“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Rev 21:8)
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom 10:9-10)
Believers for centuries have been looking for the One World Government, One World Currency, and One World Religion that will come during end times. I don’t think we have to look any longer. If you will watch the news you will see that we are moving in that direction very fast. The United Nations have been working towards a One World Government for some time and now we see that the One World Currency is already in the works. While there has been a stirring towards the One World Religion for years it is now in the fast track thanks to ecumenicalism.
American Heritage Dictionary gives the definition of ecumenical as “of worldwide scope; universal; of or relating to the worldwide Christian church; concerned with establishing or promoting unity among churches or religions.”
There are two ecumenical movements currently happening.
The first is the Evangelical Movement. This is the belief that all Christian denominations must come together in unity. Organizations like the Promise Keepers and Bible teachers like Beth Moore take this ecumenical stand. An article about Beth Moore stated that, “she doesn’t get caught up in divisive doctrinal issues. In fact, she purposely steers clear of topics that could widen existing rifts between different streams in the body of Christ.” The Promise Keepers’ movement is also part of this ecumenical trend of down-playing doctrine for unity. In one Promise Keeper publication this is clearly evident: We believe that we have a God-given mission to unite men who are separated by race, geography, culture, denomination, and economics. A Promise Keeper is committed to reach beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity. And they have been successful in doing that. Promise Keepers supporters and sponsors include Evangelicals, Catholics, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, Episcopalians, Charismatics, and others. These groups have been divided by major doctrinal differences for many years. But now these differences are being dropped for the sake of unity. These are just two examples of many. Please tell me, if I am a Baptist who believes that salvation is by grace through faith and not of works lest any man should boast how can I worship beside a person who believes in works for salvation? This person doesn’t believe I’m even saved.
Ecumenical teaching is dangerous because it weakens the faith. Having a standard and raising up walls of separation is a way of protecting the local church from error and heretical, false teachings. Because of this Evangelical Movement of Ecumenicalism we are now seeing a larger movement in which states that we bring together not only all Evangelicals but now we bring together all religions. Billy Graham states on the “Hour of Power” show that Jesus Christ is NOT the only way to the Father. He says that Muslims, Buddhist, and even non-believers are being called of God and are a part of the body of Christ even if they do not know His name.
The teaching is everywhere. From fiction books like The Shack to radio preachers and TV Evangelist like Joel Osteen and Joyce Meyers you will find the ecumenical belief and it’s all moving us toward the One World Religion.
When I think about my life and all the blessings that God has showered down upon me I cannot help but praise Him for His great love. I could never add up all the mercy and goodness that my Father gives me. Blessings flow from Heaven daily. My life is a joy. It’s filled with peace and contentment.
Yet, there is a sobering thought in my mind lately. As wonderful as this life is probably within the next 50 years it will all be over. Scripture states it like this: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. (James 4:14) Within 50 years my time on earth will be gone, that is, if I live a full life. How many lives are cut short due to accidents and illnesses? Or perhaps, Christ will return even sooner. While the thought of the rapture or death to this soul holds no fear, I can only imagine how one might tremble at the thought who does not know Christ.
My husband is teaching Ray Comfort’s “The Way of the Master” Evangelism course on Wednesday nights. It’s amazing to watch the videos of them interviewing people on the streets. While most will agree that they think about death, most of them have no hope. And many of the ones that do have a small sliver of hope are deceived to believe a lie. It’s very sad. This morning I read the famous sermon by Jonathan Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” After reading it my heart broke for all the people I know who are lost. I’m concerned and fear for those I don’t even know. My heart is filled with compassion and I’m convicted and burdened in that I don’t witness like I should.
My husband ask his class a few weeks ago why people don’t witness. Many of the answers were “because of fear”. While there is a truth to that statement I wish that was all there was to it. I will submit that it’s not fear as much as unconcern. Sometimes I feel like a sailor on ship content while there are people drowning in the sea. My captain gives the command to help those who are perishing but I stay dry and safe praising and loving my Captain on board. I pray God will give me concern and love for others.
Please go to http://www.repentamerica.com and read the sermon I mentioned. Let it work on your heart as you think about those who are lost.
