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People of The Living God |
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May 2024
WATCHMEN ON THE WALLS
TWO PRE-ADVENT EVENTS
Randall Walton
Nearly every Christian is interested in the events which have been prophesied in the Scriptures which pertain to the second coming of Jesus and the last days. Millions of Christians have accepted the notion that all true Christians will be supernaturally snatched off this planet and ascend into heaven to escape the time of trouble, an event known as the secret rapture.
This idea has no support in the Scriptures whatsoever; we, therefore, are constrained to declare that non-event as a part of the confusion meant to delude people in the last days.
The Bible is most plain that certain outstanding events must occur before Jesus returns in the clouds to judge the wicked and to receive His own to Himself.
Paul warned the saints in Thessalonica that they should let no one deceive them regarding the coming of Christ: “neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us.” In other words, if any one tells you that Jesus may return at any time, perhaps even today, DO NOT BELIEVE HIM! It is a lie and is meant to do you evil. “that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition” (II Thess. 2:1-3).
Brother Paul here gives us an insight of but two major occurrences which must precede Jesus’ return. “That day shall not come” until these two happenings have taken place.
The Greek has but one word for the two English words, “falling away”: apostacia, or as we say in English, apostasy. This Greek word is made up of two words, however: “apo,” meaning away or away from, and “stasis,” meaning a standing. Put together, they indicate a turning away from a belief, or faith, or principle, or a standing.
Paul, of course, was not referring to the occasion of people backsliding or growing cold in their relationship with God. He was writing about some massive movement which folks could observe as a precursor of the coming of the Lord. It would be such a major event, they could mark it as a clear sign that the time of Jesus’ return was close at hand.
Down the years of time, there have been many instances where the true faith has grown dim, but there has not been a certain date on which we can pin a definite and distinct apostasy having taken place. There have been cases of individuals who have denied the faith and who have renounced their belief in the God of the Bible. But nothing yet has occurred which seems to fit Paul’s description of a “falling away,” that is, until now!
It is only logical that in order to “fall away” from anything, a person must have attained to a certain position or place from which to fall. An unregenerate sinner cannot fall: he is already in a fallen state. A nominal church member cannot truly apostatize due to the fact that he has nothing to fall from except his affiliation with an ecclesiastical institution.
The book of Hebrews mentions a spiritual state of being which is attainable to everyone who comes to God, and to which many in this hour are reaching:
•Enlightened.
•Tasted of the heavenly gift.
•Made partakers of the Holy Ghost.
•Tasted the good word of God.
•(Tasted) the powers of the world to come.
The sum of these experiences is a far deeper and broader range of spirituality than the nominal Christian has known. The writer states that a person who has entered into this state can find no repentance if he should fall away. In other words, anyone who goes this far with God and then turns from Him has committed the unpardonable sin: “it is impossible to renew him again unto repentance” (Hebrews 6:4-6).
It is appropriate at this point to ask why anyone who has had such wonderful experiences with God would ever choose to apostatize, or fall away. Actually, those who commit such a tragedy do it unwittingly. Many people do not recognize the fact that justice demands that “unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required” (Luke 12:48b).
Lawlessness Abounds
These days are marked by the prevalence of iniquity, or lawlessness (Matt. 24:12). Mankind in general despises law and considers it bondage. Freedom to most religionists is the license to do whatever one pleases without restraint, or guilt. Consequently, God’s laws and commands are completely rejected and ignored by the majority of professing Christians who are satisfied with religious entertainment and church fun.
Little or no attention is given concerning what is required to please God. The words of Jesus Christ are considered passe’, applicable only to the Jews of old and for some future generation. Men of the cloth shout from the house tops that all law was abolished when Jesus went to the cross, and now we all have automatic forgiveness of sins without even having to ask for it.
These same people are leading great crusades or revivals, where people are being literally propelled into states of ecstasy and emotional excitement. Many are tasting of the “powers of the world to come” and being “made partakers of the Holy Ghost” while they continue to walk in rebellion and disobedience to the law and the word of God! Let it be known that no one is permitted to experience the deep things of God and live in rebellion against God’s law. Anyone who insists on having that freedom and liberty, that is, to reject God’s divine law, will pay the price of “falling away,” and such a person will not even know that he is forever cut off from God!
This person will continue to be religious, will still claim the name of Jesus and will have supernatural experiences – however, not under the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Those who are pressing in to the glories of the kingdom of God should be told that much is required of them. They, more than any other people on earth, should be totally committed to the obedience of God’s laws and the commands of Jesus Christ. Sadly, this is not the case.
