Archive for the ‘pentecostal’ Category
Posted by appolus on April 10, 2015
Psa 27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
In another translation is says ” I would have despaired…….” Can you say that this is your strength? As the deer panteth for the waterbrooks does your soul longeth for and rely upon the very presence of God in the here and the now and in the midst of your current situation? This is the strength of the saint who dwells in the wilderness. Gods remnant child in these last days draws his or her strength from the glory and the goodness and the presence of God. He is our strength in times of testing. David declares that the Lord is his light and salvation, and therefore whom shall he fear?
In these last days brothers and sisters, when the darkness presses in, when on every side we are surrounded by wickedness and sin, when church after church slides away into apostacy or into the deadness of their vain traditions, our hearts shall not fear! No, for we who seek to dwell in the presence of the Lord, we who can enquire of Him before His throne night and day and gaze upon the beauty of His holiness, we shall not be afraid. For in the latter days of our troubles His very presence shall be our hiding place. This place shall be our high tower, we shall run into it and be safe. Joy and gladness and praises shall be as a never-ending fountain in our heart, a wellspring of peace and contentment found before His throne yes, but also in the presence of our enemies. Goodness and mercy shall follow us as the day follows the night. The sun rises on every day and mercy and grace are born anew at the breaking of every dawn in the hearts of those who diligently seek His face.
Behold He comes brothers and sisters, He seeks, He knocks upon the door. He stands behind our wall, He is looking through our window and gazes through the lattice of our souls. He calls gently to us in a still small voice. Shall we be away with Him? Shall we find some reason to ignore this calling unto Himself? The Bridegroom comes and He is calling His own. Will you rise now and cry aloud in the city streets ” I seek the one that I love?” Can you with all boldness and complete disregard for your own humility seek Him where He can be found? Will you leave the safety of what you have always known to seek Him in a place where you have never been? The old song says ” Though none go with me, still I will follow.” Beautiful words and sentiment, but will you? Will you still follow? Will you flee into the darkness of the night that is haunted with the shadows of ancient traditions? Will you unashamedly say to those whom you meet in these places ” I seek the one that I love?” If He cannot be found where you are brothers and sisters, then flee into His presence. ” When I found the one that I love I held Him and would not let Him go.” (Song of Solomon 3:4)
Yes brothers and sisters, the saints that have found the one that they love will not let Him go. No created force will ever compel them too. Not the fires of hell nor the condemnations of men. They will cling to that old rugged cross, they will revel in the beauty of His Holiness, they will sing His praises in the deepest dungeon in the midnight hour because of the glorious love that they have encountered in the arms of their Savior. A love so deep and so enduring is a hell shaking love. In the fires of this love we are more than conquerors. We have been consumed by a passion so fierce that it will defy even the powers of hell as we stand before the throne of grace. Come Lord Jesus come. Your Bride awaits and has forsaken everything for your namesake and for the burning love of our hearts that has taken us so completely. We shall be stripped bare and humiliated before men in an effort by hell to rob us of our witness but there is no force in all the Kingdom of darkness that can take us from your hand. You were stripped and humiliated for us and you endured it all for the joy and the glory set before you. We shall find our strength in your arms in that moment we shall overcome just as you overcame. All glory to God in the highest and peace to His saints, my brothers and sisters on earth.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, prophecy, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | Tagged: presence of god | 10 Comments »
Posted by appolus on April 8, 2015
Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. (Heb 13:12-14)
You see brothers and sisters, here we have no continuing city, we are pilgrims and sojourners. The foundations that we lay down in any one place are at best temporary. There was a fearful judgement to come upon Jerusalem and the temple system. There was also a prophecy given, apparently around 66ad shortly after James was killed, that urged the saints to flee Jerusalem to a place called Pella. Not to stand and fight and try to preserve that which was under judgement, but to flee. When you are within a walled city, it is very tempting to stay there and hide behind the protection that it affords. Yet, if you are told to flee then flee you must or suffer the consequences of the coming judgement.
Now we know that judgement begins at the house of the Lord. Judgment is coming to Christendom in the form of persecution. For those with eyes to see, they can already see the vandals scaling the walls and entering in. The pillars of truth are being torn down. The traditions of men are being demolished and overturned and before it is over, not one tradition will be left standing. Those who stay within the gates of Christendom will fall away into perdition. Brothers and sisters, if you live beside the sea and I warn you of a tsunami, then what would you do? Would you not drop everything, everything that you owned, all of your worldly goods, grab your children under your arms and head for higher ground?
The time has come for every saint to head for higher ground. It will not be found within the walls or behind the gates, it will be found out there where the only protection that you will find is in the arms of the Lord your God. Nostalgia for the traditions of men will not save you, your ancient traditions good or bad will not save you, you will only be saved in Christ alone. When God Himself has set out to tear everything down that is mixed with the world, then let us flee from that mixture. When you find your identity it totally wrapped up in Him. When He alone is your high tower, then you will find your place with others who likewise have found their identity in Him alone. You will not find this place within structures that have compromised with the world. In the coming years, every institution will be tested and will either compromise with the world or will be shut down. So many have already made the choice. Many more will. It is and will be the great exposer of the intent and motivations of the hearts of so-called leaders. The great majority will prove to be hirelings.
