Several years ago the Lord put three words in my mind and heart. Those words are "Restoration, Revival and Awakening." Before we will see real change in the United States or other nations the Church must experience restoration. Our Lord Jesus fulfilled His purpose on earth and has left His disciples on earth to carry on His work. There are certain things that will not be accomplished until His return and He can return when He chooses, but until He does there is much more that His body can accomplish.
I thank God for every faithful disciple and faithful local church; I thank Him for all that has and is being accomplished by these faithful members of His body, but there are other things that will not be accomplished until a "faithful remnant Church" with Christ formed within unites in the unity of the faith...(Ephesians 4:13) The fullness of this verse may only be experienced at our Lord's return, but should serve as an ever present goal for disciples who have forsaken all to follow the Lord.
This ministry will share about Jesus and His Word. It is only as we return to our first love and become sanctified by God's truth that we can really move forward on the course that Jesus Christ has set forth for the Church He is building. Many people keep preaching and praying for change in the United States. I challenge myself and you with the following statements: Restore the Church and save our nation; Restore the Church and save the nations.
Jesus is Savior and Lord, but as I said above, He has left us here to carry on His work. We are to be salt and light. We are to be salt and light to our nation and the nations. Judgment begins at the Church. Let's humble ourselves, repent, forsake all and follow Christ. When we do that, Christ will be formed within us and will be lifted up. That is the way to bring change to the United States and other nations. We must have a renewing of our minds. We have been praying for a return to the rightly dividing of the constitution of the United States. It will not happen until we return to the rightly dividing of the Word of God.
Let's yield all to the Lord. Let's become one with Him and with each other and take the gospel of the kingdom of God to the ends of the earth (Matthew 24:14). God bless you!
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Break Out! O Church of God. Break Out!
Studying the entire Bible will require changes in our lives. It will help us get focused on godly priorities and cause some things to be set aside and others rearranged. Part of judgment beginning with true disciples is getting our house in order. Having our house in order will give us more confidence about hearing "well done" and receiving rewards at the judgment seat of Christ. It will cause us to be better witnesses to the Church, the lost, and principalities and powers (Ephesians 3:10).
Husbands and Dads, are you really a spiritual leader in your family? Is Christ formed in you? Are you setting the example in prayer, fasting and study of the Word of God? Are you teaching the Word of God to your family? (Please study and apply Hebrews 5:12-6:2). Have you found a Church for you and your family that is really patterned after the Church revealed in the Bible, or are you bound by tradition? Are you taking your family to a local church that, in actuality, teaches against certain truths of the word? Are you storing up treasures on earth or in heaven? Are you wearing yourself out with earthly things or walking in the Spirit, fulfilling God's will on earth? Take your place and help the Church break out from man's traditions. Break Out, O Church of God, Break Out!
Wives and Mothers, are you in a Church that is true to God and His Word? Are you in a Church that does not mix truth with error and/or man's leaven? Do you know the difference? Are you too busy to care and so worn out you just want a nice place to make you comfortable a few times a week? Are you bound to tradition? Are you attending a local church that, in actuality, does not fully honor Jesus and His Word? Is one reason you go there because your husband or children will attend and be involved? Are you bowing your knees in travail to God for a Church in unity on this earth (Ephesians 3:14-); a Church in the image of Christ and with Christ formed within (Galatians 4:19)? No one should understand travail more than you! Will you do what you know (James 1:22)? Break Out, O Church of God, Break Out!
I heard in my spirit that, as the world doesn't like what some in the Church are saying, some in the Church won't like what I'm saying. Let me know if I fulfilled that word!
Husbands and Dads, are you really a spiritual leader in your family? Is Christ formed in you? Are you setting the example in prayer, fasting and study of the Word of God? Are you teaching the Word of God to your family? (Please study and apply Hebrews 5:12-6:2). Have you found a Church for you and your family that is really patterned after the Church revealed in the Bible, or are you bound by tradition? Are you taking your family to a local church that, in actuality, teaches against certain truths of the word? Are you storing up treasures on earth or in heaven? Are you wearing yourself out with earthly things or walking in the Spirit, fulfilling God's will on earth? Take your place and help the Church break out from man's traditions. Break Out, O Church of God, Break Out!
Wives and Mothers, are you in a Church that is true to God and His Word? Are you in a Church that does not mix truth with error and/or man's leaven? Do you know the difference? Are you too busy to care and so worn out you just want a nice place to make you comfortable a few times a week? Are you bound to tradition? Are you attending a local church that, in actuality, does not fully honor Jesus and His Word? Is one reason you go there because your husband or children will attend and be involved? Are you bowing your knees in travail to God for a Church in unity on this earth (Ephesians 3:14-); a Church in the image of Christ and with Christ formed within (Galatians 4:19)? No one should understand travail more than you! Will you do what you know (James 1:22)? Break Out, O Church of God, Break Out!
I heard in my spirit that, as the world doesn't like what some in the Church are saying, some in the Church won't like what I'm saying. Let me know if I fulfilled that word!
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Looking For The Real, Part 2
I'm getting the picture, but what now?
In both the Church world and the non-church world, there will be people who will not accept that what we are saying is applicable to today. For many years, there have been ministers in the Church who say, “Yes, it is in the word, but it is not for now; it just can’t take place in this dispensation.” Many others will never even address these words or Scriptures. But in truth, these are things that need to be taught to people even as they are making a decision to follow Jesus Christ. We do need to teach them John 3:16 and tell them that if they were the only person alive, Jesus would have died for them, but we can’t stop there. We also need to teach them that if they are going to receive the life of Jesus within themselves, it involves denying self, taking up their cross daily and following Him. It involves forsaking all. It involves seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. It involves what we are reading in these Scriptures.
Maybe you have been born again for many years and are recognizing that you would have benefited from a better understanding of these biblical truths and mandates had you known them from the beginning. Don’t fret over it, but learn these things now so that from this point on, you can fulfill all that God has intended for you. As a natural example of what I’m saying, some of you may look back at experiences of the past, such as your sports activities, and realize that with a little more information or training, you could have done much greater things. The lesson is that we can’t go back, but we can take what we are learning here and, for the glory of Christ, go forward. Then, as we go and make disciples, which we are commanded by the Lord to do, let’s train them well from the very beginning.
We are applying these Scriptures to now, to the present, and not just to the future because these Scriptures reveal much of what God is looking for in His disciples. When ministers teach that these things are only for the time after the Lord’s return when His kingdom is fully established, it often creates a people who may have occasional times of living holy (holy in conduct), but their norm is a lifestyle of battling with the flesh and demonic attacks, and giving in to temptations. The norm should be a life of living holy with only occasional trip ups. Let’s remember that the precious blood of Jesus has already been shed. Let’s allow the Spirit of Christ to make real for us now what Jesus purchased and gained for us through His life, through His cross, His resurrection, and His ascension. The total fulfillment may not be until after our Lord returns, but there is so much more that can be worked in us now if we will totally yield to the Spirit of Christ. For those who think that some of these things cannot be accomplished until our Lord returns, a thorough study of 1 Peter 1:13-19 would be eye-opening. Verse 17 specifically refers to how we are to conduct ourselves throughout the time of our stay here on earth.
We love the chorus that says, “Fill my cup, Lord,” but we must understand that what we are singing about will not be a reality until we are empty of all things that oppose God, especially and specifically, self. We must yield ourselves to the lordship of Jesus Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to fulfill Luke 9:23 and Luke 14:27 and 33 within us.
Luke 9:23 AMP: “And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].”
Luke 14:27 AMP: “Whoever does not persevere and carry his own cross and come after (follow) Me cannot be My disciple.”
Luke 14:33 AMP: “So then, any of you who does not forsake (renounce, surrender claim to, give up, say good-bye to) all that he has cannot be My disciple.”
We absolutely must forsake all. We must go into the harvest field as true laborers, taking the message of Jesus Christ and the gospel of the kingdom to people who are lost and dying. Up front, we must already be teaching them that Jesus gave His life for them, and they cannot save themselves by any works. We must teach them that there is a judgment day coming, and they need Jesus as Savior for their salvation. And we must teach them that they need to take up their cross and follow Him in order to fulfill the work assigned by the Lord Jesus and for their own Christian growth. As they receive Jesus, they receive Him with the understanding that they are going to forsake the world and the things of this world. They are not going to be double minded, partly seeking the kingdom of God and partly the kingdoms of the world. They will be serving God and God only! Then we can go forward with them, and they will very quickly grow to maturity. The young in age can be mature in the Spirit. They can do great and mighty things in the Spirit.
A call for real disciples to come together!
By the Spirit, I call you to come to Christ and to be one with Him and with each other. I call real disciples to come together. Some I can only call prophetically through prayer, and I may never see them until we are in heaven. But those I do see, I am personally calling to come together. This message, this article, is a prophetic call to come together.
When we as Christians start to respond and come together—some in the spirit and some actually physically—all will be under the direction of the Holy Spirit. There will be no competition, no jockeying for position, and no thought of what’s fair and what’s not fair, such as, “Well, next time, let’s meet over at my place.” We will just be glad to meet in one accord with our like-minded brothers and sisters whenever and wherever the Holy Spirit wants us to meet. All who respond will be totally submitted and yielded to the Holy Spirit as He organizes, directs, and accomplishes His goals. This will require humility, total denial of self, and pureness of heart. In essence, it requires the lordship and character of Christ. Remember that among those where Jesus is truly Lord, no one is offended. May each of us yield all to the Lord Jesus Christ; may we forsake all and follow Him. May we all be real! May we all be one with the Lord and in one mind and one accord with each other.
May real disciples unite in Spirit all over this earth with the goal of glorifying Christ, serving others, and making Ephesians 4:12-16 a reality.
Ephesians 4:12-16 NKJV: “… for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
There is work to be done now. The body of Christ needs to be built up now. Some say this won’t take place until … It surely won’t take place until there is surrender, until we totally yield to the Holy Spirit. It won’t take place until we deny self and get rid of those traditions of men and manmade doctrines that have so hindered and divided us and believe that it can happen now. For those who have ears to hear and hearts to respond, these things can be accomplished in the here and now. They can be done now!
Let’s become humble like Moses (Numbers 12:3). Let’s now no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine … (Ephesians 4:14). Let’s speak the truth in love. People are flocking by the thousands to meetings in and out of churches to be personally built up, to build up their self-esteem. These Scriptures and the words we have studied show how to be really built up by being built up in the Spirit. This is the way to build up the body of Christ. This is building people up in an everlasting way. This is 1 Corinthians 13, true agape love.
I plead with you, I urge you to pray that Christ would be formed within each of us, that Christ would be formed within each person who calls himself a Christian (Galatians 4:19). Pray that we would be true disciples. Pray that we would truly fulfill these Scriptures that we have studied, that we would offer our bodies as living sacrifices, that we would be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we would do the perfect will of God. Pray that we would be complete, we would be finishers, and we would be moral people. Pray that we would be holy as God is holy in all of our conduct. Pray that the true Church would hear, repent, and come together in unity and in one accord. Selah.
Heavenly Father, let your Holy Spirit do a work within us. Begin with me, O God. God, I can’t call people together, not in my own self, but I can be a voice of your Holy Spirit. I believe you are calling for people all over this earth to unite in the Spirit of the Lord, in the knowledge of the Lord, in the unity of the faith. I believe there are people whom I know that need to come together, and I ask You, Holy Spirit, to call them. Send Your ministering spirits out to draw them together. Let us be what You would have us to be. Let us pray, let us fast. Let us proclaim Your word. Let us deny self and take up our cross daily and follow You. Let us be yoked with Christ in the Spirit, one with Him and one with each other. Make it a reality now, O God! Burn this in our hearts and minds. Give us no rest, Lord, until it is accomplished. May we pray and cry out. Do not let us be distracted by the cares of life. Lord, we have to go to our jobs; we have to do other things. God, let this be burning within us even while we are doing those things. We can read a book and feel the fire from the fireplace at the same time. In the same way, Lord, we can have our mind on other things and feel the fire of Your Spirit burning within us. Let it be!
The following came through inspirational gifts of the Spirit toward the end of the above prayer during our Sunday service.
The Spirit of the Lord is looking for the real. By His Spirit and by His word, He is calling. Will you hear the call? Will you respond? Will you be one that denies self and takes up the cross? Will you be one that forsakes all? Will you be one that allows the Holy Spirit to strip away all that needs to be removed that you may have a life and live a life that gives glory to God and loves and helps others? May you be found faithful!
We bless You and thank You, Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen.
In both the Church world and the non-church world, there will be people who will not accept that what we are saying is applicable to today. For many years, there have been ministers in the Church who say, “Yes, it is in the word, but it is not for now; it just can’t take place in this dispensation.” Many others will never even address these words or Scriptures. But in truth, these are things that need to be taught to people even as they are making a decision to follow Jesus Christ. We do need to teach them John 3:16 and tell them that if they were the only person alive, Jesus would have died for them, but we can’t stop there. We also need to teach them that if they are going to receive the life of Jesus within themselves, it involves denying self, taking up their cross daily and following Him. It involves forsaking all. It involves seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. It involves what we are reading in these Scriptures.
Maybe you have been born again for many years and are recognizing that you would have benefited from a better understanding of these biblical truths and mandates had you known them from the beginning. Don’t fret over it, but learn these things now so that from this point on, you can fulfill all that God has intended for you. As a natural example of what I’m saying, some of you may look back at experiences of the past, such as your sports activities, and realize that with a little more information or training, you could have done much greater things. The lesson is that we can’t go back, but we can take what we are learning here and, for the glory of Christ, go forward. Then, as we go and make disciples, which we are commanded by the Lord to do, let’s train them well from the very beginning.
We are applying these Scriptures to now, to the present, and not just to the future because these Scriptures reveal much of what God is looking for in His disciples. When ministers teach that these things are only for the time after the Lord’s return when His kingdom is fully established, it often creates a people who may have occasional times of living holy (holy in conduct), but their norm is a lifestyle of battling with the flesh and demonic attacks, and giving in to temptations. The norm should be a life of living holy with only occasional trip ups. Let’s remember that the precious blood of Jesus has already been shed. Let’s allow the Spirit of Christ to make real for us now what Jesus purchased and gained for us through His life, through His cross, His resurrection, and His ascension. The total fulfillment may not be until after our Lord returns, but there is so much more that can be worked in us now if we will totally yield to the Spirit of Christ. For those who think that some of these things cannot be accomplished until our Lord returns, a thorough study of 1 Peter 1:13-19 would be eye-opening. Verse 17 specifically refers to how we are to conduct ourselves throughout the time of our stay here on earth.
We love the chorus that says, “Fill my cup, Lord,” but we must understand that what we are singing about will not be a reality until we are empty of all things that oppose God, especially and specifically, self. We must yield ourselves to the lordship of Jesus Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to fulfill Luke 9:23 and Luke 14:27 and 33 within us.
Luke 9:23 AMP: “And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].”
Luke 14:27 AMP: “Whoever does not persevere and carry his own cross and come after (follow) Me cannot be My disciple.”
Luke 14:33 AMP: “So then, any of you who does not forsake (renounce, surrender claim to, give up, say good-bye to) all that he has cannot be My disciple.”
We absolutely must forsake all. We must go into the harvest field as true laborers, taking the message of Jesus Christ and the gospel of the kingdom to people who are lost and dying. Up front, we must already be teaching them that Jesus gave His life for them, and they cannot save themselves by any works. We must teach them that there is a judgment day coming, and they need Jesus as Savior for their salvation. And we must teach them that they need to take up their cross and follow Him in order to fulfill the work assigned by the Lord Jesus and for their own Christian growth. As they receive Jesus, they receive Him with the understanding that they are going to forsake the world and the things of this world. They are not going to be double minded, partly seeking the kingdom of God and partly the kingdoms of the world. They will be serving God and God only! Then we can go forward with them, and they will very quickly grow to maturity. The young in age can be mature in the Spirit. They can do great and mighty things in the Spirit.
A call for real disciples to come together!
By the Spirit, I call you to come to Christ and to be one with Him and with each other. I call real disciples to come together. Some I can only call prophetically through prayer, and I may never see them until we are in heaven. But those I do see, I am personally calling to come together. This message, this article, is a prophetic call to come together.