The ground work for the “falling away” is already being laid and will increase more and more until there is a complete take-over by the forces of evil. Strangely enough, the very people who are leading this plunge into desolation are the ones who should know better – they are the ones who CLAIM to have an inside corner of all things spiritual. These are the Pentecostals and the Charismatics, both of which are clambering for more spirit activity and they hate law.
The consequence of lawless spirit activity is apostasy, falling away. The more of this unlawful spirit activity we witness the more we realize that the falling away is very near and that also means that the coming of Jesus draws nigh.
The Man of Sin Revealed
Commonly known as The Antichrist, the “man of sin” will come forth as the one who has the final solution to all of man’s problems. Paul describes this man as satan incarnate: “he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” The temple spoken of here is not a material building, but is a fleshly body. Remember the words of Jesus in John 2:19-21: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up…But he spoke of the temple of his body.” “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you” (I Cor. 3:16).
Just as the Spirit of God indwells the bodies of the people of God, it is possible for evil spirits or satan himself to take up residence within a human body. Likely candidates for this horrible condition will be those who have become apostates and yet continue to claim to be in fellowship with the living God.
Paul further describes this man’s activities as “after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders” (II Thess. 2:9). This character will seek to deceive the very elect (Matt. 24:24) with his power and signs and lying wonders. He will declare that he is Jesus Christ and will attempt to prove his claims through the miracles he performs. Many people will undoubtedly believe his lie and fall away from THE faith.
The “man of sin’s” objective, of course, is to destroy the elect – God’s true servants – by coercing them to reject Jesus Christ and follow him instead. He will “shew himself that he is God” through his marvelous manifestations of miracles.
This “instead-of-Christ” man will be revealed or manifested as a consequence of the falling away. Satan will take advantage of those who are seizing supernatural power but who resist the commands and laws of Jesus Christ. Remember that there are “false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel: for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works” (II Cor. 11:13-15).
Anyone who resists or rejects the law of the Most High is a rebel at heart. The mere fact of his being religious does not change his heart. He may be baptized in the Holy Spirit, he may speak with tongues and receive power to work miracles, but his rebellion against God’s eternal law will bring about his downfall. Any person who truly loves God will desire to please Him – and the way to please Him is to honor Him by obeying His word.
Pandemonium and super confusion reign in most Pentecostal meetings today. The “contemporary music” scene in those meetings is comparable with that of the rock and roll performers: the only difference is in the use of words. But lyrics are not the most important part of music. The rock beat which dominates the musical performance invites the inspiration and participation of evil spirits whether it is done in the secular world or at a religious meeting.
Anytime a crowd of people indulge in sensuality and licentiousness, they open the door to the influence of evil spirits who are waiting for the opportunity to participate, and thrill the people with a sense of enthrallment and bliss which the people think is the Spirit of God. Little do they realize that their high jinks are a prelude to disaster, the abomination which leads to desolation.
Who Is The Man of Sin?
Jesus referred to Judas Iscariot as “the son of perdition,” so some people think that Judas fulfilled all prophecies concerning this man. But it must be remembered that Judas killed himself shortly after the betrayal of Jesus, and Paul was talking about a man of sin to be revealed just prior to Jesus’ second advent.
People have attempted to identify the antichrist for years. The Pope has been labeled by many observers over the years (not a particular Pope, but one who holds the office), but we haven’t noticed the present Pope manifesting any supernatural authority. Others who were considered THE MAN are Hitler, F. D. Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Prince Charles, Bill Clinton, and Saddam Hussein. We are convinced that no one knows for sure who will step forward to fill the shoes of the Man of Sin, the son of perdition. But we can be sure that he will be revealed in God’s time.
In the meantime, we urge you to pay attention to the words, the sayings, the commands, and the laws of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus prophesied that a storm was on the way which consisted of rains, winds, and floods. The context of His message seems to indicate that this would be of a spiritual nature, not merely physical or natural.
He stated positively that those who would successfully ride out this destructive storm would be only those who obeyed His words. The others won’t make it; humanity will be divided into two groups, the wise and the foolish, or the obedient and the disobedient.
The choice is yours to make. You can be foolish by disregarding the words of the Master, or you can be wise by conforming your life and your behavior to the precious words of our Lord, Jesus Christ the Savior. You alone can make this decision.
WHERE IS BOASTING?
Mary Woodard
In the past few years we have seen a great deal of pride creeping into the Christian community. This may be partly due to the teachings on psychology and self-esteem which have come into the church, or it may be a lack of humility and the desire of the carnal nature to lift up self.
