NOT your calling or duties, not your gifts He gave you, but rather FERVENTLY, RELENTLESSLY SEEKING AND WORSHIPPING THE LORD IN YOUR PERSONAL LIFE must become and be established as the first and foremost priority of your personal life. THEN, His divine power will be resident in your life and ALL that He is leading you to do. Memorize Matthew 6:33 today. The devil does not want you to come to this simple Gospel realization. Lay it all down afresh, now precious saint. The LORD is going to blow your doors off, as the saying goes.
False Gifts and False Prophets are Nothing New
“The prophetic”??? The written Word is the WORD of God, not some clown using fake prophecy to tickle the ears of the un-grounded flakes among us.
Any person calling themself “apostle” or “prophet” is not. These are functions to serve, not titles to tout in an attempt to lift up self.
To hear the voice of God, simply read HIS Word – the Bible (KJB). So many today in the false flake “prophetic” movement talk about “hearing the voice of God” repeatedly and yet the WORD is never mentioned! Delusion! Run! Prophetic or Pathetic?
“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 (empty, no substance), 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.” 2 Peter 2:16-18
Jude wrote:
“These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;” Jude 12
To know your gifts is one thing. To focus on and to proclaim your supposed gift and calling to bring attention to yourself is deceitful and evil.
Those who fake gifts do so to be seen of men and for whatever other false motive they may have. They are not in God’s Word and therefore have no substance (Jeremiah 23:18). They do not edify others in any way. Jude wrote that these “clouds” (ministers-posers) are “without water” and “whose fruit withereth.” Isn’t this exactly how it is when clouds pass over dry, parched ground and do not drop any water to bring refreshment, healing, and wholeness to that dry ground?
The Future for all Actors who are Not Rooted in Christ
In the divine economy fruit is more important than gifts. Authentic fruit can only be produced from a born again, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. Gifts can be faked. Gifts do not prove that one is saved. In fact, Jesus told us that “MANY” would brag about their gifts just before being terminated into hell. Fruit is the clear that one has a saving relationship with Jesus Christ! (Matthew 7:13-29) Nearly anyone can feign to have spiritual gifts. The Buddhists priests, Shamans, and occultic gurus do that and so do all false religious leaders.
Those rooted in intimate relationship with Christ are few among the many who claim to be saved (John 15:1-16). Many who jump and holler in praise, acting like they have the gifts of the Spirit and are loyal church goers, have no fruit to prove that they genuinely know Jesus Christ. They do not possess the “fruit of the Spirit.”
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:22-24
- “love”
- “joy”
- “peace”
- “longsuffering”
- “gentleness”
- “goodness”
- “faith”
- “Meekness”
- “temperance”
If a person is not dying to self daily, they do not have these tell tale evidences of knowing Christ as listed above. If one is truly putting Jesus first and seeking His holy face perpetually, he or she will demonstrate these fruits in his or her life, as well as a deep love for God’s written Word and sound doctrine. If not, this person is not being used of God in the gifts they may be feigning.
Let’s peer into what Jesus foretold would be fate of these wolves and their gullible dupes who through their own unrepentant, self-serving and covetous hearts would use religion and their places of leadership to beguile many, leading them to eternal damnation in the lake of fire.
“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 7:21-23
They refuse to die to self or preach the cross but instead revel in gifts or supposed gifts of the Spirit, doctrines that enthrone self (self-love), and greedy lies of covetous proportions. These wolves are fulfilling Bible prophecy (2 Peter 2:1-3).
The fruit of the Holy Spirit is what is to be judged, not the gifts of the Spirit. While we do not discount the authentic gifts God gave to His body, we are also well aware by Scripture that gifts (or supposed gifts) are no proof of salvation. In the scenario revealed in the passage above (Matthew 7:22-23), Christ makes it clear that “Many” will say on the Day of Judgment that they “prophesied” and even “cast out devils” in His holy name and yet, these same people died not knowing Him. They will hear from the Son of God “depart from me, ye that work iniquity” which means lawlessness. Notice the absence of any of these people saying “But LORD, we walked in your love.” Why won’t those who walked in love be going to hell? It’s because God’s love in us is “the fruit (evidence) of the Spirit” which can only be born/produced by an authentic relationship with Christ; a relationship which assures eternal life (Galatians 5:22-23).
Gifts vs Fruit
Doctrine is More Important than Gifts
Note here that receiving and obeying sound doctrine is essential to being made free from sin.