When we as Christians start to respond and come together—some in the spirit and some actually physically—all will be under the direction of the Holy Spirit. There will be no competition, no jockeying for position, and no thought of what’s fair and what’s not fair, such as, “Well, next time, let’s meet over at my place.” We will just be glad to meet in one accord with our like-minded brothers and sisters whenever and wherever the Holy Spirit wants us to meet. All who respond will be totally submitted and yielded to the Holy Spirit as He organizes, directs, and accomplishes His goals. This will require humility, total denial of self, and pureness of heart. In essence, it requires the lordship and character of Christ. Remember that among those where Jesus is truly Lord, no one is offended. May each of us yield all to the Lord Jesus Christ; may we forsake all and follow Him. May we all be real! May we all be one with the Lord and in one mind and one accord with each other.
May real disciples unite in Spirit all over this earth with the goal of glorifying Christ, serving others, and making Ephesians 4:12-16 a reality.
Ephesians 4:12-16 NKJV: “… for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
There is work to be done now. The body of Christ needs to be built up now. Some say this won’t take place until … It surely won’t take place until there is surrender, until we totally yield to the Holy Spirit. It won’t take place until we deny self and get rid of those traditions of men and manmade doctrines that have so hindered and divided us and believe that it can happen now. For those who have ears to hear and hearts to respond, these things can be accomplished in the here and now. They can be done now!
Let’s become humble like Moses (Numbers 12:3). Let’s now no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine … (Ephesians 4:14). Let’s speak the truth in love. People are flocking by the thousands to meetings in and out of churches to be personally built up, to build up their self-esteem. These Scriptures and the words we have studied show how to be really built up by being built up in the Spirit. This is the way to build up the body of Christ. This is building people up in an everlasting way. This is 1 Corinthians 13, true agape love.
I plead with you, I urge you to pray that Christ would be formed within each of us, that Christ would be formed within each person who calls himself a Christian (Galatians 4:19). Pray that we would be true disciples. Pray that we would truly fulfill these Scriptures that we have studied, that we would offer our bodies as living sacrifices, that we would be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we would do the perfect will of God. Pray that we would be complete, we would be finishers, and we would be moral people. Pray that we would be holy as God is holy in all of our conduct. Pray that the true Church would hear, repent, and come together in unity and in one accord. Selah.
Heavenly Father, let your Holy Spirit do a work within us. Begin with me, O God. God, I can’t call people together, not in my own self, but I can be a voice of your Holy Spirit. I believe you are calling for people all over this earth to unite in the Spirit of the Lord, in the knowledge of the Lord, in the unity of the faith. I believe there are people whom I know that need to come together, and I ask You, Holy Spirit, to call them. Send Your ministering spirits out to draw them together. Let us be what You would have us to be. Let us pray, let us fast. Let us proclaim Your word. Let us deny self and take up our cross daily and follow You. Let us be yoked with Christ in the Spirit, one with Him and one with each other. Make it a reality now, O God! Burn this in our hearts and minds. Give us no rest, Lord, until it is accomplished. May we pray and cry out. Do not let us be distracted by the cares of life. Lord, we have to go to our jobs; we have to do other things. God, let this be burning within us even while we are doing those things. We can read a book and feel the fire from the fireplace at the same time. In the same way, Lord, we can have our mind on other things and feel the fire of Your Spirit burning within us. Let it be!
The following came through inspirational gifts of the Spirit toward the end of the above prayer during our Sunday service.
The Spirit of the Lord is looking for the real. By His Spirit and by His word, He is calling. Will you hear the call? Will you respond? Will you be one that denies self and takes up the cross? Will you be one that forsakes all? Will you be one that allows the Holy Spirit to strip away all that needs to be removed that you may have a life and live a life that gives glory to God and loves and helps others? May you be found faithful!
We bless You and thank You, Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Looking For The Real, Part 1
The Lord Jesus Christ is looking for real, true disciples. His eyes are looking throughout the earth for those who will truly be loyal to Him (2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV). He is looking for people whose hearts are committed to Him, His kingdom, and His word. The Amplified Bible says the Lord is looking for those whose hearts are blameless toward Him. He is looking for real disciples.
For much of my life I have been looking for the real. I believe this is something the Lord Jesus has worked within me. It was expressed in an experience that happened in 1993 while my wife Susan and I were driving to the home of friends. As we waited for a stoplight to allow us to proceed, I pointed up toward heaven and with brokenness said, “God is real!” Then moving my hand horizontally, “There have to be real pastors!” I later added that there also have to be real Christians. These were cries that came from deep within my spirit.
My search has become more defined in the last few years. I could even say it is becoming more defined daily. The more defined it has become, the more I realize that I must be real; I must be true to Jesus Christ, His kingdom, and His word.
Following are some of the comments I wrote to a friend a few days ago which give voice to what has been growing inside my spirit (with minor editorial changes to give clarity to the reader).
“I think for most of my life I have been looking for the real, the true. I have learned in my search that I must first make sure that I have yielded all to Jesus Christ so that He can make me real. Having said that, I will add that in the midst of all that is going on within the Church, as well as outside of it, I believe the Lord is calling His real (true) disciples to come together. [Note: When I first wrote the previous line, I wrote ‘the Lord is bringing together’ but changed it to ‘the Lord is calling’ because those called must still respond.] I reiterate: I believe the Lord is calling his real disciples to come together.
“Before we moved several years ago, I was sitting in our living room one day and heard in my spirit, ‘You are not moving from something, but are going to something.’ I did not realize the full meaning of that statement at the time. Looking back, one thing I went to was a ‘stripping.’ When I speak of this, I am careful not to say I have been totally stripped because I know God is listening (in a drama script, you could add a cautious laugh at this point). I made note this morning that God strips away things to bring us to the place where self is stripped away. Self does not go away willingly or easily. It will even dress itself in the clothes of humility just to stay around. I desire to walk in the Spirit continuously. To do this I have learned that I must have faith in all that took place on the cross. I must believe and live like Jesus died for me, but I must also believe and live like I was crucified with Him. That can only happen when self has been stripped away.
“I recently wrote to you that I am a nothing. However, if we yield to God, He can do great and mighty things through us. We need 2 Chronicles 7:14 to be a reality in the body of Christ, but we also need to be found loyal, as we read about in 2 Chronicles 16:9.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV: ‘… if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.’
2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV: ‘For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.’
“When I was a child, I memorized Matthew 6:33, ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ Although I have known about the kingdom since I was a child, God has shown me recently that there is a greater depth to be found in the meaning of the words seek first the kingdom of God, seek first His righteousness. I want to be completely surrendered and yielded to God. I want to be at the place where it is God and God only. I want to be so hidden in Christ that all that can be seen is Him. May we all be able to join with our brother Paul in saying, ‘It is not I who live but Christ who lives within me …’ (Galatians 2:20). May God have many to answer His call of coming together to follow Jesus Christ.”
Now, looking back over the letter above, I will add that the cost of attaining that place in God is full surrender to Him in every area of life. The cost is total self-denial, the cost is total consecration to God, the cost is taking up our cross daily and following Jesus Christ. I choose to pay the price! Who will join with me? Will our Lord Jesus find you among the real, the faithful, as He searches the earth?
What does it mean to be a “real” disciple of Jesus Christ?
What is the definition of the word “real”? It is that which is actual, true, genuine, or authentic, not pretentious, fictitious, imagined, or “relative.” One dictionary defines “real” as being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something. God is actual, true, genuine, and authentic; He is real! I am looking for real pastors and real Christians (true set apart followers of Jesus) who truly reflect the character of Christ Jesus. We need real pastors to come forth to equip the body of Christ for the work of the ministry. We need real Christians (true disciples) who will come forth to edify one another and who will go forth ministering the truth of Jesus Christ and of the kingdom of God. We need people to go and make disciples unto Jesus Christ and not unto Paul, Apollos, Cephas, Martin Luther, John Wesley, or anyone else, including those who have started a church or denomination. We are disciples of Jesus Christ!
First Corinthians 3:1-4 NKJV: “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not carnal?” (See also 1 Corinthians 1:10-17.)
Let’s get honest! Let’s get real! We stumble over 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 constantly in the modern church. We stand back with our superior attitudes and talk of how false religions are growing, how the world is waxing worse and worse, how the rapture must take place soon, and all the while are blind to the fact that we are a major part of the problem. We have divided the body of Christ into so many parts that it is not a body “fitly joined” (Ephesians 4:16). It no longer even looks like a body. How can the world be drawn to Jesus when His body is so divided? As some politicians are more against our President than they are for our country, some Christians are more for their manmade doctrines and traditions than they are for Jesus Christ, His kingdom, His truth and His body. Oh, for conviction, humility and repentance! Oh, for love!
Where do we begin in becoming a “real” disciple of Jesus Christ?
There are many doctrines, traditions of men, and misunderstandings of Scriptures in the world and also in the Church that hinder and even stop some people from becoming real, mature followers of Jesus Christ. We must begin to address these issues as to their truth. In addressing them, we must be ready to lay aside any weight, any belief that has hindered us and the body of Christ from becoming real and mature in Christ. All doctrines and traditions of men are based on words or someone’s interpretation of words. We must make sure the beliefs of the Church are based upon the true words of Jesus Christ because His words are the only ones that give us a solid foundation on which to build our lives. His words will enable us to withstand the storms of life (Matthew 7:24-27). His words will not change.
We are going to look at some words that are vital to our becoming real, words that have too often been misunderstood, ignored, or watered down within the Church. In order for us to become real, we must begin to fearlessly examine the belief systems with which we have aligned ourselves, even if that involves re-examining some of our favorite church or denominational doctrines and beliefs.
As we look at these words, let me assure you up front that I do understand that certain things are not going to be completely fulfilled until Jesus Christ returns. I also understand that it will be done by the work of the Holy Spirit and not by our works. Our job is to fully cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit. This requires knowing the Lord Jesus and His word intimately, which helps to safeguard us from any misuse of God’s word. Therefore, I encourage you to judge all that you hear, read, or see by the Living Word and His written word. As we said above, this will go a long way in giving us a solid foundation upon which to build our Christian life. It will also help train our spiritual senses to discern truth from error. Building one’s house upon Jesus and His word not only gives spiritual strength, but protection from storm winds and deceiving spirits.
Now may we look together at some of these words as they are used in Scripture and see what the Lord has to say about them. I ask you to let your mind and heart be as a slate upon which the Lord can write the pureness and intent of His word. Let us remember that showing ourselves approved as workmen requires us to take the time to pray over and diligently study all of God’s word. Now may we apply this principle to these words and the accompanying Scriptures.
The words we will look at here are “perfect,” “sanctification,” “consecration,” and “holiness.” These are words that we hear often in the Church, but there may be many believers who do not have full understanding of what they mean to the kingdom of God and to the believer. As we examine them, led by the Holy Spirit, we will gain a better understanding of God’s purposes and expectations for us, His children, and the importance of our obedience.
First, let’s look at the word “perfect” and its true biblical meaning. In Matthew 5:48, the word “perfect” means to prove the perfect will of God; complete in labor, growth, mental and moral character; full age. In John 17:23, the word “perfect” means complete finish, fulfill. Jesus is praying that we may be complete in unity. In Romans 12:1-2, the word means the same as in Matthew 5:48. In Hebrews 6:1, it means a completer, a finisher. Matthew 5:48 in the Amplified Bible defines “perfect” as growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity.
Many people make the excuse that they cannot be perfect in this life, which can lead them to a “perfect excuse” for willful sin. I say that tongue-in-cheek but to emphasize that we absolutely must become aware of these little foxes that spoil the vine if believers are to ever grow up into mature disciples of Jesus Christ. Gaining knowledge of the biblical meaning of this word “perfect” casts a whole new light on the word, revealing that seeking after or even striving for perfection is a legitimate goal for those who desire to be mature in Christ. It also removes our excuses for willful sin and provokes us to resist our sin nature. I have not forgotten that certain things are not going to be completed or fulfilled until Jesus returns, but I am attempting to show that with the help of the Holy Spirit and the rightly dividing of the word, there is much that can be accomplished by faithful disciples prior to our Lord’s return.
Second, let’s study what Scripture says to us about “consecration,” being cleansed, being holy. In 2 Corinthians 6:17 through 7:1, we read that we are to come out and be separate, and as sons and daughters, we are to cleanse ourselves and perfect holiness in the fear of God. In Ephesians 5:26-27, we are to become a glorious church. In 1 Peter 1:13-14, we are to be holy as God is holy in all our conduct.
Third, “sanctification” is being set apart, a separation to God to live a life of service and holiness. Sanctification must be pursued and sought after by the individual. For that person, it is a possession of holy character, built up little by little as the result of submission to the Holy Spirit, obedience to the word of God, and of following Christ’s example. While “consecration” is dedication to sacred service, “sanctification” is to be set apart to sacred service. A synonym of sanctification is “holiness.” As consecration and sanctification are to be pursued individually, so holiness is likewise to be pursued by the individual who, by choice, is set apart to God.
For much of my life I have been looking for the real. I believe this is something the Lord Jesus has worked within me. It was expressed in an experience that happened in 1993 while my wife Susan and I were driving to the home of friends. As we waited for a stoplight to allow us to proceed, I pointed up toward heaven and with brokenness said, “God is real!” Then moving my hand horizontally, “There have to be real pastors!” I later added that there also have to be real Christians. These were cries that came from deep within my spirit.
My search has become more defined in the last few years. I could even say it is becoming more defined daily. The more defined it has become, the more I realize that I must be real; I must be true to Jesus Christ, His kingdom, and His word.
Following are some of the comments I wrote to a friend a few days ago which give voice to what has been growing inside my spirit (with minor editorial changes to give clarity to the reader).
“I think for most of my life I have been looking for the real, the true. I have learned in my search that I must first make sure that I have yielded all to Jesus Christ so that He can make me real. Having said that, I will add that in the midst of all that is going on within the Church, as well as outside of it, I believe the Lord is calling His real (true) disciples to come together. [Note: When I first wrote the previous line, I wrote ‘the Lord is bringing together’ but changed it to ‘the Lord is calling’ because those called must still respond.] I reiterate: I believe the Lord is calling his real disciples to come together.
“Before we moved several years ago, I was sitting in our living room one day and heard in my spirit, ‘You are not moving from something, but are going to something.’ I did not realize the full meaning of that statement at the time. Looking back, one thing I went to was a ‘stripping.’ When I speak of this, I am careful not to say I have been totally stripped because I know God is listening (in a drama script, you could add a cautious laugh at this point). I made note this morning that God strips away things to bring us to the place where self is stripped away. Self does not go away willingly or easily. It will even dress itself in the clothes of humility just to stay around. I desire to walk in the Spirit continuously. To do this I have learned that I must have faith in all that took place on the cross. I must believe and live like Jesus died for me, but I must also believe and live like I was crucified with Him. That can only happen when self has been stripped away.
“I recently wrote to you that I am a nothing. However, if we yield to God, He can do great and mighty things through us. We need 2 Chronicles 7:14 to be a reality in the body of Christ, but we also need to be found loyal, as we read about in 2 Chronicles 16:9.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV: ‘… if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.’
2 Chronicles 16:9 NKJV: ‘For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him.’
“When I was a child, I memorized Matthew 6:33, ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’ Although I have known about the kingdom since I was a child, God has shown me recently that there is a greater depth to be found in the meaning of the words seek first the kingdom of God, seek first His righteousness. I want to be completely surrendered and yielded to God. I want to be at the place where it is God and God only. I want to be so hidden in Christ that all that can be seen is Him. May we all be able to join with our brother Paul in saying, ‘It is not I who live but Christ who lives within me …’ (Galatians 2:20). May God have many to answer His call of coming together to follow Jesus Christ.”
Now, looking back over the letter above, I will add that the cost of attaining that place in God is full surrender to Him in every area of life. The cost is total self-denial, the cost is total consecration to God, the cost is taking up our cross daily and following Jesus Christ. I choose to pay the price! Who will join with me? Will our Lord Jesus find you among the real, the faithful, as He searches the earth?
What does it mean to be a “real” disciple of Jesus Christ?
