Monday Night Thoughts

I hope everyone had a great Monday.

A friend I work with has decided to jump into the world of blogging. The name of the blog is, "American Car."

The blog is all about cars. If you have the time, visit the blog and offer him some constructive tips on how to improve it. It is always fun to watch how a blog develops and changes over time.

Here is the link and let him know that you heard about his blog on the Preaching Today blog:

American Car

I also have some very good news to report tonight:

Look who's BACK!!!!!

If you never listened to the radio program Issues Etc then you have not lived :)

Issues was one of the most informative and hard hitting programs on the radio. They would inform listeners about what was happening in Christianity and then offer some very hard hitting critiques. The program comes from a Lutheran perspective, but it is was always a great program. One day it was here and then suddenly it was removed from the air. Well they are back and I know I am very happy about it! Here is the link to the site and I can't wait until the first program:

Issues

Have a great Monday Night!

Todd Bentley Kicks Cancer Patient in the Stomach

This video is beginning to make it's way around the Internet. I can't tell for sure if he actually kicks the man but you can watch it for yourself.

The Rebelution's Do Hard Things Tour

This coming Saturday the teenagers of Victory Baptist Church will be attending the Rebelution conference in Dallas, TX.

Here some information about the conference:

The Rebelution's Do Hard Things Tour is coming to seven major cities across the United States in 2008. Each conference is a challenging one-day event for teens by teens who believe that our generation is ready for a change. Ready for something that doesn't promise a whole new life if you'll just buy the right pair of jeans or use the right brand of deodorant.

We believe that our generation is ready to rethink what teens are capable of doing and becoming. And we've noticed that once wrong ideas are debunked and cleared away, our generation is quick to choose a better way, even if it's also more difficult.

The Do Hard Things Tour invites you to explore some radical questions:

Is it possible that even though teens today have more freedom than any other generation in history, we're actually missing out on some of the best years of our lives?

Is it possible that what our culture says about the purpose and potential of the teen years is a lie, and that we are its victims?

Is it possible that our teen years give us a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for huge accomplishments -- as individuals and as a generation?

And finally, what would our lives look like if we set out on a different path entirely --

a path that required more effort but promised a lot more reward?

We describe that alternative path with three simple words: Do Hard Things.

What is the significance? Pt 2

Yesterday I challenged everyone to find out the significance of 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 other then church discipline. I received some good suggestions but no one pointed out a very important thing found in the text.

Consider:

. 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.

Look carefully at the text:

If we don't obey what?

Our word by the epistle.

What are the consequences if they did not obey?

Church discipline

This text speaks to the authority of God's word. Paul understood that the letter he had written was authoritative and binding to the believers at Thessalonica. This does not prove the bible is inspired but it does show that in this case the writer understood his words had an authority that were binding upon believers.

This is an important truth that we should take some time to consider.

Good job on the things people did point out.

Have a great night

Ordo Salutis

Article found at http://www.monergism.com/


Latin, "the order of salvation." The ordo salutis is the theological doctrine that deals with the logical sequencing of the benefits of Salvation worked by Christ which are applied to us by the Spirit. This first thing to remember is that we must never seperate the benefits (regeneration, justification, sanctification) from the Benefactor (Jesus Christ). The entire process (election, redemption, regeneration, etc.) is the work of God in Christ and is by grace alone. Election is the superstructure of our ordo salutis, but not itself the application of redemption. Regeneration, the work of the Holy Spirit which brings us into a living union with Christ, has a causal priority over the other aspects of the process of salvation. God opens our eyes, we see. God circumcises/ unplugs our ears, we hear. Jesus calls a dead and buried Lazarus out of the grave, he comes; In the same way, the Holy Spirit applies regeneration, (opening our spiritual eyes and renewing our affections), infallibly resulting in faith. All the benefits of redemption such as conversion (faith & repentance), justification, sanctification and perseverance presuppose the existence of spiritual life. The work of applying God's grace is a unitary process given to the elect simultaneously. This is instantaneous, but there is definitely a causal order (regeneration giving rise to all the rest). Though these benefits cannot be separated, it is helpful to distinguish them. Therefore, instead of imposing a chronological order we should view these as a unitary work of God to bring us into union with Christ. We must always keep in mind that the orders expressed in the following articles occur together or happen simultaneously like the turning on of a light switch or a faucet. But God turns on the light/faucet, so to speak. All aspects of the work of God continue together throughout the life of a Christian.

Historically in the Church there has been disagreement about the order of salvation, especially between those in the Reformed and Arminian camps. The following two perspectives of God's order in carrying out His redemptive work reveals the stark contrast between these two main historic views. Keep in mind that both viewpoints are based on the redemptive work which Christ accomplished for His people in history:

In the Reformed camp, the ordo salutis is 1) election, 2) predestination, 3) gospel call 4) inward call 5) regeneration, 6) conversion (faith & repentance), 7) justification, 8) sanctification, and 9) glorification. (Rom 8:29-30)

In the Arminian camp, the ordo salutis is 1) outward call 2) faith/election, 3) repentance, 4) regeneration, 5) justification, 6) perseverance, 7) glorification.

Notice the crucial difference in the orders of regeneration and faith. While the Reformed position believes spiritual life is a prerequisite for the existence of the other aspects of salvation, the Arminians believe that fallen, natural man retains the moral capacity to receive or reject the gospel of his own power. Even with the help of grace he still must find it within himself to believe or reject Christ. This has broad implications and raises questions like why does one man believe and not another? You might also notice that, according to Arminians, election is dependent on faith, not the other way around. This is no small matter ...understanding the biblical order, while keeping in mind its unitary process, is crucial and has a profound impact on how one views God, the gospel, and the Bible as a whole.

Here is the original article.

Isaac Watts (1674 – 1748)

Isaac Watts is recognized as the "Father of English Hymnody", as he was the first prolific and popular English hymn writer, credited with some 750 hymns. Many of his hymns remain in active use today and have been translated into many languages.

Born in Southampton, Watts was brought up in the home of a committed Nonconformist — his father had been incarcerated twice for his controversial views. At King Edward VI School (where one of the houses is now named "Watts" in his honour), he learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew and displayed a propensity for rhyme at home, driving his parents to the point of distraction on many occasions with his verse. Once, he had to explain how he came to have his eyes open during prayers.

