Wednesday, October 31, 2007

"May He Be"
May Jesus be the Light by whom we Walk,
the Love in whom we Worship,
the Life through whom we Work,
the Leader from whom we War,
that His presence, purity, and power
will be a constant reality in our life, and
a redeeming quality to reconcile those in
darkness as we long for and live in
the light of His return.
And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. [5] And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. 2 Thes. 3:4-5

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

*“The Beauty of Simplicity”
A lifestyle designed for couples who long to live in oneness with Christ

Our creed of accountability and guidance:
We will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in our mouth. Our soul shall makes its boast in the LORD; the humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with us, and let us exalt His name together. Ps. 34:1-3

Life lesson #4
Our wholehearted service for the Lord should always be the result of an intimate encounter with Him and a revelation of what He intimately embraces.
Life lesson #5
A couple who desires to bless the Lord must know what God honors and also recognize that the present, the eternal now, is the only time they have to bless Him.
*Taken from The Beauty of Simplicity: A Bible Study Designed for Couples (By Nick Holden)
Based on God's Word:
"For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward." 2 Cor. 1:12

Monday, October 29, 2007

This is an excerpt from my newly released book Magnify The Lord: Ten Reasons to Discover, Declare, and Defend why Christ Came, (Xulon Press ; ISBN 9781602669314).
*WE NEED TRUE PROPHETIC PREACHING

The truth reveals to us that the pastor is assigned by God to take
over the aim or vision of the church as His distinct undershepherd.
One role the pastor has is to have the superior aim or vision that
God desires to give to a local fellowship. This is why it is so crucial
to have the man God desires to lead a congregation. Please don’t
misuse or allow the office of the pastor, what God has ordained for
His own glory, to be mocked by ungodly men. Jokes, humanistic schools,
cultural educators, or educations have never set a man free in Christ,
and they won’t do it today either. The preacher is to preach and
teach the Word of God under the authority of God and the
anointing of the Holy Spirit. Preaching should never appeal to the flesh,
but it should actually call on the sinner to (1) mortify his flesh by denying
its cravings (2) turn from known sin (3) trust and follow hard after Jesus.
When truth is preached, it should always produce hate for sin in those
caught in sin. They will either hate their sin or the servant
who has warned them of the consequences
of it when truth is preached. Listen to what God instructed Jeremiah
to tell His people about the role of the prophetic preacher:
I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken
to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in My
counsel, and had caused My people to hear My words, then
they should have turned them from their evil way, and from
the evil of their doings.
Jeremiah 23:21-22
The prophet is to never fortify and aid the sinner in his rebellion.
God sends His prophets with the truth to free the rebellious from their
sins. Truth is given by the Lord through His prophets to tell the sinner
that God knows where he is and to warn him that there is a consequence
for his sin. Because of the grace of God, the prophet is also
sent to win the sinner unto repentance through the revelation of truth.
God wants to free the sinner from his sin and not aid him in his sin.

DANGEROUSLY STRONG FOR THE TRUTH

Likewise, the same applies for the priests. Malachi is a book that
deals with God’s disgust over the attitude and actions of the priests
in Malachi’s day. For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge,
and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord
of Hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused
many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant
of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.
Malachi 2:7-8
The priests were called on by God to be His messengers to turn
men from their iniquity. They were not called to popularity and
fame, but faithfulness to God and His ways.
We are in need of men who will be dangerously strong for the
truth on the earth today. Champions of truth are needed in the visible
church during this hour. We do not need those who peddle the Word.
“Everyone has a price preacher,” some might say. That is a fact. The
majority will have their price, and the minority accepts the price
that has already been paid on Calvary. We have been told things
will get worse and worse in the latter days. We are in the latter days.
Paul told the church at Corinth that even back then the majority of
the preachers were corrupting God’s Word for a price. They were
retailing the preached Word of God to the highest of bidders: “For we
are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity,
but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ”
(2 Corinthians
2:17
). The word corrupt is rooted in the idea of marketing or selling
the Word of God. The corruption happened when they distorted it
or changed the meaning of the word to fit their listeners’ lifestyles.
Why did they do it? They wanted to keep their position, make their
living, and appear successful. How do they do it today? The exact
same way they’ve done it for centuries.
*Taken from Magnify the Lord: Ten Reasons to Discover, Declare, and Defend why Christ Came, chapter 2 (He's Come to Define), pages 48 & 49.

