Thoughts on The Role of the Church...

A few weeks ago in my Church Ministry class, I was asked to give my position on the role of the church....here is part of my response

I believe that the church should be Christ-centered in every aspect, namely because it is composed of those of whom Christ has “called-out” for Himself, and I believe that the church should be God-glorifying- seeking to please the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in all things, submitting to God’s Sovereignty and Supremacy. Colossians 1:18 says that Christ”is the head of the body, the church” and therefore everything that is done in His body must fall in line according to the Standard and Headship of Christ. Discernment and proper discrimination must be high priority in order for this to be accomplished and a love and high estimation for the truth must also be in place. Matthew 16:16-18 tells of Peter speaking to Jesus declaring to Him that He is the “Christ, Son of the Living God”. Immediately Jesus responds to Peter telling Him that this revelation of Him was not given by flesh or blood, but was rvealed to Him by the Father in Heaven. Jesus continues speaking and tells His disciples that upon this rock He will build His church, and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it. Many interpret this passage to mean that Jesus was building his church upon Peter, meaning Peter was somehow the first leader or foundation of it. I believe that the “rock” Christ was speaking upon building on was Peter’s statement and how that statement was revealed to him. “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God”, is, I believe, the rock upon which Jesus has built His church; That all who this is revealed to – not by flesh and blood, nor by marketing plans, large buildings, culturally relevant music, or modern organization strategies, but by the Father who is in heaven – will come together and seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness. Christ, in Matthew 7 spoke of the house that is built upon a rock, a house that is founded on submitting to and glorifying the teachings and Person of Jesus Christ. My point is that no other method or strategy or vision besides the revealed “Jesus is Lord” will truly build His church. It is from this vine that all of our visions strategies and goals for ministry must branch from, and without it our churches will be nothing. With this said, I believe as Warren said, that the church’s purpose is about bringing in God’s lost sheep, and at the same time, teaching those sheep discernment, truth, and sound doctrine. The church must always look to Acts 2:46-47 where it says “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” This verse is the church’s confidence and her foundation; that no matter how many trends, or strategies, or ideas that we come up with,as good or as bad as they are, only the Lord can add to His church. Like Ezekiel, God commands us to speak to the dry bones, but only He can give them life. Ideas, strategies and cultural relevance without compromise are all good and, at times, necessary factors in order for the church to continue to shine as a light to the world, but we must remember that we are a light, not the match, and it is God who adds men to his bride, not man. This is my current position on the church and as I grow in grace, this position may change. My prayer is that if it changes, may it glorify God, and may it fall in place to beautify His spotless and pure bride. "

It Will Cost You Everything - Steve Lawson

If you cannot see this video, please go to IllBeHonest to see it, or you can see this original post at AdjustMyThoughts

All Things...

All Things - audio

All Things from Rayshawn Graves on Vimeo.

Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.


The point of this sermon was to prove that God does all things for His glory and for the good of His people. This is clearly seen in scripture in Romans 8:28 and in Colossians 1:15-16. God is a Sovereign ruler who upholds His supreme glory in all things and displays that glory in the conforming of sinners into the image of His Son. This is the purpose of God in working all things for good, to those that love Him, and this pattern is seen all over the Bible, in that God works through good things to work good, and God works through evil, sin and suffering for the same good. In a world that is full of sin and wickedness, many people believe ignorantly and faithlessly that God is not in control. This belief is followed up by the notion that "God, being all knowing-and holy and pure, couldnt have known that things would end up this way.", and the flipside to this notion is to make Satan and evil a sovereign that somehow frustrates God's plans and purposes; and for all the Good that He is, there is an equally present and equally powerful Evil that works against His purposes. Contrary to those who believe this, this isnt a Power Rangers episode...God isnt constantly coming up with new ways and methods to "outsmart" evil and work good in spite of it. The Bible doesent teach this. God does work all things for His purposes in spite of evil and sin and Satan, but Scripture teaches that this "in-spite of" is actually more like a "through". So God decrees the end from the beginning, He establishes His plan from before the foundation of the world, He permits, allows, and overrules evil and sin in this plan and channels it to fulfill His pre-determined puropses.
I outline this pattern in scripture with 5 examples starting with Joseph and ending with Jesus. I hope that you will see the truth that God, although holy, pure and sin-hating, permits and overrules sin (not morally) for His holy and wise purposes, so that He might be glorified.
The application of God's working all things for His people is that no matter what comes our way as Christians: sword, famine, pestilence, bad economies, lost loved ones, demonic opposition, tribulation, principalities, etc; in all of these things, when they come,we, who are in Christ, are more than conquerers.This should be comforting to the one who loves God because we know that nothing can separate us from His love, and whatever serves and intends to separate us, will only refine and strengthen us.


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Coming to Christ

I posted this comment on Twitter this morning:

AdjustMyThought
Coming to Christ is like walking on water: you can't come unless He tells you.(Matt 14:28-29; John 6:44)#fb

I just wanted to reflect on it in more than 140 characters this time.

Coming to Christ is easy and simple, let this be said - its as easy as a wolf becoming a sheep, a dead man coming back to life, or a man walking on water to get to His destination. Here are just four scenarios that I see in scripture that describe the salvation experience. In one word, Ill summarize these experiences before I expound upon them - Supernatural. Impossible for men, but just another day in the life for God.




