Leaving Laodicea

In Matthew 24, Jesus revealed to His disciples the signs to look for when the end of the age appears. And the number one sign is deception. He actually began this teaching this way: “Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matt. 24:4). And how will they, and you and me, be deceived? Jesus said Satan would unleash all he has in his bag of tricks.

First, “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many” (Matt. 24:5).

Next, we have false prophets who claim to speak for God. “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many” (Matt. 24:11).

This is followed by more false prophets pointing now to false christs who will perform counterfeit signs and wonders that only the real Christ should be able to do. In fact, the deception is so great, that all but the elect will be deceived. “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand” (Matthew 24:24).

Scripture warns us it is going to get bad. Real bad. And real fast.

But there is a deception going on right now in the church that is just as bad as what is to come, maybe worse. And this deception strikes at the core of our eternal salvation. It is literally a matter of heaven and hell.

It is the deception regarding your salvation. Are you really saved? And if so, how do you know? Is it based on a prayer you prayed or an emotion you experienced, or is it something else? How do you know you are really saved?

When we are asked that question, we often rely on external evidence. But for many in the church today, the external evidence of true salvation is sadly missing. Why? Because of a lack of regeneration.

Let me explain.

When salvation truly takes place, everything changes. God doesn’t make us better or allow us to keep parts of ourselves He now sanctifies. No, the Scriptures teach everything is now new (born again) and the old has passed away, been buried, done away with. Hence, the external evidence should be a radically changed life.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; (defined as) old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new – 2 Corinthians 5:17.

But the key to understanding the difference between regeneration (being born again) and faith and conversion (saying the sinner’s prayer), is best explained by trying to understand what this verse really means.

Therefore, if (since, because) anyone (personal) is (what) in Christ (salvation), he is (present tense) a new (kainós – qualitatively new, original and of a kind not seen before) creation (ktísis – an object brought into creation or existence by God); (defined as) old things have passed away (to pass out of use or go out of existence); behold, all things (pas – each, every, the whole, in entirety without exception) have become (gínomai – to begin to be, to come into existence after not existing) new (kainós) – 2 Corinthians 5:17.

This is a picture of true salvation. It is a description of regeneration. Regeneration is a secret act of God in which He imparts new spiritual life to us. How regeneration happens is a mystery to us. But the fact that it does is the bedrock of the assurance of our salvation. There are many Scriptures that speak of a spiritual interaction between our spirit and the Holy Spirit. So the question would be: Have you had this kind of interaction with the Spirit?

Which brings us to the internal evidence of salvation. Consider this truth:

The Spirit (emphatic) Himself (what) bears witness (summarturéō – to testify, to witness, to confirm, to provide supporting evidence) with our spirit (human spirit) that we are children of God – Romans 8:16.

Ouch. How does that happen? And what resulted from His confirmation? How has that experience, Spirit to spirit, changed your life from that point until today? And if His confirmation of your sonship hasn’t changed your life, Spirit to spirit, should it have? In what way? Can you see where deception could creep in?

I sure hope so, because it is a damning deception. Join us today as we look into the truth of regeneration as we: Examine yourselves as to whether (what) you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?— unless indeed you are disqualified – 2 Corinthians 13:5.

And nobody wants to find themselves disqualified (adókimos – fraudulent, unapproved, unworthy, spurious, worthless, corrupted).

Nobody.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

546: Spiritual Preparation for the Lord’s Supper, Revisited

545: You Do or Don’t Do, There is No Try

544: Desire Without Effort Equals Nothing

543: Remember the Warning – Conformity Kills

542: How to Get Answers to the “How” Questions

There are two ordinances the church celebrates: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Baptism is a once in a lifetime event for the believer that publically displays their passage from death to life through the salvation offered by the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a picture of being “born again” (John 3:3, 7). The Lord’s Supper is something different. It is an event of self-examination and repentance that is celebrated on an ongoing basis, as often as the church desires, whether it be weekly, monthly, quarterly, or whenever they choose.

The Lord’s Supper is a reenactment of the Last Passover celebrated by Jesus and His disciples, but with one significant change. During the Last Passover, Jesus gave deeper meaning to the wine and bread. He said the bread represents His body that was to be “broken” for them (1 Cor. 11:24). And the wine represents a new covenant He made with us through the shedding of His blood on the cross (1 Cor. 11:25). Only Jesus didn’t use the word represents. I did. He said the bread is His body, and the wine is His blood. And this is where the plot thickens somewhat.

“Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me” – 1 Corinthians 11:24.

Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” – Mathew 26:27-28.

And the debate about the literal or symbolic use of bread and wine has continued until this day, so we won’t spend our time running down that rabbit hole. But what we are going to look at is the meaning of what this all conveys, especially when Jesus said, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (1 Cor. 11:24-25), and how celebrating this feast proclaims “the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26).

Which leads us to ask a few questions.

Question: What happens at the Lord’s Supper?

Answer: That really depends on you.

