The Cross Alone

Sermonjam - Danish with English subtitles. Mikael Thomsen is a young man in Denmark who burns to preach the true Gospel. Listen as he delivers some thunder from the pulpit to a stunned congregation. Pray for him, as this is highly unusual preaching in this part of the world. His website is http://www.thecrossalone.com

Polycarp

Polycarp was born abound 70 A.D. He was sold as a slave in his childhood to a wealthy woman named Calisto. She reared him as her son. He came to know Christ as his Savior in those early years. As he grew older, he had the opportunity to study under the Apostle John and others who had personally sat under the teaching of Jesus Christ. Polycarp was actively involved in serving the Lord in the Church of Smyrna. Upon the death of Calisto, he became heir to all of her estate. He used his inheritance to advance the cause of Christ and to help those who were in need. Polycarp faithfully ministered in the church at Smyrna for many years. Persecution of Christians was the order of the day when Marcus Aurelius was the Emperor of Rome.

For many years Polycarp was spared. But, the full forced of persecution was unleashed on Polycarp in the later years of his ministry. Three days before he was arrested the Lord revealed to him in a dream that he would be burned at the stake. When the soldiers came to get him, his friends insisted on hiding him. Polycarp made it clear that in the future, he would not allow himself to be hidden. Soon the soldiers discovered where he had been taken. When he saw them coming, instead of fleeing, he calmly stated, "God's will be done." He went out and greeted them warmly and offered them food. As they were eating, he requested that he be allowed to pray before they took him away. His request was granted. For two hours he prayed fervently out loud for the Christians he knew and for the universal church.

When he was done praying they set him on a donkey and took him into the city to be tried as one who was an adversary of the authorized pagan religion. When he arrived, they sat him in a chariot and began to urge him to say that Caesar was God and offer a sacrifice to him. At first he refused to answer. Finally, after they continued to press him Polycarp said, "I shall not do what you would persuade me to." This made his judges very angry. They had confidently supposed that they would be able to easily persuade him to do what they wanted him to do. They became vicious in their words and actions. They literally threw him out of the chariot he had been sitting in, which caused serious injury to his thigh. This display of force incited the blood thirsty mob to the point that they were so loud in their curses and jeers that no one could hear. As they were dragging Polycarp to the place of execution, a voice rang out from Heaven loud and clear, above the harangue of the crowd which said, "Be strong, Polycarp, and quit thyself like a man." [The phrase "quit you" means, to carry through, or perform to the end. Hence, be strong and stand like a man to the end.]

The record states that while no one saw who it was that spoke to Polycarp, many of the believers who were in the crowd clearly heard the voice also. To be sure, Polycarp stood for the Lord Jesus Christ to the end, despite all the efforts to persuade him to renounce Christ. One of the judges tried to get him to deny his faith by saying, "Reverence thy old age…Swear by Casear's Fortune. Repent, and say; Take away the Wicked." The historian goes on to say, "Polycarp, looking with a stern countenance upon the whole multitude of wicked Gentiles, that was gathered together in the Lifts, and shaking his hand at them, looked up to Heaven, and groaning said, Take away the Wicked." But the judge was not satisfied with this. He said, "Sware, and I will set thee at liberty; reproach Christ." It is at this point that Polycarp gives his famous response -- "Eighty and six years have I now served Christ, and he has never done me the least wrong: How then can I blaspheme my King and my Savior?"

The judge then angrily urges him to, "swear by the Genius of Caesar." Polycarp refuses, but offered to share his faith in Christ. The judge rejected the offer and threatened, "I have wild beasts ready, to those I will cast thee except thou repent." Polycarp responds calmly, "Call for them then: For we Christians are fixed in our minds not to change from good to evil; But for me it will be good to be changed from Evil, to Good." The furious judge said, "Seeing that thou dispiseth the Wild Beasts, I will cause thee to be devoured by Fire, unless thou shall repent." Polycarp answered, "Thou threatenest me with Fire which burns for an hour, and so is extinguished; but knowest not the Fire of the Future Judgment, and of that Eternal Punishment, which is reserved for the Ungodly. But why tarriest thou? Bring forth what thou wilt!"

The judge loudly cried out three times, "Polycarp has confessed himself to be a Christian." The mob responded in fury, "This is the Doctor of Asia; The Father of the Christians; an the overthrower of our Gods. He that has taught so many not to sacrifice, nor pay any worship to the Gods." At first they cried out that the lions should be loosed on him and then that he should be burned alive. They took Polycarp to the stake and were going to nail him there. He spoke up and said, "Let me alone as I am: For he who has given me strength to endure the Fire, will also enable me, without your securing me by nails, to stand without moving in the pile." They merely tied him to the stake. He prayed this prayer before the fire was was kindled --

