to guess about. It makes clear what is required of us. However, you must remember you are incapable of doing these things without the grace of God being applied to your heart by the Holy Spirit. When that happens, the requirements listed above are not difficult. LORD, have mercy on us and send your grace to our hearts!

9-19-2022 Devotion: Be Human

 Psalm 14: 1: "The fool hath said in his heart, there is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good." Is every atheist a fool? Such a person is foolish in terms of what God has revealed concerning our eternal destiny. We have no hope if we assume there is no God who gives purpose and value to our existence. If such an assumption were accurate, our lives would be subject only to the illusion of random chance. This is not to say that every atheist is stupid, especially in the eyes of the world. However, the atheist is a fool in the things of God, including creation, salvation, death and dying, and hope. What hope can the atheist offer? None! Their message is that when you die, you are like an animal. No soul, no hope, just return to the dust. Now I love animals, but there is a difference between an animal and a human. Animals act on their instinct. Humans have the ability to reason, if they choose to do so, otherwise they act like animals. We are the most human when we don't act instinctively, but rather reason and think out a plan. As a Christian, I offer people hope that the atheist can't. They must be the most miserable sort. Don't be miserable.

Faith Series 1: What is Saving Faith?

 Today, we start a new series on faith: What is saving faith? You may already believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, yet by itself, is no proof that you are born again and on your way to heaven. The New Testament tells us "Many believed in His name when they saw the miracles He did. However, Jesus did not commit Himself to them. (John 2: 23, 24) "As He spake these words many believed on Him," (John 8: 30), yet v. 59 shows that a little later they sought to stone Him! "Among the chief rulers also many believed (not simply 'about', but) on Him." Notice what comes immediately after: "But because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12: 42, 43)." This is proof that they were strangers to a saving work of God in their souls" yet they were "believers" in the Lord Jesus!

Let us establish the point of what saving faith is not:

1. James 2: 19: "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."

BELIEVING IN GOD IS NOT GOING TO SAVE YOU.

2.Mark 5: 7: "And cried with a loud voice, and said, what have I to do with thee, Jesus thou Son of the most high God...." The demon possessed man recognized that Jesus was the Son of God.

BELIEVING THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD WILL NOT SAVE YOU.

So, what is saving faith?

Section 1: Faith is Supernatural

There is a faith in Christ which is saving, and there is a faith in Christ which is not saying. Possibly you may think, "But I know that mine is the former: I have seen myself as a lost sinner, realized I could do nothing to gain acceptance with God, and I have put my trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ. You may think so, but Jeremiah 17: 9 says the heart is terribly deceitful and who can understand it. Revelation 12: 9 states that Satan will deceive the entire world. This issue is to important to give yourself the "benefit of the doubt." You may say, "But I know that my faith in Christ is a genuine and saving one, for it rests upon the sure Word of God. There have been many who were equally sure as you are that are now in hell. Have you tested your faith by Scripture? Are you aware that you can have a faith that is accompanied by those evidences which are inseparable from a saving faith? Listen very carefully: A SAVING FAITH IS A SUPERNATURAL THING WITH SUPERNATURAL FRUIT. 

Section 2: Characteristics of Saving Faith

A. Saving faith is a purifying faith. Acts 15: 9 reads: "purifying their hearts by faith." A purified heart is one that has been purged of all impure idols and turned to a living and true God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). It loathes all that is sinful and loves all that is holy. A pure heart is one that has been cleansed from the love of all that is evil.

B. Saving faith is one that works by love. Galatians 5: 6 states "...but faith which worketh by love." Faith is a mighty principle of operation by which the Christian lives unto God, by which he walks the path of obedience, by which he resists Satan, and denies his flesh. And this, not from fear, but "by love." Perfectly? In this life, No, but actually and in the main, Yes. We aren't perfect, but we strive to be.

C. Saving faith is an overcoming faith. "Whosoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." (1 John 5:4) God has opened the eyes of the Christian to see the hollowness and worthlessness of the best that this poor world has to offer. He has weaned his heart from the world by satisfying it with spiritual and heavenly things.  A fountain is known by the waters which issue from it, so the nature of your faith may be ascertained by what it is bringing forth. 

Questions to ask yourself:

1. Have you been saved from a dislike of God's commands and a disrelish for His holiness?

2. Have you been saved from pride, from covetousness, from murmuring?

3. Do you hate sin?

4. Do you hate gossip?

5. Is Jesus Christ the Lord of your life?

Christ died not to procure the pardon of our sins and the taking us to heaven, while our hearts still remain clinging to the things of earth. He lived and died so that His Spirit might make us alive in Him and make us "new creatures."

