The Mark of the Beast and the Prosperity Gospel

What a coup for the enemy of the human soul. To lure professing believers by the nose ring of their own covetousness and lust to seek after all things transient and pertaining to corruptible flesh. How Satan and his messengers sing a historic, predictable dirge. Or is it perhaps more accurately the case that such permission is granted revilers as a judgement against them by an offended God?

Ah the hissss of Popularity, Success, Influence, Title, Estate and unrealistic perpetual health - all things destined to perish and die. That mountain high and lifted up where we who dare serve Jesus must also stand and be tempted. But oh the seduction to, without struggle, indulge the wayward traveller to such a degree of drunkenness that they, in their deluded stupor, position themselves to accept and affirm any decree in order to keep all such stuff. Including a mark of subservience in a time not too distant perhaps? Revelation 13:16

The wise servant lays up for himself treasures in HEAVEN where moth cannot destroy, nor thief steal, nor rust decay. The fool, where his flesh abides. And he who seeks after riches strays from the faith and brings upon himself many sorrows. Two masters after all, cannot be served by the same servant. 1 Timothy 6:10, Matthew 6:24.

Surely it was with much sorrow that Jesus lamented the fate of the rich young ruler. For He proclaimed it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter Heaven. The Lord's view of riches is universally different to that of mortal man. Why is it harder for the rich? Because there is too much to lose. It is their treasure, for it is where their heart resides. It has their confidence, constrains their faith to servitude, and demands their unwaivering devotion. It is very actually, a god. Were it not, the surrender of it would not even rise to a consideration. (Matthew 19:16-26) Alas, at this late hour, many have, in a very real sense, become so intimately one with these temporary trinkets and vanities, they are now veritably indistinguishable.

And how dark are the days for those who are so focused not upon Christ, but upon themselves and their endless collections and lust? They who cannot see their own wretchedness, who are even at this very time being called upon to choose, many to their own damnation. And how can they not see? Because they do not love the truth despite their proclamations. They have not been taught to prepare for the wrath to come, but rather to indulge themselves in the kingdom now.

Yet amid the darkness there is a great light. The good news that God Himself has provided a sacrifice for the sins of all mankind, delivered personally by grace, received through gifted faith and completely without human interaction.

The Apostle Paul, speaking of the true seed of God in Romans 9, says in verse 16 that human intervention in salvation is not possible in any sense. (See also Ephesians 2:8-9). In fact read the whole chapter and you will see that the only contribution we make to salvation is SIN. God's appointed sacrifice, and His sacrifice alone paid the penalty in full, which would have otherwise guaranteed us each  eternal death in eternal fire.

It is Almighty God's plan of redemption for those who have been separated from Him by sin. That sacrifice was God Himself, incarnate, in human flesh. Fully God and fully man. Jesus Christ.

And this simple Gospel is largely unknown in the modern professing church.

Truly, one of the greatest fields white unto harvest is within the professing Church itself.

The clarion cry is for all... Repent, Believe.
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If Hillsong Made A Movie

Just musing, If Hillsong ever made a movie about Bobbie, they could call it "The Wife of Brian." I think it would be hilarious. There could even be a line in the movie speaking of Brian, something like...

"He's not the messiah, he's just a very naughty boy!"
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And of Hillsong itself... "Bring out your dead.... bring out your dead"...

Hey, I think we're onto something here...

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The Evil Heart of Seeker Sensitivity

What really angers me about Seeker Sensitive synergists is a many pronged goad. One is the kind of convert they generate through their man centric revival-thons. Completely deceived drones led to believe they have obtained salvation when in reality they have merely attained a fad church membership.

This swarming throng are called Churchtians, a product of shameful compromise, and they're coming to a Community Centre near you.

The scriptural knowledge of too many of these so called converts is completely non-existent, save a few misquoted half verses which they chant as if they were a talisman for troubled times. They know the words... the letter, but they do not know the One nor His intent, because their teachers do not know Him. And who can blame the student given their Seeker Sensitive mentoring? They can only perceive God through their senses because that is how they were taught to perceive Him. Their guides are blind just as the Word teaches. They are not satisfied with His written revelation of Himself, they desire more than He has made available. Ethereal appears to be the only way in which they can associate with Him, or believe they do better put. This therefore is not Christianity, it is mysticism.

Too many do not know God through the Word because His Word is not taught in their fellowships. Rather, it is strip mined in order to justify a preconceived, grand notion.

But by far, the greatest tragedy of all is that these lost souls believe they are saved when they clearly are not. They do not know Salvation because they have no understanding of Redemption. And how could they possibly? It has never met with their ears, let alone their hearts. And yet, per chance were they to know, the question would still remain, “redeemed from what”?

To facilitate appeal and a kindly image, there is no longer teaching on the terminally depraved nature of man and his propensity to do evil always. This reality has been replaced with the more lucritive... er... relative... "personal and awesome potential in Jesus". Sells lots of books, makes LOTS of money, not that that would ever be the incentive right? These speakers preach meology, and how their fans adore them for it. Jesus loves you, of course He does, who wouldn't?

