The Use of Tracts
in Winning Lost Souls
R.A. Torrey
Comparatively few Christians realize the importance of tract work. I had been a Christian a good many years, and a minister of the Gospel several years, before it ever entered my head that tracts were of much value in Christian work. I had somehow grown up with the notion that tracts were all rubbish, and therefore I did not take the trouble to read them, and far less did I take the trouble to circulate them, but I found out that I was entirely wrong. Tract work has some great advantages over other forms of Christian work.
I. Importance and advantages.
1. Any person can do it. We cannot all preach; we cannot all conduct meetings; but we can all select useful tracts and then hand them out to others. Of course some of us can do it better than others. Even a blind man or a dumb man can do tract work. It is a line of work in which every man, woman and child can engage.
2. A tract always sticks to the point. I wish every worker did that, but how often we get to talking to some one and he is smart enough to get us off on to a side track.
3. A tract never loses its temper. Perhaps you sometimes do. I have known Christian workers, even workers of experience, who would sometimes get all stirred up, but you cannot stir up a tract. It always remains as calm as a June morning.
4. Oftentimes people who are too proud to be talked with, will read a tract when no one is looking. There is many a man who would repulse you if you tried to speak to him about his soul, who will read a tract if you leave it on his table, or in some other place where he comes upon it accidentally, and that tract may be used for his salvation.
5. A tract stays by one. You talk to a man and then he goes away, but the tract stays with him. Some years ago a man came into a mission in New York. One of the workers tried to talk with him, but he would not listen. As he was leaving, a card tract was placed in his hands which read, “If I should die to-night I would go to ______ Please fill out and sign.” He put it in his pocket, went to his steamer, for he was a sailor, and slipped it into the edge of his bunk. The steamer started for Liverpool. On his voyage he met with an accident, and was laid aside in his bunk. That card stared him in the face, day and night. Finally he said, “If I should die tonight I would go to hell, but I will not go there, I will go to heaven, I will take Christ right here and now.” He went to Liverpool, returned to New York, went to the mission, told his story, and had the card, which was still in his pocket, filled out and signed with his name. The conversation he had had in the mission left him, but the card stayed by him.
6. Tracts lead many to accept Christ. The author of one tract (“What is it to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ?”) received before his death upwards of sixteen hundred letters from people who had been led to Christ by reading it.
II. Purposes for which to use a tract.
1. For the conversion of the unsaved. A tract will often succeed in winning a man to Christ where a sermon or a personal conversation has failed. There are a great many people who, if you try to talk with them, will put you off; but if you put a tract in their hands and ask God to bless it, after they go away and are alone they will read the tract and God will carry it home to their hearts by the power of the Holy Ghost. One of our students wrote me in great joy of how he had at last succeeded in winning a whole family for Christ. He had been working for that family for a long time but could not touch them. One day he left a tract with them, and God used that tract for the conversion of four or five members of the family. Another student held a cottage meeting at a home, and by mistake left his Bible there. There was a tract in the Bible. When he had gone, the woman of the house saw the Bible, picked it up, opened it, saw the tract and read it. The Spirit of God carried it home to her heart, and when he went back after the Bible she told him she wanted to find the Lord Jesus Christ. The tract had done what he could not do in personal work. I once received a letter from a man saying, “There is a man in this place whom I tried for a long time to reach but could not. One day I handed him a tract, and I think it was to the salvation of his whole family.”
2. To lead Christians into a deeper
and more earnest Christian life. It is a great mistake to limit the use of tracts to winning the unsaved to Christ. A little tract on the Second Coming of Christ, once sent me in a letter, made a change in my whole life. I do not think the tract was altogether correct doctrinally, but it had in it an important truth, and it did for me just the work that needed to be done.
There is a special class of people with whom this form of ministry is particularly helpful, those who live where they do not enjoy spiritual advantages. You may know some one who is leading a very unsatisfactory life, and you long to have that person know what the Christian life really means. His pastor may not be a spiritual man, he may not know the deep things of God. It is the simplest thing in the world to slip into a letter a tract that will lead him into an entirely new Christian life.
3. To correct error. This is a very necessary form of work in the day in which we live. The air is full of error. In our personal work we have not always time to lead a man out of his error, but oftentimes we can give him a tract that can do the work better than we can. If you tried to lead him out of his error by personal work, you might get into a discussion, but the tract cannot. The one in error cannot talk back to the tract. For example, take people that are in error on the question of seventh day observance. It might take some time to lead such a one out of the darkness into the light, but a tract on that subject can be secured that has been used of God to lead many out of the bondage of legalism into the glorious liberty of the Gospel of Christ.