Characteristics of Faith that Doesn't Save

The following are examples of a faith that does not save:

1. Any faith that does not include repentance. Jesus said, "Except ye repent ye shall likewise perish." Peter said on the day of Pentecost, "Repent...." People may have a sincere belief in Jesus but without repentance, it is not a faith that will convert you.

2. Any faith that does not include the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Paul told the jailor, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and ye shall be saved...." Any profession without Lordship will not save the lost soul.

3. Any faith that does not give the person a desire for holiness. "Pursue peace and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord."

4. Any faith that it is not preceded by a conviction of sin. A true faith results when the person has the fallow ground of their heart broken up by the Holy Spirit and they see themselves as a lost sinner headed to hell. Without conviction of personal sin, there is no saving faith.

Conclusion

Acts 16:31 says: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." (Acts 16:31) The apostles did not tell the jailor to "rest on the finished work of Christ"; instead, they set before him a Person. Nor did they say, "Believe on the Savior", but "on the Lord Jesus Christ." Saving faith necessarily involves the renouncing of our own sinful, "lordship", the throwing down of the weapons of our warfare against Him and submitting to His yoke and rule. Before any sinful rebel is brought to that place, a miracle of grace has to be wrought within him. SAVING FAITH CONSISTS OF THE COMPLETE SURRENDER OF MY WHOLE BEING AND LIFE TO THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST: "they first gave their own selves to the Lord (2 Corinthians 8:5).

Have you? Listen, have you?

Next week: False Faith.

9-18-2022 Devotion: Drawing Close

 Psalm 13: 1: "How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? Forever? How long wilt thou hide thy face from me?" When difficulties strike, emotions such as doubt, fear and pain often overwhelm us. David reminds us that since God promises to resolve difficult matters with his gracious justice, we have a right to call on him to act. Painful times should lead us to, not away from, prayer, even if our words sound harsh and angry. I think there are times that we all feel a sense of despair when we face challenging times. It is those moments that we should remember the following: (1) Nothing happens to me outside the Sovereign will of God; (2) When challenging times come, we are to draw closer to our LORD in prayer and faith in Him Who has been so faithful over the years; and (3) God loves His children and whatever we are dealing with is designed to bring glory to His Name. So you, see, He hasn't forgotten about you.

9-17-2022 Devotion: Praying for the Lost

 Psalm 12: 6: "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of  earth, purified seven times." Now the wicked boast and use flattery. This will be a tactic of the Antichrist to rise to power. You cannot believe what the wicked say. But the words of the Lord are pure. That is one reason why we need to spend more time in the Word of God. It is the fortress into which God wants to put us. Grasp the times we are in. Sin is abounding more and more. Isaiah 5: 14 says that hell is enlarging itself. Most of the people you know are going to suffer for all eternity if they don't repent and turn to the LORD. We need to be praying for the lost. Many nights I am awakened in the middle of the night and someone's name pops into my head. I will begin to pray that the Holy Spirit will convict them of sin. That He would break up the hardness of their hearts. Further, I ask that God would grant them faith and repentance to be saved. After a while, I am able to fall back to sleep. I want to stop people from going to hell so I give them God's Word and pray. Do you?

9-16-2022 Devotion: Help

 Psalm 12: 1: "Help (Literally "save), LORD; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men." The psalmist believed that the godly people had disappeared. It is easy to develop this type of complex today and say, “I am the only one left. I am the only one standing for God today.” Many people develop that complex. It is not accurate, but it can happen when you see godlessness on every hand.When you look around, it seems that David the psalmist was living today. People who claim to be Christians endorse all types of sinful behavior in our society today. They do it in the name of love (see the devotion from 9-8-2022 on Wrath for more on that subject). My opinion is that there will be no more great revivals in our land, at least true revivals. There will be plenty of conferences where you can learn to "prophesy", activate spiritual gifts, and cultivate your best life. Those people are examples of Matthew 7: 21-23, where our Lord will say I never knew you. I do believe you will see one saved here and one there getting to Christ, but not in masses. If you are among God's elect, stand strong and make your calling and election sure. He will see you through as you walk in obedience to Him.

9-15-2022 Devotion: Wait

 Psalm 11: 3: "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" This is still a good question to ask today. Today the authority of the Word of God is being challenged on every hand. For the most part, it has been aside for the wisdom (i.e. foolishness) of men who know not God but are in power. As I write, we have the “new morality,” which is sin that the Bible has condemned from the very beginning. Things that used to be wrong are now right and things that were right are now wrong. The problem is, What can the righteous do? I will tell you what they can do. Listen to the psalmist in verse 6: "Upon the wicked He shall rain snares (quick burning coals), fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest (a burning tempest): this shall be the portion of their cup." Reminiscent of the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19:24). Evil will be completely burned up. We just need to be faithful, obedient and wait for the Lord to act.

