These words from the conclusion of one of Rev. George Whitefield's sermons is given here for your encouragement. The call is to follow Christ fully, or wholeheartedly, as Caleb of old did. There is no one better to follow than He. Give your heart and life to Him, and He will be with you forever. Meet with Him frequently in prayer and in the Gospel. You are on the victory side, remember. Our Saviour has trodden down every opposition to us, and all we have to face in this world are the mere dregs of Satanic attack. That does not mean that we will not know suffering for Christ's sake. Those who stand close to Christ when the world's brick-bats start flying are very likely to get hit. But let us not be afraid. His promises to us are "Yea and Amen." Not only has He bruised Satan's head, so will you and I.
========================================================================
Let us, therefore, not be weary of well-doing; for we shall reap an eternal harvest of comfort, if we faint not. Dare, dare, my dear brethren in Christ, to follow the Captain of your salvation, who was made perfect through sufferings. The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head. Fear not men. Be not too much cast down at the deceitfulness of your hearts. Fear not devils; you shall get the victory even over them. The Lord Jesus has engaged to make you more than conquerors over all. Plead with you Savior, plead: plead the promise in the tent. Wrestle, wrestle with God in prayer.
If it has been given you to believe, fear not if it should also be given you to suffer. Be not any wise terrified by your adversaries; the king of the church has them all in a chain: be kind to them, pray for them; but fear them not. The Lord will yet bring back his ark; though at present driven into the wilderness; and Satan like lightening shall fall from heaven.
Are there any enemies of God here? The promise of the text encourages me to bid you defiance: the seed of the woman, the ever-blessed Jesus, shall bruise the serpent’s head. What signifies all your malice? You are only raging waves of the sea, foaming out your own shame. For you, without repentance, is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever. The Lord Jesus sits in heaven, ruling over all, and causing all things to work for his children’s good: he laughs you to scorn: he hath you in the utmost derision, and therefore so will I. Who are you that persecute the children of the ever blessed God? Though a poor stripling, the Lord Jesus, the seed of the woman, will enable me to bruise your heads.
Showing posts with label Spiritual warfare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spiritual warfare. Show all posts
Monday, 9 September 2013
Wednesday, 4 September 2013
Church of Scotland's Moderatoress Laughs at Knox!
The Church of Scotland's Moderatoress, Mrs Lorna Hood, has taken a swipe at John Knox (1514-1572), the man attributed with having brought the Protestant reformation into the Church in Scotland.
Knox was a reformer by nature, and it was his Calvinistic convictions that drove him to seek the reformation of the church in Scotland. Having studied in Geneva under Calvin (1509-1564), claiming that the academy there was "the most perfect school of Christ since the days of the apostles," he learned from Scripture the Presbyterian form of church government (not to be confused with what is being passed off as Presbyterian church government today), and brought his learning back to his native Scotland, successfully reforming the church of his day. He was quoted as referring to the "the monstrous regiment of women," the reference being directed primarily at Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I.
Now, the church that he founded has a member of that "monstrous regiment" as Moderatoress, and she dismisses Knox's view on women in leadership with a smile. She knows he would not approve of this ecclesiastical move, but n entering the Assembly Hall she has to pass Knox's statue, and can see nothing but the funny irony of so doing.
Given the clear prohibitive teaching of Scripture on women's ordination to the Christian ministry, every church that blatantly defies biblical teaching and those who accept it have been swallowed up by theological liberalism. And in order to be swallowed up by theological liberalism, one has personally to swallow this religious lie. Sadly, many reformed evangelicals have done just that! And in accepting the rightness and legitimacy of liberalism as one interpretation of the Bible, they have quite easily moved on to embrace the Roman principle that "the church is always right." Luther was strongly advised to "Listen to the Church" just after he nailed his 95 theses to the chapel door at Wittenburg.
Any Christian who "listens to the church" and not to Scripture has already apostacised from the church of Jesus Christ because the has departed from God's Word to the church. Only apostate church's will defy God and ordain women and non-Christians to the Christian ministry. Only apostate churches will accept into church membership for life and on profession of faith without a mechanism to review such professions those whose faith proves to be false. And the wholesale acceptance of members on profession of faith results in non-Christians becoming ministers, and now in Scotland holds the position of Moderatoress. These are the churches that know better than the Lord of the Church who said that women are not to hold such office as elder - it is for men only.
But to get back to Hood and Knox, for anyone to speak well of Knox in the one breath and then to make him the subject of derisory humour is extremely serious. Where are the CoS's evangelicals? Why aren't they screaming from the rooftops at such irreverence? How can they remain within such a denomination, one that accepts the pagan religion called liberalism on a par with biblical truth? As J. Greshem Machen put it, Liberalism and Christianity are two very different religions. Yet in today's spineless and faithless churches, keeping in with the current fashion is more important that maintaining biblical truth. Spurgeon is right: those who marry today's fashion will be tomorrow's widow.
In Ireland. the CoS has a daughter church, namely, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI). Has the Church of Scotland embraced theological liberalism? So has PCI. Therefore, has the CoS preached soul-damning liberalism. So has PCI. Has the CoS embraced same sex marriage? So has PCI - in principle, for she has at least one elder who publicly supports same-sex marriage, yet he still holds his office. Has the CoS persecuted evangelical ministers? So has PCI, and is still doing so.
Yet evangelical church ministers and elders and members are prepared to defend their church to the death against any criticism to the contrary, and continue to support such a religious aberration with their last pound. They hold Knox and his like high, yet they tolerate those who deny Knox's theology and evangelistic zeal. May the Lord show us His mercy.
Knox was a reformer by nature, and it was his Calvinistic convictions that drove him to seek the reformation of the church in Scotland. Having studied in Geneva under Calvin (1509-1564), claiming that the academy there was "the most perfect school of Christ since the days of the apostles," he learned from Scripture the Presbyterian form of church government (not to be confused with what is being passed off as Presbyterian church government today), and brought his learning back to his native Scotland, successfully reforming the church of his day. He was quoted as referring to the "the monstrous regiment of women," the reference being directed primarily at Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth I.
Now, the church that he founded has a member of that "monstrous regiment" as Moderatoress, and she dismisses Knox's view on women in leadership with a smile. She knows he would not approve of this ecclesiastical move, but n entering the Assembly Hall she has to pass Knox's statue, and can see nothing but the funny irony of so doing.
Given the clear prohibitive teaching of Scripture on women's ordination to the Christian ministry, every church that blatantly defies biblical teaching and those who accept it have been swallowed up by theological liberalism. And in order to be swallowed up by theological liberalism, one has personally to swallow this religious lie. Sadly, many reformed evangelicals have done just that! And in accepting the rightness and legitimacy of liberalism as one interpretation of the Bible, they have quite easily moved on to embrace the Roman principle that "the church is always right." Luther was strongly advised to "Listen to the Church" just after he nailed his 95 theses to the chapel door at Wittenburg.
Any Christian who "listens to the church" and not to Scripture has already apostacised from the church of Jesus Christ because the has departed from God's Word to the church. Only apostate church's will defy God and ordain women and non-Christians to the Christian ministry. Only apostate churches will accept into church membership for life and on profession of faith without a mechanism to review such professions those whose faith proves to be false. And the wholesale acceptance of members on profession of faith results in non-Christians becoming ministers, and now in Scotland holds the position of Moderatoress. These are the churches that know better than the Lord of the Church who said that women are not to hold such office as elder - it is for men only.
But to get back to Hood and Knox, for anyone to speak well of Knox in the one breath and then to make him the subject of derisory humour is extremely serious. Where are the CoS's evangelicals? Why aren't they screaming from the rooftops at such irreverence? How can they remain within such a denomination, one that accepts the pagan religion called liberalism on a par with biblical truth? As J. Greshem Machen put it, Liberalism and Christianity are two very different religions. Yet in today's spineless and faithless churches, keeping in with the current fashion is more important that maintaining biblical truth. Spurgeon is right: those who marry today's fashion will be tomorrow's widow.
In Ireland. the CoS has a daughter church, namely, the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI). Has the Church of Scotland embraced theological liberalism? So has PCI. Therefore, has the CoS preached soul-damning liberalism. So has PCI. Has the CoS embraced same sex marriage? So has PCI - in principle, for she has at least one elder who publicly supports same-sex marriage, yet he still holds his office. Has the CoS persecuted evangelical ministers? So has PCI, and is still doing so.
