Quiet Time
Jul 10th, 2016
Must ReadArt Sadlier
Categories: Spiritual Growth;Inspirational
EVERY MORNING LEAN THINE ARMS AWHILE
UPON THE WINDOW SILL OF HEAVEN,
AND GAZE UPON THY LORD.
THEN, WITH THE VISION IN THY HEART,
TURN STRONG TO MEET THY DAY
...Author unknown
Has God provided a way for believers to live in victory? Or are we destined to live in constant defeat? If God has provided a way to live in victory, what is that way? I strongly suspect that many of God’s beloved children spend much of their lives searching for the way of the victorious life. It seems that many never find it, and give up in despair and discouragement, and just settle down to live mediocre lives.
How sad for a Christian who is justified, declared righteous by God, and who has all of the resources of heaven available, and yet to never experience on a regular basis the wonderful, glorious, victorious life God has fully intended he, or she, to have.
God has provided a way to live in victory! It is the way of daily heart preparation, which is the vehicle for the “Filling of the Spirit”, and the “Filling of the Spirit” is the means God has provided for the Christian to live in victory.
“That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us,
who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” . . . Romans 8:4 .
In Ephesians 5:18 we are commanded to be “Filled with the Spirit,” and immediately following that command, we have the characteristics of the Spirit filled life. In Colossians 3:16 we have the command, “ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,” and immediately following that command we have the same characteristics of the Spirit Filled life , thus equating the word of God dwelling in us to the filling of the Spirit.
That is the purpose of the Quiet Time, it is HEART PREPARATION, which results in the filling of the Spirit. We need not begin the day without being filled with the Spirit.
I believe the Lord has also given us a means to facilitate the filling of the Spirit all through the day. That means is the memorization of a verse of scripture, and meditation on that verse all through the day.
Choose a verse from your morning reading, write that verse on a 3x 5 card. Put that card in your shirt pocket, or in your purse. In your spare thought times during the day, memorize and mediate on it. It is also helpful to write on the back of your card, five things you need to accomplish during the day, work on them in order of priority.
THE RESULTS of knowing, meditating, and obeying the Word of God are tremendous, THE RESULTS of ignoring God’s Word are disasterous.
The QUIET TIME, SCRIPTURE MEMORIZATION, and MEDITATING, on the Word is really HEART PREPARATION.
THE TEACHING OF GOD’S WORD IS CLEAR.
- Without daily heart preparation, you will not enjoy all of God’s blessing on your life.
- With adequate daily heart preparation, you will prosper and have good spiritual success in your life.
Consider the clear promise in Joshua 1:8 “ This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then shalt thou make thy way prosperous, then shalt thou have good success.”
God has promised daily heart preparation, will mean a victorious Christian life.
We have an example in 11 Chronicles, of a man who utterly failed because of lack of heart preparation,”and he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord.” 11 Chron. 12: 14 Believer, do not go running off in a thousand directions, looking for keys to victory, and power, and blessing! It is found right here in simple, daily, heart preparation in the morning Quiet Time.
HOW TO HAVE A QUIET TIME
A personal Quiet Time in the Word of God is perhaps the single most important habit to master as a Christian.
FOUR GUIDING FACTORS
- The time chosen must have top priority!
- The time chosen must be before other encroachments!
- The time chosen must be the quietest possible!
- The time chosen must be consistent every day!
WHAT GOD’S WORD SAYS ABOUT GOD’S WORD
Meditation and memorization are commanded and cannot be separated!
- “These words which I command….shall be in thy heart” [mind] Deut. 6:6
- “Thou shalt meditate therein day and night” Joshua 1:8
- “Meditate on thee in the night” Pslam 63:6
- “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” Col. 3:16
- “I will meditate in thy statues” Psalm 119:48
- “But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night” Psalm 1:2
THE IMPORTANCE OF GOD’S WORD
GOD'S WORD NEVER FAILS "There hath not failed one word of all his good promise” 1Kings 8:56
- THE WORD OF GOD IS MY SPIRITUAL FOOD
“I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” Job 23:12
- THE WORD OF GOD IS PERFECT AND SURE
- "The law of the Lord is perfect…the testimony of the Lord is sure” Psalm 19:7
- THE WORD OF GOD IS RIGHT AND PURE
“The statutes of the Lord are right…the commandment of the Lord is pure” Psalm 19:8
- THE WORD OF GOD IS TRUE AND RIGHTEOUS
“The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether” Psalm 19:9
- THE WORD OF GOD IS A WARNING AND A REWARDER
“Moreover by them is thy servant warned; and in keeping them is great reward” Psalm 19:11
- THE WORD OF GOD IS INFINITE
“Being born again not of corruptible seed , but of incorruptible, by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever…but the Word of the Lord endureth forever” 1 Pe. 1:23-25
RESULTS OF MEDITATION ON GOD’S WORD
- LOVE OF THE WORD
“Oh how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day” Psalm 119:97
- WISDOM
“Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son” Prov. 28:7
“Thy words were found and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart” Jeremiah 15:16
- DISCIPLES
“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” John 8:31
“And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” John 8:32
- SANCTIFIED LIFE
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy Word is truth” John 17:17
- KNOWING GOD’S WILL
“Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” Romans 12:2
- CONTROLLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
“Be filled with the Spirit; speaking to your selves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord” Ephesians 5:18,19
THE RESULTS OF NOT KNOWING GOD’S WORD
- HATER OF INSTRUCTION
“Seeing thou hatest instruction, and casteth my words behind thee” Psalm 50:17
- REBELLIOUS AND LYING
“That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the Law of the Lord” Isiah 30:9
- DESTRUCTION
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: Because thou hast rejected knowledge; I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me; seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children” Hosea 4:6
“Yea, they made their hearts as adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the Lord of hosts hath sent in his Spirit by the former prophets, therefore came a great wrath from the Lord of hosts” Zech.7:12
PRAYER IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR QUIET TIME
THE SECRET PLACE
Author Unkown
There is a place where thou canst touch the eyes of blinded men to instant, perfect sight;
There a place where thou canst say,” Arise”to dying captives, bound in chains of night;
There is a place where thou canst reach the store of hoarded gold and free it for the Lord;
There a place- upon some distant shore- where thou canst send the worker or the word;
There is a place where Heaven’s resistless power responsive moves to thine insistent plea;
There is a place- a silent, trusting hour- where God Himself descends and fights for thee.