“But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 (as a result) Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Romans 6:17-18
Remember that Jesus says that His sheep hear His voice (John 10:16). The point of this message is in no way to limit God or foolishly claim He no longer speaks to people in dreams, visions, or the vocal gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7-10; Hebrews 13:8). Yet, today, most of those claiming to be getting words, visions, dreams, and prophecies, are not grounded in Christ and most of them make it abundantly obvious by their lack of preaching the essential doctrines of the original Gospel such as Christ’s cross, judgment, hell, repentance, the necessity for personal holiness, the return of Christ, and the crucified life – the cross life.
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:” Acts 2:17
Do we not take the name of the LORD in vain and give Him a bad name when we put His name on supposed words from Him that do not come to pass? Beware of the false prophetic movements and the flakes they are producing who go around giving out “words” or having supposed dreams from God that contradict Scripture. These same people who dish out words to bring glory to themselves, have no desire to be sound in doctrinal truth. 1 Corinthians 14:29 and 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 tell us that prophecy is to be judged – against God’s written Word (Acts 17:11). Beware!
You see, those who are truly walking with Christ, love and diligently seek Him in His Word daily (2 Timothy 2:15). They therefore honor HIS Word and so they feel no need to contrive “a word” for people. The self righteousness who run to and fro throwing “words” around like they are going out of style are not honoring God by simply putting forth HIS Word. Why? It’s simple – they wish to bring glory to themselves and not Jesus. Those who authentically honor God put forth His Word – just as it’s written.
Those who go about with their false giftings refuse to spend time learning, memorizing, and getting grounded in God’s written Word and yet, they use the same energy to go about spewing “words” out that they feign are from God. This is the definition of using His holy name in vain.
The following is an essential, landmark Bible passage that will significantly elevate your ability to discern who is true and who is false. A close look at Deuteronomy 13:1-11 makes it more than obvious that God elevates His Word/doctrine above gifts. In fact, the LORD told us that He has elevated His written Word even above His holy name!
“For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” Psalms 138:2
UNTIL you have the revelation given us in 2 Peter 1:12-21, you are vulnerable to be deceived and ultimately “fall away” from the LORD – to apostatize (Luke 8:13; 1 Timothy 4:1, etc.). WHAT is the LORD conveying to us, His people, in 2 Peter 1:12-21?
False Prophets Present Us with a Test to See Who We Truly Love
According to the following passage of divine Writ, even if someone has an accurate, proven gift, that fact does not authenticate them as a true prophet. Read this closely:
“If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; 3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the Lord your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 Ye shall walk after the Lord your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. 5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee. 6 If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers; 7 Namely, of the gods of the people which are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth; 8 Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:9 But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. 10 And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 11 And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you.” Deuteronomy 13:1-11
Deuteronomy 13 is a strong passage we must acknowledge where the LORD says to not spare in stoning and ridding yourselves of false prophets. Specifically, these are people who actually give a prophecy that comes to pass and then, that same person misleads by teaching false doctrine. They must be marked, especially if they are shown their error and refuse to repent and change their doctrine to God’s Word (Romans 16:17-18).
A people who do not police themselves will soon cease to be a people. Meditate upon this. Think about the God-ordained civil system which includes police to punish evildoers, right? (Romans 13) Would you respect this country, even as a citizen, if we didn’t punish evil doers? No. You see how the lost are being turned away from the LORD due to the lack of expose’ and policing of those in leadership? It’s a fiasco of wolves at this point as the Word foretold in many places, including Amos 8:11 and 2 Timothy 3:13.
Do the lost and young Christians not discern when someone is faking the gifts? Does falsifying gifts glorify or defame Christ?
Know the Truth and Do Not Conceal Lies or Liars
“Thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him.” Deuteronomy 13:8
In Deuteronomy 13, we are instructed not to “conceal” a false prophet. In this specific case the LORD tells His people not to “conceal” any prophet who accurately foretells the future (prophesies), which actually does come to pass, yet seeks to lead God’s people astray through false teaching.
The LORD is calling us to maturity in His holy fear. We are to come to the place where we refuse to conceal or hide any person operating as a Christian leader who is leading God’s people astray through his false doctrine.
This Deuteronomy 13 text holds an extremely important discernment key that will surely help save people from the deceptions that abound in today’s church world. So many Christians today believe that, where there are miracles or accurate prophecies, it has to be of God. They do not consider though that the devil has always had power to unleash miracles.
“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9
A plethora of “strange fire” experiences and phenomena are being pawned off as being from God (Lev. 10:1-2). One of the biggest errors believers make is thinking that any miracle automatically validates that phenomenon as proceeding from divine origin. This is simply not true. All miracles, signs, and wonders are not from God. “Satan” works in our midst “with all power and signs and lying wonders.”
