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Jeff Noblit: God Helps Those Who CANNOT Help Themselves

November 23, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | 5 comments

Excellent, excellent sermon that’s a must-hear. I heard this when it was first posted up a couple of days ago and knew I just had to share it!

From Lane Chaplin:

“God helps those who help themselves.”

It’s not in the Bible. It’s even anti-Biblical, but, as Ken Jones of the White Horse Inn has pointed out, many “evangelicals” think that it’s in the Bible and, when they find out that it isn’t, they think it should be. Jeff Noblit lays that myth to rest in this sermon.

May it edify you as it did me.

To watch this sermon at your leisure, bookmark this page.

Do Not Worry!

November 7, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | 1 comment

No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:24-34

Those who know my situation will know how much this is a message that I needed to hear and be assured of. I hope that brothers and sisters who are in similar or worse situations will take comfort from Pastor Mark Kielar’s message today.

Soli deo Gloria!

The Popularity of False Teachers Explained

November 3, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | No comments

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

2 Timothy 4:3-4

False prophets were tolerated in ancient Israel and are in our own day because they teach the smooth things which people in rebellion against God what to hear. Through His true prophet Jeremiah, God asked the question ‘but what will you do in the end thereof?’ A smooth talking false teacher may say that which makes life more comfortable now but what about in the end when we will stand before God who is Truth itself?

Take heed, too, you who love these false teachers that you follow, for your end shall be as like theirs — when one blind man leads another, both shall fall into the ditch (Luke 6:39).

Delivered by pastor Lamar Martin of Grace Church of North Atlanta.

You can also access the sermon directly at SermonAudio.

Soli deo Gloria!

Ten Indictments (A Historical 21st Century Message) — The Video

October 29, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | No comments

Original post here; Download the MP3 of the sermon and transcripts at tenindictments.com.

To watch the video at your own leisure, go to this location: www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7wzfvYkCW0

Ten Indictments (A Historical 21st Century Message)

October 23, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | 25 comments

Paul WasherPreached Wednesday, October 22nd at the Revival Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Paul Washer delivers a urgent appeal to the Christians and Churches in North America (and, in my opinion, even in churches all over the world and especially in Singapore which adopts much of American Evangelicalism) that many have been believing a false gospel and have false assurance of their salvation. He lists 10 indictments against the modern Church (118:47 minutes):
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We Have Forgotten That the Way Is Narrow

September 9, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | 10 comments

Thank God for preachers like brother Paul Washer, and brothers like Lane Chaplin who make these sermons available on YouTube!

This is one of the first of many Paul Washer’s sermons that I heard a good time ago, and I can’t even begin to tell you how much it has affected me and my Christian walk. If you’ve read my testimony you’d know that I was one of many who said that ‘miracle prayer’ and became a (carnal) Christian for many years after.

Knowing how dangerous that belief is, I beseech you — that If you haven’t heard this sermon before and truly examined to see if you are saved (2 Corinthians 13:5), please take the time to today! I pray that it has an impact on you as it had on me.

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:13-14 NASB

Total run-time: 70:05 minutes.

You Call Yourself a Christian Who Trusts In Jesus Christ; You Do Well, but Are You a Disciple?

September 5, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | No comments

A couple of years after I became a Christian and had joined the teen ministry of the Navigators here in Singapore, I was given a book by my Bible Study leader which, till today, has had a huge impact in my life. Although the knowledge gleaned from it has been lying dormant in my being and I regret that I can’t seem to find the book in my collection anymore, I can still very much remember the title.

Disciples are Made, Not Born.

The system the Navigators had in place was so that my Bible Study leader would make me his disciple, and when I had learned enough I’d go on to disciple others. Unfortunately, the world stepped in before my wings hardened and I fell from the nest, hard, because the roots of the tree that nest was on were never deep to begin with.

I have since been re-learning everything, and this is one particular sermon by Dr. John MacArthur I particularly took to heart and am sharing with you today.

Read the rest of this entry »

Biblical Womanhood

August 23, 2008 in Christian Living, Marriage by Isaiah | 4 comments

Karen was “complaining” that while I featured a sermon by Paul Washer on Biblical Manhood, I didn’t post one on Biblical Womanhood.

So here’s one, sisters, where Pastor Voddie Baucham exposits Titus 2:3-5 to teach about Biblical Womanhood, and which I pray will edify you.

