A Road in the Wilderness

Another Gospel......Another Jesus

Pastor Howard — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:21:00 GMT

Another Gospel……Another Jesus

The Gospel today has steadily been changed during the past 50 or 60 years. In our day, what is believed to be, and preached as, the Gospel is no longer the true Gospel. The Jesus that is preached with this “gospel” is, therefore, another Jesus.

Both this “new” gospel and this “other” Jesus, differ significantly and radically from the true Gospel, and the true Jesus.

Because these changes have happened little by little, it would appear that very few have noticed.

Everyone probably knows the story of the frog in the pot of water. If you put a frog in a pot of boiling water, the frog will immediately and quickly jump out – it knows it’s in danger. But, if you put a frog in a pot of cold water, turn on the heat, and gradually warm the water to the boiling point, the frog won’t realize that the water is getting hot or boiling until it’s too late…..it’s dead!

The Apostle Paul, most often, refers to the Gospel as “the Gospel”, as do the other writers of the New Testament. Paul’s reference to “the” Gospel makes it exclusive. When Paul is not referring to the Gospel, he calls it “my” Gospel, or “our” Gospel, or he refers to “another gospel”.

Paul’s reference to the Gospel, meaning that there is no other Gospel, assumes that his readers understand what the term really means.

Many times, Paul and others refer to the Gospel as “the Gospel of Christ”, “the Gospel of Jesus Christ”, or “the Gospel of God”. In these references, the writers of the New Testament are asserting that the Gospel is about Jesus Christ – it is founded in Him, it is by Him, it is completed in Him, and Jesus Christ is the center and the object of the Gospel.

Paul even drives this home further in his unambiguous definition of the Gospel:

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures (NKJV)

Paul makes it very clear that the Gospel is about Jesus Christ, and no one or nothing else.

We, humankind, are the beneficiaries of the Gospel and Jesus’ atoning work on the cross, but the only role we play in all of it is that “Christ died for our sins”. It was Jesus Who died; it was Jesus Who was buried, and it was Jesus Who has risen from the dead.

So, this brings us to the so-called gospel of today. How has the true gospel changed? How does it differ from “the Gospel of Jesus Christ”?

The difference today is that Jesus is no longer central to the gospel that is most often preached by most of the professing Christian church.

Jesus no longer holds the center place of the gospel because man has replaced Jesus with himself. It is no longer the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it the gospel of “self”. It is another gospel that is being preached, and it is another Jesus that is being presented.

Today, most in the professing Christian church have been convinced that the Gospel must be changed in order to reach “today’s” generation. We certainly don’t want to offend anyone when we are witnessing to them.

1 Peter 2:7-8 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense.”

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

The Gospel is meant to be offensive. Mankind has no natural desire for the things of God, nor do they have the desire to cease from sin and repent.

So, today, we preach the “modern” gospel which, rather than speak of Jesus, speaks of “you”:

God loves “you”
God has a wonderful plan for “you”
God can make “you” happy and fulfilled
God will bless “you”
God will make “you” rich
God will make “you” healthy
God will heal “your” marriage
Etc……..

While many of these things are certainly true, the emphasis is in the wrong place. The emphasis is “you” and not Jesus Christ. Because so many professing Christians feel the need to “sell” someone on the benefits of salvation, this false gospel becomes a man-centered gospel which, in effect, preaches another Jesus.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

It is only the Gospel of Jesus Christ that has the “power of God to salvation”, and it is only the Word of God that is “living and powerful”.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the gospel of self have vastly different messages to the hearers.

The object of the true Gospel is Jesus Christ - His person, His work, and His glory.
The object of the gospel of self is simply self. It concentrates on what man can get from God, and that Christ only wants to bless everyone.

The results of the preaching of these two very different gospels are also very different.

The true Gospel, the Gospel of Christ, is unpopular, and few respond to it;
The gospel of self is fashionable and many run to it

Matthew 7:13-15; 22-23 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

These two gospels also produce very different attitudes in those who adhere to them:

Those who obey the true Gospel, the Gospel of Christ, worship Him, are obedient to Him, and their lives and doctrine revolve around Jesus. They are Christ-centered.
Those who follow the gospel of self worship themselves, and their lives revolve around themselves. They are self-centered.

