From my book Kingdom Lessons Two

Back in 1989, I had a vision where the Lord reminded me that I must warn people not to fall for the trap of easy evangelism. At the same time, I realize that the opposite extreme is a works-based religious substitute, mixed liberally with elevator redemption, where you may lose and gain your salvation on a daily basis.

Recently, I read a Facebook post, where a well-known evangelist called another famous preacher a heretic. One was saying that if Jesus wasn’t your Lord, you weren’t saved. The other demanded that if you simply accepted the free gift of salvation, you were instantly and irrevocably saved.

While it is very true that we tend to add other requirements than simple faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross when we should not, it seems that many Christians, especially evangelists, tend to overly simplify the requirements of salvation. After seeing that post, I sought the Lord for greater clarification.

What seemed to come out of this little sabbatical was the impression that indeed the principle, of faith + nothing = salvation, is valid, but that the prerequisites for “saving faith” are more complex than some allow.

Let’s examine a few verses of scripture. Is it really as simple as just accepting the gift of salvation or are there prerequisites to accepting that gift?

• Matthew 4:17, From that time Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
• Matthew 21:32, For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

 

Luke 5:31-32

31 And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

 

32  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 24:46-48

 

46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

 

47   And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

 

48  And ye are witnesses of these things.

 

 

Acts 3:19-21

 

19   Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

 

20  And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

 

21   Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

 

• 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Looking at this brief survey of scripture, it seems rather plain that we must repent or confess our sins. Is repentance the only requirement of salvation? Let us peruse a few more verses.

 

Ephesians 2: 8-9

 

8   For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 

9   Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

Romans 10:9-10

 

 

9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

 

10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

 

Here we see that one must have faith. We must believe in our hearts and we must confess our sins to receive salvation. While our minds must understand the gospel, we must believe in our hearts. Mere mental acknowledgement of God is not enough to bring us to the place of becoming saved.

 

So obviously, we are saved by faith. Are we saved by having faith that Jesus once lived here on earth for thirty-three years?  Are we saved by faithfully acknowledging that Jesus was a great man, and a good teacher?  Are we saved, by virtue of the fact that we have heard many wonderful stories about Jesus, in Sunday school?  These beliefs won’t save us.

 

If I told you that Jesus wore a Stetson, fandango shirt, dress jeans and cowboy boots, you wouldn’t need to be a rocket scientist, to know I was off in left field. If I told you that Jesus wore a robe and sandals, that makes more sense. Either way, what Jesus wore for clothing has nothing to do with our salvation. In the same way, we may believe many things about Jesus, but those beliefs, while they may or may not be true, are not what we need to believe to possess saving faith. What is important is that we need to specifically have faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross!

 

Are there other essential components of faith?  John chapter 6, and the first chapter of 2^nd Timothy, provide the clues we need to find the answer.

 

• John 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

 

• 2 Timothy 1:9   Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began…

 

Did Jesus say that “no man can come to me except the Father draw him”? Jesus not only said it, He annunciated it very clearly. To counter this, many will quote 1^st Timothy 2:4, and claim that God wants everyone to be saved. But is everyone saved? Whether you are an Armenian or a Calvinist, it should be obvious that not everyone gets saved.  Jesus also said, in Matthew 22:14, “many are called but few are chosen.”  Did Jesus say we were ALL called? Calling is not only about what we are supposed to do for the Lord after we are saved, but is a vital component in our salvation.

 

Jesus warned us that the way that leads to life is narrow, and not many find it. Yes, Jesus is the only way, and that is a narrow way. But what then is the wide gate that leads to destruction?  Most would say that the wide gate is not believing in Jesus. While that is true, what is the possibility that the definition is broader than that?  Secret societies, pagan cults and devil worshipers are seeking salvation from the wrong source. These could also be examples of wide gates. My opinion is that the definition is even broader. Religion — no matter what our denomination or non-denominational group, whether we meet in public buildings, in homes, or both — may qualify as the broad road! What if we are following a religious program, but independent of a genuine saving faith relationship with Jesus Christ? If we aren’t careful, we could think we have entered the strait gate, and really, we are on the broad way that leads to destruction!

 

Matthew 7:13-14

 

13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

 

14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

 

 

After careful consideration, we should be able to see clearly, that while salvation is faith + nothing, that the issue is not a simple case of “accepting God’s gift of   salvation,” as many evangelists would have you believe. Whether we have the gift of evangelism or we have other gifts, such as helps, intercession, pastoring, or teaching, we are responsible to plant seeds.

