Spencer Patrick .com

2008/11/05

What does the Bible say about Purgatory?

Question: “What does the Bible say about Purgatory?”

Answer: According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, Purgatory is “a place or condition of temporal punishment for those who, departing this life in God’s grace, are, not entirely free from venial faults, or have not fully paid the satisfaction due to their transgressions.” To summarize, in Catholic theology, Purgatory is a place that a Christian’s soul goes to after death to be cleansed of the sins that had not been fully satisfied during life. Is this doctrine of Purgatory in agreement with the Bible? Absolutely not!

Jesus died to pay the penalty for all of our sins (Romans 5:8). Isaiah 53:5declares, “but He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” Jesus suffered for our sins so that we could be delivered from suffering. To say that we must also suffer for our sins is to say that Jesus’ suffering was insufficient. To say that we must atone for our sins by cleansing in Purgatory is to deny the sufficiency of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus (1 John 2:2). The idea that we have to suffer for our sins after death is contrary to everything the Bible says about salvation.

The primary Scriptural passage Catholics point to for evidence of Purgatory is 1 Corinthians 3:15, which says, “If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.” The passage (1 Corinthians 3:12-15) is using an illustration of things going through fire as a description of believers’ works being judged. If our works are of good quality “gold, sliver, costly stones,” they will pass through the fire unharmed, and we will be rewarded for them. If our works are of poor quality “wood, hay, and straw,” they will be consumed by the fire, and there will be no reward. The passage does not say that believers pass through the fire, but rather that a believer’s works pass through the fire. 1 Corinthians 3:15 refers to the believer “escaping through the flames,” not “being cleansed by the flames.”

Purgatory, like many other Catholic dogmas, is based on a misunderstanding of the nature of Christ’s sacrifice. Catholics view the Mass / Eucharist as a re-presentation of Christ’s sacrifice because they fail to understand that Jesus’ once for all sacrifice was absolutely and perfectly sufficient (Hebrews 7:27). Catholics view meritorious works as contributing to salvation due to a failure to recognize that Jesus’ sacrificial payment has no need of additional “contribution” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Similarly, Purgatory is understood by Catholics as a place of cleansing in preparation for Heaven because they do not recognize that because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are already cleansed, declared righteous, forgiven, redeemed, reconciled, and sanctified.

The very idea of Purgatory, and the doctrines that are often attached to it (prayer for the dead, indulgences, meritorious works on behalf of the dead, etc.) all fail to recognize that Jesus’ death was sufficient to pay the penalty for ALL of our sins. Jesus, who was God incarnate (John 1:1,14), paid an infinite price for our sin. Jesus died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3). Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 John 2:2). To limit Jesus’ sacrifice to atoning for original sin, or sins committed before salvation, is an attack on the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. If we must in any sense pay for, atone for, or suffer because of our sins – that indicates Jesus’ death was not a perfect, complete, and sufficient sacrifice.

For believers, after death is to be “away from the body and at home with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Philippians 1:23). Notice that this does not say “away from the body, in Purgatory with the cleansing fire.” No, because of the perfection, completion, and sufficiency of Jesus’ sacrifice, we are immediately in the Lord’s presence after death, fully cleansed, free from sin, glorified, perfected, and ultimately sanctified.

Quoted from here

2008/11/02

What Does a Godly Kid Look Like?

by Joe McGee

As parents, we’ve all tried to do what is right. We all want our kids to grow up to be healthy, smart, and likable—not to mention, responsible. That’s why we’re always talking to them and encouraging them.

“Clean your room. Take out the trash. Brush your teeth. Do your homework. You’re going to make it. Study for your test. Say, ‘Yes sir.’ Say, ‘No sir.’ Sit up straight. God is going to help you. You’re not wearing that. Did you say ‘thank you’?”

You know the routine. While all of this has merit, we must not forget the most important trait that God is looking for in our children.

What is that?

Godliness!

That’s right. Godliness.

In Malachi 2:15 (NLT) we read,

Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are His. And what does He want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth.

Godliness is more than being good. Godliness means being devoted to Him and to His commandments. Godliness is thinking like God and acting like Him.

Don’t get me wrong. No one is perfect. The Bible says the righteous fall seven times a day but they get back up. We are not known as the perfect people but as the “getting-back-up people.” We are all growing in His grace and in His knowledge everyday.