Thursday, October 25, 2007

Why do THEY Come? (Part 3)

*This series is used in our Pre-Revival Conference material called
The Saul Syndrome: Sixteen Indicators of a Wayward Heart

Seven different and distinct groups of people that USUALLY attend or belong to a local church. Part 3

6. Community Minded Group: (They are a group of people who have a civic mindset about attending the house of God. A sense of community is at the core of their desire to fellowship. They want to belong to a place that has good morals and feels like everyone should be one big community no matter what you believe in. Their standard is measured by the peace of those who are gathered and not the plumb line of God’s Word. Jesus is a major part of their conversations and social life, but this is the problem. Why is this a problem? He’s not their Life as with the Christ Magnifiers. These serve well as long as everything goes their way) (i.e.. Martha, Luke 10:40-41)


7. Christ Magnifiers Group: (They are a group of sanctified, surrendered, submissive, and serving stewards. These disciples honestly desire for Jesus to set their daily agenda and sanctify all their actions. Why do they want Him to do so? He is their Life and He satisfies their deepest affections. They love the Author of the Word of God. They long for His Authority over their life. They lean on the Authenticity of God's Word and live for the Advancement of His kingdom agenda. They are a living sacrifice that has come to the house of God to worship the God they fear and to give of themselves to serve His people. They consistently glean truth from the presence of God through His people and for His glory. They abide in the Vine and stir others on to love and good works. These are true soul-winning/disciple-makers living in the beauty of simplicity. They are single minded in their pursuit to seek first the King of Glory and His righteousness; therefore they believe in lifestyle worship, repentance, fellowship, and discipleship (the ministry of reconciliation) while progressively growing in the grace and knowledge of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.) (i.e.. Mary, Luke 10:39,41 i.e.. John, John 19:25-27)


What Group Do YOU Fit IN? (Prayerfully, if you're not living in number seven you will lay your life down to Jesus and the demand of His Gospel. (Mark 8:34-28) If you are lost (ie... perishing because from an eternal perspective you're in a vast wilderness with no means to survive its desolate conditions as a result of sin's destruction, and with no hope of escape; therefore being lost in this place of sin you are as sure as dead unless you are found). The problem is not with what you do but it is what you are: You are SIN! It's YOU not what YOU do that's the problem. What you do is a result of who you are. Yet Jesus knows YOU are the problem and He still gave His life to rescue you from yourself. Jesus looks past what you have done or goes beyond the sins you have committed in order to deal with the iniquity/wickedness of your fallen and sinful nature. (Micah 7:18-20) We, natural men and women, are normally overcome with the actions of men more than the issues of their heart. Jesus is not deterred by your sinful actions. He took your sin upon the cross so He could deal with the root of your sinful acts. Why? The Father couldn't look past your sin so He gave His Son to satisfy His wrath that you deserve. Your sin condition had you separated from God and condemned to death. Yet God the Father established a very important and eternal truth when He gave us His Son. He established and settled it for all eternity that He loves us with an everlasting love. And because of such a great love He gave to us His Son, Jesus Christ, even though we were hostile enemies to His purpose and pleasure. Salvation is always about God and will forever be about Him and His grace. Because Jesus was without sin when He took upon the fullness of God's wrath, He also supplies the favor necessary to be forgiven and reconciled to a Just and Holy God. To do this He has to change us from the inside. He gets to the root of our sin problem; US! Have you heard Him call you to follow Him? Have you answered His demand of repentance? Have you turned to trust and follow Jesus? Has He delivered you from yourself and darkness? If He has this would mean that you have turned from your sin and self-centered living in order to place your life at the mercy of the Lord. Jesus gave His life for your life! If He's interrupted you and invaded you by His grace surrender to His call today and set your life at His disposal. Give yourself to Him today and forever! I'm not asking you if you placed your faith in a decision you made, or plan you trusted or even a prayer you prayed but have you been set free from everything and everyone to follow the Greatest Interrupter that has ever lived, Jesus Christ? Can you believe the right plan and not be saved? Yes! Many have believed the plan of salvation but do not have a personal relationship with the Person of salvation, The Lord Jesus Christ. Plans, prayers, and decisions are not what saves. It's Jesus who saves! And if anyone is ever saved it is by the grace of God the Father and the gift of grace by Jesus Himself. Salvation is for God's glory and our good both now and forever.
(2 Cor. 5:14-21 ; Luke 14:26-33)

Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Why Do THEY Come? (Part 2)

*This series is used in our Pre-Revival Conference material called The Saul Syndrome: Sixteen Indicators of a Wayward Heart

Seven different and distinct groups of people that USUALLY attend or belong to a local church. Part 2