9-14-2022 Devotion: Breaking an Arm

 Psalm 10:15: "Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none."" Break thou the arm" is a request for God to destroy the strength that allows them to oppress others. The psalmist is confident in the answer to his prayer because of God’s righteous reign. I wrote a few devotions ago about God the boxer. In this verse, we learn about God the Jiu Jitsu expert. In Jiu Jitsu you put the attacker into a position that if he moves or continues to struggle, his joint might break. Having practiced the art for over 25 years, I know what happens when I put someone in a lock like this. At that moment, they are powerless to fight against you. They can talk to you but not hurt you. The verse makes complete sense to me. The psalmist is calling out to God to stop the wicked and evil man who seeks to do harm to the righteous. Our God is able and will "break the arm" if He has to to stop the attacks. This gives me emotional relief because if God does break the arm, it is going to hurt!

9-13-2022 Devotion: Afar Off

 Psalm 10: 1: "Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? Sometimes God seems distant. During such times, the ever-present God hasn’t gone anywhere. Instead, specific obstacles we create or experience can make God seem far away. One obstacle is busyness. Our overloaded schedules can crowd out time with God and make it difficult to sense His presence in our lives. A second obstacle is “stuff,” or possessions.  If our hearts wander after more and more possessions, we will have little room for God. A third obstacle is sin. Christians can be secure in their relationship with God because their sins have been forgiven through Jesus’ death on the cross. But lingering sin in our lives can still stand in the way of present fellowship with God. So If you feel like the psalmist, know that God is not far off, but maybe you are.

9-12-2022 Devotion: Have Mercy

 Psalm 9: 13: "Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death...." The "gates of death" is a poetic term for the edge of the grave, that is, for being near death. The psalmist is once again crying for mercy. Mercy means to receive pity, compasion, kindness and grace. This is a great way to start every day. When is the last time you asked for mercy from the LORD? Notice the all capitals in LORD. This is the name of God YHVH. He is all powerful and all knowing and He is with you every day. He sees your every move and knows your thoughts. I know my imperfections and that is why I can cry with the Psalmist, "LORD, have mercy upon me!" I suggest you do the same. This is one prayer I pray for my wife and children most every day.

Antichrist Part 6: The Doom of the Antichrist or The Battle of Armageddon

 There is a Holy Trinity: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. There is also an unholy trinity: Satan, the Antichrist and the False Prophet. You can read more about the unholy trinity in Revelation chapters 12 and 13.  Today, I want to bring you a study on the doom of the Antichrist. I believe this is an appropriate time to bring this study because with the way the world is going, we must be getting close to the Rapture, Great Tribulation and the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, we study "The Doom of the Antichrist or The Battle of Armageddon" and we will see how it ends for Satan's son. 

Part 1: Setting the Stage 

The stage for the final battle of Armageddon is found in the first book of the Bible. Genesis 3:15 reads: "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." The final doom of the Antichrist is revealed, "It (the Seed of the woman--Christ) shall bruise thy head (the seed of the serpent--the Antichrist)." On the cross Satan bruised the heel of our blessed Lord, but He came out victorious in His battle for the souls of men, and said, "Fear not, little flock; I have overcome the world." The Lord Jesus Christ tasted death for every believer that He might destroy the works of Satan. Satan was conquered at the cross, and he will finally meet his doom.

We know that after the Lord Jesus Christ returns for His church and the believers are raptured from the earth, Antichrist will appear. The Antichrist will come on the scene, according to Revelation 6: 2 as a warlord, and he will win his way over the nations by flattery (Daniel 11:21). He will slowly rise to power because of the miracles that he will perform. He will head the world churches a religious leader, and then later on according to Revelation 17: 16, he will turn on this world church called, "the great whore, and "make her desolate and naked." The Antichrist will turn on her "and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire." The Lord God of heaven will allow the Antichrist to turn on the Christless world church and unmask it, and through him He will bring judgment upon the Christless, professed Christendom. 

Revelation 3: 16 states: "So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." The means God is going to use to accomplish this is to put into the heart of the Antichrist to turn on the godless worldly church. The Antichrist will burn up her chapels, destroy her books and her rituals and golden altars, her magnificent temples and cathedrals, and put to death her ministers and priests. Read about it in Revelation 17: 16 ("shall make her desolate, and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire"). God hates this empty religious profession which is so prevalent today. If you have an empty form of religion without Christ today, know that God's wrath abides upon you. It is only His mercy and grace that prevents you from sliding into hell before you finish reding this lesson. 

