It is odd how one moment carries such a lasting impact. Many can still remember what they were doing the very moment they heard that John F. Kennedy had been shot. I remember listening to the news that Robert Kennedy had won the California primary only to be shot an hour later. Others can remember vividly what they were doing when the news that the Challenger and Columbia exploded in mid-flight. No one can forget the moment they heard that terrorists had rammed commercial jets into the Pentagon and the World Trade Center.
Who can forget President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s line, “Yesterday, December 7th, a date which will live in infamy?” Who can forget the horrors at Columbine and Virginia Tech?
Some moments change us forever. Presidents no longer travel in opened convertibles. Space shuttles are no longer allowed to launch in freezing weather. Homeland Security has become a powerful tool of the government.
The common element between these memorable events is the shock and pain inflicted. Anguish carves an indelible place in our memories. Warm memories fade over time, but not painful ones. Warm memories bless us. Painful memories change us.
As a young boy Robert watched his family’s home burn to the ground. Decades later Robert would speak hours upon end regarding fire safety. He would never hesitate to lecture a friend upon any lack fire extinguishers in the home. He became involved in his community as a volunteer fireman. The horror of smoldering ashes in his youth influenced his thinking forever.
Not all life changing experiences, however, are products of horror. A woman’s journey to Jacob’s Well brought her to Christ. Rejected by many in her city, she found hope for a new life in the words she heard. In a moment she was transformed from an outcast to handmaiden of the Lord.
The moments that influence us are those that reveal to us our frailty and complete dependence upon God. Moments which influences are those that demand a change in our thinking and in our actions. We are not self-sufficient, nor are we impervious to the challenges of life.
For some it requires the jolt of a policeman’s knock upon the door, or the chilling words of a physician to remind us of our need of Christ. Like Paul they must be blinded before they can truly see. For others the hearing the words of Christ in our everyday tasks transforms us.
Whether by a horrific jolt or by the kindness at Jacob’s Well, the moment you meet Christ will forever influence your life.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Prayer Request
Hi gang!
It has been a few days since I have had the opportunity to post a blog. The reasons are many, but I will list the major one as a prayer request.
While on a visit, our Sister-in-Law (Vickie) had a major stroke. During the testing to determine the extent of the stroke, the doctors discovered cancer in Vickie's right lung and on her brain.
As Vickie and her husband live in another state that does not provide the excellent care she is getting, they have opted to stay with us for her treatment and rehabilitation.
This appears to be for them a long process to recovery. Please keep them in your prayers.
Many thanks,
Parson
It has been a few days since I have had the opportunity to post a blog. The reasons are many, but I will list the major one as a prayer request.
While on a visit, our Sister-in-Law (Vickie) had a major stroke. During the testing to determine the extent of the stroke, the doctors discovered cancer in Vickie's right lung and on her brain.
As Vickie and her husband live in another state that does not provide the excellent care she is getting, they have opted to stay with us for her treatment and rehabilitation.
This appears to be for them a long process to recovery. Please keep them in your prayers.
Many thanks,
Parson
Friday, September 26, 2008
How to talk to an Apostolic Full-Preterist, but only if you must
(Hi gang—the last few days have been quite busy as my wife and I are in the process of building our retirement home. God has blessed us mightily, allowing us to be nearly finished and without debt.)
Part Two
Here is a question for you. What do the left-wing attacks upon Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin have in common with the Apostolic Full-Preterist’s method of defending their doctrine? Just as the rabid left-wing liberals have been particularly demeaning in their personal attacks upon Palin, the Apostolic Full-Preterists have been equally demeaning in their personal attacks upon anyone that disagrees with them. I should know, having made several efforts to engage them in a civil intellectual discussion of their views.
A Presumptive Mindset
One must understand that the Apostolic Full-Preterist derives his doctrine from a presumptive mindset. Laboring under the thinking that ALL prophecies MUST be fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem, then every passage within the Scriptures MUST ALSO be interpreted with this assumption, regardless if this was the actual intent of the author.
In order to achieve a semblance of consistency of their view, some thorny issues must be “spiritualized” to a mystical explanation that defies logic and completely ignores the contradictions of other passages. As they presume that ALL prophecies were fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem, then the only explanation they will accept is one that supports that view.
The Second Coming of Christ
Apostolic Full-Preterists regard Matthew 24 as a prophecy of the demise of Jerusalem, the Temple, and the nation of Israel. The Coming of Christ as foretold in the chapter cannot be considered to be LITERAL as Christ did not LITERALLY come in 70 AD. Therefore, the Apostolic Full-Preterist claim that what occurred was a JUDGMENT COMING of Christ, using the Roman general Titus, to do His work.
The glaring problem that the Apostolic Full-Preterist has is that we are not left without a description of what the COMING OF CHRIST would be like. Luke wrote down the Angelic tidings that the Coming of Christ would be LIKE His Ascension.
Act 1:11 (Bible in Basic English) And said, O men of Galilee, why are you looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come again, in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.
Christ did not leave in a Judgment Going, but bodily ascended—literally—physically—and in a manner that could be VISIBLY observed.
Act 1:9 And when he had said these things, while they were looking, he was taken up, and went from their view into a cloud.
If the Coming of Christ was to be THE SAME WAY He left, then His Coming is to be literal, not figuratively, visible, and not mystic. The Apostolic Full-Preterists completely ignore this as it debunks their doctrine.