"A little mouse for want of stairs ran up a rope to say its prayers."
Receiving corporal punishment for this, he cried

"O father, do some pity take And I will no more verses make."
Watts, unable to go to either Oxford or Cambridge due to his Nonconformity, went to the Dissenting Academy at Stoke Newington in 1690.

His education led him to the pastorate of a large Independent Chapel in London, and he also found himself in the position of helping trainee preachers, despite poor health. Taking work as a private tutor, he lived with the nonconformist Hartopp family at Fleetwood House, Abney Park in Stoke Newington, and later in the household of Sir Thomas and Lady Mary Abney at Theobalds, Cheshunt, in Hertfordshire, and at their second residence, Abney House, Stoke Newington. Though a nonconformist, Sir Thomas practiced occasional conformity to the Church of England as necessitated by his being Lord Mayor of London 1700–01. Likewise Isaac Watts held religious opinions that were more nondenominational or ecumenical than was at that time common for a nonconformist; having a greater interest in promoting education and scholarship, than preaching for any particular ministry.

On the death of Sir Thomas Abney, Watts moved permanently with widow, Lady Mary Abney, and her remaining daughter, to their second home, Abney House, at Abney Park in Stoke Newington - a property that Mary had inherited from her brother along with title to the Manor itself. The beautiful grounds at Abney Park, which became Watts' permanent home from 1736 to 1748, led down to an island heronry in the Hackney Brook where Watts sought inspiration for the many books and hymns written during these two decades. He died there in Stoke Newington and was buried in Bunhill Fields, having left behind him a massive legacy, not only of hymns, but also of treatises, educational works, essays and the like. His work was influential amongst independents and early religious revivalists in his circle, amongst whom was Philip Doddridge who dedicated his best known work to Watts. On his death, Isaac Watts' papers were given to Yale University; an institution with which he was connected due to its being founded predominantly by fellow Independents (Congregationalists).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_Watts

What is the significance?

Today for my study time I read 2 Thessalonians 3:14-15. This text clearly speaks to the subject of Church discipline but it also teaches another important truth. Take the time to read the text for yourself and let me know what else is taught in the passage.

I look forward to reading what everyone finds. Post your comments on the blog or e-mail me at: tsrk30@sbcglobal.net

Creed of Chalcedon

During Sunday school we discussed the Creed of Chalcedon.

Here it is for all those interested.

We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach men to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man, of a reasonable [rational] soul and body; consubstantial [co-essential] with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the Manhood; in all things like unto us, without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the Manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, inconfusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the unity, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person and one Subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten, God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ; as the prophets from the beginning [have declared] concerning him, and the Lord Jesus Christ himself has taught us, and the Creed of the holy Fathers has handed down to us.

Salvation's Struggle

Have you ever struggled with your salvation? Ever been down? Ever gotten to the point where you even doubted whether you were saved? As many of you know, I came out of the Fundamental Baptist world a little over a year ago...in general, that world is not the place to ever admit that reality. I am a very self-condemning and introspective person and I have a nasty habit (and sin!) of constantly picking at my motives and mulling over my inner heart. Now, don't get me wrong- we should inspect our hearts and pay attention to the work of the Lord by the Spirit through His Word to mold us into the image of Christ, right? What I'm warning against is focusing on our failings and missing Christ! Set your mind on Him, not on yourself! Reminds me of the following Scripture:

Colossians 3:1-4- "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

I have struggled with my salvation even to the point of doubting its reality at times and have had bouts of depression when I focused way too much on myself and my situation...and got my eyes off Christ. I remember during a seminary class actually admitting this fact to a Fundamental Baptist group of friends...bad mistake! They treated me like a leper and actually made jokes about it! That didn't help. I also heard from the pulpit many times things like, "God's made us in such a way that there's no way you can remember your physical birth...but no way for you to forget your spiritual birth." Preaches well...but it's really not rooted in reality or Scripture. 

Let's not make the same error, faith waivers and sometimes we focus on ourselves, our sin and our situation and get our eyes off the object of our faith, the Lord Jesus Christ...even to the point of not realizing in the present the reality of our position IN CHRIST.

I recently listened to a sermon (actually part of a series that you can find on Sermonaudio.com) that was excellent and very encouraging. I highly recommend you to listen to this one. Very good, very encouraging, very Scriptural. The sermon series is called "Healing Balm for Self-Condemning Hearts" and it was preached by Pastor Jerry Slate of Berean Baptist Church. Here is the link to the specific sermon that I'm talking about:

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=35081517289

I won't spoil it but a couple things that jumped out at me today was the need to keep my eyes on Christ...not myself. "Small faith lays ahold of a strong Christ!" We fail, we waiver, we doubt...He stands strong and unmoved...He alone is the source and strength for our faith. Look to Him through His Word and be strengthened...keep your eyes on Christ and forsake the raging waves that threaten and the boisterous wind that seeks to topple us...however, realize that when you do start sinking it is Christ Who will catch you!

Mr. J Medeiros - Constance

Someone left the following comment on my post, Music With A Message:

what is the purpose of posting the video "Mr. J Medeiros - Constance"

Constance is a story about a girl in the Philipines victiminzed by Human Trafficking. It was created by Sam Sanchez of Stick Productions. in 2006. It has spread like wildfire via YouTube, and has inspried an international human rights movement called the “Constance Campaign.” Mr. J spearheaded the movement, And has partnered with Non-Profit’s like XXXChurch, and HumanTrafficking.org. In May 2007, Constance was featured on CBS Evening News in an expose’ on internet pornography.

The video is posted on my Music With A Message blog.

Here is the link:

Music

MUSIC WITH A MESSAGE

If you love music then you may be interested in the blog, Music With A Message. I created the blog to point people to music that I feel has a message and is worth listening to. You can check the blog out at this link:

Music

Have a great day

Signs That You Are Addicted to Porn

There is a dirty little secret in Christianity that many don't want to talk about. That secret is the fact that there are many men who are Christians who struggle with Porn! There was a day that if a man wanted to purchase pornography he would have to go to an adult bookstore or go into a convenience store and ask for it because it was kept behind the counter. This would discourage most men who did not want others to know he was looking at porn. Times have changed and today you can simply log into your computer and have access to all the porn a person could ever want! Many men who find themselves having a problem with porn are ashamed and afraid to talk to anyone about the subject. The church usually treats porn as some kind of special sin and looks at those who struggle with it different then those who struggle with other sins. Many men will not admit they even have a problem.

