Volume 17 Issue 10 - October 2002 WILL THE REAL JESUS PLEASE STAND UP! "He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:15-18) Since time memorial, man has asked deep philosophical questions, such as, where did we come from, why are we here, and where are we going? Is life just a cruel cosmic joke or is there any real meaning to be found in this vain life? Are we here by mere chance and random selection? Are we nothing more than an accident waiting to happen? Or are we created to fulfill a destiny, a purpose, and a divine plan? Regardless of how one attempts to answer these burning questions, man continues his quest to find relevance, meaning, and to somehow make sense of this curse-ridden, sin-soaked, and poor-fallen world. Many pretend these haunting questions really don’t matter or even exist today in this post-modern world. They live in a state of denial. Their philosophy is to eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die. They attempt to fill the void in their life with alcohol, drugs, and illicit sex. Their one commandment is pleasure and God help you if you attempt to awaken them from their inebriated stupor that inevitably destroys their lives. Others pursue the many religions, cults, philosophies, and educational opportunities that attempt to answer these burning questions that plague the souls of men. They truly believe if they gain more education, knowledge and understanding, they will eventually stumble upon a belief system that will be suitable to their worldview and lifestyle. Their one commandment is, something is true, simply because we believe and say that it is true. Thus man through subjective reasoning determines reality, right and wrong, good and evil, and stands as ultimate judge over the universe. The value of their belief system is not based upon objective, transcendent truth, but upon the sincerity of their own beliefs. Thus in an age of moral relativism, egalitarianism, multi-culturalism, and political diversity, this philosophy has found a secure fortress in America. In the midst of this chaos, confusion, and moral anarchy comes One who dares to proclaim, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." By this one statement, the very Person that time itself is based on, BC and AD, completely smashes man’s idolatrous, subjective reasoning. By this one declaration, Jesus Christ disregards all man-made religions, philosophies, and educational programs that are designed for man to construct his own truth apart from the One who declared, "I Am The Truth!" In fact, our Lord Jesus Christ not only excluded every other religion and philosophy as being valid, but dared to call them all thieves, robbers, liars, false prophets, false shepherds, wolves in sheep’s clothing and hirelings (John 10:1-18, Matthew 7:15). Is it any wonder we crucified Him? These are intolerant, harsh words for an age to swallow, when the new unpardonable sin is intolerance. Difficult words to believe, in an age that believes that no one’s religion, culture, or philosophy is superior to others. Disturbing words to adhere to, in an age that has enshrined as religious dogma that all religions, cultures, and philosophies are on equal footing and all lead to God. On the evening of September 10th, 2001, America went to sleep in ignorant bliss concerning these disturbing, difficult, and harsh words uttered by our Lord Jesus Christ. She snoozed with her humanistic philosophy, her moral relativism, her multi-culturalism, and her political diversity all still intact. Meanwhile, nineteen young men read a prayer-laden Arabic letter regarding their last night on earth. "Be obedient on this night, because you will be facing situations that are the ultimate and that would not be done except with full obedience. When you engage in the battle, strike as the heroes would strike. As Allah says, ‘Strike above the necks and strike from everywhere...and then you will know all the heavens are decorated in the best way to meet you.’" The next morning, on September 11, 2001, those nineteen young men gave their lives for what they truly believed. They highjacked four planes and used them as flying bombs that killed more than three thousand people. Thus America suffered the worst terroristic attack in our history. Did America awake from her drunken stupor? Did she repent of her many idolatries and harlotries, such as abortion, sodomy, and pornography? Did she reject the Spirit of the Age that promotes the foolish notion that all religions are the same and that no belief system is superior to another? No! She did not! After the tears, outrage, and anger, America returned to bow before the idol of tolerance and kiss the image of religious diversity. Our high priestess, Oprah Winfrey, led America in a warm fuzzy New Age response to the tragedy. Prayer meetings were televised in order to accommodate the pantheon of American gods. President Bush dared to state that