Chart from Mediabiaschart.com

Chart found here.

A FB friend posted this chart which purportedly places various news and opinion sources on a continuum of ideological bias. The problem with this of course is the bias of the one doing the placing.

It's not like the creator of the chart is extremely biased, but still it is worth examining her clear preconceptions.

Public shouldn’t be asked to pay private school bill - by Sara Rushing

Found here. Our comments in bold.
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Here is a lot of blowing smoke.
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Whenever I see the words “government school” I cringe. This blunt rhetorical tool (Yet a quintessentially accurate descriptor.)

is deployed in “school choice” debates to appeal to libertarians who shun all things “government.” (Which libertarians do not do. Libertarians advocate government, that is, constitutionally-limited government. The author either doesn't know what libertarians believe, or she's deliberately misrepresenting them.)

How To Offend a Room Full of Calvinists - Tim Challies

Found here. My comments in bold.

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While I admire Mr. Challies' admission that our evangelistic zeal too often comes up short, I want to respond to the claim, which is emphasized below, that we have a "personal responsibility" to call people to respond to the gospel. 

Calvinists claim that God has already chosen those who will be saved because they are under "irresistible grace," and as such they have no participation in their salvation.

So if the lost have no choice in their salvation, why do we have a choice in their salvation? Why do we who are saved have the liberty to choose to respond to God's call to evangelize, but the unsaved are not at liberty to respond to God's call to salvation? 

Either we participate in the salvation, whether responding to the call of God as a sinner or as a saved person as a matter of obedience, or we do not.

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God Needs Your Sweet Talk Lovin’ - T.D. Jakes - Museum of Idolatry

Found here. My comments in bold.

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God apparently needs your sweet lovin’. According to T.D. Jakes, God is a bit emotionally needy, and he may be holding back answers to prayer because you haven’t given him the amount of lovin’ he needs to hear.

On January 19, 2018 T.D. Jakes made a Facebook post promising breakthrough and answer to prayer if people simply opened their mouth and told God how much he means to them. He says God needs to hear how much he means to us.

Good Morning

The breakthrough doesn’t come through the word, it comes through the worship! The greatest way to gain your breakthrough is through opening your mouth and telling God how much He means to you. Love has to express itself, and to the best way to show it is to worship Him in spirit and in truth ( John 4:24). Just like you would tell someone who is close to you, God needs to hear it as well. He is a passionate God. Whatever He feels, He feels passionately. He knows what you are enduring. He gave his body to His bride, all He asks in return is your worship. Worship brings relationship with God and as you draw closer to Him, He will reveal more of Himself to you. — T.D. Jakes

He is portraying an idolatrous image of God. God isn’t emotionally needy. (The author dishonestly moves the goalposts. Jakes did not say God was "emotionally needy." The dictionary defines "need" as

require (something) because it is essential or very important. 

However, "needy" is 

having or showing a need for affection, emotional support. 

Jakes used the first word, but the author manipulates by using the second.)

The apostolic office ceased with the death of the last apostle in the first century - by Eric Davis

Found here. My comments in bold.
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While this article is about the LDS "prophet," it also contains an explanation as to why in the author's view there are no apostles. Perhaps he will provide us with a biblical case we seek for the ceasing of the apostolic.
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Scripture teaches that there are at least three qualifications necessary to be an apostle. First, an apostle had to be an eyewitness of the resurrected Christ (Acts 1:22; 10:39-41; 1 Cor. 9:1, 15:7-8).

(Since cessationists are routinely reluctant to quote their scripture references, our first task is to actually quote them.

Ac. 1:21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection.

Ac. 10:39 We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem.

1Co. 9:1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not the result of my work in the Lord?

1Co. 15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

The key verse is Ac. 1:22, which is the criteria set forth by the apostles as they sought to replace Judas Iscariot.  There is but a single criteria here: "been with us the whole time." The second statement, "become a witness with us of his resurrection," is the one to which the author appeals.  

The word "become" is relevant here.  The word is Ginomai, which means 

1. to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being
2. to become, i.e. to come to pass, happen
3. of events
4. to arise, appear in history, come upon the stage
5. of men appearing in public
6. to be made, finished
7. of miracles, to be performed, wrought
8. to become, be made

One doesn't BECOME a witness to, say, a crime. One IS a witness. Luke is not talking about the candidates seeing something. This isn't a case of the need to have witnessed the event of the resurrection or beheld the risen Christ. The author has read it too casually and is building a doctrine upon it. 

Luke is telling us that the new apostle needs to join with the rest of the apostles and embrace the ministry of re-telling of the resurrection! This is a duty of the new apostle, not a qualifier to become one. 

Only a few verses before, we read this: Ac. 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. This is how to understand "witness."

In this light, the other verses cited become irrelevant.