Absurdities in the Apostolic Full-Preterist Doctrine
The presumptive approach by the Apostolic Full-Preterist in defining their views leads to some extremely peculiar ideas. In order to keep consistency that ALL prophecy was fulfilled in 70 AD, Satan no longer deceives, devours, or accuses. He, according to the Apostolic Full-Preterists, was in 70 AD hurled into the fiery abyss we call Hell. Since that date there has been a cessation of demonic possession that you read about repeatedly in the New Testament. The Full Preterists in our Apostolic ranks can provide no explanation for the continued existence of evil and the testimonies of demons being cast out by our Apostolic fathers. Neither can they provide an explanation of who is leading the kingdom of darkness since Satan has been in the fiery abyss for the past 2,000 years.
Apostolic Full-Preterists also claim that the 1,000 year reign of Christ only lasted 37 years. They define the 1,000 years as to be figurative and should be defined as “many”, rather than a literal 1,000 years. Again, they ignore that 37 years is NOT considered to be MANY or A LONG TIME.
They also assert that the Jewish race no longer exists. (If only Hitler knew this—it would have spared 6,000,000 innocent people) Those that live in the nation of Israel today are not Jews, and cannot trace their lineage back to certifiable Israelites of the first century. They dismiss the reports of the Kohen gene and the claims of Jews who say that they can trace their lineage back to Ezra the Scribe. This is the same Ezra that was involved with the restoration of Jewish worship after the Babylonian captivity.
Apostolic Full-Preterist Method of Debate
What about the comparison of the left-wing attacks on Sarah Palin and the Apostolic Full-Preterist method of debate? Apostolic Full-Preterists do not take kindly to the disproving of their pet points. Their ire usually is shown in a ridiculing attack that mocks, insults, and demeans those that disagree. Rather than to intellectually defend their position, their preferred method is to “intimidate or anger” anyone that dares to challenges their doctrine.
How to talk to an Apostolic Full-Preterist—but only if you must.
If you wish to discuss the errors with a Full-Preterist, please keep the following things in mind.
1. They prefer to work in groups. Rarely do will you engage in a conversation with just one.
2. You must grow thick skin. Their motto—SHOOT THE MESSENGER. (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told how “woefully ignorant” I was by an Apostolic Full-Preterist.
3. Stick to ONE issue at a time. Full-Preterists try to change the issue when they are being proven wrong. Their motto— “When Losing---Confuse the Issue.”
4. Do not be intimidated by their demand of sola scriptura in order to ignore history. THEY use history when it is to their advantage.
5. Do not be intimidated by their claims of being superior in SPIRITUALITY as they SPIRITUALIZE the meanings of the Scriptures. Demanding to determine the EXACT intention of the author in a passage does NOT make you CARNAL. It makes you intellectually honest.
6. Do not labor with the idea that you can convince the Apostolic Full-Preterist of his error. Such successes are extremely rare. It will take an encounter with God on their part to negate the delusion they labor under.
Apostolic Full Preterists have been known to attack Partial Preterists with the same vulgar behavior they use upon Futurists. No one is spared of their scorn or venomous tongue. Talk to them if you must, as they are completely wrong in eschatology. Just be careful as to not allow them to prod you into becoming of the same spirit they exhibit.
Part Two
Here is a question for you. What do the left-wing attacks upon Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin have in common with the Apostolic Full-Preterist’s method of defending their doctrine? Just as the rabid left-wing liberals have been particularly demeaning in their personal attacks upon Palin, the Apostolic Full-Preterists have been equally demeaning in their personal attacks upon anyone that disagrees with them. I should know, having made several efforts to engage them in a civil intellectual discussion of their views.
A Presumptive Mindset
One must understand that the Apostolic Full-Preterist derives his doctrine from a presumptive mindset. Laboring under the thinking that ALL prophecies MUST be fulfilled with the destruction of Jerusalem, then every passage within the Scriptures MUST ALSO be interpreted with this assumption, regardless if this was the actual intent of the author.
In order to achieve a semblance of consistency of their view, some thorny issues must be “spiritualized” to a mystical explanation that defies logic and completely ignores the contradictions of other passages. As they presume that ALL prophecies were fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem, then the only explanation they will accept is one that supports that view.
The Second Coming of Christ
Apostolic Full-Preterists regard Matthew 24 as a prophecy of the demise of Jerusalem, the Temple, and the nation of Israel. The Coming of Christ as foretold in the chapter cannot be considered to be LITERAL as Christ did not LITERALLY come in 70 AD. Therefore, the Apostolic Full-Preterist claim that what occurred was a JUDGMENT COMING of Christ, using the Roman general Titus, to do His work.
The glaring problem that the Apostolic Full-Preterist has is that we are not left without a description of what the COMING OF CHRIST would be like. Luke wrote down the Angelic tidings that the Coming of Christ would be LIKE His Ascension.
Act 1:11 (Bible in Basic English) And said, O men of Galilee, why are you looking up into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven, will come again, in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.
Christ did not leave in a Judgment Going, but bodily ascended—literally—physically—and in a manner that could be VISIBLY observed.
Act 1:9 And when he had said these things, while they were looking, he was taken up, and went from their view into a cloud.
If the Coming of Christ was to be THE SAME WAY He left, then His Coming is to be literal, not figuratively, visible, and not mystic. The Apostolic Full-Preterists completely ignore this as it debunks their doctrine.
Absurdities in the Apostolic Full-Preterist Doctrine
The presumptive approach by the Apostolic Full-Preterist in defining their views leads to some extremely peculiar ideas. In order to keep consistency that ALL prophecy was fulfilled in 70 AD, Satan no longer deceives, devours, or accuses. He, according to the Apostolic Full-Preterists, was in 70 AD hurled into the fiery abyss we call Hell. Since that date there has been a cessation of demonic possession that you read about repeatedly in the New Testament. The Full Preterists in our Apostolic ranks can provide no explanation for the continued existence of evil and the testimonies of demons being cast out by our Apostolic fathers. Neither can they provide an explanation of who is leading the kingdom of darkness since Satan has been in the fiery abyss for the past 2,000 years.