Islam is a good and peaceful religion. He stated this, in spite of the fact, that Islam cruelly struck us. Then a poll was taken amongst college students where the majority of them believed there were no real differences between Islam’s culture and America. No difference?! Islam believes they have to kill for their god. Christianity believes God died for His people. Islam believes it can utilize the sword of civil government to coerce people to the Islamic faith. Christians believe man is converted and regenerated by the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Islam believes its perfectly acceptable to hate your enemies and cruelly strike them. Christianity believes that we are to love our enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you (Luke 6:27,28). Islam believes women can be beaten and raped as a civil penalty based upon their draconian, tyrannical, and unbiblical standards of immodesty. Christianity believes women are to be protected, loved, and provided for. America, it appears, is living in a willful state of ignorance. Our schools, government, and culture inspired by Satan himself has blinded us to the truth and has made us a prey to his wiles. When will we awake to realize, we cannot live with the ridiculous conclusions of our own perverted belief systems? How many more babies will be butchered, how many more of our sons and daughters will be sodomized, and how many more terroristic attacks will it take before we acknowledge the truth? AMERICA, life does not work and we cannot truly live without faith in the One true and living God; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, the God of the Holy Bible! Unless we build upon that solid rock premise, our nation will continue to sink upon the bloody, perverted, and shifting sands of paganism. Yet, from the ashes and debris of 9/11, there still may be time for America to ponder another important question. The Lord Jesus Christ posed this question in Matthew 16:13-17. It is, in all probability, the most critical question ever posed to man, "But who do you say that I Am?" The answer will not only determine man’s destiny upon earth, but will also determine his eternal state in the age to come. Who is this Jesus Christ that would dare to declare that He is the Creator God in the flesh? Who does this Man think He is who would dare exclude every other religion and philosophy of man and treat it as a lie and a deception? By what authority does He claim to have the market on truth? Who gave Him the right to exalt Himself and His Law as the standard of all reality? Perplexing questions that man has attempted to answer for lo this past two thousand years. In his day, Jesus asked the disciples, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" (Matthew 16:13) Their answers varied, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Many opinions circulated concerning the true identity of this strange, new, radical Rabbi. Our modern day counterparts also have a plethora of opinions concerning Jesus. Some say He is good teacher and some say like Islam, "He is a prophet!" Others declare He is a great ethicist and moral philosopher. Many still try to put Jesus and Christianity on the same level with every other religious leader or religion. Unfortunately for those who attempt this mischaracterization, Jesus refuses to allow that option to be made available. He purposely and significantly parted company with every other religious leader, philosopher, and prophet in the history of man. He claimed to be something far more than human. He claimed to be the Creator God in the flesh. Did Mohammed, Confucius, or Buddha ever make such an outrageous claim? Do you see the problem when it comes to Jesus? How can a good teacher, a true prophet, and moral philosopher retain these titles while being deluded that He is God in the flesh at the same time? Who in their right minds would still confer these accolades upon a human being that claimed He was deity? We send people to mental hospitals today if they would spout that kind of craziness. So, if Jesus is not God in the flesh, then who is He? Our options are limited. He is either a liar or the most insane person who ever lived. C.S. Lewis addressed this thorny dilemma by stating, "I am trying here to prevent anyone from saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.’ This is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." So, my dear friend, who do you say that Jesus Christ is? Is He a true prophet? Is He a great ethicist and moral philosopher? Is He just a great teacher? Is He a liar and a lunatic? Or will you fall at His feet with tears in your eyes and dare utter the soul-transforming confession, " Jesus is my Lord and my God!" You cannot do nothing. Neutrality is not an option. Jesus declared, "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad." (Matthew 12:30) Your destiny upon earth and your eternal state hangs in the balance. Therefore choose wisely! It is in the Bible alone where we can meet and know the true Jesus of Nazareth, the Savior of your soul. It is in the Holy Scriptures that the authentic Jesus stands up for all the world to see. In fact, the Bible declares that Jesus is the Word of God, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:1,14a) It is therefore incumbent upon every person to study, meditate, and pour over the Scriptures. It is there alone that revelation, illumination, and enlightenment are to be discovered. Jesus said, "It is the Spirit who gives; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63) The word of God reveals Jesus Christ as King over all creation (Colossians 1:15-18). He is Lord over His Church and He is the Ruler over all the princes of this world (Revelation 1:5). He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. He is the only true Potentate which will be made manifest as true in His own good time (1 Timothy 6:13-15). Though the heathen rage and the people plot their vanity against Him and though the kings of the earth set themselves against the Lord, He is still at the right hand of the Father expecting henceforth till all His enemies become His footstool. (Psalm 2, Psalm 110:1, Hebrews 10:12,13) My friend, whether we like it or not, whether we believe in it or not, every soul has to deal with Jesus or He will deal with every soul. Jesus warns, "And whoever falls on this stone (Jesus is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense) will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." (Matthew 21:44) "Every knee will one day bow and every tongue will one day confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of the Father." (Phillipians 2:9-11) Every person on this planet will serve Jesus Christ. Each soul will either serve Him as a friend or as an enemy. They will either demonstrate and become objects of His loving mercy in the earth or they will demonstrate and become objects of His just wrath that is reserved for the sons of disobedience (Colossians 3:5,6). Therefore flee from the wrath that is to come and run into the loving arms of Jesus Christ your Savior. Humble yourself, call upon His name, exercise child-like faith, repent of your sins, and receive the power of the Holy Ghost to transform your life. Then stand up in this perverted, crooked generation and shine forth the word of life to advance the cause of the Kingdom of your God and of His Christ! For the Kingdoms of this world shall become the Kingdom of our God and He shall reign forever (Revelation 11:15). Amen and Amen! SPYING OUT THE LAND Liz, Jeremiah, and I recently returned from North Carolina where we had a wonderful time of fellowship with Flip, Faye, and the precious Benham family. We spied out the land and we dreamed of our future together in serving our Lord there. Destiny was in the air and we were thrilled with the challenges and the ministry opportunities that will be available when we, by God’s grace, move there next May. Upon our arrival, I was whisked into a room to participate in an interview with Brother Flip and Mr. Eddie Littlefield, the CEO of the David Drye Company. The title of the article was called, "National Sin Brings National Calamity?" The newspaper presented this as a question, we declared it as a statement. The following is the article. Amid all the memorial services and tributes that held America as a captive audience on Sept. 11, Eddie Littlefield was on the back-burner. Littlefield is president of the David Drye Company, a business whose leaders are known for expressing an ultra-conservative Christian viewpoint on everything from politics to controversial social issues like abortion. On Sept. 11, Littlefield issued a statement. "God is speaking to our nation by horrific signs and judgments, that we must return to Him. We cannot expel God from our schools, banish Him from the schoolyard, rip His Ten Commandments from the walls, kill over 45 million children by abortion and expect Him to continue to bless our nation. "America has been weighed in the scales and found wanting." Littlefield and Texas minister Flip Benham preached this message on the one-year anniversary of last year’s terrorist attacks. National sin brings national calamity, they said. Abortion and homosexuality rise to the top of Littlefield and Benham’s list as the most egregious "national sins." In addition, eliminating prayer in schools and God in the workplace have all contributed to the "spiritual demise" of the country, they said. The consequences, they said, are manifest in tragedies like last year’s terrorist attacks. "Sept. 11 is the byproduct of our nation trying to becoming what the Greeks and Romans became all about self," Littlefield said. "We’ve turned our backs on what’s made our nation great. Leaders are afraid to talk about Jesus Christ." Inside the company’s headquarters on Davidson Highway, employees sort