Lend an ear to modern America and this is what you will hear. You will hear it when a young person lies in order to get ahead in life. You will hear it when a father works 60 hours a week, neglecting his family in the pursuit of wealth. You will hear it when parents justify their children being taught humanism, evolution and homosexuality in the name of education. You will hear it when churches compromise with the world for the sake of the “greater good.” You’ll even hear it during election times when Christian people cast a vote for an unethical candidate because……the end justifies the means.
However, the Founding Fathers of our nation had a difference perspective than many have today. Listen to what John Adams said, “I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure that it will cost us to maintain this Declaration, and support and defend these States. Yet through all the gloom I can see rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth more than all the means.”
Men and women with a multigenerational faithfulness looked ahead, knowing full well what the cost would be to establish a nation “under God” in that “all men are created equal”. Yet, thinking about their children and children’s children they pressed onward for they knew that the end would be worth more than all the means. Are there any men and women like this today? Or are we too concerned with today to think about tomorrow? When I think about the future of this nation on the brink of disaster my heart breaks for my children and for the children that they will have. Will they be able to live in a land of freedom? Will they be able to worship God without fear? Will they live in a land of peace?
Everything in me tells me that hard times are coming. Therefore, I ask myself,
“Am I willing to sacrifice now who I am and what I do knowing that in the end it will be worth it all?”
“Am I willing to forgo all these temporal pleasures for heavenly crowns?”
“Am I willing to do what is necessary to impart to my children the eternal things of God?”
You see, for over two hundred years our country has reaped the blessings of what our Founding Fathers sowed. Yet around 50 years ago our country began to sow different seeds; seeds of rebellion against the Holy One. Now, our generation will begin to reap what has been sown these last few years. I pray that it isn’t more than we can bear. Then Enemy would have you believe that everything is fine. “Sure these are hard times but we’ll get through them, like we always have.” And while I believe that our God is sovereign and that as His child I am well loved and cared for, I also believe that without calling out to God in repentance and belief and rolling up our sleeves and doing what is necessary we will never reclaim back our land. It is no longer enough to live our lives from day to day and take our children to church. We must fight. We must fight for freedom. We must fight for the Kingdom, not with guns and knives but with the Power of God never forgetting that it is a spiritual battle that wages against us.
My husband is currently reading, “The Robbers’ Cave” written in 1887 to our children each night. (www.lamplighterpublishing.com) The story is about a young boy, Horace, who is kidnapped by a band of robbers. Last night my husband read the dialogue between the young lad and one of the captors, Raphael, who as a believer is secretly trying to help the boy. The discourse spoke to my heart and stated even truer what I am trying to say.
Horace was well versed in Scripture history, but he had only a very superficial knowledge of the Epistles of St. Paul. The glowing, fervent spirit of devotion breathing through them had found no response in his heart. He read now, almost as though they were new to him, the soul-stirring words of the apostle and martyr, proclaiming the blessed truths which he so joyfully sealed with his blood.
“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
Horace felt that the Italian at his side was not merely reading this as a chronicled address to suffering saints of old, but receiving it as a rousing call to himself, a watchword to be used on the field of battle, a command from a leader to a soldier of the cross.
“Is it true,” asked Raphael, when at last he paused in his reading – “Is it true that in your blessed land these Scriptures are open to all?”
“The poorest can have a Bible,” replied Horace.
“What a power must be wielded there for the truth!” said the Italian, laying his hand upon the open Testament. “In this country there is but a man here and there, like a picket in a hostile land, a sentinel on a post of danger, to grasp with a feeble hand the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God standing forth in a cause which, were it not the cause of the Almighty, he might well consider to be desperate but with you, how strong, how united a phalanx must hold the ground against all opposers, and go forward conquering and triumphant in the great battle that is waged on earth!”
“Of what battle do you speak?” said Horace, rather to draw forth an answer from Raphael than from any difficulty as to his meaning.
“The great battle between Truth and Error, Light and Darkness, God and Satan,” replied Raphael; “the battle in which every individual must be enlisted on one or the other side.”
“Not necessarily to take any very active part,” observed Horace, who felt as regarded himself there had been little interest, and certainly no great effort in the strife.
