Is this really happening?

Animosity towards God, His Word and His People

Watching end-time prophecy being fulfilled before one’s eyes is absolutely amazing and thrilling.   At the same time there is the tragic side to this.   Why do I say this?

There is an ever and rapidly increasing number of people throughout the world, including the UK and Europe in general, USA, Canada, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand who have become so anti-Christian, anti-God and anti-the Word of God, the Bible!   They prefer to think of Bible-believing Christians as religious fanatics or nutcases or bigots.

Someone put it this way very recently: “the darkness has become so dark that a normal light seems blinding. Deception and false religion have spread so widely that the simple truth seems threatening”.

It is appropriate to share this comparison as we remember Billy Graham, that great Evangelist, who passed away into the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in February 2018.

Just as recently as last year, Billy Graham was voted one of the most popular men in America for an amazing 61^st time!  He came fourth behind former US President Obama, President Trump and the current Pope.

But, when Billy Graham’s son, Rev Franklin Graham, spoke in honour of his father, there were people who viewed what he said as abhorrent.   This is what Franklin Graham said: “My father has been faithful to God’s Word. He believes the Bible to be the inspired Word of God. He believes in Heaven and Hell, and preached repentance from sin and that people must put their faith in Jesus Christ who took our sins to the cross, died in our place, and then God raised to life.”

Because he dared to mention “Hell” and “Repentance from sin” … that (according to some “leading” opponents to the Christian message, and many others these days these days, even from within many churches) made him a religious fanatic! Really?  My oh my … My prayer for Franklin Graham is that he will continue to proclaim the pure and powerful Gospel message and be used to bring thousands to Jesus as Saviour.

At the most recent Parliament of the World’s Religions held in Toronto, Canada in early November 2018, the so-called “love, harmony and peace” of the interfaith movement only extended to those who were like-minded.   For an observer who witnessed the event first-hand, it was a virtual “hate fest” towards anyone who was pro evangelical Christianity or conservative in their thinking. (For more on this issue, listen here [1])

The Compromised Church
Tragically, we are living in times where the Church is so horribly compromised.   It matches the description of the churches in the Book of Revelation (chapters 2 and 3).

Yes, there are still some who have not bowed the knee to the modern, (so-called) progressive, compromised emerging church and who believe and obey God’s infallible Word and do not deny the LORD (the Philadelphian Church).

But the sad spiritual state countries find themselves in today, globally, is because the Church has lost its first love.  As a result, they’ve wandered from the Truth.   They’ve watered down the Gospel message which has power to save and change lives, and have adopted beliefs and practices that have nothing to do with God’s Word whatsoever.  In fact, some practices are positively pagan within the modern church.

As a Church Age, it is clear that we are definitely living in the Laodicean Age:  Jesus said: “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” (Rev 3:15)

As someone wrote recently, “Rather than us changing the world, the world has changed us. Rather than us impacting the society, the society has impacted us. Rather than us raising the standards of the nation, we have embraced the standards of the nation”.  So, what we find is that thousands and thousands of people profess to be Christians, but are not living out the faith once delivered to the saints. As Jude verse 3 states: “defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people”.  (the Believers)

The words of Chinese Christian leader, Watchman Nee (1903-1972) still apply today: “By the time the average Christian gets his temperature up to normal, everybody thinks he has a fever.”

Or, as Leonard Ravenhill stated (1907-1994), “The Church has been subnormal for so long, that when it finally becomes normal, everyone thinks it’s abnormal.”

We are living in the last of the last days.   Of that there can be no doubt!   Now is the time to be about the Master’s business.   Read and study God’s Word daily.   Don’t follow man-made ideas.  Stick to the Truth of God’s Word.  “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15)

“For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered and exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.…”  (Hebrews 4:12-13)

For further information, do not hesitate to contact via the contact form or email us at indefenceofthefaith77@gmail.com

RECOMMENDED FURTHER READING & STUDY

• A special blessing for those who read, hear and obey this prophecy:Rev 1:3 (Read all of Rev 1)
• The letters to the Churches: Revelation 2 & 3
• The Danger of False Teachers & a Call to remain Faithful: The Book of Jude

References:
[1] Olive Tree Ministries – Understanding the Times Radio

Wake Up!