Apostolic Full-Preterists also claim that the 1,000 year reign of Christ only lasted 37 years. They define the 1,000 years as to be figurative and should be defined as “many”, rather than a literal 1,000 years. Again, they ignore that 37 years is NOT considered to be MANY or A LONG TIME.
They also assert that the Jewish race no longer exists. (If only Hitler knew this—it would have spared 6,000,000 innocent people) Those that live in the nation of Israel today are not Jews, and cannot trace their lineage back to certifiable Israelites of the first century. They dismiss the reports of the Kohen gene and the claims of Jews who say that they can trace their lineage back to Ezra the Scribe. This is the same Ezra that was involved with the restoration of Jewish worship after the Babylonian captivity.
Apostolic Full-Preterist Method of Debate
What about the comparison of the left-wing attacks on Sarah Palin and the Apostolic Full-Preterist method of debate? Apostolic Full-Preterists do not take kindly to the disproving of their pet points. Their ire usually is shown in a ridiculing attack that mocks, insults, and demeans those that disagree. Rather than to intellectually defend their position, their preferred method is to “intimidate or anger” anyone that dares to challenges their doctrine.
How to talk to an Apostolic Full-Preterist—but only if you must.
If you wish to discuss the errors with a Full-Preterist, please keep the following things in mind.
1. They prefer to work in groups. Rarely do will you engage in a conversation with just one.
2. You must grow thick skin. Their motto—SHOOT THE MESSENGER. (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been told how “woefully ignorant” I was by an Apostolic Full-Preterist.
3. Stick to ONE issue at a time. Full-Preterists try to change the issue when they are being proven wrong. Their motto— “When Losing---Confuse the Issue.”
4. Do not be intimidated by their demand of sola scriptura in order to ignore history. THEY use history when it is to their advantage.
5. Do not be intimidated by their claims of being superior in SPIRITUALITY as they SPIRITUALIZE the meanings of the Scriptures. Demanding to determine the EXACT intention of the author in a passage does NOT make you CARNAL. It makes you intellectually honest.
6. Do not labor with the idea that you can convince the Apostolic Full-Preterist of his error. Such successes are extremely rare. It will take an encounter with God on their part to negate the delusion they labor under.
Apostolic Full Preterists have been known to attack Partial Preterists with the same vulgar behavior they use upon Futurists. No one is spared of their scorn or venomous tongue. Talk to them if you must, as they are completely wrong in eschatology. Just be careful as to not allow them to prod you into becoming of the same spirit they exhibit.
Friday, September 12, 2008
How to talk to an Apostolic Full Preterist--but only if you must
Part OneWhy does it matter?
It is a question that I have been asked over the past few years as I searched out the beliefs of Apostolic Preterism that has intruded our movement. My answer has been, and still is—truth matters. If truth doesn’t matter, then nothing matters. Preterism presents to those not familiar with eschatology some very serious misconceptions regarding the future.
Preterism is usually defined as an eschatology that holds that some (Partial Preterism) or all (Full Preterism) of biblical prophecies regarding the last days have already been fulfilled. While Partial Preterist regards a future coming of Christ, a physical resurrection of the dead, and a White Throne Judgment of all men, Full Preterists teach that these events took place in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem. This ideology removes from consideration a restored nation of Israel and a final confrontation wherein evil is expunged from the face of the earth. According to Preterism, what you see in this world is as good as it gets.
The bizarre beliefs of the Full-Preterist
Because the Apostolic Full-Preterists have no central leadership with a single voice, the beliefs of the full preterists vary from individual to individual. The core belief, however, can be described as a claim that all of eschatology has been fulfilled, save for the last two chapters of Revelation. To maintain such a view, Full-Preterists have offered forth the most “unusual” explanations.
The rapture of the Church, according to the Full Preterists, had to take place just prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. This would include a physical resurrection of the dead saints. This pre-70 AD rapture of the entire Church was devised in an attempt to explain why no one can find any Full Preterist teachings by the Ante-Nicene fathers. Such teachings of a pre-70 AD rapture do not exist in the early Church. More importantly, a pre-70 AD rapture of the Church body would result in false teachers, hypocrites, and sinners operating the Church from that time forward. To wit, Christ left His body, the Church, to wicked men to continue into the twenty-first century. Such rationale is ludicrous.
Apostolic Full-Preterists claim a total fulfillment of Revelation 20, which includes the end of the 1,000 year reign of Christ. This 1,000 year rule of Christ supposedly lasted from the 33 AD birth of the Church to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, meaning that the 1,000 year reign only lasted 37 years.
Revelation 20 also contains the passage wherein Satan is cast into the fiery abyss to join the false prophet and beast. (verse 10)According to Full Preterists, this also has been fulfilled, and that there has been since 70 AD a cessation of demonic possession of individuals as seen in the gospels. After 70 AD, the Church, those left behind in the pre-70 AD rapture, would no longer need the God given power to cast out devils. (Mark 16:17) Satan burning in the fiery abyss and impotent demonic underlings somehow does not explain the evil in the world today. Furthermore, the Full-Preterists do not give an explanation of who is running the Empire of Darkness since Satan has been cast into the fiery abyss.
Full-Preterists also claim no future physical coming of Christ of a physical resurrection. The Coming of Christ was a “judgment” coming that involved the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus and his Roman army. The resurrection involves a resurrection of only the soul out of Sheol, the abode of the dead. For the Full-Preterists, the resurrection process has been an ongoing event since 70 AD. At the moment of death, the soul rushes to their White Throne and receives their eternal reward.
