False Pastors: The Message of Sly Beguilers
“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,” 2 Peter 2:1-3
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:3
It has been wisely stated that “Wolves entertain goats. True disciples feed sheep.”
Beguilers want people to like them so they tell those people what they want to hear instead of the LORD’s truth. That’s what they are about – self. They are serving self instead of being a messenger for the Savior. Self-preservation is their agenda which reveals that they have not truly repented. They “mind earthly things” and their “god is their belly.”(Philippians 3:18-19)
“Thy prophets (false) have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered (uncovered, revealed) thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens (light things that are non-essentials) and causes of banishment.” Lamentations 2:14
According to the divinely-inspired message above, when sin is “discovered” or dealt with, men can then see their error and “turn away” from it and be delivered out of their “captivity” (bondage). Yet Jeremiah wrote that the false teachers among God’s people dealt with “false burdens” instead of the sin that was separating the people from the LORD. As an example of one who deals only with “false burdens” instead of what is primarily important to the LORD, take a look at this quote:
“I don’t get deep and theological.” Joel Osteen, New York Times July 18, 2005
JUST WHY DOESN’T OSTEEN “GET DEEP AND THEOLOGICAL”? FIRSTLY, HE DOESN’T KNOW GOD’S WORD VERY WELL AND HAS NO BUSINESS ACTING/POSING AS CHRIST’S LEADER. SECONDLY, TO “GET DEEP AND THEOLOGICAL” WOULD MEAN THAT JOEL OSTEEN WOULD PREACH ON SIN, RIGHTEOUSNESS, HOLINESS, JUDGMENT TO COME, THE DAILY CROSS, AND THE SOON RETURN OF CHRIST. UNLESS HE REPENTS, OSTEEN WILL NEVER PREACH ON THESE ESSENTIAL DOCTRINES OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH BECAUSE THE GOATS HE IS GATHERING WOULD FLEE LIKE DEER FROM A LION.
HERE OSTEEN IS PRETENDING TO BE DOING NEEDY SOULS A FAVOR BY TELLING THEM THAT HE DOESN’T “GET DEEP,” STRAIN ANYONE’S INTELLECT, OR PREACH ANYTHING AT ALL THAT WOULD BRING CONVICTION OF SIN TO THEIR HEARTS. NO, INSTEAD, BECAUSE HE IS SERVING SELFAND NOT THE SAVIOR, OSTEEN IS SAYING THAT HE IS THE FUN GUY, THE CIRCUS LEADER, THE MAN OF THE HOUR WHO IS ALWAYS GOING TO HAVE A WORD OF “ENCOURAGEMENT” TO MAKE EVERYONE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEIR UNREPENTANT SELVES. HE CATERS TO THOSE WHO WANT TO BE ENTERTAINED. ONLY THOSE WHO DESPISE TRUTH MIGRATE TO THIS FALSE MESSAGE. IN FACT, GOD HIMSELF IS TURNING THEM OVER TO “STRONG DELUSION” SO THAT THEY WILL BELIEVE THE LIES, BE DECEIVED, AND ETERNALLY “DAMNED.” (2 THESSALONIANS 2:9-12) THE FACT IS, THAT THERE ARE SO MANY SELF-SERVING, GULLIBLE, BIBLICALLY ILLITERATE DUPES, THAT JOEL OSTEEN HAS BECOME A MULTI-MILLIONAIRE BY TELLING THESE REBELLIOUS MASSES EXACTLY WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR INSTEAD OF TELLING THEM WHAT THE LORD SAYS. AS A WOLF, OSTEEN IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THOSE OF ISAIAH’S DAY. THE COUNTERFEITS WHO DON’T SEE THIS MAN AS A WOLF ARE ALSO THE SAME AS THOSE IN THE PROPHET ISAIAH’S DAY:
Joel Osteen is said to be worth $40 million dollars and his empire continues to grow as biblical illiteracy soars due to wolves who refuse to get people into God’s Word.
Of Osteen’s statement where he shamelessly and openly admits that he refuses to “get deep”, Cheryl B. writes:
“Not going deep into the BIBLE may land you deep in LAKE OF FIRE!” Cheryl B.
“That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law (Word) of the Lord: 10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy NOT unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:” Isaiah 30:9-10
Isaiah refused to join the many false leaders of his day in telling the people what their unrepentant sinful hearts wanted to hear. The perfect, unchanging LORD told His servant Isaiah to raise his voice aloud and show the people their sins.