So, I may not have perfect kids, but I do want godly kids!

Why?

Because the Bible says in 1Timothy 4:8 (NLT), “Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come.” The King James Version says, “Godliness is profitable unto all things!”

So what does godliness look like? How do I make my kids godly kids?

The Bible gives us a comparison of the godly versus the ungodly. In the book of Jude, in verses 14-21 (NLT), we read:

Enoch, who lived in the seventh generation after Adam, prophesied about these people. He said, “Listen! The Lord is coming with countless thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment on the people of the world. He will convict every person of all the ungodly things they have done and for all the insults that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
These people are grumblers and complainers living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want. But you, my dear friends, must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said. They told you that in the last times there would be scoffers whose purpose in life is to satisfy their ungodly desires. These people are the ones who are creating divisions among you. They follow their natural instincts because they do not have God’s Spirit in them.
But you dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God’s love.

The King James in verses 20-21 says, “But you beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God.”

So what do we get from this?

The ungodly:

Grumble and complain.
Brag loudly about themselves.
Flatter others to get what they want.

The godly:

Build up their faith. Read and meditate the Word of God daily. (Rom. 12:2)
Pray Spirit-led prayers. (Eph. 6:18)
Walk in love. Faith works by love—and love is not a feeling. Love is serving. Jesus said, “If you want to be great in My kingdom, become the servant of all.” (Matt. 20:26)

So what does a godly kid look like?

He has been trained to read his Bible on a daily basis, to pray Spirit-led prayers daily, and to serve others daily!

That is what leads to success in life. That is what God wanted—a godly seed.

God, give us the desire and the power to do what pleases You. (Phil. 2:13 NLT)

2008/10/31

Experiencing More

Experiencing More
by Denise Renner

Let me share with you about experiencing more of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives—something we all desire, even though we haven’t always reached our expectations.

Isn’t it true that the more ice cream you eat, the more you want to eat? And isn’t it true that the more money you spend, the more you want to spend? The same is true with our hunger for God and His manifest presence in our lives. The more time we spend with Him, the more time we want to spend with Him.

Not long ago, I held various meetings while I was in the States. The meetings were good, and I was grateful for God’s presence and for the anointing to minister in those meetings. But something within me was just not satisfied.

I believe this dissatisfaction I felt was from the Holy Spirit. He wasn’t satisfied, either! It actually made me a little angry with myself—but it was a “good anger,” because it caused me to have a new hunger to pursue a greater depth of fellowship in His presence. It also spurred me on to take more time to really hear His voice.

Have you ever felt that way?

As a result of this inner dissatisfaction, I began getting up earlier to seek God and to just sit in His presence. (I had to get up early because it’s the only time our house is quiet.) And as I sought Him during those quiet times, I began to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice afresh and anew.

As I spent extra time waiting before the Lord, the first thing I learned was that our spirits, where the Holy Spirit lives, are filled with peace. I didn’t say our minds or emotions were always filled with peace—but our recreated spirits are, and it’s up to us to yield to the divine peace that abides in our hearts.

As I first began to sit and listen with renewed fervency to what the Holy Spirit was saying, the first thing I heard from Him was this simple statement: “I am not upset about anything—NOTHING upsets Me.” (If you were to get very quiet and push all the busyness of life aside, you would hear the same thing from the Holy Spirit.)

Just hearing those words alone can make your shoulders relax and bring a great sense of calmness and well-being to your life. After all, if God is not upset, why should you be? He completely understands everything about you. He knows what you’re going to say even before you say it! He understands your thoughts afar off, and He also knows how many hairs are on your head (see Ps. 139:2,4; Matt. 10:30; Luke 12:7). So you can be 100 percent certain that He already knows about your financial situation, your marriage, your children, your body, and your every weakness and need.

The fact that God knows us so well and that He’s for us and not against us is a powerful reason for us to rejoice in hope! Now let’s look at First John 2:27.

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing [the unction of the Holy Spirit] teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it [He] hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
(1 John 2:27, KJV)

Since the Holy Spirit already knows you perfectly and lives inside you as your Teacher, you don’t need to walk around depressed, fearful, and uninformed. He is right there with you to teach, guide, and comfort you. The Holy Spirit wants you and me not only to have our questions answered, but also to know Him! So let’s make the time to quiet our hearts and listen until we hear His voice in our hearts.