What is ignored by the Full-Preterists is that the prophecy of Christ will come the same way He left. Luke states, “Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way that you have seen him go." (Acts 1:11 CEV) Christ’s departure was physical and so will be His return. Also ignored by the Full-Preterist is that Christ’s resurrection was physical as well. The body of Christ could be handled. (John 20:27) Christ also could eat food, something a spirit could not do. (Luke 24:43)
The beliefs of the Full-Preterists are bizarre. Many Christians consider such beliefs as being heresy. Whether one regards Full-Preterism as being bizarre or heresy, the bottom line is that their teachings are completely false.
It is a question that I have been asked over the past few years as I searched out the beliefs of Apostolic Preterism that has intruded our movement. My answer has been, and still is—truth matters. If truth doesn’t matter, then nothing matters. Preterism presents to those not familiar with eschatology some very serious misconceptions regarding the future.
Preterism is usually defined as an eschatology that holds that some (Partial Preterism) or all (Full Preterism) of biblical prophecies regarding the last days have already been fulfilled. While Partial Preterist regards a future coming of Christ, a physical resurrection of the dead, and a White Throne Judgment of all men, Full Preterists teach that these events took place in 70 AD with the destruction of Jerusalem. This ideology removes from consideration a restored nation of Israel and a final confrontation wherein evil is expunged from the face of the earth. According to Preterism, what you see in this world is as good as it gets.
The bizarre beliefs of the Full-Preterist
Because the Apostolic Full-Preterists have no central leadership with a single voice, the beliefs of the full preterists vary from individual to individual. The core belief, however, can be described as a claim that all of eschatology has been fulfilled, save for the last two chapters of Revelation. To maintain such a view, Full-Preterists have offered forth the most “unusual” explanations.
The rapture of the Church, according to the Full Preterists, had to take place just prior to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD. This would include a physical resurrection of the dead saints. This pre-70 AD rapture of the entire Church was devised in an attempt to explain why no one can find any Full Preterist teachings by the Ante-Nicene fathers. Such teachings of a pre-70 AD rapture do not exist in the early Church. More importantly, a pre-70 AD rapture of the Church body would result in false teachers, hypocrites, and sinners operating the Church from that time forward. To wit, Christ left His body, the Church, to wicked men to continue into the twenty-first century. Such rationale is ludicrous.
Apostolic Full-Preterists claim a total fulfillment of Revelation 20, which includes the end of the 1,000 year reign of Christ. This 1,000 year rule of Christ supposedly lasted from the 33 AD birth of the Church to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, meaning that the 1,000 year reign only lasted 37 years.
Revelation 20 also contains the passage wherein Satan is cast into the fiery abyss to join the false prophet and beast. (verse 10)According to Full Preterists, this also has been fulfilled, and that there has been since 70 AD a cessation of demonic possession of individuals as seen in the gospels. After 70 AD, the Church, those left behind in the pre-70 AD rapture, would no longer need the God given power to cast out devils. (Mark 16:17) Satan burning in the fiery abyss and impotent demonic underlings somehow does not explain the evil in the world today. Furthermore, the Full-Preterists do not give an explanation of who is running the Empire of Darkness since Satan has been cast into the fiery abyss.
Full-Preterists also claim no future physical coming of Christ of a physical resurrection. The Coming of Christ was a “judgment” coming that involved the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus and his Roman army. The resurrection involves a resurrection of only the soul out of Sheol, the abode of the dead. For the Full-Preterists, the resurrection process has been an ongoing event since 70 AD. At the moment of death, the soul rushes to their White Throne and receives their eternal reward.
What is ignored by the Full-Preterists is that the prophecy of Christ will come the same way He left. Luke states, “Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way that you have seen him go." (Acts 1:11 CEV) Christ’s departure was physical and so will be His return. Also ignored by the Full-Preterist is that Christ’s resurrection was physical as well. The body of Christ could be handled. (John 20:27) Christ also could eat food, something a spirit could not do. (Luke 24:43)
The beliefs of the Full-Preterists are bizarre. Many Christians consider such beliefs as being heresy. Whether one regards Full-Preterism as being bizarre or heresy, the bottom line is that their teachings are completely false.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Obtaining Promises
How frustrating! To be so close to a dream and see it slip away, not because of some personal inability, but due to timidity and fear of those with you. Though not as heralded as other Bible characters, few rival the persistent faithfulness of Caleb.
Forty days of scouting in the land God had promised convinced Caleb that God had kept His word. The land, rich in natural resources, offered unlimited possibilities. One mountain stood out in its appeal, a place that would be later called Hebron. It would take forty-five years, and a lot of grit before he could own it. Caleb’s life is a blue-print for obtaining promises.
Be faithful when others lose faith
The euphoria over the miraculous deliverance from Egypt and the miraculous provisions in the wilderness instantly melted before the challenges that lay before Israel. Hearts sank; Knees buckled. No one had mentioned large walled cities filled with taller and stronger people, and certainly no one mentioned that the giant sons of Anak also lived there. The men that went with Caleb replied, “No, we are not strong enough to attack them; they are more powerful than us. Besides, the land doesn’t even support the people that are there.” (Numbers 13:31-32 GNB)
Fear makes things seem worse than it really is. The grapes, figs, and pomegranates brought back by Caleb contradicted the claims of poor agricultural prospects. The apprehension of battling the inhabitants would have been relieved had the fearful men known of how the inhabitants actually felt. Years later, it would be revealed that the inhabitants had “become terrified as soon as they heard that God dried up the Red Sea” on behalf of Israel. The land, they knew, no longer belonged to them. (Joshua 2:, 11 GNB) Fear focuses upon the dangers; Faith compares the obstacle against the abilities of God. Fear made things actually worse as Israel was soon to discover.
