Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which cometh upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you. 1 Peter 4:12 (RV).
I have pondered much upon this verse in recent days, in view of all that is going on around us. Not that too many of us have physically endured a "fiery trial", nevertheless, we do feel the effects of such a "trial". "A strange thing" is happening among us all; we are all told to maintain a "social distance" from all comers, that we cannot hug anyone (out of our household), or even shake hands with a stranger! Who, a few short months ago would have thought we would be living in such a strange environment as we now find ourselves in today? when back then, we were all basking in relative normality!
As believers we ought not think of the "trial" that is "among you" to be any "strange thing", for we have it plainly stated in God's written word that "in the last days perilous times shall come." 1 Timothy 3:1. Reading the context we know that "men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers..." So, none of these things can come upon the world without their rotten fruits producing a stench in the air that we breathe. No doubt, as bad as things are right now, they will only get progressively worse, until we embrace the "new normal" that is coming upon us all. In this "new normal" all our previous liberties will become a distant memory, we might say of such "the good old days!" fondly remembered, but ever aware they will never return.
From my understanding of Bible prophecy, I earnestly believe that there will be a period of prolonged worldly prosperity imminently coming upon us, else how could the earth dwellers be proclaiming "peace and safety" 1 Thess 5:3? (how long, I cannot say, but perhaps some 15-25 years or more before the Lord's return?). This 'prosperity' however, will be based entirely upon the new normal, that is the social reengineering project we see taking place all around us in society will be the accepted norm upon which the earth dwellers will proclaim this "peace and safety"!
Monday 22 June 2020
Tuesday 9 June 2020
Edward Colston, and Others....
I am still somewhat dazed by events of late, I hardly need to adumbrate them; you know what they are, or no?
Take the lawless pulling down of Edward Colston's statue in Bristol for just one example, Colston was a prominent Bristolian who bequeathed much of his wealth to that city, yet see the thanks he receives for it today?
What does this wicked crusade under the banner of "black lives matter" do for the good of us all? Absolutely nothing! Is it not said that God "made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth"? Acts 17:26 (My emphasis). In other words, I am no racist, believers, whatever their colour, and from whence they sprang, in Christ they are all my brothers and sisters "in the Lord" Galatians 3:28, Ephesians 1:10, Philippians 1:27 etc. Granted, men and women since the fall of Adam have always been abused, whatever their colour, but are we not anymore to learn from history ever again (His story) ?
This lawless movement we are a witnessing in these evil days seems to be taking on a life of its own; one minutes silence in parliament for the so-called 'martyr' George Floyd, and the ever increasing desire for the eradication of history? True history!
How are we ever to learn anything if the true reportage and testimony of history (by way of statues, statutes, books, and such) are erased? There are many an unpleasant thing contained within God's written word, let us not lose sight of this; yet were not all these things "written for our admonition , upon whom the ends of the world are come" 1 Corinthians 10:11?
Now, to any that regularly read my posts, you will know that I am absolutely no fan of anything opposed to Christian doctrine in any of its true forms; yet, would I sanction the pulling down of the statue of the wicked Marxist socialist Aneurin Bevan (the creator of the National Health Service) in central Cardiff? (or elsewhere!) Absolutely not! Now, Bevan was a wicked man, yet God allowed his project to 'succeed'. How can we learn if we erase history? Think on these things?
What next? The antichristian world eradicating the "everlasting gospel"? They would if they could!
Mark my words, Antichrist is coming, and I can almost hear his footsteps...deafening are they to the spiritual mind...
Take the lawless pulling down of Edward Colston's statue in Bristol for just one example, Colston was a prominent Bristolian who bequeathed much of his wealth to that city, yet see the thanks he receives for it today?
What does this wicked crusade under the banner of "black lives matter" do for the good of us all? Absolutely nothing! Is it not said that God "made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth"? Acts 17:26 (My emphasis). In other words, I am no racist, believers, whatever their colour, and from whence they sprang, in Christ they are all my brothers and sisters "in the Lord" Galatians 3:28, Ephesians 1:10, Philippians 1:27 etc. Granted, men and women since the fall of Adam have always been abused, whatever their colour, but are we not anymore to learn from history ever again (His story) ?
This lawless movement we are a witnessing in these evil days seems to be taking on a life of its own; one minutes silence in parliament for the so-called 'martyr' George Floyd, and the ever increasing desire for the eradication of history? True history!
