Sunday, May 31, 2009

In Christ Alone - Tiffany Graves




This morning at church, I was privileged along with many others to hear my lovely wife sing "In Christ Alone" by Keith and Kristyn Getty. This song is beautiful and the doctrine in the lyrics is beautiful and sound. To God be the glory for the ministry of song, and to God be the glory for working in my wife to sing this beautiful composition. Meditate on the lyrics, may you be blessed by them as we were in hearing them.


In Christ alone my hope is found;
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My comforter, my all in all—
Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev'ry sin on Him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine—
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death—
This is the pow'r of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home—
Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand

Friday, May 29, 2009

Grace and Truth...



"...and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of Grace and Truth.
"
- John 1:14

Truth: aletheia - the unveiled reality lying at the basis of and agreeing with an appearance; the manifested , the veritable essence of the matter. "In the New Testament especially, divine truth or the faith and practice of the true gospel called "truth" either as being true in itself and derived from the true God, or as declaring the existence and will of the One True God, in opposition to the worship of false idols. " - Zodihates

God's glory is full of grace and truth, abounding in grace and mercy to whomever He wills to show grace and mercy (Exodus 33:19) , and abundant in truth - shining the Light of Truth concerning all things. The glory of God manifests the truth about man and the truth about God. While men were in darkness,the Light of Truth shined into darkness and exposed the evil associated with it. (John 1:5; Eph 5:11-14) - which manifested that all men were under the bondage of sin and needed the Light to reveal this to them and bring them out of sin's dark prison. The reality of beholding the glory of God in Jesus Christ shows that all men are in darkness, that they are both wicked and sinful, loving darkness and following after their own lusts and desires, all the while trampling the glory of God underfoot and exchanging it for worshipping the idolatrous pleasures this world has to offer. (Romans 1:23)
When we behold the fullness of the glory of Christ and are given grace by it- we will see and know the truth: that we are helpless, dead in trespasses and sins, and need the redemption of a Savior. The truth shows us that God's wrath was upon us and we were undeserving of His grace, and in the reality of this truth we behold the most awesome Gift and display of Grace that God could ever give: His Son- and in the face of Jesus Christ we could not even begin to grasp the infinite love and mercy that is found in God or even begin to lay hold of the eternal, all -surpassing love wherewith He loved us- for while we were sinners, dead in trespasses in sins, and following after the course of this world, Christ died for us. The glory of Christ and its abundance in grace and truth is what we will spend eternity after eternity worshiping before the throne of God thanking Him for.
Jesus in John 8:31 says the Jews who "believed"(*see John 8:59 to verify their "belief"**) on Him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. " What Jesus was saying was " If you truly have been given grace and have been drawn by My Father to see the glory of His Son Jesus Christ - who is pleasing to the Father- and who comes from the Father, then if you abide and grasp hold of these words which I speak to you, then you will know the truth - you will know that you were helpless, in darkness, lost in sin , and finding pleasure in everything else but God, and you are in desperate need of ME; and that truth - the reality that is unveiled in the words of Christ and in the person of Christ, will set you free." Grace and truth coming from God will cause regeneration, it will take out a stony heart and put in a new heart, and it will turn your eyes to the glory and grace of God to see that Christ is all satisfying, and in Him there is life and pleasure and so much more. Grace and truth work together to display the glory of God in the person and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

A Cry for Deliverance...

HEAVENLY FATHER,
Save me entirely from sin. I know I am righteous through the righteousness of Another, but I pant and pine for likeness to Thyself; I am Thy child and should bear Thy image, enable me to recognize my death unto sin; when it tempts me may I be dead unto its voice.
Deliver me from the invasion as well as the dominion of sin. Grant me to walk as Christ walked, to live in the newness of His life, the life of love, the life of faith, the life of holiness.
I abhor my body of death, its indolence, envy, meanness, pride. Forgive, and kill these vices, have mercy on my unbelief, on my corrupt and wandering heart.
When Thy blessings come I begin to idolize them, and set my affection on some beloved object - children, friends, wealth, honour; cleanse this spiritual adultery and give me chastity; close my heart to all by Thee.
Sin is my greatest curse; let Thy victory by apparent to my consciousness, and displayed in my life. Help me to be always devoted, confident, obedient, resigned, childlike in my trust of Thee, to love Thee with body, soul, mind and strength, to love my fellow-man as I love myself, to be saved from unregenerate temper, hard thoughts, slanderous words, meanness, unkind manners, to master my tongue and keep the door of my lips.
Fill me with grace daily, that my life be a fountain of sweet water
.
- From Valley of Vision - a Collection of Puritan Prayers

Thursday, May 21, 2009

The U.S.Army Burning Bibles??




