THEMES
FOR THE WEEK:
By
Trevor Davis
www.soundingthealarm.com
April 3, 2011
1.
Faith: Faith
in Jesus Christ and the gospel.
A. Faith is not mental knowledge.
Faith is in the realm of the spirit. Faith is fruit of the
Spirit.
Gal
5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are
Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not
be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one
another.
B. Faith is not in the
natural-carnal-fleshly realm. This is why religion
does not operate in faith.
For the most part, the religious
world operates
in the natural world. (Contrast
with the original church as recorded in Acts)
Consider
this text:Ga
5:16-21 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil
the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to
the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye
be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19Now the works of
the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell
you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do
such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God
This
text contradicts the Church
Growth Movement and
its 'seeker-friendly' motif. Promoting and marketing a “church”
as a secular religious social club encourages people to remain in
their sin. When the standard and proclamation of the Word of God is
promoted instead it brings conviction by the Spirit of God whereby
people can repent and have faith in Jesus as the Deliverer. Those who
walk in the spirit will not walk in the lust of the flesh as verse 16
says above. The Spirit and the flesh are opposites as verse 17 says.
However,
the works of the flesh are clearly stated and those who walk in these
ways “shall not inherit the kingdom of God”, Galatians
5:21.
Ancient
Israel and Judah did the same thing when they had false prophets
promoting the false priests which therefore encouraged the people in
their sinful ways.
Ezekiel
13:22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad,
whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked,
that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:
C.
The true atmosphere of worship to God should be one of the fear of
the LORD. Humility, worship, purity, holiness, abiding faith in Jesus
Christ. The masses still view the building of where church is as the
temple of God. God does not dwell in temples made by hands. He is
looking to dwell in people that are abiding in Jesus Christ. The body
is the “temple of God” in New Testament faith. The
collective gathering of believers creates the habitation of God that
He dwells in by faith. Here again is another example of the
misunderstandings of the people that make up Christendom. When the
people are in adoration of their Lord and abide faithfully in Him,
the presence of the LORD is manifested in great glory. His presence
is made known through many displays of power and glory through His
people. Conviction and revelation into the knowledge of God is
fostered among the people. Do you see how this is so different than
the church clubs of our day? Which is it that you desire?
D.
It is not led by the Spirit of God and hence they are not the sons of
God.
Rom
8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons
of God
They do not have the
power of God nor His presence therefore they rely on their own
inventions, tactics and programs. Make sure you can perceive the
difference between the activity of the Spirit of God from religious
activity of man. One is activity of dead works not of faith, and the
other are works wrought by God, through faith, in abiding hearts of
the faithful. God is looking for obedience to His voice. This is
faith. God is not looking for people manufacturing deeds on His
behalf from their imagination. That is not faith.
E.
Religious
activity is largely driven
by money. The love of money is the root of all evil. 1Timothy
6:10.
Note
Jesus anger with the moneychangers as they were buying and selling in
the temple of God in Jerusalem. John
2:14-17---And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and
doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a
scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the
sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and
overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these
things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. And
his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house
hath eaten me up.
Scripture
on "filthy lucre"--not to be in the "church"
F.
Faith in Jesus Christ and the gospel activates the power of God. See
Romans 6 and 1Peter 1:5
"Power
of God" in various texts--the gospel, the cross, Jesus Christ
and more
The
power of God is what delivers us from the power of sin and
death.
Romans
6: The gospel and its power of deliverance
G.
Are you going to live a religious life or one that is of the Kingdom
of God? One is in the natural. The other is supernatural. One is for
self; the other is for the Lord through the Lord.
H.
Recognize that the gospel of Jesus bearing upon Himself the sins of
the world and dying upon the cross, being buried for three days and
raising again is not religion. This is not a religion. It is the
power of God unto salvation. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I.
Man has made religion; not God. Jesus does not endorse religion. He
has said that the Kingdom is not here or there but it is among
you---those who believe and submit to Him, there is where the Kingdom
of God is demonstrated.
The
Kingdom is not here or there but is within you--Luke 17:20-21
2.
Come to a conclusion that the “church
world” is
corrupt (for the most part):
A.
People have to come to the conclusion from the Lord that the church
world is not of Him on the basis of the contradictions.
“Unless
the LORD build the house they labor in vain that build it.”
Psalms
127:1
B.
People have to decide to come
out (definition
of church) and
be separate to the Lord. He then leads them as the good shepherd into
good pastures and still waters. He will unite them with others of
like faith and spirit.
Lexicon:
Definition of Ekklesia--"church" in English
3.
Unification of World Religion
A.
