"Only Two Kinds of People in the World"

"There are two kinds of people in the world...

Those who are dead to sin, and those who are dead in sin."

-Leonard Ravenhill

Cast Your Burden on the Lord

Have you ever been disappointed by a christian leader who at one time seemed to be pretty solid in doctrine and teaching but all the sudden has "sold-out" to the Emergent apostasy or Warrenism, or contemplative spirituality etc. and is no longer teaching biblically? It is a very sad thing to see.

You may find THIS POST by Mike Ratliff encouraging.

Here is an excerpt:

"As the great Apostasy of the Church deepens and widens it seems that even those we once looked up to as solid and faithful servants of the Most High are slipping into unbelief. It is these failures that seem to strike the hardest at our hearts. We even begin to wonder, “Who’s next?” However, we must not become consumed with discouragement because of this. Yes, it should make us sorrowful, but we must not allow the lack of faithfulness by people to affect our walk with the Lord. Our role model is Jesus Christ. We should look to Him alone as our rock and firm foundation, not other people. Men will always let us down eventually."

Fighting For Its Very Life

I thank God he is sovereign in this apostate age.

Would You Spit on the Word?

This is an intense video:



"Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart trembles at your word." - Psalm 119:161

Goodbye Farewell, We'll Meet Again

A song by Larry Norman

Fire! Fire!--by J.C. Ryle

Please read this article carefully and prayerfully. It is a difficult issue to come to terms with but it is vitally important that a person understands the fact of hell. It stands to demonstrate, by contrast how God's holiness cannot be compromised one iota. And that His grace, mercy and wrath all were displayed at the cross through the crucifixion for our redemption and salvation.

