CSN - LightWing Messages - Sunday - 4/16/2023
The Day and Hour Unknown
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him topieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 24:36-51 (NIV)
Last week those who remain faithful celebrated Easter Sunday, which is a celebration of the birth of Christianity through the sacrifice of God’s son. In my message last week, I offered a perspective that all of us are like the disciples in the Garden that Jesus urged to keep watch and remain vigilant. It is understandable that some contemporary Christians who feel they may have already attained “sainthood” would not respect such a message and readily dismiss it. I stand by the message as Heaven has revealed in this time that the Kingdom still remains unfinished. The world around us reveals this fact in very glaring terms. It appears to me with simple common sense that Americans are indeed divided, but the self-appointed saints (the stewards of the Vineyard) have permitted criminals, thieves and murderers to occupy the Land of the Free.
As mentioned last week: “I have meditated, prayed, studied, and reflected a great deal lately about Jesus in the Garden and especially about the prayers he offered in such a time... He requested (more likely, required) them to pray with him as he prayed most intensely nearby. Sadly, the disciples could not do what he requested of them.” It is understandable that it is hard to digest; it is the same way with truth sometimes. If Jesus knew he was going to make the ultimate sacrifice, why did he ask those disciples to pray and watch with him? He could have easily said that they could relax and go to sleep, as he had everything under control. He did not.
He expected his disciples to stay awake and to pray and to not enter into temptation. But, he asked even more. He asked his disciples to pick up their own crosses and to follow the way he practiced. It is definitely a most difficult path. Yet, this is what our Lord asked. It is not what the weak ministers would ask of their church members. It is certainly not what bosses would ask of their employees. It is definitely not our secular governmental leaders are asking of us. So, if we do not heed what God is asking of us, does it make it insignificant that no one else is asking us to have such diligence in honoring their requests of us?
In this edition, we offer messages from two giants of faith within the Christian community. But, it is advisable to note that the many messages from ministers today have been watered down and sanitized for consumption of converts to their church – not intended for true disciples of Jesus. It is this fact that concerns me in such a time as this. Are those shepherds, who are charged with helping their flocks to recognize and to embrace the truth, not proclaiming the truth? Are they in the habit of offering pablum to adults, in order not to offend anyone? Are those ministers of this day following the pattern of the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, whom Jesus referred to as hypocrites: “You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.” (Matthew 23:15)
In light of so much that has transpired in America in recent years, in light of the obvious signs of the times, it is likely that these are signs that seem to portend even more difficult days ahead for Americans. And, in light of such perception, our first message is from Rev. Charles Finney, the great evangelist credited as one who initiated the Second Great Awakening in the United States, which swept through America before the American CIvil War. His sermon is from 1853, entitled: “God's Love for A Sinning World.” He provides a clear perspective on Jesus’ Resurrection and it is good to read the entire sermon. However, readers must beware as it is very long, so we offer the first part, and cut it short, but we offer a point by point synopsis of what Finney had to say on the price God was willing to pay to redeem His sinful children. We do encourage our readers to use the link at the end of his message to read the sermon in its entirety.
The second message is an excerpt from a book written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer entitled “The Cost of Discipleship.” It is this message that I am resurrecting today (we posted it previously) as it is evident that it is quite appropriate for such a time as this. He was reflecting upon Jesus’ words and applying it to his time during the dominion of the Nazi Party over the German people. In “The Cost of Discipleship,” Bonhoeffer compared “Costly Grace” to “Cheap Grace” which is the topic of the excerpt offered. Bonhoeffer’s works are quite challenging, as were the words of Finney, as were the words of Jesus.
Bonhoeffer’s words do not just challenge one to think, but to take action against evil. His words resonate with me in this time, even though Bonhoeffer had offered this message to the world in 1938. Both messages are offered for Christians in this time, as I consider both messages able to help us get through these turbulent times. But, even more than that, it is important for those who consider themselves to be Jesus’ disciples to not only keep the faith, but to also practice it daily.
As always, we hope our readers would consider all the messages in this edition as having some relevance or meaning, and if readers know others who might also value the messages, we pray they would consider becoming LightWing messengers and kindly pass our newsletters on to those who would welcome them – or simply, please receive them yourselves.
