1. More on OSAS-once saved always saved
The subject of "once saved always saved" being a license to sin has been extensively treated here in previous postings. The bible tells us about something being taught in the churches which changes the grace of our God into uncontrollable lust:
Jude 1:4 For some people have slipped in among you unnoticed. They were written about long ago as being deserving of this condemnation because they are ungodly. They turn the grace of our God into uncontrollable lust and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus the Messiah.
Have you ever stopped to think about what was said there? If you disagree with me then please, you tell me what is the bible talking about here? Some people have slipped in unnoticed in order to turn the grace of our God into carnal lust and nobody stops to think "hmmm, I wonder WHO these people are?" Not only do we need to identify WHO they are but we need to know WHAT they are teaching that creates this uncontrollable lust through a perversion of God's grace.
I've already explained in detail that what is being referred here is OSAS-once saved always saved. If you don't think so then you need to come up with a better explanation that takes into account everything written in Jude 1:4 and make it "fit" convincingly. Satan knows humans. He knows that if they offered all the sin they can handle while on earth and then the promise of heaven afterward with maybe a few less rewards, they will bite every time. You need to understand that our God has ZERO TOLERANCE for sin of any kind...ZERO. Do you think our Lord would teach us anything that would make us WANT to sin more? There's a reason for all the warnings in the bible and our God does not sabotage his own people by introducing temptations and lusts into the very people he is trying to save. Remember this part of the Lord's prayer: "lead us not into temptation......."
The satanic doctrine of OSAS is quite brilliant from the devil's point of view. Basically what he does is say "yes! Go fight the good fight! Stand up for the Lord! Be a good christian! Don't sin!" He says these things while he pushes you out the door into the spiritual battle, fighting the heavily armored hordes of hell without any armor on of your own. That's why your OSAS preacher will SAY things that sound godly and sound right but you seem to notice that you are losing your battles with sin over and over and over again. Did you ever stop to wonder why? Gutting the bible of the fear of the Lord and all the numerous warnings that you CAN be cutoff from the Lord (John 15) because of sin is like sending you into battle with nothing but your underwear on. Satan knows it and he laughs at you while you struggle with your sin wondering why you "go to church" listening to your hired hand "pastors" year upon year and never see any victory. The serpent is SUBTLE... but not stupid....He is deadly effective and we are not unaware of his schemes. Think about it...
2. Why the "pastors" who teach OSAS are in big trouble.
I was out for a run the other day and the Lord floored me with this one. I knew the OSAS teachers had big troubles because the teach a "different gospel" which means they are CURSED:
Galations 1:6I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! 9As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!
As if that were not enough, the Lord dropped this one into my mind regarding these teachers:
Matt 18:7 "Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!
Did you read that carefully? WOE to the man who is a conduit for introducing things that cause people to sin. I cannot think of anything more potent as a means of causing people to sin than the perverted 'gospel' of OSAS that perverts the grace of our God into uncontrollable lust causing people sins to pile up into the heavens...WOE unto those people through whom the false gospel of OSAS comes. The subtlelty of the OSAS poison is that the preachers tell you not to sin, but through the stripping away of the fear of God they put you on a greased slide into the pits of hell. Very clever indeed.
So we have two powerful condemnations of the OSAS teacher. One is a curse on them for teaching a false gospel, the other is a warning of woe to them for being a means for the introduction of sin into people's lives.
Whatever it is you believe about your salvation, it better include a HEALTHY FEAR of the Lord. Go do a word search of the bible for that phrase "fear of the Lord" and see how many hits you get. Read them all carefully. Anything, and I mean ANYTHING that diminishes your healthy respect and FEAR of the Lord should be treated as false doctrine and an enemy to your soul. Today's "church" has fully embraced the "carrots" of reward in the bible and buried any notion of the "stick." The bible is absolutely OVERFLOWING with warnings to US..the believers.
We are given promises that include both the glory and joys of heaven-the carrot, as well as the horrors and agonies of hell-the stick. HOW can we preach one without the other and expect to stand before the Lord on judgement day?
I look at the writing here on this blog sometimes and think "hey Lord, all the writing here is pretty heavy on the "stick" isn't it?" And his answer? "Don't worry the rest of the world has the preaching of "carrots" taken care of..."
grace and peace
Friday, July 10, 2009
Thursday, July 09, 2009
7/9/2009
1 Timothy 4 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
There are two important points to be made out of this short section of scripture. First, notice that we are supposed to have a gift given to us through a prophetic message when the body of elders lays hands on us. Notice here that there is no mention of "pastor" anywhere...Can you tell me in your "church" when exactly is the last time anyone found out from a prophetic message what their gifting was when the body of elders laid hands on them? Do you even have a "body of elders" or does your "pastor" run everything? When is the last time you saw anything truly prophetic in your "church?" If the bible tells us the church looks and does things a certain way and you are not seeing those things in your "church" wouldn't you say your "church" has problems?
Next, we see more clear evidence that the doctrine of OSAS-once saved always saved is a lie. The evidence is everywhere you look in the bible. Note what we read here:
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Do we really need to be rocket scientists or "learned scholars" to figure out what the basic straightforward meanings of "persevere" and "IF you do" are? What does "persevere" mean? Is that a one day, one minute event like what we are told a "decision for Jesus" is by the apostate church or does persevere mean stick with the thing over time, many days, every day? What are we told here about "saving" yourself and your hearers? We are told that IFFFFFF, (what does "if mean?) you persevere in watching your life and doctrine closely THEN you will save yourself and your hearers.
