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Excerpt from the book Predators in Our Pulpits

“And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose.” – Nehemiah 8:4

Did you notice the words “pulpit” and “purpose” in this verse? A reading of this passage reveals that they are mentioned together in this context relating to the issue of corporate worship. Peering into this passage will help us to discover and return to God’s original “purpose” for the “pulpit.” During the gathering together of His people to worship Him, this is vital in order to ensure that we are walking in His truth and escaping apostasy (1 Timothy 4:1-3). The “pulpit” simply represents a platform of communication and understanding the divine “purpose” for it is critically important, as it will prevent us from “being led away with the error of the wicked” who, in our day, use the pulpit for a purpose foreign to the divine intent (2 Peter 3:17).

Nehemiah 8 contains the only mention of a “pulpit” in God’s Word. Examining the setting where the original pulpit appears is crucial to understanding the divine intention for its use. The purpose for which it was established has not changed. God’s “purpose” when His people gather is, in part, seen just four verses down. Nehemiah 8:8 says: “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”

Nehemiah 8:8 sets forth the pattern for the gathering of the people of God. It is to worship the LORD Himself and no other and in doing such, we read His Word and no one else’s. Replacing His Word with anything else is worshiping at the altar of another god. In order to become intimately familiar with this truth and these words of our LORD that we are looking into, let’s read these words again: “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading” (Nehemiah 8:8).

The elders of God’s people Israel stood up and read God’s Holy Word to the people. They simply spoke the divinely inspired Precepts which we now have today in the complete Old and New Testaments. Would to God that men who lead today would know and understand the divine truth in this Nehemiah 8 passage of Holy Scripture!

See what others are saying about the book Predators in Our Pulpits and order your copy here.

Nehemiah 8 is a very important Bible text. Today, we must follow the divine pattern set forth here or we will greatly “err”; which many have done “not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29). The Scriptures provide the only divinely ordained instructions for worship and ministry. Anyone not following them has greatly erred. According to Romans 15:4 and 1 Corinthians 10:11, Nehemiah and all of the Old Testament Scriptures were written “for OUR learning” and “for OUR admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”

Nehemiah 8:4 says: “And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose.” That day when God’s people gathered, the “purpose” was for His Word to be read to them from that wooden “pulpit.” The divinely ordained “purpose” for the “pulpit” and for which they built this structure is given in this very text: “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading” (Nehemiah 8:8).

This author is aware he has re-quoted these words more than once, and that is intentional. Reader and friend, are you hearing these words? This is the only time the word “pulpit” is found in the Bible and we must understand the divinely-ordained purpose for it. Knowing this simple truth will do wonders to help our discernment.

The wooden pulpit in Nehemiah’s day was for the people to gather and hear the very words of God; and for the leaders to speak them so they could understand the Word and will of God for their lives as a people.

In its most basic definition, a “pulpit” is merely a venue or central place of communication. It is simply a medium where a message is transmitted and conveyed to a person or people. As we see in this Nehemiah 8 setting, the pulpit was a place to stand and read or declare the written Word of God and nothing else. Notice that the elders stood and “read in the book in the law of God distinctly.”

Parash is the Hebrew word for “distinctly” and is defined this way: to separate, literal (to disperse) or figurative (to specify); also (by implication) to wound: scatter, declare, distinctly, shew, sting.

Does this definition sound like “rightly dividing the word of truth”? (See 2 Timothy 2:15.) Notice the words separate, disperse, wound, and sting. The words of God separate or sanctify the saints as they are dispersed into the hearts of God’s people (John 15:3; 17:17). Also, the Word of God many times first wounds us, stinging our consciences to convict and bring us to repentance (Deuteronomy 32:39).

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). The dilemma today is not the piece of wood our leaders stand behind, or the various mediums of communication we have today, but rather what they are communicating as they use these vehicles to transmit information. In God’s eyes the audiences are equally as guilty as the wolves they migrate to and support (Hosea 4:9; 2 John 7-11).  We were long ago forewarned of an hour when men who claimed to know the LORD and had a “form of godliness,” would “turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 3:4; 4:4).

And how does this happen? “For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed” (Isaiah 9:16).

The fact that so many people who call themselves Christians sit in front of deceptive wolves and listen to foolish, shallow, empty, non-convicting, psycho-babble and stories (“fables”) today, is an indictment of a whole generation of lost souls who do not fear the LORD and are biblically illiterate (Colossians 2:8). These two soul damning flaws go hand in hand—refusing to know God’s Word and not fearing God (Deuteronomy 4:9-10).

