CampOnThis Steve's reformed, biblical, thought-provoking, and exciting blog. Join him today...
Sound the Alarm ...a clarion call for revival and repentance
July 22nd 2008 -
(As you play the COT BlogCast, please reference the words below.)
General Booth once said, "I consider that the chief dangers that confront the coming century (the twentieth) will be:
Religion without the Holy Ghost,
Christianity without Christ,
Forgiveness without regeneration,
Morality without God,
And Heaven without Hell."
A PRAYER FOR REVIVAL, REPENTANCE AND RENEWAL BY: PASTOR JOE WRIGHT CENTRAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH WICHITA, KANSAS
"HEAVENLY FATHER, WE COME BEFORE YOU TODAY TO ASK YOUR FORGIVENESS AND TO SEEK YOUR DIRECTION AND GUIDANCE. WE KNOW YOUR WORD SAYS, "WOE TO THOSE WHO CALL EVIL GOOD." BUT THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE DONE. WE HAVE LOST OUR SPIRITUAL EQUILIBRIUM AND INVERTED OUR VALUES.
WE CONFESS THAT:
WE HAVE RIDICULED THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH OF YOUR WORD AND CALLED IT PLURALISM.
WE HAVE WORSHIPPED OTHER GODS AND CALLED IT MULTICULTURALISM.
WE HAVE ENDORSED PERVERSION AND CALLED IT AN ALTERNATIVE LIFESTYLE.
WE HAVE EXPLOITED THE POOR AND CALLED IT THE LOTTERY.
WE HAVE NEGLECTED THE NEEDY AND CALLED IT SELF-PRESERVATION.
WE HAVE REWARDED THE LAZINESS AND CALLED IT WELFARE.
WE HAVE KILLED OUR UNBORN AND CALLED IT CHOICE.
WE HAVE SHOT ABORTIONISTS AND CALLED IT JUSTIFIABLE.
WE HAVE NEGLECTED TO DISCIPLINE OUR CHILDREN AND CALLED IT BUILDING SELF-ESTEEM.
WE HAVE ABUSED POWER AND CALLED IT POLITICAL SAVVY.
WE HAVE COVETED OUR NEIGHBOR'S POSSESSIONS AND CALLED IT AMBITION.
WE HAVE POLLUTED THE AIRWAVES WITH PROFANITY AND PORNOGRAPHY AND CALLED IT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION.
WE HAVE RIDICULED THE TIME-HONORED VALUES OF OUR FOREFATHERS AND CALLED IT ENLIGHTENMENT.
SEARCH US, O GOD, AND KNOW OUR HEARTS TODAY; TRY US AND SEE IF THERE BE SOME WICKED WAY IN US; CLEANSE US FROM EVERY SIN AND SET US FREE. GUIDE AND BLESS THESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE BEEN SENT HERE BY THE PEOPLE OF KANSAS, AND WHO HAVE BEEN ORDAINED BY YOU, TO GOVERN THIS GREAT STATE. GRANT THEM YOUR WISDOM TO RULE AND MAY THEIR DECISIONS DIRECT US TO THE CENTER OF YOUR WILL.
I ASK THIS IN THE NAME OF YOUR SON, THE LIVING SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
AMEN.
The background music of this BlogCast was taken from a song of mine called, "If I Were A Singer." This was one of the first songs I ever wrote close to thirty years ago. It was an extra privilege to finish this song with my friend Larry Norman. You may download it or stream it at the AudienceONE Online Store from the CD "Desiring God."
-Soli Deo Gloria-
BIBLICAL QUOTE OF THE DAY uncommon wisdom drawn from the well of God's Word
July 21st 2008 - A Heavenly Escort "And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest." -Genesis 28:15
By CH Spurgeon Do we need journeying mercies? Here are choice ones—God's presence and preservation. In all places we need both of these, and in all places we shall have them if we go at the call of duty, and not merely according to our own fancy. Why should we look upon removal to another country as a sorrowful necessity when it is laid upon us by the divine will? In all lands the believer is equally a pilgrim and a stranger; and yet in every region the Lord is His dwelling place, even as He has been to His saints in all generations. We may miss the protection of an earthly monarch, but when God says, "I will keep thee," we are in no real danger. This is a blessed passport for a traveler and a heavenly escort for an emigrant.
