Whenever my husband and I share with other believers about the importance of keeping the Lord's Sabbath Day (the 7th day of the week) - we often get the response that "it really doesn't matter what day of the week we worship God". This comment is given as an excuse to continue their "first day" worship on Sunday - the sun god's day.
A few days ago, I was reading the story in 2 Kings 5 about Naaman. He was the commander of the army of the king of Syria - and he had leprosy. Naaman sent for the prophet, Elisha, to heal him of his leprosy. Instead of going himself, Elisha sent a messenger to Naaman with the following message: "Go and wash in the Jordan seven times and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean." (vs. 10) In verse 11, Naaman became furious that Elisha sent a messenger to him instead of coming himself to heal him.
The key verse I want to share with you today is in verse 11. It reads as follows, with Naaman speaking: "'Are not the Abanah and the Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?' So he turned and went away in a rage."
To me this sounds very much like what believers say today when confronted with keeping God's holy Sabbath day. Aren't the other days of the week better than the 7th day? Can't we just have a "rest day" on any of them and be fine? It is all a question of obedience and remembering that we are only a created being of God's - and not the Creator Himself.
In verse 14 it says, "So he went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean." He could not choose any other river of his choice. It had to be the one that God chose. Also, he could not choose to only dip 3 times, 5 times, 12 times, etc. It had to be the number that God chose - the number 7.
In Genesis 2:2 & 3, God stated the seventh day - 3 times. The number 7 is God's number. Man's number is the number 6. We all know that the number 666 is the number for the Anti-christ. What about God's number - 777? When something is stated in the Bible 3 times - it means it is something very important to God. When we read, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God of hosts", God is getting across to us how important His holiness really is. So what is He trying to get across to us in Genesis 2 regarding His 7th-day Sabbath? If I tried to paraphrase, it might sound like this: "It's the seventh day, the seventh day, the seventh day." He just doesn't leave any room for us to make it another day, does He?
One thing we need to remember is this: The Sabbath Day (7th day) was given long before there was a nation of Israel or before Moses was given the 10 Commandment law. That's why in the 10 Commandments it is stated to "Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy..." This 7th-day Sabbath was given for all mankind to honor and to set apart as holy. Just like in the story of Naaman, who do we think we are that we can tell God Almighty that we are going to move His holy Sabbath Day to another day?
Jeremiah 2:19 says, "'Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing that you have forsaken the Lord your God, and the fear (dread) of Me is not in you,' says the Lord God of hosts."
Monday, March 28, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
False Teaching: The Rapture and the Last Trumpet of God
Up until last weekend, I have believed in the "Rapture of the Church" right before the Tribulation. However, last weekend as I was reading I Thessalonians 4:16 & 17 - I saw something I had never seen before in this passage.
As most of you know, this is the key passage that Bible scholars use to support the "Pre-Tribulation Rapture" of the church. It reads:
"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
Most of us don't know that there is a cross-reference by "the trumpet of God". This took me to I Corinthians 15:51 & 52 which reads:
"Behold I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
When I read "the last trumpet", I immediately turned to Revelation 11:15 to read about that Last Trumpet - or "the Seventh Trumpet".
To my surprise, when the Seventh Trumpet is sounded - it will bring in the Kingdom of God. That verse reads:
"Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'"
Here is the problem. Most Bible scholars argue that these are two different trumpets. However, using logic we can see that is not possible. I Thess. 5:16 & 17 is referring to the "last" trumpet of God. If it is the last one, there cannot be another one after that one. That, my dear friends, means we will be going through the Tribulation. Since the 7th Trumpet ushers in the Kingdom of God (the Millenium or 1000-year reign of Christ), that definitely shows it to be the Last Trumpet. No other trumpets are sounding after that one. And, if the Last Trumpet is the 7th Trumpet, that also means we are going through the Tribulation. Logic asks, "Just how many last trumpets can we have?"
After having this truth revealed to me, I realized just how selfish it sounds when Christians say, "I'm just waiting for that trumpet of Christ to sound and then I'm out of here!" Why would we WANT to leave our unsaved friends and family to suffer here on earth without our witness? In fact, in Philippians 1:29 God tells us "For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake."
When that Last Trumpet sounds, it will be at the end of the Tribulation as Christ is preparing to come back to earth. At that time, we will be taken up to meet Him in the clouds so we can all return with Him - "and so we shall forever be with the Lord".
As most of you know, this is the key passage that Bible scholars use to support the "Pre-Tribulation Rapture" of the church. It reads:
"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."
