Sugar-frosted Christianity?

The majority of Christians are living out a ‘sugar-frosted’ Christian life. What do I mean by that? Well, essentially, sugar-frosted Christians attempt to apply the principles of Christianity without complete surrender to the Almighty. This sugar-coated Christianity lacks any real grounding in the solid Truth of the Word of God. It is nearly empty of rock-like faith in the Almighty. It has no fiery passion to glorify God or spread the gospel. There is no triumph, no glorious victory over sin. There is no burden of God upon the heart of the sugar-coated Christian. Despite the fact that the sugar-coated Christian would rarely admit it, they often seem to think of Christ as ‘fire insurance’. Jesus Christ has ceased to be a consuming passion and an obsession. In short, Jesus is no longer a lifestyle—He’s just become a free ticket out of Hell. We have forgotten that Jesus died for more than just the punishment of our sins. He died to purchase us!

The early Christians were so sold out to their Saviour that they gave their reputations and often their lives for the King of Kings. They honestly didn’t care what the world thought of them: the opinion of God trumped any fear of man. When the amazing Truth of Jesus Christ touched their lives, they were changed. Unlike Christians in America, Jesus was not an add-on to their lives. He became their lives. They did not find a way to incorporate Jesus into their career and hobbies, because Jesus became their life’s one purpose.

Is Jesus the sole intention and end goal of our lives? Are we committed to pursuing a living King or are we determined to live out a sugar-frosted Christianity? Are we willing to allow Christ to take our lives and transform them into His hands and feet? Are we willing to give up our own dreams, desires and passions for the Ultimate One?

In Christ,

Elijah

You Are Not Your Own

"What? Know ye not  that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of  God, and ye are not your own?" (1st Corinthians 6:19, emphasis added)

We Christians here in America have a strange concept. We seem to think that our lives belong to us. We have built a complex, but totally unbiblical doctrine about the possession of our lives. This strange concept has permeated every area of our actions. Ridiculously, we seem to think that as long as we are doing our best to glorify God, we can really do whatever we want. We’ve lost the total, one hundred percent surrender to Jesus Christ’s total sovereignty and power in our lives. Rather than being men and women who are completely controlled by our King and spending our lives for His glory, doing exactly what He wants, we’ve become a bunch of miserable replicas. By trying to control our own lives, we’ve lost the wonder, the glory, and the sheer joy of following God’s plan down to the minutest detail!

Ignatius of Antioch once said, “Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly.” When we surrender ourselves to Christ, then He can shape us into the men and women He wants us to be. It is when we are radically committed to Jesus Christ and His glory that we can truly say:

Have Thine own way, Lord, have thine own way, Thou art the Potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me, after Thy will, while I am waiting yielded and still.

On Monday afternoon, January 2^nd 2012, I radically surrendered my life to Jesus Christ at a local Bible School. I had been saved for most of my life, but I had not been wholly dedicated to Christ’s will in my life. But since that time, I can echo Jim Elliot when he said, “Oh, the fullness, pleasure, sheer excitement of knowing God on earth!”

It is time for Christians to stand up and say, “No more!” It’s time for the return of Christianity that realizes that God knows best! If we want to see an end put to the miserable, defeated Christianity that prevails in the churches today, it’s time to surrender to Jesus’ will and His perfect plan! Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, suffered and died to purchase us! When will we see that we belong to Him and place Him on the throne of our lives?

“What are you afraid of? Let God act. Abandon yourself to Him. You will suffer, but you will suffer with love, peace and consolation. You will fight, but you can carry off the victory, and God Himself, after having fought with you, will crown you with His own hand.” ~Francois Fenelon

After all, you are not your own. You and I belong to Jesus.


In Christ,
Elijah

C. T. Studd, Jim Elliot, and Leonard Ravenhill Quotes

Here are some of my favorite quotes from men of God in the past. Please take the time to read them all.