 

Personally, I have known people with strong gifts of evangelism. It seemed as if they could witness multiple times a day, and most of the time it went so smoothly, that I couldn’t accuse them of shoehorning. On the other hand, I have also seen people get very good, at using intellectual arguments, and motivational techniques, but it seemed as if the anointing was totally absent. Many of these people would tell me that because I wasn’t evangelizing in the same manner as they were, that I was walking in sin. I have read about a modified form of evangelism called “friendship” evangelism, which takes a bit more time and is a much softer sell. Personally, what works for me is not exactly friendship evangelism, but similar. I have been used of the Lord to bring people to Him, over the years, but not often. The way it works for me is that I get a burden for someone, and I pray for them. Supernaturally, the Lord seems to orchestrate a meeting, and I don’t even think about what to say. Most of the time, I don’t see that many results, but years later, I find that they are serving the Lord. I have also been used a few times with resistant relatives, not long before their death.

 

I had an uncle, Roy, who had felt when he was young that he was supposed to be a minister. He had promised that if Jesus allowed him to go into the army and “sow his wild oats,” that when he came out he would serve Him. When he exited the army, serving the Lord was the farthest thing from his mind. Years later, I tried to talk to him, but he would say that he wasn’t good enough to be a Christian and let me know that he was not interested in the subject. Decades later, when I heard that he was in the hospital on his death-bed, I prayed to the Lord. During that prayer, I told Jesus that I didn’t know what to say to my uncle. Very clearly, which is not something that happens often, I heard a message from the Lord, “You go tell him, ‘You need to make your peace with Me.’ ”

 

When I went to visit my Uncle Roy, he was sitting in a hospital room with a life-size icon of Jesus-on-the-cross on the wall in front of his bed. After a bit of small talk, he said, “I have been laying here, staring at Jesus on the cross all weekend, not knowing if I am going to live or die. I promised Him once that I would be his servant. I never kept my promise. I don’t deserve to go to Heaven.”

 

I replied, “You may not believe this, but I prayed about you before I came. I heard the Lord say one thing very clearly, a message from Him to you: ‘Tell him, you need to make your peace with Me.’ ” My Uncle Roy’s response had gone something like this: If Jesus will forgive me and take me back, I have three requests. If He answers them, I will know He has forgiven me and will take me to be with Him.

 

• I don’t want to die here in this hospital bed.
• I want to go home, and spend some time with my family, especially my new grandbaby.
• When I die, I want to die quickly. I want to die working. I want to die in the woods.

 

Uncle Roy was so good by the end of the day that on the next day the hospital sent him home. He spent a great deal of the next month visiting with his family, especially his new grandson.

 

Uncle Roy had been one to swear often, and drink a few beers to a six-pack most nights at home, either tinkering in his shop or watching TV. As far as I know, after coming home from the hospital, if he drank at all, he drank very little.

 

People noticed that he wasn’t using course language. About three weeks after Uncle Roy had left the hospital, his employer asked if he was well enough to take a grader, clear some scrub brush, and level a piece of land, so that a building could be erected. My uncle worked on the project part time for a few days and finished it.

 

When Uncle Roy hadn’t come home the night he had said he was almost done with the project, someone was sent to check on him. When he was found, it looked as if he had just been about to drive the grader from the worksite back to the shop. Later medical examination posited that Uncle Roy had died instantly, presumably from a stroke, and then slumped over the road grader’s steering wheel. He had died working. Uncle Roy had died quickly. He had died in the woods. There is no doubt in my mind that my Uncle Roy had been truly changed by Jesus. Jesus had also answered my uncle’s very specific fleece.

 

Unless we distinctly hear from the Lord, or see evidence, we won’t know if the person we are ministering to will ever be saved. We get a piece of the action. We can’t save anyone. Jesus can and does save people.   While there may be a few cases where someone plants a seed, waters and harvests the same person, most of the time one plants, another waters and another gathers the produce. Either way it is God who is the one that brings the increase. We are just part of the show.   See 1^st Corinthians 3:6-9. What it comes down to is this:

 

1. We need to be called by the Father.
2. We need to hear the gospel.
3. We need to realize that we are lost in our sins.
4. We must admit that we have sinned and need to be reconciled with God.
5. We need to repent.
6. We need to believe in our heart in Jesus Christ and in his finished work on the cross.
7. We have to accept His free gift of salvation.