For those who find the Lord outside the camp, they will indeed bear the reproach of the Lord Jesus. Just remember, they hated our Lord first and they will hate us too. In not belonging to their clubs and institutions, conviction is brought to bear upon their heads. Coals of fire burning into the very essence of who they are and with that an ever-increasing hatred and persecution for the pilgrim saints who only claim Him and Him alone as their Lord. In the very same chapter of Hebrews 13 quoted above we are admonished to be content with what we have and know that He will never leave us nor forsake us. We are reminded to be bold in the fact that the Lord alone is our helper and we shall not fear what man shall do to us. The Lord Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, prophecy, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: Christendom, persecution, walled city | 8 Comments »
Posted by appolus on April 7, 2015
To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
(Luk 1:77-79)
The world is a dark place. It always has been. If you dwell in the world there are various degrees of darkness and shades of grey. Various degrees of sin and pain and tragedy that adds to the existing darkness. Most folks are one great tragedy away from being totally consumed by darkness yet that may not be the worse condition. To live a life in shades of grey mistakenly considered to be light is perhaps the greatest tragedy of them all. There is a great light in which there dwells no darkness at all. This great light came down from the treasures of heaven to walk among the darkness of men. To lead them and to guide them away from the darkness of the sin that shapes them and keeps them from the light. To open up the eyes of the blind, blinded by the temptations and desires of this world whose dwelling place is in the darkness and the shades of grey. There is only eternal death dwelling in the shadows. One can be found in the depths of darkness or dwelling in the outer edges in the shades of grey, yet it is all the one kingdom. There is one kingdom of darkness and one Kingdom of light. Each kingdom has a king. You can only have one king. You cannot serve two kings. When you die, you dwell eternally with the king that you served here on earth.
The Lord has not abandoned us to the darkness, but came from the light of heaven and traveled to the very center of the kingdom of darkness and there confronted its king on our behalf. There He was abused, tortured and killed yet He overcame it all and conquered the power of the kingdom of darkness and took captivity captive. He triumphed and He has given light to those who dwell within the kingdom of darkness. He beckons all of them to follow Him and dwell within the Kingdom of light and of peace. He stands like an immovable lighthouse that lights the way for those caught up in the storm of darkness which is this world. Though the storm beats upon and ravages the lighthouse, it cannot be moved for it stands upon and is built on solid rock. Christian, you are that light. It is the very reason that you exist. May the light that dwells within you lead many up and out of the Kingdom of darkness into the marvelous light of the Kingdom of God where our God reigns.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 1 Comment »
Posted by appolus on April 6, 2015
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
By faith Abel was faithful and pronounced righteous. By faith Enoch pleased God and did not see death. By faith Noah became the heir of righteousness. By faith Abraham looked for a city not built by human hands and became the father of faith. By faith Sarah conceived a child into a dead womb. By faith Issac and Jacob and Joseph obeyed God. By faith Moses choose to enter into the sufferings of Jesus rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. By faith David and Samuel and Isaiah and Jeremiah and Gideon and countless others found favor in the eyes of the Lord. By faith Peter pronounced that Jesus was the Son of God. By faith Stephen glorified God as he was stoned to death. By faith the Apostles gladly died for Christ. By faith Polycarp refused to burn incense to the Roman emperor and was burned alive. By faith Wycliffe translated the scriptures. By faith John Huss stood upon the truth and was killed. By faith Dietrich Bonhoeffer incurred the wrath and hatred of Hitler and was hung by piano wire. By faith Jim Elliot did not defend himself and was speared to death for the cause of Christ.
Saints, I want you to see the wonderful beautiful thread right from the beginning of Gods people. They had one heart and one mind and one Spirit. They are all part of the Olive tree of God. This means the illuminated ones. They are not several groups as some teach today. There is one tree and one is either part of that tree or one is not. There is not Jewish believers and Gentile believers, there is only the people of faith. You can be cut out or be grafted in, or be grafted back in, but the tree remains constant. The roots and the foundations are Christ Himself , the Apostles and the Prophets through the Holy Spirit.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Gal 3:28-29)
What God has joined together, let no man try to separate. There is one glorious Church, there is not Jewish and Gentile believers, there is only believers who are a part of the Olive tree. This was the great mystery revealed to Paul by God, not from men, by God. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow-citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner-stone; (Eph 2:19-20)
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 1 Comment »
Posted by appolus on April 3, 2015
Christendom is in Flames!!!!
churchLambs to the Slaughter
Posted by appolus on August 11, 2012
Your world view, your view of your nation is going to determine your point of view. It will be the lens that you view events through and the filter through which you pray. What are the goals of your prayers for your nation? Do you seek to see it ” turned around?” What about your culture, do you want to see it saved or preserved? Your way of life, your goals and aspirations for yourself, your children and your grandchildren, are they dependent upon the state of the economy or the state of the culture or the state of the nation?
