Tuesday, May 27, 2008

A Return to Biblical Christianity

Many of us have probably heard someone said, "Christians are in the world but not of the world". This was quite true many years ago. But at the present end-time hour the Church is so much in the world it is no longer true to say that. In my opinion, it is more correct to say, "True Christians are in the Church but not of the Church"! If you are of a Local Church of any Christian denomination, chances are, you have inherited some of the New Age theology without actually knowing it. You have jumped in the bandwagon of unbiblical Christianity influenced by the prevailing New Age movemnet. The present New Age movement is at work in every area of our life - both in the secular world and in the religious world.

Contending for the Christian Faith

Jude wrote to Christians, "Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3, NKJV).

With respect to what Jude said, there are two desperate needs for the Church to fulfill if Christians are to contend earnestly for the faith:

1. The need to return to Biblical Christianity

There is a desperate need for the Church to return to Biblical Christianity. True Biblical Christianity is not a set of rules or a list of moral requirement that one must live up to in order to get to heaven. Unbiblical Christianity may be seen in the way we share the gospel to unbelievers. Many of us act like policemen when we "arrest" the attention of unbelievers to listen us in our evangelical effort. To attempt to force sinners under threat of hell to act like saints, when they really have neither the heart nor the power to do so, can only produce hypocrites. And that is the reason why there are many hypocrites in the Church. Only God can give a sinner a new heart; only the Holy Spirit can convict the world of of sin, and of righteiousness, and of judgment (John 16:8).

Biblical Christianity was never intended to be a follow-the-leader-blindly cult. It is the personal responsibility and privilege of each individual Christian to be immersed in the Word of God, to study it diligently, to meditate upon it, and to live by it. It was never God's intent that professional Pastors, professional Evangelists, professional theologians or professional Bible teachers would be the sole proprietors of Biblical truth. Professionalism was unheard of in the early Church. But that each Chrisitan would know for himself what he believes and why he believes it on the basis of his personal study of the Word of God.

There are many people who call Jesus their Savior but do not yet understand that He saves them not only from hell but also from self. Unfortunately, this biblical salvation seems to appeal to very few people who call themselves Christians, becaus of the New Age teaching of selfism - self-acceptance, self-esteem, self-image, self-talk, self-love and self-confidence.

Jesus said, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23, NKJV, emphasis added).

The phrase "deny himself" simply means say no to self. The cross is an instrument of death similar to an electric chair and therefore the phrase "take up his cross daily" means "go and die daily". In other words, we come to Jesus to die daily - with Him. That was why Paul said, "Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him" (Romans 6:8).

Paul also said, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal 2:20).

2. The need to allow Biblical Correction

Correction is one of the most conspicuously absent yet essential ingredients needed in the Church today. Pastors and leaders usually seek to avoid correction by hiding behind a misapplication of Christ's words, "Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matt. 7:1). This "do not judge" mentality is inherited from the deceptive New Age philosophy (Please refer to my earlier Posting "The Foundation of Biblical Christianty"). The fact is, we are to judge a person's fruit and doctrine (Matt. 7:15, 16; 1 Cor. 14:29; Rev. 2:2).

It seems there is an understanding between professional ministers to uphold unity at all cost. But they preach "unity" based not upon the truth of God's Word but upon the agreement not to disagree with one another. There is much talk of love, as though it somehow rules out correction. Yet the Bible teaches that love speaks the truth (Eph. 4:15). Real love corrects those who are loved:

"Behold, happy is the man whom God corrects; therefore do not despise the chastening of the Almighty" (Job 5:17).

"For whom the Lord loves He chastens" (Heb. 12:6).

Solomon said, "Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, and he who hates correction will die" (Prov. 9:8; 15:10).

Jesus Himself declared, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten" (Rev. 3:19).

From Genesis to Revelation, a major theme of the Bible is correction. This is because God loves us and desires to lead us from death and judgment into the eternal and abundant life available in Christ Jesus. Referring to the Old Testament narrative accounts of the history of Israel, Paul said, "They were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come" (1 Cor. 10:11).

John the Baptist preached repentance and correction, and so did Christ. Much of what Jesus said was in the nature of reproof aimed directly at the religious leaders. He did not hesitate to call them "hypocrites" (Matt. 23). "whitewashed tombs" (Matt 23:27) and "blind leaders" (matt. 15:14). Jesus even called His own disciples "foolish ones and slow of heart" (Luke 24:25).

Much of the New Testament was written to correct error that had already crept into the Church in the first century. The epistles of Paul, Peter, James, John and Jude embody the major corrective doctrines of the Church, which of course are still valid today. Leaders in the early Church were expected to be involved in an ongoing corrective ministry. Unfortunately, many of today's most popular professional ministers seem astonishingly unwilling either to judge the teachings of other professional mininsters or to accpt any correction themselves.

