Friday, April 24, 2009

INVASION OF THE “BODY” SNATCHERS?

Hello Everyone!

We have something special today! A blog entry not written by yours truly (is that applause I hear??), but by a good friend and dear Sister in the faith; someone I've known for more than the entire duration of my Christian experience (I've been in the faith almost 30 yrs! - - - where has the time gone?).

I've always admired her zeal, determination and single-minded love and passion in and for Christ Jesus our LORD.

So with out further ado, let's hear what the Spirit would tell us re: this INVASION of the BODY SNATCHERS:

The Unrecognizable Form That The Church Has Taken On

We are living in the age of deceit. The whole world is being driven by the deceit and lies of Satan and those who belong to him. Good is evil and evil is now good, acceptable, politically correct and now thanks to our very own Government forced down our throats.

From the time of our founding Fathers and the shaping of our Constitution, when once we placed high value on liberty and truth and justice for all, our country stood for Faith in the One True God, and lived a lifestyle that was a testament to Him. Our laws were drafted after the laws of the living Word of God. The Declaration of Independence declares our inalienable rights, incapable of being repudiated or forfeited because they were given by God.

"In God We Trust" was printed on our currency during the time of the Civil War, but even extends further back to the War of 1812, when Francis Scott Key wrote the Star Spangled Banner . . .
Fourth Verse:

Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation!

Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

America: it was the home and refuge from tyranny where one could live in freedom and peace. People by the thousands began their pilgrimage to this new world and this new life. But like everything in this world, we are watching it come to an end.

As the many thousands from every corner of the earth entered this new land, so did their cultures and their gods. Soon America was a haven for everyone and everything. So as the people go, so does our government and our laws, our morals, our values and our faith.

II Timothy 4:3-4
“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

. . . But what about the Church? Christianity was once the primary influence in our new society, but no longer; just as we read in the Bible that the people forsook their God and replaced Him with false ones. New ideas became the craze. We became enamored with the intellectuals in our society as they developed new doctrines for us. The new doctrines of materialism, communism, humanism, socialism, evolution and atheism and the like have all influenced our morals and replaced our Christian values.

We now live in a multi-cultural society. We are forced into “opening up” our minds to the wave of new ideas and lifestyles and have abandoned our love and pursuit for truth and for God. We are now being poised for the New Age, the New World Order and a false sense of peace, unity and “community”.

Many of our Evangelical Churches who have been strong Bible believing Christians, are now working on behalf of Satan. They are those who are undermining the Word of God and denying its power and authority. Why do they feel the need to re-invent God?

There is an open assault, an all out war on God and the authority of His Word. What is this new theology that demands Almighty God, The Lord and Creator of Heaven and Earth to bow and conform to our sinful ways? Scripture admonishes us saints to not be conformed, how much less would God!

Romans 12:2
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

GOD IS GOD AND HE ALONE IS WORTHY OF OUR ADORATION AND PRAISE.

. . . But what about the Church? We no longer have time for Bible reading, instruction of the Word or family devotions. Many can’t seem to find the time to go to church. We have our jobs, our careers, our schooling our activities. Like the song goes, “everybody’s work’n for the weekend” and the weekends are OURS. It's time for us to relax, play and live a little. Yes this is the “World’s” standard, but sadly it has become the “Church’s” standard of life as well.

. . . But what about the Church? Godly parenting has been replaced by the teachers union and public schooling which has been stealing our American youth from their Christian heritage for years. Prayer and the Bible have been replaced with Darwin and the monkey!

(Just a note to our Christian kids, if you attend a public school, be strong in your faith, a light in the darkness. Be bold, be courageous for you have the power of God on your side, and that power can lead your friends and teachers to Christ. We are with you and we pray for you without ceasing!)
Television, Hollywood, and the news media all prefer to form public opinion rather than just report the facts and are heavily influencing the moral fiber of this country and our youth’s future. Have you noticed even the cartoons and commercials depict parents, or any authority figure as being stupid buffoons. Our youth have had a steady diet of disregard, selfishness and disrespect. This indoctrination has produced a whole generation that has no healthy fear or respect for parents or authority figures. They have been taught just the opposite. How then can our youth ever have a healthy reverence for God or His Word?