“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1
Man’s core problem is nothing other than sin. Sinning against God caused the first man and woman to fall and that problem plagues mankind today. Christ came to solve this problem and yet, He only saves those who truly repent and put their trust in Him and then abide (remain) intimate with Him (John 15:1-6). Those who truly walk with Jesus bear good fruit (John 15:16). All who get saved and then don’t remain in Christ, will perish (Matthew 10:22; 24:10-13; Colossians 1:23; Hebrews 3:6, 12-14; 10:26-39, etc.).
“If a man abide (remain) not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned (hell).” John 15:6
GOD NEVER HAS AND NEVER WILL GIVE ANY MAN LICENSE TO PREACH ANYTHING EXCEPT HIS UNCHANGING WORD OF TRUTH. ANY MAN WHO IS LEADING AND NOT STRICTLY PREACHING THE WRITTEN WORD OF GOD, IS A REBEL AND A BEGUILER. SUCH A MAN IS LEADING HIS LISTENERS TO ETERNAL DAMNATION WHILE PRETENDING TO BE DOING THAT WHICH IS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST.
You see, it’s real simple: Leaders who want to be popular want you to like them. They are doing what they do for THEMselves, not Christ. If they were following Christ they would be preaching EXACTLY WHAT Christ and His holy apostles preached directly from His written Word – sin, repentance, holiness, forgiveness, eternal damnation in hell, judgment to come, defilement, the daily cross, etc. If these beguilers can get you to like THEM, then you will give them your money by sending it in or buying their materials, books, etc. and by telling your friends about THEM.
OTHERS FOOLISHLY REASON, “WELL, JOEL OSTEEN IS SUCH A NICE GUY. HOW DARE YOU!” IF YOU THINK THAT JOEL OSTEEN CARES ABOUT YOU, YOU ARE UTTERLY GULLIBLE. EVERY TIME HE SPEAKS OR WRITES SOME BOOK OF LIES, HE’S SMILING ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK DUE TO THE HORDES WHO WANT THEIR FLESH FLATTERED INSTEAD OF SEEKING TRUTH. SMILING, BEGUILING JOEL REFUSES TO PREACH THE ORIGINAL GOSPEL AND IF YOU CAN’T TELL THAT THAT IS THE CASE, YOU OBVIOUSLY DO NOT KNOW GOD’S WORD AND THE DOCTRINES OF THE ORIGINAL GOSPEL. – COWER DOWN, COP OUT, OR SHINE HIS LIGHT ON THE DARK WOLVES WHO ARE DEVOURING THE SHEEP JESUS BLED TO SAVE. WHAT SHALL YOU DO?
The people who patronize such obvious false prophets, are mostly to blame. False prophets would not be popular if there were not so many self seeking, selfish, Christ-denying rebels. “Like people, like priests.” (Hosea 4:9)
In the divine authority of our LORD, the apostle Paul commanded Timothy:
“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judgethe quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering 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 (stories).” 2 Timothy 4:1-4
The false teacher today is simply anyone in leadership who does not simply preach God’s pure Word. Yes, it’s that simple! The LORD never has and never will give any leader the license/permission to preach anything except His pure Word. Nothing could be clearer in Holy Scripture (Ezekiel 3:4b; 1 Peter 4:11). Beguilers are known in that they have and are refusing to simply “preach the word” and have turned to “fables” or story telling.
SIMPLY PUT, THE FALSE LEADER IS KNOWN BY HIS CATERING TO WHAT MERE SINFUL MEN WANT INSTEAD OF WHAT GOD SAYS – IN HIS WRITTEN WORD.
WOLVES MAKE IT BIG TODAY BY SIMPLY TELLING THE UNREPENTANT WHAT THEY WISH TO HEAR. ESSENTIALLY THEY ARE GOAT ENTERTAINERS … “ENTERTAIN ME AND I’LL FOLLOW AND FUND YOU …. ALL THE WAY TO ETERNAL HELL. AS LONG AS I CAN HAVE MY ‘BEST LIFE NOW!’”