These will also produce two entirely different churches. One that is Christ-centered, and the other that is self-centered.

As you can see, there are no slight differences between these two. They are in complete opposition to each other.

The true Gospel produces a life of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ alone, while the gospel of self produces arrogance and self-righteousness. The true Gospel leads to eternal life with Jesus, while the gospel of self will lead to an eternity of suffering in hell.

Those who are attracted to the gospel of self are not saved, because they have put their trust in a false gospel and another Jesus.

2 Corinthians 11:4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!

Galatians 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

Unfortunately, what most people 2000 years ago wanted from Jesus is the same that most people want from Him today – happiness, health, material blessings, solving problems, boosting egos, political leadership…..heaven on earth.

When Jesus refused to give these things to them, but offered them Himself, the cross, and eternal life, they crucified Him. Today, instead of crucifying Jesus, we quietly move Him out the back door of the church and make sure that He can’t come back in.

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

Spiritual Gifts - The Gift of Tongues

Pastor Howard — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 22:04:00 GMT

With all the controversy over spiritual gifts – why have them at all?

The gifts of the Spirit have split churches and kept Christians apart – and they bewilder non-Christians – so that the church becomes more of a circus than a place to be taught the Word of God.

I believe the problem is two-fold:

1 – Our definition of spiritual gifts is too narrow – and

2 - We use spiritual gifts in the wrong way and with the wrong motivation

As human beings, we like two things:

To feel important, and
Not to be questioned

Improper use of the gifts – especially Tongues – gets us that.

We seem important because we have such an “impressive” gift – and because no one knows what we’re saying, no one can question us.

There are two common errors concerning the gifts of the Spirit, and particularly the gift of tongues:

The denial that they are for today, and;

The overemphasis of both the gift and the experience, which substitutes aspiration for inspiration

These are extremes on opposite ends. There are good scholars on both sides of the debate.

We are put into the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit, and we are placed there to exercise the gift, or gifts, that the Holy Spirit has given us. But, as Paul has said, especially in First Corinthians Chapter 13, we are to exercise any gift that we have in love.

Where does the mention of tongues appear in the Scriptures?

Ä At Pentecost in Acts Chapter 2: “⁴And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Ä In Mark 16:17, where Jesus was saying farewell to His disciples: “¹⁷And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;”

Ä Following Peter’s address in the house of Cornelius, the Holy Spirit fell upon those assembled there and they spoke with tongues: Acts 10:45-46 “ ⁴⁵And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. ⁴⁶For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.”

Ä When Paul came to Ephesus he found a few believers who were unrecognizable as Christians. He asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit and they said they had never even heard of the Holy Spirit. Then they received the Holy Spirit and we are told that they spoke with tongues: Acts 19:6 ⁶And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”

First of all, in Acts Chapter 2, as we’ll see later, this was speaking in other languages. This wasn’t the gift of tongues.

In Mark 16, Jesus is likely saying the same thing, that the Apostles would have the ability, through the Holy Spirit, to speak in the language of the people that they were presenting the Gospel to.

Paul says that without love – without the motivation to benefit others rather than ourselves – then why bother.

In the church in Paul’s day, as well as today, selfish ambition and pride were more often the motivators for spiritual gifts than love.

In First Corinthians Chapter 13, Paul gives special emphasis on prophecy as opposed to speaking in tongues.

Paul does not deny that the gift of tongues exists. The gift of tongues is given for private worship directed to God, or in personal prayer.

Often Pentecostal churches make a mistake here – they have someone speak in tongues and then someone else speaks a prophecy – but from the Scriptures, I believe it is pretty clear that a tongue interpreted is to be spoken to God.

There is also a difference between a prayer language, which is available to believers if the Spirit wills – and the gift of Tongues.

A prayer language could be used anytime, but the gift of tongues would be a public utterance that must be interpreted, otherwise it should not be uttered.

Church is not a show, but it is a time for the body to be built up. Some in the church sometimes treat it more as a performance – as entertainment.

