Mike Desario’s ministry is proof that just because someone is intense at communicating a message doesn’t mean their message is true.
(At the bottom of this page is the Testimony by Tommy Miner who was delivered from this dangerous cult.)
Mike Desario is now dead and presumably unrepentant and in hell and yet his cult and false teachings live on. Beware!
In short: Desario and his prey view salvation as their own departure from sin, to stop all sinning, as they claim. They view repentance as turning from sin instead of first and foremost turning TO God (1 Thessalonians 1:9). Jesus seems to be edited out of His own salvation plan. After all, we can stop all sinning by ourselves so why do we need the Lamb of God? They hyper-over emphasize turning from sin out of its context and never mention how Jesus commanded us to love the LORD with all of our heart mind and strength (Matthew 22:37-39). Remember, holiness is not the way to Jesus – Jesus is the way to holiness (John 3:30). Why do they ignore and hide this? Why is there a complete ignoring of loving God as Christ commanded (Matthew 22:37-40). These are antichrists who are not in love with the LORD but rather full of self, full of self aggrandizement, self-love, self-righteousness, and vain glory. That’s the fruit of Desario’s followers. The spirit of antichrist possesses them and this is clear in that they have rejected Christ by elevating themselves as their own “savior” from sin instead of the nail-scarred risen Savior. Jesus Christ is not in their salvation plan – until after they earn or merit being with Him due to their own “natural ability” to turn from sin. Desario’s salvation plan is all about them overcoming sin – without Jesus. A sinner cannot save a sinner – if that were the case, WHY did Jesus bother coming to the earth? Only the sin-less One can save and forgive the sinner – (Matthew 9:6). ALL of our own righteousnesses are as filthy rags in His holy eyes (Isaiah 64:6). Our posture of heart concerning approaching God is “God be merciful to me a sinner” and not self-righteously coming to Him with “Okay God, I overcame all sin without You and so now I’m worthy, here I am.”
“And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.” Luke 18:13
Attention: Just because men have the ability not to sin does not make you your own savior and does not negate your need for the one Savior – Jesus Christ! You are not deep or some spiritual hero because you now realize that the Bible makes no excuse for any sinning (Romans 6:1-2; 2 Corinthians 7:1). If it took Mike Desario to inform you of this basic Bible truth (no excuses for sin), that’s because previous to listening to Desario, you refused to repent and read God’s Word honestly for yourself. But Mike has poisoned the bread of Heaven, the Word of God, with much leaven. And we know that it takes only “A little leaven”, a little false doctrine, to poison, to affect, to ruin a whole person and damn their eternal soul to hell.
“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” Galatians 5:9
Because ALL of our own righteousness are as “filthy rags,” sinners cannot save themselves by obeying God (Isaiah 64:6). It was Christ Jesus from Heaven who came into the world to save sinners. No one else in history qualified (Ezekiel 22:30).
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15
One will observe the gross silence, the absolute absence of any cult member of Mike Desario proclaiming their great praise and gratefulness for the saving, sheer mercy of God in saving them through the blood of Jesus Christ. No, they are focused on themselves, pretending to be sinless while they live in sin, the worst sin – self-righteousness. They openly reject the perfect sacrifice of the Savior.
Sin is overcome by the disciple’s submission to the LORD, to the daily cross… by the divinely enabling grace of Christ and not by human effort (Romans 6:14). Desario never says this. Run for your life. This guy, while pointing out one error, is committing many more himself. Read and obey God’s Word for yourself.
Overcoming all sin – yes, and yet, it’s not possible by way of the flesh but rather only by the divinely instituted cross prescription, cross life, the crucified life – the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus being re-enacted in the life of the believer daily (Romans 6; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20, etc.). Overcoming all sin does not come by self-will. Paul said “by the GRACE of God I am what I am.” (1 Corinthians 15:10) “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3)
There is no cross in Desario’s message … no surrender = death and burial…. and then Christ reigning in our lives which alone pleases God and brings His overcoming victory (Romans 6).
The most immediate indication the discerning disciple will notice is that complete lack of joy in Desario. Jeremiah tells us that God’s Word, in the hearts of His people, produces “the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” (Jeremiah 15:16) Where’s the joy, the smile?
On his website, Mike Desario wrote the following, much of which is true and yet there’s poison in the pond, there are erroneous presumptions made:
“The Original Saints believed and taught that you MUST come clean with God in Repentance BEFORE the Holy Spirit would indwell. No one was ‘Saved in sin or did any early Saint teach that man was Born in Sin. They understood that man possessed free and unhindered ability to Obey God and DO what was Right. Most of professing Christianity today is under a massive System of Error that has negated genuine repentance and substituted it with a wretched man profession that keeps them in slavery to their sin. Our web site is dedicated to exposing these errors and pulling down the Strongholds so others may come to a Knowledge of the truth and escape the snare of the devil before it’s too late.” Mike Desario
Let’s break this down, piece by piece. I’ve indented his words:
Firstly we can observe that the name of Jesus, Christ, or the Son of God appear nowhere in this mission statement of Desario.
“The Original Saints believed and taught that you MUST come clean with God in Repentance BEFORE the Holy Spirit would indwell.” Desario
Repenting is essential (Luke 13:3, etc.).
“No one was ‘Saved in sin or did any early Saint teach that man was Born in Sin.” Desario
If there is no sin nature or inherent sin, iniquity working within fallen man, that means that sin is not sin, that it had and has no death, no evil and didn’t harm the human family. Mike’s statement begs the question as to why the Bible uses the words “were by nature the children of wrath.” (Ephesians 2:3) “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (Ephesians 2:3) Also, why did Jesus command those who would follow Him to deny self if there is nothing to deny? Why the cross – the crucified life He prescribed if there’s nothing that needs to die, to be crucified? (Luke 9:23-24) WHY did Paul teach that the believer must “put off the old man” if there is no “old man” in us to “put off”? (Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:8-10)
“They understood that man possessed free and unhindered ability to Obey God and DO what was Right.” Mike Desario
Notice how he seems to deify man’s obedience as the saving factor instead of Christ being the only Savior. He capitalized “Obey.” Our faith, repentance, or obedience do not save us. Only the LORD Himself can save us. No man can save himself.
“Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.” Isaiah 45:22
Obedience is essential and yet without love for Him, God is not pleased with our rote, mechanical obedience….. if it’s not coming out of our love for Him. Many times we here this verse slammed
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15
Okay so let’s say we are striving to obey Christ. Is Jesus going to save us if we don’t love Him? Are we dwelling on and hearing anything about actually, literally loving Jesus, from our hearts, “in spirit and in truth”? (John 4:23-24)
“IF ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15
Have you ever noticed the “If” of this statement by our LORD Jesus?
Okay, reread the words of Jesus above and see what comes first in the sentence— “love,” or keeping His commands? “IF you love me, keep my commandments” says Jesus (John 14:15).
Of these words of Christ, one source notes:
“Let’s break down the key elements (of John 14:15):
-
- Love for Jesus:
- Jesus is emphasizing the importance of love. The context of this statement is Jesus speaking to His disciples during the Last Supper, preparing them for His impending departure. Love is a central theme in Jesus’ teachings.
- Obedience as an Expression of Love:
- Jesus connects love with obedience. Keeping His commandments is presented as a tangible way to express love for Him. This implies that genuine love for Jesus is not just a matter of sentiment or emotion but is expressed through actions and obedience.
- The Relationship Between Love and Commandments:
- Throughout the Gospel of John, Jesus repeatedly emphasizes the connection between love and following His commandments. For example, in John 15:10, Jesus says, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.”
- The Role of Commandments:
- Jesus’ commandments, in this context, refer to His teachings and instructions. These include moral and ethical principles, as well as guidance on how to live in alignment with God’s will.
- Love for Jesus:
In summary, Jesus is teaching that true love for Him involves more than just emotional attachment or verbal expressions. It involves active obedience to His teachings and commandments. This concept aligns with the broader biblical understanding that love and obedience are intertwined. For believers, expressing love for Jesus is inseparable from a life of obedience to His teachings and a commitment to following His example.”