Yet evangelical church ministers and elders and members are prepared to defend their church to the death against any criticism to the contrary, and continue to support such a religious aberration with their last pound. They hold Knox and his like high, yet they tolerate those who deny Knox's theology and evangelistic zeal. May the Lord show us His mercy.
Monday, 2 September 2013
God's Armour Is Safe!
I am told that Emperor Napoleon once went to a very skillful workman, and enquired of him if he could make a bullet-proof jacket or under garment, one that he himself would feel safe to wear as a protection against bullets. The workman assured him he could make just such a garment; one he would feel entirely safe to wear himself. The Emperor engaged him to make the article, requesting him to take time, and see that it was bullet-proof. The workman took much time and pains in its construction.
The jacket was finished, and the Emperor notified that it was ready for him. Napoleon, after carefully examining it, asked the maker if he still felt sure a bullet could not pierce it. The workman said he was sure no bullet could penetrate it; that he himself would feel entirely safe with it on in a shower of bullets. The Emperor asked him to put it on, that he might examine it more fully. The maker put the jacket on himself, that the Emperor might see how finely it fitted and protected the body.
After a careful examination of its make-up and apparent safety, Napoleon stepped back a few feet, and drew his pistol on the man, who cried out: Don't try it on me!
But the Emperor said: You told me it was perfectly safe, and fired. The armour proved itself bullet-proof.
So Christ has made an armour that renders its wearer perfectly safe against all the fiery darts that may be hurled against it. Christ has tried it on. He was led out into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. For forty days and nights Satan tried to pierce this armour, but broke all his arrows on it. It could not be penetrated. It was thoroughly tested on Christ, that all who put it on might feel safe.
Each soldier of Christ is told, at his start, to put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. This armour covers the Christians loins, his breast, his feet, and is a complete
shield to his whole being against any temptation or trial he may encounter. Christ was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.
Let me say, then, to all who feel a little timid about the Christians armour, that it has been tested by our Captain and thousands of his soldiers, and has never yet been pierced by our enemies bullets.
Let us all learn a lesson from this incident of the Emperor, to put on and trust the Christian armour. It has been tested. Trust it in life. Trust it in death. Then you go up, and hear the Master say: Well done.
The jacket was finished, and the Emperor notified that it was ready for him. Napoleon, after carefully examining it, asked the maker if he still felt sure a bullet could not pierce it. The workman said he was sure no bullet could penetrate it; that he himself would feel entirely safe with it on in a shower of bullets. The Emperor asked him to put it on, that he might examine it more fully. The maker put the jacket on himself, that the Emperor might see how finely it fitted and protected the body.
After a careful examination of its make-up and apparent safety, Napoleon stepped back a few feet, and drew his pistol on the man, who cried out: Don't try it on me!
But the Emperor said: You told me it was perfectly safe, and fired. The armour proved itself bullet-proof.
So Christ has made an armour that renders its wearer perfectly safe against all the fiery darts that may be hurled against it. Christ has tried it on. He was led out into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. For forty days and nights Satan tried to pierce this armour, but broke all his arrows on it. It could not be penetrated. It was thoroughly tested on Christ, that all who put it on might feel safe.
Each soldier of Christ is told, at his start, to put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. This armour covers the Christians loins, his breast, his feet, and is a complete
shield to his whole being against any temptation or trial he may encounter. Christ was tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin.
Let me say, then, to all who feel a little timid about the Christians armour, that it has been tested by our Captain and thousands of his soldiers, and has never yet been pierced by our enemies bullets.
Let us all learn a lesson from this incident of the Emperor, to put on and trust the Christian armour. It has been tested. Trust it in life. Trust it in death. Then you go up, and hear the Master say: Well done.
Monday, 19 August 2013
Preparation and Study
Preparation and study
are necessary for the preacher, or as Leonard Ravenhill put it, "sweat, blood and tears." Paige Patterson
counselled that five hours per day be spent in preparation for preaching. Draper
said that time, a plan of study, a real walk with the Lord, and the sharpening of
whatever tools you possess, are essential ingredients in powerful preaching. Dr Drummond
said
(1) that there must be
vital commitment to the power of the Word of God;
(2) the power of a holy
life, and be on a quest for holiness;
(3) be Spirit-filled
men, paying the price of a disciplined, dedicated devotional life;
(4) be men of faith and
believe that God will use the Word mightily. The wise balance of head and heart preparation is set out. Both are essential to avoid "correct deadness" and "living heresy." As much time ought to be spent in preparing the heart as the head! Ravenhill said that in the Scottish church of a by gone age, the preacher was not available on a Thursday since he was preparing his message; and on a Saturday he prepared his heart to deliver that sermon. Detzler referred to this quest for power as being broken before the Lord. Ravenhill said on this, "It is easy to get a man to the cross, but it's difficult to get him on it." It is also hard to keep him there! (Dr John Greever). Brokenness before God is crucial to powerful preaching.
Thursday, 8 August 2013
Voluntary Ministerial Blindness
Keswick at Portstewart has come and gone for 2013 and enjoyed, in God's blessing, the heatwave that blanketed the UK this July. The main preachers during the week were Rev Allister Morrice, Scotland, and Rev. Dr Liam Goligher, Philadelphia, and the preaching was of the highest standard, as you would expect, and the sense of the Lord's presence with us was captivating. It was biblically sound and balanced - in the main - and the application of God's Word to all present was precise. The Bible Readings each morning were rigorous and deeply insightful and sanctifying. The evening meetings were also pointed, although the singing programme was repetitive, very subjective, and somewhat annoying.
The really sad thing about it was that despite mention of the persecution of Christians in far-away lands and in totalitarian regimes by some speakers, there was simply no recognition that this is happening under their noses and within their own churches, and with some of the persecutors being actively involved in working against the Gospel and its hard-pressed servants.
Why is this? Well, persecutors, like all bullies, do not recognise as persecution the persecution in which they are involved. They speak against it in conventions yet use this role as cover for their persecution of brother evangelicals when they return to "the firm" that employs them.
The sheer blindness that accompanies these ministers is visible only to those who have "eyes to see and ears to hear." Others simply do not suspect that good men at Portstewart would work against brother evangelicals who are being ill-treated by and in their congregations, or simply ignore their plight. But that is the reality. Being first and foremost the good churchmen that they are and want to continue to be, they will not stand up for their ministerial brethren if by so doing they might jeopardise their promotion prospects within the churches.
This ministerial blindness can be explained: persecution of Gospel ministers is something that only happens in far away lands, not within their churches. Theologically liberal churches never persecute their own, but they always persecute evangelicals. Too much ministerial wreckage is lying about Northern Ireland for this to be denied. Liberal ministers are not persecuted by their denominations because such ministers do not preach the biblical Gospel. But Gospel ministers within liberal denominations can expect to be ill-treated by such church systems, and not even their evangelical colleagues will stand up for them.
The really sad thing about it was that despite mention of the persecution of Christians in far-away lands and in totalitarian regimes by some speakers, there was simply no recognition that this is happening under their noses and within their own churches, and with some of the persecutors being actively involved in working against the Gospel and its hard-pressed servants.
Why is this? Well, persecutors, like all bullies, do not recognise as persecution the persecution in which they are involved. They speak against it in conventions yet use this role as cover for their persecution of brother evangelicals when they return to "the firm" that employs them.
The sheer blindness that accompanies these ministers is visible only to those who have "eyes to see and ears to hear." Others simply do not suspect that good men at Portstewart would work against brother evangelicals who are being ill-treated by and in their congregations, or simply ignore their plight. But that is the reality. Being first and foremost the good churchmen that they are and want to continue to be, they will not stand up for their ministerial brethren if by so doing they might jeopardise their promotion prospects within the churches.
This ministerial blindness can be explained: persecution of Gospel ministers is something that only happens in far away lands, not within their churches. Theologically liberal churches never persecute their own, but they always persecute evangelicals. Too much ministerial wreckage is lying about Northern Ireland for this to be denied. Liberal ministers are not persecuted by their denominations because such ministers do not preach the biblical Gospel. But Gospel ministers within liberal denominations can expect to be ill-treated by such church systems, and not even their evangelical colleagues will stand up for them.
Monday, 29 July 2013
NORWICH 'GAY PRIDE' DEMO - Christian Gospel Witness
The Norwich 'Gay Pride' demo is now an annual
feature of city life, as in many other cities across the UK. Five of us
gathered to make a Gospel witness against this unashamed carnival of
perverted carnality.
Gentleman's Walk was teeming with people on this
warm afternoon (Saturday, 27 July 2013). Arriving early, I noticed that
the Charity Stall from which Norwich City Council ejected Norwich
Reformed Church last year was being used by ‘Gay Pride’ personnel.
