DEBUNKING THE LIE OF UNIVERSALISM

                                      

         One of the most dangerous doctrines found in the Church today is Christian Universalism. Universalism is the belief that everyone ever born will be saved by the sacrifice of Christ and will spend eternity in heaven, regardless of whether or not they have placed their faith in Him. This false doctrine is not new, but it does seem to be gaining a larger following even among evangelicals. Those who hold this belief can give a convincing argument, by quoting select scriptures, however, one cannot build a doctrine by quoting scriptures, without context, that seem to agree with one's argument and ignore the whole counsel of scripture. The real question that must be answered: “Is Christ's sacrifice efficacious for all sin of all men or is the sacrifice of Christ sufficient for all sin of all men but only applied to the sin of those who believe? “ Embedded in this question is another enigma, how does the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit fit into the equation?

Christian Universalism, not to be confused with the heretical denomination Universal Unitarianism, can be traced back to the early second century Church with the writings of Clement of Alexandria. Clement, an oft quoted early church father, embraced the idea of atonement for all. Expounding on 1John 2:2 “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world,” Clement espoused that all would be saved, some through voluntary faith, and some through punishment. Origen followed Clement in Alexandria and taught that the consummation of all things would be the utter destruction of evil, resulting in all souls returning to God in perfection. Oddly enough,, Clement is still highly regarded in Christian circles and Origen, his progeny, is considered a heretic by most theologians. Both men were highly influential in their respective times, and due to the influence these two men have had on the early formation of the Church, the heretical doctrine of Christian Universalism has permeated Christian orthodoxy, much like the proverbial yeast of the Pharisees of which Christ warned His disciples.

Christian Universalists rely on numerous texts to make their case, unfortunately for them, they often quote with out context and ignore any passage that disagrees with their premise. For instance, John 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself, seems to make a case for universalism, however, the very next verse gives us the context and purpose of Christ's words: John 12:33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. Jesus was not creating a doctrine, but revealing the fact of His impending crucifixion. Context is key to understanding all of scripture and to pick and choose select passages to build a doctrine is intellectually dishonest. Another oft misused passage is: Rom 11:32 For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. Once again, taken alone, it would be easy to believe this verse makes a case for universalism, but, once again, taken in context, this passage takes on a whole different meaning. Now, the same passage taken in context: Rom 11:30-32 For just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all. In Romans chapter 11, Paul is reminding the Gentile believers that they have been grafted in to the vine of Israel. Clearly, this passage is dealing with the contrast of Jew and Gentile in relation to salvation and all is a collective term referring to the fact that both Jew and Gentile can be saved, as opposed to referring to the salvation of all mankind. To list all the passages used by Universalists would be far too lengthy in this forum, however, one more verse bears scrutiny: 1John 2:2 “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

As in the last two instances, taken alone, 1John 2:2 seems to emphatically state that Christ's sacrifice eliminates all sin in all men. As in the last two passages, the intent of the author is clearly not to establish a doctrine of universal salvation. In this case, the passage is meant to establish that salvation is available to all, as the Apostle John has already revealed to us in the beginning of this letter that salvation is for those who profess faith in Christ: 1Jn 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Only those who walk in the light(of the Gospel) and who confess their sins are cleansed by the blood of Christ. John cannot possibly contradict himself in the same epistle. To dispel all doubt as to John's view of salvation, one needs only look at chapter 3 of John's Gospel. Would the same man who recorded Christ's words: John 3:3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." contradict himself in latter writings? In case there is any doubt as to who is born again, John leaves no room for misunderstanding, later in the same chapter: John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. John, in recording the words of Christ, demonstrates that he cannot possibly be espousing a universal salvation of all men in

1 John 2:2.

Scripture tells us that a matter is determined by the testimony of two or three witnesses. The Old Testament bears witness against Universalism. Psalm 37:34Hope in the LORD and keep his way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are destroyed, you will see it.Psalm 37:38
But all sinners will be destroyed; there will be no future for the wicked.

The Psalmist left no doubt that there would be a judgment for sinners and the last part of Psalm 37:38 reveals that there is no future for the wicked. If the death of Christ saved all, regardless of faith, the wicked would have the same future as the righteous.

Isaiah 66:24"Then they will go forth and look On the corpses of the men Who have transgressed against Me For their worm will not die And their fire will not be quenched; And they will be an abhorrence to all mankind."

This passage refers to the eternal flames awaiting the enemies of God. Finally we will look at the words of the prophet Daniel: Daniel 12:2 "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the ground will awake, these to everlasting life, but the others to disgrace and everlasting contempt. Here, it was revealed to Daniel that at the end of all things there will be those who are resurrected that will face everlasting contempt. These will not be forgiven, they will not be excused and they will not be purged through fire, they will experience everlasting contempt. There is no way to interpret this passage, but literally. Everlasting contempt, by definition, lasts forever.

