Archive for the ‘the state of the church’ Category
Posted by appolus on April 10, 2018
Excerpt from an upcoming book “My highest for His glory.”………….
Midweek (June week 2)
Isa 62-6-7 I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem, who will not always be silent all the day nor all the night; you who remember Jehovah, do not be silent. And give Him no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
Brothers and sisters, this is God’s word to us in this day. Do not remain silent even although you may have suffered much for your stand. Continue to come before the Lord and give Him no rest until He establishes and brings to pass His will in His people. God has commanded that we give Him no peace. He has encouraged us to keep coming to Him and praying for the Church, even although as we survey the land we see great desolation. Can I tell you today that God has given us great promises for His own, He says it, so it shall come to pass, that her righteousness shall go forth as brightness and her salvation will be as a lamp that burns. He tells us that we have a crown of glory and that we shall be as a royal diadem in His hand. When the world looks at the church they shall no longer mock or laugh derisively.
Now, they may hate us and come against us with a great fury, but we shall not be ignored because the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon us. The world will see a people who the Lord delights in and that He has called His own. For too long they have seen a body of people who look just as they look, that are no different from them, but the Lord still has a people that are as yet, for the most part, hidden. Yet when He pours out His Spirit upon His people, when He embraces them for all the world to see, then they shall see a people, a bride, ready to receive her Bridegroom.
And so brothers and sisters. Do not remain silent. Speak to what burns in your bones. The Lord says to you to go through the gates. God is throwing open the gates of Babylon, the gates of the world, and calling His people out. Do not be afraid, come out of her, go through the gates and leave Babylon behind. Others will follow but first there must be a remnant that leads. Prior to the Lord Jesus coming the first time, John the Baptist took His place in the wilderness and He prepared the way of the Lord. There was a work of repentance in the land prior to the Lord Jesus coming. As it was then, so it is now. John rejoiced to see the Lord coming and proclaimed “Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world.”
And so we have been called to prepare a highway. We have been told to “build up the highway……. take out the stones,” and I love this part “lift up a banner for the peoples.” Brothers and sisters, our salvation is coming. Jesus is coming again in all of His glory and He has His reward in His hand. He has sent before Him a holy people, a people redeemed of the Lord to carry out this work and the Lord says to you today that you have not been forsaken and that He is coming for His Bride, remain faithful and true to your calling and where He leads you must follow. Go through the gates today brothers and sisters. Do not look back, lift up your eyes for your salvation draws nigh.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the crucified life, the deeper life, The presence of God, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 4 Comments »
Posted by appolus on April 5, 2018
I think that we must note that there is a vast difference between the doctrine of Christ’s coming and the hope of His coming. It surely is possible to hold the doctrine without feeling a trace of the blessed hope. Indeed there are multitudes of Christians today who hold the doctrine-but what I have tried to deal with here is the overwhelming sense of anticipation that lifts the life upward to a new plane and fills the heart with rapturous optimism. It is my opinion that this is largely lacking among us now. (A.W.Tozer)
Can you see what Tozer is getting at? He says there is a vast difference, a chasm, between holding to the doctrine of Christ’s return and actually having a blessed hope within you of His soon coming. For the last ten years or so I have met saints from all over the world whom the Holy Spirit has impressed upon their hearts that Christ is coming back very soon and to get ready. These saints come from every possible background, from every tribe and tongue and every nation. This word from the Holy Spirit has indeed lifted their lives upward to a new plane and filled their hearts with a rapturous optimism and anticipation. This word from the Lord has not been a message of doom and gloom to them, in fact the exact opposite, they revel in the blessed hope.
I would argue that you could easily extend this message to every area of who we are in Christ. Do you have such a blessed hope, a holy optimism? When you pray either in private or in a public prayer meetings, do you actually believe you are praying to God? I know that sounds like a strange question but can I suggest that there is a world of difference between believing the doctrine that God hears your prayer and actually believing that you are standing before His throne and talking directly to God. One is a standard tradition and belief, the other is a dynamic life changing reality. What about when you gather together on a Sunday morning? Do you actually believe as you make your way to the meeting place that you are going to encounter God? It is my opinion that most do not. There is a dynamic life changing power in Godly expectancy, holding to a “Blessed hope,” as opposed to merely holding to a doctrine. It is one thing to believe something in the head while at the same time your heart is far from the reality of what you believe.
