LET’S GET DRUNK!

The table the Lord sets is governed by the Holy Ghost. In John 2, at the wedding in Cana, the command was given to fill the 6 waterpots with water. This is symbolic of the regeneration we receive in the new birth and the washing of the water by the word (Eph 5:26) (Titus 3:5). At the appointed time when the command was given to draw out, then and only then, appeared miracle wine. Each waterpot measured 20 gallons for a total of 120. And so was the striking parallel in the upper room when 120 human claypots, disciples of the now resurrected and ascended Lord Jesus, would gather and wait for the appointed time when they, too would receive miracle wine and power from on high.

In the fulness of time, the sound of a mighty rushing wind was heard and the cloven tongues of fire like lightning sat on each one of them (Acts 2:1-3). “Draw out now and pour the water into these human claypots!” proclaimed the governor of the feast. And may I add, one gallon for each (120 gallons distributed evenly among 120 people). Then out of their bellies flowed rivers of living water that suddenly turned to miracle wine, just like at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. And so the show began!

Down from that upper room came that new creation of drunks stumbling and staggering with laughter from the effects of that miracle wine. Days filled with praise now turned into proclamation of the wonderful works of God. Divers kinds of tongues from other nations did each man speak, not having learned but yielding their tongues to utterances hitherto never spoken. In times of old God confused languages of men so that their one tongue could not unify them for evil (Gen 11). Now divers tongues of men and of angels would unite men for good. How marvelous is our God!!!

Some men were amazed and perplexed by this strange phenomena while others mocked, saying, “these men are full of new wine!” But Peter lifted his voice and exclaimed, “these are not drunk as you suppose…but this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel!” (v 14-15)

This is how God chose to pour out His Spirit and introduce His glorious Church to planet earth! Jesus began His ministry this way, and the New Testament Church began this way, too! With miracle wine!!! What do you think of that? It tells you something about our God, does it not? He is the Lord of the feast! The Holy Spirit is as the governor of the feast. He takes pleasure in His people being drunk with joy unspeakable and full of glory. This is the atmosphere of heaven! In His presence there is fullness of joy and at His right hand there are pleasures forevermore (Ps 16:11).

There is a great dynamic of the Holy Ghost that the Lord desires to re-introduce to His people in this hour. It is the DRUNK CHURCH! Filled with praise…filled with power…filled with glory! As the world succumbs into more darkness and despair the true Church will shine with the glory of the risen King! Many will again be amazed and perplexed while others will continue to mock.

The governor of the feast saves the best wine for last! These are the last days! It’s time to get drunk!!!

1968 Prophecy by 90 Year Old Woman

An old woman of 90 from Valdres in Norway had a vision from God in 1968. The evangelist Emanuel Minos had meetings (services) where she lived. He had the opportunity to meet her, and she told him what she had seen. He wrote it down, but thought it to be so unintelligible that he put it in a drawer. Now, almost 30 years later, he understands he has to share the vision with others.

The woman from Valdres was a very alert, reliable, awake and credible Christian, with a good reputation among all who knew her. This is what she saw:

“I saw the time just before the coming of Jesus and the outbreak of the Third World War. I saw the events with my natural eyes. I saw the world like a kind of a globe and saw Europe, land by land. I saw Scandinavia. I saw Norway. I saw certain things that would take place just before the return of Jesus, and just before the last calamity happens, a calamity the likes of which we have never before experienced.

She mentioned four waves:

1. “First before Jesus comes and before the Third World War breaks out there will be a ‘détente’ like we have never had before. There will be peace between the super powers in the east and the west, and there will be a long peace. (Remember, that this was in 1968 when the cold war was at its highest. E. Minos) In this period of peace there will be disarmament in many countries, also in Norway and we are not prepared when it (the war) comes. The Third World War will begin in a way no one would have anticipated – and from an unexpected place.

2. “A lukewarmness without parallel will take hold of the Christians, a falling away from true, living Christianity. Christians will not be open for penetrating preaching. They will not, like in earlier times, want to hear of sin and grace, law and gospel, repentance and restoration. There will come a substitute instead: prosperity (happiness) Christianity.

“The important thing will be to have success, to be something; to have material things, things that God never promised us in this way. Churches and prayer houses will be emptier and emptier. Instead of the preaching we have been used to for generations -like, to take your cross up and follow Jesus, – entertainment, art and culture will invade the churches where there should have been gatherings for repentance and revival. This will increase markedly just before the return of Jesus.

