Trojan horses stand proud in Europe

 

While praying for Europe early this morning and especially for Eastern Italy and those to be caught up in a devastation in that area, I saw a vision of thousands of Trojan horses standing proud and readied for war.

 

Those horses were located in strategic places in every European country and, as in the Trojan historical account; the inhabitants of those countries were sleeping. Suddenly crazed warriors emerged from the Trojan horses and fires broke out in shops and homes as the enraged hoards rampaged through towns and neighbourhoods. The destruction raged first through the UK and then Northern Europe. Great fear and bewilderment fell on the inhabitants of those lands. They stood transfixed, mouths open and minds racing; they just couldn’t comprehend what they were witnessing. “How could these we have given worldly hope and refuge to rise up against us and destroy the Western lifestyle we’ve welcomed them into?” they asked one another. “How can they mercilessly slaughter those who do not give glory to their religion and prophet?”

 

Despite the horror of this vision we must remember that God has in the past allowed such wickedness loose for a season, but He always has a remnant of faithful believers among the nations. Despite this, no deliverance comes to that nation if the sons of God are not the first to fall on their faces, repent and cry out to God day and night in order to be filled, led, empowered and anointed with His Spirit so they can overcome the enemy of God’s kingdom through Christ’s power in them (Colossians 2).

 

In the light of today’s move by Satan to attempt to destroy God’s Kingdom upon the earth through Islam, the devastation facing Europe will not be reduced or quenched unless Christ’s disciples get serious about God’s kingdom business right now. God’s kingdom business is solely the saving of souls (Luke 19:10); not the worship formats so favoured among many believers today. Also we must not ignore the fact that most Western governments, at local and federal levels, are currently passing legislation at blinding speed in order to bind up the conversion activities of Christ’s disciples.

 

Church-goers – the worldly influenced, worship focused, Sunday services are over; fervent prayer and bold witnessing must again be paramount in disciples’ lives, even on Sundays in their neighbourhoods! If it is, then true worship will emerge at night from the results of such bold witnessing during the day (Acts 4). It will not emerge from repetitive, worship focused meetings from 10am-12 noon on Sundays only.

 

What was Jesus’ focus? Jesus was emphatic about saving souls; that was His God given mandate and His first priority and He warned in John 9:4 that the time to do it was limited. Truly, there will be plenty of time to worship in heaven, but right now heaven is only rejoicing when souls are saved (Luke 15:10), not when two hours of programmed activities are convened once a week to conjure up feel good worldly “worship”!    

 

The outcomes in Europe have implications for all Western nations. Europe will be engulf in the very nucleus of this Islamic attempt through its planted cells of faithful martyrs to overwhelm the West from within, but the repercussions will race like a tsunami across the remainder of the world. If therefore the remnant of disciples in the remainder of the world will truly cry out to God and seek to be filled, led, empower and anointed with His Spirit in order to seek and save the lost, those nations will also be spared much sorrow and many lost will be saved.

 

We are foolish if we think the Father is so pleased with our worship orientated, Sunday gatherings rather than our discipleship making of the lost that He will not fulfill in us individually and corporately what Peter wrote below…

 

I Peter 4:12-19, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you: 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may be glad with exceeding joy. 14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters. 16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 Now if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and sinner appear? 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”           

 

Blessings

Bob Chapman MA

 

When persecution of Western believers begins — what then?

I don’t want to distract from the seriousness of the state of affairs in Nigeria with regard to Christians and Muslims as reported in the article below, but there is one point in the article that intrigues me because I have been wondering about it for years.

The statement from the article below that intrigues me is: “…and that his congregation had shrunk to 40 people from the 130 who attended before the attack.”

During the past 40 years, while teaching and preaching, I have often asked this question, “What effect would real persecution have on Western believers today?”

In this article from Nigeria I have at least one answer to my question.

In reality, it can be said that what would really shake Islam in any corner of the world, would be the resilience of Christ’s disciples in the face of persecution.

When the disciples were persecuted in the first century their numbers grew rather than decrease because they were disciples and not mere worship/entertainment focused church members. The first century disciples had found the pearl of great price and even in the face of death they refused to cast it aside.

