sgys banner books

“Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” Romans 14:4

IN their early days, it was pride in the disciples that caused them to question and seek to get Jesus to shut down other ministries. They were judging another man’s servant as Paul puts it (Romans 14:4). Jesus replied and shut them down by forbidding sectarianism. Watch this:

“And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.” Luke 9:49-50

Jesus’ disciples here sought to shut down others doing what Christ apparently saw as legitimate ministry.

Do we not become the enemy of Christ if we stand in the way of His work, His workers?

The LORD grants us discernment to “know” (discern) who His body is and who isn’t a true disciple – “by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:16, 20)

Let us give God thanks for each and every member of Jesus’ body today and the work He’s called them to do! (1 Corinthians 12)

Flash Point: Other people doing ministry aren’t illegitimate because they don’t follow your exact pattern or gather with your group. Let’s humble ourselves in repentance and God will give us a kingdom perspective saints.

Jesus commanded the members of His body to …

“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

Especially in our day, where Daniels’ prophecy of exponentially increased technology is playing out, there are many ways to communicate God’s Word to people (Daniel 12:3-4). Which one of those many communication mediums is it evil to use in communicating God’s Word? None! In fact, ministries which also use the internet, in addition to local ministry, reach exponentially more saints and sinners with God’s Word.

“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” Psalms 68:11

Examples of Judging another man’s Servant

At times we’ve had folks balk that we “sell books” as if every author and every worker on the planet is worthy of his hire except those who do the most important and only eternal work of the Gospel. SMH. For the record, the ministry makes no money on the sale of books. Most of that small amount of money goes toward sending books into prisons! Every time a book is ordered through the ministry website, we have to pay the publisher (amazon) for that book(s) and the shipping to send it to the person who ordered it.

Because this outreach ministry is quite visible on the web, some may not realize that reaching the world via the web is but one phase of the outreach. Evangelism, feeding and clothing the poor, and engaging other pastors and saints in biblical discussion is also ongoing daily. Check out the Because You Care page here for a taste of other ministry operations that a transpiring.

Wouldn’t it be a kingdom-minded perspective to flood the marketplace of books with Scripture-rich books? Does amazon and other booksellers need more secular or more biblical based books for people to choose from?

Over the years we’ve received a couple of fiery emails about just giving the books away. Yet you can’t give away books when the publisher charges for each copy! Books on amazon have to be bought.

The Scripture-rich books we offer is ALL done to reach people with God’s Word in every possible place.

Laugh of the day … is when people say we’re in this for the money. If you only knew how under-supported the outreach is, you’d laugh too!

Saints, if the LORD is choosing to use us, we must not become pride-filled and act as if we are greater than any other disciple. If we do, we will be prone to wrongly judge other believers which is sin. We should be praying that all other of Christ’s saints will be used MORE than Jesus uses us! (Philippians 2:3-5)

Just because your Gospel ministering happens in a physical building on Sunday mornings, doesn’t mean it is illegitimate nor does it mean the ministering of others is not just as important. The day of the week nor the communication medium and physical location do not determine the divine legitimacy of ministering. Did Jesus and His holy apostles minister out of or in a “church building” or did they go to the people? Didn’t Jesus command us to “GO”? (Mark 16:15)

Perhaps some need a fresh, attentive, sobering read of the books of the Gospels and the book of Acts. Note: Not 1 dime was collected for a physical “church building.” Such came around later with the great apostasy.

It is pride and high-minded arrogance to vainly believe that our ministry work is more significant than that of other members of Christ’s body. Pride is evil. Pride never emanates from the crucified vessel.

“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12

God alone saves and places the members of His body where He chooses to use them. Jesus bled to redeem each member of His body and He’s in charge of what He prepares and leads them to do, not man.

“But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.” 1 Corinthians 12:18

We are “one body in Christ” saints. Let us lift up, edify, and pray for the greatest fruitfulness in each member and rejoice when God blesses others!

“That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. 28 And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” 1 Corinthians 12:25-28

“Would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!”

Let us hear Moses today. Moses wished all of God’s people were doing ministry! In this passage, we see how a young man ran and warned Moses of others doing ministry among God’s people. What was the response of Moses?

“But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp. 27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. 28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. 29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!” Numbers 11:26-29

Like Moses, the godly today desire to see God anoint and use each and every one of His people mightily! They rejoice at such! They rejoice that Christ is glorified in the hearts of men through the ministry of the Word and Spirit of God – regardless of the vessel used! (1 Corinthians 12)

It doesn’t so much matter WHO is preaching the Word. No, it matters most that the Word of God be preached!

