Something is wrong

Something is wrong

by David Rose

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and

broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many

there be which go in thereat:” Matthew 7:13

How many of us have heard of great men like Joseph Alleine, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, George Whitefield or Charles Finney? These men shook their world for Christ. When they preached, men and women would cry out in agony over their sins. Others would scream or shriek, still others would tremble, some would shake, some were even torn with a kind of convulsive motion in every part of their body. When Jonathan Edwards preached his sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” it would cause some of his congregation to rise weeping and moaning from their seats, and others would be bowed over not able to stand with an awful conviction of their sin and a real awareness of the danger they were in with God.

When Finney preached back in the 1800’s, at a village schoolhouse near Antwerp, New York he witnessed the same things. “An awful solemnity seemed to settle upon the people; the congregation began to fall from their seats in every direction and cry for mercy. If I had a sword in each hand, I could not have cut them down as fast as they fell. I was obliged to stop preaching.”

It was said that 10 years after Finney preached, 80% of those saved were still going strong in the Lord. That is simply unheard of today. We feel blessed if we can retain five percent of new converts a year later.

What about the great awakening in Wales under Evan Roberts. It was estimated that around eighty percent of the people were still in the churches five years later because of his preaching.

What was it that these men had that we don’t? The Bible tells us to “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7)

Old time preaching saved men from their sins, today we have preaching that is saving men in their sins. If you wanted to be successful, would you go to a bum living on the streets for advice on how to achieve success? No! You would probably consult successful people and ask them how they achieved their success.

If you were sick, would you go to a mechanic? No! You would most likely go to a doctor or a nutritionist. If you wanted to learn how to be a computer technician, would you go to medical school. No, that would be stupid. Yet look how many of us are praying for revival, and we are trying all kinds of new and crazy ideas to bring people into the church, then we can’t get them to stay. Not only that, the ones that do stay have never been freed from the power of sin in their lives. They have the same sin problems as the lost. It is not consistent with scriptures or past movements of God. We are not preaching the same message that our forefathers or the gospels preached. We have adopted a Barney (the purple dinosaur) gospel with no teeth.

Where is Gods power, as demonstrated in the early church and that was with our forefathers when they preached. God has moved upon my heart to write a warning to those that think they are saved, but don’t live like it, because many are not going to make it. They have allowed themselves to be deceived. There has, over the years, crept in very damnable lies in the churches across America.

Today in many pulpits, preachers are giving success seminars. There is no mention of the blood of Christ, repentance, fasting, prayer, evangelizing, self-denial or hell, only different ways to enhance your life. There is something terribly wrong.

A hundred years ago, William Booth founder of the Salvation Army uttered these words: “The chief danger of the twentieth century will be: religion without the Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ, forgiveness without repentance, salvation without regeneration, heaven without hell.”

“In 1906 the ‘Azusa Street’ revival prophesied that in the last days three things would happen in the great pentecostal movement:

1. There will be an over emphasis on power, rather than

on righteousness.

2. There will be an over emphasis on praise, to a

God they no longer pray to.

3. There will be an over emphasis on the gifts of the

Spirit - rather than on the Lordship of Christ”

(“The Delusion of Cool Christianity” by Andrew Strom)

Some of you have sat back in an easy chair and let TV and radio preachers spoon feed you the word of God and you don’t even bother to check to see if what they are preaching is in the Bible. We just believe it or not, depending on what we want to hear. We act like God’s commandments are multiple choice. What would you say to me if I had a bottle of deadly poison in my hand and I told you I was going to drink it because it tasted good. You would probably warn me and try to get me to read the warning label. But what if I said “I don’t believe the way you do.

Besides we’ve all got a right to believe the way we want.” But the truth be known, my belief has nothing to do with the facts. If you or I drink poison we will die. For some reason truth is no longer truth or a fact is no longer a fact. Now people say, well that’s your truth, I don’t believe that way. This is stupid reasoning from a dumbed down generation who believe truth is not absolute.

Two plus two equals four is true, therefore it is a fact. It does not matter how many people say that two plus two equals six. That would be false, or a lie. It does not matter how many graphs I make or how many ways I try to convince you that two plus two is six it will always be four. Truth is forever settled, it can’t be changed. It is a fact. Because much of what is called teaching in schools today is not showing children how to think, children are being told what to think. That is indoctrination. I have not run across many people who really know how to research anything anymore. They think that research is listening to a proclaimed expert speak on the news or by reading a news article. True research is checking the references to see if they really exist. It also deals with making sure there is no contradiction in the statement or supposed fact. With this, I challenge everyone of you to check out in the Bible to see if what I am telling you is even in the bible.

