 Wowwww! (June 25/2005) |
| Reviewed by: Butterfly91 |
| The time for semi commitment to Christ is over. The church needs to hear this message ... over and over again, until she not only hears to it, but lives it. If Christ is glorified in our lives, and we live holy and surrendered lives, preaching and living the Gospel, then the lost will see that He is real. Glory to God for this wonderful message - I feel I should make loads of copies and give them out to people in my fellowship. |
| Shaped my life more than any other sermon (June 14/2005) |
| Reviewed by: drifter |
| A well needed rebuke to all christians who seek the Lord only for self satisfaction. I have listened to this sermon probably 100 or more times. |
| A truly anointed message (June 05/2005) |
| Reviewed by: cws |
| I would rate this message with 10 stars if that were available. I dowloaded it yesterday and have listened to it twice today. |
Description: In Judges 17, the prophet, Micah hires a Levite as his personal priest. The price for the Levite's services was ten shekels (of silver) and a shirt. The real point of this sermon is an indictment of individuals and organizations practising humanism behind a mask of Christianity! "This sermon should be preached on a regular basis in every church in America!" This message has been download off this site(SermonIndex.net) over 30,000 times and is by far the top sermon! Listen to this life-changing message TODAY!
Wow, it isn't just shapenotesinger and me.. :D Praise be to GOD that He gave such a man a message for the ages, especially this one!
In case you're wondering, I recommend you listen to this sermon. :-)
Click this if you can possibly make time.
7 comments:
how did you find this message? or did it find you?
My blog name is Pippi, just so ya know. I haven't gotten myself fixed up so that I have my name in cool blue letters above my comment that leads to my blog (I'm beginning to wonder how long it will take me to get THAT going).
ANYHOO...
I wanted to ask you a few questions about your profile. You sound like an interesting person, but I think you're missing out on the beautiful, long-lasting, (and biblical, by the way) practice of listening to wonderful music and watching wonderful movies. Now, you may listen to music, but your profile led me to believe that you do not, since you said that you only like music that praises God (what good Christian doesn't) but also said "if such exists." And who listens to music they don't like? I am FIRMLY of the opinion that there are thousands of pieces of music out there that praise God just like the rest of creation.
Question: Does a swallow say "Praise God! Praise God!" in literal human language? Do flowers have little words all over them saying "Praise God from whom all blessings flow"? Musical notes don't scream Bible verses either. God created nature to glorify Him. In fact, he created EVERYTHING to glorify Him. Even music. Therefore there MUST be SOME music (excuse my caps. I'm a 16-year-old girl, and caps are the closest to inflecting my voice with that exuberant italic sort of sound on a computer screen ;-) that glorifies Him. And it doesn't have to say praise God in words either, like hymns and psalms, though those praise Him too. See, God made everything, music included. Then everything fell, including music. God redeemed (praise God!) His chosen people. He will also redeem nature when he makes a new earth.
In nature, a scene reflecting the fall of man and therefore everything else is one of a rotten log or animal;-), a pollution-flushed pond with dead fish floating in it, etc... A scene in nature reflecting man's redemption and therefore the redemption of everything else is one of those big gorgeous fields of GREEN GREEN grass, a long row of huge, ancient live oak trees in Louisiana, a wine-cup flower in my front yard, etc...
I think it's the same way with music. Now, of course perverted music does not glorify God. Heavy metal rock bands with bad lyrics, modern industrial-sounding classical music, etc... But beautiful music--Chopin, Bach, most folk music, some modern Christian music (certainly not all) hymns, Beach Boys(I know that sounds weird) etc...
Good heavens! I'm a dreadful rambler. I think the gist of what I"m trying to say is that something does not have to be plastered with "W.W.J.D" stickers or defined by theological premises to glorify God. Making a beautiful chair glorifies God because we are being like Him, while making an ugly chair does not. Singing a beautiful song beautifully glorifies God, even if it's talking about trees and grass. The musical form in itself can glorify him (that's a whole other debate that I won't go into).
