3:17 You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
Revelation 3:18 NIV
Today I feel sick to my stomach. I have been quiet for some time about this as I have tried so desperately not to be offensive. I understand the "politics" divide, but doesn't our faith have some bearing on our politics? If you were to ask anyone what is the main issue of the race for the presidency is "The Economy." I suppose that because my occupation is that of a banker I keep up with the financial news more than most. Maybe I have become over-sensitized, because of my exposure, but I am disgusted by the greediness that pervades our nation. We are so concerned for our own economic well being that we have given little or no though to other issues that confront our nation.
I see it everywhere, the desire to be rich. The desire to have things. The desire to have bigger, better and more. We have sacrificed our children, our marriages, our callings in the search of the almighty dollar. We daily watch our 401Ks increase or as of late decrease. The stock market movement is front page news not just our own NYSE but what Japan and Europe does too! We here in the West have so much. The least of us by in large have homes, electricity, running water, clothes to wear, and food to eat. I am aware that it is harder now than ever to buy the necessities, but they are still available to us. We can go to the store and buy our food, or the gas station and buy our gas. There is not a shortage on these things like there is in other parts of the world. Yet, we are not content with what we have we want more. More things, more comfort, more pleasure, more time but let me ask you?
What about the things that are really important? What about the 50 million babies that were aborted since 1973? What about stem cell research? What about the world hunger situation? What about the definition of marriage? How to help those who need quality affordable medical coverage? When we go to church, or turn on the television or the radio what kind of preaching messages do we hear? Most of them teach us how to be prosperous, happy, healthy, which to a point God speaks to these issues, but when was the last time you heard a message on the gospel, or loving your neighbor, or the reality of hell? Maybe I am over the top, and out of touch, but what I see in America is that we are more concerned with money and our own personal well being than doing what is right. We think we are rich as it says here in Revelation and that we are in need of nothing, but spiritually speaking we are blind, poor, and naked. Oh, how we need Jesus and how we need revival in our land.
America please repent for your own sake and that of your children. If we would only humble ourselves, pray and seek His face and turn from our wicked ways we will hear from Heaven and He will heal our land.
Todd I agree with you! we here in England are the same wanting more and wanting it now! Thank the Lord that we place our wealth in the heavenly realms! Love Stu!
Awesome Blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Brother Todd very anointed spoken in love and TRUTH... This had to be said: this has nothing to do with Party... This has everything to do with God! We need to vote the Bible.... the Bible is clear that a marriage is a union with one man and one woman, that will never change... Lev.18:22 20:13 1 corn 6:9 1 Tim. 1:10 Romans 1:24-28 gives definition to what this marriage should be not with same sex God will never honor it... this taking your eyes off man and putting it where it belongs on God, beacuse He is the only one who will never fall to keep out vats filled and bless our homes... Trust God Vote the Bible as John Hagee always says... Brother Todd if we don't speak when God tells us to, then He'll have the rocks cry out...
You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
So American........But Far Beyond Success is.....Significance....Meaningfulness,
Nearing Spiritual Bankruptcy....Financial Conditions are just a side effect of The Spiritual Condition, same as in Your Health & Physical Condition.
#1.....Spiritual Condition. #2.....Physical " #3.....Financial " ......First seek the Kingdom of Heaven & ALL these other things will be added to You. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dan's comment....The Entire Chapter fully supports Exactly what was mentioned in This Blog.
Please Read & put verse 20 in context with verses:
3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count ALL THINGS [but] LOSS for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss [of all things] , and do count them [but] dung ...[DUNG is CRAP]
that I may win Christ.
3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect:
but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:
but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, PERFECT ?
be thus minded: ...THUS MINDED ??
and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded,.....OTHERWISE MINDED ??
God shall reveal even this unto you.
3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, ...ALREADY ATTAINED ??
let us walk by the same rule, ... SAME RULE ??
let us mind the same thing. .....SAME THING ??
3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me,....OF HIM FOLLOW Because He Follow Jesus.
and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an en-sample. ........Mark the Map, Copy The Map.
3:18 (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:
3:19 Whose end [is] destruction,
whose God [is their] belly, ....these are the Greedy.
and [whose] glory [is] in their shame,..........Their SHAME is:
who mind earthly things.).................Earthly MINDED ...The American Way to Pursue STUFF. Toys $$$$.....JUNK.......Happy Happy Fun Fun Toy Toy.....Spiritually Immature.
There is also NO Mention of Political Party in this blog, unlessit is in the Video that I have not yet viewed
3:1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed [is] not grievous, but for you [it is] safe. 3:2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
3:4Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
3:5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 3:6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ, 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 3:17Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
3:18 (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:
3:19 Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
I just Yesterday Watched a interview with Obama where He said...My Muslim Faith...I mean My Christian Faith........Hog Wash That Guy is The Best & Worst of Liar's.
