Question #1:
Hello Bob,
I didn’t answer for a while, sorry for that :( I hope you have a blessed life!!
Let’s assume the Bible is not the perfect and I prophecy is real. How does or
Howard Pittman contradict the scriptures then? Or does he even still contradict
it if the Bible wouldn’t not be the perfect?
Thanks for your time and answers!
Blessings
Response #1:
With all due respect, I can't pretend anything true is not true.
If new prophecy is real, then the Bible we have is not sufficient.
Because if it were sufficient, then we would not need any new prophecy.
It is only coming from the viewpoint of the Bible being incomplete,
insufficient, imperfect rather than "the perfect" that one can even
consider that the Book of Mormon or any other of countless apocryphal
works can be true.
I know that the Bible is true, but if I don't accept it's authority,
then 1) how will I know anything about what God's opinion really is; and
2) how will I be able to judge whether or not other things are true?
So let me flip the question back. What is the difference – in principle
– between the testimony/prophecy of Joseph Smith and that of Harold
Pittman?
We live in a very dangerous time on the cusp of the Tribulation. In the
church-visible today, there are all manner of disturbing activities
taking place. Many are calling themselves prophets and apostles and
claiming "God told me!" There are whole new "denominations" dedicated to
this sort of thing nowadays with their proponents selling millions of
books, blasting forth their false doctrines on television programs and
podcasts and throughout the internet and on social media. Stay away from
the hype, from anything emotional and experiential, from anything
political . . . and from anyone and any group which does not put the
Bible first and foremost.
Here are some links apropos of this topic:
Dreams, Visions, Miracles, Exorcism, Tongues, and False Prophets
What does the Bible say about Dreams and Visions?
Confronting False Groups and False Teaching V
Dreams, Visions, Miracles, Exorcism, Tongues, and False Prophets
Eschatology Issues CXXX: Third Party Reports
Third Party Testimony I: We Believe God and His Word - Not People
Third Party Testimony II: Charismatic Claims of Visions, Dreams and Prophecy
Third Party Testimony III: Near Death Experiences, Revelations and Tongues
Cult Characteristics
Dangers of Deception in the Tribulation
Satan's Three Lies
Cults and Christianity III
Atheism and Gnosticism: Denying the Truth about God
Culture and Christianity X
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #2:
Hello Bob,
Thank you for the answer! I understand what you are saying so i will
rephrase the question. How do Howard Pitmans teachings contradict the
Bible? (Maybe that’s even how I wrote it first, I’m not sure)
Your brother in Christ
Response #2:
This is a little like asking, "Is there anything unbiblical about the
book of Mormon?" Few believers have the time or the interest to pick
that apocryphal book apart page by page and write the thousand plus page
dissertation necessary to answer in any sort of complete way. It's
enough to say, "Well, it was written long after the canon of scripture
closed in the first century and there have been no genuine prophets
since John died, so by definition it is unbiblical to its core."
Or in the case of the NAR movement where they are involved in all sorts
of emotion excess, New Age nonsense, eastern mysticism and making all
sorts of outlandish claims, it would be a lot easier to ask not "is
there anything unbiblical" but rather "is there anything at all which
is biblical?".
So I would answer you, "what teaching(s) do you mean?" I'm not an H.P.
fan nor student, and I don't have the time or interest to read/listen to
everything he's done/said. What I can say is what I've said that since
there are no further prophets since the canon closed, the Bible is
sufficient. If there were further prophets, it would mean by definition
that the Bible was not sufficient. But it is, "perfectly" so . . . as
only the perfect can be.
You're free to ask specific questions about specific teachings, and I'll
be happy to tell whether or not it also occurs in or squares with
scripture. In fact, I think we've already done this (on one such false
teaching). If someone makes a claim about heaven that is exactly what
the Bible states, then we can say "Well, I don't know about your
experiences, but the Bible says exactly the same thing"; on the other
hand, if someone makes a claim about heaven that includes information
not in the Bible, then where did this person get it? That person cannot
be a prophet because there are no true prophets since the first century.
But there are plenty of false ones as our Lord warned us.
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves."
Matthew 7:15 NKJV
"Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many."
Matthew 24:11 NKJV
"For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."
Matthew 24:24 NKJV
Re: "Maybe that’s even how I wrote it first, I’m not sure": maybe
the above is how I answered you more or less the first time too.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #3:
Hello Bob!
Thank you for the answer. I’m sorry to disturb you with the whole H.P.
thing but the problem is that I do not consider myself as a grown up
Christian and I really have problem with Howard Pitmans teachings. It
has made me question basically the foundations of my believes. I am no
longer sure if I really believe, how one should believe and how this
“believe” looks like. Neither am I sure that I serve Christ in the right
way or how such a thing is even possible, or how one might look that
serves Christ. Those two question ofc also include the question, am I
saved? Am I enough for go? I know the typical answer is: “you cannot be
enough, etc.” but I am no longer sure how my God really is/feels/acts or
in which conditions he loves. I am straight up confused and I don’t know
what to believe anymore because different people say different things.
There are paths and now I should choose one which should be the right
narrow path and I feel like I can be no longer sure of salvation. I just
have to go my way in believing and if I didn’t notice a sin I had to
change then “oops”, and I go to hell… I sadly am not good in being in a
relationship with God, while not sure of salvation.
Sorry for the long text and the explosion of the questions. I am not in
the best condition nor is my relationship with Jesus Christ in its best
condition. I don’t really have many fruits of the Holy Ghost and rather
I feel dried out. Neither do I find rest and all the days fly by and it
seems like I can no longer find God and keep him.
I understand if you don’t want to deal with a young man who is not able
to find answers to his questions on his own but I would be happy if you
would still answer all of those question. The point is that if Howard
Pittman was wrong and if you had an argument that would be like:” he
said this and that contradicts the Bible” that would help me really
much. I hope at least.
Response #3:
I'm happy to correspond with you.
On salvation, the short answer is, if you believe in Jesus Christ, that
He is God and that He did become a human being too and did die for all
your sins on the cross, then you are saved.
"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved."
Acts 16:31
Re: "Paths", Jesus is the only "way, the life and the truth"
(Jn.14:6). And being THE "truth", if we want to know anything about God
and what He has for us we have to give our entire attention to the Word
of Truth, the written Word which is the very thinking of Him who is the
Living Word, Jesus Christ (1Cor.2:16).
Most Christians today are wandering to no good purpose. They call it
"seeking", but for most it's just an excuse to involve themselves in all
manner of activities they find fun but which are (mostly) covers for
false teaching – a lot of which is dangerous and actually antithetical
to a saving faith in Jesus Christ (e.g., any group involved in
"contemplative prayer" which is essentially Hinduism). That is the era
we are in, the era of Laodicea, where Christians were prophesied to be
lukewarm for the most part.
If you want to get "red hot" for the Lord, it won't happen through music
or ecstatics or involvement in legalistic or hyper-charismatic or NAR
groups. The Lord wants us to draw closer to Him the same way we came to
know Him in the first place: through believing the truth.
(6) So then, exactly as you [originally] received Christ Jesus as [your] Lord, be walking in Him [in the very same way], (7) rooted and built up in him, established in the faith just as you were taught, overflowing with thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7
I sense that you are seeking the actual truth and have been upset by the
spiritual indigestion that any believer who is bent on doing what is
right will receive when listening to false or misleading teaching with
which our society and the internet are awash. But where to find good
teaching? Ichthys is such a place (IMHO); I can also recommend
Bible Academy (at the
link).
But please understand: answering these questions you have and solving
these problems doesn't happen magically. It happens when we commit
ourselves to spiritual growth and follow through by reading our Bibles
daily, praying consistently in the Spirit (i.e., the biblical way), AND
sitting under a good Bible teaching ministry regularly – ideally also on
a daily basis. If you commit yourself to this godly course, it will
answer all questions and solve all problems – eventually. But you have
to take in God's truth . . . and you have to believe it. After that
comes application and the virtuous cycle that leads to spiritual
maturity, the ability to pass difficult tests, and, eventually, come
into a ministry of your own. That is how we do what the Lord wants us to
do and that is how we earn the rewards He wants us to earn (see
the link).
You are free to access all of the resources at Ichthys. I generally
recommend starting with the Peter series (at
the link) and also reading the weekly email postings (at
the link). No charge for any of this and you are free to access
these materials anonymously.
And I will say a prayer for your guidance.
In Jesus Christ our Lord,
Bob L.
Question #4:
Great answer. I will thank God for you and I will be at your Ichthys
website.
But this “no prophets anymore” topic is a little confusing for me. The
Israelites had prophets too, even though the Law (five Books of Moses)
where finished, just to warn them or to “wake them up”.
I really want to state that I’m thankful for you answer and I hope that
you will have a blessed and wonderful live in Christ, here on earth and
in eternity.
in Christ,
Response #4:
It's my pleasure.
Yes, there were prophets in the past, before the Bible was completed.
But now that it has been completed, what is the gap any new prophet
would need to fill? What is the truth that the Bible is insufficient to
provide?
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves."
