“A Deluding Influence” XIII

{I have decided, from time to time, to post certain items that I sense (through my Spirit, hopefully) speak to many of the issues I write on. These will be short snippets (NOT ALWAYS), and I’ve decided to call them, “A Deluding Influence” (2 Thessalonians 2: 11)}

In the following Pew Forum article is yet another example of the strong delusion being sent, by God, to those apostate (fallen away) believers who end up denying His Son, the Christ.

February 19, 2010

Spirit Quest

by Charles M. Blow

The New York Times

I recently met a young woman who was just back from a monthlong Costa Rican vacation. She said that she had gone in part to connect with her spiritual self, to shed the moral strictures of her youth and to find her place of peace as an adult. In her mind at least, it had been a successful trip. She was a new woman, spiritually awakened.

She told me that she had gone from religious to nonbeliever, and then to spiritual. Putting aside the fact that most young people probably couldn’t afford to take a monthlong vacation in a foreign country, and the fact that her spiritual awakening was admittedly spiked with copious amounts of Costa Rican rum, her story struck me as increasingly normative rather than anomalous. Many young adults seem to be moving away from organized religion while simultaneously trying desperately to connect with their spirituality. (emphasis added)

via Religion News: Spirit Quest.

Jesus rebuked the scribes and pharisees, saying,

“Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. 44 “Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. 45 “Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; AND THE LAST STATE OF THAT MAN BECOMES WORSE THAN THE FIRST. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation (age-ending generation, including us).” (Matthew 12)

This young woman has simply gone from the Spiritual deadness of her “religion” (the nominal “church”), the false representation of our Lord and Savior, to the pitiful state of the unregenerate:

…For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, THE LAST STATE HAS BECOME WORSE FOR THEM THAN THE FIRST (the seven demons). 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. 22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2)

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. 28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. (Hebrews 10)

She claims to have escaped the “moral strictures of her youth,” and found, instead, true “spiritual peace”. Unfortunately, however, this Spiritually devoid, and scripturally ignorant, person, has simply jumped from the spiritual frying pan right into the flames of the evil one. She has removed herself from the deadness of Satan’s “religious” substitute for the Lord, but instead of seeking the Lord’s Way, Truth, and Life, singularly, she has simply turned to the enemy of our Lord and believed his (Satan’s) lies. Therefore, the one demon (a “religious” unclean spirit), she had expelled from her life, has now come back with a vengeance, and brought seven of its friends to place this woman in a worse Spiritual state than before her supposed “spiritual enlightenment”!

I am not sitting in judgment of this poor woman, nor would it be possible for me to do so, since I am only a man, and I have, also, experienced almost exactly what she is experiencing now! Many years ago, when I was a very young man, I walked away from Catholicism, and, at the same time, I also walked away from God. Truly, I had shed the demon who had held me in bondage to its apostate “religious” lies, but I had, then, invited seven more demons, worse than the first, to invade me by walking away from God, and denying His Son. This walking away from, and denial of, the Lord, for the next sixteen years, would lead me down a dark, and evil, road, which would, in the end, allow me to harm people I loved, and almost destroy my life; in this world, and for all of eternity.

I thank the Lord that His irrevocable call was on my life! And, after those horrible years ended, and I was laid-low, broken and battered, the Lord graciously brought me back to His Truth and Life: the Truth and Life of the Christ that I had never heard from the pastors, ministers, and priests, of Christendom.

I pray the Lord’s irrevocable call is on this woman’s life, as it was on mine, especially if, like me, she was unaware of the Lord’s truth at the time she walked away.

Let my poor Spiritual example, and this woman’s, be a warning to all of you: when we escape the clutches of the apostate, nominal “church”, or whatever other evil is keeping us from the Truth, Life and Love of God, we must, then, cling tightly to the Lord so as not to allow the evil one any room to deceive us! Believe me, our Lord’s sanctification (salvation of the soul) can be very extended, and painful, when we have allowed the evil one to work in, and through, our lives for so many years! So for any of you who are not only contemplating walking away from the nominal “church”, but also the Lord, I hope you will take what I have said, here, to your heart and mind, and cling to the Lord, until He brings you back to His will, and purpose, for your life!

Peter: The “Stone”! Christ: The “Rock”! The Pope: Apostate Man!

Catholics have been coerced into believing, for almost fifteen hundred years, now, that the pope, through some form of scripturally-incorrect ancient-mysticism, is the living and breathing incarnation of the Apostle Peter. This, of course, is merely an apostate fallacy, a horrible manipulation of the following scripture (and several more):

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16)

To uncover how this scripture has been totally corrupted by Christendom, we must, first, have some understanding of the original languages used. Early on in His earthly ministry, Jesus had told Simon (Peter),

“You are Simon the son of John; you SHALL BE (in the future) called Cephas” (which is translated Peter). (John 1: 42)

The name “Cephas” is the Aramaic word for “stone”, or “small rock”. A stone or rock small enough to be thrown, or even as large as a boulder, but movable.

The name “Peter” is drawn from the Greek word “petros”, which also has the same meaning as cephas.

But the word “rock”, which Jesus says He will build His Church on, is from the Greek word “petra”, which means a rock formation, or a slab of rock that cannot be moved. In other words, a rock sufficient for use as the foundation of a building or house:

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on THE FOUNDATION of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being THE CORNER STONE (ROCK), 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit. (Ephesians 2)

And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture:
“BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE (ROCK), A PRECIOUS CORNER stone,
AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve,
“THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED,
THIS BECAME THE VERY CORNER stone,”
8 and,
“A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE”;
for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed. (1 Peter 2)

Peter was given the revelation of Who Jesus truly was by God the Father, and he was also the first to speak this great Truth; which would ultimately lead to his being the first Apostle to share the Gospel, on, and after, the day of Pentecost. But the ROCK that Jesus said He would build His (TRUE) Church on was, in reality, Himself, as the Word of God shows so clearly! Believers, then, are the stones (cephas, petros), like Peter, and the other Apostles, who are built upon the Foundation which is the Christ (the Cornerstone). And thus we, the stones built on the Chief Cornerstone (petra: Rock foundation), become the Lord’s (true) Church, His Body, His Bride!

