Who are you?
Do you want a Personal Savior or National Savior?
Are you a Collectivist or Individualist?
It was a dark and stormy night in
Israel/Judea 2000 years ago. At least it was a dark and
stormy night of the soul. In John chapter
6 Jesus had just given crowd some information that was unpopular to say the
least. Many of His followers left Him
like dogs returning to their vomit.
Jesus asked His disciples if they would also go away and in verse 68 the
Bible says, ‘Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou
hast the words of eternal life.’
There were those in the time of Jesus
Christ who saw themselves as righteous according to their obedience to the
commandments. They saw no need of a
personal savior. They only saw the need
of a national savior. They wanted
someone who would come as the conquering hero.
He would throw off the chains of Rome and set up Israel as the new super
power in the world.
It was a dark and stormy night in the
United States of America. Well, actually
it was broad open daylight, but it was definitely a dark night of the soul. It was election day, and America was taking a
step down the path that leads to destruction.
Many of the leaders elected that day do not understand or admit the sovereignty
of God Almighty. They join all gods
together and preach unity above truth and collectivism above individuality.
There are many in the USA and nations
around the world who do not see the need for the salvation of any
individual. They see the world as a collective,
needing group salvation brought about by the savior of the government. Many people today vote for the politician who
promises the most saving grace from the government. Their vote can be bought by as little as a
free cell phone and promises of ‘more to come’.
Undoubtedly perilous times are upon us. There is no safe haven in this world. So what is a Christian supposed to do? How are these perilous times to be faced?
Put God first. Make sure He is first. Go over your:
Self-definition – Christian, obedient,
consistent, married/not married, parent/not parent/ occupation, etc.
Self-discipline – be faithful to let
your actions reflect the person you claim to be.
Self-reliance – do the best you can
with what you have within the boundaries set by your self-definition.
From the platform of self-definition,
self-discipline, and self-reliance you are ready to carry out the great
commission. In Mark 16:15 Jesus gives
believers specific instructions. He
says, ‘And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel
to every creature.’
As a Christian you are supposed to know
who you are. That is
self-definition. It does not change no
matter what events are going on around you.
You are supposed to exercise self-discipline. You behave in a way that is consistent with
your core beliefs. And you set out to be
self-reliant. You are willing to accept help
if you must, but your goal is to do the best you can with the things the Lord
provides for you. These three things
better enable you to tell the world that Jesus Saves. Christ alone has the worlds of life. In spreading the truth of Jesus Christ not
all people are called to specifically go to different location. Every believer is called to do something to
support missionary effort. If you don’t have
a church with a missionary program then you need to change churches. Every church has expenses, but there must be
part of the church income that goes to missionaries. I strongly suggest that you find a church
that supports specific missionaries. Money
needs to go straight to missionary families and not be channeled through
corporate headquarters. (If you want to contribute directly to something like
the Southern Baptist disaster relief groups that would be different than
missionary support.)
When Jesus was walking on earth 2000
years ago, His true followers faced severe disappointment. Actually, I don’t think we have a word that
could describe the deep disappointment they faced. They saw their personal vision of an
immediate kingdom on earth crushed down to perdition. At least, that is what it looked like to
them. But Christ had a better plan.
Today, Christians around the world are
facing disappointment. People who claim
to be Christians fall into apostasy.
They hear the truth; follow after the truth for a time; reject the
truth; and replace it with a lie. Governments become increasingly
collectivist. People look to the
government as their salvation in times of crisis instead of falling on their
knees and pleading with God Almighty to intervene on their behalf. The apostates and heretics often do not
actually openly depart from the faith.
They like the social aspect of their religion. They simply re-create god in their own
image. They take away the aspects of
Jesus they don’t care for. They give
Jesus characteristics they like.
Whatever the change, Jesus is no longer the Jesus of the Bible when they
get finished making their adjustments.
A true Christian has the weapon of the
truth in facing the world. Our job is to speak the truth in a manner that is
clear and compassionate. Remember there
is no compassion in watering down the truth or tweaking it in some way to make
it more agreeable to the people of the world.
Christ told the truth with humility and compassion. He never watered it down to make it
easier. We must present the path to
salvation in the same manner.
