In the November 2009 Newsletter, “Lord, Teach Us To Pray”, we examined the four statements which pertain to “US” as believers on earth. In this month’s newsletter, we want to take a look at the intention of Jesus’ words in commanding believers to also pray a higher form of prayer that centers not upon us, but upon things that pertain to God. Specifically singled out are things that pertain to His Name, His Kingdom, and His will:

Nearly every sincere believer in Christ has committed this prayer to memory. It is often invoked at solemn gatherings of believers and is often traditionally quoted in unison at funerals. However, this is not a prayer by which we are to die, but rather is a prayer by which we are to live out our lives as Christians. The Lord’s prayer was given in response to the disciple’s request, “Lord, teach us to pray...” The danger with simplistic rote memorization of this prayer is that it tends to breed familiarity to the point that the true meaning and purpose of its contents become greatly diminished. Jesus is teaching His disciples HOW to effectively pray, not merely WHAT words to say. To truly be effective against the forces of evil, this prayer must be viewed as a pattern for how to pray as believers while living out our lives on an earth that is under the sway of the wicked one (Eph. 2:2), who is guiding the present course of this evil age (1 Jn. 5:18-19).

\"The Three faces of Eve\" is the title of a book and movie based on a true story of a neurotic (perhaps demon-possessed) woman whose life was tremendously traumatized by the manifestation of triple personalities. I have merely borrowed the title of this famous story to pungently dramatize the point that the Scriptures portray Satan and his demonic hordes, by means of a threefold deceptive onslaught, are presently seeking to corrupt the mind of the modern-day “Eve”, the church, the espoused Bride of the “last Adam”, Jesus Christ. A common understanding in Christianity is that the whole church is automatically the Bride of Christ because they are members of the Body of Christ. It is true that all are espoused to Christ, but Paul’s expressed fear is that the Church might not be found as a “Chaste Virgin” when it becomes time to be presented to Christ. This newsletter deals with that potential corruption.

Like Job’s three friends, teachers of the five points of Calvinism are guilty of not speaking of God what is right. These basic tenets of Calvinism portray God’s character opposite of what is stated in His Word. They constitute a character assassination of God. Strong words, but needful to say as a forewarning to all who embrace this erroneous picture of God.This theology is widely embraced in Christianity, and there is a reason why it is so. Calvinism places all responsibility upon God and no responsibility upon the unbeliever or the saved believer. It is a cross-less, costless brand of Christianity that hides behind an undue exaltation of the sovereignty of God’s will as being the sole agent at work in salvation. Not the salvation of all mankind that is offered to “whosever will” choose what God offers, but rather a brand of salvation offered only to those who God first sovereignty chooses to be saved. The rest of mankind is doomed, not by their own choice in rejecting God’s saving grace, but rather because of the “limited atonement” of the God of Calvinism. This is not the God that the Bible portrays. This newsletter is dedicated to proving that statement.

It may surprise you, but the ever-popular Charles Spurgeon was the leading advocate of today’s erroneous doctrine of “pre-forgiveness of sins.” Today’s Calvinistic protégées of Spurgeon espouse this unbiblical doctrine under the banner of “Every sin I will ever commit is already under the blood of Christ, past, present and future.” Sounds good, but this is not sound doctrine! There is not one passage of Scripture that states God pre-forgives sins not yet committed. If such a position is a valid doctrine, then the epistles would be devoid of any instruction pertaining to further need to deal with sin on an ongoing basis in the life of a believer. However, the Word of God abounds with instruction from Jesus and the apostles for blood-washed believers to deal thoroughly with sin on an ongoing basis. This emphasis of Jesus and the apostles is proof-positive that pre-forgiveness of sin is a false doctrine that is to be shunned. Yes, Christ is ever-willing to forgive our sin through His shed blood, but “pre-forgiveness” flies in the face of what Jesus and the apostles taught. The Christian is in a life-long battle with sin, and is to have dominion over it by means of repentance and confession of sin if they sin, and by also embracing God’s ongoing enabling grace to overcome sin.

God’s people need to expand their vision when it comes to spiritual garments. There are two described in Scripture. One is the product of the new birth covering the members of the Body of Christ. The other is a product of a new life lived for Christ. This second garment clothes the Bride of Christ. The first garment is a gift of God’s saving grace. The second is a reward inherited by God’s enabling grace to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil.

