Questions Answered & Exhortation

I received a few responses to the last email I sent out regarding the prophetic dreams the Lord had given Lisa about the coming Judgment on America.  Some of the comments were people asking how they should specifically prepare and others had questions concerning the nature of idolatry.  Then on the other end of the spectrum there were a couple people who made comments about God being a God of love and not judgment.  They believe that because God is love He would not bring judgment because that is not the kindness of God that leads men to repentance.  I thought it would be beneficial to address these comments and concerns in an email for the purpose of edification and clarity.  

Before I start though I would like to say there seem to be more and more Godly men the Lord is speaking the same things too.  I posted on the front page of our site a recent warning given by David Wilkerson and a video clip by Paul Washer.  ( www.preachingjesuschrist.com ).  I encourage you to read the warning and watch the clip if you have not already done so.  Though David Wilkerson and Paul Washer (or anyone for that matter) are not the sole and final authority on what God is doing it is interesting and compelling that saints from different theological and denominational camps, so to speak, are starting to say the same things.  The Lord is faithful to warn His saints and to prepare us for what's ahead.  

NO NEED TO FEAR

First and foremost let me say that any prophecy regarding judgment, in or outside the bible, should not produce an unhealthy fear in the saints of God.  If anything they should cause us to love God all the more for this great salvation He has given us and stir us to live soberly and righteously in this present age.  Even in the midst of great trials and tribulations we can have the peace of God in our heart though the world around us is living in fear and confusion.  Remember, the mystery of the Gospel is Christ IN YOU the hope of glory.  If Christ is in you it does not matters what is outside of you!   

Prophetic warnings though are given for us to test and if true to heed and prepare accordingly.  It goes without saying the greatest and most important way to prepare is spiritually.  It would do each of us well to look at the book of Revelations, an entire book of prophecy, and see how the Lord spoke to the seven churches in Asia.  Not only did Jesus point out what was right in the churches but He specifically pointed out where they were in error and sin and called them to repentance.  I'm not suggesting we spend endless days searching our own hearts but we should ask the Lord to do it for us and bring any hidden thing to light.  I would also encourage you to go and read the passages on discipleship and examine your life by them (Luke 14:26-35, Matt 10:37-39, Matt 16:24-25)  I find these specific words from the Lord are not taken seriously by most and apart from adherence to these one cannot be His disciple.  I’m pretty confident though that most believers know whether they are right with the Lord, whether they are walking in any known sin, and whether they have a clean conscious or not (1 Tim1:5,19  1 Peter 3:16) .  The Lord is faithful to reveal these things to
us.  

IDOLS AND SPIRITUAL PREPARATION

I know there are many people who do believe the Lord does bring judgment AND warns His saints before it comes to pass.  However, even of these I believe there are many who have and will have a similar testimony as we see of Lot.  We read in Genesis 19 of how the Lord delivered Lot from the destruction of Sodom.  In it we also find a delay in Lot to leave when He was told to leave by the angels.  What I find interesting about this whole passage is that Lot believed the angels when they said they were going to destroy the city.  Lot even went out and preached to his own family that they need to leave because the city would be destroyed.  He was preaching the Word of God and telling his family to flee from the wrath to come.  

"Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place! For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before the face of the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.”   So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking."  (Gen 19:12-14)

Lot headed the word of the angles and preached to his family.  But the next morning when it's time to actually leave we see Lot himself lingering in Sodom when he should have been out the door as fast as he was able!

"When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying, “Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the punishment of the city.”   And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife’s hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city."  (Gen 19:15-16)

In 2 Peter 2:8 we read that Lot was a righteous man and that while living in Sodom he was utterly grieved by the ungodliness he saw in Sodom.  

However, even though Lot's righteous soul was grieved, even though he had believed the word of the Lord regarding the coming judgment, and even though he had preached to others he himself was not ready to depart the moment the command was given to leave.  The word of God says "he LINGERED".  In fact, the angels had to grab him and his family by the arms and take them out of the city.  It says this happened because the Lord was being merciful to him.  

Next we find the angels telling Lot to flee to the mountains, not looking back to Sodom, so they would not be consumed.  But Lot fears that if they flee to the mountains some evil will befall them and they will die.  So he ask to flee to a city name Zoar instead.  The Lord accepts his request and he flee's to the city.  We also know from this chapter when the Lord rained fire and brimstone down on Sodom and Gomorrah that Lot's wife, being disobedient to the command of the Lord with her heart still being in Sodom, turned back and was turned to a pillar of salt.  She was destroyed along with the rest of the ungodly.  