In China today, persecution is enlarging the kingdom of God because they are making disciples and not church members. This is despite the fact that converts know before they become disciples that their faith in Christ could result in their imprisonment. Disciples in China are imprisoned when they are caught preaching or evangelizing or merely worshipping outside of the government approved venues with their hireling priests.

So what will happen in the West when persecution comes? One can only believe that a remnant will be all that will uphold the faith. 

We must realize that Islam and all other anti-Christian movements will only be overcome when disciples preach the Word of God regardless of personal cost.

Let us pray for the remnant of faithful disciples in Nigeria as we await the persecution that is coming to our neighbourhood in the not too distant future.

 

Rescue of Girls in Nigeria Ignites Islamic Rampage

Six churches gutted after recovery of Christians teenagers from Muslim kidnappers. By Obed Minchakpu

from COMPASS DIRECT NEWS

News from the Frontlines of Persecution

Summary:

NINGI, Nigeria, May 19 (Compass Direct News) – Islamists under the auspices of a paramilitary force last week destroyed six churches to protest a police rescue of two teenage Christian girls kidnapped by Muslims in this Bauchi state town. Police recovered the two Christian girls, Mary Chikwodi Okoye, 15, and Uche Edward, 14, on May 12 after Muslims in Ningi kidnapped them three weeks ago in an attempt to expand Islam by marrying them to Muslim men. Police took the two girls, who had been under foster care, to safety in southeastern Nigeria where their biological parents live. The kidnappers had taken the girls to Wudil town in Kano state. Following the rescue of the girls, Muslims under the Hisbah Command, a paramilitary arm of Kano state’s Sharia Commission, went on a rampage on Tuesday (May 13), attacking Christians and setting fire to the churches. Joseph Abdu, pastor of the Deeper Life church, told Compass that damages to his church property amounted to about 13 million naira (US$112,857) – and that his congregation had shrunk to 40 people from the 130 who attended before the attack. Muslims have kidnapped at least 13 Christian girls in the town, Christian sources said.

Bob Chapman MA

 

 

 

Churches — release your preachers!

 

As a Bible College Lecturer I am often asked by students, “What is the “job” description of a preacher/pastor/minister?” In the first instance I tell the enquirer that no preacher has a “job”. Preaching is supposed to be their life. In the second instance I refer them to the example of the apostles’ dedication as recorded in Acts 6. I also point out that preachers are suppose to minister “to” the Lord, not “for” the Lord, Acts 13:2; Matthew 25:31-45.

 

Acts 6:2-4, “So the twelve (apostles) convened the multitude of the disciples and said, It is not seemly or desirable or right that we should have to give up or neglect [preaching] the Word of God in order to attend to serving at tables and superintending the distribution of food. 3. Therefore select out from among yourselves, brethren, seven men of good and attested character and repute, full of the (Holy) Spirit and wisdom, whom we may assign to look after this business and duty. 4. But we will continue to devote ourselves steadfastly to prayer and the ministry of the Word. {Amplified Version}

 

Why do I refer students and church leaders to Acts 6:2-4? Well many churches are misinformed about what preacher or, as some call them, pastors, ministers, priests and vicars, are supposed to be doing. It would appear from the Book of Acts that preachers, as we define them today, didn’t exist in the first century. There were those who preached at gatherings and in the streets, but they appear to have come from among those appointed or called of the Lord to evangelize, console, edify, comfort and educate the Body of Christ, (Ephesians 4:11-16). They were not employed as “clergy” as we see in most charismatic and non-charismatic denominations today. And unfortunately these “clergorized” preachers/pastors/ministers etc, are not encouraged to be solely dedicated to prayer and the study of God’s Word so as to thoroughly divide it among disciples and proclaim it to non-believers.