Do you wonder why we are told to watch our life and doctrine closely? We are told to watch them closely because we have people running around in the world telling you that once you say a 30 second prayer you have no need to do anything else to make it into the kingdom of heaven. We see here in the bible that you do need to do something else...you need to watch your life and doctrine closely AND you need to persevere in them. Persevere is NOT a one time event, its an every day event. That word persevere has a close relative called "abide" that you can see Jesus using over and over and over and OVER again in John 15 to warn you of what will happen to those who do not abide in him:
John 15 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 15 is absolutely LOADED with the essentials of our salvation. We are told to "abide" in him and if we do not we will be cast out, withered, gathered and cast into the fire. Your "pastors" tell you that you can never be cast out and burned, the bible tells you clearly that you can be cast out and burned up, who are you going to believe? The words of men or the words of God?
Why do I keep coming back to these things over and over again? I asked the Lord this morning if I could not write about this but write about something else instead. His answer? Write what I have been given to write and here you are reading it. I will do what he instructs me to do, I will write what he tells me to write even if that means writing the same things over and over again until the end of time. I suspect that if there were more real watchmen in this world who actually warned the church of what our Lord said instead of what the world is saying, then I would be freed up to write on a broader range of topics. As things stand however, people don't want to offend anyone or give anyone a "spirit of fear" so the whole counsel of God is ignored for topics that are irrelevant to the mind of God and instead meaningless drivel is fed to people instead.
What's going to happen when the escape from all does show up and people are not ready for it? Will it matter if 8 million articles are written on how close it is and how short time is but nobody is actually found WORTHY of it when it does show up? Yea, its coming but the question is ARE YOU READY FOR IT. I believe the Lord is very concerned about people's readiness for him to show up. Don't believe me? How about this for some proof:
Luke 18:8
... But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
He knew thousands of years ago that he would be concerned about the state of people's faith when he came back. You can preach about the rapture, the tribulation, the time of Jacob's trouble until you are blue in the face but if you are not READY for them when they show up then how exactly are you benefitted from knowing they were coming?
The Lord has made it very clear to me that people need to get back to the fundamentals of the faith, that means the basics. Pray, worship him on your knees-maintain your "first love" Rev 2, read the word of God, pray continually, keep his ways always before you, meditate on the word day and night. If you do those things and you are rooted deeply in them, then you will be ready for the things that are coming in the future.
The escape from all (luke 21:36), also known as the rapture will happen during days that resemble those of Noah and Lot. Today resembles the days of Noah and Lot. In spite of the fact that the economy is crumbling, things haven't completely fallen apart yet and most of the people I see around me are living life just the way they always have with no changes whatsoever. I don't need to search the internet for hours anymore to see that major changes ARE coming the only question being when? When I ask the Lord about "when" he directs me right back to the fundamentals of the faith and says "don't worry about when, put first things first."
Many people today call themselves christians and call Jesus "Lord" but look what the Lord tells us about many of them:
Matt 7:13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
15“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
These things are not written as a "beat down" but as an encouragement to wake up and set things right in your life. The "fear of the Lord" has a huge place in the true believer's life (go do a word search for that phrase in the bible) but the vast majority of "christians" in the world today have no place for it, they don't want to think about it. Because of that and many other reasons we see the words written in Matt 7:14-28.
These are the things the Lord has laid on my heart today. grace and peace
15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
There are two important points to be made out of this short section of scripture. First, notice that we are supposed to have a gift given to us through a prophetic message when the body of elders lays hands on us. Notice here that there is no mention of "pastor" anywhere...Can you tell me in your "church" when exactly is the last time anyone found out from a prophetic message what their gifting was when the body of elders laid hands on them? Do you even have a "body of elders" or does your "pastor" run everything? When is the last time you saw anything truly prophetic in your "church?" If the bible tells us the church looks and does things a certain way and you are not seeing those things in your "church" wouldn't you say your "church" has problems?
Next, we see more clear evidence that the doctrine of OSAS-once saved always saved is a lie. The evidence is everywhere you look in the bible. Note what we read here:
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Do we really need to be rocket scientists or "learned scholars" to figure out what the basic straightforward meanings of "persevere" and "IF you do" are? What does "persevere" mean? Is that a one day, one minute event like what we are told a "decision for Jesus" is by the apostate church or does persevere mean stick with the thing over time, many days, every day? What are we told here about "saving" yourself and your hearers? We are told that IFFFFFF, (what does "if mean?) you persevere in watching your life and doctrine closely THEN you will save yourself and your hearers.
Do you wonder why we are told to watch our life and doctrine closely? We are told to watch them closely because we have people running around in the world telling you that once you say a 30 second prayer you have no need to do anything else to make it into the kingdom of heaven. We see here in the bible that you do need to do something else...you need to watch your life and doctrine closely AND you need to persevere in them. Persevere is NOT a one time event, its an every day event. That word persevere has a close relative called "abide" that you can see Jesus using over and over and over and OVER again in John 15 to warn you of what will happen to those who do not abide in him:
John 15 1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
John 15 is absolutely LOADED with the essentials of our salvation. We are told to "abide" in him and if we do not we will be cast out, withered, gathered and cast into the fire. Your "pastors" tell you that you can never be cast out and burned, the bible tells you clearly that you can be cast out and burned up, who are you going to believe? The words of men or the words of God?
Why do I keep coming back to these things over and over again? I asked the Lord this morning if I could not write about this but write about something else instead. His answer? Write what I have been given to write and here you are reading it. I will do what he instructs me to do, I will write what he tells me to write even if that means writing the same things over and over again until the end of time. I suspect that if there were more real watchmen in this world who actually warned the church of what our Lord said instead of what the world is saying, then I would be freed up to write on a broader range of topics. As things stand however, people don't want to offend anyone or give anyone a "spirit of fear" so the whole counsel of God is ignored for topics that are irrelevant to the mind of God and instead meaningless drivel is fed to people instead.