Many think they have a right to believe the way they want to when it comes to God’s word. But let me ask you, just how many ways can you interpret this verse:

“Thou shalt not commit adultery”

What did Jesus say to the woman caught in adultery? He said: “Go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11)

How many ways can you interpret the verse “Go, and sin no more”? The Bible tells us that God is going to judge the adulterer right along with the whoremonger in (Heb. 13:4). Whoremongers are going to have their part in the lake of fire in (Rev. 21:8). Listen up! It does not matter what you believe, the Bible says that no adulterer shall inherit the kingdom of God. (Gal. 5:19-21)

So many people get hung up on scriptures they don’t understand, they throw the whole Bible out as a book that is too hard to understand. Mark Twain once said, “Most people are bothered by those passages in scripture which they cannot understand; but as for me, I always noticed that the passages in scripture which

trouble me are those I do understand.”

If people would begin to obey the parts of God’s word that they do understand, God says that He would pour out His spirit on them and give them greater understanding of His word. (Prov. 1:23)

The biggest reason many of you can’t understand the Bible, is you haven’t been obedient to that which has been revealed to you. Act on what you have and more will be given you. Don’t act on what you have, and even that will be taken away.

What does the Bible say? Many people are under the wrong assumption that all they have to do is say a prayer or just believe in Jesus and they will go to heaven when they die.

But is this really what the Bible says? Let’s look:

After Peter preached to over 3000 people on the day of Pentecost the people asked him “what shall we do?” They wanted to know how to be saved. Here was Peter’s opportunity to tell them to ask Jesus into their hearts. What did he tell them? He said, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:37-38)

Lets look at Philip, when he was done preaching they were all baptized, both men and women. (Acts 8:12) Then Peter and John came on the scene and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14-17) So far we have not run into anyone saying ask Jesus into their hearts. Instead we see people being told to repent, be baptized and then be filled with the Spirit.

When Peter preached to Cornelius and his household, they repented and received the Holy Spirit and then Peter commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Acts 10:44-48

What about the Philippian jailer? The Word tells us that after an earthquake all the doors were opened in the prison, and the keeper of the prison came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, asking “What must I do to be saved? That night Paul spoke the word of God to him and that same hour he and his family were all baptized. (Acts 16:32-33)

Why did Paul tell the people to “arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” (Acts 22:16) Am I saying that in order to be saved you must be baptized? No! But I am saying that salvation is much deeper than a little prayer and baptism is much greater than a little token of your commitment to Christ. You better have a good reason for disobeying our Lord when he commands us to be baptized. Many of you are not tied up on a tree like the thief hanging next to Jesus.

Baptism is much more than just a symbolic action showing your new life in Christ. It is according to scripture:

A burial of the old man and resurrection of the new.

It is putting on Christ. (Galatians 3:27) (Colossians 2:11,12) Something supernatural happens to those who are baptized in faith. The old man is dead and buried, the new man in Christ is born. You are made dead to sin!

Still nothing on eccepting Jesus into our hearts. You can go from Matthew to Revelation and you will not find one case where any of the disciples are telling anyone just eccept Jesus into your heart. I have not found where any of our forefathers in the faith did this either.

Close to two hundred years ago during Charles Finney’s preaching, people would just run to the altars or they would cry out for mercy where they were seated. Many would be there all night crying out to God and repenting of their sins. I believe this gave the Holy Spirit time to work in people’s lives and to change them. No one preached “Close your eyes and bow your head if you would like to ask Jesus into your heart raise your hand”. Let me say this to you Pastors, if your converts can’t stand up with every eye open and every head up in a church setting where there are other Christians that love them, they will never stand up for Christ in an ungodly world. So the question is, what did these men of God do that we don’t?

They thundered against sin! They did not lull the people to sleep by saying peace, peace, when there is no peace. They would warn that “without holiness no man shall see the Lord.” (Heb. 12:14)

Richard Owen Roberts, a man used of God to usher in a great revival said in his sermon ‘Preaching that Hinders Revival’,

“What ever happened to the fearless preachers whose fiery denuciations of sin and awesome warnings of impending doom used to grip the land? Are we too advanced a culture to be affected by prophets of God or are the men who think themselves called of God too timid to tell the truth?”