His grace is free and he offers it to all who see His truth.

~~~

Fire Fire! by J.C. Ryle

"When a house is on fire, what ought to be done first? We ought to give the alarm and wake the inhabitants. This is true love to our neighbor. this is true charity. Reader, I love your soul, and want it to be saved. I am therefore going to tell you something about hell. There is such a place as hell. Let no one deceive you with vain words. What men do not like, they try hard not to believe. When the Lord Jesus Christ comes to judge the world, he will punish all who are not his disciples with a fearful punishment. All who are found impenitent and unbelieving; all who have clung to sin, stuck to the world, and set their affections on things below; all who are without Christ; all such shall come to an awful end. Whosoever is not written in the book of life shall be "cast into the lake of fire." Rev 20:15...

...READ ENTIRE ARTICLE (it's not that long, and it could have eternal consequences).

A Desire to Impress

"Brethren, we shall not adjust our Bible to the age; but before we have done with it, by God's grace, we shall adjust the age to the Bible.

...We make no mistake here; we shall not watch our congregation to take our cue from it, but we shall keep our eye on the infallible Word, and preach according to its instructions.

Our Master sits on high, and not in the chairs of the scribes and doctors, who regulate the theories of the century. We cannot take our key-note from the wealthier people, nor from the leading officers, nor even from the former minister.

How often have we heard an excuse for heresy made out of the desire to impress "thoughtful young men"! Young men, whether thoughtful or otherwise, are best impressed by the gospel, and it is folly to dream that any preaching which leaves out the truth is suitable to men, either old or young. We shall not quit the Word to please the young men, nor even the young women.

... If any of you wish to preach a gospel that will be pleasing to the times, preach it in the power of the devil, and I have no doubt that he will willingly do his best for you. It is not to such servants of men that I desire to speak just now.

I trust that, if ever any of you should err from the faith, and take up with the new theology, you will be too honest to pray for power from God with which to preach that mischievous delusion if you should do so, you will be guilty of constructive blasphemy.

No, brethren, it is not our object to please men, but our design is far nobler."

--Charles Spurgeon, from "The Preacher's Power, and the Conditions of Obtaining It"

Does God Have a Wonderful Plan For Your Life?

As christians we are misleading people when we only tell them half the truth of the gospel, when we only tell them the easy stuff. This is equivalent to a false gospel and will result in false converts. We are surrounded by messages which only present the happier parts of our faith. This does lure a lot of people in. How will those people be able to hold firm to the faith when persecution comes? This video explains it well:









CLICK HERE to watch

"The Devil's Delight!"

"Stagnation in the church is the devil's delight!

I do not think the devil cares how many churches you build,
if only you have lukewarm preachers and people in them.

The devil does not care about your armies, if the soldiers are
all asleep.

What we need is new zeal, fresh energy, and more fire!"

--C. H. Spurgeon, "Lukewarmness"

Love of Worldly Things

"Our idolatrous love of worldly things is a chief
cause of our knowing so little of spiritual things.

Because we love this and that so
much, we love Christ so little.

You can not fill your life-cup from the pools of earth,
and yet have room in it for the crystal streams of heaven."

--C. H. Spurgeon from the sermon, "The Heaven of Heaven"

Below Standard!

"Evangelical Christianity is now tragically below the New
Testament standard.

Worldliness is an accepted part of our way of life.
Our religious mood is social instead of spiritual.
We have lost the art of worship.
We are not producing saints.
Our models are successful businessmen,
celebrated athletes and theatrical personalities.
We carry on our religious activities after the methods of the
modern advertiser.

And scarcely anyone appears to care!"

--A.W. Tozer

Trendy Pastors

Young, relevant, cool, edgy, hip, and trendy. We must appeal to the masses... I guess.

I saw this post by Keith of fivepts.blogspot.com. I like what he says about these "trendy pastors"

Here is the post:

"The men pictured above are all pastors of "churches" (in some cases, I use the term loosely) that appeal to "seekers" or what I call "emergent" types. They have lots of similarities, i.e. casual dress, haphazardly-styled or no hair, some don't appear to be happy, most are tanned (maybe their church is close to a beach), none of them are over forty, and none of them own a tie. (That one preacher/pastor guy is pretty muscley, too.) EDIT: 07.01.07 - I have been informed by a concerned reader that one of the pastors IS over forty. He should know better, then.

Some other things I've noticed about these "trendy pastors":

• They really like to use the word "relevant."

• It's more trendy/relevant to refer to themselves as "Christ followers" rather than "Christian" or "Believer."

• They seem to have an aversion for anything "old" or "traditional."

• They "give talks" rather than "preach sermons."

• Music Ministers don't like to be called Music Ministers...they are "Minister/Pastor of Creative/Christian Arts."

• On one church's website, the pastor wrote: "God began to burden my heart with the need for a dynamic, innovative, multicultural church, where people could learn God’s truths in relevant and creative ways...". Honestly, I've always thought that a church that faithfully preached the Word of God, WAS "dynamic" and "relevant."

• One pastor wrote on his blog: "Every movie has a great sermon." Silly me, I thought the Bible had some pretty good sermons in it.

• One pastor commented: "I think it's funny that we meet in a movie theatre that's showing Knocked Up." I think it's sad he thinks that's funny.

• One church's website proclaimed they were "the cool church." Groovy, man...if I'm looking for a place to trip!

• One pastor noted: "Knocked Up is a great movie." I hope he's kidding.

• One church's website, announcing their upcoming sermon series on "sex" proclaims: "God wants you to have great sex."

• One of the sermon titles for the multi-week series is entitled: "Leather, Whips, and Whipped Cream." Oh, brother.

• Churches are now referred to as "campuses." I guess using the word "church" isn't "relevant."

I guess I'm just old fashioned. I still think that faithful preaching will accomplish exactly what the Word says it will: "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12

Rob Bell-Nooma Parody

I saw this on a Little Leven.com. This is a very funny parody on Rob Bell's Noomas videos:



"This video spoof entitled "Rob Bell - Oil" may represent the first visible cracks in Bell's 'relevant facade'."

Beware the siren song of Relevance.
Many a minister has found his ministry
shipwrecked upon her craggy rocks.
They pursued the fleeting love
of this deceitful beauty
only to be left for dead.
Beware. Beware."

SPURGEON ON PREACHING

"...the mass of people do not lay hold on what is said but on how it is said. And if it is said smartly and privily and said forcedly that is enough for them, though it be a lie.

But if the truth be spoken, that they will not receive unless it be attended by some graces of oratory or elegance. Now the christian that has gone beyond babyhood does not care about how the man says it. It is the thing that is said that he cares about.

All he asks is 'Did he speak the truth?' ...he cares not for the trimming of the feast, nor for the exquisite workmanship of the dish. He only cares for that which is solid food for himself"

from the sermon: Search the Scriptures Jan. 17, 1858