Archive for June, 2011

“Let our works save us”

June 25, 2011

Unbelievably as this sounds, many believe this today, even unbeknownest to themselves. Some think they can earn their way to heaven. But it is a very “sneaky” trap by the devil. Let us look at this most close delusion of the truth.

Keep this most revelant scripture in mind as you read this (Ezekiel 33:13) “When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in HIS OWN righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered, but because of the iniquity that he has committed , he shall die”. Here it basically says that righteous works MUST be according to His word not done by what WE think is right.

I have know “Jan” (her name has been changed) since about 2004. She and her husband run a ministry for poor and dis-advantaged children and families. It’s an actual real life building and large property and is well known through out the area. I had been a regular donater. About a year ago, the Lord had inspired me to contact her via email to let her know about my walk with the Lord and to possibly shed some new light to her as well.

I was well aware of her fine minstry, as I often received their monthly mailer telling of individual heart moving stories of dis-advantaged families and the children’s plight and sometimes their success in finding Jesus. I was moved on more than a few of them. So it was with a real hope and desire I contacted her to see if it was possible that they might be able to teach the kids about God’s Holy Day-the Sabbath.

So I heard from her and we agreed to do a “online bible study”. As I usually do , I first explained how God gave me a direct sign at the end of my first Sabbath. I felt it is good to let people know I am not “raised” a Sabbath keeper, so I don’t have a prejustice to it. I SAW God’s hand work and His sign letting me know His Sabbath is for real. She appreciated it and our study began.

God had given me this vision of her big ministry bringing the many kids into the light of the Sabbath. But as the study went on, my soul became more despondent. For all the many truths I showed her was like water on a duck’s back. It just flew right off her. God knows I really tried. I poured out my spirit in trying to show her the “truth”. But she continued to refuse the light, she was steadfast in her reasoning that “The Sabbath wasn’t biblical” as she put it. This got me to thinking -what was exactly going on in this woman’s head?

Recently, with another person I know making this same error, I felt it was time to bring awareness to this very “real looking” deception.It has to do with “works”. In the book of James we learn how works is a MUST in our Christian walk. (James 2:17) “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone”. The BIG PROBLEM is when we think “our” works can replace works that glorify God.

So I got to thinking about “Jan’s” situation. I mean here is this lady who is doing VERY GOOD things in the name of the Lord. Providing a most gracious giving enviroment for the dis-abled and dis-advantaged. YET she has turned downed the LIGHT God showed her through me, His servant. What are we to make of this?? Let me tell you the God’s truth in this matter.

Many remember the Saul story. Israel’s first king. In the book of Samuel, we learned that Samuel had told Saul( at God’s specific direction) to go into this evil village and destroy EVERYTHING, leave nothing or no one alive. Saul agreed. But Saul became presumptous. Instead of doing as God instructed through His Prophet Samuel, Saul decide to “spare” the finest animals as HIS SACRIFICE to the Lord . BIG  BIG MISTAKE! Saul in effect decided HIS way was better than God’s word. God was very upset and was grieved!

This story has BIG implications for us. In (Samuel 15:22) we read “…to OBEY is better than sacrifice..”  This is a profound statement. That means God want’s  us to obey rather than sacrifice ANYTHING! That means our time , our money, our anything! Is that not what Jan is doing? She is in effect saying “God, I won’t  obey your Commandments BUT here’s what I will do. I’ll do many good works for you, “sacrifice” my time and devote my life to doing good works in your name”. She has placed BIG FAITH in her works pleasing God. Is it really? Instead can we not see how God’s face would smile if she did these works IN ADDITION to obeying His word! Wow, that would be the ticket!!

Many today are saying “We are close to the Lord, look at all the things we do for Him”. Yet the very next Sabbath they can be found shopping at the mall, or watching the ballgame. Just trampling HIS Holy day and making it of no effect! His word means nothing, their works have justified them, so they think.