What is the definition of the word “real”? It is that which is actual, true, genuine, or authentic, not pretentious, fictitious, imagined, or “relative.” One dictionary defines “real” as being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something. God is actual, true, genuine, and authentic; He is real! I am looking for real pastors and real Christians (true set apart followers of Jesus) who truly reflect the character of Christ Jesus. We need real pastors to come forth to equip the body of Christ for the work of the ministry. We need real Christians (true disciples) who will come forth to edify one another and who will go forth ministering the truth of Jesus Christ and of the kingdom of God. We need people to go and make disciples unto Jesus Christ and not unto Paul, Apollos, Cephas, Martin Luther, John Wesley, or anyone else, including those who have started a church or denomination. We are disciples of Jesus Christ!
First Corinthians 3:1-4 NKJV: “And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, ‘I am of Paul,’ and another, ‘I am of Apollos,’ are you not carnal?” (See also 1 Corinthians 1:10-17.)
Let’s get honest! Let’s get real! We stumble over 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 constantly in the modern church. We stand back with our superior attitudes and talk of how false religions are growing, how the world is waxing worse and worse, how the rapture must take place soon, and all the while are blind to the fact that we are a major part of the problem. We have divided the body of Christ into so many parts that it is not a body “fitly joined” (Ephesians 4:16). It no longer even looks like a body. How can the world be drawn to Jesus when His body is so divided? As some politicians are more against our President than they are for our country, some Christians are more for their manmade doctrines and traditions than they are for Jesus Christ, His kingdom, His truth and His body. Oh, for conviction, humility and repentance! Oh, for love!
Where do we begin in becoming a “real” disciple of Jesus Christ?
There are many doctrines, traditions of men, and misunderstandings of Scriptures in the world and also in the Church that hinder and even stop some people from becoming real, mature followers of Jesus Christ. We must begin to address these issues as to their truth. In addressing them, we must be ready to lay aside any weight, any belief that has hindered us and the body of Christ from becoming real and mature in Christ. All doctrines and traditions of men are based on words or someone’s interpretation of words. We must make sure the beliefs of the Church are based upon the true words of Jesus Christ because His words are the only ones that give us a solid foundation on which to build our lives. His words will enable us to withstand the storms of life (Matthew 7:24-27). His words will not change.
We are going to look at some words that are vital to our becoming real, words that have too often been misunderstood, ignored, or watered down within the Church. In order for us to become real, we must begin to fearlessly examine the belief systems with which we have aligned ourselves, even if that involves re-examining some of our favorite church or denominational doctrines and beliefs.
As we look at these words, let me assure you up front that I do understand that certain things are not going to be completely fulfilled until Jesus Christ returns. I also understand that it will be done by the work of the Holy Spirit and not by our works. Our job is to fully cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit. This requires knowing the Lord Jesus and His word intimately, which helps to safeguard us from any misuse of God’s word. Therefore, I encourage you to judge all that you hear, read, or see by the Living Word and His written word. As we said above, this will go a long way in giving us a solid foundation upon which to build our Christian life. It will also help train our spiritual senses to discern truth from error. Building one’s house upon Jesus and His word not only gives spiritual strength, but protection from storm winds and deceiving spirits.
Now may we look together at some of these words as they are used in Scripture and see what the Lord has to say about them. I ask you to let your mind and heart be as a slate upon which the Lord can write the pureness and intent of His word. Let us remember that showing ourselves approved as workmen requires us to take the time to pray over and diligently study all of God’s word. Now may we apply this principle to these words and the accompanying Scriptures.
The words we will look at here are “perfect,” “sanctification,” “consecration,” and “holiness.” These are words that we hear often in the Church, but there may be many believers who do not have full understanding of what they mean to the kingdom of God and to the believer. As we examine them, led by the Holy Spirit, we will gain a better understanding of God’s purposes and expectations for us, His children, and the importance of our obedience.
First, let’s look at the word “perfect” and its true biblical meaning. In Matthew 5:48, the word “perfect” means to prove the perfect will of God; complete in labor, growth, mental and moral character; full age. In John 17:23, the word “perfect” means complete finish, fulfill. Jesus is praying that we may be complete in unity. In Romans 12:1-2, the word means the same as in Matthew 5:48. In Hebrews 6:1, it means a completer, a finisher. Matthew 5:48 in the Amplified Bible defines “perfect” as growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity.
Many people make the excuse that they cannot be perfect in this life, which can lead them to a “perfect excuse” for willful sin. I say that tongue-in-cheek but to emphasize that we absolutely must become aware of these little foxes that spoil the vine if believers are to ever grow up into mature disciples of Jesus Christ. Gaining knowledge of the biblical meaning of this word “perfect” casts a whole new light on the word, revealing that seeking after or even striving for perfection is a legitimate goal for those who desire to be mature in Christ. It also removes our excuses for willful sin and provokes us to resist our sin nature. I have not forgotten that certain things are not going to be completed or fulfilled until Jesus returns, but I am attempting to show that with the help of the Holy Spirit and the rightly dividing of the word, there is much that can be accomplished by faithful disciples prior to our Lord’s return.
Second, let’s study what Scripture says to us about “consecration,” being cleansed, being holy. In 2 Corinthians 6:17 through 7:1, we read that we are to come out and be separate, and as sons and daughters, we are to cleanse ourselves and perfect holiness in the fear of God. In Ephesians 5:26-27, we are to become a glorious church. In 1 Peter 1:13-14, we are to be holy as God is holy in all our conduct.
Third, “sanctification” is being set apart, a separation to God to live a life of service and holiness. Sanctification must be pursued and sought after by the individual. For that person, it is a possession of holy character, built up little by little as the result of submission to the Holy Spirit, obedience to the word of God, and of following Christ’s example. While “consecration” is dedication to sacred service, “sanctification” is to be set apart to sacred service. A synonym of sanctification is “holiness.” As consecration and sanctification are to be pursued individually, so holiness is likewise to be pursued by the individual who, by choice, is set apart to God.
CONTINUE TO PART 2
Too Many Voices
Have you noticed how many different voices are speaking at us today? We have the media presenting their fleshly spin on things, usually biased and one-sided with an agenda. We have governmental leaders on one side touting one thing while those on the other side cry something else. Some Supreme Court Justices are making decisions based on their values, international law and precedent rather than on Constitutional law. Many Federal Judges are making unilateral decisions based on their values and personal persuasions rather than on United States law.
Then, sadly, we must look at the Church. I say “sadly” because we have segments of the Church that are so divided and driven by doctrines and traditions of men that one would think they are not even of the same faith. In many places, you need only drive a block down the street from your own local church to hear an altogether different gospel, a complete contradiction of what you have heard somewhere else. On top of that, the messages from many pulpits are no different from that of the world. It is no wonder people are confused and seeking answers elsewhere.
All of this makes me wonder if Christians are listening to too many voices. The sad fact is they may be listening to too many voices within Christendom as well as the world. Too much of what is listened to and experienced in the Church today is worldly in nature.
The Church as a whole expounds many different viewpoints. Although Jesus Christ wants us to say the same things, much of what is being said in one part of the Church contradicts what is being said in another part of the Church. As a result, many Christians have developed a type of selective apathy. They select a particular flavor of doctrine and become apathetic to the rest of the Church. While they and their like-minded brothers and sisters are together celebrating their favorite flavor of doctrine and watching for the rapture or the Lord’s return, the Lord is canvassing the earth for those who will be sanctified by His whole counsel and are willing to move toward unity with Him and with each other. Please recognize and remember that one cannot really love or be in unity with those they are apathetic towards.
The Biblical unity that Jesus spoke of in John 17, “Father, make them one …”, is not ecumenical unity, wherein Christians agree to disagree and/or are tolerant of each other’s beliefs. That type of unity will never accomplish the Church’s God-given mandate to preach the gospel of the kingdom in all the world as a witness to all the nations (Matthew 24:14). Biblical unity is based on loving intimacy with Christ and one another and requires being washed and sanctified by the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17 and Ephesians 5: 26, 27).
Apathy and ecumenical unity have caused us to focus mainly on our particular group and to think that everything is just going to pan out with the Church as a whole. Jesus is focused on building a Church on earth that overcomes the gates of Hades. This cannot happen in our present divided state. We will decide to either tear down the walls that divide us and take the steps toward true Biblical unity, or we will go on just as we are, trusting that somehow it will all pan out.
Christians, let’s wake up and become disciples of Jesus who love each other as Christ has loved us! Let’s become humble enough to really look at and reevaluate our beliefs in light of God’s Word instead of continuing to live by man-made church doctrines that happen to suit our particular fancy. Many doctrines that we have inherited must be put aside. It really will take dying to self to lay aside some of the doctrines we learned from mom, dad and others, as well as those we adopted through lack of knowledge or understanding of God's Word.
The truth is, in order for Christians to walk in agreement and to follow Jesus together, we must allow everything that can be shaken to be shaken so that what remains is the pure Church of Jesus Christ. It is not my intent to offend anyone. My desire is to bring an awareness of the things that hinder the body of Christ from becoming everything that Christ intends her to be. Religious traditions and mindsets are as powerful today as those our Lord Jesus encountered when he walked on earth (Matthew 15:1-9). The Holy Spirit knew this when He wrote through the Apostle Paul that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds.
One major problem within the Church is that, although many Christians think they know Christ intimately and His Word thoroughly, in truth they do not. Therefore they are weak in discerning whether or not a voice is from God. Jesus Christ said that His sheep would know the Shepherd’s voice. Some sheep are so far away from the Shepherd that they either cannot hear His voice or cannot distinguish it from other voices. Being active and happy in a local church does not guarantee that one is intimate with the Lord. It doesn't guarantee that they are washed and sanctified by truth. And it definitely does not guarantee that one is walking in agreement with other disciples of Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus needs true and humble disciples led by true and humble God-called ministers who will lay aside the doctrines and traditions of men that have weighted us down and divided us. If we are to unite and follow Jesus together, we must repent of reading our preconceived notions and doctrinal prejudices into the Word of God. We must turn to the Holy Spirit for truth. He is the Teacher! To those who will humbly sit under His teaching, He will reveal truth. He will correct beliefs and teach truth that will cleanse, sanctify and unite. Those who have been sanctified by God’s truth will naturally start being drawn together in unity.
At present, most Christians are drawn together according to their favorite man-made doctrines, which as we have shown actually produce a divided body. If humble Christians would truly acknowledge the division that exists in the body of Christ, perhaps we would begin to move away from striving for a fleshly ecumenical unity while trying to hold on to our doctrines, and begin to move toward the unity of faith. Let’s begin to seek God as never before, and let’s do so with the spiritual understanding that we cannot draw close to God without being in unity with each other as well. How can we love God whom we have not seen without loving each other here on earth?
Let’s develop keen ears to hear God’s still small voice and have our senses trained to discern which voices are of God and which are of man. As we hear the voice of the Spirit and follow that voice, it will lead us to true intimacy with God. We will look around and see that at the same time we have been drawn to Jesus, we have been drawn together. Visualize sheep hearing their shepherd’s voice, and as they move toward His voice, they have moved toward each other also. A mature and unified remnant church that is intimate with the Lord and knows and responds to His still small voice is on the horizon. He is calling us to forsake all and follow Him! Do you have listening ears? Do you hear the call?
Then, sadly, we must look at the Church. I say “sadly” because we have segments of the Church that are so divided and driven by doctrines and traditions of men that one would think they are not even of the same faith. In many places, you need only drive a block down the street from your own local church to hear an altogether different gospel, a complete contradiction of what you have heard somewhere else. On top of that, the messages from many pulpits are no different from that of the world. It is no wonder people are confused and seeking answers elsewhere.
All of this makes me wonder if Christians are listening to too many voices. The sad fact is they may be listening to too many voices within Christendom as well as the world. Too much of what is listened to and experienced in the Church today is worldly in nature.
The Church as a whole expounds many different viewpoints. Although Jesus Christ wants us to say the same things, much of what is being said in one part of the Church contradicts what is being said in another part of the Church. As a result, many Christians have developed a type of selective apathy. They select a particular flavor of doctrine and become apathetic to the rest of the Church. While they and their like-minded brothers and sisters are together celebrating their favorite flavor of doctrine and watching for the rapture or the Lord’s return, the Lord is canvassing the earth for those who will be sanctified by His whole counsel and are willing to move toward unity with Him and with each other. Please recognize and remember that one cannot really love or be in unity with those they are apathetic towards.
The Biblical unity that Jesus spoke of in John 17, “Father, make them one …”, is not ecumenical unity, wherein Christians agree to disagree and/or are tolerant of each other’s beliefs. That type of unity will never accomplish the Church’s God-given mandate to preach the gospel of the kingdom in all the world as a witness to all the nations (Matthew 24:14). Biblical unity is based on loving intimacy with Christ and one another and requires being washed and sanctified by the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17 and Ephesians 5: 26, 27).
Apathy and ecumenical unity have caused us to focus mainly on our particular group and to think that everything is just going to pan out with the Church as a whole. Jesus is focused on building a Church on earth that overcomes the gates of Hades. This cannot happen in our present divided state. We will decide to either tear down the walls that divide us and take the steps toward true Biblical unity, or we will go on just as we are, trusting that somehow it will all pan out.
Christians, let’s wake up and become disciples of Jesus who love each other as Christ has loved us! Let’s become humble enough to really look at and reevaluate our beliefs in light of God’s Word instead of continuing to live by man-made church doctrines that happen to suit our particular fancy. Many doctrines that we have inherited must be put aside. It really will take dying to self to lay aside some of the doctrines we learned from mom, dad and others, as well as those we adopted through lack of knowledge or understanding of God's Word.
The truth is, in order for Christians to walk in agreement and to follow Jesus together, we must allow everything that can be shaken to be shaken so that what remains is the pure Church of Jesus Christ. It is not my intent to offend anyone. My desire is to bring an awareness of the things that hinder the body of Christ from becoming everything that Christ intends her to be. Religious traditions and mindsets are as powerful today as those our Lord Jesus encountered when he walked on earth (Matthew 15:1-9). The Holy Spirit knew this when He wrote through the Apostle Paul that we are transformed by the renewing of our minds.
One major problem within the Church is that, although many Christians think they know Christ intimately and His Word thoroughly, in truth they do not. Therefore they are weak in discerning whether or not a voice is from God. Jesus Christ said that His sheep would know the Shepherd’s voice. Some sheep are so far away from the Shepherd that they either cannot hear His voice or cannot distinguish it from other voices. Being active and happy in a local church does not guarantee that one is intimate with the Lord. It doesn't guarantee that they are washed and sanctified by truth. And it definitely does not guarantee that one is walking in agreement with other disciples of Jesus Christ.
The Lord Jesus needs true and humble disciples led by true and humble God-called ministers who will lay aside the doctrines and traditions of men that have weighted us down and divided us. If we are to unite and follow Jesus together, we must repent of reading our preconceived notions and doctrinal prejudices into the Word of God. We must turn to the Holy Spirit for truth. He is the Teacher! To those who will humbly sit under His teaching, He will reveal truth. He will correct beliefs and teach truth that will cleanse, sanctify and unite. Those who have been sanctified by God’s truth will naturally start being drawn together in unity.
At present, most Christians are drawn together according to their favorite man-made doctrines, which as we have shown actually produce a divided body. If humble Christians would truly acknowledge the division that exists in the body of Christ, perhaps we would begin to move away from striving for a fleshly ecumenical unity while trying to hold on to our doctrines, and begin to move toward the unity of faith. Let’s begin to seek God as never before, and let’s do so with the spiritual understanding that we cannot draw close to God without being in unity with each other as well. How can we love God whom we have not seen without loving each other here on earth?
Let’s develop keen ears to hear God’s still small voice and have our senses trained to discern which voices are of God and which are of man. As we hear the voice of the Spirit and follow that voice, it will lead us to true intimacy with God. We will look around and see that at the same time we have been drawn to Jesus, we have been drawn together. Visualize sheep hearing their shepherd’s voice, and as they move toward His voice, they have moved toward each other also. A mature and unified remnant church that is intimate with the Lord and knows and responds to His still small voice is on the horizon. He is calling us to forsake all and follow Him! Do you have listening ears? Do you hear the call?
A Call To Know More About God and His Word
My son Wes called recently, and as I answered the phone, I heard him laughing as he said, "You were right; there is much more to know about football."
