Looking In The Mirror

Looking In The Mirror

James

 

 

    

"Therefore, to him who KNOWS to DO good and does NOT DO it, TO HIM it is a SIN." (James 4:17 KJV)

"James the half brother of Jesus, was slow to affirm the ministry of Jesus [Hebrew of all Hebrews] his controversial brother (John 7:5). Eventually he did come to believe in Him and became one of the leaders of the church at Jerusalem after Jesus' resurrection (Acts 15:13). And WHAT a leader!... Once James got IN STEP WITH JESUS' MISSION, he became zealous for righteousness. His one epistle is the most like the Old Testament prophets of ALL New Testament epistles and Gospels.

James wrote in a black and white thinker style of letter. DON"T approach James to discuss compromise or the fallible possibility of NOT DOING WHAT GOD EXPECTS. First, James says that if you KNOW what is the right thing to do but don't do it, it is a sin! (James 4:17). Second, he says if you do all the right things except one, it is the same in God's sight as having not done any of them. (James 2:10) Any questions? BUT James also appreciated the grace of God. In cases where we don't KNOW the right thing to do, he says ask God for wisdom, which God will give "liberally without reproach." (James 1:5) .

GRACE DOES NOT MEAN WE DO NOT HAVE TO DO THE RIGHT THING. NEITHER DOES IT MEAN WE CAN'T ASK TO BE SHOWN."
Donald Grey Barnhouse

"19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:19-25 KJV)

Jesus' Seven Sayings On The Cross

Jesus' Seven Sayings On The Cross

 

 

     The Son of God, the sinless Prince of Heaven, the One in Who all things were created for, through, and by.  Spotless and unblemished.  A man, yet God incarnate.  A carpenter, yet King of the universe.  Despised of His own, esteemed not, yet the very definition of love, and hope.  He came anyway, He came leaving the glory of the Father in Heaven, worshiped of angels, to be mocked, and falsely accused and cursed of those whom He came to save and restore.  Am historical truth so radical that man could never make up or devise.  He came anyway, knowing what the cost would be.  Let us look at His last words from the cross.

    
1. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 24:34).
This first of seven sayings of Jesus shows that He was thinking of others until the end of His life. Even while experiencing the horrible pain of crucifixion, He was praying for the very people who caused His suffering. He came to earth for the purpose of forgiving sinners and He loved them and forgave them up until the end. It was because of man's sin that He was on the cross—suffering on behalf of that sin.  SELFLESS CREATOR


2. "Today you will be with me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43).
Not only did Jesus forgive those who crucified Him, He also forgave one of the thieves crucified next to Him. When the thieves were put on the cross both of them cursed Jesus but, as time elapsed, one of the thieves had a change of heart.

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed him, saying, ‘If you are the Christ, save yourself and us.' But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, ‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.' Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom' (Luke 23:39-42).

It was at this juncture that Jesus made His second statement from the cross promising to forgive the repentant thief. Again we see Jesus' concern for others. His example later led the Apostle Paul to exhort the Philippian church,

Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself (Philippians 2:3).

THE CREATOR RESTORING WILLING CREATED SOULS

3. "Woman, behold your Son" (John 19:26).
As Jesus continued to suffer on the cross His mind was still upon others. He saw His mother standing near the Apostle John and said, "Woman, behold your son." He then looked at John and said, "Behold your mother!" By doing this He was entrusting the care of His mother to John. The law required the firstborn son to take care of his parents, and Jesus was obeying the law of God up until the end. Early in His ministry Jesus emphasized His respect for the law:

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17).

He honored and obeyed the law throughout His life and He also honored the law while suffering His death.
THE CREATOR EXMPLIFYING THE MORAL LAW, GIVING A PATTERN OF BEHAVIOR

4. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46).
The fourth saying of Jesus from the cross is probably the most difficult for us to understand. The sinless Son of God who had been, from all eternity, in an intimate relationship with His Father, is now spiritually separated from Him. When the sins of the world were put upon Jesus there was, for the first time, a separation between the Father and the Son. The Bible records something happened between them that we can only understand through the eye of faith.

That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself (2 Corinthians 5:19).

The Father was placing the sins of the world upon the Son in order that everything in the universe that had been affected by sin could again be made right with God. Jesus was suffering the pain and separation that we deserve:

For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21).

In order for this to occur, the Father had to forsake the Son and punish Him on our behalf.

