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Discernment lesson: how satan twists the word

Posted on May 20, 2014 by elizabethprata

“Sanctification is the process by which the Holy Spirit makes us more like Christ in all that we do, think, and desire. True sanctification is impossible apart from the atoning work of Christ on the cross because only after our sins are forgiven can we begin to lead a holy life.” (source)

The word process is important. When you are justified (declared by God righteous at the moment of your salvation) you instantly become a new creature. Yet, you are also being transformed over your lifetime. The Holy Spirit grows you in this process, with your willing submission and partnership.

The part in the definition of sanctification about leading a holy life is important too. Part of that holy life includes wisdom and understanding of God’s word. Understanding His word is essential to growth because it is by studying it we come to know Christ. It is His revealed word to us, and it includes His character, His nature, and His will for us. Apostle Paul urges us to press toward the prize, the prize being Christ. How can we know who He is or how to press forward if we do not mature and understand His word?

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. (1 Corinthians 13:11)

In researching the “Christian” mommy blogger Glennon Melton, I came across a longer quote of hers. She wrote a hypothetical letter to a hypothetical person explaining why homosexuality is OK now. How it is unloving to disagree with a homosexual lifestyle but mor emature CHrisitans evolve toward a more “loving”stance about it. Here is a shorter excerpt of that quote.

“Your parents are Christians who believe that the Bible is inspired by God, just like people are. And since the Bible is a living thing, it is in its very nature to evolve toward becoming more loving.” ~Glennon Melton

I’m always amazed at the ways satan twists doctrines. Here, we see that the verse from Hebrews 4:12 has been masterfully twisted.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Let’s break it down. Satan is effective at melding a bit of truth to a lot of error or a lot of truth to a bit of error. Either way, the result is the same.

The word of God is living. We agree.
The word of God is active. We agree.
Active means change. The word of God, because it is active, must be changing (“evolving”). I disagree.
The evolving word of God must therefore be growing more loving, since the logical trajectory of evolution is from less to more. I disagree.

The fatal mistake here is that the word does not change. God does not change. WE change. His stance on sin has not changed from the first moments the bible was inspired and penned. Our understanding of His word changes as we grow. The writers of the books of the bible show us this in several places.

“I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready,” (1 Corinthians 3:2)

Here Paul is speaking to the Corinthians of their arrested development. Babies need milk because they are not ready for a steak until they have teeth, fine motor skills to cut and chew meat, and a digestive system able to handle the load.

“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food,” (Hebrews 5:12).

Gill’s Exposition explains the above Hebrews verse–here it is used by way of reproach, and denotes levity and inconstancy, ignorance and non-proficiency, want of digestion of strong meat, and incapacity to take care of themselves, as standing in need of tutors and governors.

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, (Hebrews 6:1)

So we see there is ample evidence that the living and active word causes a change in us, not the other way around.

It might be useful to take a look at the work of Jean Piaget, the Swiss developmental psychologist and philosopher who worked with children. Glennon Melton’s view of scripture as evolving from less loving to more loving means that God changes. However the true view of scripture is that while it stays the same, our understanding of it grows as the Spirit grows us in sanctification. I know many of you have had the experience of having read a verse many times but then one day, in reading it again, suddenly all new insights flood your mind and you have at once a deeper understanding, Have the words themselves changed on the page? No. But our understanding of them has.

Jean Piaget worked with children for many years and created a theory of cognitive development. “Cognition is the process by which the sensory input is transformed, reduced, elaborated, stored, recovered, and used. In science, cognition is the mental processing that includes the attention of working memory, comprehending and producing language, calculating, reasoning, problem solving, and decision making. In cognitive psychology and cognitive engineering, cognition is typically assumed to be information processing in a participant’s or operator’s mind or brain. In cognitive psychology and cognitive engineering, cognition is typically assumed to be information processing in a participant’s or operator’s mind or brain.“

Piaget placed an order on a child’s cognitive development and structured them into age groupings. We all know children develop. We all know children’s brains become more able to handle greater and more complex functions as they grow. It is the same with us as Christians. We start our learning the elementary doctrines and have a more childish relationship with Jesus. As we mature, we deepen our understanding and add layers of experience and complexity to our relationship with the Father. Here is Piaget:

A Quick Summary of Cognitive Development

The Sensorimotor Stage: During this stage, infants and toddlers acquire knowledge through sensory experiences and manipulating objects.

The Preoperational Stage: At this stage, kids learn through pretend play but still struggle with logic and taking the point of view of other people.

The Concrete Operational Stage: Kids at this point of development begin to think more logically, but their thinking can also be very rigid. They tend to struggle with abstract and hypothetical concepts.

The Formal Operational Stage: The final stage of Piaget’s theory involves an increase in logic, the ability to use deductive reasoning, and an understanding of abstract ideas.

It is important to note that Piaget did not view children’s intellectual development at a quantitative process; that is, kids do not just add more information and knowledge to their existing knowledge as they get older. Instead, Piaget suggested that there is a qualitative change in how children think as they gradually process through these four stages. A child at age 7 doesn’t just have more information about the world than he did at age 2; there is a fundamental change in how he thinks about the world. (source)

Can you see the parallels with how we interact with the doctrines of His word, with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and with each other? We don’t simply acquire more verses as we memorize, we develop in fundamental change in how we regard the Father as we experience His truths borne out in our Christian lives. This comparison is especially apt because we are children to the Father, no matter if we are 12 years old or 112 years old. He is renewing our minds, and we undergo fundamental change as the Spirit grows us into new creations. (Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17).

I hope by now you can see two things:

1. How subtly satan takes a bible verse and twists it in the mind of an unsaved person such as Glennon Melton. It’s based on a truth and it sounds logical, but it isn’t either of those.

2. How God does not change but the Spirit changes us through the living and active word, with our partnership. It is a mystery on how we effect the changes or how far our efforts go in this glorious renewal, but we know we do have a part in it. We submit, we pray, we study, we appeal to the Father for wisdom. We work out our salvation in fear and trembling. Alongside within us, the Spirit is always working, to renew, transform, knit together a new creature whose finished product at the Marriage ceremony will be a glory unto Jesus.

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, (Jude 1:20)

His living and active Word is evolving US into creations fit for heaven. Allow me to alter Mrs Melton’s lie into truth. A few well-chosen words here and there make such a difference. “You are Christians who believe that the Bible is inspired by God, just like people are when we submit to its precepts. And since the Bible is a living Word, it is in its very nature to evolve us toward becoming more loving.”

None of our understanding of His word would be possible without our precious Savior descending from above to live with us, teach, be rejected, punished, scourged, die, and rise again. He is the supreme Person of the Universe, please give Him all praise and glory. Dedicate yourself to His words, live them, exclaim them, guard them.

“Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29)

encouragement, exhortation, God, hosea, moth, S. Lewis Johnson

Sometimes judgment comes not as brimstone or earthquake, but as a moth

Posted on May 18, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

When you read the bible, stop frequently to ponder. Think about what you’re reading. Also, frequently ask yourself, “What does this mean?”

We read about different metaphors in the bible, and we read about different insects and animals sometimes as a part of those metaphors. In Psalm 59:14 we read that enemies return at evening, howling “like a dog”. In Proverbs 6:6, we are advised to be like the ant. Psalm 18:33 says, “He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights.”