Do you know how to recognize a dead church?
Read on to find out how …

“Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die … Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you” (3:2-3)

Although the letter was sent to this specific church in Asia Minor, it is relevant and applicable to the church today.  These letters apply to all the original churches, as well as churches throughout the church age (which is the time since the first coming of Christ through to His second coming).

The church in Sardis was a small church… and very few of them remained faithful to the Lord, true believers.

They had killed the message and compromised the distinctiveness of Christ.  They incorporated pagan cultures into the “church” and were happy to “get along” with other faiths and blend in.  Much like the interfaith, ecumenical movement that is being promoted today.   The distinctiveness of Christ no longer mattered or matters to the church of Sardis, then, and up today!

This church was dead!

The LORD counselled the church of Sardis to do 5 things which, if they’d obeyed, would have made them acceptable to Him:

• Be watchful
• Strengthen the things that remain
• Remember what you heard and believed at first
• Hold Fast
• Repent

Today I want to concentrate on the first counsel the Lord gave this church … Wake up! Be Watchful!

Be watchful (Wake Up!)

The opposite of being watchful is being complacent.

The first thing Sardis needed to do was to stop being complacent and be on a state of alert.

The fact that the LORD had to tell them to wake up, be watchful, points to a serious deficiency in the teaching of the Reformation leaders.   This deficiency was because they lacked instruction in Bible prophecy and separation.

The word “WATCH” is used by the Lord in several other passages of Scripture and indicate the attitude that should characterize His children in view of His promised return!   Prophetically instructed Christians are very much more likely to be separated, consecrated Christians than those who are not aware of the promises of our Lord’s second coming and the imminency of the catching away (rapture) of the church, etc.

The church of Sardis represents some of the denominations today that are being swept along by compromise, sin and erroneous teaching. These 3 things kill a church.

We are living in days where people are deciding to pick and choose what they want to believe from the Bible.  This is extremely dangerous!

Christ’s Warning to Sardis
“So then, if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief” or as the New King James Versions puts it: “Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you” (Rev 3:3)

As is the case for Sardis, so it will be for those who have not heeded our Lord’s warning. It is very clear that they will be taken unawares when our Lord comes.

The Lord Jesus Christ warns Sardis of the consequences of “Not watching”. If Sardis does not watch they will be taken unaware by Christ’s appearing. Throughout the Gospels the Lord stresses the need for the believer to be careful and keep a watchful eye for His “Imminent return”

There are many evidences around that reveal the prophetic ignorance on the part of Reformation churches (AND, sadly, many of the evangelical churches today too!).  An example of this includes the fact that they have people from within their midst who are leaders in the World Council of Churches ecumenical program – a program that aims to unite all Protestants, all Catholics and all religions.  If they had any understanding of the prophetic Word of God, they would realize they are playing right into the schemes of the Antichrist.  That One World Religion is his church during the Tribulation.

We all know the parable of the 10 virgins, five were prepared for the bridegroom and five were not.  When the bridegroom came, the five foolish virgins rushed around trying to buy oil for their lamps.  The five wise virgins were ready and went to the wedding. Sadly, the five foolish virgins tried to get to the wedding later, but were kept out, because the bridegroom did not know them.  As it states in Matthew’s Gospel chapter 25 …“Afterward the other (foolish) virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’  But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’”

Christ warns His church to be ready.

“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13)

Through this prophetic foreshadowing, the dead churches are warned, that unless they WATCH they, like the foolish virgins, will be ushered into the Tribulation period.  They will NOT be ready for the Lord’s return for His Church.

One can recognize a “dead” church in that …

• It doesn’t proclaim the Gospel
• It doesn’t uphold the Scripture (Bible)
• It doesn’t pursue holiness

So, I want to urge you to make sure you belong to a Bible-believing church.  One that teaches that you are saved by faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus on the Cross.   A church that believes “sola Scriptura” (that Scripture – the Bible – is the sole authority for faith).   That the only way to get to heaven and be in a right standing with God is through the Lord Jesus Christ who clearly stated that: “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”. (John 14:6)

If you need further help or information, please do not hesitate to contact me via the contact form or one of the other options below

Day Ashton

Email: dayashton.uk@gmail.com
Skype: dayashton1

 

Did you ever think you’d see the day when … ?

Frankly, I have a problem with what to say first … SO much has changed (and not for the better).

Both Dr David Jeremiah, a well-known Bible teacher and preacher, as well as Jan Markell from Olive Tree Ministries, have both written and spoken extensively on this subject.

