Sunday, June 28, 2009
When I Realized That I'm Wretched.
During the recovery time, I spent a lot of it thinking and reflecting back on my life. For a good portion of my life before then, I had gone to church, even regularly on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights during college. If you were to see me outside of church, you would had seen someone deep into sins, trying to please the flesh, making jokes and comments filled with blasphemy, etc... During my time of recovery I had a chance to listen to my conscience. I dusted off a Bible and started reading, but that didn't really do anything for me,. It was like I was reading for the sake of reading.
On, October 18th 2005, after watching the third "Left-Behind" movie, I was looking through some of the extra content on the DVD. On it was an episode of "The Way of The Master," a Christian TV show that teaches Christians how to share their faith biblically and effectively, the way Jesus did. The show was hosted by Kirk Cameron (star of the movie I was just watching) and author/evangelist Ray Comfort.
While watching it, they quoted Charles Spurgeon, the prince of preachers, who said "Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself, be sure of that?" At that time I did consider myself to be a Christian and saved, but after hearing that quote, and the authority behind its words, I began to wonder if I was saved or not, because my evangelistic efforts up to that point were... well there were none.
What happened next I had never seen before. They were witnessing to real people out on the streets. While watching the conversations unfold, they were asking one random person off the street some questions. As I was listening to these questions, I would answer them to myself.
The first question was "Do you consider yourself to be a good person?" I clearly thought that I was, but my understanding of the word "good" was quickly changed as the questions followed. The next question after that was, "Do you think you would go to Heaven or Hell when you die?" Obviously thinking that I was a good person I thought I was going to go to Heaven. My understanding of that would soon be changed as well.
The next set of questions brought me face to face with the mirror of God's moral law, The Ten Commandments. Have you ever told a lie? Of course I had. That makes me a liar. Have you ever stolen anything? Yes, just small things though. That makes me a thief. Have you ever used God's name in vain, like a 4 letter filth word to express disgust? More times that I can count. That makes me a blasphemer. The last question that was asked was, "Jesus said that if you look at a woman to lust after her, then you have committed adultery in your heart, have you ever done that?" I would do that countless times a day, I was definitely guilty of that as well.
After that set of questions, was this question, "If you were to die right now, and God judges you, would you be innocent or guilty? Do you think you'd go to Heaven or Hell?" This was when the light bulb turned on. I had just admitted to being a lying, thief, and a blasphemous adulterer at heart. There were six more commandments that we did not go through that I know I had broken as well. I knew I was guilty, my conscience screamed the word "guilty" at me. Knowing how good God is, He would have to send me to Hell. He punishes sin where ever it is found. Then, thinking back to that car accident, when I should had died, I know now that if I had died, I would be in Hell right now. I was literally in the flames, when God pulled me out of the fire.
At that realization, I immediately feel to my knees, crying my eyes out for hours, pleading with God to forgive me for sinning against Him. It was then that I finally repented of my sins, and put my faith in Christ alone for my salvation. Everyday I look in the mirror, I can see and touch the scars on my head. They are a constant reminder to me of how close I was to suffering God's wrath, and how fortunate I am that God has shown me mercy and grace, that has saved a wretch like me.
I wish that no one would ever have to get as close to the flames as I did before they turn to Christ, but know for some people it is necessary. God, thank You for saving me, the wretched sinner that I am. Amen.
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Saturday, June 27, 2009
The Prince of Preachers on The Bible
"If you wish to know God you must know his word; if you wish to perceive his power you must see how he worketh by his word; if you wish to know his purpose before it is actually brought to pass you can only discover it by his word."
Friday, June 26, 2009
Importance of Memorizing Scripture.
At desiringgod.org, John Piper did a blog called "Why Memorize Scripture?" I am just going to list the key points here, and encourage you to read his blog here for the details.
Memorizing scripture gives you:
- Conformity in Christ.
- Daily Triumph Over Sin.
- Daily Triumph over Satan.
- Comfort and Counsel for People You Love.
- Help Communicating the Gospel to Unbelievers.
- Communion with God in the Enjoyment of His Person and Ways.
By John Piper. © Desiring God. Website: desiringGod.org
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Thursday, June 25, 2009
Communicating with God.
For us, however, we have access to all sorts of Bibles in different colors, languages, and translations. For us, the Bible is how God directly communicates to us. In it, He tells us what to do, what not to do, and even gives examples. I recently read a news paper article about a high school kid who not only earned his high school diploma and was a football star, but he also completed a bachelors degree, and earned it at the same time he got his high school diploma. He used wise time management that was so effective that he even had time to have a girlfriend and socialize with his friends. If a high school kid can do all of that, then we have no excuse for not having time to read God's Word.