What propels the authenticity of the Bible above all other religious books? It is the prophecy that it contains:

Simply put, the Bible is nearly one-third prophecy. No other religious writings contain such detailed accounts of what lies ahead in the future for mankind. God has singled out prophecy as the stamp of authenticity to His claim to be the one and only true God. All other religions are labeled by God Himself as false due to their inability to foretell in detail future events.
This newsletter is dedicated to elaborating upon that claim.

The Body of Christ and the Bride of Christ. These are the last two of the twelve priorities of God we have been examining. We shall consider them together because one (the Bride) is formed out of the other (the Body). We become members of the Body of Christ by means of the new birth, “For by one Spirit we were baptized into one body...” (1 Cor. 12:13). As members of that body, we become betrothed to Christ. However, Paul also expresses a fear of corruption of the espoused Bride by the craftiness of Satan through the presentation of “another Jesus...a different spirit...a different gospel.” This newsletter is dedicated to alerting the members of the Body of Christ to the present satanic deception by which members of the Body of Christ may forfeit their right to be part of the Bride of Christ for all eternity! The Bride is a reward, not a guarantee!

My experiences in God’s church reminds me of an old secular movie entitled, “Great Expectations.” When I first entered the ministry I had great expectations for the church of Jesus Christ until I became illuminated to such prophetic truths as in this newsletter. I am not discouraged, but I am forearmed against utopia theology that stands in opposition to what is recorded in God’s prophetic Word. Multitudes of preachers are feeding God’s people a steady diet of great expectations of corporate revival coming to the church. Prophecy is devoid of such expectations apart from usurping the promises God has made to Israel in the last days (Joel 2). The prophetic description of Philadelphia as the model of the raptured church stresses the point that this church has only “a little strength” (Dunamis-dynamite power-signs/wonders), but is rather taken for other stated reasons than miraculous power. Prophecy teaches that the majority of the church will continue to be plagued with foolish virgins, tares planted by Satan, and according to the Parable of the Sower, the majority (3 out of 4) of believers failing to bear in their lives the fruit of the Kingdom due to yielding to Satan’s temptations of unbelief,offense, and ensnarement in temporal earthly alternatives. The leadership of the church will continue to have its share of false apostles, false teachers and wolves in sheep’s clothing right up to the return of Christ for the faithful remnant.

In our on-going study of God’s (12) biblical priorities for His people, we have come to the last four which are corporate identities: (1) “Christ’s Spiritual House, (2) the Church of Jesus Christ, (3) the Body of Jesus Christ, and (4) the Espoused Bride of Christ.” By corporate identities I make a distinction between the first eight priorities that were individually achievable and these last four areas which require our involvement with other believers. In Ephesians 2:18-21 we are given the mandate of “being joined together” and “being built together.” Peter also conveys this plurality of involvement in referring to us as “living stones...being built up a spiritual house” (1 Pet. 2:5). It takes more than one stone to built a house.

This is the eighth in a list of twelve priorities that God spells out in His Word as being His will for His people. It is important to grasp that God never asks His people to do or be something that He has not demonstrated Himself. In addition to Jesus coming to earth to inherit such lofty roles as “a Prophet like unto Moses” (Acts 3:22-26), as “the Apostle and High Priest of our confession” (Heb.3:1), as “the Chief Cornerstone of the Household of God” (Eph.2:19-20), as “King of the Kingdom of God” (Jn. 18:36-37), as “Head of the Body, the Church” (Col. 1:18), He also came to assume the lowly office of a servant. It is to this same humble position that God calls every believer in Christ. This newsletter is dedicated to establishing this often-ignored priority in the hearts of God’s people.

The presidential race for the coveted prize of occupying the White House is a grueling adventure. Ask Hilary Clinton. Ask John McCain. Ask the most recent victor over the both of them, Barack Obama.
All what these presidential candidates endured in choosing to run such a race, they considered to be worthy of the cost. At stake is the possibility of winning the prize of the White House, the highest and most prestigious position of honor and power to be bestowed upon the victorious recipient.
As Christians, we can learn from such earthly examples of sacrifice and endurance what it will take to run the spiritual race for the everlasting prize that is set before us; ruling and reigning as joint-heirs with Christ over His whole creation-for all eternity.