The great apostle Paul warned God’s people: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ” (Colossians 2:8).

Today, in this late hour of great apostasy, the essential Word of God has been replaced with notions, philosophies, pop psychology, traditions, and the doctrines of sinful men.

When men in leadership do not bow down to the Most High in their daily lives, it will show up in the pulpits. When men don’t uphold Christ in their personal lives, but instead have control of their own lives, the same will transpire in their “ministry.” They will be in control, not the LORD. This is one reason that the daily cross Jesus commanded is essential to following Christ and leading others in the biblically prescribed pattern of worship.

See what others are saying about the book Predators in Our Pulpits and order your copy here.

God surely has ordained the preaching of His Word, and yet very few do so in this late hour. Satan’s desire is to control the pulpit and what is spoken from it, so he has targeted and attacked the seminaries and the personal lives of those who lead. If he can ensnare leaders in sin (living in the flesh), he can thwart the flow of God’s Word to the people. The enemy’s goal is to replace the life-giving Word of God with “another gospel,” which is no gospel at all (2 Corinthians 11:2-4). Those human emissaries he has enlisted, who wear sheep’s cloaks, are “accursed” for participating in this rebellion against the LORD (Galatians 1:6-9).

The Pulpit

What most people hear and trust from the pulpits of today is going to pull them into the pit of eternal hell.

The word and concept of “pulpit” is found in the Bible, but it is so very grossly misused in our day. We see so very few who stand behind a pulpit who are truly and simply preaching the pure Word of God which was what the elders in Israel were doing when we see the word “pulpit” in Nehemiah 8. Let’s read a larger portion of this revealing passage:

And all the people gathered themselves together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded for Israel. – Nehemiah 8:1

The Ezra Example

Ezra and the elders of Israel read God’s written Word and helped the people understand God’s Word and nothing else. They offered nothing else but God’s Word. Do we get it? These God-fearing men had no personal agenda. They weren’t raising money or building a local business called a church. They had no message of their own but were mere conduits to communicate God’s Message which is God’s Word. Where O where are the Ezras of today?

How important is God’s Word?

God’s Word is our protection: “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him” (Proverbs 30:5).

God’s Word is our life: “And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God” (Luke 4:4).

The importance of the words of God being heard and ingested by the people of God both individually and corporately, cannot possibly be over emphasized. To His people, the LORD says:

Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb, when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. – Deuteronomy 4:9-10

He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. – Proverbs 4:4

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. – Proverbs 4:20-22

Bow down thine ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply thine heart unto my knowledge. For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall withal be fitted in thy lips. That thy trust may be in the Lord, I have made known to thee this day, even to thee. Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee? – Proverbs 22:17-21

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.– Colossians 3:16

Nehemiah 8:1-8:

And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.

2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation, both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.

3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law .

 4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithia, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up:

6 And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

 7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place.

8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.

In verse one above, we see that “all the people gathered themselves together as one man … and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.” Wow! These people wanted, desired, and were calling out for God’s Word! These people of the LORD did not want fables, stories, psychology, commentary, or poems. No, they desired the sincere or pure Word of God (1 Peter 2:2). They were ready to “receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).

Notice in verse two of Nehemiah 8 where the Bible says that “Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation.” Would to God that leaders today brought only “the law” (or written Word) before the people and eliminated all else from their lives and ministries!

See what others are saying about the book Predators in Our Pulpits and order your copy here.

In verse three the Bible says, “the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.” We must stop here and ask ourselves just what it is that we desire and want to hear? The answer to this question will plainly reveal just where our hearts are—our current spiritual state. We are told that in the last days that “some shall depart from the faith.”

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. – 1 Timothy 4:1-2

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 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; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. – 2 Timothy 4:2–4

The people of God in Nehemiah’s day wanted God’s Word and there is a remnant today that desires the same. When Jesus preached to “many of his disciples,” “many … went back, and walked no more with him” (John 6:66). Why? John 6:60 says: “Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?” Only twelve remained, while “many” of His “disciples” departed or apostatized. As has been prophesied, many in this last generation before Jesus returns, have “itching ears” and do not “endure sound doctrine” because of “their own lusts” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). So, they “heap” up or set up before themselves “teachers” who do not preach God’s Word which they do not want.

Pulpits in the Dark Ages

“But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. … So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate” (Revelation 2:6, 15). What is Jesus really trying to communicate here? After all, the Son of God tells us here that He hates the “deeds” and the “doctrine of the Nicolaitans.” Wow! We’d better look into this.

