Believer

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Faith in the Storm

From a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon entitled “Wrecked But Not Reckless,”

delivered June 9, 1872.

There are many young believers who get into such a squall, and do not know what to make of it. They say, “Why, had I been a child of God I could not have drifted into this frightful tempest.” How sayest thou so? Did not David go through it? He said, “All thy waves and thy billows have gone over me.” You must be very little acquainted with the history of the people of God if you think that they are strangers to these conflicts.

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Mohamedanism, or to the fierce doctrines of Budha……

  C. H. Spurgeon

Delivered on Sabbath Morning, September 16, 1855,
At New Park Street Chapel, Southwark.

Storming the Battlements

“Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the Lord’s.”—Jeremiah 5:10.

E HAVE BEEN talking very freely during this last week of “glorious victories,” of “brilliant successes,” of “sieges,” and of “stormings.” We little know what the dread reality is of which we boast. Could our eyes once behold the storming of a city, the sacking of a town, the pillage of the soldiery, the barbarous deeds of fury, when the blood is up and long delay has maddened their souls; could we see the fields saturated with blood, and soaked with gore; could we spend one hour amongst the corpses and the dying; or if we could only let the din of battle, and the noise of the guns reach our ears, we should not so much rejoice, if we had anything of fellow feeling for others as well as for ourselves. The death of an enemy is to me a cause of regret as well as the death of a friend. Are not all my brethren? and doth not Jesus tell me so? Are we not all made of one flesh? and hath not God “made of one blood all nations that dwell upon the face of the earth?” Let us, then, when we hear of slaughtered enemies, and of thousands that have fallen, cease to rejoice in their death.

It would betray a spirit utterly inconsistent with the Christian religion, more akin to Mohamedanism, or to the fierce doctrines of Budha, but not in the least to be brought into compatibility with the truths of the gospel of the glorious God. And yet with all that, far be it from me to check any gladness which this nation may experience, now that it hopes that the incubus of war may at last be removed.

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Open Letter To Evangelical and Protestant Pastors Worldwide Now is the Day to Turn Back to God’s Word

RE: Open Letter To Evangelical and Protestant Pastors Worldwide

Now is the Day to Turn Back to God’s Word

From: Roger Oakland, Understand The Times

The following letter is to all Bible-believing pastors throughout the world who have been or are being influenced by current trends that are attacking the Word of God through the postmodern humanistic mystical belief system. I have witnessed this deception firsthand on a worldwide basis but am most familiar with what has been happening in the two fellowships I have been part of for the past thirty years – one in Canada and one based in southern California.

It is with a heavy heart I write this open letter to those who consider themselves evangelical or Protestant pastors. While my desire is to do this respectfully and with the love of the Lord, I am compelled with a strong sense of responsibility to write this warning.

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Claimed from Oblivion

Grace Unlimited – Dr. Joshua Mack

Ephesians 2:11-12

Some people are excited to hear that there is an ancient source of information that is very hard to gain access to. Suppose it was said that all of the secrets to life were inscribed on an aged scroll. That scroll, however, was kept in a most remote place on earth. Even the journey to get there was arduous. But more than that, the scroll is housed in an impenetrable castle, guarded by an elite force of soldiers.
No-one has ever gained access to this document.
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Not all questions deserve answers and not all questions are deserved

by Grant Swart

Titus 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

When the life of a person is effectually saved by the Grace of God, that salvation which is freely received by faith, it is inevitable that the person will perform differently in his life and good works will necessarily follow. The faithful servant knows that those good works are certainly not in order to earn or maintain salvation, but rather are a natural result of the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Those who believe in God, must take care to consider their good works and also take the opportunities that come their way in the run of day to day living, to do those good works. Worthy and righteous good works will be because of the love in the heart of the saved believer. In this regard let us also consider the difference between a deserved question and a deserved answer, when even our best deeds are filthy. (Isaiah 64:6).

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Rejoicing in the Lord

By Arthur W Pink

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (Phil. 4:4). How many there are today who make an entirely wrong use of this Divine exhortation. Let any servant of God faithfully trace out the inward experiences of a Christian, let him describe the painful discoveries of “the plague of his own heart” (1 Kings 8:38), and his daily conflict with his corruptions and the corresponding effect this produces in the dampening of his spirits. Let him point out how well-suited to his case is the humiliating lament of Romans 7:24, and the light-hearted and empty-headed religionists of the day will promptly (we do not say “quote,” but) hurl at his head these words—“rejoice in the Lord always.” Those who thus misuse our text suppose that its happy strains condemn all gloominess in a Christian, and that it goes to show that one who is groaning is living far below his privileges. Continue reading →

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Rapture prediction: the effect on Christian Faith

Grant Swart

What follows here is another perspective on the possible effects, of giving heed to individuals like Harold Camping, could have on the perception of unbelievers regarding the Christian faith.

In South Africa, an advocate of Camping’s thinking, a certain Johannes Coetzee, received much radio and media coverage, in the days prior to 21 May 2011. In a society wherein a large majority of people are suffering from the devastating effects of the economic low and the falling away from true Faith, due to the ecumenical, secular and pagan beliefs of the majority of local society and government, the added result of Johannes Coetzee’s false predictions, has yet to be determined.