1) Coming to Christ is like walking on water.

Matthew 14:22-33
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea,they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
28And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." 29He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out,"Lord, save me." 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" 32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."




This is a story many are familiar with; The disciples are in a boat, Jesus is on a mountain praying, Jesus comes down from the mountain - takes a walk on water, approaches the disciples: they're afraid. Jesus tells them its going to be ok. Peter calls out to Jesus, because he still isn't convinced that this is Him. Peter's inquiring mind along with the rest of the disciples' had to be in utter shock in seeing this person walking on water, so because this "ghost" says He's Jesus, Peter calls out to his beloved Master, "Lord, if its You, command me to come to you on the water." Well, Why didn't Peter just walk out there? He couldn't.


Application: We are like Peter- on our own, we CANNOT come to Jesus when He is standing in the middle of the lake. Why? It is impossible . Any man attempting to walk on water will sink because He has nothing to hold him up. Likewise, we are sinners, who cannot come to Jesus on our own because the weight of our sins will drown us in a sea of God's wrath and if we try to justify ourselves on our own merit and if we have nothing to sustain us, namely grace, then we will sink and eternally perish. For man, it is impossible to walk on water. For sinners, it is impossible to please God.








2) Coming to Christ is like being raised from the dead.

John 11:38-44
Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days." 40Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?" 41So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me." 43When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out." 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."



Another familiar story. Lazarus. He dies, is dead for 4 days, and Jesus gives a command to this dead man to "Come". Well, Why didn't Lazarus just get up and tell a weeping Jesus that he had decided that he wanted to live again?Why didn't Lazarus tell Jesus that "I am ready to be alive again now, Jesus! Come on over to my tomb and raise me!" Why didn't Lazarus do this? Simple. Dead men are dead. Dead men don't do anything. They CANNOT get up and tell anyone anything. They CANNOT decide that they want to be raised to life. You go to a graveyard and it is impossible for those dead corpses to get up and live again.


Application: Ephesians 2:1-3 "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind."


Naturally dead men don't do anything pertaining to life. Spiritually dead men don't do anything pertaining to Life. A naturally dead man cant obey any commands given to him. Likewise the spiritually dead man cant obey any commands given to him - hints: "sons of disobedience".


Without resuscitation a dead man cant live. Without regeneration, a spiritually dead man cant live.





3) Coming to Christ is like being born................again.

John 3:3-5
Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.




Nicodemus, a Pharisee - highly skilled and trained in the law, one of the most esteemed leaders of his day, comes to Jesus at night....its funny how he had so many compliments and much flattery for Jesus at night, but remained dead silent during the day. Nicodemus approaches Jesus and pretty much admits that both he and his comrades believe He is sent from God. Jesus destroys all of Nicodemus' flattery (no matter how genuine his intentions were) by telling him "You just need to start all over"...more bluntly "Unless you are born all again, you CANNOT enter the Kingdom of Heaven." Why does Jesus say that unless you're BORN (something you have no control over) then you cannot see the kingdom....How am I supposed to be born again if I didn't determine my birth the first time? Simple. You cant.You don't. You're birth THIS time is not determined by you, just like your birth last time (physical birth) was not determined by you.

John 1:12-13
But to all who did receive him,who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

1 Peter 1:23
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.



So how do I know if Ive been born again? Well,How do you know that you were born the first time? You're alive!!You may not remember the event of your birth taking place, but you know youre alive, you see the effects of being alive working in you, you are clearly made in the likeness of your parents, you're not dead because you respond to the things around you. You grow, you age, etc.


Born again? well, you're spiritually alive! You have a new heart given by Him, a new spirit given by Him. You are created in the likeness of Him in righteousness and true holiness.You respond to the things of Him - His words, His love, His grace. You grow in righteousness and in grace. Do you believe on His name? Have you received His testimony - that He is the Son of God who died in your place-for you? If yes, then this is proof that He has displayed His power in bestowing the privilege of adoption - He has MADE you a child of God. The wind of the Spirit blew where it willed and you may not remember the day or time, or what you were doing when it happend, but you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that "He called me, He spoke to Me, God did something in me!" and the evidence of that "something" in you is that you have been changed.








4) Coming to Christ is like a healing from the incurable.....

John 5:5-9
One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?" The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.

Matt 9:20-22

And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be made well." Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well." And instantly the woman was made well.

Matthew 9:2,6-7
And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" --he then said to the paralytic--"Rise, pick up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home.

Luke 17:12-14

And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." When he saw them he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went they were cleansed.

John 9:6-7
Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.



After money spent, years in pain and affliction, left hopeless because no man can cure their diseases - many of them outcasts, here is One who heals instantly- One who does something instantaneously that was impossible for any of them, much more any man to do...heal. He does what was impossible to do.

Sin, in scripture, is related to death - our transgressions related to sickness and corrosion and diseases that eat away. Just as no physician can cure the incurable, no man can extinguish the disease of sin from either himself or others. Sin is the most incurable disease known to man, and it will always be - because men in their own physical and mental strength can never solve or cure an issue that's spiritual. That is why a man's external works will not save him because the real issue lies within.



Summary.