The cynic says something like “well folks have always believed that.” The saint responds to what the Holy Spirit is showing them. Has the Holy Spirit laid on your heart that the Lord is coming back very soon, even in your own lifetime? Has He shown you something of what is to come? It would not be possible to live life as it has always been lived if we actually lived in the blessed reality of this hope. There would be a fierce urgency in our spirits, a dynamic rapturous optimism would take a hold of us. A different perspective would take hold of who we are. We would more clearly see what is important in life and by that same token, what is not. We would not get easily caught up in the affairs of this world if we truly believed in the blessed hope of His soon coming.
The spirit of expectancy animated the early church and much of the church for the following 2000 years. How can we arouse that same joyful spirit of expectation today? Can we lecture those who do not have it, can a sermon convince those who are lacking it? I do not believe so, it must come from revelation. The Holy Spirit must reveal this to the hearts of those who are still teachable. There can be nothing done for the searing cynic, the sophisticated modern mind. But, to the child-like unsophisticated open heart, the Lord can clearly show them that He is at the door, that the birth-pangs of His coming have begun and that He is actually coming back as He said He would. They will have ears to hear the blowing of the trumpet, they will hear the midnight call that cries out “He approaches, awake, arise from your slumbers you who sleep and Christ will give you light in the midst of a great darkness.” You will hear that voice say ” Do not walk as fools but as one who is wise, redeem the time that is left wisely, for the days are evil and the darkness, the gross darkness is at the door.” He will continue and say ” despite the coming darkness there is a greater coming light, the light of the soon return of your Lord, coming back just as He left, with all His glory in the sky. Hold fast and stand in the power of His might and you will overcome the darkness.”
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 4 Comments »
Posted by appolus on April 1, 2018
Jer 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.
The everlasting love of God. It is such a mysterious thing. He loves the world with an everlasting love, in fact He loved the world so much that He gave His only Son to cruel torture and death that we, the world, might be redeemed. The Word tells us that the Lord our God would have none to be lost but all to find salvation in Him. This does not happen of course but not because it is not the heart of God, it is the heart of God, why is that?
Many years ago, I was representing buyers in the purchase of a house. They were a nice young couple, but the seller was a very difficult older woman, maybe in her mid to late 60s. I met her on the day of inspections which does not typically happen. As we spoke, it turned out that she knew my father-in-law, they were both New Age folk. She softened when she realized who I was. I asked her what her plans were, now that she had almost sold her house. She was not really sure where she was going to end up, she would stay with some friends for a while she said. The lady was netting about $50,000 from the sale of her house and she told me that this was all the money she had in the world and it was going to her son’s defense. She explained to me that he was in his 40s and was addicted to meth and crack cocaine and had been in and out of prison for most of his adult life. Over the years she had spent all of her money on her son for lawyers and so on which is why the money from the sale of her house was all she had. She tells me about her son when he was a boy. He was smart as a whip and kind and loving, and really still was she said. I asked her what crime was he was accused of committing. She told me that he had been in a motel with a prostitute and another drug addict and he had shot them both dead, but it really was not his fault. Her friends were begging her not to use this money on him as he was clearly guilty and this was the last money she had. She told me she was not going to listen to her friends.
This is a sad and tragic story. Yet there are some elements I would like to pick out. This woman had given birth to her son. She loved him as any mother loves her son. She raised him and saw that he was good, very good. Yet at some point he gives himself over to sin and crime and drugs. Now the son that she knew and loved was gone. For the rest of her life she had been and continued to be delusional about him. When she looked at her son she still saw that little boy, she still remembered all her hopes and dreams that she had for him.
Now, through the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit we see that Adam is created and we see that he was created in the image of our God and that he was good. God loved Adam and would walk with him in the cool of the day. But the day came when Adam fell. Unlike the woman with the drug addicted son, God was not delusional about Adam. In fact, now Adam would have to face the consequences of his actions, his sin, and leave the garden of Eden and go out into the world. It was not an easy thing to do, in fact it says in Gen 3:24 that God “drove” him out meaning that he had to be “thrust,” out. Yet God still loved His creation despite the fact they had fallen. When He looked at creation He saw what they could be because He saw Himself in them for they were made after the Godheads image.