“But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.” 1 John 2:5
Matthew 7:20-23 The Judgment
“Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know (discern) them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and IN THY NAME DONE MANY WONDERFUL WORKS? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Matthew 7:20-23
“Natural Ability”
If we could come to and serve God in our own “natural ability”, why did Jesus come? It is suspected that Mike Desario taught a version of Charles Finney’s “natural ability” doctrine which rightly claims that man has the God-given ability to obey Him. Yet, it’s not man’s “natural ability” but rather the grace, the divine influence and empowerment of God, that enables man to overcome sin (1 Corinthians 15:10). This doctrine seems to be antichrist in that it moves the attention and glory off of Christ and onto man.
“Most of professing Christianity today is under a massive System of Error that has negated genuine repentance and substituted it with a wretched man profession that keeps them in slavery to their sin.” Desario
Repentance and faith are the starting place with God (Acts 20:21) and yet repentance does not remove the inward bent toward sin (Romans 7). Repentance, faith, then abiding with Christ via the cross seems to more fully depict the salvation of Christ. The cross is what’s missing – the daily crucified life (Luke 9:23-24). Denying an inward bent does nothing to negate or do away with it. Reckoning with the flesh by crucifying it is essential to overcoming (Romans 6). Denying this inward “old man” that wants to do evil is not the biblical answer. Paul said he had to “keep under” his body, another name for “old man” or “the flesh.” (1 Corinthians 9:27) The flesh cannot be cast out, it must be crucified and denying it exists is paramount to attempting to cast it out.
Mike Desario rejected the concept of a substitutionary sacrifice. If substitutionary atonement is not correct that means no one came to stand in the gap, right? Is 59:16; Ez 22:30. Such a teaching is antichrist. We cannot atone for our own sins. Jesus alone did that (2 Corinthians 5:19, 21; 1 Timothy 1:15; 1 John 2:1-2, etc.). Beware of “the spirit of antichrist.” (1 John 2:18)
The Bible uses the term “true holiness” (Ephesians 4:24) and so we know there is a feigned holiness. Satan only counterfeits the real. Beware. There is a self-dependent, fake, counterfeit holiness being spread by devils like Mike Desario (who’s dead now) and the dupes who have gullibly bought the lies. There is no holiness outside of the cross life (Luke 9:23-24; John 12:23-25; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; 5:24, etc.). Mike never taught the cross which means he taught another gospel, a false gospel (Galatians 1:6-9). Jesus conquered sin and death by dying (Hebrews 2:14-15).
Beware of this fake holiness cult which teaches to trust in your own ability to overcome sin instead of the divinely enabling grace of Christ (Romans 6:14).
- Overcome all sin? Yes.
- Doing it outside of oneness (abiding relationship) with Christ? NO!
The fake holiness cult members never speak of seeking the face of and knowing Christ (relationship John 17:3; Philippians 3:10), the crucified life (daily cross), the grace of God, the mercy or love of God. These are all cardinal components of the original Gospel.
“True holiness” is brought out by GOD, as His disciple humbles himself, consenting to his own death that Christ might reign…. The Crucified Life Jesus calls us to.
Mike Desario did NOT preach the cross – the crucified life (Luke 9:23-24; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20, etc.). The cross is the divine prescription for overcoming all sin and any other message is “another gospel.” (Galatians 1:6-9)
Mike Desario (holdingfirmly / standinginthegap), who is now deceased and in hell, was very adamant about what he taught – much of what is truth mixed with deadly heresy. We can conclude that it’s unlearned, self-righteous people who have bought the package Satan handed out through this false teacher. Many of those who bought into these lies are the modern street preachers. Regrettably, their fruit is nasty as is no surprise because the root determines the fruit.
“But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:12-15
Many have bought into lies due to being persuaded by a good communicator. Instead of hearkening to the LORD – the full counsel of His Word, they place their allegiance in a mere man because he sounds like he knows what he is talking about. This is the case with those who’ve been duped by the false teachings of Mike Desario. Discernment needed saints.
Christ is the Center point of the real, original Gospel and not man’s obedience which is a subtle way of the spirit of antichrist to over emphasize our small part, participation! (Colosians 2:18-19) Christ alone can save. Our works don’t save us! Yes God requires our faith and yet that requirement of faith doesn’t save us – GOD ALONE CAN SAVE US! Mike Desario was very obviously a freakish antichrist who is now in hell no doubt.
Satan has an agent for every sector – every type person. In this writer’s opinion, self-righteousness is the sin that causes people to migrate to such a system of false teaching as Desario put forth. In his teachings, Desario is pointing out some things that are true and yet has a convoluted, false theology that is works based – grossly lacking in the faith of Christ (Romans 4:4-5). He catches the ear of those who view themselves as truth-seekers.
Desario and his followers are mean-spirited, stoic, and have no joy. Something’s not right. See Romans 14:17. The fruit of those who have bought this package from hell is anything but joy. Myself and others who stand against this evil system of theology combined have experienced some of the vilest of affliction and attacks from those Christ-denying counterfeits. Beware saints.
SEE IF YOU CAN EVEN BELIEVE THIS!!!!!! (below)
MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“Stopping sin is the first part of salvation. The next part is that we get justified which is by our works, not merely by faith. So Todd, you are in error.”
REPLY:
You have openly denied Christ. You have spit in the face of the Almighty (Galatians 2:21). You are utterly deceived and misled by wolves (Finney, Desario, etc). The first part of salvation is Christ’s perfect sacrifice on that cross – “It is finished” – and then GOD’s drawing the sinner to Himself (John 12:32; 19:30; 1 John 4:19). “We love him, because he FIRST loved us.” (1 John 4:19) “WHILE we were yet sinners” Jesus came and died for our sins (Matthew 5:6-8). Sinful men don’t find God – God finds us! God is calling you to come to Him, before it’s too late. If you do truly repent and believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, He will deliver you from being an antichrist (anti = in place of). You’ve replaced the only Savior with the sinful god of self. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10) You are a sinner and fooling no one but yourself to claim otherwise. God sees all your sins and will damn your soul eternally if you don’t come humbly to Jesus, admitting your utter need for Him and that you cannot save yourself (Matthew 5:3; 11:28-30). “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” 1 John 1:8
“If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:10 “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20
The ability to conquer all sin is the stated will of God and yet that divine ability (Grace = divine ability) does not enter the saved person until he is first saved. So how can someone “stop all sinning” before being saved by grace? Impossible. And, that is unmitigated idolatry, antichrist – putting self before, in place of Christ who alone is Savior and LORD. Repentance is first and foremost turning TO GOD and not turning from sin. If you get these out of order, you are a heretic.
What are we saved from? We are saved from sin and the punishment of it upon repentance and faith and as we abide, remain in Christ after He saves us. Yet, HE saves us, not ourselves. We don’t save ourselves by stopping all sinning. Jesus saves us as and when we obey Him command to “Come unto me.” (Matthew 11:28-30) .If stopping all sinning were a requirement or even possible without Jesus, WHY would He have ever come to die for our sins? (Galatians 2:21)
Remaining in Christ is remaining in Christ (John 15:1-6). Romans 3:25 speaks of “the sins that are PAST” and 1 John 1:7 tells us that we are only washed from sin AS and IF we continue, abide in Christ, walking in His light and not darkness.
Mike Desario’s cultists are extremely arrogant, pride-filled, and unteachable. They will automatically accuse those who don’t buy their goods of being calvinists or eternal securists. Absurd. Repentance, while it is a non-negotiable essential, it doesn’t save us – JESUS saves us. Let’s never lose sight that it is GOD that saves us. And yes GOD saves us WHEN we obey His command to repent and believe…. meditate on that one. If we could save ourselves, why did the Father send His only begotten Son? Desario’s disciples claim that those who don’t see things their way are justifying sin. Not. God gives us the grace (divine enablement) to overcome all sin (2 Corinthians 7:1; Titus 2:11-14, etc.). Read Romans 8:13-14 closely….. “by the Spirit” is key. How does one walk in the Spirit and overcome the sins of the flesh? God’s overcoming power in our lives comes via the cross walk Christ and His apostles taught – Lk 9:23-24; Col 3:3; Gal 2:10; 2 Cor 4:12-12 etc. We are to be dead and buried and Christ, the resurrection and the life, raises us upward out of that state He calls us to (Romans 8:1-14).
Personal responsibility is essential. The Bible is clear on that and yet so is trusting GOD – that HE is able to raise you up out of death and burial. That’s the cross doctrine which is at the center of the Gospel. GOD raises us up in HIS power, not our own. He calls us to die.