If you wish to view this later, you can access it at the playlist I made at YouTube.

Killing the Sin In Your Life

August 15, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | 1 comment

We all still struggle with sin in our lives, and I’m very sure that for myself, not a day goes by without me sinning at least a dozen times in thought, deed or speech.

The following post is adapted from a message pastor John MacArthur preached on a practical plan for overcoming personal sin, and I hope that reproducing this here will strengthen and encourage all who read it and apply the lessons taught within.

Original Sin, Ceiling Frescoes (Michaelangelo)

The question is, “How do I kill sin in my life? How do I do it?” Let me give you some little principles — very basic and straightforward.

If you live by the Spirit and are headed towards eternal life because of your salvation, the Spirit in you gives the power to be killing the deeds of the flesh.

The question is, “All right, how do I do that? I agree that the power is there, that’s the bent of my life, that’s the way I am going. I want to see the Spirit do more and more of it. How do I get to that point? How do I gain that victory? How do I establish that habitual pattern? What do I do?”

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John Piper: I’m On a Crusade to Crucify the Prosperity Gospel

August 13, 2008 in Apostasy, Christianity, Quotes by Isaiah | 13 comments

John Piper“Prosperity Gospel is no Gospel because what it does is offer to people what they want as natural people. You don’t have to be born again to want to be wealthy and therefore you don’t have to be converted to be saved by the Prosperity Gospel.

When you appeal to people to come to Christ on the basis of what they already want, 1st Corinthians 2 makes no sense! The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit, they are foolishness to him. Therefore if you offer to people what they do not consider foolishness in the natural man, you’re not preaching the Gospel.

And the Prosperity Gospel offers to people what they desperately want as fallen people, gives it to them and grows huge churches … I can’t believe what we tolerate in the Church, so I am on a crusade to crucify the Prosperity Gospel!”

John Piper
“God Is the Gospel: Meditations on the Love of God as the Gift of Himself”
February 18, 2007

This Is For the Men

August 1, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | 4 comments

In this second sermon I’m featuring in as many days, Paul Washer teaches about Biblical manhood.

This sermon was first preached Sunday July 27, 2008 at Grace Life Church of the Shoals (formerly First Baptist church of Muscle Shoals). You can buy part 2 of the sermon on DVD, download the mp3, or buy the CD here.

Total run-time: 48:46 minutes.

If you’d like to watch this later, follow this link to the page at YouTube.

The Purpose of Marriage

July 30, 2008 in Marriage by Isaiah | 5 comments

Brother Paul Washer preaches another great sermon, this time on marriage and its purpose from a Biblical perspective. I’d highly recommend all married couples to watch this, together if possible. For those who are still single, it’ll give you a proper view of marriage.

It’s mostly addressed to the men because God has ordained us to be the head and leader of the household, but there’s much to learn for women too.

May you be blessed by this sermon.

Sermon is in English with Dutch translation. Total run-time: 100:44 minutes.

One Mouthful Is Quite Enough

July 27, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | 3 comments

Charles H. SpurgeonDeceivers will beguile the weak; some have been turned aside by [post]modern doubt; and positive infidelity has its partisans. They begin cautiously by reading works with a view to answer scientific or intellectual scepticism. They read a little more, and dive a little deeper into the turbid stream, because they feel well able to stand against the insidious influence. They go on, till at last they are staggered. They do not repair to them who could help them out, but they continue to flounder on till, at last, they have lost their footing, and he that said he was a believer has ended in stark atheism, discrediting even the evidence of the existence of God.

Oh, that those who are well taught would be content with gospel teaching! Why should you be so unwise as to go through pools of foul teaching merely because you think it easy to cleanse yourself of its pollution? Such trifling is dangerous. When you begin to read a book and find it pernicious, put it aside. Someone may upbraid you for not reading it all through. But why should you?

If I have a joint of meat on my table of which the smell and the taste at once convince me that it is putrid and unwholesome, should I show discretion by eating the whole of it before giving my judgment that it is not fit for food? One mouthful is quite enough, and one sentence of some books ought to suffice for a sensible man to reject the whole mass. Let those who can relish such meat feed on it, but I have a taste for better food.

Keep to the study of the Word of God. If it be your duty to expose those evils, encounter them bravely, with prayer to God to help you. But if not, as a humble believer in Jesus, what business have you to taste and best such noxious fare when it is exposed in the market?