The New Testament bears witness to this truth as well. The most emphatic passage concerning the damnation of the lost is found in Revelation 20:11-15

Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. The only way to hold to a Universalist view, in light of this passage, is to allegorize these verses. Once we begin to allegorize scripture in order to fit our theology, we lose the authority of scripture. The Bible says what it means and means what it says. If what I believe does not match the clear teaching of scripture, what I believe is flawed, not the scripture. Allegorizing scripture is intellectually dishonest and is antithetical to sound doctrine. The Apostle Paul also makes clear the reality of eternal punishment for the lost: 2Thessalonians 1:5-9 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might. Again, very plainly, scripture declares that those who are outside faith will experience eternal punishment away from the presence of God.

The flaw of Universal theology is the failure to recognize God's justice. Universal thought focuses on the love and grace of God while ignoring the fact of His righteous judgment. We cannot separate God's justice from His love, nor can we separate His love from His justice. Love without justice leaves sin unpunished and enmity with God rewarded, rendering John 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God, irrelevant. God's justice without love leaves sinners with no hope of salvation. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. God's justice demands that He punish sin and His love made a way for man to be reconciled and counted as righteous. To remove either love or justice from our definition of God dismantles the God of the Bible, making Him something that we define based on our own world view. Our understanding of God cannot be shaped by our world view, but, rather, our world view must be shaped by who God is. Anything less is a denial of God and His truth.

Universalism proposes a world where all sin is forgiven at the cross and all men will be saved by the nature of God's unlimited love and grace. Jesus revealed that there was one sin that could not be forgiven, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 12:31 Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. For Universalism to be universally true, this statement of Jesus cannot be accurate. The Holy Spirit indwells the believer, but for the unbeliever, the role of the Holy Spirit is to attest to the truth of the Gospel and direct sinners to Christ. When a person dies in a state of unbelief, they have died denying the truth of the Holy Spirit, calling the Spirit a liar, therefore, blaspheming the Holy Spirit. Dying in a state of unbelief is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and cannot be forgiven. If Universalism is true, then Jesus is a liar and no longer God, thus rendering His sacrifice worthless creating a paradox that cannot be reconciled. If Universalism is true, no one can be saved.

The idea of Universalism can be very appealing. It would be very nice to believe everyone we know will spend eternity in Heaven and that God's love will excuse all sin and rebellion. Biblical truth does not allow for such a fanciful notion. God's word shows us, from Genesis to Revelation, that God has provided a way of salvation to those who believe. God's word also shows us, from Genesis to Revelation, that His justice demands that He punish sin and those who die outside of faith in Christ are eternally lost. To subscribe to Unitarianism is tantamount to sending people to hell by not giving them an opportunity to receive God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We can, therefore, conclude that Christ's sacrifice is sufficient for all sin of all men but only applied to the sin of those who believe.

SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT

         How many of us truly know what it is like to be hungry and thirsty?  There are few worse feelings than abject hunger or thirst.  Today, I skipped breakfast, and even as my stomach rumbled in church, loud enough for my daughter to hear, I was not experiencing true hunger.  True hunger leads to desperation, which gives way to resignation, which ends, eventually, in death.  When we talk about hunger and thirst, we immediately think of physical needs.  Spiritually speaking, we also require nourishment.  
 Jesus told us: Matthew 5:6  "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. And also He said: John 6:35  Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.  

     We have a natural spiritual needs, just as we have natural physical needs.  When we deny spiritual needs, the consequences can be just as disastrous as when we deprive ourselves of physical nourishment.  The only source of true spiritual nourishment is Jesus Christ.  Jesus, in His deity, provides us with the Bread of Life and Living Water.  We remember the woman at the well, as she spoke to Jesus about drawing water, Jesus revealed to her that He could provide Living Water form which she could drink and never again thirst.  Likewise, when Jesus was addressing the crowd of 5000 thousand, the day after the miraculous feeding, He told them that He was the Bread of Life and unless they ate of Him, they would perish.  Partaking of the Bread of Life and drinking of the Living Water requires us to learn God's truth and to put it into practice.  
  
      Studying God's word, digging deep into who God is and what He desires of us, fellowship with the Holy Spirit through deep, self searching prayer, allowing God's transforming power to have sway over your life, these are the things that bring us spiritual nourishment.  Fellowship with other believers, worship  and adoration of the Creator, self analysis in light of God's word, these are the things that feed and water our spirits.  Basically, getting close to God and remaining in fellowship with Him is critical to our spiritual health and well being.  