3. “There will be a moral disintegration that old Norway has never experienced the likes of. People will live together like married without being married. (I do not believe the concept ‘co-habitor’? existed in 1968 – E. Minos.) Much uncleanness before marriage, and much infidelity in marriage will become the natural (the common), and it will be justified from every angle. It will even enter Christian circles and we pet it – even sin against nature. Just before Jesus return there will be TV- programs like we have never experienced. (TV had just arrived in Norway in 1968. E. Minos)

“TV will be filled with such horrible violence that it teaches people to murder and destroy each other, and it will be unsafe in our streets. People will copy what they see. There will not be only one ‘station’ on TV, it will be filled with ‘stations.’ (She did not know the word ‘channel’ which we use today. Therefore she called them stations. E. Minos.) TV will be just like the radio where we have many ‘stations,’ and it will be filled with violence. People will use it for entertainment. We will see terrible scenes of murder and destruction one of the other, and this will spread in society. Sex scenes will also be shown on the screen, the most intimate things that takes place in a marriage.” (I protested and said, we have a paragraph that forbids this kind of thing. E. Minos.) There the old woman said: “It will happen, and you will see it. All we have had before will be broken down, and the most indecent things will pass before our eyes.”

4. “People from poor countries will stream to Europe. (In 1968 there was no such thing as immigration. E. Minos.) They will also come to Scandinavia – and Norway. There will be so many of them that people will begin to dislike them and become hard with them. They will be treated like the Jews before the Second World War. Then the full measure of our sins will have been reached (I protested at the issue of immigration. I did not understand it at the time. E. Minos.)

The tears streamed from the old woman’s eyes down her cheeks. “I will not see it, but you will. Then suddenly, Jesus will come and the Third World War breaks out. It will be a short war.” (She saw it in the vision.)

“All that I have seen of war before is only child’s play compared to this one, and it will be ended with a nuclear atom bomb. The air will be so polluted that one cannot draw one’s breath. It will cover several continents, America, Japan, Australia and the wealthy nations. The water will be ruined (contaminated?). We can no longer till the soil. The result will be that only a remnant will remain. The remnant in the wealthy countries will try to flee to the poor countries, but they will be as hard on us as we were on them.

“I am so glad that I will not see it, but when the time draws near, you must take courage and tell this. I have received it from God, and nothing of it goes against what the Bible tells.

“The one who has his sin forgiven and has Jesus as Savior and Lord, is safe.”

HOW TO BETTER FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION

I’m stepping away from my normal prophet-hearted word and sharing some practical wisdom on the great commission. A few years ago I read somewhere that only 2% of all churches are growing as a result of winning converts to Christ. All others are growing as a result of what is called transfer growth. This is when Christians leave one church to go to another. This is another one of those alarming statistics that grabs our attention, causes us to take inventory, and lets us know that much of our success can actually be a false success.

Here are the last words of Jesus:

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mk 16:15-16)

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Mat 28:19-20)  

That’s every church and every believer’s mission. It is something that always needs to be evaluated. We are losing if are not winning souls and discipling them. Here are five things that will help us better fulfill the mission Jesus has mandated for us.

     1.  Don’t get good at what you’re not supposed to be doing.

Too many of us are a hundred miles wide and one inch deep. We do a lot of things good but not many excellently. It’s time to do some serious evaluation. How many people are really being discipled and not just taught? How many new converts are being added to the kingdom? Who are you currently discipling? Who are you currently believing, praying, fasting, travailing for, and speaking to about Christ?

Here is the course many church leaders must now take if they are to see an increase in evangelism and discipleship. Convert more church events into opportunities for evangelism. Convert more doctrine into discipleship. Teach people to observe what Jesus taught. Go back to the gospels. Constantly evaluate everything you do by the great commission; evangelism and discipleship.

2.  Water seeds, not weeds.

Weeds are things that don’t work or don’t matter. We’ve all heard the saying. “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Don’t let activity and schedule determine your strategy. Don’t immerse yourself into things that rob you of your time with God and with your disciples. Guard your rest, energy, and creativity. Weeds are things God never told you to do which rob you of rest, erase your energy, and kill your creativity. On the other hand, seeds are things which are stamped with eternity. They focus more on people rather than programs. Get rid of everything that hinders true kingdom increase.

3.  Develop a passion for prayer and for souls.

This should’ve been listed first. You won’t do much without passion. If you’re not burning up with a vision for souls you will affect very few people dramatically and permanently. This is the real reason why men falter and fail. Instead of burning up, they’re burning out. Instead of getting fired up, they’re getting tired out. Instead of moving on and moving up, they’re moving down and moving out.