Let’s begin by breaking down the Greek word from which we get the English word “Nicolaitans.” In the Greek, nico means to conquer and laitans means the laity or people. So, “Nicolaitans” means to conquer the people.

You see, the Bible teaches us that if we believe a lie, we are brought under bondage to the person who told us that lie. While speaking specifically of “false teachers” and “false prophets,” the Bible says: “While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is over come (by using a lie), of the same is he brought in bondage ” (2  Peter 2:19).

Pulpits became the place of evil men who used their religious myths, lies, and doctrines of demons to control and beguile the masses. The remnant of God’s elect went outside the walls of the visible church and stayed alive in Christ!

During the dark ages (after Christ was born, died, was raised again, and His Church was launched), evil men brought in a perverted version of Christianity, yoking souls to their hellish doctrines and organizations (Mark 23; Mark 7:6-10).

A “pulpit” is merely a platform for communicating and teaching others. So, what is truly important has little to do with a physical, wooden pulpit, building, or anything physical in this fleeting world. We have no record of the earliest disciples of Jesus constructing any building or using a wooden pulpit. The pulpit resurfaced when the evil leadership of Rome began and took over the visible religious visage of a false “Christianity,” amalgamating it with paganism. It was from those pulpits in those majestic and expensive physical buildings that the Nicolaitan leadership Jesus hates began to wage their war against the Almighty, bringing men into bondage as they deceived them into thinking they had the exclusive rights to access the LORD (Revelation 2:6, 15).

The earliest followers of Jesus simply went forth preaching God’s Word (Acts 8:4). They gathered “house to house daily” and at times met in synagogues which were physical buildings already built before the birth of the New Testament church. See Acts 2:42-47.

Do we need the church building and the pulpit? No. But in fact, millions in America are dependent upon a mere man or ministry feeding them instead of learning to feed themselves daily. Yes, servant elders are to feed Christ’s sheep and yet, if the pure Word of God is not coming from a pulpit, why would any true disciple continue to hear those mis-leadings? The pulpit is a mere medium and not an end in itself. All that is spoken from a TV or radio transmission, in a book, from a podium, or on the web or paper is to be weighed and discerned against the written Word.

When Paul preached, the astute, God-fearing, Scripture-intensive believers in Berea judged what he spoke against the Holy Standard—God’s written Word. “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so” (Acts 17:11).

Yet today, many who claim to know Jesus have handed over the care of their souls to mere sinful men and are in danger of hell fire. It is a terrifying truth that, in most cases, these deceived souls have no idea they are going to be kindling for the fires of hell.

The Bible says that we are not to forsake “the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25). There is no command in the New Testament Scriptures to go to a so-called church building and sit before a pulpit on Sunday mornings. What’s important to the LORD is that His children individually and corporately dwell worshipfully before His holy presence, richly in His Word, in prayer communion with Him and in fellowship with one another as they break bread and pray together (John 4:23-24; Acts 2:42-47; Colossians 3:16-17).

The Book of Acts shows us the church of Jesus Christ before it became fat and short of breath by prosperity. – Leonard Ravenhill

The pulpit or medium of exchange is not what is important but rather the content of the communications that are coming over those airwaves, that wooden podium, that book, that audio message, that TV or radio program.

A communication medium is just that—merely a medium for the exchange of data, namely that of communicating religious beliefs of some sort. So, the title Predators in Our Pulpits in no way limits beguilers and false teachers to those standing behind a physical pulpit on Sunday mornings. As we see in Ezra’s example in Nehemiah 8, the biblical and proper use of the pulpit or place of humbly leading others is to communicate the Holy Scriptures. Whenever some other philosophy replaces God’s Word, there is a predator in that pulpit or medium of informational exchange. Of this late hour the LORD foretold and warned us that there would be “many false prophets,” and of course they abound today using every type media communication medium known to man (Matthew 7:15; 24:5, 11, 24; 1 John 4:1).

The big question is just who is behind that medium of communication. What is coming out from and through that communication? What is coming from that man’s mouth?

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. – Matthew 12:33-35

Where else can Satan work best than through someone who feigns to represent Jesus Christ while misrepresenting Him? (See 2 Corinthians 11:12-15.) Where can the enemy of all souls be better camouflaged and undetected than using the medium typical of Christian ministries?

Today’s modern church and its philosophies, methods, gimmicks, approach, and processes are completely irreconcilable with Christianity as it is revealed in the New Testament record. The diligent Bible student sees this.