It’s a growing relationship with the Holy Spirit that we seek as we learn to listen for and hear His still, small voice. And we don’t just want to hear—we also desire sweet fellowship with the Holy Spirit that will bless and change us as we abide in His presence.

First John 2:28 says, “…Little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.” Do you need confidence? Confidence comes from abiding in the presence of God.

I want to encourage you to make more time to fellowship with the Holy Spirit. If you have to get up earlier in the morning to do it, I promise you that whatever sleep you lose will be gained back in strength and joy throughout your day! I discovered that giving up a little sleep was well worth the extra power the Lord gave me to conquer my own flesh during the day.

You will never be sorry for spending time with God. Just look at the benefits that fellowship with Him brings (see 1 John 2:27,28):

Being taught by the Holy Spirit Himself.

Receiving perfect teaching.

Receiving absolute truth.

Having confidence in and before Jesus.

Having no shame before Him when He returns.

I don’t believe the world is going to become a more peaceful place to live as time goes on. Instead, according to Second Timothy 3, there will be more and more reasons for people to fear. But those who are learning to seek God’s face and recognize His voice will become more prepared and more filled with divine peace and power to enable them to face these hard times victoriously—all because they’re spending time alone with God.

Rick Renner Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.

2008/10/19

Seven Steps in Raising a Faith Child

From: The Cutting Edge

by Larry Ollison, Ph.D.

God has placed within parents the natural ability to teach their children. As a Christian parent, we must not only teach our children about the physical necessities of life, but we must also train them up so that they will walk in faith.

The Word says in Proverbs 22:6 that if we train our children properly while they are children, then when they become older, they will not depart from their instruction.

Here are seven simple steps in training your child to be a child of faith:

(1.) You must pray for your child.
Your prayers are more powerful concerning your children than anyone else’s. You not only have spiritual authority, but you have the natural authority of a parent.

(2.) You must speak the Word over your child.
Isaiah 59:21 says, “‘This is My covenant with them: My Spirit who is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your descendants, nor from the mouth of your descendants’ descendants,'” says the LORD, “‘from this time and forevermore'” (Isa. 59:21).

(3.) Speak the promise and not the problem.
It’s tempting to speak the problem when you are dealing with children by saying things like, “When will you ever learn to Â…” Remember, there must be instruction without condemnation.

(4.) Encourage your child with the Word.
Isaiah 54:13 says, “All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children.” They must know you stand on the Word unconditionally in faith.

(5.) Call those things that be not as though they were.
God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did (Rom. 4:17).

For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor. 2:16).

Say, “You are intelligent because you have the mind of Christ.” Say, “You are strong because the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Say, “You are delivered because the children of the righteous shall be delivered.”

Remember, you cannot tell them they have the mind of Christ and act like they have the mind of the devil.

(6.) Let them see faith in you.
As you live your natural life at work and at home, walk by faith in all you do. Your children will see your character. In Second Timothy it tells us that faith can be transmitted from one generation to the next.

“When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Tim. 1:5).

(7.) Don’t give up on your child.
Thus says the LORD: “Refrain your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the LORD, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope in your future, says the LORD, that your children shall come back to their own border” (Jer. 31:16-17).

Giving up is not faith. Faith is not giving up.

2008/10/07

Teaching Your Kids to Change the World

By Ron Luce

One of our biggest responsibilities as parents is not only to protect our kids from culture but to help them be the shapers of culture. Ninety-eight percent of people are followers; 2 percent are the shapers of culture.

How do we get our kids into the 2 percent who are shapers of culture? How do we get them to be the dreamers for their generation, inventing the gadgets, writing the songs, driving the businesses, running for political office and sitting on school boards? It starts while they are young. As moms and dad, we need to be about the business of sparking the desire and planting the seed in their hearts to creatively dream when they are very, very young.

We have told our kids from the beginning that they were born to change the world. They were born to make a difference. We put them to sleep at night praying over them, “God you Hannah (Charity, Cameron) to change the world. Use her to make a difference…to touch people’s lives.” From the youngest age, that seed was planted in their minds and hearts; they grew up believing they really can change the world and make a difference.

Our goal as parents is not just for our kids to become “good” members of society. We need to raise them to be change agents. We need to raise them to take the values we have instilled in them, harnessed with a passion for God, and inspire them to reach out to people. We multiply the impact we have had on their lives to countless others, as they reach out. Let me give you some practical ways that you can do this for your kids.