Find things which ignite and feed your passion for prayer and lost souls. Read a good biography of a man of God who helped many find Christ. Read good books on holiness, prayer, and revival. Feed constantly on the gospels and the book of Acts. Read the Bible on your knees, and ask God to break your heart with the things that break the heart of Jesus. Go find somebody in pain and bring healing to them. Find the hurting and encourage them. Seek out the last, the least, and the lost and make their day. It’s in the going as in “go ye” that your passion will always be preserved. The way you keep it is by giving it out.

4. Don’t separate but incorporate soul winning into church events.

Pastors, cater some of your services just for the lost. I think it would help many churches to have an extra special salvation Sunday once a month, or at least once a quarter, instead of just on Easter Sunday. Teach your people constantly to love the lost and to reach them. Within the confines of their own personality, encourage every believer, young and old, to befriend sinners and win them to Christ. Instead of posting up a barometer to gauge building fund giving, put one up to gauge the number of souls won to Christ. Encourage and disciple believers by precept and example in the art of winning the lost. Make the lost your special guests at church functions such as picnics, holiday events like Easter and Christmas, and men’s and women’s night out.

5) Lastly, scout out a good evangelist who can help you.

Find one whom you know and can trust that is not just interested in promoting his ministry or getting an offering, but who really has a passion and a faith for seeing lost souls saved. Remember also, that winning the lost is not the only function of the evangelist. Contrary to modern church thought, the primary function of every evangelist is to produce other evangelists and a spirit of evangelism in the church.

My earnest desire is that you would be infused with fresh hope and vision for new souls to be birthed into the kingdom of God.

Have you ever noticed what happens to believers when new converts are added to the Church, especially when they had a part in their salvation? There is a joy and an excitement that is ignited in their hearts. There’s new life that flows within the Church. It is like a baby that is born into a household of older brothers and sisters. There is nothing like it!  And frankly, this alone will solve so many fringe problems in the Church today. It will keep us from fussing over doctrinal issues, and chasing after a new manifestation, or a big thrill to experience.

In closing, I pray that God would bless you with a broken heart and tears for the lost. May He make you a faithful witness and give you true kingdom increase. May He take pleasure in your life and help you win many to Christ.

THE RESTORATION OF THE APOSTOLIC

The Church began as a house of prayer (Acts 1 & 2). It is God’s purpose for the Church to always remain a house of prayer. Every gospel bears witness to the zeal for God’s house being a house of prayer (Mat 21, Mk 11, Lk 19, John 2). The four gospel witness is very, very significant since only 8% of the content in John’s gospel appears in the others.

When God’s house ceases to be a house of prayer, it then by default becomes a place of business. Actually, Jesus stated it much stronger when He called it a den of thieves. This is one of the strongest indictments against the modern day Church.

Apostles were the first ministry gifts appointed by Jesus. He appointed them after a night of prayer (Lk 6:12). Isn’t it interesting how the apostolic is released through prayer? We see the pattern again in the early church (Acts 13:1-3). Once apostles do their work, shepherds are needed (Mat 9:35-36). The harvest is contained by the shepherds. Laborers are released by apostles.

Jesus was a Shepherd, but He was first the Apostle. An apostle is a sent one. The twelve were apostles because they were sent. Divine work can only be done by those who are divinely commissioned. The Church had its beginnings, and thus its roots, in the apostolic.

We need not fear the word “apostle”. It is not a title to be used for personal consumption. It is not a gift to promote greed. It is not a credit card to be flashed for recognition. Rather, it is a glory for the Church. True apostles count themselves last, not first. This ministry often comes with a humiliation and not an exaltation.

The New Testament and its epistles were laid down by apostles. The scriptures are holy because they are God breathed and written in the ink of holy apostolic lives. It is interesting to note also that what tradition has labeled as the “pastoral” epistles (1 and 2 Timothy, Titus) are actually apostolic letters written from an aged apostle (Paul) to younger apostles (Timothy and Titus). The truth is that the authentic apostolic ministry has been overlaid with crusty layers of man-made doctrines and traditions that are so common today. They are now overshadowed by the insecurities of men who have hidden themselves in the systems and structures from which these doctrines and traditions feed and grow.

The Scribes and Pharisees devoured widows’ houses and used the resources to strengthen the systems and structures which their own hands made. The house of prayer had become a place of business, or as Jesus put it, “a den of thieves”. The “give until it hurts” offering would definitely apply here. The statement “God will not bless you unless you give” would also apply.

In the early Church, money and resources were laid at the apostles’ feet, men who devoted themselves to prayer and the Word, men who hazarded their lives for the name of Jesus. Today, money and resources are laid at the feet of men who are not as interested in building God’s house as they are of building a structure, a system, or a place of business. This will never satisfy the cry of God’s heart.