Paul tells us, in effect: “If I don’t make any sense when I come to you, what is the use of my coming?” That’s a good question!

A few years back I saw a clip of Benny Hinn and Paul Crouch, on a TBN broadcast, sitting together on a couch, carrying on a conversation in “tongues”. The audience was going crazy – cheering, falling all over the place. This was nothing more than theater. Absolutely unbiblical and bordering on heresy.

Some people make another mistake here in the exercise of the gifts of the Spirit.

A tongue is spoken, then someone says: “thus saith the Lord” and they go into some encouragement for the people or supposedly a new revelation from God.

This is not interpretation of the tongue – it is a prophecy. Tongues are spoken to God, as praise and adoration to Him.

Speaking in tongues, as is thought of today, would be just jibberish to the unbeliever who happens to come into the church. Doing so could even scare them away.

We can’t confuse what happened at Pentecost, in Acts Chapter 2, as people speaking in what we call tongues today. See Acts Chapter 2 vs. 1-2. There are at least sixteen different languages represented here.

Jews and Gentiles who had converted to Judaism had all come for the Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost, as required. They came from all over the known world.

What was going on there was the Holy Spirit equipping people with the ability to speak in different languages when presenting the Gospel so that everyone there could understand.

There are five constraints for tongues in worship:

1) Two or three at most;

2) In order, each in turn;

3) An interpretation is essential for edification;

4) Silence in the absence of an interpretation;

5) Devotions - speaking to God in private has nothing to do with speaking to God in a worship service

I think the point is, just because someone says “thus saith the Lord” doesn’t mean the Lord actually “saidith” anything!

Again, the key is orderliness. Speaking in tongues is for a time of fellowship or worship outside of the teaching of the Word.

Anyone who would jump up in the middle of a teaching to speak in tongues would cause confusion. God is not the author of confusion.

If the pastor or teacher is, in fact, filled with the Holy Spirit (and he obviously should be), and he’s teaching the Word, then it would make no sense for the Holy Spirit to interrupt Himself with someone also supposedly filled with the Spirit to jump in speaking in a tongue. To interrupt the Word of God being taught.

But, on the other hand, it would make perfect sense for Satan, or one of his minions, to attempt to interrupt the teaching of the Word which is edifying to the body.

To hear more on this subject, follow the link below to a study in First Corinthians Chapter 14.

http://biblestudies.aroadinthewilderness.org/2011/01/02/the-first-epistle-to-the-corinthians---chapter-14.aspx

God's Word Shines Light Upon End-Times Apostasy

Pastor Howard — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 15:16:00 GMT

Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goeth before destruciton, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

The following is a commentary by Roger Oakland, of Understand the Times. It is an extremely timely message, and I feel it is well worth repeating here.

Please include Roger on your prayer list due to his illness, and also for his stance on God's Word in these last days.

Commentary by Roger Oakland
www.understandthetimes.org

A message is burning in my heart. While I have not been active in ministry this past year because of what has been a “forced sabbatical,” I am thankful to report that God has raised me up from the brink of death. I thank God for His healing touch. Once more I am able to think properly, make observations, write, and speak out. Thank you Lord for your great grace!

Over the past few months, conversations with brothers and sisters in Christ from all over the world have convinced me that a watershed standard is beginning to occur. What do I mean by this? Many believers are being led by the Holy Spirit and are waking up from their indifference and are now being called into action. They recognize that we are in the last days. The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the freedom to proclaim that Gospel are under attack. All biblical standards are being eroded. These servants of the Lord see that this is a time to stand up for our Lord and Savior whatever the cost. The time has come to proclaim the truth of His Word. An expose of apostasy has begun! The prophet Isaiah spoke it well when he stated: “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19).

Of course, such a move of God is not new in Christian history. Recall the Reformation! This was a time when men and women were raised up to counter the wave of darkness that had engulfed the world because true Christianity had been perverted.