Sometimes God uses a metaphor to ascribe a quality to Himself. In Matthew 23:37 God says tenderly,

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” See also Ruth 2:12.

Wiki creative commons

Insects mentioned quite often include the moth. Moths are mentioned several times.

“but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20)

“For the moth will eat them up like a garment, and the worm will eat them like wool; but my righteousness will be forever, and my salvation to all generations.” (Isaiah 51:8)

But see this verse from Hosea where God pronounces judgment on Israel, God says HE will be like the moth!

“I am like a moth to Ephraim, like rot to the people of Judah.” (Hosea 5:12)

So in reading Hosea 5 when you come across a verse like this, stop and ponder, ask, what does it mean? What do moths do, how do they act, so we can better understand what God is saying here.

When we think of God working, we often think of Him powerfully and noisily working great things, such as in the scene from 1 Kings 19:11-12

“And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12After the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.”

But God works quietly too, as the low whisper showed. (NOT that God speaks to us today in a still, small voice, that was not the point of the verse). It’s that He works loudly and demonstrably but also quietly.

It is the same with the moth. Though we think of judgments like brimstone and earthquakes, a judgment is also what the moth can do, and in a way, it is worse.

Moths (or moth larvae) work secretly, stealthily. You put away your clothes for the summer and when winter comes again you take out that sweater and it has been rendered useless because of all the holes in until it is good for nothing. It will not cover your nakedness anymore. Pulpit Commentary quotes Calvin:

“The meaning of the prophet is by no means obscure, and that is, that the Lord would by a slow corrosion consume both the people; and that, though he would not by one onset destroy them, yet they would pine away until they became wholly rotten.”

Gill’s Exposition says,

“Therefore will I be unto Ephraim as a moth,…. Which eats garments, penetrates into them, feeds on them privately, secretly, without any noise, and gradually and slowly consumes them; but at last utterly, that they are of no use and profit:”

Can there be a worse judgment? To awaken finding yourself one day wholly rotten? A slow but sure destruction that had come upon you? Not even having rated a loud showy judgment of brimstone, but a lowly worm having done you in.

S. Lewis Johnson ended his exposition of Hosea 5, a sermon titled “God Withdrawn“, this way-

The perils of apostasy! When we apostatize from the faith, when we depart from the faith, when lethargy and indifference grips us, the real enemy is the Lord God Himself!

If you have believed in Jesus and your life is in a shambles because of indifference and because of lethargy, the Lord God may be working like a moth in your life. May God help you to recognize what is really happening, and may He stir you by His Holy Spirit to come back to Him. Confess your sin, seek to put Him first in your life. Use the time He has given you for the glorification of His name. The remedy as Hosea puts it so plainly is, ‘know the Lord.’ ” (Hosea 5:4)

Take protective measures against the moth’s destructive capabilities by keeping your faith living and active. Study the word, know the Lord. Pray ceaselessly. Serve lovingly. Submit constantly. There will be no need to mothball your holy garment if you never put it away for a season!

boundary, discernment, doctrine, hosea

Moving the boundary, and God’s reaction to it

Posted on May 17, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

I love boundaries. I love edges of things, particularly in geography. I’ve visited the halfway mark to the north pole, located in Perry Maine. I’ve stood on the Equator line at Quito Ecuador. I’ve seen the southernmost US point at Key West FL. There are places where the Rio Grande is a trickle and you can at once be in both the US and Mexico. The border of Maine and Canada in the Bay of Fundy is marked on the ocean by a buoy. At Lubec, Maine, it is marked by a narrow channel, with a lighthouse on one side.

Perry, Maine EPrata photo

It’s always been of interest to me and an indescribable delight to be able to put one foot on one side of something and the other foot on the other side. Man needs to carve up the world so we can be organized, co-exist, know where we are at all times. This is logical. Even God made boundaries, as He declared in Genesis 1:9,

And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so.

And again in Jeremiah 5:22

I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass;

Rio Grande, border of TX-Mexico, Big Bend. EPrata photo

Man has used boundaries since the beginning of time. In Wikipedia’s article Boundaries in landscape history, it is explained,

“Boundaries- a real or imagined line that marks the limit of something. Many field boundaries in the central region of England originated with the enclosure of the previous open fields in the 18th or 19th centuries. In a few instances, current field boundaries (particularly in the west country) have been shown to have originated in the Bronze Age or Iron Age. In Scotland a march dyke is the boundary between farms or previously baronies.“

Quito, Ecuador, Equator Museum. EPrata photo

In Hosea 5:10 we read,

“The princes of Judah have become like those who move a boundary; On them I will pour out My wrath like water.”

Moving a boundary stone was a serious, serious offense. It is mentioned several times in Deuteronomy and also on Proverbs,

“Do not move your neighbor’s boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive in the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess.” (Deuteronomy 19:14)

“Cursed is anyone who moves their neighbor’s boundary stone.” Then all the people shall say, “Amen!” (Deuteronomy 27:17)

“Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set.” (Proverbs 22:28)

Pulpit Commentary says of the prohibition against moving boundaries,

“In a country where property was defined by landmarks – stones or some such objects – nothing was easier than to remove these altogether, or to alter their position. That this was a common form of fraud and oppression we gather from the stringency of the enactments against the offence (see Deuteronomy 19:14; Deuteronomy 27:17; and comp. Job 24:2; Proverbs 22:28). In the Babylonian and Assyrian inscriptions which have been preserved, there are many invoking curses, curious and multifarious, against the disturbers of boundaries. Such marks were considered sacred and inviolable by the Greeks and Romans (see Plato, ‘De Leg.,’ 8:842, 843; Ovid, ‘Fast.,’ 2:639, etc.).”

I was a reporter for about 6 years, covering local governing bodies such as town councils and Selectmen. The second most important issue to people, where they would rise up and come to meetings to speak, write letters to the newspaper, and discuss at water coolers and diner counters…was taxes. Money. People care a great deal that their tax money is being judiciously handled. But there was one issue that roused the people to anger and frustration even more than money, if you can believe it. Land.

Any time there was a proposed change in land use, the people came out. Any time a prohibition was put into place that restricted their land use, they got angry. Town Zoning and land use ordinances were top concerns for people, and rightly so. Worse was any proposal that would directly involve a change or restriction to personal property. People work hard to buy property and once it is personally owned, they protect it with zeal. It is their life, their livelihood, their own.

Boundary disputes among nations cause wars. Boundary disputes among individuals cause neighborhood wars.

It was no different 3000 years ago, because people are no different. The Lord considers moving a person’s boundaries a cursed activity. Worse, the greedy defrauders moving stones used to do it surreptitiously. Jamieson Fausset Brown Commentary says of Deuteronomy 19:14,

“The Landmark Is Not to Be Removed. Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark, which they of old have set in thine inheritance—The state of Palestine in regard to enclosures is very much the same now as it has always been. Though gardens and vineyards are surrounded by dry-stone walls or hedges of prickly pear, the boundaries of arable fields are marked by nothing but by a little trench, a small cairn, or a single erect stone, placed at certain intervals. It is manifest that a dishonest person could easily fill the gutter with earth, or remove these stones a few feet without much risk of detection and so enlarge his own field by a stealthy encroachment on his neighbor’s. This law, then, was made to prevent such trespasses.”