(CNN) -- Military personnel threw away, and ultimately burned, confiscated Bibles that were printed in the two most common Afghan languages amid concern they would be used to try to convert Afghans, a Defense Department spokesman said Tuesday.

Afghan workers enter a walkway on March 3, 2009, at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan.

The unsolicited Bibles sent by a church in the United States were confiscated about a year ago at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan because military rules forbid troops of any religion from proselytizing while deployed there, Lt. Col. Mark Wright said.
Such religious outreach can endanger American troops and civilians in the devoutly Muslim nation, Wright said.
"The decision was made that it was a 'force protection' measure to throw them away, because, if they did get out, it could be perceived by Afghans that the U.S. government or the U.S. military was trying to convert Muslims," Wright told CNN on Tuesday.
Troops at posts in war zones are required to burn their trash, Wright said.
The Bibles were written in the languages Pashto and Dari.
This decision came to light recently, after the Al Jazeera English network aired video of a group prayer service and chapel sermon that a reporter said suggested U.S. troops were being encouraged to spread Christianity.
The military denied that earlier this month, saying much in the video was taken out of context.
"This was irresponsible and dangerous journalism sensationalizing year-old footage of a religious service for U.S. soldiers on a U.S. base and inferring that troops are evangelizing to Afghans," Col. Gregory Julian said.
The military says a soldier at Bagram received the Bibles and didn't realize he wasn't allowed to hand them out. In the Al Jazeera video, which shows the Bibles at the prayer service, an unnamed soldier says members of his church raised money for them.
The chaplain later corrected the soldier and confiscated the Bibles, Wright said.
Military officers considered sending the Bibles back to the church, he said, but they worried the church would turn around and send them to another organization in Afghanistan -- giving the impression that they had been distributed by the U.S. government.
That could lead to violence against troops or U.S. civilians, Wright said.
Al Jazeera English, a Qatar-based international news service, said its reporters tried to get a response from military officials for its story but were unable to do so.
The U.S. military air base at Bagram is home to thousands of troops from all branches of the U.S. military. The vast majority of the troops do not leave the base and are in various support roles for U.S. troops across Afghanistan.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Jonathan Edwards on Perseverance





That they who once truly believe in Christ, never fall away finally and perish, is evident, because they that now believe not, and are in a state of condemnation, are spoken of as those that never have believed, John 3:18, “Because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Which supposes, that none of those that have believed, are now unbelievers, or are now in a state of condemnation. So again, those who shall be condemned at the day of judgment, are represented as those, not only whom Christ then will know not, but as those whom he never knew, Mat. 7:23. But how can this be a true representation, if some of them were once true Christians, and so were known and owned by Christ, but only have since apostatized? “When St. Paul kept under his body lest he should be a castaway, 1 Cor. 9:27, he did no otherwise than he was wont to do in temporal concerns, in cases wherein he was beforehand certain of the event. So he sent word to the chief captain of the Jews lying in wait to kill him, lest he should be murdered by them, though it was revealed to him from God, but the very night before, that he should live to see Rome; Acts 23:12-21. So he would not allow the sailors to leave the ship.” etc. Bellamy’s True Religion, Disc. 1. Inference 9. 1 John 3:6, “Whosoever sinneth, hath not seen him, neither known him.” This could not be true, if a man who has truly seen him, and known him, might finally fall away to sin.

Friday, May 15, 2009

DMX's Gospel Album...


DMX was released from Arizona's Maricopa County Jail yesterday afternoon (May 13) after spending over 90 days in the facility for animal cruelty, drug and fraud related charges. Originally sentenced to 90 days in jail, the Yonkers native's stay was prolonged after an alleged altercation with a corrections officer.