One never obtains victory without a battle; the enemy will resist your advancement. You can never have a testimony of overcoming without facing a test. The challenges that we face provide us the basis from which acts of faith are realized. While others lose faith in the face of challenges, they that know their God will be strong, and do exploits. (Daniel 11:32 KJV)
It would have been easy for Caleb to give in to disappointment and die in the wilderness along with the millions of others. Obtaining promises demands that we remain faithful when others lose faith.
Remember delay does not mean denial
The immature want things immediately. The demand for instant gratification also reveals a selfishness that comes from a me first, me only mentality. Certainly Caleb could not take on all of the armies of Canaan alone. He would have to have help. Delay was inevitable as a generation would have to be buried in the wilderness and a new one rise up to take their place.
Few things reveal the character as does what Chuck Swindoll calls the white space of waiting, those moments in our lives were nothing appears to be happening. With each passing day, the promise land grows smaller and smaller in the rear view mirror. Days becomes weeks. Weeks become months, and suddenly you realize that years have gone by without the fulfilling of the promise. The sun rises and sets today as it did yesterday, and no word comes that we are nearing our goal. Many good men have died in despair; many more have died in bitterness. To survive the wilderness, one must remember that delay does not mean denial. God has not forgotten His promises, nor has He forgotten you.
Maintain the right spirit in negative circumstances
Caleb knew a lot about negative circumstances. The people with whom he traveled complained a lot. They were forever worried about enough water, enough food, and too many inconveniences. The enemy’s walls were too high, the enemy was too tall, and the ground was too poor. Each day brought new reasons to whine about life and complain to Moses.
David also knew about negative circumstances. Saul viewed him as a threat to the throne despite David’s faithful service. David was forced to duck javelins and ignore cutting accusations. His companions David were the dregs of society, the original “wild bunch”. He was forced to live in caves, on the run, or in the hospitality of his sworn enemies.
Joseph endured his share of negative circumstances. Jealous brothers sold him into slavery. A lying floozy has him thrown in prison. Those that he has helped quickly forget. Years pass without a glimmer of his dream coming true. It is enough to make the stoutest heart shatter with resentment.
Whether by instinct or by instruction, great men realize that to obtain promises, one must maintain the right spirit in adverse circumstances. Rather than to spend his days complaining against the faithless Israelites, Caleb serves quietly and with patience the One who is faithful. His face, unmarred by resentment and anger, reflects the blessed assurance that only a trust in God supplies. Rather than waste time cursing the darkness, he marches with hope toward his promise. Rather than be consumed by his circumstances, he maintains the right attitude that leaves him free from the poison of resentment. He maintains a right spirit despite his negative circumstances.
Remember, God will fulfill His promise—even if it means raising up a new generation
For forty years, obtaining the promise for Caleb seemed to remain the fodder of dreams. During those years, it would be easy to conclude that nothing was changing in the landscape of Caleb’s life. Each passing day brought the monotonous cycle of sunrise and sunset, the daily grind of chores, and no word of a purposeful march back to the land that God had offered.
Was God neglecting Caleb? Certainly not! The fulfillment of the promise required the demise of those who accused God of bringing them to a place of death, where their wives and children would be captured. Each passing day brought a grim harvest of former Egyptian slaves, their corpses a mute reminder of the cost of faithlessness. The same day brought the joy of a newborn child, the rise of a new generation that would help obtain what their fathers would not.
God’s purposes will not be frustrated by the fickleness of men. As Mordecai warned a hesitant Esther, “deliverance will come, if not by you, by some other means.” (Esther 4:14) For each failure of an Eli, God will introduce a Samuel. For each failure of a Saul, God will anoint a David. When the Judases sell out for a few coins of silver, Paul finishes the course laid before him. God will always have a people to accomplish His purposes, even if He has to bring up a new generation to do what their fathers refused. God will not leave Himself without a witness of His faithfulness.
For those that languish in their hope of obtaining promises made to them, please hear the words of Caleb.
“I was forty years old at the time Moses sent me from Kadesh-Barnea into Canaan as a spy. When I came back and told him about the land, everything I said was true.
The other spies said things that made our people afraid, but I completely trusted the LORD God.
The same day I came back, Moses told me, ‘Since you were faithful to the LORD God, I promise that the places where you went as a spy will belong to you and your descendants forever.’
Joshua, it was forty-five years ago that the LORD told Moses to make that promise, and now I am eighty-five. Even though Israel has moved from place to place in the desert, the LORD has kept me alive all this time as he said he would.
I'm just as strong today as I was then, and I can still fight as well in battle.” (Joshua 14:7-11 CEV)
God is keeping you alive, and He will enable you to obtain your promise, just as He did Caleb.
Forty days of scouting in the land God had promised convinced Caleb that God had kept His word. The land, rich in natural resources, offered unlimited possibilities. One mountain stood out in its appeal, a place that would be later called Hebron. It would take forty-five years, and a lot of grit before he could own it. Caleb’s life is a blue-print for obtaining promises.
Be faithful when others lose faith
The euphoria over the miraculous deliverance from Egypt and the miraculous provisions in the wilderness instantly melted before the challenges that lay before Israel. Hearts sank; Knees buckled. No one had mentioned large walled cities filled with taller and stronger people, and certainly no one mentioned that the giant sons of Anak also lived there. The men that went with Caleb replied, “No, we are not strong enough to attack them; they are more powerful than us. Besides, the land doesn’t even support the people that are there.” (Numbers 13:31-32 GNB)
Fear makes things seem worse than it really is. The grapes, figs, and pomegranates brought back by Caleb contradicted the claims of poor agricultural prospects. The apprehension of battling the inhabitants would have been relieved had the fearful men known of how the inhabitants actually felt. Years later, it would be revealed that the inhabitants had “become terrified as soon as they heard that God dried up the Red Sea” on behalf of Israel. The land, they knew, no longer belonged to them. (Joshua 2:, 11 GNB) Fear focuses upon the dangers; Faith compares the obstacle against the abilities of God. Fear made things actually worse as Israel was soon to discover.