4. To set Christians to work. Our churches are full of members who are doing nothing. A well-chosen tract may set such to work. I know of a young man who was working in a factory in Massachusetts. He was a plain, uneducated sort of fellow, but a little tract on personal work was placed in his hands. He read it and re-read it, and said, “I am not doing what I should for Christ.” He went to work among his companions in the factory, inviting them to the church, and to hear his pastor preach. Not satisfied with this, he went to doing personal work. This was not sufficient, so he went to work holding meetings himself. Finally he brought a convention to his city. Just that one plain factory man was the means of getting a great convention and blessing to that place, and all from reading that little tract. He was also instrumental in organizing a society which was greatly blessed of God. It would be possible to fill this country with literature on Christian work that would stir up the dead and sleeping professors of religion throughout the land, and send them out to work for the Lord Jesus Christ.
III. Who should use tracts.
1. Ministers of the Gospel should use them. Many ministers do make constant use of them in their pastoral work, leaving well chosen tracts where they make their pastoral calls, handing out tracts along the line of the sermons that they preach. It is said of Rev. Edward Judson of New York, that he seldom makes a call without having in his pocket a selection of tracts adapted to almost every member of the family, and especially to the children. “At the close of the Sunday evening preaching service, he has often put some good brother in the chair, and while the meeting proceeds he goes down into the audience and gives to each person a choice leaflet, at the same time taking the opportunity to say a timely word. In this way he comes into personal touch with the whole audience, gives each stranger a cordial welcome, and leaves in his hand some message from God. At least once a year he selects some one tract that has in it the very core of the Gospel. On this he prints the notices of the services, and selecting his church as a center, he has this tract put in the hands of every person living within half a mile in each direction, regardless of creed or condition. He sometimes uses 10,000 tracts at one distribution, and finds it very fruitful in results.”
2. Sunday School teachers. Every Sunday School teacher should be on the lookout for tracts to give to his scholars. In this way he can do much to supplement his hour’s work on the Lord’s Day.
3. Traveling men. Traveling men have a rare opportunity for doing tract work. They are constantly coming in contact with different men, and finding out their needs. A Christian “drummer” with a well-assorted selection of tracts can accomplish immeasurable good.
4. Business men. Business men can use tracts to good advantage with the very men with whom they have business engagements. They can also do excellent work with their own employees. Many a business man slips well chosen tracts into many of the letters which he writes, and thus accomplishes an effective ministry for his Master.
5. School teachers. It is very difficult for school teachers in some cities and towns to talk very much with their pupils in school. Oftentimes the rules of the school board prevent it entirely, but a wise teacher can learn all about her scholars and their home surroundings, and can give them tracts just adapted to their needs.
6. Housekeepers. Every Christian housekeeper should have a collection of well assorted tracts. She can hand these out to the servant girls, the grocery men, the market men, the butcher, to the tramps that come to the door. They can be left upon the table in the parlor and in bedrooms. Only eternity will disclose the good that is accomplished in these ways.
IV. How to use tracts.
1. To begin a conversation. One of the difficulties in Christian work is to begin. You see a person with whom you wish to talk about the Lord Jesus Christ. The great difficulty is in starting. It is easy enough to talk after you have started, but how are you going to start a conversation naturally and easily? One of the simplest and easiest ways is by slipping a tract into the person’s hand. After the tract has been read, a conversation naturally follows. I was once riding in a crowded car. I asked God for an opportunity to lead some one to Christ. I was watching for the opportunity for which I had asked, when two young ladies entered. I thought I knew one of them as the daughter of a minister. She went through the car looking for a seat, and then came back. As she came back and sat down in the seat in front of me, she bowed, and of course I knew I was right as to who she was. I took out a little bundle of tracts, and selecting one that seemed best adapted to her case, I handed it to her, having first asked God to bless it. She at once began to read and I began to pray. When she had read the tract, I asked her what she thought about it. She almost burst into tears right there in the car, and in a very few moments that minister’s daughter was rejoicing in the Lord Jesus Christ as her personal Saviour. As she afterwards passed out of the car, she said, “I want to thank you for what you have done for me in leading me to Christ.”
2. Use a tract to close a conversation. As a rule when you have finished talking with some one, you should not leave him without something definite to take home to read. If the person has accepted Christ, put some tract in his hands that will show him how to succeed in the Christian life. If the person has not accepted Christ, some other tract that is especially adapted to his need should be left with him.
3. Use tracts where a conversation is impossible. For example, one night at the close of a tent meeting in Chicago, as I went down one of the aisles a man beckoned to me, and intimated that his wife was interested. She was in tears, and I tried to talk with her, but she stammered out in a broken way, “We don’t talk English.” She had not understood a word of the sermon, I suppose, but God had carried something home to her heart. They were Norwegians, and I could not find a Norwegian in the whole tent to act as interpreter, but I could put a Norwegian tract in her hand, and that could do the work. Time and time again I have met with men deeply interested about their soul’s salvation, but with whom I could not deal because I did not talk the language that they understood.
