I don't know who came up with this phrase that people are "churched." That term "churched" makes me sick, literally because it is a description of what happens to people when they "go to church" but never "are the church". Nowhere in the bible will you see anyone tell you that as a Christian we "go to church." We are told in the book of Hebrews that we should not forsake assembling ourselves together for the express purpose of encouraging one another. Assembling together is a FAR cry from "going to church."
Families assemble, people in business "go to work" they also offer "services" for money. Today's churchianity is nothing but a business setup with a "Christian" shingle hung on the front door.
What calls itself christianity today is an institution. Institutions "institutionalize" people. Kind of like whats done for insane people. Institutions "process" people as well. I believe the Lord gave me a good metaphor for what todays so called Christianity does to people. Think about food, there's a saying "the closer to the ground, the better it is for you" in other words, fresh from the earth is best, the more processing that happens to the food, the less nutritional value. Many foods today are so processed that they actually have negative nutritional values, they actually leach vitamins and minerals from your body. This processed institutionalized food is exactly what so called Christianity is. Its a shell, an empty vessel, a fraud, promising one thing but delivering another or nothing at all. All the value has been stripped out and killed off by the traditions of men. Read for yourself:
Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
Where did the idolatrous pastoral system come from? It's certainly not in the bible. The word "pastor" is zero times in the new testament (shepherd is the word, not pastor..Eph 4:11 and He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as proclaimers of good news, and some as shepherds and teachers,), Paul never appointed a pastor, never met with one, never greeted one in all the accounts in the entire new testament yet today we see them EVERYWHERE......why? The traditions of men. Men love their idols and that's exactly what "pastors" become to many in so called Christianity today.
This morning I was reading in the book of Mark and lo, what do I find? Another example of the most amazing faith coming from the "unchurched" un-institutionalized, un-religiously processed people in the land. We are already familiar with the story of the centurion. Here we have a hated Roman of all things, not an Israelite and our Lord tells us that in this heathen, pagan soldier he saw more faith than in ALL ISRAEL.
Matt 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, 6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. 7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. 8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. 9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. 10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
That is both a commendation for the roman's faith and an indictment on Israel's. The problem Israel had is the same problem today's so called Christianity has. They loved the traditions of men, they loved idols, they institutionalized, they processed and history(our bible) has recorded the results.
This morning in Mark, again, same story, different day, another pagan, heathen with great faith:
Mark 7 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an evil spirit came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
27 "First let the children eat all they want," he told her, "for it is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs."
28 "Lord," she replied, "even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."
29 Then he told her, "For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter."
30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
I want you to notice that this is another "unchurched" woman. Also notice that Jesus basically called her a "dog" to her face but she was undeterred, she KNEW this man had power, she had faith and she was going to get what she came for. Jesus had no plans to give this woman anything, but even after calling her a dog, because of her reply in faith, she received what she believed for.
Once again, here we go down the same road we always arrive at, why will so few be saved (matt 7:14)?
Why will Jesus tell many who did all kinds of "wonderful" works for him "away from me you evildoers, I never knew you (matt7:21+)?"
Why is it in America, a country dotted from coast to coast with "pastors" and "churches" this place is ground zero for every form of filth and vice known to man. Who's the biggest exporter of porn in the world? America is. Who is the biggest exporter of war in the world? America is. Who has the most criminals in prison in the world? America does, and the list goes on and on.
What calls itself Christianity today is a fraud and a lie. It is a form of Babylonian mystery religion made up of the traditions and teachings of men. Sure they throw around the name of Jesus, but which Jesus is it they teach? Everyone who comes in the name of Jesus is not the son of God. Test the spirits, remember? False prophets will come in the last days remember? If you want a litmus test, a way to test out today's so called Christianity, test it for salt and light.
Matt 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Salt is a preservative, it prevents ROT....this world is rotting faster than a 2 month old piece of roadkill on the side of the highway, so I ask, where is the POWER in todays so called Christianity?
Light drives out darkness, period. If something like todays so called Christianity does not drive out darkness, then its not light. Nothing complex there. The darkness is so thick of America today you could cut it with a knife, yet churches and pastors are everywhere, they dot every corner of the landscape. How do they reconcile this? Darkness is thick and in our face yet they claim to be "light" in this world.
