Mark on Monday

Why a post about the heresy of “The Word of Faith” movement? (Keith Moore; Kenneth Copeland; Kenneth Hagin)

Well the answer is simple really. God has instructed us to do so in scripture. We should test the teachings and have nothing to do with false teachings. We should correct false teachings. We should try our utmost to minimize the damage that is done by these false teachings.

Galatians 1:8-9

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.”

In this verses Paul is talking about false teachers, yes these he is talking about here is known as the Judaizers, they preached a gospel of faith and works. Although this heresy was focused on legalism, all heresy applies. The “Word of Faith” movement (hereafter WOF) teaches a heresy just as bad. They teach another theology that is not compatible with the Christian religion.

Jude 4

“For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

The WOF movement deny that Jesus is master. They elevate man and lower God. The WOF usurp the throne of God. They add and take away from the clear teachings of scripture and misrepresent the very nature of God, thus proclaiming a different God than that of the Christian religion.

Benni Hinn and Kenneth Copeland even claim that they go to heaven whenever they want and that they have received revelations from a angel with the name Emma. It seems that they also teach that their members must also pursue likewise encounters as if it is normative.

No in scripture do we hear of an angel by that name. 

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”

Paul even says that if he himself come to Galatia again and say something different to what he taught them before, they should reject it.

What Paul is playing at here is that a preacher should be judge on what he preachers, he must be measured by what is taught in scripture. The scary thing for me is this, no angel of God will teach something that is contrary to scripture, only a fallen angel will do such a thing. Is these guys been visited by demons or are they just con men in it for the money and power?

2 John 1:10-11

“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. “

So the Bible clearly teaches that we should have nothing to do with false teachers. No matter how hard you try you will never be able to distance yourself from a heretic if you keep on hanging out with him.

Everyone will think you are in the same boat as he is, people will associate him with you and think what he teaches is alright.  If you are under his teaching sooner or later he will influence you.

 It does not matter how good a person he is, if he donates fortunes to orphanages if he preachers a different gospel as that what is taught in scripture, he is doing more harm than good.

http://greatdivide.typepad.com/across_the_gre...
http://junkerjorge1.blogspot.com/2010/10/if-you-follow-kenneth-hagin-then-you.html
http://thewordonthewordoffaithinfoblog.com/

Courageous. The movie sound track

Ht, Fish With Trish. 

Why do we go to church?

If we look around us and we see the lives of Christians we sometimes wonder where the life in abundances that scripture talks about is.

Our lives are supposed to be filled with joy. I’m not talking about service happiness, a “cut and paste” smile and laugh but a deep rooted joy that over comes difficulties. You may ask me what this “joy” has got to do with church attendance.

Well going to church every Sunday or twice on a Sunday or even landing there every time the doors open is not going to give you that joy but, at some level you church attendance reveals your priorities and what your first love is, and that is where your joy comes from.

In this world you got two options really either you for Christ or you’re against Him. Now again do not jump to any conclusion just yet. I’m also not saying if you do not attend Church regularly that you have chosen Christ to be you enemy.

Christians is the most miserable of people when they do not fully commit. They are Christians in half measures not fully abandoning the world but, also not fully taking Christ. So you are not happy because you just don’t fit anywhere.

Full commitment without reserve is what Christ demands, all or nothing. Slack church attendance is just another symptom of that.

Attending Church expresses our Love for God. When we attend church we publicly declare our allegiance for all to see. Church attendance displays our faith and trust in God. Mat 10:32-33; Psa.22:22. 

My first object with this post is not to wrap you over the knuckles but, motivate you to full on Christianity.

The Church is an instrument He uses to support you in your Spiritual life and network of friends and support in this hostile world.

In some circles there is the saying “Those who attend the service in the morning love the preacher and those who also attend the night service love Christ.”

I believe that it is not so cut and dry but, in general this saying is very close to the truth.

One reason why we should attend church is that it is commanded by God himself.

Hebrews 10:19 25.

