Peace in Trials

Brothers and Sisters

I pray that you know the peace that passes all understanding that comes alone from Jesus Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  Although it is more difficult that as a church (the collection of saints) to gather, it is exciting to know that the Lord is working His purposes to His glory.  It is in these times of adversity we can see God's hand at work.  How can we find comfort in the midst of adversity?  You know the answer - the Lord God Almighty is in the midst of thee (Zeph. 3:17).  Now is the time to get close to God (James 4:8).  Most (all?) of us know God has promised He will never leave us or forsake us (Dt. 31:6 and Heb. 13:5).  Let's consider how we have this assurance and relish the situation:   



Firstly, we have God's Word.  His Bible is ALL about the grace of God delivering His people throughout the entirety of history.  There is no part of Scripture that doesn't resonate with the saint, that God has their ultimate best interest in His heart (Rom. 8:28).  This "self-isolation" provides a wonderful opportunity to immerse ourselves in the Scriptures.  I have used the time to read the 'minor' prophets.  The Psalms are so full of expressions for the entire range of emotions we are experiencing, be it joy, fear, exhaustion, guilt, shame, peace, depression, etc.  Not the least, we can study how our Saviour Jesus endured His experiences, calling on our Father for strength and endurance - and the hope it gives to us.  This leads us to the next 'means of grace', prayer.



We can cultivate the wonderful gift of prayer.  Make a study of the Lord's Prayer or other prayers in the Bible.  See how we express to God our adoration of Him as our Soveriegn and our Father.  Confessing our sins to the mercy seat for forgiveness and cleansing.  Think about and acknowledge what to thank Him, not the least that He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7).  Finally, we can pray for the needs of others in this time - family, church family, friends, service providers, and especially medical staff.  Pretty soon we realise that we need to be prayer warriors.  My mind tends to stray sometimes - don't be distressed.  Prayer is intimately talking with the Lord, not a mindless task.  Just share what's on your heart throughout the day.  Better than just talking to myself 😉 





You can also enjoy any good books that build up or teach the faith.  CAREFULLY test the various TV ministries - you're ALWAYS welcome to contact Pastor David or myself for recommended viewing.  Beware there is much so-called 'Christian' rubbish programs on there.  The same may be said of the local FM radio stations: Salt 106.9 [Suncoast], 96five Family Radio 96.5 [Brisbane], and Cooloola Christian Radio 91.5 [Gympie].

Those who are blessed with access to the internet, there are a lot of wonderful and edifying Godly materials to teach and guide the saints.  May I recommend anything from Ligonier Ministries [R.C. Sproul] and Grace to You [John MacArthur]. You can also search for hymns, documentaries and Bible movies. (Though again, be careful, they may be from an unChristian perspective).

Of course, if anyone needs a chat or prayer, please feel welcome to ring another church family member.  I have been struggling with my own mental health and this isolation would normally be such a terrible impact, save for the grace of God!  We may not be able to fellowship 'in person', but we can still commune with one another.  





I look back through history and contemplate that even during the wars, we were not required to lock ourselves in for extended periods (days) with limited human contact, like we are asked currently.  And during periods of plague and pestilence, the church (individual believers together) actually got our hands dirty helping the sick and suffering.  But just as the Lord has carried us through droughts, floods, fires, cyclones, conflicts and other turmoils, we know from personal experience that He will carry us through this short trial.  This is still our time to be salt and light, to the glory of God our Father (Mt. 5:13-16).  

God bless you all.
Your brother in Christ.

~ John  0417 636 911

Messiah ... Antichrist Film? ~ Part 1

I have been restraining myself from analysing the Netflix® series, Messiah.  But I feel drawn to point out that it EXACTLY represents the description of the Antichrist as outlined in the Holy Bible.

I find it a brilliant teaching tool for apologetics and searching the Scriptures and Quran.

As an introduction, let me defer to Wikipedia's summary of the TV series.  

"The series focuses on the modern world's reaction to a man who first appears in the Middle East, whose followers claim him to be the eschatological return of 'Isa (Jesus). His sudden appearance and apparent miracles spark a growing international following, casting doubts around who he really is, a case investigated by a CIA officer." [1]

So starting at Series 1: Episode 1 [S1:E1] ("He That Hath an Ear", from Rev.2:7), this bearded bloke makes an appearance in Damascus to Syrian "Palestinians".

He is (mis?)quoting the Quran in the following time indices:

4:24   Al-Quran Surah 3. Al-i'Imran, Ayah 173
          Al-Quran Surah 3. Al-i'Imran, Ayah 51

Then the Bible is quoted:

6:20   Revelation 2:17

The speaker is soon identified as al-Masih (Arabic for Messiah), as the followers chant his name.  At this point, it is not known if he is the Christian Messiah (Yasu-al-Masih) or the Muslim Messiah ('Isa-al-Masih).

Background note:  According to Muslim theology, 'Isa will return at the end times with Mahdi to help defeat Al-Masih ad-Dajjal (the Muslim anti-christ/false messiah).

When Christ returns, according to the Bible, he shall return in glory in the sky (the same way He left 2000 years ago).  So clearly, this is the Christian version of the Anti-Christ (since he claims to have caused a miracle using a sandstorm from 30 days non-stop preaching to stop violence in the Middle-East).