C. H. Spurgeon
Excerpt from the sermon “A Mournful Defection”, 1877 (emphasis added).

HT: Pyromaniacs.

Before You Go On to Live Your Life Today…

July 18, 2008 in Christian Living, Sermon Jam by Isaiah | 1 comment

Mikael Thomsen is a young man in Denmark who burns to preach the true Gospel. Listen as he delivers some thunder from the pulpit to a stunned congregation. Pray for him, this is highly unusual preaching in this part of the world (Danish with English subtitles).

My thanks to AllSufficientGrace for bringing this to my attention.

A Song for Shabbat: Confessing Your Sins

July 11, 2008 in Christian Living, Worship by Isaiah | No comments

This is the second Shabbat that I have opted to feature a sermon instead of a song. This week, I will be sharing this short sermon by John MacArthur on how and why we should confess our sins with an exposition of Psalm 51. So, if you have your Bible at hand, join me as we listen together to John MacArthur teach.

I pray that you’ll blessed by this sermon as much as I have.

Shabbat Shalom.

Slaves for Christ

July 9, 2008 in Christian Living, Worship by Isaiah | 5 comments

John MacArthurThis article originally appeared here at Grace to You.

We’re going to turn to a subject in the New Testament that as I think about it is largely ignored and overlooked. And I’ve been made aware of that in recent months. It was not too many months ago that I was flying on one of those jumbo jets from Los Angeles to London, in the process reading a book that dealt with the issue of slavery in the New Testament time and in the New Testament text. It set me thinking in all kinds of directions. I actually finished the book on the flight I was so rapt in my attention to this particular theme.

Being a slave of Christ may be the best way to define a Christian. We are, as believers, slaves of Christ. You would never suspect that, however, from the language of Christianity. In contemporary Christianity the language is anything but slave language. It is about freedom. It is about liberation. It is about health, wealth, prosperity, finding your own fulfillment, fulfilling your own dream, finding your own purpose. We often hear that God loves you unconditionally and wants you to be all you want to be. He wants to fulfill every ambition, every desire, every hope, every dream. In fact, there are books being written about dreams as if they are gifts from God which God then having given them is bound to fulfill. Personal fulfillment, personal liberation, personal satisfaction, all bound up in an old term in evangelical Christianity, a personal relationship. How many times have we heard that the gospel offers people a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?

What exactly does that mean? Satan has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and it’s not a very good one. Every living being has a personal relationship with the living God of one kind or another, leading to one end or another.

But what exactly is our relationship to God? What is our relationship to Christ? How are we best to understand it?

Read the rest of this entry »

Hell Is Necessary

July 5, 2008 in Christianity, Sermon Jam by Isaiah | 6 comments

Tim Conway preaches on the necessity of hell.

That Which Makes Me the Christian That I Am

July 3, 2008 in Christian Living by Isaiah | 10 comments

Some say I am harsh, unloving, and even having a “profound self-righteousness in my own denomination” as one comment puts it on another blog. I am not concerned with these brickbats though on many occasions I do re-examine to see if I was indeed being self-righteous, so please accept my thanks for those reminders.

Initially, I did get riled by the comments, but since reminding myself constantly that I don’t labor for the applause of man but of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and that I must never seek gratification for my flesh, but the honor and glory of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I strive on leaning on His strength.

So, to those who wonder why I am such a Christian, seemingly harsh and unloving, please take some time to watch this sermon (104 minutes) that turned my Christian life 180 degrees away from carnality. I’ve never, prior to hearing this sermon by brother Paul, understood the holiness, love and mercy of God thus. It broke me and had me in tears the first time I heard it, and hearing it again and again never fails to break me and spur me on to seek the face of my Lord.

I pray that you, too, shall be broken, and come to live a life acceptable to God, and that even if you have to appear harsh and even be ostracized, you seek that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be honored and praised and glorified above all for He alone, and only He, is worthy.

The Greatest Words in All of Scripture

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

Romans 3:23-25

Sermon Jam: The Holiness of God

June 26, 2008 in Sermon Jam by Isaiah | 15 comments

Paul Washer addresses the “presence of God” phenomenon and our attitude towards the holiness of God in this sermon jam.

Here’s the download link (right-click and select “Save As…”), and I hope you will enjoy it!