And so God so loved the world and so desired to redeem every single one of them that He sent His only Son to take their rightful punishment. And in doing this The Lord Jesus made a way for fallen man to return to the Father and be restored to their state prior to the fall. You can also see elements of the prodigal son in this as he had went out into the world and found himself up to his neck in the pigsty that was his life. When his eyes were finally opened to his situation, when all the allure of sin was gone and all that was left was a slow death, drowning in his own muck and sin, he decides to seek out his Father and make his way back. This way back was made possible by the Lord Jesus. It is grace that opens up our eyes to who we are and what we are and at the very same time grace opens up our eyes to the fact that the Father loves us. Even when we were yet in our sin, even when we were still a far way off and seeking to find Him, He comes running and meets us on the way and rejoices in His heart as does all the angels in heaven because this creation of His, who was lost in his sin is found and is redeemed by His everlasting love. Jesus our Lord and His sacrifice at Calvary is the loving-kindness that draws us and opens up the way for us. Faith is the decision to forsake all and be obedient to the voice of God.
Maybe you have someone like the lady who was selling her house? Maybe you are someone who has squandered life and now it seems that there is nothing left. The meaning of the word grace is “unmerited favor.” There is nothing that we can do to merit the favor of God, or to make Him love us. He already loves us. Not because of anything that we did for our God is no mans debtor, but because of who we are, His creation. If an unrighteous delusional mother can love a terrible sinner, not because of his sin but because she gave birth to him, how much more so can a righteous God who sees everything, who knows you through and through love you? Yes He knows what you have done and yes despite your sin He loves you so much that He sent His precious perfect Son to die for you on the cross. He does all that because He loves what He created and he remembers Adam before he fell and He remembers His fellowship and His walks with him in the cool of the day. He wants to walk with you! Will you come? Jesus has made the way.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the crucified life, the deeper life, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 5 Comments »
Posted by appolus on April 1, 2018
In the end, without the love of God, without His hand holding ours, we would lose our minds, the battle, and this race called life. In Him we can be battered and broken, without Him we would fall down and be covered by the snow and disappear. Yet here we are, we stand and we keep our eyes on Him lest we fall and never again rise. We rise because He arose!!!
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the crucified life, the deeper life, The presence of God, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 2 Comments »
Posted by appolus on March 31, 2018
Face to face with the cross
When I have suffered great loss
I come face to face with the cross
Will I get down on my knees and pray
Or shall I turn and walk away?
Each day as I walk through this life
And face troubles and heartaches and strife
When the world has lost all its gloss
Then I come face to face with the cross
In the light of His glory and grace
As I behold His wonderful face
His fire burns up all of the dross
When I come face to face with the cross
So when you have fallen down
And it seems you’ve forsaken your crown
Come fall at His feet in remorse
Come face to face with the cross
His grace is sufficient for you
Honor Him in all that you do
And victory will come in due course
When you come face to face with the cross
You hung there on that cross
You hung there on that cross
Bruised and battered and torn
You hung there for the Father’s glory
Yet it was not for that alone
You hung there on that cross
Naked, for all the world to see
For the joy that was set before you
You died there just for me
I’d often have my trials cut short
And wish the pain would go away
Thank you Lord in heaven above
You hung there till the end, that day
You hung there on that cross
On Calvary’s bloody hill
Twas there you suffered loss
Just to do your Father’s will
Oh Lord in the depths of my trial
Give me eyes that I might see
That you stayed there in the fires of hell
Right to the end at Calvary
Oh Lord give me strength for the battle
That I would not fall but continue to stand
To the end, to the end to the end of the road
On the Rock that is Christ not today’s shifting sand
I cling to Calvary
When all my hope has taken flight
And is carried off into the night
When I have suffered grevious loss
You’ll find me wrapped around the cross
When hopes and dreams have disappeared
And trials come that I had feared
When fire and flood encompass me
I simply cling to Calvary
When heartache seems to overwhelm
And eyes are blind to the heavenly realm
And I am lost in a stormy sea
I simply cling to Calvary
When the enemy comes with all his might
And I am plunged into the darkest night
When the door is locked and there is no key
I simply cling to Calvary
And all at once I see the light
And it vanquishes the darkest night
A hand appears and beckons me
That nail scarred hand of Calvary
And as His hand takes hold of mine
My thoughts and His they do align
And now once more I clearly see
The victory won on Calvary
Oh death where be thy deadly sting?
In light of my almighty King
Oh grave where be thy victory?
Tis swallowed up at Calvary
A rising crimson tide
There is a rising Crimson tide
That burns inside of me
Tis from my wounded Master’s side
Which flows from Calvary
This fire was set when I met Him
So very long ago
And though the years are passing me
This fire will always flow
It rises and consumes my heart
This heart He gave to me
This fire consumes my very soul
Which flows from Calvary
And from His nail pierced hands it flows
And trickles down on me
Who kneels below this Crimson flow
The cross of Calvary
And I am raised up by the tide
Of Crimson’s glorious fire
His blood it cleanses all of me
And raises me up higher
It take me all the way to heaven
To stand before His throne
I lift my hands and worship Him
For me His Blood atoned.