Matthew 7:15 NKJV
“Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many."
Matthew 24:11 NKJV
“For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."
Matthew 24:24 NKJV
So we have it from our Lord in no uncertain terms that after His departure, false prophets would arise. So we know that there are false prophets. What do we do about someone claiming to be a true prophet of God? For one thing, it's important to keep in mind that true prophets don't invent themselves or their prophecies. True prophets are sent by God alone and the message they proclaim is God's alone. Anyone can claim to be a prophet. You or I could do the same. We could make up wonderful things about heaven – or terrifying things about hell. We could tell people that unless they repented and listened to us . . . and bought our books and sent us money . . . that they would not enjoy heaven and that they would instead languish in hell. But of course that would not be true since all who believe in Jesus are saved and since God did not appoint us or send us and that message, whatever it was we made up, would not be His but would instead be a lie concocted for our own benefit.
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
1st John 4:1 NKJV
John is very straightforward in commanding us NOT to believe everyone
who claims to have some independent message from God. As explained
before, because I know for a fact what it is that 1st Corinthians
chapter 13 teaches on this subject, I personally don't need to examine
the message – I know from the start that anyone claiming to be a prophet
cannot be telling the truth because prophecy has "ceased" with the
completion of the perfect Bible . . . which makes perfect sense to me (see
the link).
But for someone who wants to "test", how would one do so? The first and
perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind is that in the case of
claimed prophet-status, it is this person's responsibility to prove it
TO YOU. It is not YOUR responsibility to disprove him or her. In other
words, the "default", even for someone who (wrongly and dangerously)
believes that genuine prophecy is still being given by God, is to have
those supposed prophets prove it TO YOU beyond a shadow of a doubt. That
is critical to understand inasmuch as the way these people operate is to
prey upon weaker or more immature believers and use their lack of truth
and faith against them, using also their essential innocence in Christ
against them. They insinuate that YOU are the problem for not believing
them and also that you will have more trouble if you continue in your
disbelief . . . in them. But as I say, since we are to "not believe
every spirit" but "test" before believing, it is their
burden of proof, not ours.
"And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’ — “when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him."
Deuteronomy 18:22 NKJV
But what if what the would be "prophet" says is not verifiable (i.e., we can't go to heaven and test out what H.P. has said)? Then it is HIS/HER responsibility to provide the proof.
Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.
2nd Corinthians 12:12 NKJV
No signs? No wonders? No mighty deeds? Just words – words that cannot be
verified through the Deuteronomy test? Again, it's their responsibility
to "prove it". OUR responsibility is NOT to believe it unless proven.
If anyone still wants to submit these false prophets to a test, there is
no better test than the Bible test. We know that the Bible is inerrant
in its truth, because the Bible is the written Word, the very thinking
of Jesus Christ who is the Living Word (1Cor.2:16). If anything
whatsoever that such a "prophet" says is not found in the Bible, then
that person is by definition a false prophet, because the Bible is God's
complete prophesy to us, so that anything in addition has to be false.
If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
Revelation 22:18b-19 NKJV
For those who reject the above and think (wrongly and dangerously) that
there could be additional prophecy that would not contradict scripture
or fall under this anathema, then every single thing such a "prophet"
says would have to be subjected to a rigorous test to ensure that in
every respect it is consistent with what we know for certain is true,
namely, the Bible. That would mean that the person conducting such a
test would have to understand fully and completely the entirety of the
scriptures, and no one is "there" yet nor will be this side of actual
heaven.
But even if someone with a modicum of spiritual growth were to examine
false prophecy from the biblical standard, they would easily see many
ways and places where there were subtle (or even baldfaced) lies
inserted into such "prophecy". You told me one thing about H.P. and it
is apparent from that one thing that he is lying. You only have to catch
a liar out in one thing to show that he is a liar when it comes to this
test. If a person's story is a lie in one respect, then the whole story
is a lie. You don't have to refute every single thing he says. That
would be letting the spirits test you, and not the other way around. And
on this particular topic, of angelic visions of heaven, here is
something else scripture has to say:
Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, going into detail about visions he has seen, being puffed up for nothing by his fleshly mind.
Colossians 2:18 LSB
We are here to run a spiritual race for Jesus Christ, to win the prize He has for us at the resurrection. Paying heed to ascetics and false prophets or supposed "apostles" is one sure way to trip ourselves up and keep us from reaching that goal. I encourage you instead to commit yourself to the objective ahead given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ, of spiritual growth, progress in passing tests, and ministry to His Body, once maturity is achieved and tested. That is something you will never regret. Paying attention to falsehoods, however, is only going to hobble us in this great endeavor.
(12) [It is] not that I have already gotten [what I am striving for], nor that I have already completed [my course]. Rather, I am continuing to pursue [the prize] in hopes of fully acquiring it – [this prize for whose acquisition] I was myself acquired by Christ Jesus. (13) Brethren, I do not consider that I have already acquired it. This one thing only [do I keep in mind]. Forgetting what lies behind me [on the course] and straining towards the [course] ahead, (14) I continue to drive straight for the tape, towards the prize to which God has called us from the beginning [of our race] in Christ Jesus. (15) So as many as are [spiritually] mature, let us have this attitude (i.e., of focusing on our spiritual advance and reward and not getting hung up on what lies behind: vv.13-14), and if in any matter your attitude is off-center, God will reveal that to you (i.e., assuming you are mature and are advancing as you should). (16) But with respect to the progress you have made, keep on advancing in the same way!
Philippians 3:12-16
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #5:
Hello Bob!
As always, thanks for you answer :)
I thought to myself, isn’t the fact that Jesus said “false prophets will
arise” and not “all prophets who will arise are not from god” a hint for
real prophets still existing?
Response #5:
You're welcome.
Re: Does the fact that there are false prophets mean that there must
also be true prophets? No, not any more than the fact that there are
false sightings of "Big Foot" must mean that "Big Foot" actually exists.
In any case, it's a yes or no question, and according to the 1st
Corinthians 13:8-12, there haven't been any true prophets since the
canon of scripture was completed in ca. A.D. 64-68 when John completed
Revelation (see
the link).
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #6:
Dear Teacher
How have you been, Sir? How did the exams go?
I'm attaching a short conversation that I had with a friend. It
disturbed my peace and I have tried to contain it myself, but I confess
to having my doubts about my choices, so I thought to get your
perspective in case it might help me center myself again. I just
finished setting things in place to be able to focus more (left the
church, resigned my position as assistant secretary in the village
association, training __ to fall asleep by herself so that I won't have
to carry her all the time, and finally found a mechanic who seems to
know how to keep the car running reasonably well).
I'm attaching a small piece I wrote a while ago about identifying one's
spiritual gifts. I can't remember if I ever sent it to you. Could you
take a look at it, Sir? If you find it good, I would appreciate it if
you posted it.
I also have a question I've saved for a while. I've wondered if
Ps.115:4-8 might offer a clue to what the Lake of Fire will be like. I
have wondered if the body that unbelievers will be given in resurrection
and the state of the rebel angels too in the Lake of Fire will be of
incapacity, a frustration of ability in a perfect sense of that word so
that "weeping and gnashing of teeth" would refer to that frustration
just like this imagery in the psalm in view here would also be of
possession of faculty and frustration of ability to deploy it. This
would be besides the pain and the torture of the darkness and the fire.
It's just a thought that has been in my head for several months. Does it
make sense to you, Sir?
We pray for you every day here and we rejoice in the Lord's sustenance
and preservation of you in every good way.
Your student in Jesus
Response #6:
Thanks for your continuing prayer support!
I take Psalm 115 at face value, especially since this description of
idols merely appearing to have mouths etc. is a very common trope in the
OT (cf. Is.40 and 44).
On spiritual gifts, I would agree that we often figure that out NOT by
searching but by doing what we should be doing in the first place. If we
grow and if we progress in maturity, we will be led to "fall into" just
the right job the Lord has for us . . . and of course that will match
our gifts. I have also often observed that it's not a question of a
short menu of gifts but rather a different blend for each believer and
the same goes for ministries too (even more so, in my view). This is an
important issue NOT to get wrong, because there are so many bizarre
groups and false teachers out there these days claiming to be apostles
and prophets, claiming to be able to heal and do miracles, claiming to
have direct conversations with God and to have visited heaven, claiming
to speak in tongues and have the power to conduct exorcisms, claiming to
be able to impart spiritual powers, spiritual gifts, spiritual presences
. . . and claiming to be Christian!
On helping others, that is always a personal decision. No two believers
are in the same circumstance and no one can really understand the
troubles of someone else, even if they are very forthcoming about them.
We are all tested, and we are all responsible to the Lord to deal with
whatever testing comes. So I don't think it's wrong to ask, nor do I
think it's wrong to refuse help. These are personal decisions and
applications which only the people involved have a hope of getting
right. I do know that God blesses the generous and that He helps all of
us who belong to Him, even if that help is not forthcoming from the
places we hoped for it.
I am keeping you two and your daughter in my daily prayers, my friend.