through signs that say "Abortion is Murder" in preparation for an Oct. 6 "life chain" in which people will line the streets holding the signs. Benham, who has been involved with the David Drye Company for several years, is director of "Operation Save America," a religious group with a strong message of repentance for the entire nation. Benham and the late David Drye shared a similar interest in protesting abortion. "David Drye was a wonderful friend to the ministry of preborn children," Benham said. Littlefield has continued the company’s relationship with Benham, sharing many of the same philosophies and offering spiritual guidance at times. Under the banner of "Operation Save America," Benham published a leaflet titled "Jesus is the Standard: 9-11-Will We Connect the Dots?’ "Of one thing we can be certain-the first anniversary of 9-11 will be left on a positive note," Benham wrote. "This is the ubiquitous ‘must’ that will pervade every newscast, talk show, speech and prayer. We will not see again the body parts that filled the streets underneath the World Trade Center. We will not see the people waving sheets and flags from windows and jumping from the buildings. No more human carnage. What we will see is a sanitized version of 9-11, with none of the graphic horror that filled the airwaves that day. "Why? So that we can, as quickly as possible, escape the traumatizing and graphic impact of God’s message and get back to normal ASAP. In so doing...we are ignoring the warning." A similar message preached by Jerry Falwell immediately after the attacks drew nationwide criticism. On a broadcast of "The 700 Club," Falwell fingered several groups whom he said were to blame for the terrorist attacks. "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) People for the American Way, all of them who have tired to secularize America. I point the finger in their face and say, ‘You helped this happen,’" Falwell said. Later, Falwell recanted his statements and apologized, saying that only the terrorists were responsible for the attacks. But Littlefield and Benham said they are not afraid of a backlash. They have been accused before of not exhibiting "Christian love,’" Littlefield said. "The opposite of tolerance is Biblical love," Benham said. "Tolerance is giving clean needles to drug users so they don’t die of AIDS, passing out condoms to kids...I won’t just watch people perish. That lifestyle will destroy you... We need God to heal our nation. God, whose name is spelled J-E-S-U-S, the God that this company represents." by: Laura Prevatt, Independent Tribune From the interview, Flip and I were picked up by a Lincoln Town Car limousine and brought to Charlotte so Flip could have a divine appointment via satellite on the Phil Donahue show. The liberals were in a state of shock because AFA Christian radio were building huge towers that were replacing NPR in local communities around the nation. Don Wildemon refused the interview. Thus the way was paved for Pastor Flip to give Phil heaven on his own show. The following is a portion of the transcript from the show. Enjoy! Part of the script from the Donahue Show Wed. Sept. 25:
There were tremendous responses to Flip's comments. Several have come in and one thing is clear, there is an extraordinary hunger right now in the Body of Christ for Christian leaders who will not cower in the public arena but will speak the truth fearlessly. On a side note, our limousine driver was a former Baptist, now a practicing Jehovah Witness that we had a chance to witness to. He was so overwhelmed by the boldness of the witness for Christ on the show that he laughed with us, prayed with us, and hugged us. He told us before he dropped us off that it was a night he would not soon forget. The next day Flip conducted an early morning Bible study with his sons and some key business leaders with the Drye Company. That evening Flip and I went back to Charlotte to participate in a Republican political meeting. We had the opportunity to challenge them on Elizabeth Dole’s Pro-life stand and pass out two powerful tracts. One is called "Conservatism is Pretend Salt" and the other is "9/11, Will We Connect the Dots?" The Lord granted us an opening to challenge the national Republican strategist who was addressing the group with the essence of these tracts. For those interested in these tracts, you can contact Flip at (704) 792-4920. On Saturday, Flip and I went to the gates of hell, the local Charlotte abortion mill, and we gave them heaven for about four hours. To our knowledge, there were three turn aways as the Gospel of the Kingdom went forth in power. The death merchants at Charlotte were definitely put on notice that there was a new sheriff in town, one called King Jesus. All in all, it was a rewarding, fruitful trip and we are looking forward to establishing a Gospel/Kingdom beachhead in North Carolina with Flip that will prayerfully impact our