Consumed by a fire of molten Love
That flowed on me from up above
Igniting every part of me
Thank God in Christ for Calvary
Kissed by justice and mercy
Justice and mercy have kissed
And my heart was broken and healed
Your love which I so long dismissed
Now covers forever and seals
Oh Lord of heaven above
And of earth and sky and sea
How I rest in the warmth of your love
Once was shackled but now I am free
Your love and truth are my guiding light
And your mercy never comes to an end
Your fire and glory light up the night
While you fall down from the heavens you rend
Fill up the valley my glorious King
Flood the whole earth with joy and with praise
Look kindly upon the sacrifice I bring
That I may follow you all of my days
Oh justice take the hand of mercy
That glory may dwell in our land
IN the shadow of victorious Calvary
Where sin lost its final last stand!
Let the skies fall down
Let the skies fall down
Let them fall before your crown
Let the seas rise up
They could never fill your cup
You drunk down all the fires of hell
And forever broke sin’s deadly spell
Let the rivers run deep
As they see you come they weep
Let the stars fall from the sky
Let every hand be raised on high
At Golgotha you broke every chain
And now forever you shall reign
Let every valley flood
And be filled with precious blood
From the veins of Calvary
That were drained for you and me
That we may lift our voice and sing
Of Christ the Lord our risen King
Let the mountains touch the sky
And shout aloud as they reply
To the mighty rushing wind
That testifies that all men sinned
And speaks to men in pain
Ye men you must be born again!
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christian poetry, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, spiritual poetry, the crucified life, the deeper life, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 2 Comments »
Posted by appolus on March 29, 2018
The stumbling block to revival……….
we are. The Lord is to be found in simplicity, but we are too sophisticated for that. We want to be the means of Him coming so that we can claim the glory. The Lord shares His glory with no one. The phrase that comes to mind is ” all is vanity.” I have seen vainglorious men, I have been one for much of my walk with the Lord. It stinks. It is most often times wrapped up in virtue which is like a dead skunk being sprayed by a live skunk, it only adds to the smell. The sad thing is that it is not conducted by bad men but partially sighted men. They create certain standards for so-called revival, principals if you like, that way they can lay claim to it if it were ever to happen, it will not, not under those circumstances.
One day, somewhere obscure, some young woman will stand up and spontaneously begin to sing and praise the Lord and His Spirit will fall like Niagara. One day an unknown man will stand up and cry out how much he loves Jesus and the heavens will rend and a great deluge will fall and God will be glorified in the midst of it all. And when it is all over, men will write about it and tell you they were there, as if their presence somehow precipitated the event. And God will recede and men will build their ministries and reputations and there will be nothing new under the sun.
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Posted by appolus on March 28, 2018
What is nearness to God? We hear that a lot don’t we …”are you close to God?” Well we know it has nothing to do with time or space, the Lord transcends both time and space. Time and space cannot contain Him for if it did, He would not be God. A certain Scripture tells us that men can draw close unto God with their mouth but their “hearts are far from God.” If far in this context is not distance then what is it? Another Scripture tells us that David was a man after Gods own heart. In this context the word “after ,” means like or touching.
So, if your heart is far from God it can mean that you are not like Him. There is no communion, no touching, no encounter, no emotion, no joy, no love. The words may be there but the reality of the love of God is not present. A heart after God is expressed by obedience and by love, primarily love. Primarily love because love is the primary motivation for obedience. We can be obedient to God, at least outwardly and with our words but our hearts can be “far from Him.” But we cannot love Him to any degree and be disobedient to Him.
Dont get me wrong, we can be disobedient to God and still love Him and be like Him, King David may be the perfect example of this, but we cannot stay in that place of disobedience for long. It will not be what we are known for. On the grave of King David they would not write ” here lies a disobedient man,” because even although he had certainly been disobedient to God in many of the things that he did, ultimately that was not who he was and he proved that by having a broken and contrite heart.
In 1st Cor 13 we see all the things that we can have. We can speak with tongues, we can have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries, I could be mighty in faith so much so that I could speak to a mountain and it would crumble and fall and yet, all of these things would be without meaning if I did not have love. I could give every penny I had to the poor and even become a martyr for God yet without love none of it would profit me.
