LLG Ministries

The Blind Leading the Blind

On the topic of wisdom I was treated to a devotional from James Robison. Some of you
may know him from Life Today, his popular program shown on several of the Christian
channels. James is a pastor who now serves to bring water, supplies and nourishment to
impoverished children around the globe. Here is wisdom and also a call to arms,
brothers. Heed these words from Robison:

 

Quotes from James Robison

"Because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of my
mouth. You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do
not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." (Rev 3:16-17)

This message was directed to the church in Laodicea. It was a severe warning to the
body of believers who had forgotten why God saved them (to do His will) and to let them
know the wrath of God would be upon them. In case anyone has any doubt, the Lord can
and does dispense strict discipline (i.e. punishment) to those he calls who stray from his
will.

Robison used this verse to illustrate a call to arms for those in Christ. Those who have
been resigned to sip latte in the back of the church, while souls are being lost every day.
"We should be so excited about being able to see clearly the will of God and His ways
along with the profound results of this transforming experience that we simply can't wait
to share with others. It is too special to be kept secret and withheld."

"Even when threatened by persecution and prison, the New Testament believers in the
book of Acts boldly proclaimed, "We cannot help but speak the things we have seen and
heard!" (Acts 4:20) It is sad to acknowledge, but much of the church today is not only
asleep, they are by their failure to lead others into the light proving to be blind to the
truth and their responsibilities."

Jesus said, "You are blind leaders of the blind, and when the blind lead the blind they will
both fall in the ditch."

"We are witnessing firsthand the tragic effect this has on the church and our nation. We
are blindly being led into the ditch of defeat, despair, dissension, division and debt. It is
amazing to watch those who are in the ditch trying desperately to make it more
comfortable."

"In the Christian church, people seem to find false comfort in stained-glass windows,
cushioned pews, and sweet little messages that move no one to action, but enhance the
slumber. We air-condition the ditch, decorate it, install magnificent pipe organs, have big
choirs, loud praise and gifted musicians and take pride in the gathering, but only a few
dare to come out from under the covering of conformity and compatibility that
leads to compromise and an ineffective witness."

"We hide the light under this bushel and refuse to put it on the lamp stand, then standing
up ourselves and having stood to stand firm and truly pierce the darkness with the
transforming light of God's truth."

"Greed and selfishness are problems clearly defined as sin. These problems are not only
to be addressed by the church and its leaders, but, as believers, we have the only
solution to the problems and that is changing hearts and changing lives."

“In the family of faith we have made people like us, rather than like Christ. We
have made disciples of men rather than Him. God forgive us.”

"Isaiah said, "Who is so blind as my servant?" (Isaiah 42:19) In a later chapter he said,
"His watchmen are blind. They all lack knowledge." (Knowledge of the truth that sets
men free.) "They are mute dogs, and they cannot bark." (Isaiah 56:10) I believe they
are refusing to bark because of the fear of man and the fear of opposition."

"I, for one, will not remain silent. The horror and coming despair is too great to bear.
Hear me loudly and clearly! I say this as emphatically as I can: Unless the church allows
the glory of God to rise and shine, and stands together to rebuild the walls and restore
the foundations, freedom hope and prosperity as we have known it, will vanish from the
earth."

"Betty and I are pursuing Him with our whole heart every moment and seeking to lead
others to follow Him with all their hearts. We love Him. We love you, and all those He
desires to love through you. May God give us all eyes to see clearly the way out of every
ditch that blindness has led us into."

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End quotes from James Robison

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Battle in the Church

I went back and forth between "Perfect Man" and "Battle in the Church" for the title of
this letter. However, I chose the latter after my eyes were opened by Brother Paris
Reidhead, one of the Lord’s great messengers who passed in 1992. I was listening to
several of his sermons which led me back to the Scriptures. I saw that ALL of Christ’s
warnings and the admonishings by the apostles were against Spirit-less believers who
were in the same gathering as the elect. In today’s setting it would be the church.

The Scriptures tell us the greatest battle for souls is in the church, or gathering of those
who say "Lord, Lord." This is where Satan has camped out since the beginning, aiming to
thwart the plan of salvation. Many if not most people have missed Luke 10:25-28 as the
answer to how a man receives salvation and eternal life.

“On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what
must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you
read it?” He answered: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul
and with all your strength and with all your mind‟; and, Love your neighbor as yourself”
You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
 

Many believe that Romans 9-10 is the way to salvation and eternal life.
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God
raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe
and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
 

However, once we look for confirmation through both the Old Testament and the New
Testament and know God’s will, we see unequivocally that God discerns the heart and no
one gets into his rest without satisfying the first and greatest commandment; Love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul and mind and the second unto it, love thy neighbor
as thy self.

The audience for Romans is the early church, born again believers. Paul is not talking to
them about their own salvation, but about the plight of Jews who already know the first
and great commandment which was told from before (Deuteronomy, Joshua, etc.). Yet
they would not acknowledge or confess Christ.

Yet many teachers have in error taught that the way to salvation is to "recite a prayer
and you are saved." They leave out that God wants nothing less than for the believer to
love Him. In the context of the scriptures, love is a commitment of the will to seek the
happiness of, joy of, fulfillment and blessed satisfaction of the Lord. The Lord wants
nothing less than the believer to commit his thoughts (mind), desires (heart), emotions
(soul) and every fiber of his body (in service) to Him.
 