Are you threatened by the ministry of others? What in us might still need to be crucified?

It’s the blessed crucifying cross that makes us free from the bonds of self and puts to death all self-glory and wrong judgment of others! Christ alone is LORD and worthy of all glory! (1 Corinthians 1:29-2:5)

“And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.” Luke 9:49-50 

Because You Care | Stewardship | BookstoreSupport this Gospel Work

Support | STORE | PodcastsMaking Peace with God | It is Finished! | DiscipleshipThe Gospel Centers Upon Christ’s Blood | Christology | The Gospel: What is It?

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

Abiding

Chosen, Ordained, Joyfully Fruitful [podcast]


“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you,

and ordained you, that ye should go and bring

forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that

whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name,

he may give it you.” John 15:16

  • “Ye have not chosen me”
  • “I have chosen you”
  • “and ordained you”
  • “that ye should go and bring forth fruit”
  • “and that your fruit should remain”

Of this truth, the Believer’s Bible Commentary notes the following:

“15:16 Lest there be any tendency for them to become discouraged and give up, Jesus reminded them that He was the One who chose them. This may mean that He chose them to eternal salvation, to discipleship, or to fruitfulness. He had appointed the disciples to the work which lay before them. We should go and bear fruit. Fruit may mean the graces of the Christian life, such as love, joy, peace, etc. Or it may mean souls won for the Lord Jesus Christ. There is a close link between the two. It is only as we are manifesting the first kind of fruit that we will ever be able to bring forth the second.

The expression “that your fruit should remain” leads us to think that fruit here means the salvation of souls. The Lord chose the disciples to go and bring forth lasting fruit. He was not interested in mere professions of faith in Himself, but in genuine cases of salvation. L. S. Chafer notes that in this chapter we have prayer effectual (v. 7), joy celestial (v. 11), and fruit perpetual (v. 16). “That whatever you ask … .” The secret of effective service is prayer. The disciples were sent forth with the guarantee that the Father would grant them whatever they asked in Christ’s name.”

Adam Clarke writes;

“The first ministers of the Gospel were the choice of Jesus Christ; no wonder, then, that they were so successful. Those whom men have since sent, without the appointment of God, have done no good. The choice should still continue with God, who, knowing the heart, knows best who is most proper for the Gospel ministry.

To be a genuine preacher of the Gospel, a man must –

1. Be chosen of God to the work.
2. He must be placed in the true vine – united to Christ by faith.
3. He must not think to lead an idle life, but labor.
4. He must not wait till work be brought to him, but he must go and seek it.
5. He must labor so as to bring forth fruit, i.e. to get souls converted to the Lord.
6. He must refer all his fruit to God, who gave him the power to labor, and blessed him in his work.
7. He must take care to water what he has planted, that his fruit may remain – that the souls whom he has gathered in be not scattered from the flock.
8. He must continue instant in prayer, that his labors may be accompanied with the presence and blessing of God – Whatsoever ye shall Ask.
9. He must consider Jesus Christ as the great Mediator between God and man, proclaim his salvation, and pray in his name. – Whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, etc. See Quesnel.”

God alone ordains His people to His work and brings them

through many purging seasons to cause His fruitfulness in

them, preparing them to bear more of His fruit.

God chose us and blessed us with the ability to repent and

receive Christ. As His people, He’s also ordained us to “go

and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain.”

As we read this discourse from our LORD (John 15 and 17),

we discover that He is speaking of that abiding fellowship we

have with Him, and how out of it is borne the good fruit of

His ministry in and through our life.

Being rooted in that oneness, the abiding relationship with

Christ, is all-important to our relationship with Him and the

Father. As his student, His disciple, may the reader be

encouraged to pour prayerfully over these truths captured,

and given to us in John, chapters 15 and 17.

Isaiah 43

“But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. 2  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. 3  For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt for thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. 4  Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. 5  Fear not: for I am with thee … “

Prayer: Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, please make me one with You. Please deeply root and establish my life in an abiding fellowship with You dear LORD.

Moments with Our Master [book] 365 Day Devotional book available at STORE and amazon. English and Spanish.


Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | The Bridegroom is Calling His BridePurifying Ourselves as He is Pure [podcast]10 Clues Your Love for God is Waxing Cold [podcast] | More on the Sabbath of the New Testament – Jesus!