Further, the first statement ["been with us the whole time"] disqualifies Paul. But since we know Paul was indeed an apostle, we must conclude that these criteria were not set forth as a template, but rather as what they considered important at the time. In fact, they might have been rushing to meet a perceived need. 

We do not read that the Holy Spirit spoke to them about this. Indeed, God was going to provide Paul as an apostle, as well as other apostles, in due time. It could very well be the eleven were acting with presumption.) 

Is the Five-Fold Ministry Doctrine Biblical? by Bob DeWaay. Posted by D.Baker

Found here. Our comments in bold. Additional commentary here.
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We are delighted to find a cessationist willing to explain his take on the five-fold ministry. Unfortunately, this author is more focused on dismissing charismatics rather than demonstrating his theories from the Bible.)

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I was asked today if the Five-Fold Ministry doctrine is biblical, I answered the question with another question, “Are modern day apostles and prophets biblical?”, the answer is no! This is an excellent commentary from Critical Issues Commentary by Bob Dewaay on the issue of the Five Fold Ministry and Apostles and Prophets.

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“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-13).

Today a popular movement is making brash claims about itself. (Not exactly off to an auspicious start. We are not interested in the claims of contemporary Christians. We want to know the biblical case for or against. That's what the author promised in the title.)

The movement claims that God is raising up a huge wave of end times prophets and apostles who will be instrumental in subduing entire nations and eventually the whole world before Christ returns. They claim that those of us who do not submit to this “prophetic-apostolic” movement will be judged or moved out of the way.1 These apostles and prophets will be so powerful that people will be struck dead if they show up at their meetings with sin in their lives.2 The new apostles and prophets will have power over nature itself.3 They will be a “new breed of man” with revelations, power, and prophetic insight not seen since Christ Himself was on earth.4 Bill Hamon who makes all these claims includes himself in this category of a “new breed” apostle: “In 1994 at CI’s eighth annual IGOP Conference I accepted God’s ‘commissioning’ as one of His new breed of restored last-days apostles.”5 He claims to have, “one thousand pages of type-written prophecies” that prophecy that Hamon is an apostle and prophet.6 (Hmm. Once again the author presses the issue of present-day expressions. But we are not interested in claims of contemporary "apostles." Hopefully he will provide us with the biblical case at some point.)

The key proof text that underlies this movement is Ephesians 4:11-13 cited above. In this article we will examine this passage in its Biblical context to see if it predicts a new breed of apostles and prophets who will empower the church to take dominion over the world before Christ returns. ("Dominion?" The author has moved farther away from his stated premise. He now in essence has set out to demolish his straw man.)

How were the Spiritual Gifts Transmitted [Part 2] Doug Kutilek

Found here. My commentary on part one is here.


The second half to Doug Kutilek’s article on the apostolic transmission of the charismata, or spiritual gifts. For introduction and background, see PART 1.
——

Paul

Before leaving Acts, the conversion of Paul must be addressed. Though there are three accounts of his conversion (Acts chapters 9, 22 and 26), only two (9 and 22) record the coming of Ananias to see him while he was yet blind, and only one, chapter 9, records the imposition of Ananias’ hands on Paul. God explains to Ananias before He sends him on his mission of contacting Saul/Paul: “and [he, i.e., Saul] hath seen a man named Ananias coming in, and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight,” (v. 12). The going of Ananias is recorded in vv. 17,18:

“And Ananias departed, and entered into the house; and laying his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, who appeared unto thee in the way which thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mayest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And straightway there fell from his eyes as it were scales, and he received his sight; and he arose and was baptized;”

The instructions given by the Lord are clear: the imposition of Ananias’ hands on Saul was for the sake of healing his blinded eyes, which in fact occurred. We also read that Ananias, in conveying the Lord’s message in addition mentions as an apparent purpose of the imposition of hands “and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” These words spoken by Ananias (no more a case of “adding to God’s word” than Eve’s addition to the recorded words of God, “neither shall you touch it” in Genesis 3:3) may be appealed to by some as proof that the charismata could be conveyed by other than Apostolic hands. To this objection, we respond, first, that no sign-gift (Emphasis added. As mentioned in my prior commentary, this phrase is employed pejoratively to convey a definition that confirms the author's biases. The phrase "sign gift" does not appear in the Bible.)

How were the Spiritual Gifts Transmitted [Part 1] Doug Kutilek

Found here. Our comments in bold.
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In our quest for the biblical case for cessationism, we turn to this author to see if he can help.
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I wanted to continue a bit on the theme of providing answers to charismatic objections to cessationism. Probably one of the biggest is the charge that cessationism isn’t biblical. Charismatic continuationists insist that if a person were to lock himself in a room for a year and study the Bible exclusively, there would be no way he could honestly conclude that spiritual gifts ceased after the close of the NT.

But is that a legitimate claim? I don’t believe it is.