One never obtains victory without a battle; the enemy will resist your advancement. You can never have a testimony of overcoming without facing a test. The challenges that we face provide us the basis from which acts of faith are realized. While others lose faith in the face of challenges, they that know their God will be strong, and do exploits. (Daniel 11:32 KJV)
It would have been easy for Caleb to give in to disappointment and die in the wilderness along with the millions of others. Obtaining promises demands that we remain faithful when others lose faith.
Remember delay does not mean denial
The immature want things immediately. The demand for instant gratification also reveals a selfishness that comes from a me first, me only mentality. Certainly Caleb could not take on all of the armies of Canaan alone. He would have to have help. Delay was inevitable as a generation would have to be buried in the wilderness and a new one rise up to take their place.
Few things reveal the character as does what Chuck Swindoll calls the white space of waiting, those moments in our lives were nothing appears to be happening. With each passing day, the promise land grows smaller and smaller in the rear view mirror. Days becomes weeks. Weeks become months, and suddenly you realize that years have gone by without the fulfilling of the promise. The sun rises and sets today as it did yesterday, and no word comes that we are nearing our goal. Many good men have died in despair; many more have died in bitterness. To survive the wilderness, one must remember that delay does not mean denial. God has not forgotten His promises, nor has He forgotten you.
Maintain the right spirit in negative circumstances
Caleb knew a lot about negative circumstances. The people with whom he traveled complained a lot. They were forever worried about enough water, enough food, and too many inconveniences. The enemy’s walls were too high, the enemy was too tall, and the ground was too poor. Each day brought new reasons to whine about life and complain to Moses.
David also knew about negative circumstances. Saul viewed him as a threat to the throne despite David’s faithful service. David was forced to duck javelins and ignore cutting accusations. His companions David were the dregs of society, the original “wild bunch”. He was forced to live in caves, on the run, or in the hospitality of his sworn enemies.
Joseph endured his share of negative circumstances. Jealous brothers sold him into slavery. A lying floozy has him thrown in prison. Those that he has helped quickly forget. Years pass without a glimmer of his dream coming true. It is enough to make the stoutest heart shatter with resentment.
Whether by instinct or by instruction, great men realize that to obtain promises, one must maintain the right spirit in adverse circumstances. Rather than to spend his days complaining against the faithless Israelites, Caleb serves quietly and with patience the One who is faithful. His face, unmarred by resentment and anger, reflects the blessed assurance that only a trust in God supplies. Rather than waste time cursing the darkness, he marches with hope toward his promise. Rather than be consumed by his circumstances, he maintains the right attitude that leaves him free from the poison of resentment. He maintains a right spirit despite his negative circumstances.
Remember, God will fulfill His promise—even if it means raising up a new generation
For forty years, obtaining the promise for Caleb seemed to remain the fodder of dreams. During those years, it would be easy to conclude that nothing was changing in the landscape of Caleb’s life. Each passing day brought the monotonous cycle of sunrise and sunset, the daily grind of chores, and no word of a purposeful march back to the land that God had offered.
Was God neglecting Caleb? Certainly not! The fulfillment of the promise required the demise of those who accused God of bringing them to a place of death, where their wives and children would be captured. Each passing day brought a grim harvest of former Egyptian slaves, their corpses a mute reminder of the cost of faithlessness. The same day brought the joy of a newborn child, the rise of a new generation that would help obtain what their fathers would not.
God’s purposes will not be frustrated by the fickleness of men. As Mordecai warned a hesitant Esther, “deliverance will come, if not by you, by some other means.” (Esther 4:14) For each failure of an Eli, God will introduce a Samuel. For each failure of a Saul, God will anoint a David. When the Judases sell out for a few coins of silver, Paul finishes the course laid before him. God will always have a people to accomplish His purposes, even if He has to bring up a new generation to do what their fathers refused. God will not leave Himself without a witness of His faithfulness.
For those that languish in their hope of obtaining promises made to them, please hear the words of Caleb.
“I was forty years old at the time Moses sent me from Kadesh-Barnea into Canaan as a spy. When I came back and told him about the land, everything I said was true.
The other spies said things that made our people afraid, but I completely trusted the LORD God.
The same day I came back, Moses told me, ‘Since you were faithful to the LORD God, I promise that the places where you went as a spy will belong to you and your descendants forever.’
Joshua, it was forty-five years ago that the LORD told Moses to make that promise, and now I am eighty-five. Even though Israel has moved from place to place in the desert, the LORD has kept me alive all this time as he said he would.
I'm just as strong today as I was then, and I can still fight as well in battle.” (Joshua 14:7-11 CEV)
God is keeping you alive, and He will enable you to obtain your promise, just as He did Caleb.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
A Revival in Eschatology?
The first time I heard it, I felt a gnawing apprehension deep inside what many call “the gut”. Instinctively, I knew nothing of lasting good could come out of it. Twenty-five years later, the Apostolic movement struggles with the backlash of the decade of abused eschatology. Though hundreds were reported to have been converted in these “end-time” revivals of the 1980s, eschatology preaching and teaching no longer incites the interest of the masses. Has the backlash from the 80s doomed the study of prophecy to only Bible geeks with nothing better to do?
Until five years ago the term Preterism remained only a definition in the worn dictionary on my desk. I found little reason to give it much thought as no one that I knew taught it, and never could I imagine that anyone in the Apostolic movement would actually embrace it. My efforts, however, to reach out to make new friends on Apostolic forums brought the startling realization that the eschatology that had been limited to Reformed Christianity had made inroads into the Apostolic movement.