Deuteronomy 13:8 tells us not to “conceal” those who work against the LORD by leading people away from Him while claiming to be one of His leaders. God instructs us NOT to hide, make excuse for, or in any way cover for deceitful workers, and if we do, we become enemies of the Almighty.
The exposing of those who have determined to undermine the doctrines of the LORD is a matter of walking in obedience and truthfulness.
“Lie not against the truth.” James 3:14
Fake Gifts
Let me say here that faking the gifts of the Spirit is very common today. Anyone can do that, especially today with so many false apostles and false prophet ministries like IHOP and the likes of which are totally false. They are teaching many to just fake the gifts of the Spirit – to just go about acting like you have them, laying hands on and praying for people and just saying whatever comes to your mind. They say that it is God working. Baloney! Let’s look at what’s glaringly missing:
These false ministries almost never even touch on, much less preach and teach the daily cross. This alone makes them false (Philippians 3:18-19; Luke 9:23-24, etc.). Here’s what a real apostle of Jesus Christ taught:
“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.” 2 Corinthians 4:10-12
It’s only as death works in us (the daily cross-crucifixion of self) that God can bring His life through us – manifest the life of Jesus “in our mortal flesh.”
The daily cross Jesus commanded to be taken up in order to follow Him is completely ignored in all of these counterfeit “ministries”. This is certainly a fulfillment of prophecy. These false churches who do not hold to sound biblical truth are sweeping millions of self-loving, Christ-denying, willingly ignorant dupes down the wide road that leads to eternal destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). They glory in self and therefore walk in a mere “form(ula) of godliness”, yet are “denying the power (Christ’s reign of authority) thereof.” (2 Timothy 3:5)
The absence of the “daily” – yes Jesus said “DAILY” – cross is clear evidence that they are preaching and living “another gospel” and not the original Gospel of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2-5; Galatians 1:6-9). Their false gospel caters to mere sinful, unrepentant men who want to glory in themselves instead of the one, nail-scarred, risen Savior who alone is worthy of our praise.
If someone is walking with Jesus, they are setting self aside and crying “He must increase but I must decrease!” (John 3:30) All true followers of Christ also teach the life of a true disciple exactly how Jesus gave it to us in His Word.The true disciple is sound in the faith, possesses sound doctrine, and is sound in heart and mind (Proverbs 14:30; 2 Timothy 1:7; 4:3; Titus 2:1, etc.).
Jesus and His apostles weren’t spiritual con-men who went around trying to show everyone how wonderful they were by prophesying over everyone and getting a “word” for them. They gave people God’s Word!
These same gift-fakers are simply following the wolves they have learned under and are never – I mean NEVER – heard speaking the words of Christ and His holy apostles seen throughout Scripture concerning crucifying the self-life. On this basis alone, we know they are utterly false and in need of repentance before it’s too late.
Speaking God’s Word and letting Him bring His authentic gifts through us are fore HIS glory and not ours.
“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11
These people wear titles and falsify gifts in order to bring attention to themSELVES, which means they are robbing that glory from Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul was just the opposite. We know this because he was always announcing his own utter poverty of spirit, nothingness, and pointing to the One who alone is the Resurrection and the Life, Jesus Christ!
“But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.” 2 Corinthians 1:9
ANY person who is truly following Jesus is, putting self aside daily, in God’s Word daily, and can see these false apostles and counterfeit prophets from a long way off. Paul repeatedly warns us of these “enemies of the cross of Christ.”
“(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction (hell bound), whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)” Philippians 3:18-19
Be not led astray by the error of the wicked who pose as ministers in this late hour. They allure and bait you to worship at the altar of self.
“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. … 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.” 2 Peter 2:1-3; 3:17
Instead of taking Satan’s bait through His false ministers who pose as Christian leaders today, obey Christ who died and rose again for you. He told us exactly how to follow Him and any and every other way is a “false way” to be hated by all who truly love Jesus (Psalms 119:104, 128).
You best life will not be in this fleeting life but rather in the next life – when you are with Christ in eternal glory! Endure to the end. Do not look to the left hand to the right. Satan has many snares to grab your feet and move them off the narrow road that leads to life and onto the wide road that leads to eternal damnation (Matthew 7:13-14). Obey Jesus’ command to die to self, allowing Him to raise you up to a fruitful that brings Him glory and not yourself (Matthew 16:24-25).