Coming to Christ is like walking on water, being raised from the dead, being born all over again, and being healed from a disease that is incurable....it will not happen unless He acts first. He gives the command to come, He gives life to the dead- so they might come, He births through the working of the Spirit, and He commands the lame to walk, the blind to see, and the lepers to be clean when they had no power to do so of themselves. Matthew 19:26 says ""With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." He declares this truth again in John 6:44 in saying that "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." With men, left to themselves, it would be impossible to please God, it would be impossible to ever see heaven, and it would be impossible to ever be saved, but God helps those who absolutely CANNOT help themselves and this is called: GRACE - not merely an offer of a helping hand, not just a motion of goodness twoards your direction ....but the saving of one who has thrown themselves over the cliff of sin, falling headlong to destruction and hell, and is rescued by the arms of an Almighty Savior for no reason whatsoever in themselves, but only because He is gracious in saving those who willfully sought to destroy themselves.

Thank God for the Impossible.....

God's Sovereignty over Sin

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Col 1:15-16 (ESV)

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:15-16 (KJV)

Somewhat recently, the overwhelming 'topic' of God's Sovereignty over sin has consumed my thoughts and my devotional time. I figured I would write some thoughts Ive had concerning God's Providence and His Sovereignty over sin.

What is the point of recognizing or giving thought to God's Sovereignty over evil and sin? "Why should I study this? What is its signifigance in my life?"

As stated in Colossians 1:15-16 above, Christ made all things. All things were made by Him and for Him. When you think of ALL things, it means ALL things...without him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:3). Everything we see, and everything we cannot see was made by and through Jesus Christ, whom John calls The Word. Colossians further explains that ALL things were made for Him. The immediate question that springs into my mind is 'For what?' What is the purpose in that all things were made for Him. Isaiah 43:7 says "everyone who is called by my name,whom I created for my glory,whom I formed and made." Psalm 19:1 says "The heavens declare the glory of God,and the sky above proclaims his handiwork."Psalms 145:10-13 says "All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,and all your saints shall bless you!11 They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power,12 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.13Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,and your dominion endures throughout all generations." Simply put ALL things were created for God's glory - that He might be glorified in all of His works. Colossians follows "in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible" by also saying that thrones, dominions, rulers and authorities were all created by and for Him. Powers and principalities are the same words in the original language that are also mentioned in Ephesians 6:12. These powers are clearly evil in Ephesians and it is safe to assume the same for Colossians 1 because in Colossians 2:15 these same powers and principalities are being triumphed over by Christ. So these powers are evil, wicked, and they are what Satan uses to war against God and war against the saints. We wrestle with these things according to Ephesians 6:12---So if God is Holy, Pure, Hating Sin and wickedness, how could He create these things...originally being good, knowing that they would become evil? Much more, how do they serve to glorify Him? Real life questions people may be thinking concerning these things: In this sinful and evil world we live in, with so many crazy chaotic events, horrible calamities, and atrocious crimes committed against men (abortions, genocide,sicknesses, murderings and more) 1) How is God in control? 2) How can God be glorified? 3) If He is in control and will be glorified, How can I live with that reality on one hand, and apply it to the reality of this "crazy world" on the other?

Some points that Scripture has helped me with and some quotes to follow:

Briefly collect the images that you have in your mind of this "crazy world" and then push them back to make room for the inerrancy and sufficiency of Scripture. Some facts:

1) All things work according to His will and Purpose

Proverbs 19:21 - Many are the plans in the mind of a man,but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Isaiah 14:27 - For the Lord of hosts has purposed,and who will annul it?His hand is stretched out,and who will turn it back?
Isaiah 46:10 - I am God, and there is none like me,10declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done,saying,‘My counsel shall stand,and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
Job 42:2 - I know that you can do all things,and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

a) God's purposes are NEVER thwarted,frustrated,or disappointed. NEVER!
- so if this is the case, then does this mean that calamities and Satan's devices dont hinder or mess up God's plans? CORRECT.
- Ok. So, if these things dont frustrate God's plan, then why does He permit them or not stop them from happening? A: Because they fall into place into 'working according to His purposes'. Even more: God would even ordain or cause (secondarily*) some of these things to come about so that they might accomplish His plans and purposes. This idea is not foreign in scripture either.

Isaiah 45:7 - I form light and create darkness,I make well-being and create calamity,I am the Lord, who does all these things.
1 Sam 2:6 - The Lord kills and brings to life;he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
Amos 3:6 - Does disaster come to a city,unless the Lord has done it?
Job 1:21-22 - And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”22 In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.
Psalm 105:16-17 - When He summoned a famine on the land and broke all supply of bread,17 He had sent a man ahead of them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.

(Ill address more of these verses in Point 3 concerning God's permission and overruling of sin.)

All of the evil intentions, sinful actions, and wickedness of men - although inherently sinful and heinous in the eyes of God, and although they will be justly punished and condemned - these actions DO NOT frustrate or thwart God's pre-determined plan, but only serve to fall in place and accomplish His will - that He might be glorified.