Major deceptions in the Church of Jesus Christ

Let us consider some major deceptions in the Church of Jesus Christ:

1. Delusion of Positive approach

One of the most seductive and popular fads from the secular world ever to be dressed in Christian terminology and to be widely accepted in the Church as Bible truth is the belief that positive is necessaritly good and negative is conversely bad.

Paul's teaching has been used by many Christians to equate positive with true and to equate negative with untrue:

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things" (Phil. 4:8, emphasis added).

Somehow, "positive" is not only erroneously equated with true, but it is also seen as the equivalent of noble, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtue and praiseworthey. It is not difficulty to realize that rather that being noble it would in some cases be very un-noble or dishonest to be "positive". Moreover, we could hardly call a judge just who failed to convict and sentence a criminal because he desired to be "positive". Some people take a very "positive" view of free sex, but that can hardly be called pure. Nor could we say that anything else mentioned in the above verse is equivalent of "positive"!

To many deceived Christians what is meant by "positive" is simply favorable or pleasing, and whatever is unpleasant is called "negative". This relativistic and self-oriented attitude reflects today's secular mentality and is destructive of morals and spiritual values. What actually matter is not whether something is "positive" but whether something is true or false, biblical or not biblical. Applying such terms to biblical truth is an insult to God whose Word is filled with "negative" corrections and warnings of judgment.

In actual fact, Paul was encouraging the Christians in Philippi to occupy their thoughts with that which has value and virtue which will strengthen their moral character.

2. On a pedestal of infallibility

Some professional ministers have placed themselves on a pedestal of infallibility by confusing gullible Christians with their wrong interpretation of what the psalmist said:

"He (God) permitted no one to do them wrong; yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes, saying, 'Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm'"(Psalm 105:14, 15, NKJV).

To question anything these professional ministers say or do is considered to be "touching" the "anointed of the Lord" which was forbidden in the Old Testament.

In Old Testament Israel, the prophets priest, and kings were "anointed" to these offices by having poured upon them the special anointing oil, after which they were known as "the anointed of the Lord". All three of these functions and offices (prophet, priest and king) were to find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ - meaning "the Anointed One" in Greek.

In the New Testament, Christ's followers are identified with Him so closely that they, as members of His body, the Church, carry on in His name these three offices of prophet, priest, and king. Every Christian is an "anointed one" because Christ, the Anointed One, has come to live in us and we are one in Him, If these professional ministers are the anointed ones so are all Christians; if they are infallible so are all of us! Therefore it is not correct to say that we should not question the teaching of any professional teacher or pastor. Notice also that the word "touch" means "to slay or kill" the Lord's anointed king (1 Samuel 24:6; 1 Samuel 26:9).

3. The question of Biblical faith

The word "faith" by itself has little meaning becauce we have to appropriate our faith in something or someone. The Bible teaches that as Christians we must have "faith in God" and not in anything else. The Bible assures that we are "saved through faith (in God)" (Eph. 2:8) and that the just shall "live by faith (in God)" (Romans 1:17).

The writer of Hebrews reminds us that "without faith (in God) it is impossible to please Him (God)" (Hebrews 11:6).

Jesus said, "Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. (V. 24) Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them" (Mark 11:22 - 24, NKJV, emphasis added).

Notice that Jesus prefaced His statement with: "Have faith in God". It is very important because if you leave it out, your faith can move mountains just by believing what you are praying for will happen. In other words, faith becomes a power or a force which enables those who possess it to gain what they desire simply through a prayer of positive confession as in verse 24. If what we pray for comes to pass because we believe it would, then God in actual fact has played no real part in the answer to our prayer, but we have produced the result by the power of our own belief! The object of faith becomes faith istself and attention is devoted to getting faith in faith instead of having faith in God. The is the most common presumptuous error which is the very opposite of having faith in God.

Rather than being a power that we direct, faith is confidence in God and in what He will do. The key element of faith is, knowing the will of God.

4. The question of Power

Many Christians, including renowned Bible teachers, are confused regarding where power comes from - from God (Jesus) Himself or from His word?

The writer of Hebrews said, "... who (Jesus) being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ..." (Hebrews 1:3, NKJV, emphasis added).

Notice that God is holding all things "by the word of His power" and not "by the power of His word" as many Christians assumed. Many say there is power in speaking the words and they say that was how God spoke the words in each act of creation. For example, when God said, "Let there be light" and there was light (Gen. 1:3).