THERE ARE MANY GULLIBLE DUPES IN THE WORLD WHO REFUSE TO READ THE BIBLE GOD GAVE US AND ARE THEREFORE TAKEN IN BY AND SUPPORT THE MYRIAD OF WOLVES IN THE RELIGIOUS SCENE TODAY.
False teachers today deceitfully feign to be doing people a favor by not speaking about sin even though in God’s Word there are many lists of sins that defile men (Mark 7:20-23; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8, 27, etc.). Yet, that’s exactly why Christ came – to save and make men free from the “captivity” of sin (Matthew 1:21; John 1:29; 8:30-36; 1 John 3:1-8). According to what God told the prophet Jeremiah, these beguilers are keeping people in bondage (captivity). Those who give ear to wolves like this will remain in bondage to their sins. Their sins aren’t being addressed and therefore they are not being made free from them by Christ and are going to die in sin and go to hell. You see, no one can maintain a relationship with He who is “Holy, holy, holy” while living in sin (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8). In fact, the Bible tells us that without personal “holiness … no man shall see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14) Anyone going to God’s holy Heaven will go there by following Christ in His prescribed way. Listen to the words of our LORD’s apostle John:
“And every man that hath this hope (Christ’s return) in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:3-8
The true servant of Christ will love you and will pray for your soul and will feed you truth, never withholding divine truth to make you feel comfortable in your sins and therefore usher your eternal soul into hell.
The LORD places a high premium on truth:
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” 3 John 4
Though they be few, without exception, men who truly serve Jesus Christ, the Truth, are all about the truth.
Isaiah the prophet and servant of the LORD was in union with the LORD and refused to depart from Him and therefore from preaching only His Word. The LORD has and is raising up a small remnant of “pastors according to” His “heart.”
“And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” Jeremiah 3:15
Even though there will be great “controversy” against them, true under-shepherds will never cease to teach the LORD’s people how to discern and mark false teachers and false doctrines:
“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. 24 And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies…” Ezekiel 44:23-24
Essentials of False Leaders | Scam Pastors | Sin: Man’s Core Problem | Voices of Conviction Who Warn of Hell’s Horror | Crossless Counterfeits
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FEEDBACK:
“Joel Osteen was born in Texas and has an estimated net worth of $40 million dollars. A pastor, author, and televangelist, Joel Osteen is the pastor of Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas. He took over his father’s role as a pastor and televangelist, despite having very little formal religious training, in 1999. Since then, the Lakewood Church broadcast has grown exponentially and can be seen in 100 different countries. Yes, he IS a celebrity! Babylon is mad about her idols!!!!
‘A drought is upon her waters; and they shall be dried up: for it is the land of graven images, and they are mad upon their idols. Jeremiah 50:38’
GREAT word brother! PREACH it loud and clear! PREACH, WARN AND TEACH MY BROTHER!!!” Stephen Michels
“One thing I’ll say, if you don’t go deep and get there – when the winds start to really blow – you’ll see a lot of spiritual leaders flee the flock – I told my good friend several months ago – just watch this happen – the money preachers probably have houses in another country somewhere – with a bag of money – but God knows who will rise unto Him and who will stay and maybe wish the rocks would fall on them….it’s a sad thing to think about.” Connie R.
“I used to love Joel O’s sermons, I used to think ‘what a deeply spiritual man’……that was before I had any knowledge of the Word! How utterly grateful I am that our Father opened my eyes & taught me from His Word, especially on how to identify false prophets!” Yolandi H.
“Can we blame only him? This is what most people want to hear. The majority of people don’t want to hear the truth. They select these so-called preachers to make them feel good. There’s no conviction, no repentance. Even here on Facebook I notice that when we post the truth (Word of God) you don’t get a lot of likes and comments. But when we post stuff like ‘God is gonna give me my stuff’ and stuff that get your emotions worked up you get 50 likes.” Nicole F.
“A man that bats his eyes and smiles too much….I raise an eyebrow to….(con artist).” Micki F.
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Apostasy
8 Classes of Sinners Guaranteed to Spend Eternity in the Lake of Fire [podcast]
8 Classes of Sinners Guaranteed to Spend Eternity in Hell
“But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” Revelation 21:8
“The second death”
[which is the second death] The second death is the lake of fire, or the second separation from God in hell (Rev_2:11; Rev_20:14; Rev_21:8).
