Monsters of Iniquity?

I have a question for you. It is one that has floated around for ages, and now I want to bring it into the light.

What is the basic nature of man? Good? Or Evil?

You must realize that the way you answer this question is critical for the basis of all your doctrine. Look at this question. Ponder it and consider what you actually believe to be true. Not what anyone else says is true, but what you say is the answer.

There are many who have said, “We are basically good, society just corrupts us.” A single look around you and you can tell that that statement is simply not true.
“Well, OK, maybe there are a lot of bad people in the world, like Hitler and Stalin, but not everyone is that bad!”

“You cannot slander human nature: it is worse than words can paint it.” – Charles Spurgeon

The reality of it is, you and I are just as evil as Hitler and Stalin were. We are just as depraved and wicked. No, we may not have been so outward in our sinful natures, but we are just as bad and just as selfish as they were. Paris Reidhead said that people are, “Monsters of iniquity.” That seems like an incredibly harsh statement, but is it true?

Let’s see what we find in the Bible about the basic nature of man.

Most Christians know Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” However, I don’t think we quite realize the gravity of what this means. Romans 14:23 says, “… For whatever is not of faith is sin.” Anything done out of unbelief is sin. In other words, we haven’t just done a few wrong things here and there; we have done nothing but sin.

Ephesians 2 takes this idea even deeper, calling us “dead in our trespasses.” You “walked according to the course of the world, according to the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” Verse 3 goes on to say that we “were by nature the children of wrath…” because we walked according to our flesh.

Because of this nature we have, as children of disobedience and wrath, we are under a curse. Galatians 3:10 tells us, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” Our sin, our flesh, and the deeds thereof have condemned us. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest… they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God (5:19, 21).”

Other places in the Bible, we are described as evil, blind, deaf, lost, rebellious, without hope, haters of God, desperately wicked, and children of Satan himself. You need to realize that we deserve hell. You deserve every inch of the wrath of God. No man is justified before God, and every man is without excuse. God is no respecter of persons, circumstance, or problem. You fully deserve the second death for all eternity.

This is what makes the gospel of Jesus Christ such good news.

It says in John 3:16, the most well known verse in the Bible, says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God so loved – when you realize what you are apart from Jesus Christ, this statement is ridiculous. We were rebels, haters of God, but He still loved us. If that doesn’t bowl you over, not much will.

Here’s the problem: most of the time, we quote this verse, say a prayer, and think we’re going to heaven. I want you to realize that when Jesus died upon the cross, it wasn’t for forgiveness or some vague thing we call grace that just covers our life mess. No, there is much, much more to the cross than that.

Eternal life is not some ethereal existence; it is not just a pleasure filled paradise where you can gratify every desire you have. If we sneak into the garden of Gethsemane, and overhear what Jesus prays in the book of John, we find what this life really is. John 17:3 says, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom though hast sent.” We have so desired to simply save people that we have truncated and twisted the gospel to simply get people into heaven by the truckloads. Let me tell you, if you don’t love Jesus Christ with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength here on this earth, you aren’t going to like heaven very much, because heaven and eternal life are all about Jesus Christ. Everlasting life starts today, not when you die, because it is knowing Jesus and Him knowing you, not some cloudy city in the sky.

In Colossians 1, we find what the gospel is really all about. See, the Christian life is utterly impossible. No man can be perfect, and holy, and righteous, and loving on their own. That’s why most people give up today and just say, “Well, I’m trapped in my lust, greed, and drug addictions, but praise the Lord, I’m a sinner saved by grace!” This is not the patter of the Christian life. However, in order to truly walk out Christianity, it takes Christ in a man. Colossians 1:28 says that the mystery of the Christian life is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”

This is what Christ purchased upon the cross. His blood cleanses us of all unrighteousness so that we can enter into the presence of God and He can enter into us. “What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s (1 Cor. 6:19-20).” This is not just some trite little truth, “Oh yeah, God’s in me, yadda yadda…” Do you realize how condescending this is on the part of God? He, the holy, righteous, pure, merciful God, is coming and dwelling in you who were once an enemy, a rebel, and filthy?