But many failed to understand that light was created not because words were spoken, but because it was God who spoke the words. Anyone, other than God, could repeat the same words any number of times and nothing would be created. The power is in God, not in words. By putting the emphasis upon words, it follows that man would be able to emulate God's mighty acts.

As long as we seek faith as a power that we can use to secure blessings for ourselves or other, we are denying the true faith that is in God.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Rightly dividing the Word of Truth

Paul wrote two epistles to Timothy, a young Pastor who was facing a heavy burden of responsibility in the Church of Ephesus. The greatest challenge to Timothy was the eradication of false doctrine. In the Second Epistle to Timothy Paul reminded Timothy of his spiritual heritage and responsibilities.

Paul said, "Be diligent to present yourself approve to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Tim. 2:15, NKJV, emphasis added).

Here are some statements of truth:

1. Timothy should give diligence to discharge the duties of the Pastoral office to meet the divine approbation. The object of the ministry is not to please men but to please God. Such Biblical doctrine should be preached, and such plan formed, and such manner of life pursued, as God will approve.

2. Timothy should faithfully perform his duty as a Pastor, so that when he looks over what he has done, he may not be ashamed.

3. Timothy should cultivate the boldness and ability to teach the Word of truth rightfully and skillfully.

4. Paul gave the same admonition to the Corinthian Church regarding the duty of a minister:

"But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God" (2 Cor. 4:2).

The truth shall make you free

The Word of God was given to fulfill the needs in our life. When God's people start to have certain preconceived ideas regarding some Scriptures they unknowingly put themselves under bondage and subsequently this bondage becomes a curse. Below is a passage of Scripture often being quoted wrongly.

Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31, 32).

Notice that Jesus gave us four stages to spiritual freedom - Firstly keep and obey His Word. Then if you are doing that you become His disciple. If you are His disciple you shall know and understand the truth. You shall then be set free by the truth of His Word.

Anyone, a Pastor or a leader or a churchgoer, who does not keep and obey His Word, or who compromises His Word, in the eyes of Jesus, he is not His disciple. Then he does not know the truth because the truth is hidden from him. And because he does not know the truth, he is in spiritual bondage, even in the bondage of sin!

The Holy Spirit makes the difference

Solomon gave us a good picture of human life under the Old Covenant:

"Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, but they have no comforter - On the side of their oppressors there is power, but they have no comforter. Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, more than the living who are still alive. Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun" (Eccles. 4:1 -3, NKJV).

Solomon was saying under the Old Covenant the people did not have the Holy Spirit who is their comforter and guide. They did not have the One called alongside to help and to teach them all things.

The oppressor (the Devil) had power, but those who were oppressed did not have any power or the ability to resist him, because they did not have a comforter. Solomon's final assessment of life under the Old Covenant was: "You would really be better off if you had never been born than to have been born and died"!

The New Covenant was established on better promises

The writer of Hebrews said, "But now He (Jesus) has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises" (Heb. 8:6).

One of the better promises was the coming of the Holy Spirit after Jesus ascended to be with the Father.

Jesus said, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you" (John 16:13, 14).

Under the Old Covenant, the Holy Spirit came only upon the prophets, the priests and the kings. There were a few exceptions, such as with Mary. Also not forgetting Bezaleel, who was the chief craftsman for artistic works for the Tabernacle of Moses (Ex. 31:1 - 6). But those were exceptions, rather than the rule. The average layman did not have access to the Holy Spirit. Then you can understand why the people under the Old Covenant has such a hard time.

The final discourse of Jesus

John 12 to John 16 records Jesus' final discourse with His 12 disciples. He had been with them and teaching them them for nearly 3 and a half years. He showed them miracles of healings and raising the dead; He had the Last Supper with them; He gave them the new commandment of loving one another; He washed their feet and taught them how to humble themselves by washing one another's feet; He promised them the Holy Spirit and promised to be with them always, by the Holy Spirit, even to the end of the age.

Many Bible teachers and Bible interpreters have been at a loss in what way to understand a few verses in John 14:

Jesus said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to the Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it" (John 14:12 - 14, NKJV, emphasis added).

Here are some statements of truth:

1. "The works that I do he will do also" - These promises had doubtless special reference to the apostles themselves - and not to us, Gentile believers. The apostles were full of grief at His departure, and Jesus, in order to console them, gave them the assurance that God would not leave them, but would attend them in their ministry with the demonstrations of His mighty power. The miracles (works) that Jesus talked about were: Raising the dead and healing the sick and other signs and wonders. This was done by the apostles in many instances - Mark 16:17, 18; Acts 5:15; 13:11; 19:12; 5:1 - 10.

Personally I don't think any believer could have similar power as the first apostles to perform all those miracles, let alone having equal power as Jesus Himself.