What's going to happen when the escape from all does show up and people are not ready for it? Will it matter if 8 million articles are written on how close it is and how short time is but nobody is actually found WORTHY of it when it does show up? Yea, its coming but the question is ARE YOU READY FOR IT. I believe the Lord is very concerned about people's readiness for him to show up. Don't believe me? How about this for some proof:
Luke 18:8
... But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
He knew thousands of years ago that he would be concerned about the state of people's faith when he came back. You can preach about the rapture, the tribulation, the time of Jacob's trouble until you are blue in the face but if you are not READY for them when they show up then how exactly are you benefitted from knowing they were coming?
The Lord has made it very clear to me that people need to get back to the fundamentals of the faith, that means the basics. Pray, worship him on your knees-maintain your "first love" Rev 2, read the word of God, pray continually, keep his ways always before you, meditate on the word day and night. If you do those things and you are rooted deeply in them, then you will be ready for the things that are coming in the future.
The escape from all (luke 21:36), also known as the rapture will happen during days that resemble those of Noah and Lot. Today resembles the days of Noah and Lot. In spite of the fact that the economy is crumbling, things haven't completely fallen apart yet and most of the people I see around me are living life just the way they always have with no changes whatsoever. I don't need to search the internet for hours anymore to see that major changes ARE coming the only question being when? When I ask the Lord about "when" he directs me right back to the fundamentals of the faith and says "don't worry about when, put first things first."
Many people today call themselves christians and call Jesus "Lord" but look what the Lord tells us about many of them:
Matt 7:13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
15“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
These things are not written as a "beat down" but as an encouragement to wake up and set things right in your life. The "fear of the Lord" has a huge place in the true believer's life (go do a word search for that phrase in the bible) but the vast majority of "christians" in the world today have no place for it, they don't want to think about it. Because of that and many other reasons we see the words written in Matt 7:14-28.
These are the things the Lord has laid on my heart today. grace and peace
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Sons of God
Romans 8 :12Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Today is a day when more than ever people need to be led by the Spirit of God. We are told that those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. Are you led by the Spirit of God? People are led by all kinds of things these days, "pastors", the news media, politicians..everything BUT the Spirit of God.
I believe the Lord spoke to me yesterday about this and I have this picture in my head of rivers of life flowing throughout the earth. These rivers are pools/paths of life where the Spirit of God would have us walk but so many people today are not following His lead. We need to center ourselves in the middle of the Lord's will for our lives and when we do, we will find ourselves in these rivers of life. This world is full of darkness and death but it doesn't have to be dark and dead for you. We must search out the mind of God to determine where His Spirit is leading us. If we are faithful and obedient, he will lead us right into these rivers of life where his Spirit is working and flowing with power in this world today.
I can tell you that in some places in this world the decay and death are so thick you can almost slice through them with a knife. The antidote for this is the working of our God through his children in faith and obedience. The Lord never told us to change the whole world but he does tell us to change our world, that is, the one immediately around us that we live day in and day out. The commands to repent, to pray in faith, to believe, to obey will ALL change the world a little at a time in the places and paths you walk.
If people understood the power of God that is unleashed through faithful, patient prayer and belief then they would pray more. We live in a faithless world where seeing is believing instead of believing is seeing. I believe the Lord is calling out to this world for believers to get back to his word and take it at face value. If he said he was going to do something, if he made a promise then he meant to keep it.
Jeremiah 1:12 The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled."
The Lord watches over his Word to make sure it is fulfilled. He cannot be called a liar...ever. Most people give up in prayer and belief because in this fast food, drive through, insta gimme gimme world everyone wants everything NOW so when they have to wait they just move on to things they can have now. What they don't understand is that it is through faith AND PATIENCE that the promises of God come to fruition:
Hebrews 6:12 Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are receiving the promises through faith and patience.
It's the patience that gets most people, they just can't maintain the faith long enough to receive the promises. We all need to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches today. We need to hear what the Spirit is saying to us personally today. We need to seek his face and follow his lead that we may find ourselves centered in his will. Where the Spirit is, life is, power is, peace is. Isn't that where you want to be?
These are the things the Lord is saying to me today. We are dearly loved, grace and peace
Today is a day when more than ever people need to be led by the Spirit of God. We are told that those who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. Are you led by the Spirit of God? People are led by all kinds of things these days, "pastors", the news media, politicians..everything BUT the Spirit of God.
I believe the Lord spoke to me yesterday about this and I have this picture in my head of rivers of life flowing throughout the earth. These rivers are pools/paths of life where the Spirit of God would have us walk but so many people today are not following His lead. We need to center ourselves in the middle of the Lord's will for our lives and when we do, we will find ourselves in these rivers of life. This world is full of darkness and death but it doesn't have to be dark and dead for you. We must search out the mind of God to determine where His Spirit is leading us. If we are faithful and obedient, he will lead us right into these rivers of life where his Spirit is working and flowing with power in this world today.
I can tell you that in some places in this world the decay and death are so thick you can almost slice through them with a knife. The antidote for this is the working of our God through his children in faith and obedience. The Lord never told us to change the whole world but he does tell us to change our world, that is, the one immediately around us that we live day in and day out. The commands to repent, to pray in faith, to believe, to obey will ALL change the world a little at a time in the places and paths you walk.
If people understood the power of God that is unleashed through faithful, patient prayer and belief then they would pray more. We live in a faithless world where seeing is believing instead of believing is seeing. I believe the Lord is calling out to this world for believers to get back to his word and take it at face value. If he said he was going to do something, if he made a promise then he meant to keep it.
Jeremiah 1:12 The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that my word is fulfilled."
The Lord watches over his Word to make sure it is fulfilled. He cannot be called a liar...ever. Most people give up in prayer and belief because in this fast food, drive through, insta gimme gimme world everyone wants everything NOW so when they have to wait they just move on to things they can have now. What they don't understand is that it is through faith AND PATIENCE that the promises of God come to fruition:
Hebrews 6:12 Then, instead of being lazy, you will imitate those who are receiving the promises through faith and patience.