     When Jesus hung on the cross, He said, "I thirst."  I am sure that the ordeal He had suffered up to that point led to physical thirst.  I am also sure that the pain and anguish He was suffering at the time overshadowed mere thirst.  What if what Jesus was suffering was not physical thirst, but spiritual thirst.  The opening verse of Psalm 22 and Christ's own words stated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?"  Is it possible that Jesus the man was, for the first time in all of eternity, separated from the Father and His thirst was spiritual.  Was Jesus craving fellowship with the Father?  Was Jesus parched in His spirit because He was unable to refresh Himself in the Living Water of communion with God.  Jesus purposely placed Himself outside of fellowship with God in order to take on the sin of the whole world.  Jesus, in that one moment in time, for the first, and only time ever, separated Himself from fellowship with the Father, that we who were already separated from the Father by sin, might be redeemed.  Jesus was, by mutual consent, temporarily separated from the Father, the Father who announced, "this is my Son, in Him I am well pleased."  
           Jesus separated from the Father for our benefit, a selfless act that brought salvation to a lost world and provides us with Living Water.  We also separate ourselves from God for our own benefit, a selfish act that brings consequences and cuts us off from the refreshing Living Water that God freely offers.  Jesus is the vine and we are the branches and when we abide in Him, He abides in us and provides nourishment to our spirit. When we do not abide in Him, we cut off the flow of spiritual sustenance making us vulnerable to the attacks of the enemy.  Just as our bodies become susceptible to attack from germs and viruses when we are physically malnourished, our spiritual lives become vulnerable to attack from Satan and his minions when we do not sustain our spiritual health through proper nutrition.  

      Just as there are plenty of poor choices in the realm of physical food, things that taste good or are fun to eat that are actually detrimental to our health, there is a great deal of counterfeit spiritual food that seems healthy or good but in reality brings great harm to those who partake.  New Age religion, Eastern philosophy, the Occult, and other things that deny the power of Christ and His deity all seem spiritual and may appear good for learning and growth but in reality are poison to the soul.  The way to avoid poison is to know truth so well that we recognize evil just by the very fact that it is contrary to the truth that we already know.

    As Christ called out,"I thirst," so too should we cry out to God for streams of Living Water and seek from Jesus the Bread of Life that we may maintain spiritual health.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, but if I am not strengthened by Christ because I am not taking the time to replenish myself spiritually, I will fail and I will fall.  Victory is ours in Christ but we must go to the source of our strength and abide in Him that we may receive sustenance for our soul.

8 ANNOYING CHARACTERS THAT RUINED ICONIC MOVIES AND TELEVISION SERIES

Many times, a character is added to a film or television series as an attempt to draw in a broader audience or boost flagging ratings.  Many times these characters are so odious and obnoxious that they render the series unwatchable.   Here are  the top 8 characters that single handedly ruined otherwise iconic television and film franchises.

                        8. NERMAL - GARFIELD CARTOON

                                                           

                               The Garfield  animated series was witty and fun                                until the addition of Nermal, meant to be a cute 

                               kitten that annoyed Garfield.  Unfortunately, 

                               Nermal annoyed the audience more than

                               Garfield, making any episode that Nermal 

                               appears unwatchable.

                          7. BANE - BATMAN DARK KNIGHT RISES

Bane ruined an otherwise great movie series.  The Bane 

character is a lesser known Batman villain and 

was completely hollow as a follow up villain to

Heath Ledger's Joker.  Bane was voiced horribly 

and not very well scripted.  Batman Begins and 

Dark Knight deserved a better end, but instead Bane

renders the final film of the trilogy unwatchable.

     

                           6. JENNY PICCOLO - HAPPY DAYS

                                               As Happy Days was winding down from it's 

                                hey-day as an iconic look at life in the 1950's

                                the characters were grown up and heading into

                                the turmoil of the 1960's.  Key characters had                                     moved on from the show and Jenny Piccolo 

                                went from being the unseen crazy friend of 

                                Joanie Cunningham, to a recurring character.

                                Happy Days was in it's last gasp when Piccolo 

                                was added to the series, but the character was 

                                scripted and played so obnoxiously that the last

                                few episodes were rendered unwatchable.

                          5. OLIVER - BRADY BUNCH

                              In the last season of the Brady Bunch, ratings 

                              were going down the drain.  The producers 

                              determined that the addition of an obnoxious 

                              cousin from out of town would save the show

                              from cancellation.  Instead, the Brady Bunch 

                              pioneered a strategy that served to tank other 

                              television shows, a tactic fatally repeated by

                              number 6 on the list.  Instead of presenting 

                              little Oliver as an endearing child to warm the

                              hearts of the audience, he was cast as an 

                              annoying trouble maker who rendered the last 

                              last episodes of an otherwise iconic series 

                              unwatchable.  

                          4. ROBIN - BATMAN AND ROBIN

                                After Tim Burton left the successful Batman 

                                reboot movie series, Batman Forever 

                                introduced us to a slew of obnoxious

                                characters, but none quite as horrific as the 

                                reinvention of Robin as a sniveling, rebellious

                                teen.  The Robin character was bad in Batman 

                                Forever, but really took annoying and 

                                obnoxious to new heights with Batman And 

                                Robin.  There was pretty good competition

                                for this list in Batman And Robin, but the 

                                Robin character was enough to kill this series 

                                of films.  Joel Shumacher's vision of Robin 

                                has rendered this fourth installment of Batman 

                                unwatchable.

                           3. SCRAPPY DOO - SCOOOBY DOO

                                

                                              In what was apparently an attempt to draw in 

                               younger, less controlled viewers, Scooby Doo 

                              foisted the terminally obnoxious Scrappy Doo

                              on America.  Scrappy Doo excelled in annoying

                              and alienating established viewers.  The failed

                              decision to introduce annoying out of control

                              characters to already successful children's

                              programs is baffling and rarely successful.  In

                              the case of Scooby Doo, the decision was fatal

                              as Scrappy Doo renders all episodes in which he 

                              appears as unwatchable.