Besides, if Jesus had been suggesting that Peter was the ROCK, then why didn’t the Lord state, instead, “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock, [Peter], I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it, [and there will always be a Peter on earth to rule in my place, until I come again]“? It was the revelation given to Peter, by the Father, that was the ROCK, not Peter himself!

Vatican City: What does this "city" have in common with the Christ?

The Lord Jesus never stated, or even suggested, that any of His twelve disciples would ever rule over a worldly-organized “religious” institution. What the Lord did say to His disciples, in terms of their earthly commission, was this:

“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth (not Peter). 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28)

and this,

“You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. 26 “It is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant, 27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20)

As we can clearly see from these two scriptures, the disciples’ commission was to serve others, not rule over them. And this is our commission also!

Therefore, there is no scriptural backing for the papal election being anything other than a man-made, and assigned, pagan-oriented “church office”: the pope (hierophant), in reality, is nothing more than a pseudo-religious politician leading his pseudo-religious political machine! The only view that the “holy see” has is the extravagant, and ungodly, wealth, and power, surrounding him in the Vatican!

Catholicism has replaced our Lord and Savior with pagan ritualism, including the worship of Mary (the earthly, and fallen, flesh and blood mother of Jesus, not a goddess), and a pagan hierarchy: the Vatican, the clergy, and dioceses, etc. Since Catholicism was the first state created, and operated, “church” (a worldwide “church”), every denomination since its inception has followed, in some form, the same ungodly pattern of “worship” and teaching: sanctuaries, alters, communion wafers, pagan doctrines, and hierarchy (clergy), which all amount to some form of idolatry.

If anyone will take the time to investigate, they will come to realize that the “offices” of pope, bishop, cardinal, and even priest, come from either Roman governmental, or pagan, tradition; as does every other aspect of Catholicism.

For further information on this scriptural issue, as well as many others, I recommend the following texts: The Great Prophecies of the Centuries Concerning the Church, Volume 4: G.H. Pember. And also, The Church The Churches and The Mysteries, Volume 3 (Chapters 48 on): G.H. Pember.

The True Church of Christ Does Not Exist To “Make The World A Better Place”!

Scripture warns, from the prophecies of old, to the new testament epistles, that this earth, and those who choose to love and serve it, will, someday, pass away; and then all things will be made new:

“I will display wonders in the sky and on the earth,
Blood, fire and columns of smoke.
31 “The sun will be turned into darkness
And the moon into blood
Before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. (Joel 2)

Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, WHO ARE PASSING AWAY; 7 but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; 8 the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2)

Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 THE WORLD IS PASSING AWAY, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. (1 John 2)

5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I AM MAKING ALL THINGS NEW.” (Revelation 21: 5)

When asked what their Godly purpose is, today’s “church-going Christians” (young and old) almost always state something like, “I want to leave the world a better place, for Christ, than I found it!” or, “I want to save the world for Christ!” When asking a similar question about a postmodern purpose, to the unregenerate or pagan, there is almost a verbatim response: “I want to make the world a better place for my children and their children.” The unregenerate and pagan, however, have the legitimate excuse of not being capable of discerning the Word of God, since the Word must be Spiritually discerned. On the other hand, the “church-going Christian” is totally without excuse for his, or her, worldly Spiritual ignorance; except, perhaps, their claiming, and rightly so, that the apostate nominal “church” has misled them!

Let me start with this typical, nominal “church” response, “I want to save the world for Christ!” Where is it stated in the Word of God that we are here to save the world or its peoples? The Christ’s crucifixion, and resurrection, almost two-thousand years ago, has already saved the world, its peoples, and, ultimately, the rest of His creation! This Spiritual/scriptural ignorance, and resulting confusion, is the bad fruit of Christendom’s doctrinal, and dogmatic, fallacies! The sons of God are not here to save people, the world, or anything else, we are here to fulfill our purpose in the Body of Christ, the Lord’s Bride:

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, TO THE BUILDING UP OF THE BODY OF CHRIST; 13 until we all attain to THE UNITY OF THE FAITH, and of THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SON OF GOD, TO A MATURE MAN, TO THE MEASURE OF THE STATURE WHICH BELONGS TO THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST. 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16 from whom THE WHOLE BODY, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes THE GROWTH OF THE BODY for the building up of itself in love. (Ephesians 4)

Where can we find the BUILDING UP OF THE BODY, THE UNITY OF THE FAITH, and THE GROWTH OF THE WHOLE BODY, in “denominational Christianity” (Christendom)? Is this “religious” sectarianism ever truly to become THE FULLNESS OF THE STATURE OF CHRIST: His Body, His Bride? Where is the unity in the Spirit, the Oneness of Christ, in “denominational Christianity”?

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 BEING DILIGENT TO PRESERVE THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE. 4 There is ONE BODY and ONE SPIRIT, just as also you were called in ONE HOPE of your calling; 5 ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, 6 ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4)

The Lord told His disciples to make disciples of all nations (share His Truth and Life), baptize them, and teach them all that He commanded:

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28: 19-20)

The Apostles, then, were faithful to carry out the Lord’s orders, and their faithfulness anchored the Truth and Life of Christ in this fallen world. The Apostles were also Spiritually empowered to work this great initial task: healing people, raising people from the dead, casting out demons.