Most of us don't know that there is a cross-reference by "the trumpet of God". This took me to I Corinthians 15:51 & 52 which reads:
"Behold I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."
When I read "the last trumpet", I immediately turned to Revelation 11:15 to read about that Last Trumpet - or "the Seventh Trumpet".
To my surprise, when the Seventh Trumpet is sounded - it will bring in the Kingdom of God. That verse reads:
"Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!'"
Here is the problem. Most Bible scholars argue that these are two different trumpets. However, using logic we can see that is not possible. I Thess. 5:16 & 17 is referring to the "last" trumpet of God. If it is the last one, there cannot be another one after that one. That, my dear friends, means we will be going through the Tribulation. Since the 7th Trumpet ushers in the Kingdom of God (the Millenium or 1000-year reign of Christ), that definitely shows it to be the Last Trumpet. No other trumpets are sounding after that one. And, if the Last Trumpet is the 7th Trumpet, that also means we are going through the Tribulation. Logic asks, "Just how many last trumpets can we have?"
After having this truth revealed to me, I realized just how selfish it sounds when Christians say, "I'm just waiting for that trumpet of Christ to sound and then I'm out of here!" Why would we WANT to leave our unsaved friends and family to suffer here on earth without our witness? In fact, in Philippians 1:29 God tells us "For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake."
When that Last Trumpet sounds, it will be at the end of the Tribulation as Christ is preparing to come back to earth. At that time, we will be taken up to meet Him in the clouds so we can all return with Him - "and so we shall forever be with the Lord".
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
False Teaching and the Worship of God: Where Have We Gone Wrong?
As I've watched the news this week with the uprising in Egypt, it was interesting to see how when it came time for the Muslims to worship, they immediately stopped their protesting and fell to their knees. This got me to wondering about the form of Christian worship we've been taught to practice. Is going to church, singing, praying, standing, clapping hands, reading the Bible, sitting quietly, taking an offering, (just to name a few) - really what God means by the word "worship"? Has the Apostasy and the false teaching in our churches of "Lawless Grace" taken us away from the heart of worship?
In order to answer that question, I immediately turned to the Bible, God's Word. Because it is written in Hebrew (the Old Testament) and Greek (the New Testament), that meant getting out my Strong's Concordance and looking up the word "Worship" in those two languages. What I found out totally surprised me!! There are only three Hebrew words in the Old Testament that refer to worship. The main word, "shachah" is mentioned 55 times and means to "prostrate oneself, bow down, fall down flat, or make to stoop." The other two Hebrew words have the same meaning as well. I was rather fearful as I approached the New Testament's Greek word for "worship". Again, the main Greek word for worship is "proskuneo" which means to "crouch, or to prostrate oneself in homage." This word is used 34 times! Lastly, I went to my Webster's Dictionary and looked up the word "prostrate". It's definition is "to throw flat on the ground, lying flat, crushed, submissive, overcome."
I'm sure I don't have to tell you just how HUMBLING it is to get down on your knees with your face to the floor, or better yet - lying down FLAT on the floor with your face down. Yet, religions all around the world are able to humble themselves in that way for their FALSE gods. We Christians belong to the TRUE and LIVING God and yet we can't even get down on our knees to pray!
As you read your Bible through this year and see the word, "worship", remind yourself that it's true meaning is "to prostrate myself by falling down flat or bowing down." "Lawless Grace" in our churches today says Jesus is a God of love and forgiveness so we as Christians just don't need to be that extreme in our worship of Him. He will surely understand how embarrassing that posture can be for us. Right? WRONG!! Jesus is coming back very soon and He has promised that when He comes back, "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow , of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth." (Philippians 2:10) God clarifies it even more in I Corinthians 14:25: "...and so falling down on his face, he will worship God..."
