Tuesday, March 24, 2009

THE BLESSING OF TESTING

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together
unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word,
nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means:
for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first,
and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
2 Thessalonians 2:1-4



Good Morning Friends,

I'm so glad I'm Forgiven by God's Amazing Grace, Saved by the blood of Jesus, Filled with the Spirit of holiness, Walking in the Light, Separated from the world, and Joyfully obeying the will of God! Aren't you?

The incredible erosion of Christian commitment and the tsunami of immorality that is flooding our land, has some now writing of the "COMING EVANGELICAL COLLAPSE." (See Michael Spencer's article in the Christian Science Monitor, and Warren Smith's new book "Lovers Quarrel with the Evangelical Church).
They point to studies like those of George Barna, to reinforce their thesis. Barna is now reporting an alarming increase in skepticism and resistance to Christianity among those who are 16-29 years of age. (see Barna.org)

Michael Spencer writes, "Evangelicals have failed to pass on to our young people an orthodox form of faith that can take root and survive the secular onslaught. Ironically the billions of dollars we've spent on youth ministries, Christian music, publishing, and media, has produced a culture of young Christians who know next to nothing about their faith...it has become a church that really focuses on therapy rather than redemption."

Yet in the midst of the political, economic, social, and even spiritual turmoil we now face, we have "Christ's own promise, which can never fail!" He said, "I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it!" Matthew 16:18.

THE SPECTRE OF CROSS-LESS CHRISTIANITY HAS AT LEAST THIS ONE BENEFIT, WE'RE NOW FINDING OUT WHO WILL "CLING TO THE OLD RUGGED CROSS" AND WHO WILL NOT.
- We're finding out who will live for The Book, and who will explain it away!
- We're finding out who will die for The Book rather than deny The Book!
- We're finding out who will love Christ even unto death, and who will save their own skin.
- We're finding out who will hate even "the garment spotted by the flesh" and those who crave the life of the flesh.
- We're finding out who will justify their sins, rather than be justified from sin! Bonhoeffer warned of cheap grace that "justifies sin" but not the sinner!
- We're finding out who will stand against the world, the flesh, and the devil, and those who will not.
- We're finding out who will lead in the Cause of righteousness, and those who will follow the crowds of the carnal.
- We're finding out who will be popular with God, and who will be popular with the devil's crowd.
- We're finding out those who desire to get the love of the world out of the church, and those who desire to get the life of the world into the Church. (God deliver us from rock and roll, night-club, food-court, sabbath breaking, money-changing, churchianity!)

These are trying times, but God has always had His people.

ENLIST TODAY! God is calling for a rugged band of holy disciples to stand like a Gideon's Band against the onslaught of the Enemy.

ENGAGE TODAY! Having identified ourselves with the Confessing Church, not the "Professing" Church, we must engage the enemy, and press forward in the battle for truth!

We need men and women with warm hearts, enlightened minds, and faithful action! We're now finding out who will "take up the cross," who will "fight the good fight," who will "finish the course," and who will "keep the faith!"

ENJOY TODAY! Assured that our cause is just, our Christ is risen, our eternity is secure, and that Christ, Our Commander in Chief is on the way, we can press on with FAITH IN THE FUTURE, and an unwavering confidence! We are on the winning side.

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