America was for a Long Time The New Jerusalem, The New Israel The White House is The Seat of The High Place. Will this be the FINE Speaker that going into his second term announces He Is The Supreme Leader & GOD The Messiah ?
Will He be The Abomination that causes Desolation?? Obama-Nation that causes Desolation??
Well in any case He is For Surely, Surely Anti-Christ............THE Biggest FAKE, The Nerve to Claim Christianity.........Plainly So Outrageous.
Coincidence [Abomination....Obama - Nation] ??.....Creepy Thought. Just the SAME He is a Creepy Thought to be President for any THINKING Christian. Or Should Be.
Thank you God for the Christians out there, like Bro Todd, who can see this moral decay. I'm so glad for my Christian brothers and sisters that love Jesus and want to please Him. This is a wonderful blog, Bro Todd.
Now if you were speaking to the condition of the church...we'll we do judge those who are inside. And a different word is given to us in this case. Notice that Revlations 3:17 is being spoken to the church not to the nations.
Judgement begins with the house of God.
4:17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
11:30 That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died. 11:31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we should not be judged. 11:32But when we are judged by the Lord, we are chastened so that we may not be condemned along with the world.
10:26 For if we sin deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 10:27 but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire which will consume the adversaries. 10:28 A man who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy at the testimony of two or three witnesses. 10:29 How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by the man who has spurned the Son of God, and profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? 10:30 For we know him who said, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay." And again, "The Lord will judge his people."
Now if this blog is speaking to America and not the church:
Remember the 2nd Psalm? The nations rage in vain...don't we think that American is a "nation?" Or is America another name for the Israel of God (you know the one that isn't in bondage with her children)?
Do you think that this is true:
2:1 And you he made alive, when you were dead through the trespasses and sins 2:2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience. 2:3 Among these we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, following the desires of body and mind, and so we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
So all of mankind is fallen, including the vast majority of America...how do you expect fallen people to act? Who did Jesus come to save? The righteous?
What are we doing? Are we really expecting people who are following the prince of the power of the air to act like good Christians? "We were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind." So, by nature, the vast majority of Americans, including that sweet little baby next door, are by nature children of wrath. So doesn't it say that we are not to judge those who are outside the church?
5:9 I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with immoral men; 5:10not at all meaning the immoral of this world, or the greedy and robbers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 5:11 But rather I wrote to you not to associate with any one who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or robber--not even to eat with such a one. 5:12For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?5:13God judges those outside. "Drive out the wicked person from among you."
So all this is a completely false expectation! It's never going to happen...America is just another nation and we are ambassadors of Christ, through whom God is calling to those who are by nature children of wrath with the Good News!
In Romans 1 we are shown that two things are being revealed from heaven in the "now"; the present tense. The righteousness of God and the anger (mis-translated wrath: orge is anger) of God; that anger is reveal from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth. That is the judgement of God. Read it! Three things were exchanged and they were given up to three things.
Passing laws will only make sin increase because that is the purpose of law...telling people the Good News, when received, changes peoples hearts and makes them a new creation in Christ, with a new nature (yes sin still dwells in the members of our bodies but we are free from it and are no longer slaves of it).
Christ's Kingdom is not coming through political power, the only thing that comes with political power is the beast that looks like a little lamb but speaks like a dragon. Haven't you read church history? Every time those who called themselves Christians gained political power then they used it to kill just like any other political entity. That's because Christ's Kingdom is not of this world...it is in the hearts of men.
It would be nice if everyone got real religious and self righteous and all voted to make all kinds of laws to keep people from expressing what's in their hearts--because they are by nature children of wrath--but it would just be putting a mussel on the dog...the dog would still lust after the postman's leg. Then what? We all sit around and do our own thing while the rest of America quietly drops into hell because all we care about is outward appearance? We're happy because "they" can't do what's in their hearts like they can now and that's all that's important to us?
All this just perplexes me...I don't understand why it's such a surprise that Ephesians 2 is true, and we act like it's not supposed to be true.
Dan: I think for many there were little political options available so the Republcian party benefited. However, I think many have become disillusioned with the party platform. This message was not to condemn or criticize one party or another but to point out that Christian Americans right now are thinking of themselves and are voting their walllets and financial futures rather than voting thier consceince. No doubt our citizenship is in Heaven and we are not of this world. We need to remember that, and that Godliness with contentment is great gain for we brought nothing into this world and surely we can take nothing out of it.
Michael: I have been loving you input on these blogs they are so passionate! As I read your first comment, I can't help but think of the Peal of Great Price. The man sold everything he had to obtain the kingdom of God, what has become of us. We have become Luke Warm. We love God, but we love the world. We can't serve two masters. How sad for many to deceive themselves into thinking it can be done. As for Obama, I don't think I need to speak out on him, I will use these words of our Lord and you tell me what I am saying. By your words you are justified and by your words you are condemned. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Mary: Yes seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.