Encourage Them to Be Others-Oriented
From a very young age, encourage your children to be “others-oriented.” For example, when your kids decide to get entrepreneurial, as most kids will, you can encourage them to mow lawns and sell lemonade so that they can donate the money to help other people, not just satisfy their own purchasing power. In a similar vein, when they do want things, instead of buying them everything they want, teach them to find enterprising ways of earning money. They need to learn how to save for things they want to buy.

Help Them Pursue Small Dreams
When can teach our children to be opportunistic. When my oldest daughter, Hannah, was 13, she had an idea that she wanted to use the Internet to help preteen girls through a website she wanted to create. I got a mentor to help her learn how to do a little bit of programming. She wrote the code for a website called girlofgod.com. She had all kinds of ideas on how she was going to do the art.

It was thrilling. She got lots of preteen girls on that site and ministered to them. The vision did not continue for very long, but it was a fantastic life lesson for her. She saw this truth: “If I have a dream, I can learn how to go about achieving it, and I can accomplish something.” Help your kids find opportunities to impact other people and not just indulge themselves; and then show them how to take the vision from an idea stage to completion.

Defy Selfish Logic
All throughout our kids’ growing-up years, we had a special Christmas morning tradition. After eating breakfast, we got ready to leave the house for what my wife and I felt was one of the most important holiday traditions before openings gifts: We would serve the meal at the local Salvation Army.

We did this to send a message to our children that Christmas is about serving, not just indulging ourselves. Inevitably, we would end up having some conversations with people who were really hurting, listening to them and praying fo them. Look for various ways to plant seeds in your kids about being others-centered.

Out-of-the-Box Experiences
One of the greatest things you can do is help your kids want to serve and impact other people. You can provoke this by giving them experiences that are way out of the box. Sending them to summer camp is great, but finding a camp that doesn’t indulge them makes a bigger impact.

Look for something that teaches them to be closer to God or gain a skill. Some examples would be leadership camp like Student Leadership University, basketball camp, acting camp or anything else that will give them a skill they can use even in their high school years to serve others and become excellent at something.

One of the greatest things you can do is help your kids go on a missions trip in another part of the world. There they can see how other people live who are far less fortunate than we are in America. Start doing this at a young age. If MTV is targeting kids at younger and younger ages, then so must we. We must plant in our kids a desire to really make a difference and change the world.

Battle Cry for a Generation by Ron Luce
Teen Mania Ministries All rights reserved.

2008/09/28

The Fire

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending
services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the preacher decided
to visit him.
It was a chilly evening. The preacher found the man at home alone,
sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his preacher’s visit,
the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and
waited.
The preacher made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave
silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs.
After some minutes, the preacher took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a
brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone
then he sat back in his chair, still silent.
The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone
ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then
its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.
Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The preacher
glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up,
picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire.
Immediately it began to glow,once more with the light and warmth of the
burning coals around it.
As the preacher reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear
running down his cheek, “Thank you so much for your visit and especially for
the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday.”
We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little.
Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the ones left
unspoken.
The Lord is my Shepherd —– that’s a Relationship!
I shall not want —– that’s Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures —-that’s Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters —–that’s Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul —– that’s Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness –that’s Guidance!
For His name sake —– that’s Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death–that’s
Testing!
I will fear no evil —– that’s Protection!
For Thou art with me —– that’s Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me —–that’s Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine
enemies——that’s Hope!
Thou annointest my head with oil —– that’s Consecration!
My cup runneth over —– that’s Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my
life—-that’s Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord —–that’s Security!
Forever —– that’s Eternity!
Face it, God is crazy about you!
What is most valuable is not what we have in our lives, but WHO we
have in our lives.

2008/09/192008/09/27

Developing A Passion for God

God is so good and His mercies last forever and ever!

Wow! I am just stand here amazed at how loving God is to us.

The weather is cooling off, it is a beautiful day with the smell of Autumn in the air. Wednesday I enjoyed a nice time with new friends on a terrace at Tokyo Mid-town. The building is surrounded by green and a comfortable breeze was blowing across the terrace. I had the opportunity to share Jesus with about 6 people that night. It was a wonderful chance to share the light of the God’s Kingdom to the people around us.