Folks, grasp the reality of this... These people are not redeemed because they do not know what it means to be a sinner. And who is responsible for that? Who are they who strive to give the lost what they want at the expense of what they need?

Traitors masquerading as Christians have delivered to these non seeking seekers, a gospel that generously tickles their enlarging ears, while damning them to Hell in the process. And all in the name of another Jesus.

These proliferate wolves which our collective carelessness have allowed into the fold, have performed perhaps no greater evil against another soul than to deceive him with regard to his salvation.

Yes I burn with anger against them, who could not considering why Christ intentionally came? Is His sacrifice worth less to another than it is to ourselves?

Then warn them, ALL of them... and warn them loud. Time is short.

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Our Comfort

"He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever." - John_14:16

 

Great Father revealed himself to believers of old before the coming of his Son, and was known to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as the God Almighty. Then Jesus came, and the ever-blessed Son in his own proper person, was the delight of his people’s eyes. At the time of the Redeemer’s ascension, the Holy Spirit became the head of the present dispensation, and his power was gloriously manifested in and after Pentecost. He remains at this hour the present Immanuel-God with us, dwelling in and with his people, quickening, guiding, and ruling in their midst. Is his presence recognized as it ought to be? We cannot control his working; he is most sovereign in all his operations, but are we sufficiently anxious to obtain his help, or sufficiently watchful lest we provoke him to withdraw his aid? Without him we can do nothing, but by his almighty energy the most extraordinary results can be produced: everything depends upon his manifesting or concealing his power. Do we always look up to him both for our inner life and our outward service with the respectful dependence which is fitting? Do we not too often run before his call and act independently of his aid? Let us humble ourselves this evening for past neglects, and now entreat the heavenly dew to rest upon us, the sacred oil to anoint us, the celestial flame to burn within us. The Holy Ghost is no temporary gift, he abides with the saints. We have but to seek him aright, and he will be found of us. He is jealous, but he is pitiful; if he leaves in anger, he returns in mercy. Condescending and tender, he does not weary of us, but awaits to be gracious still.

Sin has been hammering my heart

Unto a hardness, void of love,

Let supplying grace to cross his art

Drop from above.

Charles Spurgeon

More C3 Junk Exposed

Chris Rosebrough systematically exposes yet another pile of C3 dribble as more trite self aggrandising, self help waffle. Tragic that people except this kind of shallow platitude as 'teaching'.

Please pass on to those caught in this movement.

(Right click the below link and select 'Save Target As' to download this educational audio file)
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www.moriah.com.au/media/more-c3-junk.mp3

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Why We Should Desire Trials - Trial and Consolation

“For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” - 2Corinthians_1:5

There is a blessed proportion. The Ruler of Providence bears a pair of scales-in this side he puts his people’s trials, and in that he puts their consolations. When the scale of trial is nearly empty, you will always find the scale of consolation in nearly the same condition; and when the scale of trials is full, you will find the scale of consolation just as heavy. When the black clouds gather most, the light is the more brightly revealed to us. When the night lowers and the tempest is coming on, the Heavenly Captain is always closest to his crew. It is a blessed thing, that when we are most cast down, then it is that we are most lifted up by the consolations of the Spirit. One reason is, because trials make more room for consolation. Great hearts can only be made by great troubles. The spade of trouble digs the reservoir of comfort deeper, and makes more room for consolation. God comes into our heart-he finds it full-he begins to break our comforts and to make it empty; then there is more room for grace. The humbler a man lies, the more comfort he will always have, because he will be more fitted to receive it. Another reason why we are often most happy in our troubles, is this-then we have the closest dealings with God. When the barn is full, man can live without God: when the purse is bursting with gold, we try to do without so much prayer. But once take our gourds away, and we want our God; once cleanse the idols out of the house, then we are compelled to honour Jehovah. “Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord.” There is no cry so good as that which comes from the bottom of the mountains; no prayer half so hearty as that which comes up from the depths of the soul, through deep trials and afflictions. Hence they bring us to God, and we are happier; for nearness to God is happiness. Come, troubled believer, fret not over your heavy troubles, for they are the heralds of weighty mercies. Charles Spurgeon.

Nothing New Under The Sun...

But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human? What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future--all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. 1 Corinthians 3:1-23 ESV

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Cherry Picking to Prove a Point

What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself. Abraham Lincoln

How contemptuous we are to intentionally remove a passage of Scripture from its natural surrounding and plant it in the soil of our own insatiable lusts? To use it to amass treasures and acclaim in a world we insist is not our own? Since when did we start believing it was all about us? God's Word is the revelation of HIMSELF. Who switched that one around? And who helps them still?