*Secondarily, meaning that although God might ordain that a sinful thing come to pass in order that His greater Good might be accomplished through it, He is never the primary cause in committing the sin - for He CANNOT sin, and forces no one to sin or be tempted by evil (James 1:13), but He permits a sinful action committed by a totally willing and responsible agent (Satan, sinful man, spirits) and directs and overrules that sin to accomplish His pre-determined plan. Ex: Joseph and his brothers (Gen 50:20); A lying spirit sent by God to entice Ahab (2 Kings 22:19-23); Samson lusted after the Phillistine woman to be his wife; God worked through his lust because He sought an opportunity to destroy the Phillistines.(Judges 14:3-4)


2) God is in control of ALL things: From - the Universe, the Earth, the beasts and creation, mankind.

John Piper states:
This "all things" includes the fall of sparrows (Matthew 10:29), the rolling of dice (Proverbs 16:33), the slaughter of his people (Psalm 44:11), the decisions of kings (Proverbs 21:1), the failing of sight (Exodus 4:11), the sickness of children (2 Samuel 12:15), the loss and gain of money (1 Samuel 2:7), the suffering of saints (1 Peter 4:19), the completion of travel plans (James 4:15), the persecution of Christians (Hebrews 12:4-7), the repentance of souls (2 Timothy 2:25), the gift of faith (Philippians 1:29), the pursuit of holiness (Philippians 3:12-13), the growth of believers (Hebrews 6:3), the giving of life and the taking in death (1 Samuel 2:6), and the crucifixion of his Son (Acts 4:27-28).

God's Sovereignty includes the absolute control over ALL things. If anything were to be outside of His control, He wouldnt be God. Logically, if He works "all things" for the good of those that love Him, and after the counsel of His will (Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:11)then He must have control or Supremacy over all things - whether He is the cause of them or not.

Im definitely not a Star Wars fan, but I found this quote by 'Drew' on "Elect Exiles" to be very helpful.

"What happens at the end of Star Wars Episode IV? Darth Vader and Obi Wan Kenobi fight and Darth Vader strikes Obi Wan down and kills him. Is George Lucas responsible for killing Obi Wan? We would not normally say that would we? No we would say that Darth Vader killed Obi Wan, but who ultimately decided that this would happen? George Lucas right? Our response as we watch the movie unfold is that we want Vader to suffer for this crime. In fact the rest of the Star Wars movies are the quest to bring Vader to justice because we know that he is responsible for this murder! None of us want to hunt down George Lucas and bring him to justice—why not? Because it’s his play, it’s his movie and as it is his, he has every right to do what he wills with the characters in it. In fact as the play unfolds we marvel at how Lucas builds the Rebels’ struggle against the evil Empire and we rejoice when we see evil conquered in the end."

Now, of course you will probably say to me: "This is not a movie Ray!! Real lives are at stake here,real people die everyday and horrible crimes and sinful actions are committed!" But just imagine the characters in this scenario as non-fictional; Do the ethics change any? Can Darth Vader cry out "injustice" to Lucas because he was made in this way? No. Likewise, when you have a man named Job, a righteous man, who has been granted permission by God to be harassed severely by Satan, what happens when God responds to the man who is trying to figure out "Whats going on?! Why me?!"

Job 38
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: 2 “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? 3 Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. 4 “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements- surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?




In other words: "You answer my questions first and I'll answer yours!" What right do you have to question God? Maybe if He were on the same playing field as us we could demand a little more from Him...but He is NOT: He is in a whole other League than us, a whole other genre. And these words are only earthly to describe an infinitely transcendent relationship between the Creator and His creation.

Or even on the other hand this still applies. Take Pharoah, an unrighteous man, a man whose heart was hardened by God, and then hardened by himself. Can He cry out "Injustice!" to God because He was made that way, or because this hardening happned to him? No. Rather God says to Pharoah "For this purpose (God's holy and righteous purpose) have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth..." Paul summarizes this point in saying that "Therefore He has mercy on whom He will have mercy and whom He will He hardeneth."(Romans 9:17-18)

Paul also jumps in on the subject as well when he answers a similar question in Romans 9:19-20



19You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" 20But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"

Notice Paul is NOT trying to get God "off the hook" in His answer to this question, but instead, he gives a similar response as the Lord in Job 38 and puts man in in his place - "Who are you?"

Lets take a breather...these are hard passages, meaty verses, and weighty topics, but in the end, they help us to truly behold a God who is in control of all things - not fatalisically, as the Muslims say "Whatever Allah does, he does". No. God does all that He does purposefully, and even His ordination and permission of sin through secondary causes is done with an infinitely holy and wise purpose in mind, namely for His glory and for the good of His people. His purposes in both working good for His glory and for permitting evil for His glory are not always known to us in the present, may not always be discerned in the past, but Scripture tells us that they will bow down for His glory in the future. It is not our job as mere humans to discern things that are only set forth and discussed in the "counsel of His own will." Deuteronomy 29:29 says "The secret things belong to the Lord, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law."

3) God is not the Author, or source of sin.

God is Holy

Rev 15:4 - Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?For you alone are holy.

Isaiah 6:3-"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;the whole earth is full of his glory!"

Hab 1:13- 13You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong,...

1 John 1:5 - This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

James 1:13 - Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.