Yet, if I am close to the heart of God then I will gladly suffer long, I will not envy my brother or sister, I will not think highly of myself but rather regard others higher than me, I will not be easily offended and I will think the best of others.I will rejoice in the truth and be saddened at my enemies downfall, their downfall will promote love in me for them and forgiveness. If I am moving in these areas then I am close to the heart of God because the Lord Himself came down and humbled Himself and took on the likeness of man and walked in all of these truths because He was acting according to His nature. If we would be close to Him we shall endeavor to be like Him.
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Posted by appolus on March 27, 2018
When my wife and I were 17, we had a son called Stephen. It is amazing how much effect he has had upon my life although he only lived for two days. Every life is precious. Our son was only six months in the womb and weighed only two pounds, he fought for every breath, he fought for life. Even after the machines were switched off, he still fought. Yet in some other darkened ward, a child just like ours life was being snuffed out. God sees it all and weeps for the lost generations of children.
Stephen
When I was very young
A star fell from the sky
How could something beautiful
Falter and then die
The light of life shone brightly
In the struggle and the pain
And though the light it soon was gone
I’ll see that light again
Only six months in the womb
He fought for every breath
After two days here among us
His life gave way to death
Yet that star that fell from heaven
That star that shone so bright
Left his mark on me forever
Like the stars that shine at night
So Stephen, Daddy loves you
And no matter where I roam
The day is near upon us
When I’ll be coming home
Then I’ll be with you in the night sky
Perhaps I’ll sit you on my knee
When I join you in the light of Christ
Where we shall ever be.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christian poetry, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, spiritual poetry, the crucified life, the deeper life, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 4 Comments »
Posted by appolus on March 26, 2018
The Christian church cannot rise to its true stature in accompanying the purposes of God when its members operate largely through the gifts of nature, neglecting the true gifts and graces of the Spirit of God. Much of the religious activity we see in the churches is not the eternal working of the Eternal Spirit, but the mortal working of man’s mortal mind-and this is a raw tragedy.
From what I see and sense in evangelical circles, I would have to say that about ninety per cent of the religious work carried out in the churches is being done by un-gifted members. I am speaking in the context of men and women who know how to do many things but fail to display the Spiritual gifts promised through the Holy Spirit. This is one of the very evident ways in which we have slowed down the true workings of God in His Church and in the hearts of unbelieving men all around us- acknowledging and allowing un-gifted members of the Body to do religious work without possessing the genuine gifts of the Spirit.
Paul wrote to the Corinthian church and reminded believers that they were all baptized into one Body by the Spirit. But He went on at great length to explain the necessity for the functioning of the gifts of the Spirit in the Church- and I believe he was explaining that these Spiritual functions and capabilities are the birthright of every Christian. Lets bring it down to our level. Religious activists have many things of which they can boast. They build churches. They write hymns and books. Musically they sing and play. Some of them will take time to engage in prayer. Others will organize movements and crusades and campaigns.
No matter how early in the morning they begin and no matter how late at night they stay with their project, if it is an exercise in human talent for religious purposes, it can only wind up as a mortal brain doing a mortal job. I have taken the pains to say all this as a reminder that mortality and temporality are written all across the church of Christ in the world today because so many persons are trying to do with human genius and power of the flesh what only God can do through the Holy Spirit. (A.W.Tozer)
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the crucified life, the deeper life, The presence of God, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Posted by appolus on March 22, 2018
The glory of Solomon’s kingdom was known throughout the earth. He was courted by kings and queens from all over the world. They came to see his glory and to hear of his famed wisdom. Oh the beauty and the splendor of a man who displays the treasures of heaven. Are men not drawn to those who have treasures even greater than the treasures of Solomon? For some perspective from God we can see in Matt 6 that we have to consider the lilies of the field, how they neither toil nor spin and yet Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed in such splendor. Can I suggest that God’s children are more glorious than the lilies of the field? It’s not in our toiling nor in our spinning that makes us glorious, its in the treasures that lie within us. It’s in the fact that we are a light in the great darkness of the world because it is no longer us that live but it is Christ who lives in us.
2Ch 9:16 And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
The treasure that lies within us is Christ Himself. He alone is our “exceeding great reward.” To walk in the presence of God is to walk in such a way that the glory of God goes before us much like the glory of Solomon’s shields went before him. This is our calling. We know that Moses face was veiled after his encounter with the almighty God on the mountain, and we know that we walk in a glory that goes beyond this by the Spirit of the living God. Can we honestly say that we walk in such a glory with the treasures of the Lord on display? Are men dazzled by our treasure? Are men drawn to us because of the wisdom of God that is within us?
