Sunday 23 August 2020

The Time of My Great Warriors

Posted by Just Praise Him

I was shown a vision of a stormy sea – very large black waves were crashing down and wrapping around, crashing against each other. All around the waves I could see only darkness. It looked like the darkest of stormy nights.

The word ‘turmoil’ came to my mind. In the midst of the turmoil of all the crashing waves, a small light appeared, as over the horizon. Like an approaching ship or a distant lighthouse, but very quickly the waves swallowed up the light and it was gone. Then I saw a frozen landscape, as if in the dead of winter. I have no idea what the frozen landscape meant.

The following morning, the Lord began to speak.

Times are about to become very difficult in the world, My children. There is no time for playing games, all your time must be focused on preparation for what is to come and on walking in your calling. Remove now the excesses from your lives as I have been speaking to your hearts to do. Lighten the load you carry for you cannot carry as heavy a load on an uphill run and that is what is coming for you.

Big changes loom on the horizon behind the scenes that will affect your everyday lives.

Be careful to show kindness to each other, to walk in My love towards one another, as this will shield you from many of the attacks of the enemy and help you to remain focused.

I will be moving in many of your lives in coming months, orchestrating the changes I desire, to make you more fit for kingdom use and to strategically position you for the things I have called you to do. Do not fight against My changes for they are necessary and unless you submit to Me in them, you cannot be of full benefit to My kingdom.

Turmoil is coming to many governments in the next two months. This is My hand at work, though it will not seem so to many. Many of My own people do not understand the many avenues I work through. All that is of peace is not of Me, and all that is of war is not either. Nothing happens that I do not allow, and the enemy’s plans come as no surprise to Me for I see all and know all.

My Word holds the key to understanding all things. My Word is My most precious gift to you, My Children. My Word, My Son. If you walk by My Word, you walk in wisdom and the world has no effect on you.

Those who ignore the power in My Word will fall quickly in times coming for they will not know how to stand against the enemy’s onslaught on My people. Be diligent therefore in studying My Word, that you may live and not die. Those who have ears to hear, hear and obey.

I have sent many to warn of what is coming but many still walk in darkness. Many walk in folly, not believing. They shall be taken quickly, unawares, for they did not believe My Word. All you need to survive you have in My Word. In it is wisdom and guidance. In it are hidden treasures of great price that you know not of.

Those who obey Me shall survive what is coming. Yeah, not only survive, but prosper in it, for this will be the time of My great warriors. This will be the time of the lifting up, of the showing forth of those I have been preparing behind closed doors. This is your time, My chosen ones. Now is your time to shine before I finally bring you home to Me!

How I long for the day when you all enter into My rest and are all here with Me! I love you with an everlasting love without measure. I long to have you near Me, to hear your voice whisper My name, to know you trust fully in Me in all things. Draw near to Me and seek Me in these dark times and you shall find Me and we shall be as one. I will hold you close to Me. I will cover you with My feathers and as you see displays of My mighty power, you will not feel afraid at all for I shall protect you as a good shepherd protects the flock for you are Mine and I love you with a jealous love!

What is soon coming is the dark night of the soul for some – those who are not ready; A time of revealing for those who are. This will be My time to reveal to the world who you truly are in Me. Many will stand in awe of the gifts I have placed in you and of My mighty power working through you. Be sure you give Me the glory, My children. Woe to those who try to take My glory for themselves for destruction comes quickly to them!

Now is a time of much prayer. Pray that you may walk worthy through the turmoil that is coming. Pray that you will not be found wanting in any way. Pray that you will be ready to step in to all I have called you to do for My name’s sake. Pray that you do not stumble in the way, for the battle is quickly approaching. Pray for your brothers and sisters – pray for each other to be strengthened and made ready in every possible way.

In days to come I will begin to remove obstacles from your path that you may serve Me more fully and efficiently. Watch for these things to happen and inquire of Me about what changes I would have you to make at that time for when I do this, I have a purpose for what was freed up.

Some of you will hear from Me soon to move or to reposition yourselves for My purposes. Know that I will bring you the means and ways to do so when the time comes and do not fear for there is always provision on the path to which I have called you and to believe otherwise is to believe a lie from the enemy. If you have no provision, check that the path you are on is truly the way I have called you to go, for many times My children take a wrong turn and think I do not provide but this is never the case. I am a loving and faithful provider.

Hard times are coming, My children. Times like nothing you have ever encountered before, but I have already spoken provision for you into existence. Look for it for it shall surely appear.

Prepare well. Prepare to run the race set before you for My glory!

John 1:14: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Matthew 13:9: Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Isaiah 45:3: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

Jeremiah 6:10: To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it.

Ezekiel 33:4: Then whosoever heareth the sound of the trumpet, and taketh not warning; if the sword come, and take him away, his blood shall be upon his own head.

Psalm 91:4: He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Luke 22:32: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Deut. 4:24: For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

Isaiah 45:2: I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

Acts 12:21: And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. ²²And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. ²³And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

Wednesday 12 August 2020

Jesus the Hound of Heaven

Evangelism is one of the important spiritual gifts listed in the New Testament. Speaking of the true church as the “Body of Christ” (an organism not an organization), Ray Stedman likened evangelism to the digestive system of the body which makes food (not part of the body) into parts of the body.

