The Humanistic Gospel

The desire of my heart is to help Christian Leaders find joyful, Spirit-filled ministry; and to be used by God in building houses that will stand in the storms of life (Matthew 7:24-25). I believe that is God’s purpose in this blog (I am just a pen).

Many times, the best way to disciple someone is to share a resource with them. It is cost and time efficient. Many times, others share the truth in ways that are beyond my gifting. This is one of those times.

So, in the hopes of your encouragement and edification, I offer to you a link to Ten Shekels and a Shirt (once the webpage opens, click the title, and then “open”, to start the audio).  You will notice that this sermon is from a website – sermonindex.net – that promotes genuine Biblical revival, by offering some of the best sermons of the past 100 years. I promise, you will enjoy this one immensely.

I suspect you will want to listen to others, after you have heard from Paris Reidhead. You can do that through their website and their podcast channel. Let me now if you need help setting that up.

I also hope and pray that you will pass this sermon on to those you are discipling.

Humbly yours and forever His,

Rob

Kingdom Knowledge – Connectors and Expanders

One of the coolest things about searching the Scriptures is finding passages that expand and/or connect some bit of truth that has been previously discovered. For your encouragement, I offer two examples. First, we have two very familiar passages:

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2Corinthians 3:18

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

Most of you know that one of my favorite Greek words is metamorphoō; translated in these verses as “transformed”. The fact that metamorphoō is only used three times in the New Testament is enough to suggest that these passages are connected in their meaning. For example, transformation includes the renewal of our minds, and the Holy Spirit plays a part in that transformation. (BTW: The third use will blow your mind. I will let you search it out on your own.)

For now, take a look at this connecting passage:

Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him… Colossians 3:10

Beholding the image of Him (His glory) we are renewed in knowledge (in our minds). How cool is that? Renewal of our minds and our transformation; both connected by our beholding Him. It begs the question, “How do we behold Him?”

The Foundations – The Doctrine of Christ

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 1Corinthians 13:11

When I was a child, I was taught to trust and obey my parents completely. They were the source of all truth in my life. They were my guides. I was, with them, a child of man.

Then, I was born of God; becoming His child I learned to trust Him for truth and guidance. His Son became my authority – my King. I learned to obey Him and to love Him; even more than my parents.

My King commanded me to do things; things my parents never would have thought to put on their child. He gave me visions beyond my parents’ wildest imaginations. He loved me in a way they never could.

I could have chosen the limited thinking of my parents over that of my God and King. I could have wrapped myself in their understanding; as protection from the commands of God – from His ways and thoughts. I could have continued living as a child of man.

I suggest to you that many in the church – even followers of Jesus Christ – have not left the childish things and moved on to maturity in the wisdom and knowledge of God. Furthermore, I suggest to you that even well meaning leaders of the church have encouraged their followers to remain in their elementary teachings. This has been devastating to the Body of Christ.

It may be that this offends you. You may be thinking, “Who is he to judge?” Please, at least for a moment, trust that my heart is only for the freedom that comes by the truth of God. I may be wrong and the Holy Spirit still use what follows to make you free.

This article is not about the right and/or wrong of doctrine. It is about the limitation of the doctrines of man to contain the thoughts and ways of God; and the responsibility of church leaders to search out the mysteries of God, and to teach those in their spheres of influence to do the same.

The Foundations – Fishing is More than Evangelism

Let’s say you are a draftsman, and an aspiring architect. Let’s say an established and highly respected architect asks you to join his team; that he has seen your work and would like to train you to take over his firm. Without hesitation, you drop what you are doing and follow him; for this is your heart’s desire.

Time goes by. You spend three and one-half years with him, being made into the architect that he desire you to be. Then the day arrives for his retirement. With the authority vested in him as the owner of said firm, he commissions you to carry on his good work; work that he has promised will be greater than anything you have seen to date. What do you do next?

Do you go back to being a draftsman? Do you limit yourself to drawing preliminary or conceptual plans? Do you start creating paintings of buildings?

Do you do anything but the work he has trained, and commissioned, you to do?

