The Devil’s Delusion

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I read the following exerp from an article called “Another Gospel” which was written by A. W. Pink.  I fear that so many in our land are blinded by Satan and they don’t even know it.

“If our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 4:3 

Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers through hiding the light of the Gospel of Christ, and he does this by substituting his own gospel. Appropriately he designated, “that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray!” (Revelation 12:9)

The gospel of Satan is not a program of anarchy. It does not promote strife and war–but aims at peace and unity. It does not seek to drag down the natural man–but to improve and uplift him. It advocates education and cultivation, and appeals to the “best that is within us.” It endeavors to occupy man so much with this world–that he has no time or inclination to think of the world to come. It propagates the principles of self-sacrifice, charity and benevolence; and teaches us to live for the good of others, and to be kind to all. It appeals strongly to the carnal mind and is popular with the masses, because it ignores the solemn facts–that by nature man is a fallen creature, alienated from the life of God, dead in trespasses and sins, and that his only hope lies in being born again.

The gospel of Satan teaches salvation by works. It inculcates justification before God, on the ground of human merits. It is abloodless gospel, and presents a crossless Christ, who is received merely, as the Ideal Man.

The apostles of Satan are not saloon-keepers and white-slave traffickers–but are for the most part ordained ministers! Theirmessage may sound very plausible, and their aim appear very praiseworthy–yet we read of them, “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15).

In Proverbs 14:12 we read, “There is a way that seems right to a man–but in the end it leads to death.” This “way” which ends in “death” is the Devil’s Delusion–the gospel of Satan–a way of salvation by human attainment. It is a way which “seems right,” that is to say, it is presented in such a plausible way that it appeals to the natural man. It is set forth in such a subtle and attractive manner, that it commends itself to the minds of its hearers. By virtue of the fact that it appropriates to itself religious terminology, sometimes appeals to the Bible for its support (whenever this suits its purpose), holds up before men lofty ideals, and is proclaimed by those who have graduated from our theological institutions, countless multitudes are decoyed and deceived by it!

It as been said with considerable truth, that the way to Hell is paved with good intentions. There will be many in the Lake of Fire who lived with good intentions, honest resolutions and exalted ideals; who were just in their dealings and charitable in all their ways; men who prided themselves in their integrity–but who sought to justify themselves before God by their own righteousness; men who were moral and kind–but who never saw themselves as guilty, lost, hell-deserving sinners, needing a Savior. Such is the way which “seems right.” Such is the way that commends itself to the carnal mind and recommends itself to multitudes of deluded ones today. The Devil’s Delusion is that we can be saved by our own works, and justified by our own deeds!

“He saved us–not by works of righteousness that we had done, but according to His mercy.” Titus 3:5

Last Sunday of the Year

Yesterday was the last Sunday of 2008.  As I look back over the last year, it is amazing what the Lord has done.  We will be having a vision night in January, and I will share more of what God has done.  God has brought us into an amazing building right in city centre.  God is helping us to grow together and to get more grounded so that we can reach out.  God has given us a tremendous opportunity to reach out to many people in our community, and I am excited about what God is going to do this nest year.

We had a good services yesterday, despite several folks being out with sickness, which is pretty rampant this time of year.  I preached in the morning on “The Power of the Past” from Joshua 24:29-31.  In the passage, the Bible tells us that Israel served God as long as Joshua and the other elders who had seen the works of God were alive.  The application to us today is that our power can be a force for good, if we will focus on and remember what God has done for us in the past.  Remember the works of God will strengthen our faith to move forward in the future.  I will try to get the audio of the message uploaded to our website tomorrow so you can listen.

In the evening, I preached on “The Promise of the Future” from Joshua 24:32-33 about how Joseph believed so much in the promise of God that they would come out of Egypt that he commanded the Israelites to take his bones with them when (not if) they left.  I hope that all of us will live our lives this next year not on what is going on in the economy or in circumstances around us but upon the promises of God.  We saw four responsibilities from Judges to realise the promises of God this next year: 1) Be leaders and support leaders, 2) Depend upon God and and His power, 3) Don’t settle for partial victory (don’t allow small compromises with sin), and 4) Teach the next generation.

Great Dinner with Church Family

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God blessed us with a very enjoyable time last night with our church family.  We had a combined dinner with Roe Valley Baptist Church and Northwest Baptist Church at the building in Derry/Londonderry.  There was a tremendous spread of food, and I want to thank everyone who helped with the meal, especially the ladies who worked so hard to prepare the food it.  It was wonderful!