One day as I came from dinner, I found a Swede waiting for me, and he said he had a man outside with whom he wished me to talk. I went outside and found an uncouth looking specimen, a Norwegian. The Swede had found him drunk in an alley and dragged him down to the Institute to talk with me. He was still full of whisky, and spit tobacco juice over me as I tried to talk with him. I found he could not talk English, and I talked English to the Swede, and the Swede talked Swedish to the Norwegian, and the Norwegian got a little bit of it. I made it as clear as I could to our Swede interpreter, and he in his turn made it as clear as he could to the Norwegian. Then I put a Norwegian tract in his hands, and that could talk to him so that he understood perfectly.
Oftentimes a conversation is impossible because of the place where you meet people. For example, you may be on the street cars and wish to speak to a man, but in many instances it would not be wise if it were possible, but you can take the man’s measure and then give him a tract that will fit him. You may be able to say just a few words to him and then put the tract in his hands and ask God to bless it.
4. Use tracts to send to people at a distance. It does not cost a tract much to travel. You can send them to the ends of the earth for a few cents. Especially use them to send to people who live in out of the way places where there is no preaching. There are thousands of people living in different sections of this country where they do not hear preaching from one year’s end to another. It would be impossible to send an evangelical preacher to them, but you can send a tract and it will do the preaching for you.
V. Suggestions as to the use of tracts.
1. Always read the tracts yourself before giving them to others. This is very necessary. Bad tracts abound to-day, tracts that contain absolutely pernicious doctrine. They are being circulated free by the million, and one needs to be on his guard, lest he be doing harm rather than good in distributing tracts. Of course we cannot read all the tracts in foreign languages, but we can have them interpreted to us, and it is wise to do so. Besides positively bad tracts, there are many tracts that are worthless.
2. Suit your tract to the person to whom you give it. What is good for one person may not be good for another.
3. Carry a selection of tracts with you. I do not say a collection, but a selection. Tracts are countless in number, and a large share of them are worthless. Select the best, and arrange them for the different classes of people with whom you come in contact.
4. Seek the guidance of God. This is of the very highest importance. If there is any place where we need wisdom from above, it is in the selection of tracts, and in their distribution after their selection.
5. Seek God’s blessing upon the tract after you have given it out. Do not merely give out the tract and there let the matter rest, but whenever you give out a tract ask God to bless it.
6. Oftentimes give a man a tract with words and sentences underscored. Men are curious, and they will take particular notice of the underscoring. It is oftentimes a good thing to have a tract put up in your office. Men who come in will read it. I know a man who had a few words put upon his paper weight. A great many who came into his office saw it, and it made a deep impression upon them.
7. Never be ashamed of distributing tracts. Many people hand out tracts to others as if they were ashamed of what they were doing. People are not likely to read tracts if you hand them to them as if you were ashamed to do it; but if you act as though you were conferring a favor upon them, and giving them something worth reading, they will read your tract. It is often well to say to a person, “Here is a little leaflet out of which I have gotten a good deal of good. I would like to have you read it.”
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Articles
Mexico Mission Part 22
2 MORMONS OPENLY, PUBLICLY REBUKED
Just now came upon 2 young mormons trying to minister to an old man. After immediately commanding the attention of all 3, I pointed to the mormons while looking at and directly speaking to the elder man. He was informed in Spanish that those boys are peddling a false gospel, a false religion and that Jesus Christ is the only way to God and Heaven, not religion. He was also informed that those young men were “accursed” and are perpetrating a false religion, that they are falso prophetas (false prophets) and to beware. He was informed that the precious blood of Jesus will wash away all of his sins if he will repent and receive Christ.
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 3
Mission Mexico rolling.
The devil is a liar!!!!
Mission Mexico
THIS WEEK, we are mailing scores more of the Born Again book to imprisoned people. One of them is Ghislane Maxwell. See below. Your prayers invited. And remember we do this by faith, trusting God will provide. This is an ongoing operation, outreach of the body of Christ – you and I – as we walk out the Great Commission Jesus gave us to accomplish till He returns (Mk 16:15; Matt 28:18-20).
“WE are labourers TOGETHER with God.” 1 Cor 3:9
You can help here:
Supporting
THIS GENERATION must be warned saints. – “WARN them from me.” (Ezekiel 3:7). If and when but 1 eternal soul hearkens and repents, it shall be worth it all. Thank you for your prayers and support so that there be no let up, no slow down in the preaching, teaching, distributing JESUS tracts, and the production of podcasts. The podcasts, not counting the count on safeguardyoursoul.com, is nearing 2.5 million and will be at 3 million downloads by year end. Each one has to be produced and go through a series of editing sessions before being launched to the people. We’ve got an amazing editor who has been tremendous in this endeavor who is working full time for the ministry and has been for 2 years or more now. Thank you for praying.