How much have you prepared to commune with the Lord today? Do you have an expectation of meeting with Him? And if so, how have you prepared yourself to meet with Him? Do you realize the Lord of the Universe has invited you to come to His table? And are you coming to His table in a “worthy manner” befitting Him (1 Cor. 11:27)?

Question: Ok, then what is supposed to happen at the Lord’s Supper?

Answer: Again, that really depends on you.

Jesus specifically set this time apart for us to experience an intimate communion with Him. So it is much more than a religious sacrament. It is actually a time for us to repent of our sins, cleanse our hearts before Him, and then partake in the sufferings (death) and blessings (resurrection) with Him.

We are to experience this union (key phrase) with Him in our soul, not just in our minds. And the way to do that (the “how” questions) begins with your spiritual preparation and prayer. After all, He has invited you to dine with Him at His table at His request.

For over 38 years, Andrew Murray senior, the father of the well-known pastor and devotional writer, Andrew Murray, prayed for revival to take place in the Cape Colony in South Africa. And for 38 years, nothing. Then, in 1860, when his son Andrew Murray was a young 32-year-old pastor of a small church, revival broke out, and everything changed. In fact, eyewitness accounts (this one from Servaas Hofmeyr) of the revival and its aftermath describe it like this:

“Before the days of Revival, the situation of our congregation was lamentable. Love of the world and sin; no earnestness or heartfelt desire for salvation; sinning and idleness, that was the order of the day for most. When the Lord started to move among us, how intense were the prayers for revival and the cries for mercy! ‘I am lost!’ cries one here. ‘Lord, help me!’ cries another. Anxious cries were uttered, heart rendering testimonies of conversion were heard. Visions were seen. Corporate prayer, even behind bushes and rocks, on mountains and in ravines, men, women, greyheads, children, gentlemen, servants all kneeling on the same ground crying for mercy. And none of this was expected by anyone, nor prepared by anyone, nor worked up, or preached by anyone. It was all the Spirit of God, and not for a few hours or days, but months long.”

It was a time of spiritual wonder. In fact, a local pastor described it by saying:

“Prayer meetings were overflowing and full of fire and zeal. Early in the morning and late at night, people would come singing to God’s house. Repentance, renewal, rebirth, and devotion were deepened, and vision widened. Cases of heartfelt conversion occurred daily.”

Sounds like something right out of Acts 2, doesn’t it?

So what is the point of the 1860 revival and how does it relate to the Lord’s Supper? Simply this, in 1887 Andrew Murray wrote a book titled, The Lord’s Table: A Help to the Right Observance of the Holy Supper. And in this book, Andrew Murray gave clear instructions and, most importantly, heart-felt prayers that helped those who were experiencing revival in his time to spiritually prepare for the Lord’s Supper. And by following the instructions of someone who has experienced what we are striving for, we can hope for the same results.

You can download the book – HERE. And I would encourage you to listen to this message as we move forward in likeness to Him as we, at the same time, leave lukewarmness and apathy (Laodicea) behind.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

To download the book for this message, click – HERE

545: You Do or Don’t Do, There is No Try

544: Desire Without Effort Equals Nothing

543: Remember the Warning – Conformity Kills

542: How to Get Answers to the “How” Questions

541: Connecting Narcissism and the Debased Mind

Undeniably, one of the most difficult aspects of the Christian life is the idea of surrender and sacrifice (Rom. 12:1-2), or of fully understanding the implications of Jesus being not only our Savior, but also our Lord. Yep, it’s that sinister, four letter word that spells disaster for most… Lord. Recognizing the Lordship of Jesus means He is predominant over everything, including you and me, what we want to do, and when we want to do it. And pride always seems like the last holdout of our sinful flesh to recognize His Lordship and fall under its authority.

That’s why the Lord never promises to make us better. He promises to make us new, to be born again (John 3:16). For there is nothing in our old life that has any place or serves any value in our new life. Our old nature is continually at odds with our new nature and only one can reign supreme (Rom. 7:15-25). And the process of feeding one and starving the other is what we call practical sanctification. But we’ll dive into that topic on another day.

In order for us to allow Christ to live His life through us, we have to have a changed nature and, especially, a changed mind. Therefore, Scripture states when we surrender our bodies to Him as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1), God miraculously “transforms us by the renewing of our mind” (Rom. 12:2). And our mind is renewed when we choose (our action) to live by faith and not by what we see, think, or feel. It is faith, and only faith, that activates all the promises of God. For without faith, His promises are simply words to us because we refuse to empower them into our lives by believing them as true, and then living like they are.

And what is faith? Basically, it is believing without seeing (Heb. 11:1). It is confidently trusting without question or apprehension or doubt. But our faith cannot be in God’s promises alone. It must also be in His character, love, integrity, faithfulness, and truthfulness. In essence, our faith must rest in God and we must believe God is who He says He is, without wavering (Jas. 1:6).

Since our faith in God grows incrementally or in steps (just like our faith in anything grows), we are going to look at one familiar if/then promise and see if we can trust what He says. And we find this promise in Proverbs 3:5-6, the if/then promise of God giving us direction for our lives.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths – Proverbs 3:5-6.