This is my take on it.   Lets take a quick look at just some of the things I personally never thought I’d see the day when these things would happen.

I never thought I’d see the day that:

• So many evangelical churches would believe that God accepts the worship of all religions.
  According to a recent study released by Ligonier Ministries and the State of Theology research site, a majority of evangelicals now believe that God accepts the worship of all religions.  Ligonier Ministries research also shows that many have also grown confused about some core doctrines of the Christian faith and many do not fully understand the gravity of sin (1)
• Some (many) churches look no different from the world these days.
  For example, opening with a secular song, dimming the lights, adding some smoky fog, and having an atmosphere similar to the local bar/pub. All of this is to enhance choruses that will be sung over and over and over again.   Many of the choruses are not even Scripturally or doctrinally sound.    This is apparently in order to attract “seekers” — a 21st Century term (4).
• Many churches of all denominations would celebrate Halloween featuring dancing skeletons, zombies, and haunted hay rides glorifying demons and all things dark.  One really wonders what part of Ephesians 5:11 they don’t get?! (5) “Have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead, expose them.” 
• Our privacy is being invaded like never before.   Private conversations are likely to be at risk thanks to Alexa, Google Plus, our smart phones, and more, … literally spying on us. Today’s world has no secrets (6).
• New Age Eastern mysticism and occult practices being incorporated into churches and into the lives of Christians.    How can this be?  People are no longer teaching the inerrant Truths of God’s Word.   They are believing the lie rather than the Truth.   Things that are being accepted as right and quite okay for Christians to be involved in these day include yoga (there is no such thing as “Christian Yoga”), contemplative prayer, visualization, spiritual mapping, “christian Wicca” (blatant paganism), interfaith activities, postmodernism, to mention just a few things! (3)
• Bible Prophecy is no longer being taught in the vast majority of churches
  Jan Markell writes in “Whatever happened to my church?” – “When it came to issues like Bible prophecy, the silence became deafening! People were told this was “divisive” although rock music in the church apparently was not! Millions are going to be left behind at the Rapture of the Church, but there are no warnings about this going out from hardly any church. Instead, pulpits are dispensing Osteen-type messages that talk about “your best life now” on this broken, corrupt planet.” (7)
• The main national broadcaster in the UK has openly mocked the beliefs of millions of Christians and others with socially conservative views regarding pro-life and pro-marriage (2).   And this is not just a trend in the UK – it is as good as global as most western/westernized countries are pro-abortion.

We are living in an age where right has become wrong and wrong right.  In fact, it is all playing out all around us.  (See Isaiah 5:20-21).   There are so many things that have taken, and are taking place, I cannot put it into one article.   What we do know is that the world is promoting numerous perversions are normal and that the teachings of Christianity are, in fact, hate speech. Tragically our politically correct culture demands that no one dare voice dissent. Free speech is definitely under fire. (8)

Apostasy has fractured the church and the saints are asleep!

These are all indications that we are living in the last of the last days.   The Bible tells us very clearly …
“But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these! … evil people and impostors will flourish. They will deceive others and will themselves be deceived” (2 Timothy 3:1-5 & 13)

So, let me encourage you dear follower of Christ, with the Lord’s words to the church of Philadelphia in Revelation 3:10-11: “Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.”

For further information about this topic, click here 

 

Day Ashton

References:

(1) Most evangelicals believe God accepts worship of all religions
(2) Pro-life versus Pro-abortion
(3) Understanding the times
(4) Worldly churches
(5) Churches celebrating Halloween!
(6) Invasion of privacy
(7) Biblical Prophecy no longer being taught
(8) Perilous Times

Welcome Home!

Just this morning I received a daily devotional email from Dr David Jeremiah with this very precious story.  I share it for encouragement in these days where there is so much sadness, anxiety, fear, evil and more around.  Be encouraged!

“Dr. M. R. DeHaan, who died in 1965, was a Gospel radio pioneer who remained hard at work even on his deathbed. Surrounded by his Bible and writing materials, he was preparing materials for his broadcasts when, at about 5:30 p.m., he asked for an oxygen mask. But it was too late. Suddenly he was gone.

