Episode 15: Testify!

This week, we take a look at the importance of sharing our own testimonies. Sharing a personal account of how God changed you can have a big impact on unbelievers. Special guest testimony by Jackie Evans! Music by Lecrae (lyrics below)!

Lyrics
“Tell the World” by Lecrae (feat. Mali Music)

(Chorus)
Now I’mma tell the world, tell em
I’mma tell it everywhere I go
Tell the world, tell em
Yea I’mma billboard
Tell the world, tell em
Cast Him like a radio
Tell the world you are to know
I’m brand new

(Verse 1)
Uh, I know one thing’s true
I don’t even really deserve to know you
But I… I’m a witness that you did this
And I’m brand new so I… I’m ready to go
And I’mma tell the world what they need to know
A slave to myself but you let me go
I tried gettin’ high but it left me low
You did, what they could never do
You cleaned up my soul and gave me life, I’m so brand new
And that’s all that matters
I ain’t love you first, but you first loved me
In my heart I cursed ya, but you set me free
I gave you no reason to give me new seasons, to give me new life, new
Breathin’
But you hung there bleedin’
And you died for my lies, and my cheatin’, my lust, and my greedin’
What is a man, huh? that you’re mindful of em?
And what do I have to deserve this love?

(Chorus)
Tryna make the moments last
Holdin on to the past
But like a hero in a dream
Christ came and He rescued me!
Now I’mma tell the world, tell the world, tell em
I’mma tell it everywhere I go
Tell the world, tell em
Yea I’mma billboard
Tell the world, tell em
Cast Him like a radio
Tell the world you are to know
I’m brand new

(Verse 2)
I can’t offer you nothin’, but your care and kindness keep comin’
And your love is so unconditional, I get butterflies in my stomach
I got the old me in the rear view, gotta new me, gotta clear view
I was so dead, I couldn’t hear you
Too deep in sin to come near you
But you drew me in, and cleaned me up
And take me home and beamed me up
Before you do, just let me tell the truth
And let these folks know that I done seeing your love
And it’s everlastin’, infinite
It goes on and on, you can’t measure it
Can’t quench your love, they can’t separate us from the love of God
It’s no estimate
My face look the same, my frame done rearranged
But I changed, I promise I ain’t the same
Your love is so deep, you suffered and took pain
And died on the cross to gimme a new name
Ain’t nothin’ like I seen before
I gotta beam to glow
Was low, down, and dirty but you cleaned me Lord
You looked after me, you keep rockin me
Imma tell the world and ain’t nobody stoppin’ me

(Chorus)
Tryna make the moments last
Holdin on to the past
But like a hero in a dream
Christ came and He rescused me!
Now I’mma tell the world, tell the world, tell em
I’mma tell it everywhere I go
Tell the world, tell em
Yea I’mma billboard
Tell the world, tell em
Cast Him like a radio
Tell the world you are to know
I’m brand new

(Verse 3; 2 Corinthians 5:17)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
He is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Yea, I’m brand new

(Chorus)
Now I’mma tell the world, tell the world, tell em
I’mma tell it everywhere I go
Tell the world, tell em
Yea I’mma billboard
Tell the world, tell em
Cast Him like a radio
Tell the world you are to know
I’m brand new

Hollywood’s “Noah” is a Sinker

I think it goes without saying that we, the Evangelism Guys, take the Bible for what it is: perfect, holy truth and something that is definitely not to be meddled with. Deut. 4:2 says, “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you” (emphasis added). Also, Rev. 22:18-19 says, “For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book” (emphasis added). God makes it quite clear that His Word is perfect and is not to be altered. That being said, director Darren Aronofsky has definitely taken the Biblical account of Noah and turned it into a complete farce. Ken Ham, CEO of Answers in Genesis (superb ministry, by the way), saw the movie so as not to be biased, and was completely upset by it. Here is what he had to say:

“Friends, I just arrived home after seeing the Hollywood (Paramount) movie NOAH tonight. It is MUCH much worse than I thought it would be. Much worse. The Director of the movie, Darren Aronofsky has been quoted in the media as saying NOAH is ‘the least biblical biblical film ever made’, I agree wholeheartedly with him. I am disgusted. I am going to come right out and say it–it is disgusting and evil–paganism! Do you really want your family to see a pagan movie that has Noah as some psychopath who says if his daughter-in-law’s baby is a girl, he will kill it as soon as it’s born. And then when two girls are born, bloodstained Noah (the man the Bible calls righteous Noah–Genesis 7:1), brings a knife down to one of the baby’s heads to kill it and at the last minute doesn’t do it–and then a bit later says he failed because he didn’t kill the babies. How can we recommend this movie and then speak against abortion! Psychopathic Noah sees humans as a blight on the planet and wants to rid the world of people.