Such a drastic change in eschatological position would not have occurred had not the bizarre claims of misguided futurists during the 1980s. Well meaning Apostolic evangelists terrified crowds into the altars with reports of Israel finding the lost red heifer ashes or some other crucial artifact necessary to resume Temple worship. More than twenty-five years have passed with no verifiable evidence that the reports of the ashes or Ark were true.
Perhaps the final blow to the popularity of eschatology teaching came in a top seller book, 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Happen in 1988,” by Edgar Whisenant. On a particular day in September, (the 12th I think), Christ would come for His Church. If you were not ready, you would be left behind to face the peril of the tribulation. More than four million books were sold causing near panic, not to mention many churches holding all night prayer meetings on the date the rapture was to take place.
Combined with the differing arguments among futurists regarding how things are to unfold, the sensational and unproven claims convinced some Apostolics to turn to unconventional answers. Perhaps there would be no rapture. Perhaps there would be no tribulation. Perhaps all or most prophecies had already been fulfilled.
Preterism brought answers that would do away with the proclivity of futurist’s hype of forever trying to identify the Anti-Christ or pinpoint the day Christ comes for His Church. As there would be no rebuilding of the Temple, and no resumption of Jewish sacrifices, there would be no need of the red heifer ashes or the Ark of the Covenant. With Partial-Preterists, one need only look to Christ to judge the world. For the Full-Preterists, there would be no physical resurrection as death brings you into heaven’s bliss. Preterism brought relief from Futurist’s hype, and so a new eschatological movement was born.
Apostolic Preterists have been zealots in spreading their false views. Most every Apostolic forum will have several of their advocates challenging anyone that will give them a voice. Some have dedicated their lives, resources, and ministry to the proclamation and defense of Preterism. They challenge to a debate anyone and everyone that disagrees with their doctrine. In the manner of a wolf pack, they cling together seeking to draw unsuspecting victims to follow after them. (Acts 20:29-30)
Most Apostolics, however, lost interest in eschatology all together. Neither Futurism nor Preterism garner much interest upon most Apostolic forums. The small troupe of Preterists that frequent those forums usually spends their time touting their doctrine, their scriptural prowess, or each other. Scant few of the Futurists bother to refute Preterist claims, and fewer Apostolics bother to read the discussions.
Despite the current disdain of eschatology, prophecy teaching will become important to our movement once more. Paul stated that perilous times would occur in the last days. As international threats and domestic challenges place more and more stress upon our lives, a renewed interest about our future is inevitable. This time, perhaps, we will remember the mistakes of sensationalist and stick to the scriptures when describing the soon coming of Christ, the literal resurrection and rapture of the saints. We don’t need the hype. We need sound doctrine.
Until five years ago the term Preterism remained only a definition in the worn dictionary on my desk. I found little reason to give it much thought as no one that I knew taught it, and never could I imagine that anyone in the Apostolic movement would actually embrace it. My efforts, however, to reach out to make new friends on Apostolic forums brought the startling realization that the eschatology that had been limited to Reformed Christianity had made inroads into the Apostolic movement.
Such a drastic change in eschatological position would not have occurred had not the bizarre claims of misguided futurists during the 1980s. Well meaning Apostolic evangelists terrified crowds into the altars with reports of Israel finding the lost red heifer ashes or some other crucial artifact necessary to resume Temple worship. More than twenty-five years have passed with no verifiable evidence that the reports of the ashes or Ark were true.
Perhaps the final blow to the popularity of eschatology teaching came in a top seller book, 88 Reasons Why the Rapture Will Happen in 1988,” by Edgar Whisenant. On a particular day in September, (the 12th I think), Christ would come for His Church. If you were not ready, you would be left behind to face the peril of the tribulation. More than four million books were sold causing near panic, not to mention many churches holding all night prayer meetings on the date the rapture was to take place.
Combined with the differing arguments among futurists regarding how things are to unfold, the sensational and unproven claims convinced some Apostolics to turn to unconventional answers. Perhaps there would be no rapture. Perhaps there would be no tribulation. Perhaps all or most prophecies had already been fulfilled.
Preterism brought answers that would do away with the proclivity of futurist’s hype of forever trying to identify the Anti-Christ or pinpoint the day Christ comes for His Church. As there would be no rebuilding of the Temple, and no resumption of Jewish sacrifices, there would be no need of the red heifer ashes or the Ark of the Covenant. With Partial-Preterists, one need only look to Christ to judge the world. For the Full-Preterists, there would be no physical resurrection as death brings you into heaven’s bliss. Preterism brought relief from Futurist’s hype, and so a new eschatological movement was born.
Apostolic Preterists have been zealots in spreading their false views. Most every Apostolic forum will have several of their advocates challenging anyone that will give them a voice. Some have dedicated their lives, resources, and ministry to the proclamation and defense of Preterism. They challenge to a debate anyone and everyone that disagrees with their doctrine. In the manner of a wolf pack, they cling together seeking to draw unsuspecting victims to follow after them. (Acts 20:29-30)
Most Apostolics, however, lost interest in eschatology all together. Neither Futurism nor Preterism garner much interest upon most Apostolic forums. The small troupe of Preterists that frequent those forums usually spends their time touting their doctrine, their scriptural prowess, or each other. Scant few of the Futurists bother to refute Preterist claims, and fewer Apostolics bother to read the discussions.
Despite the current disdain of eschatology, prophecy teaching will become important to our movement once more. Paul stated that perilous times would occur in the last days. As international threats and domestic challenges place more and more stress upon our lives, a renewed interest about our future is inevitable. This time, perhaps, we will remember the mistakes of sensationalist and stick to the scriptures when describing the soon coming of Christ, the literal resurrection and rapture of the saints. We don’t need the hype. We need sound doctrine.