Back in 2004, Doug Kutilek, whose material I have cited here at my blog a number of times, did a brief study on how the spiritual gifts were transmitted. I thought he had some compelling insights from Scripture documenting the role in which the Apostles played in transmitting the spiritual gifts and the miraculous displays of the Holy Spirit during the first century establishment of the NT church.

He builds his case comprehensively from the text of Acts and the NT epistles. It is nearly 11 pages in a Word format, so I will break it into two, manageable parts. This first one introducing the subject and surveying Acts, and the second part considering Paul and the epistles. If you wish to read ahead, the entirety of Doug’s study can be read in his monthly As I See It email newsletter volume 7, number 1.
——–

Introduction

The last half of the 20th century was marked by a strong interest in the charismata, the “gifts of the Holy Spirit.” Much of this interest has no doubt been generated by the so-called “charismatic renewal” that began on Azuza Street in Los Angeles in 1907, with the subsequent “signs and wonders” movement that has spread nation- and even world-wide.

But it has not been just among those who claim that the sign-gifts (miraculous manifestations such as speaking in tongues) (The pejorative phrase "sign gifts" is not found in the Bible. Indeed, the use of the phrase is intended to predispose readers towards the cessationist perspective.)

Continuationism is NOT a Secondary Issue - by Fred Butler

Found here. Part 2. Part 3. Excerpt from part four here.
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We are publishing this because it is noteworthy for a complete lack of a scriptural explanation of the author's case. In fact, there are no scriptures quoted at all, and but a single Scripture reference in the entire screed.

The author's entire presentation is to mock people he disagrees with, as if that enlightens and edifies the reader.

However, nothing about contemporary charismatic "crazies" is relevant. What charismatics say or do does not come to bear on the subject. The actions, teachings, behaviors, or failings of continuationists has no bearing at all on the author's obligation to explain what the Bible teaches. 

And that's what the author completely avoids, a presentation from the Bible that makes his case and refutes his opponents. He doesn't quote the Bible at all.

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What is Heresy? Is Arminianism Heresy, Part II

Found here. Part I found here. My comments in bold.
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A good part of the article omitted since it a long, pedantic explanation of why the author is not a hyper-Calvinist.

The author concludes, after that extensive and tangential explanation, that Armenianism is not heresy, but it is wrong. It is wrong because it contradicts Calvinism.

I should mention that I am not defending Armenianism, I am intent on discussing the author's assertions.

Lastly, the author doesn't quote or reference the Bible. Not once.)

When believers have a low view of God, everything focuses on meeting felt needs - John MacArthur

A FB friend posted this:

Transcript: “When believers have a low view of God, everything focuses on meeting felt needs within the body of Christ. When the church adopts such a perspective, it often offers people nothing more than spiritual placebos. It centers on psychology, self-esteem, entertainment, and a myriad of other diversions to attempt to meet perceived and felt needs.”

This is ostensibly a quote from John MacArthur. My FB friend proudly displayed it on her feed as if it were some sort of significant point. I have a different opinion.

First, we don't have any context for the statement. For example, MacArthur's premise. What does he mean by "low view of God?" Is he referring to general believers and their inadequate revelation as to the Glory of God? It doesn't seem so, because he subsequently employs a non sequitur, changing from "believers" to "churches."

Francis Chan: “One Hundred People Saved in One Year is Not a Success” - BY RICHARD HAAS

Found here. Our comments in bold.
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Generally speaking, we're glad there are groups like Pulpit and Pen who are willing to courageously defend the truth of the Gospel. However, this good work is often overshadowed by hyperbolic cries of heresy. The Doctrinal Police are quick to their outrage. 

Here is such an example. 

Here Francis Chan is lined up in P and P's cross hairs. This is a 47:56 minute video, where Chan is explaining why he gave up his multi-thousand member mega church. You can see the depth of his desire to reach the lost as he speaks. His anguish is that a church of thousands ought to be mature enough to actually act on their faith and not need to be spoon fed more teaching year after year.

So Chan stepped down from his church, one that many of us would think is hugely successful. He now is working within home groups, which he thinks should encourage greater maturity and reach the lost better.

That is the context of his remark about what he considers to be the failure of seeing only 100 salvations in such a large church. Chan believes that this many people should be more fruitful.
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Does Jesus teach water baptism in John chapter 3?

Does being "born of water" mean water baptism? Isolated from its context, verse 5 could be forced to suggest water baptism: "no-one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit."

We will find the actual meaning of the verse by reading the entire passage in context.

Jn. 3:3-8 In reply Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth, no-one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!” 5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no-one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things?

Notice what Jesus says in verse 6, as he amplifies verse 5: "Flesh gives birth to flesh (first birth), and "Spirit gives birth to spirit" (i.e., born again). Jesus is telling Nicodemus that the natural birth is is not enough to "see the kingdom of God" (vs. 5). Something else is required, to be "born of the Spirit" (vs. 8). In fact, Jesus suggests that this is simple, and that Nicodemus as a teacher of Israel should understand these things (vs. 10).

