Edition 64.  13th December 2010

In this edition:

●Why the unsaved are unsaved

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Why the unsaved are unsaved:

This question has puzzled the minds of a great many believers in our Lord for a long time. Why is it that so many can't see what you see? Why is it that so many won't respond to the salvation call, when it's the most important issue of all time? Why is that so many can't see their coming horrific judgement?

These are some of the questions that we'll have a look at in this edition. This will clear up many of these mysteries.

Let's firstly identify what salvation is and isn't:

There's no formula for how salvation comes, but there are some essentials. Salvation is called the new birth. A natural birth happens at a point in time and space. The new birth is no different. The new birth is not becoming a believer. "Even the demons believe and shudder" says the Bible. It is a regeneration and re-creation of your spirit, as you, in all sincerity consciously invite the Lord into your heart. The new birth does not affect your mind or soul, that has to be "renewed daily with the Word"  (Romans 12:2 ) This is after the new birth or spirit salvation. You then become more and more of a believer in the word of our Lord.

The new birth is exclusive. It comes only through the finished work of the cross of Calvary and the cleansing work of the shed blood of our Messiah. There are many fruits of salvation. If you are truly saved your life's direction will take a dramatic turn. You will be led by the new indwelling Spirit of God, now residing in your spirit. You will be led to renew your mind, forsake error and sin, follow and get to know our Lord as your own Father, Brother and best Friend.

The new birth is not deciding to be good. It is not based on works of any quantity or quality. It has nothing to do with social standing or lack of it. Works etc. come into play after salvation.

Main reasons why the unsaved are unsaved:

●Spiritual blindness caused by pride. ●Influence of crowd psychology. ●Demonic activity through generational curses. ●Hard hearts. ●Influence of Hollywood and celebrity and the love of evil. ●Disunity in the church and spineless evangelism. ●If there is a God, He loves everyone, so I'm okay ●Parents ●No preaching of the law. ●The removal of hell from modern preaching. ●Nations turning against God and Israel. ●Ignorance of the days of judgement.

Let's have a look at these in more detail:

●Spiritual blindness

People remain unsaved because they can't see kingdoms in conflict. They can't see the Kingdom of God. They have no spiritual eyes...they are truly blind.

John 3:3 "Unless you are born again you can't see the Kingdom of God."

Matthew 11:25-26 "I thank you Father Lord of heaven and earth because you have hidden these things from the wise and the prudent and have revealed them to babes." This section of scripture is headed "Woe to the impenitent cities." It means very clearly that the things of God are hidden to the rebellious and those that are wise in their own eyes. The term "babes" implies humility and trust.

The opposite view to the above verse is contained in Psalm 25:14 "The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him and He will show them His covenant."

John 14:17 "The world cannot receive the Spirit of truth, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him, for He will be with you and in you."

2 Corinthians 4:4 "The god of this world has blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God should shine in on them."

Isaiah 44:18 "They do not know nor understand for He has shut their eyes so that they can't see and shut and darkened their hearts so that they can't understand."

Daniel 12:10 "Many shall be purified, made white and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand."

The above verses make it very clear why the unsaved are unsaved. They can't see into the spirit realm at all. They can't see or understand real truth. They can't because both God and the god of this world, Satan has blinded them. As such they can't see their need for salvation or their coming ride to hell.

The answer is to let them know why they can't see and what the solution is. If an unsaved person understands why he can't see what you do, or why he needs salvation, then the door to his salvation has just opened. The Lord needs just a small crack in the door of the person's heart to enter in with salvation. Many people don't know the truth because they don't want to. There is no crack in the door for God to get in with the smallest morsel of truth.

You can't make a blind person see. Only God can, but now you know and the individual knows why he is in such a state. The answer is contained in this simple verses..."You must be born again."

Once a person is born again, the Holy Spirit moves into that person's heart and God now opens their spiritual eyes, but there is still an ongoing work which needs to be done as we follow our Lord. After salvation we need to be equipped with the gifts of the Spirit of God so that we can then see the road ahead. We need the gifts of the Spirit to be effective in our walk and calling and to see the blinding work of the devil.