Follow the podcast at this link if you wish. A new podcast drops early each morning. There can be no let up in the warning of the body of Christ to the backslidden and the rank never-been-saved sinners. All of them are hell bound, unless they repent (Matthew 3:2, 7-10).
Jesus is coming saints!
Let’s roll !
Follow the SafeGuardYourSoul Podcast here.
This man has been working with us to feed the poor. He runs a restaurant near where several homeless people have been ministered to…. Here he is taking the money to prepare another meal for a beloved homeless person who was receiving the Gospel.
The prayers and support of our LORD’s saints make this possible.
Jesus is King.
Mission Mexico
https://safeguardyoursoul.com/mexico-mission/
We just mailed out 3 Born Again books to 3 of the 5 suspects in the brutal beating of that couple in Ohio. Feel free to pray these people will repent and be saved and also …. this is an ongoing kingdom opportunity. We are mailing the Born Again book and other of the ministry books to the incarcerated each week. As Christ’s body, instead of simply condemning these sinners, criminals, we are going to call them to repentance and faith in Christ (Acts 20:21; Revelation 22:17). See Support button on Safeguardyoursoul.com Takes seconds to contribute. “WE are labourers TOGETHER with God.” (1 Corinthians 3:9)
You can listen here to the text of the Born Again book narrated.
Born Again book Audio, Podcast Version
TODAY: Upon hearing the Word spoken to him and being handed a JESUS tract, beloved Francisco immediately lit up and began to testify of how he is saved. He said he went to prison for a year and in jail he was born again and read the whole Bible through several times. He is a dear brother and took 20-30 JESUS tracts to pass out to others. Would you like to lift up Francisco in prayer?
*Francisco is excited to receive the 4 books the ministry now have in Spanish for his edification. They are being sent now. Sent and here’s the response from our brother in Christ, Francisco:
“Brother it was very nice to meet you today. Many Christians in the United States are praying for you. Here are the 4 books I promise to send you.” Francisco
Mission Mexico
https://safeguardyoursoul.com/mexico-mission/
YES THAT IS A NEWBORN BABY IN HER BLANKET!
Your prayers invited.
Mission Mexico
“Amen. The Mexican people are a humble people, who work with their hands and heart. Praise God!” Anita Villareal
I am always so amazed by what the Lord is doing in people’s hearts in Mexico. Thank you for sharing with all of us. It’s a blessing to be part of what the Lord is doing. Team Jesus.
IF we ask God to prepare us, we might be surprised at the occasions HE turns into ministry open doors, opportunities!
Yesterday while doing some work at a local cafe, moving my head a bit to a bumpin beat in a praise song to our LORD I was listening to …. a teenager liked that and started moving his head in the same way while walking toward me …. I smiled real big at him, removed the ear plugs and we high 5’d with joy and as a result he and his friend received the spoken Word and also a JESUS tract each.
Jesus is KING!
There are no hand outs in Mexico and therefore lazy unproductive people don’t come here to get free stuff. There is no free stuff. No one here complains. They works hard, are happy, and take care of their own personal responsibilities.
God requires that people work for their own living.
“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather LET HIM LABOUR, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” Ephesians 4:28
“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10
Also, …. For Mexico, it is unthinkable to bring in foreigners to replace their own people which would be an atrocity. Isn’t that what the devil-rat communists have done in the USA?
Your prayer for Yvonne is amazing. She was captivated by Christ’s Gospel and wants to hear more. She received the Word spoken and in print (Jesus tract).
The people of Mexico are exemplary. The manners, the etiquette, meekness, etc.
WARNING: If you dare help pray for and/or supply this ministry outreach, the direct result will be that saved souls are going to be edified, made whole, and equipped and lost souls are going to hear the preached Word of God – both in English and Spanish. If you do not like these things, please don’t give to this ministry outreach. Thank you.
If anyone wishes to help pastor Chabby get a supply of Bibles to the saints in Gambia, here’s his information to be contacted directly.
chabbyalfredchabala@gmail.com
Thanks, I will. CHABBY ALFRED. BOX730189
KAWAMBWA 730000
LUAPULA PROVINCE
ZAMBIA – AFRICA
PHONE NUMBER:0978402845
TODAY beloved Teri received the love of God in the form of the spoken Word of God in Spanish (extensively), a JESUS tract in Spanish, and some food, drink, and coin.