And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. (Acts 4)

The initial (true) Church the Apostles established was that which the Lord had desired: assemblies (gatherings) of like minded believers who had given their lives up to the Lord and, thus, had all things in common:

They were CONTINUALLY devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44 And all those who had believed WERE TOGETHER AND HAD ALL THINGS IN COMMON (unity); 45 and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46 Day by day continuing WITH ONE MIND in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47 PRAISING GOD AND HAVING FAVOR WITH ALL PEOPLE. And THE LORD WAS ADDING TO THEIR NUMBER DAY BY DAY THOSE WHO WERE BEING SAVED. (Acts 2)

And the congregation (ecclesia: gathering) of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them…

For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales 35 and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. (Acts 4)

{Note: It was the Lord adding to their numbers, not their “religious”, man-made schemes to “save people for the Lord”: it still is the Father Who draws all those foreknown and predestined to His Son! Also note that the Lord was doing this great work because these believers were seeking His Way, Truth and Life, not some man-made doctrine filled with error and ritualism!}

This model of believers being gathered together in Christ was the ROCK that Jesus said He would build His Church on: the realization of Who the Christ is, who we are, what our purpose is (individually and corporately), and how we come to experience His WAY, His Truth, and His LIFE:

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not REVEAL this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 “I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon THIS ROCK (this revelation from the Father) I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. (Matthew 16)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14: 6)

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10: 10)

The ROCK, therefore, is not Peter (nor any pope or mere man), the ROCK is the revelation, to all who are the called, of Who the Christ is, and this revelation can come only from God the Father! The ROCK (Greek: Petra) is the Lord Himself! But the Lord knew, in His omniscient mind, that the true Church would become corrupted, just as the Hebrews had corrupted their faith and services to the Lord; to the point that they promoted and helped carry out His crucifixion!

{We may find ourselves in a similar position as the Hebrews, at the end of this age, if we’re not diligent to know and discern the Lord’s Truth about His second advent! Just as the religious leaders of Israel (pharisees, scribes) kept the common Hebrew ignorant of the truth of God, so the nominal “church”, today, keeps the “church-going Christian” ignorant of the Lord’s Truth!}

Thus we find, today, that the true Church, the Body of Christ, is scattered throughout the earth, and, because of the on-going apostasy in the nominal “church”, I believe that its function, in the Christ, has been changed to some extent. Yes, when the Lord places someone before us (believers) who is unregenerate, we are, then, to share the Gospel of God’s Grace with them, but only if we sense the Spirit’s leading. And yes, when we see people in need, other believers, or the unregenerate, we are, then, to place their needs before our own and serve them. But I believe, firmly, that the true Church’s primary purpose, today, is to be prepared, and adorned, as the Bride of the soon coming Christ:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, MADE READY AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; THE FIRST THINGS HAVE PASSED AWAY.” (Revelation 21)

I believe our mission, now, as the chosen out of the called, is to prepare those who are already saved, Spiritually, but are still in the grasps of the apostate nominal “church”, for the end of this age! The time is fast approaching for the second advent of Christ, and Daniel’s seventieth week (read the Book of Daniel): the Gospel of the Kingdom of the Heavens (not the Gospel of Grace: salvation, but the Kingdom of the Heavens) must be preached to all the world, just before our Lord returns (after the three and one-half years of the great tribulation), and then the end will come:

And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. 5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. 6 “You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. 7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. 8 “But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.

9 “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name. 10 “At that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. 11 “Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. 12 “Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. 13 “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 14 “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come…

“But immediately after the tribulation of those days THE SUN WILL BE DARKENED, AND THE MOON WILL NOT GIVE ITS LIGHT, AND THE STARS WILL FALL from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 “And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the SON OF MAN COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF THE SKY with power and great glory. 31 “And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. (Matthew 24)

I know this sounds radical, and I’m not suggesting a set day or time for our Lord’s return, but I do sense, as do many others, that our mission, as the chosen of our Lord, has been altered! Only time will tell, however!

I will continue this is Part II.

A “Spiritual Revival” Here, A “Men’s Conference” There: To What End?

"Religious Conferences", "Revivals": A Spiritual Waste of Time and Energy!

A “men’s conference” here, and a “Spiritual revival” there, here a “camp-meeting”, there a “movement of the Spirit happening”, everywhere a “new, and improved, way” to supposedly awaken the sleeping, apostate “church”. And yet, everything always seems to remain the same: the same Spiritual deadness (the lack of the Lord’s Power and Abundant Life), the same mediocre and milk laden sermons (tickling their ears), the same asleep-in-the-pew congregations, the same seeking after the world and its ungodly goals, while claiming to be “Christians”:

I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; BUT WANTING TO HAVE THEIR EARS TICKLED, THEY WILL ACCUMULATE FOR THEMSELVES TEACHERS (ministers, priests, popes, bishops) IN ACCORDANCE TO THEIR OWN DESIRES, 4 AND WILL TURN AWAY THEIR EARS FROM THE TRUTH AND WILL TURN ASIDE TO MYTHS. (2 Timothy 4)

The following Pew Forum article is an example of this tickle-the-ear “religious” way of practicing God.

Twelve hundred men sat silently inside New Hope Community Church on Saturday morning watching Kevin Costner plunge from a helicopter into a churning sea. Playing a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Costner fought powerful waves and a desperate, frightened man to save two lives in the clip from “The Guardian.”

Earlier Mike Silva, a Christian evangelist based in Portland, had reminded participants in the Northwest Men’s Conference of the rescue swimmers’ motto: “So others may live.”

When the clip ended, the lights came back on. The room was still quiet.

“There are people everywhere drowning,” Silva said softly. “They are so exhausted they can’t keep up the fight. The only thing that ever kept me afloat in turbulent times was the Bible.”

