CHRISTIAN MEN IN CRISIS, PART 2

The latest Barna Survey on Christian men in America looks even worse for the men of God, the deeper into the survey we go. We can begin turning the Titanic of modern believers around "BY FAITH".

The text used here is all of Hebrews 11 (NASB)

THINK OF THESE THINGS - SATURDAY

TLC TV'S 'LONG ISLAND (NY) "MEDIUM" THERESA CAPUTO

APOSTASY, ABOMINATIONS & MEDIUMS...BUT GOD, HE HAD MOSES!

Apostasy, stupidity and lack of discernment are growing by leaps and bounds in these last days! We have reality TV shows for years like Crossing Over with John Edward and now the latest "sensation" for the lost - TLC's  "LONG ISLAND MEDIUM" - Theresa Caputo.


These are the people who claim to "see" dead people, communicate with them, as well as conduct seances and divinations. The Learning Channel (TLC) even showed her praying to Satan before she was due to meet a group of women just as stupid as she is. Is calling people like Caputo and her "clients" stupid a harsh thing? No.

Here is what HOLY GOD warned, and when God speaks, you had better listen. Do not think this warning in Deuteronomy 18:9-14 is Old Testament and you do not have to obey it. Your eternal soul is in real danger if you follow this garbage with mediums; psychics; tarot cards etc without remorse and seeking God's forgiveness
Deut 18:9-14 NKJV "⁹ “When you come into the land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominations of those nations. ¹⁰ There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, or one who practices witchcraft, or a soothsayer, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, ¹¹ or one who conjures spells, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. ¹² For all who do these things are an abomination to the LORD, and because of these abominations the LORD your God drives them out from before you. ¹³You shall be blameless before the LORD your God. ¹⁴ For these nations which you will dispossess listened to soothsayers and diviners; but as for you, the LORD your God has not appointed such for you." (emphasis mine).


MOSES


Continuing on, into our 6th week of the Hike through Hebrews 11, we have the following verses: "²⁷ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. ²⁸ By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. 
²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned."

Moses left this kind of system behind when he left Egypt which is still steeped in paganism.  He left this perversion behind, which Americans have picked up in their biblical ignorance, because he felt the Call of God in His Life. You see, my friends, the Holy One speaks with Clarity, Simplicity and Unity of purpose. His Spirit does the speaking for Him here on earth and dwells in the spirits of those who are redeemed and saved. This is all God needs. 

His clear and powerful Creation testify to Who He is. You don't need some conman or woman talking to a demon, who already knows who the dead person is, to relay a "message from beyond". You need revelation from Above...i.e. "A Fresh word as it were. Therefore take a look at what Moses did in Faith and BY Faith as we began the last 40 years of his 120 years here on earth and let it inspire you:


Moses felt the Call
Moses followed the Invisible
Moses fulfilled the Impossible
Moses crossed the impassable (sea)
Moses saw the incredible
Moses consecrated the immutable
Moses worshiped the Improbable
Moses marveled at the Indescribable
Moses wrote the indisputable
Moses reigns in Glory with the Unmistakeable....


That unmistakeable One is Jesus! Jesus, the Author and Perfector of our Faith Who has the answers to any question of the Life He created. No loudmouthed psychic, demoniac or horoscope book can hold a candle to my Jesus. Any questions?!

(Image by Google Images)

THINK ON THESE THINGS - THURSDAY

THE SWEET AROMA OF CRUSHING!

From time to time, in our long journey through the 39 verses of  Hebrews 11, a fellow saint will drop in to challenge us to a new look at sharpening our walk with Christ in a powerful way. Lynn Mosher, one of my favorite writers does just that with "The Sweet Aroma of Crushing"!  This is really meaningful. So please take your time, read this and then look in the mirror of your soul. This is how Transformation wins over conformity!

LYNN MOSHER

Here is Lynn: 

Have you ever experienced a devastating circumstance in your life? At one time or another, we all go through trials that attempt to crush us, squeeze us, bruise us, or set us on fire. Though these difficulties strike us, many times their impact will bring beauty out of chaos, if we allow it.

Some things only achieve their greatest design through crushing blows…

*The squeezing of grapes produces sweet wine.

*The pressing of olives extracts their delectable oil.

*Only when wheat is ground is it useful for making bread.

*The crushing of flower petals releases their oil for fragrance.

*Incense is useless – its purpose not fulfilled, its odors not set free – unless touched by fire.

*Only through great pressure, heat, and time does coal produce the gemstone of a diamond.

Just as many things of nature suffer contrary conditions in order to be expanded, strengthened, or enhanced, so, too, do we. Some circumstances only achieve God’s greatest purpose in our lives through pressure and crushing, through tears and suffering, allowing the pleasing fragrance of obedience and sweet graces of God’s will to be released.

But during these trying situations, how do we behave? Do we whine, kick, scream, question God, or tell Him it isn’t fair? Or do we succumb to the Lord’s power to work, bow to His divine purpose, and submit our will to His, offering praise from lips of thanksgiving?

Which behavior do you believe is the sweet aroma in His nostrils?

How did God’s children of the Bible react when they experienced bruising, crushing, or fires? Granted, some, such as Israel, were whiners. However, the Bible is filled with the accounts of great trust.

One is Paul. Of the multitude of afflictions he experienced, he said, “We were really crushed and overwhelmed, and feared we would never live through it. We felt we were doomed to die and saw how powerless we were to help ourselves; but that was good, for then we put everything into the hands of God, who alone could save us, for He can even raise the dead. And He did help us and saved us from a terrible death; yes, and we expect Him to do it again and again.” (2 Cor. 1:8-10 TLB)

Another is the Three Amigos. You know, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. While they were in the fiery furnace, they believed their God would deliver them, and, even if He didn’t deliver them, they believed He would save them from Nebuchadnezzar.

As those flames lapped up around them, God rescued them and, when they came out, not even the smell of smoke clung to them. Their sweet aroma of faith was not changed.

Did you know God has sensitive sinuses? He anticipates our fragrance long before we emit it. So, during those times of adversity, do we present Him with a pleasant aroma in His nostrils or a stench stuck in His throat? Are we like Estee Lauder’s Beautiful perfumery or a men’s locker room? Like a flower shop or a machine shop? Like a bakery or a fertilizer plant?

Are our trust and faith as that sweet aroma of the alabaster passion box, lovingly poured upon Jesus’ head, which seeped into His beard and gently trickled down upon His shoulders, saturating His garment?

Prayer: Lord, may my life be broken open as a precious passion box, poured out to You.

May each burden of my life work as a weight to crush my disobedience, my instability to stand on Your word, and my inability to be used of You.

Crush me as the flower petals are compressed for their fragrant perfume. Crush me as the olives are squeezed for their valuable oil. Crush me and make my life into that delectable wine.

Let my life overflow with the sweet-scented oil of Your Holy Spirit, poured forth upon the hearts of others to soothe the hurts that the trials of this world have etched into their precious lives.

I pray that the things crushing each reader’s life right now will only work to bring out the precious fragrance of obedience and sweet graces of Your will. Amen!