Thanks so much for yours! They are needful . . . and appreciated.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #7:
Dear Teacher
Will look out for your update then, Sir. And we will keep on praying.
I was wondering what Ps.115:8 meant. I suppose Is.44:11,18-20 could be the
answer to that so that there is no need to go to what the resurrection of
condemnation and the state of the rebel angels in the Lake of Fire might look
like?
One of the things about your teaching on spiritual gifts that impressed me
greatly and that I hadn't heard anywhere else was that it wasn't just the
spiritual ability or talent that is the gift but the believer himself. As such,
one believer could be a bundle of abilities specially concocted by the Lord to
serve His Church. I think that that helped me to resolve the tension that seemed
to exist between my penchant for apologetics and my desire to discover and
expound Bible teaching to others. It's not that I have to be one or the other,
but that I am both things and that (among other things) makes me a different
sort of pastor-teacher than someone else might be. I wrote up that piece in the
course of a conversation on our Ichthys WhatsApp group early last year. I hoped
that it would help anyone who was still wondering about what their spiritual
gift was. What other ways might someone come to know what their gift is in our
own era, Sir?
Thank you very much for your answer, Sir. I was a bit tripped up by his read of
my choices though. I didn't think he was right, but at the same time I wasn't
entirely sure that he was wrong. I have thought about stopping this seemingly
neverending pursuit of skill in programming and just accepting that I should toe
Pastor Curtis Omo's path. I am never fully convinced that that is the right
path, but I also might just be blinding myself to the Lord's leading there.
Still, I feel like it would be wrong to go down that road in order to have some
way to support my family. It is precisely that concern that makes me want to
have some way of earning a living besides being a pastor-teacher so that I will
not do my job for the Lord with economic considerations in mind. I am willing to
be supported as a pastor-teacher when I run short in my own income, but I am
worried that not having any economically viable skills besides being a
pastor-teacher will create significant vulnerabilities for me in my ministry.
For another thing, I really don't feel doubtful of what I am doing right now
trying to nail down skill in programming. My concern there is that it has taken
long enough that everyone should be doubting that I am doing the right thing and
they would get discouraged and then they might discourage me too. Additionally,
it is costing me significantly in my training to become the pastor-teacher I
want to be. So I have cause to wonder if this is the right path anyway.
Always praying for you here, Sir.
Your student in Jesus
Response #7:
Thanks for those prayers!
Yes, I think Psalm 115 is speaking about literal idols (Ps.115:4) of the
gentile nations (Ps.115:2) in contrast to the One true God of Israel.
Re: Being "a different sort of pastor-teacher than someone else might
be", I don't think that there are any two the same or any two
ministries the same. We're all different; we all have in common that we
are trying to serve the Lord the best we can . . . or should be. So I
don't see a limit on the possibilities. There are no limits with God.
How He brings each of us around to seeing what we need to be doing is
likewise not something that's covered in scripture and therefore not a
one-size-fits-all situation. Timothy had his gift/ministry confirmed
publicly, but that was by an apostle operating with the gift of prophecy
(neither of which applies today). The rest of us are led by the Spirit
to get pointed in the right direction . . . if we're willing to grow and
thus be led.
When it comes to life choices like the ones you're making, we can't
expect others to understand them, and just because they may validate
them doesn't make them right (or vice versa). My progress towards
ministry prep wasn't the best while I was training for my Ph.D. We try
to strike the right balance but that can be hard. In my case, it wasn't
really possible to take it any slower than I did for other
considerations. I had had a plan to get a job as a professor to support
myself. Things did work out that way, but there were a LOT of unexpected
twists and turns in between. For one thing, it's a lot harder than I
thought it would be with not as much time or resources as I thought it
would provide . . . but God did work it out. When I was in seminary, I
had to take out loans; others were supported. But in the end, God worked
it out. He always does, for those who are relying on Him. These are
personal applications we have to make and live with regardless of the
approval or disapproval of others.
Commit your way to the LORD,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass.
Psalm 37:5 NKJV
Keeping you and your family in my prayers daily, my friend.
In Jesus,
Question #8:
Dear Teacher,
I was referring to those who worship the idols, Sir. The passage said
that they will become like the idols that they worship and I was
wondering in what sense that was meant. I thought that it might apply to
the punishment of the Lake of Fire, that in eternity, they will possess
faculties and suffer a frustration of use with respect to them. That is,
they will be unable to do anything with their bodies. All desires and
ambitions will be frustrated. In fact, my imagination was that their
experience will be that of being trapped in their eternal bodies (for
the human rebels) and perhaps being restrained in some other way
analogous to the chains of darkness of 2 Peter 2 and Jude eternally (for
the angelic rebels) so that it will literally be like they are dead
because they are frustrated of even basic things like movement. That
sort of thing seemed to me to fit with the weeping and gnashing of teeth
that Jesus spoke of. Thus, becoming like their idols (for the
unbelievers in the Lake of Fire) would be like having eyes but
frustrated in the ability to see with them, having ears but frustrated
in the ability to hear with them, etc. I was wondering if that was
necessarily a stretch in interpretation.
I see. Since there are no limits with the Lord, there are no limits to
how He might bring anyone to confident knowledge of their spiritual
talents in any number of ways besides what I described in that writing.
Okay, I would like to accommodate that in the piece I wrote then. I just
thought that it made sense to think that as we grow and seek to serve
others to their benefit however we find ourselves able to do so, that
that would drop us straight into our role. That way, people can avoid
the paralysis that comes from wondering where they should be as well as
the danger of arrogating places to themselves that they would like but
are not actually called to.
Thank you very very much for your admonition, Sir. You have told me
about your own time a few times, but I guess it never really occurred to
me that you might have had "twists and turns." I was worried about being
foolishly stubborn about what I am doing and failing to take note of any
prodding by the Lord to go a different way. Thank you for the
reassurance (not validation), Sir. I take for granted that this is a
matter of application (although I was starting to forget that on the
conscious level) and that it isn't really a matter of anyone's opinion
whether I am doing the right thing or the wrong thing, but I do think
rather highly of those who are trying to follow the truth, so I do want
sometimes to double-check in case I am missing something. The Lord has
made me better than before at keeping my peace when things like this
happen, but I could still do with some help, so thank you very very
much, Sir.
Your student in Jesus,
Response #8:
I see what you mean. I suppose it depends what "like them" means. If it were referring to the lake of fire, then it would seem that they wouldn't experience pain because they would be like blocks of wood. But we are told that there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matt.8:12; 22:13); everything about the lake of fire sounds unpleasant in the extreme, so I don't find any basis for unbelievers not experiencing it. Here is what I think it means:
And He said, “Go, and tell this people:
‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
Keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
“Make the heart of this people dull,
And their ears heavy,
And shut their eyes;
Lest they see with their eyes,
And hear with their ears,
And understand with their heart,
And return and be healed.”
Isaiah 6:9-10 NKJV
In other words, since they are unwilling to respond to the truth, they are no better than dumb blocks of wood. Because they have forsaken truth, their perceptive faculties are of no actual use to them. Compare:
Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no intention of acquiring wisdom?
Proverbs 17:16 NET
Re: "I just thought that it made sense to think that as we grow and
seek to serve others to their benefit however we find ourselves able to
do so, that that would drop us straight into our role." It certainly
could – and there are plenty of examples where things have happened just
that way. The closer we are walking with the Lord, the more mature we
are, AND the more willing we are to listen to the Spirit and do things
His way (rather than following our own desires OR the well-trodden path
of traditionalism), the more likely we are to be led into what is just
right for us.
Re: "paralysis", if we have not yet been led to the full ministry
God has in mind, that doesn't mean we have to stop doing the things we
should be doing. Waiting on the Lord in this and with all other things
is part of the testing. It seems we are always waiting for something or
other. If we left off fighting the fight until the wait was over, we'd
never do anything positive in this life.
You're very welcome. Yes, that's right, we don't have to be overly
concerned about anyone else' opinion (although getting good advice is
recommended by scripture: Prov.20:18; 24:6) . . . except of course the
Lord's. If we are certain that we are doing what HE wants us to do,
we've got no worries whatsoever.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #9:
Dear Teacher,
Awesome. Thank you, Sir. That is very helpful. I should probably clarify
that I didn't think that they wouldn't experience the Lake of Fire
consciously. I just wondered if they would just be in perpetual
frustration like a man in a straitjacket, but they can also experience
frustration even when they can move and talk etc, so I suppose it's not
a necessary interpretation or application of that passage.
Thank you very much, Sir, for the rest. That clears it all up for me.
Did you finish with your exams yet? How did they go? Did your students
"get it"?
Your student in Jesus,
Response #9:
I would imagine that indeed the lake of fire will be very frustrating –
and painful. It's amazing that anyone would prefer it to humbling
themselves before the Lord. But for human beings, anyway, that would
seem to be the majority choice by far.
Yes, all finished up at the university for the semester in terms of
teaching. There's always something going on, especially in our
electronic age. I've got some letters of recommendation to write, and
I'm already late getting to my summer research push. "Home improvement"
has been taking center stage the last few weeks, and I haven't even
gotten to the gardening yet (way behind there as well).