John 16:13 "When He the Spirit of truth has come He will lead you into all truth."

John 18:37 "...Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."

Spiritual blindness is always related to pride, self righteousness or self assurance. The Bible says that "God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6)

●Influence of crowd psychology

Many people are unsaved because so many others are. It's comfort in numbers or crowd-think! The tragedy of so many people is that they don't question. They follow the masses like blind rats. It's a very powerful force. Let me tell you that it's an enormously liberating thing to turn your back on crowd-think and the traditions of man! To get out of that blinding position releases you to salvation and to be an instrument in God's hands.

Lots of people in a sinking boat doesn't mean the boat's not sinking!

There is a great danger in thinking that the new emergent norm is right, because it's popular. On a personal note I have little respect for blind crowd followers. Mavericks, oddballs risk-takers and those who stand out from the crowd...now that's a different story!

Let me assure you that seeking God for salvation and getting to know Him afterwards is a lonely journey. No one can do it for you, but it is so, so, so worth it!

The masses are going further and further off track and more deeply into darkness. You need to turn and go against this flow.

●Demonic activity through generational curses.

The English word 'culture' is not found in the Bible, but nevertheless it's derived from original words meaning collective or group 'work' and 'worship' So the word itself includes within its meaning, the works that a group of people do and the collective worship. This is what identifies and defines a culture of people.

In numerous passages of scripture we see that God deals with people as individuals and as a nation or ethnic people group. In the Bible the word 'nation' is derived from the original word 'ethnos' which means ethnic group.

There are many verses of scripture relating to illegitimate culture or worship. In some of these verses God curses these groups down through many generations. This is why some ethnic groups just can't lift themselves up out of poverty and continuing witchcraft.

This is where the true call of the evangelist and mission worker comes into play. We've seen so many wonderful examples of entire tribes, or people-groups coming out of their witchcraft into salvation, as the generation curses get broken.

I've personally worked on many mission trips, some of the most exciting were to the Kung bushmen of the Kalahari desert in Botswana. I've personally been involved in deliverance ministry and teaching out in desert outposts. Over the years and after many trips, we built and set up a Bible school in a desert village, which led to many converts coming to know the ways of our Lord much more deeply. Today the whole region is Christian, with churches in every single village.

These wonderful people, who were once devil worshippers, are now spreading the gospel in their land and into neighbouring Namibia.

Spiritual warfare through the gifts of the Spirit is an absolutely essential tool required for evangelism and ministry into cultures and nations dominated by witchcraft.

●Influence of Hollywood, celebrity and the love of evil.

John 3:19 "This is the condemnation that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."

As regular readers know, I have a particular hatred for Hollywood, celebrity, and modern entertainment. Hollywood and the entertainment world always presents a terribly distorted view of God's truth, but it's much worse than that; Hollywood presents a world which to many is the desirable norm. ●Please read edition 23 titled; "The power of the media."

Just in case you were wondering, the last movie I went to was in 1980.

People essentially love Hollywood because they love evil. They glorify sin, and rebellion to God with no restraint. Sin has become so acceptable and normal that people think they don't need salvation. Celebrity is their god.

Isaiah 5:20 "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil and who put darkness for light and light for darkness...woe to those who are wise in their own eyes." This is speaking of those who neutralise values and make it all normal and acceptable.

Malachi 2:17 "You have wearied the Lord with your words...in that you say, everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord and He delights in them."

These people are bound in the world of self-seeking and materialism. It is their god.

Romans 2:8 "Self seekers don't obey the truth".

1 Timothy 4:1-2 "The Spirit expressly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy having their own conscience seared with a hot iron."

A seared conscience is a very dangerous thing. You don't respond properly to normal inputs. You become more and more non-emotional and cold to all manner of evils. The way you 'sear' your conscience is by continuously turn to sin and ignoring the consequences.

Sin then becomes the new normal, it then becomes right in your eyes. "There is pleasure in sin for a season only" says the Bible. Then you need to turn up the heat and sin more and more to get the same kick. This hardens your heart to God, His ways and word.

People with hardened hearts are very difficult to reach with the gospel. In a sense they're psychopathic.