The glory of God will be restored to the Church when we become a house of prayer. Before that happens there will be a shaking and a cleansing. Man-made doctrines and traditions will be confronted. The pastoral ministry shall cooperate more fully with the other ministry gifts. And the authentic apostolic shall be in greater prominence. The best days for the true Church are just ahead.

EXTREMISM: THE KEY TO LAUNCHING A SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION

Years ago I was a part of an apostolic team of fathers who mentored, equipped, and empowered radical youth. We believed then and still do now that we are to help define and lead a countercultural movement. It is our passion to upset the sinful status quo of society and the Church. Youth are key!

In 1933 Hitler said, “If I can separate the youth of Germany from their parents I will conquer this nation.” He started a movement called ‘The Brown Shirts’ in which 100,000 youth stood in Berlin with their right hand raised and screaming. “Hitler, we are yours!” Imagine our youth pledging that kind of allegiance to King Jesus!

Around that same time period, the Communist leader Joseph Stalin made the following statement concerning youth: “If we can effectively kill the national pride and patriotism of just one generation, we will have won that country. Therefore, there must be continued propaganda abroad to undermine the loyalty of the citizens in general and the teenagers in particular. By making readily available drugs of various kinds, by giving a teenager alcohol, by praising his wildness, by strangling him with sex literature and by advertising to him and her psycho-political preparation, create the necessary attitude of chaos, idleness, and worthlessness.” If demonically inspired men can affect our youth this way, imagine what divine inspiration will do!

Sin has wasted our youth. We’ve not given them something worthy to live for, and something worthy to die for. To do anything below what they were created to do will bore them. That is the reason many of our young people turn to drugs, alcohol, immorality and other sensual thrills. That is why they need to be awakened to their ultimate purpose in Jesus Christ.

In revolutionary countries youth are trained in combat and weapons. They are taught principles of Communism and the tenets of militant Islam. They give themselves wholeheartedly to the goal of world domination. Someone once said that Satan is preparing his army, but the Church is entertaining her children. We need a radical departure from the standard method of training young men and women for ministry. We need a touch of wholesome extremism to launch a counterculture JESUS revolution!

Yes, just as a certain kind of passivity limits the ministry of God’s kingdom, a certain kind of extremism will expand it. The Bible is a book of extremes. Extreme acts of God and history changing events (like the dividing of the Red Sea and the resurrection of Jesus Christ among so many others); extreme characters (men and women who changed the world); extreme demands to follow the Lord (denying yourself, taking up your cross daily, etc.); extreme blessings for obedience (Mk 10:29-30); extreme consequences for unrepentant sin and disobedience (Lk 13:3, Mat 7:21-23).

“There has to be an extremism to move things. We need the extremist to start things moving, and we need the balanced teaching to keep them moving in the right direction. We need extreme fervor to launch a movement, but we need the repudiation of extremes to save it from self-destruction. It takes Pentecostal genius to know when and where an extreme doctrine or practice must be modified to a more balanced view; and where on the other hand, the broad lines of truth must temporarily be narrowed into an extreme emphasis upon one point to ensure a dynamic powerful enough to move things for God. The possession of that uncommon genius marks the God-sent leader who emerged in truly great periods of revival.” — Donald Gee

There is little hope for America and many nations of the world without a spiritual revolution. Only a JESUS revolution can bring change; a revolution sent from heaven, with an army of young people trained specifically for the task.

The Jesus Revolution is not one that will be fought with earthly weapons of destruction or with guns, knives, bullets, and bombs. It will not be fought with hatred, intimidation, or brute force. No. It will be fought with the gospel, with the love of God, with the power of the Spirit, with radical holiness, with sacrifice, compassion, and courage. It will be a Jesus revolution, an intense clash between two spiritual kingdoms, a heavenly attack on the enemy’s strongholds, and a no compromise stand for morality and truth (This definition was taken from Dr. Michael Brown’s Jesus Manifesto for a Jesus revolution).

THE RAW NAKED TRUTH ABOUT HOMOSEXUALITY

I am angry. Angry over the Benham brothers recent removal from the HGTV television show for expressing their beliefs in traditional marriage, angry over Miami Dolphins general manager expressing disappointment in one his player’s displeasure over two men kissing during the NFL draft’s celebration of the first open gay football player, angry at the constant labeling of any disapproval, displeasure, or even disgust with homosexuality as homophobic, hateful bigotry.

If you are involved in a gay relationship, or have a loved one that is, do not get upset with me. I am not against you. If you’ll listen long enough you will see that I am actually trying to help you.

The devil hates it when someone brings the truth out in the open. He likes to keep all light and truth hidden in the darkness. He hates it when someone speaks plainly and clearly about sin. But he loves to expose all that is unnatural and abominable and evil.

So here’s the raw, naked truth.