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. "

Attending church is first and formost not for us, we should not attend for what we can get out of the deal. Firstly it is to give glory to God, it is an act of obedience to Him.

By going we incourage other Christians to seek God. In the olden days the Jews could not go into the Holy Of Holy but, after Christ was made our perfect sacrifice we can enter into God throne room.

Now you could say, “but can I not enter there at any time? Can I not pray at home?” Sure you can but God has so ordained it that He is present in a special way when we are together.

If you would get inside information where you can meet with Christ on a regular basis would you not go there? Guess what the local church is just that place. We are not just obedient, the word “obedient” sometimes gives us this bad reaction. In the first place Christ is our all our first love, our first in everything. Here we have the opertunity to be in a place where Christ is present in a very special way. Yes, Christ is always with us but, He is present in a very unique way on Sunday. Matt 18:20

We as the church is called the body of Christ, so if you want to meet with Christ in special way, go where His body is already. 

In Luke 10:16 we read that id we hear the preacher preech we are hearing Christ speak. (If the preacher is preaching the word and not his own day dreams, find the right Church)

The whole week we are surrounded by the enemy. The world surrounds us and inter our world uninvited in ver subtle ways we are influenced by the worlds thinking. We grow blind to the fundemental difference between what the world teaches and what the scripture teaches. Our glasses gets full of the grease of the world that we even begin thinking the Bible teaches the very same things as what the world does. The worlds standards become our standards and excuses are made for what the Bible says. The Bible is made to fit the world. The Bible is the model by which we sould judge things.

Attending church will help us confront these wrong voices. As said before if the preacher is doing his job he will educate you in what the Bibel says and you will able to decern what is truth and waht is lies.

Studying the bible in private is good an helpful and fundamental for your growth but, it can not replace the preached word. The preacher has been chosen by God, equiped by God to explain the Bible. Luk 10:16; Eph 4:11-16; 1 Tim 4:13-16; 2 Tim 4:1-5; Heb 13:17. God has granted him a special gift of preaching and teaching and he also has had special training on how to understand the Bible, he is a specialist. He has work hours just to bring you that one message. Scratch that all the reading studying he has ever done, all his ministral experience is right there in front of you that 30-45 minutes, it is bruaght all to bear, everythin comulates in that sermon, to teach, to instuct to help you grow.

We can be nourished and given spiritual food that will facilitate our growth. Our food is every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deut 8:3; Matt 4:4. We are too long for the word of God as a new born long for milk. 1 Pet 2:2.

Our attendance builds our Spiritual strength. By the preaching and the teaching we grow in knowledge and faith, preparing us to face difficult times in or lives and it save guards us form false teachings. Eph 6:10-18; Rom 10:17.

We must grab hold of any opportunity we can to grow in spiritual strength. In a very special way the Lord’s presence is felt at gathering of Christians. No, I’m not talking about some mumbo jumbo stuff. Christ promised special presence when two or more is gathered in the name of Jesus. Jesus is present in every believer’s heart but He promises to honor a gathering in His name in a special way. Matt 18:20 

By attending Chruch we encouarge others in their walk with Christ an we are encouraged orselfs.

If we do not attend how can we encourage others? If we do not attend how can we be encouraged? If we do not make an effort, how can we say, our Christian brothers do not care for us. We must be in their mist, we must be known by others and we must know others and nothing substitutes time spend with others.

If we are to have a right relationship with God we also must have a right relationship with fellow believers. It is not possible to love God and not love our fellow belivers.1 John 2:9-10.

We also see that we are to submit to the leadership of the church. Neb 13:17. The system of accountability is there to protect us from false doctrine and to help with our spiritual growth. No, TV church can replace your pastor who loves you and knows you. Church hopping also doesn’t fly submission demands as committed relationship. 1 Thes 5:12.

In the Bible we read that God in some sepcial way “multiplies the strenght of prayes when we pray together. Matt 18:19. Lev 26:8.

