Chris Bunton

Monday, October 9, 2023

Samson's Grace

Samson's Grace

A Word on Faith and Grace

Let’s look at Samson. (Judges 13:1-Judges 16:31) He is one of the Bible characters, whose entire life proves that it is all about God.

Samson was born by promise, and was made a Nazarite at birth. His parents obeyed the Word of the Lord given to them by the angel. Samson did nothing at all. It was all done for him and without his power; much like our salvation. We are called by God, we hear His Word about Jesus Christ, passed down to us through the elders, and we believe, confessing Him as Lord. It’s that simple.

Samson lived a sinful life, yet God was with him. His source of power was not his hair. God was his source of power. His hair is a picture of something that grows, which is not controlled by man, other than the power to cut it off. Faith grows, and God works in our lives, as long as we continue to have faith in Him, despite our sinful actions.

He waged war against the enemies of God who were oppressing the people. Remember, God let the Philistines take over Israel, because of their falling away from God. But, when they turned to God, He raised up Samson to fight their enemies. Samson was sinful, Israel was sinful, and the Philistines were sinful. The difference lies in who turned to and trusted God, and the promises God has made. When we trust God and turn to Him, He is with us no matter what. But, when we turn away from Him, the enemy can take over. This has nothing to do with sinful behavior. It has to do with whether you are turning to God, because only God can fix our sinfulness, and failures. Abiding in Him, leads to growth, like Samson’s hair. It grows and we don’t even notice.

Samson was tricked by Delilah which allowed the Philistines the ability to overcome him. Samson already had Delilah sexually, this was not the first time he had seen her, or been with her, as the story implies. So, sex was not the reason he gave up his secret. He gave up his secret, because he became convinced of his invincibility, and trusted something or someone other than God. His secret is God. His hair is the works God has done for Him and the faith He had in God. Samson gave up the one thing that kept him safe; the one thing that kept Him alive and prospered him. The particulars are irrelevant. Samson stopped trusting God. He stopped abiding in Him.

He was captured and tortured and locked up. Much like Israel, who had lost faith in God, and turned from Him. The enemy was able to overcome him. This led to Samson, and Israel being broken, which led to the crying out to God, which is what we should do when we are being broken. Our pride makes us believe we can do it alone. Pride must be broken. Samson’s hair began to grow back. His faith began to grow in that rock bottom place.

And after he was broken, he cried out to God, and God gave him a tremendous victory. God did not abandon Him. Samson did not lose his salvation. God was always there, waiting for Samson to cry out in faith, and God moved in a mighty way. God fulfilled his own purpose through Samson, which was the destruction of the enemy, and setting His people free. That is God’s purpose always; to defeat the enemy and set us free in Him.

Remember, “ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) So, no matter what, remember that you are called, and abide in Christ. Pray, praise, speak faith, confess your sins to Him, and watch Him work. Follow the Holy Spirit as He guides you, and you will see things moving and happening. Eventually one day you will look up and you will be different, and it will be just like growing hair. It’ll be slow and steady, and without your help. Then, you will see that it was all God. You will see that He loves you, and that everything is Ok, and your faith will grow.

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Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called "The Future is Coming" and is a collection of dystopian short stories. Photo by the Author. A small courtyard near the Capitol Building in Washington D. C.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

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Photo by the Author. A small courtyard near the Capitol Building in Washington D. C.

Tuesday, September 26, 2023

On Self-Righteousness

Self-Righteousness is one of the worst things you can do. It is equal to, and akin to Pride.

So what's the big deal?

Well, humans are fallen. We have become utterly corrupted. The thoughts of our minds are wickedness repeatedly.

We were not created this way. But after the Fall. We changed, and grew worse and worse.

Even the best of us are stained from the things we've done in the past, and we omit things, we should do, and still fail miserably.

Not only that, but the world is ruled by Satan and his fallen angels, who keep us in chains to them, and continually work to corrupt us even further.

That's the human condition.

God Himself, came to Earth in the form of a man; Jesus Christ. He lived a holy life, and died for us to set us free from The Plague of Sin, and the control of Satan.

All a person has to do is hear the call of God. Turn to Him, asking Him to save you. Confessing Jesus as their Lord, and believing in Him alone, for salvation.

That's it.

BUT....

Pride will prevent us from doing this. Self-Righteousness will get us to try to save ourselves, by our own righteousness, instead of God's. If we think we can do it, or don't need it, then how can we turn to Him for real?

We cannot.

We must give ourselves to Him and trust in his righteousness, because ours isn't good enough.

Pride and self-righteousness prevents salvation. It leads us to think we can save ourselves. It gets us to think we can help God.

It gets us to think that we are some how required to earn salvation.