Boundaries are there for a reason, and usually there is no need to move them or change them. They alert people as to where to go, and not go. They divide one thing from another thing. Notice the excoriation for those who cunningly and secretly move boundaries. People who do that are the worst of the worst, because you are literally messing with their livelihood.

Back to Hosea 5:10, “The princes of Judah have become like those who move a boundary; On them I will pour out My wrath like water.”

The boundaries God is talking about are not only the physical boundaries. Note the language, the princes “have become like,” not that the princes are actually moving boundaries. “Israel’s leaders were moving spiritual lines established by God” as Dr MacArthur says in his commentary. People who move the doctrinal lines are the worst of the worst. Note that 2 Peter 2:21 says there are some who secretly bring in destructive heresies. False prophets and false teachers are like those leaders Hosea is speaking of who secretly move the doctrinal boundary stones!

The context of Hosea 5 is “Punishment Coming for Israel and Judah.” God will punish those who do this to the sheep. He will punish those sheep who accept their leaders’ erasing of the boundary lines of His word and His doctrines. When I was traveling, the boundary told me the answer to the question: Am I in Maine or Canada? The United States or Mexico? The Northern Hemisphere or the Southern?” Boundaries tell us where we are. It is the same with God’s boundaries. Am I on the right side of God or the wrong side? Am I within His bounds or outside the sheepfold?

When Adam transgressed, God asked, “Adam, where are you?” Of course God knew Adam was in the Garden of Eden. He know what Adam had done. He was rhetorically asking where are you? (Genesis 3:9). Outside of my outermost marker? Outside of the limits I set for you? Satan is the original boundary changer.

Adam, where are you? Israelites, where are you? “Those who by sin go astray from God, should seriously consider where they are; they are afar off from all good, in the midst of their enemies, in bondage to Satan, and in the high road to utter ruin” (Matthew Henry)

If we get so mad if someone moves a boundary marker on our land, how does God feel when we alter His spiritual lines of demarcation? Doctrinal boundaries matter. They certainly matter to God.

Set your mind on the things above, and ask the Spirit to give you wisdom to detect when satan is secretly moving the doctrinal lines in your heart or your church. Ask the Spirit to give you strength to stay within the boundaries. Ask Him to give you courage to protect them. Ask Him to show you if you are the one moving the boundary lines in your heart or your church. Are you pleading for a woman to teach or preach? Are you affirming of active homosexuals in positions or eldership? Are you accepting of visions and tongues? You are moving God’s boundary lines. This is serious, because of the next part of the Hosea verse:

The rest of the boundary moving verse in Hosea 5:10 says of those who do it, “upon them I will pour out my wrath like water.” The word pour out is Hebrew meaning overflow, like a dam bursting in fury. (Also Revelation 2:20-23)

God said to Job of His sovereignty in creation regarding the sea-sand boundary: “‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?” (Job 38:11)

Star Trek’s Captian Picard famously made a speech about drawing the line and going no farther. When he says “they assimilate entire worlds” substitute ‘they assimilate entire churches’ in your mind.

The doctrinal lines must be drawn and we must go NO FARTHER! Let no one move your boundary!

Boundary line between Butterworth and Crompton,
in Greater Manchester England.
By Michael Ely, Wikimedia Commons

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"This year there was a typical pattern of quake activity up until the end of March, and then things went bonkers"

Posted on May 16, 2014 by elizabethprata

In the last two weeks there have been 15 ‘major’ earthquakes in the world. Major quakes are considered above 6.0. The month of May seems to be continuing the pattern for an increased number of large earthquakes. The Atlantic reported the following about April’s earthquakes:

April Had a Record Number of Big Earthquakes
This year there was a typical pattern of quake activity up until the end of March, and then things went bonkers.
In a typical month, the planet is shaken by an average of one or two medium-to-large earthquakes. This past month was not typical. Things were running on track up until the end of March, and then the ground went totally bonkers. There was an incredible 13 quakes of magnitudes 6.5 or higher in April. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, which issued bulletins for each one, says that is “easily a record for this institution.” Five of these temblors were powerful enough that the center also put out tsunami warnings.”

If as the article says, the globe is shaken once or twice a month by a large-ish quake, then what of 15 large-ish quakes in 15 days? And what of the information reported in these two articles?

Northwest Alaska–
Unusual Arctic earthquakes intrigue scientists
“In recent weeks, two powerful earthquakes have rocked the Northwest Arctic, leading some to ask why, and if these two are a sign of things to come. On April 18, the first quake rang in at a magnitude of 5.6, while on May 3 a second quake shook the region at 5.5. Before the first one in April, it had been more than 30 years since an earthquake that strong struck the region, said Mike West, a seismologist with the Alaska Earthquake Center. “This got our attention,” West said. “It’s not unprecedented, but it is unusual.“

Reno, NV-
Study: 300 Earthquakes In Parker County Since December
There have been more than 300 earthquakes reported in Parker County since December, according to just-published research conducted by an earthquake study team. In preliminary findings released Wednesday, the team reported that the quakes show a complex fault system in the area near Reno and Azle, which started experiencing quakes for the first time in November.

Prophecy is packed with predictions of earthquakes. At this late stage of history, we read the last book of the age, Revelation, which contains predictions of at least five major earthquakes, the final one being so large that ‘none like it has ever occurred on the earth’. You might remember the recent 9.0 quake at Japan that sparked the tsunami, devastated millions across continents, jogged the earth off its axis, and shortened the astronomical day. The one in Revelation will be worse. Read this account from Tacitus in his Annals, where a large quake occurred sometime between 16-19 AD, and a dozen Asiatic cities crumbled.

In the same year, twelve important cities of Asia collapsed in an earthquake, the time being night, so that the havoc was the less foreseen and the more devastating. Even the usual resource in these catastrophes, a rush to open ground, was unavailing, as the fugitives were swallowed up in yawning chasms. Accounts are given of huge mountains sinking, of former plains seen heaved aloft, of fires flashing out amid the ruin

The last predicted earthquake is a judgment poured out from seventh bowl of wrath and the description of what is to occur is similar to what happened in Tacitus’ day. Except for one thing. It will be much, much worse.

The Seventh Bowl
The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple, from the throne, saying, “It is done!” And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake such as there had never been since man was on the earth, so great was that earthquake. The great city was split into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell, and God remembered Babylon the great, to make her drain the cup of the wine of the fury of his wrath. And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found. And great hailstones, about one hundred pounds each, fell from heaven on people; and they cursed God for the plague of the hail, because the plague was so severe. (Revelation 16:18)

There are people who say that the bible doesn’t teach that earthquakes will increase throughout the end of the age. By the way, we are in the end of the age. It has been the end of the age since the Messiah was announced at Pentecost. The Messianic age, or the Age of Grace, began at the resurrection of Jesus and will end with His return.

It is true, the bible doesn’t directly state that earthquakes will increase at the end of the age. But the bible doesn’t directly state that God is a Trinity, either. That doesn’t mean the concept isn’t indirectly taught.

Jesus said that a sign of His coming will be earthquakes. In prophecy, this is a two-fold event. The five or so major quakes predicted in Revelation are one such concrete sign. Jesus said so in Matthew 24:3,7. Certain, specific quakes are predicted which will kill a certain, specific amount of people or do certain, specific damage.

