Tag: pastors and church leaders

Posted in Everyday News, Living in Today's World, Standing Firmly for Truth

Prayer NOT Politics

Posted on by Streim

Recently I have spent a considerable amount of time reading, researching and studying the Word about this subject; in earnest prayer.  I am more than aware that I’m wading into deep water and some readers may be offended while others may even ridicule me, but oh well…  When my Lord Jesus and Heavenly Father urge me to write… I do so!   It matters not what any one person thinks of me.
With His grace, this is intended not to offend, but to promote a positive relationship with other members of the Body of Christ.  

I’m seeing a very startling trend across our country.  Many people believe that if we change from a liberal, Democratic president to a supposed conservative, Republican leader, our country is going to be fixed or is on the mend.  Nothing could be further from the actual truth.  I see some prominent Christian leaders  actively involved in political organizations that they believe will change this country.  I believe that is the WRONG path!   Here is why…

1 Thessalonians 5 gives us warnings, admonitions and commandments, which we need to read and heed: I pray as you read this chapter, that you do so asking the Holy Spirit’s discernment and for our Father’s leading through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.  For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.  While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.  For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.  So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.  But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.  For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.  And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle,encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.  See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.  Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.  Do not quench the Spirit.  Do not despise prophecies,  but test everything; hold fast what is good.  Abstain from every form of evil.  Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.  Brothers, pray for us.  Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.  I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

 

Many conservative, Republican Christians daily are slamming our president, our new candidates for office and our Supreme Court.  To me it is a disgrace to the name of Jesus Christ.  They like to  use 2 Chronicles 7: 14 “ if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  The land the LORD spoke of here was the promised land and the people His chosen people, the Jews.  I know this entire passage in 2 Chronicles and the entire Old Testament was written (as breathed out by God) for learning, correcting, instructing in right living and for doctrine.  I know that God never made a covenant with America!  Praying for the government is godly wisdom, but we have a much greater task— being obedient to our Lord Jesus commands and His example.

I  urge every one who reads this entire post to stop and asks the Lord…   “Is America going to be changed by politics or by the power of the Sovereign Creator and our Lord Jesus Christ?”  Yes I believe we are to represent out Savior and God above all else. Yes I believe in being involved in our communities. But I also believe God is the one who allows things that are for His eternal plan for mankind.  Blessings to all  ♥ Streim  (This was originally posted on August 12, 2012.  I have made some edits for several reasons.)

 
Posted in Living in Today's World, Seeking Truth?, The Word

Hated For Speaking Truth

Posted on by Streim

 Recently I spent time searching an online Christian bookstore for a book I hoped was not out of publication.  The title of the book I wanted started with P.  I started my search alphabetically.  The book wasn’t there.  What I did find made me sad and angry.  Numerous books about the subject of prayer.  How to pray, when to pray, why to pray, where to pray, what kind of words to pray, praying for mothers, prayers for dads, how to teach your children to pray and more !!   I learned to pray from the example our Savior Jesus Christ gave to His disciples, the Holy Word and the Spirit of the living God who resides in each of us who claims Christ as Savior.

How many of you, without a thought, will turn on your television this evening to watch the Bible series thing?  I pray none of you!  After all, some very noted preachers and leaders have endorsed.  So, if they say it’s ok…then it is right?  NO!!!!!!!  ( I hear some mumbly, angry words).  If you chose to know more of our Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit— spend time this evening reading aloud  John 15 to the end of his Gospel; or Matthew 26 to the end.  If your heart’s desire is to know Him more, I guarantee John and Matthew’s writings will move your heart.

Hebrews 4: 12-16 

12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot * sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
 I would rather place my faith and trust in the  John, Matthew and Paul ( and the other 63 books of Holy Scripture) truth about the One True God;  than in a Hollywoodized, distorted, untruthful representation of our Lord Jesus Christ. ♥ Streim

 the Truth

 

Posted in Living in Today's World, Seeking Truth?