It is only the born again believer that "works out his salvation" or works out his
"restoration in the fullness of Jesus Christ" that receives the full blessings and promises
of the Lord. We are given the example of Jesus who we are told is the author of our
salvation. Jesus loved the Lord with all his heart, soul and mind unto death. He healed
both the wicked and the just and willingly gave his life that while still in sin people might be
saved. We can then say he loved his neighbors as he loved himself.

In my studies and commentary from other pastors, some estimate 80% of all professed
Christians are not saved and don’t know it. I truly believe this is accurate. To find out if a
"Christian" has truly received the person of salvation which is Christ Jesus, ask him or
her this question: "Do you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength?" And if
they say yes, ask "What is the evidence?"

Most cannot honestly say yes. There are other things in life they hold closer and dearer
to their heart. This is the sin they must repent of. The crime Isaiah spoke of when he
said each has gone astray according to his own will. Brothers this is the battle ground.
We must lead the charge for repentance of this crime against God. Each is an idolater
unto himself. God is not in their hearts. May He have mercy on their souls.
 

A Call to Arms
 

This week we heard excerpts from "The Company of Heroes" a discipleship series from
Eric Ludy. In it Ludy describes the attributes of men of God. Men who defend the glorious
crown of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. He paints a picture that ―causes grown men to
stand up, raise clenched fists into the air and shout, "For the Kingdom and the Glory!"
 

Why do we need men of honor and valor in this day and age? Let me describe recent
news that shows how the spirit of the antichrist seeks to destroy the Body of Christ.
Last year there was a news article about Thomas Dyer, the U.S. Army’s first Buddhist
chaplain. As I read the story it said the chaplain was a former Southern Baptist pastor 
who had gone to seminary and was a pastor of a church. His wife and children were still
Christians. But he wasn’t finding peace or satisfaction in Christianity. He later found what
he sought in Buddhism; "peace of mind and spirit."

Then last month in my alumni magazine I read about an Episcopalian priest who started
worshiping Allah and Mohammed, in addition to Christ, because she too found peace that
she apparently didn’t find in Jesus. This priest found no problem in worshipping both
Allah and Christ, because she perceived both religions to be of the same God. And she
talked about her "conversion experiences" that brought her closer to God.
 

How could a born again Christian who calls on the name of the Lord not receive the
supernatural peace of God? And worse yet how could a born again Christian practice
blatant idolatry, worshipping another god? Since both these folks went to seminary they
must be true Christians, right? Maybe they know something we don’t know? Maybe there
is something to a "one world religion?"

In the Book of Revelation Jesus warns us that in the last days the antichrist would seek
to form a one world religion. When we see and read these stories we know the Day of
our Lord approaches. We see the unfolding of biblical prophecy before our very eyes.
Anyone who has been born of the Spirit of God and experienced the "peace that exceeds
all understanding" would marvel at these two situations.

I have experienced this "supernatural peace" several times in my life. It is an unnatural
peace and calm. A peace and calm that soothes the soul even in the face of disaster,
death and calamity. The only reason for the above two pastors’ not finding peace is they
were never born of the Spirit. They were born of their true father, the Great Deceiver.
 

Jesus forewarned us that there would be false teachers and the antichrist would seek to
deceive even the brethren. Thus he said the only way you can tell a true convert, a born
again Holy Ghost sanctified believer, is by their fruit. If you took a movie camera and
watched how a person lived their life, you would be able to discern who was of Christ and
who was of the antichrist.
 

Men, the enemy comes to destroy by deception and the death of those who would come
to Christ. In this age we need men willing to stand up against the fake Christianity which
pervades the land. We need men to take a stand in the face of religion that wants to
appease the masses, but is taking those in their pews straight to hell.

This is just as Jesus forewarned. He said in the last days the love of the brethren would
wax cold. Who shall answer the call to battle? Who shall sound the warning bell? Who
shall gather those going astray and give them the truth?

Men of honor and valor. Men born of Christ. Men of God. Men like you.

Loving The Munsters

"Leave it to Beaver" was a popular family show in the1950’s about a fictitious suburban
American family, the Cleavers; Beaver and his parents June and Ward Cleaver. Then
there was another show in the 1960’s "The Munsters" about a family next door who were
monsters. It was a comedy that parodied Leave it to Beaver and traditional monster
movies.

In our last meeting we talked about what it means to love your neighbor. Most people
would find it easy to love the Cleavers. But could you love the Munsters just the same?
Rich brought out a key point when discussing the greatest commandment and the second
like it. Jesus tells us that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart,
soul and mind. And the second is like it, to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.
 

Who was Jesus talking to and did he mean we are to love our neighbor as the natural
man loves himself? It is true most of us hold our ego’s very high and would not harm
ourselves. We seek the desires of our heart. So if we love our neighbor like that then it’s
a good thing, right?
 

But in the context of the Scriptures we know that Jesus is talking about the man that has
a regenerated heart, possessed by the Spirit of God. And in that believer, the love he has
for himself is not for his sin nature, but it is the love that God has for him. So if God is
within me and I am within God, the love I have of myself is the same love that God has
for me.

Imagine looking in a mirror and you don’t see your old self any more, but you see this
new man of God. And the love you have for yourself is not of your nature, but born of
God. Then this same love that comes from God is what you are to show your neighbor.
 

Dear friend, it’s all about Him