4. Caring Missions Group: (They are a group of people who, characteristically, have more love and loyalty to the church locality and building than for Jesus and a humble and holy approach to His Truth. Their ear is always in tune to listen for problems going on in other peoples lives because they “CARE.” They know everything you need to know about everyone and the problems with people, world events, and worldly things, especially things of no eternal value. The danger is that they are not tuning to God’s Word and allowing the Truth to set them free. Their counsel is carnal being gleaned from a worldly philosophy, therefore it aids and comforts the wicked in their wrong doing. They tend to over look sin and fail to truly help people be set free in Christ, yet they will continue to tell others how concerned they are over the condition of their church, community and country. They want everyone else “fixed”, yet they have no sound Biblical wisdom and lack discernment. Their catch-all answer for everyone and everything is “They just need to LOVE everybody.” Holiness is not their passion and their honest opinions are only descriptive of what they see and not prescriptive; therefore they provide no eternal counsel. Their advice is very deceptive because it's usually given with "CARE." If empty traditions of men are characteristically their aim and authority they have never been truly transformed by the redemptive grace of God.) (i.e.. Hymenaeus, Alexander & Philetus, 1 Tim. 1:18-20 ; 2 Tim.2:17 i.e.. Savage wolves Acts 20:29-32 i.e.. Natural brute beast 2 Pet.2:12-22 )

5. Controlling Manipulators Group: (They are a group of people who have deeply rooted and ungodly motives to control the direction of the church and the people whom God has anointed to lead His flock. They will criticize, if necessary, to undermine the integrity of Christ centered leadership by questioning the motive behind every dollar spent, the reason for ministries that they do not approve of, while at the same time acting super spiritual and divinely concerned about the “path their Church is going.” They make an effort to secretly find others to join them in controlling and manipulating the direction and ministries of the church. These, who love to have the preeminence, appear to be deeply devoted and righteous men and women that know how to persuade and convince the immature. Some are very good at being "unnoticed" by the majority as a controller. They know how to flatter people to gain information about meetings and messages given by the pastor or other leaders in their absence. This is a dangerous group that can hinder ministries if not dealt with properly because they are normally well liked by the majority, i.e.. Caring Mission and Community Minded) (i.e.. Judas John 12:4-6 i.e.. Diotrephes 3 John v.9,10)

What Group Do YOU Fit IN? (Prayerfully, you're not in any of the five already mentioned in this series. If you are turn to Jesus. This would mean that you must turn from your sin and self-centered living in order to place your life at the mercy of the Lord. Jesus gave His life for your life! If He's interrupted you and invaded you by His grace surrender to His call today and set your life at His disposal. Give yourself to Him today and forever! (2 Cor. 5:14-21 ; Luke 14:26-33)

[Come back tomorrow for part 3; groups 6-7]

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

Why Do THEY Come? (Part 1)

*This series is used in our Pre-Revival Conference material called The Saul Syndrome: Sixteen Indicators of a Wayward Heart

Seven different and distinct groups of people that
USUALLY attend or belong to a local church.
Part 1

1. Careless Morals Group: (They are a group of people who have no real sense of why they have come to the House of God. They have followed the crowd or family and they have no real grip on why they should fellowship with believers. The youth and children can easily fall into this category when following other youth to church. This group is simpleminded and foolish and have not been under any conviction of their spiritual state.)
(i.e. Simon Acts 8:9-25 ; By-stander Luke 9:59)

2. Curious Motives Group: (They are a group of people who are curious about this “Jesus” thing or what a church has to offer them. They may have just moved to an area or leaving another church and are motivated by curiosity. Some will sense a need to live right so they come to see what the church is all about. Young married couples can find themselves in this group but may not be ready to pay the cost of following Jesus.)
(i.e. Rich Young ruler Luke 18:18-23)

3. Crisis Management Group: (They are a group of people who are usually in trouble and they are looking for help. They were brought up in the Caring Missions or Community Minded home and told the church would always be there when you needed her. They have a variety of troubles; from kids, finances, marital, or in trouble with the law. Some have lost a job or a spouse. This group is looking for the church to help them with a quick fix and not Jesus. When the problems are fixed to their satisfaction they are out the door until the next crisis. (i.e. The fearless seeker Pr. 1:28, 29-31)
What Group Do YOU Fit IN? (Prayerfully, you're not in any of these three. If you are turn to Jesus. This would mean that you must turn from your sin and self-centered living in order to place your life at the mercy of the Lord. Jesus gave His life for your life! If He's interrupted you and invaded you by His grace surrender to His call today and set your life at His disposal. Give yourself to Him today and forever! 2 Cor. 5:14-21)
[Come back tomorrow for part 2; groups 4-5]

Monday, October 22, 2007

“Why do you Watch?”
Nick Holden 5/03

I’ve often asked that question too,
I’m not ashamed, I must tell you.
Watching each night from my perfect view,
Weeks I worked without one rescue.