The modern church’s marketing schemes and seductions are designed to farm the community to attract the masses of unregenerate people; getting them into their church building and keeping them coming. So, to do this, they search out and hire (or elevate from within) the slickest, most persuasive wolf in sheep’s clothing (hireling) to be their head or lead marketer. He’s called the pastor and yet, in reality, he is basically a CEO of a religious firm with a marketing program. Marketing to one’s community is much of what is taught and learned in seminary nowadays and in religious seminars and conventions.

The biblical criteria for leadership do not include oratory elegance or skills of eloquence, nor does it consist of charisma and the ability to organize and amass large crowds (Matthew 7:15-20; Luke 6:26; Acts 6:1-6; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-16; Jude 3-4). There is no tenet to be a good entertainer—that’s for goat herders, not sheep-feeders.

This great apostasy was foretold by the Holy Spirit and is now upon us at the hands of false leaders who fill pulpits, air waves, cyber-space, and books with their evil leaven (Isaiah 9:16; 56:10-12; Amos 8:11; Matthew 7:15-23; 24:3-5, 11, 24; 2 Thessalonians 2:3; 10-12; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; 2 Timothy 3:1-7; 1 John 4:1-6, etc.).

Prayer: Father in Heaven, please forgive me for ever alienating the affections of my heart to any mere man or other idol. I here and now repent and turn my heart and life to You alone as my supreme LORD, God, Savior, and friend. I beg You to unite my heart to truly fear Thy holy Name and to serve You in spirit and in truth. In Jesus’ holy Name. Amen.

Capture Points

  • What is to be preached when one or more people gather in Jesus’ Name? Cite and discuss
  • What does “Nicolaitans” mean? (See Revelation 2:6.) Why is this important to know for today?
  • Why did the LORD say the Berean Christians were “more noble”? (See Acts 17:11.)

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Abiding

Top 12 Missing Essential Doctrines in the Modern Church World! [podcast]


DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOUR “CHURCH” OR FAVORITE PREACHER? It’s real simple… if they are not preaching the cardinal doctrines of the original Gospel given to us in the New Testament, they are preaching “another gospel” and are “accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-9).

“For MANY DECEIVERS ARE ENTERED INTO THE WORLD, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 1:7-11

Modern church wolves refuse to preach the original Gospel of Jesus Christ from the pages of Holy Scripture and in the power of the Holy Ghost. No, instead they preach sermonettes that cater to the self-worshiping idolaters they entertain and collect money from (2 Timothy 3:1-7). They don’t even use the King James Bible but rather some cheap counterfeit. Their ear-tickling topics range from healing damaged emotions, 5 love languages, best life now, recovery, learning to love yourSELF, coping platitudes, loneliness, psychobabble band aids, law of attraction, being a successful single, purpose driven delusionment, etc.

Fake “bibles” Exposed

LOTS of lying going on when we have counterfeits peddling affirmation without salvation, the “promise” of things “getting better” when their prey are heading straight to hell. Especially certain social media platforms are flooded with this false gospel coming out of “Christians.” There is no sin or repentance in their message which alone identifies it as a false gospel. You see, the things that are happening to the sinners around us are allowed by God in order to lead them to repentance and yet, the counterfeits among us are assuring those sinners it’s all going to get better and never giving them the 10 Commandments to show them they are sinners (Galatians 3:24) and then, leading them to Jesus (Romans 10:9-10, 13, etc.).  10 Commandments Evangelism

In the modern church world, there is …..

No cross. No Jesus. No blood. No judgment. No sin. No repentance. No hell. No readiness for the soon return of Jesus. No Heaven. No equipping preparation for ministry. No Scripture memory. No holiness. No Messianic prophecies and their fulfillment. No Christology. No fear of God. No repentance. etc., all of which are Bible doctrines essential to salvation and/or essential to sound foundation in Christ and are missing in the modern church world.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

The only reason we, each of us has been deceived in the past is due to our own biblical ignorance (Proverbs 24:5; Hosea 4:6; 2 Timothy 2:15). Lacking the knowledge of the Word, we didn’t see what they were LEAVING OUT. We didn’t know to discern what they were teaching and what they were NOT teaching. Now, as we grow in the knowledge of the LORD through diligent daily study of His Word, we know to look for the cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith.

THE TOP ESSENTIAL BIBLICAL DOCTRINES NEVER HEARD IN THE APOSTATE MODERN CHURCH WORLD!