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Matthew 16:24-25
“ Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” John 12:24-25
Memorize Colossians 3:3 (KJV). Begin learning to die to self – today.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be desired and yet, the fruit or evidence of the Holy Spirit are more important so monitor and test yourself (2 Corinthians 13:4-5). See whether or not Christ’s fruit is truly in you (Galatians 5:22-23). Refuse to go along with those who fake the gifts of the Spirit and honor their own supposed words, visions, and dreams above God’s written Word.
Jeremiah 23
“And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err. 14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness; they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.15 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land. 16 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord. 17 They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you. 18 For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?19 Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked. 20 The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly. 21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.” Jeremiah 23:13-22
THE NEW “APOSTOLIC REFORMATION” DECEPTION | Prophetic or Pathetic?
Abiding
TIMES OF REFRESHING FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD! [video]
TIMES OF REFRESHING FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD!
Who’s Ready for Some “RAIN” from Heaven? God desires to refresh His people, to rain His bless-ed mercy, forgiveness, and benefits down on them …. and our part is fresh repentance….
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” Hosea 10:12
What are the stated conditions to receive the “rain” of the LORD from Heaven?
- “Sow to yourselves in RIGHTEOUSNESS”
- “reap in MERCY”
- “break up your fallow ground”
- “for it is time to SEEK the LORD”
“till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;” Acts 3:19
“Times of refreshing” will come exclusively to those who turn to the LORD with a whole heart.
A great prayer right this moment is …. Heavenly Father, please grant me to have a pure heart, a poor in spirit heart, and an heart after Thee. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Repentance is dying so that Christ lives and reigns in your life – not you (Matthew 3:7-10; Romans 6).
Adam Clarke on Hosea 10:12:
“Sow to yourselves in righteousness – Let the seed you sow be of the best kind, and in just measure.
Reap in mercy – By the blessing of God on this ploughing, sowing, and harrowing, you may expect a good crop in harvest.
Break up your fallow ground – Do not be satisfied with a slight furrow; let the land that was fallowed (slightly ploughed) be broken up again with a deep furrow.
For it is time to seek the Lord – This should be immediately done: the season is passing; and if you do not get the seed in the ground, the early rain will be past, and your fields will be unfruitful.
Rain righteousness upon you – God will give you the early rain in due time, and in proper measure. Here are the metaphors, and the application cannot be difficult.. Here are ploughing, fallowing, sowing, harrowing, watering, reaping, threshing, and feeding on the produce of well-directed labor. All may be applied to the human heart, and the work of God upon it. Correction, contrition, conversion, receiving the grace of Christ, bringing forth fruit, etc.”
“For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. 25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” Ezekiel 36:24-27
Most preaching today does not begin at the foundation, does not get to the root cause. This is due to the absence of the original Gospel doctrine of the cross – the divine mandate to be crucified with Christ, which is nowhere to be found coming from the mouths of the “accursed” preachers of “another gospel.” (Galatians 1:6-9)
WHAT do we have without a heart after God? Religion (Acts 13:22).
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)
Prescription for those heavy in heart: Read God’s Word. Read it repeatedly, perpetually, daily. NOTHING REPLACES BIBLE READING AND NEVER WILL.
Times of Fasting and prayer gets YOU out of the way so Jesus can reign supreme! Isaiah 58
You are not serious about overcoming sin if you’re not yet setting apart regular times of fasting and prayer. The fact that you don’t want to fast is the clear proof that you need to fast. Currently, your flesh is in control! Once you are broken, you will delight in, you will look forward to those times of regular fasting! Read Isaiah 58. | The Amazing Benefits of Fasting and Prayer
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Articles
Should God’s People be Allowed to Give? [podcast]
Letting people know the opportunity to give doesn’t seem to be the same as asking or begging for money…. Jesus told us all to “lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven” and so cutting off this opportunity doesn’t seem wise or helpful to the eternal treasure of those saints right?
Christ commanded His people to lay up treasure in Heaven and in doing so your treasure and your heart will be in Heaven, not on earth (Matthew 6:19-24). Giving also prevents our hearts from loving and serving the mammon of this world which would prevent us from being in glory.
Jesus Himself, His ministry with His holy apostles, allowed people to give, to lay up treasure in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). Otherwise Judas would not have been the treasurer, he would have had no bag to store the offerings. Also, in the temple when Jesus sat and watched how men were giving, did that not further sanction and facilitate also the giving of the saints to His work? See Mark 12:41-44.
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. ” Matthew 6:19-24
Allowing people to give to God’s work is opening the floodgates for God’s Word to be furthered in the earth, in the hearts of men and to allow the laying up of treasure in Heaven as our LORD instructed.
“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever. 10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)” 2 Corinthians 9:6-11
So if God loves the person who gives cheerfully, where better are they to do their giving but to the work of the One who stated these words? Then the LORD gives consequent blessings to those who give as He states in the above passage.