It's the patience that gets most people, they just can't maintain the faith long enough to receive the promises. We all need to hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches today. We need to hear what the Spirit is saying to us personally today. We need to seek his face and follow his lead that we may find ourselves centered in his will. Where the Spirit is, life is, power is, peace is. Isn't that where you want to be?
These are the things the Lord is saying to me today. We are dearly loved, grace and peace
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Times and Dates
1 Thessalonians 5:1Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
If you read through the scripture above you can see clearly its talking about the "day of the Lord." Notice it says they shall not escape and the day shall come upon them suddenly but when talking about us we are told what? God did not appoint us to suffer wrath.....what else are we told relating to this idea of us not being appointed to suffer wrath? "Therefore encourage one another..." Don't you find it interesting that in all these places we see the wrath of the Lord, the day of the Lord, the escape, the rapture we are told to "encourage one another" with the words written there? That's kind of a big clue don't you think since reading about what's going to happen could be downright depressing for the people who are going to be living through it. Do you think the Lord would tell us "hey listen guys, I'm going to feed you into a meat grinder that's going to have people gnashing their teeth and wailing in pain and agony so be encouraged that you get to go through it too? If we were going through it, why did the Spirit say "they?"
Here it is again clearly referencing the escape one chapter earlier:
1 Thessalonians 4
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.
In 1 Thes 4 and 5 we are told to encourage one another with the words written there. What's so encouraging about the words written there if the moral of the story is you are going to be fed into the worst meat grinder ever seen in human history? Is that encouraging to you? I can tell you its very encouraging to me to think that I will NOT be fed into the wrath that is coming starting in Rev 6:1. It is very encouraging to know that there is an escape from ALL coming (luke 21:36). As we see the tribulation/time of JACOB'S trouble coming it encourages me to know that I have not be appointed to it and there is an escape from it. It encourages me to live right today since I know that not everybody will be counted worthy of the escape. It encourages me to watch through prayer today since I have no idea when this "sudden" event will take place. I am encouraged to watch and pray today since I see the days of Noah and Lot around me just as they are described in the bible. During days like today when people are still buying and selling, planting and building, marrying and giving in marriage, the Lord will come to receive us to where he is now.
Paul tells us there is no need to write us about dates and times, the Lord has spoken this same thing to me over the past months. We are told that the day that is coming will not take us by surprise. How will that day not take us by surprise? Well, "how" is the Lord's department, not mine but I believe in conjunction with what the Lord has been doing in my life it has to do with being rooted and built up in him, focused on him, living for him. HE is the focus, not this world, not current events, not what the devil is doing, what JESUS is doing.
The Lord has put me on a news and blog diet, he wants the attention I used to give to those things. The devil has NO IDEA when the day is that the hammer falls so why watch what he is doing in this world? Isn't that the blind leading the blind? If we keep our eyes on Jesus in faithful prayer and devotion to his word, we will not be caught unaware when the time comes for the escape and the time of Jacob's trouble. We DO NOT "watch" with our eyes. If you call yourself a "watchmen" and all your watching is done with your eyes, aren't you misled/in error?
2 Corinthians 5:7
We live by faith, not by sight.
Did you get that? FAITH..not sight. This world says "seeing is believing" but our Lord says "believing is seeing." Those are two diametrically opposite approaches and which one are you using? The bottom line here, what the Lord has been saying to me for months now is you...we...I need to be focused on HIM. His word, his face, his Spirit, not this world. In the brief peeks I have snuck in while on this diet the Lord has me on, I have seen how right he is. The people in this world who think they are pulling the strings as "puppetmasters" appear to be losing control. Things are spinning out of their control now and they never saw it coming. Who did see it coming? Jesus did, the Spirit did, the Father did. So...again, where should our attention be?
The days and months ahead will likely be more and more negative in every way. We are told to encourage one another and that can be done in a number of ways. Reminding each other of what men are doing or what Satan is doing in this world is not a way to encourage one another. We can encourage each other through our constant focus on Christ. Sometimes current events can be usefully referenced but only in the greater context of how our God's promises are more real and carry more power than what's going on in the world. This world is going to hell in a hand basket, even the blind can see that now, do we need anyone to remind us of that again when everything around us shouts that 24/7, 365 days a year? Keep your eyes on the prize, on the promises, on the solution, on the encouragement of escape and the promises of shelter and refuge here on earth "in Christ" while we go through the "tribulations" of life that all of our fathers went through. Keep your eyes on Jesus and everything else will take care of itself.
grace and peace
4But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
If you read through the scripture above you can see clearly its talking about the "day of the Lord." Notice it says they shall not escape and the day shall come upon them suddenly but when talking about us we are told what? God did not appoint us to suffer wrath.....what else are we told relating to this idea of us not being appointed to suffer wrath? "Therefore encourage one another..." Don't you find it interesting that in all these places we see the wrath of the Lord, the day of the Lord, the escape, the rapture we are told to "encourage one another" with the words written there? That's kind of a big clue don't you think since reading about what's going to happen could be downright depressing for the people who are going to be living through it. Do you think the Lord would tell us "hey listen guys, I'm going to feed you into a meat grinder that's going to have people gnashing their teeth and wailing in pain and agony so be encouraged that you get to go through it too? If we were going through it, why did the Spirit say "they?"
Here it is again clearly referencing the escape one chapter earlier:
1 Thessalonians 4
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.