Why was it that Lot lingered when the angels told him to leave?  We know his righteous soul was grieved at the sin in the city so it's not like he wanted to stay and be a part of the community.  And while I'm not sure we can say for certain every reason I do believe Lot's greatest fear was the fear of the future or the fear of the unknown.  When the Lord told Lot to flee to the mountains Lot thought some evil might befall him and his family.  Yet the Lord was sending them there to deliver them.  Surely the Lord would have provided for his family.  The Lord did not just have mercy on them to deliver them from the destruction of the city to then kill and consume them in the wilderness.  Lot was clearly looking at what his eyes could see and not the Lord who was directing him.  

I truly believe this will be the condition of many saints in the coming days.  There will be many who are grieved at all the sin and godlessness they see, they know that judgment from God is coming, they may have even actively preached the gospel warning people to flee the wrath to come.  But many in their heart will be hesitant to depart with what they‘ve grown accustom to that has made their life comfortable.  The biggest mistake being that they like Lot pitched their tent towards Sodom."  (Gen 13:12,13)  It's interesting to see that in Chapter 13 Lot pitched his tent TOWARDS Sodom and then in Chapter 19 we find that Lot now LIVES in Sodom.  Something that Sodom offered enticed Lot to live there even though he was grieved and knew it was a wicked place.  Not only did his living in Sodom cause him to not trust in the Lord's provision it cost him a member of his own family.  He lost his wife to a wicked God hating culture.  I wonder how many men of God have been just like Lot, through failure to lead their families, have seen or will see them swallowed up and consumed with a godless culture.  And not only did he lose his wife but Lot himself was hesitant to heed the word of God. It all began with an open door to a godless culture.  

Now we obviously live in a Sodom and Gomorrah Babylonian culture.  There is really no where to flee to escape living in it but we are called to come out of it.  We certainly shouldn't pitch the tent of our heart towards this Sodom and Gomorrah Babylonian society and let it continue to creep it's way into our lives.  This can happen so easily especially with how much we are continually bombarded with utter wickedness in this society. Not only are we to be on guard against utter wickedness but also against the comforts and luxuries of the society that can spiritually put us sleep.   This is where many fail and in essence pitch the tent of their heart toward Sodom.  But there is a way out!  The Lord always provides a way out for His people.  The way it is through the cross.  We must let the cross do it's perfect work in us...crucifying us to all the world has to offer letting it find no place in our hearts.  We must follow the same narrow path Jesus did, the same path Paul walked, the same path the apostles and disciple walked.  In fact, Paul said to imitate him because he imitated Jesus Christ.  

Anything besides Christ that we let in our hearts and trust in becomes an idol to us.  Which means practically anything can become an idol.  One brother wrote me after I sent out my last email asking me if his car, house, land, job were and idol and if he was wrong to have them.  I had said in my email:

"Many believers and professing believers still have not let God deal with the idolatry in their heart and they will find these coming days most difficult as the Lord strips them of everything they've truly trusted in.  For some it will be their houses, for some it will be their comfort, for some it will be their money, possessions, ect...ect"

He wanted to know if he had to get rid of all these things to not be trusting in them.  Let me clearly state I cannot answer that question in most peoples lives.  One persons idol may not be another’s.  Each one of us must daily walk with the Lord and allow Him to show us what's in our heart, let us know what we really trust in, and whether we are indeed daily carrying our cross.  I was talking with a brother who shared with me that to forsake all means to utterly renounce it from the heart where it had no place or hold on your life.  This for sure is what we all must do.  Through this the Lord might have some to sell their houses, leave their jobs, sell the land...ect.   It would be better to be without these things than to be trusting in them.  Again it comes down to knowing the Lord and daily walking with Him in the light.  I mentioned that I cannot tell if someone has an idol in their lives in "most peoples lives".  The truth is in some believers lives we can see when something is or has become an idol.  When we are walking in fellowship together, especially and primarily in a local body, we are able to know each other intimately.  Through daily contact with each other we come to know each other as we really are (to the degree the Lord gives us grace to do).  Many times we may deceive ourselves but the Lord gives grace to others to see clearly into our lives for our edification.  This is just one of the many reasons why the body of Christ is so important.  

I will say this in regards to possession.  We should evaluate what we have in light of how it serves the kingdom of God.  Is what we own used to meet our needs and further God's kingdom?  Or is it simply because it brings us pleasure and serves really no purpose at all in the Kingdom.  I think many believers actually forget they are pilgrims and strangers just passing through this world and that while they are in this world they are involved in an absolutely real spiritual war.  When a believer truly has their eyes on eternity and understands these things their lives will show that's what they believe..  It will touch every area of their lives.  