Everything in the gospel comes back to Jesus. It’s not about saving you and getting you safe into heaven; it is all about Him, and the glory, praise, and adoration due His name. Don’t you dare attempt to take Jesus just as your fire insurance. That is blasphemy to the name of Jesus Christ and smears the cross in mud. You come to Him, bow yourself to Him, and offer your life up as a living sacrifice, because that is what He died for. He died for you, all of you, that you would know the greatest thing you could ever know: Him. He is worthy, He deserves everything. Do not come to Him just for what He can offer you. Come to Jesus for His sake. Give all of yourself as you best know how, and He will enter in, and radically change your life. As Paris Reidhead said, “It’s not about what you’re going to get out of God, but what God is going to get out of you.”

There is such great richness in the life of Jesus Christ. As you enter into Him, now a beloved child and no longer a rebel, He washes you clean, purging you, so that He can come down and live in and through you.

Will you let Him have what He died for?

Ode to my Roomie

Most of you don't know my roommate Nathan Rogers, but I want to give a shout out to him, simply because he is one amazing guy. And because he got the call to go home a few days ago (and I mean that literally).

When I first arrived in the incredibly strange Denver International Airport one May 31st, I remember looking around with my mom and finding Grace and the other students. I saw a group of fine looking young men and women and promptly began making small talk with them. A few feet away, I saw a young man with dark blond hair, bangs that covered his face, a necklace and tight jeans. I remember thinking, "Surely, he's not one of us" in my fleshly way. Sure enough, he was. This was my first impression of Nathan Rogers.

Nathan was the type of guy who had fallen into the modern trap of the Cool Christian Image. He wanted to look good, say all the right things, and be in the center stage. However, a change began to take place upon this young man over the summer semester. I think some of it had to do with his baptism and truly dying to self. He went from straightening his hair every morning to a buzz cut. He ditched the silly bandanna he always had sticking out of his back pocket. He really became a new man.

Something substantially changed in the life of Nathan Rogers. He was still rough around the edges, but God was molding him, and he was actually letting God do it. Slowly, the guy who was concerned all about his image became obsessed with the Lord Jesus Christ, and His glory being lifted high. We still laughed with Nathan and enjoyed his never ending joviality, but there was something different.

Though he wasn't my roommate during the summer session, I have had the extreme pleasure of rooming with him the past few weeks at Ellerslie. Nathan certainly is energetic. The great irony of this, however, is that we are total opposites. I typically go to bed at 9 or so, waking myself quite early in the morning, whereas Nathan takes pleasure in staying up later, and is incredibly hard to get out of bed in the mornings.

However, I think we have begun taking on one another's qualities. I notice myself becoming more energetic and using a few of his mannerisms, sometimes as a joke, but usually without even thinking. It's almost creepy in a way, but we have rubbed off on one another, especially in the spiritual sense. We have both been a challenge to one another as we ran together and pursued Christ together. Truly, iron has sharpened iron, and I think he has sharpened me much more than I him.

All in all, Nathan has become a very fast friend of mine. He is a brother that sticks closer than a friend. His love and holy reverence for God and the things of God are incredible. Nathan can see things that other men can't, and his wise discernment is something many elderly people would envy.

Now, he is leaving for home. All I can say is, "Watch out Florida! Here comes Nathan Rogers! And Heaven's coming with him!" I do hope to see him again this side of glory, and I likely will. But if not, then I look forward to the hour in which we meet once more on the other side of that celestial shore.

All for the King and His Glory!

The Consuming Fire

Fire.

The word invokes images in everyone’s mind. Most guys have a strange attraction to it, and often enjoy playing with it until they are nigh scorched. For most of us, it makes us think of winter time and snuggling up close to a fireplace with a blanket and hot chocolate on a blistery day. The fire warms us, and the crackling of the wood soothes us.

That’s about as close as we want to get though. There are some brave and daring souls that light their hands on fire with hand sanitizer (guilty), or walk on hot coals, or even eat fire. However, we generally don’t want be that near to fire.

That’s because fire burns. It consumes everything that is flammable, and they are incredibly hard to put out once it begins.

Unfortunately for us, our God is a Consuming Fire:

“For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” – Deuteronomy 4:24

“… Serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: for our God is a consuming fire.” – Hebrews 12:29

Fire is certainly a recurring theme in the Bible: fire comes down from heaven to consume the enemies of God; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into a fiery furnace and emerged unscathed; the offerings upon the altar in the tabernacle and later the temple were often burnt up. This is crucial to understand, because in the New Testament, we see similar pictures of fire. John the Baptist says there comes
One after him who will baptize with the Holy Ghost and with fire (John 1).