Today,
the religious leaders of the world are uniting with unbelievers with
false gospels and religions in order to synthesize the mindset of the
populace. The goal is to unite the world into one. It is an old idea
that is satanic.
B. Consider Babylon. Genesis
11: Babylon Babylon
sought to build a name for itself, build into the heavens, exalt
itself, nothing to be impossible as they agreed together against the
LORD. This is the same spirit that drives the desire for the One
World Government.
C. See message on corrupted religion as
'skyscrapers': The
Demise of the Pharaoh’s Palaces
D.
See transcript the ALARM: Read
about the coming Deception: The ALARM transcript (4-2-2005)
4.
Map and directions-
A.
Be careful
who influences your understanding of the things of God. God is to be
your teacher! Not man. Look this up in the Word.
Psalms
71:17--O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I
declared thy wondrous works.
Psalms
119:102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught
me.
My
lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
B.
Would you go to a satanist to teach you the Word of God? Would you go
to someone who is immoral in their lifestyle to teach and influence
you in the things of God? Would you have someone from the other side
of the world give you directions to where you are needing to go?
“No”.
Yet, so many professing Christians let
ungodly people with ungodly doctrines shape and influence their
beliefs in the faith. The danger is that what they value and esteem
is generally foreign to the Kingdom of God. Do they not promote what
they
deem is good, important and
of value?
C. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their
covetousness and said that God knew their hearts. What was esteemed
in the eyes of man was an abomination in the sight of God. Luke
16:14-15: And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these
things: and they derided him. And he said unto them, Ye are they
which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for
that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight
of God.
D.
The values of the church world are worldly. They esteem things that
are not of God. They operate according to these principles and lusts.
E. George
Barna and Marketing of the Church: Professional
statistician entering the world of religion for greater profits:
That
is the title! Marketing
of the Church: What they never taught you about church growth.
George
Barna: Book--Marketing the Church
Do
you believe that Jesus Christ the Head of the church approves of
marketing religion? Yes or no?
F. The Church Growth Movement:
Numbers are everything. To Christ, discipleship is everything.
Those
who are with Him are called, chosen and faithful. They are tried and
their garments are white. Rev
17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome
them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are
with him [are] called, and chosen, and faithful.
G.
As in the days of apostate Israel and Judah as recorded in scripture,
the peoples had forsaken the LORD and did not truly know Him though
they continued in religious activities. They had become like the
heathen nations around them and were not abiding in the call of
separation. The same is true for the most part of the religious
church world today.
Isaiah
1
The
SAD STORY: The Broken Heart of God and the one-sided relationship
5.
Being led by the Spirit of God
A.
They that are led by the Spirit are the children of God.
What are
those who are not led by the Spirit of God?
Shouldn't the church
of Jesus be led by the Spirit of God?
Romans
8:14: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons
of God.
B.
'Whose “church” is this anyhow?' How is the Head?
C.
Being prepared for the coming of Jesus Christ; or, being prepared for
the antichrist. Which is it?
6.
You must be born again, you must be born from above.
This
was the first thing Jesus told Nicodemus the ruler of the the Jews
and master over Israel per
John 3. If you are not born again,
then those who are born of God will seem as the wind that you can
hear its sound but not know from when it comes or where it is going.
You will not have the capacity to perceive, understand or know the
kingdom of God. You must be born again. You must. You absolutely must
be born from above.
John
3:3 You must be born again to see the Kingdom of God. (Please read
the whole chapter for amazing revelation)
7.
Fleshly Efforts Equal Fleshly Results.
A.
Carnal Efforts Equal Carnal Results. Worldly Efforts Equal Worldly
Results. All of these efforts are USELESS to the Kingdom of God. What
is flesh is flesh. What is spirit is spirit.
John
3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born
of the Spirit is spirit.
B.
Worship God in spirit. The true worshipers worship God in truth and
in spirit.
John
8:23-24-- But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers
shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father
seeketh such to worship him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship
him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.
8.
The enemies of the cross of Christ:
Paul was weeping in this
reality that there were MANY who were the enemies of the cross of
Christ. Their end is destruction:
The
Enemies of the cross of Christ
Paul
was writing the Philippians to note those who followed his example of
godly life and manner of service to the Lord.
”Mark them”
he said. “ Mark them which walk so as ye have us for an
ensample.”
Note:
For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
whose
end is destruction,
(1.)whose God is their belly, Their
god is their belly. They are driven by earthly appetite not
heavenly or spiritual. They eat not the EVERY WORD THAT
PROCEEDETH out of the mouth of God. They feast only on “bread
alone” in violation of Matthew 4:4.