The Lord has never been without His true witnesses. Countless numbers have been persecuted for standing with Jesus Christ and His Word in the past. While our generation seems to have forgotten history, the God of history proclaims that history repeats itself. What has happened before, can and will happen again.^[1]

The present apostasy that is underway will indeed be of great magnitude but will not seduce the entire world—there will be a remnant that will stand up and speak out.

The Bible Warns

The most recent attack against true Christianity and the Word of God has not happened by chance. The Scriptures are abundant with warnings. Many will be deceived by many.^[2] Lying signs and wonders will lead multitudes astray.^[3] Doctrines of demons will be embraced in the name of Jesus.^[4] Leaders who profess new enlightenment and a great awakening are deceived and deceiving others.^[5] As the Bible states, if it were possible, even the very elect will be deceived.^[6]

Knowing that Jesus warned of this deception and strong delusion in advance ^[7] should be enough to alert any person who claims to be a Christian. However, this is not always so. Deception comes in various packages and is appealing to the flesh. Pride comes before destruction and a fall.^[8] Deception is very effective when “the lie”^[9] is hidden in the truth. New Age and mystical methods authored by Satan, the father of lies, can blind the minds of even the believing.^[10] Satan is the great deceiver. ^[11] Even Christians who only know Jesus Christ are vulnerable if they follow the teachings of men rather than the revelation of God through Scripture.^[12] Paul said we are to have nothing to do with worldly fables but should know the Word so we will have sound doctrine.^[13]

How Did We Get Where We Are?

It is not easy to pinpoint exactly when the latest “falling away” began. After all, apostasy actually started when the fall of man in the Garden of Eden took place as recorded in Genesis chapter three. However, we can examine trends presently sweeping the world, which seem to have come out of nowhere and at such a rapid pace. The “wiles of the devil”^[14] are numerous. Seducing Christians to get their eyes off Jesus Christ and His Word and on to a man and his methods or movements is often the first step.

Certainly, the church growth movement in the last few decades provided the slippery slope of apostasy that we see in the world today. From a worldly perspective, what pastor wouldn’t want a big church? Small churches are considered weak and without attraction. However, a big building requires a large staff and a big budget. A big budget requires big offerings. When controversial topics are presented from the pulpit, sometimes big donors get offended. God’s Word can often be offensive to those who are pretending to be Christians.

Then there are those who believe that Christianity must change in order to be effective and appealing for the “postmodern” generation. In other words, we are supposed to “rethink” what Christianity should be today and toss out the Bible as our standard.

Postmodernism was the spawning grounds for church growth gurus who felt that the Bible was too narrow and too limiting for our generation. Emerging/New Spirituality postmodernists promoted the idea that a Christianity based on the Bible was too old-fashioned and needed to be updated to be more tolerant and more inclusive. Further, in order to advance Christianity, doctrinal walls erected in the past needed to be broken down. Some promoted the idea that we can find truth in all the world religions. Why not look for a way to find some common ground? Turning to mystical prayer practices as a union point, did they realize they were emulating New Age mystics of the past?

Such postmodern-speak created a spiritual vacuum. A vacuum is always filled with something. When you remove biblical standards from Christianity, there are no standards. Anything and everything comes in – humanism, mysticism, pragmatism, sensualism and even Marxism along with its partner evolutionism. Further, extra-biblical teachings and experiences promoted by huge religious organizations such as the Roman Catholic Church are appealing when you seek after experience rather than truth.

Soon a precarious yet inviting road that leads to a one-world religion is present. The Bible warns us that there will be a counterfeit spirituality that prepares the way for the counterfeit Christ.^[15]

God is going to bring judgment to the house of the Lord; Scripture clearly pronounces that (read I Peter 4:17). When apostate churches lose their buildings, programs, and financial backing, what will they have left? They abandoned the Word of God long ago—they will have nothing! When it all comes down it will not be a pretty picture.

The Condition of the So-Called Church Today

It seems increasingly apparent that few Christians have the discernment to see what is happening. Some may be aware that changes are taking place in their churches, but they are not able to grasp the whole picture. Others, when they let their pastors know they are concerned, are often told to look for another church even though they have been faithful attendees for years.