WHO rewards those who trust Him with HIS overcoming grace? – “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
Desario also taught that no one is saved till they’re in Heaven. That’s partly true. You better get saved or you will not be in Heaven…. that’s another false teaching…. Jesus says “He that believeth HATH (present tense) everlasting life.” (John 6:47) After being initially saved, one must endure to the end, abide in Christ or that person will forfeit salvation (Matthew 10:22; 24:!3; John 15:6; 2 Peter 2:20-21; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39; Revelation 2:26; 3:5, etc.).
Desario led you to believe that we are responsible for sin and have no reason to live in sin after being saved (true). Yet Desario’s false teachings led you to believe and left you to overcome all sin by yourself….. that you do not need God, not even to be saved, because you can stop ALL sinning BEFORE Jesus saves you and in fact, Jesus saves only those who stop ALL sinning BEFORE they come to Him. Total demonic heresy. This is anti-Christ which means in place of Christ. You have replaced Christ with self, you’ve denied Him, you are denying your utter need for Him, His saving grace…. all because you believe you can stop all sinning without the Son of God.
To those indoctrinated under Mike Desario: You have need of thoroughly studying the whole of Scripture. Desario was a master manipulator, a master at isolating certain truths to the exclusion of the whole of what Holy Scripture says. It takes a whole Bible to make a whole disciple.
Not Original to Desario
The Finney Cult is alive and well today saints. When you understand the false teachings of Charles Finney, you will understand the error promulgated by Desario. I’ve had several people disown me due to pointing out the obvious errors of Charles Finney, an 18th century false teacher who is heralded by many today. Instead of studying and being astute students of pure Holy Scripture, they’ve learned the heresies of Finney, a man who denied the atonement of Christ. And, they are rabid in spreading these cancerous falsehoods. It sounds holy on the surface yet it’s a false holiness that enthrones man while demoting Christ. Perhaps Galatians 3:3 most poignantly exposes the regurgitated errors of Finney that have been passed on by false teachers like Mike Desario.
“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:3
Dear Mike Desario cultist: So, are you made perfect by the flesh or by yielding to Christ and the Holy Spirit granting you His divine enablement? Read it again: “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:3
TRUE REMNANT SAINTS OF CHRIST ARE NOT ONLY SAVED BY GRACE BUT ALSO SANCTIFIED BY GRACE. YES, WE ARE FULLY ACCOUNTABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN AN INTIMATE, WORSHIPFUL, OBEDIENT RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST, AND YET IT’S CHRIST ALONE WHO SAVES AND SANCTIFIES AS WE “abide” in relationship with him (JOHN 15:1-16, ETC.).
God requires repentance and faith to save an individual and yet, it’s CHRIST alone who saves. Though necessary, our obedience doesn’t save us – only God Himself can save. Have we done the mechanics while distancing our Messiah and Savior? We must be careful to never impersonalize salvation. It’s a relationship (John 17:3; Philippians 3:10, etc.). God forgive us for alienating our LORD and Savior in the busy-ness of the mechanics. Christianity is all about knowing, worship, and knowing intimately the LORD. Nothing is more important (Matthew 22:37-39).
WHAT DESARIO IS DOING IS ATTEMPTING TO CORRECT CALVINISTIC ERROR AND YET IN DOING SO BY MISUSING THE WORD OF GOD, HE’S CREATED AN EQUALLY DAMAGING HERESY AND JUST AS GUILTY AS THE WOLVES OF CALVINISM AND HERETICS LIKE CHARLES FINNEY.
Desario’s Dupes
The disciples of Desario often misuse verses like John 8:11 by only quoting half of Christ’s words:
“Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” John 8:11
Perhaps we should quote the whole verse. When we do it paints a different picture than those who beat up people with the last part of this verse. FIRST God redeems and forgives and THEN, after that He informs us that we don’t have to live in sin any longer (Romans 6:14).
They use the “go, and sin no more” to push a no-tolerance for any sin. There disposition is such that they feign to be sinless perfection and act as if there is no divine mercy for those who stumble and sin. The whole testimony of Holy Scripture stands against them. 1 John 1:9 anyone?
Jesus didn’t just say “go and sin no more.” No, the Son of God said to the woman caught in adultery “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” (John 8:11) Jesus first forgave her (represents salvation) and then told her she was free not to sin any more.
These vile wolves would have you believe that God is no longer merciful to those He saves! Nonsense. That notion is a doctrine of devils!
“He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. 14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.” Psalms 103:10-14
If God is not merciful, we are all in trouble. Thank You LORD Jesus for Your unmerited mercy you died to secure for Your people!
The new covenant in Christ includes mercy through His precious blood (Matthew 26:28). Only the spirit of antichrist would detract from the perfect sacrifice of the Son of God!
“For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.” Hebrews 8:12
Whenever you speak the BIBLICAL truth of God’s mercy and forgiveness, the demented Desario disciples immediately resort to their attack on your for “justifying sin.” Yet, this doesn’t fly, especially when you’ve written one of the most severe on sin books in existence – Lie of the Ages.
God is “Holy, holy, holy” and there is no justification for sin and yet the LORD is also merciful, gracious, and “ready to forgive.” (Psalms 86:5, 15; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8) As seen in John 8, the only ones God is going to condemn are those who judge instead of extend the invitation of His blessed mercy! (Revelation 22:17, etc.) This would include the devils perpetrating the evil heresies taught by Mike Desario when he was alive on the earth.
Heart purity and a sinless life emanate only from a holy God and our consenting to the cross and not by human effort alone…. one cannot “stop sinning” until they come to Jesus and He saves them, making them new creatures in Christ. Only then can they put off the old man and put on the new man. There MUST be something to put off …. that inherent sinful nature, otherwise no such language would be in Scripture (Colossians 3).
Perhaps calling these self-righteous, bull headed devils Finney-ites would be the best way to define them. They have created a growing cult of believers in the Christ-denying false teachings of Charles Finney.
DESARIO TAUGHT THE HERESY THAT FALLEN MAN HAS NO INCLINATION TOWARD SIN OR DOES HE HAVE A SIN NATURE. HE TAUGHT THE FALSEHOOD OF FINNEY – THAT MAN’S OWN “NATURAL ABILITY” IS SUFFICENT FOR OVERCOMING SIN AND THEREFORE CHRIST CAME IN VAIN! AGAIN, THIS IS CLEARLY “THE SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST” THAT INFLUENCED BOTH THESE WOLVES (FINNEY AND DESARIO).
The Bible prescription for overcoming sin (an essential) is not by denying the inward bent of fallen mankind (Romans 7) but rather by dying to self – taking up the cross daily (Luke 9:23-24, etc.). That’s what Christ and His apostles taught.
We overcome sin daily – day by day – by the cross and not our own “natural ability” – a term heretic Charles Finney used. Mike Desario got his false doctrines from Finney.
To understand where Desario and the other modern wolves got these heresies, you will need to look at the false teachings of heretic Charles Finney who is viewed by some as a great “revivalist.” Charles Finney Exposed
One believer writes:
“Holiness is first and foremost agape love. Unconditional love for all, including enemies of us and enemies of God. This over-emphasis on repentance can make us the initiator and God the responder if we are not careful. God is always the initiator.
All who follow Christ abandon all that offends Him (Mark 9:43-49). Holiness is the work of God in a yielded, abiding born again saint (John 15; Romans 8:12-14; 1 Peter 1:15-16, etc.). Holiness, as GOD defines and requires it, is yielding obediently to HIS work in one’s life (Romans 6:3-14). It is a sin to believer YOU can overcome all sin all by your sinful self! Futility! Think about it: When the HOLY Spirit is ruling a person’s yielded life, that vessel will be HOLY (Romans 8:13-14).
BEWARE OF THE COUNTERFEIT HOLINESS MESSAGE – ONE THAT SAYS MAN BECOMES “HOLY” ALL BY HIMSELF – WITHOUT THE LORD – without doing it God’s way. Yes, only those set apart to the LORD will be with Him (Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 12:14). The truth about the essential of holiness – it’s not obtained by a work of the flesh but rather by God Himself in the crucified vessel (Gal 3:3). Any message on holiness that doesn’t include LOVE, loving God, obedience to the daily cross, grace (divine enablement), mercy, and faith, is not according to the original Gospel message (Romans 6:6; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; 5:24; Hebrews 11:6). Mike Desario novices are indoctrinated. They mercilessly over emphasize 1 John 3 while refusing to synthesize it with 1 John 1.