How are we ever to learn anything if the true reportage and testimony of history (by way of statues, statutes, books, and such) are erased? There are many an unpleasant thing contained within God's written word, let us not lose sight of this; yet were not all these things "written for our admonition , upon whom the ends of the world are come" 1 Corinthians 10:11?
Now, to any that regularly read my posts, you will know that I am absolutely no fan of anything opposed to Christian doctrine in any of its true forms; yet, would I sanction the pulling down of the statue of the wicked Marxist socialist Aneurin Bevan (the creator of the National Health Service) in central Cardiff? (or elsewhere!) Absolutely not! Now, Bevan was a wicked man, yet God allowed his project to 'succeed'. How can we learn if we erase history? Think on these things?
What next? The antichristian world eradicating the "everlasting gospel"? They would if they could!
Mark my words, Antichrist is coming, and I can almost hear his footsteps...deafening are they to the spiritual mind...
Tuesday 2 June 2020
Can The Holy Spirit Be Resisted?
Yet many years didst thou bear with them, and testifiedst against them, by thy spirit through thy prophets: yet they would not give ear: therefore gavest thou them into the hand of the people of the lands. Nehemiah 9:30 (RV).
Mark, THEY WOULD NOT GIVE EAR. Why would they not listen? God's Holy Spirit was in His prophets, yet they would not hearken to them. We read in verse 27 that in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their adversaries. (RV). Verse 28 goes on to say after they had rest, they did evil again before thee. Again, the Israelites cried unto thee and thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies. Verse 29 informs us that when the Israelites had rest from their adversaries that they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments (which if a man do, he shall live in them) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear. Mark again, they WOULD NOT HEAR! They would not listen! (is it any different today?).
As has always been the case since the days of Old Testament Israel right down to our modern Christian age, even unbelievers will pray (for they have all heard that there might be a God in heaven, Romans 1:20), yea, when things go awry, in their distress they will cry out to heaven! They will not seek Him when everything is going just fine, no; ever unthankful are they! People, in periods of prosperity are wont to go the way of ancient Israel (and remember these things are written for our admonition, 1 Corinthians 10:11), just as Israel of old waxed fat, and kicked,.. he forsook God which made him, And lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. Deuteronomy 32:15.
There are many a Christian in our day who believe that man can resist God's Holy Spirit, they believe that he has free-will to choose to do so. One popular verse they will cite to confirm this is Acts7:51;
Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
What they fail to realise (willfully or ignorantly) is that they successfully resisted (as indeed they do today) the outward call of the Holy Spirit, not the Holy Spirit's inward work of grace, for no man, woman, or child can do that! When a person hears, or reads God's Word proclaimed, they are hearing or reading the Spirit's external work, even as they heard Noah when he was a building the ark, and if (at God's appointed time) such an one is one of God's elect, they will repent and believe as per the Scriptures, for My sheep hear my voice, John 10:27. The Spirit breatheth where it listeth..so is everyone that is born of the Spirit. John 3:8.
The antediluvians heard Noah preaching the Truth, yet only eight were saved! Could God have saved more than eight if He had wanted to? I think you know the answer to that question! Yet, it pleased Him to do as He did, and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest thou? Daniel 4:35.
It was well said by Andrew Fuller (1754-1815):
"There are two kinds of influences by which God works on the minds of men. First, that which is common, and which is effected by the ordinary use of motives presented to the mind for consideration: Secondly, that which is special and supernatural. The one contains nothing mysterious, any more than the influence of our words and actions on each other; the other is such a mystery that we know nothing of it. The former ought to be effectual; the latter is so."
Arthur Pink (1886-1952) writes on this:
"The work of the Holy Spirit upon or towards men is always "resisted" by them; His work within us is always successful. What says the Scriptures? This: He which has begun a good work in you will perform it" Philippians 1:6."
William Secker (16th century puritan):
"Repentance, though it be the act of man, is but the gift of God."