What are the riches of our dwelling place with the Lord? Out of the beauty of dwelling with Him do we have the finest gold of unconditional love? Are the walls of our dwelling place encrusted with the jewels of forgiveness and mercy? Are the windows of our dwelling places draped with meekness and humility? Do trophies of grace hang on every wall? Are they framed with the finest materials of patience and kindness? Do we pursue the riches and the glories of heaven with the same vigor and single-mindedness that men here on earth pursue gold and silver? And the treasures that we have attained in Christ, do we protect them with all the resources that we have? Do we value the treasures of our heart in the same way men value their wealth? There is a direct correlation between how much we value something to the lengths we will go to protect it. Guard your hearts brothers and sisters in Christ, for we have an enemy who seeks to steal and destroy what we have. Satan knows the value of what we have oftentimes more than we do.
So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king’s house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made. Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass.(2Ch 12:9-10)
What a tragedy when instead of glorious gold that shines brilliantly in the mid day sun, there is only left brass, a pale imitation that pretends to be what it is not. When the world comes and enters into the church, it steals away its treasure. A church that has been overwhelmed by the world is a church that has no treasure, a church that is robbed of its power and worth. That very same church has to reproduce it shields of Gold by making shields of brass. I was visiting a church recently and like a lot of churches, during the worship time the lights were dimmed and out comes the dry ice machine producing smoke that I guess is to help create ” an atmosphere.” Hard to believe isn’t it? Dimmed lights and ice machines-shields of brass. For the Holy Spirit, the treasure of the Church, has fled. The gold has been taken and we are left with poor imitations, it is a sad sight indeed. And so without the treasures of God there is only left the treasures of men. The buildings become more elaborate and the worship teams become more professional. The presence of God that used to fall when an old lady playing an organ tapped on the keys, now is gone even although there be an elaborate orchestra.
The treasure of man and the treasure of the Church is the presence of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. Friendship with the world is enmity with God. We cannot have the world and God, it is one or the other. For the most part modern Christendom has sold its gold shields and replaced them with brass ones and it hopes no one will notice. Brass shields have only scrap value, there has to be a lot of it to make it worth anything and even then it is not worth much especially in comparison to gold. The presence of God in our lives and in our gatherings is everything, without that we are merely sounding brass.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, The presence of God, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 3 Comments »
Posted by appolus on March 19, 2018
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christian poetry, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, spiritual poetry, the crucified life, the deeper life, The presence of God, The Psalms, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 1 Comment »
Posted by appolus on March 19, 2018
Are you weary of externalism, and do you long after God? I long after God. This is not old age talking, and this is not the results of anything I have been reading, except the Bible. This has been growing in me through the years. The only gratifying thing I have apart from my communion with God is the knowledge that I am not alone in my journey. God has His people everywhere who are in revolt against pretense, textualism, externalism and tradition. They want to seek God for Himself, as He is in the Scriptures, as revealed by the Holy Spirit. God has His people, but there are not many of them. Are you one? ( Tozer)
The question is, are you weary of trying to change from the outside in? It is simply not possible to change from the outside in. All spiritual change comes from the inside out. It has to begin in the deepest parts of who we are. To be changed from the inside out requires an encounter with the Living God. Only this can change you. You cannot turn over a new leaf, try harder, read the Bible more, follow the traditions of your church, you have to encounter Him. This encounter takes place in the realms of the heart and soul, not in the head. It is the most dangerous thing in the world to encounter God. Why is it dangerous? Because your life will never be the same.
Your desire will be for Him and no matter what other interests you have, they will give place to Him. He consumes the soul. He fills us in ways that nothing else that exists can. Are you ready for that kind of mad passion? A passion with such intensity that it relegates all other things to second place and beyond. This kind of passion is dangerous to normal natural living. When that which is supernatural invades that which is natural then it overflows the soul. The soul is huge and not able to filled with anything that exists. Yet God is vast beyond our ability to understand. It was once said that if everything that exists, this universe and all universes beyond with all of its trillions of planets could be placed in a five gallon bucket, and we compared a five gallon bucket to the Indian ocean the Indian ocean would be God.
This of course is a limited analogy because God is more vast than that. Yet here is a thing…….That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Eph 3:17-19)
You see that brothers and sisters, we might be filled with all the fullness of God!!! The fullness of God. Somehow in our spirits we might comprehend the breadth and the length and the depth and the height of the fullness of God who is vast beyond our ability to comprehend in our heads. But the Spirit of God communicates the fullness of God to the spirit of man and that man is captivated and forever ruined for the things of this life and his drive is to continually seek out this God and know Him in His manifest presence. You will be like the deer who pants for the waterbooks but you can never be like this deer unless you encounter the reality of God in the depths of your spirit. This is where the fire is set, this is the fire that spreads to the bones and possesses all of who we are.
