Protecting The Pulpit & A Story About Captives

I recently rented the movie Alone, Yet Not Alone.
It was about  Lutheran settlers (Germans) in Pennsylvania in colonial times, and the relationships of the British, the French, natives, and the settlers.

 At first I thought it was not impressive with the acting, but as it went along the story captivated my attention and left me tense not knowing how it would end.

People were killed, and children and a woman were taken hostage.
Some later made a final attempt to escape.
Well, if you are interested to know what happened, you can choose whether to watch it or not.

(We weren't sure if one word was used wrongfully, but the two sites we use said there wasn't any language problem.  I'd have to watch again to be certain.)

 Joni Eareckson Tada sang the title track at the end of the movie.

 

Grace To You had a very good post recently about guarding the pulpit. 

 I've been troubled by connections of some of the pastors I have admired and benefited from the teaching of who have allowed themselves to be aligned with those who have compromised truth and strayed into or plunged into error.

 I don't want to write everybody off, because I have made some mistakes along with family members in sharing things by people who turned out to not be good or to be falling into error (or falling more into it later).

 Tolerance of false teachers and teaching by pastors and church leaders can cause much grief and trouble - though we must be careful not to write off everybody who teaches truth themselves and wrongfully makes these associations.  Sometimes it is in ignorance.

Guarding The Pulpit

Cultural Change (MacArthur Interview) & Persecution

Convictions &Cultural Change:
Ligonier Ministries had John MacArthur of Grace Community Church on answering poignant questions about today's issues. MacArthur talked about his response to the "prophet" who interrupted a Sunday service, his relationship with R.C. Sproul, abortion, homosexuality, gender, etc.
Dr. Stephen Nichols also gave responses on the issues.

 

Persecution:
 Last night I was watching a live concert that came across my feed, keeping it on especially because John Schlitt was one of the singers.
Yes, I used to listen to Petra, and I even went to a concert of theirs way back when I was a teenager. Anyway, a song that stood out to me had to do with persecution of Christians and the attacks by ISIS. It included a line given by Pastor Saeed who is still imprisoned in Iran (and many of us still need to be reminded to pray for him).

 

More Than Just a Protest of Planned "Parenthood"

Last week I watched the teaching sessions of the Biblical Church Evangelism Conference online.
One of the speakers - Pastor Chuck O'Neal - was really fired up on the subject of abortion.
He and the others at the conference went out to abortion clinics and other areas to evangelize.
While protesting what Planned "Parenthood" and other abortion clinics do is good (as many are doing this weekend), things like this are often treated like a one-off event for the church (like Sanctity of Life Sunday).

In the past, there was someone I met on social media who really wanted to get involved with Christians at abortion clinics, but the church that person went to didn't want to actually go out and do that.
It seems the Catholics were more involved than the Christians.  That is a sad commentary on the church.
People have been either unwilling or not motivated enough to go out with the true Gospel in many cases.

Some may complain that people who do go out are too harsh.  Can people really be all that harsh on murder?  If they can do it better, then why aren't they out there doing it?  Love speaks the truth.

The videos that have exposed the selling of baby parts have opened up some people's eyes I think ... seeing  the parts of the real human babies who were slaughtered...and even a whole boy not yet cut up.  Putting a price on baby parts and the criminality of that is actually a secondary crime to the massacre of human beings being done worldwide everyday by abortion.

Cutting a live child in the womb is not better than doing it outside the womb.
Even at the very earliest stages human life is just that - human.
 As soon as the egg and sperm meet, there is the beginning of a little boy or girl God is creating to be an image bearer of His.

I looked in my own phone book, and did not see any place listed that performs abortions.
I'm thankful for that.
Due to pain and worse dizziness, I cannot count on being up to being involved physically.
I can pray for and be supportive of those who can.
When I was young and able-bodied I did go on about four Walk for Life events (supporting Pregnancy Counseling Centers...though I've learned that some may actually give abortion as an option....NOT good) and two or more Sanctity of Life Sunday events standing out on the sidewalk.
I think many people maybe feel stymied about getting involved, if their church is not proactive. Sharing the "180" Movie  and giving are also good things to do.  If you are able-bodied enough to get out there, think and pray about it, and ask your church about it as well.

Please watch Pastor Chuck, and be convicted.

https://youtu.be/bbMzOTmE_xg?t=13m43s

An Inescapable Day of Judgment

There will a judgment day that you will not be able to escape from.
Ah, but you might say that you don't believe in God's existence.
God says we know that He exists in Romans 1:20, but people exchange the truth they do know about God for a lie.
If you can for a moment set your further arguments aside, please read on.
( If not, please visit How can I know if God exists or not? )

Everybody chooses and loves sin willingly.
After Adam & Eve sinned disobeying God, it became in the fallen nature of mankind to be sinful.

When people put other things in the place of God in their lives, it is idolatry.

It is a judgment that God gives people who deny Him over to their sins when they have denied Him, and have chosen to worship something or someone else. (Romans 1:26-32)
Their hearts are darkened (Romans 1:21)

All sin is deserving of eternal judgment, because it is against a perfect God & is against His perfect character.
Human judges are sinful like we are, but God is absolutely pure without any sin at all.
Justice has to be satisfied when you stand before the perfect Judge that you have sinned against.
We deserve an eternity suffering in Hell.  We deserve eternal death.