Men from 200 churches, from Orange County, Calif., and Sedro-Woolley, Wash., from Roseburg to Pittsburgh, spent the next four hours listening to speakers describe, from a man’s point of view, “a Christ-centered life.” The fifth annual conference opened Friday night.

“A hundred and one men dedicated their lives to Christ last night,” the emcee said. “And 345 last night rededicated theirs.” Saturday’s challenge, repeated over and over, was to reach out and share the Gospel message with other men.

mensconference.2.jan31.2010.JPGMotoya Nakamura/The OregonianParticipants were given “Timothy coins,” inspired by the New Testament letters in which the apostle Paul encourages Timothy’s faith. The idea was to find another man, introduce him to Jesus and pass the coin along. “Step one is to go to the cross,” Silva said. “Once we’ve been there, step two is to rescue someone else.” (emphasis added)

via Hundreds of Christian men gather in Portland to reconnect, reach out | – Oregonlive.com.

The bible, in the beginning, is the primary source for coming to know the Lord:

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. (Romans 10: 17)

But we must not stop with the word of God and merely read it; for that is to treat the word of God as if it were the tree of knowledge of good and evil (the word of God was given, by the Lord, to lead us to Him and His Life). We must not end up like the religious leaders (pharisees, priests, scribes) of Jesus’ day: Jesus rebuked them, saying,

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; 40 and YOU ARE UNWILLING TO COME TO ME SO THAT YOU MAY HAVE LIFE. (John 5)

The word of God, then, IS NOT some psychological, or new age, self-help book (nor is our Lord and Savior a “magic genie”): the word is not some mystical, “new-age” book full of “valuable tips and mores” to help us “live better lives”, and be “happy” and fulfilled “citizens of the world”. The word of God is, or should be, if we truly are the Lord’s Church, His Body, His Bride, the source that reveals His Way, His Truth, and His LIFE for us. But we can only experience the word’s impact if we have truly, and fully, dedicated our lives to the Lord (death to SELF)! Thus we must seek first, through the Spirit’s leading, to see the Lord, to KNOW Him, and to offer ourselves as living sacrifices to Him, so He may work His will and purpose in and through us:

But whatever things were gain to me (in this world), those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but RUBBISH so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, BEING CONFORMED TO HIS DEATH; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (Philippians 3)

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to PRESENT YOUR BODIES A LIVING AND HOLY SACRIFICE, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12)

These examples of Paul’s Love for Christ, and his desire to experience all of the Christ’s Life in, and around, him, is what the Lord desires from all of those He purchased on the cross:

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 Food is for the stomach and the stomach is for food, but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body. 14 Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! 16 Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.” 17 But the one who joins himself to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 18 Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that YOUR BODY IS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO IS IN YOU, whom you have from God, and that YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN? 20 For YOU HAVE BEEN BOUGHT WITH A PRICE: therefore GLORIFY GOD IN YOUR BODY. (1 Corinthians 6)

So “revivals of the Spirit”, “men’s conferences”, and “rededicating our lives to the Lord”, are useless, unless we have come to the Spiritual position, and discernment, of the Apostle Paul: “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but RUBBISH…”

Here is what the word of God has to say about those who must, continually, “REDEDICATE themselves to Christ”:

For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again ENTANGLED IN THEM and are OVERCOME, the last state has become WORSE for them than the FIRST. 21 For it would be BETTER for them NOT to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. 22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2)

A "Promise Keeper's Conference": The "Religious Warm & Fuzzy", but for how long?

Are these same “345 rededicated men”, and those who, out of the newbies, will add to their number, over the next few years, going to keep on living in the world, and for the world, as they have before? Will these “rededicated” men go about seeking and knowing the Lord, or will they, after another few years, simply come back to this type of warm and fuzzy “religious” experience and, once again, “rededicate themselves to the Lord”? Sadly, the latter outcome would be my guess!

I have seen these “revivals”, “conferences”, and “movement of the Spirit”, fiascoes, throughout the years, and I have even taken part in a few. So I can tell you, from experience, and, therefore, without hesitation, that they are worthless; simply because they are the product of “religious” man’s agenda-driven ideas about God, His word and will (man’s warped conception of our Lord and Savior), as opposed to the leading of the Spirit in him!

This post may be offensive to some, but that was not my intent! It seems to me that decades upon decades of politically-correct, milk-laden (“seeker-sensitive”) “revivals”, “conferences”, and “sermons”, have produced little but Spiritual apathy, Spiritual confusion, and apostasy. Is it loving and serving, then, in this time of mediocre and, for the most part, self-serving, Godless religiosity, to allow our lost, and immature, brothers and sisters in Christ to continue down the same old apostate road; and without ever, at the risk of offending, trying to reach them with the Lord’s Way, Truth, and Life?

So if you are offended by this post, you might want to consider why you’re offended. As I’ve stated before, if you believe I’m wrong, Spiritually, and thus scripturally, then please leave a comment

Suffering, Enduring & Overcoming: “…Some Strange Thing Happening…”

The Apostle Peter exhorts us,

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU SHARE THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. (1 Peter 4)

James, the earthly brother of our Lord, encourages us to,

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter VARIOUS TRIALS, 3 knowing that THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1)

The Apostle Paul states,

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our TRIBULATIONS, knowing that TRIBULATION brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5)

and

The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, IF INDEED WE SUFFER WITH HIM so that we may also be glorified with Him.