Afterward, his friends recalled something he’d written: “We read of the world’s great men when they come home, how the crowds are waiting, the cannons saluting, the flags waving…. But that, my friend, is nothing compared to the thrill of dying, for the believing Christian. To come home, to leave these old clods of clay, to be loosed from the earth, to say good-bye to all that hinders, and then surrounded by heavenly hosts be carried by the angels…amid shouts of triumph of the saints in heaven awaiting us and all the innumerable company of angels…. When one thinks of this, one may well exclaim with Paul, ‘O death, where is thy victory?’”

Jesus rose to remove the fear of death and prepare a place for us. Why should we dread such an adventure?

Instead of a dreaded experience, it will be the most glorious thrill as a fit climax to a life of trial and struggle.”

(M. R. DeHaan, in his book Angels and Demons)

For further study: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Make sure you get to know Jesus as your Saviour.  The glorious reception described above is only for those who have accepted the invitation of Jesus to Follow Him.  To repent of sin and accept Jesus as the only Way, the Truth and the Life, your Saviour.

If you don’t accept Jesus as Saviour this side of death, the outcome will be very different and unimaginably horrendous.  Please do not delay.

To find out how to get to know Jesus as your Saviour and Lord, click here.   You’ll receive such a welcome into God’s family.

No Security in Numbers …

So many people are fooled into thinking that there is safety in numbers.   That the crowd must be right … “everyone is doing it”!

People can be very gullible and believe the lie rather than the Truth.   Just look around at what we see – media sowing seeds of doubt and untruths, fake news, pressure groups forcing their godless opinions on others, political parties have lost their way and fight for those things which are opposed to God’s Word (because they choose to ignore it) and even “churches” departing from the Truth of God’s Word and proclaiming “another gospel”.   The “crowd” are usually heading in the wrong direction.   Eternity is not considered …

The Lord Jesus Himself declared that there are only two roads that lead to eternity.   He also said that only a few will find the narrow way that leads to life. Everyone else will travel the broad way that leads to death. The New Living Translation puts it very clearly: “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” (Matt. 7:13-14).

Tragically, there are so many who never take the time to consider which road they are traveling to eternity.  I have a responsibility to warn those who are in peril on the broad way. Just yesterday I received an email from a wonderful believer, Mike Gendron (from Proclaiming the Gospel Ministries), who showed clearly via Scripture the contrasts between the narrow way and the broad way and how one gets to be on either the narrow or broad way. I share it with you:

NARROW WAY	BROAD WAY
Guided by pure truth (1 John 2:21)	Truth mixed with error (Galatians 1:6-7)
Directed by the infallible Word of God (2 Tim 3:16)	Fallible traditions of men (Mark 7:7-8)
Follows Jesus, the True Shepherd (Jn 10:3 & 14:6)	Follows anyone else (Matthew 7:15)
By grace and totally undeserved (Ephesians 2:8-9)	Trying to merit God’s favour (Titus 35)
Entered by repenting & believing the Gospel (Mk 1:15)	Rituals and self-righteousness (Romans 10:3)
By divine accomplishment (Hebrews 7:25)	By human achievement (Luke 18:9)
Traveled by the humble who know they deserve hell (Ephesians 2:1-5)	Traveled by those who are proud and think they deserve heaven (Luke 18:11-14)
This group will arrive expectantly because of God’s promises (1 John 5:13)	This group will be tragically surprised at the outcome (1 John 5:10-12 & Matthew 7:21-23)

 

What road are you travelling?

Are you on the way to eternal life?
“I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life”
(1 John 5:13)

Or are you on the broad way – the road that will lead to eternal separation from God and punishment?
“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.” (1 John 5:12)
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23)
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom 6:23)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. (John 3:16)

CHOOSE THE NARROW WAY – FOLLOW JESUS- THE REWARDS ARE OUT OF THIS WORLD & ETERNAL!

Should Christians be celebrating Halloween?

The question comes up every year … “Should Christians be celebrating Halloween?”

Frankly, I am concerned – very concerned – that such a question even needs to be asked!   There are no grey areas when it comes to this “event”.   It is an utterly pagan and satanic practice.   Therefore, a Christian, the person who has come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and Lord, should have NOTHING to do with it.  It cannot be dressed up as something innocent or fun.   It is evil to the core!