Turnabout Tuesday–What is going on…?

Posted on by Streim

(I originally posted this on October 17, 2013.   I decided to repost because far too many Christians (?) are being deceived by sensationalism in church services and gatherings.  This sensationalism is aimed at creating “feeling” experience with God rather than a “living” relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. )

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Where do we draw the line between “right and wrong”;

How do we distinguish between “good and evil”?

How do we know we are following “the Truth–according to God” or “distorted man-made traditions”?

When will today’s pastors, teachers, authors stop resorting to “techniques of modern culture to share the Gospel” message and start “preaching the Gospel from God’s Word“?

What are Christians required to conform to?  The “morality of our society” or the “standards of God’s Word”?

How do we know when hot IS “hot”?  Or cold IS  “cold”?  Is it our perception?

When I studied in the Word for the doctrinal series I began (but after much prayer ‘knew’ I was not to continue), I started reading from Jeremiah the prophet.  I must say, I see a spiritual parallel between the “overt disobedience” of God’s chosen people during  Jeremiah’s time and the “overt lies” being taught (and much to my dismay–believed!)  by many Christian churches today.

When the LORD God spoke to His people through Jeremiah, the LORD’S love  was expressed in His continued patience (v12); but He did require repentance–turning away from their sin and towards Him. (vs 13-15)

Jeremiah 3: 12-15 “ Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say: ‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says the Lord; ‘I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful,’ says the Lord; ‘ I will not remain angry forever. 13 Only acknowledge your iniquity, That you have transgressed against the Lord your God, And have scattered your charms To alien deities under every green tree, And you have not obeyed My voice,’ says the Lord. 14 “Return, O backsliding children,” says the Lord; “for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. 15 And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

We hear so much today about perspective and moral relativism in the world.  It’s quite obvious there are many of our Christian teachers, pastors, leaders, authors, etc that are grasping and using these ideas.  WHY?  Because as many say “How do we get people into the church today?”  when they should be saying “How do we reach lost souls with the Gospel of Christ and disciple them as commanded in the Word?”   You might wonder what the difference in these two questions is. 

It’s the difference between the BLACK AND WHITE truths of the Word and the many shades of grey found in the perceptions of men.

BLACK AND WHITE: God’s Word

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard , which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;  (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full . This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another , and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that 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. If we say that we have not sinned , we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1

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Post-modern Christianity (here’s just ONE shade of gray!)

(Taken from “Roots of Church Growth Movement” at standupforthetruth.com)

In the early days of the church, Christians gathered to equip one another to do that, and the purpose of the church became about praying with one another, worshiping God, breaking bread and learning from the apostles teachings about Jesus. Our Lord instructed us through the ages to go forth and proclaim the Gospel to all nations, baptizing them and making disciples of Jesus Christ.

But these days, the leaders of the modern church in the West seem to be focused elsewhere. Countless conferences equip us not to share the Gospel but to be good leaders. For example, this year’s largest conference, Catalyst, had as its theme: Go and Make. But nowhere was the word Disciples ever attached to that message, and leaders once again gathered by the hundreds of thousands to learn about how to grow membership, meet their felt needs and get them connected in church programs. (Catalyst, by the way, is the largest in the seeker/growth movement.)

Today’s popular model is nowhere to be found in Scriptures, and in fact might be opposite of how churches are to grow.

 

Remember as forgiven, blood bought children of Almighty God we must know the deceitful ways in which the enemy is working in today’s world–especially in the Church!  Getting people into churches is NOT what will change their eternal destiny.  We are to go into all the world, wherever that may be, and preach/teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, making disciples (those who will live according the Word) in truth and love.  If there is no making of disciples— there is error.  Jesus teaching at the feast said this to the unbelieving. 

“Jesus answered them and said, ‘My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority. He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him”  John 7:16-18  

May you get into the Word of God daily and dig deep into the bounty of His truth!  ♥ Streim