God is Holy, and transcendently Holy. He is the essence of holiness, and the essence of all that is pure and clean and right. He hates sin and will punish it justly; He will not let the guilty go unpunished, and He declares that the soul that sins shall die. Although the Lord takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, He hates wickedness and His justice and wrath blazes to consume even the smallest trace of sin. Let it be said that in God's permission and allowance of sin, He does not and will NEVER place His seal of moral approval upon any sin, and He will most definitely punish ALL sin. Sin is only permitted/ordained by God for the ultimate purposes of His will. Let's be clear by saying that NOWHERE in Scripture does anyone ever declare or attribute anything evil to God, and NOWHERE in Scripture does man sin willfully, thinking in the back of his mind "Im fulfilling God's will and plan". Romans 6:1 says "shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Certainly Not!!" So, In God's sending of calamity, in His destruction of nations, or in His taking of life, He is never regarded as evil and is never the cause of sin; and man, in his sinful condition, and carnal mind (which CANNOT please God) always sins for his own selfish motives - yet in these sins, that God will justly punish, He overrules them for His own holy and wise purposes as a ringmaster tames the ferocious nature of the lion for the good purposes of entertaining the crowd.

Eric Landry says

"God does not cause or approve of sin, but only limits, restrains, overrules it for good. The mode of God's providential government is altogether unexplained. We only know that it is a fact that God does govern all his creatures and all their actions; that this government is universal (Ps. 103:17-19), particular (Matt. 10:29-31), efficacious (Ps. 33:11; Job 23:13), embraces events apparently contingent (Prov. 16:9, 33; 19: 21; 21:1), is consistent with his own perfection (2 Tim. 2:13), and to his own glory (Rom. 9:17; 11:36). "

For many, this concept of God's Sovereignty over sin is a hard one to grasp, and for many others, it is a resting place - a cleft in the rock where one can hide under the shadow of His wings knowing that God is working all things for the good of His glory and for the good of His people, those who love Him.

This facet of His sovereignty is still largely a mystery in terms of defining God's absolute control over all things and yet our responsibility in being free moral agents, who willingly sin for our own selfish purposes and yet God's purposes are never thwarted. I pray that you would lean upon the scripture passages listed above and continue to search the scriptures for these things as the noble Bereans did in Acts 17:11 to see if these things were true. With that said, God's Providence still has areas of mystery to finite human minds that "see through a glass darkly" - and this is understandable, especially since we serve an Infinite God whom we will spend eternity trying to and yet never being able to grasp all of who He is.

SermonIndex.com Revival Conference Live Webcast 2009

The Prosperity Gospel in Africa...

The Prosperity Gospel from The Global Conversation on Vimeo.

My thoughts on the Prosperity Gospel from previous posts...

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

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

Just an interesting clip to meditate upon about the prosperity gospel...

John Piper's view on The Prosperity Gospel from Jared Duba on Vimeo.

If you cant see the original post go to AdjustMyThoughts.com to view.

He Drank Your Hell - Paul Washer

Listen and Enjoy. An in-depth look at the message of the gospel.

To see the original post visit AdjustMyThoughts

95 Theses to the Evangelical Church - Greg Gordon

95 Theses To The Evangelical Church

"I have been writing this volume while residing in Germany for a teaching trip. I am humbled by penning these 95 theses in the same country as Martin Luther did many years ago. I submit these to the evangelical church of our day and pray that God would allow anything of truth in these pages to bend and change men's hearts back to God." - Greg Gordon -

http://www.sermonindex.net/ **“It is useless for large companies of believers to spend long hours begging God to send revival. Unless we intend to reform we may as well not pray. Unless praying men have the insight and faith to amend their whole way of life to conform to the New Testament pattern there can be no true revival.” - A.W. Tozer**

Thesis 1 - The evangelical church at large has forgotten that the chief end of man is to glorify God.(Romans 16:27, 1 Corinthians 6:20, Mathew 6:9).

Thesis 2 - Evangelicals ignore most of the methods, practices and principles found in Acts chapter 2.(Acts 2:42,44, Acts 2:46, Acts 2:38).

Thesis 3 - We meet for one hour a week and consider that apostolic church. Many evangelicals treat church like any other social club or sports event that they attend.(Acts 2:46, Hebrews 10:25, Acts 1:14).

Thesis 4 - We have made Christianity about the individual rather then a community of believers.(1 John 2:19, 2 Timothy 4:16, Jude 19).

Thesis 5 - In evangelical churches the priesthood of all believers is not acknowledged and the role of pastor is abused. The biblical view of a plurality of elders is practiced by very few.(1 Peter 2:9, 1 Corinthians 12:12, Ephesians 4:11-13).

Thesis 6 – The evangelical church as a whole has lost the concept of their being engrafted into the promises given to Israel.(Romans 11:17-18,20, Romans 11:25, Romans 11:15).

Thesis 7 - There needs to be a recovery back to teaching through the whole counsel of God expositionally.(Acts 20:27, 1 Timothy 4:6, 2 Timothy 2:15).

Thesis 8 - We take it too lightly, the blessing and honor of having God’s Scriptures in our possession.(Psalm 119:16, Acts 13:44, Nehemiah 8:9).

Thesis 9 - There has never been more access to the word of God yet so little reading of it.(1 Timothy 4:13, Nehemiah 8:1-3, Psalm 119:59).

Thesis 10 - Some read the Scriptures to attain knowledge and do not practice what they read.(James 1:22, Matthew 7:21, 3 John 4).