                       2.  ELMO - SESAME STREET

                             

                              This is more for parents than kids, but, Elmo,

                              the loud, obnoxious screeching Puppet brought 

                              chaos to Sesame Street.  Sesame Street, once a

                              calm educational program aimed at                                                     disadvantaged children, began pandering to out 

                              of control, attention deficient hellions by adding 

                              a character much like themselves.  Instead of  

                              teaching self control and manners, Elmo presents

                              a character with zero restraint.  Besides being 

                              puppeteer-ed by a convicted child predator, 

                              Elmo's high pitched rants have left Sesame 

                              Street, a once iconic and relevant program 

                              unwatchable.

                        1. JAR JAR BINKS - STAR WARS EPISODE 1

                            Hands down, Jar Jar Binks ruined Star Wars 

                            Episode 1.  Prior to release, George Lucas hailed 

                            this CGI abomination as one of the highlights of 

                            his new film.  No other character is as universally 

                            hated as Jar Jar Binks.  George Lucas was 

                            banned from the set of Star Wars Episode 7 and 

                            one has to wonder if Jar Jar Binks is not the main 

                            reason.  One could imagine the conversation 

                            between J.J. Abrams and Lucas;  Lucas: "hey

                            J.J., how 'bout I come down and consult on the 

                            new film?" Abrams: "No George, but thanks for 

                            the offer."  Lucas: "Why not?"  Abrams: "Jar Jar 

                            Binks, George, Jar Jar Binks."  Lucas: "oh." 

                            Young Anakin did not help this stinker but it is 

                             Jar Jar Binks that makes this iconic prequel 

                             unwatchable.

                           

       compiled and written by Paul Ahnert, Daniel Ahnert and David Ahnert.

MORE EVIDENCE OF ISRAEL TURNING TO CHRIST IN TRIBULATION -PSALM 60:4-5

   

 Psalm 60:4-5  You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah.  That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us! 

      As I have previously written - God is not finished with Israel.   Contrary to the beliefs of my brothers, in more mainstream denominations, the church has not replaced Israel, the church joins Israel as God's elect.  To understand this, one needs only look at the Bible prophecies concerning Israel and the preservation of the Jewish people throughout history, including today.  Even at this moment, the enemies of Israel surround her, breathing constant threats of attack and genocide.  As I have also previously blogged, I believe Israel will not only cry out to God in the last days, but will actually call out for Jesus to rescue them from annihilation. click here for more   Psalm 60:4-5 makes this point and is pregnant with meaning concerning Israel in the last days.  

PSALMS - SONG BOOK OF PROPHECY
    To understand this prophecy, one must accept that the book of Psalms is more than a collection of poems and songs.  Psalms is the national hymn book of Israel.  This book deals with numerous events in the history of Israel and these events have been memorialized in song.  The book of Psalms is also heavy with prophecy.  No one can deny the prophetic nature of Psalm 22.  Psalm 22 is a graphic description of the crucifixion of Christ.  History never records David, the author of Psalm 22, being pierced or having his garments divided by his enemies or having lots cast for his clothes, as he writes in this passage.  History does record these events taking place in the life of a direct descendant of David, Jesus Christ, Yeshua ha Meshiach, Jesus - King of the Jews.  Psalm 22 is not even close to being the only prophecy recorded in Israel's song book.  When one learns to read through the Psalms with an eye for prophecy, the wonders of God's future plans for Israel and mankind will jump off the pages.  to read more on the prophetic nature of the book of Psalms CLICK HERE  

ISRAEL AND THE TRIBULATION
As we look forward on the prophetic calendar, signs seem to indicate that we are in the last days.  For the Church, the rapture is our next event.  There does not seem to be any further prophecies directed toward the church.  We know that Peter had to die before Christ returned and that there would be a great falling away.  Both of these have happened, Peter was martyred by Rome and the mainstream Church has apostated itself beyond repair.  For more on the rapture CLICK HERE  Israel, however, has about 25% of all Bible prophecy to look forward to!  The prophecies already fulfilled only lend credence to prophecies which are yet to be fulfilled.  The Old Testament prophets and Jesus, Himself, promised the destruction of Israel, the scattering of the Jews, the persecution of the Jews, the regathering of the Jews, and the rebirth of the nation of Israel.  Everyone of these things has happened, just as God promised.  It has been postulated that the best evidence for the inspiration of scripture is the Jew.  No other people has endured  persecution or attempts of eradication like the Jew.  No other nation has ever been reestablished after 2000 years.  God's hand is on the Jewish people because He loves them and all His promises for mankind rest on the future of Israel and the Jews.  
     For Israel, the next major prophetic event may very well be the period of time prophesied  by Daniel and Jeremiah.  Daniel called it the 70th week and Jeremiah referred to it as The Time of Jacob's Trouble.  This will be a 7 year period in which God's focus and attention will be primarily on Israel to test, purify and redeem her.  We refer to this period of time as the Seven Year Tribulation.