There are 19 or so gifts given to the followers of Jesus when they first enter God’s family. But evangelists are very special, (think of Billy Graham, his son Franklin, Greg Laurie, Ron Ritchie, Ray Comfort in our day). The great Apostles of Jesus in the early church were marvelous evangelists, not only Matthew, Mark, Luke and John but Peter, Paul, Stephen (the first martyr,) and many others.

Evangelists are not only in the public eye---actually most Christians come into the Body of Christ one-on-one because some Christian has loved them and shared the content of the gospel message with them.

The Apostle Paul urged Timothy to “do the work of an evangelist.”

I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5)

Jesus indwelling every follower is prepared to shine forth His life through each and every member of His family--regardless of what their actual spiritual gifts may be. Many come into the family of Jesus all over the world because: “...If I (Jesus) am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” (John 12:32)

As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10-12) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:1-5)

John—A teen ager when Jesus asked him to join the Lord’s Band of Brothers)—wrote the following about 60 years later as an old man living in Ephesus, Turkey:

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ” And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. (John 1:6-18)

Evangelists proclaim a very specific message to outsiders. They need not argue secondary or peripheral topics but take note of First Corinthians 15. Of course “apologetics” is important, but this is best done after the outsider sees the centrality of Jesus in every aspect of the faith. We humans may think we don’t need God but in fact God is the Source of everything.
To the Philosophers at Athens

Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols. Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there. Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak? For you are bringing some strange things to our ears. Therefore we want to know what these things mean.” For all the Athenians and the foreigners who were there spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing. Addressing the Areopagus Then Paul stood in the midst of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:

TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.

Therefore, the One whom you worship without knowing, Him I proclaim to you: God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:16-31)

Some think following Jesus leads to austerity and poverty and estrangement from everyone of importance in our lives, but that is not so.

Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:7-10)

Evangelist Greg Laurie asked recently, "Can Anyone Be Good Enough?" [“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”—Romans 3:23]

Are people basically good? When I was a kid, I used to think so. But then my life experiences didn’t confirm that belief, because I saw so many people doing bad things.
You might be surprised to know, however, that most Americans believe people are basically good. In his book What Americans Believe, researcher George Barna revealed that 84 percent of non-Christians agree with the statement that people are basically good.
That shouldn’t be too surprising. But what is somewhat surprising is that 77 percent of self-described Christians think the same thing.
So, are people basically good? Here’s what I think. (You might be surprised.) My answer is yes and no. There are good people. There are people who do good things. Some people are good neighbors and good citizens. They’re kind and considerate.
There are people who have done good things, have made great sacrifices, or have done something heroic on behalf of others. In fact, I’ve met some nonbelievers who are nicer than some Christians. But being nice is not what gets us to Heaven, of course.
Maybe this is a better way to frame the question: Are we good enough to get to Heaven on our own merit? The answer is a resounding no. No one is good enough to reach God’s very high standards. We all fall short of them.
In the Book of Romans, the apostle Paul systematically shows us that everyone falls short. In fact, if we learn nothing else from the first chapter of Romans, we discover that we’re all sinful. The bad news is that we’re sinners. The good news is there’s a Savior.
Our salvation is not earned. Rather, it is given to us as a gift from God. The immoral person needs Jesus. And the moral person needs Jesus. Everyone needs Jesus.

In many parts of the world, many have never been told they are loved by God, they may not yet know that one man (Jesus) has solved forever the problem of sin and death—Jesus died for everyone who ever lived. Further, Jesus is not dead now having conquered death forever on behalf of everyone.

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:9-13)

“...Jesus Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)

Romans Chapter One tells that all of us are without excuse.

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:20-21)

Access to Jesus is universal. If anyone anywhere wants to call upon God, God will respond. Of course there are gods everywhere so it’s a good idea to go to the top.

“There is only one way to God, Jesus said so. Come to Jesus and He will connect you to the Father.” (Ray Stedman).

“God is love and he who loves is born of God.” Of the four common Greek words for love used in the New Testament agape is the word used here).

Jesus works in the world in two ways. The announcement of the gospel is the message with content, consistency, logical and detailed. Jesus is called the Logos of God in the New Testament but He is also called the Wisdom of God, especially in the Old Testament. It’s important to consider that we have a built in ability to respond to the unconditional love in the world directly from God, or through other people.
See also Wikipedia for a wide perspective on evangelism.

Jesus is the Hound of Heaven

When shepherds send their sheep to pastures every day they dispatch them under the watchful eye of trained sheep dogs. The shepherd can focus on other matters because the dogs obey their Master and do not heed the voice of a stranger. The sheep dogs act as proxies for the owner of the flock.

Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch. Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me. But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.” (John 10:22-30)

Dogs Come to Mind

This essay is really not about dogs per se but about the unceasing efforts of Jesus to draw all men to Himself. The skill of dogs, these intelligent animals, who symbolize agents of the Great Shepherd is phenomenal! A friend of mine raised a wonderful German Shepherd named Nicolette. She was a wonderful companion for Steve all her life, but she populated the neighborhood with her black offspring because Steve could not afford to have her properly bred each time she came into her heat.