(2)
and whose glory is in their shame,
(What
they think is valuable and esteemed is an abomination in the sight of
GodeLuke 16:15
.
What they glory in is actually shameful)
(3)
who mind earthly things. (They
are earthly, sensual and devilish. They are of the world.
They love the things of the world and abuse the fashion of the
world. The are in the flesh. They are carnal. All
of this is enmity against God.)
Philippians
3:17-20
17Brethren,
be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have
us for an ensample.
18(For
many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even
weeping, that
they are the
enemies of the cross of Christ: 19Whose
end is
destruction,
whose God is
their belly,
and whose
glory
is
in
their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20For
our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
8.
THE ABSOLUTE MOST IMPORTANT THING: Be found in Jesus Christ--
A.
Paul said, “Being
found in Him; not having
my own righteousness which is by the law, but that which is in
Christ, the righteousness that is by faith.
B.
Verse 10 shows the power through faith...power of resurrection,
fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His
death...vs 11 that I may attain to the resurrection.
C.
Paul was saying he prayed he would be found in Jesus. That is the key
issue. Our life must be the very life of Christ. We are to be
crucified and buried. Raised by the Spirit of God walking in newness
of life. We are to be yielding to the life of Christ unto
righteousness. When the Father sees us, He should see His Son. This
is supernatural.
9.
God is allowing the sin to increase.
A.
He is allowing the rebellion to escalate. God is putting this into
the hearts of the leaders to exercise His will in these last days.
They will succeed in bringing about the Beast System, the economic
system that requires a mark, as well as the worship to the image of
the Beast. All those who are not in the book of life of the Lamb will
take this mark.
10.
Love the truth or else.
A.
Our world today can take it or leave it regarding what is the truth.
We are lied to constantly by the world and its media. God is the
exact opposite. It is important to cut off the lies lest they
influence you on a subliminal level.
God will send strong delusion
that those who have had pleasure in unrighteousness would believe the
lie.
2
Thessalonians 2:10-12 10And with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the
love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God
shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness.
11.
The heart is the issue:
A.
God reveals truth to the humble child-like ones. God hides the truth
from the wise and prudent but reveals it unto the babes.
Matthew
11:25-26 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things
from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even
so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
B.
God chooses the weak and foolish things to confound the wise and
strength of man's flesh: The preaching of the cross is weak and
foolish. What is your response to the proclaiming of the cross of
Jesus?
1Cor
1:17-31 The most crucial base focus of true ministry. The ministry of
proclaiming the cross and glorying in the Lord.
1Cor
1:17-31 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:
not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of
none effect. 18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish
foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will
bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20Where is the
wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath
not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that in
the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by
the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22For the
Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we
preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the
Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and
Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25Because the
foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is
stronger than men. 26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not
many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are
called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to
confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world
to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the
world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and
things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no
flesh should glory in his presence. 30But of him are ye in Christ
Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written,
He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
C.
Let God reveal the truth as you study His Word. It is a prayerful
spiritual activity in the realm of the spirit. It is not a head
mental exercise. The mind must be submitted to Christ. Do not let
carnal men teach you. God must be your teacher. Would you let a
satanist teach you? Would you let one who denies Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God, who came in the flesh teach you?
Read
1John 2. Antichrists and false teachers that deny Jesus as the
Christ, the Son of God who came in the flesh.
12. Prophecy is a
sealed book:
The
prophecy is sealed unto the end. The Word of God as well as the
prophecy are unsealed for the righteous. They are humble, obedient
abiding ones. God conceals the truth from the wise and prudent but
reveals it unto babes.
Do not rely on the carnal opinions of
others in past times instruct you in your understanding of the Word
of God and prophecy.
Some things we will not understand until
the time it is to understand. Do not put blinders on your
understanding. Stay pliable and teachable before the Lord.
Daniel
12:4 Seal up the book until the time of the end...
The wicked
shall not understand but the righteous shall understand... Daniel
12:10
13.
What we can
see now:
A.
There is a world government now. There is a form of it which you can
see, touch and hear. It is in the world making war in the name of
peace. It is going forth establishing democracy just like the ancient
empires of Greece and Rome.
B. Do not ignore the obvious.
What is the most powerful nation in the world? What is the most
powerful empire in world history? Who is the president of the
world?
C. What are religious leaders doing now in influencing
through marketing the masses? Note the synthesis of world religions
by these leaders. Note their associations with New Agers, mystics,
Jesus deniers and the like.
D. The “deception” is
here now.
14.
Jesus Followers Follow Jesus
Simple
as that.