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The Discernment Song Book
Free Christian Song Book of Sacred Music and Spiritual Songs
Songs & Hymns
As For Me, I Shall Behold Thy Face In Righteousness
As for me I shall behold,
Thy face in righteousness,
And I shall be satisfied,
And I shall be satisfied,
When I awake,
With Thy likeness.
As we all with open face,
Beholding as in a glass,
The glory of the Lord,
Are changed into the same image,
From glory to glory even as by,
The Spirit of the Lord.
Take away the veil of the flesh.
See the church with eyes of the Lord;
See the glory of the Lord.
Be transfigured to His image,
From glory to glory even as by,
the Spirit of the Lord
As we discern His Body, His Temple,
Each part set in their right place.
Though hidden from the world,
His glory is revealed,
From glory to glory as we begin,
To behold more and more of His face.
Yield to His Spirit, from faith unto faith,
'Til His pattern is the only one.
The flesh shall all vanish,
In the light of His glory,
from glory to glory, transfigured by,
The Spirit of the son.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Builders Together With God
We must not build on partial revelation
It is on Jesus, He is the firm foundation.
We will not look to our own imagination.
For we are builders together with God.
The person named Jesus--He is the revelation,
Revealing His presence to men of lowly station.
Who humble themselves in total consecration
For we are builders of the city of God.
The church is much more than an organization,
It's Christ's living body, which needs no adaptation.
So we will not look to our own imagination.
For we are builders together with God.
Apostles and prophets have become the foundation.
As they build on Jesus with total consecration.
And they do not dabble with foolish speculation,
For they are builders-co-workers with God.
Even if building on that firm foundation,
If we build our own way, it is abomination.
Oh Lord, let us build with total dedication,
For we are builders together with God.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
God Is Building A House
God is building a house
In which creation shall dwell,
These rooms are God's mansions
He's delivered from hell.
Prepared for the ages His purpose to be,
God is building a house
With you and with me.
copyright Bob and Charlotte Torango
I Love You, My Brother
There is no power
in my own love.
The love of the Lord
flows through me from above. *
Let the seed grow fully to the manifested Lord.
Let the fruit form totally according to the word.
CHORUS
I love you, my brother;
I love you, my sister with the love of the Lord,
And I see you with the eyes of hope;
I see Christ in you;
I see Jesus comin' through.
I see in you
the glory of my King.
I see in you His ministry
and that is why I sing,
God gives gifts and ministries through laying on of hands,
To war a good warfare that we may take the land.
CHORUS
I love you, my brother;
I love you, my sister with the love of the Lord,
And I see you with the eyes of hope;
I see Christ in you;
I see Jesus comin' through.
I see Jesus comin' through.
* My own love is not good enough.
My faith and hope and talent is not the right stuff.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
I See You
I see you as the baby. As the teacher, I see You now.
I see You on the cross as You died there for my sin.
I see You as the Victor as You rose again.
I see You ascending. In Your throne, I see You now.
I see You in heaven at the right hand of Your Father.
I see You interceding until all is restored.
I see You in my brother. In my sister, I see You now.
I see You in each member, each stone in Your temple.
I see You in each ministry with Your love between each one.
I see You in Your Church. In Your Body, I see You now.
I see You in Your order, the order of the Scripture.
I see You in Your government, Your Kingdom in the earth.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Jesus Has Come To His Body
Jesus has come to His body.
He has manifested Himself in each member.
Let us never call Jesus accursed.
We no longer curse Him--We only can bless.
It's Jesus, Jesus--We don't know each other after the flesh.
It's Jesus, Jesus--We no longer curse Him--We only can bless.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Let Us Build, Let Us Build Your Church Now
We cannot put new wine in old wineskins.
We cannot sew new cloth to the old.
Lord, You're shaking all form and tradition
As impurity burned from the gold.
Let us build, let us build Your Church, Lord.
The foundation of Your Temple is laid.
Gifts and ministries and orders are restored.
Every joint supplies, and the Saints, in one accord,
Build from glory to glory that won't fade away,
It grows and grows and the Spirit leads the way,
So let us build, let us build Your Church, Lord,
For Your Life is flowing today.
You are building us using Your pattern;
Every member must now take their place.
Life and love flow from member to member;
In each other we now see Your face.
Let us build, let us build Your Church, Lord.
The foundation of Your Temple is laid.
Gifts and ministries and orders are restored.
Every joint supplies, and the Saints, in one accord,
Build from glory to glory that won't fade away,
It grows and grows and the Spirit leads the way,
So let us build, let us build Your Church, Lord,
For Your Life is flowing today.
The foundation is set, the apostles
And the prophets, united as one.
Jesus Christ, You're the head of the corner,
Interceding at Your Father's throne.
Let us build, let us build Your Church, Lord.
The foundation of Your Temple is laid.
Gifts and ministries and orders are restored.
Every joint supplies, and the Saints, in one accord,
Build from glory to glory that won't fade away,
It grows and grows and the Spirit leads the way,
So let us build, let us build Your Church, Lord,
For Your Life is flowing today.
There's a fire with which You are testing.
In this fire, we could suffer loss.
Lord, You're testing our acts and our doctrine;
From the silver removing the dross.
Let us build, let us build Your Church, Lord.
The foundation of Your Temple is laid.
Gifts and ministries and orders are restored.
Every joint supplies, and the Saints, in one accord,
Build from glory to glory that won't fade away,
It grows and grows and the Spirit leads the way,
So let us build, let us build Your Church, Lord,
For Your Life is flowing today.
There's a people who hunger for Jesus,
Not just wanting to be entertained
Who will lay down their lives for the Kingdom
And with You, Lord, they'll rule and they'll reign.
Let us build, let us build Your Church, Lord.
The foundation of Your Temple is laid.
Gifts and ministries and orders are restored.
Every joint supplies, and the Saints, in one accord,
Build from glory to glory that won't fade away,
It grows and grows and the Spirit leads the way,
So let us build, let us build Your Church, Lord,
For Your Life is flowing today.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Lord, Today, We Dedicate Our Ministries To You
Lord, today, we dedicate our ministries to You
As gemstones in Your temple that Your Spirit can shine through.
You gave these holy gifts to us, now we submit to You.
And so as we walk faithfully in everything we do,
Let us be good stewards of these gemstones in Your Temple
For we are only stewards--any good proceeds from You.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Many Substitutes
They should not be deceived by reasoned doctrine.
The Spirit would reveal but theories blind.
Because they think they know they cannot see it.
Yet the church will one day all be of one mind.
Many substitutes and orders made by men
Have been called the church in ignorance.
They didn't want the real, by the false they were deceived.
How often has the Spirit been grieved
How seldom has the Bible been believed.
The church is not a pattern with no power.
The church is not without authority
The church is not a form of man-made order.
God must send each one He sets to oversee.
Many substitutes and orders made by men
Have been called the church in ignorance.
They didn't want the real, by the false they were deceived.
How often has the Spirit been grieved
How seldom has the Bible been believed.
It is not the church if there's no growing.
The measure is the fullness of the Son.