You see, there are two baptisms, in essence, explained in the New Testament. The first was of water, the baptism of repentance and cleansing. To picture it, this would be akin to Noah and his family entering into the ark, as we, by death, enter into Jesus. The baptism of fire is then God coming down and entering mortal man. You see this picture in Pentecost: the Holy Spirit comes down, with wind and fire, and enters into the temple of the disciples. Every man’s work will be tested by fire (1 Cor. 3:15), to see what it is made of and to purify it. At the great judgment seat of Christ, those who are not found in Him are cast into everlasting fire. You will either be saved by the fire, or destroyed by it.

Practically though, what significance does fire have in our existence?

In Luke 3:15-17, John the Baptist tells of the coming Messiah, saying, “I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire: whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and will gather the wheat into his garner; but the chaff he will burn with fire unquenchable.”

Though this may appear confusing, John is speaking of the process of threshing wheat. When wheat is brought into a barn, it is beaten, with rods, animals, or a tool known as a tribulum. Through the beating, the chaff is broken off the wheat.

Then, the one who is threshing uses wind to blow away the lighter substance, the chaff, and burn it away with fire.

“But who may abide in the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap: and he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver… (Malachi 3:2-3)” As we know, we are a holy and royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:5, 9), making us, in essence, the sons of Levi.

What does all this culminate in? What point is God trying to make here? 1 Peter reveals the answer:

“Where in ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ… Beloved, think it not strange the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: but rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers with Christ’s sufferings… (1:6-7; 4:12-13)”

This is what it all comes together as. That Christ, as the refiner’s fire, purifies the faith of His saints with trials and temptations.

You may not have noticed, but remember one of the modes of threshing? It was done with an ancient Roman tool called a tribulum, which is the root of the word tribulation. God desires to remove all the chaff, all the wood, hay, and stubble that still remains in our life, with the tribulum of tribulation. His fire of trials burns us, but out of it, more beautiful faith emerges.

The problem is that in America, we have not been taught how to deal with suffering. Even the smallest of trials utterly knocks the wind out of us. We have become lazy, fat, and enjoyers of comfort. The way of Christ is through the cross; cross means suffering. It is not easy: it is, in fact, a slow and very painful death. However, it is only through that cross that we find the resurrection life on the other side!

Our faith in America is weak and anemic. We do not know how the handle trials and use them for the growing of enduring joy. We do not know how to die to ourselves daily as Christ did. Rather, we live in the American Dream, whether you realize it or not. The world has told us that all we need to find fulfillment in life is a good house, a good marriage, a good job and a good family. Tack on Jesus Christ, and you get to go to heaven in the end, too!

Folly. That is not the way of Christ, nor the way of any of His great saints. You see the life of Paul? This man was battered, beaten, bruised, scorned, and stoned. And yet he says he glories in tribulation; he boasts in it. Why? Because the strength of Christ is evident in and through Him when he is tried by fire!
The fire of God is meant to prove us, but if do not enter into the refining forge, how will we ever emerge as steel or pure gold? Rather, we simply want to warm ourselves on the comfort God gives us. God wants to throw us in and burn away everything that is of the flesh and sin. His way is a way of death unto life, not comfort unto happiness.

If you only see tribulation as something to endure with a good attitude, you have become a stoic, and there is no real joy in your life. You’re missing the entire point of trials! They are meant to prove what is of God, not to cause us to harden and endure in our own strength! They are what make us more like God, but so often we allow anxiety or stress to enter in, and we fall to the ground paralyzed! Get up!

Stand upon your feet and enter willingly into the pressing fire of God, allowing Him
to form you into the man or woman He desires you to be! Only then will you find life and life abundant!

The Blood of Christ

The little lamb sat in the lap of his master as they slowly rode towards Jerusalem. He had never been so far away from home before, and this was quite an exciting trip. Looking up at his master – a strong farmer of about thirty – he wondered what was going to happen there. On his master’s face was a furrowed brow, but a look of expectancy. The little lamb let out a little noise, causing the farmer to look down. “Easy there,” he whispered. “All will be well.”