2. "Greater works than these he will do" - The word "greater" cannot refer to the miracles themselves, for the works of the apostles did not actually exceed those of Jesus in power and quality. But the apostles' works were greater in their extent and greater in their effects. The reason being the works of Jesus were confined to Judea and the miracles were seen by few. On the other hand, the works of the apostles were witnessed by many nations, and the effect of their miracles and preaching was that thousands from among the Jews and Gentiles were converted to the Christian faith. In other words, the works of the apostles made a deeper impression on mankind. They were attended with more extensive results.

3. "Because I go to the Father" - This gives the reason why the apostle and Christians who believed could do "greater works". The Holy Spirit would only be given after Jesus had been glorified (John 7:39).

4. "Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do it" - This promise referred particularly to the apostles in their work of spreading the gospel. This is also true of all Chrsitians, if what they ask is in faith and according to the will of God (James 1:6; 1 John 5:14).

5. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it" - The word "anything" or "whatever" speaks of the scope of prayer; "Ask" speaks of the condition of prayer; "In My name" speaks of praying in His authority and praying in union with Him. In other words, we cannot pray outside His will if we pray "In His Name. "I will do it" speaks of the certainty of prayer.

Wrongly dividing John 14:12 - 14

Unfortunately John 14:12 - 14 has been used with the wrong emphasis by many professional evangelists simply because they take this passage of Scripture out of context. According to most of these presumptuous evangelists whatever Jesus had done the apostles could do equally well and whatever the apostles could do, "ordinary" believers could do as well and even better. Very often their emphasis is on healings and the working of miracles.

There are several reasons why the power in "ordinary" believers to work miracles is for below that of the apostles, let alone equal that of Jesus. Here are two of them:

1. The power to work miracles as well as the power to fulfill the Great commission depends on the measure of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the believers. In other words, it all depends on the anointing of the Holy Spirit and without the anointing of the Holy Spirit we can do nothing.

That is the reason why Jesus, before He ascended into heaven, He commanded His disciples to tarry in the city of Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high (Luke 24:49).

Jesus' last words to His disciples: "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

Jesus was telling His disciples that they lack power to preach and to spread the gospel of the Kingdom until they were baptized in the Holy Spirit. The Book of Acts tells us the effects and impact of the Pentecost on the lives of the apostles and on the early Church.

2. Jesus Himself was anointed with the Holy Spirit before He witnessed the good news of the Kingdom:

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; ..."(Isaiah 61:1).

Jesus received the Holy Spirit without measure:

"For He (Jesus) whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure" (John 3:34).

The psalmist talked about Jesus: "You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil gladness more than Your companions" (Ps. 45:7, emphasis added).

"Companions" are the disciples of Jesus. Therefore Jesus were much more anointed than any of His disciples.

Believer are given a small measure of the Holy Spirit

Paul said, "In whom (Jesus) ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnes of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory" (Eph. 1:14, KJV, emphasis added).

Paul was writing to believers in Ephesus who were all baptized in the Holy Spirit

Therefore "ordinary" Christians who are not even baptized in the Holy Spirit lack power both to work miracles and to share the gospel of the Kingdom to unbelievers. Furthermore the contemporary Church and individual Christians have already quenched and grieved the Holy Spirit in various degrees - by being influenced by world system.

Wrongly dividing the purpose and ministry of Elijah

Elijah was sent by God to Israel with a single mission - to defeat king Ahab of Israel and his idolatrous wife Jezebel and her false prophets who brought in the worship of pagan gods such as Baal and Asherah. The moment Elijah came before Ahab he proclaimed a drought in Israel for three years (1 Kings 17:1). This was an act of God to warn and to punish Ahab.

James said, "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produce its fruit" (James 5:17, 18, emphasis added).

God answered Elijah's prayer because he prayed according to the will of God and he was obedient to God and His Word. Therefore, even thought "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours", it doesn't follow that anyone of us can pray the same prayer earnestly and get the same result!

At Mount Carmel where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal and Asherah he was ordained by God to do that. This was the prayer that brought victory to God and Elijah:

"Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again" (1 Kings 18:36, 37).

When God told Elijah to flee from Jezebel (1 Kings 18:46) God miraculously preserved him by getting an angel to feed him. Earlier, during the drought Elijah was miraculously provided food and water through a widow (1 Kings 17). Any miracles performed by Elijah, like the bringing back to life the widow's son, was just incidental - to show the widow the Elijah was a true man of God. Elijah was not primarily sent by God to work the miracles of healing the sick, raising the dead and other signs and wonders.