Keeping you and your families in my prayers, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #10:
Hi Bob,
Just been reading the opening emails about Laodicea and it just
inoculates me even further about going into another brick and mortar
church..
Not surprised one of your correspondents said there is hostility when
the truth is mentioned. They have a cosy, self satisfied and complacent
attitude a lot of these places. The sad truth is a lot of them would go
under easily with testing and that is why the Lord never puts them
through it.
I have had an awful experience today with ___ that has had me in tears
again. She is so lukewarm and confused about everything, I tried to get
her fired up about how close the end is and how tough it is going to get
and I got blasted by her. She said that she wanted cheering up not
depressing. I can see a lot of parallels with the way ___ sees things.
___ acts exactly like ___ does. Sometimes saying 'I am preaching to the
converted' or sometimes blasting me that people are actually 'mostly
good'. Just like ___, she cannot be encouraged by the Word but wants
someone to encourage her with the world. ___, like ___, is depressed
because she is seeing through the lies and it gets her down. She wanted
me to tell her more or Satan's lies and to tell her more and more
convincing ones that make her think everything is A-Ok!
Regretfully I have confided in her about the abuse I went through prior
to being Saved. I gave her a redacted version and left out the gory
details. She implied that it wasn't all that bad really, that everyone
has problems. I realise it is the same brick wall I reached with my
Catholic ___. Basically they don't think the world is all that bad
really. People are mostly good and there are only a few bad actors here
and there but nothing too serious. They both live in a fake bubble of
lies by the enemy that things aren't bad and even if they get bad, then
loads of 'good people' will come rushing forward and help.
The sad thing Bob is both ___ and ___ think I am lying or exaggerating
what I went through. Hey! We've all had bad days! I don't know what they
do with all the news about child trafficking, the opioid crisis, school
shootings etc. They must compartmentalise everything so it doesn't
actually impinge on their world view at all.
I was reading through Leviticus 18 this morning and I have to say when I
first read it as a baby Christian I thought 'Surely it's not possible
that people need telling about this stuff?!' But it's there, in black
and white in the Bible and needed to be said as obviously such things
were not only a problem but on a massive scale. They really did have to
be told not to do these awful things!
Sad to say that such things are still going on which I have discovered
to my horror during my ministry research. What Satan has done is put the
kind of immorality of Leviticus 18 behind whitewashed closed doors.
Conveniently enough out of the eyesight of most people so that the
veneer of social respectability remains a surprisingly effective fig
leaf for a lot of reprobate people to hide behind.
All you have to do is spend time around forums and social media on
domestic violence and family abuse and the years fall away and you feel
like you are standing right in front of a golden calf all over again.
Kind of a clever move of Satan to use even more convincing lies and
liars to lull everyone to sleep in lukewarmness.
As soon as the Tribulation kicks off the gloves will be off right? As
soon as the Holy Spirit is removed then all those white washed doors
will be kicked down as people will feel emboldened to do in the daytime
and in public what they once did in the cover of darkness.
Although I do feel dread at times to face such unbridled lawlessness,
there will also be an amount of relief for me for not only will the
clock start ticking down but all those people who have reassured me that
things aren't all that bad really will have little room for excuses. At
that point the people who seem to be hedging their bets between the idea
of God and the world will have to throw their lot in one way or the
other. To turn a blind eye to in your face evil will not be excused as
ignorance anymore but direct complicity.
I have to say that has been 'Pollyanna' types that have caused me the
most pain in recent years. The whole 'goodness! Nothing can be that bad!
Surely!' I have seen many an evil deed covered by such invested enablers
in my time. I don't think our Lord will let them off the hook when they
say they didn't know any better.
So there is also a kind of insidious passive evil as well as the active
kind whereby people say 'I didn't know and didn't realise it was as bad
as that as I think well of people'!
Sorry Bob but I think such people will only learn if they have the lies
smashed before their very eyes. The problem is that if they show the
Lord now that they prefer Satan's lies then these same people will be
the ones who will have their errors enabled and emboldened by the Lord
Himself!
I can't think of anything more terrifying personally!
In Jesus,
p.s., ___ quoted a lot of things back to me - motivational quotes, even
St Francis of Assisi. I have noticed that she is very light on Scripture
and she is talking less and less about the Bible but talking about 'deep
healing sessions' and 'prayer phone lines'. It is sounding more and more
New Age by the day and I am even wondering if she really believes in
Jesus Christ and that He is essential for Salvation or whether she
thinks He is an optional extra to good deeds or other nebulous spiritual
practices. I don't even know if she is saved. It's really sad.
I think she might be church of England but the similarities to what she
says and what my Catholic ___ says are staggering. It makes me wonder
what on earth is going on in her church every Sunday! The Nazarene
Church (Wesleyan Holiness) was going that way when I left. They were
giving talks about Steve Jobs and things like that. I thought it bizarre
until I realised it was part of that 'everything is spiritual/everything
is God' Emergent Church teaching of Pantheistic Monism that everything
is God and needs to come together.
It's wild that Protestants are quoting St Francis of Assisi as if it
were holy writ. Then again the Emergent church movement within
Protestantism/Evangicaldom speaks out of both sides of its mouth by
saying 'we can't know anything' (postmodernism) but we CAN know that the
Catholic mystics and monastics are definitely worth reading!
Astounding!
Response #10:
Sorry to hear of yet another disappointment with someone you've been trying to
help. I have been praying for her. Ultimately, people make their own choices. We
believers who are trying to follow the Lord need to ever maintain enough
emotional distance so as not to be seriously upended by such things. Of course
we care. Of course we will "feel bad" when those we've tried to help turn on us
or waste the grace we've tried to send their way. But just think of the fact
that the Lord died for all of their sins – those who are undoubtedly unbelievers
as well. If anyone has a right to be disappointed, it's Him – but of course He
knew it all when He died for all that those who would respond might be saved. He
had to die for all for any of us to be spared the lake of fire.
Re: "As soon as the Tribulation kicks off the gloves will be off right? As
soon as the Holy Spirit is removed then all those white washed doors will be
kicked down as people will feel emboldened to do in the daytime and in public
what they once did in the cover of darkness". From where I sit, it seems
this is already happening. But you are right, of course, that once the Spirit's
restraint is lifted, things will get much worse, and you are also right about
the empowerment of all this sort of evil – in order for the true desires of all
who choose against God to be made absolutely manifest when the time of judgment
begins, for that is a key feature of the Tribulation (and one in which believers
need to take comfort):
(8) And then the lawless one (i.e., antichrist) will be revealed, [that same one] whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and destroy when He appears at His [glorious] return – [that same lawless one] (9) whose appearance [will come about] through Satan's empowerment [and will be] accompanied by every [sort of] false miracle, both signs and portents, (10) and by every [sort of] unrighteous deception [designed] for those who are perishing, [namely those who will believe these lies] because they did not open themselves up to the love for the truth so as to be saved. (11) And for this [very] reason God is going to send upon them an empowerment of error so that they may believe the lie, (12) in order that they may be condemned, [even all those] who have not believed the truth but have [instead] approved of unrighteousness.
2nd Thessalonians 2:8-12
Re: Protestants admiring Catholic "saints and scholars": over here, there is a
trend for politically conservative types to convert to the RC church, especially
on the part of those who are involved in the anti-abortion crusade. It just goes
to show you how ill-served by mainline and evangelical churches the Body of
Christ has been for many years now. And no wonder. Once "church" becomes a
social organization where little to no truth is being taught, well of course
people are going to be vulnerable to anything they find exciting, interesting,
entertaining, or anything that fulfills some need or other they have, like the
need to obey some greater authority – as long as they get to choose it. As
mentioned many times, all of these different appeals to substitute worldly
things for the truth worship of Jesus Christ "in Spirit and in truth" (Jn.4:),
will coalesce under antichrist's "big tent" religion. We who would rather die
than give up Jesus Christ will be the only ones not invited in (and we may well
be given that aforementioned "opportunity" before it's all over).
As you yourself have pointed out many times, the New Age and Dominionism and NAR
and Apostolic and hyper-charismatic movement(s) and other "emergent church"
phenomena, etc. are manifestations of all this. Christians (for those involved
who are believers) are being desensitized to all manner of demonic activities by
the emotional excess and non-biblical practices of these groups. And they are
the ones which are growing at present – certainly not any group or ministry that
actually pays attention to the Word of God.
Keeping you in my daily prayers, my friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #11:
[omitted]
Response #11:
In my experience, a little "de-tox" – which in this case likely means some time to yourself focused on the Word – is usually helpful in righting the ship after experiences like this. We who are carefully following the Lord are not perfect and we don't have perfect defenses. We still have sin natures and we still have emotions. And we can still be rattled on the surface even when we are holding things solid beneath it. So getting a little distance is never a bad thing under such circumstances.
Question #12:
You're right Bob!
I have felt very 'burnt out' on people recently particularly when going
up against hardened/ hardening hearts. It has made me angry and
judgemental and hardened my own heart a little and I have been losing
sight of the love, forgiveness and mercy I should be showing people.