Sermon 12/30/17 Fear of the Lord, obedience, and holiness.

Prepare the Way

Psalm 34

Lord’s prayer.
***

So, where are we going as a church? We’ve been through some difficult times. We’ve experienced some shaking. Some things have happened that would have destroyed a typical church. Yet we’re still here.

I think we’re going through this because Father wants to develop our faith. He has big plans for us. I want to keep that vision in front of you. I want you to discover your part in it. I don’t want you to lose heart or forget why you’re here or what C3 is called to.

So from here we push on in the faith. We still love, we are still committed to one another, we are still persevering, we are still worshiping, sometimes through tears. We’re still here.

Say this with me: It’s been a rough ride sometimes… but I’m still here.

The leadership has some important decisions to make. Are we going to do a pastor search? Do we want to promote someone from within? Do we want to continue with a rotation of elders preaching? What is C3 going to look like?

We don’t have all the answers. But I’m not panicking. I’m not in a hurry. Let’s wait on the Lord for His provision. Our hope is found in the Chief Shepherd, not in a man. We look to Jesus. And He is always faithful. Amen?

Being without a professional pastor might not be your preference. And that’s fine. I’m glad we don’t all think alike. I like hearing a variety of voices.

There aren’t a lot of churches like this. Most churches have a professional pastor. But even though we don’t have a man with a credential, we’re still are a church, because a church is people. 

Church History

Let me give you a bit of church history. After the first generation of Christians died off, the state of the church was uncertain and fluid. The churches of that day were pretty loosely organized, with a variety of doctrines.

Sometime in the 2nd century, church bishops in important cities like Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome began to exert greater authority over smaller churches. These men began to meet together to resolve issues of doctrine and practice. They became pre-eminent.

So by the end of the 2nd century, Christian leadership had evolved into a hierarchy, with a central bishop having authority over the other clergy in his city. Thus the change from the New Testament practices to a pyramid began relatively early, and was really cemented in place when Constantine decriminalized Christianity in 313 AD.

Eventually, this led to a large part of the Church coming under the Bishop of the Church of Rome in 380 AD. And this is essentially the beginnings of the Roman Catholic Church, presided over by a pope, and with churches led by a professional clergy.

That clergy-led model is what we have today. The reason most of Christendom comes to a special building and sits and listens to a speech by the guy in charge is because that is what church has been doing for 1700 years.

Now, I’m not criticizing. There’s a comfort in structure, a familiarity. We like what we know. That’s not bad at all.

But the first generation church was a lot different. For us, it seems a bit strange reading NT passages about church order. It isn’t the way we do things. So, we might choose to ignore the discrepancy, or try to harmonize it with our doctrine, or even, we might try to get church to change.

It’s a fact that many pastor-led churches are very successful. But many are not. We all know this. We also know that church history is littered with the rubble of injured people, heresies of all kinds, and fallen pastors.

I don’t blame pastors. I don’t even blame our attitudes and expectations. I really think the problem is the model we inherited from the Catholic Church. It may have worked OK a 100 or a 1000 years ago, but I don’t think it’s working very well these days.

We all know that the Christian faith is on a downward trend in the US. In many parts of Europe it’s almost dead. We Christians are increasingly viewed as judgmental, rigid, and unpleasant. But the one thing that strikes me the most is surveys of the unchurched say we are BORING. Can you imagine? Boring?

I know I’m being a little unfair about the issue of church structure, but you see my point. That’s why I’ve been talking about a different way of doing church. I’m not looking for radical change, I’m just wanting to present alternatives. You decide if my case is compelling.

My particular goal is team leadership, so that the weight of C3’s ministry is carried by more than just one person. For me, it hasn’t about removing power from the pastor, it’s about raising the elders up. After that, it isn’t about removing power from the elders, it’s about raising the deacons up. And then, it’s not about removing power from the deacons, it’s about raising the people up.

I’ve really been talking about you. 

You are a gifted people, and you might not even know it. As much as I value the elders and their incredible hearts, and the deacons and their selfless service, I see right here the key to a healthy and successful church. You.

If you were ever to catch a vision of what you can do in Christ, the gates of hell would not prevail. Untapped potential. Unused gifts. Unreleased ministries.

Say this with me: I am... the minister of this church.

That’s who you are. The pastors and prophets and evangelists and apostles and teachers are sitting right here in front of me.

You are a part of this thing Father has constructed. A vibrant, life-giving church is one where every person has a chance to be activated for Kingdom work.

So every time I get the chance, I’m going to hammer that home. I want to find a way to activate you.

But structure is only a tool, a means to an end. And that end is Father’s Kingdom work though His people. So if that means we decide to have a pastor, so be it. I’ll be in total agreement. Why? 3 Church structure isn’t an obstacle to Father.