Those being exposed for preaching this Christ-denying, self-exalting false holiness message hate the ones exposing them – because it steals THEIR glory as they vainly believe THEY are earning their way with God.
“That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:29-31
These people do not preach Christ – they preach the merits of self which means they are antichrists who preach “another gospel” and are “accursed.” (2 Corinthians 4:6; Galatians 1:6-9)
One disciple writes:
“These fake holiness folks would have called for the adulteress to be stoned to death if they were asked instead of Jesus in Jn 8:1-10.”
Attempting to be holy in God’s eyes without the working of the grace of God in Christ is pure futility. It never has nor ever will work. Think: How can anyone be holy without He who alone is “Holy, holy, holy”? (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8)
“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:3
Attempting to be holy in God’s eyes without the working of the grace of God in Christ is pure futility. It never has nor ever will work.
Notice the complete lack of joy in the self-righteous, arrogant ones who preach this fake holiness message, this counterfeit, feigned holiness message. That’s completely unlike Jesus. What this – real holiness – always brings real joy!:
“Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity (holiness); therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of GLADNESS above thy fellows.” Hebrews 1:9
Where’s the joy experienced by those truly in the kingdom of God?
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and JOY in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17
Fake Holiness Deceivers …. Are just like the self-righteous man who went up to pray, who prayers didn’t leave the room he was in. They beat their chest before the LORD in prayer, proclaiming their own “righteousness” – which is as “filthy rags”? (Isaiah 64:6; Luke 18:9-14) | “Two Men Went Up into the Temple to Pray” [podcast]
Divine Justification Denied
Charles Finney and Mike Desario vehemently and heretically denied the atoning blood of Christ and the biblical doctrine of imputed righteousness (Romans 4).
The simple Bible truth: If divine righteousness is not imputed (given to us on the basis of Christ’s perfect sacrifice!), then that means we have to earn it!
Imputed righteousness is biblical, period. Romans 4. There is no righteousness without it being imputed by God to fallen men. Also, biblical righteousness does not mean that such cannot be withdrawn if the recipient refuses to meet the conditions.
Desario and his dupes HATE imputed righteousness (Romans 4). If righteousness isn’t imputed from God to man, by definition and default, that would mean man is earning his own salvation, right?
So these cultist trample the truth of imputed righteousness in order to correct another error (taught by calvinists). Beware of anyone who is willing to deny one biblical truth in order to correct another error.
Yes, God requires the participation of the individual born again believer in an abiding relationship with Jesus, yet Desario’s false system of theology would leave you to believe that it’s ALL up to you and that Christ is not the Savior. But Paul said:
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:12-13
You will never hear Titus 3:5-6 and Romans 4:4-5…… in Mike Desario’s teachings and if you do, it will be spun – the clear meaning will be whitewashed and discounted. Desario is among the vilest of devilish false teachers.
One this is for certain, Mike Desario sounds like he knows what he’s talking about. He’s very adamant about what he is teaching, even though he’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a false teacher who has misled many.
The fruit of these heresies taught by Desario produce the nastiest fruit in his disciples. If you’ve encountered them, you know exactly what I mean. This is more proof that he and those misled by him are not of God (Galatians 5:22-23, etc.).
When you compare Desario’s teachings to God’s Word, they don’t check out.
DESARIO IS GOOD AT GOING TO SEED ON CERTAIN TRUTHS, DOUBLING DOWN HARD IN HIS PRESENTATIONS, AND YET BY DOING SO HE VIOLATES OTHER CLEAR, KNOWN BIBLICAL TRUTH, THEREBY PERPETRATING HERESIES.
When a man denies Christ, 99% of the times it’s through his teachings and not by coming out and saying “I reject Christ.” This is exactly what Mike Desario has done.
Mike Desario is the one who trained up a bunch of self righteous novices in our day …. Desario died recently but his videos live on, misleading others. I’ve had personal experience with several of his disciples. They are insulated from hearing the truth due to their indoctrination. As mentioned earlier, his followers are some of the most rude, mean-spirited people you will encounter.
In dealing with those indoctrinated into this cult of self-righteousness, after experiencing their hatred, one will then note their insistence that anyone who disagrees with them is branded an unrepentant sinner who is making excuses for sin. They full of pride, arrogant, and completely unteachable.
The problem is that Mike Desario points out something that is true – that most leaders are making up excuses for sinning BUT then Mike Desario teaches that we can overcome by our own power, the power of our own “natural ability.” Jesus is sparse at best in his theology/view of the Christian life. The man was Satan’s snake.
Overcoming sin is the byproduct of truly knowing and abiding in Christ (John 15:1-6) and those who refuse to abide will be cast into hell (John 15:6). Yet, the emphasis of Scripture is upon Christ and our relationship with the Savior, something Desario intentionally ignored. In Mike Desario’s corrupted theology, it’s all up to the individual, no need to rely upon and abide Christ.
Recently someone asked about Mike Desario.
MY REPLY:
Brother, glad you asked ….. I would stay far away from Mike Desario’s teachings…. he has mislead a whole lot of people with his false teaching and spawned the idea (false notion) that he is somehow in “the know” of the truth no one has previously or presently understands. Every cult leader has this in common. Such a pride-predicated idea is always the foundation or premise for building a cult, which is what Mike Desario did.
Desario’s teachings are especially deceptive because he does use Scripture and yet, he ever so slightly tweaks or twists the verses and truths to his own bent, leaving out a whole lot of other biblical truth that would paint a completely different picture. Manipulation. Most believers are not skilled in God’s Word enough to catch this so we must also rely on the Holy Ghost to discern as John the apostle told us to do (1 John 4:1-6). From the first moment I encountered Desario’s disciples and then looked at small portions of his videos, there was great alarm in my spirit (1 John 4:1).
As mentioned, Desario’s followers violently blame all those who disagree with them as being sin justifiers. Nonsense. Yet, just because someone believes the Bible truth that we are weak and HE is strong – that Christ alone conquered sin on the cross and it’s conquered in our daily lives by the daily cross – doesn’t make that person a justifier of sin. These blinded novices have a hard time when they come against balanced and astute Bible students who use Scripture to dismantle and demolish the Christ-denying lies they peddle.
We are sinners both by being born after our fallen fathers and also by our own choices…. (Romans 3, 5, 7, etc.).
Desario’s style of communication draws those who seemed to want the truth and (correctly) believe that OSAS and calvinism are false …. yet, they are drawn into self-reliance and the deadly sin of self-righteousness (Titus 3:5-7, etc.).
—– RECENTLY: Someone wrote me about heretic Mike Desario:
MESSAGE RECEIVED:
“Thank you sir for exposing this error (Desario’s) 🙂 Someone recommended Mike Desario to me but this expose’ has made me think twice. However, even the best teachers can be mistaken about one or two minor details. What really matters is their spirit, that is how we know if they are truly born again or not. Are they holy, or carnal? Whoever made this video is utterly carnal. Sadly, with many men you don’t need to read their “statement of faith”, you can see clearly that they have not been saved from their sin and still walk in darkness.” Lee
RESPONSE:
Hi Lee. Well their doctrine matters most actually (2 John 7-11; Romans 16:17-18; Titus 2:1, etc.) The word “Doctrine” appears 51 times in Holy Scripture (KJB). The heretical falsehoods of Desario are not minor beloved brother. He’s a Christ-denying vile wolf and I have heard his lies and seen the fruit of it in the lives of many. It’s very false and ugly. Walking in Christ’s truth always, without exception, produces the fruit of the Spirit – love! …. “Let God be true and EVERY man a liar.” (Romans 3:4) God bless you today in Jesus!
Another saint who is familiar with this Finney / Desario movement writes:
“God has given us of His Spirit to teach us and to convict us when we get off track but He will test our humility by bringing other brethren to correct us. Do we really want to be conformed to the truth or do we just want to be right? How we respond to correction will prove which is true of us. Embrace humility and crucify pride.
Grace without truth is not of Christ and neither is truth without grace.