The real purpose and ministry of Elijah clearly shows that it is not appropriate to take Elijah's works as an end-time Evangelism model for the Church. But some contemporary professional evangelists are doing just that and going round the world to teach gullible Christians to follow them!

Monday, May 12, 2008

The Foundation of Biblical Christianity

God is saying to His people today: "My Church is in spiritual adultery; My Church is becoming a spiritual harlot". We are seeing the fulfillment of the apostles' writing and the Book of Revelation that talk about apostasy. It is true that most believers believe in Biblical foundation through faith but many of them unknowingly add on to this foundation with unscriptural materials which are based on the teaching of Eastern religions, occult and New Age philosophy. Every true believer has a mandate from God to take away all those unscriptural materials and replace them with genuine materials in God's Word. The Bible says we must test all things and hold fast what is good (1 Thess. 5:21). We must rebuild the Church of Jesus Christ with the truth of God's Word.

Paul said to Timothy, "Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: 'The Lord knows those who are His,' and, 'Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity'" (2 Tim. 2:19, NKJV).

Paul said to the Christians in Ephesus, "... having been built on the foundation of apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief cornerstone, ..." (Eph. 2:20).

How many Churches are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets? How many Churches are upholding the apostles' doctrine without compromise (Acts 2:42)? But bear in mind that the Lord knows who belongs to Him (2 Tim. 2:19) - A believing Christian who departs from iniquity.

Deception, delusion and apostasy in the Church

Paul said, "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteous" (2 Thess. 2:9 - 12, emphasis added).

Here are some statements of truth:

1. Paul was writing to Christian believers. These believers refused to believe and refused to love the truth that would save them.

2. As a result of their refusing to believe and love the truth, God Himself would send them strong delusion so that they would believe Satan's lie instead.

There are two theologies rising up in the Church now. One is Biblical interpretation of theology and the other is New Age mentality. If you refuse to hold fast the truth of God's Word, God will send you a strong delusion to deceive you with the New Age mentality.

Hidden danger of New Age philosophy

The very philosophy of the New Age movement is ushering in the religion of antichrist (counterfeit Christ). It is the exact mentality and philosophy of many deceived Christians who are telling you that you should not get caught up with negative messages of repentance, death and hell, of the second coming of Christ and of the eternal judgment. The antichrist spirit is telling you that your are wonderful, you are great, you are people of virtue and we are going to win the world for Christ. That sounds very good to the flesh but if we do not know God's Word we will get sucked right into it!

That, I believe is New Ageism at the core. That is undermining Biblical Christianity and we need to stand and oppose that with God's Word. What the New Age movement proclaims is what Paul called the doctrine of demons (1 Tim. 4:1, 2).

Jesus Himself warned us: "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great sighns and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand" (Matt. 24:24, 25, emphasis added).

Notice that false christs and false prophets can perform great signs and wonders. The word "elect" means Christians, God's people and the Church.

Paul told Timothy, "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desire; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and will turn aside to myths" (2 Tim. 4:2 - 4, NAS, emphasis added).

The two words "reprove" and "rebuke" are not in the vocabulary of the New Age philosophy. To them, these are negative words that cause division. When you use these words you are divisive and judgmental and you are evil. But to you and I these are the Words of God.

The New Age Christian always takes Scripture out of context to support their view that Christians who reprove or rebuke them are causing division. Study the example below:

Paul said, "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offences, ..." (Romans 16:17, NKJV).

The above verse is not complete. It sounds pretty good and clear. Therefore anyone like myself who speaks any correction or any rebuke is causing division. Now let us open to that Scripture and complete the verse and see what it says:

"... contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them" (V. 17).

It is now obvious who are causing division. Not those who are standing up correcting and rebuking the things that is going on, but those who allow the New Age occultic spirit to infiltrate the Church. They conveniently taking Scripture out of context, twist it and leave parts out!

Jude said, "I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 3).

In other words, true Chrsitian should make an earnest effort to hold fast on Biblical Christianity.

Now, for what reason the Church has been infiltrated outrightly by the antichrist New Age spirit? There are many reasons for this. Let us consider just three of them: Firstly, because of the philosophy of love and unity at all costs. Secondly, the philosophy of do not judge and finally, the philosophy of confessing God's Word but taking it out of context.

Satanic philosophy of "love and unity at all costs"

I believe in love and unity and I believe we need more love and unity in the true Body of Christ. But when the Church begins to involve, to endorse and to encourage New Age tactics and occultism that is where my love and unity come to an end. I will not unite with the spirit of antichrist. I must always stand for God's Word and stand for His truth.

If God is not against love and unity at all costs why did He stop the building of the Tower of Babel by creating confusion among the people with different languages? Why did He tell Israel to maintain their separateness with idolatry and paganism around them? Think about that!