THE TRANSFER OF SIN, NO LONGER "Father" BUT "MY GOD MY GOD" HUMANITY SUBSTITUTED.

5. "I thirst" (John 19:28).
The fifth statement that Jesus made from the cross reminds us again that He suffered as a human being. The Bible says,

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst' (John 19:28).

He lived as a man and suffered as a man in order that He could identify with suffering humanity. From this statement we observe that Jesus suffered the full physical effect of crucifixion. There was no easing up, for the weight of our sins was placed upon Him.

HUMANITY'S PHYSICAL RELATION, IDENTIFICATION, AND FULFILLMENT OH PROPHECY

6. "It is finished" (John 19:30).
The sixth statement from Jesus while on the cross was a cry of victory. The Greek text reads tetelestai, "It is finished." What was finished? As we consider the life and ministry of Jesus we can think of several things that His death made complete.
Jesus Finished The Job That The Father Gave Him To Do
First, Jesus had to finish the task the Father had sent Him to earth to accomplish, namely to provide salvation for humankind. By living His entire life without sin, Jesus was able to become the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. The way of salvation had now been made complete. No more animal sacrifices were necessary for they had only pointed to the ultimate sacrifice Jesus had now offered. His was the supreme sacrifice which satisfied the righteous demands of a holy God.
Jesus Fulfilled Prophecy
The second thing that was accomplished by Jesus on the cross was a fulfillment of prophecy. The predicted Messiah had come as God promised He would. Prophecies of the Word of God, which are always accurate, had again come to pass. The Savior was promised; now Christ the Savior had come and accomplished the promised salvation.
Jesus Achieved Victory Over The Devil
A third matter that was accomplished by Jesus' death on the cross was the victory over the devil. The Scripture says that one of the purposes for Jesus' coming was to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). The death of Christ finished that task. The dominion over the earth that man, through his sin, had handed over to the devil was now won back. The authority of Satan had been vanquished - the victory had been won. When Christ comes back again He will take hold of the victory that He won over the devil on Calvary's cross.
Jesus Suffering Was Finished
A fourth and final reason that Jesus said, "It is finished" is with regard to His own suffering. Jesus spent over thirty years upon the earth living among sinful man, suffering from the self-imposed limitations of that existence. He had now endured the final six hours of that suffering on a cross. This was now finished. He would no longer have to suffer the limits of space and time. It was finished!
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED AND ATONEMENT FULFILLED. COMPLETION!

7. "Father, into your hands I commend my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
This is the final statement that we have from Jesus before His death. Everything had been completed and now it was time to dismiss His spirit. Jesus had previously made the statement that He would willingly lay down His life for His sheep.

Therefore my Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from my Father (John 10:17,18).

From this we realize that Jesus had to purposely dismiss His spirit; it could not be taken from Him. Unless He desired to die, He would not have had to. Because He was a willing victim, however, He chose to die. Upon making His final statement, Jesus died.

JESUS LAYS DOWN HIS LIFE OF HIS OWN FREE WILL, A CHOICE TO OBEY, NO MATTER COST TO HIMSELF.  The cross was the ONLY WAY.  Thank you Jesus for the cross!  Love in Christ, Jason.
http://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/stewart.cfm?id=809



Bryant's Berean Blog: Cost of Discipleship by Paul Waher

Bryant's Berean Blog: Cost of Discipleship by Paul Waher: Take 68 minutes and learn a teaching on Discipleship, you WILL NOT REGRET IT!  Love in Christ, Jason

Bryant's Berean Blog: Cost of Discipleship by Paul Waher

Bryant's Berean Blog: Cost of Discipleship by Paul Waher: Take 68 minutes and learn a teaching on Discipleship, you WILL NOT REGRET IT!  Love in Christ, Jason

Cost of Discipleship by Paul Waher

Take 68 minutes and learn a teaching on Discipleship, you WILL NOT REGRET IT!  Love in Christ, Jason