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Continue Reading

Articles

The Truth about Tradition and Church Membership [podcast]

Is Church Membership Biblical?


Godly and Ungodly Tradition and True and False Church Membership

YOU KNOW you are in a fake church when they have “membership classes” to get you to join yet spend little or no time preaching the Word on the necessity of repentance, forsaking your life in this world, denying self, taking up the cross, and following Jesus daily! Run!

Membership means money to them!

They have a busine$$ plan.

“Prove (test) all things; hold fast (keep and do) that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Of the 13 times we find the word “tradition(s) in Scripture, only twice is it used positively. The other 11 times it is used negatively because men put their foolish traditions above Christ.

History of Church Membership: The history of church membership in Protestant and Evangelical churches begins with the Catholic Church, which implements its discipline over all the baptized (christened, water sprinkled), through a tradition-based sacramental system, governing the lives of their captors from cradle to grave. Essentially, in this way the Roman cult corrals and coerces the insistence of membership upon every initiated, water-sprinkled/christened catholic child. Without that cult-initiation rite, that membership to the Roman religion, that person is considered outside of salvation, outside of the “one true church.” Through church membership in the Catholic church, the completely un-biblical sacramental system is enforced. The Catholic sacramental system is the creation, the strategy of devils, designed to strengthen the piety of the Catholic faithful throughout their lives, guiding them safely into the bowels of eternal damnation. Jesus died and rose again that He alone might have preeminence over His true worldwide body. Church membership to a local church or church organization is perpetrated by cross-less wolves and is a direct affront to the Headship of the one, nail-scarred Savior (Colossians 1:18; 2:18-19, etc.).

The vast majority of so-called pastors today are more interested in getting you to join their church club, to become a member of their church, than they are about truly feeding the flock of God with the whole counsel of Scripture, equipping you for ministry, and winning souls to Jesus (John 21:15-17; Acts 20:20-32; Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Peter 5:1-6, etc.). Prove it wrong.

Church membership today is nothing more than a device of wolves to corral and exploit the people! There’s no biblical justification for it.

Church membership is a tool to run a scam on the people – to number them as Satan led David to do (1 Chronicles 21). The LORD judged David for doing this and is judging the wolves today who coercively promulgate their church membership scam. God’s people belong to HIM and no other (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 7:23, etc.).

Church membership is for nobody’s good except those peddling it. Church membership is designed to make you loyal to their church club, not Christ.

APPLE CARTS FLYING: THE TRADITION AND DECEPTION OF CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: BEWARE!

Can anyone find church membership in God’s Word among the earliest followers of Jesus? No. If someone is concerned about you becoming a member of their church, that’s a red flag. Make no mistake: They are corralling you in order to control you. Think about it: WHY can’t they just love you as a member of the one blood bought body of Christ? (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4) Church membership as it’s done by the 501(C)(3) government churches is against Holy Scripture and is a device of evil men, wolves. Run.

Beware of the agenda saints. Church membership is a corralling of God’s people for the self-serving purposes of hirelings.

“Church membership” as it’s carried out in the modern church world, quenches the Holy Spirit in my opinion. It ruins the organic, spontaneous, pure fellowship true believers enjoy due to being in Christ. Church membership seems to be a learned device to coral believers in order to exploit them. Think about it: Seminarian pastors are taught this scheme to build their church busine$$.

Denominations or church organizations reinforce this to secure people and funds. It’s a business model. No such thing as church membership in the Bible except that membership Christ alone procured by His own blood. ALL of His saints’ names are written in Heaven (Luke 10:20). Jesus says that this is what we rejoice in!

“Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:20

We are Christ’s kingdom disciples. We belong to HIM.

“Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23

Local level “church membership” diverts the heart affections of those corralled by hireling wolves! Beware.

Only Abiding in the Truth Protects

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield (protection) unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6

Is church membership not adding to God’s Word?

God gave us His written Word so that we can be safeguarded from being misled. As we will see in a moment, the traditions of men have and will continue to lead many astray and into eternal damnation. Tradition is passed along from one religious, truth-despising generation to the next. Concerning rightly dividing the truth of God’s Word and how twisting Scripture transpires as a tradition and applies to interpretation of God’s Word, Charles Koller writes:

“There are pitfalls of interpretation into which devout believers may fall, resulting in distortions of the truth. A preacher may borrow an interpretation from a devout Bible scholar, who had previously borrowed it from another equally devout but perhaps misguided Bible scholar. And so the inventions of devout men may unwittingly be passed around as ‘the Word of God.’ Let the Bible speak for itself! What does it actually say? And what does it mean?” Charles W. Koller, How to Preach without Notes, p.65

“Tradition(s)” as it Appears in Scripture:     

Matthew 15:2     Why do thy disciples transgress the TRADITION of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 

Matthew 15:3     But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your TRADITION? 