We had a total of 35 people at the meal with many folks unable to make it because of sickness and other reasons.  There is a terrible flu/cold bug going around that is causing alot of people to be very ill.

It was a real enjoyeable time just to fellowship together.  I love spending time with the people in our church, and I am so thankful for the opportunity to know each and every one of you.  I am so thankful for all that God has done in our church and in our lives, and I am very excited about what God is going to do in 2009.

Thanks to each of you for being such a blessing and encouragement to me and my family.  Thank you for all of the kind words, Christmas presents, and Christmas cards.

Christmas Dinner

We are looking forward to a good time tonight at our Christmas Dinner.  The congregations of Northwest Baptist Church and Roe Valley Baptist Church will be coming together to eat a meal together and enjoy fellowship.  There will be a Christmas quiz and a message from the Bible on “The Difference a Child Can Make”.  I hope you will join us from 7-9 PM tonight!

What An Atheist Thinks of “Proslytising”

10 Reasons to Believe Jesus Is God

By Robert M. Bowman

Hebrews 1

Other Scriptures

1. He speaks as God does (vv. 1-2a).

John 1:1, 14; 8:43-47

2. He owns everything God does (v. 2b).

Matt. 11:27; Col. 1:16

3. He is everything God is (v. 3a).

John 1:1; 14:9; Col. 1:15

4. He does everything God does (v. 3b).

John 5:19; Col. 1:17

5. He gets all the honors God does (v. 6).

Matt. 28:17; John 5:23

6. He has the titles God has (vv. 8, 10).

Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1; 20:28; Rom. 10:9-13; Phil. 2:9-11; Titus 2:13-14; 2 Pet. 1:1, 11

7. He will rule as long as God will (vv. 8-9).

Luke 1:33; Eph. 1:21

8. He made everything God did (v. 10).

Ps. 102:25-27; Is. 44:24; John 1:3; Col. 1:16

9. He is as dependable as God (vv. 11-12).

John 14:1; Heb. 13:8

10. He is as exalted as God (v. 13).

Matt. 28:18; Eph. 1:20-22; Phil. 2:9-11

Reasons Jesus Is The Messiah

 

According to the Old Testament, the coming Messiah would:

  • Be a descendant of Abraham (compare Gen. 22:18 with Gal. 3:16)
  • Be a descendant of Jacob (compare Num. 24:17 with Lk. 3:23, 34)
  • Be from the tribe of Judah (compare Gen. 49:10 with Lk. 3:23, 33)
  • Be from the family of Jesse (compare Is. 11:1 with Lk. 3:23, 32)
  • Be from the house of David (compare Jer. 23:5 with Lk. 3:23, 31)
  • Be born at Bethlehem (compare Micah 5:2 with Matt. 2:1)
  • Be the pre-existent one (compare Micah 5:2 with Col. 1:17)
  • Be the Lord (compare Psalm 110:1 with Matt. 22:43-45)
  • Be God with us (compare Isaiah 7:14 with Matt. 1:23)
  • Be a prophet (compare Deut. 18:18 with Matt. 21:11)
  • Be a priest (compare Psalm 110:4 with Heb. 3:1; 5-6)
  • Be a king (compare Psalm 2:6 with Matt. 27:37)
  • Be anointed by the Spirit (compare Is. 11:2 with Matt. 3:16, 17)
  • Be zealous for God (compare Ps. 69:9 with John 2:15, 16)
  • Have a forerunner (compare Is. 40:3; Mal. 3:1 with Matt. 3:1,2)
  • Begin His ministry in Galilee (compare Is. 9:1 with Matt. 4:12-17)
  • Have a ministry of miracles (compare Is. 35:5,6 with Matt. 9:35)
  • Bring healing and spiritual life (compare Is. 61:1-2 with Lk. 4:18).
  • Enter Jerusalem on a donkey (compare Zech. 9:9 with Lk. 19:35-37)
  • Be rejected by the Jews (compare Psalm 118:22 with 1 Pet. 2:7)
  • Be silent before His accusers (compare Is. 53:7 with Matt. 27:12)
  • Be wounded and bruised (compare Is. 53:5 with Matt. 27:26)
  • Be smitten and spit upon (compare Is. 50:6 with Matt. 26:67)
  • Be crucified with thieves (compare Is. 53:12 with Matt. 27:38)
  • Have His garments divided (compare Ps. 22:18 with John 19:23,24)
  • Have his side pierced (compare Zech. 12:10 with John 19:34)
  • Be buried in a rich man’s tomb (compare Is. 53:9 with Matt. 27:57ff)
  • Come before Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed (compare Dan. 9:26 with Matt. 24:2)