In an interview conducted during his incarceration, DMX spoke of plans to begin a Christian ministry once he left the Arizona facility. "I'm going to start a TV show called Pain and Perseverance, it's about how I can reach people that the average person can't reach because I'm grounded," X said."


"I'm going to give my first sermon in the church. That's going to be incredible for me and hopefully the congregation of that church. I've completed my gospel album. On every one of my albums there's been a gospel song and prayer. Because of my image those songs are never made singles except my sixth album where they did 'Lord Give Me a Sign.'"

Reports surfaced back in April that following his release from jail X would join the next cast of 'Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.' Reps for the troubled rapper have since denied the claims, stating the reports to be false."


Im nobody's judge but Jesus said in Matthew 7:16, that we will know them by their fruits....now, X has a song and a prayer ...in the name of Jesus ..at the end of every one of his albums, correct...but what songs does he sing before he finally prays at the end of his "musical sermon"?...Some titles you ask?

1st Album
Intro
Ruff Ryders Anthem
F***** Wit D
Look Thru My Eyes
Get At Me Dog
Let Me Fly
Damien
How's It Goin Down
Crime Story
Stop Being Greedy
ATF
For My Dogs
...all before "The Prayer"


2nd Album

My N*****
Bring Your Whole Crew
Aint No Way
We Don't Give A F***
Keep Your S*** The Hardest
Coming From
It's All Good
The Omen
Slippin
Dogs For Life
Blackout
Flesh Of My Flesh, Blood Of My Blood
Heat
...all before "Ready to Meet Him"...

3rd Album

One More Road To Cross
The Professional
Fame
Here We Go Again
Party Up
Make A Move
What These B**** Want
What's My Name
More 2 A Song
Don't You Ever
D-X-L (Hard White)
X Is Coming For You
...all before "Prayer 3"...

Now, quite frankly, Ive had enough of copying, pasting and editing song titles for this post...its so vulgur...i dont even know why im actually doing one more post on a wolf...who is a wolf...who only says he's in sheeps clothing...may God regenerate this man, but until then may Satan stop deceiving him...and so many others who think their justified because out of all their sins and crimes against a holy God, they somehow believe that if they say one prayer to Him in Jesus name and keep sinning...that they are in ok standing with God...not so!

Most Current Album ...you know, the one where his "image" wasnt taken into account(maybe he's changed???...not!!)
Intro
We In Here
I Run S***
Come Thru (Move)
It's Personal
Baby Motha
Dog Love
Wrong Or Right (I'm Tired)
Give 'Em What They Want
Walk These Dogs
Blown Away
Goodbye
Life Be My Song
...all before "The Prayer VI"


Now what does Mr. DMX say about his new gospel album? Perhaps " To God be the glory for His regenerating work in my life. I once was a depraved wretched sinner, then God opened my eyes to see His Son and His death on the cross to take away my sins, and now I have a new heart and new life." Wrong!! He doesent say that...infact, he says nothing close to it. DMX was quoted earlier about his gospel album...you tell me if God's done a work...

"I [was] the first n---a to put out two albums in one year [It's Dark and Hell Is Hot and Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood in 1998], now I'm gonna hit 'em again — drop two albums on the same f---in' day, yo," X said from his home in Arizona on Friday. "A double album will make mutha----as mad, because they gotta spend more money — plus it's already a long [double] album. I'm talking about a hip-hop album and a gospel album."

Point is, this guy found Jesus...the one you make up because you hate the real Jesus....and X is just another example of how the church doesn't use discernment in seeing if people are bearing fruit for Christ... and some fame seeking pastor will take in DMX, let him preach, tell everybody he's saved and will damn his soul to hell all because both men want something out of the deal for themselves... we have seen it before, just click here

Final point...Kids, youre favorite R&B, pop, and Hip-Hop celebrities ARE NOT SAVED! You will know them by their fruit and you will follow them to Hell if you choose to justify your "Christianity" based on theirs. I dont care if they sing the most doctinally sound, Jesus naming, emotional, spiritually moving song...what does their life say? What does their apparrel say? What does their character say? Does it say Jesus is Supreme and Holy and All- Satisfying, or does it say I am, Iam , I am, and I do what I want??

think about it...