Hollywood, celebrity and the like, over time, opens your eyes to darkness and makes you one with the world system, its ways and it's god.

I vividly recall many years ago, when one of my spiritual fathers, Derek Prince said that he would never set foot in a movie-house ever again after being offended by a string of blasphemy and foul language mixed together. He never did.

●No preaching of the law.

Galatians 3:24-25 "The law is our schoolmaster to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith, but after faith has come, we are no longer under the schoolmaster."

Of course, I'm not suggesting coming under a legalistic form of religion. In fact all religion is a satanic counterfeit. Religion is based on law and works, to please an angry God. Biblical Christianity is based on faith and grace. But law has a vital place in identifying sin. If there is no law there is no sin and salvation is not required. You can't get fined for breaking a law that doesn't exist.

The Ten Commandments (all ten)  brings understanding of what holiness is and what sin is and the need for salvation by faith. It is a schoolmaster to lead us to Christ. Today, the Ten Commandments are a dead tombstone with some half-obscured, forsaken, old-fashioned, lichen-covered unclear words on it.

People have no interest in salvation because they don't see the need for it. The church has removed the preaching of the law. There is no "schoolmaster to lead them to Christ." They are left hell-bound because the church has capitulated to the devil.

I'm so thankful that I cut my spiritual teeth on old-school hell-fire and brimstone preaches. We don't have them today, because it's not a popular message. The interesting thing is that these old-school hell-preachers had real authority and real converts. Today their material is even more relevant.

A further damaging result of the removal of the preaching of the law is in the arsing of unrestrained wickedness in society.

Proverbs 28:4" If you forsake the law you will praise the wicked."

What a shocking verse that is, and how true it is in almost all sectors of society.

The law has a further purpose in identifying God's holiness and purity. If you cast down the law, you have a god that can fit any image created by you!

Hosea 4:1-2 "There is no truth, or mercy, or knowledge of God in the land. By swearing and lying, killing and stealing and committing adultery, they break all restraint with bloodshed after bloodshed."

●Disunity in the church, error and spineless evangelism.

When a worldly self-orientated spirit is in the church, that church is powerless to break that same power in unbelievers. They render the salvation of the world impossible. When the church is a friend of the world, it gives it a false hope.

All of the unsaved are on the verge of hell and in an infinitely greater danger than they can imagine. The unbeliever must be made to feel distressed and guilty. Relieving this without repentance endangers that person greatly.

The anxious sinner must not be comforted with sweet promises of heaven. He must be taught to repent and seek Christ.

Psalm 119:53 "Horror has taken hold of me because of the wicked that forsake your word." Are you horrified at the wickedness of the world in all its ways? If not, forget about trying to get people saved, because you are on their territory! Is your church leader horrified at the world?

When the world grows darker its only because the light is growing dimmer!

The unsaved are affected by the conviction of truth in believers.

Today's poofta pastors teach that God loves the sinner so much they have nothing to fear. The weak divided church declares to unbelievers that there is no truth in the gospel by their compromise with the world

Today we lack true apostolic authority in the church.

The five-fold ministry gifts of the Spirit which are supposed to be in operation in the church have been neglected and watered down.

The ministry office of evangelism and missionary work is all but dead in most churches. I say this just after seeing off 16 of my fellow workers at the airport on a ministry trip to Egypt, Israel and India for seven weeks. Most are young guys and girls, but all were filled with such enthusiasm and a passion for the lost.

The blasphemous doctrine of devils inflicted upon much of Christendom by the Catholic church, that salvation comes through infant baptism has caused many to erroneously believe that they are saved. The satanically inspired belief that salvation comes by church membership is just as wrong.

Mark 7:13 "You make the word of God of no effect by your traditions handed down".

The divine authority of our Jewish Messiah has been watered down. The image that most have of our Lord is of some happy blue-eyed, blond Norwegian, just like the picture on many walls. An unholy, jolly, fat, satanic slob in a Coca Cola suit, called Santa has more influence than the truth of the holy Bible. Mysticism and variable-value philosophy has crept in un-noticed.

The great tragedy of a church in chaos, disunity and Bible-forsaken half-baked doctrine is that it's all responsible for a great many going to hell.