Each member must build up with love that's flowing,
Thus transfigured by the Spirit in each one.
Many substitutes and orders made by men
Have been called the church in ignorance.
They didn't want the real, by the false they were deceived.
How often has the Spirit been grieved
How seldom has the Bible been believed.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Miraculous Revelation
Almost everyone believes in some sort of miraculous revelation, though few will admit it, and what people believe about miraculous revelation varies greatly. The questions, "How do you know that?" or "What makes you think so?", bring out this belief, but these questions almost always make people uncomfortable, because people don't like to think about the fact that they are basing their thoughts on miraculous revelation. The ones who are basing their thoughts on a form of miraculous revelation called rationalism are particularly sensitive and defensive, because rationalism is a hypocritical way of making up assumptions and trying to make it seem as if they made sense. There's usually no malice of forethought here, but thoughts become strongholds and then become chains dragging the thinker into ever descending spirals and finally into death. All of this takes place without any realization of bondage. Thinking they are free, they become slave to the lower elements.
The three Basic sources of revelation:
There are three basic sources for miraculous revelation. God is the most obvious source. Fundamentalist Christians are often criticized by those who believe in the other two sources of miraculous revelation because fundamentalist Christians believe that almighty God would have enough power and wisdom to be able to communicate with certain individuals, the prophets and apostles, and enable those individuals to write the Bible. They further believe that God, being almighty, could easily preserve that same Bible over thousands of years so that we can have it today.
Some Christians even go beyond this and believe that almighty God can and does reveal the meaning of this Bible, and that the only way that the Bible can be understood is if God reveals it. These Christians aren't dependent on the natural mind to interpret the Bible, but believe that God must reveal it. Within this group is a subgroup of Christians who believe that God reveals according to the methods that He has laid out clearly in the Bible.
The second source of miraculous revelation goes by several names. In polytheistic religions (those who believe in many gods) this source is referred to as the gods, spirits, evil spirits, ghosts, familiar spirits, etc. This source is even mentioned in the Bible as being evil spirits. This is the source used by the occult, the new age religions, etc. By the rhythms of their drums, certain cultures find that they are able to pull down what they call deities.
The third, and by far most prevalent source, is the source that is often called rational thought. This is simply the source of the human mind. Rationalism states simply that the human mind is the source of knowledge. It states that the human mind is able to manufacture knowledge without the benefit of observation. This explains the importance of axioms and assumptions in rational thought. According to the rationalists, axioms and assumptions are miraculous revelations that come out of the intellect, out of the human mind. Most rationalists don't like to refer to their miraculous revelations in those terms. In fact, they tend to be embarrassed and to become nervous when their assumptions and axioms are challenged or when someone points out that they are claiming miraculous revelation.
Another interesting fact is that many, perhaps most, fundamentalist Christians who believe that the Bible is God's revealed Word also use rationalism to try to understand that Word. Many, perhaps most, reject the idea that God could reveal the meaning of the Bible in the present day. There is much credit given to the intellect, even among fundamentalist Christians.
Problems with conflicting revelations
For those who believe in miraculous revelation, there is a problem when two different people come up with conflicting revelations. This is the problem of the false prophet or false apostle from the Christian side. There is a worldly counterpart to the false prophet, the pseudo- intellectual. On the Christian side, the Bible says that prophets and apostles receive revelation from God. On the rationalist side, certain people are believed to be intellectuals who can manufacture miraculous revelations because of their superior intellects. A false prophet or false apostle would be a person who claims to receive revelation from God, but this person is actually speaking a vision out of his or her own mind. That is to say that this person is a rationalist pretending to be a prophet or apostle.
Two sources of information
1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
Science, here, neither refers to empirical science nor theoretical science. It is the translation of a Greek word, which has a literal meaning of "knowledge." So this literally says, ". . . avoiding the profane and vain babblings and oppositions of knowledge falsely so called . . ."
How do we discern the difference between true knowledge and false knowledge?
Here is a clue to learning how to seek the truth:
2 Thessalonians 2:10 & 11 because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
Whatever is not observation is either speculation or revelation. Knowledge can be empirical, but much is rational-lies-ed. While rational-lies-ation claims to have the ability to formulate miraculous revelation from the human mind, rational-lies-ation never stands up to scrutiny. It always fails.
Empirical
Empirical knowledge is received by experience. Experiments, observations, polls, archeological digging, reading historical source documents, reading the Bible, and accounting methods are examples. Obviously, every method of getting empirical data is subject to falsification and error. The Bible says this:
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Whatever is not observation is either speculation or revelation. Discerning the difference has always been a problem.
Revelation
God
A small part of the population doesn't believe in God. To them, their god is themselves, and they chase after their own minds or the minds of the so-called intellectuals for the solutions to all problems. Many of those who do believe in God believe that He is almighty and that He is the creator of everything. Some of those who believe that He is almighty believe that an almighty God would theoretically have the ability to communicate with His creation, but they have no experience with God. Some of those who believe that God can communicate also believe that the Bible is a way that He does communicate with us. Some of those who believe that the Bible is a way that God communicates with us also believe that the Bible is not a matter of human interpretation, but is unfolded and understood because God reveals it, which would make sense given what the Bible says about the human condition. Some people even believe that everything, even natural things, will be better understood by depending on God to enlighten the human mind.
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us (the apostles) by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Some rational-lies that the Bible is easy to understand and that the human mind is well capable of interpreting it. That is to say that every person should have his or her own interpretation, but then they invariably go on to rational-lies a theology that they try to say is the only rational conclusion. That fact is that their theology is based on the cleverly hidden assumptions of their rational-lies-ation process. Changing the assumptions changes the outcome. Here is what the apostle wrote concerning the interpretation of the Scripture and of empirical data that the apostles had received as revelation from God:
Philippians 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (mature), be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
If someone has a different thought, they are not getting it from God, but God is able to unfold His revelation to an open heart and get everyone reading off the same sheet of music. In other words, God doesn't contradict Himself.
Demons
1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
The Human Mind
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperatelywicked: who can know it?
Proverbs 3:5& 6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Numbers 16:28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.
Numbers 15:39 . . . and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
Numbers 15:39 speaks of both theoretical science and of empirical science. It refers to them in the say way that God always refers to idolatry, because idolatry is unfaithfulness. God wants us to be joined to Him in such an intimate way that marriage is a type of that union. When His wife goes out to evil spirits or to the human to look for knowledge, this is adultery in God's eyes.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
My, My
My, my! Every verse in the Bible is a revelation of my Jesus.
My, my! Every time that I pray It's a revelation of my Jesus.
My, my! Every time that I seek Him it's a revelation of my Jesus.
My, my! My, my! My, my! My Jesus!
My, my! Every Gift of the Spirit is a revelation of my Jesus.
My, my! Every Ministry I see is a revelation of my Jesus.
My, my! Every order of the Church is a revelation of my Jesus.
My, my! My, my! My, my! My Jesus!
My, my! Every prophecy I hear is a revelation of my Jesus.
My, my! Every miracle I see is a revelation of my Jesus.
My, my! Every song in the Spirit is a revelation of my Jesus.