Also, our LightWing Messages now have a history via our Zoom calls. Our Zoom discussion of last Wednesday was stimulating based upon the Easter edition. This coming Wednesday, Dr. Richard Moss has also consented to come onto the Zoom call for an interview. He has been a frequent contributor to the messages offered through the Citizen Sentinels Network in both the Sunday editions and Tuesday’s Citizen Voice. We have recently featured Dr. Moss last week on Tuesday and in the CPR newsletter. He has just formulated a new patriot organization as it had been announced in those editions. In case anyone missed the CPR edition, it can be accessed by following this link: CPR Lifeline Advisory - Thursday - 4/13/2023
The Zoom calls are now being offered at 5pm PDT as we have indicated in previous editions. If readers would like to partake in this interview on our Zoom call this Wednesday and get the chance to ask questions of Dr. Moss, please reach out. If readers are interested in receiving the Zoom link to the call, please send a brief email request to this address: d.jamzon@gmail.com
May God bless all of our readers and all of their loved ones. May God bless America!
May we, who are called by His name, humble ourselves and truly receive the gifts that God has given with deepest gratitude – especially His Mercy and His loving Grace. May we also repent, and turn from the realms of spiritual apathy or of the actively wicked ways of the world - but to even to be able to pick up our cross and follow God’s ways as we take courage to seek His Kingdom and His righteousness.
God's Love for A Sinning World
By Charles Grandison Finney
June 22, 1853
from "The Oberlin Evangelist" - President of Oberlin College - Publication of Oberlin College Lecture V
Text.-- John 3:16: "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Sin is the most expensive thing in the universe. Nothing else can cost so much. Pardoned or unpardoned, its cost is infinitely great. Pardoned, the cost falls chiefly on the great atoning substitute; unpardoned, it must fall on the head of the guilty sinner. The existence of sin is a fact everywhere experienced -- everywhere observed. There is sin in our race, everywhere, and in awful aggravation. Sin is the violation of an infinitely important law, -- a law designed and adapted to secure the highest good of the universe. Obedience to this law is naturally essential to the good of creatures. Without obedience there could be no blessedness even in heaven. As sin is a violation of a most important law, it cannot be treated lightly.
No government can afford to treat disobedience as a trifle, inasmuch as everything -- the entire welfare of the government and of all the governed--turns upon obedience. Just in proportion to the value of the interests at stake is the necessity of guarding law and of punishing disobedience.
The law of God must not be dishonoured by anything He shall do. It has been dishonoured by the disobedience of man; hence the more need that God should stand by it, to retrieve its honour. The utmost dishonor is done to law by disowning, disobeying, and despising it. All this, sinning man has done. Hence, this law being not only good but intrinsically necessary to the happiness of the governed, it becomes of all things most necessary that the law-giver should vindicate his law. He must by all means do it. Hence sin has involved God's government in a vast expense. Either the law must be executed at the expense of the well being of the whole race, or God must submit to suffer the worst results of disrespect to His law--results which in some form must involve a vast expense.
Take for example any human government. Suppose the righteous and necessary laws which it imposes are disowned and dishonoured. In such a case the violated law must be honoured by the execution of its penalty, or something else not less expensive, and probably much more so, must be endured. Transgression must cost happiness, somewhere, and in vast amount. In the case of God's government it has been deemed advisable to provide a substitute, one that should answer the purpose of saving the sinner, and yet of honouring the law. This being determined on, the next great question was--How shall the expense be met?
The Bible informs us how the question was in fact decided. By a voluntary conscription–shall I call it,--or donation? Call it as we may, it was a voluntary offering. Who shall head the subscription? Who shall begin where so much is to be raised? Who will make the first sacrifice? Who will take the first step in a project so vast? The Bible informs us. It began with the Infinite Father. He made the first great donation.
He gave his only begotten Son--this to begin with--and having given him first, He freely gives all else that the exigencies of the case can require. First, He gave his Son to make the atonement due to law; then gave and sent his Holy Spirit to take charge of this work. The Son on his part consented to stand as the representative of sinners that he might honor the law, by suffering in their stead. He poured out his blood, made a whole life of suffering a free donation on the altar-- withheld not his face from spitting, nor his back from stripes--shrunk not from the utmost contumely that wicked men could heap on him. So the Holy Ghost also devotes himself to most self-denying efforts unceasingly, to accomplish the great object. It would have been a very short method to have turned over his hand upon the wicked of our race, and sent them all down quick to hell, as once He did when certain angels "kept not their first estate." Rebellion broke out in heaven. Not long did God bear it, around his lofty throne. But in [the] case of man he changed his course--did not send them all to hell, but devised a vast scheme of measures, involving most amazing self-denials and self-sacrifices, to gain men's souls back to obedience and heaven.
For whom was this great donation made? "God so loved the World," meaning the whole race of men. By the "world" in this connection cannot be meant any particular part only, but the whole race. Not only the Bible, but the nature of the case shows that the atonement must have been made for the whole world. For plainly if it had not been made for the entire race, no man of the race could ever know that it was made for himself, and therefore not a man could believe on Christ in the sense of receiving by faith the blessings of the atonement…
Editor’s note: The remainder of this message from Finney is a synopsis of his lengthy sermon. For a full transcript of his message a link to the appropriate website is provided after this entry…
I. SIN IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE THING IN THE UNIVERSE.
1. It is the violation of an infinitely important law — a law designed and adapted to secure the highest good of the universe.