 

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:12 that his belief in Christ was the catalyst for his preaching. It was not income, prestige or a successful career choice in a mega or small church that drove him to preach. His ministry testimony of 2 Corinthians 11 negates such carnality. Only convinced, convicted disciples truly preach, knowing full well that they could suffer and die for their faith just as Paul did? Carnal preachers merely orate. Where are such convinced, convicted preachers in Western Christendom today? There aren’t too many I’m afraid but they sure are needed in these, darkening days of demonic assault against God’s Kingdom.

 

It would appear from early church history that preachers sought to be filled with the Holy Spirit continually and preached day and night after emerging from dedicated prayer and study of the Word of God. While others, such as elders and deacons, were continually filled with the Holy Spirit and charismatically gifted so as to administrated the affairs of the Body of Christ in their location, (Romans 12:3-8; 1Corinthians 12:28-30). This is seldom the case today.

 

What we see today is business structured churches with “spiritual” CEOs and numerous staff fulfilling job descriptions instituted by programme orientated church board members, not the Holy Spirit as was the case in Acts 13:2-4. In smaller gatherings we have clergy who are expected to do everything and usually prayer and study of the Word of God is not included among the board approved, activities for “working hours”. No wonder the kingdom of God is not gaining ground in this lost, sinful world – God’s preachers are not allowed time to pray and study the Word of God more often than any other activity they engage in.

 

Churches – it is time the disciples among you worked together as the real Kingdom of God upon the earth and began to pitch in and fulfilled your God appointed roles in Christ’s Body and release the preachers among you from all those unnecessary, worldly activities you expect of them so that they can pray, study the Word of God, minister to the Lord and preach day in and day out to a lost world. They don’t need to be occupied fulfilling manmade “job descriptions” formulated by church business committees, church boards or groups of business or academic professionals in the congregation. Rather, they need to be hearing from the Lord while praying and studying His Word. Then they will know when to preach, what to preach, and when and how to minister to the Body of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

Evangelism of the lost and the equipping of the saints is the life call of preachers/pastors/ministers; anything more than that is not their call. And until preachers preach, pastors (elders) pastor, evangelists evangelize, teachers teach, apostles go forth, and prophets prophecy etc, the world will never recognize the kingdom of God and will continue to be deluded into thinking the “clergorized church”, as witnessed by the world for the last 1700 years, is what Christianity is all about.

 

Charismatic and non-charismatic denominations must abandon the satanic bondage of the seventeen hundred year old “clergy” system they have embraced and release their preachers to hear the Holy Spirit’s leading when they pray and study and then they will be empowered to evangelize their towns, cities, nations and effectively exhort, edify and console the disciples they make.

 

Blessings

Bob Chapman MA

Should disciples accept ungodly government legislation?

It would appear that we are too quick to forget the ancient and the immediate past when it comes to taking a stand for the kingdom of God. In my recent article (Enough is Enough) I made mention of the ungodly state of Western nations and the subtle, insidious encroachment of political correctness against the kingdom of God in those nations and how it should be opposed. To my surprise, there were some believers who asked to be removed from my mailing list and some who could not support the notion of Christians upholding the teachings of God’s kingdom regardless of  the challenges governments and minority groups could bring against them because of their fundamental belief and uncompromising faith in the Bible.

 

We must not forget the many martyrs of the past one hundred years who have stood against the blatant anti-Christian movements that have occurred in so many countries. These movements, such as atheistic communism, socialism, despotism, etc, are still with us today. These movements, though threatening to disciples, are not as dangerous as the movements that are currently underway in so called Western Christian nations. If the movements of political correctness, compromising tolerance and the redefining of sin continue without profound opposition from Christ’s disciples, they will soon overwhelm us both politically and ecumenically.

 

Surely it is time Christ’s true disciples began a concerted, uncompromising, powerful effort to oppose political correctness in churches and in governments? It is an affront to me as a disciple of Christ to be lumped in with Christendom’s “Christian representatives” by the media when a little bit of Biblical research would reveal to journalists that the so-called “Christian representatives” are not always aligned with the Bible’s description of Christ’s ambassadors, II Cor. 5:17-21. If we are going to wait for Christendom’s major denominations and their representatives to make a definitive stand against political correctness and its satanic intent, we are deluded.