Eventually, they reached Jerusalem, and there was such a crowd! It frightened the little lamb how many people and animals there were. What a day this must be – it seemed all Israel was there! Slowly, they approached an ornate building, where there was a procession of people holding or leading various animals.

The farmer, with his family, walked towards what they called “The Temple.” The little lamb, now being carried in the arms of the farmer, entered into the outer court, where a priest stood. Handing over the little lamb to the priest, the farmer stepped back. The priest held the lamb tenderly, and held out a knife.

Now the little lamb knew his purpose. He had heard often of the Lord God of Israel, and how He requested blood as atonement for something called sin. The little lamb, closing his eyes, stretched out his neck, and prepared to die.

And that day, which was the Day of Atonement, the Brook Kidron ran red with the blood of the sacrifices.

Blood: it’s not something we tend to enjoy meditating on. Typically, we avoid the thought of it and the sight of it, unless there is a need to see it. Because of that, we tend to imagine the cross as a very neat and orderly event, and we forget the importance of the blood that was spilt that day.

This was no ordinary man’s blood; this was the blood of the Lamb of God.

1 Peter 2:24 reads, “Who in his own self (Christ) bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes you were healed.” The blood of Jesus is no small thing. You see in the culmination of Christ’s life in the cross, that as He gave up His spirit to God, the temple veil rent in two, from top to bottom. There was now a way for man to enter into the very presence of the Most High God.

In the Old Testament, very seldom did anyone enter into the presence of God. In fact, it was only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, that the High Priest would enter into the presence of God. They would actually sprinkle the blood of bulls upon the mercy seat – the lid of the Ark of the Covenant, where God Himself sat.

Tradition says that they would tie a rope around the ankle of the High Priest when he would enter into the Holy of Holies, because if he had a single spot of sin upon him, he would fall over dead. Some also say that, if the High Priest had sin in him, the entire universe would be destroyed.

So often, we forget how holy our God is. We cannot simply stroll into the Holy of Holies. You need more than your own merit to enter into the presence of God.
Romans 5:11 tells us, “… we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received atonement.” No longer do we need the blood of lambs and bulls to enter into His presence; we have the precious blood of Christ. Only by His merit, His perfection, and His blood are we able to enter into the presence of God. His blood covers out sins, and makes us spotless and pure.

However, this precious blood isn’t a license to sin and live however we want. The purpose of getting us into the throne room of God is so that the righteousness of God can come into us and change us. As we cover ourselves in the blood and righteousness of Christ Jesus, His righteousness enters us and begins forming true righteousness in us. He draws us in so that He can enter us, and show us all the marvelous possessions He bought for us on Calvary: peace, love, hope, joy, and much more than we can think or imagine.

Never can we remove the blood from our lives. It is the only way to enter into the presence of God, and without it, we are separated. But when we wrap ourselves in His blood, we can enter in and commune with God. What a beautiful reality.

Take hold of the blood of Jesus today and never let go.

My First Highschool Football Game

As I sit in the backseat of James’ car, I look around: there are way too many people here. Eventually, we find a parking space, and all of us get out; another car full of students makes its deposit, totaling to eight.

Eight beacons of light, in a dark, dark place.

Despite being a small town, Windsor has a huge public high school. We can hear the cheers of the fans and the sound of a game announcer; excitement fills the air. However, we are not here to see a football game.

Gathering into a circle, Aaron prays for us, and we enter the fray. After paying for tickets, we split off into two teams of four. I was in a group with Kelsey, Chelsea, and James. We decided to walk up the stands and find a place to watch the game. James spots someone he knows, and we go over and say hi.

Previous to this night, there was an Invisible Children’s event at Windsor High School (which was entirely humanistic, from what I hear). Some of the students went to it, and met a bunch of high schoolers. Miraculously, James spots this guy named Mitch who he met. We talked to him for a little while, watching the game thoughtlessly, whilst praying about what to do. During that time, James meets another young guy, and begins trying to speak the gospel into his life; Kelsey spots a girl in a wheelchair, and has the pressing desire to go pray for her, but loses sight of her as we stand there; and I feel incredibly awkward, never having evangelized, or been in such an evil environment, and wondering what in the world God wants me to do.