My, my! My, my! My, my! My Jesus!
My, my! My, my! My, my! My Jesus!
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Rationalism And Revelation
Rationalism and revelation will never see eye to eye.
Revelation trusts in God,
Rationalism trusts lies.
Rationalism thinks the human mind is all the source.
That human minds can dream up truth.
That they are the ultimate force.
Revelation believes God's Word, unchallenged to this hour.
That God can yet reveal His truth.
That He is the ultimate power.
And rationalized theology and science can be shown
The source of every kind of pain,
And trouble the earth has known.
But God has never authored strife, disorder, curse or plague.
He is the source of all that's good.
His Light is never vague.
What God has made declares His power so anyone can see.
But as for those who make up facts?
They're blind as blind can be.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Rejoice, Rejoice, Rejoice
Rejecting the word, they reason and plan
With forms and programs they design.
Building a house in the weakness of man,
And following patterns of their mind.
If man designs it, it never will stand.
The Lord is the builder and He has the plan.
His pattern is here in the church.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!
Apostles will bring it to one accord.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!
The Lord is removing all sin.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!
The fruit of the Spirit is manifest.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!
Each ministry is Christ within
Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!
In love, speaking truth and the Church is blessed.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice!
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Science And Logic Are Limited Tools
Science and logic are limited tools.
Overextending them makes people fools.
Rationalism assumes beyond fact,
Making up data that science had lacked.
Chains are as strong as the link that is weak.
Buckets with one hole will still have a leak.
Science that's false adds assumptions to fact,
Making up data that science had lacked.
Faith, on the other hand, comes from above.
It is a substance, which God gives in love.
Blindness is lifted by faith, so we see
Matters of Spirit and eternity,
Going beyond where the human can go,
Into the power of Him, Whom we know,
Unto the One Whom the world abhorred,
Into the presence of Jesus, our Lord.
How sad the problem with mere human minds!
Pride and assumption of false science blinds.
Thinking they're wise people show themselves fools:
Science and logic are limited tools.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Science, Falsely So Called
In the first letter to Timothy, chapter six and verses twenty and twenty-one, it mentions "science, falsely called." This letter says: "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called . . ." the word, "science" was translated from a Greek word that means "knowledge." The English word, science, has several meanings, so it's hard to know what people mean when they say, "science." False knowledge takes many forms, but the truth is different: truth is absolute.
A man I know was out in one of the Canadian provinces at a shopping center. When he came out to go to his car, there was suddenly a snow storm that resulted in a complete white out. When the snow is so intense that all that can be seen is white, it's referred to as a white out. When a white out occurs, people can die because they lose their orientation and can't find shelter. They are totally blinded by the snow. That's what happened to this man I know. He walked out of the store and was totally lost in the storm and in danger. At this same moment, another man I know was some distance away and looked outside. Seeing that there was a white out, he felt a desire to pray. He asked the people there with him to join him in prayer, stating that someone may be in danger out in this white out. They prayed, and looked outside. The white out was gone and they praised God. The man in the parking lot gave praise to God that God had taken away the white out.
Here is the difference between science falsely so called and true science. It is the difference between that which is falsely called knowledge and truth. One of the speculative assumptions of false science is the assumption that there is no God, or at least that God is not involved in the material universe. Notice that the men mentioned above gave glory to God for what He had done. The meteorologists, on the other hand, became confused. Where had all the snow suddenly gone? Their false science was false because it only accounted for some of the factors involved in the events of weather and denied the possibility of anything outside of the material realm. Assuming that there was no God, they had to rationalize away the event that had just taken place.
A woman I know was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. She could no longer dress herself, and the x-rays showed the bone spurs clearly impinging on her nerves. The doctor said that there was very little he could do. She went to a second doctor and got the same story. It just so happened that this woman went to a church that followed the scriptural order of elders overseeing and pastoring the local church with apostles set over the universal church. She called for the elders, who laid hands on her, anointing her with oil and praying according to James five. Two people at that meeting came to her afterwards and told her that they had seen, in a vision, the bone spurs dissolving. That week, she felt considerably better. She found that she could move and dress herself. Going back to the doctor, he became quite agitated. He made this incredible remark about the bone spurs, "Well I don't know where they went, but they're gone now." The doctor was hindered by science, falsely called. He was assuming that God doesn't heal. The woman and all the faithful who heard about it, on the other hand, were praising God.
I know a Christian man who was driving in his car toward a green traffic light. Suddenly, a loud audible voice said, "Stop!" The man hit the brakes and stopped. He immediately saw a car, that would have hit him broadside, run through the intersection ahead of him. Someone had run a red light, but this man was giving glory to God that God had kept him from being hit. I'm certain that many would use science, falsely so called, to try to cast about for a naturalistic, materialistic explanation. Naturalism is simply the unfounded presupposition that there is no God. Materialism asserts the same thing as materialism does and is just as baseless. The fool had said in his heart, "There is no God."
We could go on about the broken neck that was suddenly not broken after two x-rays and a cat-scan confirmed that it was broken. We could talk about the abdominal growths that were suddenly gone, the knee that was suddenly made totally normal after confirmed diagnosis. We could talk about hopelessly ruined relationships that have been restored, and job situations and financial situations that have been reversed. We could talk about dead who have been raised to life. For all of these events, there's no doubt that science, falsely so called, would be scratching around to fabricate some rationalistic explanation, while true knowledge is giving glory to God for what He has done.
These are just some of the events that I, or people whom I know, have witnessed. Others have seen greater things. I've read about some of them and marveled. For every time that God moves, those who despise God are working very hard to make it seem as if God were not moving.
Romans 1:18-2:12 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Spiritual Or Natural
The human faith is blind.
It leaps into dark,
And hopes to land in light.
It will not trust in God.
It starts with the human,
And that is where it ends.
It does not depend on the person of Jesus.
It can't receive the things of God.
It is a reasoned faith.
The faith that is of God,
Has eyes to see His will.
It moves the Hand of God,
For it has come from Him
It starts with God,
And God will complete it.
It can't be found outside of Christ Jesus.
It is not bound by things of earth.
It is the faith of God.
The human hope is weak.
It is a "hope so" hope.
It cannot light the way
It comes from human hearts.
It starts with the human,
And that is where it ends.
It does not depend on the person of Jesus.
Nor can it see the things of God.
It's merely mortal hope.
The hope that is of God,
Can see what God will do.
It knows His promises,
For it has come from Him.
It starts with God,
And God will fulfill it.
It can't be found outside of Christ Jesus.
It is not bound by things of earth.
It is the hope of God.
The human love receives.
It does not give away.
It never can be pure.
It comes from human hearts.
It starts with the human,
And that is where it ends.
It does not depend on the person of Jesus.
Nor can it love as Jesus loves.
It's selfish, fleshly love.
The love that is of God,
Can do what God will do.
It has the pow'r of God,
For it has come from Him.
It starts with God,
And God will complete it.
It can't be found outside of Christ Jesus.
It is not bound by things of earth.
It is the love of God.