Thesis 11 - Worship has become an idol in many churches. The music resembles the world more than anything else. (Amos 5:23, Philippians 4:8, 1 John 5:21).

Thesis 12 - The world is shaping the views of the evangelical church more than the church shaping the views of the world. (Romans 12:2, Matthew 5:13, 1 Corinthians 1:22-23).

Thesis 13 - The evangelical church spends more money on dog food then missions.(2 Corinthians 9:6, Luke 21:2, Acts 4:34-35).

Thesis 14 - We take lightly the cost of discipleship laid out by Jesus Christ and consider following Him a sort of jovial thing rather then it truly costing us our actual entire lives.(Luke 14:33, Luke 14:26-27, Matthew 8:19-20).

Thesis 15 - There is a lack of true discipleship and making others to be obedient disciples.(Matthew 28:20, 2 Timothy 2:2, 2 Timothy 2:14).

Thesis 16 - The modern day evangelical believes the error that parts of life are to be spiritual while other parts are to be worldly and secular. Rather than our entire life’s being spiritual and our walk with God. (1 Peter 4:2, Colossians 3:3, 1 John 2:6).

Thesis 17 - The modern day evangelical finds Jesus’ command to sacrifice and serve abhorrent.(Philippians 2:21, James 3:16, Romans 12:1-2).

Thesis 18 - Self disciplines in the Christian life such as fasting, praying, suffering are considered legalistic.(2 Timothy 2:21, 2 Timothy 1:8, Matthew 6:17).

Thesis 19 - Little thought and contemplation is put towards the lostness of men, the seriousness of the gospel, and the sacrifice of the call of Christ.(Philippians 3:8, Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 10:34).

Thesis 20 - We are living with an epidemic of cheap grace in the Church. Flippant confession, shallow consecration, superficial surrender.(Luke 14:28-30, Luke 14:26, James 4:8).

Thesis 21 - Since the inception of the Church, the Gospel of Jesus Christ was preached with the requirements of repentance and discipleship.(Acts 2:38, Luke 14:26, John 8:31).

Thesis 22 - Presently, the “High-Calling in Christ Jesus,” has never been offered at such a low level. Forgiveness without repentance, discipleship without obedience, salvation without sanctity, confession without consecration.(Hebrews 10:29, Hebrews 4:11, Luke 13:24).

Thesis 23 - Such terms as: Introspection, counting the cost, godly sorrow over sin, repentance from dead works, are all foreign to this church age of cheap grace.(Acts 2:37, Psalm 119:9, Hebrews 6:1-2).

Thesis 24 - The modern evangelical church loves itself more than its neighbor. (1 Corinthians 3:3, Galatians 5:13, Philippians 2:3).

Thesis 25 - The church must repent of its idolization of personality and business principles.(2 Corinthians 2:17, 1 Corinthians 3:5, 1 Corinthians 12:23).

Thesis 26 - The elders and pastors of the church, as ministers of the gospel, are charged by Jesus to feed the sheep. But sadly many are fleecing the flock to supply their wants.(John 10:12-13, 1 Peter 5:2-3, Revelation 2:15).

Thesis 27 - The qualities most in demand in today's pastorate are frequently foreign to the qualities which are made most important in Scripture.(1 Timothy 3:2-3, 1 Timothy 3:5, 1 Timothy 1:5-7).

Thesis 28 - The professionalization of the pastorate is a sin and needs to be repented of.(2 Corinthians 11:13, Galatians 3:1, Galatians 2:6).

Thesis 29 - There must be repentance for the ambitious desire and idolization of the celebrity pastorate.(3 John 9, Jeremiah 17:5, 1 Corinthians 12:22).

Thesis 30 - The evangelical pastor must trust the Spirit, not statistics.(2 Samuel 24:1, 1 Corinthians 1:25, Romans 8:14).

Thesis 31 - Modern day prophets are being stoned by criticism and neglect.(2 Timothy 4:3-4, Galatians 1:10, Jeremiah 1:7-8).

Thesis 32 - God’s prophets are ill treated and shunned by most evangelicals and considered too extreme or harsh.(Jeremiah 6:10, Isaiah 6:9-10, Galatians 4:16).

Thesis 33 - An astonishing and horrible thing has been committed in the land: The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And my people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?(Matthew 24:4,11-12, 1 Corinthians 1:19, Jude 8).

Thesis 34 - There are many false gospels being preached from pulpits. God has no interest and is not required to honor a gospel that is false.(2 Corinthians 11:4, Galatians 1:8-9, Jude 16).

Thesis 35 - There is an epidemic of a sort of “mock” salvation being preached from many pulpits today. It is a gospel message that is not authentic. It is correct in doctrine but false in reality.(2 Corinthians 3:6, 1 John 5:11-12, Romans 8:9).

Thesis 36 - What is this “mock” salvation that is being spoken of? Simply defined it is a salvation that does not make men holy.(Jude 4, Romans 8:1, Romans 6:17-18).

Thesis 37 - No other evangelical phraseology has caused more damage to true gospel preaching then this simple coined phrase: “we are all just sinners saved by grace.”(Ephesians 1:1, Hebrews 6:11-12, Hebrews 10:26-27).

