"So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved."
The above verse is Acts 2: 46 & 47. This simplistic element was present in evangelicalism....to some degree....in at least the early to mid 1980s....and at least in Pentecostalism....for that is all I can specifically attest to.
We all.....well most of us anyway.....certainly me....had weakness and brought enough baggage with us for a long stay....but it was still wonderful!
When Martyn Lloyd-Jones preached on these verses....(I encourage you to Google that sermon at....The True Nature of the Christian Church Part Two)....he commented that the 'world' saw this....and wanted to know more about these people....and this Lord of theirs. Consequently people were added to the church and souls....were saved. We don't use that word 'saved' much anymore.
Imagine this if you would....a noisy and dirty industrial setting with hundreds of men....and a few women....a 24/7 operation....year-in-and-year-out. And on one day a month....on a crew of maybe thirty....after working a midnight shift....the last of seven long midnight shifts....maybe twelve of us....some cleaned up and others waiting to get home before cleaning up....tired....ready for bed....maybe hungry....would instead meet for a Bible study! There were men all over the place with a cross or a fish....magic-markered on their hardhat.
At home....we tended to meet often with other....born again believers. I know that phrase....born again believers....is redundant....because one is not a Christian if one is not born again....but we used the phrase often back then. And our conversations....when couples met....more often than not were of something concerning the Lord Jesus and the Bible.
There was a time last year when I thought that I might not ever have to post about Donald Trump again. Friends....it's not an every day thing....but then it is not rare....that I finish a post and pose this question....not directly to God but I know that He is listening...."Lord....is this the last post....for they do not want to hear these things."
If he were just a bad president....a con man....totally incompetent and unfit for the position that he has....even a demagogue....it would be one thing....but he is an antichrist. He is part of the great delusion that Jesus warned us of. He is a genuine biblical false prophet! He has led most of evangelicalism far astray! He brush hogged our defenses...and pulled down our ramparts. He is speaking tonight....(I am not listening).....wearing the purple tie of a king....for he has usurped in our mind the crowning glory of the King of Kings....and the Lord of Lords.
How did we lose our way? The more important question is....how do we get back on..."the old paths....where the good way is".....that the LORD told Jeremiah to point us to? How do we once again recognize pure delusion? How do we no longer fall for flattery? How do we once again spot a false prophet and warn of an antichrist?
Well we have eyes to see....so we look....and we have ears to hear....so we listen. We have feet to walk......so we flee from all of this. We have a God who listens to prayer. We have a merciful God who will not be mocked....but who will have mercy if we turn back to Him. We have a faithful God...whose promises and covenants are there for us to read. And we have a strong God....who as powerful as the false prophet and the delusion may be....even strong enough..."if possible".... to capture the "elect"....that will not happen....for we are in His hands....and under the shadow of His wings....and all the power of hell cannot take us way from Him!
If we look to Jesus....and keep our eyes on Him....and stay together....lifting each other up....strengthening each other....encouraging each other....praising Him....the light will be there for our path....and the way made sure!
