From DefendingContending . . . .

Contrasts of death, and another “invitation.”

November 28, 2008 by The Pilgrim

While just a couple days ago over 100 people died in India at the hands of merciless, bloodthirsty Muslims (and the city is still currently under siege as of the writing of this post), today in America a 34 year-old Wal-Mart employee was killed after being trampled to death when a mob of shoppers broke down the doors to get their hands on the holiday shopping bargains. What was this mans life worth?

The CBS news article also contains a cellphone video from a shopper which shows emergency personnel futility trying to save the mans life. What a contrast between us in the States and the rest of the world.

America, oh America, what have you become? While the world is in turmoil we numb ourselves on video games, text messaging, television, and worshiping our pop idols who attend 20 million dollar parties. We simply don’t get it, do we? Today we eat, drink, be merry, and shop till we drop, yet we have no idea that tomorrow we die.

And while we’re out consuming, consuming, consuming, we have received yet another “invitation” from the bloodthirsty terrorists to “embrace Islam.”

For those who don’t understand the significance of this, I urge you to check out the post A Storm is Brewing While the Masses Sleep and be sure to listen to the accompanying short audio clip on that post.

And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive.”And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.’And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”‘ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ Luke 12:16-20

Listen to the Noiz!

This is my new evangelist friend Noiz (Robert) at the Florida Classic Football game in Orlando.



Keep up the great work in the Lord my friend!

Goodbye Atheists

From Ray Comforts blog -


Around 2004, I was with our film crew in Las Vegas. We were interviewing people for our television program outside the famed Bellagio Hotel. One of the reasons it’s famous is because it has a magnificent computerized fountain that plays music as water bursts into the sky with each crescendo.

During that time they played some music that almost brought me to tears. I never knew what that song was called, and for years I have longed to hear it again. But recently, to my great joy, I heard it. Here is the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLHq7rgHOLk

As I listened to its incredible melody, tears streamed down my face. One of the reasons for the tears was its title. It is called "Time to Say Goodbye." I have often watched people say goodbye to their loved ones at airports and my heart breaks for them, because one day there will be a last goodbye. All of us will say goodbye to everything we love and hold dear to us.

The Christian carries around a deep and heavy sorrow. He is like a man who sees villagers happily living beneath a great dam. He has seen cracks in the dam and he knows that they will soon die if they don’t move from where they are living. But the villagers refuse to believe his warning, and even mock his every word. His sorrow is that their deaths will be totally needless.

I know that when I say goodbye to my loved ones for the last time, I will see them again at the resurrection of the just and the unjust. If you want that incredible consolation, stop doubting, and take a long and honest look at the Ten Commandments. They are going to justly damn you forever. Then take a long look at the Savior on the cross. That’s what can save you completely. Then move out of the sinful village of this world, through repentance and faith in Jesus.

When your sins are forgiven, instead of having God against you, "God will be with you":

Why are there so many false converts in our churches? Because messages like this are propagated in pulpits and children's ministries throughout our country.




Can we please get back to preaching the Gospel and not some man-made, man-centered, wishy washy 'ask Jesus into your heart because He's standing at the door and knocking' nonsense.

HT: Lawman Chronicles

It will be bitter in your belly!

(William Secker, "The Consistent Christian" 1660)

"The wages of sin--is death." Romans 6:23

The 'ways of sin' may have popular approval--but they shall also have divine abhorrence marked upon them.

This Delilah may please us for a time--but she will betray us at last!

Though Satan's apples may have a fair skin--yet they certainly have a bitter core!

Methinks the flaming sword in one hand, and the golden scepter in the other hand--should guard us from the forbidden tree; and make our hearts like wet tinder to all the sparks of Satan!

Reader, if you behold nothing but pleasure in the commission of sin--you will experience nothing but the most dreadful pain in the conclusion of sin! "The wages of sin--is death." All workmen should have their wages; and it is only reasonable that those who employ you--should pay you. But, however you may delight in the works of sin--you will by no means relish the wages of sin! Ah, what wise man would toil so long in sin's drudgery--whose wages are no better than eternal misery!