Wondering why I came this way,
Maybe to help someone someday.
Month after month, though here I stay,
Watching the waters, day by day.

Then I watched a ship draw near,
Moving closer to the shore I fear.
I signaled my light, “Port, port now steer!”
Praise God, I watched her sail clear.

Why watch each night from my perfect view,
I’m not ashamed, I must tell you.
Though I’ve only helped save a few,
I’ll never, never forget my first rescue.
If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; [12] If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not He that pondereth the heart consider it? and He that keepeth thy soul, doth not He know it? and shall not He render to every man according to his works? (Proverbs 24:11-12)

Friday, October 19, 2007


Who is this New Man?
By Nick Holden (2 Cor. 5:9-21)
Delivered from the snare of pride and his own crime,
Freed from the guilt of his past sins for all time.
Now redeemed by the life blood of his New Master,
A New Man he is with no fear of a future disaster.

Changed by the sacrifice of the sinless Lamb of God,
Longing to live and walk where angels trod.
Living in harmony with God and His kingdom plan,
A New Ministry of life brought to sinful man.

Desiring no longer to promote himself to the lost,
He abandoned his pride, weighing the cost.
A New Message he’s committed to love and live,
Christ crucified” is a word he desires to give.

Overcome by the power of God to call on men,
To give their life to Jesus and come on in.
God’s power is his New Means of grace,
Pleading for God and running His race.

Being compelled by an amazing work of love,
Seeing God’s grace given from above.
Persuaded to abide by a New Motive and Mission,
Living a holy life so others would listen.

Who is this New Man with a true song to sing?
A disciple of Jesus, with his cross to cling.
Rescued he is, with power over sin and pride,
Walking with the faithful brethren by his side.

Thursday, October 18, 2007

NOT?
This is why it is of the highest priority that we position ourselves to hear truth with a heart that deeply longs to obey what we hear. Have you ever told someone you wanted their help and needed their advice, yet the advice you were looking for was only affirmation of your actions and not the answer to your problem? Have you ever been asked to supply your input about a circumstance, yet you knew from the beginning that they would not act on what you shared?
We rarely want solutions in areas of our lives that we feel that we have figured out. What we normally do is seek affirmation from others to confirm our thoughts not confront us in life. How many times have we come before the Lord and said, “Just tell me Lord Your will and I’ll do it”? Yet we knew that we only wanted justification for what we were already doing. We have to come to the Lord as His subject not as His advisor or counselor. It is important for us, as His subjects, to come under His authority and the sound of His voice to listen with an expectation to conform to what we hear from Him. We can not approach the Lord as an advisor seeking to make Him conform to our desire. This is what prescription drug addicts do when they seek a doctor that they can manipulate into conforming to their advice. They go to a physician to get what they want, not subject themselves to his professional influence and instruction that they may be cured but to deepen their sickness.
Most people go to a doctor because they need his counsel. They are sick or have a problem that they can’t handle so they seek a doctor’s instruction, influence and involvement in their personal life. I haven’t been to a doctor in over eight years now. Why? To my knowledge I haven’t needed a doctor’s experience and influence. I haven’t been sick therefore I haven’t sought the instruction of, or the involvement of a doctor in my life. Jesus used the same analogy when teaching His disciples about the reason He came. “And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:31-32).
Don’t miss this point. If you fail to grasp this principle you’ll let everything needful slip right out of your hands. (Pr. 17:16) The religious establishment in Jesus day missed it. They complained about the fact that He called sinners and tax collectors to follow Him. Jesus responded to the Pharisees by manifesting to them that these people know that they are sin sick. Jesus knew that His Father had supernaturally revealed to these sin sick souls that He could cure them and therefore He invited them to follow Him. They, through divine help, followed Jesus in order to come under His influence and instruction. They needed and sought after His involvement in their life.
If anyone follows Christ it is because they want to know what He knows. They subject themselves under His influence to hear His instruction because they want to follow the Great Physician’s orders. He has the answer to their sickness, and the very well-being they so desperately need. “And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9). The word obey means to come under to listen to His instruction with every intent to conform to His ways. They live to follow the One who has the greatest influence over their life, Jesus. Why do they subject themselves to Him? They have been persuaded that He is their life and livelihood.
On the other hand we see from other passages that the opposite is the reality for those who are not persuaded. They, not being persuaded that Jesus is their life source, can’t be characteristically described as being obedient. This very same group will be dealt with when Jesus returns to bring vengeance on those who do not know His Father and have not been persuaded by the gospel to obey Jesus. “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power” (2 Thes. 1:8-9). It is quite clear that those who do not live to follow the influence and instruction of the Lord are lost and perishing in their sin.
Have you personally answered the call of God to follow His Son? Sin sick people seek a Doctor for His advice and not to advise Him. How about you? What truth are you obeying?