Sermon Jam: Propitiation

June 21, 2008 in Sermon Jam by Isaiah | 5 comments

So, yea, you’d probably guess by now that I’m in a creative mood right now, going by the fact that this is the second sermon jam I’m releasing today, bringing the total number of sermon jams published to three in total so far (with more coming, I promise!).

This is taken from Paul Washer’s sermon titled What Is Your Life Worth? which you can listen to in full at SermonAudio.

Apparently this is about the best one I’ve done so far, according to my wife. I don’t quite agree, but… anyhow, before I get distracted, here’s the download link for the sermon jam.

Enjoy!

Sermon Jam: Sensitivity to Sin

June 21, 2008 in Sermon Jam by Isaiah | 6 comments

I’m pleased to release my second mash-up of a sermon jam, after receiving many encouraging comments on the first.

Again, please feel free to download the sermon jam if you like it (right-click on the link and select “Save As” to do so).

There’s No Song for Shabbat This Week…

June 13, 2008 in Evangelism by Isaiah | 6 comments

Instead, I have lined up for you one of my favorite sermons by Paul Washer. May it bless and encourage you as it had me.

Shabbat Shalom.

A Warning to Those Who Attended Che Ahn’s Sermon At City Harvest Church On Sunday, 8 June

June 8, 2008 in Apostasy, Christianity by Isaiah | 58 comments

Please bear in mind as you read this that I am warning you in good faith and Christian love.

I am not too sure how to put it, but just last night (Saturday), I had a dream where I had a prompting that somehow one of the two guest pastors speaking at City Harvest Church this weekend would come out in support of Todd Bentley, thereby favorably introducing Bentley to an unsuspecting congregation in Singapore.

(The other guest pastor was Robb Thompson, who, in my opinion, executed a classic bait-and-switch at the end of his sermon, urging the many youths in the congregation to tithe beyond what they have normally given. In other words, he’s another prosperity preacher selling the “sow and reap” principle for success in life).

Moreover, this morning I just had an urge to catch the “live” sermon on the church’s web site.

Not only did I discover that this pastor Che Ahn helms Harvest Rock Church — a church that supports the Florida Outpouring, but he himself knows Todd personally and was enthusiastically promoting Todd’s ministry during the service in question.

Read the rest of this entry »

God’s Own Defense of Scripture

June 5, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | 9 comments

The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.

Psalm 19:7-9

John MacArthur expands on our understanding of these three verses about Scripture (emphasis added and slightly edited to make it easier to read):

… But more importantly and savingly, God has revealed Himself in Scripture.  There is His unwritten revelation and His written revelation.  And when you come to verse 7, the transition is made from God revealing Himself in nature to God revealing Himself in Scripture… in Scripture.

The structure of these verses from verse 7 through 9, notice it there, is a series of parallel statements, verses 7, 8 and 9.  Here there are six titles for Scripture… the Law of the Lord, the testimony of the Lord in verse 7.  In verse 8, the precepts of the Lord and the commandment of the Lord.  In verse 9, the fear of the Lord and the judgments of the Lord. 

Six titles for Scripture.  Scripture is Law, testimony, precepts, commandment, fear and judgments.

There are also six characteristics of Scripture.  Notice, it is perfect, sure, right, pure, clean and true.

And there are six benefits of Scripture.  It restores the soul, makes wise the simple, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes, endures forever and a final one, produces comprehensive righteousness.  That’s what it means when it says righteous all together.  It converts, it makes wise, it brings joy, it enlightens, it purifies, it is relevant in every time, it endures forever and it produces comprehensive righteousness.

This is magnificent.  Here you have God in His inimitable way speaking the vast glories of Scripture in brief sentences.  In a few words He captures the magnitude of the full sufficiency of Scripture.

John MacArthur
God’s Own Defense of Scripture, Part 1

Amen!

You can read the entire transcript of the sermon, or purchase the DVD at Grace To You dot Org.

Let Me Take You Upstairs to Your Dying Chamber!

May 28, 2008 in Christian Living, Quotes by Isaiah | 4 comments

Look at actions which you have thought to be great, and upon which you have prided yourself — how will they look at the last?

You made money; you made money fast; you did it very cleverly; you praised yourself for it, just as others have praised themselves for conquering nations, or forcing their way to fame, or lifting themselves into eminence.

Now you are dying, and what do you think of all that? Is it so great as it seemed to be? Oh, how you leaped up to it, how you strained yourself to reach it, and you have got it, and you are dying. What do you think of it now?