For revival to take place there must first be revival within the church. It must be restored to it's Biblical pattern.

The big answer is not to pray for the unsaved, but for the church to repent and return to the Bible in all it's ways.

●If there is a God, He loves everyone, so I'm okay:

Many think that they're okay. They think that God is their servant and puppet on a string. They have become God's editor. The consensus view is that there is a little bit of truth in every religion, so all are legitimate. The modern view is that the world is too large for just one religion, so tolerance of all is needed. Tolerance is the chant of the modernist.

"Tolerance is the virtue of people without convictions or morality." - English novelist

The realm of variables values is the dwelling place of tolerance. Of course tolerance is a Biblical notion in certain circumstances. It can be a bridge to the unsaved. Jesus extended forgiveness to the woman caught in adultery. But He never became tolerant of adultery. He called it sin and demanded repentance. Walking in love doesn't mean bowing to and accepting the sin of the world.

Tolerance comes disguised as relevance to the modern world.

Tolerance is the last virtue of a collapsing society.

Tolerance and moral bankruptcy are twins.

Modern spineless preaching has become tolerant of a great many evils. This creates the idea that God accepts anything and everything.

Tolerance does not bring people to repentance. After all why repent if the variable values of the world are okay.

One day when the unsaved stand before God in judgement, perhaps they should ask Him to be tolerant. He will say: "I was so tolerant, I sent My own Son to take your place in judgement on the cross." "You rejected My tolerance and now you want Me to be tolerant with you?" "Sorry, I can't do that, it's too late"

Compromise and tolerance is not love, it's hatred in action.

●The removal of hell from modern preaching

There are three times more Bible verses dealing with hell than heaven. Hell, the devil, Satan and demons are unfashionable in today's preaching. That doesn't change the truth at all or make any of them go away. Tragically, what it does do is blind people to the devil. It blinds people to an eternal destiny so horrific it's difficult to comprehend. The fear of hell is as necessary and healthy as the fear of God.

You can cast down truth that you deem objectionable, but you are a fool if you do so.

Actually, nobody ever casts down the truth! It will ultimately cast you down!

Interfering with God's truth will injure you supremely.

The removal of hell from the preaching of many churches today is a cursed lie born in hell. It's the most cruel, evil deception ever to come from the heart of Satan!

No preaching of eschatology (end-times) in the larger sense, which includes much on hell , has severe consequences for all, but especially the unsaved.

●Parents:

Many will go to hell because their parents led and paved the way. Modern liberal parents, your anger is now going to boil over! You can get angry with me, but your fury would be better aimed at God.

Proverbs 13:24 "He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly".(lit- early in life)

Proverbs 23:13 "Do not withhold correction (a beating) from a child...for if you do, you will deliver his soul from hell."

Proverbs 25:28 "Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down without walls."

The above verses speak of the fact that an undisciplined child will not have borders. In fact he will very likely grow up with the borderless, non-judgemental view of the parents, that all religions are equally valid. Discipline assists in delivering a soul from hell! If you don't like that argue with God. He wrote that verse, not me. But understand that you are gambling your child with the devil...Not very cleaver!

Marriage is typed with the new birth in a few passages of scripture. Today betrayal, divorce and such things, teach the kids that permanence is a joke and everything is variable.

●Nations turning against God and Israel

Genesis 12:3 "I will bless those that bless you (Israel) and curse those that curse you."This is an age old principle which is just as valid. Today it extends into God's work relating to Israel's return and coming redemption.

Isaiah 11:11 "It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord will set His hand a second time to recover the remnant of His people...He will set up a banner for the nations and will assemble the outcasts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth."

A banner is some big sign flying in your face. God's banner is the re-gathering and restoration of the Jews. Those churches teaching replacement theology with themselves on the banner are in fact responsible for the many in the nations not being saved.

Here are some verses relating to the nation at large:

Psalm 33:12 "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord."

Proverbs 28:28 "When the wicked arise, men hide themselves, but when they perish the righteous increase."

Proverbs 29:2 "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan."

 Isaiah 60:12 "The nation that won't serve You shall perish."