Matthew 15:6     And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your TRADITION. 

Mark 7:3     For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the TRADITION of the elders. 

Mark 7:5     Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the TRADITION of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 

Mark 7:8     For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the TRADITION of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 

Mark 7:9     And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own TRADITION. 

Mark 7:13     Making the word of God of none effect through your TRADITION, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. 

Galatians 1:14     And profited in the Jews’ religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the TRADITIONS of my fathers. 

Colossians 2:8     Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the TRADITION of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 

2 Thessalonians 2:15     Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the TRADITIONS which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. 

2 Thessalonians 3:6     Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the TRADITION which he received of us. 

1 Peter 1:18     Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by TRADITION from your fathers; 

Did you notice that in 2 Thessalonians 2:15, Christ’s apostle Paul says we are to “hold the traditions WHICH YE HAVE BEEN TAUGHT, whether by word, or our epistle.” The roman catholic cult deceitfully seeks to justify the use of its myriad of Bible-contradicting traditions using this verse. Yet read the words of this verse and carefully note that Paul taught these “traditions” and so they came from God who sanctioned the apostle to pen Holy Scripture (2 Peter 1:19-21). “Traditions” that glorify God are found in God’s Word, not in the writings of some religion of mere sinful men that diametrically contradicts what we read in Holy Scripture. Also, these “traditions” that we received from Paul are tangibly recorded in an “epistle.” The saints at the city of Thessalonica were receiving this divinely-inspired, written letter or “epistle.” This later became part of Holy Writ for all New Testament Scriptures and one of the books of the New Testament canon. What New Testament disciples “have been taught” is now canonized in the 27 books of the New Testament canon of Holy Scripture and is final authority for the faith and practice of all narrow way believers (2 Timothy 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:19-21, etc.).

DFPS front flat

Testing and Discerning what is True Tradition and What is False

All who cling to their religion and/or religious tradition in lieu of Christ and His Word, are as sure for hell as if they were already there (Mark 7:6-9).

We are warned in Colossians 2:8 to “Beware” of false “tradition” which leads us away from the pure worship of “Christ.”

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the TRADITION of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.” Colossians 2:8      

Many times people in local “churches” are seen or heard saying “That’s just how we do things around here!” Well, if what you do around you stupid “ministry” is not according to God’s Word, it’s time to repent and change it. Now!

Testing the Concept and Practice of Modern Church Membership

No such thing as church membership in the early church. Totally false.

Church membership is a tool of controlling leaders to corral souls for their own self-serving purposes! Beware! (Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 34; Matthew 23) They discount your place in Christ by telling you that membership is important in the church business they are building to their own glory.

JESUS came to make captives free. SATAN’s agents seek to put you in bondage! (Luke 4:18; John 10:10; Galatians 5:1)

—- MOST “good church members” are lost due to following a pastor and program instead of truly following Christ on HIS terms. See Mark 8:34-38 and Luke 9:23-24 and you will see why Jesus says only a “few” will be in Heaven Matt. 7:13-14. Your pastor is not your judge, God is and so you better please Him according to what He told you in His Word or you will be cast into the lake of fire as a disobedient, idolatrous rebel (Matthew 7:21; Titus 1:16; 1 John 2:4; Revelation 21:8, 27; 22:14-15, etc.).

Church membership as we know it today, is a tradition of mere sinful and self-serving men “whose god is their belly.” (Philippians 3:18-19)

“(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.).” Philippians 3:18-19

There is nothing found in Scripture that directly teaches people that they should “join a church.” So, did the Almighty, all-knowing God somehow forget to tell us something we needed to know, OR, has someone added something foreign to the practice of the Christian faith?

The Bible student must conclude that “joining a church” as we know it in this apostate age, is not by divine decree but is rather a tradition of sinful men and therefore a “false way” that we should “hate.” (Psalms 119:104, 128) So, church membership in an earthly organization is not a tradition any disciple of Christ should hold and should stay clear of such in order not to dilute his allegiance to the one and only “Head” of His true body, Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:18; 2:18-19; Ephesians 5:23). This is after the workings of sinful men to secure the allegiance and loyalty of men’s hearts, intercepting the affections of their hearts from the “Head.” Was it not rebellious Absalom who “stole the hearts of the men of Israel”? (2 Samuel 15:6) Is this not the subversive, insidious “spirit of antichrist” at work today to rob God of the glory due to Christ’s holy name alone?