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

This is an excerpt from my newly released book Magnify The Lord: Ten Reasons to Discover, Declare, and Defend why Christ Came, (Xulon Press ; ISBN 9781602669314).
*The Mountain
By Stephanie Holden

Oh how I long for our trips to the Mountain
Where we fellowship sweet with our Lord.
On this mountain we linger. We take our time
And drink from the depths of His Word.

It’s here where He teaches the deep things of God.
In His Word we find such delight
The abundance of goodness fills our souls to the depths
And His glory is brought into sight.

Oh that we could stay here forever
As He strengthens our battle worn frames
Each truth He reveals, Each promise He imputes,
Equips for the tasks He has paved.

As He sings over us as we rest in His shadow
We find perfect refuge and peace.
We’re renewed. We’re restored. We have all that we need.
In Him we are complete.

Oh how we want to stay on this Mountain forever
And never depart from His feet.
Then gently He reminds us the reason He fed us
His riches and precepts so sweet.

It’s to go down in the valley where the lost souls are
Who have yet to hear His great pardon.
Beautiful are the feet who bring the Good News
And the time is now before their hearts harden.

There are saints too who are down from the enemies blows
Who need reminding of their Strong Tower
To lead them to the Mountain we so love and desire
So they too can be strengthened in power.

So down we come from the Mountain we love
And oh how we savor each moment passing.
Into the world we go as our Savior instructed,
Armed with truth and filled with passion.

Our trips to the Mountain sustains these old tents
That frame us as were just passing through.
We know why we’re here—to take up the cross
And at all cost share His Good News.

SEEK FIRST
The point is we should also be drawn out of our beds by our
heavenly Father each day. We ought to be delighted that the God of
heaven and earth is actively at work and awaiting our arrival. We
should be eternally grateful to Jesus that He has made it possible
for us to have an audience and the ear of God Almighty. We must be
humbled to know that our covenant-keeping God desires to reveal
the secrets of His covenant with us. It could only be the reality of our
sin and the manifestation of our flesh that would cause us to look for
ways to avoid the secret place of God. We must seek Him with all of
our hearts while He still may be found. Jesus, who is our example,
did just that.
"The Lord God hath given Me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth Mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God hath opened Mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back." (Is.50:4-6)
*Taken from Magnify the Lord: Ten Reasons to Discover, Declare, and Defend why Christ Came, chapter 1 (He's Come to Defer), pages 19 & 20.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Delivered from Something to Something (Luke 1:64-75)

This is an excerpt from my newly released book Magnify The Lord: Ten Reasons to Discover, Declare, and Defend why Christ Came, (Xulon Press ; ISBN 9781602669314).
A Peculiar People

*If you have been delivered from the hand of the enemy, you have
been delivered to a place of safety and service in Christ, who is your
life. Stand up and serve a God who only accepts what He’s worked
through His own grace. It is by His grace we stand before Him as
holy and blameless, without any spot. It is by His grace we can serve
Him righteously in this corrupt world. We are His and His alone. We
were bought through a means that goes beyond and above the usual
purchase. The purchase of our life is incomparable. This is why the
Bible describes God’s people as peculiar. The means by which we
were purchased is so special that the intent and purpose of such a
purchase is also above and beyond the normal. Our redemption is special.

PURCHASED FOR SERVICE
We were slaves of sin, and we treasured the life we were living.
We gave ourselves to our master and we were free from God in
all matters of holiness and righteousness. We did not want a new
master, and we were in darkness to His beauty and loveliness. None
of these things moved Him. He knew He could change us from
being a servant to sin to living and longing to serve righteousness.
He knew He could and would make us into a trophy of His matchless
grace. He knew that to do this He would have to go farther than
any master had ever gone to purchase his subjects. He also knew
exactly what each person He would purchase would be doing in His
fields. He weighed the cost and paid the price to make His people
special. This work has no comparison. It’s only for those who have
been purchased in such an unusual way by His own blood.
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy
nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the
praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His
marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but
are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy,
but now have obtained mercy."
(1 Peter 2:9-10)
The Lord’s people do live a life of service that is
unusual, unashamed, and unadulterated even in the midst of a
perverse generation. Don’t be cheated by the
Americanized gospel.
Jesus came to deliver us from something to something.
Praise God!
*Taken from Magnify the Lord: Ten Reasons to Discover, Declare, and Defend why Christ Came, chapter 6(He's Come to Deliver), pages 164, 165.