Do you settle for less because it’s easier being something less than an architect?

To some, these questions will seem silly; even a waste of time. I wish they were. I wish they were not relevant to our current situation. I wish the Western church had not settled for less. I wish we knew what it meant to be fishers of men; and were about doing the business to which we had been commissioned.

Regrettably, we (leaders of the Western church) have altered the definitions to make being a disciple easier on everyone.

The Foundations – The Story is About Him

It is ironic that the most obvious thing can be the very thing we get wrong. If someone were to say, “The story is about Him”, we would all nod our heads. Of course the story is about Him; it’s His story. But is that the way we live our lives here in the Western church?

No one would say, “The story is about me.” Right?

What about, “The story is about us?”

Now we are getting a little closer to the truth; I mean the truth about ourselves.  Think about it.

Why did we pray that first prayer? Why do we continue praying? Is it for God, or is it for us? Be honest with yourself. What is our motivation for reaching the lost, and serving those in need? Is it for Him, or is it for them? Who is it about?

I think you understand where I am going with this, but let me say it clearly: The church in the West has become self-centered. Consciously or subconsciously, with intent or not, we have come to think, believe and act like the story is about us. It is time we shook off this deception and began living like the story is about Him.

Call to Action – Denying So Great a Salvation

If I understand it correctly, one of the greatest blessings of the Protestant Reformation was the recognition that all followers of Jesus Christ could approach God for repentance and forgiveness, and for revelation and understanding of His word. It was not necessary for the common man to approach God through a “qualified” human intermediary. Tragically, we have taken a step back in time, particularly as it relates to understanding and appropriating the truths of God.

It is not enough to listen to someone else read and expound on the Scriptures. It is not enough to read them for yourself. We are called to be faithful stewards of the mysteries of God (1Corinthians 4:1-2). Stewards search out and do something with the Master’s resources. To do anything else is wicked and lazy; not my words, but the words of the Master (Matthew 25:14-30).

We have been given eyes to see and ears to hear – spiritual eyes and ears – to know the mysteries of God (Matthew 13:11). It is the glory of God to hide a matter, but the glory of kings to search out a matter (Proverbs 25:2). How can we deny so great a salvation? How far have we strayed – to our peril (2Thessalonians 2:9)?

Many brave men were martyred for their efforts to make the word of God accessible to everyone. These are our brothers. What must they be thinking? Better yet, what is our Master thinking? And what will He do to His wicked and lazy servants?

The age is coming to a close; and the times have grown perilous. Please let me know if you need help becoming a faithful steward of the mysteries of God. Your future depends on it.

 

Humbly yours and forever His,

P.S. To those of you in leadership, I fervently urge you to refuse to allow those in your spheres of influence to be wicked and lazy. It is a hard thing to say, and hear, but you will be required to give an account.

Awed by God’s Mysterious Truth

All Scripture is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work (2Timothy 2:16-17). All Scripture – not one verse or word is wasted. This is the awesome blessing of the Holy Bible.

Furthermore, there are some passages that are so rich in meaning; they overwhelm us with an awe of God’s mysterious truth. They make us joyful with gratitude that we have been given to know and steward the mysteries of heaven. I came across such a passage this morning.

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.  For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews 12:28-29

I am going to leave it to you to search out the deepest meanings of this verse; but I will give you a running start with a couple of thoughts:

1. We are receiving a kingdom: Not “will receive”, like a sweet-by-and-by promise. The kingdom of God is at hand. How so? How do we receive it?
2. Let us have grace: Why not faith; or “grace and faith”? Can I serve God without grace? Is this the grace that saves, or something more? How do I acquire it?
3. Reverence and godly fear: Are these two different things? Is there a godly fear that is more than reverence? What does this fear look like? Where does it come from? How do I acquire it?
4. God is a consuming fire: God is love and a consuming fire? How does that work? What does He consume? Does it hurt? Is that necessary?

Let me encourage you to face these questions with courage and expectancy. Expect to find the truth that will make you free. Share what you find with others. Become a faithful steward of the mysteries of God. It is your right and obligation.