Faithfully attending church is hard work and involves a degree of self-discipline. Nowhere does it say church attendance will be convenient. Christ is to be given priority above all else Col.2:18.

Church is a central part of our walk with Him on this earth.

If you would read through scriptures you will find that the individual believer is always seen as part of the local church. We are not free agents we are part of the body of Christ, no part of the body can function on its own, we need each other and we must be committed to our body or we and the body will suffer because of our selfishness. 1 Corinthians 12.

Mark on Mondays

Battle Lines are drawn.

The field of battle has been chosen. The men have dug themselfs in. We have been assigned our posts. All is quiet, the birds are singing as if nothing is wrong but, this is war. The war that will end all wars.

The enemy out number us, we know some of our own are traitors; the one in the foxhole with me might stab me in the back.

I will watch my line of fire, all I can do is my job.

The men on the other side are merciless, vengeful killers ready to charge at us at any minute. Armed to the teeth and totally committed.

My first aid kitt is fully supplied; maybe I will get too save someone life today. Many of my enemies will die today but, not by my hands, not by any of us. We are here to try and save those who would kill us in an instant.

The games afoot, they are coming, yelling DIE, DIE, DIE. We jump up yelling LIVE, LIVE, LIVE.   

Casualties of war.

As I survey the battle field of truth, of faith, of life, a tear forms in the corner of my eye and slowly rolls over my cheek.

What has happened? Why has all these ones, whom I once counted as brothers and sisters in Christ, abandoned the faith. Why have they chosen to change scripture? Why have they decided that truths held for so many years are not true anymore?

I hope that they will return one day and that this is just some detour but, I hope against hope.

Sad is the day when you gaze on the destruction around you, friend’s bodies mangled and broken by sin.

In all this I see how God’s grace towers above all. How great is His grace towards those who are saved. We are all inclined to stray and do our own thing. We are rebellious to the core, only by the grace of God are we saved. Only He is able to call us out of our dark pit. He alone can call us to life. Only He can kill our rebellion. Only He can grant us love for Him and for the law.

To love Him, to obey Him that is what He wants, and He graciously grants us both.

Hallowed be His name.

Who wrote the Gospels?

Mark on Monday

Our Hope.

Man is dominated by his dreams and desires; everything we do is motivated by our dreams or desires. The saddest person is the one who has no dream or who has lost all hope that his dream will ever come to pass.

Man has always guarded his desires treasured them, protected them. Our dreams is what motivates us to get up, it gives our lives focus and direction.

The problem is not our desire or our dream but, what is our motivation for this dream. Dreams give us hope. The problem this hope within us could be false or true. It could be a dream given by God, anchored in Him or a dream of our own.

It can be a dream that is in line with what God’s will is or that opposes Him.

We are either against or for Him. We can be friends with Mr False Hope or Mr True Hope. There is no middle ground.

Even if we have a noble dream that gives us hope for the future that is not riddled with sin, it could be rebellion if it is not God’s will for us.

Hope is needed by all, we all hunt it down and want to own it, without hope mans back is broken. We must find true hope.

Having true hope starts like all other things with knowing God.

Our relationship with Him starts by Him calling us through God the Holy Spirit, revealing our sinfulness to us, our utter state of “lostness.” We are dead spiritually and cannot make ourselves alive. Only through the inner work of the Holy Spirit and Christ righteousness imputed to us (credited) to us can we become alive.

Now after we have been quickened (raised spiritually) and all that entails. We often still act as if our life is our own. We plan our lives and dream, dreams and find our hope in them.

In effect we are practicing atheist in a way ignoring God in practice which we would deny but in practice we almost forget Him we leave Him out of the equation.

Our hope is Christ, it is God and His sovereign rule, our hope is too be grounded in His love for us and above all in His glory. See His glory is all that counts, do not for second think that His glory is under threat or could be threatened, it cannot be.

So His plan will never be, even minutely successfully apposed, He has a plan a great plan for our lives, of how we would grow in knowledge of Him. By knowing Him better our faith grows.