I suppose at some time or other most Christians have yielded to the temptation to “boast” about “what we have done for the Lord,” when we should rather be boasting about “what the Lord has done.”
The apostle Paul poses the question: “Where is boasting?” (Romans 3:27). Then he answers: “For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”
Here is the Standard College Dictionary’s definition of the word “boast:” “To talk in a vain or bragging manner, especially about one’s deeds, abilities, or possessions; to brag; to speak with pride; to take pride in.”
The Scriptures tell us that salvation is “not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Eph. 2:9). In other words, we have no reason to boast. Verse 8 tells us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
Our salvation was bought and paid for by the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ which He accomplished through shedding His blood on the cross. It is a work of God and our part in it is to accept it by faith. The work of salvation is accomplished in the heart by the Holy Spirit.
“But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil” (James 4:16).
Of course we are to witness for our Lord Jesus Christ. That is The Great Commission: “Go therefore and teach all nations” (Matt. 28:19).
But where is the need of boasting? Our deeds speak for themselves: “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward” (Matt. 6:1,2).
Boasting about how many you have led to the Lord, or how many were healed when you prayed for them, or anything you have done stems from pride, and the Scriptures tell us “all such boasting is evil.”
I recently heard someone say, “I just led twelve people to the Lord.” Would it not be more appropriate to say, “I just prayed for twelve people that they would be saved?” We lead no one to the Lord. The Scripture is plain that the One who leads to the Lord is the Holy Spirit. “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you, but if I depart, I will send Him to you And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:7,8).
The apostle Paul warned those who in their carnal minds were boasting and “behaving like mere men” (I Cor. 2:3): “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase” (I Cor. 3:5-7).
No one ever got saved because you or I prayed the “Sinner’s Prayer” with them. Jesus said: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him…” (John 6:44).
Can you not see that all our boasting is pride? Can you not see that salvation is a work of God and not men? Salvation is a deep work of the Holy Spirit in the heart which we could never accomplish. “…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom. 10:9,10).
If the sinner’s heart has been prepared, he or she may come to the Lord following the “Sinner’s Prayer.” But the heart must be ready. Oh, I have seen so many who prayed this prayer at someone’s prompting, but whose heart was not changed.
It will be evident immediately if a person is “born of the Spirit” (John, Chapter 3). You will not have to tell anyone; they will tell you. They will know something has happened to them. And their confession will be borne out by a changed life: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (II Cor. 5:17).
Let us not be unlearned, or carnal, or full of pride. A mature and humble spirit will give testimonies that lift up the Lord Jesus Christ, not self. “…and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble” (I Peter 5:5).
IF NOT, WHY NOT?
H.R. Miller
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, if ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. They answered Him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, verily, verily, I say unto you, whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin” (John 8:31-34). Not many people realize the many types of bondage and slavery that there are among men. These Jews were all wrapped up in the trappings of religious customs and traditions; only the violence of mighty soul shaking could open their poor blind eyes.
It is so natural for men to trust completely in inherited beliefs. These men were members of what they considered a super-race; a society in whom the God of heaven had entrusted the true oracles of God. They were the only custodians of true worship, was not their religion superior to that of all the heathen? Look at their church. What other nation could boast of a temple such as theirs! It was an established fact that they had standards of ethics, and moral codes that could be used as patterns for Godly living in any age. But all these were but THINGS that had enslaved the Jew. Instead of being led to Christ, these people had made THINGS the objects of veneration.
“The Lamb of God,” who was first pictured to Cain and Abel, has been the only source of salvation from the beginning of time. If Adam and his wife Eve were ever converted, it was done through faith in the coming of “the seed of the woman who should bruise the serpent’s head.” All of the fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were saved by faith in the Lamb of God who would come to take away the sin of the world. The blood of the slain lambs and bullocks could never remove sin, neither could they atone, but they did POINT to the blood of Christ. The serpent of brass that Moses raised upon a pole for those who were bitten by the deadly serpents was in itself unable to save the life of any man, but men looked by faith, and in faith they were healed. However, this thing of brass was later made an idol by the people, a thing to be worshipped.
Many people today have made their church a thing of veneration. It has become their god. What it says they believe. What it claims they subscribe to. Some of the most unscriptural and preposterous beliefs are maintained because the church had subscribed to them. Such people are under bondage, and like the Jews of old they little realize their sad condition.
Search the PLAIN STATEMENTS of the Lord Jesus Christ and see if your convictions have solid foundation. Do you practice what He commanded? If not, why not?
THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE
Shelia Alphin
1 Cor 13 is so very difficult to do, but it is His greatest commandment. “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” 1 Corinthians 13 expounds upon this: “Charity (love) suffereth long, and is kind; charity (love) envieth not; charity (love) vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.” I won’t quote the entire chapter here, but I highly recommend that we look it up and read it now.
I struggle with this daily. People make rude comments, gossip, and do all kinds of things that hurt us. I am guilty of this also. But how do we respond to those things? Do we let anger, bitterness, and wrath consume us? I know I have. Acts 8:22-23: “Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.” “In the bond of iniquity.” That just opens a door for the devil to creep in and attack us. For many years I have been “in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.” It has literally made my life a living hell. I have been through so much trauma and have let bitterness overcome me. Do we want to continue in that bondage?
When people do these things; do we ever stop to consider that there may be an underlying cause? Maybe they are in physical pain or concerned over a situation such as the struggles of a loved one. We don’t always realize we respond rudely to someone when we are struggling with something. Those of us on the receiving end tend to quickly take offense. Sometimes we respond in the same manner and let it eat at us or ruin our day. Yet, if we would practice the love God showed towards us, we would not end up “in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.”
When someone comes to us gossiping about another person/persons, how do we respond? Do we react with, “Yeah, that is just awful! How could they do that?” Do we react with, “How dare you talk about them like that?” Or do we respond with, “Maybe we should take a few minutes and pray for them?” As brothers and sisters, we should choose the latter. Reproaching a brother or sister rudely instead of acting with love is not the answer. Sharing in the gossip is not the answer either. Human nature so easily joins in agreement with the gossip. Yet we are to deny ourselves and our sinful nature by responding in love to the situation.
I personally have not had a good relationship with my Mom most of my life. We are doing better, but I absolutely let bitterness and anger ruin any chances of mending the relations for a long time. God has been working with me, and I have had to repent and give all the hurt, anger, and bitterness over to God. Have I fully succeeded? No. But let me tell you this: One day my mom said something that hurt me and I prayed and prayed for God to help me. I gave all my feelings to Him. I had to drive to physical therapy and it was pouring rain. I continued to pray. Next thing I knew, I was filled with peace, joy, and love. It was pouring down rain and the tears of joy were pouring down my face. I said, “Lord, I don’t care if it is pouring down rain and the tears of joy are pouring down my face. Lord, I just want to stay in Your presence and feel this peace. I know you will help me get there safely.” And He did. I shared that testimony to 2 people at physical therapy and was able to minister to them. This is just one instance of submitting to His will. If I would just do this in every situation that arises, there would be so much peace and love in my life! What joy we each would have if we would just follow His Word and His will!
I want to share something very personal that causes me much pain that I need to turn over to the Lord. My Dad had terrible cancer from Agent Orange. He went through horrible things in Vietnam. He was basically on the front lines as a Cee Bee. As a result, he hurt my Mom, my brother, and me. I tried to reconcile our relationship, but it was difficult. I let bitterness and anger creep in, especially since he did some of the same things to my children (making promises and not keeping them, not showing up when he said he would). Dad asked me on his last night to stay with him so my stepmom could go home and rest. I chose not to. My stepmom went home anyway. I let my Dad die alone in the hospital without complete reconciliation. This has weighed heavily on me through the years. I let it go, and as our human nature tends to do, I pick it up again. I have been sobbing as I’ve been writing this. Is this what God wants us to do, to keep bitterness and anger in our lives? Please don’t do as I have done.
I pray that I will submit more and more to Him each day. I want His peace and love in me every minute of every day. If we would just obey the first and second commandments along with 1 Cor. 13, everything else would fall into place, just like a husband and wife seek to make each other happy because they love one another. I f we would love God and others as He has asked us to, we would then do all we could to please Him and obey Him. We wouldn’t want to snap at other people, gossip, or do hurtful things to others. I pray that each of us would search our hearts and minds, submit to His will, and love as He has asked us to love. Loving God is the answer!
“The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell; it goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell. The wand'ring child is reconciled by God's beloved Son. The aching soul again made whole, and priceless pardon won. O love of God, how rich and pure! How measureless and strong! It shall forevermore endure—the saints’ and angels’ song.” "The Love of God" by Frederick Lehman
HOW BRIGHT THE LIGHT?
Curtis Dickinson
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined” (Isaiah 9:2). According to Matthew, this prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus began to preach (Matt. 4:16-17).
The darkness was that of pagan tradition mixed with religious zeal, the blackness of evil desires and the shadows of greed and lust. It was the darkness of the cruel tyranny of state power and the blindness of a populace that was controlled by bloody sports, free bread and national pride.