Teri was excited to know you will be lifting her in prayer. Colossians 4:12
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Articles
Conspiracy Among the False Prophets [podcast]
The Prophesied End Times Conspiracy of False Leaders [podcast]
Audio PlayerBirds of a Feather Truly Do Flock Together
“For MANY deceivers are entered into the world . . .” 2 John 7
So many today tell you exactly who they are when they quote absolute frauds like John Calvin, Mother Teresa, Joyce Meyer, Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Rick Warren, James R. White, Todd White, etc. The list is endless of false prophets who are still heralded by heretical pawns who are part of the “conspiracy” of false prophets who are against the LORD (Ezekiel 22:25-27).
Stop endorsing and quoting and esteeming mere sinful men, now! Obey God by exposing them! (Matthew 10:26-28; 23; Romans 16:17-18; Jude 3, etc.).
“Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” Isaiah 2:22
“Seems so many miss the little things by not investigating for themselves. I wish they would just stick to the Bible and give honour where God hath given honour: like unto Paul, Timothy, Epaphras, John, Peter, etc. There are plenty of examples to us in the written Word without having to laud men that we truly know very little of or were written of by secular historians.” Jon Crane
The Word of God has very much to say about discernment, and one of those cardinal truths is found in Ezekiel 22:25-27 which speaks of how birds of a feather DO flock together and so that’s one way we know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:16, 20). When you see someone hanging with, colluding with a known false prophet, you know that they’re both wolves. Also we should become very familiar with 2 John 10-11. Example: The history of the roman church is to infiltrate, to send their trojan horse wolves in our midst, acting like Christians while coming to subvert. The jesuits infiltrated the protestant seminaries beginning in the 1950’s and that’s when the prophesied final great departure from the truth began (1 Timothy 4:1-2, etc.). So, when you see a preacher who isn’t exposing this antichrist cult but rather colluding with them, you know he’s antichrist. Examples of such include Billy Graham, Paul Washer, James Robison, Jonathan Roumie, Sean Feucht, etc. See Catholicism/Ecumenism category.
“Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12
Beware of the bombardment, the constant delusions of the enemy, who “is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” (Revelation 12:12) For example: The Jesus Revolution Movie, the fake revivals such as Asbury, etc. There is a culminating “conspiracy”, a concerted effort by Satan and his human agents, to deceive the elect, wolves in sheeps’ clothing among us! Beware saints.
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” Matthew 24:21-22
Over reaction on the Bible topic of false leaders? If you can find the phrase “many true prophets” in God’s Word, show it to us. Hint: It’s not there. Yet, we are repeatedly warned of “many false prophets” who would “deceive many” and how in these last days “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.” (Matthew 24:11; 1 John 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:13)
“Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.” Jeremiah 12:10
WHO DID GOD TELL US IS MISLEADING HIS PEOPLE?
“For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Isaiah 9:16
Is false leadership, those who mislead, not the greatest threat to the body of Christ? Yes!
There is obviously little threat from external Satanists and yet those who serve the enemy within the body of Christ are strategic plants, positioned to infect those who surround them. Yet, the Holy Spirit who is the Author of the Word of God, spends volumes of time utilizing many words to warn us of the impending and guaranteed danger of these wolves who prey upon the sheep of the LORD using various messages, methods and manipulation. These “deceitful workers” work most effectively within, not without (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). They are at work in our midst–strategically, internally planted. There is a conspiracy of false prophets and false teachers united by the spirit of antichrist and purposed to malign, ever so subtly, the image of the one true God.
“There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things …” Ezekiel 22:25
Where are the “prophets” who conspire? They are strategically positioned “in the midst” of the saints of the LORD. They steal the “treasure and precious things” of the LORD by robbing His sheep of His clear and full-counsel truth which bears the abundance of His spiritual blessings in heavenly places through Jesus Christ.
According to the Holy Scriptures, false prophets are known by their affiliations. See Ezekiel 22:25-27.
According to 2 John 10-11 we will be judged with evil doers if we condone, support them in any way. Also, a major truth of discerning is found in Ezekiel 22:25-27.
Packs of wolves adorned behind the sheep’s clothing of their denomination, church building, affiliation, degree and charisma, operate in the modern church, leading people to the knowledge of a false Christ.
The antichrist spirit opposes Christ under the pretense of representing Him and leading His Church.
“There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken.” Ezekiel 22:25-28
Note the classes of leadership listed here–prophets, priests, princes, and prophets. There were many levels of leadership involved and operating in a conspiracy against the LORD. Where are the conspiratorial false “prophets”?–“in the midst” of God’s people. What are the false prophets doing in the midst of God’s people and what have they done?