Wandering over, I asked for a copy of their official pamphlet. I then
offered my leaflets ‘Good News for Gays’ and ‘Jesus Christ, the Saviour
We All Need’. Accepting the ‘exchange’, they seemed a little
disconcerted. I smiled and said, “You need them, they will do you good.
God bless you.”
When the other brethren arrived, we gathered for
prayer, asking the LORD to grant us faithfulness, wisdom, compassion,
peace and courage.
Police were evident in
considerable numbers. We engaged in discussion with them. It has to be said
that they were more threatening towards us than the gay marchers were.
We were told by one officer that if we caused offence and distress we
would be arrested. Will Harrison (church identity withheld) then asked,
“Since I find gay demonstrators offensive and distressing, will you
arrest them too?” No reply was made. Tony Cox (Surrey Chapel) challenged
the strident attitude of this officer with his legal expertise,
supported by Len Smeath (Norwich Reformed Church). It seems that the
public parade of gay perversion is not considered offensive whereas
Christian counter-witness is! Will Harrison was accompanied by his wife
Laura and baby Elouise in this stand-off.
Joining in, I said that the marchers had less cause
to fear harassment from us than we from them. I asked the officer if he
would arrest those who might harass us? Somewhat nervously, he replied
that he would. On offering him copies of my leaflets, the officer said I
would be arrested if these were distributed. So much for freedom of
expression! When I said they were only available for enquirers, the
visibly-irritated officer said I would be arrested even if they were
displayed. Well, they were displayed - together with another leaflet 'Gay Pride' - but none of us were arrested!
As the several-hundred strong procession advanced
with drums, whistles and circus-style antics, we informed the officers
that we intended to go ahead of the procession at a distance of 30-40
yards, displaying our Gospel texts (see pics). Hundreds of bystanders
watched as we advanced along the route - Len to my left, Tony to my
right, and Will and his family with me in the centre. With little
Elouise in her pushchair, we were making a family-based, biblical
demonstration - ‘A little child shall lead them’ (Isa. 11: 6). Several police officers provided a buffer between us and the noisy marchers behind us.
The planned route took us past the market and the
City Hall. Shamelessly displaying the City Council's decadence, a
'rainbow' drape stretched along the entire width of the building. On the
balcony, the Lord Mayor, resplendent in his ceremonial robes waved to
the crowd, supported by other members of the Council. It was a truly
shameful display of official support. As we passed by beneath, I lifted
my arm, and - despite the din - shouted “Shame upon you, shame upon
you!”
Eventually, we and the main procession reached the
Forum where a large crowd applauded them. The police kept between us and
the marchers while the noisy celebration reached its climax. Providing
evidence of today’s religious apostasy, Quakers and Unitarians were
conspicuous among the marchers. An Anglican-looking clergyman
(Methodist? Roman Catholic?) was shamefully smiling. At one point, Tony
and Len made their way to the end of the procession to display their
Bible texts. In response to the Unitarian’s poster ‘Jesus loves you’,
Len rightly said , “Yes Jesus loves them, but He hates their sin!”
Turning his back, the man was not amused. It was tragic to see little
children among the marchers. May the LORD protect them from sodomite
wickedness!
In the end, the whole event seemed less aggressive
than in previous years. We were able to make a visible witness, and a
good quantity of leaflets were taken. Apart from the leading officer,
his fellow officers were quite friendly and helpful towards us. If we
are spared, another witness will be made next year (DV). In the wake of
the Same-sex Marriage developments, only time will tell if our
relatively-low key witness will be tolerated in the future. It would be
worth it if only one soul was saved. We leave events to God and His
sovereign and gracious purposes. May HE have mercy on our city and
country.
Dr Alan C. Clifford
Pastor, Norwich Reformed Church
Friday, 26 July 2013
SODOMITE SOCIETY INVITES THE WRATH OF ALMIGHTY GOD
SODOMITE SOCIETY INVITES
THE WRATH OF ALMIGHTY GOD
A solemn message from
Dr Alan C. Clifford
(Norwich Reformed Church)
In pursuing so-called ‘same-sex’
marriage, the UK - along with the USA and the decadent Western world in
general - is only a short step from disaster...
If it becomes law, the wrath of Almighty God is unavoidable...
Since
true marriage, family cohesion and the welfare of children are under
attack as never before, our hitherto Christian-based civilization is on
the path to extinction...
ALARMING ANGLICAN APOSTASY
The
Nation’s religious apostasy is reaching new depths. The Archbishop of
Canterbury and Her Majesty the Queen have capitulated before the
sodomite tsunami. The former has failed to ‘drive away’ the ‘erroneous
and strange doctrine’ of homosexual union ‘contrary to God’s Word’ (Book of Common Prayer).
If the Archbishop was only ‘irritated’ by the Wonga fiasco, he should have been ‘furious’ over Government-promoted sodomy...
By giving the Royal Assent to the Same Sex Marriage
Bill, the Queen has broken her Coronation Oath to defend and uphold the
Nation’s Bible-based values. During the recent Coronation Thanksgiving
Service at Westminster Abbey, the Archbishop failed to remind the Queen
of Her Majesty’s religious obligations as Head of State and Supreme
Governor of the Church of England.
Clergy and
people of the Church of England (especially the so-called Evangelicals)
who fail to challenge the Archbishop and the Queen are complicit in this
abominable wickedness if they simply continue passively to accept the
appalling so-called ‘sexual revolution’.
Christians of other denominations are no less guilty if they remain silent...
A greater threat than Islam is our own moral implosion...
We must repent or be ruined...
THE RISE OF GAY PERVERSION
How does 'gay' sexual perversion become
popular? The Prophet Ezekiel told us long ago when he explained why God
punished the Jews with exile in Babylon in 597 BC. After centuries of
growing religious and moral decline, they had become worse than the
wicked Sodomites:
“As I live,”
says the Lord GOD, “neither your sister Sodom nor her daughters have
done as you and your daughters have done. Look, this was the iniquity of
your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fulness of food, and
abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor
and needy. And they were haughty and committed abomination before me;
therefore I took them away as I saw fit” (Ezekiel 16: 48-50).
The great Genevan Protestant Reformer John Calvin (1509-64) commented:
While Moses explains the most filthy crime which reigned in Sodom (see Genesis 19), we must nevertheless remember what Ezekiel teaches, that the men of Sodom did not fall at once into such terrible wickedness; but that, in the beginning, luxury from the fulness of bread prevailed, and that afterwards, pride and cruelty followed. At length, when they were given up to [immorality], they were also driven headlong into brutal lusts. Therefore, if we dread this extreme of inordinate passion, let us cultivate temperance and frugality; and let us always fear, lest [an over-abundance] of food should impel us to luxury; lest our minds should be infected with pride on account of our wealth, and lest delicacies should tempt us to give the reins to our lusts.
So
how can we restore the proper norms of correctly-defined marriage and
valid sexuality? Only by heeding this practical wisdom and rejecting
today's ‘PC’ do-as-you-please pluralism. In short, we must return to
‘Bible basics’!
Ultimately, our only hope is the saving and sanctifying grace of God in Jesus Christ...
A brief sermon extract from a famous Welsh Methodist preacher sets out our only hope...
The truth he speaks is eternal...
TURN TO CHRIST OR BE TURNED INTO HELL
I come to you, a neighbour of yours, and a friend well known; for I have seen the deluge of the wrath of God coming upon the world, and I am here to warn you in time. A boy on the streets of Sodom ran wildly for his father’s house, saying, ‘The shower of fire is come, for a spark fell at my side, until my clothes nearly caught fire. Is there any way of escape?’
Though the warning came to Sodom, it was too late. But I have come here in behalf of my God to apprise you of it in time. I have seen the shower of brimstone, a live spark of it fell upon my guilty conscience, until I became almost all aflame. But I know to-day of a place of refuge, and there is time for you to flee there too.
O Lord my God, may this people flee to Thee! Let us flee to Calvary—‘And a man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest; as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land’ [Isa. 32: 2].
John Jones, Talsarn (1796-1857)
Cowardly
subjects of Her Majesty who continue to revel in excessive excitement
over the birth of a prince, should reflect upon the pseudo-marital
decadence now endorsed by the head of the House of Windsor...
After Her
Majesty’s admirable Christmas broadcast of 2012, one might have expected
her to refuse to give the Royal Assent to anti-Christian perversion.
How sad that her convictions were too weak to withstand Her Government‘s
evil policy...
