Apostasy in the Church

Apostasy, the "falling away" from what is true in Scripture and disobeying the commands of Jesus. In 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, we see clearly that this "falling away" will precede the revealing of the Antichrist and the return of Jesus. So it is inevitable and undeniable. We must see these things for what they truly are. Satan's work as he knows his time is short. We need not accept them or "tolerate" them but we must lovingly open our arms and hearts to the lost who perpetrate them. For G-d wants no one to perish but all to come to repentance.

I am posting some key examples of what the 2 Thessalonian verses teach. Most are controversial and lead all of to think and hope pray to a return to what is true. We must rely on Scripture to lead us to a deeper understanding of what the L-rd truly intends.

Here is the first:

Left-Wing Hatred —

Chick-fil-A is a great American success

story. It currently employs over

50,000 workers at over 1,500 outlets located all across our

nation. It generates more than $2 billion in income and supports

many charitable institutions.

But the left-wing ideologues in this country hate Chick-fil-A.

They have launched an all-out smear campaign to discredit the

business. Why? Because the restaurant chain’s official corporate

mission is to “glorify God.” Accordingly, the business is owned

and operated by devout Christians who believe in Christian

principles. To emphasize this, all Chick-fil-A heir stores are

closed on Sunday to enable their workers to spend the day

resting and worshiping the Lord.

The anti-Chick-fil-A leftists sneer at the company’s main product

as “Jesus Chicken.” They make fun of its no-Sunday-work

policy. They attack its owners and operators as ‘anti-gay.” Even

the New York Times recently attacked the business as “anti-gay.”

These are the same people who have attacked the Boy Scouts of

America relentlessly because of that organization’s commitment

to God and to Christian principles.

Woe to those who call evil good, and good

evil; who substitute darkness for light and

light for darkness . . . — Isaiah 5:20

More to come.....

First Day Preaching

Be careful what you ask the L-rd for you just may get it! I say this with all sincerity and great appreciation.

It was only a week and 2 days ago that I mentioned to Brian Walton my pastor at Calvary Christian Church in Winchester, that I had a call on my life to teach and preach the Word of G-d. Next sentence, he said " Forest Grove Christian Pastor has been called to Indiana and they may need some interim preachers. Are you interested."

Well I certainly had to put up or shut up at that moment. After prayer and talking it over with my wife, I told Brian I was available. Next thing you know one of their elders calls me on last Friday PM and asks me to preach this Sunday. He said that the person they had lined up had to cancel, then he said you may know him, Dale Adams. I certainly do as many of us do. He was Pastor at Calvary before Brian and another great mentor in my life.

Well if that didn't just ice it, I had two days to prepare and would have to replace one of the greats. Wow, thank you L-rd for putting me to the test. (testing and discipline shows He loves us:)

I kept praying Proverbs 3:5-6 and know for certain that the L-rd would direct me as He saw fit. Well, I must say this was a GREAT SUNDAY! The Sermon I used was "Grace or Wrath" It is Your Choice. The congregation was pleased, they heard directly from the Word what the L-rd wanted them to and I am grateful that they want me to return and preach again.

Our G-d is great and I know it is only through Him that we can accomplish anything.

Here is the text on what I taught. I have learned many things from Prison Ministry, that helped me with this, most of the questions they have are "How do I find Jesus?" "What will He help me with in the here and now and not just the hereafter?" Those questions and other keep me focused on the message that is Freedom in Christ and Power through Christ to have a new life and a renewed mind.

Grace or Wrath, the Choice is Yours

• In John 3:16 - 19, G-d gives us his plan of salvation. Let’s read it. Eternal Life, Freedom from sin, walking in the light.

• Choice, Free Will, Seeking, We have heard these terms. Does G-d in fact give us choice as part of His grand plan?
• The verses make the promise of freedom from His Wrath open to “who-ever.”
• Does that mean that G-d intends everyone to come to salvation?