  1. The divinity of Jesus Christ (John 1:1-4, 14; 1 Timothy 3:16). | Jesus Christ is God
  2. The virgin birth of the only begotten Son of God (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). | The Virgin Birth of Jesus
  3. The essential precious blood of Jesus Christ (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22; 1 Peter 1:18-19). | The Blood
  4. The inherent fallen nature of mankind (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:18). | Fallen, Sinful Man
  5. Worshipping God not idols (Exodus 20:3-5). | Idolatry
  6. The essential doctrine and necessity of repentance (Luke 13:3). | Repentance
  7. The Return of Christ and being ready for it (Luke 12:40; 21:34-36). | The Return
  8. Who Jesus is returning for and who will be shut out of His eternal kingdom (Matthew 25:1-13; Ephesians 5:25-27). | Ready for Christ’s Return
  9. The essential of enduring to the end to be with Christ eternally, initial and final salvation (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Hebrews 3:6, 12-15; 10:26-30; Revelation 2:26). | Enduring to the End
  10. The essential daily cross, the crucified life, which Jesus required in following Him (Luke 9:23-24). | Living the Crucified Life
  11. Forgiving all others from the heart (Matthew 18:21-35). | Forgiveness
  12. Walking in God’s love (Ephesians 5:1). | The Love Walk
  13. Holiness – including the necessity of personal holiness (Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16). | Holiness
  14. Judgment (Psalms 9:15-17). | Judgment
  15. Hell (Matthew 8:12; Mark 3:29; Luke 16:19-31). | Hell
  16. Fearing God (Psalms 2:11; Luke 12:4-5). | Fearing God

When’s the last time you heard verses like this in the modern church?

“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33

“Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Luke 17:33

The modern church is going down in flames into the flames of hell. It cannot be reformed. Come out from it.

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4

In 2 Timothy 4:3 to “endure sound doctrine” means to hold oneself accountable to it. WHAT’s at the root of those who refuse to “endure sound doctrine”? – They simply do not love Jesus like He commanded them to (Matthew 22:37-39). They profess Christ as Savior and yet love self supremely and therefore serve the god of self. The Holy Ghost through Paul told us this of those who have a mere “form of godliness” in the last day resumé found in 2 Timothy 3:1-7.

Notice by divine design the very first thing he reveals is that “men shall be lovers of their own selves.” All the following evil comes out of self love, refusal to love God supremely and therefore repent, deny self, take up the cross and follow Jesus:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6  For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7  Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:1-7

God is toppling all the heart idols (Ezekiel 14:3)… because He’s Jealous and wants us looking to Him and not these mere men, these vile wolves, these celebrity sinners posing as His representatives (Exodus 34:14).

“For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:” Exodus 34:14

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Abiding

Swept Away in the “Strong Delusion” [podcast]


Recorded at a fellowship in Houston, Texas

God Himself personally sends a “strong delusion” to all who do not love His truth so that they WILL believe lies. He greases their pole to hell. That’s how personally He takes it when people call Him a liar by not believing His Word.

“Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

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

Notice “of God” and “NOT of God”

“He that is OF GOD heareth God’s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are NOT OF GOD.” John 8:47

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Abiding

Nourished Up and Enduring to the End [podcast]


Recently a dear brother in Christ related this testimony to me of our LORD’s work in his life:

“I had a ‘back to Jesus’ moment after the election. As I was horribly disappointed in our country and the dividing of even my own friends, I was praying: ‘I’ve lost faith in my country, I’ve lost faith in my friends…’ then it hit me… I had put my faith in the wrong things. It’s so easy to depend on others. But now I am trusting only in my Lord and Savior.”

“For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:10

“For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” Hebrews 13:14

Satan seeks to seduce God’s people with counterfeit causes – causes outside of that which is clearly defined by Holy Scripture as Christ’s Gospel cause! A moral cause is not necessarily the work of the Messiah. Loving the LORD with all of our being and doing His work, the work of the Gospel is His will as we are “new creature(s)” in Christ and His “ambassadors,” sent forth by Him to teach His Word (Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 5:20).

HAVE WE EXALTED FREEDOM ABOVE CHRIST – THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN GIVE IT? “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3-5) and “No man can serve two masters” right? (Matthew 6:24)

Do we love Jesus more than freedom? Do we love His Great Commission more than the cause of getting our country back?

In fact we have no freedom if we are not born again and presently walking with and abiding in Jesus on HIS stated terms (John 8:31-32; 15:1-16). Jesus came to save, heal, and grant freedom in the Spirit, from Satan, and freedom from sin to those who are His (Matthew 1:21; Luke 4:18; John 1:29; Acts 26:18; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 3:1-10, etc.). Here, listen to the Son of God ….