Halftime comes around, and we decide to walk around. James said that talking to that kid wasn’t what God wanted him to do. We stand against a fence, praying and asking the Spirit to lead us. James sees another person he knows – this time a girl – and says hi, but nothing comes of it.

Somewhat disappointed, and still very confused, I began looking at all the people in the stands, watching the game. My eyes scanned about, and saw multiple groups of guys and girls. I couldn’t help but feel a deep inner pain at the darkness that inhabits this place, and each one of these kids. What great chains do lie upon their souls! And they know nothing of them, but continue living their pointless existences, looking for love, meaning and life, but never finding it.

Suddenly, James spots two more guys he met, but he can’t remember their names. Nonetheless, we walk over and introduce ourselves. Along with the two guys he knew, there were about four other guys. Hayden, Sam, Brandon, Sam, Nick, and Jeff were their names.

After some small talk, James turned the conversation towards religion and beliefs. As he was talking, lo and behold, I see a girl in a wheelchair! I pull Kelsey aside and ask her if that is the girl she saw. She gasps, grabs Chelsea, and runs after her, talking with her. I return to the circle to find James asking what everyone believed. Hayden is entirely confused, because his dad is Catholic and his mom is Jewish (or the other way around; I can’t remember), but he does believe in a higher power. Sam wasn’t very verbal, but Jeff and the other Sam mentioned that they were Catholic, and Brandon used to go to an Assembly church.

Kelsey returns with a smile on her face, ready to fight the good fight in these young men now. Sam Catholic mentions how he wants to be more committed to Catholicism, but wants to live his life, and is entirely held down by it. Kelsey, who has many Catholic family members, jumps on the opportunity, asking questions like, “What if I told you that you didn’t have to go to confession every year in order to be saved? What if I told you that you don’t need to go to a priest to tell him your sins, you can go straight to Jesus Christ, who is the only way you are saved?” He responded, “I would probably believe that…”

James and Kelsey tag-team preached straight truth to them, all about heaven, hell, sin, death, and Christ. Chelsea chimed in a couple times, and I stood next to James, listening to them and watching the guys. God wasn’t going to let me remain silent the entire time though; He wanted to stretch me through this witnessing. An analogy came to mind, which I will admit, came from Ian Thomas, but it was a good analogy nonetheless. I said, “Imagine if you have a car, your favorite car. It looks nice; it has a good interior; it is really impressive. But, you have no gas, in your car, or around you. There is nothing inside of it, and it will not do what it is supposed to. In the same way, your life may look good on the outside to everyone around you, and it may feel good for a while, but without God in your life, your life is entirely pointless. It is entirely worthless, and is nothing more than a vapor of smoke.”

Content with what God had pressed me to say, I sat back and listened to James and Kelsey. We were nearing the end of our time there, and I felt the need to press one more point. “If you do end up deciding to follow Christ, and give Him everything, I am warning you, it will not be easy. People won’t like you anymore; you might lose your friends, or the love of your family. But let me tell you, it is all entirely worth it for the sake of Jesus Christ.”

As we finished our conversation, James handed his phone number to each of the guys, telling them to call him anytime. At that time, part of me wanted to jump on this, and see each of these guys saved right then and there, but that wasn’t what God had planned. We left them, trusting that God has them in His hand, and what He begins, He finishes. We have no way of contacting these guys; we have no way of knowing where they are, if they have accepted Christ, or anything, unless they call James. This is entirely in God’s hands, not ours.

As we left that night, I felt very happy and content. Not because I had just done some good deed, or done my duty as a Christian, but because God had given me a challenge and I rose up to it. He stretched me farther than I have ever known. But I loved every moment of it.

Now, we pray for these six young men. I can’t wait to see what God does in them, especially in Sam Catholic and Hayden. Those two were just eating up everything James, Kelsey and I said. Only God can do the work. We planted the seed; we may water them, or someone else may, but God will provide the increase and the fruit.