I have been a Christian all my life and have been a believing, Spiritual living one for over 22 years.

If I look back I have made many mistakes but, I have always had the knowledge that God is sovereign and has a plan. There is a reason for all that I have experienced the good and the bad.

The dream of full time ministry has always stayed, in the beginning it wasn’t as strong but the desired has grown over the years. The detour of the last 11 years had a reason. To others it might look like wasted time but, it wasn’t and if it continues, it still wouldn’t be.

I remember Moses, he was trained in Pharaoh’s court and fled to the desert land and stayed there for forty years before his visible ministry and service started. Look at Joseph, he was sold as a slave, he was imprisoned before his service started.

Think of the Apostle Paul who also lived in the desert after his conversion before his ministry really took off.

As long as we recognise that we are not the captain of our ship, as long as we realise that God know best and that He is in control we can have hope. We are not exposed to the elements and the whims of luck. Our lives are ordered by God. If someone knows what has to be done and what is best it is Him.

Praise Him, for in Him hope is not empty, candyfloss dreams but rock solid and sure.

James 4:13-17. 

Boasting About Tomorrow

¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” ¹⁶ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. ¹⁷ If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. 

  

Hope is always welcome here.

It has been far too long; feels like a life time.

 Hope has come to visit, he is camped out on the front lawn. I have gone out to have a drink of coffee with him. I’m still scared to invite him in, afraid to give him permanent lodging. He has a bad rep around these parts.

See, he has been here before but, he never seems to deliver. His presence has always seemed, a temporary thing. So I’m not inviting him in, not even for a cup of coffee.

Yes, I’ll will go out and visit with him, enjoy his company for a while but, it’s too risky to let him in, just yet.

I want to know, is this just another pipe dream, a mirage on the horizon or has hope got any sustenance, is it the real thing this time.

As before time will reveal if Mr Hope's first name is True or False.

For now I’m enjoying the thoughts of ”what could be.”

He has been here often enough to know, I might be exposing myself for another bite in the butt but, I’ll keep him out on the front lawn in his tent, his presence comforts me.

Oh, who am I kidding?

He has moved in we had a braai, he has moved into his room, his unpacked and we having the best conversation yet, boy I’m enjoying his company.

Haven’t had this fire burn in me for so long and boy it feels good, I will take the risk that it will crash and burn. Bring it on lets ride the wave and see what the future holds.

The God of Jonah

The book of Jonah has always been used for calling people up to missions and evangelism. Which is a great and noble thing and the contents of Jonah makes this possible without changing the meaning of the text.

I however think that missions are just one thread that goes through this short book.

I believe however that Jonah is a great book to teach Theology Proper from. Let me explain. Theology Proper is the dogma of God. How God is.

First let me say this, God cannot be fully explained or understood. God is not a frog that is to be dissected no; He is God the creator to be marvelled at. He is the only true God.

God through His word reveals Himself to the world; He wants us to know Him. How do we get to know someone? Above all other ways, we spend time with them. Quality time is a humanistic myth, nothing replaces a long period of time spend with each other. (I’m digressing that will have to be for a different post.)

Now let us have a quick look at the book of Jonah.

I believe we all know about this book, it has been seen as a myth by some. I’m not one of them there is just too many historical data that corresponds.

Let’s look at why I say that the book of Jonah firstly displays God to us and not the life of a bull headed prophet.

God is the one who takes the initiative to save Nineveh. He witnesses this great city and its sin and His righteousness and holiness demands that they be sentenced. God however is merciful and call upon His prophet Jonah to preach too this city of unbelievers.

The fact that God calls Jonah also shows us that God is not just concern for those who does not know Him but, that He is also concerned with the ones who do know Him. He still has got a plan for Jonah.

God knows everything even before it happened, so He knew Jonah will rebel and run. God could of used a different servant who He knew would carry out the task immediately, but God does not.

God chooses the one servant He knew would rebel, Jonah might have a rebellious streak in Him but, God does not leave Jonah to live in his sin. No, God loves Nineveh and Jonah and He want Nineveh to repent and He want Jonah to repent and grow.