When the people looked to their religious leaders, they saw the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and the corrupted teachings of the rabbis. When they looked to civil officials, they saw men corrupted by personal ambition. They were at the lowest depths of despair. The darkness of evil was everywhere, as Job had said of his contemporaries, “They met with darkness in the daytime” (Job 5:14). Morale was at its lowest ebb and all spiritual light was gone.
Into this mix of religious confusion, pagan tradition and patriotic devotion to nationalism and power, Jesus appeared as the light of the world.
However, the light did not burst upon the scene with dazzling brightness that drew everyone’s attention. The prophet had described Jesus as “a root out of a dry ground: he has no form or comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him” (Isa. 53:2). A Roman centurion would enter a community with shouts, the clatter of horses and the flash of steel helmets, swords and chariots. But of the light-giver it was predicted, “a bruised reed he shall not break” (Isa. 42:2,3). Nor was the light focused on the high and the mighty, the palace or the people of fame.
The light was not that which was perceived by the eye, but that which penetrated the mind. The light was in the message Jesus brought, the truth that He revealed. As the sun lights up the physical universe, the Son of God lights up the spiritual life of humanity, so that Jesus could say, “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12;9:5). The purpose of the light was to enlighten, to give man a knowledge of God, of His purpose, and how man might fulfill that purpose.
The message revealed by the light was revolutionary to the extreme, the very opposite of what the philosophers and religious teachers had held for generations: “Happy are the poor in spirit…Happy are they that mourn…Happy are the meek…Happy are they which hunger and thirst after righteousness…Happy are the merciful…Happy are the pure in heart!” Who ever heard of such wild statements, so contrary to normal experience? “Happy are they which are persecuted…!” Foolish ravings of a fanatic? So it may seem to a world that is blinded by its own idols. But Jesus was revealing the purpose of God, which is to have man in His own image.
The true aim is righteousness, not power, wealth, pleasure, nor the world’s esteem. It is no wonder, then, that this light was unwelcome to the world. Jesus said “men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil” (John 3:19). Men make a deliberate choice, but because of the corruption of the heart, the natural choice is darkness and a resistance to the light.
Truth is that which is real. The light reveals reality about God and His purpose, about man and his destiny. The darkness is the opposite of reality, including religious ideas invented by men, beliefs upon which they stake their lives, although none of them are true. Still the press, the arts, the schools, all choose the darkness – theories of evolution, religious traditions with pagan origin, ambition for worldly glory, goals of wealth and pleasure, gain at the expense of another’s loss, and the approval of things God forbids under the label of “tolerance.” Therefore, truth is unwelcome to evil. “Everyone that does evil hates the light, and comes not to the light, lest his works should be reproved” (John 3:20). Consider how governments use every means possible to keep the populace from knowing all the facts of official activities.
Jesus revealed that “a man’s life consists not in the abundance of things that he possesses” (Luke 12:15). He said that life is more than things and that to lose life for His sake is to gain it, that when one makes God’s kingdom and righteousness his first priority, all the essential things will be provided. He revealed that our real wealth is that which cannot be taken away from us against our will, such as faith, hope, and love. He taught that death is like sleep, and that those who place their lives and trust in Him will one day be resurrected from death to live in joy forever. He also warned that those who reject God’s purpose will be put to death forever.
When one comes to this realization, a light comes on in his mind that changes him forever, and makes it possible for him to be at peace in the midst of the world’s turmoil.
So, Jesus said of all who would be His followers, “you are the light of the world…even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:14,16). He was telling us, “You are to live by the truth I have given and make this truth known to others. You are to act before them as I have demonstrated in my life. They will not glorify you for what you do, but will learn to glorify God our Father.”
Paul wrote that we are to be obedient, so that in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation we might be “seen as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life” (Phil. 2:12-15). We live in just such a generation today, but it fails to see the clear and shining light of Christ’s example reflected in Christians. In the very season that is designated as a celebration of the Light, the followers of Jesus toss His teachings aside to join the trends of the “perverse generation.”
What the light (the teaching of Jesus) reveals is that in these days there is not a lot of difference between the lives of Christians and the non-Christians. It reveals our sins, our greed, our covetousness, our grasping for the security of the temporal world. It reveals our failure to humble ourselves, our failure to fully trust God rather than rely upon our own ingenuity and power.
Since the turn of the 21st century there has been an uptick in many leaders encouraging Christians to arm themselves and be prepared to kill anyone who would try to steal their beans and rice. It is impossible to reconcile this position with the advice of Jesus, that if someone take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. To first century Christians it was written, “you took joyfully the spoiling of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an abiding one” (Heb. 10:34).