"Before the world, aye, before the sleepy, lukewarm, faithless, namby-pamby Christian world, we will dare to trust our God, we will venture our all for Him, we will live and we will die for Him, and we will do it with His joy unspeakable singing aloud in our hearts."
-C. T. Studd


“How little chance the Holy Ghost has nowadays. The churches and missionary societies have so bound him in red tape that they practically ask Him to sit in a corner while they do the work themselves.” 
-C. T. Studd


"God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with him."
-Jim Ellliot


"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."
-Jim Elliot


“We are so utterly ordinary, so commonplace, while we profess to know a Power the Twentieth Century does not reckon with. But we are "harmless," and therefore unharmed. We are spiritual pacifists, non-militants, conscientious objectors in this battle-to-the-death with principalities and powers in high places. Meekness must be had for contact with men, but brass, outspoken boldness is required to take part in the comradeship of the Cross. We are "sideliners" -- coaching and criticizing the real wrestlers while content to sit by and leave the enemies of God unchallenged. The world cannot hate us, we are too much like its own. Oh that God would make us dangerous!”
-Jim Elliot


“If we are the sheep of His pasture, remember that sheep are headed for the altar.”
-Jim Elliot


"God is taking His hands off of America. We've had so much light and we've rejected it."
-Leonard Ravenhill


"Once inside eternity, we'r e going to be very embarrassed at the smallness of our faith."
-Leonard Ravenhill


"You can't offend a man that's filled with the Spirit."
-Leonard Ravenhill



"Christ will not stand competition. This vain world should have no pull on us at any level at all."
-Leonard Ravenhill


"You can't say, "Christ is all I need," until Christ is all you have."
-Leonard Ravenhill

Make Me a Man After Thine Own Heart

In chapter 29 of the book named after him, a frustrated Job defends his integrity with the powerful words in verses 21-21.


"Because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me: my judgment was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor: and the cause which I knew not I searched out. And I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his teeth. Then I said, I shall die in my nest, and I shall multiply my days as the sand. My root was spread out by the waters, and the dew lay all night upon my branch. My glory was fresh in me, and my bow was renewed in my hand. Unto me men gave ear, and waited, and kept silence at my counsel."
This is the description of a godly man. This is what men are supposed to be. Yet, this week, God has showed me how few men like this there are. I've really been grieving that those who are called to protect and defend are cowering in the shadows. Those who are called to follow Christ, and only Him, have been lured away by the world and its temporal pleasures.

Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart, and mind, and soul, and strength
To serve the King of kings.

Men who are truly seeking the Lord with a whole heart are a dying breed. But I want to be one of them. I want to be one God's Mighty Men. I want to be a spiritual warrior who, by the strength of Jesus Christ, stands as a solid rock against the onslaught of the world. Whatever the cost, whether by life or by death, I want to bring glory to Jesus Christ.

Lord, make me your image-bearer and a man after your own heart, I pray!

Rend Our Hearts, I Pray!

"A tiny group of believers who have the gospel keep mumbling it over and over to themselves. Meanwhile, millions who have never heard it once fall into the flames of eternal hell without ever hearing the salvation story."
           - K.P. Yohannan


Heavenly Father, rend our heart for the lost today! I cannot love them like you, Lord! But you can love them through me! Empty me of any selfishness--any desire for my own protection or comfort--and fill me instead with Your love. I have this short span of life to touch the world and impact it for eternity. God, live through me to proclaim Your message. 


We see the fate of those without Christ. 
We see the glory and wonder of having Christ in our lives.
We see countless millions of people who have no hope.
And yet, we let our fears stop us from warning them of Hell and showing them Christ.


God, break our hearts for what breaks yours. 


Rak chazak amats, brothers and sisters! Spread the Gospel! Let's affect the world while we have a chance!


In Christ Alone,
Elijah


P.S. Give your thoughts. Please comment!

The Ancient War Cry

Please watch this video, which is an excerpt of a message by Eric Ludy.