18 For I consider that THE SUFFERINGS OF THIS PRESENT TIME are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8: )

and

It is a trustworthy statement:
For IF WE DIED WITH HIM, we will also live with Him;
12 IF WE ENDURE, we will also reign with Him;
If we deny Him, He also will deny us;
13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. (2 Timothy 2)

Jesus also warns,

“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. 19 “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, BECAUSE OF THIS THE WORLD HATES YOU. 20 “Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. (John 15)

and

“If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27 “For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and WILL THEN REPAY EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. (Matthew 16)

and

“Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7 “HE WHO OVERCOMES will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son. 8 “But for THE COWARDLY AND UNBELIEVING and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21)

Few on the pulpits of Christendom will even go near these verses, since they don’t want to chase off the folks, sitting in the pews, who are there primarily for their once-a-week, warm and fuzzy experience: the “having their ears tickled” sermon and pat-on-the-back handshake. A few less cautious clergymen, who do choose to mention these scriptures, will, almost always, end up claiming that the suffering and enduring only apply to those “backsliding” believers (“returnees to Egypt”) who continue to sin; and, of course, the unregenerate (unbeliever).

A child of God who has returned to his own vomit, and thus trodden underfoot the Son of God, will most likely not have to endure much suffering any further, since he, or she, is once again serving the god of this age, Satan: the evil one will simply arrange things so the world seems even more appealing to the apostate, now, than when he, or she, was devoid of the Christ before salvation:

For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. 22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, “A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.” (2 Peter 2)

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. 28 Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has TRAMPLED UNDERFOOT THE SON OF GOD, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10)

How clergymen make a case for these scriptures applying, in any way, shape or form, to the unregenerate is far beyond me, since these particular verses are referring to those who have been foreknown, and predestined, to believe and seek the Lord. Besides that, if we take a real close look around us, we will see that many of the unregenerate are living “high-off-the-hog” in this evil world system. This, of course, is not to say the unregenerate will not suffer in this world:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.’ 44 “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. (Matthew 5)

Arranging for success in this worldly realm, however, is one of the main techniques Satan uses to keep people in bondage to his lies! The fact of the Spiritual matter is, whether the panderers of “prosperity ministries”, and liberal “Christians”, like it or not, those who were foreknown, predestined, and called, must endure suffering in order to be glorified (sanctification)!

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE. 29 For those whom He FOREKNEW, He also PREDESTINED to BECOME CONFORMED to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among MANY BRETHREN; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also JUSTIFIED; and these whom He justified, He also GLORIFIED. (Romans 8: 28-30)

How do we, as true believers, BECOME CONFORMED to the image of our Lord and Savior? By BELIEVING Him, SEEKING Him First, OBEYING Him, RESTING in Him, and by seeking to become SANCTIFIED (salvation of the soul) through our SUFFERING and ENDURING with Him; here and now! And through the Power of the Christ we can, then, endure long enough (until the end) to overcome all that the evil one has placed before us to destroy our faith in, and love for, our Lord. Christ is our example for this way of Life, this suffering and enduring, as are His disciples and Apostles, in particular, the Apostle Paul!

I will complete this in the follow-up post, “A Thorn in the Flesh, A Messenger of Satan…”

“A Deluding Influence” XII

"Politics ARE NOT the task of a Christian." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)

{I have decided, from time to time, to post certain items that I sense (through my Spirit, hopefully) speak to many of the issues I write on. These will be short snippets (NOT ALWAYS), and I’ve decided to call them, “A Deluding Influence” (2 Thessalonians 2: 11)}

Here is just one more example of the deluding influence the Lord has sent to confound the apostate nominal “church” (Christendom).

February 3, 2010

Religious leaders worry that Obama’s faith council is for show

by Michelle Boorstein and William Wan

The Washington Post

A year ago, President Obama thrilled many religious Americans and worried some secular supporters by announcing that he would not only keep the faith-based infrastructure President Bush had constructed across the government but would expand it, adding a marquee council of faith leaders to advise him.

But as the council prepares to end its first term and issue its report, some faith leaders across the ideological spectrum — including some Obama allies — say the operation may be more about window dressing than results.

Critics say that the faith-based office isn’t enough of a priority at the White House and that faith leaders who were consulted regularly during the campaign are now simply copied on pro-forma e-mails. They complain that Obama is no longer using the faith language that he employed as a candidate to frame his policy goals, and that before the new faith council convened, some of the most controversial questions, including religious hiring and abortion, were taken off the table.

“We’re wondering if religiously driven voices really have a voice at the table,” said David Gushee, an evangelical ethicist who has been in regular contact with Obama’s team since the presidential campaign. And whether “gatekeepers around the president are thinking he has more important constituencies to pay attention to.” (emphasis added)

via Religion News: Religious leaders worry that Obama’s faith council is for show.

{Note: What in heaven’s name is an “Evangelical ethicist“? Where do we see the office or gift of “evangelical ethics” in scripture? Where can we even find the word “ethics” in the word of God? What a mess this nominal “church” religiosity is! What an apostate mockery of our Lord and His Truth!}

Hmm… let’s see, Obama supports “gay rights” and abortions (“a woman’s right to choose”), so why would anyone, in particular, those who believe in and seek the Lord, trust him to follow up on, in earnest, so-called “faith based” programs? Obama is the leader of the Darwinian/atheist left (the democratic party); shouldn’t this tell us something about his political and so-called “religious” leanings?

I believe an even more pertinent, and important, question is this one: why are we, if we truly are believers and seekers of Christ’s soon-coming Kingdom of the Heavens, so concerned about temporal and meaningless government programs; which will always fail, since they are devoid of the Power and Truth of our Lord and Savior?

What are “faith-based” programs anyway? Are they Divinely-inspired programs led by the Spirit of God, or are they “religious”-man inspired, and administered, programs? My guess is the latter, since these are the less-than-Spiritually inspired works of the Bush administration.

We might want to, once again, remember this warning from our Lord:

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but HE WHO DOES THE WILL of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ (Matthew 7)

A related story here:

Religion News: Gay groups pressure Obama over prayer breakfast.