However He also taught that earthquakes in general will occur and they will increase as time goes on. How? In The Olivet Discourse, He spoke to the Disciples on the Mount of Olives as a long response to their query as to the signs of the end of the age, that the end of the age will be like birth pangs. (Matthew 24:8). Paul echoes this analogy in 1 Thessalonians 5:3, where he is also discussing the Day of the Lord-

While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

The notion here is compared to the Days of Noah or the Days of Lot. Just as the people of Noah’s day were thinking themselves secure and happy, all things going along as they had been, sudden destruction came in the form of the rains and the wells of the deeps opening up to drown them. Or in Sodom, all things were going along as they had been, and suddenly brimstone rained down from the sky and destruction came.

And yet, all things had not been going on as they had been, in Noah’s day sin was getting worse and worse and worse from the time of the expulsion from the garden and one murder (Abel, Genesis 4:8) to the situation where all men were always thinking and doing evil continually. (Genesis 6:5). This time period was around 1500 years. (source)

In the days of Lot the outcry against the sins of the cities of the plain (Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim) was reaching God’s ears. Between the time of the Flood’s subsiding with 8 righteous people left upon the earth, and the four cities’ destruction for sin, it was about 433 years. (source). Both were situations were things descended gradually but inexorably from a state of near-perfect righteousness to almost all men exhibiting a deep rebellion.

Well if there are metaphorical birth pangs, there must be a metaphorical pregnancy. If there is a pregnancy, there must be a gestation. In gestation, it takes time for the babe to grow and grow and grow. The water breaks. The pains begin. The bloody birth. And then new life.

Even within the birth pangs, they begin spaced apart, then grow in intensity and painfulness as the climactic moment approaches. Jesus could have used any metaphor but in specifically answering the question about the signs of the end of the age, including earthquakes, He said it will be like birthpains. Not only that, but the earthquakes being the beginning of the birth pains, indicating once again that things will intensify as events unfold. The quadruple judgments of Revelation show us this The judgments themselves intensify and increase in frequency as the Tribulation proceeds. (Seals, Trumpets, Thunders of Revelation 10:3-4, Bowls).

I could be wrong of course in interpreting the birth pangs this way. But I’m not wrong about saying that sin begins small and grows widespread, as seen between the time between Adam and Eve’s expulsion to the Flood, or the advancing and retreating pattern of sin-judgment-repentance evidenced by Israel in that cycle shown to us as a demonstration of God’s long-suffering. Or the outcry against Sodom growing to the point where God sent His angel to judge it. Sin and rebellion grows to a certain point and then God decides to judge in His timing. So birth pangs are an apt description. Things get worse and worse and worse, then destruction.

Earthquakes are an interesting sign of the end of the age. Jesus declared they are a sign in Matthew 24:7. Earthquakes in prophecy are a sign of power and sovereignty of God. Isaiah 29:6 says

“the LORD Almighty will come with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire.”

It is wise, I believe, to watch the earthquakes. Don’t read too much into them, but as a sign, if Jesus said they are a sign then they are a sign. That they are verifiably increasing is a fact.

There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. (Luke 21:11)

And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;…before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. (Acts 2:19, 20b)

I believe the earthquakes increasing is one sign among many others that show the time is growing short. I’ll close with the next verse from Acts 2:20:

And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

discernment, experiencing God, henry blackaby, kim walker smith, rick warren

Roots: False doctrines have a genealogy. Where did the ‘fresh encounter’ approach to worship come from?

Posted on May 15, 2014 by elizabethprata

All false doctrines have a genealogy. They share a family history, as it were. That’s why Catholicism, not being a Christian religion, shares a common genealogy with Buddhism and Islam and is outside the Christianity of Jesus Christ. Mormonism shares more with Hinduism and Wicca than with worshiping Christ.

The reason all false doctrines and false religions have a common family identity and share similar genealogical traits is because they all come from the same father: the father of lies, Satan. (John 8:44)

I read an article this morning which struck me. It also reminded me of a similar article published in 2011. The article from today is published in World Magazine, by Anthony Bradley in the Religion section. It is called “The ‘new legalism‘: How the push to be ‘radical’ and ‘missional’ discourages ordinary people in ordinary places from doing ordinary things to the glory of God“. I thought it had good things to say, pertinent and needed things. For example,

“I continue to be amazed by the number of youth and young adults who are stressed and burnt out from the regular shaming and feelings of inadequacy if they happen to not be doing something unique and special. Today’s millennial generation is being fed the message that if they don’t do something extraordinary in this life they are wasting their gifts and potential. The sad result is that many young adults feel ashamed if they “settle” into ordinary jobs, get married early and start families, live in small towns, or as 1 Thessalonians 4:11 says, “aspire to live quietly, and to mind [their] affairs, and to work with [their] hands.” For too many millennials their greatest fear in this life is being an ordinary person with a non-glamorous job, living in the suburbs, and having nothing spectacular to boast about. Here are a few thoughts on how we got here.“

My thoughts on how we got here differ some from the excellent Mr Bradley. Mr Bradley isn’t the first person to wonder about the ordinary Christianity we are all called to exhibit. Here is the essay published in 2011 that his essay made me think of. It is by Tommy Clayton at Grace To You.

An Unremarkable Faith
“Meet Larry … Larry devotes himself to his wife and family, lovingly shepherding them through every season of life with the Scriptures. He’s faithful to his job and fellow colleagues. He’s managed to share Christ with nearly every junior-high teacher at Oakwood Academy. And although they mock Larry behind his back, all the teachers respect him. It won’t shock you to know Larry pays his taxes and never misses an opportunity to serve his community. Larry’s life commends the gospel. He’s faithful, but he’s unremarkable. Or, is he? If you’re bored with Larry’s Christianity, it’s probably because you’ve been influenced by a very different idea of the Christian life. Larry’s not radical, or wild at heart—not in the sense of taking careless risks, jeopardizing the stability of his family, or pursuing a life of adventure. You could say Larry is quite content with his station in life, a station given him by God. He aspires to live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. Sound familiar? There’s a stubborn and influential voice within evangelicalism that seems to despise simple yet unremarkable faithfulness.”

Where did this false notion of a breathless and adrenaline-rushed Christianity come from? Why are we like this now? I have some ideas I’d like to share for your consideration. Let’s take a backward walk through time, from now back to 1990. We will trace the roots of a false doctrine, the experiential approach to learning who God is, rather than the scripture approach to learning who God is. How did we get from the quiet, plodding, ordinary Christian of the latter part of the last century and the early part of this, learning week by week about Jesus and His attributes in a male-led Sunday School setting or a preacher expositing the word from the pulpit, to the adrenaline-rushed, heart-thumping, wild, life-altering Christianity of conferences and mega-churches complete with strobes and ‘awesome’ ear-splitting praise bands encountering God? This is a blurb from a conference held this past March in South Africa.