In 1 Thes 4 and 5 we are told to encourage one another with the words written there. What's so encouraging about the words written there if the moral of the story is you are going to be fed into the worst meat grinder ever seen in human history? Is that encouraging to you? I can tell you its very encouraging to me to think that I will NOT be fed into the wrath that is coming starting in Rev 6:1. It is very encouraging to know that there is an escape from ALL coming (luke 21:36). As we see the tribulation/time of JACOB'S trouble coming it encourages me to know that I have not be appointed to it and there is an escape from it. It encourages me to live right today since I know that not everybody will be counted worthy of the escape. It encourages me to watch through prayer today since I have no idea when this "sudden" event will take place. I am encouraged to watch and pray today since I see the days of Noah and Lot around me just as they are described in the bible. During days like today when people are still buying and selling, planting and building, marrying and giving in marriage, the Lord will come to receive us to where he is now.
Paul tells us there is no need to write us about dates and times, the Lord has spoken this same thing to me over the past months. We are told that the day that is coming will not take us by surprise. How will that day not take us by surprise? Well, "how" is the Lord's department, not mine but I believe in conjunction with what the Lord has been doing in my life it has to do with being rooted and built up in him, focused on him, living for him. HE is the focus, not this world, not current events, not what the devil is doing, what JESUS is doing.
The Lord has put me on a news and blog diet, he wants the attention I used to give to those things. The devil has NO IDEA when the day is that the hammer falls so why watch what he is doing in this world? Isn't that the blind leading the blind? If we keep our eyes on Jesus in faithful prayer and devotion to his word, we will not be caught unaware when the time comes for the escape and the time of Jacob's trouble. We DO NOT "watch" with our eyes. If you call yourself a "watchmen" and all your watching is done with your eyes, aren't you misled/in error?
2 Corinthians 5:7
We live by faith, not by sight.
Did you get that? FAITH..not sight. This world says "seeing is believing" but our Lord says "believing is seeing." Those are two diametrically opposite approaches and which one are you using? The bottom line here, what the Lord has been saying to me for months now is you...we...I need to be focused on HIM. His word, his face, his Spirit, not this world. In the brief peeks I have snuck in while on this diet the Lord has me on, I have seen how right he is. The people in this world who think they are pulling the strings as "puppetmasters" appear to be losing control. Things are spinning out of their control now and they never saw it coming. Who did see it coming? Jesus did, the Spirit did, the Father did. So...again, where should our attention be?
The days and months ahead will likely be more and more negative in every way. We are told to encourage one another and that can be done in a number of ways. Reminding each other of what men are doing or what Satan is doing in this world is not a way to encourage one another. We can encourage each other through our constant focus on Christ. Sometimes current events can be usefully referenced but only in the greater context of how our God's promises are more real and carry more power than what's going on in the world. This world is going to hell in a hand basket, even the blind can see that now, do we need anyone to remind us of that again when everything around us shouts that 24/7, 365 days a year? Keep your eyes on the prize, on the promises, on the solution, on the encouragement of escape and the promises of shelter and refuge here on earth "in Christ" while we go through the "tribulations" of life that all of our fathers went through. Keep your eyes on Jesus and everything else will take care of itself.
grace and peace
Monday, July 06, 2009
Beware of Being Spoiled
Colossians 2:8 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.
Wow, that statement by the Holy spirit sums up years of blogging here. The constant hammering away at what calls itself "christianity" in the world all comes together here. What are the problems with todays "christianity?" There are MANY but Colossians 2:8 does a great job of summing them up:
You are being SPOILED through
1. philosophy
2. vain deceit
3. the traditions of men
4. the rudiments of the world (the basic patterns of this world)
Instead of fashioning the church according to the pure Word of God, men have chosen their own ways patterned after the world, not Jesus. A 3 second glance at "christianity" shows you all the evidence you need. The structure of todays so called christianity is patterned exactly like any business organization you want to look at. The "pastor" is the CEO and everything else flows down below him just like a Fortune 500 company.
Look closely at what calls itself the "church" and compare it to the patterns of this world and see for yourself the remarkable similarities. Look at the "church" and see how deeply they are entrenched in the traditions of men at the expense of the truth of God. Listen closely at how the CEO's (oops I mean "pastors") weave the philosophy of this world into their "sermons." See the not so subtle vain deceit that is evident from the ground up in todays so called churches. They bring you in to "service" you like an automobile going in for an oil change. That's "in your face" vain deceit patterned after this world in every way.
I think I'm starting to catch on to what the Lord's been doing with this course change in my life. What you've been reading here about prayer and consuming the Word of God has everything to do with what's coming in the future. The bible tells us that our God is a shelter and a refuge. He is leading me to walk closer to him day by day through prayer and intake of his Word. We may see some rough patches of life experience before the escape from Jacob's trouble shows up. Yes, we will escape ALL of Jacob's trouble but right up to the point where it begins we may sail some stormy seas, I don't know. The accounts of Noah and Lot lead me to believe that what we see around us today will continue in much the same form right up through the day of the escape. The relevance of spending time with the Lord and being full to overflowing with his Word is that regardless of whether its the escape or stormy life experience that we see next, the answer for both is to be found "in Christ" who IS the Word of God.
I have asked the Lord repeatedly to allow me to go out of this world STRONG. I do not want to be ashamed when He shows up, wishing I had done more or had believed bigger or done things differently. I am praying today, right now to see mighty things from this mighty God we worship. Why should we settle for "just getting by" when we can walk on water with Jesus and see moutains moved before our eyes. I just cannot settle for anything less than seeing something SPECTACULAR from my God before I leave this place. I think that's a personal thing that the Lord has deposited within me, not that I am "special" in any way because we all have worthy missions from the Lord that are widely different and varied according to our walk with him and how he has made us as individuals.
The more we expect of this God we worship, the closer we need to walk with him. If we want to see mountains moved, trees uprooted and planted in the sea, walking on water etc then Jesus has to be more real to us than the world around us. We live by faith not sight. What our faith sees must be more real to us than what our eyes see, THEN buckle your seatbelts and watch what happens. Again, all of this is about our GOD'S GLORY not us as individuals. He will have his glory one way or another..he will have it. We can be part of it, or we can get steam rolled by it, its up to us to choose.