“As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, IF ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:30-32

The LORD makes free those whom He saves, those who continue in an abiding relationship with Him (John 15).

You must “desire the sincere milk of the word” and feed your spirit the Word of God daily or you will grow weak very quickly and fall away (1 Peter 2:2). Jesus calls us to be “Nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:6).

A Good Servant of Christ Jesus

Jesus is KING and kingdom living is all about exalting KING Jesus – not mere men or organizations or ministries! It’s only then that His divine “nourishment” is going to flow down into His beloved body!

“Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” Colossians 2:18-19

Heaven’s “nourishment” only transpires when KING Jesus is truly exalted.

“I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” Isaiah 42:8

Modern church pawns want you to become enamored with THEM, not CHRIST. It’s a sales job! Beware. Read Colossians 2:18-19 closely.

“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” 1 Timothy 4:6 

Feed. Feast. Fuel. Those who choose not to feast upon and fuel their hearts and minds with God’s Word daily, are not going to make it. They will walk weak, empty, and malnourished, just as the 5 foolish virgins did and were shut out of the kingdom (Matthew 25:1-13). They have freely chosen not to be “nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine” (1 Timothy 4:6).

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:” 1 Peter 2:2

Daily drinking the healing oil of God’s Word assures divine nourishment and wholeness in your spirit. God’s Word gets in us only when we get into it – and seek Him in it daily. Memorize Jeremiah 15:16 now.

“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16

JUST as none of us understand but know the blessing of food nourishing our physical bodies, so the Word of God nourishes our spirit man, our hearts. It’s a daily must. Feeding and being nourished by the words of God is an imperative (Job 12:23; Jeremiah 15:16; Hebrews 5:11-14; 1 Peter 2:2, etc.). His Word cannot get into us and nourish us until we get into it! Let the nourishment begin!

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (abundantly)…” Colossians 3:16

Note here in the above passage, we see Christ instructing those who believed upon Him to “continue in my word.” This was Jesus’ perfect opportunity to tell these new believers that they were “eternally secure” but He didn’t because He’s the Son of God and not a false prophet!

Jesus says that it’s only “IF ye continue in my word” that you will know the truth, be made free and walk in the liberty, the freedom He alone can grant from sin! See John 8:31-32, 36. YOU GOT SAVED? GOOD – NOW STAY SAVED!

“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

You must turn your heart to the LORD – in true worship – in order to walk in the liberty that He alone can give!

“Nevertheless when it (your heart) shall turn to the Lord, the vail (that blinds) shall be taken away. 17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:16-17

Fake “bibles” such as the NIV teach that “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1). Read that again. In the context of the whole of Scripture, we must ask: Did Jesus come to set us free for freedom’s sake or to be set free from sin in order to serve Him as new creatures? (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). Any student of God’s Word knows that this NIV rendering of Galatians 5:1 is a contradiction, a lie. | Fake “bibles” Exposed!

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13

“As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.” 1 Peter 2:16

As was foretold, we are seeing that some are departing from the faith, listening to devils and their doctrines from the fake “bibles” and false prophets of today, instead of being daily nourished up in the pure words of God and helping feed Christ’s flock. Get a King James Bible.

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; … 6 If thou put the brethren in  remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. … 16  Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” 1 Timothy 4:1-2, 6, 16 

Any person who is teaching that it’s impossible to “depart from the faith” (to leave Christ) after being saved, is a false teacher (Luke 8:13).

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” Hebrews 3:12-15

“For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. 35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.” Hebrews 10:34-39

“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9

Be not deceived: You cannot sustain a life with Christ without daily fellowship with Him!

“In your patience possess ye your souls.” Luke 21:19

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.” Matthew 10:22

So many today who claim Christ view salvation as something they did in the past and not a present relationship with Christ on His stated terms (John 15; Titus 1:16).

Okay so think about the last time you heard this passage read in a “church” gathering. Well, have you ever heard it read? These are the warning words of the very and soon coming LORD and Savior.

“All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Matthew 24:10-13

“And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. 16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; 17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. 18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, 19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. 20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.” Mark 4:15-19

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Because You Care Page | The Greatest of these is Charity | Be Ready in the Morning [podcast] | The Sure Mercies of David [podcast] | That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast] | At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God  | Word of Faith Wolves and Delusion Exposed | Confess This | Personal Testimony of Todd Tomasella | Beware of False Promises and Half Truths | Exposing the False Prophetic Movement [podcast]

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