WHAT KIND OF MONARCH IS WORTHY OF LOYALTY?
‘It is an abomination for [monarchs] to commit wickedness, for a throne is established by righteousness’ (Proverbs 16: 12).
To
complicity in surrendering our National Sovereignty, the Queen has now
added betrayal of the Christian foundation of our religious and moral
identity.
The Welsh Methodist preacher quoted above was a ‘commoner’ who was truly worthy of the ‘royal’ adulation he received...
As my new biography makes clear, this amazing
Christian minister was called “The preacher of the people.” As an
example of his popularity, consider the welcome he received when
visiting the populous mining districts of South Wales:
As soon as they heard of his approach, the people would flock to the doors of their houses in hundreds; the workmen would for the time leave their work, and the women, with babies on their arms, and the little children, would stand on the sides of the streets to watch the great orator of Talysarn passing; just as they would have done if a king or a queen had gone that way...
‘King John’, you are needed in these perilous times...
Monday, 10 June 2013
Where the Battle Rages...
The
great reformer, Dr Martin Luther, said, “Where the battle rages, there the loyalty
of the soldier is proved.” How often this is observed in the breach rather than
in the observance. How often Christ’s cause goes by default because ministers
are afraid of annoying the church authorities. And as Christians who are
already carrying heavy burdens of responsibility, it is painful to witness the churches’
attempts at destruction of Christ’s faithful servants. It is here for many that
the spiritual battle rages; and it is here that Christ’s men prove their worth
by staying with God’s persecuted servants. True shepherds stay with Christ’s
true sheep; hirelings go with wolves dressed up to look like sheep (Jn.10:12,
13).
We
must never forget that there is much more going on in our lives, more pressures
to contend with, in addition to the actual presenting problem. There are underlying issues and there are
current issues that impinge on us in such a way that we have those matters to
process in our minds and hearts as well as our personal challenges. There are
Christ’s servants who are being hounded to death by ecclesiastical powers, men
who need support; and there are Christians who have been disenfranchised from
the church who need succour and direction. These are Christian responsibilities
that the Lord has laid on us, because the church has failed lamentably to
support its ministers who are being opposed and persecuted from within. “Am I
my brother’s keeper?” (Gen.4:9). Yes, I am, and what an inestimable privilege
it is to be so. This is a responsibility that we’d prefer not to have to carry
at this time, but it is a Christian responsibility nonetheless which we are
honoured to carry. When we needed support, none was at hand; we promised that
we would not allow this to happen to other servants of Christ.
Sunday, 2 June 2013
Discerning Churches - But Not In The Right Way!
What do you think of this? A religious denomination is very happy to allow rank liberals who are accredited by them and within their ranks to take churches, but they will not allow a Gospel minister to be called to its congregations. If these ministers are "one of us," then what they believe and preach is of no account whatever. So long as they can pass their theological exams, they're in!
I understand that churches must guard their official teaching role, but when it reaches the point where churches that call themselves 'evangelical' and 'reformed' simply do not want Gospel preachers - and actually remove such men from their ministry - preferring instead those who could not preach their way out of a wet paper bag and who have no clear Gospel message, things have reached an awful pitch.
The church today is in reality a 'power club,' and loves to be able to control its ministers and what and how they preach.
Gospel ministers coming into a dead denomination are guaranteed a rough time. The denomination might be orthodox and even admit theological liberals to its ranks, but evangelicals are a different matter altogether. Church authorities do not seem to care about the eternal destinies of its members so long as they keep on paying into church funds, and they enjoy being members of the 'club.'
Church members do not all like to hear a straight Gospel sermon, and these members also know that the church leaders will support them against a Gospel minister, so they can gradually remove the Gospel from their denomination. The Gospel really is Christian Counter Culture, hence the opposition from those churches that will protect their religious culture against all comers. To them, their culture and its maintenance is much more important than a Gospel that challenges that culture. 'Keep the culture, but get rid of Jesus,' the culture seems to be.
This is happening in Northern Ireland, a land once known for its evangelical fervour. The church here still has a name to live, but that life is difficult to find in many instances. "Essay readers" occupy many of her pulpits, but few preachers as such. These theological essay's are read with studied detachment, and with the occasional quote from classical authors to prove the preacher's cleverness, but it's no more than a name. And church leaders imagine they are serving the Lord by persecuting those ministers who are fearless Gospel preachers and working towards securing their removal permanently from their church.
And here's the rub: they see the church as "their" church primarily, and only secondarily, and at best, the church of God. We have our traditions to maintain. Our traditions are precious to us, whether they have any biblical validity is of no account. If any minister lays a hand on that "sacred cow," they are to be removed immediately if not sooner.
The ruthlessness of churches that regard themselves as authentically reformed gives the lie to their claim to preach "the doctrines of grace." In today's confused ecclesiastical world, Christian church members have to re-consider their continued membership of and financial support to such churches. How can they continue to support a church that takes legal action against its ministers for preaching the Gospel! And how can they provide financial support to any church that treats Gospel ministers and members so despicably.
The time is fast approaching when a new church body must be set up to safeguard the Gospel for the generations to come. One thing Christians cannot do id this: they cannot expect apostate churches to preach a biblical Gospel with fire sent down from heaven. And if they cannot expect that, then they are not to be expected to remain in such denominations. Reform of the church according to the Scriptures is urgently needed, and God will guide His redeemed people in the right way and at the right time to bring this to pass.
I understand that churches must guard their official teaching role, but when it reaches the point where churches that call themselves 'evangelical' and 'reformed' simply do not want Gospel preachers - and actually remove such men from their ministry - preferring instead those who could not preach their way out of a wet paper bag and who have no clear Gospel message, things have reached an awful pitch.
The church today is in reality a 'power club,' and loves to be able to control its ministers and what and how they preach.
Gospel ministers coming into a dead denomination are guaranteed a rough time. The denomination might be orthodox and even admit theological liberals to its ranks, but evangelicals are a different matter altogether. Church authorities do not seem to care about the eternal destinies of its members so long as they keep on paying into church funds, and they enjoy being members of the 'club.'
Church members do not all like to hear a straight Gospel sermon, and these members also know that the church leaders will support them against a Gospel minister, so they can gradually remove the Gospel from their denomination. The Gospel really is Christian Counter Culture, hence the opposition from those churches that will protect their religious culture against all comers. To them, their culture and its maintenance is much more important than a Gospel that challenges that culture. 'Keep the culture, but get rid of Jesus,' the culture seems to be.
This is happening in Northern Ireland, a land once known for its evangelical fervour. The church here still has a name to live, but that life is difficult to find in many instances. "Essay readers" occupy many of her pulpits, but few preachers as such. These theological essay's are read with studied detachment, and with the occasional quote from classical authors to prove the preacher's cleverness, but it's no more than a name. And church leaders imagine they are serving the Lord by persecuting those ministers who are fearless Gospel preachers and working towards securing their removal permanently from their church.
And here's the rub: they see the church as "their" church primarily, and only secondarily, and at best, the church of God. We have our traditions to maintain. Our traditions are precious to us, whether they have any biblical validity is of no account. If any minister lays a hand on that "sacred cow," they are to be removed immediately if not sooner.
The ruthlessness of churches that regard themselves as authentically reformed gives the lie to their claim to preach "the doctrines of grace." In today's confused ecclesiastical world, Christian church members have to re-consider their continued membership of and financial support to such churches. How can they continue to support a church that takes legal action against its ministers for preaching the Gospel! And how can they provide financial support to any church that treats Gospel ministers and members so despicably.
The time is fast approaching when a new church body must be set up to safeguard the Gospel for the generations to come. One thing Christians cannot do id this: they cannot expect apostate churches to preach a biblical Gospel with fire sent down from heaven. And if they cannot expect that, then they are not to be expected to remain in such denominations. Reform of the church according to the Scriptures is urgently needed, and God will guide His redeemed people in the right way and at the right time to bring this to pass.
Monday, 13 May 2013
Quenching the Spirit.
When you have experienced much of God’s goodness in the valley
experiences of life, the big thing is that you do not want to do anything that
would “quench the Spirit” (1 Thes.5:19) and drive Him away from us. We have
enjoyed so much of God these past nine months in particular that we cannot bear
to think that through our carelessness He would leave us. That is the burden of
Margaret’s prayer in recent days. She knows just how easy it is to grow cold
when the back is no longer up against the proverbial wall, and how easy it is
to let spiritual disciplines slip back into ‘normal’ mode.