PHYSICAL PREPARATION - WILKERSON'S WORD - IS IT FAITH?

Now many of those who are reading this email have not only read Lisa's dream but probably already read David Wilkerson's warning and maybe several other peoples.  David Wilkerson said the Lord warned him of a coming calamity and told him to store up enough food and essentials to last for 30 days.  The question is....is that biblical and is it for me?  While some people would say storing up food and supplies is a lack of faith in God's provision the Word of God say other wise.  There have been several brothers in the Lord who have disagreed with David Wilkerson and brought up the passage out of Matt 6 for their support:

"Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."  (Matt 6:31-34)

These passages are absolutely clear that WE are to take no thought about what we are to eat, drink and be clothed with because our heavenly Father knows our needs.  We're not to be like the heathen who endlessly spend their time on the pursuit of the things (though many professing believers do as well!)  We can truly trust in the Lord to provide for all of our needs.  But if we turn to the book of Acts we'll see a man prophesy by the Spirit of God that leads to preparation.  

"Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar."  (Acts 11:28)

Agabus, by the Spirit of God prophesied about a coming famine that would affect the whole world.  He was not given this prophesy so everyone would just have some really interesting information about the future.  This prophecy was given so the saints of God might prepare for what’s ahead.  In this case it was specifically given so they could help meet the needs of saints who would be more severely affected by the coming famine.  It was the Lord taking care of His people.  We can clearly see there was a purpose in this prophecy that had to do with physical preparation and relief. I will say though, the absolute rule to how we should live our lives in regard to our provision is found in Matt 6.  We are to completely trust our heavenly Father for all of our needs and not worry about tomorrow.  However, if you are walking by the light of Matt 6, truly trusting the Lord for your provisions, and the Lord tells you to store for what’s ahead then you need to follow the Lord.  It is certainly not a lack of faith to prepare if you are already walking by faith and the Lord leads you to do so.  The unavoidable result of David Wilkerson’s personal advise (that he says he received for himself from the Lord) is that many will begin to store food and other goods out of fear of what’s ahead.  Their faith will be in their own provisions and not the Lord.  Again, there is no way to avoid this.  But should the word not be spoken because some will fear and move in a wrong way?  Absolutely not.  What each person must do is hear from the Lord.  What the Lord leads one man to do may not be what He leads all to do.  Or the Lord may just use Wilkerson’s word to confirm what He's already been speaking to you.  If you are one that is heeding his word to store up out of fear then you need to repent.  It would be better to go without your needs and walk by faith then to sin by trusting in your own provisions.  Our faith must be in the Lord.  

GOD IS LOVE - JUDGMENT IS OLD TESTAMENT - WHERE IS THE KINDNESS???

I've received a few comments to our last email from people who hold a view that God basically doesn't judge people anymore, the God of the New Testament is all about love, that God wouldn't deal out judgment because that is not kindness and we know that it's the kindness of God that leads people to repentance, and that it's not profitable to talk about sin, hell, and the judgment to come.  (long sentence!)  It's really hard to know where to begin with dealing with all of this.  It truly makes me wonder if some people actually do read their bible or if they just read select verses that appeal what they'd like to think God is like.  The truth is much of this type of thinking come from men like Brian Mclaren, Rob Bell and MANY other post modern emergent church type preachers. They absolutely distort the image of the God of the bible and present "another Jesus" for people to believe in.  

So let me see if I can briefly answer some of these rebuttals with the Word of God.  Though I'm not sure the Word of God will be sufficient proof to those who overlook the Word of God for the teachings of men.  

God is Love:  This is one of the attributes of God.  It is the description of God that is given in 1 John 4:8,16.  This without a doubt is absolutely true.  It is a wonderful thing that God is love.  Any true saint of God knows there is nothing like having the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by faith and knowing that we'll be able to dwell with this God of love through out all eternity.  The problem is many people seem to think the love of God overrides and overrules all of His other attributes which is absolutely false.  In fact, if you'll read Isaiah chapter six you'll get a glimpses of what some of the closest beings to God on the throne have to say about God.  

"In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphim’s: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory." (Isaiah 61:3)

Here the prophet Isaiah see's the Lord sitting on the throne with these heavenly creatures around the throne of God.  If you notice they don't fly around saying God is love, love, love (like the modern day preachers would have you think).  No, they cry to one another saying HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is the LORD of host.  It is the holiness of God they are proclaiming!  Some might argue that was seen in the Old Testament and now God is different.  If you look at Revelations chapter four though, you see heavenly beings around the throne of God saying the exact same thing!