Jacob had never left his father's room before; he had been a mother's boy and not an adventurer like his brother. Yet he went abroad, and God went with him. He had little luggage and no attendants; yet no prince ever journeyed with a nobler bodyguard. Even while he slept in the open field, angels watched over him, and the Lord God spoke to him. If the Lord bids us go, let us say with our Lord Jesus, "Arise, let us go hence." -source
A Godly Man is a Lover of the Word recovering the reverence of God in ministry (pt 3)
July 18th 2008 - by Thomas Watson
"O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. "(Ps. 119:97)
Part A: Godly Man Loves the Word Written: A godly man delights to walk in this garden and sweetly solace himself. He loves every branch and part of the Word:
1. He loves the counselling part of the Word, as it is a directory and rule of life. The Word is the direction sign which points us to our duty. It contains in it things to be believed and practiced. A godly man loves the directions of the Word.
2. He loves the threatening part of the Word. The Scripture is like the Garden of Eden: as it has a tree of life in it, so it has a flaming sword at its gates. This is the threatening of the Word. It flashes fire in the face of every person who goes on obstinately in wickedness. "God will wound the head of His enemies, the hairy scalp of the one who still goes on in his trespasses." (Psa. 68:21). The Word gives no indulgence to evil. It will not let a man halt half-way between God and sin. The true mother would not let the child be divided (I Kings 3:26), and God will not have the heart divided. The Word thunders out threats against the very appearance of evil. It is like that flying scroll full of curses (Zech. 5:1).
A godly man loves the menaces of the Word. He knows there is love in every threat. God would not have us perish; he therefore mercifully threatens us, so that he may scare us from sin. God's threats are like the buoy, which shows the rocks in the sea and threatens death to such as come near. The threat is a curbing bit to check us, so that we may not run in full career to hell. There is mercy in every threat.
read the rest of A Godly Man is a Lover of the Word....
The Old Cross and The New by A.W. Tozer
July 17th 2008 - ALL UNANNOUNCED AND MOSTLY UNDETECTED there has come in modern times a new cross into popular evangelical circles. It is like the old cross, but different: the likenesses are superficial; the differences, fundamental.From this new cross has sprung a new philosophy of the Christian life, and from that new philosophy has come a new evangelical technique-a new type of meeting and a new kind of preaching. This new evangelism employs the same language as the old, but its content is not the same and its emphasis not as before.
The old cross would have no truck with the world. For Adam's proud flesh it meant the end of the journey. It carried into effect the sentence imposed by the law of Sinai. The new cross is not opposed to the human race; rather, it is a friendly pal and, if understood aright, it is the source of oceans of good clean fun and innocent enjoyment. It lets Adam live without interference. His life motivation is unchanged; he still lives for his own pleasure, only now he takes delight in singing choruses and watching religious movies instead of singing bawdy songs and drinking hard liquor. The accent is still on enjoyment, though the fun is now on a higher plane morally if not intellectually.
Read the rest of "The Old Cross and The New"
VICTORY IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE ...submit yourself therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee
July 15th 2008 - There is so much confusion about spiritual warfare today: binding and losing Satan through prayer; shouting to Satan and his hellish minions to leave a church or place of worship where any Christian gathering is taking place; seeing spiritual battle as a "cosmic dualism" between good and evil; superstitions in attributing anything negative in our lives to the work of Lucifer; and most disconcerting, saying that Christians can be demonized (Neil Anderson). Believers tend to forget that Satan maybe mighty, but Jesus Christ is Almighty--and the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Lord and His church.
Watson speaks "from the grave" and points us back to Scriptural reality. This simple, biblically rich quote from Thomas is lucid, succinct, and spot on target on resisting Satan and living holy for the Lord. The "steal of righteousness" is the greatest resistance against our "ancient foe." May his words encourage you to "submit yourselves to God; resist the devil and he will flee" -James 4:7. IOW, the emphasis is not trying to battle demons, but living for Christ.
Here is Watson:
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world."-1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV)
LIVING DANGEROUSLY IN THE HANDS OF GOD ...the cost and grace of living faithfully each day for the Lord
July 9th 2008 -
A very special thanks to Brian for putting this encouraging video picture montage together and using one of my songs as the music bed. I am honored and humbled.
;)
;)