Monday, October 15, 2007

It Has No Eternal Value because It's Fallen

This is an excerpt from my newly released book Magnify The Lord: Ten Reasons to Discover, Declare, and Defend why Christ Came, (Xulon Press ; ISBN 9781602669314)
*UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF SATAN
The world system we now live in is under the legal authority
of Satan. Why is it under his influence? When Adam yielded his
authority to Satan in the garden, he gave dominion to the enemy
of God. God, through the apostle Paul, describes all the children
of men in this world as being children of wrath. We were all born
as children of wrath, or as “products of the fall of humanity.”
As a result of this inheritance and the dominion of Satan over us, we lived
all our lives prior to being born again in disobedience. The spirit
that now influences and controls the lives of those who are still in
their sin is none other than the prince of the power of the air, Satan himself.
And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses
and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the
course of this world, according to the prince of the power of
the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Among whom also we all had our conversation in
times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of
the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of
wrath, even as others.
(Ephesians 2:1-3)
God describes us as being under the influence of the course of
this world. Yes, we all live this way and will unless we are interrupted
by the Lord and made a new creature in Christ Jesus. Our
lifestyles are real and tangible, but they are actually lies. They are
real lives being lived out every day, and no one can deny this fact!
Our lives are so real that Jesus Christ gave His life on behalf of us.
No matter how real they may be, they are still lifestyles of deception
and delusion. Unless they are born again of God and given the
ability to hear the voice of Jesus calling on them to follow Him, they
cannot know the truth.

IT IS GOOD FOR NOTHING
Jesus understood He was born and sent into this world to reveal
the truth to His sheep and expose the works of this world as being evil. (John 7:7)
The world system functions, but it is important to remember it is
fallen. The system is broken because it is no longer in its original
design; therefore, it has no eternal value. When a drinking glass is
shattered on a tile floor, it is discarded because it is no longer useful
for its intended purpose. It is thrown away because it is no longer
usable and is now good for nothing.

IT IS DECEPTIVE
The New Testament explains on numerous occasions about the
devastating effects of any system of learning that is not rooted in and
sanctified by God. If it's not to glorify God the Father and to place
Christ Jesus at the center of all Spirit-filled living, being sanctified by
the Word of God and prayer, it should be avoided: “Beware lest any
man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition
of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ

(Colossians 2:8). Paul warned the church at Colosse not to be robbed
by the emptiness and vanity of pursuing this world’s wisdom. Being
fond of the basic principles of the world system is deceitful and
deadly. James even shared with his audience that having a fondness
with the world is enmity with God. (James 4:4-7)

IN THE NAME OF KNOWLEDGE
Today, many have fallen captive to this satanic scheme. Paul also
warned Timothy of this covert effort by the enemy to entice the intellectual
seeker who has a weakness for a “well shaped intellect”:
"O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust,
avoiding profane and vain babblings, and oppositions of
science falsely so called: Which some professing have erred
concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen."
(1 Timothy 6:20-21)
We can often find our minds so focused on defending the faith
against apostate teachers in the church that we miss the fact this
also applies to our modern system of education. We may not like
this much, but it is a reality. Do our schools and the curriculum used
teach our kids to exalt and magnify the Lord Jesus Christ and His
gospel? How about our science books? What or who is the core of
their authority? Do they heavily promote the God of creation or the
theory of evolution? Do they teach the biblical role for us as parents
in educating and equipping our children to be champions of God’s
truth on the earth?

IT’S HAPPENING
Timothy was told to guard the precious truth and the lives that
were entrusted to him by not letting empty knowledge cloud his
vision of God’s glory and truth. The church must be cautious of this
travesty happening today. She must sound the alarm. The enemy
has infiltrated her strongholds. Statistics show how young adults are
fleeing from church houses to the many outhouses of this world.
Why wouldn’t they go the first chance they have to be on their own?
Their sinful natures and appetites have been fed all their lives by a
watered-down theology that fits a secular society. We have let our
culture shape and conform what they know about an unbiblical god.
Why have pastors allowed this to happen? They have done this to be
politically correct so they can maintain their jobs in the church and
keep their pulpit. Why has this happened? We, as the people of God,
have not stood against this great spoiling of the minds of our youth
and nation. The church will give an account for not bearing witness
to the truth.
*Taken from Magnify the Lord: Ten Reasons to Discover, Declare, and Defend why Christ Came, chapter 2(He's Come to Define: 1. What Is Truth?), pages 43-45.