These people are preaching to you another Jesus (2 Cor. 11:4) and a different gospel (Gal. 1:6). They are giving you New Age Christianity. Multitudes of the elect of God who do not know God's Word are getting caught up into it.

Satanic philosophy of "do not judge"

Jesus said, "Judge not, that you be not judged" (Matt 7:1).

Yes, I believe that. I cannot judge your heart. You stand before the Lord and not before me. But I have an obligation to judge your fruit and your doctrine by the standard of God's Word.

The same Chapter further down Jesus said, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves" (V. 15).

Please tell me how to identify false prophets in sheep's clothing unless I make a value judgment, unless I examine their fruit and unless I examine their doctrine. There is a Biblical balance we need to keep in mind. We must not forget to look at any Scripture in its context. We must have truth and love at the same time. Sometimes we must show love in the form of discipline and accountability. As Paul said, we must always speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15). This is the Biblical balance all true Christians must uphold.

The New Age Christians think you are doing God a great favor for not putting their fruit and doctrine to the test. They say you can't put them to the test; you can't evaluate their teaching because the Holy Spirit has revealed to their apostles and prophets the things they have been speaking about. And to question them is to question God. My reply to them is - garbage!

The angel of the Lord spoke to John, "I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot endure evil men, and you put to the test those who cll themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you, that you have left your first love" (Rev. 2:2 - 4, NAS, emphasis added).

Jesus was commending the Church of Ephesus. True Christians who desire to obey and please God must put to the test those who called themselves ministers of God. We must also have the balance of standing for the truth and at the same time never to leave our first love - with our whole hearted allegiance to the Jesus of the Bible.

Satanic philosophy of "confessing God's Word"

The New Age movement is deceiving true Christians by appplying or confessing the Scripture out of context.


Jesus said, "... all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23).

I believe the concept of that, but I also believe that there are criterion, qualification and certain condition to be met and fulfilled before we are able to receive what God says. Let us go further:

Jesus also said, "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it" (John 14:14). And we stopped right there.

What if you go out and confess your neighbor's wife? Is God obligated to honor it because you confessed it?

Most New Age Christians will say yes, because he has quoted the right verse and he has used the right formula!

But the very next verse qualifies what Jesus said: "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (V. 15).

John said, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us" (1 John 5:14).

James said, "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasure" (James 4:3).

David the psalmist said, "Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Ps. 37:4).

If you desire to have a ministry you need to delight yourself in the Lord - which means to humble youself, obey Him, fear Him, pray earnestly and seek His face and His will, until you get a Word from Him. I believe your ministry is not there because of the right confession but because of obedience!

Satanic blessing

Togething with the emergence of the New Age movement there is a thing called satanic blessing. I believe many professional full-time ministers in mega-churches are experiencing a satanic blessing. They are allowing this New Age occultic technique to infiltrate their Churches and ministries. They are seeing blessing; they are seeing prosperity; they are seeing miracles of signs and wonders; they are seeing tremendous Church growth and they are seeing heights and excitement among members of the congregation. And there is so much love and unity and things are really going so well. To them this must be the blessing of God. Jesus addressed this problem and gave His warning at the close of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 7:21 - 23).

There is an urgent need of the Spirit of discernment among God's people in this end time hour. It seems to me the outpouring of Satan's spirit of deception surpasses the outpouring of God's grace and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Why? Simply because the Church has grieved the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30).

A different kind of famine

The Word of the Lord spoken through Amos: "I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst of water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, seeking the word of the Lord, but shall not find it" (Amos 8:11, 12, NKJV, emphasis added).


Amos' prophecy is being fulfilled now. Amos was talking about a different kind of famine, not a famine of physical food like some countries are facing right now, but a famine of Spiritual food - the Word of God. Because of this fact, undiscening Christians are being deceived by words of the satanice New Age philosophy!

Challenges ahead

Here are some challenges ahead for all true believers in Christ:

1. Total commitment to Jesus Christ, the savior and the Lord. Do not be a lukewarm Christian. God will vomit you out of His mouth if you are neither cold nor hot (Rev. 3:16). The Kingdom of God has no place for any lukewarm Christian.

2. Cultivate a discerning and a sensitive spirit. Feed on God's Word and become a matured Christian.

The writer of Hebrews said, "For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:13, 14, NKJV, emphasis added).

3. Becoming an expert on God's Word. Anything that is not in accord with God's Word do not sqallow it but reject it. Be a Berean Christian - "... they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so" (Acts 17:11).

Examine what you read (including this message) and what you hear in the light of God's Word.