Join Us This Holiday Season

I hope you will join us this holiday season for the following events:

Carol Service – Sunday, 21 December (12.30 pm)

 

  • Join us as we celebrate the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ through singing Christmas carols.
  • Bible message and a cup of tea, mince pies, shortbread, and other treats after the service.

 

Christmas Dinner – Tuesday, 23 December (7.00 pm)

 

  • Special meal together followed by reading the Christmas story and Bible message.
  • Come and bring your friends.
  • The people from Roe Valley Baptist Church will be joining us for this meal.

 

New Year’s Eve Party – Wednesday, 31 December (9.30 pm – 12.00 am)

 

  • Bring in the new year with us at Roe Valley Baptist Church in Limavady.
  • Join us for food, fellowship, preaching, and fun.  We will have a time of testimonies, preaching, and music.  Please let me know if you would like to participate.

 



The True Meaning of Christmas

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The True Meaning of Christmas

The sound of Christmas carols playing as family and friends gather around the Christmas tree, the light reflecting from the ornaments and the crowning star. Dad and mom are tucking their anxious kids in bed, wondering if they were good enough for Santa Claus.

Stores are filling with many eager shoppers looking for that special gift. But what is the true meaning of Christmas?

Christmas is one of the most exciting holidays because of its true meaning: Christmas exists to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. 

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

You may be asking, “Why is Jesusʼ birth important?” or “What is all the hype about the birth of Jesus” and “if Jesus is the true meaning of Christmas what does that have to do with me.” Well, God gave His Son because we all have a problem called “sin.” The Bible says: 

“There is none righteous, no, not one:” (Romans 3:10)

“For all have sinned” (Romans 3:23)

“For the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a)

Godʼs requirements for you to get to have eternal life with Him is to be sinless. Have you ever told a lie before? Stole something? Hated someone? Had impure thoughts? If so, that makes you a sinner like everyone else, and those arenʼt even all the laws of God! The penalty for our sin is to be eternally rejected of God. But surely there must be an escape? That escape is what Christmas is all about, and why it is a season of hope! 

“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners like us. He was perfectly sinless; He was never disobedient to Godʼs laws and thus didnʼt have to die. But, He loved us so much that He willingly gave His life and died on the cross to pay the price for our sins. He shed His righteous blood and took our place, paying our price! Three days later He rose from the dead, proving to the world He is God, and has power over death and Hell.

“God commendeth {showed} his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.” (Romans 6:23b)

But what do you have to do to receive this gift? When you open a present on Christmas morning, do you pay the giver for it, or simply take it thankfully? God is extending His gift of salvation to you. It is a free gift: you donʼt have to work for it or purchase it. You simply receive the gift of God by grace through faith. The Bible says:

“Man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” (Ephesians 2:8)

If you truly believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, that He came to this earth to die on the cross to pay the price for your sin, and that He rose from the dead three days later, proving He is God, then ask Him to forgive you of your sins.

Repent. Turn from your own way and trust exclusively in Jesus Christ, and nothing else.

“…repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 20:21)

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that

God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)

“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16b)

Will you repent and put your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ this Christmas season?

A Doctor’s Wisdom

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A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said: Doctor I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even 1 yr. old and I’m pregnant again. I don’t want kids so close together.’

So the doctor said: Ok, and what do you want me to do?’ She said: I want you to end my pregnancy, and I’m counting on your help with this.

The doctor thought for a little, and after some silence he said to the lady: I think I have a better solution for your problem. It’s less dangerous for you too.’

She smiled, thinking that the doctor was going to accept her request.

Then he continued: You see, in order for you not to have to take care of 2 babies at the same time, let’s kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we’re going to kill one of them, it doesn’t matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms.

The lady was horrified and said: ‘No doctor! How terrible! It’s a crime to kill a child!

‘I agree’, the doctor replied. ‘But you seemed to be ok with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution. The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point.

He convinced the mom that there is no difference in killing a child that’s already been born and one that’s still in the womb. The crime is the same!

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