Friday, October 12, 2007

"Get Under Anointed and God FEARING Preaching"

“Itch, Itch! Scratch, Scratch!”
2 Tim. 4:1-5
Scratch my itch and I‘ll itch your scratch,
I’m looking to find the perfect match.
I’m in need and want to fulfill my only lack,
One who'll pat on my compromising back.

My ear is ready and surely tuned in,
Listening for a preacher to win.
One who knows what I want to hear,
So he can scratch my itching ear.

I like to live my life just the way that I do,
Also a preacher who’s not sold out and true.
One who’ll take a payoff to cover his back,
Just as long as he plans to bless my lack.

Does it really matter if we don’t give up all?
In our day if you’re tolerant, you stand tall.
Look around, how many have abandoned this life?
Only those who live in heartache and strife.

Live your life any way and just how you want to,
Jesus preached that it's ALL ABOUT YOU!
Find you a preacher that will always affirm this,
Deep down you know it’s what you really wish.

There is a preacher who will help you with your itch.
He knows you’re stuck in a religious ditch.
Tell him with a payoff in hand where to scratch.
You’ll love it, when you find the perfect match.
Nick Holden

This is the spirit of our day.
People want it how they want it and they’ll seek it until they find it.
This is not the attitude or life of a disciple of Jesus who wants a man of God
to lead them to prepare for the soon return of the blessed hope
and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Don’t fall into their delusional trap of deception. Beg the Lord for a man of God
who will lead you to give up your life and carnal desires for Jesus.
(Mal. 2:3-9 ; Jer. 3:15 ; Jer. 23:16-22 ; Acts 26:17-18 ; Mat. 24:4,45)

Thursday, October 11, 2007


“What I know to be True!”
The lifestyle witness of Nick Holden (Titus 3:3-8 ; 2 Cor. 5:14-21)

How God the Father, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and the regenerating and renewing work of the Holy Spirit, interrupted me, a destitute deceiver, by invading my life with the conquering power of His grace for one distinct purpose. To make me His own personal vessel of mercy for Christ sake. Rom. 9:23

Five things I know to be true and pray that through this message, when I’m done sharing with you the witness that God has established in me, you also will come to know that each one of these can be true for you:

1. God’s grace toward me was not in vain
2. The call and conquest of the Lord Jesus Christ over my life
3. My passion for the authority and authenticity of God’s Word
4. I’m compelled by the love of Christ
5. God’s committed to me a ministry and message of reconciliation