I truly am no better than anyone. I was more wretched than any of the
people I know now and only Jesus Christ has changed all that. Without
Him I would be stuck doing worse than what the people around me are
doing now! I feel ashamed that I am thinking and feeling so harshly
towards people lately and losing the gentle heart I had when I first got
saved.
Hopefully I can get back to softening my heart again but with the added
wisdom of growing maturity.
Thanks for the reality check!
To be wise as a serpent but harmless as a dove.
In Jesus,
Response #12:
We were ALL a mess before we started following the Lord in earnest. I'm
not much for hymns (especially the newer stuff coming from the "emergent
church") but it is like that verse in Amazing Grace, "who saved a wretch
like me". Our job now is to look forward, not backward. We can't get
over-focused on the here and now, except as we are concerned with the
fight we are fighting. We know about the future, our future with the
Lord, and that is the only "tomorrow" we ought to be emotionally
invested in. As to yesterday, if we let ourselves get worked up over
failures of yesterday, we are only going to compromise our good fight
today. So there is nothing for it but to get back to running our race,
one step at a time.
It's good to stay humble, but we need not to over do it. Even humility
has it's limits and can get self-absorbed if we are not careful and flip
over in truth to the other extreme. E.g.:
Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
1st Kings 19:4 NIV
There he went into a cave and spent the night. And the word of the LORD came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
1st Kings 19:9-14 NIV
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #13:
You are right Bob of course, it can become self pity very quickly.
I should be preoccupied with the Lord after all, not myself because it
is all about Him! He is why we are here in the first place.
Thanks Bob I will get over this hump and move forward. It reminds me of
Job (not comparing myself to that great believer at all) but I realise
that he had already gone through much harder testing but it was his
exasperating friends who tripped him up. I can really relate to this. I
seem (for some quirk of personality) to find trusting the Lord with the
really big stuff easier than with the smaller but more irritating stuff.
Maybe Job (and myself) find our faith in the big testing because it is
obvious that only the Lord could get us through it. The problem with
friends or family (even well meaning ones), they seem to have a finely
tuned ability to really get us where it hurts and as such very useful to
the enemy.
It must be self pride that traps me. No-one likes criticism or someone
we care for blaming us or turning on us. With Job it was fresh on the
heels of successfully navigating extremely difficult trials. It was his
friends (Job's comforters) who pushed him over the edge. Maybe because
the criticisms they were giving him where so personal, so hurtful and so
unjust.
As you have written before though, God was paying Job a huge compliment
if only he trusted the Lord even despite his annoying friends. I guess
that is the point, his annoying friends were also part of the testing.
It really is about rising above what our friends and family think of us
and trusting that the Lord sees what is really happening all the time. I
think most people find this one really hard so this is the area
ironically (rather than huge loss and tragedy) where we need to build up
muscle over the bone of faith in that area.
Something else that has helped me this morning (the Lord has graciously
given me so much insight in what is happening around me) is the
realisation about ___ in that she doesn't know how bad the world really
is or how good God is either. The thing is that there are many putative
and lukewarm Christians who have been Christians a very long time
(possibly by and large through family tradition or being truly raised in
the faith). The good thing about these believers is they know well
enough not to go off the rails (like I did) but because they have never
got off the rails and experienced just how wicked and deadly sin can be,
there can a certain attraction to rebelling and going astray. They may
be enticed by the idea of it without truly understanding the misery of
it. You see Satan knows he can't tempt me with Egypt and its trappings
again. That is an area I am thoroughly inoculated from. I had a head
start as a Christian because I already despised Egypt and my life in it
as it pushed me to want to end it all. I see through Egypt and what it
has to offer and Satan knows this. He has to attack me in other ways.
One of the big shocks I had in Egypt was realising (as an unbeliever)
there was no safety net to catch me when I really fell. I expected
family and friends to rally round when I really needed them the most
(like Job) but instead I found myself alone after crashing through what
I thought was sin's built in support. Of course it was completely
different when I trusted God! He was there by my side instantly and
abundantly!
If a person doesn't appreciate just how wicked this world is or how
depraved its people, then they also can't fully grasp the immensity of
our Lord's spiritual death on the cross for us. It seems that if a
person doesn't really feel the crushing weight of sin or suffer at the
hands of others then they can be fooled that it 'isn't all that bad
really' or 'people aren't all that bad really'. Sadly many lukewarm
Christians are embracing secular humanism precisely because they don't
believe sin and the world is such a bad thing after all.
So it does seem that having a completely skewed and false view of the
world and sin does have a direct bearing on our view of the goodness of
God. If Satan can convince even believers that the world is well enough
and people good enough then that is already a deadly blow against the
truth.
I know how good God is because I know about the wickedness of the world
and myself through bitter experience. I know how immense the Lord's
sacrifice is because I have seen how wretched it all truly is without
Him.
So that is the other side to the coin. Lukewarm believers have never
experienced just how horrific sin is and because they have not been
zealous for the truth (precisely because they don't know what they are
up against or how high the stakes are) they are fast asleep whilst going
into the Tribulation! The Lord hasn't been testing and refining a lot of
these people because He knows they haven't grown beyond milk having had
no substantive teaching of the Word from prepared Pastor/Teachers. As
you have said before they have not been weaned off milk yet and some of
them prefer formula anyway.
In fact ___'s response gives weight to all this insight. She thinks God
is too hard on sinners and that testing for believers is not a good
thing. She is at the point of idolising mankind and criticising God
which is a incredibly dangerous place for a believer to be in. It is
precisely because she refuses solid food/ teaching that she hasn't
grown. She hasn't grown enough to experience testing. She is
experiencing testing now but she is immediately complaining about it
despite it being for the good of her faith. We are in such late innings
that she will have to have some testing now otherwise she will enter the
Tribulation completely unprepared and she may not overcome the shock of
it through faith!
Without solid food a believer can't grow. Without growth a believer
won't be tested. Without testing a believer's faith cannot be
strengthened and they cannot really get to know God to the degree they
need to especially given the times up ahead.
We can know about God's perfect goodness through revelation of the Word
but we also need to experience it as part of our walk. Lukewarm faith is
not epignosis. It is not experiencing the faithfulness of the Lord as
they are rarely tested.
So they are stuck in the middle of not knowing just how evil the world
is whilst simultaneously not knowing the goodness of God. It seems that
they are ignorant of both sides. Maybe this is wilful ignorance though?
I was desperate for the Lord and the Word precisely because I was not
ignorant of the hardness of the world. I had extensive experience in it.
With taking in the solid food and believing in it and then through
growth and testing, I now have personal experience of the gracious
provision, love and mercy of the Lord.
In closing I wanted to mention the verses the Lord has led me to that
has helped me to understand these things.
Luke 7:41-47
Jesus said, “Two people owed money to the same banker. One owed five
hundred coins and the other owed fifty. They had no money to pay what
they owed, but the banker told both of them they did not have to pay
him. Which person will love the banker more?” Simon, the Pharisee,
answered, “I think it would be the one who owed him the most money.”
Jesus said to Simon, “You are right.” Then Jesus turned toward the woman
and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I came into your house,
you gave me no water for my feet, but she washed my feet with her tears
and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss of greeting, but she
has been kissing my feet since I came in. You did not put oil on my
head, but she poured perfume on my feet. I tell you that her many sins
are forgiven, so she showed great love. But the person who is forgiven
only a little will love only a little.”
In writing this the Lord has also pointed out both where Job and I went
wrong. Whilst writing that ___ is idolising mankind and criticising God
(which is completely the wrong way round) I was given insight. Job and I
have put too much store in sinful mankind's opinion to be at the point
of almost criticising God. This is exactly what ___ is doing right now.
Both Job and myself have experience of sinful mankind (Job giving animal
sacrifices on behalf of his children "Perhaps my children have sinned
and cursed God in their hearts.”) and we both have experience of God and
His holiness. Why then do we put any store at all in what sinful people
think, do or say?
As you have said before, it is always about giving God the benefit of
the doubt, not mankind.
I will continue to persevere putting muscle on this weak bone.
(I am happy for you to publish this with redactions Bob)
In Jesus,
Response #13:
It's an interesting perspective. It is certainly the case that God only
gives us what we can handle (cf. 1Cor.10:13), and that believers who are
not growing – and not interested in responding to the Lord – are not
going to be in a position to benefit from testing. The exodus from Egypt
is a good example. God delivers us but then we have to be grateful for
the deliverance and respond appropriately thereafter. The example of the
children of Israel in the exodus suggests that testing does come even so
thereafter. I think many of the Laodicean believers are going to be
reacting just like these poor examples. Instead of saying, "Oh no! I
can't handle this! I need God's help!" and then humbly turning to Him
and doing what He wants, many are likely to do what that sorry
generation did: blame God for the trouble and, secondarily, blame
whatever spiritual leaders He has appointed. And we all know what
happened to that group. Only Caleb and Joshua made it through those
forty years (even Moses and Aaron ran afoul of the exasperating behavior
of the majority).
