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STAND & COMFORT Newsletter October 5, 2001 #1 ECUMENICAL PRAYER SERVICES It is beyond my understanding, in the face of Jesus' own description of the time of the end, how revivalists and Dominionists can feverishly work for revival that will supposedly lead to world dominion. Jesus said, Mark 13:9 But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. . . . As I read this scripture, I thought also of the ecumenical prayer service held after the New York and Washington crisis where "Christianity" stood in the midst of a diversity of religious systems. Here were the government and the citizenry proclaiming the unity of faiths that this crisis had brought about. What a contrast to Jesus' own words. All of this made me think of what Paul said in 2 Corinthians: 2 Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? Even in what is termed a global crisis? Yes, even in what is called a global crisis. The picture of something equally yoked is that of two oxen of the same proportions. Another picture is that of a yoke connecting a chihuahua and a St. Bernard. There's an inequality in this second example that would render the two dogs incapable of pulling their load. This is what Paul is trying to get across. All the gods of all the other religions cannot be equally yoked to the triune God of Christianity and the salvation He freely offers through Jesus Christ, a salvation through which the very Spirit of God indwells the believer. Jamieson, Fausett and Brown comment: "'yoked with one alien in spirit.' The image is from the symbolical precept of the law (Le 19:19), "Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind"; or the precept (De 22:10), "Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together." Compare De 7:3, forbidding marriages with the heathen; also 1Co 7:39. The believer and unbeliever are utterly heterogeneous. Too close intercourse with unbelievers in other relations also is included (2Co 6:16; 1Co 8:10; 10:14). Heterogeneous means "consisting of dissimilar or diverse ingredients or constituents" (Merriam-Webster). In 2 Corinthians Paul continues, 2 Cor 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? Infidel here simply means any unbeliever in Christ according to God's word, and Paul says there is nothing a believer can agree on with the unbeliever by coming together in fellowship and prayer. To do so causes others to see Christianity as one of many alternatives to approach God, giving credence to the saying, "All religions lead to God." But Jesus said, John 14:6 . . . I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. The word "agreement" in our next verse from 2 Corinthians is a very important word: 2 Cor 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. "Agreement" means: STRONG'S 4783. sugkatathesis, soong-kat-ath'-es-is; from G4784; a deposition (of sentiment) in company with, i.e. (fig.) accord with:--agreement. The terrorism was a tremendously horrific tragedy against humanity. Because of the sorrow and tears and grief, Americans pulled out of their past the yearning to come together and unite against those responsible for this tragedy. Both empathy and fear played a big part in driving everyone together because the spirits of many needed to be lifted. The effort to quickly unite was crucial to this country. It is here that the Christian must walk in the fruit of the Spirit, especially in emotional self control. When all of this mixture of grief and emotion and the hurried call to unity ended up in an ecumenical prayer service, did the emotion of situation seem to override the commands of God's word? This coming together of religions was one of the major differences between the present and the past. In the past, when the country had to pull together (as in World War II), there wasn't any visible demonstration of spiritual unity. In the present situation, however, religious unity was seen as a crucial force in bringing the country together. The underlying message to the world was that all religions are equal. The Christian gospel suffered greatly because of such a gathering. Paul said, "And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols?" This was a hard situation for some Christians because people, whether they believe in Christ or not, were hurting and hurting badly. Yet God's word has spoken clearly. I am sure people from all religions, including Christianity, hurt greatly over the lives affected through this tragedy. For the Christian it is a time to care for people and help people no matter what they believe. But like-emotions and like-feelings are no basis for coming together in common prayer with other religions because each religion prays to their own god, and God asks, "How can you pray to me in union with others who are praying to other gods? Do you realize you make Me out to be just another god among the gods of this world in the sight of many?" According to God's word, a Christian should not pray with those of other religions, but he certainly can pray for them out of their need for Christ. Spiritual compromise cannot be given an open door just because there's an emotional situation, and if we are in the endtimes, these will increase in the times ahead. This is an important area where self-control is and will be crucial to the Christian: Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, To the Corinthians, Paul continued, 2 Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, Here Paul gives a command opposing unity with other religions: do not unite in prayer and religious diversity, but "come out from among them, and be ye separate." This is the total opposite of, "Go in amongst them, and be ye united." It's like seeing a field of tares as wheat and then sowing "more" wheat among the tares. That is the adversary's work, not God's. The adversary sows tares among the wheat, but he also tries to deceive the wheat to sow themselves among the tares for the purpose of a united, world effort to influence spiritual forces. I imagine the Pope loved the idea of corporate prayer among the world's religions while condemning terrorism. He has said the