Part 2: Antichrist as an Imitator

 The Antichrist will head the political world powers, and by his shrewdness, wisdom, power, and authority, he will bring the world under his feet. In the midst of this world rule as religious and political leader, he will be slain in battle with the sword or be assassinated according to Revelation 13:3. "And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death." Revelation 13:14 says, "which had the wound by a sword." In the midst of his reign, he will be killed with the sword, but to the amazement, and no doubt to the surprise of everyone, he will be raised from the dead, according to Revelation 13:14: "which had the wound by a sword, and did live." The Antichrist will imitate the Lord Jesus Christ by being raised from the dead. To make the imitation exact, he will have to be killed, and buried, and rise again the third day. 

When he raised from the dead, the world will accept him as God, and when they do, he will set himself up in the temple at Jerusalem as God. This is the "abomination of desolation" spoken of by Daniel. He will make war with the saints, and overcome them and put them to death. The Antichrist will receive power from his father Satan and will have the ability to perform miracles, power to heal, and the power to do signs and wonders. How can you tell the difference between the true ministry of God and the false ministry of the Antichrist?

Bible repentance is the difference. Present day preaching does not include the call to repent. The average church member does not want to repent. The only thing he wants is to be saved from the penalty of his sins but he wants to continue sinning. He is willing to make a decision for Christ, a profession of faith, or even join a church, but he wants to hold onto his sin. Listen carefully to ministers and pastors. Do you hear them calling people to repentance? If not, they are most likely under the influence of the spirit of the Antichrist.

Section 3: Antichrist Leads the Rebellion

The Antichrist will lead the world rebellion against the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 13: 6 states: "And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwell in heaven." Consider and ponder that verse. The Antichrist will speak horrific awful words against our Lord Jesus Christ. We see the beginnings of that rebellion today. True Christians are persecuted today even in America. Make a stand for God and the "woke" movement will do its best to cancel you and destroy your business and life. God's name is blasphemed today as never before. The name of "Jesus" has been humanized as you rarely hear about the Lord Jesus Christ. 

When the Antichrist is raised from the dead, he will have some idea of when Christ will return. Revelation 13: 5 reads: "And power was given unto him to continue forty and two months" that is three and a half years. The Antichrist will begin to marshal his forces and lead them to Jerusalem to prevent, if possible, the Lord Jesus Christ from returning. The Antichrist hopes he can stop Christ from returning to the earth. You might ask, "How will he be able to bring about such a world revolt against Christ?" First, the human heart by nature hates Christ. Second, the human heart loves sin and hates holiness and the righteousness of Christ. The world so hates Christ that they will only need a leader to lead them into a fight against Christ.

Now, we look at the method Antichrist will use to marshal the forces of the world to their death against the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 16: 13 reads: "And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of demons working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon" or the place of slaughter.

The Antichrist will send forth three demon-possessed men as ambassadors to the courts of the kings of the earth with their miracle-working powers. The Antichrist will succeed in bringing millions of men into the land of Palestine with every type of implement of war to prevent, if possible, the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. There will be a world movement toward Palestine.

Section 4: The Return of the Lord Jesus Christ

All over the world will be the slogan, "Down with Jesus Christ." The day has arrived. Scattered over the plains of the land of Palestine will be millions of soldiers. They will have every weapon known to man, from nuclear to conventional. The lost will believe they have a chance to stop our Lord. This will be an awful scene of world rebellion against our God.

Without any warning, suddenly the heavens will open and He'll "come as a thief " in the night (Revelations 16: 15). There He will come sitting on a white horse. He will be called "Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11)". He will judge and make war. His eyes are as a flame of fire, on His head a crown with many crowns (Rev. 19:12). His clothing is dipped in blood and His name is called "The Word of God." (Rev. 19: 13) Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword (Rev. 19: 15) and on His clothes will be the words, "KING OF KINGS< AND LORD OF LORDS." The world fires no shots. His feet touch the Mount of Olives from whence He went away over 2000 years ago. The Lord Jesus Christ will take the Antichrist and the False Prophet and will cast them into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. Not a gun is fired. Rev 19:21 says that "And the remnant were slain with the sword of Him that say upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of His mouth. The blood will be so deep that it will be 200 miles up to a horse's bridle. 

That will be the doom of the Antichrist. I want to be in that army that comes with the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you? Have you been born again? Are you saved? 

Next week a new series begins on faith: "What is Saving Faith?"