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of GRACE AND TRUTH.” John 1:14
Well she was as a lot more civil than most of them who believe sinless perfection. I’ll give her that. Lol. She stated as many of them state, “Romans 7 is a picture of Paul struggling with sin under the law. He tells us what the answer is, and it is grace. The answer is Jesus.” But in that very statement they admit there is a struggle. Whether they believe that Paul is talking about the man under law or the man under grace is irrelevant, the fact that Paul admits this struggle (that what he doesn’t want to do he does and what he does want to do he doesn’t do) shows as verse 23 states that there is a LAW at work in his members warring against the law of his mind. That is the sin nature. The curse. If there is no sin nature there is no struggle. We would be able to walk without sin without being regenerated and hence no need for Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Plain and simple. The entire creation was cursed. The earth, the animals, and man. The very nature of beasts changed as well as our very nature. There’s no getting around it. So what then is the benefit of this belief? The truth is it does away with grace and brings them back under filthy works. They can say ‘I’ choose not to sin by my own power. When we know we can do nothing unless we are abiding in Him and walking in the power of His Spirit. Romans 8:10 is clear.
And let’s think about this logically, if there was no sin nature then why do we see sin in the youngest of children? Very young children will bite, pull hair, hoard possessions, and lie before they can even speak. Babies born are just the epitome of flesh. I have 5 of them I know!!! Lol and from infanthood we start teaching them to deny their flesh. Even the world does this. Because it is evidenced all around that flesh given free reign will become more and more sinful. Show me one person on this earth who has ever gotten past the age of 1.5 without sinning. Its clear, sin is IN us. But thanks be to God that by the power of His Spirit given to us who believe on Christ He has made a way to overcome. I may have rambled a bit. Sorry. Lol. ?”
Charles Finney Busted and Exposed! | Modern Street Preachers Busted!
SafeGuardYourSoul YouTube Channel
The Hour is at Hand …. Revelation Bombshell! PREP THIS!!!! A Refreshing Biblical Perspective of the Last Days … Are You Fretting, Worried, OR are You LAUGHING?? Biblically Based Apocalyptic Prep
Scathing rebuke to an extremely self-righteous man, the following rebuke went forth:
“This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;” Titus 1:13
EVERYONE is under “strong delusion” in your wicked mind, sinner … oh, except you. You cannot save yourself. You better repent now, confess all your sins – that God sees – and cry out to Him to be broken. Your self-righteousness will not enter His holy courts.
“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dieth, saith the Lord GOD: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” Ezekiel 18:30-32
FRUIT: Mike Desario never smiled. He was a bitter heretical prude. Are you the same way sinner? Seems like it. Jesus told us that the crack harlots will be in Heaven before you.
“For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and JOY in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17
Recently, I sent the following to a Desario dupe:
“You wrongly assume that my communicating God’s Word is to evade personal accountability, to live in sin. Nonsense. No one living is sin will enter glory (Rom 6:1-2; Rev 21:8, etc.). Yet there is much more to learn, beginning perhaps with a much fuller revelation of the divinely enabling grace of God we are to be multiplied in (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18; Heb 13:9, etc.). … some of the nastiest pharisees I’ve ever encountered are the bitter pawns of Mike Desario’s ministry of misery. Jesus had more joy and gladness than anyone who ever walked the earth. Think. Heb 1:9.”
“NOTHING in my hand I bring
simply to Thy cross I cling”
“Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” Matthew 21:31
Touting your own obedience as if that saves you instead of JESUS…. is a dead give away to your self-righteousness which is as filthy rags before a holy God.
You are a law keeper and don’t realize it. You have rejected Christ’s perfect righteousness.
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” James 2:10
You aren’t overcoming sin and will not till you are truly doornail down…. crucified with Christ. And when you are crucified with Christ, you will live to help others, not heap undue burdens condemnations upon them as did the hell bound religious hypocrites of Christ’s day (Matthew 23).
“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” James 2:13
You have no mercy because you’ve not been shown divine mercy and will not be till you truly humble your wicked self in true repentance.
Repentance and the cross are foundational to the original Gospel. They come before good works, obedience.
“But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for REPENTANCE: 9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. 10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” Matthew 3:7-10
The fruit of true repentance is good works and yet good works save no one. Christ alone can save. They are merely the produce of truly knowing the LORD – and not that which makes you right with God.
Your problem is not so much desiring to be righteous so much as you are approaching and viewing the LORD in a faulty way… perhaps you have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge (Romans 10). This has fostered a damning self-righteousness in you.
You are not and will not overcome all sin without a true surrender, true repentance, crying “LORD you must increase but I must decrease.” (John 3:30) When this happens, you will be teaching the cross, the crucified life Christ and His holy apostles taught and cease going around indiscriminately condemning others and begin to help, to restore them in “the spirit of meekness.”
“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:1-2
In your hardened heart, your self-righteousness, you erroneously presume that those who preach salvation by God Himself, by His saving mercy and grace, is justifying sin. Well, if that’s the case, Christ’s apostle Paul sure was in error, right? Now read this slowly …. real slow:
“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:4-5
Quit equating salvation to your own good works. If so you are under the law and only Jesus could keep the law – and He did and nailed it to the cross and took it out of the way (Colossians 2:14-19). WHY did He have to come if we could keep the whole law perfectly, to render perfect obedience? Galatians 2:21….. WHO is your savior? you or Jesus? “without FAITH (not good works) it is impossible to please him.” (Heb 11:6) Where is your faith? is it in your own good works or Christ, the only One to keep the whole law, nail it to the cross, took it out of the way, and upon repentance and faith in Him, one is justified? “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2 If you don’t truly LOVE Jesus and have a heart after the LORD, all your “worship” is for self, idioloatry, and futility, dead religion. Salvation is Jesus Christ plus nothing. Repent and believe (Acts 20:21).
Testimony by Tommy Miner – Who was Delivered from the Desario Cult and Heresies
“I was a disciple of Mike Desario for many years, and made many videos, and blogs as well as Facebook posts, teaching pretty much all he taught. I was attacking everyone who did not agree with me, telling them I don’t sin, I am pure, and of course that they are preaching for sin and disobedience. I have since been enlightened and left his group after he passed away. I was put in charge of the group to be the leader, but my conscience and the way I idolized Mike and his teachings has taken me out in the wilderness, to test all I thought I knew about truth.
Yes, Mike had truth mixed with error, you could not really correct him, or he would get upset, and he had a very proud spirit—as well as myself and his followers. I was full of self, pride, wrong judgments, and attacked all who disagreed with us regarding when the sin stops, how you make yourself pure to be saved, and that I don’t sin anymore, which was a lie!
I have been reading your teachings and have a lot of error to come out of before I start another ministry. I never grew in faith, just being constantly told I had arrived—I was pure now, I was holy now, and I was perfect, and IF I willfully sinned again I was toast, according to a very wicked woman I was in fellowship with for about a year. Now this isn’t about gossip, but this woman is on Facebook, has a blog, and preaches: one willful sin after conversion, and you are going to hell—a one-way ticket—no more mercy, no more forgiveness, just going to hell. There are more like her. I was there and have repented of them all, rebuked some, and now they see me as a false teacher, “changing the word of God.”
Anyway, I am all alone now, living in Kingman, AZ, working full time in the hospital here, and have no real fellowship. I want to find a good church here, many are apostate. I have learned I wasn’t saved, I was full of self and pride, and I forsook the blood of Christ as the only means for my salvation, before and after. Oh yes, I sinned after, and the woman I spoke of would condemn me to hell. I told her she has also failed God. I saw first-hand her hypocrisy, as well as Mikes, and his small group of followers. I finally broke off, who I feel is partaking in a cult and being led by Satan, at least that woman is in her attacking and condemning spirit.
Just wanted to touch base with you, I will continue to grow in my faith, not in my own weak strength, but in the power of His Spirit. I have much to learn now and thank you for all you do for the Lord. Please pray for me to continue in my faith and study, and not to get discouraged by those who teach a works- based salvation … and that if you don’t, you are preaching for sin as Mike liked to say, which is a lie. I feel stronger now over sin, temptation and the Devil, than I did while operating in my own weak human effort.”
More from Tommy
“Amen, I taught works salvation for years, and contended for it all while I was in sin, such as pride, self-righteousness, and thinking I could save myself through all my so-called good works, and boasting I don’t sin anymore, meaning I don’t do the ‘big’ sins, but can get away with the so-called little ones, but pride is right up there with the worse sins. It was such bondage to be in fellowship with so many who would teach as I did, you have to stop sinning to be saved, you have to produce good works to remain saved, and repentance was stopping all sin, cleansing self, and trusting in self to be good enough for Jesus to forgive me and be accepted. Yes it’s a selfish Gospel of demons in my opinion. I now pray for those caught up in it, and when I CAME TO THEM IN LOVE TO POINT THEM TO THE TRUTH, I was cast out as preaching for sin, but in reality they know not the grace of God, and throw in works, where in reality they must merit their own salvation. I now have more power over sin in my life, now that I am not under the law to condemn me, but under the power of HIS grace and Christ in me, to set me free, and teach me to live a godly life free of condemnation!” Tommy
Support | STORE | Podcasts | The Bridegroom is Calling His Bride | Purifying 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!