The Bible says that homosexuality is unnatural. Men in gay relationships have given up the natural use of the woman and the woman changed the natural use of the man.

 For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. (Rom 1:26-27)

The Bible does not say that God changed what was natural. Neither does it say that nature or the environment, or the culture or his parents, or his birth genes changed what was natural. It says that lesbians and homosexuals changed themselves. Yes, that’s right! The Bible says it is people who change their natural sexual desires in exchange for unnatural ones. The Bible sweeps away every argument, excuse, and destructive reasoning for unnatural sexual activity. Some things are against nature, and therefore against God, because God created nature.

Homosexuality is not ordained by God nor is it even biologically right or natural. People are gay because they choose to be, not because they can’t help it. It’s a choice in the same way I could choose as a sexually normal red-blooded male to go out and commit adultery. Being gay is a choice just like a heterosexual couple chooses to have children, or a man decides to remain celibate and enter the monastary, or a woman chooses to be a nun. Men don’t say, “I can’t help being a monk!” Women don’t say, “I couldn’t help being a nun!” Just as normal couples make a choice to marry, or not to marry, have sex or not to have sex, have children or not to have children, so it is with being gay.

We’ve got this whole thing muddled up because people don’t speak plainly and clearly anymore. They beat around the bush and are all concerned with political correctness and being tolerant. The plain truth is that everyone makes choices every single day. You can choose to believe in God or not. You can choose to believe the Bible or not. You can choose to surrender your life to Jesus Christ or not.  You can choose to be a liar, a thief, a whore-monger, a murderer, an alcoholic or a drug addict. Quit blaming it on your genes, or your addictive personality, unfortunate circumstances, or your background and upbringing. Yes, our culture and surroundings influence us, but we don’t have to yield to its evil influences.

I could say to my wife, “It’s so natural for me to have sex with other women, so I think I will. I just can’t help myself!” Just because a woman opens her blouse up to me and entices me to have sex with her doesn’t mean I will. The fact is some people just want to do what comes natural or what feels good, and the devil eats them up. He will feed you all the lies and perversion you are willing to receive.

Here’s one that is sure to expose the devil in people. Homosexuality is actually a demon spirit. It is such a putred smelling demon that other demons don’t even like to hang around it. A genuine prophet of God told me that he smelled it in the Spirit and got sick to his stomach. And yet as humans, many embrace this demon. Yes, you heard me right. Being gay is demonic.

There is an account in the Bible where Jesus casts out 2,000 demons out of a man. The demons came out screaming and begged Jesus to send them into the pigs. The pigs didn’t want them so they ran down a steep hill and were drowned in the sea. Pigs have more sense than some humans. People embrace homosexual demons, but the pigs would rather die than be possessed with them.

Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, “Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.”And at once Jesusave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. (Mk 5:11-13)

From a Biblical perspective the rise of homosexuality is a sign that a society is in the last stages of decay. And here is another terrible truth: As people continue to reject God, He gives them over to increasingly immoral and self-destructive activities. There are destructive physical, emotional, and spiritual consequences resulting from homosexual behavior. All human beings know deep in their hearts that God exists, and they all know something of His moral standards. But people’s unrighteousness leads them to suppress the truth and leads them to believe false views of God and the Bible, and they twist the scriptures to their own destruction, because they know that the truth would require them to repent.

If being gay was natural, 2 men or two women could produce a baby, but they can’t. Their sexual reproductive organs do not complement each other therefore making it impossible for them to procreate. It can never be natural for 2 men or two women to get married and live together. Just because it has become acceptable to our culture will never make it right. Homosexuality is not new. It’s been around for thousands of years. It’s as old as the devil.

If you’re gay, stop being gay. If natural feelings for the opposite sex do not return, then wait and choose to remain celibate. In the same way I would give account to God for living in adultery so the Bible says one day homosexuals will pay the penalty for the error of their ways. Just because something is pleasurable and it feels good will never make it right if it is outside of the boundaries God has set.

I didn’t have to write a blog with such plain words that are bound to make many people mad. I didn’t have to write about homosexuality and get grief and trouble for it. No one has to preach controversial subjects and “rock the boat” type of messages. But preachers have a responsibility to preach sound doctrines and truths that will warn people of the consequences of sin. I charge every preacher of righteousness today to preach these truths and warn your people of the wrath to come on those who delight in unrighteousness and wickedness.

Love always warns. And so I warn you today to choose righteousness. Choose the Bible. Choose God. Choose Jesus Christ. Choose heaven regardless of those who want to take you down to hell with them.

 “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell. (Prv 9:17-18)

Do not be deceived.

Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor 6:9-10)

 

HUMANISM: THE ROOT OF OUR DECEPTION

Humanism is the enthronement and glorification of self. The dictionary definition of humanism is this: The denial of any power or moral value superior to that of humanity; the rejection of religion in favor of a belief in the advancement of humanity by its own efforts. I believe secular humanism to be the ruling philosophy in America which has subtly infiltrated into the Western church.

After reading that definition you might be thinking, “Hey, professing Christians in America don’t deny a superior power (God) and moral value, or reject religion!” But remember that humanism is the prevalent thought in the Western culture largely shaped by the mainstream media, and not seen or discerned by the multitudes. Due to its Satanic origin and nature it is very subtle and deceptive, akin to the proverbial frog in boiling water. If you drop a frog into hot water it will immediately jump out. If you put a frog in cool water and slowly heat it, it will stay and die because it does not discern the sudden heat.

Although there seems to be a growing number of professing atheists in America, the majority of people in the West have not denied God per se, or rejected religion, at least not in word or form, but in deed and in actions, they undoubtedly have. Just the one example of same-sex marriage proves that. What was unthinkable 50 years ago has now been legalized in a number of States. It is not the outright rejection of God or religion that signals a radical change in the Western culture, but the change in the motivation of the hearts of the people. The hearts of the people are the true wealth of every nation.

Humanism defined as a motivation of the heart is this: The end of all existence is the happiness of man. In other words, all of creation exists for the happiness of man. God reigns in heaven for the happiness of man. Jesus Christ came from heaven for the happiness of man. The angels exist for the happiness of man.

Again, you may be asking: “Is there anything wrong with being happy?” and “Does God not want us happy?” Happiness is honorable and desirable only when it is a by-product of holiness and true submission to God, and not a primary aim or a means to an end. God does not exist to make man happy.

True Christianity is the glorification of God. Or to say it another way, the end of all things is the glory of God.

Humanism is simply the deification of man. In the Western world we don’t worship idols of wood carvings and totem pole images, but we worship self; thus the reason our hard-drinking, drug-using, immoral celebrities are deified by the mainstream media and society. Even in their death, countless obituaries laud these celebrities’ abilities and accomplishments while skipping over their extremely godless lifestyles. Most of these celebrities can’t even sustain a brief marriage, can hardly remain briefly sober, but continue to rake in the extra bucks from their celebrity endorsements, which are carefully heeded by their adoring, senseless fans who worship them. Humans have a need to worship something so it might as well be a better me or a superior you.

Even though at our very core we were created with an innate desire to be God-centered human beings, as a society our rejection of God as worthy of our worship has opened the door to increasingly foolish brands of polytheism, eastern religions, mysticism, and self-help gurus, all stroking the already inflated egos of our population and informing them of the latest religion that’s all about you. These religions and philosophies have penetrated our Western culture and are eroding the influence and impact of Christianity.

As a further example of the progressively inordinate worship of self in our Western culture, let’s examine the magazine industry to illustrate this evolution, especially throughout the last century. Decades ago there was a birth of a magazine in America called “Life” that was very popular. Later a new magazine was published that superseded “Life” called “People”. Well, since “Life” is all about “People”, the new magazine title made perfect sense. Something then changed in our inner consciousness and the industry took advantage of it, which necessitated a third magazine publication called “Us”. Finally, as the motivation of the heart of American culture continued to spiral downward, alas, today you can walk through airports and observe on magazine racks in stores the latest new magazine called “Self”. Coincidence? I don’t think so.

This illustrates the gradual, ever-so-subtle change in the motivation of the hearts of our Western culture and the evolvement of it into such a preoccupation and an exaltation of self – an even stronger brand of humanism called narcissism where people’s bodies and nakedness are glorified. We worship celebrities, singers, sex symbols, pop star divas, and athletes, and these become our heroes and our gods regardless of their often-times questionable character and lifestyle. We save the whales, the eagles, the bears, the trees, and mother earth, but we kill babies. And yes, we encourage homosexuality and now same sex marriage, but outlaw school prayer. This is the rotten fruit of secular humanism, and it is killing Western civilization as generations past have known it, and as I’ve repeatedly stated, infiltrating, infecting, and greatly weakening the Church.

Let’s use same sex marriage again as one example. If you are under 40 years of age, you probably belong to a group of evangelicals who basically see nothing wrong with same sex marriage. This group is more tolerant, saying that there are other religions that lead you to God, and so on and so forth. Honestly, they don’t have much of a clue. This ideology puts our country in the greatest of dangers. Most of this age group have no clue what the real issues are and their implications. They were reared by such shows as “Will and Grace” on television, and they constantly feed their digital minds with Christian media that has been influenced more by pop culture, and the trends and fads of today’s church.

