The Ultimate Decisionit
July 18, 2014
There is a terminology in the Sport of NASCAR called “ Clean Air." The race cars much like airplanes are made to go through the air smoothly. The cars go through a wind tunnel to made sure there are no edges or that the fabrication is the best it can be for the lines drawn. When a car is out in the front of the race it is called to be in clean air as there are no other cars around. It smoothly goes through the air with as little drag as possible. When two cars get together the airflow coning off of each car gets intermingled and drag occurs. Drag makes the air terminology to be dirty as the air is no longer smooth going over the car but turbulent. That turbulent air causes drag and drag make cars go slower. When an airliner touches down the split second the wheels hit the runway the spoilers come up on top of the wing. The smooth air that used to rush over the wing to create lift is now disrupted and the plane now loses lift to the wing and all the weight is now transferred ot the wheels or brakes which is what is intended.
The car in first place hopes that there is not one car close behind him but two. When two are fighting it out for second they will drop back even farther back because of the drag of both cars. Thus leaving the one out front to gain even more distance on the other cars. So where am I going with this. Last night on Amazon I was reading reviews on a book written called Strange Fire. It is in many parts a very scathing accusation that Christians who don’t believe exactly like this preacher who wrote the book may not be Christians at all. He does not believe in all the gifts of the Spirt. I on the other hand do. I was not taught this but God showed up in a mighty way to give me this new language. All the gifts of the Spirit are supernatural. Many of you could not understand the Bible till you were saved. That is a supernatural gift of the Spirit. But while reading the negative comments which there were far more negative than good I started to feel compassion for a man that has taught so much truth out of the Bible but has now broken ranks and caused such a division among believers that the Lord must be agonizing over this. So let me get to the point.
The people who believe that there are no supernatural gifts of the Spirit are in car number 2 and the ones who believe that these gifts never ceased are in car number 3. In car number one is Satan and he is doing what he has done since creation, deceived others. While these two groups are more concerned with DOCTRINE Satan is using this time to make sure we don’t share the gospel with others. I have lost dear friends and have gotten quite angry letters saying that what I believe is hearsay. So let me stop everyone no matter what you believe. Doctrine is what a church denomination believes. Some believe in different types of Baptism and there are even church splits over this.
I say throw out all doctrine and look at the cross of Christ. Forget Baptist, Pentecostal, Presbyterian, Catholic and on and on. It is Jesus Christ and Christ Crucified. That is where all Salvation should start and END. But there were too many smart people in their own mind who interpreted the Bible in different ways and they started their own little faction of worship. What this pastor who wrote this book is doing is destroying so much love and harmony among the Saints that the good news of the gospel is taking second seat.
THIS SHOULD NOT BE SO BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST.
1 Corinthians 1:10-12,17 “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephasb ”; still another, “I follow Christ.” For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.”
Many follow this pastor and others as though ALL they say is truth. Too many pastors and teachers have to much knowledge and not enough room for the Holy Spirit. Relying on knowledge separate from the Spirit is acting out of the flesh. The word of God without the Holy Spirit is just knowledge. The Holy Spirit without the word of God can be like a ship without a rudder. We need both in harmony. What we need to do is repent for telling others that they are not Christians if they don’t do this or that the way the denomination likes. The thief on the cross went to heaven and he had no time to be baptized, give to the poor, or be for or against spiritual gifts. He ONLY put His faith in the One on the cross.
You and I need to get back to the Cross. So what does that look like?
Jesus died a horrible and humiliating death so that all those who believe and call upon His name will be saved - THAT IS IT. Add anything more then we discount the COMPLETE work of Christ. When Jesus said on the Cross “It Is Finished” He meant that nothing else more had to be done. All Christians stop this madness of getting so riled up about your silly doctrine. Get wrapped up in Christ and Christ alone. Then love God with all your heart , soul and mind and love your neighbor as yourself. You and I will all be judged when we judge others for what we think they should or should not believe. Get over that and love one another. If we want harmony in this world we will stop living in dirty air and get out front and put Christ in the first position. Fighting to make your position known only causes dissension. What we have done is elevated Satan and the Gospel is stuck in second and third place. I pray that all of us will repent today and come back to the simple, powerful message of the cross. “It is finished."
“Lord please forgive us for fighting about trivial things apart from calling out for forgiveness of our sins and asking for you to come into our lives and saving us. Everything else does not matter in the end. Please help us to stop this bickering and judging of others. You are the ONLY Judge Lord. Forgive us for being judge and jury. We have gotten off the path of preaching the good news of the gospel and have diluted your message with warring among the saints. Please help all of us to repent and to come back to you today Lord. Just YOU, JUST YOU. Please heal us and heal our land and help us to put You first , not our preconceived notion of Doctrine. It is you and you alone that saves. That is true for now and for eternity. “ Amen
Please give all you are riled up about today back to God and stop allowing the evil one first place by default. Let there be no more divisions in the faith of Christ and the Cross. We should throw off everything and just embrace the Cross and Christ crucified OUR risen Savior.
Amen