The greatest of human actions will appear to be insignificant when we come to die, and especially those upon which men most pride themselves — these will yield them the bitterest humiliation.

We shall then say what madmen we must have been to have wasted so much time and energy upon such paltry things!

When we shall discover that they were not real, that they were but mere bubbles, mere pretenses, we shall then look upon ourselves as demented to have spent the whole of our life and of our energy upon them!

Charles Spurgeon
“Last Things”, Proverbs 5:11

We’re Losing It!

May 23, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | No comments

This sermon made me think… a lot! Seeing that the Great Singapore Sale has started, and no doubt many Christians will be joining in the retail madness, I thought it’d be quite appropriate to share this sermon by Paul Washer that should really make us pause and think.

I’ve got nothing against taking advantage of sales to restock or stock up on necessities. In fact, I mostly restock my stash of socks and pick up a few new ties during this annual sales period, but I would caution against buying into worldly consumerism.

 

Overheard At CHC

April 30, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | 17 comments

I recently caught another sermon by pastor Kong Hee of City Harvest Church. Speaking on prayer and quoting Mark 16:17-18, he advised that “the key to power and protection, to the wisdom of God, to solve society’s problem, to shine for the kingdom is praying in tongues.”

Uh, no, pastor, it’s not.

Society’s problems cannot be solved by Christians praying in tongues. The world needs to hear the Gospel, repent and turn to Christ, not through humanist efforts. You can build the best hospitals, have the best doctors but there will always be disease and death, and the eternal fates of people are more important.

Yes, you can and should take care of people’s physical needs for we are to feed the poor and take care of widows, but that must come after the Gospel is preached. Did Paul build hospitals to help the heathen turn from their false gods and pagan practices? No, he preached the Gospel and the Gospel only.

Here’s an excerpt from the sermon which you can watch here (Jabez 2: Prayer Part B):

So what is Jesus saying? As you engage culture, God’s power will ensure you’ll solve society’s problem. You’ll find solution for people that are sick, you’ll find solution for people who are oppressed, you’ll do miraculous work. You’ll find the solution for every answer the world is looking for.

…

How to get into that kind of power?

…

You see, right in the middle of Jesus’ command here, He gave us a little key. He said “In my name, you gotta speak with new tongues.”

That means the key to power and protection, to the wisdom of God, to solve society’s problem, to shine for the kingdom is praying in tongues.

And I didn’t say that; Jesus said that!

I am quite sure that our Lord Jesus Christ didn’t say that at all, meaning this pastor is putting words into God’s mouth.

Seriously, I am warning that one be careful not to follow after such teachings.

You’ll notice that, if you fast forward the sermon, the entire congregation was told to break forth and speak in tongues, which is an obvious disregard to the instructions given by Paul for orderly worship.

What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. If any speak in a tongue, let there be only two or at most three, and each in turn, and let someone interpret. But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in church and speak to himself and to God.

1 Corinthians 14:26-28

Worse yet, there was an altar call right after. I wonder how true Paul’s words earlier in 1 Corinthians would be for some unbelievers there!

If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are out of your minds?

1 Corinthians 14:23

It saddens me that so many are led astray…

A New Look At the Widow Who Gave All She Had to the Temple Fund

March 22, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | 8 comments

Luke 21:1-4 is often cited from church pulpits to exhort us to give willingly and in some cases, all, to ministry, a church building fund or some other project that the church is undertaking.

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Luke 21:1-4

I was listening to John MacArthur just last night give his take on this four verses and he noted that the observation of our Lord Jesus Christ about the widow seems to suggest something else other than a teaching on giving.

Below is the transcript of the sermon. You can also view the broadcast of the sermon at Oneplace.com (part 1, part 2).

Read the rest of this entry »

The Intensity of Christ’s Love and the Intentionality of His Death

March 21, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | 2 comments

John PiperThis article was written by John Piper March 19, 2008.
© Desiring God.

The love of Christ for us in his dying was as conscious as his suffering was intentional. “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16). If he was intentional in laying down his life, it was for us. It was love. “When Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (John 13:1). Every step on the Calvary road meant, “I love you.”

Therefore, to feel the love of Christ in the laying down of his life, it helps to see how utterly intentional it was. Consider these five ways of seeing Christ’s intentionality in dying for us.

Read the rest of this entry »

Do You Fear Death?

February 27, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | 21 comments

Sand, sand everywhere, and not a drop of water!Death.