But during the Tribulation, blaming God and turning away from Him will
put many right into the arms of antichrist. That is what all this
troubling new age leaven and ecumenical breaking down of true standards
is conditioning the church-visible to do.
So there is nothing better than to do what you are doing, namely, to
accept whatever testing we are being given in the RIGHT spirit, knowing
that indeed absolutely everything that happens is part of the perfect
plan of God working things out for us for good . . . whether we are
willing to recognize that or not when the pressure is on.
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James 1:2-4 NKJV
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
1st Peter 1:6-7 NKJV
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #14:
Hi Dr L,
I wanted to share something with you. I was at a meeting with our whole
department. There was a woman speaker. And she was a bit unfeeling
towards others. Now she got up to speak and accidentally smacked her
microphone down to the floor. And I thought that was a good microcosm
example of the problem with the unfeeling approach. Even technology
requires some level of gentle treatment, nothing about professionalism
involved. So at the very least the same can be applied to people.
I realized that gentleness is very important and not against competency,
to the contrary is part of it. And what if that tech could talk and say
the same things a human would after being smacked down, and the leader
tried to say the problem was that the tech just wasn't professional
enough? And so leaders who try to make like they are just goal oriented,
well seeing them destroy their own equipment shows just how that plays
out. I was just realizing the perfect lineup of the fruits of the Spirit
with leadership even in what seems like a secular area. I also just
appreciate that that argument for treating people like that works, but
we would see how egoistic it is when applied to tech being destroyed.
Maybe this seems obvious to you lol, sorry if so, it was just such a
realization for me.
Please take care,
Response #14:
Re: "the perfect lineup of the fruits of the Spirit with leadership"
– great observation! The best Christian ought to be the best leader too.
Spiritual maturity has plenty of positive bonuses beyond the blessing of
being closer to the Lord (nothing better than that!). However, as your
email also implies, higher ups are often far from perfect and their
ability to choose the best person for the job is very often terribly
flawed. We probably all have personal experience of that!
So just because a Christian is qualified by personal gifts, training at
which he/she excelled because of doing the job as unto the Lord, and
also the benefits of being a spiritually mature believer, does NOT mean
that he/she will be the one that the higher ups choose. But we do also
know that the Lord is working all things out together for us for good,
that He is putting us in just the place He wants us for our good in
every way, even if (or especially if) it means particular testing to
"blood us" and prepare us for greater challenges ahead. And while we
"wage slaves" wait on Him to return . . .
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to curry their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.
Colossians 3:22-25 NIV
Wishing you a good week ahead, my friend – and keeping you in my
prayers.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #15:
Dr. Luginbill,
A friend and I were doing a Bible study this morning in John 12. I
forget the leadup, but he said something about God's Spirit departing
Earth at some point (not believers, but Earth in general, I took it). He
did say he could not think of any scripture reference and wanted to look
into it closer, as he couldn't remember where he had heard this and it
was a rather vague memory. We are both seeking to find the truth in
God's word and don't wish to simply reinforce previous notions. We do
read a commentary by Chuck Smith (founder of Calvary Chapel church which
he attends) on Blue Letter Bible as a springboard for discussion but
don't at all take it as gospel truth and try to compare it to the Word.
My question is: Is this prophesied to happen at some point in the
future? The closest thing I can think of is Satan being loosed at the
end of the millennial reign. I believe I've read on your site that the
restraint of the Holy Spirit on demonic activity will be greatly
lessened at that time (or perhaps it was some point during the
tribulation?). But a complete removal does not seem to me to be
Biblical. The whole world is held together in Him and all.
Thanks much, sir,
Response #15:
I think your friend was probably thinking of this passage:
And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
2nd Thessalonians 2:6-7 KJV
The "Restrainer" in this passage is indeed the Holy Spirit (although many interpreters wrongly deny it). Here is my modified translation of the passage:
Even now you know what it is that restrains [antichrist's arrival] so that he will be revealed [only] in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work – [and] it is only the Restrainer [who keeps things in check, and will] until He (i.e., the Spirit) moves out of the way.
2nd Thessalonians 2:6-7 (cf. Jn.8:36)
Once it is established that the Restrainer is the Spirit, then the question becomes, "what does it mean for Him to 'move out of the way' ?" Clearly, as God, the Spirit cannot NOT be omnipresent. The context provides the clear answer: the Spirit will cease to restrain antichrist and the mystery of lawlessness associated with him once the Tribulation begins.
(8) And then the lawless one (i.e., antichrist) will be revealed, [that same one] whom the Lord Jesus will slay with the breath of His mouth and destroy when He appears at His [glorious] return – [that same lawless one] (9) whose appearance [will come about] through Satan's empowerment [and will be] accompanied by every [sort of] false miracle, both signs and portents, (10) and by every [sort of] unrighteous deception [designed] for those who are perishing, [namely those who will believe these lies] because they did not open themselves up to the love for the truth so as to be saved. (11) And for this [very] reason God is going to send upon them an empowerment of error so that they may believe the lie, (12) in order that they may be condemned, [even all those] who have not believed the truth but have [instead] approved of unrighteousness.
2nd Thessalonians 2:8-12
That is one reason why the Tribulation will be the worst time in human history.
"For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now—and never to be equaled again."
Matthew 24:21 NIV
Right now, all the evil men could do and the devil would work through
them is, believe it or not, currently being restrained by the Spirit for
the sake of believers. But during the Tribulation, this special ministry
of restraint will be relaxed. The Spirit will "step out of the way" in
regard to this worldwide restraint. That does not mean that believers
who have the Spirit will lose the Spirit. Far from it. That does not
mean that God will cease to protect us. Far from it. It does mean that
Satan will be allowed to install his son as world ruler and persecute
the Church as never before. And the previous restraint of lawlessness
through law and order and nationalism will likewise be removed. So the
Tribulation will be, as a result, "great" in the worst possible sense of
that word. But we who believe will continue to enjoy the great benefits
of the Holy Spirit as we are (or should be) before then.
One particularly dangerous false interpretation of the passage above
wants to say that the removal of the Spirit's restraint is the removal
of believers with the Spirit and therefore evidence for some
pre-Tribulation "rapture". That is clearly enough not what the passage
or the context says or suggests at all (and there is no magical removal
of the Church before Christ returns for us at the second advent;
see the link).
Here are some links to where these issues are talked about in much greater detail:
The Holy Spirit's Ministries of Restraint (in Satanic Rebellion, part 2)
The Restraining Ministry of the Holy Spirit (in Coming Tribulation, part 2B)
Do feel free to write me back about any of the above.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #16:
Thank you sir. I know my friend does believe in a pre-tribulation rapture - which I do not see at all - but we've discussed it in the past and I don't see a reason to hammer down on it all the time when we really have some great discussions and build each other up. When it will come up, it will come up, and he and I can discuss it then more perhaps. But this was helpful. Hope you had a great 4th, and thank you as always for the website. It is generally my go-to when I have a question on scriptural interpretation (and you usually have something already if it's a specific verse).
Response #16:
No worries. For what it's worth, it sounds to me as if you are handling
your friend just right. Anyone truly interested in the truth will
eventually be corrected on all major points of error – by the Bible
itself (which will at least prompt a search for the truth).
As you've probably read at Ichthys, the main trouble with the pre-Trib
rapture heresy is that it robs believers of motivation to learn about
the Tribulation and to get prepared for it. That is no small thing at
any time (because such preparation is also important for coping with the
testing we all receive), but especially at THIS time when we find
ourselves on the very threshold of that difficult seven years.
Thanks for the good words – do feel free to write me any time, my
friend.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #17:
I also have been reading one of my books, which is Know The Faith, a
introduction to the Orthodoxy denomination via the church fathers. I like some
of the considerations and explorations of the meaning of unity of the believer
and the Lord, and with each other. I like aspects of mysticism (and yes I know
you have to be careful here). I have journaling prompts on thinking about
oneness with the Lord and the Family. One of them is helping me to be more
thankful because I remember that every good gift is from God. So even the little
things are gifts and it helps me not just not even really notice.
So a small example. Sometimes my office admin job can feel sterile. Don't get me
wrong, I really like it and it is suitable. But I like to go outside during
lunch sometimes and walk around. And there are usually all these butterflies
fluttering around on the wildflowers and it makes things a little brighter.
Anyway just a small example.
I also can't imagine going through your life knowing the whole time exactly what
was coming, too. There are so many things we don't even know. I wonder if all
the angels stopped what they were doing when the final hours happened. Not for
me to guess, just a random thought I had.
Please take care of yourself, okay?
Response #17:
We are told that the angels are indeed watching what is going on with
great curiosity (1Pet.1:12).
It's fine for mature believers who are solid in their faith to be
reading things which are fundamentally "off" but which may have a few
good insights. I would compare this to a believer going to a local
church Sunday morning and hearing a few things which are not terrible
and even possibly good – especially when understood in the context of a
wide knowledge of the truth which even the pastor might not have.