Wes has been very successful in athletics. When he was in college, he set school records in both soccer and football. Since graduating from college, he has continued to play football in indoor leagues. He played on a college championship team, and one of his arena teams won the conference championship with his last moment field goal. His present team is in first place. He helped win last night’s game with a 47-yard field goal through nine-feet wide goal posts. The announcer said, “Who would have believed that?” and his mother said, “His mother would have believed that!” LOL
Wes was voted Coach of the Year after his first year as a head football coach in middle school. He then moved on to high school, coaching as an assistant. This past season, he was the assistant coach on his school’s state championship basketball team. (This was a miracle in itself because the team is very small in stature. In addition to that, even though the school is 2A in its size, it is required by the county to play 3A and won the 3A state championship.) He has truly been blessed, but concerning football, I have very often told him that there is much more to know and learn.
The above mentioned phone call came after the first staff meeting with his school’s new head football coach, a coach who was just recently part of a state playoff team. A whole new world of football opened up in one meeting—a very long meeting, nevertheless, only one meeting. I have often said that there is football and then there is Football. There is a reason that some teams are successful and others are not. I played high school football for a man I loved and admired greatly. In his own words a few years after I played for him, he told me that he should have worked first as an assistant under a good head coach.
I have said all of the above to say that there is Bible teaching and then there is Bible Teaching. There is so much more to be learned from God’s Word than most Christians and even many churches know. I have encouraged Christians to read and study through the entire Bible on a regular basis. Unless one does so they will limit not only their knowledge of God and His Word but also the ministry that comes from the Holy Spirit to everyone who continues in the Word.
The more I study the Word, the more I realize there is more to know about God and His Word. But as I continue studying, I realize also that my discernment is growing. When discussing the Word with others or listening to them talk about the Bible, my spirit can usually discern whether or not they study the entire Bible on a regular basis. I can also discern whether they are sharing what the Holy Spirit has taught them or some man-made teaching they have heard someone else teach. I recently experienced a series of email exchanges about certain things of the Bible with someone I knew many years ago. This person has been taught and influenced by a number of different teachers in the last several years. In our sharing, it was almost as if we had different Bibles, and I don't mean different translations. What are we to do to bring a return to God and a return to His Word? We must pray, fast, study to show ourselves approved and, in love and boldness, share the truth of God and His Word with others. We must pray that a hunger for intimacy with God and a thorough knowledge and understanding of His Word is birthed in every true disciple.
In a recent dream, I was preaching, “Return to God! Return to God’s Word!” Most professing Christians are not ready to listen to someone talking about returning to God and His Word, especially someone who is not in their circle. They are satisfied where they are for the most part—enjoying the status quo. To change, they are going to have to be softened up, as it were. The softening will come either as they hear and internally respond to truth, or it will come from hard times. I hope it is the former. It can be the former for many if a faithful remnant will pave the way. All of us have brothers and sisters who will listen if we will witness in example and word to them. If we will be disciples who make disciples, then we can get the ball rolling, so to speak. To be those disciples, we must be humble and teachable and then pray, fast, and witness to others in love, truth, obedience, and boldness.
In spite of all the reasons that professing Christians are hindered at present, I believe a time is coming when many will have their eyes opened, some willingly and some forced open by circumstances. I pray that God will quickly raise up ministers of His Word who are given to prayer; who are filled with His love, truth, Spirit, and power; and who are free from all of man’s various traditions and teachings that have infiltrated the Church by the strategy of the devil. Some of these will be ministers who have been ministering a long time but will respond to God's Spirit in a new way. The latter end of their ministry will be greater than the former, to the glory of God. Others, young and old, will be called by the Holy Spirit and will respond to that call. These ministers will boldly proclaim Jesus Christ, His kingdom, and His Word. I believe, in time, that many professing Christians and lost sheep will hear and respond to their message. There is and will continue to be a great turning away, but there will be a great turning to God and His Word. This will happen in time.
The truth is, however, that we presently need disciples of Jesus who have their eyes opened and are set apart to Jesus Christ and His Word. I love the Church and recognize that there are good things taking place, but I know that God has spoken that the Church needs restoration. We must have disciples with ears to hear and eyes to see, which includes knowing that 2 Chronicles 7:14 is written to the Church. We keep praying for the world to repent, but the Church must lead the way. Think about this for a moment, we witness to the lost with Bible in hand and then when they are born again, they become part of various churches who teach them contradictory things from the same Bible. It is time to seriously understand that we have one Lord, one faith, one Church, one Bible, and one Holy Spirit who teaches the same things to all who will repent. It is time to become humble and teachable. It is time to realize that the Holy Spirit we say we are depending on during our Church services is not going to teach contradictory things. He wants a Church of maturity, unity, holiness, and power. Let’s quit hiding behind “agreeing to disagree” and “in essentials, unity …”etc., and as disciples of Jesus Christ, let’s continue in the Word until we are all sanctified by the same truth from the same Teacher and the same Bible. This is an urgent, if not desperate need.
There is a sense of urgency in me that if any who are touched by what I am saying would start a new study of the New Testament, asking the Holy Spirit to teach them and to free them from any wrong teachings, then they can help pave the way. Study of the whole Bible is needed and is actually a requirement, but a diligent study of the New Covenant under the teaching of the Holy Spirit will serve as a good start. It doesn't matter your age, young or old, this will make a great difference in you and then in others. I cannot over-emphasize the importance of this. I have tried and tried to get people's attention; I will keep trying and will never give up. I hope I will get some calls and hear people saying, “There is so much more to God's Word than I have been taught in the past!” I am sending this to only a few people. I am including you because I have seen something in you that encourages me to believe you will call on God through prayer and study, and He will respond and show you great and mighty things that you know not of.
Wes has been very successful in athletics. When he was in college, he set school records in both soccer and football. Since graduating from college, he has continued to play football in indoor leagues. He played on a college championship team, and one of his arena teams won the conference championship with his last moment field goal. His present team is in first place. He helped win last night’s game with a 47-yard field goal through nine-feet wide goal posts. The announcer said, “Who would have believed that?” and his mother said, “His mother would have believed that!” LOL
Wes was voted Coach of the Year after his first year as a head football coach in middle school. He then moved on to high school, coaching as an assistant. This past season, he was the assistant coach on his school’s state championship basketball team. (This was a miracle in itself because the team is very small in stature. In addition to that, even though the school is 2A in its size, it is required by the county to play 3A and won the 3A state championship.) He has truly been blessed, but concerning football, I have very often told him that there is much more to know and learn.
The above mentioned phone call came after the first staff meeting with his school’s new head football coach, a coach who was just recently part of a state playoff team. A whole new world of football opened up in one meeting—a very long meeting, nevertheless, only one meeting. I have often said that there is football and then there is Football. There is a reason that some teams are successful and others are not. I played high school football for a man I loved and admired greatly. In his own words a few years after I played for him, he told me that he should have worked first as an assistant under a good head coach.
I have said all of the above to say that there is Bible teaching and then there is Bible Teaching. There is so much more to be learned from God’s Word than most Christians and even many churches know. I have encouraged Christians to read and study through the entire Bible on a regular basis. Unless one does so they will limit not only their knowledge of God and His Word but also the ministry that comes from the Holy Spirit to everyone who continues in the Word.
The more I study the Word, the more I realize there is more to know about God and His Word. But as I continue studying, I realize also that my discernment is growing. When discussing the Word with others or listening to them talk about the Bible, my spirit can usually discern whether or not they study the entire Bible on a regular basis. I can also discern whether they are sharing what the Holy Spirit has taught them or some man-made teaching they have heard someone else teach. I recently experienced a series of email exchanges about certain things of the Bible with someone I knew many years ago. This person has been taught and influenced by a number of different teachers in the last several years. In our sharing, it was almost as if we had different Bibles, and I don't mean different translations. What are we to do to bring a return to God and a return to His Word? We must pray, fast, study to show ourselves approved and, in love and boldness, share the truth of God and His Word with others. We must pray that a hunger for intimacy with God and a thorough knowledge and understanding of His Word is birthed in every true disciple.
In a recent dream, I was preaching, “Return to God! Return to God’s Word!” Most professing Christians are not ready to listen to someone talking about returning to God and His Word, especially someone who is not in their circle. They are satisfied where they are for the most part—enjoying the status quo. To change, they are going to have to be softened up, as it were. The softening will come either as they hear and internally respond to truth, or it will come from hard times. I hope it is the former. It can be the former for many if a faithful remnant will pave the way. All of us have brothers and sisters who will listen if we will witness in example and word to them. If we will be disciples who make disciples, then we can get the ball rolling, so to speak. To be those disciples, we must be humble and teachable and then pray, fast, and witness to others in love, truth, obedience, and boldness.
In spite of all the reasons that professing Christians are hindered at present, I believe a time is coming when many will have their eyes opened, some willingly and some forced open by circumstances. I pray that God will quickly raise up ministers of His Word who are given to prayer; who are filled with His love, truth, Spirit, and power; and who are free from all of man’s various traditions and teachings that have infiltrated the Church by the strategy of the devil. Some of these will be ministers who have been ministering a long time but will respond to God's Spirit in a new way. The latter end of their ministry will be greater than the former, to the glory of God. Others, young and old, will be called by the Holy Spirit and will respond to that call. These ministers will boldly proclaim Jesus Christ, His kingdom, and His Word. I believe, in time, that many professing Christians and lost sheep will hear and respond to their message. There is and will continue to be a great turning away, but there will be a great turning to God and His Word. This will happen in time.
The truth is, however, that we presently need disciples of Jesus who have their eyes opened and are set apart to Jesus Christ and His Word. I love the Church and recognize that there are good things taking place, but I know that God has spoken that the Church needs restoration. We must have disciples with ears to hear and eyes to see, which includes knowing that 2 Chronicles 7:14 is written to the Church. We keep praying for the world to repent, but the Church must lead the way. Think about this for a moment, we witness to the lost with Bible in hand and then when they are born again, they become part of various churches who teach them contradictory things from the same Bible. It is time to seriously understand that we have one Lord, one faith, one Church, one Bible, and one Holy Spirit who teaches the same things to all who will repent. It is time to become humble and teachable. It is time to realize that the Holy Spirit we say we are depending on during our Church services is not going to teach contradictory things. He wants a Church of maturity, unity, holiness, and power. Let’s quit hiding behind “agreeing to disagree” and “in essentials, unity …”etc., and as disciples of Jesus Christ, let’s continue in the Word until we are all sanctified by the same truth from the same Teacher and the same Bible. This is an urgent, if not desperate need.
There is a sense of urgency in me that if any who are touched by what I am saying would start a new study of the New Testament, asking the Holy Spirit to teach them and to free them from any wrong teachings, then they can help pave the way. Study of the whole Bible is needed and is actually a requirement, but a diligent study of the New Covenant under the teaching of the Holy Spirit will serve as a good start. It doesn't matter your age, young or old, this will make a great difference in you and then in others. I cannot over-emphasize the importance of this. I have tried and tried to get people's attention; I will keep trying and will never give up. I hope I will get some calls and hear people saying, “There is so much more to God's Word than I have been taught in the past!” I am sending this to only a few people. I am including you because I have seen something in you that encourages me to believe you will call on God through prayer and study, and He will respond and show you great and mighty things that you know not of.
Return to Jesus and Him Crucified
It is interesting to study when the different books of the Bible were written. For many years, we have read the Bible through yearly. The past year, we read and studied the different books more in line with when and why they were written. This process has opened our minds and hearts to God and His truth in a new measure.
The book of Ezekiel was written when many of the people of God had forgotten God and His Word and had turned to other things. To help draw them back, God gave the prophet Ezekiel a vision of a New City and a New Temple. In the early Church, when Christians were turning to other things, God began to speak through the Apostle John. The writings of John, including his gospel, are the last writings of the Bible. Through John, God gave a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ.
Today, as warned by the Apostle Peter and others, much of the Church has fallen far from God, His truth, and His purposes. Many Christians have chased an Old Testament prayer that did not even use the name of Jesus. Others have and are chasing various new fads that come along, such as certain driven activities and purposes. Have we moved so far from God and His truth that we cannot recognize error from truth? I heard an interesting statement this week, “For every Christian who still drinks, there are a hundred who follow heresy.”
There are so many sincere, dedicated Christians who have left their first love to follow the clever teachings of some man, woman, or denomination. The majority of Christians would not be deceived by teachers of witchcraft and the occult, but there are many who are being deceived by teachers disguised as ministers of righteousness. Some of these teachers are the wolves in sheep’s clothing mentioned in Matthew 7:15-20. You will know them, not by their gifts, but by their fruit. Then we have sincere, well-meaning ministers who have gotten off track and are themselves deceived as they are deceiving many others. They will use the Word of God and mention Jesus Christ, but their basic message is far from Jesus and Him crucified.
There are few modern writers who get my attention. Most who touch my heart have gone on to be with the Lord. Some who have gone on left truth on tapes or CDs. This morning I was blessed by listening to Dr. Adrian Rogers as he was ministering on Truth or Consequences. He reviewed what has happened in our schools and society since 1963. He put much of the responsibility on politicians and professors, but he really got my attention when he got to the pulpit.
False teachers do not always know they are false. They are deceived people who are deceiving others. They pat you on the back, eat meals with you, tell you some truth about Jesus and His Word that actually helps you, but their little leaven spoils everything. Regretfully, some are giving much leaven and little, if any, truth. The people seem to like it so!
I am still looking for and praying for the real to come forth. The real will be preaching and teaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified. If you are in any way aware of the need for a new revelation of Jesus and His cross, cry out to God and study the writings of John. Also consider the witness of the Apostle Paul:
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NKJV): And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
I say again, you will know them by their fruit! Pray for ears to hear, and then listen to see if those you are following are preaching and teaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
There are many definitions of a disciple. I will close with this one: A disciple is one who is born again because of Jesus and His cross, one who denies self, takes up his cross daily, and follows Jesus Christ and Him crucified (Luke 9:23).
The book of Ezekiel was written when many of the people of God had forgotten God and His Word and had turned to other things. To help draw them back, God gave the prophet Ezekiel a vision of a New City and a New Temple. In the early Church, when Christians were turning to other things, God began to speak through the Apostle John. The writings of John, including his gospel, are the last writings of the Bible. Through John, God gave a fresh revelation of Jesus Christ.
Today, as warned by the Apostle Peter and others, much of the Church has fallen far from God, His truth, and His purposes. Many Christians have chased an Old Testament prayer that did not even use the name of Jesus. Others have and are chasing various new fads that come along, such as certain driven activities and purposes. Have we moved so far from God and His truth that we cannot recognize error from truth? I heard an interesting statement this week, “For every Christian who still drinks, there are a hundred who follow heresy.”
There are so many sincere, dedicated Christians who have left their first love to follow the clever teachings of some man, woman, or denomination. The majority of Christians would not be deceived by teachers of witchcraft and the occult, but there are many who are being deceived by teachers disguised as ministers of righteousness. Some of these teachers are the wolves in sheep’s clothing mentioned in Matthew 7:15-20. You will know them, not by their gifts, but by their fruit. Then we have sincere, well-meaning ministers who have gotten off track and are themselves deceived as they are deceiving many others. They will use the Word of God and mention Jesus Christ, but their basic message is far from Jesus and Him crucified.
There are few modern writers who get my attention. Most who touch my heart have gone on to be with the Lord. Some who have gone on left truth on tapes or CDs. This morning I was blessed by listening to Dr. Adrian Rogers as he was ministering on Truth or Consequences. He reviewed what has happened in our schools and society since 1963. He put much of the responsibility on politicians and professors, but he really got my attention when he got to the pulpit.
False teachers do not always know they are false. They are deceived people who are deceiving others. They pat you on the back, eat meals with you, tell you some truth about Jesus and His Word that actually helps you, but their little leaven spoils everything. Regretfully, some are giving much leaven and little, if any, truth. The people seem to like it so!
I am still looking for and praying for the real to come forth. The real will be preaching and teaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified. If you are in any way aware of the need for a new revelation of Jesus and His cross, cry out to God and study the writings of John. Also consider the witness of the Apostle Paul:
1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NKJV): And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
I say again, you will know them by their fruit! Pray for ears to hear, and then listen to see if those you are following are preaching and teaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
There are many definitions of a disciple. I will close with this one: A disciple is one who is born again because of Jesus and His cross, one who denies self, takes up his cross daily, and follows Jesus Christ and Him crucified (Luke 9:23).
