Where is Your Money Going?

“'A son honors his father, and a slave his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?' says the Lord Almighty. 'It is you priests who show contempt for my name.'

But you ask, ‘How have we shown contempt for your name?’

'By offering defiled food on my altar.'

But you ask, ‘How have we defiled you?’

By saying 'that the Lord’s table is contemptible.'

When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice lame or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?' says the Lord Almighty.

'Now plead with God to be gracious to us. With such offerings from your hands, will he accept you?'—says the Lord Almighty. 'Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and I will accept no offering from your hands. My name will be great among the nations, from where the sun rises to where it sets. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to me, because my name will be great among the nations,' says the Lord Almighty. But you profane it by saying, ‘The Lord’s table is defiled,’ and, ‘Its food is contemptible.’ And you say, ‘What a burden!’ and you sniff at it contemptuously,' says the Lord Almighty. 'When you bring injured, lame or diseased animals and offer them as sacrifices, should I accept them from your hands?' says the Lord. 'Cursed is the cheat who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but then sacrifices a blemished animal to the Lord. For I am a great king,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and my name is to be feared among the nations'" (NIV Malachi 1:6-14 ).

I just took a survey about supporting missionaries and Christian workers, you can take it at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NFXZ955  I highly recommend it.
At the end there is a link to an article, which was more of a summary of missionary needs. What shocked me was that so many missionaries and Christian workers are poor. This is disgusting! Christians in North America are going to Disney Land, buying Xfinity cable packages, iphones, Escalades and new homes, while missionary kids are saying things like, "I don't ever want to be a missionary because it means you have to be poor." The Lord looks on this with disgust and says "woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation" (Luke 6:24).

You might say, "well I'm not rich." If you live in North America, you are rich. In this map, the average citizens in the purple countries make between 33-50 thousand dollars a year. The average person on the planet makes about 5,000 dollars a year. That's how much I was making per summer as a high school student. Does God expect Christians living in those countries to give to their Christian workers and missionaries? Of course. And they do give. But since we make about ten times the amount they do, how much more should we give?

"Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you." (NKJV James 5:1-6)

The Reason For God by Tim Keller

When one of my professors first recommended I read The Reason For God a couple of years ago, I thought "okay another introductory level apologetics book that rehearses all the arguments for God's existence. It might be well written, but I probably don't need to read it." Then I took a class this semester in which it was assigned reading, so I decided to take a crack at it. I was immediately enthralled and couldn't put it down. Keller does something incredible in this book, something that characterizes his ministry, he addresses unbelievers and skeptics on their level, in a quiet, convincing manner. This is a totally different approach than many other apologists who act like Christianity is so obviously true that only an idiot wouldn't get it. In the first half of the book Keller sets out to dispel some of the myths about God and Christianity, like the problem of evil, religious pluralism etc. He then goes on to some positive reasons for belief in God, and specifically Christianity focusing especially on its explanatory power.

Although Tim Keller does use some of the classical arguments for God's existence and Christianity, he re-thinks them and restates them in a fresh and friendly way that forces the reader to rethink the arguments along with him. This lecture and Q and A session given at Google is a good example of some of the thinking and explanations you'll get in the book.


Begining at 57:20 in the video, one skeptic asks this question, which I think is very telling of the intellectual climate in America, and why Keller's type of apologetics is so apt:

"To me it feels kind of arbitrary to choose between so many different religions. For example, I have no problem with the argument that 'there is a God' or 'there isn't a God' I personally don't feel either way. I just don't care about the question because it doesn't seem to effect me. When people say there is a God I don't have a problem with it. What I do have a problem with is when people say, 'Oh by the way, God wrote a book. And this book that he wrote, even though it contradicts with all the other books, is correct to the exclusion of all others. And I know that I have heard a lot of Christians say that 'well Christianity.... has a leg up on the other religions because in this religion God actually came down and told us that he exists. Well surprisingly enough there is another religion where this is true as well. 'I'm actually God, and if you don't kneel down before me and worship me you're going to go to Hell and actually my Hell is even worse than the Christian Hell, it's a lot worse, there is maggots and snakes and in-laws and everything. And obviously you probably aren't going to worship me, which is unfortunate because I kind of need the money, but why not?"

Tim Keller is exceedingly gracious, admitting his own pressupositions (assumptions) about the truth of Christianity, but then deals with the question at hand. His  response: "If you died on the cross after living a life in which everyone is amazed at the quality of it, and afterward people see you, hundreds at a time, with the nail prints in your hands, repeatedly over forty days, well that's different."

You Are Celled To Go - Keith Green

 You are called to go
Keith's concerts were evangelistic and exhortational. He was the Lecrae of the 70's. Here is what he has to say about the great commission:

"The world isn't being won today because we're not doing it. It's our fault. This generation of Christians is responsible for this generation of souls on the earth. And no where in the world is the gospel so plentiful as here in the United States. No where. And I don't want to see us stand before God on that day ans say, 'but God I didn't hear you call me.' Here is something for all you to chew on, you don't need to hear a call, you're already called! In fact, if you stay home from going into all nations you had better be able to say to God, 'You called me to stay home God, I know that as a fact.'"