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

No, Mr. President..

I know I already posted this video a few months back...in John Piper's actual sermon form...but this still hits home for me. This is the way I feel about our new president, when it comes to the issue of abortion. This video is a little differernt from the first one i originally posted..but I pray that you would watch this and continue to pray for our "blind" president....


Friday, May 8, 2009

The Fire of Phinehas

A wonderful article by Steve Gallagher from Pure Life Ministries. Enjoy. It is a must - read.




Monday, May 4, 2009

The Prosperity Gospel part 2

My View on the Prosperity Gospel part 2 from Rayshawn Graves on Vimeo.





This is part two of my view on the prosperity gospel. I was given some questions by a good friend (Demetrius) that really blessed me in studying them and how they clearly expose the error found in the prosperity gospel. Check out the first video if you havent gotten the chance, and I pray that this video will help you to understand clearly the falling short and incompleteness of the prosperity gospel. I didnt cover all of the questions in this video, but I will list them below for resource use, in case anyone desires to use them in the future.

1.Does the Prosperity Gospel make men holy (separated from sin and its lordship)?

2. Does the Prosperity Gospel show that God is all satisfying or does it preach that prosperity is all satisfying?

3. Does the Prosperity Gospel empower one to love not the world? 1 John 2:15-16

4. Does the Prosperity Gospel cause us to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Revelation 4:11 ; Colossians 1:16

5.Does the Prosperity Gospel cause you or the prosperity preacher on the circus church network to increase? It seems like the preacher on the circus church network is the one getting rich driving off with your money in his bentley. 2 Peter 2:3 says that through the means of covetousness these false prophets shall make merchandise of you. Do you ever notice that there are more and more gimmicks year after year to get your money.

6.Does this prosperity Gospel promote Jesus as Lord or Lackey. When Thomas saw Jesus he said My Lord and My God (John 20:28) he did not say "my servant and my genie".

7.Does the Prosperity Gospel warn you of Sin and its exceeding sinfulness and of the wrath to come. One of the primary works of the Holy Spirit working is that he will convince the world of SIN!! John 16:8

8.Does the Prosperity Gospel tell you that without holiness no man or woman will see God. Hebrews 12:14

9.Does the Prosperity Gospel tell you to deny yourself and take up your cross and follow him. Mark 8:34-36. From what I hear, it tells you that "money cometh, Jets flyeth, wallets filleth, and best outfits weareth".

10.Does the Prosperity Gospel make Jesus its portion, love, and end. Does it reveal His sacrifice for sin on the cross and propitiation Romans 3:24-26.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

A Very Helpful Chart

I found this chart in my ESV Study Bible this morning while looking at verses on Definite Atonement. I found it to be very helpful in seeing the Sovereignty of God in salvation...limited to the book of Acts. Yes, this is a free advertisement for the ESV Study Bible...I highly recommend it...there are plenty more of these resources in this awesome study Bible, I pray that you would find this one as helpful as I have.


God's Sovereignty in Salvation as Seen in Acts

God ordained the cross

God calls, adds, and appoints many to eternal life

God gives faith and repentance; God cleanses and opens hearts

  • Acts 2:23 “Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God”
  • Acts 3:18 “what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled”
  • Acts 4:27–28 “there were gathered together . . . Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, to do whatever your hand . . . had predestined to take place”
  • Acts 2:39 “the promise is to . . . everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself”
  • Acts 2:41 “there were added that day about three thousand souls”
  • Acts 2:47 “the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved”
  • Acts 5:14 “believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women”
  • Acts 11:24 “a great many people were added to the Lord”
  • Acts 13:48 “as many as were appointed to eternal life believed”
  • Acts 3:16 “the faith that is through Jesus”
  • Acts 5:31 “God exalted him . . . to give repentance to Israel”
  • Acts 11:18 “to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life”
  • Acts 15:8–9 “God . . . having cleansed their hearts by faith”
  • Acts 16:14 “The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul”
  • Acts 18:27 “those who through grace had believed”