Business As Usual...

There is nothing sacred anymore...

The message offered today was a shipwreck; such a disappointment!

"If you are flipping burgers at 18- okay;
if you're still flippin' at 42, you should own the place"?

So, would you say that to Moses? He was sheep-herding at 42 and didn't get going till 80...

Or, how about Caleb?! He was well into his 80's when he finally received his, and he still had to whip giants to get it.

"I didn't come with the discernment chip..."

Okay,

"But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil." - Hebrews 5:14

I was waiting all week to hear today's message...

... then I found out there was a guest speaker...

I should have just turned him off...

It's a real shame when you get more good out of a secular TV show than you do from what's supposed to be "church".

 - -

Names

Seventh Day Adventists are true to their name because they do something on the seventh day.


That would make all the others "Sixth Day Non-Events"; nothing happens, but they keep getting together on the sixth day of every week.

"Non-Denominational" is a terrible name because the name means that they have no value, class, or designation.

Catholics seem true to their name because they are broad minded and liberal.

I guess that's why I don't fit in with "church people"; I don't fit into the categories.

U.S.S. Thyatira

Captain: Status report!

First Mate: Jezebel has walked the plank. All of her followers were slain by the sword.

Captain: Very good! Schedule report!

First Mate: At our present heading and speed we will arrive at Heaven right on time.

Captain: Very good! Steady as she goes... 

First Mate: Aye, Captain! Steady as she goes...


"Nevertheless what you have, hold fast until I come." Revelation 2:25 NASB


(Read Revelation 2:18-29)


 - -

Apostles, Prophets, and Revelations, Oh My!

I was a little bummed because I just haven't seen the power of God in church.

I think my post on "church pizza" was spot on.

Then, I got to working on a few pages on my website yesterday. There were some links that needed to go, some new ones to be added, but then there were a few links in particular that I hadn't even fully investigated myself.

The one in particular led to a page titled "Are There Modern Day Apostles and New Testament Prophets Today? by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D."

When you get done reading my post here, you need to click through on that link and read that article.

Apostles and prophets? 

Prophecy, now I've been giving that a lot of thought lately. Back in May when things started happening, I noticed the prophecy. God was laying things on my heart and mind so I spoke them. But then, those things started happening. That caught me by surprise and was quite humbling. For some reason I thought prophecy was a strange thing for ME to do, after all, God called me to be a "missionary" and to cast out devils.

It goes back to revelation. God will reveal Himself and His plans to those who seek diligently after Him.

Why should we think that the occurrences of John and Paul were so unique?

John was just a young man when he started out. He didn't know anything, but he really loved Jesus.

Paul was a devout and zealous murderer; a christian killer to be exact.

Why were they so special?

God CHOSE them.

Has God chosen you? If you have any doubts, do a New Testament search for the word "chosen".

God reveals Himself... God's Kingdom has Power... apostles and prophets...

So, last night, I was just bummed. I didn't even want to go to church (Oops! Did I type that out loud?). My wife wanted to go so I "went with her".

We got there, and they didn't have a song leader so they commissioned my wife. It appeared they didn't have a speaker so I was asked (and I almost didn't go!).

As it turned out, they did have a speaker. Interestingly enough though, the scriptures I would have given if I spoke, were covered by somebody else via testimony; I made note of that.

As the speaker brought his teaching on "offenses" (interesting, considering the past month's events!), something he said grabbed me. He had something specific he was going to give me. At the end, he asked me to come up, and he prayed a specific (God-led) blessing over me. I gladly received that!

After the service I got to talking to the fellow that testified. It took a little while, but I realized he WAS A PROPHET!

OH MY!

He didn't go by a specific title of "Prophet So-And-So", but he was the real deal.

At the end of our long conversation he said, "We'll have to go to the hospital together."

What?! I have been thinking all week about the guy who was SUPPOSED TO GO to the hospital with me to minister, but never did (that was last year).

So here's this guy, didn't know him before this conversation, and, OH MY!

So where's the power? He's got it.

So where are the prophets? He is one.

So who has God revealed Himself to lately? He can tell you and so could the speaker.

So when are you going to release me to go minister in the hospital, God? Very soon.

I think the last thing he said got to me even more - when God calls you to do something, He just rolls it out and IT'S DONE!

Oh, ya.  

"for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."  Philippians 2:13 "NASB)

It's God's work. He's doing it. He will see it through.

What a night...

--

You'll Have to Teach Them, part 1

The angels stand by, all with large golden bowls filled with oil. They line the walls of the church sanctuary. They wait for the people to start worshiping God.

They wait, and wait, and wait...

I ask myself, "why won't they worship God?"

God says, "You'll have to teach them."

"Who, me?!" I ask. "I barely know how to worship You myself."

"Teach them to worship Me"...

...then there's Mattie-

Ya, then check this out- the power goes out to the equipment, and they only have one guitar. Worship breaks out, the Holy Ghost starts blessing (check out the laying on of hands on the kid in the front row)...