There are differing theologies and I like the way that Spurgeon (the prince of preachers) says it the best. C.H. Spurgeon expertly likens the two considerations as two parallel railroad tracks that run through the Bible but do not visibly touch; but when you look way off toward the throne of God they seem to merge, but only there.

• Let’s consider the viewpoint of choice. In Deuteronomy 6:18-19, 30:11-15, G-d sets the pattern of choice.

I. So which path shall it be? One is the “easy path” Making “bad” choices, let’ consider that first, and the other the “narrow.”

• In 1 Peter 4:3a. G-d helps us understand the nature of our decisions outside of His grace. Reading on in part b, we see what these “choices” lead us in to.

• If we explore further, Romans 1:18-23, from this Choice it leads us to an ever increasing level of separation from G-d.
• In verse 24 we see G-d allowing us to be turned over to sinful desires.
• In verse 26 we see, desires evolving to shameful lusts.
• Finally in verse 28 the result is a depraved mind.
• The list is very much like that of 1 Peter.

• The end result of pursuing these lifestyle choices? An eternity separated from G-d. And yes that even starts here and now.

• We all know what the answer is when we try to fill our lives with things. The medication may be good for a smalltime, but it only leads as we just read in Romans to a repeating deeper cycle of despair.

• Thus, the way to salvation is difficult not many will find it.

II. So is there an answer from this level of recognizable behavior (Matthew 7:15-20). The answer is YES!

• The gift of Justification in Christ is this renewal. The rebirth. The old has passed away and the new has come. A renewed mind and a life with Christ who gives me strength.

• How do we find Jesus? Remember it starts with LOVE. Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 13:13. He elaborates in Galatians 5:6 and 13. LOVE from Christ comes first. 1 John 4:19.

• Out of His love comes the work of the Holy Spirit. When, How? He comes down beside us to convict, never to condemn (John 16). Out of this small seed comes the blossoming of a love for Christ LEADING to Faith. Fed by the word.

• It Brings FREEDOM! Not to continue making bad choices but to be on the path to righteousness through Christ.
• It is the freedom from condemnation, Romans 8:1
• The freedom from a guilty conscience, Hebrews 10:22
• The freedom from all sin yesterday today and tomorrow, John 3:17-18 5:24

III. Which will we choose? John 3:36. Grace or Wrath!

• I pray it is the promise John 3:16 of everlasting eternal life with our glorious L-rd and Savior Jesus Christ AND the process of becoming more “Christ-like” in our CURRENT lives, 1 Corinthians 2:9.

I have taught Bible for many years now and am embarking on some new teaching/expository opportunities. One of the things that people have commented about the classes that I have taught is the "fun stuff." I have a wealth of relevant articles, illustrations, jokes and stories to share. To start off with here is a fun Quiz about the Bible. Enjoy it, the answers are posted at the bottom of the page, try to not look ahead.

How is your knowledge of the Bible? Try testing it with the

following test composed by Mr. Burge

1. Which one of these books is not in the Bible?

a. Isaiah; b. Jude; c. Hezekiah; d. Amos; e. Song of Solomon

2. Who was Israel's first king?

a. Saul; b. Solomon; c. David; d. Samuel; e. Moses

3. Sarah and Abraham had a son in their old age and named

him “laughter.” What was his real name?

a. Samuel; b. Moses; c. Isaac; d. Jacob; e. Ishmael

4. Which of the following is not an Old Testament prophet?

a. Elisha; b. Elijah; c. Aaron; d. Isaiah; e. Joel

5. Place these events in their biblical order:

a. the giving of the law at Mount Sinai; b. Creation; c. the Fall;