Some see it as the end of everything, subscribing to the notion that there’s no heaven nor hell nor any afterlife.

Some believe that they will come back reincarnated into another being, and what they come back as depends on how much good versus evil they’ve done in the current life. Looking at the world around us today, I can’t imagine why anyone would want to be reincarnated, really.

Some are just plain unsure of what happens, or believe that no matter what they’ve done or believed in, heaven is their destination.

And then there are those hell-bent on going to hell, thinking that they will be reunited with their friends and all the ‘cool’ people and forever be away from the Christian ‘fundies’.

No matter their belief, one thing is certain: most people fear death.

How about you? Do you fear death?

Read the rest of this entry »

Make War! (Otherwise Titled “Beat Up That Sermon”)

February 21, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | 7 comments

MAKE WAR!John Piper’s exhortation to constantly make all-out war against temptations that we face, our pride, our fleshly cravings and all-enslaving desires in the sermon featured below definitely spoke to me.

Yes, I am guilty of murmuring and murmuring “oh, how I wish to be free of this” and not do anything concrete about it, much less actually wage war against it!

Perhaps you are a better and more conscientious warrior than I am, but I am sure that there are many like me else we wouldn’t have so much heresy and that many hypocrites in our churches today.

If you are honest about it and have been putting off fighting that giant of a sin — be it pride, sloth, pornography, mean-spiritedness, covetousness, or just about any sin — then I pray you take this as the impetus to begin to make constant war.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God

Ephesians 6:13-17

With reference to the alternate title of this post, it has to do with how the sermon was presented.

If you like how it was set to music, then you might also like how other sermons have been treated in the same fashion by the good folks at 10:31 Sermon Jams. Not all of the treatments are good, but there are gems like the one from John Piper I just linked, aptly titled “WAR”.

There’s another site that does the same thing with some of the better sermons called Relevant Revolution. I haven’t gone through much of their treatments yet, but the one I’ve heard — “Go” by Paul Washer — sounds pretty good.

Shalom Aleichem.

Sharing the Gospel With Your Children

February 6, 2008 in Christianity, Marriage by Isaiah | 7 comments

Emeal Zwayne -- Passing the TorchYes, yes, I know the fact that I don’t have any children doesn’t escape you, so what am I doing talking about sharing the Gospel with one’s child(ren)?

The upside is that it’s not me that’s doing the teaching, but a pastor, Emeal Zwayne, whom I think did such a great job of sharing it with his children that I decided to record the portion they played at Way of the Master Radio and share it with you.

The entire sermon can be ordered at the web site of said radio station.

What would I do if I had children of my own, you ask?

I’d probably tell them from a young age that I don’t really mind if they don’t become doctors or teachers or professionals or whatever career that’s popular in their time, but that I desire that they be men and women of God first and foremost.

I think that’s the best motivation ever — that in whatever they do they first glorify God.

I leave you now to enjoy the 5-minute track1.

1 Way of the Master. Way of the Master Radio. 5 Feb. 2008.
Picture of CD cover taken off Way of the Master store.

Oh, That I Be a Man of God For His Glory Alone, Not Mine!

January 1, 2008 in Christianity by Isaiah | 2 comments

Perhaps there comes a time in your walk with God where you realize that maybe you have learned so much falsehoods or teachings that have been twisted in one way or another from church and even the most respected pastors and teachers, that you think that perhaps you haven’t really lived a real Christian life.

It’s not a real Christian life because you have not learned to be truly obedient, nor truly submit yourself to God’s will. It’s not a real Christian life because you think that being subject to God’s will is just trying to do what is taught in the Bible and have the faith that God shall answer your prayers, and thinking to yourself that you’ve asked them in accordance to God’s will.

And to think that you’ve been dissing the prosperity gospel when you yourself are living it! Because the prosperity gospel in its essence is about you, you, and you!

Because, when you pray, don’t you say “Oh, Lord, bless me” with this or that, a job, a wife, a girlfriend/boyfriend, and whatever that your heart desires, you preach within yourself the prosperity gospel!

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Christian, You Need to Listen to This!

December 20, 2007 in Christianity by Isaiah | 13 comments

Have about 45 minutes or so? If not, try setting aside that time, sit down with your family and friends who are also Christian and listen to this by Paul David Washer.

This will change the reflected image of yourself in the mirror as it did mine.

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