 

Governments must be made aware that the true disciples of God’s kingdom are a force to be reckoned with; a force that will not compromise the inspired Word of God to be anxious to retain their comfortable existence in today’s Western society. Our martyred brothers and sisters of the last 100 years gave up all and opposed blatant moves of Satan through the governmental instruments of atheistic communism, socialism and despotism even unto death. How can we think we are exempt from a similar call of God to oppose the political correctness that is compromising the gospel message today? We are not exempt from His call to take a stand against such compromise!

 

To begin with, let’s return to preaching the simple message of the first century church; “Repent or perish!” John the Baptist preached it. Jesus preached it. The apostles preached it. Numerous disciples throughout the ages preached it. It was the essence of the powerful preaching of the great revivals. Sure, such preaching doesn’t produce contemporary mega-church membership numbers, nor does it keep one from offending governments and sin-loving individuals – but that’s the sinner-saving gospel folks and it offends!

 

Jesus, after preaching His challenging message about eating His flesh and drinking His blood in John chapter six, found that all those listening to Him wouldn’t comply with the demands of the message and departed from Him. It was even reported that the disciples contemplated the same action. John records that Jesus came to them and asked, “…does this offend you?” John 6:61.

 

Gospel preaching is offensive because it calls sinners to repentance and salvation – it does not endorse the compromised, contemporary, comfortable, emerging church environment which is now so popular in the West. When the gospel is compromised, political correctness is not opposed, the command for all men to repent (Acts 17:30) is not preached, and contemporary entertainment becomes an assembly’s main focus. While at the same time sinners quietly take the high ground, surround Biblically inept believers and implement legislation to wipe out uncompromising disciples and remove God’s kingdom from the face the earth!  

 

Let’s not be beguiled! Rather, let us study God’s Word, seek to be filled, led, empowered and anointed with God’s Holy Spirit, and return to preaching repentance and salvation without any contemporary compromise. Let’s stand, in every possible way, against all insidious political correctness before it overwhelms us.

 

Bob Chapman MA   

When enough IS ENOUGH!

I must agree with the action described in the following article.

 

There indeed comes a time when Christians and decent folk have to take serious action and make a stand against their societies and the governments which godless minorities influence to the detriment of all. 

 

Christians, we don’t have to take this Satanic rubbish any longer! Let’s stand up and be counted for righteousness sake in all nations, even if costs us dearly! It’s time to pray. It’s time to preach. It’s time to write. It’s time to say, “Far enough! You can go no further!”

 

Family groups urge parents to leave gay-friendly public schools

New California laws will eventually demand that all public school activities and instruction be positive in their portrayal of transexuality, bisexuality and homosexuality, even when teaching children in kindergarten. Randy Thomasson, chief of the Campaign for Children and Families, is spearheading a drive to get 600,000 children to withdraw from the state’s public schools.“When you can no longer protect your children, you must remove them from a threatening environment,” Thomasson said. He and other pro-family advocates cite specifically California Senate Bill 777 and Assembly Bill 394,both recently passed by the legislature and approved by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. According to the Web site http://www.rescueyourchild.org/, SB 777 will affect everything on campus-classroom instruction, curriculum materials, guest speakers, sex education, drama and music, assemblies, athletics and clubs.The same site says AB 394 “effectively promotes transexual, bisexual, homosexual indoctrination of students, parents and teachers via ‘anti-harassment’ materials.”Even public school insiders have joined the campaign. For example, veteran public school teacher Nadine Williams of Torrance said she will remove her grandchildren from public schools because of the new indoctrination laws.The laws may yet face a challenge in the courts-on the grounds of constitutionality. And a vote of the people could occur if an initiative effort succeeds.

http://www.onenewsnow.com/Journal/newsofinterest.aspx?id=75869

Blessings

Bob Chapman MA

Is God serious about sin and salvation?

Is God serious about sin and salvation? You better believe it! 

The other day the Roman Catholic theologians identified an extra couple of mortal sins”. In other words; particular sins which are worse than other sins. The Bible does not define sin by degree and God does not define sin by degree. Sin, though defined by man as large or small, is not so defined by God. If you have sinned you are guilty of all sin, James 2:10. 