Thankfully we are aware of this possibility, and being fore-warned is to
be fore-armed. Even in this matter, God has been very good to us. Her godly
mother, now with Christ, used to warn about the “grey hairs” (Hos.7:9) appearing
and “the little foxes” that come in to raid the crop, and all without us
knowing it (Song of Solomon 2:15).
How subtle is Satan and how crafty his working. We remember, of course,
that God is sovereign in his dealing with His children, and that in His
approaches to them, He draws near when they need Him, and then, for His own
reasons, withdraws a bit, and all without them having done anything. I am
reminded of Rev David Morgan, one of the preachers in eighteenth and nineteenth
century Wales, and who was a very ordinary preacher. He tells of how he went to
bed one night as David Morgan and rose the next day like a lion, and had a
spectacular preaching ministry for about two years. Then he went to bed as a
lion one night and woke up as David Morgan, and resumed a most unspectacular
ministry for the rest of his life. This demonstrates the sovereignty of the
Spirit in these matters.
That said, it is very possible for us, as believers, to “quench the
Spirit” in one way or another, which very thing, by God’s grace, we do not want
to do. These times have been too precious and special for us to do that, at
least, knowingly. We all need to be very careful about letting those little
sins slip in and we find ourselves starting to walk at a distance from Christ,
losing the desire for His presence, having a poor appetite for the Bible and
prayer, and turning away from God-given opportunities for witness to others,
whether Christian of not.
Being aware of this possibility can prove a great defence against it
happening.
Sunday, 28 April 2013
Church-initiated Persecution of Gospel Ministers in Northern Ireland
Recovering from something as traumatic as cancer
and its very demanding treatment is a challenge, and patients need as much
support as they can get. Family is
always a great source of support and comfort, as are friends who call and help with
food, etc.
Yet, it is noteworthy just how little it takes to
upset the equilibrium that has been enjoyed.
Satan is always looking for an opportunity to attack, and sadly there is
no lack of springboards from which to launch such attacks.
What some people will not believe or accept is
how many times the “Christian” church is at the forefront of attacking Gospel
ministers. “Oh, the church would never
do that,” they say in defense of their own denomination. “The minister must have done something very
wrong for our church to remove him.”
Well, on that point they are quite correct. These men have preached the Gospel with power
and passion, which very thing the churches do not want. And they have applied Gospel principles to
and within their congregations, another unwanted church commodity.
Today’s liberal and anti-Gospel churches are
still removing Gospel-preaching ministers from their charges, while they leave
the ‘good churchmen’ to get on with their lives, not to mention their
ministries. What are ‘good churchmen’? ‘Good churchmen’ are those who never disturb
the consciences of their hearers, never question their professions of faith, never
expect their faith to be seen in everyday life, never ask uncomfortable questions
of the church, and never question the spirituality of the church. They just turn a blind eye to religious formalism
and outward respectability, and as long as the church is functioning “as it was
in the beginning, is now, and evermore shall be,” all is well.
But once God’s transforming Gospel arrives in
such churches, it is as if all hell is let loose – against the minister and
those who support the minister because he preaches the everlasting Gospel. As Dr John Stott calls it, the Gospel is
Christian Counter Culture. It challenges
everything, particularly those whose religious and eternal well-being are
dependent solely on a mere profession of faith.
Such people imagine they are genuine Christians and are regarded as such,
why? Because the church’s eldership
accepted them as Christians, so they must be Christians. And woe betide anyone, minister or otherwise,
who raises any questions as to their spiritual standing.
And remember this; the persecution of Christian
ministers does not only happen in far away lands like India, Pakistan, China,
etc. It is happening right in front of our
eyes. And do you know what makes this particularly
heart-breaking? God’s people in these
churches stand back and refuse to challenge such treatment of the servants of
Christ, thus implicating them in what their leaders have done to Gospel men. It shows just how little they care for the
Gospel after all. Why do they do
this? Because their ecclesiology is
essentially Roman Catholic, and by that I mean, whatever the church does is
right, infallibly right.
Thank God for those ministers who, out of love
for their people and for Christ and His Gospel, are prepared to challenge a
religion of mere words. Formal religion
is useless when faced with death, and we have discovered the reality of a
living faith in such a situation.
Two ministers have already been put out of their
charges by their respective denominations, one has been forced to resign to
take effect in about five weeks time, and another is on sick leave because of “work-related
stress;” he joins some 35 other ministers from one denomination who are off on similar grounds. Congregations are divided right down the
middle, and in most cases, this is over the Gospel, a most unwelcome commodity
in many churches today.
This happened to me twenty years ago, and it is
still happening to Gospel ministers today.
And when your wife is suffering from cancer and hears about the re-enactment
of such evils by churches, it does nothing to help her in her recovery. It brings back bad thoughts of what was done
to us by the church. You don’t need me
to tell you what kind of churches they are that throw out Gospel preaching
ministers, do you? If these churches
loved Christ and the Gospel, they would treasure the servants of Christ, not
toss them aside as you would an empty packet.
Because these are Christ’s chosen vessels for the propagation of the
Gospel, those churches and ministers will have to answer to God for the evil
they have inflicted on God’s men.
Now this kind of situation needles both my wife and me. It causes anger to arise within
us, and takes us back to the days when we were going through such church-inspired
persecution. In fact, it re-traumatises us.
Please pray for these persecuted ministers of the Gospel in this land where we are told that peace and reconciliation reign.
Sunday, 7 April 2013
Gospel Minister Sacked by His Denomination
The utterly disgraceful 'sacking' of Rev. Stephen Dickinson this week from his congregations of Cairnalbana and Glenarm Presbyterian churches in Northern Ireland, is the latest incident to blight that denomination's already chequered history. The church's powerful Judicial Commission was acting true to form with its repugnance towards evangelical Christianity. Mr Dickinson's dismissal came as no surprise to me, as one who was treated in the same despicable way 20 years ago in March by that 'Christian' church. The Dickinsons are devastated by the church's decision, and understandably so, a decision from which there is no appeal, .
The persecution of evangelicals by the church is endemic. Dozens of ministers are off work because of stress-related situations. Bullying of ministers by colleagues and other elders is notorious within the churches. Perhaps the biggest offenders are those who 'stand by' and allow such situations to go on without challenge.
Mr Dickinson cannot expect any pastoral care or support from the church, despite their granting him leave to live in the Manse for up to 18 months, with a salary promise of the same time period. Since churches have their own 'dirty tricks departments,' Mr Dickinson cannot expect to have any colleagues remain friendly with him - that would be much too dangerous for the colleagues. He will be ostracised and left to his own devices. Any attempt to find another church will find prospective congregations against him having been poisoned by 'the faceless men in grey suits' wearing or not wearing clerical collars. It will not be easy for him or his dear wife, Sharon, and the family.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland's (PCI) track record of removing ministers from their charge has this very interesting fact - they only remove evangelicals. That theologically liberal and ecumenical denomination has at no time taken the same extreme measures against liberal ministers, and certainly not against the ecumenicals that are in its ministry. Such men will never be removed from their churches because the churches they serve are themselves liberal and ecumenical churches. I do not know of one liberal and ecumenical minister who was ever removed from their congregations in that denomination, but I could name a growing number of Evangelicals, that is, Gospel preaching ministers who have had the treatment from this menacing Commission.
Again, it is factually true that Presbyterian ministers can have Roman priests in their church and taking part in church services and no action will be taken against them. In fact, this also guarantees longevity of ministry within that religious organisation.
But if a minister is a Gospel man, and his message upsets some of "the people that count" (which every congregation has), then his actions will have taken a step towards his removal. You can be a womanising church elder, yet be protected by the church authorities; but if you preach a strong and clear Gospel of grace, your time is limited. An elder can promote same sex marriages and sodomy, and be kept on; the church will not remove him; the most she will do in such situations is to ask them to stand down temporarily; but if an elder (teaching or ruling) dares to take a strong Gospel stand in the church, his card is marked.
What makes it even more disappointing is that, as in days of old, the church's Judicial Commission usually has a token few evangelicals serving on it; so it is today. But the reality is that those token evangelicals are powerless to do anything to defend their Evangelical colleagues; thus, when the evangelical cause is being 'judged' at this liberal and ecumenical Commission, the outcome is a foregone conclusion. Evangelicals just cannot win when their case goes to that body. It seems that evangelicals who serve on this body are eventually neutered so that they cannot be effective members of this evangelical-destroying commission. It's remit seems to be to rid PCI of all clear-cut evangelical ministers, so that it remains an ineffective church in our country.