Let God Be True And All Men A Liars

Let God Be True and All Men Liars

Romans 16:17-18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

EXPOSING A HERETIC: JOSEPH PRINCE

December 6, 2011 at 12:07pm

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.  For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”--Romans 16:17-18 (KJV)
“Look to yourselves (take care) that you may not lose (throw away or destroy) all that we and you have labored for, but that you may [persevere until you] win and receive back a perfect reward [in full]. 9 Anyone who runs on ahead [of God] and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ [who is not content with what He taught] does not have God; but he who continues to live in the doctrine (teaching) of Christ [does have God], he has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine [is disloyal to what Jesus Christ taught], do not receive him [do not accept him, do not welcome or admit him] into [your] house or bid him Godspeed or give him any encouragement. 11 For he who wishes him success [who encourages him, wishing him Godspeed] is a partaker in his evil doings.”--II John 8-11 (Amplified)
    "I don’t believe Joseph Prince was always a heretic; but as he describes in his book, “Destined to Reign”, there was a point in his life and ministry where he turned away from the doctrine he had originally believed and taught himself.  He still today is eloquent, charming, and gifted.  He has a mastery of the language of “Word of Faith” having been groomed by some great men of God.  He is also proficient at quoting scripture.  Nevertheless, he is utterly self-deceived having demonstrated a willful ignorance of truth and having cultivated a warped understanding and severely twisted and irresponsible method of Biblical interpretation.
Here is a short summary of some of the many deadly heresies advocated by Joseph Prince in “Destined to Reign”:
1-Grace and law are opposites (this same doctrine was advocated by second century heretic “Marcion”)
2-Grace is one-sided and unfair (downplays faith and obedience and misunderstands divine justice)
3- Christianity is effortless (the kingdom of heaven is a welfare state)
4-Asking forgiveness for sin is unnecessary for “believers”
5-Moses and Jesus taught opposite doctrines
6-The law brings condemnation (to the wicked) and therefore Jesus removed it
7-Preaching the law makes people sin more, therefore it should not be taught at church because it will harm your church congregations (better to leave them ignorant I guess)
8-The gift of righteousness means we are righteous even if we are not
9-Unconditional forgiveness
10-God was perpetually angry in the Old Testament and perpetually happy in the New Testament
11-God does not judge nations for wickedness
12-If God judges people, cities and nations today, then He should apologize to Jesus for the cross
13-Believers aren’t punished for sin
14-We never truly stop sinning but God’s ok with that
15-We are not held more accountable to God when we know more, nor do we face greater punishment if we fail having known the truth, nor will we go through greater trials or tribulations as we draw close to God
16-The Word of God doesn’t produce faith, only the Word of Christ
17-The Word of God and the word of Christ don’t agree on some things
18-Christian’s cannot commit the unpardonable sin
19-Once saved, always saved
20-Part of Jesus’ teaching is not applicable because it’s “Old Testament”
21- We can’t take doctrine from the gospels because Jesus had not yet risen from the dead yet
22-Paul’s the lead authority on doctrine (not Jesus) because he addressed the church
23-Confession of sins for believers is about “being open” with God, not about repentance because we are already forgiven
24-Even though the book of I John was written to the church, the opening chapter is only for Gnostics and therefore we can disregard the instructions to confess our sin
25-Confession of sin is unnecessary because we would have to confess all the time (inferring we would never stop sinning)
26-Paul didn’t teach confession of sins
27-Christ died to save us from the Old Testament covenant
28-Not only should we not teach “the law” from the pulpit, we should only teach grace (even though the New Testament gives 1050 commands for believers to obey, we should still skip that part)
29-Condemnation is the deepest root of all our problems (actually condemnation is caused by sin, hence the deeper problem is sin)
30-An evil conscience is one that convicts you of sin and failure (in other words a WORKING conscience)
31-The Holy Spirit does not convict us of sin or of judgment
32-The Holy Spirit only convicts us of righteousness (when we sin)
33-Satan likes the Ten Commandments
34-The law caused Paul to be deceived in sin
35-Paul continued in sin but realized he was not condemned anyway
36-The prodigal son didn’t really repent, he was just conning his father for food
37-We shouldn’t talk about sin, repentance or judgment from the pulpit, we should only talk about the goodness of God
38-Jesus frequently broke the law of Moses to help sinners
39-God didn’t unconditionally protect rebellious sinners in the Old Testament who were bitten by serpents but He will unconditionally protect rebellious sinners (“Christians”) in the New Testament
40-God had Israel put the Ten Commandments in the Ark of the Covenant to “hide” the law under the mercy seat
41-Abraham had a covenant of grace, but Moses’ had an inferior covenant of works
42-The journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai was a period of pure grace (50 days of no consequence for sin which the giving of the law ruined their sin-filled but “righteousness-consciousness” utopia)
43-Repentance doesn’t involve mourning or sorrow (or confession) for sin, it just means you changed your mind about something
44-The doctrine of repentance from sin is not for believers
45-Grace is a teacher so we don’t need the law
46-Grace-preaching is the only means of effective evangelism
47-Paul taught and believed all of the aforementioned heresies
48-Paul “winked” at the sins of Corinth because they were under grace but firmly rebuked the sins of Galatia because they taught the law
49-“Falling from grace” doesn’t mean sinning, it means reverting to law
50-If you teach the law you are a “man-pleaser” (bizarre I know)
51-Fasting is unnecessary and is only in the New Testament because fasting enthusiasts added it in later manuscript copies
52-When Satan tempted Jesus to “turn the stones to bread”, he was actually tempting Jesus to get nourishment from the law instead of trusting in the love of God (my eyes are rolling even as I type this)
53-Etc., etc., etc.
For the teaching of these doctrines and many others not mentioned on this list, I assert with little timidity that Joseph Prince is unquestionably a heretic.  You may not agree with my analysis on every point; but only a fool and a rebel would completely whitewash such pervasive and damnable confusion!
Consider this final quote from Joseph Prince:
“The Lord told me many years ago, ‘Son, your ministry is to roll away the stone.’  Let me explain to you what this means.  In the story of Lazarus, Jesus commanded the people to roll away the stone from Lazarus’ tomb…My friend, the stone is a picture of the law.”
 
