Newsletter February 1997

...in the gap for the lost souls of those entrapped in systems like Mormonism and Freemasonry, systems that lead to a Christless eternity? My own soul weeps so deeply, in intercession for the lost, like a bed of white hot coals keeping the flames of urgency burning brightly in my heart. That’s where the zeal for souls begins and bursts out.

My heart cries out to God at night, not for intellectual advantage, but in intercession for the lost, the victims of spiritual darkness. There is no intellectual base to that zeal. Yes, we need to know the doctrinal errors and spiritual blindness that holds them captive, so we may teach, exhort, and reason with them, but it all must be founded on prayer.

We sometimes give up against the wave of futility in the task and our spiritual eyes become unable to see that friend, that loved one, that spouse, child, sister, brother or parent from God’s perspective. We lose our sense of urgency, our boldness. We forget who sent us and why we are there. We forget that the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh or intellect.

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

(KJV, 2 Cor 10:3-5)

We need be in continual prayer for them, standing in that gap, lifting their names before our Holy God, tearing down those strongholds of darkness that hold them enslaved. We need to pray for holy boldness to take those steps of faith and speak out the words of life to them as God gives the utterance. Remember what Paul had to say about this?

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my

mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (KJV, Eph 6:10-20)

My prayer for this ministry and each of you today is that we all take Paul’s exciting challenge and take a non-compromising stand on behalf of the lost and take no step backward again. Be in the front ranks of that army we sing so solemnly of "Onward Christian Soldiers, marching as to war, with the Cross of Jesus going on before!"

Israel in Mourning

I have been asked time and again, by Mormons, Masons and others, just what right do we have to judge any another person. While I have spoken about our right to discern right from wrong and speak out against the doctrines of darkness we once embraced, one of or friends, Jim Barrie, emailed the following and I thought to share it with you.

by Jim Barrie January 13, 1997

Is it scriptural to Judge, or to Judge Not?

When all of the scripture is taken as a whole, it is plain that we should judge, but that judgment should not be hypocritical. In the world today if a Christian states that someone or some action is wrong, there are some who are quick to tell the Christian. "Hey man! Doesn’t the Bible say to "Judge not?"

Or perhaps they might say, "Doesn’t the Bible say, Judge not, that ye be not judged?" The answer is, "Yes, that is part of what the Bible says in Matthew 7, but in context with the rest of Matthew Chapter seven, the scripture is teaching us to make a correct judgment not a hypocritical judgment."

It is amusing to point out that the person bringing up the "Judge not" allusion has just judged the Christian’s statement as wrong. This is ridiculous. We are told about judging in many scriptures. For example the word judge appears 191 times in 170 verses of the KJV version of the Bible. "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." (Proverbs 31:8,9 NIV)

"Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?" (Luke 12:57 NIV) "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment." (John 7:24 NAS) The same verse in the NIV reads; "Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment."

"If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!" (1 Corinthians 6:1-3 NIV)

Judgment, continued.............

"For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you. But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. For this is the reason the gospel was preached ." (1 Peter 4:3,6 NIV)

It says in 2 Timothy 3:16,17 that, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

How would it be possible to rebuke or correct unless we judge someone in need of the rebuke or correction? A little further on in 2 Timothy says that we are to, "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction." (2 Timothy 4:2 NIV) The Ryrie note on this verse observes;

"be prepared in season and out of season. ie., always be ready, whether the time is opportune for preaching the gospel or not."

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV)

"When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood." (Ezekiel 3:18 NIV)

The following is an interesting story about a fellow who had a supposed friend who was probably more worried about being accused of being judgmental, than for the eternal estate of his friend’s soul.

In the January issue (last month) I did an article on the historicity (actually the lack thereof) of the Book of Mormon. I cited a speech by LDS apostle, Elder Dallin H. Oaks. In my intro, I wrote:

"I found this interesting article on historical problems with the Book of Mormon from the LDS perspective. While it’s a bit dated and the General Authority who gave the talk has been "demoted" for mixing too much fiction with his facts, it is still pure Mormon talk."

Seems I was the one needing a demotion for mixing in fiction. I was doing a report on the LDS official who was demoted to emeritus status, elder Paul Dunn, just hours before I wrote the Oaks article and got the names switched around. Rest of the article stands as does the full authority and stature of the man who wasn’t demoted, elder Oaks. But, the article stays as written.