Ezekiel 22 Outline
- “ravening the prey (they see God’s people as an opportunity for self gain)” (v25)
- “have devoured souls (do not flinch to deceive and destroy precious souls)” (v25)
- “they have taken the treasure and precious things (stolen the spiritual blessing of His glorious salvation)” (v25)
- “they have made her many widows in the midst thereof (caused spiritual death)” (v25)
- “Her priests have violated my law (do not hold to and preach God’s pure Word, but rather use their position to profit themselves)” (v26)
- “have profaned mine holy thing (made common that which is holy)” (v26)
- “they have put no difference between the holy and profane (mixture)” (v26)
- “neither have they showed difference between the unclean and the clean (did not teach His people to discern)” (v26)
- “have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths (did not set the LORD and His rest apart as holy)” (v26)
- “I am profaned among them” (v26)
- “Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey” (v27)
- “shed blood, and to destroy souls” (v27)
- “get dishonest gain (made merchandise of the people)” (v27)
- “her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar (built their organizations in a way not prescribed in the Word)” (v28)
- “seeing vanity” (v28)
- “divining lies (conjuring up “words” that are not from God)” (v28)
- “saying, Thus saith the Lord GOD, when the LORD hath not spoken (using His holy name in vain for their own selfish gain)” (v28)
This enumeration of the characteristics and operating tactics of false leaders is no different today than what it was in Ezekiel’s day.
JIHAD IN THE MODERN CHURCH
There is a war raging in the church world today. It is the war for truth, which is opposed by the liars and lies of the enemy of all of God’s people, who makes war against the saints (Daniel 7:21). The enemy is greatly assisted in his cause, by those fruitless leaders who refuse to openly and continually dispense divine truth. This war goes unnoticed by most but will determine the future of the souls of countless men.
The LORD instructs all of His people, especially those in leadership, to discern and detect such lies and to “Speak thou the things which become sound doctrine.” (Titus 2:1)
The evil silence of so many in leadership who do not know nor “preach the word” is contemptible, despicable, shameful, offensive and insidious (2 Timothy 4:2). There is no doubt that these in leadership in today’s church, who do not teach the pure Word of God, are the most powerful emissaries of the evil one. If God’s people know His Word, the will not be destroyed for lack of knowledge (Psalms 17:4; Hosea 4:6).
Jihad means holy war. Those who wage such a war in the Islamic world, do so stealthily. The enemies of God, who stealthily prey upon the weak, beginning with their father the devil, are for the most part, cowardly. Do we have a well-hidden war being waged in our churches–being clandestinely waged by our very leaders? Have we not been warned that many deceivers have “crept in unawares (undetected)” who “lie in wait to deceive”? (Jude 4; Ephesians 4:14)
The Islamic terrorists seek to come within our cities and drop their undetected “dirty bombs” and kill millions of Americans. Much worse are those spiritual terrorists who hold leadership positions and yet do not “feed the church of God” and by denial are dropping their dirty bombs of error in word and lifestyle. They refuse to protect God’s people by filling them with His truth (Proverbs 30:5; Acts 20:32). These who serve themselves of the ministry are in denial and do not give protection to the people of God like true shepherds do.
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold (Gr. suppress) the truth in unrighteousness.” Romans 1:18
If our government did nothing to protect us from the physical terrorism the Islamic Jihadists who seek to inflict death and destruction on our nation, what would we say? We would be outraged, right? Doesn’t the physical threat of terrorism Muslims seek to bring on America, pale in comparison to the dangerous and deadly spiritual terrorism of false prophets and their potential to damn the very souls of men? Is not the future health of the Christian and Church being placed at stake by the refusal of leaders to diligently dispense the doctrinal truths the LORD gave us in His Word? If so, then why are we not completely outraged at such gross lack of warning or protection from our leaders, concerning the spiritual terrorism the enemy of all souls is bringing into the midst of our camps, and the gross lack of Bible teaching?
Perhaps we would fair well to place this following Bible promise on our refrigerators in order to keep us aware of the reality of such deception:
“For this I know (definitive), that after my departing SHALL (a Bible promise) grievous wolves enter in AMONG YOU, not sparing the flock.” Acts 20:29
Seeking to push from view the reality of deceivers and deception is a dangerous undertaking at best and a brazen betrayal of God and our fellow man. The fact of false prophets is a reality, especially as concerns these final days. Trying to hide this fact may just prove that we are a part of the conspiracy against the LORD and His children (Ezekiel 22:25-27).
There is a mountain of Bible passages dedicated to warning us to discern false prophets and false teachings. Like any good parent, our heavenly Father wants His beloved children to be “safe” and like Paul so do all true servant leaders (Philippians 3:1). To ignore what He told us about deceivers and false teaching is to indict the Almighty as being uncaring, un-thoughtful, and a bad parent. One must openly reject hundreds of verses to ignore the dangerous threat imposed by “grievous wolves.” (Acts 20:29) The threat posed by these wolves is severe. Eternal souls are in the balance.