 

We cannot earn our salvation. Good works are essential to the Christian life, but they are merely the byproduct of our relationship with Christ. Useless works are things that we do for religious reasons independently of Jesus. Such works may be good deeds, but if we really don’t have a relationship with Jesus, they are worthless. Or, if we are just doing something that He hasn’t called us to do, they are of little value. Useless works will end up being merely wood, hay and stubble that will be tossed into the fire and burned. Works cannot save us.

 

Salvation is a simple work that Jesus does in our lives. We may plant seeds or hold revivals, but if any of the essential components required for saving faith are missing, (review the seven previously listed steps) salvation may not have taken place. That said, the components of salvation are not a ridged formula. Yes, there are basic principles involved in salvation, but Jesus is a master at creatively orchestrating how each individual arrives at his or her saving faith. The thief on the cross (Luke 23) did not have the gospel preached to him, but he watched the gospel enacted before his very eyes. He had accepted the wooing of the Father. The man had been penitent. His heart had been right. Obviously the thief on the cross hadn’t had the four spiritual laws recited to him. Nor had he been baptized. The thief on the cross had not accepted an altar call at a tent meeting, but had been saved. By the same token, we may hear the gospel and walk to the front, repeat the magic words dictated to us by the presenter, but we are not saved. How could this happen?

 

The answer to this question may be found if we read about the seed parables of Jesus in the thirteenth chapter of Matthew. Basically, if we hear the gospel, we have a choice. We accept, or we harden our hearts. We can mentally agree with the gospel, but if not all of the components were activated, when we enter difficult times or undergo persecution, it becomes apparent that we are not saved by choices we have made. Also, the things of the world, cares of the world, riches, or idols of life ensnare us.

 

When this happens, because we do not have God’s power working in us, we fall away. The “soils” parable has other spiritual applications, but it is really a litmus test. We will pass or fail depending on whether or not we have been saved. My maternal grandmother often exclaimed, “The proof is in the pudding!”  As Christians we start out as spiritual babes. We tend to be weak, make mistakes and fall into sin. If we learn to have a relationship with Jesus, study the word and allow the Holy Spirit to mature us, we grow in wisdom and spiritual stature. The more mature we are, the more  likely we will not fall into sin.  If we do, chances are we will repent right away and get back on track. If we merely have a knowledge of God and are just religious, we will not have the power to overcome.

 

How might this work out in real life situations?  We’ll say Ms. Smith is pressured until she comes to a gospel meeting. After hearing the dynamic evangelist, who is a great motivational speaker and has learned how to manipulate people into coming forward, Ms. Smith decides she’d better get fire insurance or she’ll end up in Hell. She then repeats the magic words that the evangelist tells her to say.  It either wasn’t the time for Ms. Smith, or she does not wish to repent or she doesn’t really believe in the finished work of the cross. She becomes a religious person, but without the inward change of true salvation. She attends church for a few months but decides that she wants to get drunk and seek erotic adventures. Back to the world she goes!

 

Another scenario has to do with deception. We’ll say that a young man named Ricky hears from a friend that “the new pastor in town has a really hot daughter!”  He goes to church and finds that she is the most beautiful and enchanting girl he’s ever seen. Ricky is unsaved. He does not have the wisdom of Christianity, but he is smart in the ways of the world. Ricky decides that, if he wants to have a chance at winning her heart. he must formulate a plan. He goes forward in response to the sinner’s call, gets baptized, starts attending regularly and learns all the buzzwords. Ricky gives generously and volunteers to join the church maintenance staff and the young adult youth group. He has not honestly confessed his sin or felt the need to believe in Jesus for salvation. Unless someone has discernment, they won’t know his true motivations or realize that he’s just a player.

 

These are just two examples of how one may give the appearance of being saved, but is really not saved. Thankfully, the Lord is wise to the ways of fallen human men and women. Eventually, some people, like Ms. Smith or Ricky, may one day receive salvation or not. Sadly, it is often much subtler. Many people are converted by Christian Bible salesmen.  They become members of a church, but merely convert into religious people in a denominational or home-fellowship social club. While never actually having had a genuine conversion, they are told that they are Christians. Over time, they get wrinkles, rolls and gray hair. They may even join the church board, memorize scripture and teach a Bible Study or Sunday School class. Eventually, they die without ever having entered into a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ!