PSALMS AND REVELATION FIT TOGETHER HAND IN GLOVE  The book of Revelation, by definition reveals things to us.  Revelation reveals Jesus Christ, and it reveals the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy in history future.  When we take the above verse in Psalm 60 and match it up with the events of Revelation, we see an amazing correlation.  You have set up a banner for those who fear you that they may flee to it.  In revelation 12:6 we read  and the woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, in which she is to be nourished for 1,260 days. A few verses later, we read Revelation 12:14  But the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness, to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, and times, and half a time. Without going into a lengthy explanation, the woman spoken of here is the nation of Israel.  She will be attacked by the Anti-Christ, but led away into the wilderness by God to be protected.  For more on this CLICK HERE and check out chapter 12  There is little doubt that the serpent in Revelation refers to the Anti-Christ.  In Psalm 60:4, we are given a key word that lets us know from whom Israel is fleeing.  You have set up a banner for those who fear you that they may flee to it from the bow.  Only the church could recognize this reference as it directly corresponds to Revelation 6.  Revelation 6:2  And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. Not one word of scripture is wasted, the Psalmist made a clear reference to a time when Israel would flee from the bow, Revelation 12 reveals this event in history future and Revelation 6 reveals to us who the bow belongs to from which Israel shall flee. 

GOD'S BELOVED TO BE DELIVERED
     On the testimony of two or more witnesses, a matter is established.  We have testimony from both the Old and New Testament concerning Israel being God's beloved. First, we seen in
Jeremiah 31:3  Jehovah appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. In Romans 11:28  As regards the gospel, they are enemies for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers; we see this as well. Israel is obviously God's beloved and according to Psalm 60, she will be delivered.  The number of passages promising and describing this deliverance is staggering and far too great to list in this forum.  I will, however list two Ezekiel 36:33-34  "Thus says the Lord GOD: On the day that I cleanse you from all your iniquities, I will cause the cities to be inhabited, and the waste places shall be rebuilt.  And the land that was desolate shall be tilled, instead of being the desolation that it was in the sight of all who passed by. And Zechariah 12:7-9  "And the LORD will give salvation to the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory of the inhabitants of Jerusalem may not surpass that of Judah. On that day the LORD will protect the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them on that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the angel of the LORD, going before them.  And on that day I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.  The of the Tribulation will be unprecedented, according to Jesus.  God's beloved will suffer greater persecution and greater fear and greater pain than in other time in history.  These events are meant to turn Israel back to God.  Israel will, indeed turn back to God during this time and the name Israel invokes in that turning may come as a surprise to many.

ISRAEL CALLS FOR SALVATION FROM GOD'S RIGHT HAND
     The last part of verse 5 is an amazing prophecy concerning Israel's calling out to Jesus for salvation!  The first clue we have that this is true is Psalm 110:1-2 - A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. 2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. We know that verse one refers to Jesus as He referenced it to Himself when dealing with the Pharisees in Matthew 22.  Verse two refers to the second coming, when Christ comes to reign and rule.  Psalm 60:5 shows Israel calling to God's "right Hand" to save them and Psalm 110:1 identifies the "right Hand" and Psalm 110:2 shows the "right Hand" being sent forth to rule.  The Apostle Paul emphatically identifies Jesus as the "right Hand" of the Father: Ephesians 1:19-21  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,   Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: As stated earlier, the purpose of the Tribulation, the time referred to as "the Time of Jacob's Trouble" is to cause Israel to turn back to God.  Jesus' own words necessitate that Israel must cry out to Jesus in order to be saved, "No man comes to the Father but by me."  God promises to forgive Israel, yet forgiveness is found only in Christ, again, necessitating Israel repent in the name of Christ.  The prophet Zechariah even records for us the future event in which Israel sees Jesus return to rescue them: Zechariah 12:10  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. This passage is astounding when one realizes the implications.  God, speaking, says "they will look upon Me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for Him..."  We see here the dual nature of the Messiah depicted, God assigning, not only deity to a "Him", but identifying Himself as a separate "Him".  The one they have pierced will be God Himself, and a man, mourned for as an "only son".  There is no doubt that this passage refers to the God/man Jesus Christ, Yashua Ha Meshiach!  

     Charlie Daniels said it best in his song Tribulation - "I believe that we are living in the days John wrote about, the end times are upon us and of that there is no doubt, get your mind out of the world and take your Bible off your shelf and read the book of Revelations for yourself." 

