Saturday, July 18, 2009

The Eternal Value...of the Word of Truth we preach

May the Word that we teach at http://churchesontrial.blogspot.com/ have an Eternal value to "all" who receive it. I admit this doctrine is not taught much in the mainstream today but it does get people "confirmed" in their hearts concerning the Word of Truth. It teaches men and women the truth about holiness in this life. Holiness in this life is what gets people to Heaven. May this Word of truth that teaches who Christ is and what Christ does "now" in the Church bless you the reader by giving more assurance than the forgiveness of sins. May this Word of Truth fortify your personal relationship with Christ, and perhaps your marriage, fatherhood, motherhood, etc. May its value stick in your memory and last, may its truth be the foundation of your Christian standard of life. God bless you all who read and follow this Blog. I appreciate your desire to grow in the Grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I was listening this morning to one of Brother Lindsey's Church services at Birmingham Mi. I was touched by how he committed his teaching to those who were faithful in that local body. I am touched to have been learned under the Father of the Gospel Brother Hubert Lindsey, that reached my heart for Christ and founded this writer in the truth of the Gospel. May this Blog (a product of Brother Lindsey's Ministry) be as much of a blessing to you the reader as it has it has been for this writer since February 2009. Glory to the Christ we serve...with a whole heart! Glory to Christ! Glory to the Christ we serve!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Minding the Spirit of God...

In the midst of learning the Bible, going to Church, and learning relationship with Christ...no Christian must ever forget to mind the the Spirit of God! Minding the Spirit is God given peace in the heart man. It doesn't take knowledge to "mind" the Holy Spirit! Minding is subjection of the human will.

This following excerpt from "Bless your dirty heart" by Brother Lindsey (during his preaching days at Berkeley Campus) will put some light on what the "heart, soul, and will of man" is from a Biblical standpoint.

"One afternoon I was explaining how that out of the heart are the issues of life. Someone fired back, "Hubert, you know the heart just pumps blood." I explained that the biblical term "heart" implies the seat of affections, the soul of man. The Bible used the word "heart" because life is in the blood, and the heart is the seat of all blood life.

Prov 4:23… Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Man is a complete being -- a soul, spirit, and body. Both God and Devils approach him through the intellect. The soul decides which one is going to take charge of his life. The soul is the seat of affections. With this soul, man can accept or reject, Love or hate, every decision in his life is determined by his soul."

Brother Lindsey taught "holiness of heart and conduct" and this writer teaches that same holiness. The key to holy living is having a clean heart that enables the believer in Christ with a way..to mind the Spirit of God.

Receiving the Spirit of God doesn't require Bible knowledge. Minding the Spirit of God doesn't require Bible knowledge. Subjection to Christ doesn't require Bible knowledge. Minding the Spirit of God is a believers obedience that "springs from his faith". Grace through faith produces a believer's obedience. Obedience produces a way for the believer in Christ to "mind the Holy Spirit". Minding the Holy Spirit simply "confirms the truth of the New Testament records" after the death of Christ.

"Recognizing" the Holy Spirit's presence is one man's of the most blessed experiences. "Obeying" the Holy Spirits presence is where "real life and true Christian living"... begins!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Four Biblical types of enlightenment that God has given man since Creation

  1. Creation "reveals" God, the Creator. Man sees himself in light of all created things by the Creator
  2. The conscience of man "reveals" right and wrong even though man's inherited immorality cannot provide him with enough power to do right.
  3. The Law of Moses "revealed" sin and the unholiness of man in light of the Law and Commandments
  4. The Gospel message in the person of Christ "reveals" the sin and unholiness of man by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. This "revelation" can also give man (a sinner from birth) a God given power... to do right.

As all men must give account to God, "Every man since the creation of man has been enlightened to God in one form or another". The reason for man's enlightement to God is, "So that no man is without excuse".

Rom 1:18-20...For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Christianity is "not" religion

The difference between Christianity and religion is: Religion is man's attempt to find God which never produces something from within. Christianity is when man "finds" Christ for the forgiveness of sins and a new character and conduct is produced within the heart and soul. Christianity is "not" man's quest in seeking God through religious practice. Christianity is when a believer in Christ"finds" forgiveness for personal sins and a new life is formed from the new character recieved in the new birth. Christianity fills the void in the human soul that is "naturally" separated from God. Religion or religious practice can never "fill" the void in the soul of man completely. Nothing can substitute Christianity's fulness in the heart of man. Religion is not the work of God in the human soul but rather the work of man in attempt to reach God by works. Christianity is given to beleivers in Christ because of the redemptive work Christ did at Calvary. When Christianity is found its never to be let go. Religions come and religions go because they can never fill the void of an empty heart. Christianity fills that void by changing the moral makeup of man... completely. How does God do it? By giving the beleiver an inner work of the Spirit of God that "converts".