The age of technology with all of its computers, Internet, email, iPods, cell phones, texting, twittering, blogging and video-games have become the babysitters of our youth. Where are the parents? Who is supervising? Who is watching, protecting and instructing this next generation, our future parents and leaders?

Remember the old saying, “Parents do you know where your children are?” Hmmm . . .

We are watching this country in a moral free fall, . . . but what about the Church? What has become of the Church?

Why is it that the Church no longer has the influential lead in this world? Why is the world such a heavy influence in the Church?

It’s like the movie "The Invasion of the Body Snatchers".

There is something evil lurking about ready to take over the world and our lives as we know it, yet no one seems to be aware or even care for that matter.

I believe that it is Satan’s plan to neutralize the Christian Church, who is the Body of Christ, by putting us to sleep, spiritually and morally. I believe many have lost their Holy zeal, their love for God and for His truth, their spiritual alertness, and the ability to discern between good and evil.
His distractions are succeeding, because we have left God out. We don’t pray in earnest, we don’t read and study the Word of God. Many have grown weary in well doing, grown complacent in action, and the end result is an inactive, ineffective and impotent Church, open prey for Satan and all of his deception.

[I am reminded of the scripture where the LORD Jesus speaks of us, His church, being salt and light: Matthew 5:13 "Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men." J.Fire.]

Romans 13:11-14
“And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”


Wake Up! Sound the alarms! Satan has infiltrated the Church!

If your church building caught on fire, would you not sound the alarm bells to warn and to help save those whose lives were in danger?
It is time to stand up, just as the old hymn resounds, “Stand up, Stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross.” Lift up that royal banner; don’t wait for someone else to do it.

“He who hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches.” Revelation 2:7a
I really believe that it is our calling to seek out those who are lost, those who are straying, those who are deceived and being deceived, and bring them to a saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Isn't it our responsibility to know the Word, to share the Word, to correct the error, and to make plain the truth of God’s Word?

I’ve heard it said that, “Satan is changing the vocabulary of the Church and gutting the very Word of God,” and we allow it. Why?
Just take a look at the new translations of the Bible, they’ve been perverted and twisted and are almost unrecognizable.
Our teachers don’t teach the Word anymore, preachers aren’t preaching it, even worse, the “so called” Bible Scholars of today have changed it, corrupted it in the guise of making it “more user friendly” “socially acceptable” “politically correct”.

Our churches are filled with social clubs, activity, entertainment, great music, drama, and yes . . . even coffee and donut breaks between worship and the teaching of the Word. I was dumbfounded at the lack of respect and reverence for the Lord and the teaching of His Word while visiting a local church that thought that this was a great idea. No one seemed to sense the grieving of the Holy Spirit because we have become so desensitized.
We’ve been told that we are in a “New Age”. “Change is necessary.”

I say that we are at the end of the Age and it is our hearts and lives that need to be changed. The New Age Theology has infiltrated the Church? Why? Where is all this New Age theology coming from? Who is teaching it? Do we know the doctrines of the Bible? Do we know whose word is being taught, man’s word or God’s Word? Do we know to search the Scriptures and prove all things whether they come from God (1Th 5:21)?

We have lowered the bar of truth for political correctness, and those who have not been born-again by the Spirit of the living God are preaching in our pulpits, and we’re listening? Why? The immorality of this world has gained access to the Church without a fight. Why? There are homosexuals preaching from the pulpit, who tell God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth that He’s wrong and they’re right. Excuse me?

Pastors are now teaching GOD’S FLOCK that the Bible, God’s very own Word, can’t be trusted or believed. It is a mere metaphor, a suggestion open for discussion and debate. Hello?!After all "it's more important that we have a sense of unity and community” than the actual truth of the Bible. What?!