Fellowships and Bible schools that once taught the Bible no longer teach the Word of God. They have become overtaken by a “new reformation” mentality and are no longer Spirit led. They have latched onto the latest church growth gimmicks to get people to come to their churches and schools. They think they are “fundamentally transforming” Christianity.

Many pastors are now consumed with spending their time on Internet blogs or discussion groups dissecting the latest book on how to be more successful in reaching the postmodern generation. Rather than reading and gaining insight from the Bible, they tickle each other’s ears, claiming to be the authority on all subjects. If a pastor from a small church speaks out by expressing his dismay and calls his colleagues back to the Bible, he is ridiculed and scoffed at and considered a spiritual midget.

No amount of funding for entertainment is out of limits. Doctrine is ignored for the sake of unity in order to propagate the “new evangelism.” Hundreds of thousands of dollars are spent for week-end “gigs” where popular bands are funded to fly half-way around the world to participate.

The pattern is quite clear throughout history. The serpent that deceived Eve by saying “hath God really said?” is still influencing the church today in the same way. If you can subtly convince Christian leaders to substitute God’s Word with a purpose-driven, seeker-friendly, new spirituality for building kingdoms and empires in the name of Christ, the flesh feels triumphant. Or if you add a few Babylonian mystical practices that provide touchy-feely sensual experiences in the name of Christ, pseudo “converts” might even believe they actually know Jesus Christ. In actuality, huge numbers of people going to church have never even heard the Gospel! Yet, they sit week after week with a false sense of security that all is well.

No denomination or fellowship of churches is immune to this delusion. Even those who once stood on the simple Word of God, warning of deception and teaching the Bible verse by verse, have fallen in the trap. The pressure is too great not to go with the flow. Even when well-respected pastors and leaders see the signs of apostasy happening in their own circles and proclaim a warning, most refuse to listen. They go on their merry way for the sake of popularity and success.

Churches that started out as modest fellowships often end up as corporations with the strategy of growing bigger and bigger. Rather than train up Bible teachers and pastors to serve the people, they expand their ministry base by broadcasting themselves on large screens to advance their own franchise. Many leave the churches they attended to sit in front of a monitor because they feel more comfortable. A relationship between the pastor and the flock is non-existent.

Biblical creation is often edited out of the Bible. They say that Moses was influenced by a Babylonian myth and that science has proven that Genesis is not trustworthy, yet they have nothing to substantiate their views. Bible prophecy is never discussed because talking about the future is too controversial.

In these consumer-oriented churches, talk about the Lord’s return or end time events, including the biblically prophetic view of the significance of the nation of Israel, is becoming near non-existent. One pastor said that when Jesus was asked by His disciples what signs would indicate His second coming he said Jesus said “it is none of your business.” This is heretical and blasphemous.

These pastors and evangelists who are looking for large crowds embrace ecumenism wholeheartedly. This usually requires an agreement and sometimes even a covenant to “evangelize together.” Some of the participants who are evangelizing together have already agreed to evangelize with Rome. Those who protest are considered old-fashioned cronies that need to have an “adjustment.” They are also called “haters” from the pulpit.

In some towns and cities, not a single church can be found that teaches the Bible anymore. Many believers are starving for the preaching of God’s Word and for the fellowship of the brethren. They search the Internet to find ministries that will stand up for the truth.

What is Going On?

So how did this apostasy happen? Not by evolution! Not by chance! No, it happened by design. Human pawns were inspired by Satan and his demons to do his bidding.

If you will read the Bible you will find that Satan hates the Bible. It is God’s Word you see. Does Satan run around in the open so he can be seen? I don’t think so. He spreads doctrines of demons using proud human beings who masquerade as Christians in many cases.

First is the plan to attack the Word. There always has been a battle for the Word ever since God’s Word was first spoken. Do you remember what Eve did and why? Disobeying God and His Word leads to every evil thing. It is ugly, you will soon see.

Check out history. There has been a battle for the Bible for a long time. In fact, people have died defending the truth in the past. Those who persecuted believers claimed they were “god’s” helpers. Could it happen again? Yes!