Rescue Dogs

As a boy I read about the great rescue dogs of Switzerland who were dispatched with a keg of brandy around their necks to rescue climbers snow bound in the high Alps.
And Tracking Dogs are Amazing

A dog is a man’s’ best friend! Cats, not so much so!

In third world countries run wild on the streets and are considered unclean. This metaphor was used when the New Testament was written.

Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless

But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. (Philippians 3:1-16)

But these, (False Teachers), like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever. For when they speak great swelling words of emptiness, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through lewdness, the ones who have actually escaped from those who live in error. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by whom a person is overcome, by him also he is brought into bondage. For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2:12-22)

You ain’t Nothin’ but a Hound Dog (by Elvis Presley in 1952)

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine

Francis Thompson THE HOUND OF HEAVEN
This short essay is inspired by my rediscovery of a quaint poem from 1893 which alludes to Jesus as an active evangelist, hunting down lost men and women world wide, in every generation since the beginning.

"The Hound of Heaven" is a 182-line poem written by English poet Francis Thompson(1859–1907). The poem became famous and was the source of much of Thompson's posthumous reputation. The poem was first published in Thompson's first volume of poems in 1893. It was included in the Oxford Book of English Mystical Verse (1917). Thompson's work was praised by G. K. Chesterton, and it was also an influence on J. R. R. Tolkien, who presented a paper on Thompson in 1914. This Christian poem has been described as follows:

"The name is strange. It startles one at first. It is so bold, so new, so fearless. It does not attract, rather the reverse. But when one reads the poem this strangeness disappears. The meaning is understood. As the hound follows the hare, never ceasing in its running, ever drawing nearer in the chase, with unhurrying and imperturbed pace, so does God follow the fleeing soul by His Divine grace. And though in sin or in human love, away from God it seeks to hide itself, Divine grace follows after, unwearyingly follows ever after, till the soul feels its pressure forcing it to turn to Him alone in that never ending pursuit." J.F.X. O'Conor, S.J.[3]