9-11-2022 Devotion: Intervention

 Psalm 9: 1: "I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvellous works." The Hebrew word refers to the great acts of God, His intervention in human affairs, as at the Exodus from Egypt. God intervened in Egypt to bring the children of Israel out of bondage so that they might be a free nation and grow. In the book of Esther, God prevented all the children of Israel from being destroyed. In the book of Malachi, God used the prophet to warn them against destruction and being assimilated into the heathen cultures. (Malachi 3:6) Why is this important? It is important because if God had not intervened to protect Israel, there would have been no descendants of the Jews left from the Messiah to come from. I think Satan's plan was to kill all the Jews so the Lord Jesus Christ could not come to save His people. Yes, God has been intervening into the affairs of men since the beginning to bring about His perfect plan of redemption. If He can do all that, He is well able to help us today to get through our problems. Think about it!

9-10-2022 Devotion: God’s Finger

 Psalm 8: 3-4: "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him?and the son of man, that thou visitest him? This verse can be overwhelming in that it is difficult for our minds to grasp its content. The universe is limitless, yet God created it with His fingers which emphasizes His power. It shows the immenseness of His power. Why would God care so much about mankind? The short answer is that He loves His people. We don't deserve His love. We didn't earn His love. Yet, He loves us anyway. This is a good verse to read as you look into the dark night sky. Use a telescope if you have one. As far as you can see and all you see, is the work of His fingers. Most modern churches attempt to deify mankind and humanize God. Man is not in charge, God is. When you know this, you can face anything.

9-9-2022 Devotion: The Name

 Psalm 8: 1: "O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy Name in all the earth! Who hast set thy glory above the heavens." The mention of "LORD: '' is the tetragrammaton, YHVH. This is sometimes translated incorrectly as "Jehovah." The letter "J" makes its first appearance in German language in the 1500s. So our God the Father was not called Jehovah in the Bible. Sorry, Jehovah's Witnesses. A better translation is Yahweh. The second "Lord" in this verse is the Hebrew word "adon" and it means lord and master and one who has authority. Yahweh is God's name and adon is His title. We are to honor God's Name and show Him great respect and reverence. As LORD and Lord, we praise and worship Him as Creator and Sustainer. He is in Sovereign control of everything that occurs in this world. Even if it seems bad to us, our LORD and Lord will work things out for His glory. That is very exciting for me and I hope it is for you as well. 

9-8-2022 Devotion: Wrath

 Psalm 7: 11: "God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day." Hear this all you who proclaim that He is only a God of love! You have heard the messages, "Oh God loves you so much. Don't you see, come to Jesus and try Him, then you will see.Don't worry about hell because God loves you." In some sense, God does love everyone. He provides air to breathe and food to eat. The most love He shows is that He does not cast the sinner into hell at this very moment. In His deferment of punishment providing the wicked a chance to repent, He shows both love and mercy. It is the hireling Antichrist preacher that only preaches the love of God. The love of God must be balanced with the wrath of God. Without the wrath, there is no love. Without the love of God, there is no wrath of God. Our message should be balanced. God loved you so much He sent His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to die in your place that you would be saved. Ignore His gift and His wrath you will experience. Know this for a certainty, every day you are in sin, He is angry with you. This is a holy anger that only His mercy keeps you from entering eternity in hell at this moment. That's love.

9-7-2022 Devotion: Prayer

 Psalm 7: 1: "O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me...." Another  translation reads: “Jehovah, my God, in thee I seek shelter. Save me from my pursuers, and rescue me, lest like a lion he tear my soul rending in pieces, and no one to deliver” (The Book of Psalms, p. 40). Who is that lion? That is Satan, whom Peter says is on the prowl. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Pet. 5:8). In our own selves, we are no match for Satan. He is powerful but he can be defeated when we resist him and pray. Prayer is our secret weapon. Yet, too often, we don't pray as we should. I think if we really believe in the power of prayer, church prayer meetings would have a high attendance. You should not have to beg or coerce people to pray. If you are a "new creation," you should want to pray. If you don't want to pray, you should check your "birth certificate." 

9-6-2022 Devotion: Think About It

 Psalm 6: 9: "The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer." In Hebrews 5:7 we are told concerning the Lord Jesus, “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.” That is our confidence today. God will hear and answer our prayer when we are in deep trouble. Isn’t that a comfort to you, my reader? You may be in a very difficult and frightening place right at the moment. If you are, this psalm is for you. I would call verses like this one. "shouting ground." The old timers had no reluctance to shout "Amen" or "preach it, brother."  I remember one minister who would during a revival service when the evangelist had made a piercing point, he would yell, "Think about it!" We need to not be ashamed to express our joy in the Lord. Moreover, when we are in danger or perilous times, we need to remember this verse and "Think about it!"