Recently Fox news posted an article on Signs that you are addicted to porn.
The story was written to help people determine if their partner has a problem.
Please be warned, the article is very blunt in some of the signs that could point to an addiction to porn. All men should take the time to read the article and ask themselves if they have a problem.

Here is the link:
Signs

If you are struggling with porn and need help let me offer a few suggestions:

Install Covenant Eyes on your Computer:




Their Accountability software monitors Internet use and emails reports to people you select.

You would need to choose someone who would be willing to check the report and who would confront you.

Here is the link to Covenant Eyes

Eyes

If you are married you must talk to your wife. You cannot overcome Porn addiction without your wife!

Find a Godly man who you can have frank conversations with about this subject.

I am always willing to try and help those who struggle. You can contact me at tsrk30@sbcglobal.net

Report: Exams prove abuse, torture in Iraq, Gitmo

I usually avoid posting anything that is connected to politics but I feel today that I need to post the following:

Report: Exams prove abuse, torture in Iraq, Gitmo

WASHINGTON - Medical examinations of former terrorism suspects held by the U.S. military at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, found evidence of torture and other abuse that resulted in serious injuries and mental disorders, according to a human rights group.


For the most extensive medical study of former U.S. detainees published so far, Physicians for Human Rights had doctors and mental health professionals examine 11 former prisoners. The group alleges finding evidence of U.S. torture and war crimes and accuses U.S. military health professionals of allowing the abuse of detainees, denying them medical care and providing confidential medical information to interrogators that they then exploited.

Some of these men really are, several years later, very severely scarred," said Barry Rosenfeld, a psychology professor at Fordham University who conducted psychological tests on six of the 11 detainees covered by the study. "It's a testimony to how bad those conditions were and how personal the abuse was."

One Iraqi prisoner, identified only as Yasser, reported being subjected to electric shocks three times and being sodomized with a stick. His thumbs bore round scars consistent with shocking, according to the report obtained by The Associated Press. He would not allow a full rectal exam.


To read the rest of the story follow this link:
Torture


This report brings up a big question: As Christians do we support the torture of possible enemies of our country?


I believe war is permissible if certain criteria is met:

1. To protect innocent life
2. The results of a war would be better then not going to war. In some cases if a war is not fought millions may die.In some cases if a war was not fought the loss of human life may be less then that loss during the war.
3. A just war can only be waged as a last resort. All non-violent options must be exhausted before the use of force can be justified.
4. A just war can only be fought to redress a wrong suffered. For example, self-defense against an armed attack is always considered to be a just cause.

There are other thins that could be added to that list but I believe the above illustrates the point.

If a war is fought how should the enemy combatants be treated?

Do we support torture?

Do we support harsh interrogations?

We must remember that as Christians our first allegiance is not to a flag or a country but to our God.

We are committed to the word of God not a political party.

I do not claim I have all the answers but I do know that as Christians this is an issue we must think about and spend a lot of time struggling with the scriptures to come to a biblical opinion.

Take My Life

Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.

Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and gold; not a mite would I withhold.

Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.

Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.

Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

-Frances R. Havergal

The Greatest Album Of All Time!

Anyone who is a music fan has that one favorite Album of all time. This is the album that you listen to over and over again and you never get tired of it. This is the album you would choose if you were going to be placed on a deserted island and you could only take one CD. This is the album that you know every single word and every beat. For me and my oldest daughter, "Never Take Friendship Personal" by Anberlin is such an album.

We listen to the CD all the time and we know every word. In fact my daughter has certain quotes from the lyrics hung up all over her room. Never Take Friendship Personal is just an amazing CD. If it is possible to play a CD too many times then it is going to happen with this one.

Here are some of our favorite lyrics from the CD:

Song:

Never Take Friendship Personal

Lyric:

Tell me something more than what you try

The greatest tragedy is not your death

but a life without reason

That your life had no purpose.

Song: Paperthin hymn

Lyric:

A sleepless night becomes

bitter oblivion

These thoughts run through my head

Over and over

Complaints of violins become my only friends

August evenings bring solemn warnings

to remember to kiss

the ones you love goodnight

You never know what temporal days may bring

So laugh, love, live free and sing

When life is in dischord, Praise Ye The Lord

Here is one of my daughters favorite lyrics:

Song:

The Symphony of blase

Are there no shadows where you are?

I can see everything as day

Problems that you try to hide away

are pushing me aside

Could the winter calm come twice?

Because your heart seems so cold tonight

Thirst for substance somehow isn't right

It's killing me inside!

There are many more I could share I may do so in a different post.

Here is the great video for the incredible song,

"Paperthin Hymn"

Here is the video for the song

"The Unwinding Cable Car"

It is from their latest CD "Cities"

Spending Time With God

How was your time with God this morning?

In our fast paced, have it your way, right a way world, its hard to make ourselves slow down and spend time in the word of God. So I thought I would throw out a challenge for anyone who was willing to take it.

Spend the next couple of days reading Psalm Chapter 1.

See if you can learn how to be blessed.

Victory Baptist Church has a great resource to help you learn to study the bible, you can listen to it HERE.

O LAMB OF GOD

O Lamb of God, still keep me
Close to Thy pierced side;
'Tis only there in safety
And peace I can abide.
What foes and snares surround me,
What lusts and fears within!
The grace that sought and found me
Alone can keep me clean.

'Tis only in Thee hiding
I feel myself secure;
Only in Thee abiding,
The conflict can endure.
Thine arm the victory gaineth
O'er every hateful foe;
Thy love my heart sustaineth
In all its cares and woe.

Soon shall my eyes behold Thee
With rapture face to face;
One half hath not been told me
Of all Thy power and grace.
Thy beauty, Lord, and glory,
The wonders of Thy love,
Shall be the endless story
Of all Thy saints above.