Friday, September 5, 2008
What a Pentecostal Church Ought to Do
Acts 3:1-10
(Occasionally I come across a sermon that resonates with me. Recognizing that there are points that will bless my congregation, I adapt the points and create a sermon that is applicable to those to whom I minister. I wish to acknowledge the Methodist pastor, Otis Mc Millian, for the idea and some excellent points.)
When Christ began building His Church, did He intend for His people to wander aimlessly in life without purpose? Certainly not! As there is a time and season for everything under heaven, everything created serves a purpose that exalts God, not to be flotsam, tossed by the ocean currents.
If Christ created the Church to serve a purpose, then what did He have in mind? What did Christ intend for the Church to do? Here are a few things I would like you to consider:
A Pentecostal Church ought to raise the level of expectancy.
Most acknowledge that Church provides a meeting place for them to approach God, to be blessed, and to leave with a hope for a better future. Is that all that the Church should be— a sedative that helps us cope with the stress of everyday challenges? No! Christ created the Church to raise the level of expectation the average person has about God and about the possibilities available in a relationship with Him.
God offers far more than we can ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)When enslaved wished for freedom, not only did God give Israelites their freedom from Egypt, He also promised to give the Israelites a land that they could call their own, cities that they did not have to build, houses full of good things that they did not put there, and vineyards and orchards that they did not plant. (Deuteronomy 6:11) God’s desire to bless Israel far exceeded their level of expectation of what they could receive.
A visitor expects to find an encounter with God in a Pentecostal church. How then does the church raise their level of expectation?
The church can raise their expectation by creating a safe environment in which a visitor can enter. No one wishes to be verbally flogged in public for any perceived shortcomings. They need a hand up, not a beat down. They need compassion, not an execution. They need grace, not a gavel of judgment. They need forgiveness, not to be publicly impugned.
One must understand, however, that mercy does not translate into an acceptance of sin. Being seeker-sensitive can never compromise the necessity of being born-again, a life transforming experience as described in the book of Acts. The unyielding grip of sin can only be broken through repentance and a infilling of the Spirit of God. Good works, good words, and good intentions can never suffice. A Pentecostal church should raise the expectation from the seeker accepting Christ, to seeking to be saved and accepted of Christ.
A Pentecostal Church Ought to Produce Joy
Webster (1828 American Dictionary of the English Language) defines joy as the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. One Bible version translates joy as true happiness, and if anyone should exude true happiness, it should be Pentecostals.
We should be happy in as much as we have been made to be the sons of God. (1 John 3:1-2) We will never be abandoned by God (Matthew 28:20). We have been empowered by God (Acts 1:8), and we can labor with the knowledge that God will confirm His word by working with us. (Mark 16:17-18)
A Pentecostal church should produce joy in its city. When the evangelist Phillip preached in Samaria, the city was filled with joy as people tormented by unclean spirits were healed as were those that were crippled and lame. (Acts 8:7-8) A Pentecostal church ought to make a difference in a city that is troubled by drugs, alcohol, abuse, dysfunctional families, and broken marriages. The church was never intended to be a side-note on the backside of town, but a light as noticeable as a city set on a hill. (Matthew 5:14) A Pentecostal church ought to turn the city upside down by bringing solutions for problems, hope for a better day, and, more importantly, a joy that defies description.
A Pentecostal Church Ought to Manifest the Supernatural
The Apostolic proponents of the false doctrine of Full-Preterism claim that miracles were only intended by Christ to last until the completion of the Jewish Age, which they say ended in 70 AD. Clearly, they do not understand the purpose of the Church or its empowerment by God to impact the world. The Church was not created to co-exist with evil, but to utterly defeat it. The weapons of given to the Church are mighty through God, to the pulling down of satanic strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:4) Despite the Full-Preterist bluster, the Church cannot pull down satanic strongholds by only human ability and resources. These strongholds can only be pulled down by God working with us, confirming His word with signs following. (Mark 16:20)
Paul stated in a letter to the Corinthian church that the Spirit had given each of us a special way to serve others. He then described nine gifts of the Spirit, the supernatural ministry of the Spirit through believers. Those gifts can be described as the Divine assisted ability to know supernaturally, to speak supernaturally, and to act supernaturally.
The responsibility of the Church to serve others did not end in 70 AD, nor did its responsibility to reach others. A Pentecostal church ought to manifest the supernatural.
A Pentecostal Church Ought to Effectively Evangelize its City
Not only should a Pentecostal church impact its city with joy, it should also make a noticeable impact in the city by bringing many of its citizens to a relationship with Christ. The Great Commission of Christ DEMANDS that we make disciples from every nation. (Matthew 28:19) Evangelism is the mandate of Christ, and the obligation of the Church. Christ came to seek and to save that which is lost, and His Church continues His mission. (Luke 19:10)
Evangelism demands that we place the interests of Christ above our own. It demands time, energy, and a willingness to engage those in need of Christ. It demands that we live beyond our personal interests and further the kingdom of God. The Church was never created to be a bless-me club, a social gathering to reaffirm among ourselves our beliefs. It was created to further the interests of Christ, the saving of those who are lost, and the expansion of His kingdom.
Many Pentecostal churches excel a one or two responsibilities of which it ought to do. Some excel at all. As the church does what it was designed to do, broken marriages are repaired, abuses are ended, and people are healed and come into relationship with Christ. The church becomes effective in driving out the demonic forces in its city, and God is glorified among all men.
Ministry to people, defeating evil, and glorifying God. It’s what a Pentecostal church ought to do.
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