First, note the conditions and the promise. And also the qualifier for the key component, trust.

(if) Trust in the LORD (qualifier) with all your heart,

and (if) lean not on your own understanding;

(if) in all your ways acknowledge Him,

and (then) He shall direct your paths.

Do: Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

Don’t: and lean not on your own understanding;

Do: in all your ways acknowledge Him,

Promise: and He shall direct your paths.

Then, let’s see what the first segment of this truth actually says.

Trust (bāṭaḥ – to be confident, to have faith, to believe. It expresses the feeling of safety and security that is felt when one can completely rely on someone or something else)

in the Lord (yehōwāh YHWH – the proper name for the God of Israel, the name by which He revealed Himself to Moses, He is the “I AM THAT I AM”)

I am to trust the God who is the ever-present one (Heb. 11:6), the self-existent and self-sufficient God who needs nothing and is dependent on no one. All of creation is dependent on Him for life, purpose, and existence. It is the name of God who sent Moses to Pharaoh with a divine mission of deliverance (Ex. 3:14). He is the God who directed Moses’ paths back then, just as He promises to direct mine, even today. He is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. I am to trust the God Whose name is so sacred, the ancient Hebrews refused to write it unless they ritually cleansed themselves first. And God, whose primary trait is revealed to us as holy, has chosen to make us holy in His sight.

Amazing, isn’t it?  And now, the qualifier for the word, trust.

with all (kōl – each, every, all, everything, the whole, entire, in totality, without exception)

your (personal)

heart (lēḇ – the immaterial self or the seat of one’s inner nature, such as soul, thought, understanding, knowledge, mind, will, emotions, personality, desires, volition, determination, moral character).

The word translated heart represents everything that makes you who you are, someone unique, special.

Which brings us to the crux of this message. How can I trust Him more than I trust myself? Or how can I trust God more than my reasoning, logic, understanding, experience, education, maturity, wisdom, feelings, sincerely held convictions, or what I know to be right and wrong or what I know works and doesn’t work for me in this world? How is that even possible?

Join us today as we discover what happens when we take God at His Word and trust Him with all that makes us who we are, and in doing so, learn how to leave Laodicea behind.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

To download the notes for this message, click – HERE

544: Desire Without Effort Equals Nothing

543: Remember the Warning – Conformity Kills

542: How to Get Answers to the “How” Questions

541: Connecting Narcissism and the Debased Mind

540: We Have Asked God to Judge Our Nation

In 1974, Billy Preston, affectionally known as the fifth Beatle, had one of his major hits with the song “Nothing from Nothing,” which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week in October of that year. There was not much substance to the lyrics of his song, just a catchy phrase and an upbeat melody, but the overriding message of the title still rings true today. If you put nothing in, you’ll get nothing out. There is no free ride, no free lunch. Success doesn’t just happen, it’s the result of hard work. Nothing is ever truly free, it always costs someone, something.

Same is true in our spiritual lives. Even the free gift of salvation cost Christ His life. Jesus said we must deny ourselves, pick up our cross daily, in order to follow Him (Luke 9:23). Likewise, in the wilderness where God provided manna to feed His children for forty years, He still required them to get off their backsides and go out each morning and pick it up. God didn’t employ Door Dash to foster their laziness.

We see God’s admonitions against the lazy and slothful throughout the Proverbs. Let’s take this passage, for example.

The soul of a lazy man desires and has nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made rich – Proverbs 13:4.

And, as usual, we need to understand what the verse says before we can determine what it means.

The soul (nep̱eš – the inner being with its thoughts and emotions, breath, the entire person, the seat of one’s personality, their mind, will, passions, and volition, everything that makes them who they are)

of a lazy man (ʿāṣēl – sluggish, slothful, useless, someone who will always fail because of laziness that becomes moral failure, a person who is undisciplined to work or exert himself)

desires (ʾāwāh – to want strongly, to long for, to crave)

and has nothing (ʾayin – none, no, not, nothing, nonexistence, without. Note: “he hates the process by which results are to be obtained”);

but (conjunction, contrast)

the soul (nep̱eš – the inner being with its thoughts and emotions, breath, the entire person, the seat of one’s personality, their mind, will, passions, and volition, everything that makes them who they are)

of the diligent (ḥārûṣ – sharp, industrious, a person who is characterized by care and perseverance in carrying out tasks. Note: diligence is not satisfied with desire, but with possession)

shall be made rich (dāšēn – to be satisfied, to grow fat, having an abundance, thrive, to be made prosperous, to be richly supplied).

So what is this passage saying? And what lessons can we take home from the life of a lazy, slothful, sluggard?

Looking elsewhere in Proverbs, we find the lazy man will begin nothing. He is content to live in whatever squalor his apathy and laziness provide. He has no internal motivation to better himself other than the growl in his belly and will work only long enough to silence it for one day. What a sad state of a human being, especially a Christian.