Canon

Trouble is stirring in the Israelite camp. There is dissent among the princes of the people, specifically a man named Korah. See, Korah is not satisfied with the leadership of Moses and Aaron, and he decides to openly rebel against their authority. “Now Korah (and Dathan and Abiram) took men: and they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord? … Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that flows with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness? Moreover, thou hast not brought us into a land that flows with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? We will not come up.” (Numbers 16:1-3, 13-14)

Apparently, Korah didn’t think that Moses was doing so good a job of leading. However, Moses was anointed of God to lead, and Aaron as the High Priest. God comes up with the solution, to solve this rebellion once and for all: “… Take every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers, … write thou every man’s name on his rod. And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi… and thou shalt lay them up in the Tabernacle… where I will meet with you, and it shall come to pass, that the man’s rod, whom I shall choose, shall blossom: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel.” (Numbers 17:1-5)

“And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the Tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.” (Numbers 17:8) Later, the rod of Aaron was placed within the Ark of the Covenant as a token against the rebels forevermore.

In our post-modern culture, everything is being challenged, even within the church. There have been questions asked, that no one seems to have a good answer for. “Why should we trust the Bible?” It is a legitimate question, but when you turn to most conservatives, you hear, “Don’t ask such things, just accept it.” That’s no answer at all. Then, turning to the emergent movement, they hear, “Yeah, you can’t really trust the Bible. It’s just a good book written by good men, but it’s not the word of God.” Thus, confidence in the Bible is greatly diminished within Christians today.

We need the basis of the Word of God – which it is – as Christians, but if we do not know why we believe it, then we have little basis for following it. The Bible is also known as the Canon of Scripture. Canon is not a military device, but it is the measure of truth. It is also known as a rod, specifically a measuring rod. Scripture is a measuring rod for our lives, and when our lives don’t line up with it, we submit to it, not vice versa. However, in John 1, Christ is described as the Word of God, made flesh among men. Interestingly, in Jeremiah 1, we read, “Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said the Lord unto me, thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.” The Word is Christ is the rod of Almonds.

There is a canon test in the Old Testament for any man that would claim to be the Messiah, and if they fail in a single point, the Jews were supposed to stone them as a false prophet. God, through the Hebrew culture He fashioned and through the prophets and men He worked in, set up an elaborate test that no man could ever pass.

However, when you put Jesus up to the test, you see that he not only blossoms, but he buds and bears many almonds.

There is prophecy after prophecy in regards to the Messiah, even some that were not thought to be prophecy, but to look at a few is enough to bolster anyone’s faith in Jesus.

Psalm 22 is an incredible prophetic text. Verse 1 says, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Sound familiar? Go on even farther, and you find, “But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.” Yet, the most incredible passage in this Psalm is verse 16: “… they pierced my hands and my feet.”

Was not our Lord crucified, with pierced hands and feet, surrounds by the mocking Pharisees, who called out to him, “If you are the Messiah, save yourself!” God didn’t miss crossing a single‘t’ or dotting a single ‘i’.

As Christ Himself said, “Search the scriptures; … they are they which testify of me” (John 5:39). When you put Christ up to the measuring rod, there could not have been a more perfect match. He is the Word of God, and He is Canon. Anyone who denies it is a fool, for He is a token against all rebels, now and forevermore. Through that, He has divine right to your life. The reason most people don’t want to accept Him and the Word as canon, is because if it is true, then they must submit to it.

Submit yourself, your entirety, unto the Rightful King: Jesus.

Canon Testing/ Truth

Hello everyone! Just a short note about some things to think about:

Firstly, I would ask you to canon test everything I say. And by everything, I mean everything. Push it, prod it, poke it. I don't care. Be a Berean and search the scriptures to see if what I say is true. If it isn't please let me know. In no way do I want to teach fallacy or heretical teachings.

This is also a principle for life too. Is what your pastor saying really Biblical? Or is he just using a few scriptures to propagate his own agenda? If you do not canon test everything, or if you just believe all that comes your way, you will be deceived. Search the scriptures; see if what I say lines up. Feel free to comment and say, "I don't agree with this" but not just because of your opinion or bias, but "because of a, b, and c."

Secondly, I want to address something in regards to what I do right. When you hear truth, it is really easy to sit back and say, "That's good" but never really know it or apply it to your life. There is a schism in theology that has come about it the church that never was there before. Everyone has a formal theology, which is what they would say if you asked them about their beliefs. "I believe Christ died, rose from the dead, ascended, etc."

There is also something called a personal theology. This is what you really believe based on what you do and how you live. To give an example Del Tackett gave when asking a guy about his pornography addiction:

"So, Joe, you say that the hardest time for you is when you're alone."