Our Responsibility in Sharing the Gospel
We are living in a day when a large part of the Church that is under the banner of being Christian is drawing back from the pureness of the gospel message. Have you recognized the need for a Remnant Church that will stay true to her Lord Jesus and His Word? The Lord is looking for those who will remain loyal to Him and His Word regardless of circumstances. Are you willing to deny all that is not of the Lord and His Word within the Church and yield to His Spirit to help bring forth the Church He so desires?
The Holy Spirit is always ready to teach willing disciples. May we humble ourselves and allow Him to teach us God’s truth. It very well could be that He will call us to lay aside some of our favorite spiritual ideas and opinions. If so, it definitely will work out for the glory of Christ and the spiritual growth of His body.
Much of the Church needs to be reminded that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), and the only way to be redeemed is with the precious blood of Christ (1 Pet. 1:18-19). It seems that a part of the Church also needs a reminder that Jesus Christ is the only way to be reconciled to the Father. We have been given a great responsibility to go and share this message, and we must, ourselves, fully believe what we are commanded to share.
One question that often comes to Christians is, “What about those people around the world who never hear of Jesus?” It’s a difficult question to answer, but God is sovereign, and we can trust that He will take care of that situation if it arises. One insight is given in Romans Chapter Two. The principle is set forth that if there happen to be any who do not have the opportunity to hear, they will be judged by conscience and nature. That brings us back to our responsibility in sharing the gospel. Let’s unite as a Remnant Church and set a goal that every person on the earth, now and in the future, will have a laborer share the gospel with them (Matt. 9:38). It seems a worthy goal and the Word assures us that all things are possible to those who will believe.
Let’s look a little closer at our responsibility. We will address first some things that are not our responsibility. It is not our responsibility to compromise the gospel; we are never to change the Word of God. It is not our responsibility to lead people to believe that there are other ways to the Father or to say that other gods are equal to or synonymous with God the Father. We are also not to say that those who serve other gods will go to the Father. Instead, we are to share, with love and boldness, that the only way to God the Father is through Jesus Christ the Son. We are commanded to start where we are and go out and share with all people that the only way to be redeemed is by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. We are to be “light bearers” for Jesus. We are to be disciples who bloom and produce fruit for our Savior and Lord. It is our responsibility to know our Savior and His Word, to know how to minister the true God to the religious and the philosophers as Paul did on Mars’ Hill.
May our spirits be provoked within us because of those, both in and out of the Church, who are given over to idols (Acts 17:16). Let’s lay aside every weight that has hindered us from uniting and from following and obeying our Lord Jesus. Pray for utterance to be given and for boldness to go and share the mystery of the gospel. Those who believe will be saved, and our Lord promises to be with us and to confirm our word with the accompanying signs.
The Holy Spirit is always ready to teach willing disciples. May we humble ourselves and allow Him to teach us God’s truth. It very well could be that He will call us to lay aside some of our favorite spiritual ideas and opinions. If so, it definitely will work out for the glory of Christ and the spiritual growth of His body.
Much of the Church needs to be reminded that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23), and the only way to be redeemed is with the precious blood of Christ (1 Pet. 1:18-19). It seems that a part of the Church also needs a reminder that Jesus Christ is the only way to be reconciled to the Father. We have been given a great responsibility to go and share this message, and we must, ourselves, fully believe what we are commanded to share.
One question that often comes to Christians is, “What about those people around the world who never hear of Jesus?” It’s a difficult question to answer, but God is sovereign, and we can trust that He will take care of that situation if it arises. One insight is given in Romans Chapter Two. The principle is set forth that if there happen to be any who do not have the opportunity to hear, they will be judged by conscience and nature. That brings us back to our responsibility in sharing the gospel. Let’s unite as a Remnant Church and set a goal that every person on the earth, now and in the future, will have a laborer share the gospel with them (Matt. 9:38). It seems a worthy goal and the Word assures us that all things are possible to those who will believe.
Let’s look a little closer at our responsibility. We will address first some things that are not our responsibility. It is not our responsibility to compromise the gospel; we are never to change the Word of God. It is not our responsibility to lead people to believe that there are other ways to the Father or to say that other gods are equal to or synonymous with God the Father. We are also not to say that those who serve other gods will go to the Father. Instead, we are to share, with love and boldness, that the only way to God the Father is through Jesus Christ the Son. We are commanded to start where we are and go out and share with all people that the only way to be redeemed is by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. We are to be “light bearers” for Jesus. We are to be disciples who bloom and produce fruit for our Savior and Lord. It is our responsibility to know our Savior and His Word, to know how to minister the true God to the religious and the philosophers as Paul did on Mars’ Hill.
May our spirits be provoked within us because of those, both in and out of the Church, who are given over to idols (Acts 17:16). Let’s lay aside every weight that has hindered us from uniting and from following and obeying our Lord Jesus. Pray for utterance to be given and for boldness to go and share the mystery of the gospel. Those who believe will be saved, and our Lord promises to be with us and to confirm our word with the accompanying signs.
Spiritual Maturity and Fruit
For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
The clock is ticking, and the time is short. The time is short for you to minister, and the time is short for the body of Christ to work together to counteract evil spiritual forces that are at work. If these forces are not counteracted you may not see the immediate results, but your children and grandchildren most certainly will. They will reap the results of our generation not uniting and forsaking all to follow Christ.
I continue to preach and write things that, hopefully, will fall on hearing ears and hearts before time runs out. This is another attempt to reach someone, anyone, who will be touched and say, I am ready to forsake all and follow Jesus Christ. I am praying that people will come forth who realize they are in the world but are not of it. I am also praying that professing Christians will grow restless with modern-day Christianity and will not only cry out for restoration of the Church, but will take whatever steps are necessary to bring forth and be part of a Church that is in the image of Jesus Christ, not in the various images of man. The result will be a mature remnant Church that, in the unity of faith, will bear fruit to the glory of Christ.
Lasting peace and unity
will not come through compromise.
Part of the fruit that the spiritually mature body of Christ will produce is peace and unity within the Church. Unity is associated with peace, but it is also associated with truth. There will be no mature and lasting peace and unity within the Church until the body of Christ is sanctified by truth (John 17:17). The Church has prospered when it was sanctified by truth. The Church suffers when she moves away from truth to any degree.
When the Church compromises in the effort to find a place of agreement, a pseudo unity forms that is not Bible-based, disciples are not equipped for every good work, and the Church’s witness and power in the world are weakened. Can we pick and choose which parts of the Word we will obey and still call Jesus Lord? Unless one is adhering to both the elementary teachings and the meat of the Word of God, he will have no secure foundation when the storms come, and they will assuredly come.
The devil is the archenemy of the Church. He rebelled against God and His truth in heaven. He brought rebellion against God and His truth in the Garden. He attacked the people of God under the old covenant. He has attacked the Church, the apple of the eyes of Christ, since her inception, and he continues his attacks today. His methods do not change much and have always included infiltration, lies, and deception. His lies are not always openly flagrant, but are intended to be deceptive to move people away from truth. His lies are often packaged in very beautiful and wise-sounding sayings, such as agreeing to disagree and about essentials and non-essentials to unity, liberty and love. The enemy knows that human beings are vulnerable to beautiful things. This is revealed in Genesis 3:6: “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.” Whether it is a tree that is pleasant to the eyes, a woman beautiful to behold (2 Sam. 11:2), or a beautiful and wise-sounding saying, it is rooted in the world and will not achieve the lasting peace and unity that come only by being sanctified by truth. The result is the same when we take of the fruit of compromise and eat. It produces a less than mature and unified Church and hinders us from working together to share the peace and love of the Lord, which we and the world so greatly need.
God desires spiritual maturity and fruit.
The account of Jesus cursing the fig tree in Mark 11:12-14, 20-21 is evidence of God’s desire for His people to bear fruit. The lessons of Hebrews 5:12 through 6:2 reinforce this message and teach the importance of moving to spiritual maturity. They also reveal that maturity is connected with knowledge of both the milk and the meat of God’s truth. One cannot become mature in Christ without being thoroughly grounded in the elementary teachings as well as in the meat of the Word. One will not comprehend the meat of the Word unless they thoroughly comprehend all of the basics of the Word, the elementary teachings. Test yourself; can you name and explain the elementary teachings listed in Hebrews 6:1-2? Many people will not understand much of what I minister verbally and in writing until they grasp the full intent and importance of the aforementioned verses and the principles involved.
Man’s religion hinders spiritual maturity.
Man’s religious teachings and traditions always keep people in a box that will not allow them to grow to maturity. It can even be said that man’s religious teachings put people in varying degrees of bondage. Martin Luther probably recognized these problems and was trying to change things with the posting of The Ninety-five Theses. Rather than looking objectively at what Luther was saying, many in the established Church of that time branded him a heretic. Today, the Protestant Church has been infiltrated by man’s religious teachings and traditions as much or more than the Roman Catholic Church of Luther’s day. In some cases, the religious teachings and traditions may be subtle, but they are not any less devastating to the original intents and purposes of Jesus Christ for the Church He is building. Behind all of this is the master deceiver, Satan himself. He infiltrated the Garden of Eden, he infiltrated the Jewish religion of the old covenant, and he continues to press his strategic attack of infiltration in any area where God is working.
Any honest disciple of Jesus Christ must recognize and admit that the Church under the banner of being Christian is characterized by, among other things, both good and bad, division and disunity. Wherever Satan is successful in his scheme of infiltration, the seeds of division and disunity are always sown. Every major part of the Christian Church has also added to and/or taken away from the truth of God’s Word. Any adding to and/or taking away from God’s word is a serious breach of the Word. Churches and denominations may promote these things and even draw people because of them, but there will be an accounting given before Jesus Christ in the future. Can these things be changed? The answer to this question is unequivocally yes, but how? How can we restore the Church? How can we have a restored Church without spot and wrinkle of both sin and man’s religious teachings and traditions? How can we finally have a restored Church in the mature image of Christ Jesus that gives no place to the wiles of the devil?
One may ask why I am not addressing the carnality in parts of the Church. I do, and I will continue to address those issues, but the truth is that there will always be carnality where man’s religious teachings and traditions are found. Some months ago, I met with a group of people to help them find things in the Word of God that would give them wisdom for choosing their next pastor. The one who tried to dominate that meeting, and actually was in opposition to what I was trying to accomplish, left her family for another woman not long after the meeting. These and similar things will continue to plague the Church until she continues in the Word and knows truth that will set her free.
The Church needs true prophets.
We need true prophets of God to help restore the Church. A large part of the Church does not believe prophets exist anymore, and another part of the Church is following prophets of hype. We need to discern the difference between the office of the called-out prophet who truly hears from God concerning His will and directions for the Church, and the gift of prophecy. We must cry out for real prophets to come forth and then start listening to them. Stop debating about whether or not they will be like the Old Testament prophets, and just let them be what God wants them to be when they come forth. They will speak what the Church needs to hear from God without looking at the faces of the people, i.e., they will only be influenced by what God says and not by what man says. In order for God’s purposes to be accomplished, prophets need disciples who have ears to hear.
We must have a remnant of disciples of the Lord Jesus who see the problems clearly, and who are willing to give their lives to change things. There must eventually be witnesses all over the earth, but at the beginning, they will be found in various locales throughout the earth. All of them will be united in Spirit, but in various locales, there must be a core group of dedicated disciples working in one mind and accord to demonstrate what Jesus intended when He said, I will build My Church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. We must first have the remnant united, not only in Spirit, but in actuality, in geographical locations throughout the earth.
Restoration requires breaking out of the box
of man’s religious teachings and traditions.
From Martin Luther’s attempts, we learn that restoration will probably not be from the inside, at least not in the beginning. If one tries from the inside of the box to change the box of organized religion, one is usually going to be kicked out of the box. Begin declaring all of who Jesus is, what His kingdom is and what it is about, who the Holy Spirit is and what He came to do, who you are in Christ, and then see what happens! Do all in a humble and loving Spirit, but see what happens!
There are people who have spent a lifetime trying to influence various parts of the Church from the inside, and to their credit, they have touched some lives for the Lord. They have not, however, changed the box. There are others who have recognized problems in certain boxes, but their solution was to move to another box. With their families, they moved to a place of personal comfort. Although some may be tempted to be offended by my words, they are still in a box, just a different size, shape, and color. In a box, one might listen to a whole year of sermons and find that every sermon was totally in line with the Word of God. Every sermon had something that helped them and/or their family! But if it is a box, it still violates the lessons of Hebrews 5: 12 through 6:2.
A minister can preach only truth and still be personally immature—and leave all of their hearers in an immature spiritual state. This is why the devil causes many churches to ignore or disallow the book of Hebrews. The truth is that no one will ever fully understand who Jesus is, what His new covenant is, and who they are in Christ without being thoroughly grounded in the book of Hebrews. In the end there will be victory, but will we, our children, and our grandchildren have to suffer needlessly because we stayed in the box, though it is a comfortable box, and never went on to perfection (maturity) (Heb. 6:1)?
Looking for alert disciples who will forsake all
to follow Jesus and continue His work.
I am trying to reach disciples who will be wide awake and will forsake not only the things of the world but all of the things of man’s religion to follow Jesus. Jesus must have sensed some degree of urgency while on earth because He knew His time was short to share His message and find disciples who would do the above. I hope I have many more years to share Jesus Christ and His message, but the time is short for changing things before devastating things occur.
After writing this on Monday, April 16, [2007], I learned of the tragedy at Virginia Tech. I was reminded of speaking a word several years ago that mothers would be crying, and a few days afterward hearing of the shootings at the high school in Columbine, Colorado. I also noticed a difference about this tragedy. Many reporting it and hearing of it were not as deeply touched as they were about things in the past, such as Columbine or the events of September 11, 2001. The devil is desensitizing people about these things as he has about other things in the past. God is looking for disciples who are very sensitive to His Spirit and His Word and will not be distracted from seeing clearly.
In conclusion, I remind you that there must come godly repentance and restoration, or devilish storms will continue, and they will increase in number and severity. We had to face the fact on April 16 that not all storms are weather related. Let’s draw near to God. Let’s study to show ourselves approved and move on to spiritual maturity and the unity of faith. Together, in the full measure of the stature of Christ, we will bear much fruit to His glory. It has been said that you are as spiritual as you want to be. Let’s be prepared for the day when the devilish storms approach our door. That’s when you will want to be spiritual. Like a mature marathon runner, however, spiritual maturity does not happen overnight; it takes discipline. Let’s be disciples who are sensitive to God’s Spirit and His Word and who are ready to forsake all and follow Christ, bearing the mature fruit of righteousness.
Hebrews 5:12 - 6:2
The clock is ticking, and the time is short. The time is short for you to minister, and the time is short for the body of Christ to work together to counteract evil spiritual forces that are at work. If these forces are not counteracted you may not see the immediate results, but your children and grandchildren most certainly will. They will reap the results of our generation not uniting and forsaking all to follow Christ.
I continue to preach and write things that, hopefully, will fall on hearing ears and hearts before time runs out. This is another attempt to reach someone, anyone, who will be touched and say, I am ready to forsake all and follow Jesus Christ. I am praying that people will come forth who realize they are in the world but are not of it. I am also praying that professing Christians will grow restless with modern-day Christianity and will not only cry out for restoration of the Church, but will take whatever steps are necessary to bring forth and be part of a Church that is in the image of Jesus Christ, not in the various images of man. The result will be a mature remnant Church that, in the unity of faith, will bear fruit to the glory of Christ.
Lasting peace and unity
will not come through compromise.
Part of the fruit that the spiritually mature body of Christ will produce is peace and unity within the Church. Unity is associated with peace, but it is also associated with truth. There will be no mature and lasting peace and unity within the Church until the body of Christ is sanctified by truth (John 17:17). The Church has prospered when it was sanctified by truth. The Church suffers when she moves away from truth to any degree.
When the Church compromises in the effort to find a place of agreement, a pseudo unity forms that is not Bible-based, disciples are not equipped for every good work, and the Church’s witness and power in the world are weakened. Can we pick and choose which parts of the Word we will obey and still call Jesus Lord? Unless one is adhering to both the elementary teachings and the meat of the Word of God, he will have no secure foundation when the storms come, and they will assuredly come.