Raphael fixed his large, earnest eyes upon the speaker with an expression of grave surprise. “In the world’s warfare what do we esteem a soldier who shrinks from taking part in the struggle, who obeys not his leader, who deserts his banner at a period of danger?”
“We esteem him a coward,” replied Horace.
“And if he take part with the enemy?”
“He has the name, and deserves the fate of a traitor.”
“And what shall we call those who enlisted to oppose sin and Satan, are content to remain mere spectators of the strife, or who actually join the ranks of the foe?”
“Nine-tenths of the Christian world do so,” observed Horace, “and certainly look upon themselves neither as cowards nor traitors. Few consider that there is a battle to be fought at all. Men follow their own pleasure, do their own will, and doubt not but that all will be well in the end.”
“You do not think so?” said Raphael.
Horace knew not what to reply. He was too conscious that he had been describing his own state of mine, and felt that if a brave, earnest, self-sacrificing spirit of devotion be necessary to the Christian soldier, he was unworthy of the name.
Oh, how these words stuck me. How many times have I been unworthy of the name of Christ? How many times have I followed my own pleasure and did my own will believing that all will be well in the end? How many times do I forget about the battle I’m called to engage in? How the Wicked One has deceived us! May my eyes be fixed upon the eternal. May I press on for the prize of the high calling. May I stand fast in the faith and fight as a true soldier. And may I always remember, as did Adams, that it’s not the end that justifies the means but that the end is worth more than all the means!
Last Sunday while we were having our fellowship lunch after the morning worship service one young lady shared with me what she had written in her notes during the service. As my husband was preaching about things that are an abomination to the Lord something in the way he spoke caused her to write down the phrase “Obama Nation”. I’m afraid that there is more truth to this statement than many people in this country are willing to admit.
President Obama has now declared June 2009 to be Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride Month. Our President is celebrating and encouraging an act that is an abomination in God’s eyes. (Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination. Lev 18:22) Not only is this act an abomination in God’s eyes but something that by Old Testament Law is a deed worthy of death. (If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. Lev 20:13)
Does your heart ache for our country? Are you weeping over the condition we are now in? Is there righteous indignation burning within your soul? When will the Christian brethren say enough is enough? When will men of God preach out against the unrighteousness that abounds in this country? When will we fall to our faces, mourn over our sins, and cry out for God to save us? Perhaps when we ourselves seek after righteousness and holiness? It’s hard for the Christian community to take a stand against homosexuality when most professing “Christians” endorse the very act. You may ask, just how are Christians endorsing homosexuality? Let me answer that question with others. How many Christians support companies who openly promote homosexuality? How many Christians listen to music performed by known homosexuals (American Idol contestants, for example)? How many Christians watch television programs and movies that support the homosexual lifestyle? Don’t tell me that professing Christians in this country are not endorsing homosexuality.
True believers must call out to God and seek His face. If we continue on this path our country is headed for destruction. Do you think it’s as bad as it’s going to get? Let me suggest that it will get much worse. A generation ago in this nation the act of homosexuality was a disgrace but now it’s paraded out in the open. Now our leaders take pride in the very act. If the Lord tarries what will our children and their children witness? If you want to know just read Leviticus 20:15-16. It’s coming, it’s an abomination, and this is what we can expect from an “Obama Nation”.
Last week a friend from Arkansas came to visit with her 5 children. The children had never been to the beach so we took a day and traveled to Pensacola, FL. As soon as we got there it started to rain. Not wanting them to miss the opportunity to see the ocean we decided to stick it out. The rain only lasted a few minutes and when it was over we saw a complete double rainbow. It was incredible. One end began on the beach and the other ended in the ocean. Above the brightly colored rainbow was a fainter rainbow. It was the most beautiful gay rainbow I’ve ever seen.