Returning to the story, al-Masih leads 2000 followers into the desert, where that night he has a small discussion with a couple of clerics and an adolescent boy.  

15:00   he misquotes the "Christian" philosopher, C.S.Lewis.

15:38   he recalls a version of the Shahada (Muslim creed: There is no other deity except Allah).  This is the response to the question of His deity!  So that immediately denies his divinity, and therefore identifies him again as NOT being Jesus Christ.  (because Jesus proclaimed "I and the Father are one" [John 10:30], etc).

16:00   Al-Quran Surah 23. Al-Muminun, Ayah 115

al-Masih proceeds to tell the small gathering to "throw away what you know about God!  ... Cling to me [al-Masih]".  This is in direct contravention of Jesus Christ's teaching in Matthew 5:18.

22:28   it is revealed he is 'Isa-al-Masih - the Muslim messiah.

23:30   Then the young fellow asks 'Isa where his deceased mother is?  With Allah?  'Isa responds with the classic Muslim (non-Christian) answer, "Do you think he [Allah] would forsake a soul as good as hers?"  (compare Romans 3:10)

The next day, he proceeds to lead the 2000 Syrian "Palestinians" to Israel's borders (after abandoning their guns in the wilderness).

Being captured by the Israeli army, 'Isa is interrogated by a Mossad agent.

36:30  When asked to identify himself, his Hebrew reply was "The WORD", and identifies as originally being Jewish. 

This theologically brings up a whole range of tidbits, in that Jesus never refered to Himself as "the Word".  It is implied in the Psalms (eg. 33:6; 107:20; 119:89; 147:15-18) and referred after his ascension by the Apostle John (John 1).  In fact, most Jews in the day felt it an intrusion of Greek philosophy (although it actually wasn't).

40:08   The final few minutes of this episode culminate in 'Isa "magically" vanishing (without video footage of his cell for that time).  Prior to that, he was in a version of the lotus position silently performing Sa Ta Na Ma (Satan Ma???) meditation in his cell.


Share with me any interesting notes you found from this episode.



SOURCES:
1.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messiah_(American_TV_series)

Is This of God?

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.
By this you know the Spirit of God:
Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.
And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming,
and is now already in the world.

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them,
because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
They are of the world.
Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.
We are of God. 

He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us.
By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; 

and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:1-8 (ESV)

Jonathan Edwards, a theologian God used mightily in the Great Awakening, was once accused by others that the emotionalism and reactions were not of the Holy Spirit.  This prompted Edwards to respond with a means to "test the spirits" involved in a Christian movement.

This test is based on the above passage,1 John 4:1-8.  The Spirit gives assurance (3:24).  But how do the saints know it is God's Spirit and not a deceptive spirit giving a false assurance?  John recognises there a many spirits, so Christians need to be vigilant against any deceptions.  The Greek hermeneutics potentially reveal John was expressing a concern at the already prevalent spiritualist religions attracting Christians (cf. 2:19).  

1.  Does the work exalt the true Christ?

John's adversaries claimed to follow Christ, but they didn't accept that Jesus came in the flesh AND is also one with the Father.  The Gnostics (heretic groups) denied this, but John claims true believers will acknowledge that Christ did indeed come in the flesh.

Jesus Himself mentioned those who called Him "LORD" but were actually false followers (Matt. 7:21-23, Luke 6:46).  John claims the work of the false prophets (v.1) are directed by the spirit of antichrist (v.3).

The Holy Spirit's job is to promote Christ and impute God's graces to the saints - somewhat "under the radar".  It is not His desire to take from Christ's glory.


2.  Does it oppose worldliness?

The Holy Spirit indwells the saints; but Satan is the lord of his own followers (v.4).  Christ is greater than the spirit of darkness.  Satan's followers promote the things of this world in their teachings, which attract the followers of the world (v.5).

Does the message promote "health and wealth" in this life?  Or does it mention of the treasures in the next life, for the faithful?


3.  Does it point people to the Scriptures?

People who acknowledge the truth of the Apostle's doctrine (New Testament which aligns with the Old Testament), that witnesses the works of Christ, will recognise and conform to the Scriptures (v.6a,b). 

Be very wary of teachers who walk around carrying the Bible and even opening the Bible but never expounding the whole counsel of God!


4.  Does it elevate truth?

The saints are the people of truth.  Others who do not conform to God's Word are of the spirit of error (v.6c).  John warns his readers against this spirit by comparing their false views of Christ with the views that he (an apostle, a disciple and a personal witness of Christ) teaches.

Consider the importance of God's Word for convicting sinners before a holy God and later mature the saint to holiness.

5.  Does it produce love for God and others?

Finally, John summarises that everything culminates in love to God and man (v.7,8).  Is it possible that these false teachings were creating suspicion and friction in the fellowship?  John isn't saying non-Christians can't love.  What he is saying, is that a true knowledge of God requires the correct belief of Christ, and a correct response to God, which incorporates love for others.  Basic human love - without Christ's redeeming presence and motivation - will ultimately fail the fullness of a human response towards God's perfect and infinite mercy and grace (cf. 1 Cor. 13)!

John declared God is "light" (1:5) and "Spirit" (4:24).  In this passage, he has outlined that one of God's attributes is love, in conjunction with ALL His other attributes (such as holiness and justice).