Now, everyone also knows that communication is a two way road. The Bible is how God communicates to us, we communicate to God in prayer. How often should we pray? Daily. How much should we pray each day? You'll have to figure that out for yourself, because it is different for different people. The Great Reformer, Martin Luther, was once quoted saying "I have so much to do today, that I should spend the first three hours in prayer." Granted none of us live the life that Luther did, so we might not have that much time to pray, but maybe some of us do and should.
Reading your Bible, and prayer, go hand in hand. One should never be done without the other. If all we do is pray, then we might as well be talking to a wall. If all we do is read God's Word, then there is no one to warn of the wall, and we'll run right into it. If we don't do either, then the wall falls right down on top of us.
Please make sure your communication with God is open, and going both ways.
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Use Your Night Vision.
Monday, June 22, 2009
What is Modalism?
Present day groups that hold to forms of this error are the United Pentecostal and United Apostolic Churches. They deny the Trinity, teach that the name of God is Jesus, and require baptism for salvation. These modalist churches often accuse Trinitarians of teaching three gods. This is not what the Trinity is. The correct teaching of the Trinity is one God in three eternal coexistent persons: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."
This was deemed heresy in 325 at the Council of Nicea. Some high profile modalist of our times are, Arnold Murray from The Shepard's Chapel. I've only ever seen them on TV early in the mornings. Another example is, as some say, one of the most influential leaders in evangelical Christianity today, T.D. Jakes.
Why do I bring this up? Because it is one of many false teaching that we have to fight against today, and like many false teachings today, they are nothing new. Most of today's false teachings are just old heresies being reintroduced to Christianity. Difference is, back then they saw it, and condemned it, today, well today the church seems to have a problem calling a false teaching a false teaching. Do not make a compromise when it comes to false doctrine and heresy. Believing in a heresy will send people to Hell.
2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires"
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Sunday, June 21, 2009
Atheist Problems?
If that is the case, consider this. Atheist are people that believe nothing made everything. As a Christian, we of course believe that God made everything out of nothing. I ask you, which one seems like the smarter choice?
Don't forget Psalm 14:1 "The fool as said in his heart, there is no God.."
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Saturday, June 20, 2009
Stay in God's Word.
Job no doubt was going through an extremely difficult time in his life. He had reached a point where he could not feel God's presence, but yet he believed that God was still present. Here in this verse, Job is saying that he treasured God's word over his own food.
As Christians, difficult situations or not, we need to be like Job, and put God's word before our own needs. Like Job, we should feed on God's word, and read our Bibles everyday, before we consider our physical needs.
If we worry about our physical needs before even considering our spiritual needs, then we are not trusting God to take care of us. Trust in God for our spiritual needs and read the Bible, and don't worry about your physical needs, God will provide.
This weeks challenge, before you eat anything each day, read a passage out of your Bible, and meditate on it.
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Friday, June 19, 2009
Joy in Repentance.
Luke 15: 4-7 "4 What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' 7 I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance."
This is first of three parables in Luke 15, all with the same central theme that God rejoices when a sinner repents. Each of the parables addresses the people in the audience; sinners and social outcast as one part of the audience, and the Pharisees on the other (v 1,2), as well as Jesus and God.
Key characters to keep in mind here are the shepherd representing Christ, who actively seeks out the lost sheep, or the sinners. A thing to note here is that the rabbis taught that God forgives those who seek after Him, but here Jesus is clearly showing that He is seeking after the lost. The Pharisees are mentioned in the last part of verse 7 "ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." This isn't mention of people who are already saved, but those that are self-righteous.
The biggest thing for us to get out of this is what happened when the shepherd found the sheep. He gathers his friends and neighbors and rejoices with them because he has found the lost sheep. Now notice what Jesus says next, "I tell you in the same way there will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents." There is joy in Heaven when a sinner repents. It is God rejoicing. The same thing happened when I came to a saving knowledge of Christ, and you as well. God rejoices when sinners repent and put their faith in Christ for salvation.
The reason why I mention this, is because while listening to "Free for All Friday" on Wretched Radio a man called up announcing that he got saved while listening to the radio program on Monday, and later that night his wife did as well. Please rejoice with over the salvation of Trevor and Jessica, and pray that God grows them in holiness.
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Gospel Tracts and How to Use Them.
But I don't think that should discourage anyone from handing out gospel tracts at all. After all, sometimes we don't have time to talk and share the gospel with people, but we don't want to leave them without the gospel at all, and a tract is very useful for this purpose.
You can hand out tracts to cashiers at grocery stores and drive-thru windows, leave one at a restaurant as part of a good tip (not instead of a good tip), leave some in places where people are bound to find them and read them (if they are good and well written), and you can even just stand on a street corner handing them out, provided they look good and are well written people will take them.
You can even use them in a conversation with someone to move the conversation from the natural realm to the spiritual realm, and share the gospel with that person. I do it all the time, and it is very helpful and effective. Lets face it, talking about the weather and then saying ,"you know God made the weather", is pretty cheesy.