- James G. Deck

Relationships In The Internet Age

There was a time that if you liked a girl and wanted to find out about her, you had to actually walk up to her and have a conversation. Times have changed with the invention of the Internet. The following is a true story:

Video

Adoption Is Greater Than The Universe

Intro to Islam

Surah 112

The Following is from the Qur'an

Surah 112

Say: He is Allah, the one and only God the Eternal, the Absolute He begot none, nor was He begotten and there is none comparable to Him

A GREAT WORSHIP ALBUM

Take me past the outer courts

Into the Holy Place
Past the brazen altar
Lord I want to see your face
Pass me by the crowds of people
And the Priests who sing your praise
I hunger and thirst for your righteousness
But it's only found in one place


Chorus:
Take me into the holy of holies
Take me in by the blood of the lamb
Take me into the holy of holies
Take the coal, touch my lips, here I am

Those amazing lyrics come from the song, Take Me In by the Band Kutless. The song can be found on the great CD, Strong Tower















Here are the lyrics for the title track, Strong Tower

When I wander through the desert
And I'm longing for my home
All my dreams have gone astray
When I'm stranded in the valley
And I'm tired and all alone
It seems like I've lost my way
I go runnign to Your moutain
Where your mercy sets me free

(chorus)
You are my strong tower
Shelter over me
Beautiful and mighty
Everlasting King
You are my strong tower
Fortress when I'm weak
Your name is true and holy
And Your face is all I seek

In the middle of my darkness
In the nidst of all my fear
You're my refuge and my hope
When the storm of life is raging
And the thunder's all I hear
You speak softly to my soul


You can purchase the CD at this link:
Tower


Here is the video for Strong Tower

Knowing of Him...or Knowing Him...There's a Big Difference

Good morning. Just wanted to share a very quick snip from AW Tozer's book, "The Pursuit of God." Reformed churches are typically known for sound, verse-by-verse, exegetical preaching. This is missing in most churches today and I am blessed to be in such a church. However, as good as this is, there is a sound warning that cries from the pages of the preface to Tozer's book that I want to encourage any like-minded Christians to beware of:

"Sound Bible exposition is an imperative must in the Church of the living God. Without it no church can be a New Testament church in any strict meaning of that term. But exposition may be carried on in such way as to leave the hearers devoid of any true spiritual nourishment whatever. For it is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience, they are not the better for having heard the truth. The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts. "

What great advice and what a sound warning! Christian, be careful in your pursuit of truth...make sure it is the God of truth that you seek...not truth for the sake of knowledge. I hope I'm clear; what I'm trying to say is that we must not be solely focused on being saturated with the truth of God's Word, of correct doctrine, of sound exegetical preaching that we miss the whole point...knowing Him. I think Paul would agree:

(Phi 3:10) That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

Sovereign Grace Seminary

I am always looking for good teaching to put on my I-Pod. This week I found the Sovereign Grace Seminary. They have placed the lectures to some of their classes online for people to download. You can even subscribe to the audio as a podcast, this will allow you to have the audio automatically download in I-Tunes. Here is the link:

Seminary

WHO IS JESUS CHRIST?

At Victory Baptist Church we are studying the Puritan Catechism during the Sunday school hour.

This Sunday we come to Part 4 of the Catechism:

The Son of God

Q. Who is the Redeemer of God's elect?

A. The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2:5), who being the eternal Son of God, became man (Jn. 1:14), and so was and continues to be God and man, in two distinct natures and one person for ever (1 Tim. 3:16; Col. 2:9).

The question of Who is Jesus Christ is the most important question a person can ever answer. If Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation then you must have the right Jesus because a false Jesus cannot save!

This Sunday we are going to study all the wrong answers people have given to the question of who is Jesus?

Here are some of the wrong answers given in church history:

EBIONISM

The earliest heretical view concerning the person of Christ was that known as "Ebionism." In the interests of a supposedly pure monotheism the Ebionites denied the Deity of Christ and held that He was merely a man on whom the Spirit of God rested in its fulness. God and man were regarded as always external to each other. It denied the possibility of a union of the divine and the human nature and so ruled out the doctrine of the Incarnation.

DOCETISM:

Chronologically, the next important error to develop concerning the person of Christ was Docetism. This term was derived from the Greek word dokeo, meaning to "seem," or to "appear." While the Ebionites believed that Christ had only a human nature, the Doceti held precisely the opposite error, asserting that He had only a divine nature and that His appearance in this world was only an illusion, or, more correctly, a theophany. According to this view He did not have a real human body and therefore could not have had a real human life. This meant further that He suffered no real pain and died no real death.

ARIANISM

A third error that arose in the early Church, more serious than either of the preceding ones, was Arianism. This view denied the true Deity of Christ and held rather that He occupied a position somewhere between that of God and man, that He was the first created being and the creator of all other creatures. He was thus regarded not as possessing absolute Deity, but only as the highest of created beings. Because of the claims which He made, the authority which He assumed, the miracles He worked, and the glory He displayed particularly in His resurrection, the great majority of the early Christians recognized Him as truly God. The Arians, however, misinterpreted certain Scripture statements relating to His state of humiliation and assumed that temporary subordination to the Father meant original and permanent inequality. Origen, the most outstanding of the early church fathers, in connection with his doctrine of the eternal generation of the Son, had taught inherent subordination. Arius carried this idea much farther and declared that the generation of the Son had taken place in time, thus definitely making Him a creature.

APOLLINARIANISM

The next error that the Church had to face concerning the person of Christ was that of Apollinarianism. This system denied the completeness of His human nature. It acknowledged His true Deity, and also that He possessed a real body and a soul which would continue after death; but it denied that He had a truly human mind, i.e., a reasoning mind that reached conclusions through mental processes as do ours. It asserted in effect that He was simply God masquerading in human flesh, and that ignorance, weakness, obedience, worship, suffering, etc., were to be predicated of the Logos, that is, of the Deity or Divine nature as such. If, by way of comparison, we can imagine a man's mind implanted in the body of a lion and the lion thereafter governed not by lion or animal psychology but by a human mind we shall have something analogous to what the Apollinarian system set forth concerning the incarnation of Christ. Apollinarius was a tricotomist, and his system was based on the assumption that there were three elements in man's nature: a material body, an immortal soul, and a reasoning mind. We believe, however, that man is composed of only two elements, body and soul, and that the mind with which man reasons in this life is the same as the soul or spirit which lives on after death.

NESTORIANISM

Nestorianism is basically the doctrine that Jesus existed as two persons, the man Jesus and the divine Son of God, rather than as a unified person. This doctrine is identified with Nestorius (c.386-451), Patriarch of Constantinople, although he himself denied holding this belief. This view of Christ was condemned at the Council of Ephesus in 431, and the conflict over this view led to the Nestorian schism, separating the Assyrian Church of the East from the Byzantine Church.

