1-6-2023 Devotion: God Told Me

 Today, we look at another erroneous doctrine which states that God is supplementing His Perfect Word with personal revelations to individuals. These people do not believe that God's Word is sufficient on its own. Instead, "I need to hear a word from the Lord so I will know what to do." I have seen this doctrine used to justify divorce, affairs, immorality and much more. "God told me," is no excuse to not study the Word of God. Over the next few days, we will explore this false doctrine. There is a saying I like, "If you want to hear God speak, read His Word. If you want to hear Godspeak audibly, read it out loud." While in divinity school, we learned the different truth models. One was "psychological certainty." This error stated that once a person had received what they believed to be a word from a higher power, there could be no further discussion on the matter. If "God told you," there is no more debate. I hear people all the time say, "God told me." My response (sometimes with my inside voice), is, "no He didn't." The Sovereign Creator of the Universe did not give you a personal revelation. Revelation 22: 18 reads in part, "If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book." This is a serious error that can lead to many heartaches. Stay with the Word of God.

1-5-2023 Devotion: No Excuses

 Another issue that is presented by the "carnal Christian" doctrine is the issue of sanctification. Sanctification is a theological term that means being separated to God, or for a particular purpose. The question is asked, "Are we sanctified passively, that is "by faith" only, without obedience to the law of God and Christ? If sanctification is passive, a view represented by the motto, "Let go and let God," how can we reconcile the Scriptures that read, "I fight," "I run," "I keep under my body," "let us cleanse ourselves" "let us labor," "let us lay aside every weight"? Surely these statements do not express a passive condition, nor do they indicate that by one single act we may possess the experience of "victory" and thus become spiritual and mature Christians. While salvation is of the Lord (Jonah 2: 9), sanctification is a joint effort of the Holy Spirit working with your new heart to become more Christlike every day. The "carnal Christian" allows the "believer" to make excuses because after all, they are just carnal. This why this error must be exposed. If you know someone that claims to be a Christian but living like the world, they are not saved. They are lost. They are not in the family of God. The truth must be told. We are to stand for the truth. Salvation is forgiveness and a changed, i.e., a new heart. If you know this salvation, thank Him today. If you don't know it, seek Him because He will never turn you away if you come in faith and repentance.

1-4-2023 Devotion: True Conversion

 We are continuing to look at the mistaken concept of a "carnal Christian." It is important that we have a correct understanding of Scripture. Correct doctrine leads to correct thinking, which in turn leads to correct action, ending with correct habits and practice. The problem with the "carnal Christian" teaching is that it minimizes the real conversion experience by magnifying a supposed second experience, by whatever name it may be called, "higher life," "deeper life," "Spirit-filled life," or "triumphant living" or receiving Christ as Lord after first receiving Him as Savior. 2 Corinthians 5: 17 reads: "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." These words do not refer to a second experience but rather to what happens when any real conversion occurs. The problem is that people water down what true salvation is and try to get as many people as they can "saved" (when they aren't), hoping to get them walking right with a second experience to complete them. Anything that waters down the gospel is dangerous as a potential heresy. Let us remember to be true to the Gospel message. Remember the new birth contains two parts: forgiveness of sins and a new heart. If you don't have these two elements, a new creation has not been born. The "carnal Christian" doctrine tries to create a third category. Run, do not walk, from this teaching. 

1-3-2023 Devotion: Carnal

 Today, I want to expose the false teaching of a "carnal Christian." There is some confusion when1 Corinthians 3: 1-3 is misinterpreted: "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?" Some argue that there are three classes of people: natural (unsaved), spiritual (saved) and carnal (saved but living like they are unsaved). This is a dangerous heresy in my opinion. There are only two categories of people: natural and spiritual. We will spend a few days on this subject. Look at Ezekiel 36: 25-27: "Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them." I want you to notice that there are two aspects of salvation described: forgiveness and a new heart. The "carnal Christian" error believes you can have forgiveness without a new heart, that is you can act like you did when you were unsaved. When you are saved, you receive forgiveness from your blood substitute, and you also receive a new heart that loves holiness and hates sin. More to come on this important topic.

1-2-2023 Devotion: Gospel

 Let us start the New Year right. We will spend some time early in the year exposing heresies in the church. First, let us focus on what the Gospel message is.  It can be summarized in 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4: "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures...."  Paul says that he declares the gospel to them. What is the gospel? “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” That is the gospel. Those are the facts. My friend, there is no gospel apart from those three facts. That is what the gospel is. The Lord Jesus Christ died for you and for me. He was buried and He rose again. That is gospel—it’s good news.  The gospel does not tell us something that we must do. The gospel tells us what the Lord Jesus Christ has already done for us. He died for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried, He rose again the third day. His blood redemption is the substitute for the believer. Friend, do you have a blood substitute? If not, Christ will save you if you come to Him. Start the year right, focus on the Gospel.

New Year's Stories to Bless You

 

At The Coming of The New Year...