The wonder of it is that God does choose to have mercy on some undeserving sinners who could never be good enough to get to Heaven.
Good works won't save us (Galatians 2:16).

God sent His perfect Son Jesus (fully God and fully man) to die a horrific death to take the place of sinners who are undeserving

Jesus died for His enemies, so that those who repent and trust in His death for their sin & believe that Jesus rose from the dead will have eternal life.

People are so completely dead and cold in their sins that there is no way that they can or will choose to believe in Jesus unless the Spirit is working bringing them to life, and that faith and desire are bestowed on them by an all powerful God.  So, faith is is a gift of God given by His gracious mercy. We cannot choose Him unless He has chosen us to be adopted as His children.
His beloved children!

That is amazing, and if you are one of His sheep, you too will be forgiven and have a right standing before God.
Jesus will either be your Judge to send you to the Hell you deserve or your Savior to rescue you and forgive and cleanse you and to declare you righteous due to the substitute death of Jesus in your place (if you are His).
Those who are His also have a place in Heaven with the Lord where they will have joy and delight.
The court date is inescapable.

God's sheep will hear His voice, and He will not lose any who are truly His that He has chosen.
Those who repent from sin and trust in Christ are His sheep, chosen before the world began.
Are you one of His sheep?

"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
John 3:36 NASB 

2016 Election Information & Businesses You Might Want To Avoid

The 2016 election right now has many candidates to choose from, and instead of frantically searching the internet in your attempt to learn their basic positions on social and moral issues, I'll give you a website that I have found pretty helpful in the past.  Just click on the photos to learn about each candidate.
Please be aware that not all of the banner ads are good, & I'm not responsible for their site.
On The Issues
Also, the following site has grade ratings on the issue of marriage:
GOP Candidates Graded On Marriage Views

The recent Supreme Court ruling on homosexuality and the exposure of abortion and Planned "Parenthood" on graphic videos is a wake-up call to the church to be both active and vigilant and not compromise on these issues. 
Culture does not determine morality and Bible interpretation as secularists and liberal churches would like us to believe.
God's view of marriage and life hasn't changed, and our generation is not the first to become so corrupted.
You may be interested to know what the views and giving  practices of some of the businesses you may use are on these issues:
http://www.2ndvote.com/
(I had to sign up to view the scorecard.)

Where Is God While They Slaughter Babies?

Yesterday afternoon (morning for those on the west coast of the U.S.) I was listening to a livestream of Grace Community Church where a guy who came from Northern Ireland gave a message on Exodus 1 where Pharaoh had Hebrew babies killed.
The Hebrews had gone to Egypt when Joseph had a high place in that government as second in command to Pharaoh (after first being sold as a slave by his brothers and wrongfully imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit).
God had His plans, and Joseph was given the interpretation of dreams and was released and elevated by Pharaoh eventually after interpreting his dream.
Later a Pharaoh who didn't know Joseph made the Hebrews into slaves.

The new Pharaoh wanted population control much like those who are proponents of abortion. He was fearful of the Hebrews.
In America, Margaret Sanger's targets were the poor and black children.
Pharaoh's target was the Jews.
Some midwives who were instructed to kill the Hebrew baby boys at birth feared God more than Pharaoh, and they wouldn't do it ( Exodus 1:21 ).
Still, many babies were killed.

God increased the Jewish population despite the order for their babies to be killed - as the promise of God drew nigh for them to leave Egypt and eventually go to the land that was promised.

This wasn't discussed in the sermon, but some may bring up about the judgment of the death of the firstborn of Egypt.
God is patient, and He is also just. 
This means that when He does something it is fair, no matter that your mind might not be able to understand.

Some answers to the question about the firstborn deaths.

Redemption was necessary for lives to be spared, and God passed over the houses with the blood on the doorpost.  Really, this pictures the redemption plan of God through the blood of the sacrifice of His Son Jesus.

In China they have forced abortions for some people, though I have read there has been some relaxation (though not cessation) of the one child policy.  Murder of babies in the womb by human beings is wrong.  People are image bearers of God, and only He has the authority to give and take life.
There are so many people around the world who have their children butchered willingly for the idolatry of self (freedom from responsibility) or idolatry & fear of others.
It is horrific, and some even profit from the body parts of the dead babies.
Yes, they are human beings who had a chance of surviving, but the mothers and doctors snuffed out their lives instead of allowing them to stay on the natural life support God gave them through the mothers.

When evil seems to be reigning, God is working His Sovereign plan - even though it comes through suffering done by the choices of sinful people.
God judges a sinful people, but He will redeem His chosen ones.

Andrew Curry (John MacArthur has been taking some time off during the summer) shared some words that William Cowper wrote many years ago, and I looked it up and decided to share the whole thing with you.  
I pasted the words below the video for you to read.
 

(The sound is a little garbled, but it's a unique video I found that has William Cowper words for the first song...though it has added lyrics.)

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never-failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs,
And works His sovereign will.

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy, and shall break
In blessings on your head.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower.

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

William Cowper
1773

 

The following site has some of the earlier tunes written to go with this: God Moves In A Mysterious Way

Other versions of note:
Sovereign Grace Music version

Indelible Grace version