Excerpt from: http://www.moriah.com.au/textarchive/mirror-mirror.htm

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Reality Check

"Woe unto you when all men shall speak well of you . . . " (Luke 6:26)
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A Devisive Gospel of Peace

"If our gospel were received in peace, it would not be a true gospel". Martin Luther

How God's Kingdom Works

The Kingdom of God does not advance by human cleverness. It does not advance because we have gained positions of power and influence in the culture. It does not advance thanks to media popularity or opinion polls. It does not advance on the back of public favour. The kingdom of God advances by the power of God alone, in spite of public hostility." Dr. John MacArthur, Hard To Believe, pg 22

Unity?

There are often times in a fallen world such as the one in which we live when "unity" (no matter how honourably desired) will not at all be possible without truth being first sacrificed on the altar of expedience.

Many mainstream "Christian" denominations have already crossed over and according to the Word of God many more will do so. Jesus said this must happen before His return, so we should expect it. Never should we become so free in "grace" that we forget that the uncomfortable truths of God are not negotiable nor are they politically appeased. Eve first fell for the same lie and her generations continue to do so.

The Cuckoo Cry of Controversy

Bishop J C Ryle once said, "Let us resist false doctrine and contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints. Let us not be ashamed of showing our colours and standing out for New Testament truth. Let us not be stopped by the cuckoo cry of "controversy".

The thief likes dogs that do not bark, and watchmen who give no alarm. The devil is a thief and a robber. If we hold our peace and do not resist false doctrine, we please him and displease God."

Lorraine Evans Passed Away

Lorraine Evans passed away last night (9-2-11).

Once again I extend my condolences to the Evan's family.
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Hyper Faith and the Reality of Sin

Out of respect for the Evan's family, who are facing the imminent loss of Mrs. Loraine Evan's, wife of Andrew and mother of Ashley, David and Russel, I have withheld mention of a disturbing and developing trend. Until now. Mrs. Evans is dying from complications arising from cancer.

I do not know Mrs. Evans personally, and do not wish in any way to besmirch her name. Indeed, this post is not really about Loraine Evans at all. Rather, it concerns the disturbing and escalating proclamations of supernatural healing and divine words of knowledge from some pretty prominent people in the movement as well as laity, proclaiming a healing miracle WILL transpire.

And when it doesn't, what will happen to the faith of these people, and of those looking to them for guidance through grief? This really is a serious issue and the casualties of hyper-faith theology are many and most often silent. But I suppose the almost delirious zeal of those speaking if-so-facto for God Himself is what troubles me the most. And we are taking careful note of the proclaimers because believe it or not, false prophecies and those who utter them are still a no no! And people who do that stuff have no business near God's sheep.

The whole WF movement, worldview and collective vision hinges on the faith of its adherents. When Loriane dies this faith will be shattered, and the fallout will be very wide spread given the Facebook interest. Not because God failed to answer their prayers in the affirmative, but because their word / faith ideology is a doctrine of demons and as such brings all the sorrow of death itself.

Death for the believer is a mercy, and therefore should be the most joyous of all occasions should it not? To return for all time to our blessed Saviour, freed at last from this sin sick, mortal coil?

My condolences to the Evans family for their loss.

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Are Joel Osteen and his followers Christian?

Great Video. Please pass on.

Zeal Without Knowledge - The Class of 2011

To me, one of the most troubling aspects of the new batch of pastors stepping up to the plastic lectern in charismatic ranks is their maturity, both intellectually and spiritually. They appear driven by an almost arrogant and most definitely militant passion and zeal, and yet without wisdom for the most part it would appear. From basic secular history to fundamental tenets of the Christian faith, what exits the mouths of too many of these 'pastors' is simply asinine. Doubt me? Read their tweets.. er... fruits. They are no doubt proficient in whipping a crowd into an ecstatic frenzy, and yet totally inept when exegeting God's Word. These realities bring Romans 10:1-4 sharply into focus.

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:1-4 ESV

How are they ignorant of God's righteousness? For having been breast fed on the synthetic, anthropocentric milk of a surrogate void of the true Gospel – the Gospel that is the very power of God unto salvation. They have exchanged the offence of the cross for the offence of not realizing one's potential. In a sinister sleight of hand Christ has been dethroned and king self in all its haughtiness and arrogance now reigns supreme. The Apostle Paul says in Verse One that these people are not saved. Thus they invent a righteousness of their own apart from the truth which ultimately secures their damnation.

If anyone has figured out a way to get through to them and show them their error for their soul's sake, please let me know.

Christ is the end of the law for righteousness. Our works of righteousness avail and credit us nothing, both before and after salvation. They are, as God declares, as filthy rags. Think about it, how may we repay a debt with an even greater debt? Or seek to earn a grace freely given thereafter by returning to the law and works of righteousness? Or by considering our earthly successes as a sign of  God's favour upon our self seeking strivings? How utterly foolish, such irrational pagan musings.

Our efforts of righteousness are an insult to God, for look what they seek to replace on Calvary. These endless new visions, attachments to grace and compliance contracts only betray the Pharisaical bedrock of these zealous prophets of the endless gimmick.

Christ is the author and perfecter of a believer's faith - Christ alone.

End of story.
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