Tuesday, May 06, 2008

The Three Stages of the Christian Life

The word "three" in Scripture is very important. There are three Persons in the Godhead - Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. We are created as a tri-part being - Spirit, soul and body. There are 3 archangels. There are 3 feasts of the Lord - Passover, which speaks of the born-again experience; Pentecost, which speaks of our charismatic or pentecostal experience; and the third feast is the Feast of the Tabernacle which is the last day feast on earth. This speaks of the great harvest and in-gathering of souls. We think of the journey of Israel coming out of, firstly, Egypt where they celebrated the Pass-over. Secondly they came into the wilderness where they celebrated Pentecost. The third stage is Canaan, the Promised Land.

The three stages of the Christian life according to John

John said, "I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His Name's sake. I write to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, because you have known the Father. I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one" (1 John 1:12 - 14, NKJV, emphasis added).

Here are some statements of truth:

1. First stage little children; second stage young men; third stage fathers.

2. John said two things to the little children - one, your sins are forgiven you; two, you have know the Father.

When you are born of the Spirit of God even when you are 65 years of age you are just a little child. The first thing that you are becoming to be aware of is that your sins are forgiven. Secondly, you are into a relationship with the Almighty as your own Father.

3. John also said two things to the young men. As you begin to grow and develop and become what the Bible here refers to as young man, you become strong because the Word of God is abiding within you and you are able to overcome the wicked one in your life.

4. When John spoke to a group called the fathers he did not say two things. He instead, said only one thing, but said it twice. So, it must be important.

He said, "Because you have known Him who is from the beginning".

The fathers not only know God in an intimate way but they know His plan and His purpose even from the beginning. Only matured men and women of God come to know God in that way. In my opinion all believers are at least in one of those three stages.

Three stages of development

It is truly amazing to discover that the three stages of development of both the life of Jesus in His humanity and the Christian life follow closely to the three development stages of the butterfly.

The first stage is the caterpillar stage. The caterpillar comes out of a little egg that takes only between 2 to 4 days to hatch. They say all that the caterpillar does is eat and eat and therefore gets fatter and fatter. As it grows it sheds off 3 or 4 coats of skin. At stage two the caterpillar begins to emit a gummy substance out of one of two glands. Another gland begins to emit some very thin silken threads up to 3000 ft long. This mixes with the gummy substance to form a chrysalis or cocoon. And so the caterpillar is being sealed off in total darkness. The caterpillar develops into a beautiful butterfly in the chrysalis. When the butterfly is ready to come out it emits some acid to burn a hole in the outer shell of the cocoon. This is stage three, the final stage.

A butterfly is known for 3 things:

1. The butterfly is beautiful. The caterpillar is ugly. The priestly holy garment of Aaron was made for glory and for beauty (Ex. 28:2). As believers we are clothed with the Spirit of God which reveals the beauty of the Lord Jesus (Psalms 90:17).

2. The butterfly can fly. God wants us to be believers who are heaven bound and not earth bound. He wants us to mount up with wings like eagles (Isaiah 40:31). He wants our eyes to focus on things that are eternal and not temporal (2 Cor. 4:18).

3. The butterfly can reproduce and multiply. God wants our ministry to reproduce and to multiply as we lead others to Christ.

The three stages of development in the life of Jesus

Let us trace the three stages of development in the life of Jesus in comparison with that of the butterfly.

First stage we see Jesus' birth until the age of 12. He was at the caterpillar stage. Second stage we see Jesus between the age of 12 and the age of 30. That was when He was in the chrysalis or cocoon (spiritually speaking) hidden out of veiw by the Father. At the age of 30 He came forth as a beautiful butterfly flying into great heights for 3 and a half years doing the will of the Father.

From the New Testament writers we read about Jesus' birth, His dedication in the temple at the age of 8 days. And then at the age of 12 years he confounded the religious leaders with His knowledge of the Word of God. he had been eating and eating and eating the Word of God but the Father considered Him not yet ready for His Ministry.

When we get into the Old Testament writing we learn about what happened to Jesus when He was hidden by the Father for 18 years in His spiritual cocoon. The prophet Isaiah, with unique revelation, tells us so much of what was happening in the life of Jesus between the age of 12 to the age of 30!

Up to the age of 12 (Fisrt stage)

Isaiah said, "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: behold, a vigin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Butter and honey shall he eat, that he may know to refuse the evil, and choose the good" (Isaiah 7:14, 15, KJV, emphasis added).

Notice that butter, in Scripture, speaks of the Word of God. Butter is made from milk curd.

Peter said, "... as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2, NKJV).

Notice that in His humanity, just like us, He had to learn.