I would suggest to you, that any ministry or ministry personality devoted to the concept of rejecting the laws of God in the name of God, is in fact promoting lawlessness and rebellion to authority, which is why a common symptom of these heretical teachings is church splits, licensed immorality, and rogue ministers in the Body of Christ who refuse correction and accountability to qualified spiritual leaders.
If you would like an even more in-depth look at the sampling evidence of these many heresies espoused by Joseph Prince, please see my Daily Grace & Truth facebook page where I dissect these many heresies one by one."



From a Season of Ashes To a Season of Beauty

From A Season Of Ashes To A Season Of Beauty

Isaiah 61:2-7

God

 

     Seasons, seasons are moments in the dispensations of time, time which is limited time and the mind and concept of human restraint of understanding.  We all go through seasons of joy and contentment, hear ache, life and birth, and death and rebirth.  The Christian is not immune to any of these, if anything our Lord promised that, "In this life we WOULD HAVE TROUBLES, but take HEART, I have over come this world."
     Today is the anniversary of what would a have been my 20th wedding anniversary, a season which ended in a divorce from a high school sweetheart which I contested, begged and pleaded not to end, but end it did.  I fought for two years of divorce and custody proceedings to save.  But the other part after eighteen years, wished for a new life, spouse, and family and four kids and myself were left hurt, distraught, and alone I the human since.  But...but this season of ashes would yield to a season of miraculous beauty.
     This season, this valley of darkness and alone in the Lord would have implications not of negative sense or mindset, but one of growth, ministry, and hope because of Jesus.  There was a time for where a year and a half I soaked my pillow, weeping, and pain worse than death that at that season of time, seemed it would never end, BUT it did, because of this truth, this hope in Christ that was proven by God Himself:

    
     ^"2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
³ To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
⁴ And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
⁵ And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
⁶ But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
⁷ For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them."  (Isaiah 61:2-7 KJV)


    This promise written in a season upon which Israel was destroyed after manifest sin and spiritual adultery.  They application to the child of Christ is this: " Is Christ your lord, Redeemer, Savior?  Then the hope is yours as well!  Jesus came in, and he held my heart, hand, and mind.  He taught me that he is there, He doesn't leave us in our sin or condition. 
       ^"26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
²⁷ And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
³⁰ Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
³¹ What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
³² He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
³³ Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
³⁴ Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
³⁶ As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
³⁷ Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us."  (Romans 8:26-37 KJV)

     Jesus kept this promise to me,  He held my hand as I would weep for a year and a half, He would go Christmas shopping with me, He would have lunch with me, He would shop with me ,and he would be my spouse as I raised my eight children, alone though teenage years, and He met every financial and relationship need, and He has provided a single parent with more than deserved, provide with no help from the estranged spouse, he proved Himself as my spouse, as my friend, and companion.  He proved the precept from ashes to beauty, and God is Good.  Love in Christ, Jason