"Yeah, it is."

"Do you believe that God is omnipresent, Joe?"

"Sure, of course."

"No you don't"

"What do you mean?"

"If you really believed that God is omnipresent, you wouldn't do what you do."

He asks the question, "Do you really believe that what you believe is really real?" Do you? Has your views of God shifted your life patterns at all, or are you living in your 'old man'?

Let that question probe your soul. When Christ enters into a man, his life radically changes, because it's not about him anymore, but Christ in him, the hope of glory. And where God resides, no idols can remain. Dagon was forced to bow before the ark of the holy presence of God (1 Sam. 5). If your life has not been changed by God, it is likely God does not dwell in you. Let Him cleanse you of idols and lies and flesh, and let Him reign in you.

Let what you believe really become real to you.

The Good Little Christian Boy

(Based on John Wesley's Sermon "The Almost Christian")

Once upon a time, there was a Good Little Christian Boy. He was born into a good family, with a father and mother who went to a good church. When the Good Little Christian was very young, he was already memorizing Bible verses, which not only got him good treats, but pats on the back from the Sunday school teachers. Unlike most of the other little children, he was very attentive in the main service, and even sat still during the pastor’s sermon.

As he grew up, the Good Little Christian Boy stayed in purity. Never once did he look at pornography, nor did he talk about girls the way the other guys in the youth group did. He didn’t date until he was 16, and even then, it was under the careful guardianship of both pairs of parents. He never touched her, kissed her, or even held her hand.

He was certainly the prime example to everyone around him. The Good Christian Boy woke up a good half-hour before everyone to say his prayers and to do his 15-minute daily devotional. Whenever there was an opportunity for a mission trip, he would be the first to sign up. He was the first one to come to youth to help set up, and the last one to leave, helping in everything he could. The youth pastor commended him, and allowed him to take a leadership position in the youth group. His pastor once said, “Now that is what a Christian ought to be like.”

Time went on, and eventually the Good Christian Boy was married to the girl he dated when he was 16 – the first and only girl he had ever dated. He continued to be a leader in his church, eventually being sent to Bible school and Seminary in order to be trained for the pastorate (everyone knew that’s what he would end up doing). Of course, he worked hard at his studies, and earned straight A’s.

Tragically, the Good Christian Boy was in a fatal car accident and ended up in Hell.

What is the difference between the Good Christian Boy and the real Christian?
“Thou shalt love the Lord your God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.”

You see, the Good Christian did many good things, but he did it for the wrong reasons. He was even very sincere in serving God, but he did it because he felt he had to work up to the standard of God. Rather, the real Christian does these things, not out of a sense of duty, but because he loves his Jesus and wants to serve Him with everything he has.

Out of this love for God that takes over the real Christian’s entire being flows out a love for his neighbor unlike any other. He is willing to go the distance in humbling himself, as his Lord did, because he has such a deep seeded love in his inner man. The real Christian doesn’t just do humble things; his mind and heart are in a humble state.

Not only that, but there is a genuine faith in his God. Whatever God says, the real Christian believes. He reckons it true that he is indeed dead unto sin, and alive to Christ, whether or not the flesh and the world speak it as true. The real Christian is willing to stake his all on the word of God and walk out by faith and the indwelling life of Christ all that is written within.

There are many people who have the outer shell of the Christian life: they do the right things, stand for the right issues, say the right words, and act the right way. Yet, they are nothing but whitewashed tombs, in which is nothing but dead bodies.

How often do we even fall short of the standard of the Good Little Christian? Looking around at the church people today, it doesn’t take long to see that the majority of Christendom is far short of the lifestyle of the Good Little Christian; but turn your pointing finger towards your own heart: are you even close to the standard of the Good Little Christian?

Your knee-jerk reaction may be to say, “No, but I got Jesus!” Perhaps that is true; I am no judge of men’s souls. However, let me ask you, does your life speak of Jesus in every action and in every word, or does it speak of self? Are you wrapped up in Christ and the cross, or are you trapped by this world, the flesh, and the lies of Satan?