Making a good movie glorifies God too, by the way. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not one of these sit-the-toddler-down-in-front-of-Telletubbies-so-he-won't-get-in-my-way-and-honey-get-three-movies-from-blockbuster-on-the-way-home-from-work-to-watch-tonight people. (whew!) Too much tv mishes your brain, and I rarely watch any. But I enjoy a good movie. Here are a few that I think glorify God: Chariots of Fire, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, Sense and Sensibility, A Thousand Men and a Baby, The Incredibles, and(don't freak out) The Matrix. Now, fallen people make fallen movies. All of these have wrong things in them. All but the Matrix have a basically Christian worldview, though. The Matrix is postmodern, but the director accidently put in great redemption themes. (poor guy, sometimes it's really hard to avoid sticking the glorious truth of redemption into a supposedly secular story. *sigh*)
We as Christians aren't crammed into a tiny crack of theology. Theology isn't a tiny crack. It doesn't cover only what has happened on earth, what is happening, what will come, the nature of God and His plans for the earth, etc... Theology applies to EVERYTHING, just as God applies to EVERYTHING. THat's why you can find the doctrine of redemption in Spring. That's why you can find the doctrine of man's complete fallen state in roadkill. THat's why I find the doctrine of joy (if there is no such officially named doctrine, htere ought to be) in swinging early on a summer morning. God put the doctrine of the Trinity into shamrocks, apples, water, and water. God is is the author of theology, obviously. THat's why theology isn't limited to doctrine anymore than He is. I don't know if I'm making any sense at all, but whether or not I am, tell me what ya think.
I'm rather an odd mix of a person (ask Beehive denizens--they know, as they are rather like me). I'm a sixteen-year-old girl who is interested in theology, music (singing it, playing it on piano, recorder, and hopefully someday, hammer dulcimer) art, architecture, history, kids, gardening, reading good novels and poetry, wearing pretty clothes (that's biblical too), braiding hair, Jesus, reading, singing, reading, singing, and SINGING! I want everyone else in the world to like them too, so perhaps that explains this rant.
I can't think of a witty, sparkling line to end this huge comment, so as I once accidently answered the phone to someone other than the Shieldmaiden (who was SUPPOSED to be calling, I hold her entirely responsible) "See ya, toots!" :-)
I found it...
..in the Budget. :-P
Well, naught really, but I think it was featured once on SermonAudio.com's front page, which is basically where someone "sponsors" it to reach the front page at the price of $50 a day. Great way to make money, I do suppose.. ;-)
As for the gloriously long comment that went after..
I do believe in God praising music, which is a lot of hymns and serious music written today, but as I'm not a terribly "right brain" oriented person, such a subjective experience such as looking at a piece of art or reading a poem is a waste of my time, as I don't see anything in it.
In any event, I don't think it's a good use of my time.. ;-) ..which is not to be snobby, nor nothing like unto that; I suppose if one could explain how one is simply struck with more than a good feeling and reminded of something more weighty than just "hmm, that sounds good" I would recommend that you do it often; But not me, because I'm not that oriented that direction, I think. When I listened to music, I enjoyed the genres of metal and hardcore, which didn't exactly teach me anything of worth.. it just lead to compromise on listening to secular stuff that wasn't even slightly God honoring, which makes me feel it's definitely best for me to enjoy sermons rather than the latest "Christian" music I can listen to over and over and not leave with that greater an understanding of God. Jars of Clay's "Redemption Songs" is pretty nice, though.. ;-)
My issue with music is that most of it is Arminian in doctrine and I hate that. The hymns that I've sung all give God all the credit He deserves, which is really covered well in this paraphrased quote from the sermon this post is about: "I'm going to love you, glorify you, and do what it is you want me to do because you are worthy and if at the end of the road you send me to hell, it is only because I deserve it and I'm not just doing it to make a deal with you."
I don't believe that most of the movies you wrote about are wrong in terms of being vulgar or crude, with the exception of the last, but I think time spent with the sole intention of entertaining myself is simply "temporary humanism", which basically means that I'm just wanting to pleasure myself and let God get glory from someone else "for now."