The devil is the archenemy of the Church. He rebelled against God and His truth in heaven. He brought rebellion against God and His truth in the Garden. He attacked the people of God under the old covenant. He has attacked the Church, the apple of the eyes of Christ, since her inception, and he continues his attacks today. His methods do not change much and have always included infiltration, lies, and deception. His lies are not always openly flagrant, but are intended to be deceptive to move people away from truth. His lies are often packaged in very beautiful and wise-sounding sayings, such as agreeing to disagree and about essentials and non-essentials to unity, liberty and love. The enemy knows that human beings are vulnerable to beautiful things. This is revealed in Genesis 3:6: “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.” Whether it is a tree that is pleasant to the eyes, a woman beautiful to behold (2 Sam. 11:2), or a beautiful and wise-sounding saying, it is rooted in the world and will not achieve the lasting peace and unity that come only by being sanctified by truth. The result is the same when we take of the fruit of compromise and eat. It produces a less than mature and unified Church and hinders us from working together to share the peace and love of the Lord, which we and the world so greatly need.
God desires spiritual maturity and fruit.
The account of Jesus cursing the fig tree in Mark 11:12-14, 20-21 is evidence of God’s desire for His people to bear fruit. The lessons of Hebrews 5:12 through 6:2 reinforce this message and teach the importance of moving to spiritual maturity. They also reveal that maturity is connected with knowledge of both the milk and the meat of God’s truth. One cannot become mature in Christ without being thoroughly grounded in the elementary teachings as well as in the meat of the Word. One will not comprehend the meat of the Word unless they thoroughly comprehend all of the basics of the Word, the elementary teachings. Test yourself; can you name and explain the elementary teachings listed in Hebrews 6:1-2? Many people will not understand much of what I minister verbally and in writing until they grasp the full intent and importance of the aforementioned verses and the principles involved.
Man’s religion hinders spiritual maturity.
Man’s religious teachings and traditions always keep people in a box that will not allow them to grow to maturity. It can even be said that man’s religious teachings put people in varying degrees of bondage. Martin Luther probably recognized these problems and was trying to change things with the posting of The Ninety-five Theses. Rather than looking objectively at what Luther was saying, many in the established Church of that time branded him a heretic. Today, the Protestant Church has been infiltrated by man’s religious teachings and traditions as much or more than the Roman Catholic Church of Luther’s day. In some cases, the religious teachings and traditions may be subtle, but they are not any less devastating to the original intents and purposes of Jesus Christ for the Church He is building. Behind all of this is the master deceiver, Satan himself. He infiltrated the Garden of Eden, he infiltrated the Jewish religion of the old covenant, and he continues to press his strategic attack of infiltration in any area where God is working.
Any honest disciple of Jesus Christ must recognize and admit that the Church under the banner of being Christian is characterized by, among other things, both good and bad, division and disunity. Wherever Satan is successful in his scheme of infiltration, the seeds of division and disunity are always sown. Every major part of the Christian Church has also added to and/or taken away from the truth of God’s Word. Any adding to and/or taking away from God’s word is a serious breach of the Word. Churches and denominations may promote these things and even draw people because of them, but there will be an accounting given before Jesus Christ in the future. Can these things be changed? The answer to this question is unequivocally yes, but how? How can we restore the Church? How can we have a restored Church without spot and wrinkle of both sin and man’s religious teachings and traditions? How can we finally have a restored Church in the mature image of Christ Jesus that gives no place to the wiles of the devil?
One may ask why I am not addressing the carnality in parts of the Church. I do, and I will continue to address those issues, but the truth is that there will always be carnality where man’s religious teachings and traditions are found. Some months ago, I met with a group of people to help them find things in the Word of God that would give them wisdom for choosing their next pastor. The one who tried to dominate that meeting, and actually was in opposition to what I was trying to accomplish, left her family for another woman not long after the meeting. These and similar things will continue to plague the Church until she continues in the Word and knows truth that will set her free.
The Church needs true prophets.
We need true prophets of God to help restore the Church. A large part of the Church does not believe prophets exist anymore, and another part of the Church is following prophets of hype. We need to discern the difference between the office of the called-out prophet who truly hears from God concerning His will and directions for the Church, and the gift of prophecy. We must cry out for real prophets to come forth and then start listening to them. Stop debating about whether or not they will be like the Old Testament prophets, and just let them be what God wants them to be when they come forth. They will speak what the Church needs to hear from God without looking at the faces of the people, i.e., they will only be influenced by what God says and not by what man says. In order for God’s purposes to be accomplished, prophets need disciples who have ears to hear.
We must have a remnant of disciples of the Lord Jesus who see the problems clearly, and who are willing to give their lives to change things. There must eventually be witnesses all over the earth, but at the beginning, they will be found in various locales throughout the earth. All of them will be united in Spirit, but in various locales, there must be a core group of dedicated disciples working in one mind and accord to demonstrate what Jesus intended when He said, I will build My Church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. We must first have the remnant united, not only in Spirit, but in actuality, in geographical locations throughout the earth.
Restoration requires breaking out of the box
of man’s religious teachings and traditions.
From Martin Luther’s attempts, we learn that restoration will probably not be from the inside, at least not in the beginning. If one tries from the inside of the box to change the box of organized religion, one is usually going to be kicked out of the box. Begin declaring all of who Jesus is, what His kingdom is and what it is about, who the Holy Spirit is and what He came to do, who you are in Christ, and then see what happens! Do all in a humble and loving Spirit, but see what happens!
There are people who have spent a lifetime trying to influence various parts of the Church from the inside, and to their credit, they have touched some lives for the Lord. They have not, however, changed the box. There are others who have recognized problems in certain boxes, but their solution was to move to another box. With their families, they moved to a place of personal comfort. Although some may be tempted to be offended by my words, they are still in a box, just a different size, shape, and color. In a box, one might listen to a whole year of sermons and find that every sermon was totally in line with the Word of God. Every sermon had something that helped them and/or their family! But if it is a box, it still violates the lessons of Hebrews 5: 12 through 6:2.
A minister can preach only truth and still be personally immature—and leave all of their hearers in an immature spiritual state. This is why the devil causes many churches to ignore or disallow the book of Hebrews. The truth is that no one will ever fully understand who Jesus is, what His new covenant is, and who they are in Christ without being thoroughly grounded in the book of Hebrews. In the end there will be victory, but will we, our children, and our grandchildren have to suffer needlessly because we stayed in the box, though it is a comfortable box, and never went on to perfection (maturity) (Heb. 6:1)?
Looking for alert disciples who will forsake all
to follow Jesus and continue His work.
I am trying to reach disciples who will be wide awake and will forsake not only the things of the world but all of the things of man’s religion to follow Jesus. Jesus must have sensed some degree of urgency while on earth because He knew His time was short to share His message and find disciples who would do the above. I hope I have many more years to share Jesus Christ and His message, but the time is short for changing things before devastating things occur.
After writing this on Monday, April 16, [2007], I learned of the tragedy at Virginia Tech. I was reminded of speaking a word several years ago that mothers would be crying, and a few days afterward hearing of the shootings at the high school in Columbine, Colorado. I also noticed a difference about this tragedy. Many reporting it and hearing of it were not as deeply touched as they were about things in the past, such as Columbine or the events of September 11, 2001. The devil is desensitizing people about these things as he has about other things in the past. God is looking for disciples who are very sensitive to His Spirit and His Word and will not be distracted from seeing clearly.
In conclusion, I remind you that there must come godly repentance and restoration, or devilish storms will continue, and they will increase in number and severity. We had to face the fact on April 16 that not all storms are weather related. Let’s draw near to God. Let’s study to show ourselves approved and move on to spiritual maturity and the unity of faith. Together, in the full measure of the stature of Christ, we will bear much fruit to His glory. It has been said that you are as spiritual as you want to be. Let’s be prepared for the day when the devilish storms approach our door. That’s when you will want to be spiritual. Like a mature marathon runner, however, spiritual maturity does not happen overnight; it takes discipline. Let’s be disciples who are sensitive to God’s Spirit and His Word and who are ready to forsake all and follow Christ, bearing the mature fruit of righteousness.
Humility, Truth & Unity, Part 2
Just Agree To Disagree?
Not According To Paul!
Another of man’s sayings that prevents some Christians from hearing truth is that “we should agree on the essentials and just agree to disagree on other things.” This may sound good on the surface, but again my experience and discernment have taught me that this doesn’t work in the long run and is suspect of even being Biblical. This type of saying may appear to keep the peace while we are separated, but it doesn’t make the peace necessary to bring about the unity of faith that Jesus wants of His body.
Paul sure didn’t just agree to disagree with Peter in Galatians 2:11 through 21. He called hypocrisy what it was and confronted Peter personally, and then he wrote about it to all Christians who read the Word. Today, many church leaders would overlook it or say, “Let’s keep this among ourselves.” Paul did not overlook it because he knew that anything different from the gospel truth took away from the glory of the cross and put eternal souls at risk. A thorough study of Galatians chapters one and two will help in understanding Paul. Confrontation still may be needed in some situations, but if we will humble ourselves before God and each other, then the Holy Spirit will have an opportunity to work. Jesus Himself was very strong in what He wrote through John to the seven churches (Revelation 2 and 3). Regretfully, too many people miss a major part of those messages because, among other things, they have divided the messages to the seven churches up into being applicable only at certain dispensational times.
Paul gives us wise Biblical direction in Philippians 3: 15 and 16. The New Living Translation says: “Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.”
[Note: It is beneficial to study these verses in more than one translation.]
Teach Only What You
Have Comprehended
In accordance with the principle stated previously, we are to live by and minister the truth that we have comprehended and wait on God about things that are not clear to us as of yet. A few years ago the Holy Spirit gave me specific direction concerning the book of Revelation. I was to minister only what He had made clear to me. I was to keep studying and praying, and He would make other things clear. He has been faithful as I was obedient.
If all true Christians lived by the wisdom given through Paul in Philippians chapter three, we would move quickly toward a Church that is in the unity of faith. For example, if the unified Church applied to end times this principle of ministering the truth that we have comprehended and then would wait on God about things that are not clear as of yet, it would cause all true disciples to slow down or even stop giving their various viewpoints on eschatology. They would all, in agreement, begin ministering what is absolutely clear, and what is absolutely clear is that the Lord is coming again.
Many misunderstood Paul’s message in First Thessalonians and that is one of the main reasons he wrote Second Thessalonians. Are we humble enough to consider that maybe we have missed something? Together we should seek God for revelation of His Word. Applying this principle of teaching only what we have comprehended to all of our Bible study and teaching would do amazing things in the Church, as well as preventing confusion to the world, and would help us reach the lost as we work together. I say this with love, if we don’t come to this place of unity, then we and/or our descendants will suffer unnecessarily. If we ignore the cry of God’s Spirit and continue to go our individual ways, then may God have mercy. A Church divided will not stand and is not ready to be caught away.
The Influence of the Divided Church
On The World
Thank God for each lost person who is born again through the ministry of the Church in her present state, but have you ever really thought about how divided and confusing we as a whole are viewed to be by most of the world? We like to quote “narrow is the way and few who find it” as a comfort, but in actuality, we are driving many to secular humanism and other false religions. For every one we reach, there are many we confuse and drive away.
One thing that would help is for all disciples to be trained alike in the six basic doctrines of the Word found in Hebrews 6:1 and 2. I had to add the word “alike” above (trained “alike”) because I recently heard of someone believing that the doctrine of baptisms is plural since people can be water baptized more than one time. Someone may be baptized more than once, but every disciple needs to know the true reason “baptisms” is plural. I heard of another situation where it was taught that Hebrews doesn’t apply to Christians; it only applies to Jews. If that was true, all Christians should read what the book of Hebrews says to Jews; many would have to change their theology if they really had a revelation of what is written in that book.
If we really want some Biblical essentials, we can find six listed in Hebrews 6:1 and 2: “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”
I was communicating with a pastor’s wife about these doctrines, and while we were discussing one of them, she indicated that they didn’t believe in that one. That equals adding to and taking away! The Biblical truth is that no Christian will ever have a chance of being a mature disciple unless they are grounded in all six of these basic doctrines. Then and only then are they ready for the meat of the Word. Hebrews 5:12-14 stresses this: “… though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
One of the reasons we are immature, divided, and so susceptible to teaching as doctrines the commandments of men is that we come short in these basics. More than one translation of the Bible calls them “elementary teachings”.
The Church Jesus Is Building:
Of One Mind And One Accord
Jesus is looking for real disciples who will believe Him and all of His Word as taught by the Holy Spirit. It will take humility to even consider that some of the things we have been taught and believed for so many years could be of man and not of God. It will be worth humbling ourselves because truth will set us free, and we will unify around Jesus and His Word. The Church Jesus is building will be unified in such a way.
Jesus is restoring the gospel to His Church, and He is restoring true disciples. Both are necessary to having a remnant Church in His image. Any doctrine not in line with the Bible is false doctrine. Do you want to be part of the Church that Jesus is building and influencing, or do you want to be part of the church that man is building and/or influencing? How many professing Christians have had their senses trained to discern the difference? How many Christians know Jesus intimately and His Word thoroughly? How many are even concerned about it or are striving to know Him intimately and His Word thoroughly. I know many Christians who are truly born again but know church doctrine better than the apostles’ doctrine.
What would happen if churches and denominations emphasized the six basic doctrines found in Hebrews 6:1 and 2 as much as they do their church doctrines and disciplines? What about the four priorities of the early Church found in Acts 2:42? Let’s study to show ourselves approved under the direction of the Holy Spirit until we are sanctified by truth and united in spirit. Let’s pray for a Church that is formed in the image of Jesus to become a reality. It is worth making ourselves humble, being repentant, and submitting anew to being taught by the Holy Spirit. Christ Jesus will be glorified! Together with the Spirit we can say, “Come, Lord Jesus.” Amen.
May the prodigal church come home to Jesus and say with Paul, “… it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me …” (Galatians 2:20a).
Having now read this message, my hope is that your spirit has been touched and stirred. I desire to see all of the Church in unity with God and each other. I believe you do, too. Let’s believe and agree for it to happen. The Bible does warn of a falling away, but as some are tempted to fall away, may many more be drawn to Jesus Christ and become part of His unified body. I often use the words “remnant Church” to identify the faithful, unified Church. Let the remnant Church become of one mind and accord, and may the Lord add to her number daily those who are being saved! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Not According To Paul!
Another of man’s sayings that prevents some Christians from hearing truth is that “we should agree on the essentials and just agree to disagree on other things.” This may sound good on the surface, but again my experience and discernment have taught me that this doesn’t work in the long run and is suspect of even being Biblical. This type of saying may appear to keep the peace while we are separated, but it doesn’t make the peace necessary to bring about the unity of faith that Jesus wants of His body.
Paul sure didn’t just agree to disagree with Peter in Galatians 2:11 through 21. He called hypocrisy what it was and confronted Peter personally, and then he wrote about it to all Christians who read the Word. Today, many church leaders would overlook it or say, “Let’s keep this among ourselves.” Paul did not overlook it because he knew that anything different from the gospel truth took away from the glory of the cross and put eternal souls at risk. A thorough study of Galatians chapters one and two will help in understanding Paul. Confrontation still may be needed in some situations, but if we will humble ourselves before God and each other, then the Holy Spirit will have an opportunity to work. Jesus Himself was very strong in what He wrote through John to the seven churches (Revelation 2 and 3). Regretfully, too many people miss a major part of those messages because, among other things, they have divided the messages to the seven churches up into being applicable only at certain dispensational times.
Paul gives us wise Biblical direction in Philippians 3: 15 and 16. The New Living Translation says: “Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made.”
[Note: It is beneficial to study these verses in more than one translation.]
Teach Only What You
Have Comprehended
In accordance with the principle stated previously, we are to live by and minister the truth that we have comprehended and wait on God about things that are not clear to us as of yet. A few years ago the Holy Spirit gave me specific direction concerning the book of Revelation. I was to minister only what He had made clear to me. I was to keep studying and praying, and He would make other things clear. He has been faithful as I was obedient.
If all true Christians lived by the wisdom given through Paul in Philippians chapter three, we would move quickly toward a Church that is in the unity of faith. For example, if the unified Church applied to end times this principle of ministering the truth that we have comprehended and then would wait on God about things that are not clear as of yet, it would cause all true disciples to slow down or even stop giving their various viewpoints on eschatology. They would all, in agreement, begin ministering what is absolutely clear, and what is absolutely clear is that the Lord is coming again.
