The White Horse Inn

The White Horse Inn was a pub in Cambridge, England where the early reformers would gather and discuss religion, doctrine and the early ideas of reform. The early prints of the scripture were passed along through there. They did so in secret, somewhat, to hide from the church of the day. So here we are online, gathering to discuss, hear each other, grow and learn and be sent out with more than what we had before.... Purification. If anyone has a word, psalm, doctrine, exhortation....let him give it.

Strangers in this world

Ever read this scripture! Telling us that we are strangers and pilgrims in this world. Sometimes I feel especially that with my travelling around and working in different jobs, more and more like a pilgrim. I get the sense, more and more, that I don't fit in.... I think in my mind I am looking for a good place to live, a great job, good neighbors and prosperity. All these things are true and God wants these for us, but....we are also in a war. I used to keep a sign in my bathroom to remind me everyday to keep my mind on this. "Have you forgotten, you are in a war". Most of you already know what I mean, but for those who don't, we are in a world, much controlled by the God of this world, the devil. We carry the presence of God into this world, in much the same way that the priests carried the ark into the world on their shoulders.....if we are in Him. Yet at times for many different reasons, we fail....or prosperity fails.....we are at war and sometimes the devil wins battles. We know he'll never win the war....he can't.
We are strangers and pilgrims in this world, but we do have the family of God.... Recently and at different times of my life I've wanted to have more of my spiritual friends nearby. Over the years we've been separated across the country. Once we were all in one place and prayed and fellowshipped together. These particular friends I speak of were no normal Christians. Men who could bring heaven to earth, who moved in the gifts, had fruit in their lives and such. People that through my life I latched onto and made them close friends, because they walked with God. Nowadays, it seems that phone conversations aren't enough for me. I hope and wish that someday we could all gather again. I look at where I'm at in my city and them in theirs and think we'll financially, we are all stuck here, working hard every day, paying the bills. But I keep thinking that I'd almost rather move to where some of them are just for the fellowship and to keep encouraged. Although I am a stranger in this world, I am family to the people, in the kingdom of God. And when I am in a dry and weary land, I really see the importance of being hooked up with those who walk in the Spirit. I hope most of you realize that the average church, barely does. Many talk but not many walk. The kingdom of heaven is not in word, but in power. You can't always find that easily where you are. I think how unimportant my job here is and my career. Whats more important than bringing the kingdom of God near. Finding the elect and hooking up and having such power, with real unity(real unity...that's another sermon in itself), that darkness can't prevail. Then we can always have a haven to power up and come back to the source. A house of prayer. Don't get me wrong, I definitely believe in being where God wants you to be. BUT there is definitely a very scriptural principle of being prepared and being found in HIM before we minister to men. Listen.....Jesus himself spent 30 years growing strong in the Spirit, before the 3....YES 3 years of ministry.....Paul spent 13 years in the back side of the desert being changed and prepared for ministry....The old testament priests were not allowed to be priests until many years of training..and only after they were 30 years of age.... what extravagance and to the flesh....wastefulness on Gods part....these men were probably ready at 22 years of age by many standards....especially todays. God wants men who have learned to stay in His presence, and that does not come with youth. Please don't misunderstand me... I don't mean youth as in our earthly age, but I mean immaturity, spiritually speaking. Many are old Christians but have been stuck in a rut with those same sins for years. Some are young in the Lord, but their obedience is ripping the veil in their flesh, faster than normal. But with time being found in the throne room we are changed. Much like when we were kids and our parents preached at us about school, and about relationships and money and blah...etc. we hated it and some things it took us until our late twenties to figure out that they were right. Our parents lived in this tough world and had to pay for diapers, car tires, car problems, mortgage...and they came up short so many times that after a while.....THEY JUST KNEW...that you need to go to school to have a better chance just to survive, and not be struggling for the rest of your life. It's sort of the same with God, when we are found in Him and stay put, after a bit there is power, wisdom and much more that we would never have if we'd stayed in our spiritual youth for so long. Then we are really....ready. Some can become ready faster than others. It's all about how much gas ya poor on the fire.... and how long you BURN for...
God wants us in His Spirit much more than He cares about what city I am in. At least as long as I am searching for more of Him. Once the fog is cleared away, once the veil is behind me... I think where I live would be a minor thing. When power is around, earthly things are earthly things. Heaven is our homeland, and we'll take the land wherever God has us.......
So although we are strangers and pilgrims in this world....Think about this! We will be uncomfortable around the world, they will not understand us. Maybe our spiritual family is far from us, or we feel lonely. In God there is Joy unspeakable and full of glory. When we seek first His kingdom, and are found in him, when we are close to His family and link up with those that love Him most, though we are in a war, we will not lose! We can only win! Through our God we shall do valiantly, for it is Him, who shall tread down the enemy. We are strangers and pilgrims…only passing through? Yes and no. We are also a Royal Priesthood! Soldiers…the scripture says! Servants and freemen, and in all these things we will find, in God, more things in heaven than the earth can offer. Our kingdom is not of this world. We will live in the new heaven and the new earth. We are ambassadors! in this world. We are the priests that in Gods holines, cary the ark into this world. Almost gives you a new way to look at us being strangers. Not some beggar, or reject wondering the world, pushed down but more than conquerors!

Sola Scriptura

Ah, a breath of fresh air, to hear the words "sola scriptura". With every wind of doctrine and tradition in this world, to hear these words, makes me feel like all is well, all is right. There is a plumb line, The Word of God, and I remember.....The reformers and their persecutions, running from murderers, while they protected the Word of God. They came to the realization that when you can know the Word and keep it planted in your heart, that you can find God. Not just know about Him, but to have Him live in your heart. And the more you have of the revelation of the Word of God, the closer to God you are. Draw near unto Him and He'll draw near unto you. So the reformers protected the Word, and died for it's existence.
They said this phrase "Sola Scriptura" meaning only the scripture. They'd already seen the fruit of the traditions of men, theyd tasted religion and now after tasting the real Words of God, it burned in their hearts. They new every man had his own thoughts and ideals and here was the bible, straight from God himself. The judge of all judges, discerner of thoughts and end all to all arguments. With it was Gods power and might and beauty. Sola Scriptura was a phrase by holy men who wanted God more than anything and his Word was the final authority!