 

Recently, while I was meditating on this issue, I received an impression about the importance of follow-up. It seemed as if the Lord was saying that the salvation + nothing formula is one side of the coin. The other side of the coin, if I have interpreted the impression correctly, which is follow-up, is distinct from salvation, but an essential part of the program. I have a friend named David Dyer who has written in his discipleship books that in the New Testament, if you read the word saved, grammatically the phrase may actually say “be being saved.”

 

Simply Bible.com is an Australian online study fellowship operated by Ron Graham. He has a great, yet short and simple, article on the three tenses of salvation issue:

 

Saved in Three Tenses  
—Have been saved, are being saved, shall be saved

 

This lesson may seem to be a statement of the obvious. However, what is obvious to some is not obvious to others.

 

—Three Times of Salvation

 

 “The Scriptures speak of being saved in three tenses and senses. In one place the scriptures say that we “have been saved” (past). In another place they say that we “are being saved” (present). In yet another place they say that we “shall be saved” (future). All these statements are true. An understanding of how we are saved in three senses and tenses, helps to avoid wrong ideas about salvation, whilst helping us gain a true assurance of salvation.”

 

Introductory paragraph of Ron Graham’s article, Saved in Three Tenses, C. 2001. To read the entire article go to: http://www.simplybible.com/f066.htm

 

If you have read Ron Graham’s article about the three tenses of the word salvation, you will see that each use of the word “saved” may be past, present or future tense. Loosely speaking, one could say “be being saved,” but in reality, each use of the word “saved” will reflect one of three senses of timing. Technically, then “be being saved” mirrors both the simple salvation element of our Christian life and the follow-up of sanctification and maturation. So in that sense, “be being saved” does actually fit the picture of the life-long Christian walk, while in reality, it is only a fair generalization, concerning the New Testament as a whole, but not an accurate representation of each individual New Testament use of the word saved.

 

Strangely enough, I had talked about this paper, when it was only in a rough outline form, at a midweek home fellowship. During that presentation, I had shared David’s study on the word saved. Later, the group listened to a YouTube presentation by a moderately well-known pastor-speaker, Steven Anderson, entitled “New World Order Bible Translations.”  Anderson’s video presentation contained a valid warning of danger, although I didn’t agree with all of his statements. He said, for example, that the use of this phrase (be being saved) was heretical and only found in the New World Order Bible translations. He stated that anyone who said that salvation was not simple was heretical. Mr. Anderson also added that if someone said that there was more to salvation, than just accepting the gift of salvation they were heretical. He concluded that if you were told that salvation is a progressive work, that too, was heretical.

 

I believe there is a very fine line here. Saving faith + progressive work = salvation is not accurate. Depending on the context, that formula could actually be heretical. But, if you are teaching that once you have been saved, sanctification and the Lordship of Jesus Christ are essential to maturation, that is not heretical.

 

For reasons listed below in this paper, I am not a “once saved, always saved” fan. On the other hand, I also believe very strongly that if you are saved, it is very difficult to lose your salvation. God is sovereign. He is also just and merciful. Because of His mercy being blended with His justice, our disobedience causes us to suffer consequences – many such divine judgments are way short of hell-fire.

 

1 Corinthians 11:27-32

 

• 1Co 11:27   Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

 

• 1Co 11:28   But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that

 

• 1Co 11:29   For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

 

• 1Co 11:30   For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

 

• 1Co 11:31   For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

 

• 1Co 11:32   But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

 

I will let the Lord choose those consequences. He is sovereign. He has that right. Like Job (13:15) said, and I agree with him, “Though He slays me, I will trust Him…”

 

While I lean towards the God’s grace perspective, I cannot be dogmatic about the issue because of the existence of such verses as:

 

1. Matthew chapter 7: 21-23
2. The Petrine epistles
3. Hebrews Chapter 6
4. Matthew chapter 25

 

Matthew chapter 7:21-23, contains the infamous “go away I never knew you” rebuff. Matthew chapter 25 holds the renowned parable of the sheep and the goats. When I see these four portions of scripture together, you may call me heretical as much as you want, I cannot invest into the member’s club of the ‘once saved always saved’ movement or dance on their bandwagon. Depending on where your denominational doctrines or personal preferences take you, there are ways to talk your way around the issue.  In other words, if you believe very dogmatically in the doctrine of “once saved, always saved”, it is not that challenging to compile a wheelbarrow load of verses that support your thesis. However, at the same time, only by ignoring or twisting several scriptures, that would by necessity place conditions on that doctrine, is one able to claim that all salvation perspectives except “once saved always saved” are heretical.