And so though we don’t beg for money, we must never disallow the giving of Christ’s saints. If we do, we hinder the blessing of God on their lives and perhaps in laying up eternal treasure which Jesus commanded (Matthew 6:19-21).
It seems some become disillusioned when they realize they’ve been deceived by wolves in sheep’s clothing. Then they don’t give at all and yet the Word instructs us to give and to specifically give to the ministries that feed us the pure Word (Galatians 6:6; 1 Timothy 5:17-18).
Notice here that Paul speaks against coveting and yet then speaks of the blessedness of giving and that those who give are the ones who are blessed.
Acts 20:33–35 “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
When we choose to give, it is for God’s glory and our own good.
Did the apostle Paul and the early church take up collections? Answer: Yes. See 1 Corinthians 16:1-2. To refuse to allow God’s people to give is a sin and out of the order of God established from Genesis to Revelation. In Exodus 35, God’s people gave so much that the LORD had to tell them to stop. Would to God we had that problem these days. It’s quite the opposite in this late hour unless you look at the masses of gullible dupes who empty their pockets on the end time wolves who are making merchandise of them (2 Peter 2:1-3).
–— Nearly half of Jesus’ parabolic teachings deal with stewardship. Remember, in the temple Jesus never told the Jews to remove the treasury (coffers where people have the privilege to give). No, in fact, He sat right next to it in order to watch how people were giving and neglecting to give (Mark 12:41-44).
“Now concerning the collection FOR THE SAINTS, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.” 1 Corinthians 16:1-2
THE EARLIEST followers of Christ are our example and they gave to the body of Christ, not the lost! Divine priority! See Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-35; 1 Corinthians 16:1-3; Galatians 6:10, etc. “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. … Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” (Matthew 25:40, 45)
The earliest Christians gave to the needy Christians, not the world.
“But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. 26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.” Romans 16:25-26
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Abiding
What Church is Jesus Coming Back for? [podcast]
ETERNAL SECURITY DEATH NAIL. CASE CLOSED!
Are you personally, intimately familiar with the words of Holy Scripture found in Ephesians 5:25-27?
“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:21-27
Jesus is coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle or any such thing but one that is “holy and without blemish.” So this speaks of those who were His and yet presently have spotted garments, sin they haven’t repented of (Ephesians 5:25-27).
“Be ye holy”
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
“NO MAN shall see the Lord” without “holiness”
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Hebrews 12:14
Regrettably, most preachers today are so busy making excuse for sin that they refuse to disclose this preeminent, self-evident New Testament truth.
“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?” 2 Peter 3:10-12
As this fallen world system and its inhabitants spiral unalterably downward in darkness and disarray, it becomes even more essential for the wise virgin saint to be anchored in the LORD in private prayer, praise, thanksgiving, and Bible reading. No man shall withstand the darkness of this late hour who is not seeking the LORD diligently, daily, relentlessly – demonstrating perpetually that they love the LORD supremely more than self or any other (Matthew 24:10-13, 22). Memorize 1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalms 57:7; 63:8.
IF he’s not hastening you to the holiness of God, he’s playing you for your allegiance to him, and perhaps your money! are you a gullible pawn? Read 2 Peter 2 and 3.
SO, the sinful seminarian wolf you call your “pastor” isn’t preaching the return of Christ, the cross, the necessity of personal holiness, hell, the essential of repentance, or Christ, the Messiah….. and you still sit under that darkness? Repent.
“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
SO MANY have more faith, more confidence in SIN than they do in the SAVIOR who came and died to make us free from ALL SIN! That’s a cross-less false gospel! Just as Jude foretold, these deceivers – “ungodly men” – cover their sins with a false grace message (Jude 3-4). With no exception, the saving grace of God – IFFFF you really have it – delivers you from sin and never justifies you in sin! Time to repent and be changed today! …. These grace abusing tares want to relish a false grace message that erroneously says that God is going to save them IN their sin but the Bible says Jesus came to save us “FROM” our sin – not in our sins (Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; Titus 2:11-4, etc.). SO, God’s grace isn’t sufficient to deliver you from sin? If you believe that you don’t know Him.
Some among us are so enthralled in listening to modern end times teachers as they seek to figure everything out, that they are not abiding in Christ. These are among the foolish virgins.
ARE YOU spending more time engrossed in some supposed end times scenario than you are obeying God by doing the Great Commission mandate? If so, you are not ready to meet Jesus and in big trouble. Isn’t it time to let God be God and to get about the Father’s business?
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