Many misunderstood Paul’s message in First Thessalonians and that is one of the main reasons he wrote Second Thessalonians. Are we humble enough to consider that maybe we have missed something? Together we should seek God for revelation of His Word. Applying this principle of teaching only what we have comprehended to all of our Bible study and teaching would do amazing things in the Church, as well as preventing confusion to the world, and would help us reach the lost as we work together. I say this with love, if we don’t come to this place of unity, then we and/or our descendants will suffer unnecessarily. If we ignore the cry of God’s Spirit and continue to go our individual ways, then may God have mercy. A Church divided will not stand and is not ready to be caught away.
The Influence of the Divided Church
On The World
Thank God for each lost person who is born again through the ministry of the Church in her present state, but have you ever really thought about how divided and confusing we as a whole are viewed to be by most of the world? We like to quote “narrow is the way and few who find it” as a comfort, but in actuality, we are driving many to secular humanism and other false religions. For every one we reach, there are many we confuse and drive away.
One thing that would help is for all disciples to be trained alike in the six basic doctrines of the Word found in Hebrews 6:1 and 2. I had to add the word “alike” above (trained “alike”) because I recently heard of someone believing that the doctrine of baptisms is plural since people can be water baptized more than one time. Someone may be baptized more than once, but every disciple needs to know the true reason “baptisms” is plural. I heard of another situation where it was taught that Hebrews doesn’t apply to Christians; it only applies to Jews. If that was true, all Christians should read what the book of Hebrews says to Jews; many would have to change their theology if they really had a revelation of what is written in that book.
If we really want some Biblical essentials, we can find six listed in Hebrews 6:1 and 2: “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.”
I was communicating with a pastor’s wife about these doctrines, and while we were discussing one of them, she indicated that they didn’t believe in that one. That equals adding to and taking away! The Biblical truth is that no Christian will ever have a chance of being a mature disciple unless they are grounded in all six of these basic doctrines. Then and only then are they ready for the meat of the Word. Hebrews 5:12-14 stresses this: “… though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.”
One of the reasons we are immature, divided, and so susceptible to teaching as doctrines the commandments of men is that we come short in these basics. More than one translation of the Bible calls them “elementary teachings”.
The Church Jesus Is Building:
Of One Mind And One Accord
Jesus is looking for real disciples who will believe Him and all of His Word as taught by the Holy Spirit. It will take humility to even consider that some of the things we have been taught and believed for so many years could be of man and not of God. It will be worth humbling ourselves because truth will set us free, and we will unify around Jesus and His Word. The Church Jesus is building will be unified in such a way.
Jesus is restoring the gospel to His Church, and He is restoring true disciples. Both are necessary to having a remnant Church in His image. Any doctrine not in line with the Bible is false doctrine. Do you want to be part of the Church that Jesus is building and influencing, or do you want to be part of the church that man is building and/or influencing? How many professing Christians have had their senses trained to discern the difference? How many Christians know Jesus intimately and His Word thoroughly? How many are even concerned about it or are striving to know Him intimately and His Word thoroughly. I know many Christians who are truly born again but know church doctrine better than the apostles’ doctrine.
What would happen if churches and denominations emphasized the six basic doctrines found in Hebrews 6:1 and 2 as much as they do their church doctrines and disciplines? What about the four priorities of the early Church found in Acts 2:42? Let’s study to show ourselves approved under the direction of the Holy Spirit until we are sanctified by truth and united in spirit. Let’s pray for a Church that is formed in the image of Jesus to become a reality. It is worth making ourselves humble, being repentant, and submitting anew to being taught by the Holy Spirit. Christ Jesus will be glorified! Together with the Spirit we can say, “Come, Lord Jesus.” Amen.
May the prodigal church come home to Jesus and say with Paul, “… it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me …” (Galatians 2:20a).
Having now read this message, my hope is that your spirit has been touched and stirred. I desire to see all of the Church in unity with God and each other. I believe you do, too. Let’s believe and agree for it to happen. The Bible does warn of a falling away, but as some are tempted to fall away, may many more be drawn to Jesus Christ and become part of His unified body. I often use the words “remnant Church” to identify the faithful, unified Church. Let the remnant Church become of one mind and accord, and may the Lord add to her number daily those who are being saved! The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
Humility, Truth & Unity, Part 1
Restoration, Revival, and Awakening:
A Whole Church View
God has placed within my heart a tremendous concern and desire to see restoration, revival and awakening take place within the Church of Jesus Christ. My heart longs for God’s people, the body of Christ, to become mature and have Christ formed within them, both individually and corporately. I strongly desire to see the Church unified and working together under the direction of the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s purposes on earth. To even begin to understand this message that I am trying to convey, the reader will have to think outside the box and beyond the boundaries of their particular part of the Church. It is often said that Christians need a “world view.” More important than a worldview is a need for a “whole Church view.” The whole Church, working together, can fulfill Matthew 24:14: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
Let’s be thankful for Christian television and any other forms of media or helps that might be available now or in the future, but let’s not let anything be our primary hope of fulfilling the Lord’s assignment to His disciples other than obedience to the “Great Commission” (Matthew 28: 19-20). Jesus Christ instructed us to pray that the Lord of the harvest would send laborers, not televisions, into His harvest (Matthew 9:37-38; Luke 10:2).
We must learn to think about and be concerned about all of the body of Christ and how she is to work together under the direction of the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s will and purposes. This is why I have ministered in the past about churches and Christians sailing along in their individual boats and not being truly and/or fully aware of each other. On the other hand, I have warned about fleshly, ecumenical unity. Although it might make us feel good, or feel like we are accomplishing something good, it does not fulfill God’s Word. It is not the answer to John 17.
Let’s repent of our separation and fleshly attempts to accomplish God’s work. Let’s realize that one of the main reasons we have not been successful is that we have, all too often, tried to fulfill God’s will with our ways. God wants us to depend on Him, but He also made us to depend upon each other. First Corinthians 12 explains how the body is made up of individual parts, but it works as a unit. To function properly, the body must work together. We need each other’s gifts, and all of the gifts have to work together.
A Look At The Church Today:
Is Change Really Needed?
While we know that God does have faithful disciples and churches in the earth, one has only to look around at the rapid decline of society to see that the Church is not, as a whole, presently having a major impact in the battle for souls. Why? I believe it is, to a large degree, because the Church, especially in the West, has been lulled to sleep by her pride, her man-made doctrines, and the divisions they bring. The sweet morsels that are being served up from so many pulpits today have become her sustenance and only feed her pride and self-centeredness. She has lost sight of being salt and light. She has lost sight of the meaning of being a disciple of Jesus Christ and, among others things, she has forsaken the four priorities found in Acts 2:42: “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, in fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”
The majority of Christians today, including church pastors and ministers, seem to accept the status quo—the existing state of affairs—of the overall Church. Many, if not most, Christian ministers are focused predominantly on their particular group, whether it is independent, denominational, or non-denominational. Although they may have some type of ecumenical relationship with other groups, they are hard core to the core about their own group, and they are not easily convinced that change is needed. Many times, it is only some kind of shaking in their personal life or their church or group that will bring them to true humility and wake them up to the need for restoration, revival, and awakening in their Church. I continue to pray that hearts will be opened by truth and not by hard times.
Yes, I am saying that the leaders of the Church and their followers need to wake up. We need to get out of our individual boats and get back into the ship that is captained by the Lord Jesus. He has only one ship, and it is for Jews and Gentiles who, by faith in Christ, obtain righteousness in God and become part of the Church that He is building. As we are told in Psalm 127:1a, “Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain that build it …”
Tearing Down Old Mindsets To Release Truth
Some say that “old dogs can’t be taught new tricks” in order to illustrate that people steeped in their ways are not going to change. Old dogs may have a hard time learning new tricks, but people, especially true Christians, can hear and receive revelation of God’s Word that may not have been revealed to them previously if they will be humble and teachable. They can also be humbled and lay aside the weights of man-made teachings and traditions.
Presently, there are Christians who have given up on having a great harvest of souls before the Lord’s return. They believe things will only get worse. They focus mainly on the degradation of society and a falling away. Although they may continue to work to some degree in the harvest field, deep down inside they don’t believe for a great harvest. Their motivation is weakened and their focus is more and more on being caught away. Being prepared for the catching away becomes a dominant theme even in their witnessing to the lost. Yes, we should prepare all people for our Lord’s return, but we should also keep our eyes focused on the work He has given us to do. Jesus intended for His Church to continue His work until His return. Some Christians are tempted to become more focused on going home than completing the job — than finishing the course. Maybe we need some angels to say, “Why stand you here gazing…” (Acts 1:11).
This mentality can be changed if we will humble ourselves, renew our minds, repent of our divisions, and unite in Christ. This message is to help that become a reality. Maybe we need more than restoration, revival, and awakening. Maybe we need a spiritual revolution!
A Little Leaven:
Man-Made Doctrines
Jesus intended for His Church to be built upon Himself and His Word. We have all too often built churches upon Jesus, some of His Word, and some of man’s words. It is usually the addition of man’s words that brings division and disunity within the Church. Jesus and His Word are harmonious. Remember that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. A little leaven leavens the whole church! The Church will only experience true restoration, revival, and awakening as she decides to build her house exclusively on Jesus Christ and His Word. That means we must begin examining everything we believe.
People feel threatened when what they hold dear is threatened. As the man-made doctrines within the church are threatened, and threatened they will be, some people within the church will hold on and defend them as much or more than they will defend Jesus and His Word. It is tough on one’s pride to have to admit he or she is wrong, but pride must go to make room for humility and truth. Humility opens the door to honest communication, truth, understanding, and unity, whereas pride closes the door to these things. The truth is that all that is of man must be burned away. Words of God, if spoken and heard, can shake everything that needs to be shaken. What about you? Will you follow Jesus and live by His Word only? Will you humble yourself and forsake all that is of man in the Church?
Pride or Humility?
Truth and Unity Depend On It!
There are many talented people in the secular world who have been overcome by pride. If they are teachable at all it is on a very limited basis or is received only if that person sees it as being to their personal advantage. This is true in politics, business, sports, etc. Regretfully, this is also true of many who profess to be Christian. Pride is a pervasive sin that prevents us from hearing truth that will set us free. When true humility replaces pride, we will see truth replacing the things that have divided the body of Christ, which will result in unity, true unity.
A thought came to me as I was writing this message that the division in the body of Christ is more painful to Jesus Christ than any part of His earthly suffering. Whether you receive this as literal or figurative, would you consider how important it is to our Savior and Lord that His body be one with Him and each other now and not only in the future? The pain He experienced prior to and on the cross was to bring forth a unified body that will be His bride. How can we walk together if we are not in unity? If we are in unity, we can accomplish God’s earthly commission that He assigned to us.
I have studied and prayed over John 17 many times. A few years ago the Spirit of God focused my attention on verse 17, “Sanctify them by your truth. Your word is truth.” It was revealed to me that being sanctified by truth is a vital part of our being one with the Lord and with each other. Would you ask the Holy Spirit to give you a revelation of how important it is to our Lord for His prayer found in John 17 to be answered? Would you give yourself to being sanctified by truth? Would you seek to have a unified body of Christ? Jesus does!
As a Christian and a minister, the experience I have gained and the discernment I have received tell me that many professing Christians view the Word of God through glasses that have been tainted by man-made doctrines. Although many individuals, churches, denominations, and non-denominations have espoused these doctrines, they are still man-made. Our Lord addresses such situations in Matthew 15:6 and 9. He said that the commandments of God are made of no effect by man’s tradition, and worship of Him was in vain because they were teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. We read these verses, but our pride often prevents us from applying them to our doctrines. Many years ago, I told a group of people that, figuratively speaking, they needed to forget everything they had ever heard about the Bible and humbly ask the Holy Spirit to teach them, as they diligently studied the entire Bible. Jesus gives us some great advice in John 8:31 and 32. “So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” (AMP)
Continued in Part 2
Restoration and Holiness
Some Christians are not aware of or even interested in holiness, while others want it so much they almost want to call down fire from heaven on people. Real holiness is nothing more or less than Christ living in and through His body. If you are a member of His body, then you are called to have Christ formed within you. When Christ is formed within you, you will be holy as God is holy in your attitudes and conduct. When you see others whose attitudes and conduct are unholy, your heart will grieve because of your love and compassion, and you will want to give your life to bring Christ to them. The only fire you will want to fall on them is the fire of the Holy Spirit.
The longing of my heart is to see the restoration, revival, and awakening of the Church, the bride of Christ. You may be thinking, “You speak often about the restoration of the Church, but what does that mean? What does the Church need to be restored to?”
Among other things, restoration means returning to our first love—Jesus Christ—and His Word. It means repenting of our indifference toward God and others, and our sloth in doing the first works—prayer and intimate time with the Lord and His Word. It means remembering the costly grace that Jesus freely gave and returning to a passionate commitment of love toward God and those whom He loves. It means rightly dividing God’s Word in a way that we are sanctified by its truth and set apart to the Lord for His purposes and to carry on His work. It means being one with God and each other. When this kind of restoration takes place in the Church, we are well on our way to true revival and awakening. I strongly encourage an in depth study of Jesus’ messages to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3, as well as studying the habits and character of the early church in the Acts of the Apostles.
There will not be restoration, revival, and awakening within the Church without holiness. There will not be holiness without godly sorrow that leads to repentance (2 Cor. 7:10). Holiness is motivated by love and comes about as self dies and Christ is formed within. John 3:30: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Some people preach holiness and then leave people trying to obtain it by works, either consciously or subconsciously. Others preach love but do not preach holiness. The pendulum swings from cheap grace to harsh judgment and/or legalistic holiness. We must beware and teach others to beware of extremes, both fleshly and satanic.
Christians must be discerning of those in the Church who use the correct Scriptures and key words—such as remnant, restoration, and holiness—but who don't have our Lord's heart. They may not be deceitful in their intent, but they may be zealous beyond their maturity in the things of the Lord. The Holy Spirit must Captain the ship. He is the only one who will get the Church on course and keep her on course. [Note that the emphasis of this statement is on the truth that we must get on course before we can be kept on course. For more about this, read the message “Humility, Truth, and Unity” found on our website.]
The Holy Spirit works through the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers written about in Ephesians 4:11, but it is difficult today to find those ministers who are spiritually balanced and mature, both in character and truth. They do exist, but they are usually unknown and in obscurity because they will not compromise for the sake of prominence and notoriety. The devil likes it that way! More often, we find ministers who have some truth of God but lack the character of Christ, or others who have character but are lacking in the truth. When I speak of having truth, I am speaking of the whole counsel of God without the addition of man’s leaven. Truth sanctifies, but man’s leaven contaminates. These things are changing, but it will take time.
We need people who will have ears to hear and eyes to see as a result of walking in the Spirit. There are times when it is appropriate to have a season of prayer and fasting, but we need mature disciples who have prayer and fasting as an ongoing part of their life in Christ Jesus. This is a necessity, in addition to the continual study of the entire Bible. When this takes place and is led by the Lord, restoration, revival, and awakening are not far away. We are looking for awakening that does not fizzle out after a period of time but builds momentum until Jesus returns, even if it has to pass from generation to generation.
There are many Christians who know that God has called them, but they are frustrated. They keep looking for something to satisfy their longing, be it another church, movement, writer, or a speaker of the prophetic. I have an answer, but it will not make the flesh happy. Rather than looking for an exciting church or one that lets you release your ministry, ask God to give you biblical revelation of His kingdom and His Church. Ask Him to reveal a true prophet of the Lord to you, and when you find him, use your gifts to help accomplish what God wants done. Then your ministry will bear lasting fruit.
The work of God that is needed is bigger than any of us and requires sacrifice. It is more than finding and settling into a particular local church and becoming an active member. It is more than being on staff! It can include that, but it is much more. Thousands upon thousands of Christians are part of active churches that are not being or accomplishing what Jesus intended when He said that He would build His Church. We are so used to thinking of Church as various modern-day churches model it. As I encouraged above, we must go back to the Word to find the true pattern and then pay the price to follow that pattern. It will take restoration, and it will require holiness, but it will pay eternal dividends.