One last verse I must share with you before closing is 2 Chronicles 7:14 because it is a favorite of Christians in these last days as they seek a church revival:
"If My people who are called by My Name will HUMBLE themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)
The Hebrew word for "Humble" is "kana" which means "to bend the knee; to humiliate; to bring down low." Sounds like "prostrate" doesn't it? Do you really desire a church revival in our land? Then join me and others this year as we "prostrate" ourselves before the One and Only True God - Jesus Christ!! Here's a great song to help us do just that: "Here I Am To Worship"
In order to answer that question, I immediately turned to the Bible, God's Word. Because it is written in Hebrew (the Old Testament) and Greek (the New Testament), that meant getting out my Strong's Concordance and looking up the word "Worship" in those two languages. What I found out totally surprised me!! There are only three Hebrew words in the Old Testament that refer to worship. The main word, "shachah" is mentioned 55 times and means to "prostrate oneself, bow down, fall down flat, or make to stoop." The other two Hebrew words have the same meaning as well. I was rather fearful as I approached the New Testament's Greek word for "worship". Again, the main Greek word for worship is "proskuneo" which means to "crouch, or to prostrate oneself in homage." This word is used 34 times! Lastly, I went to my Webster's Dictionary and looked up the word "prostrate". It's definition is "to throw flat on the ground, lying flat, crushed, submissive, overcome."
I'm sure I don't have to tell you just how HUMBLING it is to get down on your knees with your face to the floor, or better yet - lying down FLAT on the floor with your face down. Yet, religions all around the world are able to humble themselves in that way for their FALSE gods. We Christians belong to the TRUE and LIVING God and yet we can't even get down on our knees to pray!
As you read your Bible through this year and see the word, "worship", remind yourself that it's true meaning is "to prostrate myself by falling down flat or bowing down." "Lawless Grace" in our churches today says Jesus is a God of love and forgiveness so we as Christians just don't need to be that extreme in our worship of Him. He will surely understand how embarrassing that posture can be for us. Right? WRONG!! Jesus is coming back very soon and He has promised that when He comes back, "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow , of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth." (Philippians 2:10) God clarifies it even more in I Corinthians 14:25: "...and so falling down on his face, he will worship God..."
One last verse I must share with you before closing is 2 Chronicles 7:14 because it is a favorite of Christians in these last days as they seek a church revival:
"If My people who are called by My Name will HUMBLE themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7:14)
The Hebrew word for "Humble" is "kana" which means "to bend the knee; to humiliate; to bring down low." Sounds like "prostrate" doesn't it? Do you really desire a church revival in our land? Then join me and others this year as we "prostrate" ourselves before the One and Only True God - Jesus Christ!! Here's a great song to help us do just that: "Here I Am To Worship"
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Fasting: Games We Play With God
For the past 21 days, a church here in Springfield has been on a "fast" from all types of media, both inside the church and inside the homes of its members. This is quite a contrast from the church I wrote about in my previous blog. To get "Unplugged" is important so we can take time to "Be still and know that I am God". (Psalm 46:10)
However, what happens when this 21-day fast is over? Will the tape come off the televisions inside the church and will everything go back to the way it was before? Do we ever ask God, "What kind of fast really pleases You?" and then search in His Word for the answer? Isaiah 58 clearly gives us the answer.
The first part of that chapter describes God's people as:
1. Seeking God daily and delighting in knowing His ways. (vs. 2)
2. Taking delight in approaching God. (vs. 2)
However, even though God's people were seeking Him, God refused to recognize their day of fasting. Why? In verse 5, God asks, "Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?" (The answer is "No" when you read the rest of the chapter.)
Here's the list God sets forth for a fast that pleases Him:
Loose the bonds of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens, let the oppressed go free and break every yoke, share your bread with the hungry, bring to your house the poor who are cast out, clothe the naked and don't ignore the needs of your own family members.
The above list has to do with "loving our neighbor as ourselves". The next list God gives us, though, focuses on "Loving the Lord our God with all our heart..." Remember, this is part of "the fast" that God said pleases Him.
"If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the Lord...."
It seems to me fasting is not so much about us and what we are willing to give up for God. I hear God saying it is about OBEYING what He tells us to do regarding caring for our "neighbor" and KEEPING HIS SABBATH DAY a day set apart for Him and His pleasure - NOT for our own pleasure or work. (And don't forget, the Sabbath Day is the seventh day of the week - NOT the first day of the week. See Exodus 20:10)
"Unplugging" is a good thing for us to do in order to hear God's voice more clearly. However, to call it a "fast" that pleases God - according to God's Word, it doesn't qualify.
However, what happens when this 21-day fast is over? Will the tape come off the televisions inside the church and will everything go back to the way it was before? Do we ever ask God, "What kind of fast really pleases You?" and then search in His Word for the answer? Isaiah 58 clearly gives us the answer.