For wisdom, joy, and peace,
And all that's good and right,
There is a counterfeit,
Or else the genuine
That starts with God, and God is the essence.
That can't be found outside of Christ Jesus,
That flows from God and can't be mixed,
With any natural.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Such As I Have I Give Unto Thee
Such as I have, I give unto thee,
For such as you are, is living in Me,
So together we'll run, like Peter and John,
Let the world look on us,
His mighty works will be done.
copyright Bob and Charlotte Torango
The Foundation Of The Church Stands Sure
Don't try to build on partial revelation,
Mixing scripture with your minds deliberation.
A pet theory built on sand is man's creation,
And it cannot give the Church edification.
Division and debating are shifting sand
The Biblical foundations are able to stand.
And you can't build the temple on the shifting sand.
The foundation of the Church stands sure.
The Bible is against denomination,
Prophets and apostles are foundation,
One united head, not just cooperation,
'Til there's total unity and restoration.
Division and debating are shifting sand
The Biblical foundations are able to stand.
And you can't build the temple on the shifting sand.
The foundation of the Church stands sure.
The Word says men go wrong in speculation
But apostles can receive the revelation
No scripture's of your own interpretation.
Make certain that you build on the foundation.
Division and debating are shifting sand
The Biblical foundations are able to stand.
And you can't build the temple on the shifting sand.
The foundation of the Church stands sure.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
The Good News
The good news is that Jesus came and died and rose again.
The good news is that He died for you.
The good news is that He has come to take away your sin.
The good news is that all of this is true.
Come and listen to the good news.
Come and listen to all the good news.
You don't want to miss a thing God has for you,
Come and listen to the good news.
Come and listen to all the good news.
If we think we have it all, it's time to seek the Lord anew.
The good news is that God has sent the Comforter again.
The good news is the Spirit's here for you.
The good news is that He has come to take away your sin.
The good news is that all of this is true.
Come and listen to the good news.
Come and listen to all the good news.
You don't want to miss a thing God has for you,
Come and listen to the good news.
Come and listen to all the good news.
If we think we have it all, it's time to seek the Lord anew.
The good news is God gave gifts of the Spirit once again.
The good news is that they are here for you.
The good news is that He has come to take away your sin.
The good news is that all of this is true.
Come and listen to the good news.
Come and listen to all the good news.
You don't want to miss a thing God has for you,
Come and listen to the good news.
Come and listen to all the good news.
If we think we have it all, it's time to seek the Lord anew.
The good news is that God set order in the Church again.
The good news is that this is here for you.
The good news is that He has come to take away your sin.
The good news is that all of this is true.
Come and listen to the good news.
Come and listen to all the good news.
You don't want to miss a thing God has for you,
Come and listen to the good news.
Come and listen to all the good news.
If we think we have it all, it's time to seek the Lord anew.
The good news is the Church will be in unity again.
The good news is that this is here for you.
The good news is that He has come to take away your sin.
The good news is that all of this is true.
Come and listen to the good news.
Come and listen to all the good news.
You don't want to miss a thing God has for you,
Come and listen to the good news.
Come and listen to all the good news.
If we think we have it all, it's time to seek the Lord anew.
The good news is that God has set apostles once again.
The good news is that He gave them for you.
The good news is that He has come to take away your sin.
The good news is that all of this is true.
Come and listen to the good news.
Come and listen to all the good news.
You don't want to miss a thing God has for you,
Come and listen to the good news.
Come and listen to all the good news.
If we think we have it all, it's time to seek the Lord anew.
The good news is that Christ is being fully formed within.
The good news is He's being formed in you.
The good news is that He has come to take away your sin.
The good news is that all of this is true.
Come and listen to the good news.
Come and listen to all the good news.
You don't want to miss a thing God has for you,
Come and listen to the good news.
Come and listen to all the good news.
If we think we have it all, it's time to seek the Lord anew.
The good news is that Life and Love is flowing out from Him.
The good news is it's flowing out through you.
The good news is that He has come to take away your sin.
The good news is that all of this is true.
Come and listen to the good news.
Come and listen to all the good news.
You don't want to miss a thing God has for you,
Come and listen to the good news.
Come and listen to all the good news.
If we think we have it all, it's time to seek the Lord anew.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
The Hour Of Glory
The hour of glory is upon us,
His power revealed in the saints,
The hour when the saints will come to rule and reign,
Removing all fleshly constraints.
In Him we live and move,
And have our very being.
He abides in us and we in Him.
His glory is upon us.
His glory shines out from us,
The glory of the Only Holy One.
Glory, glory, glory,
The all surpassing glory,
The all surpassing glory of the Son.
Glory, glory, glory,
The all surpassing glory,
The all surpassing glory of the Son.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
The Prophetic Word Of Rationalism
Rationalism is the prophetic word that proceeds from the god called intellect.
The prophetic word of rationalism is marked by the ability to justify any course of action or any philosophic paradigm.
The basis of rationalism is the belief that the intellect can reveal knowledge without the benefit of observation or any other source.
The prophetic word of rationalism will glorify anything except God and Jesus Christ, whether it be an organization, a person or persons, a doctrinal stand, a philosophy, a political ideology, or any part of the creation.
The prophetic word of rationalism can be heard throughout the land, from the campus of the university to the entertainment that is transmitted through all the various media. It can be heard from the news program to the sermon given from the pulpit of the local church building.
Numbers 15:39b Remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that you seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you used to go a whoring
1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Proverbs 28:26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool: but whoever walks wisely, he shall be delivered.
Jeremiah 23:16 Thus says the LORD of hosts, Hearken not to the words of the prophets that prophesy to you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Jeremiah 9:13-15 And the LORD says, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein; But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them: Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.
Ezekiel 13:17 Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them
Ezekiel 13:22-23 Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: Therefore you shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and you shall know that I am the LORD.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
The Real Church
Our God is real and absolute and His Light never dims,
Though much is done and falsely labeled as a work of Him,
Unlike the real Christ, the Only Hope of all mankind,
A plastic church suggests another christ of laws that bind,
A christ composed of many rules and rituals and forms,
And claiming that some human works could somehow please the Lord.
The members of the real Church confess the state they're in,
Depending on the works of Christ to save them from their sins.
Who look to power from On High to be set fully free,
And, though yet soiled, and spotted still, to one day holy be.
There is no way to join God's Church, yet all who will may come,
And any may be born into this Church of God's dear Son.
Unlike our mighty Lord, Who saves, and heals, by Whom we soar,
A man-made church presents some other christ who has no power,
A christ who has no power to heal, no power to set you free,
But rather form and ritual, a name from history.
How different, God's Church, God's Doors, His called out ministries,
Who manifest the potent Christ, the One Who sets us free,
Those led with power from on high; those called out from the world,
Those called to sell all that they have to purchase this great pearl.
The Church is not a club to join, yet all who will may come,
And any may be born into this Church of God's own Son.
Unlike this Holy One, in Whom we live so high above,
Synthetic churches pose some other christ . . . who is not Love,
A christ who brings no holiness, a mist from long ago,
A christ who is so far away, not like the One we know.