It is surely wrong for any church body to deal in such a scurrilous way with Gospel ministers. This action of the Judicial Commission of PCI will have the desired effect of pulling those Gospel ministers who want to be faithful to Christ into line, and effectively neutering them. PCI has not been known as a Gospel church for many decades and it will not become such any time soon. Other denominations are following the example set by PCI, and removing Gospel ministers so that congregations can be "at peace in Zion."
In the meantime, those Gospel ministers who serve Christ first, and the church only, and at best, second, will have to watch their steps if they wish to retain their ministries. Long gone are the days when ministers of principle occupied the church's pulpits, men who put their devotion to Christ and His Gospel before anything the church might say, men who were prepared to pay the price of faithfulness to the Saviour. Instead, today the church has many "wicked pragmatists," (Dr Al N. Martin's memorable phrase), men who can tell which way the wind is blowing, and follow its leading. They are sure to keep in with the right people in senior management positions within the churches because they have "the power of life and death" over Gospel ministries.
The church has degenerated into an institution, and as such, has departed from the biblical Gospel it is called upon to proclaim. Sadly, for many ministers, it would appear, such a calling is just too costly. Turkeys still do not vote for Christmas!
The persecution of evangelicals by the church is endemic. Dozens of ministers are off work because of stress-related situations. Bullying of ministers by colleagues and other elders is notorious within the churches. Perhaps the biggest offenders are those who 'stand by' and allow such situations to go on without challenge.
Mr Dickinson cannot expect any pastoral care or support from the church, despite their granting him leave to live in the Manse for up to 18 months, with a salary promise of the same time period. Since churches have their own 'dirty tricks departments,' Mr Dickinson cannot expect to have any colleagues remain friendly with him - that would be much too dangerous for the colleagues. He will be ostracised and left to his own devices. Any attempt to find another church will find prospective congregations against him having been poisoned by 'the faceless men in grey suits' wearing or not wearing clerical collars. It will not be easy for him or his dear wife, Sharon, and the family.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland's (PCI) track record of removing ministers from their charge has this very interesting fact - they only remove evangelicals. That theologically liberal and ecumenical denomination has at no time taken the same extreme measures against liberal ministers, and certainly not against the ecumenicals that are in its ministry. Such men will never be removed from their churches because the churches they serve are themselves liberal and ecumenical churches. I do not know of one liberal and ecumenical minister who was ever removed from their congregations in that denomination, but I could name a growing number of Evangelicals, that is, Gospel preaching ministers who have had the treatment from this menacing Commission.
Again, it is factually true that Presbyterian ministers can have Roman priests in their church and taking part in church services and no action will be taken against them. In fact, this also guarantees longevity of ministry within that religious organisation.
But if a minister is a Gospel man, and his message upsets some of "the people that count" (which every congregation has), then his actions will have taken a step towards his removal. You can be a womanising church elder, yet be protected by the church authorities; but if you preach a strong and clear Gospel of grace, your time is limited. An elder can promote same sex marriages and sodomy, and be kept on; the church will not remove him; the most she will do in such situations is to ask them to stand down temporarily; but if an elder (teaching or ruling) dares to take a strong Gospel stand in the church, his card is marked.
What makes it even more disappointing is that, as in days of old, the church's Judicial Commission usually has a token few evangelicals serving on it; so it is today. But the reality is that those token evangelicals are powerless to do anything to defend their Evangelical colleagues; thus, when the evangelical cause is being 'judged' at this liberal and ecumenical Commission, the outcome is a foregone conclusion. Evangelicals just cannot win when their case goes to that body. It seems that evangelicals who serve on this body are eventually neutered so that they cannot be effective members of this evangelical-destroying commission. It's remit seems to be to rid PCI of all clear-cut evangelical ministers, so that it remains an ineffective church in our country.
It is surely wrong for any church body to deal in such a scurrilous way with Gospel ministers. This action of the Judicial Commission of PCI will have the desired effect of pulling those Gospel ministers who want to be faithful to Christ into line, and effectively neutering them. PCI has not been known as a Gospel church for many decades and it will not become such any time soon. Other denominations are following the example set by PCI, and removing Gospel ministers so that congregations can be "at peace in Zion."
In the meantime, those Gospel ministers who serve Christ first, and the church only, and at best, second, will have to watch their steps if they wish to retain their ministries. Long gone are the days when ministers of principle occupied the church's pulpits, men who put their devotion to Christ and His Gospel before anything the church might say, men who were prepared to pay the price of faithfulness to the Saviour. Instead, today the church has many "wicked pragmatists," (Dr Al N. Martin's memorable phrase), men who can tell which way the wind is blowing, and follow its leading. They are sure to keep in with the right people in senior management positions within the churches because they have "the power of life and death" over Gospel ministries.
The church has degenerated into an institution, and as such, has departed from the biblical Gospel it is called upon to proclaim. Sadly, for many ministers, it would appear, such a calling is just too costly. Turkeys still do not vote for Christmas!
Tuesday, 25 December 2012
The Enemy Within.
"Ahab begins by sparing his enemy (1 Kgs 20:31-34) and will end by destroying his people (v.42). Dr D. R. Davis (p.291) sums up Ahab's reign very well and foretells exactly how it will all pan out.
In the spiritual life, great care has to be taken on a daily basis NOT to allow the enemy to get a foothold in our lives. If we sow to the flesh we will, from the flesh reap destruction. There is an inevitability about how we live, for to live is to sow. The moment we allow the enemy of our souls house-room in our lives, at that moment he begins to control us. Indeed, the very best place for any enemy to destroy his enemy is from the inside.
The case of Northern Ireland is a prime example of this principle being worked out. Our politicians have welcomed the enemy of our country (the IRA) into the very government and legislative centre of our country, and these people (the IRA) are working steadily to dismantle everything we regard as dear to us, not least our link with Great Britain in the United Kingdom. The enemy is working from the inside, and what is very sad and indeed inexcusable is the fact that most of those who are there are prepared to tolerate this cancer and pretend it does not exist. No one wants to take decisive action to rid our land of its enemies. No surgery will be performed to remove the cancer from the government and the land.
Ahab was the political leader of Israel. Political leaders have an awesome responsibility to do what is right in the eyes of God. Ahab's policy stands as a clear example and warning of what happens when we depart from God's revealed word. Leadership is a responsible role. When leadership goes wrong, the people are destroyed. Look how many countries are in deepest turmoil because of a failure in leadership. Spare the enemy and you'll destroy the people.
Church leaders occupy a similar position in principle. You can always tell when the church has been left without leadership - its members do that which is right in their own eyes. When the church welcomes the enemies of Christ into leadership, ought we to be surprised when they say publicly that they support same-sex marriages? When the church elects as leaders/elders those whose language is appalling as well as those who are well-known womanisers, then you know the enemy is at large within her ranks. Where the church does what it pleases in defiance of the Word of God, and allows the enemies of the Gospel to hold leadership roles in her, the people will be destroyed. Spare the enemy and you'll destroy the people.
We must learn from this and take the spiritual lesson with utmost seriousness. The enemy will come to us uninvited, and his presence with us will be unwelcome. That is how he works. But never let it be said that we welcomed the enemy into our lives. That would be spiritual suicide. It is easier to let him in than it is to drive him out again. So keep the door of your heart and mind locked to the devil. Give him 'not an inch.' Drive him from you by the power of the Spirit of God. Plead the fact that you are covered by the precious blood of Christ. Put on the whole armour of God so that you will be able to withstand him when the evil day comes (Eph.6:10-18). And that 'evil day' that Paul writes about is the day when Satan attacks your soul and mind and body. Spare the enemy and you'll destroy yourself.
Stand fast, dear friends. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. He's a defeated enemy, and you can remind him of that fact. And rejoice.
In the spiritual life, great care has to be taken on a daily basis NOT to allow the enemy to get a foothold in our lives. If we sow to the flesh we will, from the flesh reap destruction. There is an inevitability about how we live, for to live is to sow. The moment we allow the enemy of our souls house-room in our lives, at that moment he begins to control us. Indeed, the very best place for any enemy to destroy his enemy is from the inside.
The case of Northern Ireland is a prime example of this principle being worked out. Our politicians have welcomed the enemy of our country (the IRA) into the very government and legislative centre of our country, and these people (the IRA) are working steadily to dismantle everything we regard as dear to us, not least our link with Great Britain in the United Kingdom. The enemy is working from the inside, and what is very sad and indeed inexcusable is the fact that most of those who are there are prepared to tolerate this cancer and pretend it does not exist. No one wants to take decisive action to rid our land of its enemies. No surgery will be performed to remove the cancer from the government and the land.