2014 Fire Starter Gathering
“It is that time of year again to bring everyone together to celebrate the amazing things God is doing around the country and into Africa! This year’s conference is going to be nothing short of incredible and we want to see all of you there! It is our prayer and desire that each person who comes to J-bay for conference this year would not only have 3 action-packed days of surf, fun, and fellowship but would also have a real, meaningful, perhaps life-altering encounter with the living God who loves them more than they could ever imagine! In 1992 God gave us a vision and we saw him move like a fire along the coastline. It started and spread like a WILD FIRE catching and growing as it moved along. JESUS WAS A FIRE STARTER. It may have been small and intimate in the hearts of a few disciples but it caught and raged all over the world. Our Conference is a gathering of people from across the nation and our goal is to encounter Jesus the “Fire Starter” and to leave the conference ignited and empowered to be a fire starters of his wild fire.”

I guess it’s sexier to be a “fire starter” than a “perseverer”. (1 Timothy 4:16, Hebrews 10:36). It sounds like a funner Christianity to have action packed days by the sea than it is to live quietly minding our own business (1 Thessalonians 4:11). And yes, I meant to say ‘funner’, a kindergarten word for kindergarten Christianity.

The Louis Giglio “Passion: 268 Generation” conferences for college aged students-only are another example of an adrenaline rush, movement-based (as opposed to Gospel based), encounter oriented radical-in-its-approach type of conferences and emotions pumping all the while. This blogger summed it up, “Passion worship is very different from the biblical understanding of worship described above, for it is based in a culture of rock music and psychedelic lighting that produces a spirit of revelry.”

A spirit of revelry is quite different from worshiping in Spirit and in truth. Yet annually, and since 2008, internationally, tens of thousands of students at a time gather to pump their bodies to acoustically injurious rock ‘Christian’ music, and listen to contemplative, Gospel watered down speeches at Passion conferences. Cutting youths from the herd of the local church AND the family was a stroke of genius. (NO adults are allowed, except their one accompanying youth pastor. Not even parents.)

Whipping impressionable young people up into emotional frenzies over cultural and societal ills (not Gospel-ills) and stationing ATMs so they can donate to these causes makes them feel like they are doing something for the cause of Christ. As a matter of fact, the motto of Passion last year was “Do something.” Then they are told they “encountered God.”

The blogger is right: Passion Conference is a club atmosphere paving the way for drugs, ecstatic experience, and godlessness. When the Conference began in 1997, and I have not researched this, I am almost sure it wasn’t as blasphemous and godless as it is now. But the slide, it’s inexorable.

Kim Walker Smith of Jesus Culture, the “Christian” rock band who played at the Awakening conference in 2011, said she has encounters frequently with Jesus. In this one from which the quote was extracted, she was in the presence of Jesus for an extended time, “he” cuddled her on his lap, and they spoke face to face. Note that she says it isn’t normal, but she lives from one until the next one. If it happens frequently enough so that the next one always comes, then they are normal for her, no matter how much she denies.

This is not a normal thing for me to just have these encounters, but I have one and I just live off of that until the next one (laughs). ~Kim Smith

Speaking of 1997, or more specifically 1998, going back in time, we read Pastor Rick Warren’s thoughts on how he approaches worship at his church. It is eerily similar to Mrs Smith’s encounter to encounter with Jesus. The Baptist Press interviewed Warren in 1998, when Warren was riding high on his recently published Purpose Driven Church (1995). His quote typifies the encounter to encounter, surfing the waves of adrenaline approach to Christian life rather than persevering quietly, sacrificially, and secretly. The article is (tellingly) titled, “Rick Warren: Surfing skills critical to ‘catching waves’ of God’s activity“

We’re just a church that tries to look for waves, and we ride them. And then we try to do it with balance. ~Rick Warren

Yoda would say “Do. Or do not. There is no try”. See, the problem with balancing on invisible surfboards and looking for waves is that it is easy to be fooled. It is easy to misinterpret what you are seeing. Ask any mariner on 2 AM watch looking for a 3 second light on a bobbing buoy, or any desert traveler looking for an oasis. Warren’s answer to church leading and worshiping should have been, “we stand on God’s word and live by it.”

Let’s get to the crux of the matter. In 1990, Henry Blackaby published his seminal “Experiencing God” book. There is much to commend the book and much that is biblical. There are some things that are not biblical. Given today’s standards of visions and encounters and Gumby Jesus’s and Hearing Voices and Prophetic Words and Charismatic outpourings, Blackaby’s Experiencing God seems tame. It is tame. But sin is crouching at the door, it desires to have us. (Genesis 4:7). Give satan an inch and he thinks he’s a ruler.

The sin in Blackaby’s approach was shifting from the all-sufficient word to a mix of the word and the personal encounter, then called “experience.” He advised worshipers to listen for God’s voice. This advice might not seem remarkable now, but back then, coming from a credible and respected conservative Southern Baptist, it opened the floodgates.

Blackaby said in his 1990 book, “You come to know God by experience as you obey Him and He accomplishes His work through you.” Blackaby said “watch where God is at work and join Him (Chapter 6). “Once you know where He is working, you can adjust your life to join Him” (72).

Are there places God isn’t working? Psalm 139:7-8 says no. As far as the advice goes that we come to know God by experience, nothing could be further than the truth. We come to know God by His revelation to us. As least I don’t come to know God that way. I certainly don’t. And neither did Peter who had an encounter with Jesus as incarnated God, and said, don’t rely on experience but rely on the word. (2 Peter 1:19)

Oh, the polluted doctrinal water didn’t flood in to churches right away, weakening our resolve of sola scriptura, and leading us away from the solidity of the stance that scripture is sufficient. But one can see over time, how his crack in the dam weakened it. The dam being the strong tower of God’s word and His word alone. As the dam has let go in this new millennium and rushing waters roil over churches, we have Christian surfers, living off one vision to another, pumping fists and bodies at hormonal Passion ~~revelries~~ conferences, looking for the next missional thing to get ignited about and so we can be ready for a life-altering experience.

In addition to the floodgates of “experience” (encounters) reigning supreme over the word thanks to Blackaby’s study, we also have this, published by Stand To Reason. When one unhitches one’s self from the solidity of persuasion by Gospel and the confirmation of Who Christ is by His words, where does one go to seek confirmation? We look for something else to persuade us.

Our Culture Persuades and Is Persuaded Not by Reason, but by Advertising
I came across a post written last year by Alastair Roberts, and though it’s specifically about how Rob Bell (and other postmodern Christians) seek to persuade others, the insight he has into Rob Bell’s style applies to a great number of people in our culture, and not just in the area of religion:

The ad man doesn’t persuade his customer by making a carefully reasoned and developed argument, but by subtly deflecting objections, evoking feelings and impressions, and directing those feelings and harnessing those impressions in a way that serves his interests. Where the lawyer argues, the ad man massages….

If you listen for it, you’ll hear it—people using words as ideological tools to paint emotional images rather than to communicate objective truth, choosing those words according to their emotional connotations rather than their accurate representation of reality

Emotions drive encounters and encounters drive emotions and within that tight little circle, truth is squeezed out. There is no room for it.

So the question I opened with, ‘How did we get from the quiet, plodding, ordinary Christian of the latter part of the last century and the early part of this, learning week by week about Jesus and His attributes in a male-led Sunday School setting or from a preacher expositing the word from the pulpit, to the adrenaline-rushed, heart-thumping, wild, radical life-altering Christianity of conferences and mega-churches complete with strobes and ‘awesome’ ear-splitting praise bands all so they can encounter God? In my opinion … Henry Blackaby.