RISEN - A MOVIE REVIEW

     I went to see the movie Risen last night, having high expectations.  I was not disappointed!  Risen is the retelling of the events of the resurrection of Christ, as seen through the eyes of a Roman soldier.  I tend to watch films that depict Biblical events with a very critical eye for accuracy.  The two or three inaccuracies I caught were so minor, they are not even worth mentioning.  The fact that the integrity of the events surrounding Christ's resurrection were protected by the plot and script is truly refreshing, especially after having wasted good money to sit through 2014's Son of God.  CLICK HERE for review of Son of God  

     Risen tells the story of an up and coming Roman soldier, Clavius(Joseph Fiennes), who, under the direct command of Pontius Pilate, is charged with bringing order back to Jerusalem after the death and resurrection of Christ.  Clavius witnesses the already crucified Christ, moments after His death and unwittingly participates in key elements of the Gospel narrative.  Pilate then entrusts the guarding of Jesus' tomb to Clavius, to ensure Christ's followers do not steal His body and claim a resurrection.  Once Christ does rise, Clavius is given the duty to locate the stolen body of Christ and enforce peace in Jerusalem which is on the brink of utter chaos.  While searching for the body of Christ, and the disciples believed to have stolen it, Clavius must confront issues he cannot reconcile in his mind concerning "the Nazarene".  

     Risen is a high quality production with fine acting, script and plot.  Fiennes is utterly believable in the role of Clavius and gives an award worthy performance.  While Clavius is obviously not part of any gospel narrative, his presence in the story changes none of the key elements of history, nor does it affect the overall message of Christ's sacrifice.  I almost had the feeling that Clavius was reading the Gospel accounts and imagining himself there and participating to a certain extant. Inserting a fictional character into an historical account is often disastrous in terms of maintaining the integrity of the historical event.  The makers of Risen do a fantastic job of telling a fictional tale within the confines of true history, without losing the accuracy of the history itself.  Kudos to the writers, directors and producers for finding a way to entertain and educate.  

     Risen is an inspiring tale that is suitable for all but the youngest of viewers as there is some graphic violence and disturbing scenes of dead bodies in various stages of decay.  The film is PG-13 and is suitable for ages 13 and up, in my opinion. 

    I highly endorse and recommend this film and plan on owning it when it comes out on DVD.  Go see Risen this Resurrection Day season, you will not be disappointed.  

JOHN ISENHOWER - ON OBEDIENCE

My good friend John Isenhower shared his thoughts on obedience and I felt compelled to share those thoughts here.

OBEDIENCE - BY JOHN ISENHOWER

    Obedience might be a thing we don't understand.  We have been brought up in a world where there is no accountability.  We are raised by our grandparents or a school system or babysitter, so our parents can both work 60 hours per week to maintain worldly standards.  Eventually, that causes unfaithfulness, and/or stress on the marriage, which ends in divorce.  Then we are down to a broken home, being bounced back and forth like a ping pong ball.  At that point, we are counting down the days until we are 18, and life will be so much better.  We reach this dream age and we realize, we haven't been taught one thing, except, it's all about us.  We don't know how to love, we don't know how to share, we don't know how to take care of ourselves, much less the child we are having with the girl we are not married to.  We move right to the government, who will continue to teach us to take, take, take.  This seems to be ok with people because they have not been taught anything different.  There is no model of right and wrong in the world.  God and His word has become so diluted that we, as Christians, are confused on what our lives are supposed look like.  We do not realize that we are supposed to be modeling obedience and accountability.  We are called to stand up and be different than the world, so those who don't know Christ can be directed to Him.
    Through our obedience, we need to be careful to realize that God has put us in His spotlight or others to see.  Not to see us, but Christ in us.  God created us for His purpose, not our own.  He should live in the driver seat of our lives, not the passenger seat. God should most definitely not live in the back seat, which is where He ends up most of the time.  This is the reason we spend so much time trying to justify sin, instead of guiding others in the direction of repenting of theirs.  I am thankful that God gave His Son to be a perfect example of the live we should be living.  There is no if, ands, or buts, about it.  If we truly look at the words of Jesus Christ for what they are, we either choose to obey or disobey.  There is clearly no in between.




John Isenhower is the director of the Knoxville chapter of Relevant ministries, a homeless outreach.  His passion for sharing the Gospel with the homeless has motivated me step outside my comfort zone, for which I am very grateful. John's true passion is evangelism and discipleship and I am proud to call him my friend.

COLOSSIANS 1:10 - WALKING IN A MANNER WORTHY OF GOD

  As I am embarking on the path of discipleship and disciple making, one of the most important things I must do is strive to walk in a manner worthy of my faith.  Colossians 1:10 states  so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.  This passage defines the Christian life.  My goal must be to put this passage into practice in every aspect of my life.  Each individual Christian must endeavor to live an uncontradictory  life.  We cannot have one persona at church and one persona at work and another with one group of friends and yet another with a different group of friends.  The true disciple of Christ is consistent in his behavior regardless of his surroundings.  The true disciple of Christ is uncomplicated and constant.  

WALKING IN A MANNER PLEASING TO GOD

     What does it mean to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord? Jesus told us to love God and love others.  Loving God and others takes the focus off of our own lives, our own wants, desired and perceived needs, and places it on serving God and helping others.  As I have written previously, discovering our spiritual gifting and operating in that gifting is a key component to fulfilling God's purpose and call on our lives.  We cannot be worthy of the Lord or please Him or bear fruit unless we are fulfilling His call.  For More on Spiritual gifts CLICK HERE  

      Many people find life unfulfilling. The pursuit of fulfillment, often times, leads to wasted efforts.  King Solomon lamented a life squandered by seeking fulfillment in the things of the world.  Solomon sought meaning in physical relationships, in wealth building, in monument construction and in knowledge, yet he concluded that all these things from which he sought meaning were meaningless.  Solomon's conclusion was fulfillment is only found in serving God.  