I have an opinion on what needs to be
done to make the USA a better place.
Christians need to:
Actually pray more.
Become more familiar with Bible doctrine
through daily reading and study
Pray for Israel
Put our heart and soul into evangelism
Stand up for sound doctrine according
to what the Bible teaches
Give no authority to any tradition of
man that steps above Bible teaching
Stand on scripture alone (which
teaches salvation by grace through faith alone – no works added)
Apply Bible teaching to personal actions
consistently (self-definition and self-discipline)
As times grow increasingly trouble and
perilous Christians need to have firmly established their hope in Jesus
Christ. The eleventh chapter of Psalms
is comforting in the changing and troubled times we face today.
1 In the Lord put I my trust: how say
ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?
2. For, lo, the wicked bend their bow, they make
ready their arrow upon the string, that they may privily shoot at the upright
in heart.
3. If the foundations be destroyed,
what can the righteous do?
4. The Lord is in his holy temple, the
Lord's throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of
men.
5. The Lord trieth the righteous: but
the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.
6. Upon the wicked he shall rain
snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion
of their cup.
7. For the righteous Lord loveth righteousness;
his countenance doth behold the upright.
Pay close attention to verses 3 and
4. In verse 3 the psalmists asks, ‘If
the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?’ Then he answers himself in verse 4. He sort of says, ‘Oh yeah, silly me. The Lord
is still on the throne in heaven. He
sees what is going on.’ (paraphrased of course)
Then the rest of the chapter give us more information. The righteous are ‘tried’. The Lord hates the wicked and the lovers of violence.
The wicked have a terrible end.
God loves righteousness, and God sees
the upright.
Disappointment in the election here in
the USA doesn’t change the foundations laid by God. It doesn’t change the job description of a
Christian. It doesn’t change the core
values and beliefs of a true follower of Jesus Christ. Nothing eternal is changed. The foundation of every believer is the solid
rock of Jesus Christ.
Today is the day to take Psalm 150
very seriously. In fact the last five
chapters of the book of Psalms begin and end with the command ‘Praise ye the
Lord’. I’ll give you Psalm 150 so you
don’t have to look it up.
1.Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in
his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
2. Praise him for his mighty acts:
praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3. Praise him with the sound of the
trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4. Praise him with the timbrel and
dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5. Praise him upon the loud cymbals:
praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6. Let every thing that hath breath
praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.
If you doubt the power of praise,
remember Paul and Silas singing and praising God while they were chained in
that dungeon. (Paul and Silas were set
free; their wounds were tended; the jailor and his family got saved.)
Honestly, the best thing that can be
done starting today is that American Christians would have a ‘Praise God’ festival
from now until Christmas.
Praise leads to thankfulness.
Thankfulness leads to humility.
Humility leads to repentance.
Repentance gets the ear of God.
Come on Christians! We have a job to do!
Remember we don’t have to do our job
alone. We are never alone because Jesus
will never leave us!
Never
Alone
http://www.hymntime.com/tch/htm/n/e/v/neveralo.htm
I’ve seen the lightning flashing, I’ve
heard the thunder roll.
I’ve felt sin’s breakers dashing, which almost
conquered my soul.
I’ve heard the voice of my Savior, bidding me
still to fight on.
He promised never to leave me, never to leave
me alone!
Refrain
No, never alone, no never alone,
He promised never to leave me,
He’ll claim me for His own;
No, never alone, no never alone.
He promised never to leave me,
Never to leave me alone.
The world’s fierce winds are blowing,
temptation sharp and keen.
I have a peace in knowing my Savior stands
between—
He stands to shield me from danger when my
friends are all gone.
He promised never to leave me, never to leave
me alone!
Refrain
When in affliction’s valley I tread
the road of care,
My Savior helps me carry the cross so heavy to
bear;
Though all around me is darkness, earthly joys
all flown;
My Savior whispers His promise, never to leave
me alone!
Refrain
He died on Calvary’s mountain, for me
they piercèd His side.
For me He opened that fountain, the crimson,
cleansing tide.
For me He waiteth in glory, seated upon His
throne.
He promised never to leave me, never to leave
me alone!
Refrain