d. the Exodus led by Moses; e. the flood of Noah

6. Place the following characters in their biblical order:

a. Moses; b. Adam; c. David; d. Solomon; e. Abraham

7. Which of the following books is from the New Testament?

a. Judges; b. Malachi; c. Deuteronomy; d. Hebrews; e. Isaiah

8. Who wrote Philemon?

a. Philemon; b. Paul; c. Peter; d. Onesimus; e. John

9. Which one of the following was among Jesus' 12 apostles?

a. Paul; b. Matthew; c. Luke; d. Timothy; e. Silas

10. Whom did Pontius Pilate release during Jesus' trial?

a. Barnabas; b. Peter; c. Silas; d. Barabbas; e. Paul

11. How many temptations did Jesus face in the wilderness?

a. one; b. two; c. three; d. four; e. five

12. Place the following events in their biblical order:

a. The Holy Spirit descends on Pentecost; b. John has a vision on

Patmos; c. Jesus is baptized in the Jordan River; d. Paul,

Barnabas and Mark are sent out on a mission by the church; e.

Peter denies that he knows Jesus

13. Place the following events in their biblical order:

a. Paul's arrest in Jerusalem; b. Mary’s song; c. Nicodemus'

conversation about rebirth; d. Peter’s denial of Jesus

14. Where would you find the Ten Commandments?

a. Isaiah; b. Exodus; c. Genesis; d. Numbers; e. Matthew

15. Where would you find the first Passover?

a. Genesis; b. Numbers; c. 1 Samuel; d. Exodus; e. 2 Kings

16. Where would you find “Create in me a clean heart, O

God”?

a. Proverbs; b. Ezekiel; c. Psalms; d. Deuteronomy; e. Luke

17. Where would you find the Lord’s Prayer?

a. Matthew; b. Acts; c. Ephesians; d. Malachi; e. Isaiah

18. Where would you find “in the beginning was the Word”?

a. Acts; b. Isaiah; c. John; d. Leviticus; e. Romans

19. Elizabeth and Zechariah were the parents of:

a. Jesus; b. Samuel; c. Paul; d. Timothy; e. John the Baptist

20. Jesus was crucified during:

a. Passover; b. Hanukkah; c. Tabernacles; d. Sabbath; e. Purim

Answers: 1. c; 2. a; 3. c; 4. c; 5. b, c, e, d, a; 6. b, e, a, c, d; 7. d; 8. b;

9. b; 10. d; 11. c; 12. c, e, a, d, b; 13. b, c, d, a; 14. b; 15. d; 16. c; 17. a;

18. c; 19. e; 20. a

Holy God controls the Outcome

It may come as a surprise to some that our Holy God has direct control of the outcome in the upcoming election. How can this be? I thought God allowed us free will to assert our choices on the political landscape. In a sense yes, but he will control the ultimate destination that we as a nation arrive at.

We simply need to look back at the examples that history has provided. In the time of Daniel 536 - 605 BCE, we see that a mighty king was given much authority Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to punish Judah. Judah had strayed from the commands of G0d following their own choices and ultimately being destroyed and held captive for 70 years. God was clear in his Word that "the guilty will not go unpunished." He allows us the freedom as He did in the case of Judah to pursue our selfish interests and surround ourselves with leaders he give no fair warning about national depravity. Depravity was condoned in the name of tolerance and "freedom." But, we forget that there are rules and laws to follow.

God himself created the universal laws and we will have no choice but to ultimately pay the price for there violation. we can add to them and attempt to justify our behavior but that is self deceiving. G0d will not be mocked.

The main thing is that God created all that we know and see and has a plan that is clear to those who believe. That plan is for His ultimate victory and He will use whatever machinations we attempt to ultimately prevail. So you see, it really does not matter who is elected God's will shall be achieved. But, the further we sink into the whirlpool of depravity the more severe the loss of blessing will become. He never says that we will lose our material blessing because He never promises them. To a believer the ultimate blessing and the promise that "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly"is a promise to our soul.

We as Judah learned cannot have fellowship in the accumulation of wealth but will only have true inner peace and contentment as we follow His direction for our lives. When we violate His Will and His plan we reduce our opportunity for this blessing.

Vote the way you will, knowing that ultimately it is God's will that will prevail in your life and also in the life of this nation.