Whatever is going on in your life today, I want to encourage you to forget everything any man has ever taught you and relearn everything solely through the Word of God with the teaching done by the Spirit of God. Forget what I have told you as well, who am I? A nobody. Keep your eyes on the prize..JESUS IS OUR PRIZE here on earth AND in heaven. Blessed be his name.
done for today, grace and peace
Wow, that statement by the Holy spirit sums up years of blogging here. The constant hammering away at what calls itself "christianity" in the world all comes together here. What are the problems with todays "christianity?" There are MANY but Colossians 2:8 does a great job of summing them up:
You are being SPOILED through
1. philosophy
2. vain deceit
3. the traditions of men
4. the rudiments of the world (the basic patterns of this world)
Instead of fashioning the church according to the pure Word of God, men have chosen their own ways patterned after the world, not Jesus. A 3 second glance at "christianity" shows you all the evidence you need. The structure of todays so called christianity is patterned exactly like any business organization you want to look at. The "pastor" is the CEO and everything else flows down below him just like a Fortune 500 company.
Look closely at what calls itself the "church" and compare it to the patterns of this world and see for yourself the remarkable similarities. Look at the "church" and see how deeply they are entrenched in the traditions of men at the expense of the truth of God. Listen closely at how the CEO's (oops I mean "pastors") weave the philosophy of this world into their "sermons." See the not so subtle vain deceit that is evident from the ground up in todays so called churches. They bring you in to "service" you like an automobile going in for an oil change. That's "in your face" vain deceit patterned after this world in every way.
I think I'm starting to catch on to what the Lord's been doing with this course change in my life. What you've been reading here about prayer and consuming the Word of God has everything to do with what's coming in the future. The bible tells us that our God is a shelter and a refuge. He is leading me to walk closer to him day by day through prayer and intake of his Word. We may see some rough patches of life experience before the escape from Jacob's trouble shows up. Yes, we will escape ALL of Jacob's trouble but right up to the point where it begins we may sail some stormy seas, I don't know. The accounts of Noah and Lot lead me to believe that what we see around us today will continue in much the same form right up through the day of the escape. The relevance of spending time with the Lord and being full to overflowing with his Word is that regardless of whether its the escape or stormy life experience that we see next, the answer for both is to be found "in Christ" who IS the Word of God.
I have asked the Lord repeatedly to allow me to go out of this world STRONG. I do not want to be ashamed when He shows up, wishing I had done more or had believed bigger or done things differently. I am praying today, right now to see mighty things from this mighty God we worship. Why should we settle for "just getting by" when we can walk on water with Jesus and see moutains moved before our eyes. I just cannot settle for anything less than seeing something SPECTACULAR from my God before I leave this place. I think that's a personal thing that the Lord has deposited within me, not that I am "special" in any way because we all have worthy missions from the Lord that are widely different and varied according to our walk with him and how he has made us as individuals.
The more we expect of this God we worship, the closer we need to walk with him. If we want to see mountains moved, trees uprooted and planted in the sea, walking on water etc then Jesus has to be more real to us than the world around us. We live by faith not sight. What our faith sees must be more real to us than what our eyes see, THEN buckle your seatbelts and watch what happens. Again, all of this is about our GOD'S GLORY not us as individuals. He will have his glory one way or another..he will have it. We can be part of it, or we can get steam rolled by it, its up to us to choose.
Whatever is going on in your life today, I want to encourage you to forget everything any man has ever taught you and relearn everything solely through the Word of God with the teaching done by the Spirit of God. Forget what I have told you as well, who am I? A nobody. Keep your eyes on the prize..JESUS IS OUR PRIZE here on earth AND in heaven. Blessed be his name.
done for today, grace and peace
Saturday, July 04, 2009
The Glory of God
I asked the Lord today what he would have me say to you. What he gave me sums everything up in life to a neat package. People have often wondered what is the meaning of life? What should I be doing now? What would the Lord have me do today? What should I believe? What work should I pursue and a million other questions.
What is the answer to all the questions of life? What is the meaning of our lives? The glory of God is the meaning of our life. Search no more:
Isaiah 43:7
everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
We were created for his glory. That's the meaning of life. What should we be doing today? Seeking his glory. Does reading his word glorify him? Yes, okay so do that. Does getting down on your knees in adoration and praise and prayer glorify him? Yes, so do that. Does living by faith not by sight glorify him? Yes, okay so do that. Read his word, find out what he said to do and do it, that brings glory to him, so that is what you are supposed to do.
His glory is what all of this is about. As with many other things written to us in the word of God, this is not hard to understand. You don't need some advanced degree to "get it."
Seeking the glory of God is what I hear from the Lord today. What we are supposed to be doing is focusing on him, on what glorifies him. Returning to the basic fundamentals of the faith glorifies him so do that. Pick up your bibles, get down on your knees and seek him who will never ever lie to you, never deceive you, and will always love you. Seek the glory of God and watch how everything else in your life takes care of itself...Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
grace and peace
What is the answer to all the questions of life? What is the meaning of our lives? The glory of God is the meaning of our life. Search no more:
Isaiah 43:7
everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."
We were created for his glory. That's the meaning of life. What should we be doing today? Seeking his glory. Does reading his word glorify him? Yes, okay so do that. Does getting down on your knees in adoration and praise and prayer glorify him? Yes, so do that. Does living by faith not by sight glorify him? Yes, okay so do that. Read his word, find out what he said to do and do it, that brings glory to him, so that is what you are supposed to do.
His glory is what all of this is about. As with many other things written to us in the word of God, this is not hard to understand. You don't need some advanced degree to "get it."