It is highly regrettable far too little is said or addressed of this important biblical subject which has left God’s people at a place of great vulnerability (1 John 4:1). According to Ezekiel 44:23 and Colossians 1:28, true servants of Jesus are to “teach” His people to discern “the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.”
In this late hour “evil men and seducers” of souls are waxing “worse and worse” and the LORD must have His obedient watchmen to teach, to warn, and to preach (Colossians 1:28; 2 Timothy 3:13).
All watchmen and disciples of Jesus are to diligently and without ceasing bring His people into remembrance of His Word and the many warnings therein (1 Timothy 4:6, 16). This is what the “good minister of Jesus Christ” does as well as nourishing them “up in the words of faith and of good doctrine.” (1 Timothy 4:6, 16)
THE GOOD SHEPHERD PROTECTS HIS SHEEP
The man who isn’t warning isn’t loving and isn’t protecting Christ’s sheep. Run from such a devil for he is part of the antichrist “conspiracy” against Christ! (Ezekiel 22:25-27) Such a man is completely unlike Christ and His prophets and apostles who repeatedly warned of false prophets and their heresies!
Jesus Christ is “the great shepherd of the sheep” and “Jesus Christ (is) the same yesterday, and today, and forever”, then is He not still deeply concerned about the protection of His people today? (Hebrews 13:8, 20)
Please realize that the LORD holds each of us responsible to take heed to what we hear and to keep our own hearts with all diligence and stay pure from all deceivers and deceptions (Deuteronomy 4:9; Proverbs 4:20-23; Luke 21:34-36; 2 Timothy 2:15, etc.).
“Keep thyself pure.” 1 Timothy 5:22
Beloved, in light of your own personal responsibility to walk and remain in the truth, let me encourage you to avoid holding your breath till you find a true under-shepherd who will do his duty by watching, overseeing, “declar(ing) unto you all the counsel of God”, and “feed(ing) the church of God.” (Acts 20:28-32) Consider prayerfully and perpetually getting into God’s Word for yourself. Devour it and let your heart be taught in His perfect ways by his Spirit.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for ever helping, for bidding God speed in any way to a wolf that is Your enemy. I now this moment repent and desire never to commit this sin again. Please unite my heart to fear Thy holy name LORD Jesus! Teach me to discern and to cling to You according to the lamp of Your precious Precepts! In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Articles
Man’s Problem – God’s Redemptive Solution [podcast]
The Biblical Doctrine or Story of Redemption
The story of God’s creation of mankind and mankind’s descension into sin. Man chose to sin. God chose to redeem and not ditch.
Man’s Dilemma, Sin – God’s Solution – the Savior, Jesus Christ
Here’s fallen mankind’s issue—sin, sin nature:
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. … O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:18, 24
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9
Two facts about the natural heart:
- It is deceitful above all things.
- It is desperately wicked.
Mankind’s Dilemma at and After the Fall of Adam and Eve into Sin
“And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5
“And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.” Genesis 6:12
“Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.” Ecclesiastes 7:29
Sin is man’s fault, not God’s. God, knowing man could not remedy his own sinful fallen state, sent His only begotten Son (James 1:13-15).
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17
“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself … 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:19,21
“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
Here’s God’s solution (as opposed to the band aid false promises of liberty from sin being peddled in the modern church world):
1. The precious blood of Jesus Christ…..
2. The crucified life thereafter, following initial salvation
Initial Salvation
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Colossians 1:12-14
“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” 1 Peter 1:18-19
“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Colossians 1:12-14
After Initial Salvation
God’s redemption in and through Christ alone comes complete with every iota of grace needed and more to live holy AFTER being initially saved (Titus 2:11-14). Otherwise the excuse-maker, the moral coward who buys the OSAS/eternal security fairytale will die and spend eternity in hell, all the while swearing he is sealed and going to Heaven no matter what. | The Sealed Scam Exposed
Once saved, the recipient of Christ’s salvation…. the precious blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? …. For he that is dead is freed from sin.” Romans 6:1, 2, 7
Read that verse above again. Ask: WHO is “freed from sin”?
Memorize and declare daily!
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
You cannot walk free from the sin that would separate you from God without doing your life HIS way and no other—being daily “crucified with Christ.”
Walking with Christ, living in His holiness, requires the daily cross—the crucified life.
Bible 101
The Cross Life
God did not send His only begotten Son to save, to forgive the sins of His people and then leave us on our own to overcome the sin He initially forgave us of. No. Nor did He come to die to forgive our sins initially and then give us license to live in the sins He died to “take away” from us (Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; Titus 2:11-14; Jude 4, etc.).