Of Revelation 21:8, Adam Clarke writes the following:
Revelation 21:8
But the fearful – Δειλοις· Those who, for fear of losing life or their property, either refused to receive the Christian religion, though convinced of its truth and importance; or, having received it, in times of persecution fell away, not being willing to risk their lives.
And unbelieving – Those who resist against full evidence. And sinners, και ἁμαρτωλοις, is added here by about thirty excellent MSS., and is found in the Syrian, Arabic, some of the Slavonic, and in Andreas and Arethas. On this evidence Griesbach has admitted it into the text.
The abominable – Εβδελυγμενοις· Those who are polluted with unnatural lust. (sodomites, lesbians Romans 1)
And murderers – Φονευσι· Those who take away the life of man for any cause but the murder of another, and those who hate a brother in their heart (.
And whoremongers – Πορνοις· Adulterers, fornicators, whores, prostitutes, and rakes of every description.
Sorcerers – Φαρμακοις· Persons who, by drugs, philtres, fumigations, etc., pretend to produce supernatural effects, chiefly by spiritual agency.
Idolaters – Ειδωλολατραις· Those who offer any kind of worship or religious reverence to any thing but God. All image worshippers are idolaters in every sense of the word.
And all liars – Και πασι τοις ψευδεσι· Every one who speaks contrary to the truth when he knows the truth, and even he who speaks the truth with the intention to deceive; i.e., to persuade a person that a thing is different from what it really is, by telling only a part of the truth, or suppressing some circumstance which would have led the hearer to a different end to the true conclusion. All these shall have their portion, το μερος, their share, what belongs to them, their right, in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. This is the second death, from which there is no recovery.
“21:8 But not all are overcomers. Some are cowardly, afraid to confess Christ; unbelieving, unwilling to trust the sinner’s Savior; sinners, all those who remain in their sins, whether guilty of the gross iniquities listed here or not; abominable, given over to disgusting immorality; murderers, malicious and savage killers; sexually immoral, practicing fornication and other forms of sexual sins; sorcerers, those who traffic with evil spirits; idolaters, insulting God by worshiping images; and all liars, compulsive deceivers. These will be assigned to the lake of fire as their final destiny.” Believer’s Bible Commentary
“And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. … 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:10, 14-15
One source notes the following:
“Brimstone and fire” refers to the fiery imagery of divine judgment and eternal punishment found in the Bible. It symbolizes God’s wrath, often describing the fate of sinners in hell, and is a phrase used in religious sermons and literature. “Brimstone,” an old word for sulfur, is a key component of this imagery, evoking a smell and heat associated with inescapable, fiery destruction.
Biblical origins
Old Testament:
The phrase originates in the King James translation of the Old Testament, used to describe God’s destruction of enemies. A key example is the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
New Testament:
The imagery is used to describe eternal damnation, a common theme in both the Old and New Testaments. In the book of Revelation, for example, it describes those who worship the beast being tormented in a lake of fire and brimstone.
Etymology:
The phrase is a calque of the Biblical Hebrew and Ancient Greek words for “sulfur and fire”.
Geological evidence:
Archaeological and geological evidence of sulfur deposits and charred formations in areas like the Dead Sea region have been noted as consistent with biblical descriptions of fire and sulfur-related events.”
“But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:12
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Articles
The Purpose of Elders in Christ’s Body [podcast]
There is no more important work transpiring in the earth today than the work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 9:35-38; 28:18-20; Ephesians 4:11-15; 1 Peter 5:1-6, etc.).
“Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21
In short, the authentic under-shepherd ordained of Jesus Himself (John 15:16), will give up his life in this fleeting world for the sheep of Christ – just as the Great Shepherd of the sheep did on the cross. Such a divinely called-out man, will teach only God’s pure Word and watch for the souls of the LORD’s people (Hebrews 13:7, 17). He will take up the cross – live the crucified life – and therefore ministry will not be about them but rather about Jesus and His beloved sheep for whom He shed His blood and is soon returning (Philippians 3:17-21).
Also in Hebrews 13 …. The true elder of Christ will, according to Hebrews 13, do two things:
- Speak the pure Word of God to you and get you into it:
“Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation (their way of life).” Hebrews 13:7
2. Will in the fear of God pray for and “watch for your soul.”
“Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Hebrews 13:17
In review, just WHAT are the earmark fruits of true under-shepherds as opposed to the many wolves among us?