I read the following quote in an article entitled “The Battle over Truth for Our Youth”, that was published by The Berean Call [readers note: The Berean Call, ministry of Dave Hunt and Tom McMahon, is available on this blog under "Spiritual Chow" - J. Fire.] They quote Brian McLaren, who is an author and leader in the Emergent Church:

“The church latched on to that old doctrine of original sin like a dog to a stick, and before you knew it, the whole gospel got twisted around it. Instead of being God’s big message of saving love for the whole world, the gospel became a little bit of secret information on how to solve the pesky legal problem of original sin.”
“I don’t think we’ve got the gospel right yet. What does it mean to be saved?. . . None of us arrived at orthodoxy.” Well Brian, what are we saved from? SIN!

The Bible is clear, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.” Romans 6:23

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17
It’s as plain as day to me . . . what about you?

Are we shaking our heads in disbelief or disgust? Is this all we can do? Do we run? Do we hide? Do we stand back and do nothing, because the end of all things must come, for God said that it would?
Lying Signs and Wonders Are Coming. As the wall of truth is being torn down a “new wall of understanding and interpreting truth” is being put up. The foundation wall of the Church is cracking and is being built on quick sand.

It is “On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, ALL other ground is sinking sand” . . . for we can build on no other foundation than Jesus Christ. He is our Chief Cornerstone (Eph 2:20, 1Pe 2:6).
One saint put it like this,

“There are souls who are hurting and hungry for God who are NOT exercised in the Word of God to discern truth from lie. They have not been taught how to “try the spirits, to see whether they be of God”. They will seek an EXPERIENCE with God, but truth cannot protect them, because it has not been established IN them.” [AMEN!! - J. Fire]
As my Pastor so aptly put it,
“I cannot help but think that this grand deception of the last days is a grand distraction because of the subtleties of its author. Satan focuses the “new" church on entertainment, social issues, political correctness, tolerance, and unity while the truth is forsaken (Phl 3:10-19).

Like the wheel that squeaks loudest gets the most oil, and the loudest voice draws attention; yet that "still small voice" is overlooked and shouted down. Our attention is distracted by media headlines, and headliners. While the prophecies of end-times get hidden away in some dark closet (like they're to be put away for a rainy day), in the midst of their fulfillment, there is now ignorance about them in the midst of a deluge! It's time for us all to be Josiahs, proclaiming God's Word to the best of our abilities.”

What do we do? PUT ON ALL YOUR ARMOUR!
Ephesians 6:10-18
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

(Be courageous, determined, with an iron resolution in the LORD! Not by our own determined willpower, for without Him you can do nothing, but by the power of His might, by the Spirit of the Living God. “Not by might, nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6 Remember David, a shepherd boy who could defy Goliath with a slingshot? God is the author and finisher of our faith and we must draw our strength from Him.)

"Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil."

(The armour must be put on and it is to be worn and lived in. Abide in the Him and He in you. Every duty of the Christian demands constant effort so that we may remain on alert and that we are not caught unaware of the wiles of the devil. For Satan comes to rob, to steal and to destroy.)

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

(Satan hates us, accuses us, tempts us and seeks to destroy us. God loves us, pardons us, and takes care of our every need according to His riches in glory. The spiritual “Mafia” as Chuck Missler puts it, “Spiritual warfare is not only a matter of contending against godless philosophers, crafty gurus, Christ-denying cultists and neo-pagan rulers, but against a highly organized army of demonic forces and battalions of fallen angels.”

II Corinthians 10:3-4, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”)


"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand."

(We cannot stand without the whole armour of God; we are no match for the devil. In order to stand and fight we must be completely armed.)

"Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breastplate of righteousness;"

(Truth must be in our hearts, our soul and our minds. The Truth is God’s Word and His ability to fulfill all of His promises through Jesus Christ. Integrity, uprightness, living right in our personal lives in obedience to God’s Word protects our hearts, which ultimately protects our very lives.)

"And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;"

(You can’t walk the Christian path, run the race to win, or fight in the war without a good pair of shoes. We cannot endeavor to win the world for Christ without the Gospel of hope, salvation and peace.)

"Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."