EUTYCHIANISM

Also known as Monophysitism: Greek: monos, one and physis, nature

The primary advocate of this view in the early church was Eutyches (A.D.378-454)

Eutyches taught the opposite error from Nestorianism, for he denied that the human nature and the divine in Christ remained fully human and fully divine. He held rather that the human nature of Christ was taken up and absorbed into the divine nature, so that both natures were changed somewhat and a third kind of nature resulted.

All of these are wrong answers to who Christ is.

In my next post I will proved the standard orthodox definition of the biblical teaching on the person of Christ.,

Baptist Flush Out Cancer

Group Uses Pink Toilets to Raise Money

By: Christy Hendricks

SIKESTON, Mo. - When you hear of fundraisers you might think bake sale, car wash or raffle. But one local Relay for Life group puts a new spin on the words "bathroom humor."

The Miner Baptist Church Relay for Life team wanted a fun fundraiser that all ages could participate in. 

So they sanded down, primed, and painted some toilets all in the name of cancer research.

Pink toilets, not your average lawn ornament, but it's become a common sight in the Sikeston-Miner community.

"There's no instruction with these things. You just wake up in the morning and there's a toilet in your yard," said Mike Wilson with the Miner Baptist Church.

The Miner Baptist Church hopes to use these toilets to flush away cancer. 

Imagine waking up in the morning looking out your window to a yard full of pink toilets. Now the only way to get them out of your yard is to call the number on the back, drop in $10 and the name and address of a friend or neighbor and they'll be moved out of your yard the next night."

Mike Wilson helps move the toilets every night along with several others from his church. He says folks can't get enough of the pink commodes.

"Not only has the money been good. It's like almost $1700 at $10 a pop. So you do the math how many times these commodes have been moved around," he said.

That money goes to help people like Teresa Bye, a 14-year breast cancer survivor and relay team captain for the church

"One of the drugs that I was on after I finished my chemotherapy was Tomoxifen. Tomoxifen is a direct result of research money earned from past Relay for Lives," Bye said.

Teresa says the money from raised won't be flushed away.

"We've got doctors and we've got research people that are leaving the field daily because the money for the grants just aren't there. This is what relay is all about. It's about getting the money together to talk and to teach and to cure." 

They've definitely helped raise cancer awareness.

There is an insurance policy people can buy to keep the toilets from coming to their yard, but Mike Wilson says they haven't sold many of those because the commodes are so popular.

The Scott County Relay for Life is this Saturday at the Sikeston High School football field from 11 a.m. to midnight.

House of Yahweh Wrong Again...Nuclear Baby Missing!

OK...you all know we've been covering the false and heretical teachings of Yisrayl Hawkins and his House of Yahweh, right? Recently I posted a link to a video clip showing him make a new false prophecy and prove he is NOT what he claims to be.

Our church contacted the House of Yahweh a few days ago asking them about the June 12th prophecy and were told that the news reporters falsely misrepresented them and that they didn't predict the end of the world by June 12th. They said that if we watched the full video clip we would know the truth.

Partial truth...partial error...that's the bread and butter of this cult and its leader. I will admit that many have misrepresented them in a certain context...Yisrayl Hawkins didn't say that the whole world would end on June 12, 2008. But that's only 1/2 the truth...

I watched the entire video that you can listen to below-it's about 1 hour and 20 minutes long. You can go to this link http://www.yisraylhawkins.com/Welcome.aspx the part about the prophecy part starts around the 19:30 point:

You have to listen very carefully to what he really says. I think the following is an honest description of what was supposed to have happened yesterday... according to Mr. Hawkins, when asked "You've set a new date, Jun 12th," he said "Oh no...I've not set a date for the war to end." Notice the subtle difference? HOY folks say they were misrepresented and seemed to almost suggest that the tape was altered or manipulated. The clip seen on TV is simply just the part that speaks of the prophecy...and it's the exact same video as on the HOY website. Nothing is misrepresented...

Hawkins said that the date had to do with when it would start. Again, he waffled around and shuffled left and right...but when directly confronted he said he was "expecting the nuclear baby to be loosed by then...turned loose by Yahweh by June 12th." He described this time as being a time when 1/3 of all the men in the 1/4 part of the earth in/around the river Euphrates will be killed by nuclear war.

So has this happened? Has there been a nuclear birth pang in the mid east where many are killed by a nuke in the mid east? No! FALSE PROPHET!!!!! He amazingly loves to mix OT Judaism and Christianity, but I've noticed that stoning a false prophet is removed and not put into practice at the HOY...good thing, huh? We'll try and keep you updated with the excuses that are going to flow out soon...no doubt. Sadly, people will still follow this man even though he proves himself to be a false prophet, time and time again.

The Bible and Copyrights

Someone left the following comment on the post, "God Wrote the book."

God wrote it... man has tried to mess it up, copyright it and profit from it over the centuries.

Many times people use the copyright argument to try to prove or discredit a translation. We should always strive to find truth and not to simply try to prove something. Consider the following information:

The following was posted at this link:

Copyright

Fallacy #1 - The King James Version is not now and never has been copyrighted.

"I believe the King James Bible is the work of God and not of man due to the fact that it is not now and never has been copyrighted."

I hear this "defense" of our Authorized Version of the Bible quite often, and even heard a testimony of this being the deciding factor in a man being convinced of the superiority of the King James Version at last year's Dean Burgon Society meeting in Grayling, Michigan.

Although I rejoice with the man giving the testimony, in that he has arrived at a position of knowing which Bible is God's preserved word in English, I must say I would be more comfortable if he had discovered God's Truth via a more defensible pathway.

The facts are, of course, somewhat different from the above quoted statement. While it is true that the Authorized Version of the Holy Scriptures has never been copyrighted in the United States, it is not true that the Authorized Version has never been copyrighted at all.

Upon publication of the Authorized Version in 1611, King James I of England assigned to that great work a "Cum Privilegio" (Latin: with privilege). The Cum Privilegio was issued in the form of a "Patent" which is very much like our copyright. However, the King realized that patent (copyright) law stated that a patent or copyright was only good for the life of the person holding the copyright, plus 50 years, so, instead of placing the patent in his name, or the names of the translation committee members, he issued the patent in the name of the Crown (a "Royal Letters Patent in Perpetuity"). In this way, he was able to secure the patent for the duration of the British Crown, plus 50 years. This means that it will never come into the public domain unless HM the Queen or one of her successors releases the patent.