"And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come."  (Rev 4:8)

God is holy.  The love of God does not override the holiness of God.  It is actually governed by and within the holiness of God.  Yet many today preach, act, and live as if the love of God is some unrestrained unguided love that basically allows for anything and everything and condemns for absolutely nothing. (Which at it's heart come from not really understanding what took place when Christ was crucified) But the love of God does not work this way.  If God loves some things it means He hates other things.  If God loves righteousness it means God hates unrighteousness.  If God loves obedience then God hates disobedience.  And as I stated above many people believe that because God is love He wouldn't judge people as He did in the Old Testament.  Yet even in the New Testament we find people that were judged by God.  In Acts 5 we read about two people Ananias and Saphira that where killed by the Lord for lying.  God judged them and took their lives for their sin.  Also in 1 Cor 11:30 we read of believers who were taken by the Lord for taking the Lord's Supper in an unworthy manner.  And then if you go to the book of Revelations, basically the ENTIRE book,  you'll find the God of the New Testament pouring out wrath unlike any that has ever been seen in the Old Testament.  Again, God judging people. Many people have a hard time with this and say that can't happen, even though it's in the word, because it's not God's kindness and God's kindness leads men to repentance.  What they fail to realize is that IT IS GOD’S KINDNESS to allow any sinner to live one moment after sinning even once against God.  And look at the verse in context (another huge problem with the postmodern emergent movement- they seldom use context):

"But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS" (Romans 2:3-6)

Notice right after Paul talks about the kindness of God he say they (some) are stubborn and unrepentant and storing up WRATH for the day of wrath.  Was Paul being unkind?  Did he just not correctly understand this verse like our modern day preachers do?  Paul obviously does not believe that talking about God's kindness excludes from talking about the truth of God's wrath.  In fact it's the very kindness of God for Paul to preach to them THE TRUTH. Just like the Lord Jesus did.  (Paul truly did love them).  Also, if you’ll take time and read 2 Cor 7 you’ll even see that Paul rebuked and corrected the Corinthian Church to such a degree they were made sorrowful by it.  This stern harsh correction by Paul was used to lead them to TRUE repentance.  Yet Paul would be condemned in the eyes of many preachers today for not being “kind”.  It really amazes me that some people have "found" a better way to preach to people than Jesus Christ, Paul, or any of the apostles for that matter.  It would probably take me all day to put up the innumerable scripture references on sin, hell, and judgment in the New Testament PREACHED by Jesus Christ and the Apostles.  My advise to those who have been influenced by these men who distort the wonderful truth of God's word is to PUT DOWN THEIR BOOKS AND TEACHINGS and spend time doing nothing but reading the Word of God.  And specifically read each verse in the CONTEXT as it was given.  It’s so simple but that in and of itself will clear up just about everything.  

I will say this.  If you, in your heart, agree with Jesus and pray "thy kingdom come" you are in essence praying for the judgment of God to come upon the earth.  The kingdom of God coming not only entails people beings saved, delivered, set-free, healed of disease and sickness, but also includes God pouring out His pure wrath on this godless world and putting all enemies under Christ feet (including false teachers - 2 Peter 2).  It is the very thing that ushers in the fullness of Christ kingdom.  Listen to the proclamation of the kingdom of God in the midst of complete and absolute judgment:

"And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.  And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.
And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth."

How terrible will this time be?

"And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? "

So terrible that men and women will do everything they can to HIDE from Jesus Christ and His wrath.  Very sobering.  

So be careful.  Some of you who are praying and longing for Jesus to return are praying for God to do things you don't believe He will do or should do.  Whether or not you agree with God and His Word... He WILL be glorified through the judgment of the world, the eternal damnation of unrepentant sinners, and the ultimate glorification of all those who have truly trusted Jesus Christ for their salvation.  

*** I realize that I have only "lightly" answered and touched on these topics.  The truth is one could probably write and entire book refuting, with the Word of God, each objection originally raised.  If you personally have questions or comments though...feel free to email me directly.  I'm definitely open to going through the scriptures with those who want too.  Years ago I was indirectly influenced and taught what these post modern emergent teachers are teaching.  But God through His Spirit and His Word saved me from their teaching so I could rightly know Him AND not preach "another Jesus".  

I close with this passage of scripture in Revelations that we may all meditate on the greatness and glory of God.  

       “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.   The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”  (Rev 22:12-21)


IN Christ,

Sean & Lisa Scott
www.preachingjesuschrist.com