So what has mankind decided to do in recent years to avoid the consequences of their sin? They have begun to change sin’s terminology. Changing terminology to hide the deed and negate accountability won’t cut it with God I’m afraid. He has clearly defined sin in the Bible and all of mankind has committed sin and fallen short of His glory, Romans 3:23. All are lost and heading for a Christ less separation from the glory of God if they don’t acknowledge their state and repent. God has been tolerant until now, but those times are over, Acts 17:30. 

So who is to blame for this state of affairs? Believers who have not become disciples of Christ; that’s who!  

The party is over church-going folk! God is not interested in our local church on the corner, our programmes which define our life’s purpose, our repetitious, predictable worship, our topical men-pleasing, new age, preaching, and our self glorifying, religious observances! He told the Hebrew nation that very thing through His prophets, but have we learned from their words and the outcomes that followed? Absolutely not!  

Everybody on the planet is a sinner and should be viewed as such until proven otherwise. Every person Christ’s disciples come in contact with inside and outside of church environments should be viewed as lost until the following question is asked? Are you born again? That’s right – you don’t know whether a person is saved from sin unless you asked that question of everybody you meet; including those you sit next to in Sunday service.  

An eighty-three year old lady who lived in San Francisco around 1890 believed God called her to China. She made plans to go despite resistance from her immediate family and local congregation. She sailed off regardless and six weeks later landed in Shanghai. She then headed north and settled in a small church mission. One morning after the Sunday service she stood at the exit and asked all as they left whether or not they were born again. As the preacher approached the exit she asked him if he was filled with the Holy Spirit. After six weeks the preacher fell on his face and repented of his anger toward the woman’s persistence and said, “God, if I am not filled with your Spirit, then fill me”. God did just that and revival broke out! An estimated one hundred thousand souls were saved in that region during that revival. 

Are you born again, living in Christ and anxious for the lost of the world? If not, why not? Are you a disciple but have not asked God to fill, lead, empower and anoint you with His Holy Spirit that you may be bold among the lost? If not – why not? Blessings

Bob Chapman MA

  

**Award winning book 2007

More about the book: http://www.christianstoryteller.com/Bob%20Chapman.htm  

Order: ISBN 1597815225

Available from:     www.amazon.com

                          www.xulonpress.com

                          www.koorong.com

                          Also from your local bookstore

Jesus Christ’s Bride has gone missing!

The search is on. Many are claiming to be His Bride but doubts about their claims continue to increase. She is too hard to recognize just about anywhere you look.  

The following description is being circulated throughout the world; maybe you have seen her somewhere? “Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Revelation 19:7-8 

Now, one would think that a quick search would be all that is needed. It can’t be that difficult to find disciples of Jesus Christ acting righteously in these wicked times. (My use of “wicked” is the old meaning of wicked, by the way) and that really says what this is all about; change “terminology” and you will not be able to find Christ’s Bride anymore. So it appears that Christ’s Bride is missing because the road signs to righteous living have been changed. That’s it! Alleluia! Alleluia!  

So to find Christ’s Bride all we have to do is examine recent changes in worldly and church terminology and then we will discover what the Bride is not suppose to be wearing and we will recognize the pure Bride once more? Yes, that’s it. Are you saying that “an affair” should be called adultery, a “little white lie” just a lie, “gay” once again be called sodomy and “sleeping together” fornication? Yes, it sure would be a good place to start.  

This is great, this is wonderful, and this is exciting. Christ’s Bride can be identified! All we have to do is return to God’s Word and Christ’s Bride will be revealed. She will be illuminated above the darkness in the world and in compromising churches. So simple – why didn’t someone think of doing this sooner? 

Blessings

Bob Chapman MA

**Award winning book 2007

More about the book: http://www.christianstoryteller.com/Bob%20Chapman.htm

Order: ISBN 1597815225

Available from:     www.amazon.com

                          www.xulonpress.com

                          www.koorong.com

                          Also from your local bookstore