It is from this place that we are changed. This fire that He ignites through His Holy Spirit, this baptism of fire makes us lovers of God. It makes us avid readers of His personal diary, His word. It makes us lovers of men and women for we love what He loves for He has melded our hearts with His in the fire that He ignited at the center of who we are and that fire radiates out in every direction and changes everything and it changes those around us. It may drive people from us or it may draw people to us but it is not passive for it is the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself burning in the center of who we are. He has lit up His saints so that they would be a light that shines in the darkness. And the greater the darkness the greater the light shines.
As Tozer says, God has His people and it is true that there are not many of them. The reason that many are called but few are chosen is that there is a price that comes with such an encounter. Is there something in you that is willing to forsake all? Very few saints ever have to pay that kind of price but in the depths of who they are God knows they are willing. Just like Abraham on his way up the hill with his son and the means of sacrifice. Willing to sacrifice all of his ambitions, all of his dreams, all of his future just for the sound of the voice of God speaking directly into his life. Encountering God and continually seeking after Him is grand adventure and motivator of the saints. Stand fast saints, this hard journey that you are on, this narrow path leads eventually to the glories of heaven and along the way God gives us glimpses of that glory and fills us to beyond capacity. He fills us to overflowing and sustains us on our journey.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the crucified life, the deeper life, The Psalms, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 3 Comments »
Posted by appolus on March 11, 2018
Jesus did not come into the world to start a religion, He came to destroy all religion. Religion is the apex of the pyramid. It is mans highest and best efforts to touch the heavens. Jesus, on the other hand takes us straight into the depths of the Father’s heart. Regulations build the hierarchy of men, relationship with Jesus makes us one with the Father.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, The presence of God, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 5 Comments »
Posted by appolus on March 6, 2018
I was born under an angry sky
At the edge of the world in darkness
A place where the rain never ceased to fall
And boys grew up to be heartless
Tears were banished right from the start
And the foundations of the walls that surrounded our heart
Were laid deep in our souls and minds every day
It was a well-worn path and there was no other way
And the wind blew hard upon the window pane
There was never-ending darkness and never-ending rain
And the hearts of the boys grew dark in the night
Only in your dreams could you run and take flight
Still the morning would come and darkness remained
Look out of the window and it continually rained
Every blow to the heart another brick in the wall
The more you laid bare the more it grew tall
The land of broken hearts is full of high towers
Tis a black and white land ruled by darkened powers
Towers of lost tears and towers of pain
Tis full of dark clouds and continual rain
Yet there were some who spoke of a world of light
Where tears could fall and no continual night
This world had a King who had come to this land
They put nails in His feet and nails in His hand
The powers of darkness screamed in delight
As they pierced His side, this King of the Light
He had come to replace the hearts that were broken
With power and love in every word He had spoken
So they nailed the Word to the cross that day
Then they took Him down and in the cave He would lay
And they rolled a stone just to shut Him in
And the darkness fell and rejoiced in its sin
And the brokenhearted wept for their King
He had taught them to pray and taught them to sing
Yet the rain and the darkness seemed to prevail
By the power of the sword and the power of the nail
Then out through the darkness broke forth a great light
The rolled away stone revealed a glorious sight
The grave could not hold Him and death was defeated
Look up to the throne and see where He’s seated
Our King was victorious, the chains they were broken
Those asleep in the darkness were gloriously awoken
In victory He arose and He broke deaths spell
In the land of broken hearts the towers fell
The captives came forth their hearts were renewed
And the powers of darkness were finally subdued
No longer prisoners of the darkness and pain
Their tears were recovered and they fell like rain
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christian poetry, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, spiritual poetry, the crucified life, the deeper life, The presence of God, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »
Posted by appolus on March 4, 2018
The true power of those who walk the Kingdom walk lies not in an alleviation of circumstances but an elevation of Spiritual awareness.To enter into the Glory. Just one glimpse of His glory elevates us high above the circumstances of our lives. His Glory is the updraft that raises us high above our circumstances. To look into the eyes of Glory means to rise above the storms of this world. There is no set of chains that can restrain the child of God. There is no trial on earth that can hold our bodies down. When we see His Glory, when we fix our eyes on His majesty then no matter what our circumstances are we begin to rise up. There is a heavenly choir of glory that beckons us to come up. The only thing that can hold us down is our own hands. When we let go of our circumstance and lift our eyes up to Jesus that name which is above every name, then we begin to rise up. Will you lift your eyes towards heaven today saint? The Lord sees you in the midst of your trial, can you see Him? Will you let go today? Will you release your grasp today from the circumstances which threaten to destroy you? No matter how terrifying this may seem, will you let go today, there is glory that awaits you. Lift you voice in praise today, let it rise up to heaven itself and suddenly you will find yourself in the midst of Glory.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the crucified life, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 2 Comments »
Posted by appolus on March 2, 2018
God has made many promises to His people yet much of Christendom has failed to possess the promises of Christ which are yes and amen. The failure is our part for God is faithful to those who are diligent in His pursuit. We want to partake of the glories but we do not want to partake in the humiliations. We want abundant life in Christ but we are not willing to take up our cross and die. We desire the feast but we have no stomach for the fasting.