    How many times have we read about a well known personality, who has died in the pursuit of fulfillment, whether it be by accidental overdose, an accident brought on by intoxication or health problems caused by a decadent lifestyle?  Even sadder, how many celebrities, having realized the futility of their pursuits,  chose suicide?  To read more on this CLICK HERE  Like Solomon, there are some, who attain everything they believe should make them happy and fulfilled, only to realize that those things were not satisfying beyond the immediate gratification of attainment.  Once the initial thrill has worn off, the pursuit of the next thrill begins.  This is futility personified. 

    In Colossians 1:10 we find a key to fulfillment and purpose.  I cannot tell anyone what specifically to do to please God and bear fruit.  Your relationship with God is personal and tailor made just for you.  I can tell you that obedience to God, whatever that looks like in your life, is essential.  We know that God desires we spend time with Him in His word and in prayer. We know that God wants us to fellowship with other believers. We know God wants us to treat others well.  Beyond the basic commands to love God and love others, my rules from for obedience and holy living may not be the same rules for you.  My relationship with God is based on my calling, my gift, my weaknesses and my mission, as is yours.  Your personal obedience, beyond the basic commandments, can only be found by pursuing God and His will for your life.  

     ON BEARING FRUIT

     Bearing fruit is essential for every believer.  Luke 6:43-44a "For there is no good tree wich produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. for each tree is known by it's fruit"  Jesus condemned Israel for not bearing fruit as a nation, as demonstrated by His encounter with the figless fig tree.  We bear fruit by living under God's authority, following the prompting of His Spirit and serving Him in the capacity which He has enabled us.  Fruit bearing, on a personal level, does not mean having a dynamic ministry that brings in thousands, or even dozens, of people.  Fruit bearing is not having "success" in evangelism.  Fruit bearing, for the believer, is subtle and natural, just as a fruit tree, once established, bears fruit in season.  Galatians 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. True fruit in the life of a believer is born from within and manifests itself outwardly.  As we continue on as disciples of Christ, growing in faith and obedience, these things in Galatians will be natural by products.  When these fruits are manifested, our very lives become living testimonies of faith. 

INCREASING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD
   One would assume that we need to increase in the knowledge of God before we can walk in a manner that is pleasing to Him and before we can bear good fruit.  One would assume wrong.  Once we are born again, we are new creations.  Born again believers are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and the fruit we bear is the fruit of the Spirit.  It is His fruit that is borne in us.  We increase in the knowledge of God so we can increase in our ability to please God and to bear good fruit.  Once we increase in our knowledge of God, it is essential that we put that knowledge into practice.  Scripture says James 1:23  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror.   For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. Increasing in the knowledge of God initiates and perpetuates our sanctification.  Sanctification is the process of the Holy Spirit changing us into the image of Christ Himself.  Romans 8:29  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 

Colossians 1:10 provides us with a guide to holy living.  Discipleship is taking passages like this from the Bible and actively pursuing the application to our lives.  As born again believers, we should desire a closer walk with God and a deeper relationship with Him.  As we draw closer go God, our lives will begin to change and we will have opportunity to serve Him.   The goal is not to be busy for God, but to know God and allowing that knowledge to transform us into the image of Christ.  God is the one who does the work, we simply follow His lead and serve under His guidance and provision - Jesus said "my yoke is easy and my burden is light." This does not mean we will have an easy path to follow or that we will have no difficulties, it means we are yoked together with Him and He helps carry our burdens, while we are walking with Him.  Walking in a manner worthy of God is not work but surrendering to His will and allowing Him to guide our footsteps in life.

SUPER DELEGATES - THE TRUE DISENFRANCHISEMENT OF THE AMERICAN VOTERS

   

As I watched the results for the Iowa Caucus and New Hampshire Primary, I was confused as to how Hillary Clinton had delegates before voting even started.  In Iowa, before the first vote was cast, Clinton had 3 delegates and Sanders had 0.  In New Hampshire, early results showed Sanders up by 20% and Clinton had 6 delegates and Sanders had 0.   I was perplexed and agitated, especially given the Clintons' political machine's penchant for playing by a different set of rules.  Hillary Clinton is a liar, so I figured she was probably a cheater as well.

     I researched how a candidate could possibly get delegates with no votes and discovered the Super Delegate. To become a Super Delegate, one must have held political office or be appointed by a party official.  The only super power the Super Delegate actually has is subverting the will of the people.  Normal delegates are awarded by votes from the electorate.  The citizens vote and the delegates are awarded to the candidate with the most votes.  Some states are winner takes all and some divide according to vote percentages.  The Super Delegate is not beholden to the will of the people.  The Super Delegate is free to choose whichever candidate he wishes, regardless of the vote.  There are over 700 Super Delegates nationwide, about half the number of needed delegates to nominate a candidate.