John Wesley speaks, “Can you cry out, ‘My God, and my All’? Do you desire nothing but Him? Are you happy in God? Is He your glory, your delight, your crown of rejoicing? … Do you love every man, even you enemies, even the enemies of God, as your own soul? … Hast thou indeed redemption through his blood, even the remission of thy sins? And doth his Spirit bear witness with thy spirit, that thou art a child of God?

“Awake, then, thou that sleepest, and call upon thy God: call in the day in which he may be found.”

I would encourage you to read his original sermon on this subject. Let the light of God shine upon your soul today, and see what is really in there.

He Bought You…/ I missed Halloween because of Jesus Freaks Night

Yesterday, the Lord showed me an utterly incredible revelation, and I desire to share it with you all.
Sunday morning, as I was having some study and quiet time, I watched a video that I had obtained from one of the staff members. It was one of the original Bravehearted Thots that are hard to find now: “Come” by Paris Reidhead, from the sermon “So Great Salvation.” I’ll let you watch it for yourself (it is 8 minutes long, but it is 8 minutes of glory):

http://www.braveheartedgospel.com/braveheartedgospel/Come.html

I watched that video about three or four times before church. As I sat listening to Eric’s sermon, I was utterly amazed: his sermon was entirely on the truth that sets a man free (it’s called “Reckoning With Truth”, so I suggest you listen to it if you get the chance). It was just like Paris Reidhead’s video. As we sat in worship, it struck me so suddenly I simply had to sit down. Christ didn’t just purchase us to set us free… but also to make us His bride! I was overwhelmed with the incredible love and grace of God, that He, beautiful He, would come down, and take a wretch like me to be His Bride.

“Again, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, and say, Thus saith the Lord God unto Jerusalem; Thy birth and thy nativity is of the land of Canaan; thy father was an Amorite, and thy mother an Hittite. And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the loathing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: thy breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou wast naked and bare. Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine. Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.” (Ezek 16:1-14)

This is the beauty of the gospel, seen in Ezekiel 16, that “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8).” We were wretched, evil, slaves to sin, utterly depraved, or, as Paris Reidhead would say, “Monsters of Iniquity!” Despite that –despite that – Christ died for us, to purchase us as His people and as His Bride. Not because of some intrinsic beauty we had in our own souls, but because He desired to be glorified in and through us, and the only way He can get glory out of a man is by this great salvation. (More on that in Reidhead’s sermon “Ten Shekels and a Shirt”)

He bought you, with such a great price. Don’t be like Israel, who, in verse 15 of Ezekiel, became a whoremonger. If you are, turn around, repent, and turn to the person of Jesus Christ. Only He can save you from sin. There is only one way, and that is the way of the cross.

On a different note, last night for me was incredible. At Ellerslie, we didn’t celebrate the typical demonic day honored on October 31st. Instead, we had what Ben Zornes dubbed a “Jesus Freaks Night.” We split into three teams with a short story of a martyr, and we had to reenact the story. It was funny, seeing as how we only had thirty minutes to plan, no props, and none of us were truly actors, however, it was also very sobering. It is sobering to realize that a 7 year old boy was beheaded because of his love for Jesus. It is sobering to realize that a young woman’s hand was held over a flame until the skin peeled away, and was later burned with other Christians. It is sobering to realize that Richard Wurmbrand endured more torture than our comfortable American minds can imagine, such as brainwashing for 15 hours a day. However, this is all true. What is even more amazing, though, was the incredible joy all of these men and women throughout history had. That 7 year old boy smiled as he was being whipped and taken to the chopping block. Those who were burned at the stake clapped and sang for joy. Richard Wurmbrand actually loved the Communists, and some of them were converted.

What an incredible reality. However, the result of this joy found in Christ during excruciating pain is not because of some sudden burst of super saint hood. It will not be found in browsing facebook for hours. It will not be found in pursuing after life as the world does, going to college, getting a 9-to-5 job, raising a family, and being the average American. It isn’t even found in Ellerslie really, though this is a great start. True joy in all trials is found in daily dying to yourself and yielding your body up to Christ’s use as He sees fit.

Yes, we at Ellerslie are quite weird. Rather than honoring candy and costumes like everyone else in America, we honored the death of the saints. We applaud martyrdom, and seek after it! But that is what Christianity is all about, isn’t it? The martyr’s crown – should we not strive for it?

I do know one thing: I don’t think I’ll ever celebrate that other day again – uh, what was it called?