How long will you slumber, O sluggard? (No answer) When will you rise from your sleep? (Again, he doesn’t know) A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep— so shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, and your need like an armed man – Proverbs 6:9-11.

We also discover that, if on a wild whim, the lazy man actually begins something, he will never finish it. Just beginning zaps all his energy and drive and whatever impulse prompted him to start, it is never enough to see the task to completion.

The lazy man does not roast what he took in hunting, but diligence is man’s precious possession – Proverbs 12:27.

He works to accomplish something and then lets it spoil because he is too tired or too lazy to finish what he began.

A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again – Proverbs 19:24.

And the next verse tells us the why for the lazy man’s behavior.

The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth – Proverbs 26:15.

The lazy man is full of excuses why his friends view him as a failure, or maybe a bum. And any excuse, no matter how bizarre, seems right in his own eyes.

The lazy man says, “There is a lion outside! I shall be slain in the streets!” – Proverbs 22:13.

And finally, the lazy man has nothing to look forward to other than a tough time. Why? Because he has needlessly forfeited many of the blessings belonging to him because of his unwillingness to make the effort to acquire them for himself.

The way of the lazy man is like a hedge of thorns, but the way of the upright is a highway – Proverbs 15:19.

But note, this passage does not refer to money exclusively. It also refers to our relationship with Him and the effort we are willing to make to grow in our faith. After all, we put nothing in, we can expect nothing out. We don’t show up for the game, we will not play. It’s just that simple. And it’s no one’s fault but our own.

Join us today and let’s discover the importance of putting in the effort spiritually to grow in our faith as we learn how to leave Laodicea behind.

To download the notes for this message, click – HERE

543: Remember the Warning – Conformity Kills

542: How to Get Answers to the “How” Questions

541: Connecting Narcissism and the Debased Mind

540: We Have Asked God to Judge Our Nation

539: The Timeless Wisdom of Oswald Chambers

One of the key elements of salvation is something called sanctification. This strange word means to be separated unto God. It is the act of becoming personally more dedicated to God. Literally, it means living a life of holiness, which is the very reflection of the character of God. And sanctification is a part of the process of salvation, whereby we become more like Christ and less like the world. Hence, after salvation, we are commanded not to “walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1), which is the perfect description of sanctification.

And sanctification is a product of our will and a practical result of our obedience to Him. In fact, most of the commands God gave us after salvation are those we choose to do because of our love for Him. Consider the implied you in these classic passages.

(You implied) Bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ – 2 Corinthians 10:5.

Finally, my brethren, (you implied) be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

(You implied) Put on the whole armor of God, that (who) you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil – Ephesians 6:10-11.

This is something you have to choose to do. It is not something done for you.

(You implied) Rejoice always,

(You implied) pray without ceasing,

In everything (you implied) give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for (who) you.

(You implied) Do not quench the Spirit.

(You implied) Do not despise prophecies.

(You implied) Test all things; (you implied) hold fast what is good.

(You implied) Abstain from every form of evil – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22.

Get the point? And then there is the granddaddy of all sanctification truths, Romans 12:1-2.

I beseech (who) you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that (who) you present (who) your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is (who) your reasonable service. And (you implied) do not be conformed to this world, but (you implied) be transformed by the renewing of (who) your mind, that (who) you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God – Romans 12:1-2.

So we know what the Scriptures say regarding our responsibility regarding sanctification. But how do we incorporate these truths into our lives?

Everything in our relationship with Christ is activated by faith. That’s right, faith. We are saved by faith. We are sanctified by faith? We live a victorious, overcoming life in Christ by faith? And we have the assurance of eternal life with Him by faith. In fact, the faith chapter in Hebrews tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb. 11:6). Get that? Impossible.

And one key command of the Lord, especially regarding sanctification and faith, is for us to not be conformed to the world, but to think, act, live, and feel differently because of Him. Remember Romans 12:2?

And do not be conformed (to fashion alike, to be behaviorally or socially similar to something or someone, to become shaped, formed, or molded into a certain pattern) to this world (not kósmos but aiṓn) but be transformed (metamorphóō – to change one’s form, to transfigure, to change completely into something else) by the renewing (to renew qualitatively, a renovation to an improved or like-new state) of your mind (noús),

And what happens if we do?

that you (personal promise) may prove (test, discern, judge to be right or commendable, to accept as trustworthy) what is that good (of moral excellence, best, upright, virtuous) and acceptable (well-pleasing, that which gives pleasure and satisfaction) and perfect (complete, finished, having reached its intended goal or purpose, full, wanting nothing) will of God.

But how do we receive this promise personally? How does what Romans 12:2 says become real to us? You know the answer. It’s by faith.

This means that everything we are going to discover together is already yours. All you have to do is receive it by faith. And if that is so, then there is really no excuse for not experiencing all the Father promised us as a child of His. For our Father has already provided for us everything we need to live His abundant life (John 10:10). All we have to do is believe and live according to our beliefs.