Problems only arise if said person starts to doubt or second guess their
proper understanding based upon the OTHER things encountered (in a
church, a book, a hymn, whatever) because these OTHER things don't line
up the same way. A humble person may be tempted to question otherwise
solid beliefs on this basis. Now that's not likely to happen through one
book or one Sunday morning, but this can be a hazard if such things are
indulged in too much.
I would caution having anything to do with organizations and
denominations which have anything to do with "mysticism" – of course one
never knows what precisely is being meant by that. Jesus Christ is "the
mystery" who has now been revealed to the world: the God-man who died
for our sins (see
the link); but any group or teacher suggesting that there is any
sort of "knowledge" out there apart from the Bible or any sort of
"contact" with God to be gotten outside of what the Bible teaches is
Gnostic and/or pagan; e.g., as in "there is no yoga without Hinduism and
no Hinduism without yoga" – and of course that means that demons are not
absent from the mix (see
the link which will lead to others).
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #18:
Hi Bob,
Yes an update on __. I have realised that the venture has reached its
expiration date. I realise that I have to take this on the chin and
there is a spiritual lesson to be learned. I didn't pray on this or
consult the Lord about this. I realise now that was a big mistake. It
may well have been that this was never meant to be in the plan for me
and I was going off course.
This has happened to me a few times now, a stop-starting thing.
Something that looks promising and I enjoy that suddenly fizzles out or
turns sour. I have also noticed hearts being hardened around these
things.
Will give you a few examples..Attended Nazarene Church for a few months,
had a dispute with the pastor about their direction (Emergent Church) he
hardened his heart and disfellowshipped me.
Attended a Christian charity for a few months. During a prayer meeting,
they discussed a court case against them. Investigated them and then had
to leave when I realised it was cultish.
Volunteered in a Food Bank for a few months, really enjoyed it. COVID
came along and then the food bank closed.
Now this. I suddenly have been thinking of the Book of Job. About Satan
saying to God, if you take xyz away from __ and __ will curse you to
your face!
Job 1:21
And (Job) said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I
return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be
the name of the LORD.
I have realised that the Lord can take things away from us. Some of
those things seem good which we enjoy but there may be a hidden snare in
it or it may be part of the weeds growing around our faith. He also
takes away things that ARE good, He can take away family members who we
love. Obviously these are much harder tests to pass, when the Lord takes
the things we think we love the most from us. We really cannot hold onto
anything here can we, it is all perishing and all passing away. We
should love and put the Lord first in all things after all, we were made
for His glory! Amen!
If you look over my examples, they posed a stumbling block to my growing
faith. I worked in the Food Bank as I started to fall for the Social
Gospel guilt trip. It was the same thing with the Christian charity.
It has been a lesson that has smarted me and even worse it could have
been a stumbling block to my faith. No doubt that was Satan's intention,
to scupper my faith and to get me to turn on God. I love God though more
than anything and I know that as the perfect parent to me, He always
knows what is best and He always has my best interests at heart. A child
would rather drink cola then medicine but the parent usually knows what
is right for the child. How much more would a perfect and divine Father
know what is best for all of us?
Matthew 7:11
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it
shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he
that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or
what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a
stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then,
being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much
more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that
ask him?
Isaiah 55:8-9
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,
saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my
ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
1 Peter 5:5-11
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you
be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God
resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves
therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due
time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober,
be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the
faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your
brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath
called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have
suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To
him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
I realise Bob that we need to only have a light hold on the things
around us because all can be taken away and we lose all the 'things' of
this world through death. There is little point in investing too much
time and emotion to the things that are already perishing because it is
a vanity to believe these things will last or are even are worth having
ultimately. Everything here is a poor and pale substitute that does not
even begin to come close to what we have in the Lord. There is no
comparison at all.
So even these things I have been through, some have been painful, others
have been bittersweet. None of them have been worth losing peace over or
risk my spiritual growth at all. Then if I am learning to have peace
over the small losses, maybe the Lord is training me to also have peace
over the larger losses. I know huge losses will come in the Tribulation
but only of the kind that the Lord knows we will be able to manage. He
will only want martyrdom for example from those He knows will pass the
test if they trust Him.
Phil 1:21-22
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
1 Cor 10:13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God
is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are
able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye
may be able to bear it.
I realise that with growing faith and leaning on the Lord for my
understanding and not from my own understanding, if I seek Him first for
these decisions in my life, my trust and faith will grow in Him whilst
also glorifying His name. Amen!
1 Cor 10:23
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all
things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
I am happy for you to publish this one Bob my friend! I hope it edifies
others as it has edified me in writing it. I hope it is a blessing for
you too!
In Jesus, our all in all,
Response #18:
I wouldn't be so hard on yourself. There are a lot of predators out there. The fact that you never got around to falling for anything and never allowed yourself to be in a situation where this person could take advantage is all to the good. After all, it's hard to find decent people in this world who are not believers (and in Laodicea we also need to be somewhat wary about un-vetted believers too):
I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
1st Corinthians 5:9-11 NKJV
If I only taught students who were verifiably not problematic, I'd soon
be out of a job.
In terms of refining one's walk with the Lord, we all need that – and we
all get that from the Lord. That refining, the pruning, never ends, his
side of heaven:
"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."
John 15:2 NKJV
Our job as branches is not to resist the pruning, to "roll with the
punches" (to mix the metaphor), to be sensitive to our Lord's guidance
in the Spirit so that we might be of maximum use to Him in this life
He's given us. Seems to me you are doing that. Keep on doing that. If we
feel we have done anything actually wrong, there is no harm in
confessing – but then move on.
Keeping running your good race, my friend! Your ability to re-orient
after being shaken through no fault of your own is very encouraging.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #19:
Yes, I love my family to bits and I'm supporting them all as much as I
can. Doing what I need to do as best I can. I think there needs to be
four of me though!
My time with the Lord is THE most important thing to me. I'm loving it
right now because the things I'm reading in the Bible are becoming much
clearer to me. We're always learning new things when we read the Word
and that's such a beautiful thing! We'll never stop learning. If we have
the desire for more of His Word and for more understanding He never
holds back, He will give it to us in abundance. And that's what He's
doing for me and it's giving me so much joy!
All the other stuff in this world is just noise and distraction that I'm
not in the slightest bit interested in. I love the Lord and He is all I
want and need. We find refuge and rest and refreshment in Him. It's the
only way we can survive in this horrible world - especially when all
that is on offer in the church-visible is mostly "infantile tripe" as
you so wonderfully put it. I experienced it for myself years ago and I
never had any desire to go back to it. Unfortunately, I still know
believers who seem to love it.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8) And He will
and He does. Simple, quiet fellowship with Him - there is nothing
sweeter to me than that. Everything we ever need is in Him and He knows
exactly what we need. But seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew
6:33)
It's sad that there are so few people who are interested in learning the
truth. But I'm happy that it's the Lord we're here to please and I
believe that's exactly what you are doing in faithfully teaching the
truth. I for one am loving it!
We haven't got long now until we'll all be together with our dear Lord
and Saviour. So we need to keep drawing closer to Him through His Word
and prayer. And keep fighting the good fight in His strength and power.
Just speaking from my heart here and I'm thankful for the time I've had
today to write it to you!
Keeping you in my prayers and thanks so much for yours too.
In our dear Lord Jesus
Response #19:
This is a wonderful exposition of the benefits of spiritual growth, my
friend! This kind of true joy in the Lord, joy that lasts and is not
just an emotional flash in the pan worked up by singing hymns or
listening to some emotionally manipulative sermon, or involving oneself
in emotional excess or dangerous new age related activities (like
"contemplative prayer") can only occur through attention to the truth
over time, truth understood in the Spirit and then believed and applied
in faith. There's no hiding such light. No bushel can cover it. And
there's no way to get this sort of light except by doing things the
right way, and consistently so.
Your progress is wonderfully encouraging, my friend! Thanks for hanging
in there -- this is the stuff that makes for a great reward.
You don't have it on your side of the wash but happy Thanksgiving
anyway!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #20:
Hi Bob,
Thanks for all of your encouragement too! There's no better way than the
Lord's way and I'll keep walking with Him and making more progress one
day at a time.
Happy Thanksgiving to you too, Bob! Hope you're all set up for some nice
roast turkey on Thursday. I'm relieved you're getting some well deserved
rest too. Although we don't have it on this side of the pond, I can
still join you in thanking our God for all of His wonderful gifts to us,
both spiritual and material.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down
from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of
turning.
James 1:17
Back to work for me tomorrow. Thanks for those prayers!
In Jesus
Response #20:
Thank you!
Hope you can get a little time off – and a little rest – during the
holidays as well, my friend.
Keeping those prayers coming!
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #21:
Dude
Sounds like devil is in the mix to drive u nuts before your time too. I
just tossed my phone...again, like 3 times in a week...been snapping
pretty regularly at the absolute unwarranted stuff happening at me...if
I can say that...which I can't but am wont to.
How about the A-team invite?
Response #21:
It is cosmos diabolicus, after all. Plus, you are beginning to
turn things around, so expect some flak once you're heading back into
the target.