Seeking the glory of God is what I hear from the Lord today. What we are supposed to be doing is focusing on him, on what glorifies him. Returning to the basic fundamentals of the faith glorifies him so do that. Pick up your bibles, get down on your knees and seek him who will never ever lie to you, never deceive you, and will always love you. Seek the glory of God and watch how everything else in your life takes care of itself...Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
grace and peace
Friday, July 03, 2009
In The Church
The bible tells us very specifically what we should see in the church and guess what is not mentioned? Pastors. Read it for yourself:
1 Corinthians 12:27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tonguesd? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desiree the greater gifts.
Did the Holy Spirit make a mistake? Did he forget to mention "pastors" or does the Holy Spirit know exactly what he is talking about and what is written was exactly what he wanted to say but MEN have disregarded the Word of God in favor of the words and traditions of men? Don't you think that with "pastors" running around in EVERY church in the world today and a complete SILENCE in the bible regarding "pastors" something is very very VERY WRONG?
We are told specifically what we should see in the church and pastors are NOT mentioned yet we see them everywhere in churchianity today. Have you ever been into one of today's "churches" and not seen a "pastor?" Every single one I've even been to had one yet they are NOT mentioned at all here by Paul or the Holy Spirit when we are told what to expect to see in the true church. Add to this the fact that none of the apostles in all their travels ever met a "pastor" anywhere! Not once....they never appointed a "pastor" never met one, never ate with one, never anything with one, but we see them everywhere today. Why? Because something is very WRONG with todays babylonian form of "christianity" thats why.
People seem willing enough to tolerate these "pastors" even though they have no biblical ground whatsoever to stand on. In the bible I see elders, apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles but no "pastors." To take this a step further, when's the last time you saw a true prophet or worker of miracles in your "church?" Have you ever seen one? Does that tell you something about your "church?" Paul said we should see: apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Question is, is that what you see? No? Why not? Because something is very wrong with what passes for "christianity" today.
Should we not use the word of God to instruct us on what the church looks like? The bible is the foundation that the true church stands on, not the doctrines and traditions of men. How can your "pastor" justify his position using the Word of God alone? He can't because everything he does has been passed down to him by men not God. The absolute best your "pastor" can hope to do is point out the word "pastor" once in Ephesians 6 out of the KJV version of the bible and not at all in a literal translation of the bible. Even giving them that luxury of using the KJV to show the one mention of the word "pastor" they are then stuck because there is absolutely nothing else for them to stand on.
We have a good idea of what apostles prophets and teachers do because we are told about them in the bible more than once. We have no idea what a "pastor" does because they are not mentioned in a literal translation of the bible at all and only once in the KJV. The fact that todays "pastors" walk talk and look exactly like CEO's from the business world tells you alot about them. Not mentioned in the bible but all over the place in the world, these men have a rich heritage in the traditions of men, in organized religion following in the footsteps of the roman and babylonian/pagan priesthood but they are absolutely BANKRUPT when it comes to support from the Word of God which by the way is the only thing that matters.
I have asked the Lord repeatedly to show me by his Spirit where the justification for what they are doing comes from in his word. Its just not there. If you are zealous for the word of God, how can you tolerate the "pastors" you submit yourselves to? Who are these people and where in the bible do they derive the authority for what they are doing? It's simply not there.
Why are there no workers of miracles and true prophets in your churches? Because the traditions of men that you and your "church" have chosen have NULLIFIED the word of God for you and thus emptied your "church" of any power it might have had:
Mark 7:13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."
Do you understand how HUGE that statement is? The word of God is our power! If you have nullified it through your traditions then I hope you now understand why you see NO POWER in your life or in your "churches". Hopefully this too will make more sense to you:
2 Timothy 3:1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
What does the bible instruct me to do regarding these people who have a form of godliness but deny its power? It tells me to HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM. Do you understand what it means to have nothing to do with someone?
As darkness and despair descend on this world, people need POWER not empty man made doctrines and institutions:
1 Corinthians 4:20
... For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in POWER.
The writing here has the purpose of waking people up. Would I be doing you a favor if I tickled your ears like so many do today then let you go back to an empty and powerless life? Is that what brothers do? The world seems to think so. You can think whatever you want about the writing here I don't care, what I do care about is that you see through the lies and deceit handed down through generations and grab hold of the truth by faith so you can once again see POWER manifest in your life.
Do you or do you not want to see mountains moved in your life? If it pleases you to be "serviced" week in and week out without ever seeing a single miracle, without ever hearing a single accurate prophesy, without ever sensing the overwhelming POWER that is ours "in Christ," well, then that's your decision. People have been mentally and spiritually enslaved to the point where they think they are free but are slaves to what has mastered them-the satanic and man made systems of this world. I don't know about you but I was sick to the point of nausea with so called christianity years ago and I have seen mountains moved, miracles with my own eyes since I left the so called "church." I hope you understand that not everything calling itself "christianity" and "Jesus" are christianity and the Son of God. The devil himself masquerades as an angel of light.
The Holy Spirit always points back to Jesus who is the Word of God in the flesh. I point you to Jesus and the word of God. If you have been rotting in some building somewhere that calls itself a "church" and the most life you've seen there has been the "interpretive dancers" and the once a month "potluck" then I would advise you to try something new. Try getting to know God Almighty for yourself. When you get to the point where you feel you know him intimately and you see POWER flow in your life then decide with Jesus (through prayer) whether or not to return to the dead organizations you once knew as "churches."