It often leads us to treat others badly and judge them, because we think we are better. Or that if we can do the good works, then others can as well.

This self-righteousness is the disease of the Pharisees. It's what killed Jesus. Self-Righteousness and Pride breed envy, when you see that someone is better than you.

Kill self-righteousness in your life. You cannot do it. You cannot save yourself. Even trying is a sin, because you call God a liar. You are saying Jesus's death wasn't good enough to save you.

Just give yourself to Him. Let Him save you. Let Him change you and grow you. Let Him have His way with you. He loves you, and seeks your good.

Just turn to Him. Let Him save you.

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Monday, September 25, 2023

The Great Falling Away

A Word on Prophecy by Chris Bunton

"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day ( The Day of The Lord) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"--- 2 Thess. 2:3 (2 Thess 2:1-15)

It seems that this event is an obvious occurrence. It is not falling attendance in churches as we see now.

But, when the real falling away occurs, there will be no doubt as to what it is. Because every Christian will be tempted with it.

Let me explain.

The Great Falling Away will most likely occur because of terrible persecution of the church in every corner of the world. (No I do not believe in the PRE-TRIBULATION Rapture. We will meet Him in the clouds when He returns.)

Notice that Jesus cleansed His temple twice in His earthly ministry. At the beginning and at the end.

This is a picture of something.

Likewise, persecution from Rome came upon the first church and will come again in these latter days from the revived Roman Empire or New World Order Kingdom of The Anti-Christ.

The Persecution weeds out the false believers. It chases out the money changers. This cleanses the temple, which is the body, which is the Church.

We see in Revelation that after the four horseman there is great persecution. ( Rev. 6:9-11, Rev 6:12, Matt. 24:29) In Daniel, it says the Anti-Christ will make war with the saints and overcome them. Daniel also shows that the Anti-Christ starts out behind the scenes. (Daniel 7: 21, Daniel 7:24-25, Rev. 13:7)

In Revelation the Anti-Christ and False Prophet do not publicly appear until chapter 13 (Revelation 13).

Despite the teaching that the White Horse of the Four Horseman is the Anti-Christ. It is not.

What will probably occur, is that when the world is being devastated by fake or manufactured viruses, divisions and war, economic collapse, famine, deception, and the death that follows.(Rev.6)

The Anti-Christ behind the scenes will start blaming Christians for the devastation and war. This will stir up the persecution that comes after the Four horsemen have ridden the Earth.( Rev. 6)

At the same time the False Prophet will probably appear with a new global religion, that answers all questions, and satisfies every need, bringing false hope to people.

It could also coincide with a discovery, of something that devastates Christian teachings. Possibly Aliens, or the Pre-Trib Rapture is shown to be a lie when the Anti-Christ appears, or they claim to have found the Body of Jesus in a hidden tomb.

In 1 John the scriptures speak of Christians leaving the Church because they were not of us. (1 John 2:18-19) (Preachers use this verse to condemn folks who leave church. It is wrong to do that. This verse has nothing to do with that)

This happens in conjunction with persecution. They left the church because they were not saved and feared persecution and death. The early Christians thought that the persecution coming upon them was from the Anti-Christ, and it was the end and Jesus was coming. But, they did not see that there were TWO cleansings of the temple. and that there are many anti-christs, till THE Anti-Christ comes. As John explained.

Likewise, in today's world the church is full of non-believers who are money changers, benefiting from church membership, in business, politics, and life. But they do not really KNOW HIM.

So when the end times persecution comes, And the False religion and the waves rise upon them. They will fall away, because they never built their house on the True Rock of Christ.

They waited for the Pre-Trib Rapture, so they could escape tough times. But, it didn't come. And now they are like foolish virgins with no faith in their lamp. They can't trust God for the tough times because they never prepared. So, they fall away, because they never knew Him. They never trusted.

All those in the Church who never really knew Him fall away and become the Apostate Church who turn on real believers and sell them to the Anti-Christ.

Children betraying parents unto death, because they were brainwashed in the schools. Pastors handing over trouble makers in their church unto death. Friends betraying friends, killing every true believer.

"Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints."(Psalm 116:15)

This is the cleansing of the Temple in the latter days as all the False brethren and false teachers and deceived ones fall away. Because they never knew Him

If you know Him you cannot fall away. He won't let you go and you would never deny that Jesus is the Lord, and curse Him. This denying and cursing, will probably be an aspect of falling away, joining the Apostate Church, avoiding death, and receiving the mark. (1 Cor. 12:3, John 17:12)

Draw closer to the Lord. Build faith for the tough times to come. Stop trusting in a Pre-Trib rapture, because if it's wrong, you will be terribly shaken. Start trusting God to be able to carry you through tribulation. Jesus is coming soon.