It doesn’t begin with him, certainly. False doctrines and lying approaches to the word of God go all the way back to the Garden. But the latest iteration of sin crouching at the door of ‘experience’ being more sure than the word began in my opinion in 1990 with a credible Baptist urging people to look for God and listen to Him and wander off into encounters and believe you’re getting closer to Him. Bible not needed. Just look for where God is working and surf on over there and join the adrenaline-rushing fun.

To all those seeking a “fresh encounter” with God, I ask you, WHEN DID HE GO STALE?!?! Your encounters, like Beth Moore’s Sabbath play date with Jesus where she and Him had a blast, are just that, fleshly experiences which may or may not be fruit bearing activities pleasing to God. It’s why we will have our experiences and activities placed on the reward scales and some of it will be burned as hay, wood, and stubble. If we could tell ahead of time if all our encounters and experiences are worthy of God and acceptable to Him, I guess we wouldn’t need a Bema seat judgment ceremony, would we?

That’s why the Word is more sure.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spurgeon on Hopefulness amid Apostasy

Posted on May 13, 2014 by elizabethprata

Charles Spurgeon on hopefulness in the face of general apostasy, heresies, and false doctrines. The entire piece is worth reading.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Earthquake but not Heartquake

As for myself, I am often sadly tossed about because of the heresies and false doctrines of this present age. It grieves me to the heart to see the lack of spirituality among ministers and of holiness among professing Christians. It cuts me to the quick to see the utter rubbish and poison which is preached instead of Christianity. At times it looks as if all things were going wrong! The men to whom one looked as pillars, forsake the faith, and the staunchest give way for the sake of peace. We are apt to cry, “What will become of us?”

But if God is our refuge and strength, we need not be afraid, even amid general apostasy! While God lives, Truth is in the ascendant. I remember years ago meeting with that blessed servant of God, the late Earl of Shaftesbury. He was at Mentone with a dying daughter and he happened, that day, to be very much downcast, as, indeed, I have frequently seen him and as, I am sorry to confess, he has also frequently seen me. That day he was particularly cast down about the general state of society. He thought that the powers of darkness in this country were having it all their own way and that, before long, the worst elements of society would gain power and trample out all virtue.

Looking up into his face, I said to him, “And is God dead? Do you believe that while God lives the devil will conquer Him?” He smiled and we walked along by the Mediterranean communing together in a far more hopeful tone. The Lord lives and blessed be my Rock! As long as the Lord lives, our hope also lives! Gospel Truth will yet prevail! We shall live to see the old faith to the front again! The Church, like Noah’s dove, will come back to her rest and bring something with her which shall prophesy eternal peace.

angels, gabriel, Michael, tribulation

Back to Basics: All about Angels

Posted on May 12, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

Angels are mentioned almost three hundred times in the bible. Let’s look at who these created beings are and what they do for God. This essay will be divided into three sections. First, we’ll have a very brief overview in looking at what angels do and who they are, from scripture. I say very brief because the subject is so deep that one essay, or even a dozen essays, can’t do it justice.

In the second section there will be some fast facts and trivia.

In the third section at the end I’ll look at some weighty matters concerning angels.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~section 1~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The bible says that “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Since God has always existed, ‘the beginning means’ the beginning of what He wants to reveal to us. Job 38:4-7 says that when God did that work, the angels praised Him by singing with joy. So the angels already were created by God.

“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7)

“Sons of God” is a term sometimes used to describe angels. (Job 1:6, Genesis 6:2). Angels then, were created before the foundation of the world was laid, but the point is, they are created beings. They have intellect, will, and emotions. They are a higher order than humans. (Hebrews 2:7). They are spirit beings that sometimes take on a body likeness when they come to earth. And they do come to earth. (Genesis 32:24, Hebrews 13:2).

In Genesis 18:2, Abraham saw three ‘men’ approaching him but in the next verse Abraham immediately bowed and called one of them Lord. Though they were in the form of men, Abraham knew they were not of this world. Sometimes an angel appears and they do not look like men but they do look like they are from glory. (Matthew 28:2-4). Usually in those cases where even their full stature and countenance is hidden, the men and women viewing them still fall down.

They serve us by obeying God. They praise and honor God in His temple (Revelation 4:8; Hebrews 12:22) bring messages, (Luke 1:19, Daniel 10:11), minister to us, (Hebrews 1:14), fight for God against the forces of evil, (2 Kings 6:17).

Or not, as the case may be. Angels rebelled in heaven and a third of the angels sided with satan. (Revelation 12:4). These became the demons. They attempt to thwart God and His people. They may seem to be temporarily successful but of course they are not in any sense victorious over God. His plan reigns supreme. All that happens to those who love God He turns to the good for His glory.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary explains more eloquently. Click on the link FMI

“But its distinctive application is to certain heavenly intelligences whom God employs in carrying on his government of the world. The name does not denote their nature but their office as messengers. The appearances to Abraham at Mamre (Genesis 18:2, 22. Comp. 19:1), to Jacob at Peniel (Genesis 32:24, 30), to Joshua at Gilgal (Joshua 5:13, 15), of the Angel of the Lord, were doubtless manifestations of the Divine presence, “foreshadowings of the incarnation,” revelations before the “fulness of the time” of the Son of God.

(1.) The existence and orders of angelic beings can only be discovered from the Scriptures. Although the Bible does not treat of this subject specially, yet there are numerous incidental details that furnish us with ample information. Their personal existence is plainly implied in such passages as Genesis 16:7, 10, 11; Judges 13:1-21; Matthew 28:2-5; Hebrews 1:4, etc.

These superior beings are very numerous. “Thousand thousands,” etc. (Dan. 7:10; Matthew 26:53; Luke 2:13; Hebrews 12:22, 23). They are also spoken of as of different ranks in dignity and power (Zechariah 1:9, 11; Dan. 10:13; 12:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:16; Jude 1:9; Ephesians 1:21; Colossians 1:16).

(2.) As to their nature, they are spirits (Hebrews 1:14), like the soul of man, but not incorporeal. Such expressions as “like the angels” (Luke 20:36), and the fact that whenever angels appeared to man it was always in a human form (Genesis 18:2; 19:1, 10; Luke 24:4; Acts 1:10), and the titles that are applied to them (“sons of God, ” Job 1:6; 38:7; Dan. 3:25; Comp. 28) and to men (Luke 3:38), seem all to indicate some resemblance between them and the human race. Imperfection is ascribed to them as creatures (Job 4:18; Matthew 24:36; 1 Peter 1:12). As finite creatures they may fall under temptation; and accordingly we read of “fallen angels.”

FMI: Sermon by Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Common and Special Grace, Ephesians 6:10-13, The Fall of man; man cannot save himself; the history of redemption; God is concerned about the salvation of man; God is defending His own character; God ordained government to control the effects of the Fall; man’s need of discipline; common grace and special grace; examples of special grace in Scripture; the ministry of angels.

FMI: Sermon by Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Good Angels, “The term ‘angel’ defined; do angels have bodies? the archangels Michael and Gabriel; two groups of angels; the work of the angels as messengers; in salvation and deliverance; as revealers of God’s purpose; examples of the intervention of angels. NOTE: Sadly there is no recording of the subsequent lecture titled ‘The Devil and the Fallen Angels’.”