Linda: Thanks, and Let us continue to stand in the gap for our nation.
GoJolly: Praise God for you too! No body is perfect, but it is evident to see that even in our own state of Alabama (the buckle of the Bible Belt) removes the 10 commandments from our courthouse what can we say? And what does that say about us?
Craig: I should have been more clear. Yes I am speaking to "Christian Americans" so the Church in America. I forget the statistic but well over half of America says they believe in God and Jesus. However, our church attendance does not reflect that nor do many of our political views. I will say, that I agree that Non-believers are going to act like non-believers and we should not expect righteousness from them. However, what I am saying is that believers ought to be salt and light to the world and we should influence and impact our culture. Maybe we can not change it, but there were great revivals in America when the culture did change because God got a hold of the hearts of the people. All I am saying is that we have and are not effecting our culture in an overwhelmingly positiive way. Therefore we see a decline in the moral values of our people. Great comments and thank you for posting. Between You, Mike and Dan we have some good discussions going.
Joe: You are wise. I try to, but I keep getting sucked in. I love the Lord, and sometimes I feel like we need to address some of these issues and hear what the Bible says about them.
You wrote: "No body is perfect, but it is evident to see that even in our own state of Alabama (the buckle of the Bible Belt) removes the 10 commandments from our courthouse what can we say? And what does that say about us?"
I believe it says that the Law has done its work in Alabama. The Law is like a stick that you use to stir up a crystal clear pond. If the pond could talk it would say "Look what you did to me!" We would reply, "I didn't do anything to you...I merely showed you what was there." The Law was given to increase sin, not to prevent it.
So it looks like Alabama is ready Brother Todd! Go out and speak the Good News! The Tutor has made the student ready! :-)
Craig I undrstand what you are saying that the law is a school master to bring us to Christ and where there is the law then sin abounds even more. What I see, is that if we take away the absolute standard and remove it as the basis of our law then we have only what is right in our own eyes. Who says murder is wrong if God says it is wrong? Who says stealing is wrong if God says it is wrong? Where there is no law there is no sin. We take away the moral law of God then other than our conscience how do we know what is right and what is wrong? Even if the law of God is written on our hearts who says we are going to listen to our conscience as many have a seared conscience and have turned away from the faith.
As for Alabama, I am ready to preach and speak the truth in love. That Jesus Christ was crucified for our sins, was buired and rose again on the third day and is coming again. To all those that will receive Him to them He will make them Children of God.
I sincerely believe that the vast majority of people who say they are Christians are saying so because they were told that they were by men. Either they went to the front of the building (they call an alter, in a building they call a church) and prayed a prayer that they call the "sinners prayer" (that isn't in the Bible) and because they do that, they are told that they are now a child of God (and they might be if they actually believed in their heart). Or they went through some classes, learned what they are supposed to believe, took a test, were sprinkled with, or immersed in water and were told that because they did, they are now a child of God (and they might be if they believed in their heart). Or they were told that they are a child of God because they attend Church (and they might be if they believe in their heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and they confess it with their mouth).
I really don't think that we should fall for it ourselves. We know people are Christians because they believe in their heart that God raised Jesus from the dead and they confess it with their mouth. What we believe in our heart is automatically reflected in our actions. It is obvious that most people are religious and the religion calls itself Christian; whether the majority are Tares or not is irrelevant...we were told that it would be straighted out when the crop is reaped.
What good does it do to get all spun up about the condition of religion in American? The Lord has a remnant that He has reserved for himself and they are doing quite well. Judgement does begin with that group and the only one who is better at revenge than a woman (remember Danny Devito in the "War of the Roses") is God.
Whatever is true, whatever is lovely, whatever is worthy of praise....what?
think on these things. Well, that is a good philosophy you hold to. There is a remnant and we are to grow together with the tares until the end. I understand that, however, just as Jesus warned the church in Laodecia that repent or have y our lamp removed so it is with many churches in America. Yes, what you said is oh so true, and I wonder if we (the church/relgion) have done a disservice to people telling them that they are saved when they are not. We need Jesus more and more, and even the remenant can be encouraged to let their light so shine before men more than they are doing. Blessings brother, these are some great comments.
I have been grieved by the events that are happening why because so many lost souls, friends we need harvest because harvest is here.PRAY,PRAY I know JESUS IS PREPARING FOR HIS RETURN AND WE NEED TO GO AND PREACH TO EVERY NATION
Thanks for reading and yes we need a harvest of souls. Pray ye Lord of the Harvest to send forth laborers into the harvest field. That is the only way, how shall they hear without a preacher and how shall they believe unless they are sent?
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