So Jonah runs and his rebellion brings a whole ship and it occupants in danger. God spares them when they decide to throw Jonah over board as Jonah requested.

God chases Jonah down, He throws a storm at the boat, God works with intent, He does everything with intent, with a view of the future and what He wants to accomplish in the lives of people. God is intensely involved in every person’s life.

Through the storm and what Jonah says about God, the sailors who were formally pagans convert and praise Jhaweh the God of Israel as the only living God.

God could have let Jonah drown but, He is merciful and through His sovereign rule over the living creatures, He causes a large fish to swallow Jonah hole.

Jonah repents and now after the fish pukes him up he goes to Nineveh. Still we see Jonah only going out of duty and not out of love. Jonah who experienced God’s love, mercy and long suffering still hates Nineveh and does not want to see them shown the same love and mercy.

The contrast is projected for all to see, the one who does not deserve mercy but, gets it, does not want others to taste it.

God who is infinitely sovereign causes Jonah to preach, even against his will and what he wants and God’s sovereign love and mercy and rule is shown. Displayed for all to marvel at.

God causes the entire city to repent and turn away from their sin and to Him. For a generation the people of Nineveh serves God. This shows God is sovereign and reigns.

This is just some small snip-bits of what the book of Jonah teaches us about God. I believe in the first place the book of Jonah displays God and is attributes to us through His actions and finely designed reaction to things He knew would happen and ultimately made happen.

A book displaying the infinite God doing infinitely great things.     

Mark on Monday

The Gospel Message to Believers.

Most often the Gospel message when preach is preached and applied to the unbeliever. The Gospel is seen by most believers as Christianity 101, something we have to go through to get to the good stuff.

We even will go so far as to call it the milk and the debate about Revelation 20 as the meat, the 2 inch steak.

This is actually very sad and has led to so many bad things it’s hard to list them all. The biggest problem is we under appreciate the Gospel. We see it as the doorway while Paul said all he was about is Christ and He crucified.

So if the apostle who wrote the biggest part of the New Testament focused on the Gospel why is it not our centre of attention anymore?

Our arrogance towards the Gospel leads to the formation of a moral church. We evolve into a club of ‘stiff upper lippers” guys ignorant of our sin.

Most Christians will never claim that they are without sin; most of us know that is a lie. We choose to ignore our sins and not to think of them anymore. We think of our achievements, all the sins we do not commit anymore.

We look at the world and transform into the Pharisee that Christ talked about, self-righteous and convince of our own holiness.

The Gospel is not just our way to be saved and reconciled to God. The Gospel is in its very essence, Christ. Jesus Christ is the gospel, are we really going to call Him Christianity 101? Are we going to only see Him as a saving instrument, something to be used?

Christianity at its core is a relationship. Sin has defiled that relationship.

Sin in our lives right now defiles that relationship. We must always constantly be examing ourselves and our hearts. Open to Matthew 5, read the Sermon on the Mount. Consider God’s standards, are we anywhere near that?

We must preach the Gospel to ourselves daily, hourly. By understanding it by living it, by repenting of our sins, may it be visible or invisible. The Gospel is needed by all, the righteous and the unrighteous.

   

Our biggest problem is the lack of faith.

If we just know the elementary components of the Gospel/Good News essential for our salvation that is a dare say more than enough to get us through any situation. That knowledge alone is enough.

Here, is where we come into some really rough terrain, here is where the tyre hits the road. We doubt, GASP. Yes we doubt it is present even amongst Christians.

Doubt, I for one think it is most evident in the lack of evangelism, for if I believed without a doubt, If I was utterly confident about the fate of the world. Would I pass one person on the street without telling him about the way to salvation? Will I leave any opportunity to share the Gospel at the way side.

Our deeds show what we believe, the intensity of our deeds display the depth of our faith. We read about hell, we cry about the multitudes of people rushing towards their eternal punishment but, we ask for another cup of “Jo”.