1 Peter 4:17-18

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

2 Peter 2:21,22

“For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Hebrews 10:26

 

“For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.” 

 

Hebrews 3:13,14

 

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; “

 

Hebrews 6:4-6

 

4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

 

5  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come…

 

6  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

 

The sense I have received, after having read the Hebrews 6 passages of scripture, is that we aren’t talking baby Christians here. However, I can understand that someone else, having examined these passages, could come to the opposite conclusion. When I have compared these verses, with the rest of scripture, it modified my understanding of the issue. God has a great deal of grace, but He is also just and fair. The closer you get to the Lord, the more accountable you become. James (3:1) says, for example, that teachers will receive a more severe judgment. Jesus says, in Luke 12:48, that those who don’t know better and make mistakes will receive a lesser punishment than those who know better and sin anyway.

 

Matthew 7:21-23

 

21   Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

 

22  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

 

23   And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

 

David Dyer, in his book, Thy Kingdom Come, has opined that once you are saved you are always saved, but that those who are sent away because they did not know Jesus intimately will not be allowed to be part of the millennial kingdom. They will still retain their salvation. For Mr. Dyer, when a Christian is sent to the place of “darkness and gnashing of teeth” that is not hell, but a place of separation from God, during the Millennial reign. Maybe he has a point.

 

All this to say, the Lord really put on my heart recently that salvation is a bit more complex than many will admit. Generally speaking, once you are saved you are saved, but salvation is just the beginning of a lifelong journey. If we don’t cooperate with God’s program, to allow Him to mature us and make us more like Christ, there will be consequences. It will severely hinder our growth and maturity. Satan does not want any of us to become saved. That said, the old dragon does not give up the battle, once we have been redeemed. He will commit just as many resources to keep us from maturing. The less mature we are, the easier it is for him to distract us, keep us from doing more and better work for God’s kingdom, and the harder it is for us to become overcomers. We may very well be saved, but if we don’t allow the Lord to mature us and clean us up, there will be penalties!

 

Part of what the Lord showed me, during my prayer closet epiphany, is that follow-up is very important following salvation. Important post salvation issues are not being addressed by many Christian leaders today!  Because of this, many Christians remain infants for most, if not all, of their lives.  Many saints can’t understand why they are unable to lead a victorious Christian life. What is worse, is that untold numbers of church goers, in every generation, have not entered into salvation, but lived their whole lives as religious performers of dead works, empowered by flesh and intellect rather than Holy Spirit anointing.

 

Important follow-ups after salvation

 

• We must have a public confession. It is very important to testify to others as soon as possible about your conversion in your church or to family.

 

• We must renounce devils and idolatry. This is something that is rarely done. It is very important, ASAP, after salvation, but is something that one needs to be mindful of ever after. Various sins in our lives are usually connected to demonic influences. If they are not renounced, those areas will be available down the line for devils to ensnare us. Many teach that once you are saved all of this is automatically tended and that all demonic influences are simply dismissed from our lives forever upon becoming a Christian. Initially, we may be blessed with a binding of those influences, but usually they just go into temporary remission.

 

Many people think that idolatry was an Old Testament problem. It is still very much alive and kicking today within the church!  Neither is it just a problem for pagans!

 

• Exodus 32:8   They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

 

• Judges 2:12  And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.

 

• Ezekiel 14:6   Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

 

Not only do many of us have idols in our lives, but we are often in denial about them. Certain things should be avoided totally. Other things are fine in moderation.  Anything that we give priority to over God will become an idol. Idols are not always weird looking creatures of wood, stone or metal. Anything that we give too much time, energy and financial resources to may become an idol. We may make entertainment or even members of our family idols. We may even bring occult objects into our homes without realizing they are there.

 

See YouTube video https://youtu.be/r5vZ14Ozqzw

 

Many people do not realize that music production studios – and not just rock studios – have dedicated Satanist priests and priestesses, who speak curses into the master records. When the copies of the original record are made for resale, not only does the curse go out with each record, but whenever the music plays, demons are called to the area where the record or CD is being listened to or stored.