Jesus taught us to have no fear of men, but to trust God our Father. Neither He nor the apostles made preparation nor provision to protect themselves, but considered it a privilege to suffer for the sake of the truth. Many today are more concerned with protecting themselves than they are with being lights to give others the opportunity to see the difference between the children of light and the children of darkness.
When will the statement of Paul again be true, that Christians “may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you are seen as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life”? (Phil. 2:15,16).
To be a Christian is to be a follower of Christ, to walk in the light, that is, in the commandments He gave, and thus be a light to the world. It means to proclaim the gospel, live godly, practice mercy and charity, not lead a rebellion to fight the government or seek power to “impact society” through politics, and force compliance by legislation. Jesus lived in perfect obedience to His Father in a depraved society and under a hostile government. His enemies did not just ignore the light, they sought to put it out. Paul wrote, “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Eph. 6:12). And what are we to do? “Wherefore take up the whole armor of God…” (v. 13). This armor is made up of truth, righteousness, the gospel, faith, salvation, the word of God, and prayer.
So, how eager are we to come to the light and examine our works and our lives by the teaching and example of Jesus? “He that does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God” (John 3:21). How willing are we to let the light of a holy and sanctified life be seen in us at the work place, and by our associates and relatives? When will people be able to see a marked difference between the children of light and the ordinary citizen?
How bright is the light?
TRUE SPIRITUALITY
Harry R. Miller
“According to a 2020 Pew Research Center study, Christianity's share of the U.S. population has been declining for years, from 90% 50 years ago to 64% in 2020.
“It is also true that many smaller Christian churches have closed their doors while megachurches continue to grow. A mega church is one which has 2000 or more members who attend weekly. While many megachurch leaders claim that there is a revival in the land an overview of Christianity seems to deny this claim.
Let us stop and analyze this current “revival” of Christianity in our land. Are our churches becoming SPIRITUAL, or only intensely RELIGIOUS? True Christianity must be spiritual. The first test for any religious devotion to the true God is this: Is it Biblical? The beliefs and examples of men are no criterion for the Christian faith. Our foundation for our religion must be built upon the solid rock of the Word of God, which we call the Bible.
I beg you to carefully consider the pillars of the true Christian faith. What is implied when a man says that he is a Christian? Does that mean that he accepts the “faith” set forth in the Word, and becomes a believer? Is that all the faith of Christ requires of men, merely that they “believe” in the existence of such a faith? Many of us believe in the facts of science and chemistry, but we are not scientists or chemists. Nor does mere belief in Christianity make Christians.
The Christian faith was not an accident in the universe; it was most meticulously designed by the Great Creator Himself. “The faith,” as we call it, is a process for the production of a certain product desired by the Almighty. Bear in mind that God purposed this world “after the counsel of His own will,” and designed all the mechanics of both physical and spiritual things. In His plan an acorn is planted and brings forth an oak tree; but in the planting of that one “acorn” thousands of other acorns never grew to bear fruit, but fell only to fertilize the ground. So also in the economy of God, “many are called but few are chosen.”
“Ye are a chosen generation…that you should shew forth the praises (virtues) of Him who hath called you” (I Peter 2:9). Here is an objective of Christianity. Here we have a reason for the existence of this great faith. But, one may ask, what is meant by the “praises,” or virtues, of Christ?
To be a mere imitator of the physical and social life of Christ might lead one to believe he was making a great show of the piety of Jesus; yet within he could be the basest of hypocrites.
Thousands of “holy men” of India make a daily show of their life of self-effacement, privation, and complete devotion to their faith, yet the Hindu religion makes no claim of Christianity.
To be merely an imitator of good works is to provoke the indignation of heaven, for true Christianity demands that the very nature of its advocates must be recreated, or changed. Jesus said a man “must be born again.” Saul of Tarsus was a zealous churchman; he was a strict keeper of the law, yet as an unsaved enemy of God he wrought havoc among the children of the Lord. Many Pharisees were hypocrites at heart. They attended church, paid their dues, and made great claims of being religious, but all for selfish ends. They loved the world – the religious world. They were satisfied churchmen. Not so, Saul of Tarsus. Even though his understanding had been befogged by man-made doctrines, he had an honest heart. God, in mercy, knocked him down. It was then he saw “the light,” and was changed into another man.
Saul, who after his new birth became Paul, was now called to be a “partaker of the divine nature” (II Peter 1:4). He was initiated into the company of the saints who believed that a man should “purify himself even as He is pure” (I John 3:3). Paul plainly taught that every believer was as obligated as he to make complete sacrifice and devotion to his Lord. To the Corinthians he said, “I beseech you, be ye followers of me. For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church” (I Cor. 4:16,17).