Living Waters produces some great and well written tracts (you can see them here). I get most of my tracts from them, and they are so good that people often ask for more. You also might want to try and write your own tract. Make sure it has all the elements of the gospel in it; the law (10 Commandments), man's sin, God's Judgement, His punishment, and what Jesus did so that we wouldn't have to be sent to Hell.
Currently we are in the process of making a gospel tract of our own, we'll update you when its done and give you all a preview of it.
FYI: One of the great preachers/evangelist in history, George Whitfield, was saved by a gospel tract. Just think of the fruit produced from the gospel seed planted by that tract.
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Wednesday, June 17, 2009
WWJD? vs WDJD?
Annoying Christian Cliches and How are They Wrong.
How about, "There is a God shaped hole in your heart." There are lots of unbeliever that I am aware of that find this one particularly annoying. I don't like it because it is often accompanies with bad and unbiblical evangelism techniques. (for a free e-book on biblical evangelism techniques sign-up to receive this blog via email click here)
Monday, June 15, 2009
Questions to Theistic Evolutionists.
Comparing the Murder of Abortionist Dr. Tiller with the Assassination of MLK???
I could quote more from the article but you get the idea. What are the comparisons really?
Dr. Tiller, murderer of tens of thousands of unborn children, Dr. Martin Luther King, civil rights leader.
Dr. Tiller murdered babies for a living, and regardless of what anyone says, it is violent, especially with late term abortions. I have heard women talking about how they could feel the baby kicking fighting to live when they had a late term abortion. Dr. King was an advocate for peace, and used peaceful methods.
You know, I say they share one thing in common only...they both were wrongfully killed. That is it.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Memory Verse of the Week.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Are You Content With What You Have?
When I think about being content, I am often reminded of what Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-33. "25For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will dink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not eve Solomon in all of his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
So, I ask you all today, would you be content if you had every luxury taken away from you like, TV, Internet, fast food, running water, and you had only your basic needs met (and I do mean basic)? Do you constantly worry about how your clothes look and if they are designer or not, or are you happy to at least have something clean to wear?
Think over these questions, be honest with yourself when you answer. Then think about Jesus said in the passage above. If God provides and cares for the birds in the sky, then just think about how much He has blessed us with luxuries in life, and make sure to thank God for them, and meeting your basic needs in abundance.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Abortionist Killed in His Own Church.
Another thing to consider is, what is wrong with Dr. Tiller's church? This guy is very well know and has been all over the news for being an abortionist, even preforming late term abortions. Clearly he was committing some very serious sins of which he was obviously unrepentant of, and had no intention on repenting from them. So, why is it that this church didn't use proper church discipline as outlined in Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 5? Why oh why was his church okay with him living in sin, and looking the other way? Who knows, but I tell yeah, that is clearly a church that I would not want to be a member of.
Todd Friel, of Wretched Radio/TV did a video about this posted on You Tube you can view that video here.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Fishing, Faith, and a Challenge.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Memory Verse of the Week.
2 Timothy 2:15 "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." (NASB)
Friday, June 5, 2009
Gay Marriage Issue Thoughts.
First of all, this is a war that I don't see good moral values winning in this day and age. Yeah, we won a battle, but the war seems far from over. Personally, I have no problem with gay people living together getting the same types of government privileges as a straight married couple would. I am willing to concede on that part of the issue, because quite frankly I just don't see good moral values winning in that.
However, I clearly don't want it to be called marriage. My reasons for this are definitely theological. The Bible clearly defines marriage as between one man and one woman. For us to make it otherwise would be to make a mockery of what God said. In forming my reasoning here, I do also feel that since marriage did start as a religious institution, that the state should have nothing to do with it, outside of recognizing it as a union between two people so that they can get the government benefits of being together.
I have no idea when the state got to lay claim to marriage, and us in the religious sector seem to have been too short sighted at the time to see what a mess it would become today. But knowing the fact that marriage is indeed a religious institution, I am really confused as to why the die hard "separation of church and state" people aren't all over government on this issue. Seems to me that they use the whole "separation of church and state" argument is very biased in support of their opinions instead of clear and obvious truths and facts.
In the end, my solution for the whole ordeal would be to give marriage back to the church, and for when two people do join together (gay or straight couple) in some sort of union for the state to recognize, the state should have a different term for it other than marriage. End effect, everyone gets what they want, "separation of church and state" is put back into order, and hopefully everyone is happy.
Let me know your thoughts, and have a good day.
Ahh a fresh start.
Hey, this is the first post of this new blog of mine, and hopefully some of you came from my other blog on myspace. Regardless I hope we can learn a lot together. I hope you guys are ready for the next blog, but until then, feel free to check out the web sites I have listed, and even sign up to have this blog sent to your email. Have a good day people.