Many young people are also very narcissistic. I heard of one kid who took 200 selfies – 200 pictures of himself in a single day. Then there are those who say we can’t preach against homosexuality or mention Islam lest we be labeled as homophobic, intolerant, hateful bigots. After all, we want to win these people to Christ, and that’s a barrier and a stumbling block. So what we’ve found is that the gospel and its implications are often dumbed down. This minimizes the church to a form of ecumenical religion that compromises the gospel.

Then add to this the popular mind-set that says, “God loves you unconditionally.” This is certainly true, but now to those who hear that and are living in adultery, fornication, involved in a homosexual relationship, or carrying great offenses and bitterness in their hearts they think: “It’s okay for me to do these things. God understands and He still loves me.” Without a clear call to repentance, their conscience becomes seared over time, and they become like the proverbial frog in the boiling water. Such cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

Back in the day not too long ago, it used to be that preachers would preach against sin so people could be aware of God’s standards, and then grace and mercy were offered to them. Now that process has been reversed. Today grace is offered up front. Grace is offered to people when they don’t even know what it is and why they need it, because after all, God loves them unconditionally. To throw that out there for everybody to hear – that God loves you unconditionally – is really to water down the seriousness of sin and the real understanding of grace. You cannot understand grace until you fully understand God’s moral law and its relation to sin. And the better you understand God’s law and sin, the more you will magnify grace. But secular humanism has diluted all of this, and as a result, we are losing a generation.

Your thoughts?

Bert M. Farias, founder of Holy Fire Ministries www.holy-fire.org, is the author of The Real Gospel and several other books http://www.amazon.com/Bert-M.-Farias/e/B001KDRLRG , and co-host of the New England Holy Ghost Forum http://www.newenglandforum.info . He is a missionary evangelist carrying a spirit of revival to the Church and the nations.

Follow him at Bert Farias on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/#!/bert.farias.3 or Bertfarias1 on Twitter https://twitter.com/BertFarias1

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THE GREAT DECEPTION

Consider these statistics of Christianity in America. Eighty-four percent of the inhabitants of this nation say they believe in the deity of Jesus Christ. Forty-five percent claim to be born again Christians (Barna Group, Ventura, CA, USA). Other studies show it is closer to thirty-three percent. Either way, these numbers are high. Seventy-seven percent believe their chances of going to heaven are excellent. Thirty-three percent believe one day everyone will go to heaven.  Yet America has the highest percentage of single-parent families in the industrialized world, the highest abortion rate, the highest rate of sexually transmitted diseases, the highest rate of teenage birth by far, the highest rate of teenage drug use, and the largest prison population per capita than any country in the world.

Consider also the great moral decline of the last generation (50-60 years) and these telling statistics in America. The divorce rate has doubled, teen suicide has tripled, reported violent crime has quadrupled, the prison population has quintupled, the percentage of babies born out of wedlock has risen six-fold, couples living together out of wedlock have increased sevenfold, and gay marriage is now a legalized reality in a number of states. and many believe the end is not in sight.

In this past generation we have experienced an overwhelming increase in lawlessness, permissiveness, and selfishness, even among Christians. Moral actions that were unthinkable a few decades ago are now commonplace: Christian leaders indulging in sexual sin, addicted to pornography, accompanied by an exploding divorce rate have greatly factored in the rapid decrease of morals in the American church. And as the Church goes, so goes the world. In fact, the results of a survey among young American adults  showed that the percentage who follow Biblically based values for living has now dropped from 65% to a mere 4% since WW II.

There has never been a society in the history of mankind whose moral values have deteriorated so dramatically, in such a short period of time, as those of Americans in the last 50 years. And so far, it shows no sign of stopping. These statistics are eye opening and they serve to warn us that something is terribly wrong with our brand of Christianity. They reveal how poorly  the Church has communicated the true gospel to mainstream America, and thus the reason for so much deception in our culture.

When the rich man died and went to Hades (Lk. 16:19-31) he was surprised to find himself there. In the Jewish culture they equated wealth with godliness, so this man thought God favored him. The common thought, especially among the Jews, was if you were blessed financially then you were a good person, and therefore favored by God, and on your way to heaven. This also explains the disciples’ astonishment when Jesus told them how hard it was for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven (Mat 19:25).

Similarly, there was a church in Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22), who due to their wealth, thought they too had attained God’s favor. Jesus expressed great disapproval over their spiritual condition as well, which they were totally unaware of. They were deceived.

Are you in touch with your true spiritual condition? Or are you allowing the pop culture around you to dictate your standards? Are you conforming to the world’s standards or to the Bible? Are you deceived? How can a nation of people among whom a large percentage claims to be “born-again” Christians experience the kind of degradation the above statistics reveal? Such deception is the state of America today.