Lord God Almighty, the Father of thy Well-beloved, and Blessed Son, Jesus Christ, by whom we have received Knowledge of thee; the God of Angels and Powers, and of every Creature, and especially the whole Race of Just Men who live in thy presence! I give thee hearty thanks that thou hast vouchsafed (allowed) to bring me to this Day, and to this Hour; that I should have a part in the Number of thy Martyrs, in the Cup of thy Christ, to the Resurrection of Eternal Life, both of Soul and Body, in the Incorruption of the Holy Ghost. Among which may I be accepted this Day before thee, as a fat and acceptable Sacrifice; as thou the true God, with who is no falsehood, has both before ordained, and manifested unto me, and also hath now fulfilled it. For this, and for all things else, I praise thee, I bless thee, I glorify thee by the Eternal, and Heavenly High Priest, Jesus Christ thy Beloved Son; whit whom to Thee and the Holy Ghost, be Glory both now, and to all succeeding Ages, AMEN.

Upon the "AMEN" the executioner lighted the fire, but something strange happened. The flames arched around Polycarp like a sail of a ship filled with wind and he would not burn. After some time, the command was given to the executioner to stab him with a sword, so he did. The result was that so much blood flowed from the wound that it extinguished the fire. The fire was rekindled and Polycarps body was burned to ashes. Polycarp was faithful to the Lord unto death.

Ten Indictments (A Historical 21st Century Message)

This sermon was just preached earlier this evening by brother Paul Washer in Atlanta, Georgia at the Sermon Index Revival Conference. Here is a brief description from brother Greg Gordon:

Saints,

Paul Washer preached at the Revival Conference event in Atlanta, Georgia tonight with what I believe is to be a historical staggaring message for America. I encourage you to email this sermon to everyone you know and get it out on blogs etc. We are going to work on getting up photos and video of the message in Gods timing. A reformation is coming and God is in charge! May we come back to Biblical Truth again and to the message of True Regeneration!

Ten Indictments (A Historical 21st Century Message) by Paul Washer

Preached Wednesday, October 22nd at the Revival Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Paul Washer delivers a urgent appeal to the Christians and Churches in North America that many have been believing a false gospel and have false assurance of their salvation. He lists 10 indictments against the modern Church system in America. This is a historical urgent message, tell others and spread the message. We need a reformation and revival of a biblical standard!

Quotes about the Bible (Part 3)

"The secret of my success? It is simple. It is found in the Bible, 'In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths.'"
George Washington Carver (1864-1943)
American Inventor and Horticulturalist

"How petty are the books of the philosophers, with all their pomp, compared with the Gospels!'"
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)
French Philosopher and Novelist

Christ Exalting Tracks featuring Shai Linne

Cling to YOU

Were You There


The Atonement Q&A


My Portion


Jesus is Alive

Samuel! Samuel!

Reading the Bible daily has become a rarity as of late, and I treasure the days the Spirit helps me in opening up the Word of God. Today was one of those days. I understand the importance of daily reading, for it is that daily devotion that has given me strength, wisdom, joy, and peace these last seven, but this year has become somewhat of a year of trial for me. I praise God for His amazing grace, saving me from eternal damnation and sustaining me daily with His endless mercies and boundless love.

I opened up my Essential Evangelical Parallel Bible, which is a valuable Bible to own, containing two literal translations, the New King James Version and English Standard Version, and two dynamic translations, the New Living Translation and The Message. After straightening a creased first page, I grabbed a chunk of pages and landed on 1 Samuel 3. The heading read, "The LORD Calls Samuel". I read the first verse. "Now the young man Samuel was ministering to the Lord under Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision." How the LORD speaks! Here I was, struggling to study the Word like I did in past years, desiring to see a vision from God, desiring to be in the Spirit, and instead, given many days of desert-like experiences. Then, the Spirit of God illuminates my heart, saying, "You are not alone, there are others that have gone before you, experiencing for many years the same desert-like experiences." Reading the rest of the chapter, I picked out the following significant ideas:

• It is the LORD who calls us to service.
  
• Listen carefully because He may be calling you. When He does, He calls you out by name, designed specifically for His purpose.
  
• We may not discern the voice of God the first time, but always anticipate that He will speak again.
• God often speaks in the quiet of the night, in times of solitude.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. Wait for the Lord and keep his way, and he will exalt you to inherit the land; you will look on when the wicked are cut off. (Psalm 37:7, 34)

Quotes about the Bible (Part 2)

"We are mistaken when we look at the Bible as a spiritual toolbox. We can't take things out of the Bible and make them work for us. The whole process of the spiritual life is to come before God who is alive, who becomes present to us in his Word, and who by means of that Word creates and redeems us. We don't use Scripture; God uses Scripture to work his will in us."
Eugene H. Peterson
Presbyterian Church Pastor and Writer

"It gives me a deep comforting sense that 'things seen are temporal and things unseen are eternal.'"
Helen Keller(1880-1968)
American Writer and Social Reformer
(Blind and deaf from the age of 19 months; on reading the Bible daily, 1955)