God commands the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be preached to every creature, yea, He commandeth all men every where to repent. Acts 17:30. Yet the same eternal God in Christ (Hebrews 13:8, John 8:58) it was who said to the prophet; Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee. Jeremiah 7:27. Likewise, the house of Israel will not hearken unto you; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. Ezekiel 3:7. It would appear a thankless task to be a true prophet of God! sent on an errand they know will not bear fruit! In Matthew 13:38-40, the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the evil one. I don't know about you, but I find it a constant and thankless task keeping the weeds at bay in my vegetable plot (plus the slugs, and everything else!) and left to themselves, the weeds (tares) will choke and starve the vegetables (good seed), and so this will continue in the world today, wickedness ever increasing by the hour until God in Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven...
Was it for nothing the Lord Jesus said Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8.
So, to answer my question at the head of this posting; the answer in the affirmative is a resounding NO!!!
Mark, THEY WOULD NOT GIVE EAR. Why would they not listen? God's Holy Spirit was in His prophets, yet they would not hearken to them. We read in verse 27 that in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest from heaven; and according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their adversaries. (RV). Verse 28 goes on to say after they had rest, they did evil again before thee. Again, the Israelites cried unto thee and thou heardest them from heaven; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies. Verse 29 informs us that when the Israelites had rest from their adversaries that they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments (which if a man do, he shall live in them) and withdrew the shoulder, and hardened their neck, and would not hear. Mark again, they WOULD NOT HEAR! They would not listen! (is it any different today?).
As has always been the case since the days of Old Testament Israel right down to our modern Christian age, even unbelievers will pray (for they have all heard that there might be a God in heaven, Romans 1:20), yea, when things go awry, in their distress they will cry out to heaven! They will not seek Him when everything is going just fine, no; ever unthankful are they! People, in periods of prosperity are wont to go the way of ancient Israel (and remember these things are written for our admonition, 1 Corinthians 10:11), just as Israel of old waxed fat, and kicked,.. he forsook God which made him, And lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation. Deuteronomy 32:15.
There are many a Christian in our day who believe that man can resist God's Holy Spirit, they believe that he has free-will to choose to do so. One popular verse they will cite to confirm this is Acts7:51;
Ye stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
What they fail to realise (willfully or ignorantly) is that they successfully resisted (as indeed they do today) the outward call of the Holy Spirit, not the Holy Spirit's inward work of grace, for no man, woman, or child can do that! When a person hears, or reads God's Word proclaimed, they are hearing or reading the Spirit's external work, even as they heard Noah when he was a building the ark, and if (at God's appointed time) such an one is one of God's elect, they will repent and believe as per the Scriptures, for My sheep hear my voice, John 10:27. The Spirit breatheth where it listeth..so is everyone that is born of the Spirit. John 3:8.
The antediluvians heard Noah preaching the Truth, yet only eight were saved! Could God have saved more than eight if He had wanted to? I think you know the answer to that question! Yet, it pleased Him to do as He did, and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest thou? Daniel 4:35.
It was well said by Andrew Fuller (1754-1815):
"There are two kinds of influences by which God works on the minds of men. First, that which is common, and which is effected by the ordinary use of motives presented to the mind for consideration: Secondly, that which is special and supernatural. The one contains nothing mysterious, any more than the influence of our words and actions on each other; the other is such a mystery that we know nothing of it. The former ought to be effectual; the latter is so."
Arthur Pink (1886-1952) writes on this:
"The work of the Holy Spirit upon or towards men is always "resisted" by them; His work within us is always successful. What says the Scriptures? This: He which has begun a good work in you will perform it" Philippians 1:6."
William Secker (16th century puritan):
"Repentance, though it be the act of man, is but the gift of God."
God commands the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be preached to every creature, yea, He commandeth all men every where to repent. Acts 17:30. Yet the same eternal God in Christ (Hebrews 13:8, John 8:58) it was who said to the prophet; Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee. Jeremiah 7:27. Likewise, the house of Israel will not hearken unto you; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted. Ezekiel 3:7. It would appear a thankless task to be a true prophet of God! sent on an errand they know will not bear fruit! In Matthew 13:38-40, the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the evil one. I don't know about you, but I find it a constant and thankless task keeping the weeds at bay in my vegetable plot (plus the slugs, and everything else!) and left to themselves, the weeds (tares) will choke and starve the vegetables (good seed), and so this will continue in the world today, wickedness ever increasing by the hour until God in Christ returns to set up His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven...
Was it for nothing the Lord Jesus said Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth? Luke 18:8.
So, to answer my question at the head of this posting; the answer in the affirmative is a resounding NO!!!
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