What if the message is , that your way of life, your culture, your country, everything that you hold dear is going to be dismantled and destroyed and become unrecognizable? How will you, how do you react to hearing such a thing? If the message or the word does not have a ” good,” ending could you still embrace it or would you reject it. Can you embrace a God that is judging and will continue to judge your culture and your nation? Can you embrace a God, that because of His judgments, you will be called to suffer greatly, suffer the loss of everything that you hold dear? And ultimately, can you embrace a God that would call you and your family to martyrdom? Obviously this could only be done in the Spirit and the flesh would rage against such thoughts.
Brothers and sisters, even now the fires burn all across Christendom. The vandals have entered the gates of the cities. These spirits have come to invade every heart and every mind and every church in the land. These are hordes that have poured forth from the bowels of hell, foul defiling hordes. Yet, they are only the pre-cursor for what is to come. Their job is to tear down everything that is called holy. Every part of society is to be torn down stone by stone. This is the spirit behind the forces who will turn wrong into right, who will turn day into night. Now brothers and sisters, we can see evidence of this all around us and we see the disintegration of society unfolding rapidly. The forces that align themselves against Christianity are gaining momentum. They are making a way for their own master to enter onto the world stage. How shall we react to such forces and events?
Many without eyes to see, struggle greatly against this incoming tide. As they see the loss of everything they know and hold dear they have a great desire to fight back. They want to fight against the immoral forces that are tearing down the culture that they love and have created. Fear rises up in them, panic even. That fear and that panic compels them into the arms of many would be leaders. Some cry out that we need a great revival, others cry out that we need Godly men in political leadership. Others even consider arming themselves for what as a coming cultural war.
Brothers and sisters, Christ is coming back and He is coming soon. This world is judged, this country is judged and Christendom is judged. And so now we must flee, flee from Babylon and into the arms of Jesus. Just like Lot we must prepare to leave the comforts of Sodom. Just like the exiles, we must prepare to leave the comforts of Babylon. Just like our early brothers and sisters, we must prepare to leave Jerusalem for there is a fierce judgement coming, the final judgement. All attachments to this world must be broken even as we continue to go into this world for needs must. These judgements that we are in the midst of, these birth pangs are just the beginning and they are from the hand of God. Shall we resist the hand of God?
Brothers and sisters we have been called as lambs to the slaughter. You must prepare for this eventuality. Prepare your hearts for slaughter. Resistance will not change the judgements to come. The arrogance of those who hate us will continue to rise. Shall we meet arrogance with arrogance? Shall we match their hatred and their violence, shall we render evil for evil? As our enemies gain ground they will become emboldened. They will have the world behind them and true and genuine Christianity will be pushed forward into the lime-light and all the world will hate us as we refuse to bow down to the gods of this world.
Yet brothers and sisters, be of good cheer for the Spirit of God will burn brighter in this generation than has ever been seen before. As the flood of darkness pours in, an incomprehensible darkness, then the light that is in us will shine brighter than ever before. The nobility of the Royal priesthood will be seen by all the world. Consider how one views diamonds in a Jewelers. The diamonds are set on black velvet so that the brilliance of the stones are illuminated against the blackness. As so it will be with the Lord’s own jewels. They will be seen against the backdrop of total darkness and they will shine and be seen like they have never shone or been seen before. The magnificent beauty of holiness will burn so brightly in the chests of every remnant child of God as they are led, all the day long, as lambs to the slaughter. And when their numbers are fulfilled, then shall come the King of Kings.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, prophecy, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 6 Comments »
Posted by appolus on April 3, 2015
At this time, when we remember the Lord’s death and resurrection it is a good time to remember that we are called to love those who hate us, and love those who are lost in such a stormy sea of sin and blindness. While they are yet in their sin Christ loves them and has died for them. Even as our Lord was mocked and ridiculed as he walked the Via Dolorosa by those He had ministered to, those He had healed and fed and taught, He loved them. He could find no sympathy even on the cross for still they mocked Him. They tempted Him to save Himself but still He hung there until the very end, giving up His Spirit to the Father with love for those who mocked and killed Him. He broke the chains of hell and death and sin and robbed the grave of any victory.
As goes the Lord then so to we as we walk that same tortured walk, hated and despised and rejected by those who once called us friends. They even tried to crown Him King but He knew their hearts, they had crowned a Saul before, they knew what they wanted and it was not a suffering servant. As we follow this very same path then we enter into His sufferings. His cross was His victory. His death was His conquest. His resurrection was his crowning glory. Who will follow Christ our Lord? Christendom may be in flames of destruction but there is a fire of glory that is burning in the hearts of the saints of God. A fire that courses through their veins. What the enemy will imagine is his greatest victory as the glorious Church is handed over to him, is actually his ultimate downfall. It is the culmination of the Body of Christ, to have followed their Lord and Savior to a willing sacrifice in order to be a witness to His Word.