As for the Matrix, I think the excessive profanity, extreme violence, and an mix match of different philosophies that entertained the directors( who are two Japanese brothers, by the way ) certainly aren't pleasing to Christ and in fact is something I rather think could be something used for torture on Christians as it should pain them to see such great evidence of the world's depravity by the fact that this is what it considers "entertainment". What great injustice it is when a Christian will try to enjoy a movie with a pair of unmarried people having sex.. on camera! Ephesians 5:03 says that such things should never be named once among us! Certainly most of us will always know and say that this is wrong and displeasing to God, but how can we then watch a movie that posesses this in the storyline? It certainly will be something someone who knows the storyline will think of when you mention that you endorse this series and as such we can not overlook these sins as "censorable" or whathaveyou and we must admit it to be wrong.
As sayeth Albert Barnes: "Let it not be once named among you - That is, let it not exist; let there be no occasion for mentioning such a thing among you; let it be wholly unknown. This cannot mean that it is wrong to “mention” these vices for the purpose of rebuking them, or cautioning those in danger of committing them - for Paul himself in this manner mentions them here, and frequently elsewhere - but that they should not “exist” among them.
As becometh saints - As befits the character of Christians, who are regarded as holy. Literally, “as becometh holy ones” - ἁγίοις hagiois."
Do you see what I mean? I'd be interested in discussing it with by some means other than this medium, which is ill-suited for posts of such length. Please don't take me for condemning you or that which you love, please understand I'm just concerned about some of your stated stances. ;-)
You sound interesting, but we can go into that somewhere else. I'd be interested in learning what you're reading and such to better your understanding of theology as I'm looking for books of that sort. Well, hopefully I'll catch you later. ;-)
Pippi again...
I'm going to comment on what you said, not to harp on the subject, but just to clear up a few things that I do NOT want you to think about me. (I can't stand for people to think I'm anything but perfect ;-) rather human ailment that is, isn't it?)
I definitely try to steer away from listening to or watching something just because it “feels good.” It is my aim to filter everything that reaches my brain (be it words, music, or things I see) through the scriptures, which are the basis for my worldview.
I'm NOT Arminian, just so you know. I'm a very firm Tulip lady ;-).
One question: you seem to be equating music with hymns? Music could hardly be Arminian if it has no words, like classical music.
Just for the record, I think God loves for his children to be entertained, and have fun, though in moderation, definitely, and that should be considered the most important thing on earth (that is very easy to slip into in our culture). He did not create us to be machines who always worked and never rested. He rejoices in fun, I think.
Yes, there is bad language in the Matrix, I'm not ignoring that, and I don't like it. I don't feel that I'm supporting swearing when I watch the movie, though. Violence is not always wrong. In most of the movie it's violence in order to maintain justice. Plus, it's not as violent as people describe it, though in parts it is excessive. You're right, it doesn't have a Christian worldview, but then, I never said it did. Still, it cannot avoid several biblical themes. Does it really matter if the directors were Japenese, unless it explains the Bhuddist elements? :-) You said-- "What great injustice it is when a Christian will try to enjoy a movie with a pair of unmarried people having sex.. on camera!"--There is absolutely nothing of that sort in the Matrix. The other two Matrix movies do, but I have not seen them, since I believe that movies of that sort are wicked, evil, perverse, and defiling. I'm sorry I didn't mention that I don't like the other two, it was very misleading. We should always abstain from all appearance of evil (I Thess. 5:22), and I wasn't working too hard at that. Still, I watched the movie (partly for fun, I will admit) but partly because it's wonderful to watch in order to understand postmodernism. We need to understand our times, and though perhaps it is your belief that it does, I do not think watching the 1st Matrix movie comprimised my Christianity.
I understand that you're not condemning me, and please don't think I was condemning you, I certainly did not mean it like that.