According to British law, in England, the printing of the Authorized or King James Version of the Bible (KJV) is the monopoly of the Royal Printer, by virtue of a patent first granted to Christopher Barker in 1577. Only the University Presses of Cambridge and Oxford are permitted by royal charter to override this monopoly; one other publisher, Scottish, is an accepted printer of these materials. (By its royal charter of 1534, the University of Cambridge had acquired the perpetual right to appoint three printers who could print "all manner of books."

The right preexisted Barker's patent, and was taken to cover Bibles, so Cambridge printed a Geneva Bible in 1591 and its first KJV in 1629. Out of fairness Oxford acquired a similar charter in 1636, and in the 1670s printed Bibles.)

So the first A.V. Bibles published in England were the work of the Royal Printer (in the early 17th century, that would have been Robert Barker, Printer to the King's Most Excellent Majesty, according to the title page of the 1611 edition of the A.V.).

Although the universities (Oxford and Cambridge) always claimed the right to print the Bible, Cambridge had not exercised that right since the year 1589; but in 1628 a duodecimo New Testament was published at Cambridge, by the printers to the University, and the following year Thomas and John Buck issued the first complete Cambridge Bible. The University of Oxford did not begin to print Bibles until the year 1675, when the first was issued in quarto size; the spelling having been revised by Dr. John Fell, Dean of Oxford.

The only exception to the above was a small octavo Testament issued at Edinburgh, by the Heirs of Hart, in 1628 (the Anfro Hart whose "Breeches" Bible was so highly esteemed). This is the first Testament printed in Scotland of the King James Version, and it was the Heirs of Hart who were included in the Royal Patent of 1577, as noted above.

Today, all Bibles printed in England are printed by the university presses of either Oxford or Cambridge.

However, the good King did not take into account that one day his nation would enter into an agreement with the other major powers of the world whereby they would honor each other's laws regarding copyright and patents. Today, we have international copyright laws that are honored by all signatory nations. Unfortunately for the King and his descendants, but fortunate for us, the "Crown Patent" did not fall within the agreed upon guidelines for International Copyright (due to the patent being in the name of the Crown instead of in the name of an individual), so the Authorized Version of the English Bible was never included in the international agreement. Therefore, the Authorized Version is not copyrighted in the United States, nor any other country, except the British Empire, or Commonwealth Nations which have agreed to abide by the patent laws of Great Britain. However, the patent is still in force in Great Britain, and all Authorized Version Bibles printed in Great Britain are printed under the patent agreements with Cambridge and Oxford.

The argument has often been made by able defenders of the King James Bible that the above is not true for there were many Bibles printed by those not having a license under the "Cum Privilegio." However well intentioned these good people may be, it must be pointed out that none of the Bibles in question (with one exception) were printed in the British Empire.

In the year 1642, a folio edition of the King James Version was printed at Amsterdam by "Joost Broersz, dwelling in the Pijlsteegh, in the Druckerije." The notes of the King James Bible are omitted, and the arguments and annotations of the "Breeches" Bible are inserted in their place. Bibles with the KJV text but with Geneva notes were printed in Holland in 1642, 1672, 1683, 1708, 1715 and in England in 1649. It must be noted that the English printing of 1649 was done during the English Civil War (1642-1653, which resulted in the arrest of Charles I in 1647, and his beheading January 30, 1649, and the exile of the Royal Heir, Charles II, to Holland). It was during this period of civil unrest, when the consensus of opinion was that the Royal family had no rights or privileges, and there was no King in England, that the Royal Patent was ignored.

If the fact that the King James Bible is not under copyright in the US indicates that it is the word of God and not the words of men, as the newer versions are indicated to be by virtue of their copyright, does that also mean, as the KJV is under copyright in England, that it is not the word of God in that country? To me, the copyright argument does not prove anything other than that currently if you want to print the NIV you have to pay to do so, but you do not have to receive anyone's permission to print the KJV in this country. However, one hundred years from now (or even 75 years from now) the copyright on the NIV will cease and anyone can print it without permission or payment. Will the NIV be a better or more accurate version in 50 or 75 years when its copyright expires?

I don't think so. The argument dealing with copyright is weak at best, and deceitful at worst. There are so many good reasons to believe in the superiority of the King James Bible, it seems odd to me to use a false argument to support a book of Truth.

The following was found in the Wikipedia article on the KJV

In most of the world the Authorized Version has passed out of copyright and is freely reproduced. This is not the case in the United Kingdom where the rights to the Authorized Version are held by the British Crown under perpetual Crown copyright. Publishers are licensed to reproduce the Authorized Version under letters patent. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the letters patent are held by the Queen's Printer, and in Scotland by the Scottish Bible Board. The office of Queen's Printer has been associated with the right to reproduce the Bible for many centuries, with the earliest known reference coming in 1577. In the 18th century all the surviving interests in the monopoly were bought out by John Baskett. The Baskett rights descended through a number of printers and, in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Queen's Printer is now Cambridge University Press, who inherited the right when they took over the firm of Eyre & Spottiswoode in 1990.[55]

Other royal charters of similar antiquity grant Cambridge University Press and Oxford University Press the right to produce the Authorized Version independently of the Queen's Printer. In Scotland the Authorized Version is published by Collins under license from the Scottish Bible Board. The terms of the letters patent prohibit those other than the holders, or those authorized by the holders from printing, publishing or importing the Authorized Version into the United Kingdom. The protection that the Authorized Version, and also the Book of Common Prayer, enjoy is the last remnant of the time when the Crown held a monopoly over all printing and publishing in the United Kingdom.[56]

I wanted to post this information just to ensure people were familiar with some facts that they may not have known.