Jesus and his true church are alive and well on earth today. I am the least of the brothers within that church. Where the Spirit of God moves you will see POWER, miracles, mountains moved etc. You do not see that most likely for many of the reasons discussed in this post. Take my word for nothing but take the word of God seriously. Compare what your "religion" is and does to the words in the bible and if they do not match consider yourself wrong and make the appropriate change. Romans 3:4 .....Let God be true, and every man a liar. Or just keep letting your hired hand spiritual employees lead you down the broad path (matt 7:13+). The choice is yours.
grace and peace
1 Corinthians 12:27Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tonguesd? Do all interpret? 31But eagerly desiree the greater gifts.
Did the Holy Spirit make a mistake? Did he forget to mention "pastors" or does the Holy Spirit know exactly what he is talking about and what is written was exactly what he wanted to say but MEN have disregarded the Word of God in favor of the words and traditions of men? Don't you think that with "pastors" running around in EVERY church in the world today and a complete SILENCE in the bible regarding "pastors" something is very very VERY WRONG?
We are told specifically what we should see in the church and pastors are NOT mentioned yet we see them everywhere in churchianity today. Have you ever been into one of today's "churches" and not seen a "pastor?" Every single one I've even been to had one yet they are NOT mentioned at all here by Paul or the Holy Spirit when we are told what to expect to see in the true church. Add to this the fact that none of the apostles in all their travels ever met a "pastor" anywhere! Not once....they never appointed a "pastor" never met one, never ate with one, never anything with one, but we see them everywhere today. Why? Because something is very WRONG with todays babylonian form of "christianity" thats why.
People seem willing enough to tolerate these "pastors" even though they have no biblical ground whatsoever to stand on. In the bible I see elders, apostles, prophets, teachers, workers of miracles but no "pastors." To take this a step further, when's the last time you saw a true prophet or worker of miracles in your "church?" Have you ever seen one? Does that tell you something about your "church?" Paul said we should see: apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Question is, is that what you see? No? Why not? Because something is very wrong with what passes for "christianity" today.
Should we not use the word of God to instruct us on what the church looks like? The bible is the foundation that the true church stands on, not the doctrines and traditions of men. How can your "pastor" justify his position using the Word of God alone? He can't because everything he does has been passed down to him by men not God. The absolute best your "pastor" can hope to do is point out the word "pastor" once in Ephesians 6 out of the KJV version of the bible and not at all in a literal translation of the bible. Even giving them that luxury of using the KJV to show the one mention of the word "pastor" they are then stuck because there is absolutely nothing else for them to stand on.
We have a good idea of what apostles prophets and teachers do because we are told about them in the bible more than once. We have no idea what a "pastor" does because they are not mentioned in a literal translation of the bible at all and only once in the KJV. The fact that todays "pastors" walk talk and look exactly like CEO's from the business world tells you alot about them. Not mentioned in the bible but all over the place in the world, these men have a rich heritage in the traditions of men, in organized religion following in the footsteps of the roman and babylonian/pagan priesthood but they are absolutely BANKRUPT when it comes to support from the Word of God which by the way is the only thing that matters.
I have asked the Lord repeatedly to show me by his Spirit where the justification for what they are doing comes from in his word. Its just not there. If you are zealous for the word of God, how can you tolerate the "pastors" you submit yourselves to? Who are these people and where in the bible do they derive the authority for what they are doing? It's simply not there.
Why are there no workers of miracles and true prophets in your churches? Because the traditions of men that you and your "church" have chosen have NULLIFIED the word of God for you and thus emptied your "church" of any power it might have had:
Mark 7:13 Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that."
Do you understand how HUGE that statement is? The word of God is our power! If you have nullified it through your traditions then I hope you now understand why you see NO POWER in your life or in your "churches". Hopefully this too will make more sense to you:
2 Timothy 3:1But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.
What does the bible instruct me to do regarding these people who have a form of godliness but deny its power? It tells me to HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THEM. Do you understand what it means to have nothing to do with someone?
As darkness and despair descend on this world, people need POWER not empty man made doctrines and institutions:
1 Corinthians 4:20
... For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in POWER.
The writing here has the purpose of waking people up. Would I be doing you a favor if I tickled your ears like so many do today then let you go back to an empty and powerless life? Is that what brothers do? The world seems to think so. You can think whatever you want about the writing here I don't care, what I do care about is that you see through the lies and deceit handed down through generations and grab hold of the truth by faith so you can once again see POWER manifest in your life.
Do you or do you not want to see mountains moved in your life? If it pleases you to be "serviced" week in and week out without ever seeing a single miracle, without ever hearing a single accurate prophesy, without ever sensing the overwhelming POWER that is ours "in Christ," well, then that's your decision. People have been mentally and spiritually enslaved to the point where they think they are free but are slaves to what has mastered them-the satanic and man made systems of this world. I don't know about you but I was sick to the point of nausea with so called christianity years ago and I have seen mountains moved, miracles with my own eyes since I left the so called "church." I hope you understand that not everything calling itself "christianity" and "Jesus" are christianity and the Son of God. The devil himself masquerades as an angel of light.
The Holy Spirit always points back to Jesus who is the Word of God in the flesh. I point you to Jesus and the word of God. If you have been rotting in some building somewhere that calls itself a "church" and the most life you've seen there has been the "interpretive dancers" and the once a month "potluck" then I would advise you to try something new. Try getting to know God Almighty for yourself. When you get to the point where you feel you know him intimately and you see POWER flow in your life then decide with Jesus (through prayer) whether or not to return to the dead organizations you once knew as "churches."
Jesus and his true church are alive and well on earth today. I am the least of the brothers within that church. Where the Spirit of God moves you will see POWER, miracles, mountains moved etc. You do not see that most likely for many of the reasons discussed in this post. Take my word for nothing but take the word of God seriously. Compare what your "religion" is and does to the words in the bible and if they do not match consider yourself wrong and make the appropriate change. Romans 3:4 .....Let God be true, and every man a liar. Or just keep letting your hired hand spiritual employees lead you down the broad path (matt 7:13+). The choice is yours.
grace and peace
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