And God says to Satan “have you considered by Church, my own precious Body in the flesh in which I dwell? This is my own workmanship and I have reconciled them to myself and they love me with a love that gladly and willingly counts all things as loss that they may be found in me as I am in them. This is my glorious Church in whom I am well pleased.” And the mouth of Satan was closed for all eternity, that old accuser of the brethren, openly shamed by their willingness to be forsake all for the burning passion of their lives. Job may have sat and bemoaned the day that he was born. Yet Paul, representing the new man, having God Himself residing within His heart, now in the depths of the dungeon, whipped to within an inch of his life and one who should have been in the depths of despair, glorifies God and begins to sing His praises in the midnight watch. Oh glorious victory over the flesh, see what power falls from heaven and shakes the very foundation and sets the captives free. We too brothers and sisters will soon shake the whole world as the power of God falls upon His glorious Church in the very depths of persecution.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 2 Comments »
Posted by appolus on April 2, 2015
Since the time of Jesus and the Apostles men have come and built their kingdoms amongst the saints. For years Paul warned night and day of the wolves to come. It is the obligation of the saints to be, first and foremost, established and grounded in Christ and in Christ alone. All of us, for the most part, tend to take the path of least resistance. It is much easier to serve a man than to serve God. It is much easier to dwell in a man-made kingdom than it is to serve and walk in the Kingdom of God. Those who truly walk in His Kingdom are first and foremost lovers of the truth, they have received this love as a gift from God in response to a heart that genuinely seeks first His Kingdom and His righteousness. And so those who have received this gift become the greatest thorn in the flesh of those who would build their own kingdoms and have their own power structures. In the last 2000 years we have seen this in every generation. Whether it was saints in the dark ages who absolutely rejected what was known as the Eucharist as being the actual body of Christ or in another generation infant baptism or Popes, or purgatory and on and on.
In every age there have been saints who are a witness to the truth that burns like a raging fire in their bones to the exclusion of everything else including their families, their communities, their worldly possessions and even their very lives. Praise God that He has always raised up witnesses for the truth. In the coming days we shall see a glorious generation raised up in the very heart of the most intense persecuting refining fire. The one silver thread that connects these saints down through the ages is that they would not, under any circumstances, bow down to the gods of this world, large or small. Being fearful of God rather than of men is the most liberating aspect of the genuine saints walk in the Lord.
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Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 3 Comments »
Posted by appolus on March 31, 2015
Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him. The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret. (Dan 2:46-47)
In this passage we can see that even the mightiest of Kings fell down on his face when he came face to face with the reality that God is the revealer of the secrets of mens hearts. Earlier in the chapter the wise men and magicians complained that there was no power on earth that could reveal the secrets of a man’s heart or his dreams or thoughts. When Jesus encounters the woman at the well He reveals the secrets of her heart. She is so utterly astonished that she rushes into town and publicly announces to everyone that she had encountered the Messiah and He had told her everything that she had ever done. They come, encounter Him and believe.
In 1 Corinthians 14:24:25 it says “But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.” The power of God brothers and sisters, just one aspect of the power of God in a living breathing entity called the Body of Christ. It demonstrates itself and it manifests itself in power, resurrection power. A life transformed and moving in the power of God touches the hearts of men. It changes them, it challenges them, it confronts them it penetrates deep into the hearts of men, it ” stabs men in the hearts.” In Acts chapter two men were so violently assaulted in their hearts by the Truth spoken by the power of God that they cried out to God ” what must we do.”
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Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, prophecy, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 6 Comments »
Posted by appolus on March 30, 2015
Brothers and sisters I believe the time is coming soon where the vast majority of genuine saints will not be able to stay within what I would call ” Christendom.” The pillars of truth are being assaulted in an ever-increasing fashion day by day. One challenge after another faces the organized church in an ever-changing world. One could argue that the world has always been changing and for sure on many levels this is true. Yet, fundamental absolute truths are being challenged in our day the likes of which we have never witnessed in the west before, never. Right is becoming wrong and day is becoming night.
If organizations of any stripes are to survive going forward, it will only be by compromise and capitulation. Now we do have a historical period that can give us some clues as to what a thoroughly compromised church looks like. In the 1930s in Nazi Germany we had the state church, the Lutheran church completely compromised by a country given over to national madness. One very honest German citizen said looking back at those days ” there was something in the air and we all breathed it in.” Can I suggest brothers and sisters that there is something in the air, in the very atmosphere and it is not limited to one nation or even one geographical location and the world is breathing it in.