Kept by the Power of God

from "The Poor Man's Portion" by Robert Hawker 

1 Pet 1:5 "who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation." (NKJV) 

When I call to mind that in me, "that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing;" when I stand convinced, (as I do most fully, blessed be God the Holy Ghost, for having exercised his gracious work in my soul, to this gracious effect,) that though renewed in the spirit of my mind, yet in that unrenewed part of myself, which is hastening to the grave, every member is virtually all sin; when I know that never did sin break out in acts of open wickedness, in any son or daughter of Adam, but that the seeds of the same sin are in me and my nature; I long not only to know, but always to keep in remembrance by what means, and from what cause it is, that those seeds do not ripen in my heart, as well as in others; that while corrupt nature is the same in all, it is restrained in me, while so many of my fellow creatures, and fellow-sinners, fall a prey to temptation. Blessed Spirit! the merciful scripture of the evening answers the important question. They who are kept, "are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation." Here is the solution of the whole subject. With what humbleness of soul, then, ought every child of God to fall down before the throne of grace, under the deepest sense of distinguishing love, in the consciousness that it is divine restraint, and not creature merit, which makes all the difference. Help me, Lord, to go humbly all my days in this view, and let it be my morning thought, as well as my mid-day and evening meditation, that I am kept by your power, through faith unto salvation. Almighty Father, help me to be live my life depending upon your faithfulness in the covenant of grace, established and sealed as it is in the blood of your dear Son, that "you will not" turn away from me to do me good; and that you will put your fear in my heart, that I shall not depart from you.-Jer. 32:40. Precious Lord Jesus! cause me to rest also upon an union with you, a communication of grace from you, and a participation in you, in all the blessings of your redemption. Surely I am the purchase of your blood, and you have said, "your sheep shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of your hand."-John 10:28. And Oh! you blessed Spirit of all truth, may you be to me an indwelling security from sin, to keep me from falling, and to preserve me faultless in Jesus, until the day of his coming. Make my body your temple, and cause me, by your sweet constraining love, to "glorify God in my body, and in my spirit, which are his."-1 Cor. 6:20.

Why I Preach Verse-by-Verse

When people ask me about Victory Baptist Church I tell them that we preach the bible verse-by-verse. Most of the time I can tell by the reaction that the person really doesn't understand what that is or why it is important. This coming Sunday will be a great example of why verse-by-verse preaching is important.

We are nearing the end of our study of 1 Corinthians 7 and this Sunday we will be studying the following text:

36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. 38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

If most people are honest they have probably never heard a sermon on this text. Why are we covering it? because we are going verse-by-verse and we do not skip a passage because it may be difficult or people may think it is boring. It is God's word and we must seek to understand it.

The above passage has many difficulties when one tries to study it.

Look at the words of Matthew Henry on this text:

In this passage the apostle is commonly supposed to give advice about the disposal of children in marriage, upon the principle of his former determination. In this view the general meaning is plain. It was in that age, and those parts of the world, and especially among the Jews, reckoned a disgrace for a woman to remain unmarried past a certain number of years: it gave a suspicion of somewhat that was not for her reputation. "Now," says the apostle, "if any man thinks he behaves unhandsomely towards his daughter, and that it is not for her credit to remain unmarried, when she is of full age, and that upon this principle it is needful to dispose of her in marriage, he may use his pleasure. It is no sin in him to dispose of her to a suitable mate. But if a man has determined in himself to keep her a virgin, and stands to this determination, and is under no necessity to dispose of her in marriage, but is at liberty, with her consent, to pursue his purpose, he does well in keeping her a virgin. In short, he that gives her in marriage does well; but he that keeps her single, if she can be easy and innocent in such a state, does what is better; that is, more convenient for her in the present state of things, if not at all times and seasons." Note, 1. Children should be at the disposal of their parents, and not dispose of themselves in marriage. Yet, 2. Parents should consult their children's inclinations, both to marriage in general and to the person in particular, and not reckon they have uncontrollable power to do with them, and dictate to them, as they please. 3. It is our duty not only to consider what is lawful, but in many cases, at least, what is fit to be done, before we do it.

But I think the apostle is here continuing his former discourse, and advising unmarried persons, who are at their own disposal, what to do, the man's virgin being meant of his virginity. Terein ten heautou parthenon seems to be rather meant of preserving his own virginity than keeping his daughter a virgin, though it be altogether uncommon to use the word in this sense. Several other reasons may be seen in Locke and Whitby, by those who will consult them. And it was a common matter of reproach among Jews and civilized heathens, for a man to continue single beyond such a term of years, though all did not agree in limiting the single life to the same term. The general meaning of the apostle is the same, that it was no sin to marry, if a man thought there was a necessity upon, to avoid popular reproach, much less to avoid the hurrying fervours of lust. But he that was in his own power, stood firm in his purpose, and found himself under no necessity to marry, would, at that season, and in the circumstances of Christians at that time, at least, make a choice every way most for his own conveniency, ease, and advantage, as to his spiritual concerns. And it is highly expedient, if not a duty, for Christians to be guided by such a consideration.

However,

The New Testament Commentary written by Simon J. Kistemaker offers three interpretations to this text:

1. Father and Daughter This passage is speaking of the Father who in that culture could determine who and if his daughter would marry.

2. Spiritual Marriage: A couple are married and live together in spiritual Harmony but do not engage in physical intimacy.

3. The Engaged Couple. Speaking about issues that can occur when a couple is engaged.

Even translators have struggled with this passage. Consider the following:

KJV

36 But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry. 37 Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well. 38 So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.

NAS

36 But if any man thinks that he is acting unbecomingly toward his virgin daughter, if she is past her youth, and if it must be so, let him do what he wishes, he does not sin; let her marry. 37 But he who stands firm in his heart, being under no constraint, but has authority over his own will, and has decided this in his own heart, to keep his own virgin daughter, he will do well. 38 So then both he who gives his own virgin daughter in marriage does well, and he who does not give her in marriage will do better.

NLT

36. But if a man thinks he ought to marry his fiance because he has trouble controlling his passions and time is passing, it is all right; it is not a sin. Let them marry. 37 But if he has decided firmly not to marry and there is no urgency and he can control his passion, he does well not to marry. 38 So the person who marries does well, and the person who doesn't marry does even better.

ASV

But if any man thinketh that he behaveth himself unseemly toward his virgin [daughter], if she be past the flower of her age, and if need so requireth, let him do what he will; he sinneth not; let them marry.37 But he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power as touching in his own heart, to keep his own virgin [daughter], shall do well.38 So then both he that giveth his own virgin [daughter] in marriage doeth well; and he that giveth her not in marriage shall do better.