The first part of that chapter describes God's people as:
1. Seeking God daily and delighting in knowing His ways. (vs. 2)
2. Taking delight in approaching God. (vs. 2)
However, even though God's people were seeking Him, God refused to recognize their day of fasting. Why? In verse 5, God asks, "Is it a fast that I have chosen, a day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush, and to spread out sackcloth and ashes? Would you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord?" (The answer is "No" when you read the rest of the chapter.)
Here's the list God sets forth for a fast that pleases Him:
Loose the bonds of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens, let the oppressed go free and break every yoke, share your bread with the hungry, bring to your house the poor who are cast out, clothe the naked and don't ignore the needs of your own family members.
The above list has to do with "loving our neighbor as ourselves". The next list God gives us, though, focuses on "Loving the Lord our God with all our heart..." Remember, this is part of "the fast" that God said pleases Him.
"If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the Lord...."
It seems to me fasting is not so much about us and what we are willing to give up for God. I hear God saying it is about OBEYING what He tells us to do regarding caring for our "neighbor" and KEEPING HIS SABBATH DAY a day set apart for Him and His pleasure - NOT for our own pleasure or work. (And don't forget, the Sabbath Day is the seventh day of the week - NOT the first day of the week. See Exodus 20:10)
"Unplugging" is a good thing for us to do in order to hear God's voice more clearly. However, to call it a "fast" that pleases God - according to God's Word, it doesn't qualify.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
The Apostasy: Nightclub Churches!
One of the Assembly of God mega-churches here in Springfield has just started a new "campus" inside a building which was a former nightclub. According to the article in our News-Leader, "part of the draw of North Point, however, is its unorthodox and slightly irreverent presentation." According to this article, they have set up their church service to imitate what someone would find in a nightclub - strobe lights, fog, a live band, etc. In fact, everything is there but the alcohol and the pole-dancing. They even have the latest Wii games in the lobbies for church-goers' entertainment!
Are you seeing anything wrong with this picture? If not, then let me ask - How can a church be "slightly irreverent" in its presentation of the Gospel? That to me is like a person saying that they are "slightly telling a lie". It's just not possible. Either you are telling a lie or you aren't. Either you are irreverent or you aren't. God is not a God of the "gray areas". He is a God of "No Compromise". He is also a God of Holiness and has commanded us to "Be holy as I am holy"! (I Peter 1:16)
This news article caused my husband and myself to ask, "What is the Church"? According to Strong's Concordance, in the Greek it means "a calling out". That makes those who belong to the Church - "the called-out ones". What have we been "called out" of? In I Peter 2:9 it says Christ "called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness?" Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds." (NIV)
As Christians, we are called to "GO" out into this dark world and be a light. (Matthew 28:19 & 20) Nowhere is there a command to bring the world and its darkness (meaning its culture and gods) into our churches and fellowships. If we do, then how can we be "The Called-Out Ones"?
Towards the end of this article, one visitor commented that she enjoyed this church because it was "more like her secular life than her previous church life." Another thing she enjoyed was the fact that, "You don't need to change to be here." I'm sorry, but my Bible reads - "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world." That is a definite command to change! In fact, "Repentance" itself calls for a changed lifestyle.
As Christ Himself said, "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." (John 3:19 & 20)
Are you seeing anything wrong with this picture? If not, then let me ask - How can a church be "slightly irreverent" in its presentation of the Gospel? That to me is like a person saying that they are "slightly telling a lie". It's just not possible. Either you are telling a lie or you aren't. Either you are irreverent or you aren't. God is not a God of the "gray areas". He is a God of "No Compromise". He is also a God of Holiness and has commanded us to "Be holy as I am holy"! (I Peter 1:16)
This news article caused my husband and myself to ask, "What is the Church"? According to Strong's Concordance, in the Greek it means "a calling out". That makes those who belong to the Church - "the called-out ones". What have we been "called out" of? In I Peter 2:9 it says Christ "called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." 2 Corinthians 6:14 says, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what fellowship has light with darkness?" Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds." (NIV)
As Christians, we are called to "GO" out into this dark world and be a light. (Matthew 28:19 & 20) Nowhere is there a command to bring the world and its darkness (meaning its culture and gods) into our churches and fellowships. If we do, then how can we be "The Called-Out Ones"?
Towards the end of this article, one visitor commented that she enjoyed this church because it was "more like her secular life than her previous church life." Another thing she enjoyed was the fact that, "You don't need to change to be here." I'm sorry, but my Bible reads - "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world." That is a definite command to change! In fact, "Repentance" itself calls for a changed lifestyle.
As Christ Himself said, "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed." (John 3:19 & 20)
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