Anyone and everyone who dies in sin, will spend eternity in hell—separated from God who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). Anyone who teachers or even insinuates differently is an insidious snake and false prophet (Ezekiel 33:12-13; Romans 6:23; Galatians 5:19-21; Hebrews 12:14; 2 Peter 2:20-22; Revelation 21:8, 27, etc.).
At our initial salvation, we repent and let the LORD save us—then we must “endure to the end” of our life with Christ to be with Him in glory (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; John 15:6, etc.).
God is holy and we cannot live in sin and still be in a relationship with Him (Isaiah 6:3; Romans 6:23; Hebrews 12:14; Revelation 4:8, etc.).
How does the now saved disciple continue with Christ after being initially saved?
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
God made full provision for our initial and final salvation (Hebrews 2:3).
In sending His only begotten Son to save you, God brought you into a relationship with Him—now and forever! When He brings you to repentance and faith in Christ, that is the beginning of your eternal relationship with Himself!
Jesus becomes our victory, the solution in our lives when we follow Him in dying “daily”—whereby He who is “the resurrection and the life” resurrects our lives “daily” in the full victory and fruitfulness He came to bring us into by His life, death, and resurrection (Luke 9:23-24; John 11:25).
Romans 6:1-7
“1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.”
Here’s the foolery we must avoid—thinking God is going to raise us upward into His resurrection victory over sin and fruitful fields of blessings before we agree with Him that we must be dead and buried with Christ.
“Thou FOOL, that which thou sowest (plant) is not quickened (made alive, raised up), except it die (cross, death and burial):” 1 Corinthians 15:36
You life has to go down deep into the death and burial of Christ, with Christ… and then only will God quicken (make alive), raise up that life! And when He does, ALL of hell can’t stop what He’s going to use you to do!
Die and keep dying.
If you are dying GOD is raising you upward!
Seems like we just read that we are fools if we think God is going to resurrect us, raise us upward before we die downward. Read that verse above again.
In one sentence, what is the cross, the crucified life?
Answer: Daily surrender—daily giving your life over to the LORD, letting go and letting God (Luke 22:42; 23:46; John 3:30; 12:25, etc.).
Shall we today cry with Jesus, in His holy words, as He was dying for our sins, as He was conquering sin and death by dying (Hebrews 2:14) … “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
Sin and Satan’s reign of terror end the day you begin giving your life back to God—back to the One who made you and came and died to redeem you! ….declaring from your heart and out of your mouth as if driving a stake in the ground—that into His holy hands you are submitting your spirit, soul, body, life.
“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3
Six feet under, dead and buried with Christ means sin and Satan cannot reach you—you are “HID with Christ in God.”
Because sin has taken its toll on every one of us, many of us have with both hands on our head ready to pull our hair out, been where we said with great anguish or at least thought “WHATTTT am I going to do with this evil in my life!!”
Jesus taught us that the cross is “daily”—that is, the denial, the disowning of self—so that HE and not us is ruling and reigning (Luke 9:23-24).
The constant of the cross is a necessity to abiding in Christ to the end and being fruitful to His eternal glory (John 15:1-16).
“But I KEEP under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway … Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” 1 Corinthians 9:27; 10:12
The LORD knows the wickedness of my heart and of your heart. If I choose not to be truly “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20). and therefore dwell on wickedness of any kind, He sees all the thoughts that I allow to occupy my mind that are not holy, but sinful— “evil concupiscence” (Colossians 3:5). He sees where the enemy or my own un-mortified sinful nature feeds thoughts to my mind. I have at times, not guarded my heart by casting down wicked imaginations (2 Corinthians 10:5; Proverbs 4:23). Can you relate? Yet, this must not be (Romans 8:5-8; 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:22-24).
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6
YOU will not be “filled” if you are not hungering and thirsting after Jesus.
“He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.” Proverbs 28:26
Here’s where it all culminates, where it ends for the righteous. The LORD is going to gather into one place His saints for eternal bliss and blessing.
“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.” Ephesians 1:10-14
Now read the last two chapters in God’s Word for the details of eternal glory for the Father, Jesus, and all the saints of all ages (Revelation 21-22).
Prayer: Holy Father, in Jesus’ name, I trust You alone and not my own deceitful and wicked heart. Please anoint my life to be truly crucified with Christ. Please circumcise my heart dear LORD. Here and now I am dead and buried and my life is hid with You LORD Jesus and in God. Have all of me dear LORD Jesus. Here and now I let go and I let You God, crucify, bury, and raise up this life that is Yours and no longer mine. I am all Yours and I know You are all mine! I love You my LORD Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Cross Category on SafeGuardYourSoul.com
Camping on the cross.
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