Are you ready? If so, join us today and let’s learn how conformity to our world brings nothing but death and disaster to a child of His who is being conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29).

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

542: How to Get Answers to the “How” Questions

541: Connecting Narcissism and the Debased Mind

540: We Have Asked God to Judge Our Nation

539: The Timeless Wisdom of Oswald Chambers

538: “What Do I Truly Believe About…?” Revisited

In our educational system, the old adage goes, “Those who do, do. And those who don’t do, teach.” And the truth sometimes stings, but it is still truth. In college, for example, most of the professors who teach business classes, even on a graduate level, have never run a business themselves. They can teach you what others say to do to be successful in the business world, yet they have never lived under the pressure of having to make payroll or survive a tax audit.

And for some strange reason, we are content with learning from those who can only point the way to the Emerald City, but not lead us to where it is because they have never been there themselves. This is the definition of Convoluted Logic 101. But, I digress.

Often, we find the same mindset when looking at Scriptures. We see theory and commands given, sometimes with a reason, yet it is seldom followed up with practical application. We are told what to do and why, but the “how” part of the equation is missing. And what we desperately need in our darkening culture is an answer to our many “how” questions.

Let me give you a simple example from a well-known passage.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that (what) you (something I need to do and not something God does for me) present your bodies a living sacrifice (ok, but how?), holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service – Romans 12:1.

We know what the truth means and the reason why it is given, but often struggle with the “how” to do it. This verse talks about theory and the reason why, but is conspicuously short when it comes to the how part.

I mean, how do I present my body as a living sacrifice? And what does living sacrifice even mean? And why only my body?  What about my mind, soul, spirit, or anything else I can offer? What is this passage saying and how is it done in real time?

Sometimes, the Lord provides for us some concrete examples to the commands He gives us. And sometimes these examples show us the depth of the command and the cost of obedience. Let me share a few from the Sermon on the Mount.

Theory: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person.”

Application: (How?) “But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also” – Matthew 5:38-40.

And the application continues.

Application: (How?) “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away” – Matthew 5:41-42.

And then Jesus gives us more theory, more commands that He chooses not to reveal the application. Why? Because the reason should be enough.

Theory: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” – Matthew 43-44.

Application: (How?) None

Reason: “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” – Matthew 5:45.

And to understand the command based on the reason alone, assumes an inner desire to be more like our Lord. Or an experience with the Higher Christian Life.

Is being like your heavenly Father enough for you, or do you need a bullet-point list to follow? Are you content with theory, or do you require the Law to follow?

Join us as we begin our journey of discovery to uncover the answers to the “how” questions in Scripture as we learn to leave Laodicea behind.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

541: Connecting Narcissism and the Debased Mind

540: We Have Asked God to Judge Our Nation

539: The Timeless Wisdom of Oswald Chambers

538: “What Do I Truly Believe About…?” Revisited

537: How to Hear from God Through His Word

In Romans 1, the Holy Spirit reveals the three phases a dying culture goes through when God removes His hand of grace and allows a people to experience the consequences of their own sin. We have seen this unfold in our own country over the last 60 years. And unfortunately, once a culture reaches the third phase, the debased mind, there is no return. The dye is cast, and the day of grace has passed.

These three phases are introduced by the phrase, “God gave them over” or “God gave them up” (Rom: 1:24, 26, 28). Literally, it describes a people who have rejected His Word, demanded their independence, and received just that. God removes His hand of protection and allows those in active rebellion to experience, first-hand, the consequences of their sin as they strive, by their actions, to look less and less like Jesus and become more and more like Satan.

And we can see the downward trajectory our own culture is following. The first phase, or the first curse of God on a culture under judgment, is sexual sin. We experienced the beginning of this in the 60s. And now, on every level, we are living in a sex saturated society.

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature (flesh, their bodies) rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen – Romans 1:24-25.

No longer satisfied with sexual sin, the next curse, phase two, is homosexuality. Our collective “coming out” as a culture began in the late 80s and homosexuality is now an accepted part of the fabric of who we are as a people, regardless of what the Word of God says.

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due – Romans 1:26-27.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, the third and final phase is what the Scripture calls a “debased mind.” No longer do we even think logically as a people. Now, men can choose to become women and have children, or so we affirm, regardless of what history, science, and logic tell us. We teach our children they can choose their gender while in kindergarten before they are old enough to read without help or have mastered their multiplication tables. And then we encourage them to undergo medical mutilations in order for them to feel better about being who God did not create them to be. This is a debased mind.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting – Romans 1:28.

But there is more. If you look around, you will see the plague of what we call narcissism infecting the psyche of our society. Everywhere we turn, someone is talking about the pain and suffering they have experienced by a loved one who is a narcissist.

Is there a connection between the “debased mind” in Romans 1:28 and the growing epidemic of narcissism we see today? In a word, absolutely.

Narcissism is not a mental disorder. It is a spiritual curse that has infected the members of our society and has caused untold misery to those who have fallen prey to the deceit and manipulation of a narcissist. And narcissism is the perfect description of what God calls a “debased mind.” In fact, narcissism is the literal personification of the personality and characteristics of Satan himself, clearly manifested in a human being.