Re: "A-team", I just got it – you mean the pallbearer thing, right? LOL.
Good luck beating me to the finish line on that one, my friend. But
then, the Lord may be back before we run out altitude, air-space and
ideas.
Keep me in the loop.
Your 'ol Biola buddy.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #22:
Doc, most Christians (and I did too without questioning it for the
longest time too) assume that Satan and all demons are pretty much pure
evil, with nit a shred if capacity for any good or not purely malicious
act in them. From what I understand from the Bible this would seem to be
the case too, after all if they hate God so much why would they ever do
anything that would knowingly further His purposes, in act or spirit,
even if it's just because it contains the tiniest bit of goodwill?
I want to be sure though, so is this entirely true? I see no reason to
doubt it as of yet but i feel this is important to be correct on. I know
even if this assumption turns out to not be entirely true that doesn't
make them any less evil or more trustworthy for it. This is a matter of
knowing spiritual truth.
Response #22:
Are there good Nazis as well as bad ones? Good Stalinists as well as bad
ones? And if you are in a fight to the death with them, does it matter
from your point of view? And of course, anyone, human or angel, who
opposes the Lord is NOT good regardless of all other considerations.
In the human race and in human history there are plenty of examples of
people who, while not saved, lived what we would call honorable,
law-abiding lives, and may have been what many would call "good people".
That is because they responded to the one area of God's truth designed
for everyone (law and nationalism;
see the link). People who do this are a bulwark against the devil
and his plans, not nearly so much as the remnant of salt composed of
believers, but a valuable hedge against evil nonetheless.
But the fallen angels work for the devil, and I don't know of a single
scripture which suggests that any of them ever gave any human being even
so much as a "break". That would be violating their present intention of
defeating the plan of God, the only way they can avoid the lake of fire
(which intention is of course a foolish pipe dream).
Also, thinking about demons in any sort of a positive way – or assuming
one can interact with them without serious consequences – is very, very
dangerous. There are many groups out there nowadays whose leaders say
that they have "spiritual guides" who are imparting information to them,
gifts and "powers". In short, there are many putatively "Christian"
groups (of the NAR, Dominionism, hyper-Charistmatic, "emergent church"
type and the like) who are involved in modern-day Gnosticism, doing
"combat" with demons in supposedly "spiritual warfare" (which is a false
substitute for the true sort of Eph.6:10ff.), while being "helped" by
"good spirits" – stay away from all such since they are all in the pay
and in the service of the devil.
In Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #23:
Dear Robert
Thank you for your reassuring response. I knew you would’ve recognize
the reference immediately had you read it but didn’t consider a transfer
error. After 66 years of eating shoe leather, you’d think I’d get sick
of it! I appeal to James 3:8 and the fact that I’m an Australian by way
of excuse.
Your problem, however, is that your teaching is almost too good to be
true. It has sometimes made me question as to why no others I have been
exposed to, via churches, study groups, TV, radio, conferences, online
or personal recommendations, even come close to your comprehensive
theological positions.
Why so few (are there even any other?) good teachers out there? I guess,
as you say, there is little demand. I guess also the Spirit can provide
the truth with consistency to most of the world via just one online
site: ichthys.com
But why did Christ grant you this ministry? You have a heart in your
teaching to ensure that everything fits according to the Word from
beginning to end, and produce a whole which is even greater than the sum
of its parts.
How have you progressed to this rare level of teaching? No doubt
preparation, perspiration, persistence & patience have been key in your
slogging it out over the years as you drive toward the finish line.
The Plan, of course, was not yours but has been perfectly crafted to
provide those good works that you are willing to walk in to please Him
who has provided you to tend many of the flock and receive many rewards.
You have really grown to be an amazing bible teacher. You can see the
growth progression from your earlier writings through to the most
recent. From the earlier need to provide explanations on every point and
to reference other credible commentators/teachers, though to an easy,
confident style often referencing your own substantial body of work,
projecting authority. I think you mentioned that it was your intention
to write on Peter’s Epistles more than 20 years earlier but that the
groundwork for this resulted in The Satanic Rebellion and The Coming
Tribulation among other writings together with active pastoring via Q&As
over the years. Now that’s the groundwork of a true pastor/teacher.
I’m not suggesting you are perfect, but observing/listening to you has
really helped me to appreciate more the preparation that The Perfect
teacher/pastor, Jesus, undertook. Nearly 30 years in the crucible of
life for his 3-year ministry. You’ve had considerable success in
‘walking the talk’ and I congratulate you on becoming in many ways ‘like
your Teacher’.
Rather than flatter you, I am trying to make amends for my lack of
encouragement over the years. I particularly remember the times you
lamented the decrease in ichthys.com hits, seemingly wondering if anyone
was reading. And especially last year when it seemed previous staunch
supporters had turned against you. To my shame, I did not come forth
with support to your hearing. However, I did/have/do pray for your
encouragement and continued provision and enablement up to and
throughout the Tribulation, if possible. ichthys.com and you are a
blessing in deed to more than you may know.
Thank you,
Response #23:
As to "too good to be true", I have often remarked that I have likewise
felt that I have no idea how these things came together. Yes I've sweat a lot
over these materials for many years, but I can't explain it either. As one of
your countrymen reproached me once, "We don't understand it either" (he
was very upset with me for getting a Covid vax without which I would not have
been allowed to teach my classes without a mask on . . . which is impossible).
So the bottom line here is that anything truly good at Ichthys could never have
been accomplished without the Lord's great efforts. If you force enough current
through even a very small wire you can often get the wheels to turn. So in terms
of "why me?", I can assure you that it has nothing to do with having lived a
stellar life (especially in my youth) or some sort of special holiness (hard to
even write this with a straight face). I do try to "plug away" day by day. Even
here, I'm nowhere near "perfect" (you are certainly right about that!). When we
consider, for example, the sacrificial life of Paul, we are all filled with a
considerable amount of admiration and embarrassment at the same time: admiration
for how much he did and embarrassment for how much we fall short, and I am
certainly no exception to that (Acts 9:16; cf. 1Cor.4:8-13; 2Cor.4:7-12; 6:3-10;
11:16-33; Phil.3:7-11; 2Tim.3:11).
If I had to give an answer, it would probably be along the lines of the parable
of the two sons, the first of which was unwilling to go into the vineyard and do
his father's bidding . . . but finally did . . . and the other son who said he
would but never got around to it (Matt.21:28-32). This is Laodicea and the
number of latter sons is large; the number of the former type is very small. So
there is a LOT OF WORK and opportunity open to those willing to do it. That is
really what is going on. The harvest available to reap is abundant. But who is
willing to go out and get it?
“Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest! And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.”
John 4:35-38 NKJV
So I am in the position of a man who went down to the stream and actually
started panning for gold instead of just dreaming about it or talking about it.
And guess what? There is gold! There's so much available, in terms of truth to
be panned from the Word for those willing to do the work, that no such "49-er"
could begrudge a little company in panning – or a lot. Especially since in the
analogy we are all actually working for the same boss on the same land the
stream runs through. There's plenty for all.
So it really is also a source of amazement to me that in spite of a church on
every other corner here in the states, there seem to be few if any which are
even attempting to do what it seems to me is our job for the Lord: teach His
truth so that believers may grow up spiritually, be equipped to handle the tests
that come to those who are trying to walk closely with the Lord, and then help
others do likewise through whatever combinations of gifts they have been given
and ministries the Lord then entrusts to them. It seems so obvious – to me –
that it really does take my breath away to see the dearth of good Bible
teaching. Mind you, I haven't gone to "every church" or checked out "every
online ministry". But whenever I have made even a slight investigation, it's
usually the same result. I do recommend in particular Curtis Omo's
Bible Academy (at the link).
Since you are a long time reader I am sure that you know that he and I were
classmates at Talbot Seminary back in the very early 80's. I have some other
links on the website, but as you notice as well, for putatively some 2.4 billion
"Christians" in the world at present, there isn't a whole lot of learning of the
truth going on or a whole lot of seeking it out.
I was hopeful that the Covid "shock" would get Christians thinking about what it
is they are doing down here and then get more interested in the truth. But the
result, as best I can tell from the limited statistical info I have, has been
the opposite. But I would imagine that the Tribulation is likely to get their
attention. One would think. The trouble is, of course, that this may be too late
for many to be able to learn what they need to cope with what's coming. That may
be especially true inasmuch as the new agers (in their own and now infiltrating
mainline and even evangelical groups and churches) are starting to be "the only
game in town" when it comes to numerical (as opposed to spiritual) growth.
No worries at all about being a "silent back-bencher". It's an encouragement to
me to hear that you were "out there", and I take encouragement also in the
thought that there are others willing to receive the "nuggets" freely given from
this ministry anonymously. It's all the Lord's truth, after all, and we are
merely unworthy servants, doing only what we should have been doing all along .
. . and not as well as we could be doing it (Lk.17:10).
Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
Psalm 115:1 NIV
Thanks much for your good words in this most encouraging email! I shall endeavor
to be worthy of them.
In Jesus,
Bob L.