Apostasy
GOD’S GRACE “IN THIS PRESENT WORLD” TITUS 2:12 [podcast]
Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages
LOTS OF FRAUDS WHO CLAIM TO BE SAVED BY GRACE YET DEFEND INSTEAD OF ADMITTING, REPENTING, CALLING OUT AND CONFESSING SIN. “Grace” that isn’t leading you to live godly in this present world, denying ungodliness instead of living in it, is NOT saving grace. You are lost if this is the phony “grace” you have.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Titus 2:11-12
YES God’s grace in Christ is certainly amazing and yet, the evangelical, calvinistic worlds have grossly emphasized and perpetrate a perverted view of God’s grace…. Fulfilling the prophecy of Jude 3-4. God says these are “ungodly men” who we are to “earnestly contend” against! (Jude 3-4)
It’s only the sin-justifying, grace-perverting frauds who hate personal accountability and obedience as the manifestation, the fruit of true worship and love for God (Titus 2:11-12; Jude 4).
IF you love God, truly, you will obey Him. Those who do not obey Christ, don’t love Him (John 14:15; 1 John 2:3-6, etc.).
Hell is full of people who got saved, then made excuses for their Christ-denying cross-less life on earth (Matthew 7:21; Titus 1:16).
This is how true grace manifests IF someone is saved by it….. otherwise they have either never been saved or have since fallen away from saving grace (Luke 8:13; Galatians 5:4; 2 Peter 2:20-22, etc.).
“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” 2 Peter 2:20-21
Dear OSAS fairytale believer: Grace is given to overcome sin and not to justify it.
This “so great salvation” (Heb. 2:3) that “hath appeared to all men” was wrought for us by the grace and life blood of the Son of God (Lev. 17:11; Rom. 3:23-26). We were down and out “having no hope” and “when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Rom. 5:6; Eph. 2:12) We were “without strength!” – In other words we had no ability in and of ourselves to get back to the one true God we were separated from due to our own sin (Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 5:12). Yet, “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8) He saved us to be made progressively more free and to please and serve Him with joy in the Holy Ghost. He is our Salvation and enabler in all things. We truly CAN do “all things through Christ which strengtheneth” us! (Phil. 4:13)
Whenever God commands something, He also provides the grace for it to manifest in your life – as you are submitted and therefore obedient to Him (James 4:6-10; 1 Peter 4:10-11). His grace, divine enablement, operational power, is always sufficient to bring His perfect will to pass in our lives and to bring us through any and all difficulties, grueling seasons we may find ourselves in! (2 Corinthians 9:8; 12:9-10; 1 Peter 5:10)
No gift could possibly be so “great.” See Hebrews 2:3. It is to Jesus Christ the LORD of all lords that we as vile and depraved sinners, owe all thanksgiving and have the immeasurable, grand and blessed privilege to worship. There is no fathoming the magnitude of the blessing, of the grace and mercy of our God poured out to us through “the blood of his cross.” (Rom. 11:33; 1 Cor. 2:9; Col. 1:20; Tit. 3:5-6) His grace truly is amazing and yet He is holy and righteous and will not permit sin into His presence.
“By him (Christ) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Hebrews 13:15
Seems to me that in “grace” circles grace itself is deified instead of the One who alone granted that grace?
“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:17
My identity, my salvation is first and foremost in CHRIST JESUS Himself and not in the grace He brought and provided via His death on the cross! First things first! Keeping the main thing the main thing! (1 Corinthians 2:2; Galatians 2:20; 6:14; Hebrews 2:9)
The apostle Paul, the divinely inspired grace teacher, stated here in our theme verse (please re-read Titus 2:11-12 above) that when God’s grace is genuinely at work in a person, that person is being taught and learning certain things. Let’s go to the divine source, God’s Word, to discover what these things are:
According to Titus 2:11-12, just what does God’s grace teach one who possesses it?
- To “deny ungodliness…in this present world”
- To “deny…worldly lusts…in this present world”
- To “live soberly…in this present world”
- To “live…righteously…in this present world”
- To live “godly, in this present world”
If a person claims to be saved (secure for Heaven) and yet is not “denying ungodliness” and “worldly lusts…living soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world,” he is simply deluded. See also Matthew 7:21; Titus 1:16; James 1:22; 4:4 and 1 John 2:3-6.
If you don’t mind, I am nominating Titus 2:11-12 as that place in Scripture believers think of when they think of the grace of God. Do you think that saints and/or those who claim to be saints might take on a whole new level of responsibility if such were the case?
The person who currently possesses and is living in the grace of God can be assured of eternal life (Heb. 12:14). One can know or verify whether or not he truly possesses the grace of God by reading closely this enlightening theme passage of Titus 2:11-12. The authentically saved person is presently abiding in Christ’s grace – “Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts” and living “soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (life).”
If these things are not manifesting in our lives, be sure that we are not presently living in the grace of God and should immediately repent before the LORD (James 4:6). In verse 11 of Titus 2, the Word states that it is “the grace of God that bringeth salvation.” And then Holy Writ reveals how those who truly and currently possess this essential grace live their lives – “in this present world.”
“‘For whom ye yield yourselves, servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey.’ (Rom. 6:16) If we are compelled, therefore, to yield ourselves servants to sin, and be subject to Satan’s power, insomuch that we cannot help but obey him, and really have no choice in the matter, then our free agency, our volition, is destroyed; and to make matters worse, the devil has more power than God. Satan can make us disobey God, but alas, God cannot make us disobey Satan. The devil compels us to be sinners, but God cannot compel us to be righteous. What kind of doctrine is this?” –Howard W. Sweeten
In America, the vast majority of those who are called evangelicals do not even realize that this Titus 2 text exists. The masses have never had this text pointed out to them and expounded upon by their leaders. What is it these leaders are afraid their audiences will discover if they unveil this text? Some leaders just simply do not teach the Word (2 Tim. 4:2-4). This alone makes them false. For the Calvinistic leader I must ask: What are they hiding? What are they afraid people might find out? Why are other Bible passages on grace spotlighted and not Titus 2? Why is this Bible passage purposely neglected and avoided? What are our leaders afraid will be revealed to the people they communicate to? Do these leaders fear that the divine truth revealed in Titus 2 will contradict what they are teaching? Do they fear offending people by communicating what the evidences (fruit) of true grace and salvation are?
Unrepentant rebels who claim to be saved lack the discernment and ability to rightly divide the word of God because they refuse to turn their hearts over to the LORD – 2 Corinthians 3:14-16; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. OSAS dupes reject the mountains of Scripture that teach a conditional eternal security because they simply do not want to repent and lay down their lives in this sinful world.
Speaking of “A Foreign Grace,” David Servant, in his book The Great Gospel Deception, says:
“It is not only the fruit of people’s deeds that mark them as false teachers, but also the fruit of their words. If they teach what is contrary to essential New Testament doctrine, they are false teachers.
Of course, no teacher in the church is going to stand up and declare that he is teaching what is contrary to the New Testament. Rather, he will neglect certain important scriptures and twist others to persuade his constituency that he is teaching the truth. This is being done today by many very popular and influential teachers who teach about a grace that is foreign to the Bible. The grace they proclaim is not the true grace that leads to holiness…
How is it possible that people who denied the only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ, could have ‘crept in unnoticed’? The answer is that they were not standing in front of congregations declaring, ‘I deny Jesus Christ.’ Rather, they were denying Jesus Christ through their false teaching about grace, turning it into licentiousness.