Influence

In 2014, N. D. Wilson wrote and directed a short film based upon the poem, titled "The Hound of Heaven".
Thompson's poem was the inspiration for a series of 23 paintings by the American painter R. H. Ives Gammell (1893–1981). Titled, A Pictorial Sequence Painted by R. H. Ives Gammell Based on The Hound of Heaven, it is considered Gammell's magnum opus. Gammell began making plans to execute the pictorial sequence during World War II and completed the series in 1956. For his paintings, Gammell used symbols drawn from C. G. Jung, primitive and medieval cultures, and biblical and mythological sources, to give visual form to Thompson's poem. The Pictorial Sequence was recently (March 15, 2013 through May 27, 2013) housed at the Maryhill Museum of Art, Goldendale, Washington, USA.[4]
Thompson's poem is also the source of the phrase, "with all deliberate speed," used by the Supreme Court in Brown II, the remedy phase of the famous decision on school desegregation.[5]
The Christian alternative rock band Daniel Amos wrote a song titled Hound of Heaven on their 1978 album Horrendous Disc that is based on the Thompson poem.[6]Review of Horrendous Disc
Contemporary Christian music artist Michael Card also wrote and recorded a song called "Hound of Heaven" based on Thompson's poem for his 1981 debut album First Light.
"The Hound of Heaven" is the fifth chapter in Robert L. Short's 1965 book The Gospel According to Peanuts where he describes Snoopy as a "little Christ" carrying out "Christ's ambivalent work of humbling the exalted and exalting the humble."[7]
"The Hound of Heaven" was mentioned in the suicide note of George R. Price, a geneticist who pioneered the evolutionary theory of altruism and suicide (among other things), before becoming a committed Christian and giving away all his possessions to the poor.[8]
In 1935, Paramahansa Yogananda, an East Indian spiritual master, included "The Hound of Heaven" in one of his phonographic albums, "Songs of My Heart". Today, his organization, Self-Realization Fellowship, offers this album in the form of a CD. Kamala Silva, a direct disciple of Paramahansa Yogananda, received the gift of a printing of the "Hound of Heaven" from Yogananda and he also recited it for her.[9][10]
In A. J. Cronin's novel, A Pocketful of Rye, the protagonist Carroll reads the poem as a young man, forgets it, and suffers from a recurring nightmare that finally leads to his conversion.
A short passage from the poem appears in chapter four of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca.[11]
Lines from the poem are recited between the discussion during the last scene in "The last enemy", which is 2nd episode, 3rd season of Inspector Morse.
"The Hound of Heaven" is the first chapter in John Stott's book Why I am a Christian in which he confesses that he is a Christian not because of the influence of his parents and teachers, nor to his own personal decision, but to being relentlessly pursued by 'the Hound of Heaven', that is, Jesus Christ himself.[12]
The main character is reading a book by this name in the first episode of the Irish TV series Jack Taylor.
In 1955, a love letter from Suzanne Kempe to her philosophy lecturer, Sydney Sparkes Orr, quotes excerpts from the poem. Their affair was later brought to trial in Tasmania.[13]
In describing her journey from atheism and agnosticism to devout Christianity, Fox News commentator Kirsten Powers said, "The Hound of Heaven had pursued me and caught me...."[14]
"The Hound of Heaven" was used as an example of the hero's "refusal of the call" to adventure in Joseph Campbell's book, "The Hero with a Thousand Faces".
In 1970, Canadian artist William Kurelek used lines from "The Hound of Heaven" as titles for his "Nature, Poor Stepdame, A Series of Sixteen Farm Paintings".
In 1933, Halliday Sutherland used a phrase from the second line of the poem as the title of his best-selling autobiography "The Arches of the Years".
In 2001 Ken Bruen cites the poem admiringly in his novel "The Guards".[15]
"The Hound of Heaven" inspired Norwegian composer Fartein Valen (1887-1952) to compose his Piano Sonata No. 2, Op. 38 (1941).[16]The sonata's three movements reflect different parts of Thompson's poem. The piece has been recorded by Glenn Gould.
The poem is mentioned and lines quoted in the novel Escape from Hell (2009) by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days; I fled Him, down the arches of the years; Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears I hid from Him, and under running laughter. Up vistaed hopes I sped; And shot, precipitated, Adown Titanic glooms of chasmèd fears, From those strong Feet that followed, followed after. But with unhurrying chase, And unperturbèd pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy, They beat---and a Voice beat More instant than the Feet--- 'All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.' I pleaded, outlaw-wise, By many a hearted casement, curtained red, Trellised with intertwining charities; (For, though I knew His love Who followèd, Yet was I sore adread Lest, having Him, I must have naught beside). But, if one little casement parted wide, The gust of His approach would clash it to. Fear wist not to evade, as Love wist to pursue. Across the margent of the world I fled, And troubled the gold gateways of the stars, Smiting for shelter on their clangèd bars; Fretted to dulcet jars And silvern chatter the pale ports o' the moon. I said to Dawn: Be sudden---to Eve: Be soon; With thy young skiey blossoms heap me over From this tremendous Lover--- Float thy vague veil about me, lest He see! I tempted all His servitors, but to find My own betrayal in their constancy, In faith to Him their fickleness to me, Their traitorous trueness, and their loyal deceit. To all swift things for swiftness did I sue; Clung to the whistling mane of every wind. But whether they swept, smoothly fleet, The long savannahs of the blue; Or whether, Thunder-driven, They clanged his chariot 'thwart a heaven, Plashy with flying lightnings round the spurn o' their feet:--- Fear wist not to evade as Love wist to pursue. Still with unhurrying chase, And unperturbèd pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy, Came on the following Feet, And a Voice above their beat--- 'Naught shelters thee, who wilt not shelter Me.' I sought no more that after which I strayed In face of man or maid; But still within the little children's eyes Seems something, something that replies, They at least are for me, surely for me! I turned me to them very wistfully; But just as their young eyes grew sudden fair With dawning answers there, Their angel plucked them from me by the hair. 'Come then, ye other children, Nature's---share With me' (said I) 'your delicate fellowship; Let me greet you lip to lip, Let me twine with you caresses, Wantoning With our Lady-Mother's vagrant tresses, Banqueting With her in her wind-walled palace, Underneath her azured daïs, Quaffing, as your taintless way is, From a chalice Lucent-weeping out of the dayspring.' So it was done: I in their delicate fellowship was one--- Drew the bolt of Nature's secrecies. I knew all the swift importings On the wilful face of skies; I knew how the clouds arise Spumèd of the wild sea-snortings; All that's born or dies Rose and drooped with; made them shapers Of mine own moods, or wailful or divine; With them joyed and was bereaven. I was heavy with the even, When she lit her glimmering tapers Round the day's dead sanctities. I laughed in the morning's eyes. I triumphed and I saddened with all weather, Heaven and I wept together, And its sweet tears were salt with mortal mine; Against the red throb of its sunset-heart I laid my own to beat, And share commingling heat; But not by that, by that, was eased my human smart. In vain my tears were wet on Heaven's grey cheek. For ah! we know not what each other says, These things and I; in sound I speak--- Their sound is but their stir, they speak by silences. Nature, poor stepdame, cannot slake my drouth; Let her, if she would owe me, Drop yon blue bosom-veil of sky, and show me The breasts o' her tenderness: Never did any milk of hers once bless My thirsting mouth. Nigh and nigh draws the chase, With unperturbèd pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy; And past those noisèd Feet A voice comes yet more fleet--- 'Lo! naught contents thee, who content'st not Me.' Naked I wait Thy love's uplifted stroke! My harness piece by piece Thou hast hewn from me, And smitten me to my knee; I am defenceless utterly. I slept, methinks, and woke, And, slowly gazing, find me stripped in sleep. In the rash lustihead of my young powers, I shook the pillaring hours And pulled my life upon me; grimed with smears, I stand amid the dust o' the mounded years--- My mangled youth lies dead beneath the heap. My days have crackled and gone up in smoke, Have puffed and burst as sun-starts on a stream. Yea, faileth now even dream The dreamer, and the lute the lutanist; Even the linked fantasies, in whose blossomy twist I swung the earth a trinket at my wrist, Are yielding; cords of all too weak account For earth with heavy griefs so overplussed. Ah! is Thy love indeed A weed, albeit an amaranthine weed, Suffering no flowers except its own to mount? Ah! must--- Designer infinite!--- Ah! must Thou char the wood ere Thou canst limn with it? My freshness spent its wavering shower i' the dust; And now my heart is as a broken fount, Wherein tear-drippings stagnate, spilt down ever From the dank thoughts that shiver Upon the sighful branches of my mind. Such is; what is to be? The pulp so bitter, how shall taste the rind? I dimly guess what Time in mists confounds; Yet ever and anon a trumpet sounds From the hid battlements of Eternity; Those shaken mists a space unsettle, then Round the half-glimpsèd turrets slowly wash again. But not ere him who summoneth I first have seen, enwound With glooming robes purpureal, cypress-crowned; His name I know, and what his trumpet saith. Whether man's heart or life it be which yields Thee harvest, must Thy harvest-fields Be dunged with rotten death? Now of that long pursuit Comes on at hand the bruit; That Voice is round me like a bursting sea: 'And is thy earth so marred, Shattered in shard on shard? Lo, all things fly thee, for thou fliest Me! Strange, piteous, futile thing! Wherefore should any set thee love apart? Seeing none but I makes much of naught' (He said), 'And human love needs human meriting: How hast thou merited--- Of all man's clotted clay the dingiest clot? Alack, thou knowest not How little worthy of any love thou art! Whom wilt thou find to love ignoble thee, Save Me, save only Me? All which I took from thee I did but take, Not for thy harms, But just that thou might'st seek it in My arms. All which thy child's mistake Fancies as lost, I have stored for thee at home: Rise, clasp My hand, and come!' Halts by me that footfall: Is my gloom, after all, Shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly? 'Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest, I am He Whom thou seekest! Thou dravest love from thee, who dravest Me.'