Where is that blessed place- dost thou ask, “ Where? “ O soul, it is the secret place of prayer.
Record your morning prayer requests, review them, seek to discover what the Lord is teaching through unanswered prayer. Thank the Lord for each answer as it comes.
New Age Teaching
Jul 10th, 2016
Main StoriesArt Sadlier
Categories: Printed Newsletter;False Doctrine;One World Church
Warren B. Smith, a community social worker who was formerly involved in the New Age movements says in his book, False Christ Coming Does Anybody Care, “An amazing thing is happening across the land. Jesus Christ is being ‘reinvented’ and redefined right in front of our eyes and hardly anyone seems to notice or care. And it is happening with great speed. The ‘transformational’ architects and promoters of a New Age/New Gospel are unabashedly trying to overturn God’s holy Word and replace the true Christ-Jesus with a false ‘Christ’ of Antichrist proportions. And it is happening just as Scripture said it would.”
In addition, Mr. Smith says: “There is a new world order and a new world religion coming with a false “Christ” at its head. Characterised by mass ‘enlightenment’ and under the spell of this false ‘Christ’, humanity will be under the great ‘delusion’ that it is divine. While the Bible describes this New Age as a period of ultimate deception, the world will see it as a time of peace and safety, and a spiritual renaissance of the highest order. But they will be deceived.”
He goes on to exhort. “May we all pray for the truth in our hearts of hearts and ask the Spirit of the Lord to lead us through these difficult and turbulent times. May we not be deceived by a spirit and a “force” that is not from God. And may we be given the strength to endure whatever may befall us in the coming days” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6).
The New Age Movement has several basic teachings:
Humanity is God
A leading New Age teacher Neale Donald Walsch says, “All your life you have been told that God created you. I come now to tell you this: You are creating God.” “You are your own rule maker.” “Think, speak, act as the God You Are.” “Your future is creatable. Create it as you want it.” “ Create the grandest version of the greatest vision you ever had about yourself as a human race.”
This is the central theme of the New Age movement. This is the very lie that Satan used to deceive Eve in the garden. “For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5).
New Age Doctrine of Separation
Walsch also says, “Separation is not believing that you are a part of God, the recognition of God is the recognition of yourself. There is no separation of God and His creation.” “The fundamental regression is self-centeredness, or the illusion that you are separate from God.” “At the co-creative stage of evolution, one self-centered soul is like a lethal cancer cell in a body: deadly to itself and the whole.” “The surgeon dare leave no cancer in the body when he closes up the wound after a delicate operation. We dare leave no self-centeredness on earth after the selection process.” “The species known as self-centered humanity will become extinct. The species known as whole-centered humanity will evolve” (See Revelation 13:7-8).
The Selection Process
Barbara Marx Hubbard, in one of her many visions, received a message from her false Christ. In that vision he warns her that there will be no place in the “New Jerusalem” for those who refuse to see themselves and others as a part of God. This false Christ went on to describe the necessity of a ‘selection process’ which will select out resistant individuals who choose not to evolve. “This ‘selection process’ is a purification that will be accomplished through the shock of fire” (Again see Revelation 13:7).
The message went on to quote this false Christ further, “Those who see themselves as ‘separate’ and not ‘divine’ hinder humanity’s ability to evolve” (Again see Revelation 13:8).
“The crime of separation must be driven from this world. I affirm that as my purpose” (Maitreya, p. 189).
Foundational Beliefs of the New Age Peace Plan
(From Warren B. Smith’s book, “False Christ Coming.”)