It is only verse-by-verse teaching which leads a pastor and a Church to struggle with difficult passage of God's word in and effort to know God's word.

Scripture Readings For The Day

1Kings 18:41-46

Psalm 65:10-13

Matthew 5:20-26

The Need For Church History

The last few weeks we have been posting many articles about the Lakeland Revival and Todd Bentley. The false teaching and deception makes me angry and upset. As I sit and watch and listen to what is being said, I cannot understand how so many people can be deceived.

Those who are deceived and are lost, their deception makes sense. They are blinded to the truth of God, they are spirtually dead. But how can true Christians be led astray so easily?

I think there are two important things happening in the American Church that is making people easy prey:

1. Lack of careful verse-by-verse preaching of God's Word!

2. Lack of teaching on Church History.

Ask the average Christian some of the following questions:

1. Who was Augustine?

2. Who did Augustine have a controversy and debate against?

3. What was the debate and controversy about?

4. What is significant about the Council at Carthage that met in 418 A.D.? 5. Who were the Ebionites?

6. What was Docetism?

7. What was Arianism?

8. What is significant about the Chalcedonian Creed?

Sadly most Christians will have no idea what you are talking when asked the above questions. Why? because their church never teaches history.

This is important because much of Church history is the story of how doctrinal error began and how the early church fought against it. Today many of the ancient heresies are present and many christians are believing them because they have no idea that they were condemned by the early church!

To help equip people in the subject of Church history I want to point people to the following resources:

Grace Baptist Church in California did a great series on Church history you can listen and download all the messages for free: Here is the Link: History

James White taught a good series on Churh History and you can listen to the messages at this link: History

Covenant Theological Seminary has placed all the lectures for the Ancient & Medieval Church History class online. You can listen at this link: History

Adoption

Heirs with Christ, The Puritans on Adoption by Joel R. Beeke

This is one of those doctrines that often gets over looked, Beeke does an excellent job of explaining it with the help of the puritans.

If you get a chance get this book.

Buy it here.

House of Yahweh...More False Predictions

Remember we did a whole series on the heretical cult that's in our area, the House of Yahweh? Leader/Founder Yisrayl Hawkins, aside from popping in and out of jail for bigamy charges, is at it again. This time on national news. Take a look at how he waffles around and then pins down the prediction that nuclear war will start by June 12th...that's right...Thursday.

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=5002192

Big question is...how many of his followers will open their eyes and realize they are following a false prophet that has no idea who the Lord Jesus Christ is...let alone what will happen in the future?

LIVE BLOGGING OF THE LAKELAND REVIVAL

Where to begin? Saturday night at the Lakeland Revival, a prophecy was read that Jesus was going to appear on the stage at Lakeland Sunday night. This did not happen and interestingly enough, Monday night Todd Bentley was not at the revival. Tonight, Todd is supposed to be back and we at the Preaching Today blog will be watching. Beginning at 7:00pm Central time, we will start live blogging the Lakeland revival. We will create an initial post and then update it continually throughout the service. What this means for you is that you will need to refresh the screen about every 15 minutes to read the latest entry. We hope this will give everyone a different perspective on what is happening. Please post your comments as you read our observations on tonight's service. We pray God will use this effort to inform and keep people away from error.

Outpouring of God or Inpouring of Money?

There have been many claims of revival and mighty outpourings from God. For example, in the 1990's we had the Brownsville Revival and now we have the Lakleland Revival. What usally accompanies these supposed revivals is an opportunity for people to make a lot of money. This happens in a few different ways:

1. Merchandise: Everyone will have a book that you need. It will be the book they claim will change your life forever.. You will need the DVD set so you can experience the outpouring of God in your own home. But wait - there is more! If they can somehow create a product that is connected to the revival with any perceived spiritual benefit, they will do it!

2. Offerings: At some point there is always the claim that people need to give in order for the revival to continue. Don't let this miraculous move of God end! Give sacrificially and keep this revival going. I always find this claim humorous. God is supposedly healing people of all kinds of horrible diseases but somehow he can never provide money to sustain the revival.

3. Plant a seed. They will claim that if you plant a seed (which is code for "give us money") then God will give you back more. You give 10 dollars and God will give you a hundred.

Is any of this happening with the Lakeland Revival?

Consider the following:

The following was found on the God TV website:

Here is the link:

TV

WE MUST KEEP THIS REVIVAL GOING LIVE ON GOD TV!

To our dear friends all across the world – we feel as though our lives, the lives of our GOD TV teams and the lives of you - our viewers will never be the same again and we know so many many of you are feeling the same. Even as we write the Angelic Presence is so strong across the airwaves.

We are literally receiving thousands of emails from you, our viewers ALL ACROSS THE WORLD, telling us where you’re watching, sending healing testimonies and prayer requests and begging us NOT TO STOP BROADCASTING THIS REVIVAL!FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS, we believe that GOD TV was raised up to show the Glory of God throughout the earth and connect the nations of GOD in this vast outpouring Of Gods GLORY and HIS GRACE upon the nations - And YOU can be part of the miraculous by helping us take the fire of revival from Florida to the uttermost parts of the earth.

We have rescheduled all our programming, and are about to make some revolutionary decisions which will no doubt cost us more revenue, but we want to be OBEDIENT to the Spirit of the Lord. As many of you have guessed, we have NO BUDGET to broadcast this outpouring.

It was not in OUR plans – oh but HOW it was in GODS PLANS FOR GOD TV!We have gone out on a limb and are riding the wave with the Holy Spirit.

This Sunday we run out of the money given to carry the revival live EVERY night, but our hearts AND YOUR hearts are all burning to keep the revival on air!

If its within your power to sow into broadcasting this historic outpouring – and you are led by the Lord to do so – countless millions around the world will be eternally grateful – what can we say – things we know your heart already beats with - multitudes are already being DELIVERED, SET FREE, HEALED, RADICALLY SAVED AND SET AFLAME BY THESE BROADCASTS ALL ACROSS THE EARTH!

We need YOU… the Body of Christ needs YOU… the lost world needs YOU to ensure these live broadcasts keep going for the next 40 days!Please help us NOW!We love and appreciate you so VERY much... thank you for doing whatever you can...

Rory & Wendy Alec

Also consider the following Video

So then, is Lakeland really interested in the outpouring of God, or are they looking to have the money pouring in?