- True under shepherds relentlessly teach God’s Word – “who have spoken unto you the word of God.” (Hebrews 13:7)
- They are there for you! – “they watch for your souls.” (Hebrews 13:7)
IF they aren’t preaching God’s pure Word to you, fearing God, not you…. and watching for your eternal soul, they are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Repent and run to Jesus beloved.
Let me add that if they are using a fake “bible” instead of the King James Bible, that should be a clue to the darkness they walk in (Matthew 7:16, 20).
Elders are ordained of God and yet never to take His place nor to negate our own personal responsibility to seek God daily for ourselves. Yet, we do not need a preacher. Why? – because we each have a Bible. Read it. We don’t need a preacher to tell us what the Bible says! Read it for yourself, learning of the LORD yourself. Today is your day to take personal responsibility to seek God for yourself! Stop depending on a preacher or preachers. Devour God’s Word daily. Jesus taught personal responsibility and the essential nature of it when He said “Take heed to yourselves” (Luke 21:34-36) …… Paul instructed Timothy to “Study” the Word (2 Timothy 2:15).
Today we have all around us church-goers who are not possessed with a heart after God, do not diligently study and read and live out Christ’s Word. This lukewarm, world-loving fruit clearly reveals the prophesied priesthood of wolves (1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalms 27:4, 8; Matthew 24:11; Acts 13:22; 2 Timothy 3:13; 1 John 4:1, etc.). Until a pastor has provoke you to get into God’s Word for yourself, to seeking His holy face daily in prayer, he has failed. If has has diligently, biblically sought to do these essentials, and people have refused God’s Word, refused to seek His holy face continually, the blood is off of his hands (Ezekiel 3:18-20).
“When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” Ezekiel 3:18-20
When you check the fruit of a fellowship, check, discern if the individual saints are vibrant in Christ, diligently seeking His holy face, in His Word, living a life of prayer, denying self, taking up the cross daily, and following Jesus. This sounds like what we see of the earliest saints in the book of Acts, right? Boom. Remember how Peter preached and 8,000 were saved and how the Berean believers put Paul’s teaching to the Scriptural test? (Acts 2-4; 17:10-11, etc.).
Sadly, usually you see a bunch of people who are proud to be a member of a church with none of the biblical fruit list above.
The apostle Paul kept a close watch on those he oversaw.
“For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.” 1 Thessalonians 3:5
Having a physical “church” building makes no mere man, no supposed elder, an official representative of Heaven. Feeding the sheep of Christ with His pure Word and equipping them “for the work of the ministry” is the mark of a true under-shepherd of Christ (John 21:15-17; Ephesians 4:11-12, etc.). Discern. Beware. Inspect the fruit. Jesus nor any of His holy apostles collected a penny to build a building called “church.” No, they went to the people – to serve them instead of having the people come to them.
Let’s test that…. How many people do you personally know who are good church members, Sunday morning church attenders, and ALSO true, daily disciples whom God is using everywhere they go? Think about that…. How many true disciples of Jesus do you know who are involved in a Sunday morning church program? If you personally know even one true disciple, that’s a miracle and in spite of his attendance at the Sunday morning circus called “church.”
Unlike Christ’s apostle Paul, most in leadership today foster in their prey a dependence on THEM and their church business instead of prayerfully, biblically exhorting people to depend on Jesus (1 Corinthians 1:29-2:5).
Like Christ’s apostle Paul, the true elder labors relentlessly to see you grounded in Christ – not in him or his ministry or church, but in CHRIST! Listen closely:
“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.” Colossians 2:6-7
It simply doesn’t matter what else he’s doing, if any minister is not prayerfully, biblically, perpetually rooting and grounding you in Christ, he’s a fraud. Run.
Like Jesus and His holy apostle Paul, part of grounding you ever more deeper in Christ, is warning you to “beware” of the “many false prophets.” (Matthew 24:11)
“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 2:8-10
SO, he’s not exhorting and admonishing you to seek and know the LORD in an ever deepening fashion? He’s not equipping, maturing you “for the work of the ministry” and yet you still consider him one of the LORD’s under-shepherds? He’s not getting YOU into the Word (2 Timothy 2:15) for yourself? That’s a false leader who is entertaining the goats instead of feeding and equipping the saints! Run! (See Ephesians 4:11-15; 1 Peter 5:1-6, etc.)