Let me give you a brief description of a narcissist.

•  Obsessed with fantasies of unlimited success, fame, fearsome power or omnipotence.

•  Firmly convinced that he or she is unique and, being special, can only be understood by other special or unique people of high status.

•  Requires excessive admiration, adulation, attention and affirmation.

•  Feels entitled. Expects unreasonable or special and favorable priority treatment.

•  Uses others to achieve his or her own ends.

•  Devoid of empathy. Is unable or unwilling to identify with or acknowledge the feelings and needs of others.

•  Constantly envious of others or believes that they feel the same about him or her.

•  Arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes coupled with rage when frustrated, contradicted, or confronted.

And this is only scratching the surface. Go Google narcissism yourself and you will see the depth of this spiritual disorder. Yet compare the characteristics of a narcissist with what Scripture describes as a “debased mind” and you’ll see this is all part of the final curse of God, phase three, before He brings a culture down to destruction.  And we are well on our way.

The following, from Romans 1:18-32, is the description of both a narcissist and one who has a “debased mind.”

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased (morally reprehensible, worthless, deceitful, corrupted) mind (that which is responsible for one’s thoughts and feelings, the seat of reason), to do those things which are not fitting; being filled (to contain as much as possible, to fill completely, to overflow) with all (pás)

unrighteousness (failure to adhere to moral principles, commands, or laws, doing what is wrong),

sexual immorality,

wickedness (evil nature, depravity, malice, the perverting of virtue and moral principles),

covetousness (greed, desire, lust, envy for wealth),

maliciousness (mental wickedness); full (filled up, stuffed, to the brim) of

envy (jealousy, resentment felt at the sight of excellence or happiness),

murder,

strife (bitter conflict, contention, discord),

deceit (to bait, fraud, guile, treachery),

evil-mindedness (character trait that feels a need to see others suffer); they are

whisperers (gossiper, secret slanderer),

backbiters (one who attacks the reputation of another by slander),

haters of God,

violent (an insolent persecutor of others who mistreats them for pleasure, which the affliction of the wrong brings him),

proud (arrogant, haughty, contemptuous, one characterized by feelings of unwarranted importance),

boasters (braggart, arrogant, one who is self-exalting, having self-absorbed conceit in their own superiority),

inventors of evil things (one who comes up with new ways to exhibit wicked, evil, and morally objectionable behavior),

disobedient (unwilling to be persuaded, unbelieving, rejecting authority) to parents,

undiscerning (without insight or understanding, lacking the ability to understand the meaning or importance of something),

untrustworthy (without faithfulness, a breaker of a covenant),

unloving (without family love or the natural affection between family members),

unforgiving (incapable of reconciliation, being in a state of war perpetually),

unmerciful (having or showing no mercy);

who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice (one who does repeatedly, continually, habitually) such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve (to agree, think well of, take pleasure in) of those who practice (one who does repeatedly, continually, habitually) them – Romans 1:28-32.

Frightening, isn’t it? Join us as we discover the depth of the narcissistic, “debased mind” described in Romans 1, and how it prophetically points to the soon return of Jesus Christ.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

540: We Have Asked God to Judge Our Nation

539: The Timeless Wisdom of Oswald Chambers

538: “What Do I Truly Believe About…?” Revisited

537: How to Hear from God Through His Word

536: Evaluating Our Priorities in These Dark Times

It appears we, as a culture and a nation, may have tested the patience of God one time too many. We have, for example, murdered over 60 million innocent, unborn children in their mother’s womb while the church has basically remained silent. As Ruth Graham once said, “If God doesn’t judge America, He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” And just this week, after the Supreme Court ruling regarding Roe v. Wade, President Biden signed an Executive Order basically promoting abortion in our nation. So the killing will continue, and God’s judgment is sure to come.

As a nation, we have asked, and are still asking with even a louder voice, for the Lord’s judgment. How? By killing more babies and shaking our fist in His face in open, blatant defiance. And when the judgment falls (and I believe we are now under His judgment), the church is not immune. Again, why? Because we have remained silent while His little ones die in agony. And God is not blind to our sin.

Remember this truth:

For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? – 1 Peter 4:17.

So the question is this: When God judges a nation, what happens to the people in that nation that love Him and live righteously? Are they swept away with the unrighteous? Or does God preserve them, like He did His children during the plagues of Egypt, by sequestering them in the land of Goshen?

Does judgment, like rain, fall on the just and the unjust at the same time?

That is a great question, and only God knows the answer. But we can get some insight and encouragement by looking at the first chapter of the small book of Nahum.

In Nahum, God is proclaiming His judgment on the city of Nineveh. As you will recall, Nineveh was the city to which Jonah went to preach judgment, leading to repentance, although reluctantly. And one of the greatest miracles in all the Old Testament happened after the hapless preaching of Jonah. That evil fortress of a city repented and a great revival broke out at the preaching of God’s Word. Child sacrifices ceased, the king called the city to repentance, and God forestalled His hand of judgment and offered Nineveh His grace.