Halloween is decidedly a satanic celebration, established to worship evil spirits and promote darkness and wickedness.  Halloween has Celtic origins and has to do with observing the end of summer with sacrifices to gods in Druidic tradition. It was the beginning of the Celtic year, and the belief was that Samhain, the lord of death, sent evil spirits to attack humans, who could only escape by assuming disguises and looking like evil spirits themselves. In fact, most of the Halloween practices we see today can be traced back to these old pagan rites and superstitions. Nothing good or innocent about it at all!

God’s Word, the Bible makes it abundantly clear that He does not tolerate any form of witchcraft and occult practices.  Deuteronomy 18:9-13 puts it very clearly: “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there.For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you. But you must be blameless before the Lord your God.” 
1 Thessalonians 5:22 says: “Stay away from every kind of evil”.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18:  “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and the devil? How can a believer be a partner with an unbeliever? And what union can there be between God’s temple and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God said: “I will live in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore, come out from among them, and separate yourselves from them, says the LORD.  Don’t touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.”

Are you still saying its okay to join the Halloween celebrations?

God’s Word says “No” – “… if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”(1 John 1:7)

For further study on this subject, here are a few (of many references) readings:
Galatians 5:19-21
Titus 1:15
Ephesians 6:12
Acts 8:9-24

 

Day Ashton

 

Feeling uncertain and insecure?

We are living in times where the road we travel is getting more and more rocky and dangerous and one can feel insecure.   So much change … not for the better – but for the worse!

The world wants to squeeze you into its godless mold and the Christian walk is becoming very hard and perilous.  We shouldn’t be surprised.  The Bible tells us that in the last days perilous times will come (very difficult times). “For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly“. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

No one can be blamed for feeling they’ve “had enough” of this world and feeling they want “out of here”!

It is not easy to live for the Lord in these days.   However, we can be assured of His faithfulness at all times!

If we have put our trust in Jesus and asked Him to be our Saviour, to come into our heart and are committed to living our lives for Jesus and to His glory, we can know that He who began a good work in you, will continue His work in you until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns (Philippians 1:6)

Remember, “you were bought with a high price”, by the precious blood of Jesus shed for you on the cross of Calvary. In fact, “Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes” (1 Corinthians 6:20 & Ephesians 1:4).  The Lord has engraved your name on the palms of His nail-scarred hands.

So, don’t be tempted to think that God has forgotten about you or that He is not seeing what you are going through.   He has not and He never will.   “I will never leave you nor forsake you”  Deuteronomy 31:6 puts it so clearly: “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

What does the BIBLE teach about Israel and the Jews?

by Amir Tsarfati (from a Behold Israel Bible bites’ Devotional)

In an age where Replacement Theology (that the church has replaced Israel) is dominant in the church and antisemitism is growing in the the world, just as the Bible said it would, Jesus gives us a very timely reminder through the dividing of the sheep from the goats.

Genesis 17:7

“And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.”

The reminder for us today is that everlasting means everlasting. God has established a covenant with the descendants of Abraham through Isaac and Jacob that stands yet to this day. This covenant includes what the Lord first said to Abram when he called him out of the land he was dwelling in, to a land occupied by the Canaanites that would become the “everlasting possession” of the Jewish people. (Genesis 17:8)

Genesis 12:3

“I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Since this was true in Genesis and the dividing of the sheep and goats takes place at the end of the tribulation, this means from inception to final fruition. Therefore the blessings and cursing associated with the treatment of the Jews is true today.

Some would say there are many familiar names who held or hold to Replacement Theology. May I remind you that the One who bears the name above all names is the one speaking in the Olivet Discourse and He says that the treatment of the Jews by the Gentiles during the 70th week of Daniel will reveal what was truly in their hearts. The sheep will care for and love on the Jews while the goats will be indifferent to their plight. Joel 3:1-3 makes the point for us;
“For behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land. They have cast lots for My people, Have given a boy as payment for a harlot, And sold a girl for wine, that they may drink.”

“At that time” indicates a future event to Joel which is now history to us. This is the regathering of the Jews into the land given to them by the covenant. The consequences of cursing Israel is also underscored by what Jesus said as He concluded his comments concerning the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:41-46 – “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’ “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Understand this does not mean that Gentiles will be saved by their “good works” toward the Jews during the tribulation, it does mean that Gentiles who are born again (made righteous) during the tribulation are going to understand the Jews are the chosen people of God and He is finishing His discipline of His chosen people, and through that, opening their eyes to “look upon the One whom they pierced” and will realize the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is the one whom Pilate called, The King of the Jews!