For the last two weeks the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me about passion. We all have it. As you have seen from my earlier writing, some people are busy letting their passion go off in the wrong direction. Involved in immoral relationships, so deep in work that they don’t have much time with God, or just plain chasing ungodly dreams. What is your passion?

Is your passion that new car you bought? Is it that new baby? Is it going to the gym and exercising all the time? There is nothing wrong with enjoying life. If you are in sin, you’ve got to get out of it. God has a better plan for us. The Bible says

..in God’s presence is fullness of joy.

That car, that other person, that job, that cigarette, that drink, that day at the gym, that hike in the mountains… nothing can satisfy you like that relationship with God.

Make a point of getting into God’s presence today. Take the time to wait on Him

Those who wait upon the Lord… shall renew their strength.

What does that mean in everyday life? It means if you make time to be with God. Set aside even 10-15 minutes before you go to work to be with God. To pray. God will strengthen you each day you do this. You will be more sensitive to His Spirit as you go about you day.

What do I do when I pray? I use the word PSALM for model in praying,

P- Praise

The Bible says to enter His gates with thanksgiving, to enter His courts with praise. I start my prayer time with praise God for all that He has done for me. Praise Him for my health, my overflowing finance (speak it out in faith), my obedient and loving kids, my wife that is madly in love with me. Praise Him for the answered prayers.

S- Surrender

Next I surrender all my worries, my cares, my concerns, my stress, everything (and everyone) that bothers me I surrender to Him. The Bible says, “Roll your cares on Him for He cares for you.”

A- Ask

After I have spent some time sharing with Him and talking with Him, this is when I begin to ask Him; To lay my needs, the needs of my church, my family, my business before His feet. This is where a lot of people stop praying. But there is more to the story.

L- Listen

Listen to God’s voice. God “is a Spirit and those who worship Him, worship Him in spirit and in truth’. God does not normally speak to you in an audible voice (although there are those who have heard him). He is a spirit, and He speaks to our spirit. We hear God’s direction via our spirits.

M- Meditate

Once you have praised Him, quieted your heart and surrendered to Him, then you can pour out your heart to Him. After you have shared with God, then you listen to His wisdom for you. Finally, as your spirit has become more sensitive by this time you need to meditate on what He has said or what He is sharing with you. What does meditate mean? It means to think about, think on, to go over and over in your mind.

As you use this PSALM tool you will notice yourself going deeper and deeper with God. This is the beginning of developing your passion. Passion for God, passion for your spouse, passion for your children, passion for people and bringing souls into the Kingdom of God, passion for life!

Have a God day!

2008/09/122008/09/27

Cell Phone vs. Bible

What would happen if you treated your Bible like you treat your
cell phone?

What if you carried it around in your purse or pocket?

What if you turned back to go get it if you forgot it?
What if you flipped through it several times a day?
What if you used it to receive messages from the text?
What if you treated it like you couldn’t live without it?
What if you gave it to your kids as gifts?
What if you used it as you traveled?
What if you used it in case of an emergency?
What if you bought a new one because the old one was worn out and tattered?

Do you know where your Bible is right now?

Unlike your cell phone, you don’t ever have to
worry about your Bible being disconnected, because Jesus already paid your
bill.

2008/09/10

Separation of Church And State

Praise the Mighty Name of Jesus!

I think we are all getting fed up with the godless minority of our nation telling us to get God out of our lives. This is a great positive response to dealing with this. I am sure more and more people are going to rise up and take our nation back for God. We see revival and outpouring breaking out through-out this nation. Hallelujah!

Check this out!

—

This is a statement that was read over the PA system at the football game at Roane County High School, Kingston, Tennessee, by school Principal, Jody McLeod

‘It has always been the custom at Roane County High School football games, to say a prayer and play the National Anthem, to honor God and Country.’

Due to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, I am told that saying a Prayer is a violation of Federal Case Law. As I understand the law at this time, I can use this public facility to approve of sexual perversion and call it ‘an alternate lifestyle,’ and if someone is offended, that’s OK.

I can use it to condone sexual promiscuity, by dispensing condoms and calling it, ‘safe sex.’ If someone is offended, that’s OK.

I can even use this public facility to present the merits of killing an unborn baby as a ‘viable means of birth control.’ If someone is offended, no problem…

I can designate a school day as ‘Earth Day’ and involve students in activities to worship religiously and praise the goddess ‘Mother Earth’ and call it ‘ecology.’