Though all sins are not equal in their nature--yet all sins are in their very nature, deadly. "The wages of sin--is death." The candle of man's life is blown out--by the wind of his lusts! The corruption of nature--tends to the dissolution of nature. Reader, you began to be sinful--when you began to be mortal. If you had never had anything to do with sin--death could never have had anything to do with you.

It is at that vile enemy, SIN--which God shoots all His arrows!

Sin is like a serpent in your bosom--which stings you! Sin is like a thief in your closet--who plunders you! Sin resembles poison in the stomach; or a sword to the heart--both of which tend to death! Like John's little book--sin may be sweet in your mouth--but it will be bitter in your belly!

The foul dregs--lie at the bottom of the vessel. The golden cup of sin--is filled with the most poisonous ingredients! Sinner, that which is now like a rose flourishing in your bosom--will in a very little time be like a poisoned dagger at your heart!

While such a 'Judas' kisses--he kills! While the ivy twines round the oak--it eats out its sap.

If sin were not so delightful--it would not be so deceitful. Like a cunning angler--sin shows the bait, but conceals the hook! If you, O man, are found nibbling at the bait--you may justly expect the hook! O think, you who now boast in nothing so much as sin--that there is a time approaching, when you will be ashamed of nothing but sin! You will be eternally sinful--but you cannot be eternally joyful. In hell, all that sugar will be melted, in which this bitter pill of sin was wrapped! Hell is too hot a climate--for wanton delights to live in!

The pleasures of sin are but for a season--but the torments of unpardoned sin are of an eternal duration! Death will turn all the waters of pleasure--into blood! The serpent of sensual delight--always carries a deadly sting in its tail! All the blaze of worldly pomp--will soon end in midnight darkness and horror!

It is better to make your lodgings in a bed of snakes--than in the forbidden bed of sinful lusts!

When the pale horse of death goes before--the red horse of wrath follows after! When the sinner's body goes to the worms to be consumed--then his soul goes to hell to be tormented! A wise man knows, that it is far better to forego the pleasures of sin here--than to undergo the pains of wrath hereafter!

"There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed, feasting lavishly every day." What pleasure does Dives now reap in hell, from all the choice banquets he sat down to, on earth? "I am in agony in this fire!" The stench and torment of everlasting burnings--will take away the sweetest perfumes which ever covered sin!

Compassion or crazy?



This is awesome.

Tony the 'Lawman' Milano is a very compassionate soul winning evangelist for the Lord.

Tony takes to heart Spurgeon's words.....'If sinners be dammed, at least let then leap to Hell over our bodies. If they perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees. Let no one go there unwarned and unprayed for."

What! Lord! after all I have done!

(Octavius Winslow, "The Lord's Prayer" 1866)

"Only acknowledge your guilt. Admit that you rebelled against the Lord your God and committed adultery against Him by worshiping idols under every green tree. Confess that you refused to follow Me. I, the Lord, have spoken!" Jer. 3:13

God has laid great stress in His word upon the confession of sin. How touching His language addressed to His backsliding people, whose backslidings were of a most aggravated character;than which none could have been of deeper guilt, seeing that they had committed the sin of idolatry!

"Only acknowledge your guilt." This was all that He required at their hands. "Only acknowledge.

" Poor penitent soul, bending in tears and self reproaches over this page, read these words again and again, and yet again, until they have scattered all your dark, repelling thoughts of this sin forgiving God, winning you to His feet as His restored and comforted child, "only acknowledge your guilt."

"What! Lord! after all that I have done, after . . .
my base returns,
my repeated wanderings,
my aggravated transgressions,
my complicated iniquity,
my sins against conviction, light, and love; do You still stretch out your hand to me, a poor, wretched wanderer as I am?

Do You go forth to meet, to welcome, to pardon me?

Do You watch the first kindling of penitence, the first tear of contrition, the first word of confession, 'Father, I have sinned!' Lord, I fall at Your feet, thegreatest of sinners . . .

Your power has drawn me,
Your love has subdued me,
Your grace has conquered me!"