Taken from the article, James Boyett effectively states:

“What Harold Camping does, he gives people on the outside … it gives them ammunition to say ‘This man is a nut job; he’s a Christian. Christians are nut jobs. If you’re Christian, why should I listen to what you’re saying”

“My advice would be anytime you put too much faith in a fellow human, you’re going to be let down.”

“What Harold Camping said and what Harold Camping has taught is not the essence of Christianity.” Continue reading →

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Forbidden Lawsuits

John MacArthur – Grace to You

1 Corinthians 6:1-8


First Corinthians chapter 6, we’ll look at least the first eight verses of the chapter and get a running start on it. I’ve entitled the message simply “Forbidden Lawsuits.” You know, the Bible is a very practical book, and some of you maybe came this morning visiting us expecting to hear messages about God and Christ and messages in regard to the death of Jesus Christ or who He is or something like that, or maybe topical things; but what we’re doing this morning is just arriving at chapter 6 in 1 Corinthians and taking it as the Spirit of God has brought it to us. And the message this morning deals with lawsuits. Now, maybe you didn’t think the Bible got into practical things like suing other people; but it does; and it has a lot to say about it.

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Harold Camping & May 21 Judgment Day – Update!

By Ken Silva pastor-teacher on May 20, 2011

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.

For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power.

Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7)

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Harold Camping prepares for Judgment Day

I was alerted earlier today to listen to a local radio talk about the infamous date 21 May 2011. The person who was interviewed was Johannes Coetzee on radio RSG. It grieves my heart to know there are actually people who believe this nonsensical rubbish. I believe every true Christian will by the Grace of God have discernment enough to shun this lie. There are sadly others who will blindly follow these False teachers. This led me to go back to Scripture and again it was made clear that Mat 24:36  “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. and also Mat 24:42  Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. Praise God for His mercy on our poor wretched souls. Praise God for the only truth we have: the Scripture. Continue reading →

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The Problem of a Suffering Christian

Arthur W. Pink

A child of God oppressed, suffering sorely, often driven to his wit’s end..what a strange thing! A joint-heir with Christ financially embarrassed, poor in this world’s goods, wondering where his next meal is coming from..what an anomaly! An object of the Father’s everlasting love, and distinguishing favor tossed up and down upon a sea of trouble, with every apparent prospect of his frail barque capsizing..what a perplexity!

One who has been regenerated and is now indwelt by the Holy Spirit daily harassed by Satan, and frequently overcome by indwelling sin..what an enigma! Loved by the Father, redeemed by the Son, his body made the temple of the Holy Spirit, yet left in this world year after year to suffer affliction and persecution, to mourn and groan over innumerable failures, to encounter one trial after another, often to be placed in far less favorable circumstances than the wicked; to sigh and cry for relief, yet for sorrow and suffering to increase..what a mystery! What Christian has not felt the force of it, and been baffled by its inscrutability.
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Having the Head Affect the Heart

J.C. Ryle

Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John, volume 2, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1987], 182. {John 9:26-41}

When knowledge only sticks in a man’s head, and has no influence over his heart and life, it becomes a most perilous possession. And when, in addition to this, its possessor is self-conceited and self-satisfied, and imagines he knows everything, the result is one of the worst states of soul into which man can fall. There is far more hope about him who says, “I am a poor blind sinner and want God to teach me,” than about him who is ever saying, “I know it, I know it, I am not ignorant,” and yet cleaves to his sins. The sin of that man “remains.”

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“Joint heirs with Christ.”

C H Spurgeon – Morning Devotional

“Joint heirs with Christ.”
– Rom_8:17

 and if children, then heirs–heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

The boundless realms of his Father’s universe are Christ’s by prescriptive right. As “heir of all things,” he is the sole proprietor of the vast creation of God, and he has admitted us to claim the whole as ours, by virtue of that deed of joint-heir-ship which the Lord hath ratified with his chosen people. The golden streets of paradise, the pearly gates, the river of life, the transcendent bliss, and the unutterable glory, are, by our blessed Lord, made over to us for our everlasting possession. All that he has he shares with his people.

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Ancient Labyrinths are Re-emerging

Prof Johan Malan

There is a sharp increase in the building and use of labyrinths in the West, which occurs in conjunction with the resurgence of other mystical practices such as Yoga and Eastern meditation. In the USA, more than 1000 labyrinths have been built in meditation garden settings, at retreat centres, churches, hospitals and prisons.

The popularity of labyrinths is also increasing in South Africa and many other countries.

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Osama Bin Laden killed: Moral Confusion

Grant Swart

Following on that which I posted a few days ago, “Osama Bin Laden killed, Why we should rejoice (but not gloat)”, here is another article regarding the West’s conscientious attitude and moral confusion on the same subject.

We should guard against adopting an attitude wherein we place social acceptance and tolerance of falsehood at the expense of God’s Truth, blessings and Grace. Like a thick blinding mist, the blizzard of affected opinions in the media, among political and religious leaders and other public commentators, prohibits us from simply doing what is right, by appealing to popular social morals. Continue reading →