The apostle soon learned that the Lord has set us all an example of death to self, and as believers follow the leading of His Spirit we will, step by step, be led to die to self. “They that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Gal. 5:24). Again, he said, we are “being made conformable unto His death” (Phil. 3:10).
Multitudes of the present-day Christian professors know nothing of “the cross” life. They live for self, they pray for self, and they seek to save self wherever they are able. This was not taught by the Lord Jesus. He plainly said that if any man would seek to save his life, he would lose it, and only those who lost their lives for His sake, and the gospel’s, would be able to save their lives (Mark 8:35; Luke 9:24; 14:26).
The true Christian faith plainly shows that the Creator desires men who will surrender all to Him and to His will. This includes family, relatives, money, property, ambitions, body, heart, and soul (Luke 12:33; 14:33; Matthew 7:21; 10:38; I John 1:7). Such a person finds a straight gate and a narrow way, but he becomes a walking temple of the living God. God dwells within him, guides him, directs him, and in the process of time the individual becomes in nature like unto his Lord. This is a son of God. It is such that the Father seeketh to worship Him. These are the people who are called the “precious fruit of the earth.” It is for these “jewels” that the Lord will return the second time. But as it was in the days of Noah so also shall it be at the coming of the Son of man, and not many men will have accepted the death to self way of true Christianity.
TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS
J. Grant Swank, Jr.
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind…Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself” (Matt. 22:37,39).
When one states that he is a “Christian,” his supreme allegiance is not to a creed, dogma, liturgy, organization nor way of life. It is to a Person.
Jesus never came to earth to champion a cause nor organize an association. He came to present Himself a ransom. He was born to die in order that we might live eternally.
Therefore, when persons follow Jesus, they follow HIM—a Person above all persons. That kind of discipleship can have no competition. It must be Jesus solo, or Jesus nothing. It is that simple.
When Jesus died on the cross, His devotion was singular. He was obedient to his Father’s will, even to the death by crucifixion. When we follow this Jesus, our devotion must be singular. We are obedient to Him till death if necessary—and surely death to self-lust.
There are countless persons who are “into” religion. They adore the ritual. They love the altar. They are captivated by the music. They simply could not do without the church dinners and fellowship. They clutch the devotional literature.
Yet religion is not the purpose of why Jesus died upon Calvary. Jesus died upon the tree in order to redeem persons from hell. He came as a Person to rescue persons. Consequently, to follow Jesus is to own Him as Lord of life. He is paramount. He is the supreme reason for believing in God. When it comes then to deciding between religion or Jesus, Jesus always wins over religion.
When it comes to deciding between anything and Jesus, Jesus must always come first—immediately, without debate. Commerce, bank accounts, savings, family, prestige, social connections, health, future plans, travel, sex, food – everything in life must take another place than first when it comes to our utmost loyalty. Jesus must have that, and Jesus alone
One must love this Jesus with a “whole heart” love. Others can fit into the heart love after Jesus, but not ahead of Jesus nor equal to Jesus. And only those others who are acceptable to Jesus. Jesus will decide for the disciple who is compatible with the disciple’s “whole heart” love.
Evil and Jesus cannot fit together. Conscious sin and Jesus do not cohabitate. Spiritual rebellion and Jesus cannot live under the same roof. Jesus concludes what can abide in the “whole heart” love of the cross carrier.
The daily cross sees to it that one does not compromise at this point. The cross bears down into the soul shoulders when one starts to compromise “whole heart” love for Jesus. That is healthy pain. It is divine warning that we are about to throw away our total allegiance to Jesus for a bowl of cereal. That cannot be tolerated, for one’s soul destiny is at stake. Father God sees to it, then that tender conscience raises its red flag quickly.
When God is God and Jesus dies in our stead, then deity has the perfect right to inform devotees that they fling their “whole hearts” upon the altar of living sacrifice. A lesser god and a more meager sacrifice may call for a lesser consecration. But the all of God must be matched with the all of the disciple; otherwise, the yoke-cross journey separates at the neck.
Be perfect as your Father is perfect. As Father gave His all to save us, we give our all to serve Him through the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Nothing else is possible if one calls himself a “Christian.”
NEIGHBOR LOVE
Loving others can be quite the trial. Others tell us that they love us and then betray us. Others can smile and at the same time carry daggers behind their backs. Others say one thing and do another. Others are ungrateful. They can be cold shouldered. They will sometimes behave nicely and at other times turn barbaric.
