Monday, December 20, 2010

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Responsibility for the Jewish Condition by Fred London

I wanted to share the following that I received from Fred London, a friend who is a Jewish believer in Jesus who was involved with the “Messianic Jewish Movement” in its early days but is now “on the outside”.
I always benefit from the perspective his experience gives, but most importantly I benefit from the way he insists we would see things through the truth of scripture.
_________

Responsibility for the Jewish Condition

There is no question that for most of the last 2,000 years, the predominantly Gentile church has been primarily engaged in provocation rather than the Biblical mandate expressed by Paul to "provoke the Jews to a spiritual jealousy." Yes, to a significant degree, it has contributed to a hardening of Jewish hearts to the Gospel. Having said that, though, it may, and continuing to be, a valid negative influence upon Jewish openness to the Gospel, it is, ultimately, no excuse for their rejection of the Gospel. We are all "without excuse." It is Christ, Himself, who is a "rock of offense," a stone of stumbling." "For when you search for Me with all your heart, then you will find Me."

Moreover, it is also true that much of this rejection is due to a religious self-righteousness of which Paul speaks of in Romans 10:2-3 by the Orthodox Jewish community and ranging to a general indifference or humanism not unlike Gentile unbelievers by non-religious Jews. The bottom line has always been, and will forever be, "But, who do you say that I am?" That is the ultimate question, which demands the ultimate answer. That is the literal heart of the matter. Not unlike much of the "new and improved" Emergent Church, in my opinion, much of the Messianic Jewish Movement has also bought into the philosophy of "Maybe if they like us, they'll like our Jesus, too?" So there is plenty of culpability to go around.

I have been on the "inside" for many years and on the "outside" for many years. Although one can certainly draw from those experiences in deepening their understanding of the dynamics involved, they can only be validated by applying them to the truth of Scripture, which is "able to discern between soul and spirit." And, if rightly applied, is able to trump any soulish bias related to personal experience, something I always endeavor to apply in my own Biblically-related inquiries. Although I may not always hit the mark, I at least know where to aim, and therefore, in that regard, I myself am without excuse.

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

David Pawson: “Between Death and Resurrection”

David Pawson , 10 part series on Revelation and a 2 part teaching, “Between Death and Resurrection”

http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/viewcat.php?cid=528




.

Dave Daubenmire -- How Great is That Darkness

Quotes from Dave Daubenmire:

Most Christians are not. Not really disciples of Jesus that is.

_________

Everyone wants to “follow Jesus” until they find out where He is going… He is heading to a Cross… and He asks you to take up yours and follow Him. This flies in the face of popular Christianity and its “felt needs”…


See the full article here:


Dave Daubenmire -- How Great is That Darkness

.

Thursday, December 09, 2010

Rain or Repentance?

Eastern Australia has recently suffered a ten year drought.

4 ½ years ago I moved from Sydney to a country town 4 hours to the west. In church there was regular prayer for rain. Living in the country where farmer’s livelihoods are dependant on suitable climatic conditions it is very easy to empathise with that desire for rain. Without the rain their crops will fail, they get no income. Many have given up. Many have been forced from repossessed farms, driven into debt by years without a saleable crop.

One high profile Christian minister led nationwide prayer meetings to seek the Lord for rain. When the rain did come after one of his meetings, credit was taken for the breaking of the drought through prayer.

It is the natural thing to pray for the nation’s situation to be resolved through reliable rainfall. But while that is the “natural thing” was it the RIGHT thing to do?

Would the drought being broken bring people closer to God? Or would restored comfort mean increased complacency?

Over the last year the drought finally came to an end. Dams that had fallen to frighteningly low levels were filling. A few months ago a local dam was below 4% capacity. In recent weeks it rose to almost 60%.
Farmers were confident of their best crops ever.

Until two weeks ago!




In less than two weeks there have been record rainfalls. Major dams can’t cope and are now spilling excessive water into rivers. Flooding is extensive. The combination of rain and floods has destroyed much of the “best crop ever”.

Why? Is this the answer to prayer against drought?

While considering this situation a clear phrase came to my mind:

Rain without repentance.

In prayer should we be put earthly comfort first or should we take a more eternal viewpoint? What does this nation (and others) really need?

Rain or repentance?


_______________________

James 5:17-18 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
_______________________



Photo from here:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/12/08/3087667.htm?site=westernplains§ion=news&date=(none)

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

David Pawson: ICEJ Recordings 2010

More David Pawson sermons. These are from an ICEJ Conference held in the UK, June 2010.

To listen follow this link:

http://www.billingefamilychurch.org/media_icej.htm

To download right click on the following links and select "save target as".

Who is Entitled to Jerusalem?

http://www.billingefamilychurch.org/media/sermons/icej/2010/download.php?file=040610_david_pawson.mp3

Jerusalem and Israel in Galatians

http://www.billingefamilychurch.org/media/sermons/icej/2010/download.php?file=j050610_david_pawson.mp3



.

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Christmas?

Christmas is nearly here again and another year is almost over.
Recently I've seen a lot of anti-Christmas articles written by Christians. I'm not sure whether that's because general Christian attitudes are changing or maybe it's just the kind of Christian company I keep.

Here is a link to an article I posted 5 years ago.

http://onefiles.blogspot.com/2005/12/word-for-christmas-and-beyond.html