Saturday 8 August 2020

The Unbelievers - Who Are They?

Art by Seth Powers

“Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?
He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son” 1 John 2:22

There are unbelievers who called themselves Christian and deceived so many. Jesus warned us of them.

“And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many’,” Matthew 24:4-5.

There are some moments in my life where I do not want to identify myself as a Christian. So many Christians have misled others, especially by the TV evangelists. When I tell someone that I am a Christian, some react with skepticism. The secular society has good reason to be cautious. They seem to know more about us then we Christians know about ourselves. We are in their view hypocrites and opportunists. Unfortunately, they are right, we are, and we do not want to admit it. What identifies us as hypocrites? These commandments:

“By this, all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another,” John 13:35.

“No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us,” 1 John 4:12.

Christians, we are divided. There are in our time over 30,000 denominations worldwide. In my town, there are seven Christian’s denominations. If the apostle Paul was alive, to which church would he write a letter? I think he would write to only one Church and he would greet his opening letter in this manner,

“To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” 1 Corinthians 1:2

Now, replace Corinth with the name of your city or town. “To the church of God, which is at <<your town >>.” Why? Because Jesus’ Church consists of believers, “called to be saints, with all whom in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours”. 1 Corinthians 1:2

Paul’s letter is intended to be read to all seven denominations in my town. This is what I think Paul would communicate:

“Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:12

Let me read it in a way that reflects our present time: “Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am Catholic,” or “I am Pentecostal,” or “I am United Church,” or “I am Seventh Day’s Adventist,” or “I am Anglican,” or I am Salvation Army,” or “I am non-denominational stay at home Christians.” Wow! We are divided, and delusional if denying it.

ChurchPros - https://churchpros.blogspot.com/2012/02/should-churches-have-name.html

Please watch: “Should Churches Have A Name?”http://youtu.be/Kr5ZxRGg8PE, and "I am a Christian and not a Baptist" http://youtu.be/RLmo9rigcA0

According to Wikipedia definition, this is a form of sectarianism –

“According to one definition, is bigotry, discrimination, or hatred arising from attaching importance to perceived differences between subdivisions within a group, such as between different denominations of a religion, class, regional or factions of a political movement.

Wherever people of different religions live in close proximity to each other, religious sectarianism can often be found in varying forms and degrees. In some areas, religious sectarians (for example Protestant and Catholic Christians) now exist peacefully side-by-side for the most part.”

Does tolerance reflect a love for one another? Is this what Jesus commanded His church, “To tolerate one another?” Let read what Paul has to say:

“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you,” 1 Corinthians 1:10-11.

This is the reality; there was division in Paul’s time and there is division among us now. Although we do not kill each other’s as some did in the past, we do not display love; instead, we show contentment by tolerating one another. Please read my commentary titled “Christianity is like the menu of an Ice Cream Parlour.” Paul explained to the Corinthians to go back to the root of the faith, which is ‘Christ crucified’.

“Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” 1 Corinthians 1:13

“but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness,” 1 Corinthians 1:23.

