Awakens the rest. Pray it is not too late 2nd Chronicles 7:14
Relate: One of the big arguments atheists sometimes use and Muslims frequently use to deny the divinity of Jesus is the claim that Jesus never claimed to be God. The argument, which is even found in the Quran, states that Jesus never came right out, point blank, and said, “I am God” therefore He must not be God.
This argument is ridiculous on two grounds. First, it is simply not true. We see very clearly Jesus saying in John 8:58, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I AM.” When Moses was sent by God to go rescue the people of Israel, he asked God, “What is your name that I might tell them who sent me?” God responded, “I AM. Say this to the people, I AM has sent me to you.” This is the very name of God and Jesus point blank uses it as His own. It is found all over the Old Testament but except for in Exodus 3:14, when it is used, we find instead the word Lord all in caps. (see Genesis 2:4, Exodus 3:2, Leviticus 1:1 and about 6,500 other times)
Not only does Jesus use the very name of God as His own, but there are also many other times where either another calls him God and he does not correct them or Jesus is speaking of Himself and the people listening understand clearly that He just referred to Himself as God. An example of the former is when Thomas says, “My Lord and my God” and Jesus responds, “You believe because you have seen. Blessed are those who have not seen yet still believe.” An example of the latter is found right here in John 10. Jesus had just said, “I and my Father are one” and now the crowd is picking up stones because, “You, a mere man, claim to be God.”
The common Muslim or skeptic response to this is that when Jesus says, “I and my Father are one”, He is talking about purpose or intent. He is saying He is one the same mission as the Father, not that He and the Father are one and the same. Really? If that were the case, these listeners were downright evil. If Jesus were merely saying, “I am on a mission from God. We’re on the same team. We are one in purpose and intent” then why on earth would the people want to stone Him? Why would they be stoning someone who was claiming to obedient to God? Either the person using this argument is being intellectually dishonest or they are just plain ignorant. The fact is, Jesus claimed to be God. This is not the first or the last time He will do so in the scriptures.
React: The question is not if Jesus claimed to be God in the gospels. The question very clearly is what we will do with those claims. We cannot simply call Jesus a good man. We cannot truly label Him a prophet and nothing more. If He was merely a good man, He would not have made those claims. If He was a prophet and nothing more, then He was a false prophet and should not be venerated as such. We have three choices. The first is that Jesus was misguided. He believed He was God but clearly He was mistaken. The second choice is that Jesus was a liar. He made claims to be God which He knew were false. If we are to come to either of these conclusions then Jesus was a blasphemer. He should not be respected or honored, He should be condemned. The judgment of God is on him. The only other option is to accept His claim at face value. We can either worship Jesus as God or with that crowd we must pick up the stones. There is no other choice. Which do you believe? Is Jesus God or is He a blasphemer?
One of the sad realities within the local church today centers on the fact that numerous born-again Christians have little or no knowledge of the spiritual warfare that takes place all around us. The Bible is crystal clear in proclaiming that there is a battle raging in the heavenlies as the forces of evil continue to wage war against not only the Creator, but also against all who trust in Christ Jesus as Savior and Lord. Islam is just one of the examples of that warfare.
As believers, we may often wonder if there is anything we can do to counter the attacks our spiritual enemy hurls at us. We might even ask, “Can we, as Christian couples and parents, stand in the gap for our marriages, our children, and our homes?” Let me say a resounding, “Yes, we can, and we must stand united in the victory Jesus has secured for us.”
As Genesis 3 shows us, Satan’s desire is not only to destroy our lives, but also to weaken and sever the relationships we hold dear. We might all agree that Adam and Eve were both at fault for their disobedience and rebellion against God’s commandments. But a careful reading of Genesis 3:12 shows that Adam blamed his sin not only on his wife, but also on his Creator by saying to the Lord, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me from the tree, and I ate.”
Without question, Satan is still using the same tactics against our marriages and homes today. He seeks to divide us from our spouses and our children as he plans his strategies to destroy the unity God has designed for us. Just as he was successful in breaking the unity Adam and Eve shared with their Creator, he is still achieving an alarming number of victories in the modern-day Christian home, as the sins of pride and selfishness are often all too prevalent.