 

Humbly yours and His forever,

Back to Basics – The Good Works of God and Man (Part 1)

Every man, woman and child was created by God to walk in “good works” (Ephesians 2:10). It follows then, that every authority established by God for His people has a God-given opportunity to lead His people into those good works. That responsibility includes hearing the voice of God; for God does not empower works that are not in His will.

Those that find the will of God, in good works, walk in the empowering grace of God – the supernatural ability and resources of the kingdom of heaven. They experience God-glorifying work (Matthew 5:16); and the “more than” works of John 14:12. Signs and wonders will bear witness to the gospel of His grace (Acts 14:3) in the good works of God’s will.

This is the normal Christian life; for every child of God, and for those called to lead them. It is a tragedy that so many have chosen to settle for less; the opposite of Jesus’ promise. Why has this happened to so many in the church? Perhaps they do not understand the mystery of good works. Perhaps they have not been encouraged to walk in this promise of God. Perhaps they have not been equipped for the adventure.

The purpose of this series of articles is to encourage, edify and equip Marketplace Leaders (and those in their spheres of influence) to search out, discover and walk in such an adventure. Let’s start with the basics.

Should We Leave Them at the Gate?

Imagine yourself standing on the top of a hill overlooking a beautiful pastoral scene. In the distance you hear the sounds of sheep, cows, ducks, and people. People? That’s right – lots of people; and it sounds like they are all coming your way.

Where could all these people be coming from and where are they going? Drawing closer to the edge of the top of your hill, you see a broad road at its base; and you realize that this road curves around the hill, towards you, from somewhere out of your eyesight. The people – many people – are coming down that road.

Moving to your right (to see where the road goes), you notice that it ends abruptly at a precipitous cliff; and a fall into destruction. Immediately your heart goes out to the folk on the road. Hurrying back around the edge of your hill, you see them; and you begin to yell a warning, “Don’t take that broad road! Find another way! It leads to your destruction!” With all your heart and strength you cry out to the people that are heading to their destruction.

A Storm is Coming – The Harbingers’ Deeper Meaning

Dear Jonathan,

Like so many in the church, I am grateful that God has shown us mercy in the Harbinger events, and in the presentation of those events in your book. I think we all agree that your perspective – that the harbingers are for America – is right on target. America has become rebellious towards God, and will suffer the consequences.

I personally believe this is inevitable. The warnings will not be heeded. But all is not lost; for there is more to the warnings. I want to suggest to you (and all my brothers and sisters) that there is another, more important, perspective on the harbingers and the shemitah.

This additional perspective is actually very simple: God has used the events recorded in The Harbinger to warn the church in America. You see, He is more interested in the future Bride of His Son than this nation we are sojourning in. He is being merciful to warn us that the time has arrived for judgment to come to the people of God. If only we would see this before it is too late.

How did I come to this understanding? The Holy Spirit showed me that America is the wall. That’s right. When God formed this nation, He did so to protect the church that He was planting here. He had great plans for those that would trust and obey Him; and He accomplished many great things through the church in America.

Regrettably, the church has become deceived. The wall God provided has become the idol of God’s people. Think about it. How many in the church look to America for security, governance and prosperity? Is it not clear to you? I know it is; and I suspect that from this perspective, you see more than I.

Is it possible that God would have you speak to this through the channels He has established via the success of The Harbinger? The church desperately needs to hear that we are citizens of a greater nation; ambassadors of the kingdom of God. And we must quit pointing our fingers in the direction of Washington, DC to complain about what “they” are doing. We, the church, are in a more desperate place than this nation in which we live.

I could say more, but this seems to be enough for now. I would be blessed to speak with you further on this matter. You can contact me at rob@inlightconsulting.com.

I pray God’s blessing of courage and strength on you.

Humbly yours and forever His,

Rob Streetman

President; inLight Consulting, Inc.

P.S.  To my brothers and sisters in Christ:  If this has encouraged you, and you have a communication channel to Jonathan, please forward this to him.