What divided us? Paul explains:

“But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned,” 1 Corinthians 2:14.

The churches lack spiritual discernment. They each have their statement of belief, which justify why they are separate from other churches. Please read “My Statement Of Belief: The Whole Bible.” In God’s eyes, there is only one Church and Jesus is the head. Any denomination who claims that Jesus is the head and do not keep His commandment to love one another is a liar.

“If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” 1 John 4:20

God looks at the heart of each individual in all denominations. He knows who are His. To God, there are two types of sons; sons of God and sons of disobedience, (Ephesians 2:2), saved or not saved, believers vs. unbelievers, the wheat and the tares. Please read my commentary title: “INTERFAITH - The Gathering Of The Tares.” They may walk and talk like Christians but are not. They are the one that deceived, the ones that Jesus talks about in the Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24:

“And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many’,” Matthew 24:4-5.

Who are they? Who are those who come in Jesus name, use His name and deceive so many people. You would be surprised that they call themselves Christians but are not believers. That is right they are not believers. That is the reason why the secular call Christians hypocrites and opportunists. One sure sign of those who deceive is that they cannot explain the true gospel. They teach water down gospel, such as, “Accept Jesus in your heart.” Nevertheless, the secular do not know the difference because they do not understand the scriptures. Many Christians believe that they are saved but are not. That is what I call being dangerously deceived. The apostle John does help us to identify the impostors.

The Disciple John wrote:

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us,” 1 John 2:19.

When I first read this, I had a problem to understand John statement. I am of those who are convinced that “once saved always saved”. When I hear him say that “they went out from us, but they were not of us” it seems to imply that they were once saved and lost their salvation. Were they ever saved? We will find the explanation in the book of the gospel of John, that he wrote. John experienced an apostasy while he was a disciple of Jesus. After Jesus teaching the gospel to His disciples, many could not understand, could not believe, and simply walked away.

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more,” John 6:66.

In the ERV, (Easy-to-Read Version) it is written this way: “After Jesus said these things, many of his followers left and stopped following him.”

John, while being a disciple of Jesus, did experience a falling away. Twelve disciples are the number we are familiar with who followed Jesus. Actually, there was more. I am unfamiliar with the exact numbers, yet it seems to be a large number. They all witness Jesus works.

“The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them,” Matthew 11:5.

What gospel was preached? ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand,’ (Matt 10:7). At the early beginning of Jesus ministry, his disciple assumed that Jesus was going to establish His kingdom, and Israel would be the centre of His government on earth for a thousand years. That is exactly what Daniel 70^th week prophecy implied. Then in John 6, Jesus taught a different gospel, and it was too hard to swallow for many of Jesus’ disciples. Let’s read, starting in verse 26:

Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.

27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

This, in a nutshell, is the subject of the new gospel: “tobelieve in Him whom He sent”

In a previous commentary, titled “Satan Lies. Is It That Simple To Detect?”, I mention that Satan motto was “They must not believe”. Now let’s see what Satan didn’t want anybody to believe. Let’s keep on reading chapter 6 of John to find out:

30 Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do?

31 Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”

35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.

37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day.

40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Jesus goes further by explaining the new gospel, “I am the bread of life”, which means only through Him can anyone obtain eternal life. The following statement was directed to all His disciples present at the time:

“And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

“Whoever sees the Sons” applied to those present with Him at the time Jesus made the statement, later after His resurrection He stated to Thomas:

“Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed,” John 20:29.

Now you think that it would get easier to understand the gospel, not really. This is the daunting part, no one comes to Jesus accept God draws him. Keep reading:

44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.

45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.

46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father.

47 Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.”

Go back and read v37-39

37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing but should raise it up at the last day.

Does that mean anyone who believes in Jesus is pre-destined by God? Which means already chosen?

“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren,” Romans 8:29.

“Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified,” Romans 8:30.

“having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,” Ephesians 1:5.

“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,” Ephesians 1:11.

If you read my life experience, title, “When Did I Receive The Gift of Eternal Life?”, it will help you understand what it meant by “Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me,” v.45. I heard and learned from the Father first before being introduced to Jesus to believe in Him. God draught me toward Jesus. I was predestined to make a choice.

Let’s keep on reading:

48 "I am the bread of life.

49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.

51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

There was many who found this statement hard to swallow - literally, and even harder to digest. It is not getting easier when Jesus tell them that they must drink His blood also:

53 “Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.

54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.

56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.

57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.

58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.””

In our language, that was the last straw for many. Jews were forbidden to eat pork and many others considered unclean food, and eating a human was stretching it.

“60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?””

No kidding! If I would have been there, I would have taught in like manner.

“61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you?”

Not only is it offending, but it is also disgusting.

“62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?

63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.”

Do you understand this? I didn’t for a long time. I would just keep on reading this passage and would not even bother to try to understand. There are two main reasons why it is difficult to understand; first, we think in a secular way,

“For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe,” 1 Corinthians 1:21.

God reveals since we know nothing of the spirit.

“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God,” 1 Corinthians 2:12.

Jesus confirms this in His statement:

“65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

All disciples left, except the original disciples.