1. Each person is a part of God. Each person is a cell in the body of God that is humanity.
2. Fear-based belief system (Like biblical “old Gospel” Christianity) deny that we are a part of God.
3. Love based systems (Like New Age /New Gospel teachings) affirm that we are a part of God.
4. Whatever we think is what we draw to ourselves.
5. For the peace plan to work, each person must responsibly play their part in the peace process.
How the New Age plan will be enacted
1. Each person must realize that the world is in great peril; if something isn’t done soon, humanity as a species could become extinct.
2. Each person as a cell in the one body of humanity that is God has a responsibility to function..... Relating to the body in a unified, holistic manner.
3. Each person understands that the future of the world is up to the collective body.
4. Each person must correct any “misinterpretation” that reinforces the idea that God, self, humanity and the world are separate from one another.
5. Through prayer and meditation each person begins to envision and create the peaceful world they would like to see. (Re: contemplative prayer or transcendental meditation)
6. People gather together in small groups to increase the power of their individual envisioning.
7. People mediate, pray, and hold the vision of peace at the same time around the world to increase the power of their effort.
8. Special events are arranged where people around the world can link more openly with one another.
9. As humanity becomes more aligned within its one body and unified in its expressed desire for peace, the power of God is more flowing and present, and there is an increase in miracles and healings.
10. As everyone links through their “God-self,” “Christ-self,” or “Higher-self,” the power of God (the Force) begins to manifest its presence.
11. Only fear, with its illusion of separateness, can threaten the flow of the “Force” within the one body. These thoughts of separateness are like cancer cells in the body and must be completely healed or “removed” from the body.
12. Because thoughts of separation threaten the health and the peace of the body, a system is devised to visibly mark (mark of the beast?) those who recognize their oneness with God. Those who do not submit to the process ultimately reveal themselves as separatists.
13. An appointed day arrives when all of those who want the God and Christ potentials within them to be fully activated align themselves in a designated moment in time with all humanity.
14. With the “Force” of God fully manifesting in one moment through all mankind, humanity experiences itself as the “one body” of God. (A counterfeit Body of Christ)
15. This universal link-up with the “Force” results in all humanity being resurrected-lifted up and born again into a whole new way of being. In a twinkling of an eye, they are taken to a new spiritual level as they now actually experience themselves as a part of God. (The lie)
16. Once humanity has been linked as “one” and corporately transformed, Christ, and ultimately God, will be enabled to “return” to earth.
17. Self-centered and separatist members of the “one body” who choose not to participate in this transformational Peace Plan will be judged and removed from the corporate body by the “selection process.” Separatists are not allowed to hinder the spiritual development of the rest of the ‘one body.” They are not allowed to keep peace from happening. They are removed for the good of all.
New Age teaching has been creeping into the church for some time. At this moment I believe we are about to see the New Age movement make a quantum leap. Rick Warren claims that he is associated with 500,000 churches totalling 200 million members. Mr. Warren appears to be moving into a New Age agenda. He has been associated with a number of New Age leaders or with men involved in the New Age.
Recently he has initiated what he calls the Daniel plan. It is a plan to promote health and wellness and weight loss. He has enlisted three world-renowned doctors to design and conduct this plan. These three men are all deeply involved in the New Age movement. Who are the "world-renowned doctors" that will be helping to kick off Saddleback's Decade of Destiny? They are Dr. Mehmet Oz, Dr. Daniel Amen, and Dr. Mark Hyman. They have put together a 52-week health program for Saddleback congregants and they are absolute advocates and proponents of not just eastern-style meditation but actual eastern meditation and much, more, including Reiki and Tantra.
The New Age movement is committed to bringing health and wellness by New Age methods such as contemplative meditation. It seems that Rick Warren is moving in the direction of the New Age beliefs. Rick Warren’s World Peace Plan is compatible with the New Age Peace plan.
As we have stated, Mr. Warren claims to be associated with 500,000 churches with 200 million members in his purpose driven program. He appears to be positioned to lead these churches right into the New Age/New Gospel Peace Plan.
Let me repeat that I believe the evangelical church is now on the tipping point of apostasy. I believe that it is about to be swallowed up in the great deception of the harlot church of Revelation 17.
This process into apostasy has been a long one. It started with the rejection of Fundamentalism (Philadelphia) and the introduction of New Evangelicalism in the late 1940’s. A conscious and deliberate decision was made to cease contending for the faith and to move toward reconciliation with the world. That move was followed in rapid succession with ecumenical evangelicalism, the church growth movement, the user-friendly movement and then the purpose driven church.
The fundamental/Philadelphian church became the evangelical/Laodicean church. The world was brought into the church in order to reach the lost. Along with that came other changes, the music of the world was brought into the church along with world’s methods of promotion. The church became man centered instead of Christ centered both in its worship and its goals.
We are undoubtedly living in the Laodicean age. A careful comparison of the Laodicean church as found in Revelation 3:14-18 with the Evangelical Church of the present time will show an amazing similarity. The Lord has not one good thing to say about the Laodicean Church, it is very clear that the Laodicean Church is an unsaved church. In verse 16 we read, “So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” The great problem with the Laodiceans is the fact that they are blind, (Verse 17) they are deceived and cannot see it.
I tremble to think of today’s evangelicals as I read Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity”
Revelation 18:4 says, “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.”