9-5-2022 Devotion: Have Mercy

 Psalm 6: 2: "Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed." David is conscious of his deserving rebuke. Whether the psalmist is suffering from a physical sickness or spiritual illness, we do not know. However, the miseries of the depressed can be both physical and psychological, and often the description of the two conditions is interwoven. David fears God’s angry discipline, so he appeals to his own weakened state to motivate God to act with kindness. Twice David cries, “How long?” (v. 3). This question implies that God knows, cares, and can help—but he’s delaying for some unknown reason. If you read the next three verses, you will see that David boldly gives three reasons why God should answer his prayer: David is weak, God is faithful, and David can praise God only if he lives (vv. 2, 4, 5). An important takeaway from these verses is that we can ask for mercy, even if we think we don't deserve it. If you feel depressed, distressed, sick, lost, or unsure of yourself, go to the LORD and simply say, "LORD, have mercy on me." I believe He will.

Antichrist Part 5: Truth Versus Error

There is a Holy Trinity: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. There is also an unholy trinity: Satan, the Antichrist and the False Prophet. You can read more about the unholy trinity in Revelation chapters 12 and 13.  Today, I want to bring you a study on Truth versus Error. I believe this is an appropriate time to bring this study because with the way the world is going, we must be getting close to the Rapture, Great Tribulation and the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Today, we study "Truth versus Error."

Part 1: Who Governs Who

In Satan's revolt against God back in eternity, he set out to prove that he could govern himself and others by his own natural created gifts of wisdom and beauty instead of the strictness of God's holiness, which is the moral principle of LOVE (not selfish or self-love but love to God and His creatures) and the STRICT ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE. The controversy between Satan and his Creator can be considered one of POLITICAL ISSUES, as to the form of government that should be administered among the created beings of heaven and on the earth. 

God's government is one of absolute Sovereign rule, while Satan on the other hand advocates democracy, or the rule of the people. Not only was the controversy political, but it was also ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, and CULTURAL because it involved the well-being and happiness of the creatures. Twice we see Satan coming to present himself with the "sons of God" before the Lord, and when the Lord inquired of him if he had considered the spiritual condition of Job, he impudently offered God some suggestions. "Put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face." Listen again: "Put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face." (Job 1: 11; 2:5)

Satan's theory was, "Give man a carefree, happy life and all the desires of his flesh and he'll be your slave," which is the bait he offers every one of Adam's fallen sons. Psychology teaches us that you can train people to do what you want him to do based on a system of rewards, but Satan underestimates the power of God in making a new creation in a fallen man, which is a nature of holiness, and the individual who once worshipped self and his own way now loves, serves, obeys, and worships the God who made him a new creature in Christ Jesus. 

In the Garden of Eden:

1. God states in Genesis 2: 16-17: "And the LORD God commanded the man (Adam), saying, 'Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat; But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.'" God Himself wrote that in His law books. "In the day that you embrace the principle that you can choose what is right for you, and what is wrong for you, in that day when you think you have sufficient knowledge to know what you ought to do and cut loose from my decree, you shall surely die." God's plan was that He would be Sovereign and make the rules. However, Satan had a different form of government he wanted man to embrace.

2. Satan in Genesis 3: 1-6 tempted man to do the following

a. Verse 1, question what God said ("Hath God said"). 

b. Verse 4, call God a liar ("Ye shall not surely die").

c. Verse 5, question God's motives ("For God doth know...ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil"). 

d. Verse 6, the result is Eve's dependence on her personal judgment, her focus on physical beauty, and her desire to be wise independent of God's warnings. 

God's plan was about His establishing a kingdom on earth in which He could dwell with them and be their God, their Father, their Head. Satan wanted a government where people thought for themselves, pursuing what was in their best interest independent from the control of God. Think about many churches today with their programs of:

1. Self-help, e.g., "Celebrate Recovery" (it's all about you not The Lord Jesus Christ).

2, Financial prosperity: Get all the money you can and rule yourself, because you are a "little god." NO, YOU ARE NOT A "LITTLE GOD, YOU ARE A LOST UNSAVED RELIGIONIST.

3. Lying signs, wonders, and miracles: These come from Satan and are designed to make you think you are in charge, and not the Sovereign Lord. 

4. Health and wellness: Satan wants you to focus on healings and miracles and not the Lord Jesus Christ. God does heal today but not through the "gifts of healings" that the apostles had to establish the church. Satan wants your eyes on personal power, your happiness and well-being, your finances and anything else that will cause you to be led away from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Test: Is the pastor, teacher, preacher or ministry you are listening to directing you to the Sovereign rule of Almighty God to govern your life, or are they directing you to a type of self-rule based on your desires, wants and happiness that focuses on your intellect and observations? The choice is important: the former is Godly, and the latter is the spirit of the Antichrist.