Yes, I meant to say, “gay rainbow”. Scripture tells us that the heart of the righteous studieth to answer, that is they ponder the answer. (Prov. 15:28) In addition, I always tell my children to say what you mean and mean what you say. That is the reason I choose the phrase gay rainbow. Only recently has the word gay been a disgrace. While the younger generation only knows the definition that brings shame, the older generations can recall the word commonly being used as meaning merry, happy or even brightly colored. We are all familiar with the passage in James 2:3 referring to “gay clothing”. But now, you would never hear a Christian describe them self as wearing gay clothing. Here world, take a word with a merry meaning and let the God-haters (Romans 1:24-32) have it. While you’re at it, let’s let the world have the word “marriage”. For there was a time when no one questioned the definition of this word. But now, Christians have to define it as between one man and one woman. How much longer will we be able to hold onto that word? We’ve already let them have the word gay. What about the word rainbow? Ask any child who attends Sunday school to tell you about the rainbow and they will go into a lively story about Noah’s Ark. Two by two God brought the animals onto the ark with Noah and all his family. After the flood, the Lord put a rainbow in the sky as a promise to never again destroy the world with water. (Genesis 9) But, let me submit that there is a little more to the story. According to Genesis chapter 6, God looked upon the wickedness of earth and His heart was grieved therefore He said, “I will destroy man”. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Therefore, God judged the rest of the earth and saved Noah and his family and two of every kind of animal on the ark. Because God is the Creator of all and this is His world He can judge it. Because God is Holy and Just and Righteous, He must judge this world. There are many who struggle with that truth. But, nevertheless, it’s still the truth. Not only did God judge the world, but He will one day judge it again. While the rainbow is a sign in the sky that He will not destroy it with water, scripture teaches us that the earth will one day be destroyed with fire. God will judge this world. Yet now God hating men go around parading in their sins, using symbols like the rainbow to identify themselves as homosexuals. And the Christians stand by and let them. Just like the word “gay”, we will no longer use the rainbow as a symbol because we fear the world. Friends, we should be proud of the rainbow. Christians should use the rainbow as an example of God’s love, mercy, holiness, and judgment. Shame on us for allowing it to be used as a banner of sin and shame on us for allowing the word “gay” to use as an adjective for homosexuality. We’ve just handed it over to Satan and the world like everything else. What will we allow next? What happens when they want to use a dove or the cross as a sign of their debauched lifestyle? Will we turn those words over to them as well? God forbid.
Christians, we need to stand up. There is a war going on all around us, not of flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness, and spiritual wickedness in high places. Therefore I will choose to look at this world through the light of scripture and in it I see the splendor of the gay rainbow.
A typical day in our home is one of noise, from the moment the children rise until the last eyelid closes. Throughout the day I will hear a combination of talking, laughter, playing, singing, and quarrelling – all of which equal noise. Added to this noise is that of dogs barking, log trucks passing, phones and door bells ringing, washer and dryer beeping, talk radio, audio theater and videos. This is the reason the early morning is my favorite time of the day. When the sun is hidden and the household is asleep there is quiet…………..almost.
Given the duty of nature’s alarm clock, the birds still sing there sweet awakening songs. The ceiling fans hum. The clock ticks. The water in the fountain ripples down creating a soothing sound. Yet as peaceful as these sounds are there is still noise. And even if all outer sound ceased the noise in my mind would still be ever constant. To be still and know God is my desire. So many times even when I come to Him in prayer and worship the thoughts in my mind are deafening. I have so much to say, so much to ask for, and so much to plead. Oh, how I want to quiet my mind, to dwell on the Most Holy One, and to listen to that still small voice. “Be still and know that I am God.”
I remember being a child in elementary school. Often, the principle would come on the intercom and announce that we will observe a moment of silence for one reason or another. Many times it would be in honor of someone who had died. Does this still happen today? On any given day does anyone slow down enough to just stop and listen? What about silence as we worship? Ask the average person to define worship and they will tell you it is singing praises to God. Some might even expand that definition and add that worship involves praying to God as well. Let me submit that worship is so much more. I believe that true worship not only involves singing and praying but also giving, repenting, surrendering, and listening. It is in the hushed stillness of our souls that the Lord of Glory speaks to us. The most extraordinary prayers are ones of silence. It is in the most profound reverence that God receives the most praise, adoration, awe and worship. As I meditate upon these truths may I diligently seek Him, silently adore Him. In the secret, in the quiet place, in the stillness He is there.
But the LORD is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him. (Habakkuk 2:20)
Kimberly Williams 