Remember, this group is For Today. They are a Christian metalcore group. Kids are getting a fresh fill of the Holy Ghost at a Christian Metalcore concert, 

but how was church today?

I think I'm fixin' to get a tatoo and learn how to play guitar or something...

--

Church or Pizza?

I was watching a vid I like

I got to clickin' around and found some other vids by them. 

In the comments, someone said "they sound like For Today."

So, who is For Today?

Oh!

 

You have got to get a load of this guy... Mattie Montgomery . He's the lead singer.

"For years, Mattie Montgomery and his wife Candice have spearheaded an evangelistic ministry that has seen tens-of-thousands of salvations..."

Tens of THOUSANDS of salvations?! This guy preaches AND sings in a metalcore band!

TENS OF THOUSANDS...

Now, for the past 4-1/2 years, I've seen what does NOT work first hand. 

I've gone to churches, churches that shrank instead of growing.

I've heard preaching ABOUT things, but never saw them first hand.

I heard about things that HAVE happened or USED TO happen.

I even saw GOD deliver a beautiful miracle one night, then the church threw dirt on top of it and swept it under the rug!

The church TALKS about a God that heals,

about a God that delivers,

about a God that saves,

a God that has power,

but let me tell you something-

TALK IS CHEAP!

Show me the goods baby!

You can tell me how good a pizza is.

You can show me pictures.

You can show me movies.

You can even tell me how many you've had and just how great they really are.

But, 

that isn't enough.

Go get me one and take me from being a "believer" and CONVINCE me!

I dare you!

I double dare you!

I double dog dare you!

--

Back Up One Verse, Hebrews 10:24

I'm still hung up on this verse - 

-And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  (Hebrews 10:24 KJV)

-And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities,  (Hebrews 10:24 AMP)

-and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,  (Hebrews 10:24 NASB)
-And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,  (Hebrews 10:24 ESV)
-Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  (Hebrews 10:24 NLT)

Is this happening in the church?

Am I doing it?

Is it happening outside of the church?

Am I doing it?

Our Pastor brought a great message last night. His text was John 12:19-28. 

From vs 28 he said, 

"I want to glorify the Father"
"Are you willing?"

Yah, that's what I'm talking about.

Then he went on to say, "When was the last time you saw somebody saved IN church?
How about outside ?"

Has he been reading my notes?!

It's doubtful... but that's the mindset. It's good when brothers agree...

Souls won for the Kingdom, then discipleship so they will not only stay the course, but start winning souls themselves...

Today is April 14. No souls saved this year. No one baptized in the Holy Spirit.

I have witnessed some devils being cast out, but...

I just can't help but go to the Book of Revelation [the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John]. I'm trying to find that "model" church, but is/was there one? I mean, seriously now, look what Jesus said about these and pay attention to the bold text-

Revelation 2:1-29 NLT  "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven gold lampstands:  (2)  "I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars.  (3)  You have patiently suffered for Me without quitting.  (4)  "But I have this complaint against you. You don't love Me or each other as you did at first!  (5)  Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to Me and do the works you did at first. If you don't repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.  (6)  But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.  (7)  "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.  
(8)  "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Smyrna. This is the message from the One who is the First and the Last, who was dead but is now alive:  (9)  "I know about your suffering and your poverty--but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan.  (10)  Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.  (11)  "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.  
(12)  "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Pergamum. This is the message from the One with the sharp two-edged sword:  (13)  "I know that you live in the city where Satan has his throne, yet you have remained loyal to Me. You refused to deny Me even when Antipas, My faithful witness, was martyred among you there in Satan's city.  (14)  "But I have a few complaints against you. You tolerate some among you whose teaching is like that of Balaam, who showed Balak how to trip up the people of Israel. He taught them to sin by eating food offered to idols and by committing sexual sin.  (15)  In a similar way, you have some Nicolaitans among you who follow the same teaching.  (16)  Repent of your sin, or I will come to you suddenly and fight against them with the sword of My mouth.  (17)  "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give some of the manna that has been hidden away in heaven. And I will give to each one a white stone, and on the stone will be engraved a new name that no one understands except the one who receives it.  
(18)  "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze:  (19)  "I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things.  (20)  "But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman--that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet--to lead My servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols.  (21)  I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality.  (22)  "Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds.  (23)  I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the One who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve.  (24)  "But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching ('deeper truths,' as they call them--depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you  (25)  except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come.  (26)  To all who are victorious, who obey Me to the very end, To them I will give authority over all the nations.  (27)  They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.  (28)  They will have the same authority I received from My Father, and I will also give them the morning star!  (29)  "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.
Revelation 3:1-22 NLT  "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the One who has the sevenfold Spirit of God and the seven stars: "I know all the things you do, and that you have a reputation for being alive--but you are dead.  (2)  Wake up! Strengthen what little remains, for even what is left is almost dead. I find that your actions do not meet the requirements of My God.  (3)   Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to Me again. If you don't wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.  (4)  "Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.  (5)  All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before My Father and His angels that they are Mine.  (6)  "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.  
(7)  "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the One who is holy and true, the One who has the key of David. What He opens, no one can close; and what He closes, no one can open:  (8)  "I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed My word and did not deny Me.  (9)  Look, I will force those who belong to Satan's synagogue--those liars who say they are Jews but are not--to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.  (10)  "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.  (11)  I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown.  (12)  All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of My God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of My God, and they will be citizens in the city of My God--the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from My God. And I will also write on them My new name.  (13)  "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.  
(14)  "Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the One who is the Amen--the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's new creation:  (15)  "I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other!  (16)  But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth!  (17)  You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.  (18)  So I advise you to buy gold from Me--gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from Me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see.  (19)  I correct and discipline everyone I love. So be diligent and turn from your indifference.  (20)  "Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.  (21)  Those who are victorious will sit with Me on My throne, just as I was victorious and sat with My Father on His throne.  (22)  "Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches."