One more thing. There is an important biblical truth that will help you understand Bible prophecy. It is very simple. There is a queen, and there is a king. Maybe I will write about this sometime in the future.

Further, the queen and the king have supporters working in the world and the church today to establish Satan’s plan for the last days. I can tell you from experience, if you preach the Bible and tell about the signs of the End Times, you will come under big attack.

However, even people who talk about the signs of the times can be wolves in sheep’s clothing. They may even misuse God’s Word to promote their own agendas. They want the queen to set up a One World Religion for the king who is working on a New World Order to control the people. It gets quite complicated, but it is written in the Bible.

Finally, another biblical truth that will help you understand. These imposters have crept in under the spiritual radar. They are board members, pastors, assistant pastors, teachers, evangelists, authors, conference spekers, radio hosts, and miracle workers, etc…. When they are revealed for what they are, you will be surprised.

Jude Warned the Church

Jude was frustrated when he wrote a letter to the church commenting on the spiritual climate of his day. He tried to wake up the body of Christ but few would listen. Certain men had crept in and were defiling the Gospel.^[16] Apparently, their agenda was hidden when they first came on the scene. Jude called them out.

It looks to me like certain men have crept into the church today. But if someone sounds the alarm, that person is considered to be “against everything.” I am sure the deceivers in Jude’s day were not happy with Jude’s letter. Nevertheless, Jude wrote what the Holy Spirit inspired him to write. There is a cost for speaking the truth. What is better: pleasing man or pleasing God? Scripture tells us clearly, we cannot serve both at the same time.

Ichabod

According to Scripture, there is a time when the Holy Spirit departs. If Christian leaders will not listen to God and act, God will find other leaders who will. God is patient and merciful, thus this departing of the Spirit’s guidance does not happen overnight.

Biblical history reveals that God has never been restricted from fulfilling His plan when humans let him down. He simply raises up others who will be obedient and humble and have a passion to proclaim the truth in love. God is not impressed with credentials given out by human organizations. He uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.

When the Spirit of God departs, it can get quite dark. I believe this is what is about to happen. What looked like “Protestant” Christianity is no longer a reality. Few pastors actually protest anything. They are too busy building the kingdom without the King. Further, there is a clear agenda to discredit the infallible Word of God and make a man’s word infallible. When the “Protestant” “evangelical” church appears to completely fall apart, then it will look like the “only true church” will have triumphed. Lying signs and wonders will attract those who have no discernment. If you don’t believe me, read the Bible. It is all there.

Light Into Darkness

My prayer is that the church of Jesus Christ will take the words of Jesus to heart. We should shine the light of God’s Word on the spiritual deception of these days. We are so close to the return for his bride. We should glorify Him and His Word.

The forces of darkness will not be eradicated during this time of End Times apostasy, but the light of the Word can make a tremendous difference. In the midst of the deception that is taking place in the world and the church, I believe a watershed-type standard is being set. One definition for the term watershed states “A ridge of high land dividing two areas that are drained by different river systems. Also called water parting.”

From a spiritual standpoint, this is what I believe is beginning to happen. Throughout the world, the Lord is opening the eyes of believers, men and women, young and old, to the times and the seasons in which we are living by His Holy Spirit.

Some pastors and ministry leaders are saying that enough is enough. They have committed themselves to teach the Word and warn about deception. If it means their churches will be reduced in size, they accept that. These leaders will stand up against the pied pipers of the New Spirituality, Babylonian mysticism, ecumenism and the many false gospels that are being promoted. They do not want to be driven by the plans of man, but instead be led by the Holy Spirit. In some cases, entire “movements” will be pruned drastically, but that will be good.

We are living at a time similar to what Elijah experienced. There will be victories that occur in the midst of great opposition. But God is on the side of the righteous.

If you are one of the people who can understand the times, you will find yourself feeling very alone in the battle. Be encouraged. Look up, for indeed you are not alone. God has raised up those who have not bowed their knee to Baal. God has set a standard for truth, and during this Last Days apostasy, He will be faithful to draw us together that we may fight the good fight and work while there is yet day.