2. As sin is this it cannot be treated lightly. The entire welfare of a government and its subjects turns upon obedience.
3. The law of God must not be dishonoured by anything He shall do. He must stand by it to retrieve its honour.
4. Hence the expense. Either the law must be executed at the expense of the race, or God must suffer the worse results of disrespect to His law, or a substitute be provided who shall both save the sinner and honour the law.
II. HOW SHALL THE EXPENSE BE MET? Who shall head the subscription? The Father made the first donation.
1. He gave His Son to make the atonement due to law.
2. He gave His Spirit to take charge of this work.
III. FOR WHOM WAS THE GREAT DONATION MADE? By the "world" cannot be meant any particular part. The Bible and the nature of the case shows that the atonement must have been made for the whole. Otherwise no man could be sure that it was made for himself.
IV. WHAT PROMPTED GOD TO MAKE IT? Love. This love is —
1. Not complacency, or it would have been infinitely disgraceful to Himself.
2. Not mere feeling, as in those who are carried away by strong emotion. But—
3. Disinterested: for He had nothing to hope or fear; no profit to make out of the saved.
4. Zealous.
5. Most self-denying.
6. Universal because particular. God loved each, therefore all.
7. Most patient.
V. THE GIFT OF GOD MUST BE RECEIVED BY FAITH. This is the only possible way, God's
government is moral because the Saviour is a moral agent. Therefore God cannot influence us unless we give Him our confidence. Lessons:
1. Sinners may place themselves beyond the reach of mercy.
2. This involves them in the greatest responsibility.
3. This responsibility can only be discharged and the sinner saved by accepting the donation of Christ.
4. Accepting that donation let us give it to others.
The preceding contains only excerpts and a synopsis from the full sermon delivered by Rev. Charles G. Finney. A full transcript, which includes noations and footnotes, can be found by using this link: God's Love for A Sinning World Text by Charles G. Finney from "The Oberlin Evangelist"Text.pdf
“Cheap Grace vs. Costly Grace”
By Dietrich Bonhoeffer
1938
The following is an excerpt from a book originally entitled “Nachfolge” by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The book title, which literally means “succession” in German, was translated as “The Cost of Discipleship” in the English version.
Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjacks' (seller of cheap goods, a “huckster”) wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the Church's inexhaustible treasury, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost! The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing. Since the cost was infinite, the possibilities of using and spending it are infinite. What would grace be if it were not cheap?...
Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.
Costly grace is the treasure hidden in the field; for the sake of it a man will go and sell all that he has. It is the pearl of great price to buy which the merchant will sell all his goods. It is the kingly rule of Christ, for whose sake a man will pluck out the eye which causes him to stumble; it is the call of Jesus Christ at which the disciple leaves his nets and follows him.
Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the gift which must be asked for, the door at which a man must knock.
Such grace is costly because it calls us to follow, and it is grace because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life. It is costly because it condemns sin, and grace because it justifies the sinner. Above all, it is costly because it cost God the life of his Son: "ye were bought at a price," and what has cost God much cannot be cheap for us. Above all, it is grace because God did not reckon his Son too dear a price to pay for our life, but delivered him up for us. Costly grace is the Incarnation of God.
The preceding message is contained in that book. The book is still in print and one with a foreward by Eric Metaxas can be purchased online. One good source: https://www.christianboochristianbook.com - The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German Lutheran pastor and theologian who took part in resisting the Nazi government during World War II. He became a modern Christian martyr known for opposing Nazi ideologies, conspiring to overthrow Hitler, and helping Jews escape Germany.
Bonhoeffer was eventually hanged as a war criminal in the German concentration camp at Flossenburg. His best-known work is a Christian classic: The Cost of Discipleship.
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Excellent Election Education Resource: US 2020 Election Fraud at a Glance
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Excellent Citizen-Patriot News Resource: From Frank Speech - the Home of Free Speech
Excellent Citizen Comprehensive Resource: David Horowitz Freedom Center
Excellent Expose’ of Political Prisoners within the US: American Gulag
Excellent Source of CRT information for parents: Moms for America
Excellent Christian Homeschool Resource: https://ed-exit.com/
Excellent Citizen Activist Resource: Precinct Strategy: Home
Excellent Guide to Protecting Families: A Guide to Protecting Your Family From the Coming Insurrection and Violence 1 ARE YOU SAFE?