 


Keith wasn't messing around, watch his biography and see how he backed up what he said with his life:
 

Martyn Llyod Jones Preaching The Everlasting Gospel

Martyn Lloyd Jones was one of the greatest preacher of the 20th century. In 1943 he succeeded G. Campbell Morgan at Westminster Chapel in London  and preached there for 30 years drawing crowds of thousands each Sunday. Dr. Jones, or simply "the Dr." as he was affectionately called by the many young people that came to hear him preach, did not use gimmicks or current trends to get people to hear the Word of the Lord, he simply held it forth. He was a firm believer in the effect of preaching in the power of the Spirit.

After he called on evangelicals to leave any denominations that accepted liberal churches in the fold, some thought Lloyd Jones was a rabble-rouser. John Stott and J. I. Packer openly distanced themselves from Dr. Jones over this issue, but still spoke highly of him. Iain Murray wrote a lengthy biography of the Dr. and many of his sermons have been printed, notably his commentary on the Sermon on the Mount and on Romans, available at Banner of Truth Trust which Lloyd Jones founded with Iain Murray.

Martyn Lloyd Jones was best known for his preaching which he believed should always be expository, explaining the  text under consideration, then should explain the doctrines that are taught in it, referencing other texts and then demonstrate the divine logic that leads to an application. He describes this method in his book Preaching and Preachers.

In the message above he explains what the everlasting gospel is:
 "This is something that God had purposed and had planned and had arranged before the foundation of the world! And the apostle Paul says the same thing. He was writing to those Corinthians who were so interested in human philosophy and wisdom he says,  "Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory" (1 Cor. 2:6-7) Everlasting Gospel! Why? It was penned in the everlasting eternity before time. And there you see how essentially different it is from all that is said and propagated by men."

 The Dr. spoke openly against liberal theology that sought to replace the biblical gospel with a modern version that focused on the improvement of man. "He has finished the work, there is nothing left to be done. There is no need of another gospel, the need is to be reconciled to God."

"I have only one question to ask you, have you believed this everlasting gospel? If you haven't, can't you see there is only one reason for it - that you're blinded by "the god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4) - cry unto God to save you and to set you free. The alternative to believing the everlasting gospel is everlasting destruction. Let the broken body and the shed blood plead with you tonight and "save yourselves from this untoward generation" (Acts 2:40). Flee to Him who alone can save you, and who saves with an everlasting salvation. Cry unto Him now. If you have seen it tonight as never before, thank Him now. And begin to enter into training, that when the great anthem is sung, you'll be ready to shout 'Hallelujah.' God, Christ in God and God in Christ is all in all! That's the story, that's the chorus, that's the song of HIM! God, Christ, The Holy Ghost, Hallelujah!"

"And because its everlasting a little preacher like myself should be able to go on preaching about it forever and forever. God willing while I have breath I'll go on! In the glory, those who believe it will be singing his praises and go on talking about this gospel, the everlasting gospel."

The True Gospel by Donald Munro

Today many so called "evangelists" preach what they claim is the gospel. They deliver a slick message about health and wealth, then promise people Heaven if the are willing to say a prayer. Unfortunately many of the Lord's people have been duped by this type of delivery and think that they are preaching an authentic gospel when in fact they are at best preaching a watered-down gospel or at worst preaching "another gospel" (Galatians 1:6).

The best solution I can think of is a return to the biblical gospel. This can be done by examining the gospel preaching by our Lord Jesus in each of the four gospels and the preaching by the apostles in Acts. Then we need to examine the preaching of the holy men of God who saw people truly converted. One of these old time gospelers was Donald Munro who preached the gospel in Scotland, Canada and the U.S.A. at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th. Here is a letter that he wrote to a nephew that contains an excellent example of his gospel preaching. My prayer is that this will ignite believers to return to preaching the biblical gospel so that the Holy Spirit can use it to convict and convert the lost.

"My Dear James,

It has been on my heart to write you a few lines to express my deep and tender sympathy in your trying sickness.

I often remember you in prayer before God, and may add, make special request that God may graciously bring you to know the Lord Jesus Christ, His Son, as your own personal Saviour, and that you may know and enjoy the great and glorious salvation which He has provided for poor lost sinners.

Dear James, I trust you are becoming deeply alive to the tremendous importance, to you in your present circumstances, as to this matter, and that there is a desire, on your part, of having it settled in God's way, and therefore satisfactorily settled to your joy and comfort, in the possible prospect of your soon passing into eternity to meet a Holy God.