The 4 Progressive Steps to Apostasy

Written by Mike Gendron – Intro by Day Ashton

Jesus Himself warns us a number of times, “Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you“(Matt 24:4) and in Mark 13:5-6 “Jesus began to say to them, “Be careful and see to it that no one misleads you.  Many will come in My name [misusing My name or claiming to be the Messiah], saying, ‘I am He!’ and will deceive and mislead many”.  This deception is happening before our very eyes both within the church and secular society as a whole.  This excellent article by Mike Gendron shows clearly the deception in the church and the downward spiral to apostasy.  This is  a must-read …

 

​​Throughout the 2000 year history of the Church, we have seen a continual departure of people and churches from the faith of the apostles. As incredibly tragic as this has been, it should not surprise us because Paul warned: “The Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Tim. 4:1).  Shortly after our Lord began building His Church, the apostle John records one of the first occurrences of apostasy. “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us” (1 John 2:19).  Since then, many other professing Christians, churches, denominations, and seminaries, who once upheld the truth and authority of God’s Word, have drifted into apostasy. One of the interesting characteristics of apostasy is that it does not happen overnight. It actually develops over a period of time th
rough a process that can be categorized into four steps.

First Step into Apostasy

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God’s Word is neglected as the
supreme authority for faith and practice.

• Man’s words and wisdom become as important as God’s Word.
• Traditions and movements of men cause confusion and divided loyalties.
• People start following “Christian” personalities instead of the Word of God.
• Pastors discard the Lord’s blue print for building His church and create their own strategy.
• Pastors win the approval of men for the size of their church, rather than their faithfulness and fidelity to God’s Word.
• The power of the Gospel is weakened by compromise and made more inclusive to gain a larger following.
• Biblical evangelism is replaced by man’s methods of conversion.
• Churches give people what they want instead of what they need.
• The pursuit of sanctification is neglected.
• Biblical warnings to expose false teachers are ignored. A little leaven in the form of heresy is allowed to circulate.
• Contenders for the faith are labeled as divisive and intolerant.
• Women are allowed to teach men.

Second Step into Apostasy

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Scripture is twisted and distorted for self-serving agendas.

• Truth becomes subjective and relative.
• Doctrinal error and sin are tolerated by pastors who neglect their responsibility to protect the sheep.
• Satan sows his tares with little resistance.
• Pastors become more determined to build their own church rather than the Lord’s church.
• The Gospel becomes more inclusive to attract more people.
• Expository preaching is replaced by topical messages.
• Biblical ignorance in the pew provides fertile ground for false teachers to prosper.
• Trials and persecution expose dead and spurious faith.
• The exhortation to contend earnestly for the faith is ignored.
• People honor God with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him.
• “Infallible” men claim to be successors of the apostles and are embraced as brothers-in-Christ.
• Ungodly men creep in and turn the grace of our God into licentiousness.
• Contenders for the faith are asked to leave.

Third Step into Apostasy

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Entertainment, idolatry, liturgy and rituals have
replaced the Lord Jesus from the central focus of worship.

• Pastors are more interested in entertaining the goats than feeding the sheep.
• Ear-tickling messages give people what they want instead of what they need.
• Sound doctrine and truth is suppressed for the sake of ecumenical unity.
• Hearts become hardened and love for God grows cold.
• Doctrinal error flourishes and is embraced with stubborn pride.
• There is no love for the truth and no discernment.
• People stand for nothing and fall for everything.
• A form of godliness exists, but it’s void of power.
• Idolatry is practiced and encouraged.
• Sin and immoral lifestyles are tolerated.
• Women are ordained as pastors.

Fourth Step into Apostasy

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Teaching is heavily influenced by doctrines of demons.
Jesus has been removed from the church. Deception is full-blown.

• Lying signs and wonders, including apparitions, are embraced as messages from God or Mary.
• Idolatry and prayers to the dead are encouraged.
• Those who proclaim the Gospel truth are condemned with anathema or put to death.

• Grace is turned into a license to sin.
• There is no longer any evidence of the fruit of the Spirit.
• God’s grace and forgiveness are sold for a price.
• The church’s lamp stand has been removed, and a certain terrifying judgment is now unavoidable.

Are you in a church or denomination drifting into apostasy?