I am asking you to apply what I am saying to yourself first before applying it to others. We must have hearts to Hear truth and then humble ourselves to be doers of truth. Can you imagine that some people would not help Moses, Jeremiah, David, Paul, John, Peter, and even Jesus because they had been offended by their hard sayings? It did happen. Can you imagine the blessings they missed? We must bow our knees in humility and then cry out to God for His will to be done. When that happens, we will work with whom He chooses and not with those we choose. Within that kind of submission and dying to self is holiness that will bring restoration, revival, and great awakening. When we become a part of accomplishing what God needs accomplished we will find true joy and fulfillment.
The longing of my heart is to see the restoration, revival, and awakening of the Church, the bride of Christ. You may be thinking, “You speak often about the restoration of the Church, but what does that mean? What does the Church need to be restored to?”
Among other things, restoration means returning to our first love—Jesus Christ—and His Word. It means repenting of our indifference toward God and others, and our sloth in doing the first works—prayer and intimate time with the Lord and His Word. It means remembering the costly grace that Jesus freely gave and returning to a passionate commitment of love toward God and those whom He loves. It means rightly dividing God’s Word in a way that we are sanctified by its truth and set apart to the Lord for His purposes and to carry on His work. It means being one with God and each other. When this kind of restoration takes place in the Church, we are well on our way to true revival and awakening. I strongly encourage an in depth study of Jesus’ messages to the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3, as well as studying the habits and character of the early church in the Acts of the Apostles.
There will not be restoration, revival, and awakening within the Church without holiness. There will not be holiness without godly sorrow that leads to repentance (2 Cor. 7:10). Holiness is motivated by love and comes about as self dies and Christ is formed within. John 3:30: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” Some people preach holiness and then leave people trying to obtain it by works, either consciously or subconsciously. Others preach love but do not preach holiness. The pendulum swings from cheap grace to harsh judgment and/or legalistic holiness. We must beware and teach others to beware of extremes, both fleshly and satanic.
Christians must be discerning of those in the Church who use the correct Scriptures and key words—such as remnant, restoration, and holiness—but who don't have our Lord's heart. They may not be deceitful in their intent, but they may be zealous beyond their maturity in the things of the Lord. The Holy Spirit must Captain the ship. He is the only one who will get the Church on course and keep her on course. [Note that the emphasis of this statement is on the truth that we must get on course before we can be kept on course. For more about this, read the message “Humility, Truth, and Unity” found on our website.]
The Holy Spirit works through the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers written about in Ephesians 4:11, but it is difficult today to find those ministers who are spiritually balanced and mature, both in character and truth. They do exist, but they are usually unknown and in obscurity because they will not compromise for the sake of prominence and notoriety. The devil likes it that way! More often, we find ministers who have some truth of God but lack the character of Christ, or others who have character but are lacking in the truth. When I speak of having truth, I am speaking of the whole counsel of God without the addition of man’s leaven. Truth sanctifies, but man’s leaven contaminates. These things are changing, but it will take time.
We need people who will have ears to hear and eyes to see as a result of walking in the Spirit. There are times when it is appropriate to have a season of prayer and fasting, but we need mature disciples who have prayer and fasting as an ongoing part of their life in Christ Jesus. This is a necessity, in addition to the continual study of the entire Bible. When this takes place and is led by the Lord, restoration, revival, and awakening are not far away. We are looking for awakening that does not fizzle out after a period of time but builds momentum until Jesus returns, even if it has to pass from generation to generation.
There are many Christians who know that God has called them, but they are frustrated. They keep looking for something to satisfy their longing, be it another church, movement, writer, or a speaker of the prophetic. I have an answer, but it will not make the flesh happy. Rather than looking for an exciting church or one that lets you release your ministry, ask God to give you biblical revelation of His kingdom and His Church. Ask Him to reveal a true prophet of the Lord to you, and when you find him, use your gifts to help accomplish what God wants done. Then your ministry will bear lasting fruit.
The work of God that is needed is bigger than any of us and requires sacrifice. It is more than finding and settling into a particular local church and becoming an active member. It is more than being on staff! It can include that, but it is much more. Thousands upon thousands of Christians are part of active churches that are not being or accomplishing what Jesus intended when He said that He would build His Church. We are so used to thinking of Church as various modern-day churches model it. As I encouraged above, we must go back to the Word to find the true pattern and then pay the price to follow that pattern. It will take restoration, and it will require holiness, but it will pay eternal dividends.
I am asking you to apply what I am saying to yourself first before applying it to others. We must have hearts to Hear truth and then humble ourselves to be doers of truth. Can you imagine that some people would not help Moses, Jeremiah, David, Paul, John, Peter, and even Jesus because they had been offended by their hard sayings? It did happen. Can you imagine the blessings they missed? We must bow our knees in humility and then cry out to God for His will to be done. When that happens, we will work with whom He chooses and not with those we choose. Within that kind of submission and dying to self is holiness that will bring restoration, revival, and great awakening. When we become a part of accomplishing what God needs accomplished we will find true joy and fulfillment.
Structure of The Church
I would love to see within a local church a few hundred people conformed to Christ and continuing His work in the unity of faith. I would love to see disciples of Jesus become mature in Christ and His truth and ministers trained who would begin new local churches. All of these would be in the unity of faith, not only with each other, but also with other local churches that have forsaken all to follow Jesus Christ.
The main emphasis in the ministry that the Holy Spirit has given me is the Lord and His Word. Ministering the Lord and His Word of truth transcends my being pastor of a local church—even what is written above transcends a local church. I am ministering what the Lord gives me in word and in writing to try to get the attention of enough disciples who will unite in faith to do whatever the Holy Spirit says to do. On the positive side, we need a Church on this earth that is formed in the image of Jesus. On the negative side, if this Church does not come forth, there is going to be hell to pay—whatever that means!
The message I preached yesterday was titled The Structure of Jesus vs. Man's Structure. Most of the modern Christian church, to some degree or other, is structured after man's structure. Anything built upon man is not going to accomplish God's work and is not going to stand against the winds. I told some Jehovah’s Witnesses who came to my door last week that even if Jesus was the only begotten son (note the lower case “s”) of God, and he was just a god, then no one could be born again. Only God Almighty, not a god—even if that god is called Jesus—only God could have been the sacrifice needed for mankind’s salvation. Jesus is God! Jesus is deity! He is not A son of God; He is THE Son of God! (I am not indicating that the people I spoke with are part of the modern Christian church, but there are some lessons to be learned, which include that we must know, live, and speak truth).
In the final analysis, anything built on man's structure will usually defend the manmade part of it when push comes to shove. Some Roman Catholics have participated in manmade ecumenical activities in the past and probably will in the future. Many Protestants have proclaimed all of this to be unity, but when push came to shove, the supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church made it clear that (they believe) no one can be saved apart from their structure.
There have been a lot of churches, denominations, etc. started by someone or some group over the last several hundred years. They quite often all talk about Jesus, but they have varying structures that distinguish and separate them from one another. The Church that Jesus is building is in the unity of faith all over the earth and will fulfill Ephesians 4:11-16. The Church He is building will also fulfill Matthew 24:14, which according to the Scripture must be done by the Lord's Church on earth before He returns. How many church structures train their members in these two vital things, in truth and in the right context?
This brings me to defining the restoration of the Church. The restored Church will be humble and repentant. She will deny self, unite in faith, and grow up in all things into Christ. She will be restored to Jesus Christ and His biblical pattern, realizing that it is His, and only His, pattern and structure that she is to live by. She will be washed in truth, which will free her from man’s traditions and doctrines as well as the filth of the world, and she will speak that truth in boldness and in love. Each member will know their place and will be fitly joined together with all other members; each member will walk in the fruit of the Spirit and will move in the gifts and power of the Spirit. United as one, she will take up her cross and follow Jesus into the harvest fields that are white for harvest and thereby preach the gospel of His kingdom in all the world as a witness to all nations, thus fulfilling Mark 16:18 and Matthew 24:14. Don’t try to understand this with your natural mind; don’t lean on your understanding gained from the modern church and/or the wisdom of the world, but instead cry out for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him and that He would open the eyes of your understanding (Eph. 1:17-18). Ask the Holy Spirit to free your mind from being conformed to the way most of the modern church sees unity and to see it the way the Bible reveals it. Ask Him to free you from seeing the things of God through the modern church structures. Most of the religious leaders and people in the day of Jesus were so BLIND. If they could have just set aside their forms and structures, their mindsets, they would have seen who Jesus was and also the danger that was ahead in A.D. 70.
The bringing forth of the restored Church will transcend what we call the Protestant Reformation, the Pentecostal Outpouring, the Charismatic Movement, or anything else. I always leave hope that the Roman Catholic Church, along with any other church, denomination, or non-denomination, will repent of everything that is of man to follow Jesus. But when push comes to shove, history has proven over and over again that groups divide and stand in defense of their manmade origins and structures. This always prevents the unity of faith and maturity in Christ. The restored Church will be made up of people who have forsaken all manmade structures of religion and the world to follow Jesus and to be part of His structure, His Church. Acquire the spirit of “I have decided to follow Jesus; though none go with me, I will follow!” You will find others of the same spirit!
I have been praying for all people to declare very clearly who they are. True and mature ministers and disciples will declare who they are. The carnal, false, immature, greedy, and selfish will declare who they are. Those committed to Jesus and His structure will declare who they are. Those committed to both Jesus and a manmade structure will declare who they are. The latter group follows Jesus in the context of their manmade structure, but ultimately, who does this mean is in control? People can be members of a carnal, immature church, or even a church that has false teaching, and they will spend eternity with God if they are born again. The loss is that they will never have accomplished God's full purposes for them on earth. For them, there will be weeping at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:10-15).
Those who take truth into their minds but never into their hearts will not understand or pursue truth. It will not burn with urgency within them. I am looking for those who will take the truth of Jesus and His Word into their minds and hearts and move with urgency, for the time is short. Will the Lord find you faithful to Him and His structure, without mixture?
The greatest miracle is salvation, but isn't it strange that some who minister salvation to the lost do not believe that the Church can be without spot and wrinkle before the Lord returns. They believe that the vilest sinner can repent and be born again, but they don't believe that the Church can repent and be mature and in unity in Christ. One belief is in the heart, and the other is not! One belief is preached in the pulpit, and the other is not. If any sinner does not repent, they will go to hell; if the church does not repent, hell is coming to earth in devilish storms, storms that are not just weather related. One may die and go to heaven before it happens, but no one should be too sure about escaping it by being raptured before it happens. If enough repent and unite in faith, we can experience restoration, revival, and great awakening. It is a lie of the devil that all things have to get worse and worse. It is the truth of God that He wants a faithful remnant, and He will have one that will witness the gospel of the kingdom to the ends of the earth, and then the end will come.
_____________________________
BIBLICAL APPLICATION
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV
The main emphasis in the ministry that the Holy Spirit has given me is the Lord and His Word. Ministering the Lord and His Word of truth transcends my being pastor of a local church—even what is written above transcends a local church. I am ministering what the Lord gives me in word and in writing to try to get the attention of enough disciples who will unite in faith to do whatever the Holy Spirit says to do. On the positive side, we need a Church on this earth that is formed in the image of Jesus. On the negative side, if this Church does not come forth, there is going to be hell to pay—whatever that means!
The message I preached yesterday was titled The Structure of Jesus vs. Man's Structure. Most of the modern Christian church, to some degree or other, is structured after man's structure. Anything built upon man is not going to accomplish God's work and is not going to stand against the winds. I told some Jehovah’s Witnesses who came to my door last week that even if Jesus was the only begotten son (note the lower case “s”) of God, and he was just a god, then no one could be born again. Only God Almighty, not a god—even if that god is called Jesus—only God could have been the sacrifice needed for mankind’s salvation. Jesus is God! Jesus is deity! He is not A son of God; He is THE Son of God! (I am not indicating that the people I spoke with are part of the modern Christian church, but there are some lessons to be learned, which include that we must know, live, and speak truth).
In the final analysis, anything built on man's structure will usually defend the manmade part of it when push comes to shove. Some Roman Catholics have participated in manmade ecumenical activities in the past and probably will in the future. Many Protestants have proclaimed all of this to be unity, but when push came to shove, the supreme leader of the Roman Catholic Church made it clear that (they believe) no one can be saved apart from their structure.
There have been a lot of churches, denominations, etc. started by someone or some group over the last several hundred years. They quite often all talk about Jesus, but they have varying structures that distinguish and separate them from one another. The Church that Jesus is building is in the unity of faith all over the earth and will fulfill Ephesians 4:11-16. The Church He is building will also fulfill Matthew 24:14, which according to the Scripture must be done by the Lord's Church on earth before He returns. How many church structures train their members in these two vital things, in truth and in the right context?
This brings me to defining the restoration of the Church. The restored Church will be humble and repentant. She will deny self, unite in faith, and grow up in all things into Christ. She will be restored to Jesus Christ and His biblical pattern, realizing that it is His, and only His, pattern and structure that she is to live by. She will be washed in truth, which will free her from man’s traditions and doctrines as well as the filth of the world, and she will speak that truth in boldness and in love. Each member will know their place and will be fitly joined together with all other members; each member will walk in the fruit of the Spirit and will move in the gifts and power of the Spirit. United as one, she will take up her cross and follow Jesus into the harvest fields that are white for harvest and thereby preach the gospel of His kingdom in all the world as a witness to all nations, thus fulfilling Mark 16:18 and Matthew 24:14. Don’t try to understand this with your natural mind; don’t lean on your understanding gained from the modern church and/or the wisdom of the world, but instead cry out for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him and that He would open the eyes of your understanding (Eph. 1:17-18). Ask the Holy Spirit to free your mind from being conformed to the way most of the modern church sees unity and to see it the way the Bible reveals it. Ask Him to free you from seeing the things of God through the modern church structures. Most of the religious leaders and people in the day of Jesus were so BLIND. If they could have just set aside their forms and structures, their mindsets, they would have seen who Jesus was and also the danger that was ahead in A.D. 70.
The bringing forth of the restored Church will transcend what we call the Protestant Reformation, the Pentecostal Outpouring, the Charismatic Movement, or anything else. I always leave hope that the Roman Catholic Church, along with any other church, denomination, or non-denomination, will repent of everything that is of man to follow Jesus. But when push comes to shove, history has proven over and over again that groups divide and stand in defense of their manmade origins and structures. This always prevents the unity of faith and maturity in Christ. The restored Church will be made up of people who have forsaken all manmade structures of religion and the world to follow Jesus and to be part of His structure, His Church. Acquire the spirit of “I have decided to follow Jesus; though none go with me, I will follow!” You will find others of the same spirit!
I have been praying for all people to declare very clearly who they are. True and mature ministers and disciples will declare who they are. The carnal, false, immature, greedy, and selfish will declare who they are. Those committed to Jesus and His structure will declare who they are. Those committed to both Jesus and a manmade structure will declare who they are. The latter group follows Jesus in the context of their manmade structure, but ultimately, who does this mean is in control? People can be members of a carnal, immature church, or even a church that has false teaching, and they will spend eternity with God if they are born again. The loss is that they will never have accomplished God's full purposes for them on earth. For them, there will be weeping at the Judgment Seat of Christ (1 Cor. 3:10-15).
Those who take truth into their minds but never into their hearts will not understand or pursue truth. It will not burn with urgency within them. I am looking for those who will take the truth of Jesus and His Word into their minds and hearts and move with urgency, for the time is short. Will the Lord find you faithful to Him and His structure, without mixture?
The greatest miracle is salvation, but isn't it strange that some who minister salvation to the lost do not believe that the Church can be without spot and wrinkle before the Lord returns. They believe that the vilest sinner can repent and be born again, but they don't believe that the Church can repent and be mature and in unity in Christ. One belief is in the heart, and the other is not! One belief is preached in the pulpit, and the other is not. If any sinner does not repent, they will go to hell; if the church does not repent, hell is coming to earth in devilish storms, storms that are not just weather related. One may die and go to heaven before it happens, but no one should be too sure about escaping it by being raptured before it happens. If enough repent and unite in faith, we can experience restoration, revival, and great awakening. It is a lie of the devil that all things have to get worse and worse. It is the truth of God that He wants a faithful remnant, and He will have one that will witness the gospel of the kingdom to the ends of the earth, and then the end will come.
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BIBLICAL APPLICATION
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Ephesians 4:11-16 NIV
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