But by the time of Nahum, over a hundred years had passed and Nineveh had gone back to their sinful ways. The city was awash in idolatry and God, once again, was bringing judgment on those who had rejected His ways.

The first chapter of Nahum comprises 15 verses of railing judgment against the citizens of that great city. Nahum uses phrases like “the Lord avenges” and the “Lord will take vengeance” (1:2). He talks about the Lord’s “indignation” and the “fierceness of His anger” (1:6). Nahum describes the coming judgment as “they shall be devoured like stubble fully dried” (1:10), and he records God saying, “I will dig your grave, for you are vile” (1:14). Needless to say, God is not pleased with the people of Nineveh who have spurned His grace and spit in the face of His mercy.

So judgment is on its way, and it will come swiftly.

But the encouraging word for us, who also face the judgment of God, is found in verse 7. It is the only positive verse in this chapter. In this statement, God lets us know what He does with those who still love Him yet live among those He judges. Nahum 1:7 reads:

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows (yāḏaʿ) those who trust in Him – Nahum 1:7.

Or, to define some terms:

The LORD is good (of moral excellence), a stronghold (refuge, fortress, shelter, a place where one turns for assistance or protection) in the day of trouble (distress, anguish, an oppressive state of physical, mental, social, or economic adversity); and He knows (yāḏaʿ) those who trust in Him – Nahum 1:7.

What does it mean, “He knows those who trust in Him”? The Hebrew word translated know is yāḏaʿ and is translated in the Septuagint as ginōskō. So what does this passage say now? And what are the implications for you and me in the times in which we live? Remember how Jesus used that word to describe His relationship with His sheep?

“I am the good shepherd; and I know (ginōskō) My sheep, and am known (ginōskō) by My own. As the Father knows (ginōskō) Me, even so I know (ginōskō) the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep” – John 10:14-15.

Note the qualifier: “those who trust in Him.” The word trust means “to seek, to take refuge. Literally, the word is used in reference to seeking a tree’s shade or protection from the heat.” Elsewhere in the Old Testament it is translated as “take refuge, put their trust, put my trust, sought refuge, take shelter, and trust or trusts.”

Now, read the promise in context. Note the judgments of God on a former repentant city that returned to idolatry, violence, and sin (3:1). But also note how God promises His love and attention to those who trust Him, even while living in a nation/city under judgment. Can you see any parallels to our situation today? Do you see how our Lord can rescue the righteous from His judgment even though they live in a culture under His judgment? Do you believe that is true, even today?

I sure hope so. So join us as we discover how to rest in His love, even while our culture falls in around our ears as we learn how to leave Laodicea behind.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

To download the verses for this message, click – HERE

539: The Timeless Wisdom of Oswald Chambers

538: “What Do I Truly Believe About…?” Revisited

537: How to Hear from God Through His Word

536: Evaluating Our Priorities in These Dark Times

535: What We Know to be True About Christ

One unappreciated gift given the church is the fact we have those who are older and wiser than we are to help guide our way in this life with Christ. After all, it is no merit for a son to make the same mistakes his father did.  Each generation must learn how to make their own way in this fallen world, but only a fool fails to learn from the mistakes of those who have gone before.

So today, we are going to glean some insight into the full, abundant life with Christ, the Higher Christian Life, as it is called, from a man who is speaking to us from a position of victory. And that man is Oswald Chambers. You may recognize his name from the classic devotional, My Utmost for His Highest, that was compiled from his teachings in 1929 by his wife, Biddy.

Oswald Chambers, who died in 1917 at the age of 43, lived what he speaks about and can show us, by experience, how to achieve the spiritual victory that only comes from complete, absolute surrender. Confusing? I know. But let’s look at a few of Oswald’s statements and pray to learn from him what we need to know regarding faith and surrender.

From Oswald Chambers:

•  “It takes me a long while to realize that God has no respect for anything I bring Him. All He wants from me is unconditional surrender.”

•  “Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you cannot understand at the time.

•  “Faith never knows where it is being led, but it loves and knows the One who is leading.”

•  “Get into the habit of saying, ‘Speak, Lord,’ and life will become a romance.”

•  “Faith is not intelligent understanding, faith is deliberate commitment to a Person where I see no way.

•  “Seeing is never believing: we interpret what we see in the light of what we believe. Faith is confidence in God before you see God emerging, therefore the nature of faith is that it must be tried.”

•  “When I see Jesus Christ, I simply want to be what He wants me to be.”

•  “The life of faith is not a life of mounting up with wings, but a life of walking and not fainting.”

•  “Sin is not wrong doing, it is wrong BEING, deliberate and emphatic independence from God.”

•  “Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything. Unless in the first waking moment of the day you learn to fling the door wide back and let God in, you will work on a wrong level all day; but swing the door wide open and pray to your Father in secret, and every public thing will be stamped with the presence of God.”