I can use literature, videos and presentations in the classroom that depicts people with strong, traditional Christian convictions as ‘simple minded’ and ‘ignorant’ and call it ‘enlightenment.’

However, if anyone uses this facility to honor GOD and to ask HIM to Bless this event with safety and good sportsmanship, then Federal Case Law is violated.

This appears to be inconsistent at best, and at worst, diabolical. Apparently, we are to be tolerant of everything and anyone, except GOD and HIS Commandments.

Nevertheless, as a school principal, I frequently ask staff and students to abide by rules with which they do not necessarily agree. For me to do otherwise would be inconsistent at best, and at worst, hypocritical… I suffer from that affliction enough unintentionally. I certainly do not need to add an intentional transgression.

For this reason, I shall ‘Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s,’ and refrain from praying at this time.

‘However, if you feel inspired to honor, praise and thank GOD and ask HIM, in the name of JESUS, to Bless this event, please feel free to do so. As far as I know, that’s not against the law—-yet.’

One by one, the people in the stands bowed their heads, held hands with one another and began to pray.

They prayed in the stands. They prayed in the team huddles. They prayed at the concession stand and they prayed in the Announcer’s Box!

The only place they didn’t pray was in the Supreme Court of the United States of America – the Seat of ‘Justice’ in the ‘one nation, under GOD.’

Somehow, Kingston, Tennesseeremembered what so many have forgotten. We are given the Freedom OF Religion, not the Freedom FROM Religion. Praise GOD that HIS remnant remains!

JESUS said, ‘If you are ashamed of ME before men, then I will be ashamed of you before MY FATHER.’

2008/09/072008/11/12

Dealing With Sin

Rom 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. NKJV

In Japan, I have been amazed by the ‘speaker cars’ (vehicles mounted with bullhorns and speaker systems) parked at busy Tokyo shopping district intersections talked about how we are sinners. It seems like that is all we hear about. Sin. To me it has always seemed condemning. They do mention Jesus as the Messiah, but the people delivering the message don’t seem very joyful in playing these recorded messages to the masses of this 28 million person city.

However, recently they’ve got a point. There is sin out there. We as Christians have got to deal with it. As we enter into the last days, more and more people are compromising. Some people who have accepted Jesus as beginning to believe lies of the enemy and accept things that clearly defined as sin in the Word of God.

If you look at some church in the US and Europe, you can see these compromises. God wants us to love the sinner, but we are to hate the sin. One such example is homosexuality; the unnatural lust (unhealthy looks and thoughts) of someone over people of the same sex. We have some traditional church denominations that have accepted this people in need. That is fine. But our acceptance of these people should be to help them get out of sin.

How does sin work? Well, clearly there is various types of sin. All sin leads to death, but some sin will take you there quicker. The Word is very clear about sexual sin. God has given us a built-in sin meter called our conscience. One way to see your conscience is to relate it to one of those ninja throwing stars.

When a believer sins, his conscience is like that sharp star spinning inside him. It spins and at that point the believer should say, ‘Father forgive me for I have sinned. According to 1 John 1:9, I confess my sin to you and know I am cleansed from all unrighteousness’. From that point, if some demon tries to speak to you and remind you of that sin. Then you have to say, ‘I am washed by the blood of Jesus. That sin is gone.’ The next time you are tempted to think the same thoughts or do the same thing you confess the Word. ‘I am free from the law of sin and death, I stand on the Word of God’.

If the believer continues to sin, the points of that spinning star become duller and duller. They are no longer listening to their conscience that God created them with. Eventually, the person is separated from God as their conscience is no longer sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. They stop coming to church regularly. They stop giving. They stop fellowshipping with other Spirit-filled Bibile believing Christians.

When sinful thoughts come, you have to deal with them immediately. You cannot receive them. Receiving sinful thoughts is like weeds in the garden. When you see them sprout up, you need to pull when they are small. You’ve got to deal with them. If you let time pass and let them grow up they will be much harder to deal with as they have taken root.

Don’t become dull to God by letting sin in your life. Keep sensitive to his plan for you. When you mess up, confess the sin, and confess God’s forgiveness. He has an awesome plan for you. Don’t let some demon or the world steal it from you!

God is awesome.