“A Robbers’ Den”

"Beware of the Leaven of the Pharisees" (Mark 8: 15)

Jesus whipped and chased the money lenders from His Father’s House proclaiming,

“It is written, ‘AND MY HOUSE SHALL BE A HOUSE OF PRAYER,’ but you have made it a ROBBERS’ DEN.” (Luke 19: 46)

Jesus also told the multitude on the mount,

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6)

“But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you” How much different is Jesus’ exhortation, here, from what we hear coming from the pulpits and televangelism programs of apostate Christendom; where the left hand not only knows what the right hand is doing but also brags about it to millions of people? This Scripturally-incorrect bragging is necessary, of course, for these “ministries” to survive: “Where will the funds come from to continue “our ministry” if we don’t advertise (coerce, manipulate)?”, is their cry.

Where will the funds come from? Well, let’s see what scripture has to say:

“For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? 28 “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 33)

You do not have because you do not ask (the Lord, not people). 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask with WRONG MOTIVES, so that you may spend it on your pleasures. 4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: “He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us”? 6 But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.” 7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you. (James 4)

These apostate peddlers of religiosity, the money-making schemers seen on “Christian” television channels, and from behind many pulpits, are always seeking more money for their “ministries”; they have television marathons to raise money almost every other week. And, unfortunately, there will always be the Spiritually deaf, and, thus, scripturally ignorant, folks who will continue to throw their money away by supporting these people. Many will send money when they can’t afford to buy food and medicine, or keep a roof over their heads. They believe, in error and false hope, the lie that their “seed money” (or whatever the ploy is) will cause the Lord to deliver them from all of their troubles.

"False Prophets" "Ravenous Wolves"

I wonder what the Christ would have to say to these “men of God” today? If Jesus didn’t spare His righteous anger from the money lenders in the Temple, how much more, then, would He severely chastise these scheming and hypocritical corporate-types?

“BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, BUT INWARDLY ARE RAVENOUS WOLVES. 16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits. (Matthew 7)

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. (2 Peter 2: 1)

If believers (if they are believers?) have to rely on worldly ways of manipulating people to support their “ministries” (church-growth schemes ["outreach"], television shows, advertising, and begging), then they are not acting from faith, and that is, according to the word of God, SIN:

…WHATEVER IS NOT FROM FAITH IS SIN (Romans 14:23)

It doesn’t matter how “good” the results of these so-called “ministries” appear to be, in a temporal, worldly sense! What truly matters is hearing (discerning) and obeying the leading of the Spirit from God; that is, if we have the Spirit? Jesus warns about “doing good things” that were not in line with His will and purpose:

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? 47 “Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. 49 “But the one who has heard and has not acted accordingly, is like a man who built a house on the ground without any foundation; and the torrent burst against it and immediately it collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great.” (Luke 6)

and

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’ (Matthew 7)

Jesus also warns about the use of the word GOOD:

As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. (Mark 10)

As true believers and seekers, we must come to understand that “ministry” (service) to others has to be directed by the Lord, according to His perfect will and purpose. The mere directing of “religious ministries” by one man or woman (priest, reverend, or pope, or even a “church board”) will not suffice, since the true Church is the Body of Christ. As scripture tells us, the parts (believers) of the Lord’s Body are all equal, but we serve different purposes; and thus we will all contribute to (by the leading of the One Spirit), and have equal part in, discerning the perfect will of our Lord, from the least of us to the greatest.

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is ONE BODY and ONE SPIRIT, just as also you were called in ONE HOPE of your calling; 5 ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, 6 ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4)

For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 4 For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, 5 SO WE, WHO ARE MANY, ARE ONE BODY IN CHRIST, AND INDIVIDUALLY MEMBERS ONE OF ANOTHER. 6 Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; 7 if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; 8 or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness (Romans 12)

"The wind blows where it wishes..." John 3: 8

Therefore, it is the leading of the Spirit, through the whole Body, that causes the Lord’s will to be performed (including ministering to others), and His purpose to be fulfilled in us. This cannot be accomplished through the Spiritually dead institution of Christendom, as its history, over the last eighteen hundred years, has shown!

Christendom, the nominal “church”, teaches that doing “good works” will put us in “good standing” with the Lord: “If you folks do “good works”, then the Lord will heal and bless you!” Nothing could be further from the scriptural truth:

“This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. 13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 14 “You are My friends if you do what I command you. 15 “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. 16 “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. 17 “This I command you, that you love one another. (John 15)

We were chosen by God, and given to His Son, to bear fruit (“good works”). We cannot “good work” our way into a loving and personal relationship with the Lord! In fact, we will drive the Spirit away from us, when we attempt to work our way to God: the Lord’s grace is a free gift, while sanctification (salvation of the soul) is our responsibility. We must seek it!

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2)

But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? (sanctification) (James 2)

If any “ministry” needs to beg for money every week (from the pulpit, or on television), could it be, then, that this “ministry” is not according to the Spirit’s leading, nor, therefore, the Lord’s perfect will?

According to the word of God, we must be chosen by the Lord, die to self (rest in the Lord), obey Him (follow His leading), and then He will, through His Spirit, work His purpose in, and His will through, us, so we may bear fruit that will remain (eternal). What the nominal “church” puts forth as the Lord’s truth (the doctrines of “religious” man) are, for the most part, manipulative fallacies that, if we allow them, will direct us away from the leading of the Spirit, and the Truth, Life, and will, of our Lord!

“I Have Become a Noisy Gong…”

I was reading a post on a site I frequent quite often, and the scripture the author had quoted, and his post, really convicted me. The post was entitled, ONE BODY.