•  “Keep your life in constant contact with God so that His surprising power may break out on the right hand and on the left. Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God to come in as He likes.”

•  “If my ruling disposition is self-interest, I perceive that everything that happens to me is always for or against my self-interest; if, on the other hand, my ruling disposition is obedience to God, I perceive Him to be at work for my perfecting in everything that happens to me.”

•  “Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me? Am I full of the little things that cheer His heart over me, or am I whimpering because things are going hardly with me (or not going my way)? There is no joy in the soul that has forgotten what God prizes.”

And finally, two of my favorites.

•  “The remarkable thing about God is that when you fear God, you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God, you fear everything else.”

•  “How many people have you made homesick for God?”

And with this, we are only getting our feet wet. There is so much more we will discover in this message. So join us as we learn about faith and surrender through the experienced eyes of our mentor, Oswald Chambers.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

538: “What Do I Truly Believe About…?” Revisited

537: How to Hear from God Through His Word

536: Evaluating Our Priorities in These Dark Times

535: What We Know to be True About Christ

534: Whatever the Problem, the “Lord is Near”

With every good thing, there is always a potential dark side, or the possibility of collateral damages or unforeseen consequences that often come with it. The blessings of rain sometimes come with a flood. And pain accompanies the joy of childbirth. Or, as Newton’s law of motion states, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” So let me give you a few examples from last week. These are some of the recent rulings from the Supreme Court.

•  June 23rd – New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruden, Superintendent of New York State Police. This, on the surface, was a victory for the Second Amendment, effectively banning Draconian laws in New York that limited the ability to receive a concealed carry permit in that state.

•  June 24th – Kennedy v. Bremerton School District. This ruling was a victory for religious freedoms and the ability to pray in a school setting. It drove a small stake in the heart of those who claim the separation of church and state is enshrined in the Constitution, which it is not.

•  June 24th – Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. In this controversial ruling, the Supreme Court ended the federal protection and sanction of abortion rights granted in Roe v. Wade back in 1973, and now placed the legality and regulation of abortion back on the shoulder of each state, where it should be. For the Pro-Life movement, this was their greatest victory in sixty years.

•  June 30th – West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency. In this ruling, the Supreme Court cut away at some of the power and authority assumed by the three letter agencies within our government, EPA, CIA, FBI, IRS, CDC, NSA, DHS, etc., and returned their usurped power back to the legislative branch and our elected officials. This was a victory for economic freedom and small businesses across America.

So that’s the good news. Now for the rest of the story, the “equal and opposite reaction.”

Our enemy is now enraged. That’s right, Christians are being called the new Taliban by members of congress, and the media is portraying us as bigoted insurrectionists who are the biggest threat to our democracy and the future of America. Yep, the enemy is you and me. And this is only the beginning.

On January 13, 2021, we asked the following question: What do I believe? And what am I willing to do about what I believe? We put it this way:

•  What am I willing to die for?

•  What is the mission and calling of my life?

•  What means the most to me?

•  And what truth will I not compromise on?

The purpose of that message was to encourage you to define what matters most to you and what you see the next few years looking like and plan accordingly, especially spiritually. It was a call to become a faith prepper.

I shared then what I believed the future looked like and have tried to funnel every decision over the last eighteen months through that grid. This is what I shared on Sunday, January 13, 2021.

•  I believe we are entering the end times.

•  I believe things will get very bad in the US over the next two years.

•  I believe inflation is a certainty.

•  I believe there will be shortages of food, gas, etc.

•  I believe we will face persecution as Christians.

•  I believe there is a great possibility of civil war.

•  And I believe we must prepare spiritually right now!

And since I believe these things, I will once again implore you, as the church, the Bride of Christ, to consider a deeper commitment to Him than ever before. In 2021 (now, July 4th, 2022), consider following Him this way:

•  Consider opening your home for Bible study this year.

•  Consider getting together with others for Bible study, fellowship, and prayer.

•  Consider creative ways to teach your children about the “exceeding riches of His grace” in Christ.

•  And, if you don’t feel compelled to “Go” for the gospel, then consider bringing the lost to you (both home and church) to make disciples of them.

And the time for His return and the increasing chaos that comes with it is only closer now than it was in 2021. More than ever, we need to revisit these truths, only this time, take them seriously. Look at the list above. Have things grown worse in our nation over the last two years? Are we experiencing inflation and shortages? Are Christians now feeling the pains of persecution? Absolutely. What’s next? Possible civil war? Who knows?

What do you believe? And what are you not willing to compromise on?

These are vital questions for the church today, but also for you and your family as we see the judgment of the Lord looming over our land. Join us today as we talk more about what it means, on a practical level, to truly believe the Lord is coming soon and how to prepare to meet Him in the air.

To download the slides for this message, click – HERE

537: How to Hear from God Through His Word

536: Evaluating Our Priorities in These Dark Times

535: What We Know to be True About Christ

534: Whatever the Problem, the “Lord is Near”

533: Is There Something Better than Answered Prayer?