But however it looks, I’d like us to be a healthy church. So, what is a healthy church? It would be easy to judge by numbers. The number of people who come on Sunday. The number of people on the worship team. The number of dollars in the offering.

While these are important, my list doesn’t have numbers. A healthy church

  Honors the Word 
  Is unstoppable in worship
  Is filled with Holy Spirit
  Loves the saints
  Obeys Father
  Has vision for the lost
  Is a church of prayer
  Understands its identity and calling

We are doing pretty well on many of these, and are lacking in others. Where we are doing well, much credit goes to you. You are the ones who make this thing work. You are attentive to Father and to His people. Thank you for your service, your faith, your financial support, and your love. Thank you. Thank you.

So, to answer the question I asked at first, where are we going as a church? It might not look much different to the casual eye. But my hope is that we will increase in our commitment to

  Preach the Word 
  Push deeper into musical worship 
  Love one another
  Stand firm in faith and hope 
  Look to Father for our strength and our vision

It’s His church. Whatever good happens here is because of Him. He’s taking us through the challenges and difficulties, and He is making us stronger. He’s working through us and in us. He’s developing godly character in us.

We will need godly character in order to go where Father wants to take us. This is what I want to emphasize today, godly character in the context of a move of God.
***

A tangent. Here’s a little of my history. The first 20 years of my Christian life was spent being a proper, sober, serious Christian. I’ve attended churches that thought rock music is of the devil. I’ve been to churches that believe only the KJV is true. I spent a good amount of time in churches that sang only hymns. Three of them to be exact, then the offering, the sermon, and go home. Set your watch to it. 11 to noon.  Bam.

I believed that if you wanted to hear from God, the only place for that was the Bible.

I thought charismatics, even the mild variety, were not Christians. I had all the proof texts. I chaffed when worship songs started stretching out to 5, then 10, and later, 20 minutes. I was very uncomfortable when people raised their hands in worship. Then people started waving flags and dancing and shouting “amen!” And people weeping! The horror!

A proper Christian doesn’t do such things. I frowned on emotion. It’s irreverent. Anti-intellectual. Unseemly. This was not for me, and as far as I was concerned, not for any real Christian. See, Christianity was serious business. Church had to be orderly. That’s why we handed out programs.

But Father had other plans. My world was about to change. One morning as I sat in church, I wept as we sang an old worship song. What? On another occasion my hands started going up. I couldn’t stop them. No! I was becoming one of THEM.

Some time after this some people I know went up to the Toronto revival. They came back with a little bit of it. It was heresy to me, people getting slain in the Spirit, rolling on the floor laughing and shaking. It was crazytown. I wanted none of it.

Then a friend invited me to join his noon prayer group. As far as I was concerned, this prayer group was a bunch of looney charismatics. But oh, they knew how to pray. And it turns out, they were actually wonderful people who undeniably loved the Lord. How was this possible? That threw me for a loop. It changed my whole thinking.

And, it put me on a mission to pursue Father’s heart. When you start pursuing Father’s heart, you soon realize that He’s actually the one pursuing you. When you start to understand that Father is bigger than your doctrine, you should start revising your position.

When you start praying dangerous prayers, like “Holy Spirit, do whatever you want to do with me,” He will.

Say this with me: It’s ok if Father wants me… to pray dangerous prayers.
***

As you can tell, I’ve been on a faith journey. Over the years I’ve seen a lot. I’ve seen movements and ministry ideas come and go, preachers rise and fall, and churches start with promise and end in disaster. I could give up, or I could do something about it.

There has to be a better way. Has to be. That’s why I’m here. There are plenty of churches around. But there’s promise here. I believe Father wants to pour out His Spirit in power. On us. I want to be here when it happens.

So, my perspective has changed. Radically, in some cases. I’m finally starting to get a hint as to what’s important. But you don’t have to do things the way I do things. You won’t find me telling you to tone it down. And you do not need elder approval to do what Father is telling you.

Why? Well, there’s so much that just doesn’t matter to me anymore. I have a date with destiny. And frankly, so do you. Everything else pales in comparison.

That’s my motivation, to do whatever I can to make this church something pleasing to Father. It’s why I preach about these things. My faith is rising. I am full of expectancy. And I want you to see this too, and get Father’s vision for your place in it.

Say this with me: I want my vision… to be Father’s vision.

And my message is, Church, you need to get ready. A move of God is coming to the Gallatin Valley. It could happen soon. It could happen tomorrow. It could be happening right now, or 10 years from now.

That’s the vision I’m focused upon.

***
Do we know what it takes?

Revival. A move of God. Manifestations of God’s supernatural power. I know that many of you want this. Some of you have been praying for years. But let me tell you,

A move of God can be challenging. 