{This is not the first time I have been convicted on this issue! In fact, my closest brother in Christ has said many things about the Lord’s Love, over the years, which have convicted me, but I have evidently put that conviction off until now.}

As I read, I began to realize that in my rush to share what is on my heart and mind, I, too often, am lacking in the Love and Grace of my Lord! And for someone such as me, who has been forgiven a great, great deal, I should be the first person among all people to show the Lord’s Love and Grace to others. So, before I proceed, let me first make amends to all of my brothers and sisters in Christ:

I am sorry if I have been insensitive, unloving, and lacking in the Grace of God! I ask for your forgiveness and patience. I would also ask you to pray, if you would, for the Lord to reveal Himself more fully to me. And that I become as nothing so that He may have His way with me; that I truly, beyond mental ascension, come to not only know that the Lord’s Life Lives in me, but that I also come to fully experience that indwelling Life. I cannot get this done of my own desire, design or volition. I do not have the power to change myself, only the Lord, in me, can change me!

Here is the scripture that convicted me so:

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3: 14-19)

This scripture is even more convicting today! I am beginning to realize, even more than before, that my knowledge of the Lord has been, for far too long, based on scriptural doctrine, for the most part: doctrine that applies to our lives here and now (politically, socially, etc), and in the future (prophecy). Where I have been lacking, sorely, is in the knowledge of the Lord (truly seeing Him), and the experience of His Love which surpasses knowledge, so that His love could flow through me to others. Thus I find, sadly, that, at this moment, I have become nothing more, in reality, than a noisy gong, an obnoxious clanging cymbal who is seeking to serve others, but devoid, to a great extent, of the real strength of the Lord’s Love:

If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. (1 Corinthians 13)

The Apostle Paul’s following description of the Lord’s Love is how I want to Love but am failing so badly:

Love is PATIENT, love is KIND and is NOT JEALOUS; love DOES NOT BRAG and IS NOT ARROGANT, 5 DOES NOT ACT UNBECOMINGLY; it DOES NOT SEEK ITS OWN, IS NOT PROVOKED, DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT A WRONG SUFFERED, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but REJOICES WITH THE TRUTH; 7 BEARS ALL THINGS, BELIEVES ALL THINGS, HOPES ALL THINGS, ENDURES ALL THINGS.

8 LOVE NEVER FAILS; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13 But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE. (1 Corinthians 13)

I could move a mountain before I could ever achieve this kind of Love by my own power! It is overwhelming to me as I read it. In fact, this verse from Romans 7 keeps popping into my head, over and over again:

Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Wretched man that I am, my only hope is the Lord!

From this day forward, I will continue to write, as I sense I have been led, but I will write with the prayer, and faith, that the Lord will instill in me His Love; and that His Love will, then, come through in my writing. I must contemplate and pray over these scriptures, because, without the Lord’s Love, I am nothing:

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world…

We love, because He first loved us. (1 John 4)

“We love, only because He first Loved us.” Father, help me to not only remember Your Truth, but to also be eternally altered by it, so that all things You would have me accomplish, according to Your will, would be done in Your Love! Amen

Those Who Love God Were “Foreknown & Predestined”: Part II

This is the follow up post to Those Who Love God Were “Foreknown & Predestined” (Please read the first post before you read this follow up).

Because, as scripture reveals, God draws only those to His Son who are foreknown and predestined, the nominal “church”, which claims to be the entity that will “save the world for Christ”, is confused about its so-called mission on earth. In fact, the nominal “church” has no Godly mission here anymore, except, of course, to fulfill its role as the harlot for Satan’s world system: it has no eternal role to play in the Working Out of God’s will, in and through the Christ, since it disqualified itself some eighteen hundred years ago (Constantine: Catholicism). Therefore, believers, as opposed to seeking their priests’, reverends’, or popes’ advice, must learn to seek the leading of the Spirit of God:

“These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. 26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. (John 14)

IF WE LIVE by the Spirit, LET US ALSO WALK by the Spirit. (Galatians 5: 25)

For as many as are led by the Spirit, these are sons of God (Romans 8: 14)

For eighteen hundred years, the nominal “church” (pagan Christendom) has been standing in the way of, or even, in many cases, denying, the workings of the Spirit of God in us. The fruits of this standing in the way, and denial, can be seen every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening: the Spiritually dead asleep in the pews, while the practicing of pagan ritualism, by modern-day hierophants (priests, ministers, bishops, popes), carries on around them…

{By the workings of the Spirit, I am not referring to the “hallelujah, Lord,” warm and fuzzy spiritual experience of many sects of “Christianity”. I am referring, here, to the true workings of the Spirit, as described in the word of God: preparing a Bride, spotless and without blemish, for the Son of God, so that He may return again in great power and glory!}

…These folks (priests, pastors, bishops, popes, etc) are always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth (discern the leading of the Spirit). They hold to a form of Godliness (hypocritical piety), yet they have denied its power (they deny the Spirit of God: they follow “religious” man’s leading, as opposed to the Spirit of God)! The Apostle Paul spoke these prophetic words, and he goes on to warn us, “avoid such men as these”.

"Avoid such men as these"

How much stronger a message do we need to receive? “AVOID SUCH MEN AS THESE” (men who profess belief in Christ, but are, in reality, apostates)! Avoid those who are always learning (man’s way of wisdom: intellect, “reason”) but never seem to comprehend the Lord’s Truth, nor experience His abundant life and power. Avoid those, like the pharisees, who have a semblance of piety (holding to a form of Godliness), but it’s merely a manipulative and hypocritical covering for their worldly flesh, since they never seek the leading of the Lord’s Spirit! For these deluded and hypocritical hierophants to teach that the Spirit will lead us into all of the Lord’s Truth, is to give up their careers, their easy lives, and their pompous, and scripturally incorrect, status in the world:

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, 2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees (hierophants) have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; 3 therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. 4 “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger. 5 “BUT THEY DO ALL THEIR DEEDS TO BE NOTICED BY MEN; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. 6 “They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men. 8 “But DO NOT be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 “DO NOT call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 “DO NOT be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. 11 “But the greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. (Matthew 23)

Today, the pharisees and scribes are alive and kicking, and they’re still infecting believers with their apostate doctrines and hypocrisy: they reside in the Vatican, on “church boards”, and behind the pulpits of the dead “church” buildings they claim to “serve” in!