Vatican would be praying with all during the October 11th Day of Prayer. Concerning the September 11th crisis, he stated, "We cannot forget that Jews, Christians and Muslims adore God as the only God. The three religions, therefore, have the vocation of unity and peace. May God allow the Church's faithful to be agents of peace, in the front line of the search for justice, and the prohibition of violence. May the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, intercede for all humanity, so that hate and death never have the last word!" (Vatican Information Service, Pope Calls For Prayer Of The Rosary For Peace, Vatican City, 9/30/01). Ecumenical prayer, in the past confined to religious circles, has been given a gigantic boost in the eyes of the world as a result of the terrorism. Because of both governmental and religious participation, the idea of unity as the force to bring about peace and harmony took one giant step. Such ideas can be traced back to the unity of Catholic, Protestant and Pentecostal evangelism, saturated with ideas of world dominion over earthly and spiritual powers. Scripture narrows this "revival" effort down to a simple explanation: 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. Concerning the revival, this verse indicates a "going out from" while remaining "in the midst of," this interpretation being confirmed by the words of Paul: Acts 20:29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Jesus Himself told this appropriate parable: Mat 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. When is the harvest? At the very end of the age when Christ returns to judge the nations and gather the wheat into the barn. Both of these harvests are described as following one after the other on the book of Revelation: Rev 14:15 And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. What is the message in all of this? The apostate Church will be present within the Church to the very end of the age: "Let both grow together until the harvest" (Matthew 13:30). That does not mean we should do nothing. Scripture commands otherwise. Here are some scriptures to think about concerning this issue of the newsletter: 2 Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Jesus addressed these words to the the church of Philadelphia: Rev 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Notice the condition of the Philadelphian church: "for thou hast a little strength." Do you feel in the minority in the midst of the apostasy? Do you feel almost helpless in the midst of its ongoing evolution? Do you feel at times as though you have little strength? Do you know what Jesus expects of you in this weak condition? He expects this: be one of those who has "kept my word, and hast not denied my name." Remember, 2 Cor 13:4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you. Christians work and strain to believe and have faith, when Jesus says you only need faith the size of a mustard seed. We try to be strong and struggle and wear ourselves out trying to be people of faith and power, when God has clearly shown us where our strength comes from. Paul knew: 2 Cor 12:9 And he [the Lord] said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Jesus knew Philadelphia had "little strength," and THEREFORE HE COULD SAY TO THEM, keep my word and don't deny my name. Do you get the point? I have an article on my web page entitled, "Lord, Make Us Like Philadelphia." It was placed there quite a few years ago. Many of you have read it, and I send it out every other year or so. I was there when this message was delivered and it was delivered with power and conviction. I am going to send it out again because it is appropriate to this issue of the newsletter. If you've read it, I encourage you to read it again. If not, I encourage you to read it for the first time. #2 GOD'S SIMPLE WORD ABOUT THE MARK OF THE BEAST Excerpt from an email from "Defender": On one side of the coin [the Global Positioning System's data chip] is an awesome way to to control and track convicts, find potential lost children, the elderly, the ill, it could identify your pets or your livestock, it could confirm an individuals citizenship for legal reasons or border crossings, it could be used for voting, buying or selling goods etc., BUT!!! then in your hand or forehead it would a great tool for the antichrist to mark you and control every move you make. I'm not saying the mark talked about in Revelations will be an extended GPS data chip, but one can keep aware of the technology that is available that could be the coming mark. Never the less someday, most likely in our lifetime an unholy mark from Satan will be presented to us and we will have choose to take it or not. As Christians this is not an option, we are not to take this mark. In recent days I have heard Christians telling me that the mark of the beast spoke in Revelations will never come to pass, in fact I have spoken to a Pastor who thinks the marking of an entire population is virtual impossible. Another pastor was more concerned about the division in the body of Christ that would happen when we would be debating which mark was the real mark. Another Pastor told me the mark has come and gone already and was a tool that the Catholic Church once used hundreds of years ago. Do these leaders read there bibles? These last days require believers to study their bibles and trust Jesus Christ completely, we must walk closely with him. In doing so we will hear his voice calling us and He will guide us through the coming deceptions. It states in the bible that HIS SHEEP HEAR HIS VOICE AND THEY FOLLOW HIM. Revelation 13:17 Revelation 13 Revelation 13:16-18 so that no one could buy or sell unless he had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of his name. In His service =========== This newsletter will be sent out whenever I think there is something the body of Christ needs to consider, to build it up, to give it encouragement or comfort in hard times. To sign up for this newsletter, email Ed at ejt@ncinter.net Past issues may be read at http://users.stargate.net/~ejt/List.htm
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