Looking at past revivals, a lot of crazy stuff happened. And a lot of people got saved. But it seems like they always die out. It’s sad. It wasn’t a lack of God, and it wasn’t a lack of spiritual gifts, I’d say it was so often a lack of godly character.

So many leaders have fallen into sin. So many thought they were the star of the show. So many couldn’t bear up under the pressures.

A move of God can be challenging. When people start showing up in church asking “what must I do to be saved,” they will bring a lot of baggage. It’s not neat and pretty. There also might be witches or mockers who come and try to disrupt things.

We might be tempted to engage in the very same sins that people are getting saved from. And the newly saved have no idea what it means to live a life pleasing to Father.

It takes a mature people to bear up under a move of God. I would like to suggest that we better have our spiritual houses in order before we start praying for revival.

So I that’s why I wanted to talk about godly character. We need that before we need revival. Because I want this next move of God to endure.
***

Prepare the way

Is. 40:3 “A voice of one calling in the desert: “Prepare the way for the LORD, make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.”

If a move of God is to come, we need to prepare the way. Plow up the fallow ground of our hearts. Start building a highway of godly character.

While there are lots of things we could talk about when it comes to godly character, I want to consider three today. The first way we can prepare the way is the 26 Fear of the Lord.

27 Ph. 2:12 …continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling…

Sometimes I’m offensive. I admit it. I say controversial things. I know. And the fear of the Lord is controversial. Unpopular even. I really didn’t want to talk about it today. But early one morning a few weeks ago I wrestled with Father about this in prayer.

He won.

So I am going to give you what I hope is a biblical perspective regarding the fear of the Lord.

Is your conception of Jesus like this:

It’s a beautiful scene. Happy. Jesus is smiling. He said to let the little children come to him. This is our loving and merciful Savior, the gentle shepherd. He is the tender, kind savior, meek and lowly, He weeps over the lost and endured the cross for us.

This is next one is the latest rendering done by forensic scientists (Picture two).

Probably more accurate than the traditional view. This Jesus looks like he could take Jeff Kitto in a fight. No wonder the moneychangers were afraid. This guy could kick butt, I bet.

Or how about this: (picture three).

This Jesus is called “one like the Son of man,” He’s the warrior King, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the Alpha and Omega, the Great I Am. I suggest you make sure you’re on His side. John describes Him this way:

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. He’s dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet, dipped in blood, and a golden sash round his chest. 

On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 

Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. With justice he judges and makes war. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.  When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Revelation 1:13-17 and  19:11-16

We might have our preferences as to which Jesus is more to our liking, but which one do you think might be the one who engenders the fear of the Lord?

What I want to present to you is food for thought. I’d like to suggest that maybe it’s not a good idea to be cavalier in the presence of the King of Kings, who holds life and death in his Hands.

It’s great for us to make declarations and command blessings and remind Father of the promises He has made. We are instructed to come boldly before the Throne. We need to understand His desire to bless us. But I also believe that He is a holy God and is to be feared with a holy and righteous fear.

You don’t hear preachers talking about this much. We think the fear of the Lord is a bad thing, distasteful, negative, something that arises from condemnation or lack of identity.

So the fear of the Lord gets watered down and redefined until it is unrecognizable. It’s been morphed into awe, respect, or reverence. We don’t get how the God of love should also be feared, as if one excludes the other. We don’t do well with non-binary equations. We want Him to be either the lion or the lamb.

But, the glorious nature of our God goes beyond our conceptions. He’s non-binary. There is no contradiction between fear of the Lord and His love.

In Him no darkness dwells. He judges the nations with justice. Vengeance is His alone. He has destroyed whole peoples. He is holy, holy, holy.

And He is the same God today. Blessing and discipline. Favor and correction. Loving Father and King of kings. Mercy and severity.

Ro. 11:22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God… Paul sees no contradiction. He says, consider: give deep thought to. Take a look past the surface. We miss an entire piece of God if we don’t consider His sternness.

Fear of the Lord is a part of godly character. Father is pleased with those who fear Him. It commends us to Him. It delights Him. The Psalmist understood this: 35 Ps. 147:11 the LORD delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Say this with me: The delight of Father… is important to me.

Check through the Bible. Nearly every personal encounter with the most high God is characterized by fear.

Mini blitz of Scripture #1

Lk. 8:47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet.

Da. 8:17 As he came near the place where I was standing, I was terrified and fell prostrate.

Re. 1:17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.

Ez. 1:28 …This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell face down, and I heard the voice of one speaking.

Ex. 19:16 On the morning of the third day there was thunder and lightning, with a thick cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast. Everyone in the camp trembled.

Ps. 119:120 My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.

Ac. 7:32 `I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and did not dare to look.

This is the God you worship. This is our amazing God. Highly exalted. The King of kings. It makes me want to worship right now.