Perhaps you are in a church or denomination that is drifting into apostasy. Will Jesus Christ use you to contend earnestly for the faith and protect the sanctity of His Church? In these last days of growing apostasy and deception, we all need to heed the warning of Peter and encourage others to do the same: “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position” (2 Peter 3:17). Will you defend the glory and honor of our great God and Saviour and protect the purity of His Gospel?

May God’s Word exhort and encourage us to fight the good fight of faith!

(Article used with permission)

If you have questions about this topic or anything related, please do not hesitate to contact Mike Gendron(1) via his website, Proclaiming the Gospel

or

contact me, Day Ashton, at indefenceofthefaith77@gmail.com

 

(1)Mike Gendron – For over 34 years, Evangelist Mike Gendron was a devout Roman Catholic and a strong defender of the “one true church.” He was taught from a very early age, to trust and rely on the church, its priests, the sacraments and his own good works for salvation. However in 1981 while attending an evangelical seminar, he realized the Bible is the supreme authority for knowing truth.  Find out much more about Mike and his tremendous ministry to the honour of His Saviour, at his website, PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL

 

It’s not a matter of luck!

This is a quote I saw this morning in an email I received …

“Life is fragile: Yet it is relative. It thrives only in a narrow range of temperatures between freezing and boiling. How lucky that our planet is just the right distance from the sun: a little farther, and the death of the perpetual Antarctic winter – or worse – would prevail; a little closer, and the surface would truly fry anything that touched it.”

Immediately it came to my mind that it’s not a matter of “luck” that our planet is just the right distance from the sun.  Oh no, absolutely not.

Genesis 1:1 tells us: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” There was Someone who set it all up; Someone who created this amazing planet and universe of ours. And this Someone who created the heavens and the earth is Jesus … “In the beginning the Word (Jesus) already existed. The Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through Him, and nothing was created except through Him. The Word (Jesus) gave life to everything that was created, and His life brought light to everyone”. (John 1:1-4)

I always find it ludicrous to think that highly educated and scientific folk can believe a lie which is being perpetuated day after day and fed to generation after generation.  Put in realistic terms, they believe and teach that “first there was nothing, then it blew up and then nothing became everything gradually and without direction” (that is simply what the big bang and evolutionary theory is in reality and certainly it is ridiculous to its very core – but don’t get me started!).

No, we serve an awesome and powerful God.   “For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:16-17)

Yesterday I posted a quote I’d recently read which said: “You’re not man-made, so you can’t be man changed”.  God created man in His own image.  He created us for His glory.  Unfortunately, the evil one caused those God had created to sin and thus the relationship with God was broken.  BUT GOD … He knew this would happen and He already had a plan in place to bring us back into a perfect relationship with Himself.   Jesus … He died in our place. He took the punishment of OUR sin on HIM (who knew no sin) at Calvary.  If we are willing to repent of our sin and put our trust in Him, He will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness and restore fellowship with God.   AND … when we come into a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, HE makes ALL THINGS NEW.   The New Living Translation puts it like this: “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Cor 5:17)   I love the way the Amplified Bible puts this verse … so very clear: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Saviour], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life].”

John W Peterson (1921 – 2006) was a marvellous songwriter in the 50-70s. He wrote a beautiful song that sums up what I’ve been talking about.   In fact, how he came to write it was wonderful in and of itself.   He had been an air-force pilot and often flew over rugged mountains, etc.  One day as he flew and observed the rugged terrain below and the glories of the heavens above, he was overwhelmed by the power of our Creator and the glory of His creation in general. Then the thought gripped him, that the same God who created this universe with its never-ending wonders was the God who loved him and sent His only begotten Son to take his place on the cross. John Peterson then said: “I was quite overwhelmed as I began to think of these two aspects of God’s power and love; and suddenly, the words of a new song began to form in my heart. Within a very short time, I was sketching the words and melody of a new song.”   It took a miracle …

My Father is omnipotent,
And that you can’t deny;
A God of might and miracles-
‘Tis written in the sky.

CHORUS:
It took a miracle to put the stars in place,
It took a miracle to hang the world in space;
But when He saved my soul,
Cleansed and made me whole,
It took a miracle of love and grace!

Though here His glory has been shown,
We still can’t fully see
The wonders of His might, His throne-
‘Twill take eternity.

The Bible tells us of His power
And wisdom all way through,
And every little bird and flower
Are testimonies too.

 

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