I have often talked with numerous people who have had serious questions about the origins of evil and sin in the world. Many may wonder, “How and when, did sin begin?” As the Bible teaches, Satan sinned when he exercised his free will to rebel against his Creator.
Over my years in pastoral ministry, I have encountered far too many believers who lack the knowledge about who they are in Christ. I am completely convinced that unless we acquire a solid biblical understanding of our “in Christ” position, we will be unable to fully counter the attacks of our enemy as he tempts us to exercise our free will and rebel against the commandments of God. As believers, we have a tremendous responsibility to study God’s Word so we can be better able to stand firm with the knowledge and power our Lord has provided for us as we face the devil and his forces of evil.
Without a doubt, it is time that we, as the children of God, woke up and begin living as strong advocates of the cause of Christ Jesus. May our awareness be so quickened that we will begin recognizing the attacks of the devil when they come our way but not be distracted or deterred by the superfluous stuff.
Would you agree that Satan has been achieving his victories for far too long? Will you join with me as we literally claim the power of God Holy Spirit against the one who seeks to divide and destroy our marriages, our homes, our churches, and our country? As the people of God, we can praise our Creator for all His abundant promises as we literally stand in the strength He provides.
2nd Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
It was intended from the very foundation that the US of A would be a Christian nation. Our laws, from the outset, were based on the Holy Bible and perusals of the founders’ writings prove that to be a fact, much to the ACLU’s dismay, not to mention Freedom From Religion and other antichristian organizations. Furthermore, it is only persons of high moral fiber who are supposed ot be permitted to be in positions of “public service” according to the founders. It is not the (Anthony) Wieners and (Barney) Franks and the citizens are supposed to be watching and dictating to the government what its limits are while holding the politicians accountable for their actions. Unfortunately, too many citizens have abdicated their watchdog responsibility and allowed amoral, even immoral, hotdogs to sneak in to those positions of power. It is time to get busy and clean out all the slime from Washington, D.C. We have the internet, for now, where we can bypass the biased media to get the word out and mobilizing.
“There has been a systematic attempt to mislead Christians by disinformation generated by anti-Christian writers who have obscured or denied the Christian nature of our heritage and civil government and law.” (Archie P. Jones, Ph.D., Foreword to Benjamin F. Morris’ The Christian Life and Character of the Civil Institutions of the United States, 1864, reprint 2007 by American Vision, Inc) Back at the foundation of this nation, America, the people understood the lessons from the Holy Bible that civil government is used by God to work out His holy will in the lives of men and nations.
“Our forefathers in the faith did not retreat from involvement in society and politics. They did not turn civil government, the making and enforcement, and adjudication of laws, over to Satan and those who serve him.” (Jones) It was Christianity, not paganism or secularism which produced freedom and justice in the west and in America, it certainly wasn’t Islam. “’There is nothing,’ says Webster, ‘we look for with more certainty than this principle, that Christianity is a part of the law of the land. Everything declares this. The generations which have gone before speak to it, and pronounce it from the tomb.’” (Morris, p 245) “The statesmen of the Continental Congress, in their deliberations, officially recognized the Christian religion, and incorporated its principles into their legislative acts.” (Morris, p 245)
John Adams, in a letter to his wife describes the scene of the 1st Continental Congress “When the Congress first met, Mr. Cushing first made a motion that it should be opened with prayer.” (Morris, p246) It was a non-sectarian, yet decidedly Christian, prayer which ended with “we ask in the name and through the merits of Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Savior. Amen!” (Morris, pp 249-250) “The state papers of the Continental Congress were also full of the spirit and sentiments of the Christian system,” (Morris, p 46). We have a great and Godly heritage in spite of what the ACLU and others of an anti-Christian mindset wish to profess and the documents are once again being brought out to the light of day for our studious perusal at this crucial point in time. Crucial, because we most definitely need a new awakening similar to that which brought the United States into existence.
We desperately need a Great Awakening in this country and 2nd Chronicles 7:14 provides the recipe for it.
–Pastor Ward Clinton
pastorwardclinton 