Their message could be summarized as follows: ‘Isn’t God’s grace wonderful? Because our salvation stems from His grace and not from our meritorious works, holiness is not essential for salvation. Because of God’s wonderful grace, all who believe in Jesus are saved, even if they continue practicing sin.’” p. 230, 231
As David Servant points out, the false teacher is not going to stand up and announce that he is a wolf. It is the individual believer’s responsibility to discern leaders by the fruit of their teaching. What is not taught (left out of the message) can be more deadly than what is taught. What we don’t know can kill us. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hos. 4:6) To be able to discern one must study the Word diligently and be exercised therein (2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16; Heb. 5:11-14). This gross lack of knowledge among some who claim to know the LORD is also an indication that many have not diligently studied the Word of God for themselves, but rather have relied upon their leaders to tell them what God has said. Consequently, so very many have been deluded with a false gospel.
Saints of the LORD, let us allow Jesus Christ to become important enough to our hearts to learn for ourselves what He has stated to us in His Word. Is the LORD truly your first love? Are you actively and fervently memorizing Scripture – His very words? Let me encourage you to do so from the Authorized Version (KJV). See Proverbs 4:4 and Psalms 119. Index cards are a great way to do such.
“In This Present World” – Holiness Now Or Then?
If we do not possess His grace “in this present world,” evidenced by our denial of ungodliness and holy living here and now, then how can we deceive ourselves into thinking we are truly His? If not now, the then (eternity) is surely eternal damnation. According to God’s Word, without holiness, no person will be with Jesus Christ in eternity (Matt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; Rev. 21:8, 27). Think with me for a moment of how many people who are at this very instant, residents of the domain of the damned – hell. What is their unalterable and horrible future? These eternal souls will shortly be cast into the lake or ocean of fire (Rev. 20:11-15). Why? These people were given the choice and willfully and deliberately chose in their brief earthly life to make something else more important than the LORD and doing His will (Exod. 20:3; Matt. 7:21; Eph. 5:3-6; 1 Jn. 5:21). Pretty simple, yet the consequence is forever fixed – They have reached the point of no return. Hell’s eternal occupants who have gone before us to damnation will, after a million years of excruciating and conscious torment, have not one less second to spend there.
Is it worth it? Is living apart from life-giving fellowship with Jesus in this short life worth eternity in torment? Is justifying instead of crucifying the sins of the body worth spending eternity in the prison of fire? Jesus told us we must abruptly cut off the hand and pluck out the eye that causes us to offend the one true and holy God with our sin, that we might be in Heaven (Mk. 9:42-50). Ready or not – Jesus is Coming!
The Fruit of True Grace: Grace that is not taught with responsibility and the fear of the LORD is not Biblical grace at all. Be not deceived! (Tit. 2:11-14) According to Titus 2:11-12, true grace produces a specific fruit. God’s grace is active. When it truly abides in a person, it has specific earmarks of its possession while “grace” without this fruit is shown to be no saving grace at all. This is a sham that so many today have been taught. It is the bill of goods that is being sold from pulpits across America every week.
Comprehensive grace includes the fear of God which alters the lifestyle and causes the recipient to live a holy life. The adherent is led into intimate fellowship with Christ and from living in habitual sin that would disqualify him from the prize of eternal life. The good news is that there is the precious blood of the Savior available at the “throne of grace” to grant us all a fresh start! This believer, who is less than the least of all saints, has had enormous reason to rejoice in that he has fallen short so many times, only to be drawn back in by the LORD to receive mercy and grace afresh! This priceless grace, purchased with the blood of Christ, is available at all times to those who are born again. We therefore have no excuse to have any sin remaining on our account (Heb. 4:14-16; 1 Jn. 1:7, 9). We are blessed to have EVERY sin washed away in His holy blood as we simply go before His precious throne of grace and cry out in repentance and receive His priceless mercy which we do not deserve yet was merited by Christ’s blood. This truth makes me want to shout for joy!
What a rich blessing it is that God’s grace empowers the believer to fulfill what its Author demands. Through the apostle Paul the Holy Ghost tells us that “sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Rom. 6:14)
PRAYER: LORD Jesus thank You for Your saving grace which enables me to experience relationship with You and live completely pleasing in Your holy sight in all things. Right this moment I denounce all dissimulation and self-deception, lies, and excuses. LORD I beg You to make my heart pure LORD Jesus! Thank You that sin shall not have dominion over my life as I obey You in the daily crucified life, as I remain in fellowship with You, forsaking all thoughts and deeds that offend You. Your grace is sufficient to bring about Your perfect will which is holiness. In the name of Jesus, amen.
No honest Bible student reads the whole of Scripture and comes out with the idea that he’s OSAS. No, such a doctrine is taught by men who lure in their un-repentant prey with ear-tickling promises. “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.” (2 Peter 2:18) Instead of preaching the original Gospel message by calling their audiences to repentance and live a holy, cross-bearing life, they assure them in their sins, just like the false prophets Jeremiah cited (Jeremiah 23:17). This is exactly why those wolves who teach this lie of the ages have such lucrative “church” businesses. They’ve gotten rich peddling Satan’s first lie and are fulfilling prophecy as they lead many to damnation (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4
The OSAS believer is vested in his own flesh which he serves instead of Christ and so he doesn’t care how many Scriptures contradict the lie he loves – because he refuses to truly repent and bring forth fruit consistent with that authentic repentance. Instead of overcoming all sin he wallows in it, justifying that which God condemns because he’s self-deceived with this antinomian (lawless) lie.
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Abiding
The Book of 2 Peter Narrated [podcast]
Chapter 1
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost
Chapter 2
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Chapter 3
This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3 knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
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Apostasy
The Sensual Seduction and Solicitation of the Modern Church!
Spiritual Seduction is a Reality!
“How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly LUSTS. 19 These be they who separate themselves, SENSUAL, having not the Spirit.” Jude 18-19
Of this passage, one disciple notes:
“The dictionary defines sensuality this way: sen•su•al (sen shu – al) adj.
1. Relating to or affecting any of the senses or a sense organ; sensory.
2. a. Of, relating to, given to, or providing gratification of the physical and especially the sexual appetites.
b. Suggesting sexuality; voluptuous.
c. Physical rather than spiritual or intellectual.
d. Lacking in moral or spiritual interests; worldly.
“The Holy Spirit here warns us concerning the Last Times when people would be Sensual not having the Spirit. These are people who would enter the churches not simply people outside the churches; else we would not need to be warned against them. It is commonly felt that “Sensual” always is synonymous with sexuality; however the context here is with regards to the physical ‘senses’—’Feelings’ and ‘sensations’. We have five senses; Sight, Sound, Touch, Taste and Scent. We are told that we ‘walk by faith’, as opposed to walking ‘by sight’. -2 Corinthians 5:7 ‘For we walk by faith, not by sight’. This is simply a reminder that our lives must not be governed by our feelings, our senses. Back in the sixties one of the philosophies of the world was always, ‘If it feels good, it IS good’. Another question that is often asked is, ‘Is this so wrong if it feels so right?'”
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12
Most of the social media messages tell us, continually remind us that God loves us but nearly none of them inform us that the God who loves us, sent His Son to die on a cross for us, and requires and commands us to be “crucified with Christ.” (Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:29; Colossians 3:3) Beware of the half-truth false gospel of today! We must walk in the original Gospel – all of it – if we are to escape and not be “Led away with the error of the wicked.” (2 Peter 3:17)
False prophets will speak about seeking the supposed presence of God yet never preach on the cross, personal holiness, or obedience. Beware.
The only way we can prevent being deceived is by astute study and belief of God’s Word whereby we are able to rightly divide His Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
One saint writes: “Throughout the whole world error and truth travel the same highways, work in the same fields and factories, attend the same churches, fly in the same planes and shop in the same stores. So skilled is error at imitating truth that the two are constantly being mistaken for each other. It takes a sharp eye these days to know which brother is Cain and which is Abel!”
Those who do not submit to God in their daily personal life, calling upon the LORD to circumcise and purify their hearts, will be caught up in and snared by sensuality. They will live by the senses, the flesh, and not the Spirit and be sent by God Himself a “strong delusion” so that they “believe a lie” and are ultimately “damned.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
Some seek the rush of a sensual feeling instead of the reality of the risen Savior – through the cross life!
“I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” Revelation 3:1
HAVE you noticed how these new lightweight “churches” brag about their “Top 10 Core Values”? What a joke! In other words they pick out 10 socially acceptable things most people will like and that’s their top 10. And they do this instead of simply announcing that they endeavor to adhere to the whole of the Bible. KJB. Lame.
The primary way God leads His NEW Testament church is by the Holy Scriptures and not self-appointed false prophets and false apostles (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalms 119:105; 2 Peter 1:19-21, etc.).