nation for the glory of God. RACHEL’S PARK MEMORIAL UPDATE On September 11th, 2002, the Lord opened an effectual door to communicate the vision and mission of Rachel’s Park Memorial to the Central Texas area. Thanks to Bill Thrasher, our local AFA radio manager, we were afforded four hours to promote the "Sponsor the Cross" campaign. Out of the four thousand crosses that needs to be sponsored, one thousand came in that day. We now have the starting capital to begin phase two. In about a week, the pathway that will run along the four thousand crosses will be poured. We will then begin the process of planting the four thousand permanent crosses that represent the four thousand children that die each day through abortion. We still need three thousand crosses to be sponsored. Rachel’s Park Memorial is asking those moved by God’s Spirit to help complete the campaign by pledging five dollars for each remaining cross that still needs to be sponsored. We have till January 22, 2003 to complete Rachel’s Park Memorial for its dedication on that infamous day. Please use the "Sponsor the Cross" form to rally your Church, family and friends to support this monumental Christian/Pro-life project. Together, we can make this dream a reality. Thank You! SPONSOR THE CROSS CAMPAIGN RACHEL’S PARK MEMORIAL Your help is needed... to build a perpetual Memorial Park to honor the lives of the unborn who have suffered death as a result of abortion. Since January 22, 1973, upwards of 40 million innocent babies made in the image of God have been killed in the United States. This shocking figure greatly exceeds all Americans who lost their lives in every war Americans have fought. This includes the Revolutionary War, The War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korean War, Vietnam, and the Persian Gulf War. As much as outstanding American soldiers deserve the honor and respect of being memorialized in national parks and monuments, justice also requires the same for the casualties who have perished in the War on Life that is now savaging our beloved land. After 29 years of the American Holocaust, there is a demand for such a major monument that is specifically consecrated as a memorial and resting place for our nameless sons and daughters. Gratefully that time has come! The Four-Fold Vision of Rachel’s Park Memorial:
SPONSOR THE CROSS <--- click for the link To help fund this monumental Christian, Pro-life endeavor Rachel’s Park Memorial is conducting a fundraising campaign called "Sponsor the Cross." We are currently working to permanently plant 4000 crosses that represent the 4000 children that needlessly die each day in America. We are asking concerned people to sponsor as many crosses as possible for $5.00 a cross. This will help complete the 2nd phase of Rachel’s Park Memorial and provide extra capital to continue the work. For those moved by God’s Spirit to help, please make checks out to Rachel’s Park Memorial and send your contribution to the address below. For more information contact, Rev. Rusty Lee Thomas at 836-1037. Thank you! Rachel’s Park Memorial Planned Parenthood’s Prayer Attention Christian Pro-lifers! There is a new opportunity to shine the light of truth of the Gospel of the Kingdom into the darkness of the abortion industry in Waco, TX. The following names and addresses are workers at the local Planned Parenthood in Central Texas. The three that are the most instrumental in killing the precious unborn are Thomas Britton, the abortionist, Pam Smallwood, the director, and Bill Crowden, the manager. We are asking those who will to first, call out these names to God in prayer. Ask the Lord to remove the scales from their eyes that they might see the light of the glorious gospel that shines from the face of Jesus Christ. Pray that God would grant them the gift of repentance, the gift of faith, the gift of eternal life, and call them out of death into His marvelous life. Secondly, we are asking those who will to send appropriate letters, books, tapes, videos, Bibles, etc., to these individuals as a constant reminder of their dreadful state apart from God. The essence of the message should reflect the scriptural admonition found in Isaiah 55:7. “Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God for He will abundantly pardon.” Send only godly materials that reveal God’s love, salvation, forgiveness, deliverance, and yes, warning found in the Scriptures. Make sure the tone is not threatening to them physically, though the warning to their souls must be given. Let the message be seasoned with grace, established in truth, tempered by salt, and inspired by love in Jesus’ Holy Name! Click above for names and addresses. IN KING JESUS' SERVICE, Rusty, Liz, and the Thomas Nation P.O. Box 3126 Voice: (254) 836-1037 Websites: http://www.mttu.com/elijahmin http://www.rachelsparkmemorial.org http://www.operationsaveamerica.org http://www.jesusisthestandard.org |