     Super Delegates exist because the Democratic party does not trust it's constituents to make the right choice.  Super Delegates are a safety net to ensure that the establishment's choice receives the nomination.  If you are a democratic voter, you are not trusted by your own party...  When George McGovern, a complete disaster of a candidate, won the nomination in 1972, the Democratic Party decided that it would never again leave the decision of who represents the party, in the race for president, to the people.  The Democratic Party decided that the people could not be trusted and the Super Delegate was born.

   This underhanded method of counting delegates explains why Sanders and Clinton, who finished in a virtual tie in Iowa, were not awarded the same number of delegates.  Three Super Delegates were given to Clinton before even one vote was cast.  Clinton picked up 6 Super Delegates in New Hampshire, where she was trounced by Sanders, giving her more Delegates than Sanders.   This is unbelievable.

     The same party that claims requiring an ID to vote disenfranchises voters has a built in system to ensure that the will of the people does not subjugate the will of the Party.  

SATISFACTION VS ABUNDANCE - PROVERBS 10 PRINCIPLES ON WEALTH

   As I was reading through Proverbs this week, I noticed, in Proverbs 10:2-3, principles on wealth that prompted me to share my thoughts.  Proverbs 10:2-3 Treasures gained by wickedness do not profit, but righteousness delivers from death.  The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.  We, as a society, are geared toward amassing.  We try to amass wealth, honor, prestige, and other, often elusive things we believe will bring us satisfaction.  Who among us has never said, "If only I had..." believing  there is a thing, just out of our reach , which would bring us true satisfaction?  Even worse than craving the unattainable is achieving the object or our desire, acquiring the one thing  we just know will bring true bliss, and realizing  the satisfaction promised was not delivered.  To attain and yet not achieve is a hollow victory indeed.

     The acquisition of wealth, as the world sees it, is much like this.  The real question is, "how much is enough?"  Without the proper spiritual perspective, there is no such thing as enough, because satisfaction is elusive for those outside the will of God.  The list of famous people who have attained "the American dream" only to commit suicide is astounding.  In August of 2014, funny man Robin Williams joined the ranks of those who could not find satisfaction in what the world had to offer. read the Tragic Death of Robin Williams HERE   Williams, like many before him, realized the hollowness of attainment.  Being adored by millions, commanding millions of dollars for roles, having unlimited access to the excesses of life were not enough.  According to Proverbs 10:2-3, it is God's design that we not find satisfaction in these things.

     Proverbs 10:2 states that "treasure gained by wickedness do not profit."  Treasure is wealth, yet this passage says ill gotten treasure cannot profit.  How could wealth not profit?  If the goal of attaining the treasure is satisfaction, then the goal will not be achieved.  According to the above passage, the righteous will have needs met, while the wicked, though they may be wealthy, will crave.  What do the wicked crave, the one thing they cannot have - peace.  Wealth, fame and prestige cannot fulfill man's need for peace.  A right relationship with God, in which needs are met, is far more satisfying than great amounts of wealth that calls out for "just a little more."  Jesus stated it perfectly in Mark 8:36  For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?  

     Satisfaction is the real goal of all people.  We do not realize this because we are busy pursuing  things which we believe will bring satisfaction.  These things soon eclipse the underlying desire for satisfaction and our pursuit becomes misplaced on an object or status and the peace of true satisfaction is never realized.  The pursuit of satisfaction in material wealth can never end, as wealth, in and of itself cannot bring the peace and satisfaction that the soul of man craves.  The Spirit of God is the only one who can provide us with true and lasting satisfaction.  I Christ, we can have all our needs met, physical, spiritual and even emotional, by the power of God, irregardless of how much money, power or notoriety we may or may not have.

     Abundance of stuff does not indicate blessing.  The above passage reveals how treasure can be gotten through wicked means.  Surely the wicked are not blessed by God.  I am most blessed when I am walking in the will of God and that usually means I am giving of my resources, not getting.  I am never more at peace or more satisfied than when I am operating in the skill set with which God has gifted me.  By my stating this, you may correctly deduce that I am inferring that I am among the righteous. I unequivocally assert that I am righteous in the eyes of God, and yes this is a bold statement.  I also, just as strongly assert that my righteousness is not because I am a good person or because I have done anything good, I am righteous because Christ has made me righteous by His shed blood on the cross.  Christ imputed His righteousness to me, filling me with His Spirit and giving me the peace of satisfaction.  My only role is exercising the faith which God made available to me.

     I may never be a rich man, as the world defines wealth.  I am, however, blessed beyond measure because I have access to my Father in heaven and I know that He promises to provide all my needs out of the abundance of Christ.  I can be, and am, satisfied because He has made me satisfied by His Spirit.  If only those who endlessly pursue the unattainable would find the secret to true peace and satisfaction.  The wicked may amass and horde and attain, but they will never achieve the one thing that every soul craves... peace.