Thankfully the high and mighty One overlooks our faults. He saved us and called us sons, but He could have just as easily left us in our sins and destroyed us. The blood of Jesus was shed for us and now covers us. He bestowed riches upon us, but we rely on His kindness for our every breath. We depend completely on His mercies.

That’s why I’m telling you about holy fear. I think it’s a necessary component for 44 godly character. The fear of the Lord is needed to prepare the way for a move of God. That’s what I’m asking you to do: prepare the way.

Any questions?
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Obedience

Previously I’ve spent a fair amount of time on this stage telling you who you are. Or more precisely, who Christ is in you. But what is the purpose of understanding who we are in Christ if we don’t do what he commands?

So the second mark of godly character is obedience. I‘m being direct. I want the truth of your identity in Christ to permeate you, so that you become so consumed with pleasing Father that sin flees from you and grace upon grace abounds to you.

Should we enjoy His blessings and not do what he says? What good is it to be moving in the power of God but still be beholden to our old dead man? How does it benefit the Kingdom to say all the right words but never bear fruit?

Jeremiah Johnson is a prophetic type guy I discovered recently. I’m following him on Facebook. He wrote this:

 Obedience without intimacy produces Pharisees. (Legalism)
 Intimacy without obedience produces Prostitutes. (Hyper-Grace)
 Obedience born from intimacy produces Power. (The Kingdom of God)

Father specifically created us for work in the Kingdom. He expects us to respond to the grace freely given by doing what He says. That’s what we were created for. Ep. 2:10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

What good deeds have you been prepared for? Do them! My exhortation to you is to let nothing stop you from being obedient to Father. Obedience pleases Him.

Mini Blitz of Scriptures #2

Mt. 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Lk. 11:27-28 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” 28 He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

Jn. 14:21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

1 Jn. 2:3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.
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Freedom

I need to go on a tangent here for a moment, but it ties in. In the Christian circles I’ve traveled, liberty has been the word, and it’s good word. 2Co. 3:17 Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Oh yes, we are free. We are no longer under law. Therefore, there is no condemnation. The old life is death, and now we are alive in Jesus.

He has made me glad. I am glad He set us free. I am happy that Holy Spirit is leading us into all truth and away from the bad doctrines and bad ideas and bad fruit. Freedom from, and freedom for. Deliverance from, and called to. Freedom.

How do we balance freedom with obedience?

Filled with power, but circumspect. Confident but meek. Free but restrained. But, let me tell you what freedom isn’t. Who are you to tell me what to do? I’m free. No man has authority over me. Stop talking about sin and repentance. That’s condemnation! I can do what I want because of grace. Don’t try to tell me I wrong. I’m hearing from the Lord. You’re trying to impose legalism on me!

Unfortunately, so many of us are still in some sort of bondage. Even some charismatics are so “free” that they are actually in bondage to their old self and its passions. Feelings are substituted for biblical truth. Power without purity. Lovers of the Glory, but ambivalent to righteousness.

I’m painting with a broad brush, I know. And frankly I don’t think any of you here today are like this. But here’s my point. If we are truly free, we have a different master.

Ro. 6:22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.

He set us free to become slaves; slaves to God. We get a door prize for this: holiness. Being slaves to God/leads to holiness/leads to eternal life.

Your freedom is:

 Defined by the One who holds the reigns in your life. 
 Found only in the house of God. 
 Contained in the boundaries of grace. 

Don’t go outside the boundaries of grace.

Staying in the boundaries of grace is Holiness.
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Holiness

That’s my third mark of godly character: Holiness.

Titus 2:12 Grace teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…

The word “holiness” is Hagios: to be set apart. The word refers to something that is separated out from or called forth from the mundane, the profane, the common, the base. The picture here is a shepherd who looks at his flock and picks out a special sheep, which he sets apart from the others.

It’s like being a surf bum all your life and then the president appoints you to the Supreme court. Before, you were nothing. No qualifications, no resume, no accomplishments. But now you have a high purpose and special duty.

Because we have this status, sanctified, set apart, separated out, we have Father’s call on us. Father has set you apart to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

Say this with me: I have been separated out… for the call of my Father.

Jeremiah Johnson has this to say: The invitation to greater levels of consecration always looks like legalism to those who aren't passionately in love with Jesus.

Consecration is the old fashioned term for holiness. What he’s saying here is the more you choose to obey Father and be set apart for His purposes, the more you desire to do only those things that please Him. Though you have freedom, you consciously choose to embrace the boundaries of grace for the sake of His pleasure.

We separate ourselves from everything that might displease Father, and dedicate ourselves to holiness. That’s Paul’s point in this verse:

2Co. 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Hmm. Fear again. This is quoted from the NASB. perfecting holiness in the fear of God. But the NIV says, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. Remember, I told you that I thought the fear of the Lord was being watered down? The NIV does that here.