False leaders divert the attention, the heart affections, the resources, and the energy of God’s people away from Christ and simple obedience to His Great Commission mandate. YOU are personally responsible! Waste is rampant! If you support, “bid God speed” (2 John 7-11) to a false leader, false ministry, then you will perish with them!
The divine purpose for elders is not to dominate nor entertain the LORD’s sheep but rather to help their joy in Christ! Get to know this verse saints:
“Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” 2 Corinthians 1:24
There is the citing of elders in the Word and their divine purpose – to humbly serve God by helping His sheep grow in the knowledge and grace of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-15; 1 Peter 5:1-6).
Christ’s apostle Paul desired the “perfection” (maturity in Christ) of the people of God (Ephesians 4:11-15).
“For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.” 2 Corinthians 13:9
Like Apollos, Elders among God’s people must remain teachable to God’s Word and simply and only teach and preach his word (Proverbs 9:9; Acts 18:26). Elders true to the LORD act on his behalf and never out of a personal agenda for self gain (2 Corinthians 3:5; 4:5, etc.). They live the crucified life (Galatians 2:20).
We are to humble ourselves like Apollos did and learn the way of our God more perfectly from each other, via God’s Word – as Apollos learned it more fully from Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:24-28).
Beloved Apollos was a very effective, anointed communicator of God’s Word and yet, was in need of maturing, of being perfected. So, God sent to him an elder and his wife, Aquila and Priscilla. Apollos humbly received the LORD’s elders and His grace to grow in Christ:
“And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25 This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” Acts 18:24-26
The vast majority of “churches” that meet in “church buildings” are simply and merely conducting “church services” where they entertain their prey. They are not equipping the saints for the work of the ministry and therefore discerned as being counterfeit (Ephesians 4:11-13). If they were, there would be salty disciples in their midst who go forth to minister Christ’s kingdom blessings wherever they go. Not even a trace of this transpiring in the apostate modern church world. Run. Run. Run.
The Purpose of Kingdom Elders:
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting (equipping, maturing) of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-12
Philip Lye writes: “Paul says in Ephesians 4, that he gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. He expressly says these people are given to mature the saints, to equip them for their ministry and growth in Jesus Christ. Jesus tells us in Matthew 24 that many false prophets and messiahs will arise deceiving many. They are simply functions that God has given and not titles which the proud use to strut about like a peacock. Most of these people that I have met (and I have seen a lot of famous ones) are false, proud and arrogant and not servants of the the Lord Jesus Christ. I have seen humble genuine ones who move mightily in truth, calling people to repentance and right relationship with Jesus and a demonstration of genuine miracles and wonders. They are to be genuine servants to God’s people.”
VIEW this following verse from Solomon’s day in light of our calling and work till Christ returns:
“Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected.” 2 Chronicles 8:16
Let’s read a larger portion of this important passage in Ephesians 4. God fearing under-shepherds must prayerfully labor for and be intent upon seeing God’s people grow in the grace of Christ to the full stature of maturity He has ordained!
“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:” Ephesians 4:11-15
The Error of Using Titles in the Modern Church World
God sovereignly and exclusively ordained MEN to feed, lead, and equip His saints (Ephesians 4:8-11). Women are called to and seen doing many ministry functions in the New Testament but never as a leader in a position specifically designated in Scripture for men.
Repent. The American “church” is a catastrophe of spineless moral-coward Ahabs who’ve allowed, suffered women to lead, and the fall out is incalculable (Revelation 2:20-24).
GOD’s men must never allow women to lead where they (men) are called to lead (1 Timothy 2:12; 3:2; Revelation 2:20-24).
To put yourself under the ministry of a woman who is acting as an elder among God’s people, is to defy Christ, and to agree with Christ’s arch enemy and his Jezebels and to bring severe destruction on the people of God (1 Timothy 2:12; 3:2; Revelation 2:20-24).
JUST because a woman can run her mouth and even genuinely have a gift of the Spirit DOES NOT mean she’s an elder in the body of Christ – which is divinely reserved non-negotiably for men, male elders (1 Timothy 2:11-12; 3:2). | Beware of Scripture-Twisting Jezebels
We must humbly confess before our LORD and God that we have nothing and are nothing without Him!