Those who pretend to be today’s prophets aren’t grounded in the written Word! RUN!
Scripture often warns us of those who would seduce us away from Christ – just as an adulterous woman seeks to seduce a husband away from his wife!
“For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” Mark 13:22
“These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.” 1 John 2:26
“Not Withstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” Revelation 2:20
“And this I say (here’s the reason I write you!), lest any man should beguile you with enticing words … As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 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. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” Colossians 2:4, 8-10
“Church” attendance was never ordained by God to displace, to replace the personal study of His Word. Church membership endears the people, the prey, to the organization and it’s leaders and members and not to the LORD Himself. This has displaced the individual priesthood and fellowship God ordained for each and every individual believer. Lots of people replace personally diligently seeking the LORD with going to “church.” They either merely dabble with or don’t even personally study God’s Word for themselves and yet are members in good standing at these local entertainment centers many call “church.” The pastors have sold them on this lifestyle by promoting and emphasizing church membership and not discipleship.
Seminaries are wolf factories. The protestant seminaries were infiltrated by the vatican jesuits decades ago and are now marketing schools producing greedy wolves who set up church busine$$ to market the gospel – which is the meaning of taking the name of the LORD in vain! (Exodus 20:7). Satan’s Seminaries Exposed!
“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7
To take the name of the LORD in vain is to use His name for any other purpose except true, honest worship of Him! Those who use the name of Jesus to make dishonest gain by exploiting people for their own self-serving purposes, are not guiltless before a holy God!
Many Seek the Presence and not the Person, the Face of Jesus Christ!
If you name the name of Christ, this writer, this disciple would encourage you to honestly search out this whole “seeking the presence” cult. Contemplative prayer and spiritual formation are a cheap counterfeit for a real walk with God. They substitute a real walk with Jesus wherein He commands us to seek and obey HIM, not merely His presence. When we do seek HIM and obey Him, He promises to manifest Himself to those who obey His Word (John 14:21-23).
Perhaps those who seek the presence of God and not the face of God, are simply looking for some kind of feeling. They have not truly repented and are self-willed and living out of a self-serving agenda.
God plainly told us that he will only give His presence to those who know, seek, and obey Him – and not those who merely seek His presence (John 14:21- 23).
Those who seek His HAND instead of His FACE are completely self-serving, cross-less idolaters!
“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his FACE continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
WE seek the PERSON of Christ and not merely the PRESENCE of Him. Beware of this deception saints. When we seek the FACE of the LORD, He will fill us with His Spirit and make His abode in and with us. Our part is to worship and obey Him and not to merely seek His presence. Many who are not seeking to know the LORD seek a feeling instead of seeking the face of the LORD! Beware of this idolatrous spiritual adultery. These same people are not studying and grounded in the Word or the cross of Christ.
Let’s look at who Jesus says truly loves Him:
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. … 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:21, 23
In this passage above, Jesus teaches us that His presence, He and His Father, abide in the lives of those who are His (born again) and presently obeying Him.
Those who love Jesus seek His Word and obey Him. These true disciples, God manifests Himself to. These are those He chooses to make His abode with and not those who simply seek to exploit the LORD for a feeling they call His presence. Beware!
Many today seek a feeling, a sensation and not the Savior! They’ve allowed the false leaders of today to mislead them.
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away … Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:5,7
Those not submitted to the authority, the power of God which is Christ, have only a mere “form of godliness.” As was specifically foretold, today we see the fulfillment of Paul’s warning where we have so many with a mere “form of godliness.” In their daily lives they deny, reject “the power” or the authority of Jesus to reign. When Jesus reigns in a life, His cross is central to that person’s life. They are grounded in the cross – the crucified life – without exception.
Yet today we see some who never grow after being saved because false ministries have intercepted them from the LORD. Those false prophet ministries emphasize any and everything except Jesus Christ!
The vast majority of today’s pastors are sensually soliciting their prey to worship at the altar of self and not soundly grounding their audience in the cross and sound doctrine which is God’s written Word!
So many run to pack themselves in with the herd, to get turned on in what is supposed to be praise and worship. Some of it is a hollow sound and mere lip service.
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” Matthew 15:8
The hoards consist of the same souls who do not daily, diligently seek the LORD in His Word and a set apart life of prayer (Matthew 6:6; 2 Timothy 2:15). They do not live a crucified life! (Luke 9:23-24; Galatians 2:20, 24, etc.) They are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” because they are not being grounded in the Word of God.
The powder puff pansies use fake news “bibles” instead of the KING JAMES BIBLE.
Any leader not getting you into God’s Word for yourself, is absolutely a wolf! Run!
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
The Witchcraft of the Modern Church!
There is no instance in the 27 books of the New Testament canon where God’s people gathered to be entertained and enamored in what the modern church falsely claims to be praise and worship.
Those false ministries who stage these events are appealing to your natural senses, your emotions. They are on a marketing journey – to sell their prey into a community and not to root them in Christ!
Proof? Name 5 people you know who attend such false churches who can quote just 5 Bible verses they’ve memorized. Case closed!
Seeking and Knowing the LORD Himself!
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” Philippians 3:10
Jesus told us that the chief purpose that He came is that we might know Him and the Father. Such a cardinal, central Gospel truth is never heard in modern apostate churches today!
“And this is life eternal (the whole divine reason for it), that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3
The cross reveals your sin, and God’s love, not how wonderful you are! Repent!
Beware of this “knowing the Tangible Presence” idea. Spiritual formation and contemplative prayer is heresy! These heretical systems are rooted in the occult and perpetrated by “many false prophets” which Jesus specifically warns us “shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:11). Christ’s true disciples today live BY FAITH not feelings (2 Corinthians 5:7). True followers of Jesus live by the Word of God and not by their senses, their feelings (Psalms 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Yet, many today are being led to conjure up a feeling, not realizing they are summoning up evil spirits that pose as the Holy Spirit of God – another Jesus, another gospel, another spirit (2 Corinthians 11:2-4, 11-15). Those who seek an experience instead of seeking the face of the LORD, will be misled by evil spirits and false prophets (1 Chronicles 16:11). Many today are sensual and not truly spiritual in the biblical sense. There is no cross at the center of their lives (Colossians 3:3). Their daily life is not rooted in Christ – the cross! They have been led by the self-serving wolves of today’s modern church to get addicted to a feeling instead of growing in grace and obeying the LORD and Savior Himself. Self-idolatry. They love to go do what some falsely call “praise and worship” to get that feeling. Praise and worship are biblical and yet, not what many have made it out to be. There are many houses of worship if you will, which do not have Christ, the cross, at the center and therefore are not worshiping the LORD by teaching the pure, sound doctrine of the Word of God – the King James Bible. These ravenous wolves know how the church busine$$ works and so they front with a good band, good music, using young, gifted people as their pawns as they stage their deceptive exploitation, hiding behind that good music! Beware saints.
Wolves entertain goats and market their church busine$$ to grow, to gain nickels, noses, and numbers. True under-shepherds ground God’s people in the daily cross, in the fear of God, and in the sound doctrine which is the written Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17; 4:2-4; 2 Peter 1:19-21, etc.).
This is a big part of the end time deception we were often warned of….
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” 1 Timothy 4:1-2
Have you ever been part of this type “church”? I sure have. Think about it. If you’re like myself, you enjoyed the praise and worship (to some degree) and yet, were left empty due to the lame “word” and lack of biblical teaching. Can anyone relate?
In any given town in America, one can search high and low, near and far, and never find even one pastor who is true to God. Is this not a fulfillment of prophecy?
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:” Amos 8:11
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:2-4
If you still believe that most pastors today are true, stay deeply in God’s Word daily and your discernment will change. You will begin to realize that over 90% of today’s pastors are “accursed” wolves and we know this because they do not preach the original Gospel that Christ and His holy apostles preached and gave us (Jude 3).
Modern church false gospel …. No repentance, no sin, No judgment, no holiness, no cross, No warnings to beware of false prophets and heresies, no return of Christ for a spotless – sinless – bride, no Christology (study of Christ!) …
Those who preach any other gospel other than the original and complete Gospel of Jesus Christ, are “accursed.”
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9
Then Paul reveals why false leaders do not preach the original, the real and whole Gospel of Christ – because they love self and therefore fear and cater to mere men and not Jesus Christ!
“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
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