I feel dirty–as if I have to somehow wash the evil off me. I cannot believe there are Christian leaders who have recommended people see this movie. It’s as if someone heard the name Noah, that there was a Flood and and Ark and then made a pagan movie up about it. I don’t think there is anything else that really has to do with the Bible’s account except some names of people! Methuselah is some sort of witchdoctor who can do magical things. There is so much more I could say about it–so much more. And what’s with the bizarre fallen angels being living rocks helping Noah??

I suggest you join us tomorrow night for our live stream at 8 pm EST. A number of AiG researches watched the movie tonight and four of us will be on the live stream to explain what we saw and heard. I am SO GLAD my wife did not come with me to see this–she would have been terribly upset. I feel violated as a Christian. Regardless of what others say–I just had to come right out and say this. Oh–it is also a boring movie–yes boring! Worst movie I think I’ve ever seen. That’s my personal take–join us tomorrow night for our discussion of NOAH.

The movie begins with (and has the same statement later on): ‘In there beginning there was nothing’ The Bible states ‘In the beginning God.’  That really sums up the difference!“

As you can see, this movie is an atrocity and a half (maybe that’s giving it too much credit), and should be avoided. As with most movies Hollywood comes out with, it’s really best if you just READ THE BOOK. To check out more on Ken Ham and his live stream about the movie, check out the link below:

http://www.answersingenesis.org/creation-debate/noah-movie?utm_source=aig-homepage&utm_medium=banner&utm_campaign=noah-movie-campaign

“When Silence is Sinful” by John MacArthur

It seems like nowadays when we see something wrong happening, even if it is right in front of us, we tend to ignore it rather than oppose it. Whether it is because of ignorance, laziness, or feeling like we don’t want to offend, this is a problem we have that we need to fix. One of our very favorite Bible teachers had this to say:

“When Silence is Sinful”

by John MacArthur

Ignore it and it will go away. That seems to be the tactic the charismatic movement has adopted when it comes to false prophets, heretical theology, and phony miracles. Many charismatics simply turn a blind eye to the corruption in their midst, assuming that if it’s not happening in their church then it’s not their problem.

But that’s not the biblical pattern for dealing with sin in the church. In fact, it directly contradicts the apostle Paul’s instructions for dealing with false converts and professing believers whose sin is corrupting the church. To the church at Ephesus he wrote, “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them” (Ephesians 5:11).

Our Christian responsibility goes beyond abstaining from the “deeds of darkness.” We are also called to expose them. To ignore evil is to encourage it, and to keep quiet about it is to help promote it. The verb translated as “expose” (from elegchō) can also carry the idea of reproof, correction, punishment, or discipline. We are to confront sin with intolerance.

Sometimes such exposure and reproof will be direct and at other times indirect, but it should always be immediate. When we are living in obedience to God, that fact in itself will be a testimony against wrong. When those around us see us helping those in need rather than exploiting them, hear us talking with purity instead of profanity, and observe us speaking truthfully rather than deceitfully, our example will be a rebuke against selfishness, unwholesome talk, and lies. Simply refusing to participate in a dishonest business or social practice will sometimes be such a strong rebuke that it costs us our job or a friendship. Dishonesty is terribly uncomfortable in the presence of honesty, even when there is no verbal or other direct opposition.

Often, of course, open rebuke is necessary. Silent testimony will only go so far. Failure to speak out against and oppose evil is a failure to obey God. Believers are to expose the works of darkness with whatever legitimate, biblical means necessary. Love that does not openly expose and oppose sin is not biblical love. Love not only “does not act unbecomingly” but it “does not rejoice in unrighteousness” wherever it might be found (1 Corinthians 13:5–6). Our Lord said, “If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private. . . . If he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you. . . . If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church” (Matthew 18:15–17). This is the responsibility of every Christian (cf. 1 Timothy 5:1, 20; 2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 1:13; 2:15).