Thesis 38 - There is a gospel message that keeps men sinners and never allows them to change and become saints in actual experience.(1 John 2:29, Colossians 3:5-8, Titus 3:8).

Thesis 39 - The warning of Christ is against this gospel where professors of religion are forbidding people to be a part of the holy body of Christ.(Matthew 23:13, Psalm 119:1-2, 2 Peter 1:3-4).

Thesis 40 - Preaching has become all about the happiness of man and not the glory of God.(John 6:26, Romans 4:20, 1 Peter 4:11).

Thesis 41 - Preachers give smooth words to entice men, yet very few give any words of correction or rebuke.(Jeremiah 6:14, Proverbs 1:23, 1 Timothy 5:20).

Thesis 42 - Run from gospels that focus on your success and prosperity. From those that use the name of Jesus Christ only for personal gain. (John 2:16, Acts 20:33, Jeremiah 6:13).

Thesis 43 - Run from gospels that focus only on self-improvement.(1 Timothy 6:5, Hebrews 12:14, James 4:14).

Thesis 44 - Run from churches where men and not Christ are glorified.(Colossians 1:18, Jude 25, John 16:14).

Thesis 45 - Run from churches where there is no Bible, no cross, no searching Word, no repentance from sin, no mention of the blood of Christ.(1 Peter 1:18-19, Ephesians 3:13, Revelation 1:5).

Thesis 46 - Run from churches where the worship leaves you cold, where there’s no sense of God’s presence.(1 Corinthians 5:4, Psalm 80:14-15, Jeremiah 12:11).

Thesis 47 - Run from churches where you’re comfortable in your sin.(1 Corinthians 14:25, Hebrews 10:30-31, Hebrews 4:13).

Thesis 48 - Run from churches that use the pulpit of God for a personal agenda.(Jude 10-11, Jude 19, 3 John 9).

Thesis 49 - Run from those who preach division between races and cultures.(James 2:4, Galatians 3:28, Revelation 5:9).

Thesis 50 - Run from ungodly, spasmodic movements and endless empty prophesying.(Jeremiah 5:13, 1 Corinthians 14:33, 1 John 2:16).

Thesis 51 - Run from preachers who tell only stories and jokes.(Ephesians 5:4, Titus 1:8, Titus 2:12).

Thesis 52 - Run from those that are only after money and they use one gimmick after another to get your money.(2 Peter 2:3, 2 Corinthians 12:14, 1 Corinthians 9:18).

Thesis 53 - The phrase “accept Jesus as your personal Saviour.” Is not found in the Scriptures.(Romans 10:9-10, Colossians 1:13, Acts 26:20).

Thesis 54 - Evidence of true conversion is something that does not seem important to modern day evangelicals.(1 John 2:6, 1 John 4:17, Matthew 7:20).

Thesis 55 - In result thousands of sinners think of God having only one attribute, love! which has allowed multitudes to sit at ease with their sins.(Romans 1:18, Acts 5:11, Psalm 2:12).

Thesis 56 - God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life has caused much confusion in evangelism to the lost.(Romans 3:19, Acts 26:18, Philippians 3:18-21).

Thesis 57 - A Gospel of love and grace only without the law of God is being preached. Martin Luther called this gospel a doctrine of Satan.(2 Timothy 4:3-4, Romans 2:4-5, Romans 3:19).

Thesis 58 - We have inherited a system of evangelistic preaching which is unbiblical. This has clearly arisen from the careless mixture of 20th century reasoning with God’s revelation.(Colossians 2:8, Romans 1:25, Galatians 1:6).

Thesis 59 - Decisionism and the sinners prayer has been the major cause of false conversions in the evangelical church.(2 Peter 2:1-2, Ephesians 2:4-5, 2 Corinthians 5:17-18).

Thesis 60 - Evangelicals are swelling the ranks of the deluded with a perverted gospel! Many who have made decisions in churches have been told in the inquiry rooms their sins have been forgiven will be surprised to hear “I never knew you depart from me.”(Matthew 7:22-23, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Galatians 5:19-21).

Thesis 61 - Men have taken the place of the Holy Spirit of God in confirming men in their supposed salvation.(1 John 2:3-5, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, Galatians 6:12-15).

Thesis 62 - The doctrine of hell and eternal suffering is something little grasped by most evangelicals.(Matthew 13:42, James 5:1, Psalms 9:17).

Thesis 63 - The judgment seat of Christ is perhaps one of the most neglected topics in the modern evangelical pulpit.(2 Corinthians 5:10, Romans 14:10, 1 Corinthians 3:13).

Thesis 64 - The second coming of Jesus Christ needs to be re-instated as the general thrust and burden of the church. (1 John 3:2-3, Colossians 3:4-6, 1 Thessalonians 4:14-17).

Thesis 65 - The evangelical church has lost the fear of God and has over emphasized the love of God. (Hebrews 12:28-29, Luke 12:5, Hebrews 10:31).

Thesis 66 - The church has left evangelism to a few trained professionals rather than simply obeying the Scriptures call to personally evangelize themselves.(Acts 8:1,4, Acts 4:29, Romans 10:14).

Thesis 67 - Repentance is considered a one-time act in modern evangelism rather than a way of life.(Revelation 3:19, Hebrews 12:17, 2 Peter 3:9).