●Ignorance of the days of judgement:

Obviously the classic example here is Noah and Lot. Both warned the people of impending judgement and they were ignored. That didn't make the judgement go away. Ignoring warnings changes nothing. The days of Noah and Lot are compared to today in numerous scriptures.

Acts 20:31 "Watch and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears."

Time is short. We are now in the time period just before the most monumental judgements the world has ever seen or ever will. Our Messiah is coming soon. He's not coming as a lamb with forgiveness. He is coming as a lion, with the sword of eternal judgement.

I once saw a skydiver die right in front of me. She spent her last seconds desperately trying to get her reserve chute out. We did many jumps together, I knew her well and knew she wasn't saved! In my days as a war correspondent, I saw many people die violently right in front of me. I have a file of hundreds of pictures I did of terrible violent deaths in wars I covered around the world. How many were saved? Who knows, but not the majority.

The point is that neither you nor I, knows how or when we will die. You may be lucky and die after a terminal illness, giving you plenty of time to make right with God. But what if you die in a split second?

The issue is that judgement follows death weather you believe it or not.

R.I.P. is the greatest lie of all time for the unsaved. "There will be no peace for the wicked"...ever! (Isaiah 48:22) The rich man in hell cries out in torment to have just a finger dipped in water, to touch his tongue and cool it down, but it's too late for him. (Luke 16:19-24) Please don't think that this is just some old Bible parable. Even if it is, what do you think it means? Don't gamble with eternity. Don't gamble with the devil...you will lose.

Death outside of our Lord is a frightful, final reality!

The answer:

The answer is very simple, but a long way off for many. To be saved, you need to want to. You need to come to God in genuine repentance and humility. That's it plain and simple. If you are sincere in this, then you will get saved and then begins a whole new identity crisis, but it's a glorious identity crisis. Your identity changes internally the moment you are saved but mind renewal and following our Lord changes you into a whole new person as you go.

Much needs to be changed, forsaken and replaced, but with our wonderful Saviour leading the way from within your heart, and offering forgiveness as you go, what an incredible journey!

Revival is coming on a large scale in spite of the troubles around us. Let me share with you a fact: Most people have a very keen interest in their future. The whole subject of eschatology (end times) is a very powerful tool of evangelism. Many may not believe in the Lord, but a great many will listen to you. This is often the crack in the door for God to get into their lives with salvation.

Summary:

The incredible shock awaiting the unsaved is far too great to contemplate. Shock, horror, tears, screams, weeping, wailing, gnashing of teeth are some of the expressions used in the Bible for the unsaved on their judgement day.

The modern church has removed much Biblical truth from its doctrine. It has added much error in  its place. It has rendered real revival all but impossible. Much of the modern church has become spineless and weak. The results are as frightening for the leaders as they are for the unsaved who would otherwise be saved.

Oh yes there is going to be a mighty revival soon, but the shock for many ministers is that they won't partake in it. God is raising up new blood!

Of course God has a glorious successful true church that will endure and do His work well. The gates of hell will not prevail against it. But it's most certainly not the whole church.

The good news is that God is still in control and His wonderful word will endure and be completely fulfilled. Heaven and hell are approaching fast. There is great safety in God presence, word and ways.

Deuteronomy 30:19  "I call heaven and earth as a witness against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing therefore chose life."

Daniel 12:3 "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the firmament and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever."

2 Corinthians 5:11 "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men."

Heaven or hell:

Young woman, you're raising your hands to our Lord after bowing your heart and life to Him first. Raised hands are also a sign of surrender. No clenched fists holding onto defiance here. Open hands in worship are also a sign of a heart open to our Lord and His word. In many ways woman, you are like a young child, dependant on her parents. This is the safe way to heaven.

You know, the tragic thing about your traditional masks and dress is they don't keep demons away as you think they do. They are a sign that you are one with the demonic world. You do this because it's your culture! Your culture is doomed. Only our the risen Messiah can act on your behalf to clean you up of devils and demons. But you need to get saved first!

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Here is the one and only answer for the unsaved...the cross of Calvary This painting was done by post-impressionist Paul Gauguin

Kind regards and many blessings...Shalom and grow in grace!