I have rambled on a bit, here, but what I have rambled on about is pertinent to my final point, which is, if the Lord chooses whom He will justify and glorify, then how can we (believers), unless we’re in touch with our Spirit, know who those people are? That is, if we truly have the Spirit in us:

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you– unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Corinthians 13: 5)

The nominal “church” and its so called “outreach ministries” are worthless, since they simply amount to “religious” man (the “clergy”) trying to lead pew-sitting man (the laity: catechumen) in what “religious” man thinks God wants them to do, corporately (“fellowship”), in order to “save” the unregenerate (the, perhaps, “not chosen” atheist/agnostic, and pagan). As opposed to being led by the Spirit of God to those who are foreknown and predestined, “religious” man seeks to discern, and direct, through his limited “knowledge” of the word of God, the catechumen (pew-sitter) to the unregenerate they “must” proselytize (with the use of ungodly corporate methods, such as population demographics, etc). While all of this manipulation is going on, the unaware catechumen merely continues in his or her ritual of jumping through “religious” hoops (attending “bible studies”, tithing, etc), and attending “church” (or “mass”) at least two times a year: Christmas and Easter. This is most likely why God has delayed His Son’s return for so long: His work here, preparing a Bride for His Son, has yet to be completed, since His Son’s true Church, the true Body of Christ (not a disgusting pagan wafer: “the Eucharist”), is scattered throughout the earth.

Is this Spiritual deadness, and apostasy, what we, as true sons and daughters of God, should be taking part in? I encourage any who have read this post, and are troubled by what I’ve written, to spend time in prayer and seek the leading of the Spirit. See if what I’ve written here is in error, but don’t trust anyone but the Lord and your Spirit. If you sense that I’m in error, then tell me so, or turn away from what I sense I must write!

“Strong Religious Beliefs”: America’s Version of Faith In God

The following Pew Forum article is a view of America’s “religious” politics from the perspective of the Irish secular press.

February 5, 2010

Obama keeps faith as prayer breakfast criticised

by Lara Marlowe

The Irish Times

The U.S. president, first lady, vice-president, secretary of state and a host of elected officials yesterday ignored appeals from government watchdogs, secularists and civil and gay rights movements that they boycott the National Prayer Breakfast.

Seventy-two per cent of Americans believe it is important that their president have “strong religious beliefs”, according to a 2008 survey by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. Participating in the National Prayer Breakfast is an easy way to demonstrate those beliefs. It has been attended by every US president since 1953. Bono, Mother Teresa and Tony Blair have all been speakers.

But the breakfast came under a barrage of criticism this year because it is organised by a secretive evangelical group called the Family, or the Fellowship, which counts several Congressmen among its members and has tentacles overseas, notably in Africa.

David Bahati, the politician who drafted the so-called “gay death Bill” or “kill the gays Bill” that would make homosexuality punishable by death in some cases in Uganda, is believed to be a member of the Family. (emphasis added)

via Religion News: Obama keeps faith as prayer breakfast criticised.

Let me say first, I could care less what Ireland, or the rest of Great Britain, believes, or thinks, about “religious” political matters in America, since they are most likely as bad off, or worse (in the eyes of God), than the good old U.S. of A.! If they think America is bad off, Spiritually, then I would encourage them to take a good, long look inside themselves: “Physician, heal thyself!”

Now that I’ve said that, America still puts forth this false, and extremely hypocritical, picture of a “God fearing” nation, which not even England does anymore. So, because of this hypocritical stance, the U.S. of A. opens itself up to look like a complete fraud, which it is, when it comes to the issue of believing and seeking God and His Christ!

For example: “Seventy-two per cent of Americans believe it is important that their president have “strong religious beliefs” What?! Then why did the 72% allow Obama to be elected, since Barack is all over the place when it comes to what he believes, Spiritually: the president is a mere child, when it comes to the matters of the Lord and His Spirit, as are most of the 72%! And then there is this quote: “Participating in the National Prayer Breakfast is AN EASY WAY to demonstrate those beliefs.” So, then, all Barack has to do is eat breakfast at a “prayer” get-together, and he’s cool with the constituency? What a sad, and apostate, “religious” joke!

Here is another issue that puzzles me, if Americans are impressed with “strong religious beliefs”, then they should love the Taliban, Bin-Laden, and Al-qaeda, since all of these “religious” people, and their radical organizations, are willing to die for their beliefs; that’s a pretty good test of a “strong religious belief”, or at least it is to me!

Here is a Truth that I can hold tightly to; our Lord and Savior is not a “religion”! Our Lord and Savior is the Way to God, the Truth of God, and the Life of God!

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; NO ONE comes to the Father but through ME. (John 14: 6)

And those who know this Truth, His chosen sons and daughters, and seek Him first, the ones who do more than attend “church” and “tithe”, have no concerns with this country, its economic system, its government, and the so-called “strong religious beliefs” of its elected, and corrupted, officials.

So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” (John 8: )

“Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 “For THE GENTILES (the unregenerate and pagan) EAGERLY SEEK all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6)

If “religious” Americans were really concerned about “strong religious beliefs”, then they would be more concerned with their own, and why they can so readily be led around by a corrupted government caught up in the concerns of this evil world-system! This kind of Spiritual self examination, of course, will probably never occur to them, nor ever take place:

Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—UNLESS INDEED YOU FAIL THE TEST? (2 Corinthians 13: 5)