66“ From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.”

67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

69 Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?”

71 He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve.

Peter believed. Peter as representatives of the other disciples declared that they have come to believe and know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Isn’t that reflect v45?

“Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.”

That statement gives life. They come to understand and to believe that Jesus is God in the flesh.

Now let us go back to

“They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.”

Those mentioned in verse 66, who left, are the ones John is talking about in 1 John 2:19. We know now that they left because of their unbelief even when we now understand that it was God who draws them to Jesus, to make a chose. That is a strong statement to accept. Since then on and as of today, those who are within the churches, who called themselves Christians but are not, are the ones that came out of this group of unbelievers that never had accepted the gospel of salvation. Yet many steads with their unbelief but why?

The name of Jesus is very profitable

Please watch:

Dark Faith: Creflo Dollar, Mike Murdock, Benny Hinn & Friends

What could possibly motivate people to use Jesus name? Fame and wealth. Jesus draws a crowd, His name only, cast out demons. Here an example in Mark 9:38,

Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.” What did Jesus replied? But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side. That is so true. You do not hear a false christ talk against God or Jesus.

“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand,” Matthew 24:24-25.

Jesus can't deny himself.

In the Book of Acts a man named Simon, who practiced sorcery “to whom they all gave heed”, Acts 8:10, became a “so-called Christian” and wanted to do miracles as the Apostle Peter did for a profit. Therefore, he asked Peter to sale the gift to anoint others with the Holy Spirit. Peter refused and rebuked him. Peter knew that the gifts of the Spirit that someone received are to be shared freely without charge.

“Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give,” Matthew 10:8.

Therefore, a sign that many so-called God servants use to deceive others by using Jesus name is profit, a lucrative business. Money is in the picture. In (John 6:66) you notice that Judas Iscariot was not part of the group of disciples that left Jesus. Judas handled the moneybox, (John 13:29). He was only interested to use his acquaintance with Jesus to make a profit. Judas was not a believer; he never did believe that Jesus was God in the flesh called the Son of God, (John 13:10-11). God did not draw Judas to Jesus with understanding, but use him as Satan’s servant to betrayed Jesus to fulfill the prophecy.

Those who deceived by using Jesus name talk good things of Jesus, heals, and cast out demons, teach God’s way of life through personal appearance in large auditoriums, sales books and CD’s, produce and sale gospel music.... all for a profit, in the name of Jesus. Not all teach and explain the true gospel of salvation. Yet Jesus explained to let it be so,

“But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side.”

It is true, they do not speak evil against Jesus, because Jesus name draws people, and they take advantage of it for a profit. Through their ministries, many get to know a little bit more about Jesus and desire to know Him more. There will be a day when TV evangelist will be judged accordingly.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Matthew 7:21-23.

None of them will make it to heaven. Not because of what they did, but rather for what they did not do, that is to do the will of the Father. The will of God is to believe in the One God has sent, and to preach the true gospel of salvation freely, (John 6:29).

Denying the deity of Christ

Another way to recognize someone who uses Jesus name to deceive is they deny the deity of Christ.

“Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also,” 1 John 2:22-23.

The Mormon and the Jehovah witness fit that category, Jesus is not God, and they view Him as an angel - creation of God. Their founders received a personal divine message from an angel. The Roman Catholic Church displayed Jesus on the cross as the centrepiece of their belief yet teaches that to pray to dead saints to have there prayers answered.

"Pope Said Christ Failed On The Cross" https://youtu.be/ZvIrfp3qdNg

That is idolatry and blasphemy. Please read, “Praying to Dead Saints or love one.”

Which gospel of Jesus do you believe in? So many people fall for the wrong Jesus because none ask for a credential. So many people do not know what to ask for. So many don’t care to ask. They are easy prey. Here’s a way to find out if you are truly saved and have received the gift of eternal life. Would you be able to explain the gospel to someone who asks? Do you know what is the gospel of salvation? Forty years ago I was asked to explain my faith, and do you know what? I couldn’t explain it. I explained that Christianity is a way of life. What that tells you? I was not saved. Here is a list of water down false gospel:

Salvation is not obtained by giving one's heart to Jesus.

Salvation is not obtained by giving your life to Jesus
.

Salvation is not obtained by surrendering all to Jesus

Salvation is not obtained by carrying your cross for Jesus

Salvation is not obtained by going to church Saturday or Sunday.

Salvation is not obtained by being part of a congregation or denomination.

Salvation is not obtained by deciding to follow Jesus.

Salvation is not obtained by making an oath.

Salvation is not obtained by keeping the commandments.

Salvation is not obtained by sinning no more or trying to.

Salvation is not obtained by walking to the altar.

Salvation is not obtained by confessing your sins daily.

Salvation is not obtained by serving in the church.

Salvation is not obtained by giving to the poor.

Salvation is not obtained by having good conduct and a good reputation.

Salvation is not obtained by stopping smoking and drinking.

Salvation is not obtained by positive thinking that you're good enough to go to heaven.

Salvation is not obtained because your parent goes to church.

Salvation is not obtained by sprinkling water over your forehead.

