JOEL 2 GENERATION

There might not be a simpler "formula" to see God work, to see His Kingdom released, than to humble ourselves. It isn't a popular option.  It doesn't seem to sell books, get someone on the conference circuit, but humility is arguably the greatest single key to revival, to the miraculous, to the advancement of God's Kingdom in any and every area. What does God's word say?  "...for God gives GRACE to the humble" - it originates in Proverbs 3 and is taken up in the New Testament in BOTH 1 Peter 5 and James 4. But the reality is, we don't often live like this. Rather we prefer...God gives GRACE to (in other words, He blesses/empowers/enables...) the educated the relevant the connected the skillful the competent the confident the articulate the polished the (fill in the blank) God may use us with or without any of the aforementioned things, but He won't use us if we are proud.  That might be the most convicting and non-believed ...

I have cited below at length a passage from the great 2nd-century Apologist Irenaeus that frankly, NO CALVINIST today would affirm. They would call the great 2nd-century apologist anachronistically a "semi-Pelagian" (or worse). And yet it is the Calvinists who have betrayed the Apostolic faith and would be entirely condemned by Irenaeus.  History testifies that it is the Augustinian-Calvinists who have perverted the Apostolic deposit.  It is they who have abandoned the faith "once for all delivered to the saints". In the 2nd century, the particular doctrines we know today as "Reformed" were nowhere to be found in Christianity.  Some Calvinist doctrines can, in fact, be found in the 2nd century, BUT not amongst orthodox Christians.  They were found amongst the heretics and/or amongst those who affirmed pagan Greek philosophy. The Church rejected these concepts as falsehood and error. Much of their writing combated these doctrines. We will now simply let Ir...

It is in times of trouble that we see what our faith is made of.  You don't know what we have until it is tested.  Faith is no different than anything else. Psalm 91 is one of the most famous passages in the Bible.  But it is in a time like this that we find out if we REALLY believe in God's promises and what His Word says. I've highlighted/underlined some of the relevant verses in Psalm 91 for us to consider - Do we BELIEVE this? 1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3 F or He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence . 4 He will cover you with his pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge ; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness , nor the destruction that wastes ...

I originally blogged about this in 2013 and again in 2017, but in its many different forms, this topic continues to be as relevant today. Some of the so-called "Grace Teachers" have gotten more extreme. Rather than being corrected by those who have confronted them, the most extreme have taken the Biblical and historical critiques against them and have sought to strengthen their arguments.  The ones who are more balanced, like Joseph Prince, has been willing to engage someone like Michael Brown, but unfortunately continues to teach his version of the "Grace" message. In some form or another the "once saved, always saved" and/or "eternal security" teaching continues to be propagated although it cannot be found except amongst Gnostic heretics in the earliest centuries of Christianity. Get that...the ONLY people who taught that salvation once obtained could not be abandoned/lost were Gnostic heretics. And yet, many continue to propagate this fals...

Some who have followed this blog and read our stories also has listened to the podcast that I do about the supernatural life of the Kingdom.  We are empowered by the Holy Spirit who permanently resides in those of us who follow Christ.  Here is that podcast link:  https://joel2generation.podomatic.com/ But this week I have been reminded that many people in Iran have been listening to the podcast - that is many who have become Christians are hearing our stories are hungry to grow in a life empowered by the Holy Spirit.  They are hungry to see God heal people, to hear God speak and to set people free from demonic bondage. Iran is in the midst of the greatest revival anywhere in the muslim world. Tens of thousands of churches have been planted, mostly house churches, all over Iran.  Hundreds of thousands of muslims have left Islam and become followers of Jesus. So I am humbled that the podcast is being listened to (I can see the many downloads, many plays ...