Scripture and the Authority of God in the 21st Century

Posted on December 8, 2015 by ccpastormike

This article explores the subject of Scripture and the Authority of God in the 21^st Century. Part one will discuss the authority of God understood within Christian theism generally and historically. Part two will discuss the authority of God historically within American culture. Part three will consider God’s authority within 21^st century postmodern America as that philosophical system increasingly dominates most scholarly activities today. Part four will be a Christian theistic response to the conditions discussed in part three.

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Love Lifted Me

Posted on December 5, 2015 by ccpastormike

I am in my study preparing for tomorrow’s sermon in which I will be teaching through Psalm 38. I began this chapter last week and laid the groundwork for what I will cover tomorrow. Meditating on 38:4 created a word picture for me. Here is the verse:

“For my iniquities are gone over my head;
As a heavy burden they weigh too much for me” (NASB)

What do you picture? I picture a person lost at sea and becoming overwhelmed by the waves and slowly but inevitably losing the fight against the power of the ocean and sinking into death.

The Psalmist is describing sin in this passage. Sin is devastating to our physical and spiritual man. It will if left unchecked slowly swallow us up by shear force. What a picture this is of the person who refuses to cry out to Jesus in saving faith and instead slowly sinks into death.

Jesus casts a wide net to rescue all who are perishing in the sea of sin; all who cry out, “save me Jesus for I am a sinner.” Friends Jesus lifts us up out of our sin and puts our feet on the solid ground of trust, hope, faith, and love.

This picture reminded me of an old hymn I enjoy singing. Be blessed today friends in the hope and asurance that Christ brings to every soul who by faith belongs to Him.

Love Lifted Me

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more,
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Refrain:
Love lifted me!
Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me!

All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling,
In His blessed presence live, ever His praises sing,
Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs,
Faithful, loving service, too, to Him belongs.

Souls in danger, look above, Jesus completely saves,
He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves;
He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey,
He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.

Words and music by James Rowe, 1912

SER 16 – Dr. Mike Lake – The Shinar Directive

Posted on October 30, 2015 by ccpastormike

In the ancient plains of Shinar, an evil was born: the first world king, the prototype transhuman, the ultimate despot, the Son of Perdition – Nimrod. In Babylon, the Son of Perdition devised the Shinar Directive: the enslaving of humanity and the war against the God of Heaven. God’s intervention at the Tower of Babel only delayed Nimrod’s hellish plans.

As the powers of mystery Babylon gather to create the new Tower of Babel and to prepare for the Son of perdition’s return, Heaven is issuing a clarion call to the remnant: Know the strategies of the enemy, untangle yourselves from them, and become the victorious church.

It is time for the church of the living God to wake up and prepare for the coming battle. Episode 16 of SER is my interview with Dr. Michael Lake. Listen to it here.

Dr. Michael Lake, is the Chancellor and Founder of Biblical Life College and Seminary, the Host of Biblical Life TV and the Kingdom Intelligence Briefing Podcast. He is the author of the best-selling book, The Shinar Directive: Preparing the Way for the Son of Perdition, and a contributing author for the best-seller, Blood on the Altar: The Coming Christian vs. Christian War.

Book Review – The Atheist Who Didn’t Exist – Andy Bannister

Posted on October 9, 2015 by ccpastormike

One of the clearest distinguishing characteristics of the so-called new atheism, is its moral certitude. Richard Dawkins, the late Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett ,and Samuel Harris, as well as many others have declared that atheism has finally and convincingly won the war against Christian theism.

So sure are they of this decisive victory that they have made loud proclamation of the fact and proudly published their summaries of the conflict. Dawkins’s The God Delusion, Hitchens’s God Is Not Great, Harris’s The End of Faith, and Dennett’s Breaking the Spell as well as several other books by these authors and others all trumpet their perceived triumph.

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Spiritual Formation as Spiritual Deception: Beware the Peddlers of Grace (Part 2)

Posted on September 22, 2015 by ccpastormike

Evangelical Sanctification Historically Expressed

Both D. A. Carson[1] and Steven L. Porter[2] recently wrote articles that appeared in the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society questioning the approach and methodology of spiritual formation teaching. Although separated by eight years, Carson’s article explaining the dangers of spirituality apart from a robust bibliology appears to have laid a solid groundwork for Porter’s article espousing the need for a biblical methodology that presents a clear and thoughtful evangelical theology of sanctification. In the process of their individual critiques they offer some pertinent historical context related to sanctification.

Porter begins his critique of spiritual formation teaching by asserting that its practices must fall within prescribed biblical territory and as such the effort to define acceptable spiritual formation activities belongs to Christian theologians. That Christian theologians have not been involved in establishing parameters is evidenced by the “plethora of false spiritualities plaguing church and society”[3] in our present day. This is to be expected when the purpose or goal of sanctification is not rooted in biblical revelation and directive.

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