(Do you have any doubts? Seek God diligently. You cannot have faith in someone you don’t know. You cannot completely trust someone that you don’t have a relationship with. Our faith is in God alone. Does your faith need to increase? Get to know your God, spend time with Him, learn from Him, speak with Him, and listen. “So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17)

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

(This is the Believer’s complete assurance and faith in eternal security which is sealed by the Holy Spirit, a Written Guarantee! The sword of the Spirit is The Word of God. Jesus used the Word in the wilderness against the temptations of Satan. “The word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12)

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

(Prayer is vital! Be diligent in prayer. “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16b)

[I remember Charles Finney, a 19th century evangelist and pastor led a small band of reporters to his church basement when he was asked what the secret of his revivals was; with a finger pressed to his lips, and his hand on a door knob, he quietly opened a door to reveal dozens of Christians, on their knees, praying fervantly. When he slowly closed the door and led the reporters some distance away, he said, "That is my secret to revival, gentlemen; this is our weapon against Satan our great enemy!" One reporter smiled in a patronizing fashion and asked, "Mr. Finney, do you honestly believe in a devil?" The evangelist settled his steely gaze on the reporter and said, "Let me tell you something young man! You try resisting Satan, and you'll find out just how literal he is!" - J. Fire]

I exhort you to watch, and earnestly contend for the faith that was delivered to you!
Keep a light touch on this world and look up for your redemption draws nigh!

Preach the uncompromised Word and do not compromise!
Prepare for hard times and the testing of your faith!
Put on the armor of God and be ready for battle!

[readers note: William Gurnall's book Christian In Complete Armor is linked to this blog under "Armor All Saints" at 'Spiritual Chow' - J. Fire]
Last thought:

Jesus IS coming back for His Bride. Are you ready?

Matthew 25:1-13
“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them; But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered saying, Not so, lest there be not enough for us and you; but go rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage; and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch, therefore; for ye know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man cometh.”

A. M. Kisly

4 comments:

daisy said...

thanks James is that Ann Marie from Calvery hey that rhymns
Lvoe Daisy

James J. Fire said...

Yes it is one and the same Anne!

James J. Fire said...

Excellent post, this entry is!
One must indeed wonder what form the church has taken today, and why its at such variance with what we recognized 20 yrs. ago.

One must recognize that the children who grew up in the public school system for the last couple of decades are now our young adults; and of these that are Christian, they are up and coming leadership in all spheres of life, no less in the church.

One globalist, I believe it may have been John Dewey, the father of our educational system here in the U.S.A. (also a socialist, humanist, atheist, evolutionist) said, "What can one hour of Sunday school, meeting once a week, for only a fraction of our children do, to stem the tide of an 8 hr. a day, five day a week program of socialistic humanism?"

Its the younger portion of our society that tends to not take the Bible literally, especially the first few chapters of Genesis. Also they don't understand the necessity of the virgin birth, the Deity of Christ, the atonement for our sins, and related doctrines as necessary to being a Christian.

Add to this something else that I've come to ponder.

Why isn't the church salty any more? The LORD Jesus stated that we are the light of the world, we are the salt of the earth . . . as we all know, salt is a purifier. It's by the power of the Holy Spirit, as a result of spiritual rebirth, that we likewise have a purifying effect occuring within us, and this should be able to influence others around us. The influence of the Holy Spirit within us, as we yield to Him and grow in holiness ought to 'sting' the conscience of the world, and to bring a purifying effect to those around us.

Yet if there is no hunger for holiness, sanctification, pure hearts, and an earnest prayer and desire for the LORD to so operate in us, we will lose our saltiness, and become inert with regards to the world and its sinful powers, and thus, the situation we find ourselves in today, is a result of this lack.

Therefore I myself will make this a thematic prayer for this year, every time I pray, solitarily or corporately:

"Bring about a hunger for holiness in your church, LORD Jesus, amen."

Also: I'm glad that Anne brought up the issue of the Armor of God, for we are entering into a dimension of spiritual warfare unlike any we have ever faced before in this nation, and EVERY Christian, including the ones reading this right now, is IN the battle, whtether they want to be or not.

BOOT CAMP or BUST!

Unknown said...

I am sorry it's taken me so long to read this. Wonderful stuff ! This is Robin, hope you remember me. Thank you for leading me to this.