You said--"You sound interesting, but we can go into that somewhere else"-- I was trying to avoid sounding antagonistic, so I thought I'd tell you a little about me. I'm interested in knowing who it is I'm talking to because it helps me understand what they're saying. Human nature is one of the things that makes me laugh! I guess I presumed you were the same way. That's just like me. I presume everyone else in the world is exactly like me. (not a good habit, by the way)
You said-- "I'd be interested in learning what you're reading and such to better your understanding of theology as I'm looking for books of that sort. Well, hopefully I'll catch you later. ;-)"
There now, you're trying to be conversational too! Everyone's not so different from me as I thought! :-) I'm reading a TON right now, what with school and all. In school I'm reading Matthew Henry's Commentary (I'm in Exodus right now, good stuff!) and Postmodern Times, by Gene Edward Veith, Jr. (Wonderful book on Postmodernism from the perspective of a Christian). Those are my only school books directly related to Christianity, though all I'm reading are connected less obviously. If you want that list, I'll give it to you, but I fancy you were refering to more “religious” books. Aside from school I'm reading the Bible and various fiction works. Of theology related books, I like any Francis Schaeffer or C.S. Lewis. I've been meaning to read more of that type of thing, and attend to address Arthur W. Pink, H.W. Tozer(my dad and older sister read these authors and like them a good deal), and a few books by my great-grandfather, Elder Len Dalton. He was a Primitive Baptist preacher in Azle, Tx. I want to dig deeper into the non-fiction of G.K. Chesterton. Though not directly theological, I think it wouldn't be too hard to find theological implications in his books Heretics and Orthodoxy (These really address Christianity and non-Christianity—at least so I think, I've only just started Heretics and haven't read Orthodoxy.) If you want to discuss theology in novels (I mean good, meaty, classic ones) then I'd be glad too, but I fancy that's not your line. :-)
Anyway, it's been nice discussing these things with you.
Pippi again...
I'm going to comment on what you said, not to harp on the subject, but just to clear up a few things that I do NOT want you to think about me. (I can't stand for people to think I'm anything but perfect ;-) rather human ailment that is, isn't it?)
I definitely try to steer away from listening to or watching something just because it “feels good.” It is my aim to filter everything that reaches my brain (be it words, music, or things I see) through the scriptures, which are the basis for my worldview.
I'm NOT Arminian, just so you know. I'm a very firm Tulip lady ;-).
One question: you seem to be equating music with hymns? Music could hardly be Arminian if it has no words, like classical music.
Just for the record, I think God loves for his children to be entertained, and have fun, though in moderation, definitely, and that should be considered the most important thing on earth (that is very easy to slip into in our culture). He did not create us to be machines who always worked and never rested. He rejoices in fun, I think.
Yes, there is bad language in the Matrix, I'm not ignoring that, and I don't like it. I don't feel that I'm supporting swearing when I watch the movie, though. Violence is not always wrong. In most of the movie it's violence in order to maintain justice. Plus, it's not as violent as people describe it, though in parts it is excessive. You're right, it doesn't have a Christian worldview, but then, I never said it did. Still, it cannot avoid several biblical themes. Does it really matter if the directors were Japenese, unless it explains the Bhuddist elements? :-) You said-- "What great injustice it is when a Christian will try to enjoy a movie with a pair of unmarried people having sex.. on camera!"--There is absolutely nothing of that sort in the Matrix. The other two Matrix movies do, but I have not seen them, since I believe that movies of that sort are wicked, evil, perverse, and defiling. I'm sorry I didn't mention that I don't like the other two, it was very misleading. We should always abstain from all appearance of evil (I Thess. 5:22), and I wasn't working too hard at that. Still, I watched the movie (partly for fun, I will admit) but partly because it's wonderful to watch in order to understand postmodernism. We need to understand our times, and though perhaps it is your belief that it does, I do not think watching the 1st Matrix movie comprimised my Christianity.
I understand that you're not condemning me, and please don't think I was condemning you, I certainly did not mean it like that.