Thesis 68 - The Lordship of Jesus Christ is something that is not imposed on sinners initially and creates half-saved people who have a Saviour but not a Lord.(Acts 2:36, 1 Corinthians 12:3, Romans 6:18).

Thesis 69 - We are not open to correction, discipline or rebuke. And most would rather just move to another evangelical church somewhere down the road.(1 Corinthians 5:5, 1 Corinthians 11:31-32, Hebrews 12:7-9).

Thesis 70 - There is a great deal of preaching that amounts to a mere believing of the different theories about salvation, instead of persuading men to come to Christ and be saved.(John 5:40, Colossians 1:28, 2 Corinthians 4:5).

Thesis 71 - There has been a loss of the fullness and majesty of the gospel.(1 Timothy 1:11, Jude 25, Romans 15:29).

Thesis 72 - There is little mention of sin or the depravity of man from evangelical pulpits.(John 3:20, Galatians 5:19-21, Ephesians 5:5).

Thesis 73 - Covetousness, consumerism, and coddling the world’s goods is something that does not appear wrong to evangelicals.(Jeremiah 22:17, 1 John 2:15-16, 1 Timothy 3:3).

Thesis 74 - Little is made of the resurrection of Jesus Christ in churches or in evangelism. Yet it was one of the major themes and glories of the apostolic church.(1 Corinthians 15:14-15, Acts 4:10, Acts 4:33).

Thesis 75 - The evangelical church has relied more on technology then God.(Zechariah 4:6, 1 Corinthians 1:21, 1 Corinthians 2:4).

Thesis 76 - The prayer meeting is considered in the evangelical church one of the least important meetings. The idea of meeting for an entire day together seems ridiculous and a waste of time.(1 Timothy 2:1, Acts 4:31, Philippians 4:6).

Thesis 77 - Pastors have never prayed less than they do in the evangelical church in our day.(Jeremiah 10:21, Philippians 2:21, Ephesians 6:18-19).

Thesis 78 - Very few are waiting on God for His direction and purpose for the church.(Ephesians 1:11, Psalm 37:7, Isaiah 40:31).

Thesis 79 - The evangelical church has many organizers but few agonizers.(Philippians 3:18-19, Romans 9:1-3, Jeremiah 9:1).

Thesis 80 - We need to have the gifts of the Spirit restored again to the Church. The one gift we need the most is the gift of prophecy.(2 Timothy 4:2, 1 Corinthians 14:39, 1 Corinthians 12:31).

Thesis 81 - The evangelical church at large has never been more frivolous about the things of God. A serious, sober, self-controlled Christianity is very seldom found or preached. (2 Peter 3: 11, 1 Peter 4:7, Jude 3).

Thesis 82 - The evangelical church at large has forgotten how to pray.(1 John 3:22, Acts 6:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Thesis 83 - Churches are more dependent on tradition rather than on the leading of the Holy Spirit. (Mark 7:13, Acts 16:6, Acts 13:2).

Thesis 84 - It might seem strange to say that ministers of religion are “pleading for impurity and sin.” Yet this is exactly what multitudes of professors preach and teach that you cannot be free from sin. That you must sin!(Romans 16:18, Romans 6:1-2, 2 Peter 2:1).

Thesis 85 - The Apostles and Christ always preached from the vantage point of the possibility to walk holy and free from sin.(Titus 2:11-12, 1 Peter 1:14-16, Romans 6:19).

Thesis 86 - Sinners are not saved to sin but rather saved to holiness and good works.(Romans 6:13, Ephesians 2:10, 2 Peter 3:14).

Thesis 87 - Cheap grace means the justification of sin without the justification of the sinner. Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of the church.(2 Timothy 2:19, 1 Peter 4:17-18, 2 Timothy 3:12).

Thesis 88 - A baptism of holiness, a demonstration of godly living is the crying need of our day.(1 Timothy 6:3, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, 2 Thessalonians 2:13).

Thesis 89 - Most in the Church are utterly confused about the practical godliness, obedience, and good works which the Scriptures readily mentions.(Titus 3:8, John 10:32, Revelation 3:15).

Thesis 90 - Little or no emphasis is put in evangelical churches on the plan of God to make us like Jesus Christ, conforming us to His image.(1 Peter 1:14-16, 1 John 2:6, 1 Peter 4:1).

Thesis 91 - Christ did not die on the cross to obtain a worldly Church or for worldly Saints but for a “glorious Church.”(Ephesians 5:27, Titus 2:14, Colossians 4:12).

Thesis 92 - Christ does not come into our unregenerate, sickly, impure hearts as many contemporary theologians say. He gives us a new heart to dwell in wherein is found holiness and righteousness.(2 Corinthians 5:17, Matthew 5:8, Ezekiel 18:31).

Thesis 93 - A holy Church is God’s blessing to the world; an unholy Church is God’s judgment upon the world.(Matthew 5:14,16, Ephesians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 2:12).

Thesis 94 - If Christianity is to make any headway in the present time, it must be proved to be more then a theory.(2 Thessalonians 3:6-7, 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).

Thesis 95 - Unbelief has us captive; the evangelical church is gagged and bound as risen Lazarus, it needs release in this final hour! (Hebrews 3:12-14, 1 Corinthians 3:21-23, Hebrews 11:6).