Streams of Defilement

These streams of defilement! (William Secker, "The Consistent Christian" 1660)

Until we taste the bitterness of our own misery--we will never relish the sweetness of God's mercy. Until we see how foul our sins have made us--we will never pay our tribute of praise to Christ for washing us.

Outward acts are most scandalous among men--but inward lusts are most atrocious before God!

Reader! if you would know the heart of your sin--then you must know the sins of your heart! "For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are the things that defile a man!" Matthew 15:19-20. These streams of defilement which appear in your life--do but show what a fountain of wickedness there is in your heart! Even the "thought of foolishness in sin!" There is no sin so little--as not to kindle an eternal fire!

"When sin has conceived--it brings forth death!"
Sin's first-born is death--and its last-born is hell.

Two minute evangelism tip from Trish

Porta-pottie preaching!

From Steve Sanchez over at Stone the Preacher...this cracked me up!!


Jesus said “Go!” .

Porta-potties are a great place to go because that’s where people have “to go” at the USC pre-game tailgate parties. I didn’t expect to be shouted down, yet I was prepared for the worst. (Read the first 3 parts of “USC Ugly” by clicking here.)

At big events like the USC vs. Cal Berkeley game we bring two types of sound systems:
This is “Little Mike”. I started preaching to the crowd waiting in line using this portable sound system.

“Hey folks,” I began amiably, “since you have nothing better to do, I thought we’d have a little church before you have to go. I want to ask you this question: If you were to die today would you go to Heaven or Hell?

I didn’t say Heaven or Cal, I said Heaven or Hell?” People didn’t get the joke, or they didn’t like my humor, or maybe they thought it was unholy to have church while waiting for the head, either way, they started catcalling and making noise. I cranked up “Little Mike’s” volume, to no avail. Then they started a cheer.

“Give me a U!” the guys at the back of the line shouted.

“U!” the guys at the front repeated.

“Give me an S!”

“S!”

“Give me a C!“

“C!”

I tried to preach but couldn’t. “Little Mike” was drowned out; he was the little speaker who couldn’t.

“What does that spell?” USC! USC!!! USCCCCCCCCC!!!!!!!”

I bent down to turn off “Little Mike”.

The crowd began to mock, “C’mon now. Don’t give up!” they egged. “Don’t give up that easy!”

I looked up and said very softly, “I’m not giving up.”

You see, they didn’t know that I also had with me our second sound system, ”Big Bertha”. 50 watts of pure headache inducing power. And up to a million decibels. Or so.

When people hear this speaker they squint, cover their ears, and run for cover. Even the kids at the high school where we preach hold the sides of their heads when they hear “Big Bertha”.
I turned it on.

And cranked the volume control: “HELLO?!! HELLO!!!”

“NOW WHERE WERE WE? DO YOU THINK THAT YOU ARE A GOOD PERSON? LET’S SEE IF YOU ARE.”

The cheering stopped abruptly as the crowd fell silent in defeat. My voice thundered like the sound of many waters and “Big Bertha” faithfully fulfilled her task. The heavens opened, the earth shook, and hearts were rent in two as the eternal Word broke stiffnecks and shattered eardrums.

And yes, the people in line at the Porta-Potty all thought that I was full of it.

Amazingly, a lot of people suddenly had to… go!


For pictures of this street preaching incident go here

You never know........

This is a video from season one of the Way of the Master show. This show was filmed a few years ago.

Well, Ray Comfort happened to be out on that same pier doing some witnessing and open air preaching a couple weeks ago when he thought he saw one of those gang member guys walking by. He ran him down and asked the guy if he was a gang member.

The guy said "no, I’m a Christian." Ray said, "oh, I thought you were someone that Kirk Cameron witnessed to a couple years ago out here on the pier." The guy said, "yeah, that was me." The guy said that he was ashamed of that day because he was drunk. He also told Ray that ‘Mario’ the main guy that Kirk was witnessing to……got saved too and was now involved in a local church teaching Sunday school!!

How cool is that?

You just never know whose life God is going to let you intervene with to change that person forever. Now get out there and let compassion swallow your fears and share the Gospel!