Did Jesus or any disciple in the New Testament Scriptures ever instruct anyone to “join a church” or become a good church member as we know these thing to be today in westernized “Christianity”?

Such a question poses a threat to some pastors who are far too possessive, un-submitted, and un-abandoned to Christ. Though not truly submitted to the LORD, which would mean they trusted Him in all things, many of these same leaders seek for coerce others to submit to them, to join their church, to support them, etc.

Posing such a question as this one on church membership, is an example of testing all things against the counsel of Scripture like good Bereans (Acts 17:11). Testing what is being accepted in a local gathering of saints can shake up a leader who is not truly broken before the LORD. Testing all things helps us rightly divide the word of truth and begin to examine what is truth and what is tradition in the things we do as His body and as individual saints. We must live and oversee only as our LORD has revealed in the divine wisdom of His Word and as He enables and leads – which will always be in accordance with His Word (Psalms 11:105; 2 Timothy 3:15-17, etc.).

Jesus says “follow me” and if one is going to know and follow Him, that person must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him “daily.” (Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 9:23-24).

Church membership as we know it today in the modern church system, is clearly a tradition of mere men and not a part of true, New Testament Christianity. At this point, many will say: “But brother, the Bible says we are to fellowship!” Yes, true, but remember that church membership is completely unneeded for true Christian fellowship as defined in the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 2:42-47; Colossians 3:16-17, etc.). Yes, the Bible teaches us that Jesus’ true disciples are to fellowship with one another and modern church membership is completely unneeded for such unless you factor in the hirelings who perpetrate such for their own personal purposes. In fact, self-serving ambition is the root of most traditions. The whole church-building centered modern church system is designed to benefit and profit the business-owner or franchisee (the pastor), not the LORD and His people. Christ’s true saints are not lukewarm weekly church members but rather, on fire disciples are fellowship daily and “exhort one another DAILY” and so much the more as His return draws nigh (Acts 2:42-47; Hebrew 3:13; 10:24-25).

You see, if a pastor can get you to sign his roster, he knows he has your allegiance and therefore you money.

Most people claiming to be Christians have this tradition in their minds that they need to find and join a church. Yet, it’s a nearly impossible task to find a body of true believers who are walking in the New Testament definition and revelation of what God calls fellowship where Christ is supreme. 99% of local churches are entertainment centers that offer little or no elements nor the spirit of the early church believers.

The test of true Christian fellowship is whether or not there are the following elements as found in the book of Acts (partial list):

  • continuing steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine (written Word)
  • breaking bread together
  • fellowship
  • prayer
  • sharing one to another whatever each member of the body of Christ needs – having all things common
  • ceasing not to teach and to preach Jesus Christ (Acts 5:42)

You see, when you find – if you ever find – a pastor who tells the people to give among yourselves, having “all things common,” you have found something very rare. Regrettably, the modern church is a business and that CEO pastor who refuses to truly pastor the people, needs to pay a mortgage and many other unnecessary expenses they are wasting. So, in his mind, following Christ has nothing to do with it – making the mortgage and building his church business is what matters to him.

Perhaps we should cease searching for a church and simply be Christ’s church.

The LORD Himself, nor any of His apostles ever hinted of or instructed anyone to “go join a church” or to “become a good church member” and yet this is the order of the day in the apostate modern church world which is piloted or hi-jacked by self-serving hirelings who are farming their communities to build their own local church franchise, competing against other CEO type entrepreneurs. Now grant it, being an entrepreneur is not a sin if done uprightly in the business world and yet, the Church of Jesus Christ is no place to employ entrepreneurial tactics. Christ’s church is not a business. Yet this is the way much of the modern church world is set up. Ecclesiastes 1:9 tells us that “There is no new thing under the sun” and so we know we can peer into history and see the same things happening as we see transpiring today.

“And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matthew 21:13

God’s house or dwelling place in individuals and in groups is to be dedicated to the worship of Him alone and yet, many today are intercepting the worship due only to the LORD and exploiting His people for their own self-serving purposes (Isaiah 56:10-12; Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 34; Philippians 3:18-19; 2 Peter 2:1-3, etc.).