The Greek word translated fear (or reverence) is Phobos, which means fear, dread, terror. Holiness is perfected in the fear of the Lord. Another little nugget for you: Your process of being set apart from the condemnation of the flesh is perfecting holiness in you.

The word flesh in this verse, that’s the old dead man. We talked about the old dead man last time I was up here. Remember him? The one you drag around and need to let go of?

Being holy is not a training session to improve your old dead man. He can’t be cleaned up and taught good manners. He cannot enter the presence of Father.

Nope, that old man has to be abandoned. If he’s still hanging around, holiness will elude you.

Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit… 

Wash off the old dead man with the water of the Word, and be cleansed with Holy Spirit’s purifying fire. If there’s any darkness in you, get rid of it. The new self is the only way you can please Father, do His works, and enter His presence.

This is holiness, where not only do I delight in obeying Father, I fear disappointing Him. Now, I don’t know for sure that my sin actually disappoints Him, but in my mind, I certainly want to do what pleases Him and avoid what doesn’t.

Ep. 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Put off your old self. “Put off” is the Greek word “Apotithemi,” which means to cast aside, remove from your presence, to abandon and never return to. The old man is like a beat up old coat that you keep wearing because it’s comfortable. But it’s gross and full of holes. It stinks of spoiled meat. It’s full of maggots.

So unzip that old dead man, pull your arms out of the sleeves, and drop that thing in the garbage can and light it on fire. Then put on the new self.

“Put on” is the Greek word Endu, which means to sink into one’s clothing, clothe one's self. You have a new garment. You should put it on. This new garment imitates the nature of Father. It’s a garment of praise. It’s a garment of righteousness. It’s a garment of anointing.

Say this with me: It’s time for me… to get dressed up. 

Better get your new man on. It looks good on you.
***

Let me pause and ask, do you know what it means to be set free from sin? Is there a death sentence hanging over you? Are you self satisfied and indifferent to the call of God? Or maybe you are a Christian but living under condemnation?

It’s time to come to Father and ask for His forgiveness through the blood of His precious Son Jesus. Everyone who calls on the name of Jesus will be saved. If you haven’t done this, now is the time. Time for the chains to fall away. Time for freedom. Time for new life.

Do it right now, while you have the chance.
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Prepare the way

I think the time of casual Christianity is over. A move of God is serious business. Jesus wants a pure spotless bride, and my prayer is that Holy Spirit will bring His refining fire to bear upon us before he brings a move of God to the lost. 1Pe. 4:17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

If there’s a revival of souls coming, let’s first have a revival in the people of faith. A revivial of Godly character. A revival of obedience. A revival of holiness. A revival of the fear of the Lord. Prepare the way.

This Scripture is one of my all time favorites:

Mt. 3:11-12 But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.

I want the fullness of the Holy Spirit. I hope you do too. That’s what this baptism is. It’s a power event, but it is also a purifying event. And I want both the power and the purity. I want the wonders and miracles and healings and salvations. I want the harvest of souls and the harvest of righteousness... I want holiness. So Prepare the way.

Winnowing. When the wheat is brought in, it is taken to the threshing floor. The worker uses a winnowing fork to toss the wheat up into the air. The wind blows the lighter chaff away, leaving the grain. Then the chaff is burned, for it is valueless, while the valuable crop is gathered up and put in a safe place.

Why am I telling you this? Because as a leader in this church I feel I have the obligation to tell you the truth. But I’m simply talking to the air unless you are moved to action. I want you to take hold of the fullness of your identity in Christ.

That’s why I’m talking about a different side of Father than you may be used to hearing. He is like a multi-faceted diamond. Every time you turn the diamond, you see a new facet, a new part of Him, a new revelation of His glory and kindness and power and grace, it’s like seeing a entirely new perspective. Everywhere you look, there is a new beauty to behold.

Any questions?
***

(worship team)

Three marks of good character.

• Fear of the Lord, 
• obedience, and 
• holiness. 

It doesn’t just happen. It requires discipline, perseverance, and being filled with the Spirit. You don’t get bragging rights. There are no kudos from man. But I believe these are necessary if we really are to see a move of God.

One of the things I feel is my obligation when I stand up here is to impart vision. It’s all well and good for me to tell you about vision. But I want you to see for yourself. How do you fit into Father’s purpose? What is being required of us as a church?

This is also a matter of prayer. How’s your prayer life? The Father’s heart can only be known in the context of raw, honest, intimate prayer. You don’t necessarily have to pray for hours on end, but you do need to pray with humility and boldness, contrition and confidence, trembling and persistence.

Prepare the way

The vision I’m presenting is Holy Spirit poured out upon all flesh in the Gallatin Valley. The imperative for your is to find the place where Father is central in your life, your thoughts, and your actions. The response is you discerning and doing the works Father has set before you. The result is the advancement of His Kingdom and the salvation of many.