It will be just like when Nehemiah was the foreman of a large crew that rebuilt the wall in Jerusalem stone by stone, section by section. There were no plans to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. Nor were there plans to restore the whole nation of Israel. Like-minded men and women from every walk of life worked together to show their solidarity and devotion to God. They rebuilt the wall one stone at a time, one section at a time. They had a sword in one hand and a rock in the other while they were working. This is exactly how it is going to be for believers in the future.

Just as God was faithful to His people in Bible days, He will be faithful to His people today. It is possible for biblical Christianity and the true Gospel to be proclaimed in these days. I believe this watershed occurrence, that is a dividing of two different systems, is beginning to happen. Which side of the divide will you be standing on? Will you stand with the Lord in His Word and in truth?

Roger Oakland,
Understand The Times

^[1] Ecclesiastes1:9

^[2] Matthew 24:5

^[3] Matthew 24:24

^[4] I Timothy 4:1

^[5] 2 Timothy 3:13

^[6] Matthew 24:24

^[7] Matthew 24:25

^[8] Proverbs 16:18

^[9] I Thessalonians 2:11

^[10] Mark 7:7

^[11] Revelation 12:9

^[12] Colossians 2: 6-8

^[13] 2 Timothy 4:3-4

^[14] Ephesians 6:11

^[15] Revelation 17: 1-5

^[16] Jude 4

The Sorry State of the "Church" today

Pastor Howard — Fri, 14 May 2010 19:14:00 GMT

The church, the “Body of Christ”, as we know it today is in disarray.

Theologically, most of the so-called Christian church today is apathetic, bewildered or dangerously in error. Most, if not all, are captives of shallow and superficial fads. Morally, most of those in these “churches” live lives that are impossible to differentiate from that of the world. They often have a lot of people who only want to be entertained, a lot of money that is wasted on things other than those things of God, and a lot of activities that keep the people busy, but not in the things of God. Most have, at best, degenerated into nothing more than social clubs.

So, the question needs to be asked: “What has gone wrong?” At the heart of this mess is a simple problem: these "churches" have lost their love for, and their confidence in, the Word of God. For most, bringing your Bible to church is no longer even important. Those that do bring their Bibles and declare the authority of Scripture, listen to sermons supposedly based on Bible verses, and may still have “Bible-study” classes, but it is all, at best, disingenuous – not much of the Bible is actually read in the service or study. Sermons or studies usually don’t examine the Word of God to determine what is important to God and what He wants for His people. The Bible is treated as just simply some collection of poetic tidbits of inspiration, as pop psychology, and as a source of self-help advice. These churches where God’s Word is ignored are in the worst peril. Churches that depart from the Word of God will soon find that the God of the Word has left them. I often say that the greatest mission field for the true church today is the professing church itself. There are far too many who believe that they are saved who are not. Jesus speaks directly to these in Matthew 7:21-23.

This is a sad situation, but the Word of God has a solution. Paul, in Colossians 3:16 says: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Those who truly know the Lord need the Word to dwell in us richly so we will know the truths that God says are important for us, and that we may know His purposes and priorities. We must be less concerned about “felt-needs”, and more concerned about the real needs of those who are lost sinners in need of a Savior.

Paul gives us three principles in Colossians that we should follow.

First, he calls us to be educated by the Word of God, which will lead us to wisdom by teaching and admonishing one another. Paul is teaching here that Word of God must be taught and applied to our lives. The church must encourage and aid in this teaching in order for the body to grow in the Word. This isn’t just information that is to be taught. We must be growing in the will and the knowledge of God. Knowing the will of God will make us wise, and in that wisdom we will be renewed in His image (Romans 12:1-2). Paul tells us, in Colossians 3:10, to “put on “the new man” that has been renewed by the Word o God. The wisdom that we gain here will help us to reorder our priorities and purposes from that which is worldly to that which is heavenly.
Secondly, Paul calls on us to express the Word through our singing. He reminds us that singing is an invaluable method of placing the Word of God in our minds and in our hearts. The importance of singing makes the content of our songs vital to the process. If we sing the Word of God itself, we will make ourselves rich by hiding the Word in our hearts. Singing shallow, repetitive songs that have no Scriptural basis will not allow us to hide much of the things of God in our hearts.
Thirdly, Paul calls us thankfulness in everything. When God’s Word dwells in us richly, we will be led by lives of thankfulness and gratitude.