I must let you in on a secret. It may surprise you when you hear this. But I have not always known these marvelous truths. That’s right, for twenty-six years I lived, ate, breathed and fought for myself. I was consumed with Nick Holden and his pleasures. Why? I was lost and perishing and had no clue of the freedom of being forgiven in Christ Jesus. I was full of deception, pride, lust, anger and wrath (Titus 3:1-3). I was selfish and did everything for my own profit. Even when I helped or commended others for doing a good job it was for my own personal benefit. Basically, I lived for my own glory and praise. I do know now what was wrong with me, but back then I didn’t. I was dead in trespasses and sins (Eph. 2:1-5). I was blind to truth and there was a veil over my heart and I could not believe the message of the gospel of Jesus (2 Cor. 4:1-6). I was a product of the fall. I was conceived and born in iniquity with a nature that had a natural bend toward sin. I was depraved and so tainted with sin that everything I did was unacceptable to a holy and righteous God. I truly do know what it means to be reconciled to God the Father through the saving work of Jesus Christ (Col. 1:19-23).
I had been brought up in a ungodly home. I say ungodly because the presence of God and His ways were not supreme or final authority. My dad was catholic and my mom had no religious background. We thought being good was the way to earn passage and points with God. There was always an awareness about the Lord but not an awe centered desire to be well pleasing to Him. Sports, hunting and a good education were our gods. We gave everything we had to play ball and to be the best at what we did. My dad and mom invested their livelihood into us and the equipment we would use so we could be the best. My dad coached us all the way up until High School and then would come to every practice and travel to all our games. I was good at both baseball and football. My senior year I was voted male athlete of the year for Covington High Fighting Lions . Not only was I the male athlete of the year but also voted the best dad by my daughter. That’s correct, my little girl Elizabeth. My wife Stephanie and I started dating during our sophomore year and she become pregnant during our junior year. We were sweethearts all through school, even named by our peers to be “Junior Sweethearts” at the Sweetheart dance that year. What no one knew was that Stephanie was pregnant at the time. The summer before our senior year we were married, and have been now for over 19 years. We have three daughters (arrows), Elizabeth, Lydia & Lauren (Ps. 127). All this was a reality and even factual events that were going on in our life but they were all a lie. Outside of Christ it is impossible to discern the difference between what is real and what is truth. Our lifestyle was filled with facts and real events but it was one big lie (John 18:37).
I eventually joined the Navy and spent close to ten years with them. We traveled and lived in some nice places. We both told everyone we had been saved by Jesus. But we lived how we wanted. We went were we wanted. We watched what we wanted. We drank what we wanted. We talked how we wanted. We listened to what we wanted to listen to and we acted like any other average person. Though we claimed to have a supernatural salvation through Jesus, we had very little to no regard for God‘s way. We were claiming Jesus saves while living for ourselves and on our way to hell. We truly deserved HELL. We were monstrous sinners, who rightfully should be separated from such a just and holy God. BUT because of His mercy and the gift of Christ we have been delivered. God set both of us free from ourselves in 1997and delivered us from sin’s grip so we could know and follow Him.
Today, what I know to be true, is that it all started on a Sunday morning in July of 1997. It was at Northcrest Baptist Church in Meridian, Ms., while Bro. Malcolm Lewis was preaching and teaching from Mat. 16:26 “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” It was on this day that Jesus Christ INTERRUPTED my life and called me to be His disciple forever. It was on this day that God made me a new creation and He begin to teach me His truth by granting me repentance and gracing me with the faith to believe. Paul reminds Titus of his interruption in Titus 3:3-6, "For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. But after that the kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior." I know what it means to be sin, and to live life for myself, pretending that everything is good. Today, by the grace of God, I‘m free. I am free to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ came to make us His very own disciples that would be known as Christians (graced followers of the Anointed One), by a world around us. Are you a Follower of the Anointed One? Are you Jesus’ very own disciple? Are you known as one who is obedient to the gospel of Jesus Christ? Jesus reveals to us in Mark 8:35 that we must lose our life for His sake and the gospel’s. This is why Paul told the church in 2 Thes. 1:8 that God’s wrath will come upon everyone who does not know God the Father and have not obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ which demands our life entirely and completely. Jesus is a life-giver and life-changer.

How was I delivered and made a disciple of Jesus?

1. By a Permanent Interruption (My life was interrupted by Jesus) Titus 3:3-7
2. By a Powerful Invasion (
My life was invaded by God’s grace) Titus 2:11-14
3. By a Profound Influence (
My life has been influenced by Christ’s love) 2 Cor.5:14-21
4. By a Progressive Interest (
My lifelong interest in knowing the Lord and His purpose) Phil. 3:7-21
5. By a Purposeful Involvement (
My lifelong involvement in God’s cause) Mark 8:34-38
6. By a Personal Investment (
My lifelong investment in God’s kingdom) John 18:37
7. By a Providential Identity (
My lifestyle being identified as a disciple of Jesus Christ) 2 Cor. 4:7-15

Truth Impacts Ministries
“Dedicated and determined to teach God’s people how to discern truth..,”

Truth Impacts Ministries (T.I.M.) is the family ministry of Nick & Stephanie Holden. They have three daughters, Elizabeth Holden Sirven (19), Lydia (16), and Lauren (14), and one son-in-law, Christopher Sirven (21). They have given themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ and the advancement of His kingdom’s glory. Christopher and Elizabeth serve Pleasant Hill Baptist Church in Quitman, Ms. full time as minister of music and youth. After seven years of pastoral ministry and being involved in nearly fifty revivals they were compelled by the love of Christ to help God’s people learn how to discern Truth for themselves. The church in America must recover the ability to supernaturally discern Truth. The Holden's are missionaries with a message for this generation which is in desperate need for Revival. They know that Truth, when accepted in humility and acted upon passionately, will impact ministries in any age and in all cultures. Jesus, who is the TRUTH, was born and sent into this world to bear witness to what truth really is and expose the lie. (John 18:37 ; 14:6 ; 8:32) Nick is also a published author. He wrote Magnify The Lord: Ten Reasons to Discover, Declare, and Defend why Christ Came to encourage our generation to know, understand, and make known to a lost and self destructing world the righteous cause of Jesus Christ. T.I.M. exist to glorify the Lord Jesus and to help His people become dangerously strong for the Truth on the earth. Champions for the TRUTH is what America needs in this hour. T.I.M. understands that the thoughts, emotions and lifestyles of most people are a reality, even undeniable facts, but they are not rooted in nor the result of Truth. The Holden’s live to help you discern the difference.