The Lord inhabits the praises of His people. We praise God with our lives, we praise God with our desire to follow Him. We praise God when we can glorify Him even when we are hungry, when we are naked, when we walk through the valley’s and walk through the fires and the floods. God is looking for a people to inhabit all the days of their lives.
Imagine escaping Egypt, coming through the desert, crossing the Jordan river and even seeing the walls of Jericho fall but then rather than possessing the land you fall back into the desert and then wake up one day and find yourself back in Egypt. The gifts and the promises are to be possessed. Unless we can leave Egypt behind us we can never push on and possess all that God has for us. You cannot run forward while you are looking back.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, revival, the crucified life, the deeper life, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 2 Comments »
Posted by appolus on March 2, 2018
Wind of the Spirit play the strings of my heart
Discover who I am, each and every part
I stand before you my heavenly King
You look at me and see everything
Nothing hidden, no secrets just you and me
With eyes ablaze that can truly see
Your Blood and your love they cover my sin
And with coals of fire I am cleansed from within
There is fire in your Blood that flows from the cross
And love from above that’s more than all loss
My thoughts of these things are so very few
When I consider that now I am found in you
The strings of my heart play a glorious song
As I am swept up in a heavenly throng
The hand of My God plays a sweet melody
My heart’s in Your hand and forever shall be.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christian poetry, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, spiritual poetry, the crucified life, the deeper life, the gospel, The presence of God, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | 1 Comment »
Posted by appolus on February 27, 2018
Lay me down in a troubled land
I shall ever rest in the palm of your hand
My soul is refreshed by the waters of your Life
You are the Husband and the Body is your wife
I shall shout for joy from the depths of my soul
For I was broken and you made me whole
You lifted me up when I was down
It’s in Your love that I now abound
I have never hungered in a famined land
Even when I fall you make me stand
Your Living waters refresh my soul
You have replaced what my enemy stole
My leaf has not withered even in the drought
And from the mountain-tops you shall hear me shout
Glory hallelujah to the King of all the nations
I stand here not on sand but on your firm foundation
I have known your favor and Your grace rescues me
I an surrounded on every side like the deepest sea
The radiance of your beauty lights up my whole world
And Your banner over me is simply love unfurled
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christian poetry, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, spiritual poetry, the crucified life, the deeper life, The presence of God, the remnant, the state of the church, theology | Leave a Comment »
Posted by appolus on February 27, 2018
I have shouted for joy, the radiance of His beauty has lit up my whole world and His grace and His favor and His abundance has surrounded me like deep waters. Who could know the depths of these waters? I rest beside the rivers of life and my roots are drawn down into the depths of who He is and it fills my whole being with radiant light even in the midst of gross darkness. And despite the ravages of life my leaf has not withered and I have never hungered and His living waters is life to my thirsty soul even in a dry and thirsty land.
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Posted by appolus on February 24, 2018
When the rainbow bursts into a thousand pieces
And showers down into my heart
And my soul lights up with the colors of heaven
And shines out boldly into the dark
When life and all its ways flood in
And the perpetual winter is here to stay
And spring is just some distant dream
We cannot rise but fall and pray
We know there’s a bright and morning star
That rises through the depths of winters loss
And the Balm of Gideon soothes our pain
Yet we know we shall never be the same again
And twilight echoes in the sky above
Cascading down in a shower of love
And the memories fade but linger yet
Like the setting of a sun that will never truly set.
Posted in Christian, christian living, Christian poetry, Christianity, church of scotland, end times, Jesus, pentecostal, poetry, revival, spiritual poetry, the crucified life, the deeper life, The presence of God, the remnant, the state of the church, theology, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
A Call To The Remnant 