02 -- JOHN S. INSKIP RECORDED HIS CONSECRATION

According to Edward Gibbon in his "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire," the oath of service and fidelity to the emperor was annually renewed by the troops on the first of January. Below, we read of the fidelity of John S. Inskip to the King of kings:

"Monday Jan. 1, 1866. -- Upon returning from meeting, I feel that before retiring to rest I must record my consecration. I am devoutly thankful to God for His many mercies during the year that has passed away. I praise Him that He has enabled me to continue in the way of faith. If spared, I intend to live nearer to Jesus. Afresh I dedicate myself to the service of God. I give to Him my little all, and solemnly declare that I am and will be forever the Lord's. All my faculties and powers -- my life, influence, substance, and reputation, I renewably devote to God, and declare that henceforth I will love and glorify Him forever. I will labor to promote His glory, and trust in Him for grace to guide, comfort, and support me. I again, and, if possible, in a fuller sense than ever, consecrate to Him all I have and am. My wife, home, and all, I give to Thee, O Lord, to be Thine. In testimony of which I hereunto affix my hand and seal, on this the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six. -- hdm0131, "Life Of Rev. John S. Inskip" by William McDonald and John E. Searles

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At The Coming In Of The Year...

03 -- THE RESULTS OF THE WELCH REVIVAL OF 1859 WERE SEEN

The results of the revival in Ireland were long and lasting. Ministers and laymen looked back with profound gratitude to God for the glorious awakening of '59... Another report in the Methodist Times tells of the decrease in drunkenness and crime, as the result of the revival: "Reports from all the districts in South Wales affected by the revival show that the Christmas holidays, so dreaded by new converts who formerly devoted the whole of the time to drink and revelry, have passed by without the defections from the faith which were loudly prophesied by the unsympathetic and unbelieving. South Wales has never known such a quiet and peaceful Christmas.

"In Cardiff, police reports show that drunkenness has diminished over 60 per cent, whilst on Saturday last the Mayor was presented by the Chief Constable with a pair of white gloves, there being no case at all on the charge sheet -- an unprecedented fact for the last day of the year.

"The same thing happened at the Swansea County Court on the previous Saturday, and the magistrate said, 'In all the years I've been sitting here I've never seen anything like it, and I attribute this happy state of things entirely to the revival.'-- hdm0465, "When The Fire Fell" by George T. B. Davis

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At The Coming In Of The Year...

04 -- A TITHING FARMER WAS PROTECTED FROM POTATO BUGS

The following story was once related to George Douglas Watson, after the farmer's pastor said to him: "Tell Brother Watson about these potatoes, great big luscious potatoes of which we were partaking." The farmer said:

"Well, I got saved about eight years ago and began to tithe all my crops. Last year, at the beginning of the year, the potato bugs were terrible in our community. I prayed about it and said, Now, Father, Thou knowest I am Thine entirely. All I have is Thine, wife, children, horses, cattle and potatoes. Now, rebuke the bugs; take care of my crop.

"The farm adjoining mine on one side was literally devoured. The man expected one hundred bushels of potatoes and had only three bushels. The man on the other side had only five bushels. My place was right in between these two farms, which were devoured by potato bugs and I did not see a bug in my patch. We had potatoes in abundance and peddled around loads of God's potatoes to poor folks, widows and preachers. I put God to a test and He has proved to me He will rebuke the potato bugs." -- hdm0561, "How To Attract Prosperity" by John Marvin Hames

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At The Coming In Of The Year...

05 -- MONEY FOR A NEEDED WELL WAS PROVIDED

Many years ago, a water famine threatened Hakodate, Japan, and at the M. E. Girl's School there Miss Dickerson saw the water supply growing less daily and in one of the fall months appealed to the Board in New York for help. There was no money on hand, and nothing was done. Miss Dickerson inquired the cost of putting down an artesian well, but found the expense too great to be undertaken. On the evening of December 31st, when the water was almost exhausted, the teachers and the older pupils met to pray for water, though they had no idea how their prayer was to be answered. A couple of days later a letter was received in the New York office which ran something like this: "Philadelphia, January 1st. It is six o'clock in the morning of New Year's Day All the other members of the family are asleep, but I was awakened with a strange impression that someone, somewhere, is in need of money which the Lord wants me to supply" Enclosed was a check for an amount which just covered the cost of the artesian well and the piping of the water into the school buildings. -- hdm0424, "Purpose In Prayer" by E. M. Bounds

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At The Coming In Of The Year...

06 -- GOD GREATLY BLESSED THE WESLEYS' WATCH-NIGHT SERVICE

It might be in order to give an instance or two in the life of Rev John Wesley, showing some remarkable displays of spiritual power. Many times, it is stated this noted man gathered his company together, and prayed all night, or till the mighty power of God came upon them. It was at a watch night service, at Fetter Lane, December 31, 1738, when Charles and John Wesley with Whitefield, sat up till after midnight singing and praying. This is the account:

About three o'clock in the morning, as we were continuing instant in prayer, the power of God came mightily upon us, so that many cried out for exceeding joy, and many fell to the ground. As soon as we had recovered a little from that awe and amazement at the presence of his majesty, we broke out with one voice, "We praise thee, O God! We acknowledge thee to be the Lord!"

On another occasion, Mr. Wesley gives us this account:

After midnight, about a hundred of us walked home together, singing, rejoicing and praising God. -- hdm0427, "The Possibilities Of Prayer" by Edward McKendree Bounds

1-1-2023 Devotion: A New Year

 At midnight, many exclaimed, "Happy New Year!" Yes, under the Gregorian calendar system we use, January 1st begins a new year. Do you have any hopes or expectations you would like to see fulfilled in 2023? What are you going to do differently in 2023, or do you feel you were on course in 2022" James provides some good advice for making plans, "Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As you approach the hope the New Year brings, always acknowledge the role of God's Sovereignty and His Providence. Think of Sovereignty as God's absolute power to rule and Providence as how He weaves together events and circumstances to bring about His perfect plan. 2023 will be a great year if you submit your planning to Him.