How different, God's Church: with Love of God and Spirit flow,
Obeying Christ, our vital Lord, The living Corner Stone.
That pattern absolute and sure, the living Christ Divine,
For we love Him Who is the Light, so He within us shines.
And all who seek to know the Lord will find Him as they pray,
Though many false christs are put forth who cannot help or save.
Unlike the mighty Christ, Whose presence is a burning fire,
A plastic church presents some other christ of mind's desire,
A christ who entertains and stimulates the human minds,
A made up christ who loves the world, that shackles, maims, and blinds.
Christ's Body is the Church: the growing Temple from On High,
Which now shows forth Lord Jesus Christ, the only Good and Kind,
The Temple of our holy God, a House not made with hands,
By that which every joint supplies, this Temple grows and stands.
So many spirits have gone forth, and many voices speak,
But those who seek the Holy One are careful as they seek.
They find the teaching Christ, Whom we may seek and find and know,
While pseudo-churches preach another christ who cannot show,
A christ who cannot speak to us, nor even guide our way,
The christ they preach we cannot know, nor grow in Him each day.
The contrast is the Church: those called to Light from shades of gray,
To walk according to the Christ revealed, in pots of clay.
Those called to press toward calling high will be set fully free,
And, though yet soiled, and spotted still, will one day holy be.
The doctrine that there is no Truth, Whom we may seek and find,
Pervades the earthly, devilish church, which charms the human mind.
Not like the great I Am, Who is, and Whom we know and feel,
A barren church presents a different christ who is not real,
A christ who says, "Do as thou wilt," with choices you may choose,
A vapor, a philosophy, a thought that you can use.
How different, God's Church, those who reveal our God's good news,
They manifest the steadfast Christ, the One Whom all may choose,
With love unfeigned and hope unquenched and Faith the only shield,
That Body of the living Lord: His essence now revealed.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
They Came To Break Up The Foundation
They came to break up the foundation.
They thought they had the tools to get it done.
But God is raising up a holy nation
He's raising up a company of sons
And God has restored the foundation
Of apostles and the prophets, Jesus Christ is still the head.
And God has restored the foundation.
Until the work is done
All united into one,
To the fullness of God's Son
Just as the Spirit led and like the Bible said.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Two Spirits
The human spirit, its violence is plain to see now.
Its 'righteous' anger justifying sin.
The Holy Spirit, His fruit spring forth in all who follow.
Let those who have been born now walk in Him.
The human spirit, all violence proceeds from this source.
With faulty reason, vile acts defends.
The Holy Spirit, all love and peace proceeds from this Source.
He is the Christ, the power of God within.
The human spirit, It feeds on envy. Full of malice!
It reaches out exalting thoughts of self.
The Holy Spirit, He moves in mercy. How He loves us!
He moves in love through those who yield themselves.
The human spirit, it has a usurped power destructive.
It makes demands for "rights" and privileges.
The Holy Spirit, His power is God's power within us.
Self-sacrifice marks all who now are His.
The human spirit, it points its finger and accuses.
It thanks its God for all its righteousness.
The Holy Spirit, He looks for fruit meet for repentance.
And contrite hearts that ask Him to forgive.
The human spirit, it brings attention to its own self.
It loves itself. Its selfish ways are known.
The Holy Spirit, He always points the way to Jesus.
He speaks of Christ, exalting Him alone.
The human spirit, it speaks of its own puffed up virtue
It seeks to prove that it is good and right.
the Holy Spirit, He speaks of that which is true virtue.
He points the way from darkness to the LIGHT.
The human spirit, its so deceptive; who can know it.
It uses pseudo-science to tell lies.
The Holy Spirit, He looks for willing hearts who hear Him.
He speaks only of Truth from up on High.
The human spirit, the power of the human psyche.
They work together in hypocrisy.
The Holy Spirit, The power of the Holy Father.
He is the One Who sets the captives free.
The human spirit, it tries to find some human method.
The human ways where all confusion lurks.
The Holy Spirit, He points the way to Gods own methods.
And from God's Word reveals the way that works.
The human spirit, it claims to have attained all fullness.
It seeks to show that it is good and blessed.
The Holy Spirit, He urges all to come to fullness.
He urges us to press on toward His rest.
The human spirit, it claims that there is no Truth for us.
It looks to made-up lies to build its tower.
The Holy Spirit, He points the way, the way to Jesus.
For Jesus is the Truth; in Him is power.
The human spirit, it speaks of human effort working.
It tries to use the self to bring reform.
The Holy Spirit, He simply brings us to The New King.
The King of kings in all who are reborn.
The human spirit, it thinks it sees with understanding.
It's blind with no capacity for sight.
The Holy Spirit, His hope sees just what God is doing.
The King of kings, we seek with all our might.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
What The World Really Needs Now Is Jesus
What the world really needs now is Jesus;
He's the Door to God's true Love for everyone.
God is Love, real Love. There's no other.
And, through Jesus, anyone who will may come.
Now we know that we don't need another program.
There are projects and programs enough, and they all fail.
And ideas and theories are of no avail,
Wake up, now, if you want to know.
God so loved, loved the world, He gave Jesus,
Only Way to pay the price for human sin.
God is Love, Wisdom, Pow'r, there's no other.
Only Jesus can redeem us unto Him.
Now we know that we don't need another program.
There are projects and programs enough, and they all fail.
Regulations and edicts are of no avail,
Wake up, now, if you want to know.
Don't reject God's true Love, His Son, Jesus;
Only Door to God's true Love for everyone.
Don't reject God's true Love. You need Jesus;
For, through Jesus, anyone who will may come.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Which Faith?
Which one will you receive?
Human faith is blind.
God's faith sees.
Human faith comes from the human.
God's faith comes from God.
Human faith believes without evidence.
God's faith is the evidence of things not seen.
Human faith speaks lies.
God's faith speaks the Truth.
Human faith works with human hope,
Human "I hope so" hope.
God's faith works with God's hope,
Eternal, abiding, sure hope.
Human faith works with human love,
Selfish, self-exalting love.
God's faith works with God's love,
Self-sacrificing, giving love.
Human faith believes what it wants to be true.
God's faith believes what God shows to be true.
Human faith believes in such things as:
evolution,
global warming,
safe immorality,
changing the laws of God,
human ways, human methods.
God's faith believes in such things as:
Forgiveness, healing and righteousness through Christ,
Christ's sure coming,
God's unfailing judgements,
God's unchanging righteousness,
God's ways, God's methods.
Human faith opens the door to a relationship with the human mind.
God's faith opens the door to a relationship with God.
Will you choose the human faith,
Or will you choose the faith of God.
Which one will you receive?
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
You Have A Ministry
You have a ministry,
A holy calling from the Lord above.
You have a place in His Body.
Not what you choose to be,
But if you truly seek the Lord above,
If you wait 'til you are sent,
From your own dead works repent,
He will show you what is meant
By a Body that builds itself in love.
You are a ministry,
A holy Temple of the Lord above.
You are a part of His Body.