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Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, prophecy, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: Confessing church, national church, underground church | 12 Comments »
Posted by appolus on March 30, 2015
His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak and to those who have no might He increases strength.(Isa 40:28)
Oh to rest in the unsearchable understanding of God. When the darkness presses in, when the trials of life are threatening to consume and we do not truly understand what is going on, there is a God who not only dwells in heaven but dwells within my beating heart. He knows, He knows and I can rest in that. There is a burden in knowing. I thank God that I do not know what is around the next corner. If I knew I would steel myself and the rigidity of that would break me. But in Him, I live and I move and I have my rest and my being. He is my sanity. He renews my mind and He takes the burdens of my heart. When I have no more love to give I drag myself to the well of glory and of life. If it were not for that eternal well of living water I would surely die and be consumed by the darkness that is never far away. Yet in Him, my Jesus, my Lord, my reconciler,my intercessor, the bearer of my burdens and the lover of my soul I live. I run when I should not even be able to crawl. Tomorrow I shall awaken the dawn and with everything that is in me I shall praise His name. He is the lifter of my soul and He lifted it from the miry clay to a high and lofty place. Lift up your eyes today brother, lift up your hands today sister. See the glory and begin to mount up high above the darkness.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Posted by appolus on March 29, 2015
I would like to take the readers of this book on a spiritual journey. It is my wish and earnest desire and prayer, that this story will glorify the Lord Jesus and bring comfort and hope to all who read it. Through poetry and stories I hope to touch the hearts of many, and bring comfort to all those who hurt, whether physically or spiritually. I have found through experience that our Lord Jesus will certainly lift up the head that hangs down, will bring hope to a hopeless situation. I come from a small working class shipbuilding town in Scotland. It is situated on the River Clyde and the area is extraordinarily beautiful. When the sun did shine, and I admit that was not too often, it would bask our valley in magnificent warmth and splendor. The hills rise dramatically on either side and are shadowed by the mountains behind. Most often the mountains would be shrouded in mist and one could see very little of anything. It gave a very claustrophobic feeling and I always remember feeling trapped.
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Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 4 Comments »
Posted by appolus on March 28, 2015
Mat 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Wow, can there be stronger words from Jesus to one of His disciples? How would you like to hear Jesus say that to you? It would be terrible. What is the context of this rebuke from Jesus? Jesus had just shared with the disciples how their declaration of Him as Lord was the foundation of the church, how whatever they loosed on earth would be loosed in heaven and whatever they bound on earth shall be bound in heaven. He tells them that they have the keys to the Kingdom of God. Excellent stuff, all positive and empowering, much like they would have felt when they were sent out by twos and welcomed everywhere and they healed and cast out demons.
Now Jesus explains to them the full dimension and cost of following the Father’s will here on earth. He must go to Jerusalem and be rejected by all men and suffer at the hands of these men. He would be tortured and then hung on a tree. At this, Peter rebukes Jesus. Think of that saints, a mere disciple rebukes Jesus the holy Son of the ever Living God! Peter is immediately rebuked in the harshest of terms. His rejection of future suffering for Jesus and for himself is evident. Jesus then makes it plain that if any man wants to follow him he must be willing to lose his life for Christ’s sake. He must be willing and expect to take up his cross and suffer. It is the heads and tail of the same coin. One faith equals ruling and reigning with Christ, walking in the power of the Kingdom of God triumphing over hell and darkness and doing it all in the midst of being rejected by those of this world and suffering and dying at their hands.
Saints, what is your attitude to suffering? Do you deny it and say ” God forbid?” Do you tell yourself that old lie that Christ suffered so that you do not have too? Is your goal in life to live your best life now? Is prospering in this world your main concern? Do you in fact mind the things of men and not the things of God? Can you worship and serve a God that has called you to enter into His sufferings? Those who are willing to enter into His sufferings are those who will rule and reign with Christ. Those who are unwilling to suffer and would rebuke anyone who would teach otherwise are counted unworthy of the Kingdom. Jesus goes on to say in the same breath that if you decide to avoid the sufferings that come from following Him and simply live in a fashion that produces your best life now then “what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” True joy and life is found in following the Lord wherever that narrow path takes us, whether through deep valleys of suffering or the high roads of victory. It turns out that they are one and the same road.
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Posted by appolus on March 27, 2015
Rom 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
Many times in my walk with the Lord I have forgotten this truth. Many times in the last twenty-five years I have come across brothers and sisters who have either never learned this or have forgotten it. If God so loved me as a sinner that He sent His Son to die for me and then I was reconciled to Him, how is it that I could ever think that some how I had blown it with Him? If Jesus died for me while I was yet in my sin, how much more does His eternal life in Heaven at the right hand of the Father, interceding for me, guarantee that He will never leave me nor forsake me and the He indeed is the author and the finisher of my faith. He died for my justification and He rose again victorious and reigns for my sanctification. This is the promise upon which I stand. He is the author and finisher of my faith. By His power I was saved and by His power I shall be sanctified, by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Maybe you are feeling very low today? Maybe you have fallen down and it seems like you shall not recover? Maybe you feel like you cannot be used by God, that you are not good enough, not Holy enough, not anointed enough, not gifted enough? Can I reassure you today that if you were saved by Jesus you shall be sanctified by Jesus, you shall be used by Jesus, you are a work in progress and the last chapter of your life is not written. All that the Lord requires from us is a broken and contrite spirit. If you live long enough you will know that life often breaks people. Yet right there, in the midst of your brokeness the Lord says ” Lift up your eyes, come to me, see where your help comes from.” Come to me in your brokenness and I will give you rest.
Too many people fall and then believe that they are not worthy enough to come to God. This is a lie from hell designed to keep your face in the mud. Jesus died for you and for your justification. He rose victoriously for you and reconciled you to your heavenly Father to whom you have access and can cry ” Abba.” God dwells with the lowly and the contrite, He is the healer of the broken. Do not make the mistake of falling and being broken but not coming to the Lord, this is the enemies desire. There is a world of brokenness which leads to despair, hopelessness and ruin. Do not let your brokenness lead you there, let it lead you to light and to life, the life of Christ and Him resurrected. Come unto Him today. He awaits.