What joy it would be to hear that you had received Christ, and that you are happy in the knowledge of your sins forgiven, and forever put away by His precious blood. But if you are not able to say this in truth yet, but wishing deeply in your heart you were able - yet cannot see how you can get at it - let me say to you, you will never attain to this knowledge by trying to work up feeling of any kind in your own heart, or trying to stir up anxiety even in yourself. What you have to do is to CONSIDER FACTS, and BELIEVE THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE FACTS.

The first of these facts, that God in His Word presses upon your attention and consideration is, THAT YOU ARE A SINNER AGAINST GOD. That you were born so, and that you have lived in the practice of sin against God all your life.

Sin is spoken of in the Word of God in two aspects: 1st, as a disease; 2nd, as a crime.
A disease that has to be healed. A crime that has to be punished. Sin is, of course, a spiritual disease, but not any the less real because it is spiritual. Your whole spiritual being has been under the power of this disease since your birth. A proof of this is, that all along you have been adverse to think about God or to speak about Him. Indeed, like all other unconverted sinners, your happiest moments have been when 'God was not in all your thoughts,' and THAT, although He has always been your best friend. He gave you your being, and is the author of all the real comforts you ever enjoyed, and above all, loved you so that He gave His Son, His only begotten Son, to save you, AND YET THAT'S HOW YOU HAVE TREATED HIM.

Surely sin is a dreadful disease. We read in Isaiah 1:5, 6: "The whole head is sick, the whole heart is faint, from the sole of the foot, even unto the head, there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores, etc.' Now, is not that a very solemn FACT to consider? Or rather, are they not a number of solemn FACTS? What hope can there be of a sinner passing into eternity, in this condition, getting to Heaven? CERTAINLY THERE IS NOT ANY. Nor would it be Heaven for him if he could. He shunned God's presence here. What could he do in Heaven, where the presence of God and Christ is the light, life and joy of all who are there? But all had to be prepared for that place and presence there. THEY HAD TO BE BORN AGAIN. By being born again we receive a new nature that is like God, and that joys in God, and this, dear James, is what you need.

The other great fact - SIN IS A CRIME, and therefore God must punish it. 'The wages of sin is death' (Romans 6:23). 'Because of these things the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience' (Colossians 3:6). So, instead of going to Heaven when they die, all who die in their sins go to Hell now, and after the judgment we are told in Revelation 20, into the Lake of Fire, where they shall be punished for their sins, under the wrath of God for ever and for ever.

Surely if you consider these solemn and awful facts, they must stir up anxiety, deep anxiety to escape such a doom, and prepare for such a Heaven of glory as awaits the people of God. If you have any such anxiety (and surely it cannot be but you have) you will be ready to consider FACTS of different character. Facts concerning God's salvation provided for just such sinners as you and me.

God has no pleasure in the death of a sinner. 'God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life' (John 3:16). The great fact for you in that grand familiar verse is, that that as one of the world, GOD LOVES YOU, JAMES MUNRO, and the measure of His love to you is, that He gave His only begotten Son, that YOU, a lost sinner, should not perish but have eternal life. And in order to save YOU, that beloved Son of God, the Lord Jesus, was lifted up on the Cross, died for poor sinners, died for YOU, bore the punishment due to our sins. 'He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him' (Isaiah 53:5). And by His sin-atoning death on the cross has satisfied God for our sins. And therefore God raised Him from the dead, and God is JUST and the JUSTIFIER of everyone that will simply believe in Jesus ( Romans 3:26). That is, trust in Him and His finished work.

Rest your soul with all your sins just as you are upon Him for time and eternity. That is BELIEVE ON HIM, and God says, All who believe in Him have everlasting life; have their sins forgiven and shall never come into judgment (John 5:24). Blessed tidings, surely! Shall never be in Hell! Shall never be punished for our sins, and are in possession of life, the life of Christ, a life that enables us to enjoy God and His Word, and all that is of God and like Him.

This, dear James, this is what you need. Believe the FACTS that God has given about yourself, that you are a poor, lost sinner, deserving nothing but Hell. You believe this, do you not? But here also are the FACTS about God and Christ. God loves YOU. Christ died for your sins. Don't you believe this? God says: 'He that believeth on Him hath everlasting life' (John 3:36, 6:37). Won't you trust Him, and take God at His Word? He means what He says, and you have to believe Him, as you would believe me or anyone else. You honour God by believing Him. By doubting Him you make Him a liar. And that is the sin of all sins. 'He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the Name of the only begotten Son of God' (John 3:18).

I fear I have wearied you by writing so long, but I am anxious to bring God's love and His unspeakable gift before you in such a way that you can understand it and receive Christ, and will pray continually for this.

Your deeply interested Uncle,

-D. MUNRO

The one to whom the above letter was sent, received Christ as his own personal Saviour shortly after, and about three months later fell asleep in Jesus having given abundant evidence of being born from above."

excerpt from Donald Munro by John Ritchie