“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5
God can use us in spite of having a seminary or Bible college background…. If we will truly denounce it, lay it all down, and truly submit to Him – just like Paul did (Philippians 3). Otherwise we will join the epidemic of false prophets who build their own kingdoms in this fleeting life and spend eternity in hell (2 Peter 2:1-3). Paul counted his “higher education” as “dung” to know and serve Christ (Philippians 3).
BIBLICALLY SPEAKING, BY DEFINITION, ELDERS ARE NOT SEMINARIANS (UNLESS THEY’VE DENOUNCED SUCH) BUT RATHER PROVEN MEN OF GOD WHO HAVE WALKED WITH CHRIST FOR SOME TIME AND ARE SEASONED IN DOCTRINE AND GODLY CHARACTER AND ABLE TO HELP ASSIST OTHER BELIEVERS GROW IN GRACE (Philippians 3).
In part, we can be transformed in our thinking/perspective of what leaders are seen to be in the apostate modern church vs the biblical definition of an elder which is a humble servant with sound doctrine and a godly life (1 Timothy 3; 2 Timothy 3:10; Titus 1-2, etc.).
Christ’s kingdom ordination is not like the ordinations of many denominations….. To ordain seems to mean to recognize the work of GOD in a man’s life and to set him forth into ministry as by the leading of the Spirit of God.
“Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.” John 15:16
ORDAIN
G5087
τίθημι
tithēmi
tith’-ay-mee
A prolonged form of a primary word θέω theō (which is used only as an alternate in certain tenses); to place (in the widest application, literally and figuratively; properly in a passive or horizontal posture, and thus different from G2476, which properly denotes an upright and active position, while G2749 is properly reflexive and utterly prostrate): – + advise, appoint, bow, commit, conceive, give, X kneel down, lay (aside, down, up), make, ordain, purpose, put, set (forth), settle, sink down.
Total KJV occurrences: 96
“Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” Acts 13:1-3
Denominations of mere men set their elders forth to do THEIR bidding, to perpetuate their own cause and existence, to build their false church businesse$. God fearing assemblies of the saints simply recognize Christ’s work in a man and prayerfully send him forth to do GOD’s work. They worship and exalt Christ whole heartedly!
MINISTRY is about feeding sheep, not entertaining goats (John 21:15-17). So, when you see a “minister” entertaining, you know he himself is a goat (1 Corinthians 1:29-2:5).
What True Elders Teach
“For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5
THERE is nothing good in us except Christ. We are not featured but JESUS is. “We preach CHRIST crucified” (1 Cor 1:23). All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags and HE is the One and only righteous Redeemer whom we communicate to others (1 Cor 9:16; Rom 7:18 etc.).
Jesus’ true disciples are crucified vessels who preach with His authority, unlike the lame leaders we have today (Matthew 7:28-29). True Gospel preaching rocks the world of those who hear it – it never coddles people in their sin. That’s the work of wolves! Beware!
Godly Elders Teach God’s People to Discern
“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23
Why don’t some leaders teach discernment?
“Anyone that profits off of you being blind, will never teach you or inspire you to see.” unknown
Any man in leadership who doesn’t warn you of false prophets as did Christ and His apostles, is a wolf who does not want you to see who he truly is.
God’s people are to continue to learn to discern – to test, to weigh all things against Holy Scripture. Ungodly elders have the “I said it so it’s true” notion. Or the “We’ve always taught that” or “That’s what we believe” philosophy. Not. What saith the Scriptures is what every true follower of Jesus asks, as he searches God’s Word to ascertain truth. Every student of Christ should become extremely familiar with Acts 17:10-11.
QUESTION RECEIVED:
“I am curious as to how one man is considered the other’s elder? Do they attend the same church gathering thus, he is a church elder or is it through willful submission of the younger as an understudy or simply due to the fact that one man is older?”
REPLY:
Great question brother. Elder, biblically seems to mean older and more seasoned in God’s Word, having walked with the LORD longer. Two views come to mind: 1. The organic body of Christ, the kingdom relationships we have, where there appear men in our lives who are seasoned and there’s an automatic elder/young relationship (that’s how it is here)… and 2. Where a person attends a church group and they have their elder in a more organized fashion as you mentioned…. that help?
Nothing brings definition to this like God’s Word as you know…. and notice how it begins with “The elders which are AMONG you”….
“The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: 2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; 3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:” 1 Peter 5:1-6
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