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Posted by appolus on March 26, 2015
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.(Isa 57:15)
God is high and lifted up. He is glorious in His majesty. In the presence of God there is fulness of joy. In this place there is nothing impossible. Our minds are lit up by His mere presence, the manifest presence of God. To come up and into this place is to dwell with Him. This is where we are changed. This is where the attractions of this world and everything it has to offer loses all of its meaning. One moment in the manifest presence of God does more good than a lifetime of struggling against sin. For in this light we see the true darkness of our souls and we long to never again walk among the shadows. This life is but a shadow and this flesh is the vehicle that must be inhabited until that happy day when the mere moments in His presence is transformed into eternity. If we desire God, if we truly desire to come into His presence, then we shall be as the deer that panteth for the waterbrooks.
Humility and brokenness is the door and the lintel that ushers us into this Holy place. Everything about our walk with the Lord is a contradiction to the world. In order to live we must die. In order to be truly rich, we must become poor to the things of this world. In order to lead we must serve. In order to ascend unto that holy place of His presence we must bow low. It is in the deepest valleys that the saint will discover the greatest mountaintops.We must stoop down low on bended knee in order to ascend that hill and truly see. The greatest danger of the one who brings trials and tribulations and persecutions upon the saints is that they create the perfect environment for the most radical encounters with the Living God that they will ever have had. This is why the saint who genuinely desires a radical encounter with the living God is such a danger to the enemy of our souls. If he pushes too hard against the saint, he pushes Him deeper into the heart of God and that becomes a witness that has a life all of itself. The Spirit of Glory that stands for all time.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: Holy place, humble spirit, manifest presence of God, presence of god | 1 Comment »
Posted by appolus on March 25, 2015
A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. (Psa 133:1-3)
Prior to taking the promised land, the Israelites fought as one. They had just passed through the wilderness for forty years and for hundreds of years prior to that they were enslaved by the Egyptians. So whether is was slavery or wilderness wandering or fighting to take hold of their possession, they were one. As long as they were all facing the same circumstances, then they were as one. When we look out over the barren wasteland that is Christendom today, we see a thousand different moving parts, each doing their own thing. They have no common vision, in fact quite the opposite. Every little thief-dom has its own vision for what it wants. The bigger picture is quite lost to all but a few. Do we see life in Christendom in general? Now, I do not mean much activity, I mean the life of Christ manifested in His presence amongst His people?
In WWII, London was severely bombed by the Nazis. London was a highly diverse city, its millions of people were separated into groups. There were working class folks and lower working class. You had the middle class and the upper middle class and of course you also had the Royal family so you had the aristocrats. This was a class system where one would never really have any contact with someone outside of your class unless compelled by some sort of business. It was a rigid system broken down into ” stations,” and one was compelled to stay within their station by centuries of tradition and etiquette. Yet when they faced destruction they were compelled to work together just to survive. Their previous ways of life had to be suspended and they had to come together if they were to survive. They suddenly had a common goal and it brought them together in unity in such a way that had never been seen before nor has been seen since.
Christianity in general is facing a coming storm. Just like the rise of the Nazi party in the 30s which was very ominous for the world and the Jewish people specifically, then so the coming storm is ominous for the saints. Its goal will be to simply kill every genuine saint. Now, nothing can bring Christendom together but what can bring the Body of Christ together? Circumstances will certainly help. Persecution will help to bring the saints together when they will realize that they need one another. Yet the only thing that can bring about the unity of the saints where the blessings of life shall be commanded by God, is the Holy Spirit flowing down through the very essence of the saints who are priests in a royal priesthood. Saints, if you could go back in time and speak to a Jewish person in Germany in 1933, what would you say to him? Would you not tell him that he and his family must flee? If you could look forward and see a storm of darkness and death heading towards the Body of Christ, what would your advice be to them? The antidote to death is life. The antidote to darkness is light. The antidote to hatred is love. The antidote to eternal death is Jesus who is Life and Light and Love and eternal life.
Those with eyes to see the coming storm are beginning to flock together. For together, with all the walls broken down, there is a commanded blessing. When the dew falls from the sky it covers everything. Every single blade of grass is covered and is sustained. Gods abundant blessings of life are found when the saints march together under the banner of Christ. An army of saints covered by the blood of the Lamb walking lockstep in common purpose and unity as they face their final and most tumultuous battle prior to the return of the Bridegroom. Lord may your Holy Spirit open up the eyes of those who have a desire to see and open up the ears of those who would hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, prophecy, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: Christendom | 3 Comments »
Posted by appolus on March 24, 2015
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (Jas 1:1-2)
Another way of saying this is that we count it pure joy when we face every kind of trial. Are you there brothers and sisters? Are you close? Do you want to be there? In order to see our trials as opportunities to be more like Jesus, we have to want to be like Jesus very much. When we find ourselves even close to this kind of thinking, we begin to elevate ourselves above the circumstances. In every trial and situation we can ask ourselves “what would bring God the most glory?” Just the mere asking yourself that question will bring so much clarity to your mind. As you begin to think of His name and how you can glorify Him in your trial, then you have taken your eyes off yourself. As you do this then you begin to walk in victory. Your trial becomes your vehicle that drives you deeper into the Fathers heart. When things are going well in our lives, we may not react that much differently from those in the world. Yet when we are facing dire circumstances and trials or infirmities, then it is a glorious opportunity to not only reveal God’s truth and glory in you to the world but also to the principalities and powers, the mockers and accusers of the brethren.