Part 2: Consequences of Man's Choice of Self-Rule: Error

There is so much at stake when we consider the consequences of placing man in charge. God is Sovereign but theology in the last 100+ years has been deifying man and humanizing God. The first Great Awakening took place between the 1730s-1740s in Britain and the American colonies. It was based on the foundations of Puritanism (emphasis on purifying the church), Pietism (emphasis on Biblical doctrine, individual piety and living a vigorous Christian life) and Presbyterianism. Preachers of the Great Awakening included George Whitefield, John Wesley and Jonathan Edwards. Edwards read his sermon entitled "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." People were clinging to whatever they could grasp to avoid potentially falling into an eternal hell fire. The ministers preached it straight and with conviction. They were not trying to pamper the crowd. They were warning them of what would happen to them if they died without the Lord Jesus Christ. Why did they preach so direct? It was because they knew that the only way a person could come to Christ was if the Holy Spirit put spiritual life into their hearts. With their new hearts, they would come to Christ. The message didn't have to be seeker sensitive. It just needed to be truth. 

So, what has happened? Truth has been exchanged for error. Satan has a plan to make man in charge. He wants man to decide his own fate independent of God. That was the plan since the Garden of Eden. If man is the final decision maker regarding his salvation, then he is sovereign not God. Moreover, since man becomes the decision maker, the role of the Christian in evangelizing him must play to his likes and dislikes. You don't dare want to mention anything that might offend him like, hell, judgment, repentance, or sin. We need to take it upon ourselves to convince him that God is worthy of his love. Here are some example's that I have heard or read:

1. We just to tell them how much God loves them.

2. People have to see how much God loves them and has their best interest at heart. When they see it, it will revolutionize their life. 

3. You have to get people to fall in love with Jesus, let them know how much He loves them, and once that happens, they will want to follow Him.

4. Don't create a relationship based on fear. Tell them God loves them.

Notice the underlined portions. Who is Sovereign in these examples. Is it God? No, it is man and that is the problem in today's churches that have left the understanding of the Sovereignty of God. Think back to the Garden of Eden. God gave clear instructions. Satan wanted to shift the power to Adam and Eve. He wanted man's reasoning and intellect to be in control. Satan wanted man to be in charge not God. Satan's way is the way of error, and it leads to death. God's way leads to life and life eternal. In summary, error is anything that:

1. Takes away from God His Sovereignty, 

2. Removes Holy Spirit conviction for sin,

3. Removes the depravity of man (since man is basically good, he can come to God once he is convinced),

4. Removes any mention of blood redemption provided by the Lord Jesus Christ.

5. Humanizes "Jesus" so much that He just a self-help guru desiring to meet your needs while the Father stands on the side lines hoping someone will believe in Him. He is the Lord Jeus Christ! See how many times in the Bible after the crucifixion He is referred to as just "Jesus" as opposed to the Lord Jesus Christ or Jesus the Christ.

Part 3: The Truth: God is Sovereign in Salvation

This topic is why the earlier discussion is so important. If you misunderstand God's truth from Satan's error, you will not understand that God is sovereign in salvation. John Wesley taught prevenient grace. The idea was that the Holy Spirit worked directly on the heart of the unbeliever to enable them to come to Christ for salvation. Without the prevenient grace, the lost soul would never come to Christ. Martin Luther and John Calvin taught irresistible grace. This idea was that the Holy Spirit regenerated the heart of the unbeliever to come to Christ. Without debating which position is correct, I prefer to emphasize the point without God's Holy Spirit working in a lost person they will never come to Christ on their own. That is truth. However, churches today have moved away from this truth and made man sovereign, so it is up to man alone if he will be saved. That is error. God is Sovereign but man is also responsible. 

I have heard an evangelist state that if any lost person would be alone with him, he would win them to the Lord. While he might get a "decision" for Christ, the lost person will not get to Christ. The evangelist believed that evangelism was a matter of persuasion. See the danger? The error is believing that man can win the soul without any assistance from the Holy Spirit. The most famous evangelist of the nineteenth century was Charles Finney. He was a Pelagian that believed that people got to heaven by reforming their lives by the power of their own reason (think Garden of Eden) and will. In his mass evangelism, he perfected techniques of convincing people that their lives could be improved, and their virtues made manifest by making a "decision" for Christ. There is no evidence that Finney was even a Christian. He denied the doctrine of original sin, attacked the doctrine of justification by faith alone, and denied the substitutionary atonement offered by the Lord Jesus Christ. In essence, you save yourself.

