False Christian teachings, trends….
I received the following video notification from Christian Sermons and Audio Books this morning and was alarmed by its contents, particularly in regard to the numbers of Christians being martyred currently in the world. Video highlights are included in this post. Please listen, this is a wake up call to remind Christians that we are on a battle field and need to act accordingly….
This post contains a lovely video presentation of a brief work by J R Miller. His words get to the essential struggle of the Christian life. I have listened to it a half-dozen times in the past several days and have found much encouragement in his words. I most benefited from learning his perspective on the Christian’s struggles. It is a godly perspective such as is found in 1 Corinthians 9, where Paul speaks of the fight; and in Pilgrim’s Progress. A very useful small book is recommended which guides one through such a journey as the Bunyan’s pilgrim Christian walked.
This post contains 2 videos: the first is a 1-minute video featuring Voddie Baucham wherein he talks about how biblical Christians are being further marginalized in this culture by those worldly Christian professors who drink the world’s Kool-aid and are praised by the world for this foolishness; the second video is 15 minutes in length and provides numerous examples of Baucham’s words playing out in our current culture. The point of these videos is to encourage biblical Christians to continue on in God’s WAY and do not be de-railed by those Christian around you that turn away and receive praise from the world, as your Judge is the One who wrote the Bible and expects His children to honor and obey Him.
The video in this post is a podcast of Pastor Patrick Hines wherein he addresses Christian suffering. He used the text of 1 Peter 1:3-9 and after a brief intro, talked about a Christian pastor who committed suicide, and near the end, he discussed a man who was tortured by Vladimir Lenin’s officers and imprisoned for more than a decade. The latter, grew immeasurably from his ordeal and was more used by God…. Much was said about each man and his response / reaction to afflictions sent by our Sovereign God. You can learn something from Pastor Hines teaching to deal with the afflictions God sends into your life. He discusses a couple of useful books in the podcast.
The title of this post does not mean that all prisoners have hit bottom, many will get released and continue in a life of crime; but MacArthur’s church ministry makes literature and ministry available for those who realize they are at a very low point in their lives. Part of the discussion focuses on the need of Christians to be able to present the biblical gospel message of hope to people, also non-prisoners, who are in dire need of it. In these days of mass deception (as evidenced in recent posts herein on the Covid 19 vax), and rapid moral disintegration of our world, everyone needs to be ready to meet God. Christians need to be able to witness Christ and His gospel message to lost family members and neighbors….
The following brief commentary is on Hebrews 13:13 – “Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.” Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp – As if we were going forth with him when he was led away to be crucified. He was put to death as a malefactor. He was the object of contempt and scorn. He was held up to derision, and was taunted and reviled on his way to the place of death, and even on the cross. To be identified with him there; to follow him; to sympathize with him; to be regarded as his friend, would have subjected one to similar shame and reproach…. [This intro is most of Barnes’ commentary; John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible is also included in this post. Together, they provide better understanding]
Arthur Walkington Pink (1886-1952) was an evangelist and Biblical scholar. The video below is a reading from his Studies in the Scriptures. While taking notes on the video and transcribing them, I noticed that A W Pink took many biblical warnings, admonitions, encouragements… and organized them for those who sincerely desire to understand how they are failing to walk in obedience. He focused mostly on how a believer leaves himself open to the assaults of the devil – giving place to the devil as it is put in scripture. And his points thoroughly cover the topic
This post contains the Evening portion of C H Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening Thoughts for November 10. His words are very needful to the contemporary church because these words reveal their betrayal of Him, whom they falsely profess to be their Master. If you are struggling to carry your cross because it is so difficult due to the maltreatment from the world, then Spurgeon’s words will encourage and comfort you, as this message is woven throughout the Bible. Jesus stated it often, see John 15:18-27 for one example, other texts referenced in the post.
The Crook In The Lot is a book by Puritan Thomas Boston. In this podcast, Pastor Hines reads from Boston’s book and discusses it in terms of Christian afflictions. The three parts of the book stated: 1. Every crook in your lot is God’s making; 2. What God sees fit to mar in your lot, you will not be able to mend; 3, contemplation of the crook in your lot, as the work of God, is the proper means to help you walk rightly under it [highlight points were given for the initial 23 minutes of the podcast]
There are two devotional readings on this 5-minute video. The first, titled, It Is I, is Christ comforting the believer and telling him of the source of his afflictions and comfort. The playlist from which this video came is linked because it contains 40 other videos that are about spiritual struggles; spiritual darkness; affliction; learning to lean on Jesus; prayer; self-denial defined; and other things that all born-again believers need to understand and / or will experience.