Just as our inaction displays our unbelief it is evident in our actions we do take but, that is a totally different topic.

We believe in the sovereignty of God. We believe He loves us so much that He offered up his Son for us. He saved us, He chose us in eternity past and destined us to spend eternity with Him in the future but, we doubt that His plan for our life now is not all that spectacular.

We look at our current situation and dream silly childish dreams, sometimes of lives filled with gospel witnessing and opportunities, lives that we think would be Christ centred and glorifying. We forget how deceitful our hearts can be.

We forget that he has held the universe in His hands for countless years and will do so in the future. Those are the most capable hands, most loving hands and He is Holy, righteous and transcendent.

His plan is better even though we are not totally convinced.

Cling to Him, He surely knows best and He is in control.   

Becoming what you are.

Many believe they are saved. They remember a date which they converted. They believe that Jesus is the son of God, send to earth to pay for our penalty. They even believe that they have given their lives to him. A few can even explain a few more complex doctrines but, they are not saved.

Being saved comprises of more than just knowing some facts. The proof of saving faith is found in the deeds.

Our deeds do not save us but proclaims that which we know as our beliefs.

True repentance is a change of direction, our centre changes. Our heart is changed by God. We are quickened like the older church men used to say.

We are completely changed and our way of life changes. Let me try and summarize it in one sentence.

Sanctification is the proof of a work already completed.

Sanctification is the gradual change of a person’s deeds towards what honours God. Already if you truly have come to Christ and are saved you are given a new heart by God, a heart that longs for God and the things that pleases Him.

You die to self and to your worldly and selfish dreams and come into line with what God wants.

A person who claims he is a Christian but, does not lead a Christ-honouring life is a fraud. James 2:17, 26

Remember that frightful passages; Mathew 7:21.

Think of Nicodumos coming to Jesus in the dead of night asking Christ what he should do to be saved. John 3:2-3

Jesus then answers him look especially at John 3: 31-32. “If you continue in my word, then you are truly disciples of mine…”

A life that continually careens of the road set by Christ is the life of a false disciple.

We will not lead perfect lives but, our inclination will change we would desire neither good nor evil and we will fight the good fight. “It will not be perfect obedience and repentance, but good works will be present” J MacArthur.

Eph 2:8-10 “created in Christ Jesus for good works,”

Good work does not save us but, it shouts to the world that we are different and that we are saved.

The demons are most probably more orthodox in their believes than most believers but, they are not saved. You can know everything but, if your heart is not changed you are not saved.

By examining your works you will be able to determine if you faith is authentic. Remember that all of us will fall, sometimes even jump and swim with the pigs, but what you do after that is what counts.

Do not think in a moment that I’m saying “sin all the more so that grace can increase” oh, no if you say that, if we would think that for a instant it proofs our faith is dead and not a iota of love for Christ lives in us.

Sinning, is like walking past the Cross of Christ and spitting in His face, striking the nails with a hammer. Sinning is rebelling against our saviour and if we do it “all up in His face” you can be assured we are not saved.

What I’m saying, times of weakness come, situations present themselves and we resurrect the dead monster in ourselves and do what is not pleasing to our saviour.

In these times we forget what he has done for us and how much He cares for us. On the other side of such a horrendous detour Christ is waiting to reconcile with us but, if these detours are frequent and extended re-examine yourself, do not lie, are you a Christian, do you really love Him above all else?

Return quickly to Christ; do not give sin a foothold in your life, run, hide, and fight.

In times of severe sin (is there any other kind) your assurance of salvation will waiver, this sometimes becomes a vessel to extend the period away from Christ.

The best remedy is to not fall into sin but, we are not in heaven yet so we will sin. This dark cold fact must not be an excuse; it must be a call to arms, to knees, fight.

Sin mostly comes when we give our imagination free reign in our lives. Curb it. We only sin after we have played with that set sin in our minds, guard your eyes and ears. That temptations will come is a given, what we do with them we can determine.