The point is that if churches believe that man must be convinced to come to Christ, they will resort to games, gimmicks, puppet shows, social fellowship, never mention sin or hell, because they are "making a sale." The truth is, the following is how a person is saved:

1. The Holy Spirit begins to break up the fallow ground of the sinner's heart. He shows the lost their condition and their hell-bound destiny. The lost soul takes responsibility for their condition.

2. The sinner begins to repent of their sins (turn away from them). Faith and repentance are gifts from God (Acts 5:31; 11:18; Ephesians 2:8-9). This would not be possible the Holy Spirit had not first regenerated or made alive the sinner's heart to want God. Man chooses God after God chooses him.

3. The inner is brought to the foot of the cross and understands that the Lord Jesus Christ has shed His blood for His sins.

4. The sinner cries out to the Lord (something as simple as "Lord, save me:) and receives the blood redemption.

5. The person makes Jesus Christ Lord of his life. This changes everything about the person's life. He becomes a new creation in Christ.

Conclusion

We must preach and teach the truth. We must point out error. This is not about being politically correct. This is about the Gospel. We must bring the Gospel message to a lost and dying world. Will you be part of the end time army of God?

Next week: The Doom of the Antichrist.

9-4-2022 Devotion: Vengeance

 Psalm 5: 10: "Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee." The psalmist calls upon God to punish the wicked because they are guilty. Sin often brings its own retributive consequences. Should you pray like this? I don't think so. This is where a proper interpretation of Scripture is essential. There are people who say this is not even God’s Word because it is no expression of Christian love today. I believe this type of prayer is going to be for God’s people that are saved after the rapture and during the Great Tribulation. On that day these people under law will pray this kind of prayer as they did in the past under law. And God intends to hear His people, and He intends to bring vengeance upon their enemies. We are to do things differently during the tribulation. Matthew 5:44 says, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” This is difficult to do, I will grant you that, but that is what the Lord asks us to do. In Romans 12: 19, we are told, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” God says that He will take care of any reprisals. If you get punched in the face it is human nature to want to strike back. But when we take matters into our own hands, we are not walking with Him by faith. God wants you to trust Him to take care of your enemies.

9-3-2022 Devotion: The Morning

 Psalm 5: 3: "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up." Now let me give you a little different translation: “Give ear to my words, O LORD, give heed to my meditation. Listen to the voice of my cry, my King, and my God; for to thee do I pray. LORD, in the morning shalt thou hear my voice; in the morning will I come before thee, and expectantly look up.” This psalm is a morning prayer—in the morning his voice would be lifted unto God. The morning is the best time to lift your heart to God in prayer. This has been a practice of mine for years. I have a daily Bible reading that has me reading through the entire Bible in one year. I cook my wife her breakfast and we read a devotional together and pray. Later, I have a private prayer. I have found this practice to make for a better marriage, preparing me to face the business struggles of the day, and arm me with the Word of God. It is my sword and I always carry it with me. Direct your prayer to the Lord Jesus Christ every morning. It will make a difference.

9-2-2022 Devotion: Call

 Psalm 4: 1: "Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer." The imperative verbs in this verse show the boldness of the psalmist in prayer. He can fearlessly call on God because he knows that God is his righteousness. Distress indicates pressure—the pressures of our lives are great. They are great in our day, e.g. worldly influence on the church, inflation, wars, etc. and we need the encouragement that we find in the Word of God. “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth”. Again we read, “And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.” In the book Isaiah, God tells us, “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” Another passage in Psalms says, “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.” The Bible is just filled with these wonderful promises. The cry of the psalmist in Psalm 4 is that God be with him. No matter what you are facing, today's verse provides you a recipe to successfully deal with stress. The Word encourages us to be bold in prayer. Call upon Him and receive mercy.

9-1-2022 Devotion: The Boxer

 Psalm 3: 7: "Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou has broken the teeth of the ungodly." "Arise" is an expression typical of psalms sung at the beginning of war. God fights for His people against their flesh and blood enemies. That God had often broken the power and restrained the malice of his enemies, had smitten them upon the cheek-bone, had silenced them and spoiled their speaking, blemished them and put them to shame, smitten them on the cheek reproachfully, had disabled them to do the mischief they intended; for he had broken their teeth. The teeth that are gnashed or sharpened against God’s people shall be broken. When, at any time, the power of the church’s enemies seems threatening, it is good to remember how often God has broken it; and we are sure that his arm is not shortened. He can stop their mouths and tie their hands. With broken teeth and a bruised cheek, the attackers will be silenced and their ability to attack reduced to nothing. Let us never forget Who our God is!