What are the symptoms and the root of this deception? The symptoms are rather clear and simple: The real gospel has not been preached nor lived. Both the profession and the practice of the majority of so-called Christians in this nation have not matched up. Our substandard message has produced substandard believers. Our departure from the preaching of the cross, repentance, holiness, and the real empowering grace of God has increased the level of deception in the church. How else could we explain the disparity of the above statistics in the Church and the nation?

But what is at the root of this deception? This is what we really need to discern. In one word, it is humanism, the glorification of self.

To be continued…

For more information on similar themes please see The Real Gospel, The Real Spirit of Revival, and The Real Salvation. Available in paperback and kindle. http://www.amazon.com/Bert-M.-Farias/e/B001KDRLRG

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE CHIEF DANGER OF THE 21ST CENTURY

“When backsliders, hypocrites, and the half-hearted seeker among us are made to feel comfortable instead of convicted, soothed instead of smitten, pampered instead of pricked, then something is terribly wrong. The holy fire of God is to burn so brightly in the Church that it allows no room for indifference so that hypocrites will not be able to stay and the true seekers will not be able to remain unchanged.”

“I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 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” (Gal 1:6-9).

These are the strongest of words penned by the apostle Paul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to the Galatian Christians. Twice Paul declares a terrible curse on those who pervert the real gospel of Christ.

One of the great tragedies of the modern Western gospel has been the accentuation of the blessings and benefits of salvation at the exclusion of other components of the cross. There is a very large movement that is sweeping through many churches today that major on life-enhancement, self-help, and self-esteem without hardly ever confronting sin and the works of the flesh. Sadly lacking from this sugar-coated gospel are heart-repentance, holiness, and the empowering grace of God to live in obedience to His demands.

The preachers of this smooth, soft gospel may frequently speak of forgiveness, but rarely do we hear a clear and definitive call for surrender in true repentance. They may even speak of the blood of Christ to cleanse us from our sins, but rarely do we hear of the necessity of that same holy blood to appease the wrath of God against sinners. Frequently we may hear of how Jesus died to make us righteous, but rarely do we use God’s holy Law to strip the sinner of his self-righteousness. We may often hear of the need to gain the glories of heaven, but rarely of the need to shun the horrors of hell. At times we may hear of the resurrection of His power (although in many circles that is rare, too), but rarely do we hear of the fellowship of His sufferings. Frequently we hear of the good life we can have now, but rarely do we hear warnings of the judgment to come. And why don’t we hear more of the latter? Because we don’t want to offend anyone.

The offense of the cross has been virtually removed from our gospel.

What Salvation Army founder William Booth prophesied more than a century ago is increasing at an alarming rate in our day:

“The chief danger of the twentieth century will be:

• Religion without the Holy Ghost,
• Christianity without Christ,
• Forgiveness without repentance,
• Salvation without regeneration,
• Heaven without hell,
• And politics without God.”

The twentieth century has already passed, and things don’t seem to be improving at all in the twenty-first century.

A new gospel has been produced from the ruling philosophy of the day that says, “If it works, it must be better. If our message adds to our number, if it comforts the people instead of offending them, if it makes them happy, if it keeps them coming to our meetings, and keeps them giving to our causes, then it must be good.” The results are what count. This dominating school of thought regards anyone successful as long as they get the job done and accomplish the goals; in this case, growing the church and adding to its membership.

The proponents of this other gospel reason, “More people and more money equal success.” It doesn’t really matter how they accomplish their goals as long as they do. In this philosophy God becomes a means to an end; a useful God to help them attain the desired success. Others, to sound even more persuasive, may say, “More people means more salvations”, but are they really getting saved? Or “More money means a greater propagation of the gospel”, but is it the real gospel?

The constant popular emphasis on making the gospel relevant to our culture is both obnoxious and misguided because it’s based in the error that modern people must be reached on the humanist level of their self-interest — that they are otherwise incapable of patiently hearing the gospel before becoming offended by its demands for righteousness and holiness. The Church must clearly defeat that error by showing that the real gospel is “the power of God unto salvation”, for all people, for all time.

If we do not restore the true preaching of the gospel to this generation, the next generation will battle moral anarchy and societal decay never witnessed before in our land. It is happening now! Without strong gospel preaching, the church is destined to only be a greater phantom of what it was in its earliest beginnings, lacking the true power, endurance, and character to influence the world for God.

For more information on similar themes please see The Real Gospel, The Real Spirit of Revival, and The Real Salvation. Available in paperback and kindle.  http://www.amazon.com/Bert-M.-Farias/e/B001KDRLRG