We have been called to live extraordinary lives. It is ordinary to bemoan our state when we experience trials. It is mediocre. Do you want to live a mediocre life for Christ? That word comes from two old Latin words , medius meaning middle and ocris meaning mountain. To be mediocre is to be neither at the top of the mountain nor the bottom, just somewhere in the middle. If you allow the trials of your faith to shape you for His glory then the Scriptures say that it will make you complete, wanting nothing. How would you like to be completely satisfied, content in Christ in this hard life? How would you like to walk in that kind of victory in the midst of the many trials of life that will be with us until the day that we die? How would you like to experience even a portion of this pure joy? Are you fighting your trial? Stop. Do not resist any longer. Your trial, if you allow it, will make you stronger and God will never be closer. Walking in this closeness, this proximity to God will cause you to triumph over every trial and circumstance. Now lift up your eyes and see that you are on top of the mountain. To summit the mountain is to conquer the mountain. We conquer our mountains and cast them into the sea by faith in God in every situation.
One last thing brothers and sisters, James writes this to the ” twelve tribes that are scattered abroad.” God’s remnant children are scattered all over this world. God encourages His own. And so to the remnant saints I want to say to you ” be of good cheer,” and count it all joy in the midst of your trials for our Lord is returning soon yet He is with you even now. He sees your trials, He sees your tears, He sees the afflictions of His people. He is with you in all of them.
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Posted by appolus on March 23, 2015
Arise and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause you to hear My Words. Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he was working a work on the wheel. And the vessel that he made in clay was ruined in the hand of the potter; so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. Then the Word of Jehovah came to me, saying, O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter? says Jehovah. Behold, As the clay in the potter’s hands, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel. (Jer 18:2-6)
My question to the Lord’s children, the Lord’s Church, is, will you arise and go down to the Potters house? Will you come to the Father and place yourself in His hand? Will you allow yourself to be marred, to be ruined for this world? Can you abandon yourself to His wheel and allow Him to create in you what He will? For He will not force you , He will not make you, but He stands at the door of your heart and knocks. Will you come to Him, with the fullness of your life, holding nothing back and allow Him to mar you, to ruin you? Will you step up to the door of your heart and allow the King of Glory to come in , in all of His fullness? Will you get up from the pig sty of lukewarmness and arise from the mire of entanglements and make your way back to the Father’s house? For those who heed the cry, who heed the command to arise, who hear and respond to the knocking of the door, you will meet the Father of lights for He will see His children from a far way off and He will run to them and rejoice to see His children have come back to Him. Oh prodigal church will you arise and go down to the Fathers house, the Potters house? He is calling to you!
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | Tagged: the potter’s house | 1 Comment »
Posted by appolus on March 23, 2015
“I see thousands of Christian young adults in America who, like Simon the Sorcerer, are hungry for the supernatural and are therefore looking for an impartation, prayer or touch from a well-known leader in the body of Christ to launch them into their ministry. Rather than seeking intimacy with Jesus Christ and walking in true legitimate kingdom authority like Peter and John, many, just like Simon, are seeking a drive-thru experience because they are hungry for authority, but aren’t willing to obtain it legally through intimacy.” Read the full article by Jeremiah Johnson by clicking the link …. A generation of Simon the Sorcerers is rising.
Carrying on this theme, I have included a portion from my book ” The fall of Christendom and the rise of the remnant.” It speaks of the two sorcerers Jannes and Jambres. This is perilous times brothers and sisters and we must be aware and beware…………………..
Jannes and Jambres are noted as men who greatly resisted Moses and since the context of this chapter is perilous last days, then we can assume that men like Jannes and Jambres will greatly resist God’s true people in these latter days. Now who were these men and what do they represent today? Well Jannes and Jambres are reckoned to be two of the occultist magicians in Pharoah’s court who replicated the rod turning into a snake, then were able to replicate some of the plagues. It is reckoned that when Moses and the children of Israel left Egypt that they had become followers of Moses, perhaps for the same reasons as Simon the magician of Acts 8 , who was amazed at the power of the Apostles and who tried to buy this power.