Ahab was the political leader of Israel. Political leaders have an awesome responsibility to do what is right in the eyes of God. Ahab's policy stands as a clear example and warning of what happens when we depart from God's revealed word. Leadership is a responsible role. When leadership goes wrong, the people are destroyed. Look how many countries are in deepest turmoil because of a failure in leadership. Spare the enemy and you'll destroy the people.
Church leaders occupy a similar position in principle. You can always tell when the church has been left without leadership - its members do that which is right in their own eyes. When the church welcomes the enemies of Christ into leadership, ought we to be surprised when they say publicly that they support same-sex marriages? When the church elects as leaders/elders those whose language is appalling as well as those who are well-known womanisers, then you know the enemy is at large within her ranks. Where the church does what it pleases in defiance of the Word of God, and allows the enemies of the Gospel to hold leadership roles in her, the people will be destroyed. Spare the enemy and you'll destroy the people.
We must learn from this and take the spiritual lesson with utmost seriousness. The enemy will come to us uninvited, and his presence with us will be unwelcome. That is how he works. But never let it be said that we welcomed the enemy into our lives. That would be spiritual suicide. It is easier to let him in than it is to drive him out again. So keep the door of your heart and mind locked to the devil. Give him 'not an inch.' Drive him from you by the power of the Spirit of God. Plead the fact that you are covered by the precious blood of Christ. Put on the whole armour of God so that you will be able to withstand him when the evil day comes (Eph.6:10-18). And that 'evil day' that Paul writes about is the day when Satan attacks your soul and mind and body. Spare the enemy and you'll destroy yourself.
Stand fast, dear friends. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. He's a defeated enemy, and you can remind him of that fact. And rejoice.
Sunday, 16 December 2012
Satan Hates Believers
This is true! The devil hates God's children! He is out to devour them. He wants to discourage them big time.
My wife and I are finding this just now. She was being attacked in her mind by the devil in recent days. On Thursday, 13th Dec 2012, she was feeling a bit sickly and unwell. But she was exposed to attack after attack from Satan. This came in the form of doubts; she is to have more treatment and the evil one said to her that she will never make it. So bad was it that she thought she was going to take heart attack. She thought she was losing her mind. It is also interesting that this has happened to her after each time she witnessed to Christ. These devilish attacks have pounded her.
My wife and I are finding this just now. She was being attacked in her mind by the devil in recent days. On Thursday, 13th Dec 2012, she was feeling a bit sickly and unwell. But she was exposed to attack after attack from Satan. This came in the form of doubts; she is to have more treatment and the evil one said to her that she will never make it. So bad was it that she thought she was going to take heart attack. She thought she was losing her mind. It is also interesting that this has happened to her after each time she witnessed to Christ. These devilish attacks have pounded her.
Let me give you another little incentive to pray. Also this week, my wife came under another strange satanic attack. He tormented her all afternoon, and refused to relent. That is, until about tea-time when she experienced a lifting of her burden, and the rest of the evening was great.
Why did this happen? Because someone, somewhere, perhaps one of you, had been praying for her at that moment. It may have been a Christian friend in Northern Ireland, or England or in far away places like India or Panama. Someone unknown to us had uplifted her in prayer, and God answered.
That's the kind of God He is; and that's the kind of God and Father we have. We can trust Him implicitly.
Victory Over Satan
Our God has had the victory over the prince of darkness at Bethlehem, during His life especially when enduring the temptations of the devil, when He healed the sick and raised the dead back to life; when He quelled the sea and stilled the storms.
Come to Calvary, then to Resurrection Sunday, to the Ascension, and you will see evidence after evidence of the devil’s defeat by the strong Son of God. In all these He proved Himself superior to the devil and defeated Him. We have to rest upon that victory alone for peace of mind. And God comes down and gives that to us. He is the giving God because He is the living God.
Come to Calvary, then to Resurrection Sunday, to the Ascension, and you will see evidence after evidence of the devil’s defeat by the strong Son of God. In all these He proved Himself superior to the devil and defeated Him. We have to rest upon that victory alone for peace of mind. And God comes down and gives that to us. He is the giving God because He is the living God.
Saturday, 1 December 2012
Ministers Who Are Friends With ‘the enemies of the truth.'
Oh, pity the ministers, and there are not
a few of them, who are friends with ‘the enemies of the truth.’ Those who keep in with those whom they know
to be in the wrong – colleagues, elders, church members, church leaders, other
faiths, etc – have compromised themselves thereby. They keep in with those who
can make life difficult for them, possibly even have them removed from the
ministry, or from life. These ‘turkeys’ keep in with the ‘enemies of the
truth’ because their motivation and mission is self-preservation at all costs.
Calvin could not be more different. He counsels the five young ministerial students of Lyons who were facing death for the faith in terms not unlike these:
‘But you, my young
brother ministers, you are not pursuing your own ideas however lofty they might
be. You are pursuing the truths of eternity, the truths of salvation, the
truths of God’s glory in the world. Your calling is not a ‘trivial pursuit.’ You are on the most exalted mission and
highest calling that any man can receive. You are ministers of the Gospel, no
more and no less. That’s who and what you are!
And these ‘enemies of the truth’ are doing this to men Whom God has
personally chosen, called, saved and set apart for the Gospel.’
And because Calvin is raising the position
of the five very high, he is also saying that he would not be in the shoes of
the ‘enemies of the truth’ for all the tea in China. They are trifling
with things and people they know not of, and with the God Who is Almighty,
just, holy and altogether righteous. They know not what they do, or its
consequences.
Friday, 9 November 2012
Victory For Same-Sex Supporters In USA
Why same-sex supporters are celebrating
Same-sex supporters won unprecedented victories this week in the USA. Wisconsin elected the nation's first openly gay senator, while three new gay candidates were elected to the House. Same-sex marriage proponents won in all four states where gay marriage was contested. Those who support biblical marriage are more counter-cultural than ever.
Now consider this fact: More evangelicals than Mormons voted for Mitt Romney, in both percentage and votes cast. In fact, more conservative Christians voted for the Republican nominee than for any candidate in American history. Mr Obama attracted even fewer Protestants, evangelicals, and Catholics than in his 2008 victory, but still won decisively.
Clearly, Christians who want to make a difference must do more than vote. Is our witness still relevant to our changing culture?
Same-sex supporters won unprecedented victories this week in the USA. Wisconsin elected the nation's first openly gay senator, while three new gay candidates were elected to the House. Same-sex marriage proponents won in all four states where gay marriage was contested. Those who support biblical marriage are more counter-cultural than ever.
Now consider this fact: More evangelicals than Mormons voted for Mitt Romney, in both percentage and votes cast. In fact, more conservative Christians voted for the Republican nominee than for any candidate in American history. Mr Obama attracted even fewer Protestants, evangelicals, and Catholics than in his 2008 victory, but still won decisively.
Clearly, Christians who want to make a difference must do more than vote. Is our witness still relevant to our changing culture?
Monday, 5 November 2012
Dr Alan Clifford, the BBC and Islam
Dr Alan C. Clifford, minister of Norwich Reformed Church and staunch preacher of the Gospel was interviewed on BBC Radio Norfolk and broadcast on Sunday 4 November 2012.
You can listen to this interview with him, and the following one with an Islamic leader.
You can listen to this interview with him, and the following one with an Islamic leader.
Slidebar setting: 2.09.00
Then listen to Dr Clifford's full statement, what he actually said in the original interview, and how much of his excellent presentation was heavily edited to comply with the BBC's PC policy.
Dr Clifford's Youtube response: NORWICH: Dr Clifford, Islam and the EDL http://youtu.be/PaSxaAf-gkA
Your can relate your support for Dr Clifford's stand for the Gospel on this blogspot.
Tuesday, 9 October 2012
Evangelical Superstition?
I heard a good young preach say the following in his semron on Ac.14:8-20 , and I paraphrase:
1. The Origin of Superstitution is FEAR, (8-13).
2. The Objective of Superstitution is to make people feel good, (14-17).
3. The Outcome of Superstition is, you can't hear the Gospel, (18-20).
I would add that what precedes superstition is PANIC, which in turn leads to FEAR.
How can this message be applied to the contemporary church, including the preacher's own church?