Setting forth such an idea that subverts the modern tradition of church memberships may be scary to some. To make the case that true New Testament fellowship is what is important and not joining a church, makes some pastors nervous because they are entrenched in following tradition instead of Christ. Perhaps they are threatened by this because they have not fully released themselves and therefore the people to the LORD, acknowledging Him alone as their Maker, God, Redeemer, and “Head.” (Colossians 2:18-19) Today would be the best day to denounce these idolatrous sins and begin to “lean not to thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5-7)

Please don’t read rebellion against God into this – but do read rebellion against man and satan into it please. You can put my name on that! It’s time to sift through and test every notion, philosophy, and practice of today against what we observe in Holy Scripture to be truth and according to the mind of Christ. See Acts 17:11 and Jeremiah 1:10. The erroneous traditions and contradictions to holy truth must FIRST be removed and torn down before a proper foundation can begin to be built. Study and memorize and put into action the divine principle and order of Jeremiah 1:10.

Christ and His redemptive work on that cross is despised by church membership. How? Well, church membership dishonors that Christ bled to make us members of HIS one body or church. Read Ephesians 2; 4; 1 Corinthians 12.

It’s only where Jesus Christ is upheld as the supreme KING, God, Counselor, Truth, Way, and Life that divine virtue flows from Heaven into His people! See Colossians 2:18-19.

Until we first put to the test the very reasons for which we assemble/meet and embrace the priorities set forth in Scripture, our assemblies will be limited at best.

Blindly following or going along with tradition instead of what is taught in God’s Word, always leads to dismal results as we have the pharisees for an example.

We should ask “What is the biblical precedence for ….” and “What saith the Scriptures?”

This doesn’t mean we won’t find things that are biblical, but how can we possibly have a clear heart about things until we do?

“Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.” 2 Samuel 15:6

Traditions of Mere Men are Meant to be Broken – Rooted Out

A reading of the Gospels reveals to us that Jesus often upset the religious bafoons of His day by breaking their foolish, man-centered, Christ-denying traditions. Their foolish traditions trumped divine truth.

“For laying aside the commandment (Word) of God, ye hold the TRADITION of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.” Mark 7:8

Do you know what Jeremiah 1:10 says? This verse gives us extremely valuable and necessary insight into the order and workings of the LORD.

“See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.” Jeremiah 1:10

What is the LORD’s order of working in our hearts?

  • “to root out”
  • “to pull down”
  • “to destroy”
  • “to throw down”
  • “to build”
  • “to plant”

First we should diligently examine why we do what we do. All teachings and practices must be acid tested against Holy Writ (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1). Questions to explore:

  • “What did the early church do” is a very good starting question.
  • And, “What do we see the apostles and Christ doing”?
  • “What does the Bible teach?”

Your Prayer: Holy Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, I come to You in the name of Jesus, asking that You would please begin to purge out any notion or philosophy or belief in this life You gave that is not of You – that is not according to the whole counsel of Your written Word. Please make me Your authentic disciple. Root out all from my life that does not glorify You and fill this vessel with the fruits of Your righteousness to bring glory to You and to serve others as unto You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sign up for free email devotional HERE… The Moments with My Master email devotional is sent out for the edification of the body of Christ.

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | The Return of ChristStewardshipApostate Modern Church Exposed | Beware of the BUZZ WORD Bandits [podcast] | Preach the WordWolves Exposed | Church Membership Exposed | 100’s of Christ-centered, Scripture-rich Podcasts | Knowing God | The Cross Life | Christology = the Study of Christ

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Continue Reading

Articles

The One Essential to Victory [podcast]


Victory is at hand!! This message is at the heart of the original Gospel message Christ and that His apostles gave. Yet, this is seldom if ever heard today. Victory awaits you!!!!! God desires to give it to you!!!! You be careful though saint. Be not deceived. Get this truth in your heart and life and God will raise you upward to the victory that brings Him glory and where you belong. Paul said that there are many “enemies of the cross of Christ.” (Phil. 3:18-19) Discover who they are and what is divinely required for you to be blessed with victory in this life and in eternity with Christ!

Raised Up | I Die Daily


The Victory is in Jesus [podcast]


Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | The Return of ChristStewardshipApostate Modern Church Exposed | Beware of the BUZZ WORD Bandits [podcast] | Preach the WordWolves Exposed | Church Membership Exposed | 100’s of Christ-centered, Scripture-rich Podcasts | Knowing God | The Cross Life | Christology = the Study of Christ

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Continue Reading

Categories

donate button round
sgys-books01

Trending