You said--"You sound interesting, but we can go into that somewhere else"-- I was trying to avoid sounding antagonistic, so I thought I'd tell you a little about me. I'm interested in knowing who it is I'm talking to because it helps me understand what they're saying. Human nature is one of the things that makes me laugh! I guess I presumed you were the same way. That's just like me. I presume everyone else in the world is exactly like me. (not a good habit, by the way)
You said-- "I'd be interested in learning what you're reading and such to better your understanding of theology as I'm looking for books of that sort. Well, hopefully I'll catch you later. ;-)"
There now, you're trying to be conversational too! Everyone's not so different from me as I thought! :-) I'm reading a TON right now, what with school and all. In school I'm reading Matthew Henry's Commentary (I'm in Exodus right now, good stuff!) and Postmodern Times, by Gene Edward Veith, Jr. (Wonderful book on Postmodernism from the perspective of a Christian). Those are my only school books directly related to Christianity, though all I'm reading are connected less obviously. If you want that list, I'll give it to you, but I fancy you were refering to more “religious” books. Aside from school I'm reading the Bible and various fiction works. Of theology related books, I like any Francis Schaeffer or C.S. Lewis. I've been meaning to read more of that type of thing, and attend to address Arthur W. Pink, H.W. Tozer(my dad and older sister read these authors and like them a good deal), and a few books by my great-grandfather, Elder Len Dalton. He was a Primitive Baptist preacher in Azle, Tx. I want to dig deeper into the non-fiction of G.K. Chesterton. Though not directly theological, I think it wouldn't be too hard to find theological implications in his books Heretics and Orthodoxy (These really address Christianity and non-Christianity—at least so I think, I've only just started Heretics and haven't read Orthodoxy.) If you want to discuss theology in novels (I mean good, meaty, classic ones) then I'd be glad too, but I fancy that's not your line. :-)
Anyway, it's been nice discussing these things with you.
Woops, I posted that twice!
I see.. that... :-\
Ay, what's this about me not being conversational? I don't suppose I could prove that I am in words addressing it directly, but perhaps I shall show you a bit of my reasoning behind my apparent brevity, ahem. :P
Several of your statements you made made the self-righteous me want to launch into a tirade or diatribe. :-o
..but, I knew, that's not the best way to convince anyone of most things without miracles proving my message to be from God, so I decided to try to see where your blog might be and how else I could get in touch with you before I attempted to say anything that might be interpreted as pejorative. ;-) I have a Puritanical leaning, which I am not ashamed of, but I know I need to guard my tongue on account of self-righteousness both real and perceived that I am prone to have in my thoughts.
With that said.. I'd have to warn you about Lewis; He's very easy and sweet to read, but he's also liberal in at least some of his doctrines. It strikes me ironic that such a Catholic is so popular among evangeticals. ;-) He believed the first couple of chapters in Genesis were myths and preferred to take the view of the day, which was the full parodoxical pair of words: "theistic-evolution". He also believed you could lose your salvation and, unless I'm mistaken, believed people like Buddists could go to heaven through their religion because they "more belong to Christ than some Christians and may learn to prefer the better and more Christian views of their religion, such as faith and good works" or something like that. It's just terrible doctrine, I say, but it's open for discussion. To be frank, though, I'd prefer to discuss it in a format more suited for discussion than this comment thing. ;-)
As for music... I like hymns because I know their authors were great Godly men while I see so much conformity to the world in contemporary Christian music, like earrings in men, wild concerts, and a great majority of them preach a would-be Savior, which I of course dislike. God chose to spread His word through the "foolishness of preaching" instead of the languages or signs that the world sought.
I'm not a hedonist, but I'm not a Stoic either; I just believe we just have a lot more to do for Christ than appear at church and "Christian" concerts, wear "Christian" shirts, read "Christian" books, or lead a life which is only "Christian" to the extent where it is not "Jewish", "Islamic", or "Buddist". We should seek, strive, and pant for holiness like that of Jesus', which doesn't mean we should become monks or priests in the formal sense, but should become what I called Puritan and what another brother rightly called Biblical and use the weapons of our warfare, which facilitate the "..bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ.." Again, this would be easier to say in a different forum. ;-)
Have you ever read anything by the excellent Dr. Gill? A brother once said and I bear witness to the fact that "He was rich, just rich." So excellent. ;-) I'm looking into getting his "Bodies of Doctrinal and Practical Divinity" and his entire commentary on the Bible, which consists of 9 volumes and more than 7,100 pages in somewhat small text. :D EHHEHEHEHHE! So fun!
Well, that's enough for now, I think. ;-) Tell me when your blog get's up. ;-)
P.S. I also have Henry's commentary, but I prefer Gill's due to a few editorial decisions and a more scholarly approach as opposed to Henry's "devotional" style. He was a Puritan, you know. ;-) Good book, I say, I say.
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