Honey, in Scripture, speaks of life and the life is in the Spirit. Canaan, the Promised Land was called a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8). There was life in the Promised Land.

Jesus was growing up as a young boy in Jerusalem. He was exposing His life to the Word of God and the Spirit of God. And because of this He came to know how to choose that which was right and how to refuse that which was wrong.

From the age of 12 to the age of 30 (Second stage)

Isaiah said, "And He was made My mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, and made Me a polished shaft; in His quiver He has hidden Me" (Isaiah 49:2, NKJV, emphasis added).

Jesus was kept hidden in the shadow of His Father's hands for 18 years. During that time His Father got Him ready for His Ministry by doing two things - one, made His mouth a sharp sword and two, made Him a polished shaft. Notice that "sharp sword" speaks of the Word of God and "polished shaft" which is a sharp arrow, speaks of His Power. Notice also the word "made" indicates that Jesus although divine was also human because the Word of God and the Power of God did not come to Him automatically.

From the age of 30 until He completed His Ministry (Third stage)

Jesus, at the age of 30 came up out of the River Jordan, heaven was opened unto Him (Luke 3:21). For 3 and a half years Jesus moved under an opened heaven on earth and ministered in a miraculous supernatural way. His polished shaft hit the bulls eye at all times! He was like a beautiful butterfly soaring unto great heights!

The three stages of development of the Christian life

1. First stage - caterpillar stage

When a person is quickened by the Spirit of God he becomes born again by the Spirit of God. He comes out of the "egg" and enters the "caterpillar" stage. With his sins forgiven he begins to shed things off his life that have been hanging on him for years. It is God's plan for the new believer in Christ that he gets into the Word of God. God puts a hunger in his heart and he begins to eat and eat and consumes the Word and he begins to grow fat spiritually.

The psalmist said, "He would have fed them also with the finest of wheat; and with honey from the rock I would have satisfied you" (Ps. 81:16).

When you have a hunger in your heart and you get into the Word of God, God is going to feed you with the finest of wheat - the pure Word of God.

2. Second stage - chrysalis or cocoon stage

At the end of the caterpillar stage it is time for change for the new believer because he has grown fat. The Holy Spirit tells us it is time for change if we really want to shine for God at this end time hour. Change is painful but also very necessary.

The psalmist said, "Because they do not change, therefore they do not fear God" (Ps. 55:19).

If we do not change and just remain as caterpillars all of our Christian life, we are found not fearing God and not putting Him His rightful place in our hearts. If we do not change how are we going to be changed into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ? Change will hurt us but will not harm us.

God wants us to go through the same changing process as Jesus went through as He was hidden in the shadow of His Father's hand. For us we have to come into a time of darkness, a time of pressure and a time of difficulty.

The following four passages of Scripture are very interesting:

1. God said, "I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places, ..." (Isaiah 45:3).

There are treasures for us to discover in darkness which we will never learn to discover when everything is going well for us.

2. Job said, "He (God) uncovers deep things out of darkness, and brings the shadow of death to light" (Job 12:22).

You will discover the deep things of God in darkness - and not in the light when everything is going great for you; you have got plenty of money in the bank and you can buy whatever you want to buy.

3. "Who among you fears the Lord? Wo obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness and has not light? let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God. Look, all you who kindle a fire, who encircle yourselves with sparks: Walk in the light of your fire and in the sparks you have kindled - This you shall have from My hand: You shall lie down in torment" (Isaiah 50:10, 11).

In your darkness you need to trust the Lord and lean on Him. So many people light their own fire to get out of darkness when they find themselves in it. But God said, if you light your own fire you will have to walk in the sparks of it and you will end up in sorrow - because God's period of time to change you in darkness is not up yet. We need to stay in the darkness for a little longer until God, in His perfect timing, brings us out of darkness.

If someone pricks a hold in the cocoon to let the yet-to-be-formed butterfly to come out before its time he will probably kill it, or he will have a deformed futterfly!

4. Jesus said, "Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops" (Matt. 10:27).

During our times of darkness and difficulty the Lord speaks into our lives to comfort us. Later on when He brings us out of that situation, out from that cocoon and we are in the light again we will be able to share those things with others and encourae those who are in time of darkness themselves.

3. Third stage - a beautiful butterfly

I believe in a sense, the Church of Jesus Christ is in the cocoon stage now. But God is about to bring His people out, changed and be transformed into beautiful butterflies. They will come out in the dawning of a new day; come out like solders ready for battle and possess our canaan. God will give us period of time on earth just like He gave His Son Jesus Christ - three and a half years or may not be that long or even longer. But we can be certain of one thing. He has reserved a particular time period for His Church, to reveal on earth, the glory and beauty of God - As He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17)!