You can set the captive free,
If you use the Gift from God above,
If you wait 'til you are sent,
From your own dead works repent,
He will show you what is meant
By a Body that builds itself in love.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Poetry & Meditations
Miraculous Revelation
Almost everyone believes in some sort of miraculous revelation, though few will admit it, and what people believe about miraculous revelation varies greatly. The questions, "How do you know that?" or "What makes you think so?", bring out this belief, but these questions almost always make people uncomfortable, because people don't like to think about the fact that they are basing their thoughts on miraculous revelation. The ones who are basing their thoughts on a form of miraculous revelation called rationalism are particularly sensitive and defensive, because rationalism is a hypocritical way of making up assumptions and trying to make it seem as if they made sense. There's usually no malice of forethought here, but thoughts become strongholds and then become chains dragging the thinker into ever descending spirals and finally into death. All of this takes place without any realization of bondage. Thinking they are free, they become slave to the lower elements.
The three Basic sources of revelation:
There are three basic sources for miraculous revelation. God is the most obvious source. Fundamentalist Christians are often criticized by those who believe in the other two sources of miraculous revelation because fundamentalist Christians believe that almighty God would have enough power and wisdom to be able to communicate with certain individuals, the prophets and apostles, and enable those individuals to write the Bible. They further believe that God, being almighty, could easily preserve that same Bible over thousands of years so that we can have it today.
Some Christians even go beyond this and believe that almighty God can and does reveal the meaning of this Bible, and that the only way that the Bible can be understood is if God reveals it. These Christians aren't dependent on the natural mind to interpret the Bible, but believe that God must reveal it. Within this group is a subgroup of Christians who believe that God reveals according to the methods that He has laid out clearly in the Bible.
The second source of miraculous revelation goes by several names. In polytheistic religions (those who believe in many gods) this source is referred to as the gods, spirits, evil spirits, ghosts, familiar spirits, etc. This source is even mentioned in the Bible as being evil spirits. This is the source used by the occult, the new age religions, etc. By the rhythms of their drums, certain cultures find that they are able to pull down what they call deities.
The third, and by far most prevalent source, is the source that is often called rational thought. This is simply the source of the human mind. Rationalism states simply that the human mind is the source of knowledge. It states that the human mind is able to manufacture knowledge without the benefit of observation. This explains the importance of axioms and assumptions in rational thought. According to the rationalists, axioms and assumptions are miraculous revelations that come out of the intellect, out of the human mind. Most rationalists don't like to refer to their miraculous revelations in those terms. In fact, they tend to be embarrassed and to become nervous when their assumptions and axioms are challenged or when someone points out that they are claiming miraculous revelation.
Another interesting fact is that many, perhaps most, fundamentalist Christians who believe that the Bible is God's revealed Word also use rationalism to try to understand that Word. Many, perhaps most, reject the idea that God could reveal the meaning of the Bible in the present day. There is much credit given to the intellect, even among fundamentalist Christians.
Problems with conflicting revelations
For those who believe in miraculous revelation, there is a problem when two different people come up with conflicting revelations. This is the problem of the false prophet or false apostle from the Christian side. There is a worldly counterpart to the false prophet, the pseudo- intellectual. On the Christian side, the Bible says that prophets and apostles receive revelation from God. On the rationalist side, certain people are believed to be intellectuals who can manufacture miraculous revelations because of their superior intellects. A false prophet or false apostle would be a person who claims to receive revelation from God, but this person is actually speaking a vision out of his or her own mind. That is to say that this person is a rationalist pretending to be a prophet or apostle.
Two sources of information
1 Timothy 6:20 O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called:
Science, here, neither refers to empirical science nor theoretical science. It is the translation of a Greek word, which has a literal meaning of "knowledge." So this literally says, ". . . avoiding the profane and vain babblings and oppositions of knowledge falsely so called . . ."
How do we discern the difference between true knowledge and false knowledge?
Here is a clue to learning how to seek the truth:
2 Thessalonians 2:10 & 11 because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
Whatever is not observation is either speculation or revelation. Knowledge can be empirical, but much is rational-lies-ed. While rational-lies-ation claims to have the ability to formulate miraculous revelation from the human mind, rational-lies-ation never stands up to scrutiny. It always fails.
Empirical
Empirical knowledge is received by experience. Experiments, observations, polls, archeological digging, reading historical source documents, reading the Bible, and accounting methods are examples. Obviously, every method of getting empirical data is subject to falsification and error. The Bible says this:
Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Whatever is not observation is either speculation or revelation. Discerning the difference has always been a problem.
Revelation
God
A small part of the population doesn't believe in God. To them, their god is themselves, and they chase after their own minds or the minds of the so-called intellectuals for the solutions to all problems. Many of those who do believe in God believe that He is almighty and that He is the creator of everything. Some of those who believe that He is almighty believe that an almighty God would theoretically have the ability to communicate with His creation, but they have no experience with God. Some of those who believe that God can communicate also believe that the Bible is a way that He does communicate with us. Some of those who believe that the Bible is a way that God communicates with us also believe that the Bible is not a matter of human interpretation, but is unfolded and understood because God reveals it, which would make sense given what the Bible says about the human condition. Some people even believe that everything, even natural things, will be better understood by depending on God to enlighten the human mind.
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
Matthew 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
1 Corinthians 2:9-10 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But God hath revealed them unto us (the apostles) by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
Some rational-lies that the Bible is easy to understand and that the human mind is well capable of interpreting it. That is to say that every person should have his or her own interpretation, but then they invariably go on to rational-lies a theology that they try to say is the only rational conclusion. That fact is that their theology is based on the cleverly hidden assumptions of their rational-lies-ation process. Changing the assumptions changes the outcome. Here is what the apostle wrote concerning the interpretation of the Scripture and of empirical data that the apostles had received as revelation from God:
Philippians 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (mature), be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
If someone has a different thought, they are not getting it from God, but God is able to unfold His revelation to an open heart and get everyone reading off the same sheet of music. In other words, God doesn't contradict Himself.
Demons
1 Timothy 4:1-2 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
The Human Mind
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperatelywicked: who can know it?
Proverbs 3:5& 6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
1 Corinthians 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Numbers 16:28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the LORD hath sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of mine own mind.
Numbers 15:39 . . . and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:
Numbers 15:39 speaks of both theoretical science and of empirical science. It refers to them in the say way that God always refers to idolatry, because idolatry is unfaithfulness. God wants us to be joined to Him in such an intimate way that marriage is a type of that union. When His wife goes out to evil spirits or to the human to look for knowledge, this is adultery in God's eyes.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Rationalism And Revelation
Rationalism and revelation will never see eye to eye.
Revelation trusts in God,
Rationalism trusts lies.
Rationalism thinks the human mind is all the source.
That human minds can dream up truth.
That they are the ultimate force.
Revelation believes God's Word, unchallenged to this hour.
That God can yet reveal His truth.
That He is the ultimate power.
And rationalized theology and science can be shown
The source of every kind of pain,
And trouble the earth has known.
But God has never authored strife, disorder, curse or plague.
He is the source of all that's good.
His Light is never vague.
What God has made declares His power so anyone can see.