Paul Washer Quote

In modern day evangelism, this precious doctrine [of regeneration] has been reduced to nothing more than a human decision to raise one’s hand, walk an aisle, or pray a “sinner’s prayer.” As a result, the majority of Americans believe that they’ve been “born again” (i.e., regenerated) even though their thoughts, words, and deeds are a continual contradiction to the nature and will of God.

- Paul Washer





HT - Defending. Contending

Two Seeds?

Two seeds?

Spurgeon, "In the Garden with Him." #2106.

So the Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, you will be punished...And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed..." Genesis 3:14-15

There are two seeds in the world- the seed of the woman, and the seed of the serpent. And if the seed of the serpent never hisses at you, you may be afraid that you do not belong to the seed of the woman. God has put an enmity between the serpent and the woman; between the serpent's seed and the woman's seed.

And so it must be till the end of time.

Take any opposition that you get from worldlings as a token for good, a sign that you are of a different race from those who despise you, a testimonial to your character from those whose homage to goodnessembodies itself in persecution. That is the way in whichthey compliment us.

Thank You

Athanasian Creed

1. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Christian faith;

2. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

3. And the Christian faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;

4. Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance.

5. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit.

6. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.

7. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit.

8. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated.

9. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.

10. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.

11. And yet they are not three eternals but one eternal.

12. As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensible, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible.

13. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty.

14. And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty.

15. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God;

16. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.

17. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord;

18. And yet they are not three Lords but one Lord.

19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord;

20. So are we forbidden by the Christian religion to say; There are three Gods or three Lords.

21. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten.

22. The Son is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten.

23. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

24. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.

25. And in this Trinity none is afore or after another; none is greater or less than another.

26. But the whole three persons are coeternal, and coequal.

27. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.

28. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.

29. Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

30. For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man.

31. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and man of substance of His mother, born in the world.

32. Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.

33. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood.

34. Who, although He is God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ.

35. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of that manhood into God.

36. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.

37. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ;

38. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead;

39. He ascended into heaven, He sits on the right hand of the Father, God, Almighty;

40. From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

41. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies;

42. and shall give account of their own works.

43. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.

44. This is the Christian faith, which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved.

Hallelujah!

Hallelujah!

(Letters of John Newton)

"The Lord reigns! Let the earth rejoice!" Psalm 97:1

1776.

My dear madam,
He who once bore our sins, and carried our sorrows--is seated upon a throne of glory, and exercises all power in heaven and on earth! Thrones, principalities, and powers, bow before Him! His providence pervades and manages the whole universe, and is as minutely attentive to every part--as if there were only a single object in His view! From the tallest archangel--to the smallest ant or fly--all depend on Him for their being, their preservation, and their powers. He directs the sparrows where to build their nests, and where to find their food. He over-rules the rise and fall of nations; and bends, with an invincible power, and unerring wisdom--all events to His sovereign will! So that while many intend other outcomes--their designs all concur and coincide in the accomplishment of His holy will.

Jesus restrains with an almighty hand--the still more formidable efforts of the powers of darkness. Satan with all his hosts cannot exert their malice a hair's-breadth beyond the limits of His permission!

This omnipotent Savior is the head and husband of His believing people. How happy are those whom it is His good pleasure to bless! How safe are those whom He has engaged to protect! How honored and privileged are those to whom He is pleased to manifest Himself, and whom He enables and warrants to claim Him as their Friend and eternal potion!

Having redeemed them by His own blood--He esteems them as His treasure, His jewels; and protects them as the pupil of His eye! They shall not lack any good thing. They need not fear. His unerring eye is upon them in every situation; His ear is always open to their prayers; and His everlasting arms are under them for their sure support! On earth He guides their steps, controls their enemies, and directs all His dispensations for their spiritual good. While in heaven He is pleading their cause, preparing a glorious home for them, and communicating down to them reviving foretastes of the glory which they shall shortly enter into!

We sinful worms were once blind to His beauty, and insensible to His love, and would have remained so to the last--had He not revealed His goodness and grace to us!

"Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns!" Revelation 19:6

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