Note: Even though the audio is lost, for now at least, the companion lecture to Good Angels, titled “‘The Devil and the Fallen Angels’.” has been transcribed and can be read at this link.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~section 2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Trivia question: Who are the only named angels in the bible? Answer below.

Fast Fact: Angels that rebelled will not be redeemed. Their condemnation is fixed. (Matthew 25:41)

Fast Fact: Humans do not turn into angels when we get to heaven. Angels and humans are separate orders of beings in creation. Angels are angels and humans are humans. Forever.

Cherubim guarded the way back to the tree of life with a flaming sword. (Genesis 3:24)

Peter was freed from prison by an angel. Even locks and prison bars cannot stop angels from ministering to us, when God sends them! (Acts 12:4-8)

An angel announced the birth of Samson. (Judges 13:1-7,24)

Food for thought: If sometimes we entertain angels unaware, and a third of them sided with Lucifer and turned into unholy demons, then there is a 1-in-3 chance that when an angel visits us he is an unholy demon. (Genesis 6:1-2). However the good news is that they obey God and do His bidding within limits. (Job 1:12, 2 Chronicles 18:21)

Do angels marry? Not in heaven. (Mark 12:25). But the rebellious ones did on earth. (Genesis 6:1). That’s why they are in chains awaiting judgment. (Jude 1:6; 2 Peter 2:4)

Trivia answer: The three named angels in the bible are Gabriel Michael, and … Lucifer!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~section 3~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Renaissance was a period of renewal and discovery. So much beautiful art, architecture, and advanced thought came out of that period between the 14th and 17th century that we have much to be grateful for. However, not all that came from the Renaissance was good. We have our current view of angels as chubby munchkins with tiny wings shooting love darts into people insidiously placed in our minds thanks to the Italian painters.

Wikipedia explains the difference between putti and cherubs (as opposed to the biblical cherubim).

“A putto (plural putti) is a figure in a work of art depicted as a chubby male child, usually nude and sometimes winged. Putti are commonly confused with, yet are completely unrelated to, cherubim. In the plural, “the Cherubim” refers to the biblical angels, which have four heads of different species and several pairs of wings. While “cherubs” represent the second order of angels, putti are secular and present a non-religious passion. However, in the Baroque period of art, the putto came to represent the omnipresence of God. A putto representing a cupid is also called an amorino (plural amorini). During the Middle Ages, the putto disappeared and was revived during the 15th century. The revival of the figure of the putto is generally attributed to Donatello, in Florence in the 1420s”

At least at the end of the Gothic age as the Renaissance dawned, Giotto, the era’s most famous painter, was depicting angels as full grown men. Below is his “Nativity” from the Arena Chapel, Late Gothic/Early Italian Renaissance 1305-1306. The angels are engaged in full-blown worship of God. They had wings, unfortunately, but at least they were fully grown. By the beginning of the Renaissance around 1420, they had been reduced to putti/cherubs.

Here is an example. Though the putti were meant to be secular, their similarity to cherubs in vastly reduced in size and position contributed to the false imagery about angels that persists to this day. They are constantly shown as mischievous sprites chasing love and napping, not full the grown, powerful created holy beings who serve Almighty God that they are. I’m harping on this for a reason.

Here is a piece of art called “The Cherub Harvesters,” Francis Boucher, ca. 1733-34

Angels in the bible are massively potent beings with incredible power. Did you know that the Law was given to Moses by angels?

“you who received the law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” (Acts 7:53),

“Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.“(Galatians 3:19)

Deuteronomy 33:2 mentions that He came to give the Law with myriads and ten thousands of His holy ones. Angels by the side of God as He delivered the Law! Incredible!

How powerful are angels? This was astounding to me when I read it. I studied the book of Revelation. In it, it becomes terribly obvious that angels are the means that God uses to deliver judgment.

Begin with Chapter 5:2,

“Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”

The word loud in this verse is from megas, meaning ‘in the widest sense’, large, great. It’s where we get ‘mega’ from. Mighty is from a word meaning powerful in the physical sense.

“Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:11-12)

Angels hold back the wind and rise with the sun. They proclaim praise, render judgment, and fulfill God’s wishes.

“After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth, that no wind might blow on earth or sea or against any tree. Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, 3saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” (Revelation 7:1-3)

How about this powerful scene with angels from Revelation 8:1-5

When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. 2Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them. 3And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne, 4and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel. 5Then the angel took the censer and filled it with fire from the altar and threw it on the earth, and there were peals of thunder, rumblings,a flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.”

Cherubs? NO! Flying babies? Never! They are holy and powerful! Skim through Revelation to see the massive amount of angelic intercession in the affairs of men during the Tribulation. I could quote many more instances but if I did, I’d essentially be repeating the entire book of Revelation. John MacArthur sums it up

“Angels, you know, have played very prominent roles already in Revelation. The four horsemen that we saw in chapter 6 were called by angels, the seven trumpets were blown by angels, Satan and demons were defeated by angels, the seven bowls will be poured out by angels, Armageddon is announced by an angel, Satan and demons are bound by an angel, and here is another angel. And this angel comes out of the temple in heaven and he also has a sharp sickle.” This is the angel that reaps the earth.

Matthew 13:39 says that angels reap at the end of the age:

“and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.” (Matthew 13:39)

Once you’ve read through, then ask the Spirit to heighten your awareness of the holy work of angels in the bible. They are mentioned quite often, and as you read through the book you’re reading through, you will notice their works. Even the demons are powerful. The fallen ones are still called majesties and those false teachers who unwisely mock and deride them are themselves awaiting judgment. (2 Peter 2:10-11). Even Archangel Michael dare not bring an accusation against satan but instead said simply, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9).

Not that we worship angels, (Revelation 22:9) but be aware of their powerful work for our Holy God. Just as we are instruments of His plan used to bring Him glory, so are angels. Yet they have supernatural powers and dwell in the very temple of heaven. Refuse to allow this image to stay with you-

and instead remember that even this image won’t do them justice.

Chris Koelle

They are majestic, intelligent, powerful and we are not to revile even the fallen ones. Our God is amazing in His creation of all the universe, the worlds, the animals, stars, humans … and angels.

bible, christian life, mothers, spurgeon

The importance of Mothers

Posted on May 12, 2014 by elizabethprata

I mentioned in a post a earlier today that I’d received a pile of books, one of them being the “Life and Works of Rev. Charles H. Spurgeon” (Memorial Edition), January 1, 1892. It is a biography of Charles Spurgeon, the famous preacher of the late 1800s.

In endeavoring to illustrate to the reader the influences of Spurgeon, it is noted that his great-grandfather, grandfather, and father were all preachers. The life and works of these respected men was much detailed, and used as an important illustration of the influence onto Spurgeon the son.

However, the mother is not left out. She is an important influence also. It was written of Charles Spurgeon’s father and mother,

“Both Mr and Mrs Spurgeon made great sacrifices of personal comfort to give good education to their children, and the children were taught the habits of thrift and self-denial. The care thus bestowed on their training when young has been to the parents a source of much satisfaction; the good results of that care are manifested in the happy home lives of their children. When, at some future period, the historian of the Metropolitan Tabernacle and of the Stockwell Orphanage is considering the primary cause of those great enterprises, the care which Mrs Spurgeon bestowed on the early training of her family must be counted as valuable auxiliary in preparing the way for such exemplary conduct.”