But as for those who make up facts?
They're blind as blind can be.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Science And Logic Are Limited Tools
Science and logic are limited tools.
Overextending them makes people fools.
Rationalism assumes beyond fact,
Making up data that science had lacked.
Chains are as strong as the link that is weak.
Buckets with one hole will still have a leak.
Science that's false adds assumptions to fact,
Making up data that science had lacked.
Faith, on the other hand, comes from above.
It is a substance, which God gives in love.
Blindness is lifted by faith, so we see
Matters of Spirit and eternity,
Going beyond where the human can go,
Into the power of Him, Whom we know,
Unto the One Whom the world abhorred,
Into the presence of Jesus, our Lord.
How sad the problem with mere human minds!
Pride and assumption of false science blinds.
Thinking they're wise people show themselves fools:
Science and logic are limited tools.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Science, Falsely So Called
In the first letter to Timothy, chapter six and verses twenty and twenty-one, it mentions "science, falsely called." This letter says: "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so called . . ." the word, "science" was translated from a Greek word that means "knowledge." The English word, science, has several meanings, so it's hard to know what people mean when they say, "science." False knowledge takes many forms, but the truth is different: truth is absolute.
A man I know was out in one of the Canadian provinces at a shopping center. When he came out to go to his car, there was suddenly a snow storm that resulted in a complete white out. When the snow is so intense that all that can be seen is white, it's referred to as a white out. When a white out occurs, people can die because they lose their orientation and can't find shelter. They are totally blinded by the snow. That's what happened to this man I know. He walked out of the store and was totally lost in the storm and in danger. At this same moment, another man I know was some distance away and looked outside. Seeing that there was a white out, he felt a desire to pray. He asked the people there with him to join him in prayer, stating that someone may be in danger out in this white out. They prayed, and looked outside. The white out was gone and they praised God. The man in the parking lot gave praise to God that God had taken away the white out.
Here is the difference between science falsely so called and true science. It is the difference between that which is falsely called knowledge and truth. One of the speculative assumptions of false science is the assumption that there is no God, or at least that God is not involved in the material universe. Notice that the men mentioned above gave glory to God for what He had done. The meteorologists, on the other hand, became confused. Where had all the snow suddenly gone? Their false science was false because it only accounted for some of the factors involved in the events of weather and denied the possibility of anything outside of the material realm. Assuming that there was no God, they had to rationalize away the event that had just taken place.
A woman I know was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. She could no longer dress herself, and the x-rays showed the bone spurs clearly impinging on her nerves. The doctor said that there was very little he could do. She went to a second doctor and got the same story. It just so happened that this woman went to a church that followed the scriptural order of elders overseeing and pastoring the local church with apostles set over the universal church. She called for the elders, who laid hands on her, anointing her with oil and praying according to James five. Two people at that meeting came to her afterwards and told her that they had seen, in a vision, the bone spurs dissolving. That week, she felt considerably better. She found that she could move and dress herself. Going back to the doctor, he became quite agitated. He made this incredible remark about the bone spurs, "Well I don't know where they went, but they're gone now." The doctor was hindered by science, falsely called. He was assuming that God doesn't heal. The woman and all the faithful who heard about it, on the other hand, were praising God.
I know a Christian man who was driving in his car toward a green traffic light. Suddenly, a loud audible voice said, "Stop!" The man hit the brakes and stopped. He immediately saw a car, that would have hit him broadside, run through the intersection ahead of him. Someone had run a red light, but this man was giving glory to God that God had kept him from being hit. I'm certain that many would use science, falsely so called, to try to cast about for a naturalistic, materialistic explanation. Naturalism is simply the unfounded presupposition that there is no God. Materialism asserts the same thing as materialism does and is just as baseless. The fool had said in his heart, "There is no God."
We could go on about the broken neck that was suddenly not broken after two x-rays and a cat-scan confirmed that it was broken. We could talk about the abdominal growths that were suddenly gone, the knee that was suddenly made totally normal after confirmed diagnosis. We could talk about hopelessly ruined relationships that have been restored, and job situations and financial situations that have been reversed. We could talk about dead who have been raised to life. For all of these events, there's no doubt that science, falsely so called, would be scratching around to fabricate some rationalistic explanation, while true knowledge is giving glory to God for what He has done.
These are just some of the events that I, or people whom I know, have witnessed. Others have seen greater things. I've read about some of them and marveled. For every time that God moves, those who despise God are working very hard to make it seem as if God were not moving.
Romans 1:18-2:12 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Spiritual Or Natural
The human faith is blind.
It leaps into dark,
And hopes to land in light.
It will not trust in God.
It starts with the human,
And that is where it ends.
It does not depend on the person of Jesus.
It can't receive the things of God.
It is a reasoned faith.
The faith that is of God,
Has eyes to see His will.
It moves the Hand of God,
For it has come from Him
It starts with God,
And God will complete it.
It can't be found outside of Christ Jesus.
It is not bound by things of earth.
It is the faith of God.
The human hope is weak.
It is a "hope so" hope.
It cannot light the way
It comes from human hearts.
It starts with the human,
And that is where it ends.
It does not depend on the person of Jesus.
Nor can it see the things of God.
It's merely mortal hope.
The hope that is of God,
Can see what God will do.
It knows His promises,
For it has come from Him.
It starts with God,
And God will fulfill it.
It can't be found outside of Christ Jesus.
It is not bound by things of earth.
It is the hope of God.
The human love receives.
It does not give away.
It never can be pure.
It comes from human hearts.
It starts with the human,
And that is where it ends.
It does not depend on the person of Jesus.
Nor can it love as Jesus loves.
It's selfish, fleshly love.
The love that is of God,
Can do what God will do.
It has the pow'r of God,
For it has come from Him.
It starts with God,
And God will complete it.
It can't be found outside of Christ Jesus.
It is not bound by things of earth.
It is the love of God.
For wisdom, joy, and peace,
And all that's good and right,
There is a counterfeit,
Or else the genuine
That starts with God, and God is the essence.
That can't be found outside of Christ Jesus,
That flows from God and can't be mixed,
With any natural.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
The Prophetic Word Of Rationalism
Rationalism is the prophetic word that proceeds from the god called intellect.
The prophetic word of rationalism is marked by the ability to justify any course of action or any philosophic paradigm.
The basis of rationalism is the belief that the intellect can reveal knowledge without the benefit of observation or any other source.
The prophetic word of rationalism will glorify anything except God and Jesus Christ, whether it be an organization, a person or persons, a doctrinal stand, a philosophy, a political ideology, or any part of the creation.
The prophetic word of rationalism can be heard throughout the land, from the campus of the university to the entertainment that is transmitted through all the various media. It can be heard from the news program to the sermon given from the pulpit of the local church building.
Numbers 15:39b Remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that you seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you used to go a whoring
1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Proverbs 28:26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool: but whoever walks wisely, he shall be delivered.
Jeremiah 23:16 Thus says the LORD of hosts, Hearken not to the words of the prophets that prophesy to you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
Proverbs 3:5-7 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.