Why do we not preach against sin anymore? Doesn’t the Word warn us about professing Christ and living in sin? Yes it does.

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” (Prov. 28:13)

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” (1 John 2:3-6)

“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)

Many think they are righteous just because they believe in Jesus. But God’s word says:

“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.”

(1 John 3:7)

A true Christian is Christ like. He keeps God’s

commandments. (1 John 2:3-6)

Do you really want to go to heaven? Paul made it very clear on how to get there, he said:

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity (sin).” (2 Timothy 2:19)

Many think they know the Lord because they said a prayer many years ago. You may pray everyday, but if you are living in known sin the Bible says God will not hear you. Not only that, your prayers are, according to the Bible, an abomination to Him. (Prov. 28:9 & Psalms 66:18) Jesus said we must repent. (Luke 13:3,5)

Many false teachers will tell you that repent means to turn from unbelief in God to belief in God. But belief is worthless if you don’t follow up with obedience. This is why Jesus said, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I say.” (Luke 6:46)

James said, “Even the devil believes in God and trembles.” So it takes more than head knowledge, it takes loving and serving Jesus, and the Bible says if we really love Him we will obey Him. (John 14:15)

What did Jesus tell the woman caught in the act adultery to do? He told her to “go and sin no more”. He did not tell her to get counseling. Or to try to cut back on all of her men. He said “don’t do that anymore”. What part of these scriptures are people not understanding?

John said, if anyone says they know the Lord Jesus and yet they are not keeping the ten commandments of God, they are a liar. (1 John 2:24) Once we are born again we will walk in love toward God and man. (Eph. 5:1,2)

True love fulfills the ten commandments.

“Love to God will admit no other God.

Love resents everything that debases its object by

representing it by an image.

Love to God will never dishonor His name.

Love to God will reverence His day.

Love to parents makes one honor them.

Hate, not love, is murder.

Lust, not love, commits adultery.

Love will give, but never steal.

Love will not slander or lie.

Love’s eye is not covetous.” Author Unknown

Love fulfills the law. Just saying you’re a Christian does not make you a Christian, any more than standing in a garage makes a you a car. Paul tells us how a true Christian lives. “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:8-10

If you walk in love, you will keep the 10 commandments. So it is possible through the power of the Holy Spirit to live a holy life. This is the reason that Christ came, to destroy the power of sin and the devil,

(1 John 3:8) and turn us from a life of sin to a life of holiness. (Acts 3:26 / 1 Peter 2:24 )

Many think that because they said a prayer and asked Jesus into their hearts, that they are saved. They have no hunger for His Word, no desire for prayer, no compassion for the lost and no conviction over sin. This is not right! Today many pastors say we are to “win people through grace, not law.” “The law is to condemning.”

How should we share the word of God with others? What has worked in the past? If you want the same results of the early church revivals, do what they did. Preach what they did. Does the Bible tell us to use our methods that we use today? Or does it tell us to follow Jesus and follow the ancient paths and consider our forefathers and follow them?

“Thus says the LORD, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ Jeremiah 6:16

“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” Hebrews 13:7

Are we to proud to learn from our early leaders or are our early leaders to radical for our lukewarm

generation?

“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”

Revelation 3:16

“Evermore the law must prepare the way for the

gospel. To overlook this in instructing souls is almost

certain to result in false hope, the introduction of a false

standard of Christian experience, and to fill the church

with false converts...Time will make this plain.”

Charles Finney

“Some say that they are gospel preachers.

I am a law and gospel preacher.”

John Wesley

“It is a great mistake to give a man who has not been

convicted of sin certain passages that were never meant

for him. The law is what he needs... Do not offer the

consolation of the gospel until he sees and knows he is guilty before God. We must give enough of the law to

take away all self- righteousness. I pity the man

who preaches only one side of the truth always the

gospel, and never the law.”

D.L. Moody

“I fear the preachers have been more studious

to please than to awaken, or there would have

been a deeper work.”

John Wesley

“Satan, the god of all dissension, stirreth up daily

new sects, and last of all, which of all other I should

never have foreseen or once suspected, he hath raised

up a sect as such as teach... that men should not be

terrified by the law, but gently exhorted by the

preaching of the grace of Christ.”

Martin Luther