Apparently what calls itself Christianity today is neither salt nor light. Don't take my word for it, look around you, the proof is everywhere. Pastors run around moaning that they are doing all kinds of "wonderful works" for God (re-read matt 7:21) yet things are still falling apart around them. Gosh, I wonder why? Rev 2 tells us that the nicolaitan (clergy/laity) system he HATES.
The God of eternity is working everywhere all the time. He's working in bars, in brothels, in workplaces and even in "churches." The problem for people in today's apostate form of churchianity is, they assume that because they see the Lord working around them, he approves of what they are doing. Big mistake. That same reasoning could apply to the people he's working on in the brothels and bars of the world, because you see the hand of God at work does that mean he approves of what they are doing? In college I sat outside myself listening to the words coming out of my own mouth with awe while I was smashed drunk. The girl I was with was in tears from the presence of the Holy Spirit there speaking to her. Should I assume that because I was smashed drunk and trying to sleep with this young lady the Holy Spirit approved of what I was doing so He showed up? Kind of stupid yea? The Lord worked IN SPITE OF ME, not because of me. He had something to say to that young lady I was with and he got the message across in spite of me and my unwise actions.
^^ that was during my time of testing pleasure like Solomon did in Ecclesiastes. I knew what the bible said but I had to test it anyway..shame on me.
The message today and everyday is not about me, its about the task I've been given from the Lord. Shine a floodlight on the apostasy of today's church and condemn the apostasy. Hate what Jesus hates and the deeds of the nicolaitans certainly qualify to be hated. Nico-conquer, laity=YOU. Remind people that the escape is real. Jesus was not kidding when he told us to pray to be counted worthy to escape all, he meant there WILL BE an escape from all, the Lord does not speak nonsense, if he said it, its real and its coming.
I am to remind people that this calling is not some joyride through the world doing whatever you want whenever you want, forgetting your first love then facing no consequences in heaven. Few will be saved, many "church" people will be told they are evildoers and to "get away" from Jesus on that day (Matt 7:14-7:28). We are to be watching and ready daily for the Lord's return. That fact debunks every rapture view apart from the pre-flood, pre-brimstone, pre-time of Jacobs trouble, pre-trib view. Satan has sold so many lies to todays Babylonian churchianity and they have bought them all, hook, line and sinker. One of the most grievous lies is that no matter what you do, without faith, without obedience, without maintaining your first love you still get into heaven. That's called "once saved always saved." That lie is completely and utterly destroyed by John 15
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.
If a man abide not in me, in other words, that man is "in Christ" but does not remain there....what happens to that person who "abides not?" They are cast out, withered, cast into the fire and burned....that sound "always saved" to you?
The fear of God is real. Yes, you should "fear God." Luke 12:5 ... "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!
This is so very serious. People treat Christianity as if its another thing on their "to do" list. Just another box that has to be checked so they can feel like they are a "good person." These people need a siren going off in the ears, icy water splashed on their face, then two boots squarely to their rear ends to WAKE UP. Here's what Jesus said about someone calling him "good."
Luke 18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
Here's the Son of God asking this man, why are you calling me good? Wake up people...
It is grace through faith that gets us "in Christ" and keeps us there...No faith, no grace, no grace, no salvation. I'll ask you again, do you really believe?
7 days from today is the anniversary of Noah entering the ark. The end of this month is pentecost. This fall we have the feast of trumpets coming back around. Speaking of the fest of trumpets and this fall, I was reading an article by some heathen :) the other day and he was commenting on how with this flu going around, lots of disappearances would be likely due to quarantines and such and how those disappearances would really shake people's nerves since there was just silence to mark their absence. Combine that with the mild outbreak now and the warnings we are hearing about the parallels with the Spanish flu with started with a whimper (like now) but ended with tens of millions dead.
What can you do today? You can watch through prayer. You can build your faith, you can exercise it in whatever way the Spirit directs you to. You can believe, you can be strong for those around you who live in fear, you can expose darkness and lies that lie like a 100ton lead blanket over this world. You can find something to give to someone else around you, whether that be a smile or a kind word or a piece of bread, I don't know..you know...the Spirit knows...seek the Father's face today, we may not have tomorrow.
grace and peace
Tell The Lord That You Love Him
6 years ago