Jeremiah 9:13-15 And the LORD says, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein; But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them: Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.
Ezekiel 13:17 Likewise, thou son of man, set thy face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own heart; and prophesy thou against them
Ezekiel 13:22-23 Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: Therefore you shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and you shall know that I am the LORD.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
The Real Church
Our God is real and absolute and His Light never dims,
Though much is done and falsely labeled as a work of Him,
Unlike the real Christ, the Only Hope of all mankind,
A plastic church suggests another christ of laws that bind,
A christ composed of many rules and rituals and forms,
And claiming that some human works could somehow please the Lord.
The members of the real Church confess the state they're in,
Depending on the works of Christ to save them from their sins.
Who look to power from On High to be set fully free,
And, though yet soiled, and spotted still, to one day holy be.
There is no way to join God's Church, yet all who will may come,
And any may be born into this Church of God's dear Son.
Unlike our mighty Lord, Who saves, and heals, by Whom we soar,
A man-made church presents some other christ who has no power,
A christ who has no power to heal, no power to set you free,
But rather form and ritual, a name from history.
How different, God's Church, God's Doors, His called out ministries,
Who manifest the potent Christ, the One Who sets us free,
Those led with power from on high; those called out from the world,
Those called to sell all that they have to purchase this great pearl.
The Church is not a club to join, yet all who will may come,
And any may be born into this Church of God's own Son.
Unlike this Holy One, in Whom we live so high above,
Synthetic churches pose some other christ . . . who is not Love,
A christ who brings no holiness, a mist from long ago,
A christ who is so far away, not like the One we know.
How different, God's Church: with Love of God and Spirit flow,
Obeying Christ, our vital Lord, The living Corner Stone.
That pattern absolute and sure, the living Christ Divine,
For we love Him Who is the Light, so He within us shines.
And all who seek to know the Lord will find Him as they pray,
Though many false christs are put forth who cannot help or save.
Unlike the mighty Christ, Whose presence is a burning fire,
A plastic church presents some other christ of mind's desire,
A christ who entertains and stimulates the human minds,
A made up christ who loves the world, that shackles, maims, and blinds.
Christ's Body is the Church: the growing Temple from On High,
Which now shows forth Lord Jesus Christ, the only Good and Kind,
The Temple of our holy God, a House not made with hands,
By that which every joint supplies, this Temple grows and stands.
So many spirits have gone forth, and many voices speak,
But those who seek the Holy One are careful as they seek.
They find the teaching Christ, Whom we may seek and find and know,
While pseudo-churches preach another christ who cannot show,
A christ who cannot speak to us, nor even guide our way,
The christ they preach we cannot know, nor grow in Him each day.
The contrast is the Church: those called to Light from shades of gray,
To walk according to the Christ revealed, in pots of clay.
Those called to press toward calling high will be set fully free,
And, though yet soiled, and spotted still, will one day holy be.
The doctrine that there is no Truth, Whom we may seek and find,
Pervades the earthly, devilish church, which charms the human mind.
Not like the great I Am, Who is, and Whom we know and feel,
A barren church presents a different christ who is not real,
A christ who says, "Do as thou wilt," with choices you may choose,
A vapor, a philosophy, a thought that you can use.
How different, God's Church, those who reveal our God's good news,
They manifest the steadfast Christ, the One Whom all may choose,
With love unfeigned and hope unquenched and Faith the only shield,
That Body of the living Lord: His essence now revealed.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Two Spirits
The human spirit, its violence is plain to see now.
Its 'righteous' anger justifying sin.
The Holy Spirit, His fruit spring forth in all who follow.
Let those who have been born now walk in Him.
The human spirit, all violence proceeds from this source.
With faulty reason, vile acts defends.
The Holy Spirit, all love and peace proceeds from this Source.
He is the Christ, the power of God within.
The human spirit, It feeds on envy. Full of malice!
It reaches out exalting thoughts of self.
The Holy Spirit, He moves in mercy. How He loves us!
He moves in love through those who yield themselves.
The human spirit, it has a usurped power destructive.
It makes demands for "rights" and privileges.
The Holy Spirit, His power is God's power within us.
Self-sacrifice marks all who now are His.
The human spirit, it points its finger and accuses.
It thanks its God for all its righteousness.
The Holy Spirit, He looks for fruit meet for repentance.
And contrite hearts that ask Him to forgive.
The human spirit, it brings attention to its own self.
It loves itself. Its selfish ways are known.
The Holy Spirit, He always points the way to Jesus.
He speaks of Christ, exalting Him alone.
The human spirit, it speaks of its own puffed up virtue
It seeks to prove that it is good and right.
the Holy Spirit, He speaks of that which is true virtue.
He points the way from darkness to the LIGHT.
The human spirit, its so deceptive; who can know it.
It uses pseudo-science to tell lies.
The Holy Spirit, He looks for willing hearts who hear Him.
He speaks only of Truth from up on High.
The human spirit, the power of the human psyche.
They work together in hypocrisy.
The Holy Spirit, The power of the Holy Father.
He is the One Who sets the captives free.
The human spirit, it tries to find some human method.
The human ways where all confusion lurks.
The Holy Spirit, He points the way to Gods own methods.
And from God's Word reveals the way that works.
The human spirit, it claims to have attained all fullness.
It seeks to show that it is good and blessed.
The Holy Spirit, He urges all to come to fullness.
He urges us to press on toward His rest.
The human spirit, it claims that there is no Truth for us.
It looks to made-up lies to build its tower.
The Holy Spirit, He points the way, the way to Jesus.
For Jesus is the Truth; in Him is power.
The human spirit, it speaks of human effort working.
It tries to use the self to bring reform.
The Holy Spirit, He simply brings us to The New King.
The King of kings in all who are reborn.
The human spirit, it thinks it sees with understanding.
It's blind with no capacity for sight.
The Holy Spirit, His hope sees just what God is doing.
The King of kings, we seek with all our might.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Which Faith?
Which one will you receive?
Human faith is blind.
God's faith sees.
Human faith comes from the human.
God's faith comes from God.
Human faith believes without evidence.
God's faith is the evidence of things not seen.
Human faith speaks lies.
God's faith speaks the Truth.
Human faith works with human hope,
Human "I hope so" hope.
God's faith works with God's hope,
Eternal, abiding, sure hope.
Human faith works with human love,
Selfish, self-exalting love.
God's faith works with God's love,
Self-sacrificing, giving love.
Human faith believes what it wants to be true.
God's faith believes what God shows to be true.
Human faith believes in such things as:
evolution,
global warming,
safe immorality,
changing the laws of God,
human ways, human methods.
God's faith believes in such things as:
Forgiveness, healing and righteousness through Christ,
Christ's sure coming,
God's unfailing judgements,
God's unchanging righteousness,
God's ways, God's methods.
Human faith opens the door to a relationship with the human mind.
God's faith opens the door to a relationship with God.
Will you choose the human faith,
Or will you choose the faith of God.
Which one will you receive?
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Copyright Bob and Kathy Stenson, Freeware. Use it freely.
Free Christian Song Book of Sacred Music and Spiritual Songs
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