We need the Word of God more than ever today. This is how many churches, and the body they encompass, can escape being a mess and then become the radiant body of Christ that He has intended it to be.

2010 Red River Bible & Prophecy Conference

Pastor Howard — Thu, 13 May 2010 18:00:00 GMT

Crossroads Christian Fellowship (Moorhead, MN) and Cornerstone Baptist Church (Fargo, ND) were sponsors of the 3rd Annual Red River Bible and Prophecy Conference which was held March 18-21, 2010 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Moorhead, Minnesota. The featured speakers at this year's Conference were:

Jacob Prasch - Director of Moriel Ministries; scholar in theology, science & Judaism, and an expert in Scriptural typology.
David Hocking - Pastor, author and speaker; host of Hope for Today radio program.
John Higgins - Senior Pastor of Calvary Chapel Tri-City in Tempe, Arizona; founder of In The Days and Radio Free Church
Arno Froese - Executive Director of Midnight Call Ministries; author, speaker and Bible teacher
Warren Smith - Author, researcher and speaker with expertise in the deceptions of the New Age Movement
Carl Teichrib - Researcher, author and speaker; expert in the globalization of economic, political and religious systems

Following are the 20 teaching sessions, and the final Question and Answer Session, during these four days of the Conference. DVD's of all session are available at www.itdstore.com

Enjoy some awesome teaching!!

2010 Red River Bible & Prophecy Conference - Session 1 - The Light That Was Dark: New Age to Amazing Grace - Warren Smith

Pastor Howard — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:59:00 GMT

2010 Red River Bible & Prophecy Conference - Session 2 - The Impact of Globalization on Missions Part 1 - Carl Teichrib

Pastor Howard — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:55:00 GMT

2010 Red River Bible & Prophecy Conference - Session 3 - The Exclusive Church - Arno Froese

Pastor Howard — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:51:00 GMT

2010 Red River Bible & Prophecy Conference - Session 4 - The Great Church Robbery - Jacob Prasch

Pastor Howard — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:47:00 GMT

2010 Red River Bible & Prophecy Conference - Session 5 - The Results of Judgment - John Higgins

Pastor Howard — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:41:00 GMT

2010 Red River Bible & Prophecy Conference - Session 6 - Rome: The Last Gentile Superpower - Arno Froese

Pastor Howard — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:36:00 GMT

2010 Red River Bible & Prophecy Conference - Session 7 - Jeremiah 23; the Synopsis of O.T. Eschatology - Jacob Prasch

Pastor Howard — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:33:00 GMT

2010 Red River Bible & Prophecy Conference - Session 8 - What Israel Faces in the Last Days - David Hocking

Pastor Howard — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:29:00 GMT

2010 Red River Bible & Prophecy Conference - Session 9 - The Impact of Globalizaton on Missions; Part 2 - Carl Teichrib

Pastor Howard — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:25:00 GMT

2010 Red River Bible & Prophecy Conference - Session 10 - The False Prophects of Laodicea - John Higgins

Pastor Howard — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:21:00 GMT

2010 Red River Bible & Prophecy Conference - Session 11 - Reinventing Christ: The New Age Spirituality - Warren Smith

Pastor Howard — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:17:00 GMT

2010 Red River Bible & Prophecy Conference - Session 12 - The Antichrist and the Last Days - David Hocking

Pastor Howard — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:12:00 GMT

2010 Red River Bible & Prophecy Conference - Session 13 - God Is Not Slack Concerning His Promises - John Higgins

Pastor Howard — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:08:00 GMT

2010 Red River Bible & Prophecy Conference - Session 14 - Go Build the Temple of The Lord - Arno Froese

Pastor Howard — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:04:00 GMT

2010 Red River Bible & Prophecy Conference - Session 15 - Stars That Shine - Jacob Prasch

Pastor Howard — Thu, 13 May 2010 17:00:00 GMT