Ask God. He knows full well. He has been dealing with the “others” for a long, long time. Yet God has not cast us off, though He would have perfect reason to do so. In fact, He almost came to that point once in Noah’s generation.
Neighbor love commanded from Jesus is not a sentimental, “nice” saying. It is hard work. Ask God. Look at Calvary. “Forgive them for they know not what they do.” It was said, not to nice people, but to those who were slicing up His body.
Therefore, when Jesus gives a command, He models it for us. He lives it out before our eyes. With this, Jesus says, “It is possible. I have done it. And if I live within your heart, I can provide the wherewithal to see that I may continue to do it through your consecration.”
That is why it is important to understand that you no longer live but Jesus lives through you. That then calls for you to manufacture nothing but the act of free will, giving Jesus permission to do whatever He wishes with your life. Once you activate that choice, Jesus then has full reign. Then He will-powers His own power through you to love the unlovely. And He can do that quite ably, for He does it every day worldwide.
Therefore, to carry the cross is to come upon the truth of both cross timber pieces. One shoots up into the air toward heaven. The other shoots from east to west toward others. Both are necessary to the cross mission. And both are to be taken seriously.
It is empty piety to fondle only the timber piece that shoots up to heaven; usually you do that to see what you can get from your connection with God “up there.” It is genuine discipleship to clutch the up-piece bar and at the same time live out the east-to-west connection with others in love, mercy and forgiveness.
Not all neighbors are likable. But they are beside us and in need of renovation. They, in other words, are just like you used to be before Jesus. Yet Jesus did not cast you off because you were a smart aleck. Jesus sought you out nevertheless. So this Jesus is seeking to locate in grace your neighbor. Let Him do it.
Then there are those neighbors for whom you do neighborly things and they don’t return any thanks. Let Jesus work through your emotions on that one. He cleansed ten lepers but only one knew how to say Thank You. Jesus has been there, done that. Therefore, let Him live with rejection again through your cross carrying. He can handle it; you can handle it. After all, what you do for your neighbor, you do for Jesus. “…you did it unto me.”
It is an adventurous life, to be sure, to be hanging onto a cross. But there is no other existence quite as fulfilling – and wisdom building within. Let all things occur and then hand them over to Jesus. He can manage masterfully all things. Remember that He carries the heavier end of your cross anyhow.
CHRIST IN ME
Charles F. Woodard
“But when it pleased God… to reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood” (Gal. 1:15,16).
This was Paul’s magnificent obsession! Not only was the Lord revealed to him on the Damascus Road, but by revelation through faith. This revelation came not from men, but by God:
“For I neither received it (the gospel) of men, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Gal. 1:12).
Paul’s exalted goal was more than “to know” Christ, but to actually have the living Christ in Him!
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).
A believer must be “Crucified with Christ” in order to have the Son “revealed in him; and to have Christ living in this body of flesh.
No conversion alone results in Christ in the believer. Only a crucified life of total commitment, holiness and Christlikeness will effect Christ “formed” in the believer:
“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you” (Gal. 4:19).
God’s Word is explicit in its call for Christians to follow the example of Christ in us! Here is the spiritual life, light and faith of the living Christ in the believer!
There is no plateau in spiritual development. The call of God is always onward and upward. Every Christian should seek to have Christ formed in him or her.
One sign of the indwelling presence of Christ is the “Fruit of the Spirit” of Galatians 5:22,23:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…”
Love, joy and peace result in longsuffering and patience. Gentleness is kindness in action. Goodness shows in fidelity. Meekness and temperance radiate in self-control. Faith is all of the fruit in action.
“Christ in me” should be the priority of all Christians. This incomprehensible concept cannot be limited to the leadership, but sought and shared by all in the Body of Christ.
How shallow become grandiose testimonies, soothing songs, and religious drives! Christ in a believer is faith working in love:
“For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love” (Gal. 5:6).
The religious rites of the flesh do not reflect genuine internal righteousness. Only the constantly abiding residence of Christ in the believer will effect true obedience to God and His Holy Word. The “faith” of Galatians 5:6 above is produced by Christ Himself.
To have Christ formed in us is the upward call of God to His people. The importance of the call is shown in the apostle Paul’s statement to the Galatians that he suffered the travail of birth pangs again for Christ to be formed in these Galatian believers.
It is not enough to have Christ as an example; we need to have His character, His characteristics, and His holiness formed in us.
Any man or woman who is born of the Spirit of God has the Spirit of Christ. However, not all Christians hunger and thirst after righteousness to the point of having the living Christ fully formed in them. This comes only by total commitment – denying self and taking up your cross and following Him.