Salvation is not obtained by water baptism - submerged under water.

Salvation is not obtained by repetitive prayers.

Salvation is not obtained by praying to Mary or any other dead saints.

Salvation is not obtained by tithing, giving donations.

Salvation is not obtained by living separately from the world.

Salvation is not obtained by dedicating your life to God as a nun, a priest and minister.

Salvation is not obtained by healing, giving or receiving.

Salvation is not obtained by any good works.

Finally, the most popular water down gospel: "You should become a Christian because life with Christ is so beautiful and so much better than living without Christ.”

Before you accuse me of heretic, keep reading to get my point

“Accept Jesus In Your Heart” Is Not The Salvation Gospel

Why?

It May Not Be Jesus That You’re Inviting In Your Heart! That is scary!

Would you not ask credential before allowing any “Jesus” to come into your heart? Demons would love to enter your body. The only reason that they cannot is that you have to allow them; they have to get your permission. That is the danger in this secular society, so few so-called Christians believe in demons in this modern age. The theory of evolution and the big bang has dismissed God as the Creator and the only One who sustained all things. Therefore, the existence of demons also is denial. So many young teens play with Ouija Board. "It's only a game - isn't it?" It’s fun to see the ‘pointer move in a certain direction to answer a question asked by the participant. The deception is that demons are playing with the participant and enjoying every minute of it. YES! Satan and demons do exist. Satan and his demons have only one goal, which is to deceive you so that you be a slave to them for eternity in hell. They know that their time is short and they want to bring as many people with them in hell. Satan’s motto: “They must not believe.”

So, how could that happen? How can someone use Jesus name to deceive many? How could someone continue to minister a church by teaching a different Jesus and not be stopped? Why is it that in most case they have the greatest number of followers? Moreover, the most important question to ask is ‘how to identify deceivers who use Jesus name in vain? The Disciple John explains:

You cannot just give your life to Jesus. You cannot just accept Him in your heart. Would you not want to know more about whom you are giving your life to? Would you not want to know more about whom you are letting into your heart? Would you let anyone come into your home? Would you let strangers be babysitters of your child? Would you not check there past, and asked for references? You surely would not want a pedophile as a babysitter, wouldn't you? Peter healed in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Not any Jesus but the real Jesus of Nazareth, Son of God, (Acts 26:9, Acts 22:8, Acts 3:6, John 19:19). Which Jesus do you believe?

"And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many," Matthew 24:4-5.

Many have been deceived and still are by allowing false Jesus to enter their heart. Many have even allowed a demon to enter their body instead. Why? Because they did not ask for a credential, they did not know what credential to ask for. Because of this deceit, many believe that they are saved when actually they are not. Scary isn't? Therefore, how would I know who is the real Jesus? We know by reading His life story in the four books of the gospel. He showed His credentials. He showed not only by what He teaches but also by what He did. He did what He said He would do, He died and three days after He resurrected. That proved what He claims to be, God in the Flesh, Son of the living God.

Moses at the burning bush asked God what to tell the Israelite who sent him:

“Then Moses said to God, “Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they say to me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” Exodus 3:13

Why do you think the Israelite would ask such a question? In Egypt, there were many gods, hundreds of them. The Israelites wanted to know if Moses was an impostor or the real massager of God. Remember, Moses was raised by the Pharaoh’s daughter and was taught Egyptians culture and religion.

“And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Moreover God said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations,” Exodus 3:14-15.

God of Abraham, Isaiah, and Jacob have also proved whom He was in a multitude of intervention and promises made to Israel, and especially to the nation surrounding them. He made a covenant with the Jews, a covenant that set them aside from all other nations. He specifically chose a day of the week to prove to His people that they belong to Him.

"Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them," Ezekiel 20:12.

With all these signs and promises from the point in time when God used Moses to liberate them from the Egyptians to their 40 years journey in the desert until they enter the promised land, to there captivity to Babylon and restoration to their land, they still did not stay loyal to Him.

“Yet I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt, and you shall know no God but Me; For there is no saviour besides Me," Hsa 13:4.

Many did not recognize the prophetic signs given to them to distinguish their Messiah when He showed up as written in the book of Daniel. The book of Isaiah chapter 53, describe who their Messiah is. They did not accept Him however; they will accept another one in a very near future.

"I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive," John 5:43.

What more did they need to believe that God was in the flesh in the midst of them?

"The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them," Matthew 11:5.

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives. And recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; o proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord," Luke 4:18-19 referring to Isaiah. 61:1.

Have you notice that in both verses, "the gospel" is mentioned. What gospel does He talking about here? The gospel, which means good news. To what good news is He referring? That my friend is the gospel of salvation. That is what we are to believe for our salvation. That is what we will investigate.

Salvation is to believe in the man called Yahushua (Jesus is His Latin name). Jesus of Nazareth. Believing that He is who He said He is, Son of God. You are to believe in what He represents, “the Saviour, the promised Redeemer, Christ our Lord.” Believing in what He did for you.

Undeniable End of Days Prophecy Now Unfolding! - Walid Shoebat

andre@simplicityinthegospel.com