Many churches and church leaders are panicking greatly because of the drift away from the church of the next generation of members; they are losing their young people. The big question is, What can we do to keep them in the church? This panic is leading churches and church leaders to a depth of fear, forgetting that God the answer in the Scriptures which are sufficient for all matters of faith and practice. For fearful and panicking church leaders, Scripture is not enough. Somewhere along the way they have their confidence in the sufficiency of Scripture for the entire life of the church and for every Christian. To mis-quote one James Bond 007 title, THE WORD IS NOT ENOUGH. The fear exhibited by these leaders is palpable. They just do not know where to turn or what to do.
So what do they do? They look to the world, to the pop culture of the world, to see what young people are into and what they like and enjoy; they look to see what it is that holds them and keeps them interested and involved. They see the success of the rock culture and think that might be a good idea for the church. Then they import that into church life with potentially disastrous long-term results. In comes the drums, African tom-tom drums associated with occult practices, the heavy beat of the base drum and base guitar, the pounding of piano keys, the theatrical performances by musically gifted young people; and on and on it goes.
But what drives them is fear. And, according to the preacher, fear originates in superstition. Wherever there is departure from the teaching of Scripture, there superstition exists and abounds.
But the churches do not see this! Indeed, were the preacher to apply his own sermon to his own congregation he'd be in serious trouble. Why? Because that church is based upon satisfying the whims of adolescent young Christian people who, through no fault of their own, do not have the spiritual maturity to know what constitutes biblical worship.
That brings me nicely to the objective of superstition which is to bring benefits to the recipient and make them feel good. In this application, the object is to make the young people feel good to be in church and therefore to make the church feel good. It is an entirely utilitarian policy that drives this. If young people do not feel good in church they might leave it. So, the church does whatever it takes to ensure they stay within the fold.
Now, the desire to retain younger members of the congregation is good in itself; but this must be done on sound biblical principles. To resort to the ways of the world to do this is to go against the clear teaching of the Scriptures. "Do not love the world or the things of the world," we are taught. But like so much in church circles, even this is changed to enable the world to infiltrate the church, and then argue that the church is serving Christ alone. How strange! Using the world to win the world is plainly wrong. The world is diametrically opposed to the church and to the things of God. The world is under the rule of the Evil One, so it is not brain science to see that the world's aim is to dilute and then to destroy all Christin witness in the church.
And this brings me neatly to the outcome of superstition - the inability to hear the Gospel. Congregations that are being bombarded with the world's music played at the world's decibels become unable to hear the Gospel. Indeed, it is likely that the true Gospel will have to be modified to suit the new church music.
I have seen it, and sadly experienced it, that when 'worshippers' are subjected to constant physical attack by 'worship groups,' they become intoxicated by both the noise and the beat of the music that they have lost the facility to hear the Gospel. They become 'brain dead' as a result of such an onslaught.
Further, they then cease to recognise the true Gospel altogether. If what is being preached does not first pass comfortably through the screening set up by such worldly music, it is rejected. If the preaching does not gain the approval of 'brain dead' church youths, it is rejected. If there comes a reaction to the preaching, the preacher is dismissed. The Gospel is no longer goodnews, but something to be avoided because it divides and challenges and convicts.
Trusting in such things is superstition. Let the contemporary church beware!
1. The Origin of Superstitution is FEAR, (8-13).
2. The Objective of Superstitution is to make people feel good, (14-17).
3. The Outcome of Superstition is, you can't hear the Gospel, (18-20).
I would add that what precedes superstition is PANIC, which in turn leads to FEAR.
How can this message be applied to the contemporary church, including the preacher's own church?
Many churches and church leaders are panicking greatly because of the drift away from the church of the next generation of members; they are losing their young people. The big question is, What can we do to keep them in the church? This panic is leading churches and church leaders to a depth of fear, forgetting that God the answer in the Scriptures which are sufficient for all matters of faith and practice. For fearful and panicking church leaders, Scripture is not enough. Somewhere along the way they have their confidence in the sufficiency of Scripture for the entire life of the church and for every Christian. To mis-quote one James Bond 007 title, THE WORD IS NOT ENOUGH. The fear exhibited by these leaders is palpable. They just do not know where to turn or what to do.
So what do they do? They look to the world, to the pop culture of the world, to see what young people are into and what they like and enjoy; they look to see what it is that holds them and keeps them interested and involved. They see the success of the rock culture and think that might be a good idea for the church. Then they import that into church life with potentially disastrous long-term results. In comes the drums, African tom-tom drums associated with occult practices, the heavy beat of the base drum and base guitar, the pounding of piano keys, the theatrical performances by musically gifted young people; and on and on it goes.
But what drives them is fear. And, according to the preacher, fear originates in superstition. Wherever there is departure from the teaching of Scripture, there superstition exists and abounds.
But the churches do not see this! Indeed, were the preacher to apply his own sermon to his own congregation he'd be in serious trouble. Why? Because that church is based upon satisfying the whims of adolescent young Christian people who, through no fault of their own, do not have the spiritual maturity to know what constitutes biblical worship.
That brings me nicely to the objective of superstition which is to bring benefits to the recipient and make them feel good. In this application, the object is to make the young people feel good to be in church and therefore to make the church feel good. It is an entirely utilitarian policy that drives this. If young people do not feel good in church they might leave it. So, the church does whatever it takes to ensure they stay within the fold.
Now, the desire to retain younger members of the congregation is good in itself; but this must be done on sound biblical principles. To resort to the ways of the world to do this is to go against the clear teaching of the Scriptures. "Do not love the world or the things of the world," we are taught. But like so much in church circles, even this is changed to enable the world to infiltrate the church, and then argue that the church is serving Christ alone. How strange! Using the world to win the world is plainly wrong. The world is diametrically opposed to the church and to the things of God. The world is under the rule of the Evil One, so it is not brain science to see that the world's aim is to dilute and then to destroy all Christin witness in the church.
And this brings me neatly to the outcome of superstition - the inability to hear the Gospel. Congregations that are being bombarded with the world's music played at the world's decibels become unable to hear the Gospel. Indeed, it is likely that the true Gospel will have to be modified to suit the new church music.
I have seen it, and sadly experienced it, that when 'worshippers' are subjected to constant physical attack by 'worship groups,' they become intoxicated by both the noise and the beat of the music that they have lost the facility to hear the Gospel. They become 'brain dead' as a result of such an onslaught.
Further, they then cease to recognise the true Gospel altogether. If what is being preached does not first pass comfortably through the screening set up by such worldly music, it is rejected. If the preaching does not gain the approval of 'brain dead' church youths, it is rejected. If there comes a reaction to the preaching, the preacher is dismissed. The Gospel is no longer goodnews, but something to be avoided because it divides and challenges and convicts.
Trusting in such things is superstition. Let the contemporary church beware!
Saturday, 6 October 2012
William Tyndale, Martyred 6th October 1536
How many Bibles do you have in your house? For most of us, Bibles are
easily accessible, and many of us have several. That we have the Bible
in English owes much to William Tyndale, sometimes called the Father of
the English Bible. 90% of the King James Version of the Bible and 75% of
the Revised Standard Version are from the translation of the Bible into
English made by William Tyndale, yet Tyndale himself was burned at the
stake for his work on this day, October 6,
1536.
Back in the fourteenth century, John Wycliffe was the first to make (or at least oversee) an English translation of the Bible, but that was before the invention of the printing press and all copies had to be hand written. Besides, the church had banned the unauthorized translation of the Bible into English in 1408.
Over one hundred years later, however, William Tyndale had a burning desire to make the Bible available to even the common people in England. After studying at Oxford and Cambridge, he joined the household of Sir John Walsh at little Sudbury Manor as tutor to the Walsh children. Walsh was a generous lord of the manor and often entertained the local clergy at his table. Tyndale often added spice to the table conversation as he was confronted with the Biblical ignorance of the priests. At one point Tyndale told a priest, "If God spare my life, ere many years pass, I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the Scriptures than thou dost."
For the full article, please visit this website.
Back in the fourteenth century, John Wycliffe was the first to make (or at least oversee) an English translation of the Bible, but that was before the invention of the printing press and all copies had to be hand written. Besides, the church had banned the unauthorized translation of the Bible into English in 1408.
Over one hundred years later, however, William Tyndale had a burning desire to make the Bible available to even the common people in England. After studying at Oxford and Cambridge, he joined the household of Sir John Walsh at little Sudbury Manor as tutor to the Walsh children. Walsh was a generous lord of the manor and often entertained the local clergy at his table. Tyndale often added spice to the table conversation as he was confronted with the Biblical ignorance of the priests. At one point Tyndale told a priest, "If God spare my life, ere many years pass, I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the Scriptures than thou dost."
For the full article, please visit this website.
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