In addition, of Mrs Spurgeon solely, we read the following: (and please note Mrs Spurgeon bore 17 children, with nine of them dying when they were babies and she raised 8, all while her husband was often gone for long periods traveling the preaching circuit.)

Household Nurture

As the children were growing up, the father, like many professional and public men, feared his frequent absence from home would interfere with the religious education of the little ones. But happily for him he had a true helpmeet to cooperate with him in this important work, and happy for those children they had a noble mother who lived for them, and sought to build them up in true Christian character. Nor had she lived unrewarded for her pains. Hear the good man speak thus of his wife:

“I had been from home a great deal, trying to build up weak congregations, and I felt that I was neglecting the training of my own children while I was toiling for the good of others. I returned home with these feelings. I opened the door and I was surprised to find none of the children about the hall. Going quietly upstairs, I heard my wife’s voice. She was engaged in prayer with the children. I heard her pray for them one by one by name. She came to Charles and specially prayed for him, for he was of high spirit and daring temper. I listened till she had ended her prayer, and I felt and said, ‘Lord, I will go on with Thy work. The children will be cared for.”

Thank You Lord for Godly mothers! Thank You for Godly fathers!

blackaby, books, hybels, reading, spurgeon

(Updated) A pile of books, oldies and I hope goodies!

Posted on May 12, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

Update at bottom

A year ago, our pastor resigned/was fired for having discovered that he’d spent years in serial plagiarism. The deacons and staff were cleaning out his office this week (because it looks like God may just now have sent the man He wishes us to have lead us) and there was a stack of books left over on the old pastor’s shelves. The staff put them on the bench with a “free” sign. One of the men saved aside a book for me. I was bowled over with delight. Here it is:

This book was published in 1892 just after Charles Haddon Spurgeon, AKA “The Prince of Preachers” had died in Menton France.

I’ve read about 50 pages so far and it is charming, well-written, and of course, glowing (being in the height of grief over the loss of the word’s foremost preacher at the time).

Other books that were set aside for me include some I’m very much looking forward to reading, such as–

W. Eugene Sallee: Christ’s Ambassador, a biography written by Sallee’s wife. They both were missionaries in China in the very early 1900s. I have high hopes for this book- it should prove very interesting. I hope I’m not let down… It is the book I’ll read next.

Life and Sayings of Sam P. Jones: A Minister of the Gospel, a famous Georgia preacher of some note who preached in the late 1800s. Wikipedia says Jones “was one of the most celebrated revivalists of his day, at the close of the 19th century. Famous for his wry wit and masterful story-telling, he is credited as a principal influence on Will Rogers.“

Home of the Bible: What I Saw and Heard in Palestine (1895), by Marion Harland, AKA Virginia Terhune, a prolific American writer. She lived from 1830 to 1922, and was still writing at age 90 even though she had gone blind. This book was her travelogue, having made an expedition to determine for herself to see what God was doing in the original Christian lands with the peoples there.

Up Among the Ice-floes (1890) by James MacDonald Oxley. I always love me a good old Arctic expedition book.

I also received biblical non-fiction and reference books-

The Second Coming of Christ by Len Broughton, (1902)

Jewish Tales by Leopold Von Sacher Masoch (1894)

The Revelation: Verse by verse study by Oliver B. Green (1963)

Exposition of Ecclesiastes by H. C. Leupold (1952)

Arnold’s Practical Sunday School Lesson Commentary (1926)

The Church of God at Corinth: verse by verse commentary on 1 & 2 by Corinthians John R. Rice (1973)

These three came together in a little case: they seem kind of elementary but will be useful as a quick guide, and also of course to give away to someone who needs something a little elementary when the time comes to give it away!

Who’s Who in the Bible by Dietrich Gruen (2011)
Bible Almanac Anna Trimiew
Bible Facts: People, Places, Events David M Howard Jr.

The Discipling Pastor beat me to the commentaries but I’m thrilled he got some good ones. He offered to let me see what he got, already tucked away in the back of his car, but I declined because I knew it would lead to the sin of me coveting!!

I was just saying to myself, “Self, you’ve given away a good many books lately, I wish I had some more. The shelves are looking mighty thin.” So thank you Lord, for your provision. I’m delighted to have been graciously re-stocked, and just in time for school ending next week. I will actually have time and energy to read. Read. Read. Read. Read. Read. Read….

Sometimes there are simple things that tell the story. For example, the old pastor had books like the life of Spurgeon and other solid books from AW Pink, John R. Rice, and the like, but also alongside those old venerable standards were Purpose Driven stuff from Rick Warren, Max Lucado, Bill Hybels, and Henry Blackaby on ‘how to hear God’s voice’. The solid and practical and expositional had over time, been relegated to the back of his book shelf and at the forefront were books illustrating his heart and his penchant for the mystical, emotional, purpose driven leaven that eventually clouded his judgment and polluted his heart. It was shortly after that his massive sin was uncovered: serial lies from the pulpit in the holy name of Christ. And his bookshelf was a graphic display of his sad decline into apostasy.

If a bookshelf told your story, what story would it tell?

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A couple of days after this essay was published, Pastor John MacArthur tweeted out a link to a three minute chat called “The Christian Bokshelf”. In it, Pastor MacArthur mentions the kinds of books he likes to read (Commentaries, theology, biogrpahies, with occasional other historical books thrown in, like The Athenian Navy, Salt, and the Great Influenza).

He goes on to explain what publisher to look for (“Banner of Truth) and urges CHristians to buy books and fill their bookshelves with solid kinds of books like these. Enjoy

//player.vimeo.com/video/93187462
Truth for Today | The Christian Library from Grace Community Church on Vimeo.

bible, grace, jesus

Two Mother’s Day essays for those who have a problem with Mother’s Day

Posted on May 11, 2014May 9, 2016 by elizabethprata

Sunny Shell: Celebrating a Different Kind of Mother
But this picturesque vision of a mother is not true for everyone. Some of us grew up in homes with parents who were atheists, agnostics, followers of false religions, or even worse…some of you were raised in homes with mothers who professed to be a Christian, but neither her living nor teachings were in accord with God’s word and she defiled your mind and polluted your heart with the vulgar, self-centered, and obscene things of this world.

Please read more from the headline link

EPrata photo

The Federalist: Mother’s Day is the Worst
If you haven’t been paying attention to your calendar, reminder emails, or non-stop television advertisements, let me be the first to tell you that Mother’s Day is on Sunday. This is also, as it happens, the worst holiday of the year. Why? It Can Be Super Cruel. But some time ago a friend of mine told me that at her church, a family had bought flowers to give to mothers as they walked out of services. This is a lovely idea to honor the wonderful work that mothers do. But it can be incredibly difficult for women, like my friend, who have just miscarried a child and are distraught about it. Given how commonplace infertility is, and how uncomfortably painful it is to endure, it’s almost a guarantee that some rah-rah-motherhood fest will hurt women we love. Churches seem to be the primary location for this well-intentioned humiliation. Pastor Michael Schuermann says that “attending church on this particular Sunday is often an exercise in frustration, woe, even great shame brought on by the absence of longed-for children.” He has some advice for pastors:

Please read more at the headline link.

Matthew 19:29 assures us, “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” (KJV)