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

How Christ ministers to man...and works miracles among us

First of all, for those who believe miracles ceased at the Early Church I ask this question, "Why did Paul speak of miracles that took place at the Galatian Church?" This was 70 years after the death of Christ at Calvary. The reason, "Christ still worked miracles from the Throneroom 70 years after His death and resurrection". As a matter of fact, "Christ still works miracles today" from the Throneroom where He's exalted.

Gal 3:5...He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and "worketh miracles among you", doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Second of all, Paul speaks of how the Spirit of God "ministers" to the heart of man...NOT by the works of the Law but by the "hearing of faith". The Spirit of God is behind the preacher of the Gospel. When a "sent man" preaches Christ from the Gospel, the Spirit of God "works". The Spirit of God ministers! The Spirit of God works miracles! Note how it said a preacher must be sent!

Rom 10:14-17...How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without preacher? "And how shall they preach, except they be sent?" as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The faith that changes the heart of man is a faith subject to a living Christ. Faith allows the Spirit of God to work and to minister within the human soul. The hearing of faith is the Gospel message that affects the negative side of man. The hearing of faith is a message about Christ that brings Salvation and brokenness to rebel against God. The hearing of faith gets man away from himself and takes him to Christ whose alive with all power in Heaven and on Earth.

Who is "He" that ministereth the Spirit? It's the Spirit of God behind the preacher who is sent by God! Who is "He" that worketh miracles among us? It's the living active power of God that comes through the Christ this writer magnifies at this Blog.

I think back to little "Christen"(my three year old grandson) born premature and without hearing (as the doctors said). According to the faith and the Christ I write about on this Blog those tiny little eardrums were "healed". A miracle was wrought by the Christ I serve. Little Christen is the miracle and living testimony that miracles didn't cease at the Early Church!

John 21:25... And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written

Gal 3:5...He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and "worketh miracles among you", doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Miracles do not come by the "works of the law" they come from the Christ I preach! Miracles come through the "hearing of faith"...because faith is placed in the person of Christ! Blessed be His holy name forever! Blessed be His holy name forever! He's alive! He heals! He saves! He worketh miracles among us!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Pointing people to Christ...

One purpose of this Blog is to tell people and point people to the person Christ; so Christ can become real to their hearts and lives. Christ is real to this writer and I really mean it!

Did you ever notice how ungodly the world is around you? The vulgarity and profanity that goes on. Do you remember how, before Christ gave you a clean heart, how you used to be? Just look at the sensuality and dirty living going on in the world. The lust of the flesh the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. The sinful nature man rules the hearts of the unsaved world and teaches man everything ...but who Christ is. I speak of Christ who is real...a Christ who cleanses the soul and removes guilt from the human conscience. I speak of Christ who gives man a holy heart and a right conduct in life. This Christ I speak of makes men and women "new creations" with a new standard of living.

The Devil has field days roaming around like a lion seeking whom he may devour. Drug addiction is at an all time high in 2009. When I mention drug addiction I speak of legal addictions as well as illicit addictions as some doctors seem to prescribe anything you want. Just look around you'll see it! Alcoholism and strong drink plagues society with an acceptable, lax, and legal means of social pleasure and even getting a legal buzz. You have legalized gambling (even in some Churches as fund raisers) and worldly pleasures that are wrecking families and marriages by the thousands. These socially accepted things oppose Christ.

Why am I picking on these worldly things? They cause unsaved people to miss the power and person of Christ. These worldly things keep the unsaved world mentally occupied and tied up. These things keep the mind and interests of humanity focused "worldly things" rather that Jesus. This is why God wants His servants to tell the ungodly world about Jesus' saving Grace. This is why God wants Jesus' power to be told about. He knows the necessity of getting men delivered from sin and from the world. He knows the necessity to make Christ known. God doesn't want the unsaved world to miss Christ...or Christ's delivering power that saves!

I preach Jesus daily. I preach at work... I preach on this Blog... I preach at the Upper Room, and now the Holy Spirit is leading me to preach out in the world. The Spirit of God prompts this preacher to get outside the four walls. The Holy Spirit prompts this preacher to tell the world about how real Christ is. The Spirit has made this writer a witness for Christ. Woe to me if I preach not the Gospel of Christ. God has shown this preacher how ungodly the world really is...but through love and compassion for fellow man I tell people about Christ and His saving Grace. I point people to Him...to His holy presence...and tell them about Christ's power to deliver the unsaved man from the disease of sin.

Yes, sin is the disease...but Jesus is the cure. Yes, life does have many problems...but Jesus is problem solver. That's why I point people to Jesus. That's why I stir people with these blogs. That's what Gods wants me to do. Yes, God wants this writer to point people to Christ! I also admit... this ungodly world sometimes even tries to consume this preacher...but the living Christ I serve... simply takes over and makes intercession for His servant. That's why I trust Christ so much. He's never let me down.

Rom 8:32...He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

1 Cor 2:12... Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.