2:8 Smyrna? Is that the "model" church? Poverty stricken, imprisoned, persecuted, and the assault was from the local first satanic church?

3:7 Philadelphia? We can hope that we are like this, but I think it would take great efforts and much work to attain the "little strength" (3:8) that they have.

I think we are more like Sardis; WAKE UP! (3:2)

So, where do we come from, where are we at, and where are we going? Sounds like it is time to read Ecclesiastes again...

 - - 

Hebrews 10:25 Continued

Please don't freak out on me here.

I know in my previous post some are going to say, "Duane said I don't have to go to church."

That's not what I'm saying.

If we say we are a Christian BECAUSE we go to church, that is wrong.

Taking it a step further, SITTING in church does not make you a Christian.

How so?

Back up one verse in chapter 10 of Hebrews, 

"and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds,"

Stimulate one another to good deeds.

Stimulate?  http://bible.us/Rev2.13.NLT

Build up? http://bible.us/1Thess5.11.NLT

Warn? http://bible.us/Heb3.13.NLT

To urge? http://bible.us/Jude1.3.NLT

Keep reading - http://bible.us/Jude1.4.NLT

See, we are supposed TO DO SOMETHING, not just sit there.

Back to Hebrews 10. This is why this is so important - 

"Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. " (Hebrews 10:26 NLT)

I think Tony Nolan said on Twitter one day, "Not on my watch!"

The very person you sit beside in church is hearing the same thing you are. If they continue in their sins, they have NO EXCUSE in God's eyes!!!

Does that bother you?

I'm tired of church as usual!

I want people saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost!

Christ came to give me life ABUNDANTLY! He didn't pour it on the pew cushions so I could sit in it.

Weren't we saved to a "lively" hope?

Stir up that Gift that is in you.

 - -

So, Where Does It Say in the Bible...

....so where does it say in the Bible that you have to go to church?

Don't neglect the meeting http://bible.us/Heb10.25.NLT

That's what i thought you would say.

God told me to go back a few verses and read. Look at verse 11 http://bible.us/Heb10.11.NLT

The "same old same old" gets the same old results. 

So, if we go to church because we think we "have to" (legalism), but keep doing the same old thing we always do, how can we possibly think that something different is going to happen?

Yes, there is a "gift of miracles" http://bible.us/1Cor12.10.NLT , but it is not operating. It's not God's fault that we don't see miracles. It would be a real miracle indeed if...

God did NOT call me to sit in a pew at the appointed times only, and that be the sustenance and gist of my service to God. The Bible says GO! http://bible.us/Mark16.15.NLT

GO! 

Hear the Word, DO the Word http://bible.us/Jas1.22.NLT 

or you are just kidding yourself.

I just so desperately want to see people get saved!

It's time for something different!

 - -

Post Flood Blues and Reflections

Hmm, today was not so good.

Aside from the post-flood blues,
(and I'm not talking about Noah either; I had 5+ feet of moving water in my back yard and I do NOT live on lake or riverfront property)
I'm wondering if it's time to step out.

So many months ago, God called me a "missionary to Greeneville". Since then, I've got little to show for it.

My call is not as a preacher or a teacher, at least not in the church, or at least not yet. You know, a missionary - Go into all the world... http://bible.us/Mark16.15.NLT

"Church people" are not in my scope of responsibility. I've got to get into the community, somehow...

So while I was mowing grass today in my swamp of a backyard, I got an idea. All the "church people" should be in "church" Sunday morning, right? So all of the non-church people will be in their homes, right?

Would that not be the best time to go into the community and start visiting? I mean all the church people will be gone so my target visitees will be uncluttered.

Ya, I know; everybody says you're supposed to be in church, and that includes me. Right?

So where does it say in the Bible that you have to go to church?

Don't neglect the meeting http://bible.us/Heb10.25.NLT

That's what i thought you would say.

to be continued...

 - -