Sadly, a most fitting scripture describes these people (Romans 10:3) ” For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness have not SUBMITTED to the righteousness of God”. His holy 10 Commandments is  His ultimate “righteousness”.

For kind of a last word to Jan I told her this. “Jan, suppose I am right and that God really does want His Commandments kept. Do you think if you’ll die, He will say ‘Jan, you did a foolish thing, you kept those old outdated Commandments, sorry you can’t come into my Kingdom”?  Ofcourse not.

To summarize, let us always remember that “our” works are to be done as “supplement works” AFTER   “His”  great Commanded works-His Holy 10 Commandments!   In Christ, Rob

Posted in Commandments | 5 Comments »

From A Prison Cell

June 11, 2011

Many years ago a guy named Eldon was a sitting duck for demonic angels. He was continually  breaking God’s Commandments. The lusts of this world was his passion. But for some these satanic demons break loose and really control their host. As scripture says (1 Peter 5:8) “Be sober and vigilant, your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”. When one ignores this word of God and becomes NOT sober and vigilant, terrible things can happen.

But I am talking about the “old” Eldon. The one who has been destroyed and no longer lives. There is a new Eldon whom it is my delight to tell about. Let’s look at this GREAT turnaround.

I often receive much Christian literature during the week. I enjoy reading the latest in God’s work. About 2 months ago an article caught my eye. It was from a 3abn magazine about a prisoner who had been watching 3abn and became alive in knowing about the “true” gospel of  Jesus Christ. His eyes and ears became open and truths such as the Sabbath became very clear and real to him. He became a changed man.

You see once we receive and understand God’s REAL TRUTH we become as His word says (John 8:32) ” You shall KNOW the truth and the truth shall make you free”. Free indeed! Even a locked up man  is now free! He has peace and comfort knowing that every day that goes by is another chance to work for God in his short “mist of time”, compared to eternity! And Jesus , the great counter, adds them up and rewards every one according to his work.

So as I read this story the words of the Lord came into my mind (Matt. 25:36) “…I was in prison and you came to visit me”. I tried to picture myself “IN HIS SHOES”. I wondered was anyone reaching out to this guy? Here he was telling this great turnaround story, the LEAST I could do was to write and encourage him. (Luke 22:32) “….When you are converted, strengthen your brothers.”  I am a converted “new” man and therefore our Lord says to make strong our brothers. This was something I decided to do.

So I wrote him and basically told him I was with him in spirit and how happy I was for him to have found God’s truth. He no longer had to search around for the “true” gospel of Christ–He KNEW it! At first, after 3 or 4 weeks and not hearing back from him, I began to think ” Well, I haven’t heard anything , maybe I said something, or it got lost”. Then his response came.

My spirit soared  as I read his lengthly letter. He told of how he is working among the 1350 men in his prison to show the truth to men who are hungry for it. How he has been tranformed from that old sinful man to a new creature of God. It became clear to me that all he needed was alittle “outside” help ( in the form of literature, DVD’s, and such) then he would be armed in spiritual material to make even more headway in winning some souls in there.

After reading that first letter back I knew God had placed a small job before me. Afterall what is 2 or 3 hours of our life every month to reach out to a brother who is ready and willing to do God’s work in a prison! Praise the Lord, for men like Eldon! The following are some writings from Eldon.

He writes  ” Do you think your church or any groups in your area would consider adopting us as a mission site”? There’s an awful lot we could do here with just alittle  outside help. There are so many souls on the line here and these men need to discover God’s truths in their own bibles.”

So it is with hope and prayer  I’d like to ask if any of you would like to become a pen pal and spiritual helper for someone in prison. Eldon  can provide names of some of the guys who would be very thankful even to just hear a “hello, how you doing” note.

Our Lord knows these men have made some wrong decisons but they can be helped and eventually brought into God’s kingdom!  Amen!

Posted in Prison ministry updates, Witnessing | 6 Comments »