Unfortunately, many Christians are barely able to keep their own spiritual and moral houses in order that they do not have the discernment, inclination, or power to confront evil in the church or in society at large. We should be so mature in biblical truth, obedience, holiness, and love that the natural course of our life is to expose, rebuke, and offer the remedy for every kind of evil.

Sadly, many Christians do not confront evil because they do not take it seriously. They laugh and joke about unadulterated wickedness—things that are immoral and ungodly in the extreme. They recognize the sinfulness of those things and would likely never participate in them; but they enjoy them vicariously. In so doing, they not only fail to be an influence against evil but are instead influenced by it—contaminated to the extent that they think and talk about it without exposing and rebuking it.

Whether the sin is isolated to one small group or congregation, or it thrives on a global scale like the corruption in the charismatic movement, God’s people need to be faithful to expose and deal with it biblically.

Pastor Saeed Taken to Hospital, But Forced to Leave Untreated

We have reported on Pastor Saeed before, and have urged you to pray for him. Now, according to the ACLJ, things are getting uglier. Here’s the article from ACLJ:

American Pastor Saeed Abedini’s case has taken a turn for the worse.  He has been shackled and refused medical treatment at a hospital, as Iranian guards forcibly ban visitors.

A little over a week ago, Pastor Saeed – a U.S. citizen – was  moved from Rajai Shahr Prison to a private hospital in Iran.  He was told he would receive further tests on his deteriorating medical condition and undergo surgery to address chronic pain in his stomach area – the result of numerous prison beatings.

For the past week and a half, he has undergone various tests and received much needed nourishment.  This had been a very positive development and much needed reprieve for Pastor Saeed.

Today, that all changed.  This morning Iranian guards lashed out violently against  Pastor Saeed and an elderly relative who had been able to visit him in the hospital.  Pastor Saeed was pinned down and shackled.  His elderly relative was roughly handled and expelled from the hospital.

The guards stated that they had a court order banning visitors and instructing that he be shacked at all times.  Hospital doctors also told Pastor Saeed that he must leave the hospital and return to prison.  They are refusing to provide him with anything more than mere pain medication. They have denied him surgery – the only treatment that will help. They have even denied him test results.

The timing of both of these moves is very suspect.  In what appears to be a move to put Iran in a favorable light, Pastor Saeed was moved to the hospital, something his Iranian family has been actively seeking for months, coinciding with the arrival of the High Representative of the European Union, Catherine Ashton in Iran.  However, as  soon as she departed Iran, Pastor Saeed was informed that he would be moved back to prison without receiving any real treatment.

The EU has been faithfully raising Pastor Saeed’s case for some time, and this move would allow Iranian officials to report that he was receiving medical treatment if his case was brought up during the EU’s visit to Iran.

This disturbing turn of events reiterates the need to keep pressure on Iran.  As soon as pressure is let up, the situation gets worse.  Iran must not be allowed to continue to abuse and mistreat Pastor Saeed out of the public spotlight.  The Iranian government is wrongfully imprisoning him and denying him needed medical care because he is a Christian.  Each day apart from his family and away from the care of physicians is another human rights abuse.

While Iran’s actions seem to undercut the sincerity of Iran’s leaders in promising the world change in Iran, there is still an opportunity for President Rouhani and Iran’s Supreme Leader to act.

March 21st is the Iranian new year, a time when clemency is often granted to prisoners of conscience.  If Iran wants the world to see it in a new light, now is the time to grant clemency for Pastor Saeed.  Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif said clemency could be possible.  Now would be the time.

We are continuing to fight for Pastor Saeed’s freedom.  Right now a legal team from both our U.S. and international offices is meeting with world leaders at the United Nations office in Geneva.

Please continue to pray, share his story, and sign the petition for his freedom.

Episode 14: Examine Yourselves

In this episode, we take a look at a very serious issue that too often gets overlooked by Christians. Based on verses in 1 John, we look at the importance of self-examination. This is so important for all Christians no matter how long you’ve been in the faith.

Episode 13: We Need It Daily

How often are you in the Word? Do you take it in as much as, say, your daily meals? The Word is as important as food to us. In this episode we take a look at why. Also, Joe goes in-depth answering our question of the week: Is it possible for a Christian to lose their salvation?