Extra Biblical evidence suggests that Jannes and Jambres were very influential in persuading Aaron to make a golden calf when it seemed that Moses may not return. And we know that the calf was made with the gold and the treasure that was taken from Egypt. And so we see two men who had some kind of power, perhaps even a form of Godliness since they were now following Moses, persuade men to fall down and worship the treasures of the world and act just like the world from which they had been delivered. Do we not see that in Christendom today. There are so many men just like Jannes, just like Jambres, just like Simon, men who are desperate to operate in the power of God so that they can impress others and elevate their own status. It will never happen. Today’s so-called miracles workers and self-proclaimed prophets are merely operating in the soulish realm. And God’s fire will never fall on them. This will be one reason they will hate genuine saints, for as God pours out His Spirit on genuine saints in these latter times and they begin to move in the genuine power of God, it will enrage the false teachers just as it enraged the religious leaders in the days of Jesus. We see a small clue in Matthew 27:18 as to why they wanted Jesus dead… ” For he knew they had delivered Him because of envy. ”
REPROBATES, CASTAWAYS AND FRIENDS OF THE WORLD Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, prophecy, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Tagged: Jannes and Jambres, Simon the Sorcerer | 3 Comments »
Posted by appolus on March 22, 2015
Phil 4:8: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
One of my favorite verses from one of my favorite books. The book of Philippians is a weighty book dealing with weighty matters. Yet again and again Paul is telling us to rejoice in the Lord. There is a tremendous power in what we focus on. We have heard people speak who have a victim mentality meaning that they focus primarily on what has happened to them and they never seem to get over it. Their world revolves around the incident or incidents. They are locked into and tied to the events that have primarily shaped them.
When I was a younger Christian, I was asked many times to give my testimony. Some deemed it a rather dramatic conversion and I would not deny that. Yet I received some very good advice early on from an older saint who said ” never give the enemy too much air time.” You can hear many testimonies that are 90% bad stuff then they get saved at the end. Now I know that the vast majority of times people are only trying to contrast the bad with the good. They are trying to show how powerful God is by showing how bad they were yet often times there is way too many details about former lives and the devil ends up getting a lot of air time. You know what is a more dramatic story that being saved from the gates of hell? Going on to live a life deep in the Father’s heart. If one goes on in the Lord they begin to speak less and less about themselves and more and more about the one whom they are focused on.
When my oldest son was younger, in his late teens, I found myself over and over again getting on his case. I told him time and time again what would happen if he did this, what would happen if he did that.Actually I had probably been doing that for a long time. Now he gave us very good reasons to be anxious, to say he was a rebellious teenager would be way too mild. Yet despite that, the Holy Spirit stopped me in my tracks one day and very gently and firmly spoke to me ” I want you to speak life into your son.” I still tear up all these years later remembering that word. There is a power in the tongue, it can have life and death associated with it. Now I don’t want anyone to mistake what I have just said for the Word of faith heresy. That is so preposterous as to even give it any credence. The power that we do have is to focus on Jesus. To highlight everything He has done for us. To fill our hearts with His wonder and His glory. The fruit of this kind of thinking is thankfulness. Thankfulness is the resplendent warmth and light of the Son that lights up the darkest recesses of our souls. Without this light nothing can grow. Brothers and sisters, what is the state of your mind? What is the dominant themes of your conversation? Does it bring much light or does it add to the darkness?
I love to speak about His love and His power and His glory. His patience with me and His kindness and His faithfulness is so remarkable. When we lift our eyes off our own lives and situations and begin to cast our gaze into the heavens and catch a glimpse of His glory, everything begins to change in the light and the beauty of His Holiness. Let us think about such things and see what grows in the light of such thoughts and words.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, Daily devotional, Devotions, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 1 Comment »
Posted by appolus on March 21, 2015
Then spoke the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not your peace: For I am with you, and no man shall set on thee to hurt you: for I have much people in this city. (Act 18:9-10)
I personally take great encouragement from this Scripture. It shows me that even the mighty men of God experienced fear, if it were not so then Paul would not have required a vision to tell him not to fear and to continue to speak the truth. We live in a day and age where there is tremendous societal pressure to keep our mouths shut, not to speak the truth lest we offend any number of folks. Listen brothers and sisters, you can be as careful as you like, you can tip-toe through the issues but do not be fooled, it is not tolerance that society wants, it is total capitulation on all the issues of life. It is not acceptable to agree to disagree and to allow everyone to live peaceably with their own views. The mere fact that you hold certain views is becoming abhorrent to the general population. For too long you may have relied on the fact that you have freedom of speech. Brothers and sisters, that is an illusion. You certainly have freedom of speech but not because men established it in documents, for what men can give you men can take away. No brothers and sisters, the freedom that you have is from God Himself and the only documents that we need, rely upon and stand upon is the Word of God. God has told us not to hold our peace in regards to the truth. Well there it is, that is not very hard to understand.
What is stopping you from sharing the Truth? Fear of men? Well this is an issue that even the author of two thirds of the New Testament dealt with. The solution to your fear of man? An encounter with the living God. God is still speaking to His people, His sheep hear Him speak and they know His voice. It starts with the Word of God, yet God also speaks to His people in a still small voice. Do not let the cares of this world and business drown out that voice. He still speaks to His people in dreams and vision and of course they never contradict what is written in the word. I want to encourage you today, God has His remnant. He has His people in every village, every town every city throughout the land. You are not alone. Jesus has not left you as an orphan, he has sent unto you His Holy Spirit. As the days grow darker, you will discover brothers and sisters you never knew you had as they too make the hard decisions to stand upon the Truth. Stay strong brothers and sisters in the power of His might. Speak the truth when the opening comes and if you suffer loss in this world you will gain it all back in the next.
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Psa 27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
A Call To The Remnant 