 

See YouTube video http://www.babylonforsaken.com/devilsmusic.html

See YouTube video https://youtu.be/gWBm6s6ZFGw

 

Even more subtle, and I know this from experience, we can take a promise of God, such as a word from a prophet, and focus on it so much that it becomes an idol. We can take religious leaders, such as “our pastor” or a visiting prophet or prophetess or a radio/TV celebrity minister, and follow them instead of Jesus.

 

Ezekiel 14:2-4

 

2 And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,

 

3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their face: should I be enquired of at all by them?

 

4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

 

• We must learn to have a relationship with Jesus. Just coming to a church or fellowship once or twice a week, but not seeking the Lord ourselves, may have some benefit, but if that is all we do, it becomes a substitute for Christ.

 

• We must learn sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will teach us. Yes, Jesus supplies us with shepherds and others who have watch-care in our flock, and we need to be mindful of their teaching, but Jesus is our Lord.

 

• We must walk in holiness. When we partake in sin we may end up being a stumbling block to other brothers and sisters. Also when we sin it may put blinders on our spiritual eyes, give demons leverage over us, hinder our prayers and protection and put distance between ourselves and Jesus.

 

• We must study our Bibles alone, with our families and with brothers and sisters when we assemble together. Not only do we learn important Biblical truths this way, but daily reading is important for cleansing us. When we study our Bibles, the Holy Spirit brings the information back to remembrance in the future. The more sensitive we are to the Spirit the less likely we will just rationalize it away. How many Christians never read their Bibles or just read them during church?

In closing, there is a religious saying, “Many foxes spoil the vine,” roughly adapted from chapter 2 verse15 of The Song of Solomon. Beware! Many foxes, in the form of shyster preachers, ignorant but well-meaning Christian workers, and shadowy demons, may spoil our Christian walk. Don’t fall for the trick of easy evangelism! True, salvation is not faith plus works or faith plus submission to a Christian leader or faith plus anything. However, faith is not just mumbling a sinner’s prayer. Faith that Jesus was a good teacher or that you are going to promise to be a good boy or girl, go to church regularly, give generously and listen to your pastoral eldership is not the guarantee of salvation. Repentance from sin and believing in your heart are essential to accepting God’s free gift. Salvation is just the beginning of a lifelong covenant with Jesus Christ. If you do not submit to Jesus’ Lordship and His training, you may be saved, as if through fire, but you will not mature. Not only will your disobedience have consequences, but you will never be an efficient servant for the kingdom. Remember Paul’s warning to  the Philippians:

 

Philippians 2:12

 

12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

 

This does not mean that salvation is dependent on works. Nor does it mean that you can gain and lose your salvation on a daily basis. Faith in various facts about Jesus is not the same as saving faith in the finished work of Jesus at the cross. What Paul’s warning means is that becoming saved is not just a quickly-to-be-forgotten blip on the roadmap of your life! After you become saved it is up to you to reverence Jesus every day, learn how to have a relationship with him and mature. Salvation and sanctification are different and independent of each other.

Everything you do, from living your life, to using your spiritual gifts, time and natural talents, all need to be a byproduct of your relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, you will not mature. At best, you will be merely religious, and end up with a pile of worthless works that will be burned, but you will be saved. At worst, you will never actually have been spiritually converted into a genuine Holy Spirit sealed and empowered relationship, with Jesus Christ. Merely having accepted a mental agreement to participate in a religious social club eventually results in conflagration, rather than heavenly safety.

Never forget, that even though the devil does not want you to get saved, he fears the Christian that matures!  Mature Christians tend to be resistant to his snares! Mature Christians are much more likely to thwart his dark kingdom plans!  Mature Christians benefit from great protection and incredible answers to prayer!

Saving faith is essential for the true salvation experience. All baby Christians start with that same saving faith. When we cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and that initial saving faith grows within us, it transforms us into mature Christians, who exude the very poignant fragrance of Jesus Christ to a watching world.

(clickable link to my blog post which has links for each of my books at Amazon)

https://wayneoconner.com/autumn-2016-updated-books-by-wayne-oconner-list/

https://wayneoconner.com/my-create-space-page-link-for-book-purchases/