sgys banner books

Is Being a Member of a Local Church a Blessing or a Curse?

Departing in Order to Increase with Christ

— WHEN he used the phrase “the house of God, which is the church of the living God,” was the great apostle of the mysteries of God speaking here about a physical building people meet at on Sunday morning? The very next words give a clue to the answer:

“These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:14-15

We see here that “the pillar and ground of the truth” is the fruit of the true remnant “house of God” – “the church (people) of the living God.”

Note there is no hint or mention of pews, ridiculous stained glass windows, one pastor controlling all, building a church business, salesmanship, gimmicks, etc. These things have been fabricated for the self-serving agenda and purpose of those who formulated this business system. Such things have nothing to do with Christ’s body and the living, abiding revealing of Himself to His true, blessed body. Jesus Christ alone is worthy of our praise and He will share His glory with no vile human or demonic entity (Isaiah 42:8; 1 Corinthians 1:29, 31). Those distractions, interceptors, and absorbers of God’s resources are the invention of devils and hireling wolves. In fact, they are tools of satan to steal the glory from the One who bled and rose again to purchase His body. Read Colossians 2.

MESSAGE RECEIVED:

“I have left so many churches brother. Isn’t there just one church that preaches the truth? People say that, not that it matters because it shouldn’t, that I’m unstable because I keep separating myself from the assembly of believers. But I cannot sit under false teaching. Jesus in me will not let me. It literally makes my skin feel strange. Like I’m screaming inside. I can’t explain it. Such as when people make videos to show these false teachers in action. I can barely take it. Can you understand where I’m coming from?” CJ

REPLY:

When Jesus said “I will build my church,” just what did He mean? Surely we know that such had nothing to do with building physical buildings in this fleeting world. No, Jesus meant that He was going to build His spiritual kingdom in the hearts of those who came to Him in repentance and faith to be saved. We are “a spiritual house” or family (1 Peter 2:5).

Are there still a few church gatherings that hold to the love and truth (written Word) of Christ? Yes  a very “few.” (Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 12:32)

It’s all too often assumed that because someone or a group have set up a “church building” around which their organization revolves, that such makes them official or authenticated by Heaven. Really? How gullible we are at times. Think about this: All of the antichrist cults of which Satan himself is head, have lots of real estate, buildings and dollars. That doesn’t authenticate them in the eyes of Heaven. They are His very enemies (Philippians 3:18-19; Galatians 1:6-9, etc.). Jesus says that “My kingdom is not of this world.” (John 18:36)

Separating ourselves from a Sunday morning church group is NOT necessarily separating ourselves from the true body of Christ. In fact, in most cases, to have a pure relationship with Christ, the true disciple must get away from the “MANY false prophets” who run those church businesses. Leaving a false ministry that is not fulfilling Christ’s Great commission to simply teach and preaching His Word, is the sign and fruit of stability and soundness in Christ, not instability (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 15:15-20; Acts 5:42; 2 Timothy 4:1-5, etc.). God’s Word uses  and speaks of being “sound in the faith,” having a “sound mind,” a “sound heart,” and this all comes from having “sound doctrine.” YES there’s just one church that preaches the truth – the REAL church – the called out one and that’s how we know they are His true remnant church (John 8:31-32, 47, etc. … And that has nothing at all to do with Sunday morning in the apostate church world. How is fellowship with the “spirit of antichrist” glorifying God when He told us to get away from it? (Romans 16:17-18; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1; 1 Timothy 6:3-5 KJV; 1 John 4:1-3). In fact, we are commanded to “from such withdraw thyself.” (1 Timothy 6:3-5 KJV) We have to release the modern and our false obligation to it and all the manipulations we’ve sat under to get us to patronize those churches and ministers. Pure “Nicolaitan”witchcraft which Jesus says He hates (Revelation 2:6, 15). Perhaps He’s calling someone who’s reading this to leave the structure of the organized, meet-on-Sunday-morning church and to become a “daily”disciple of His – not to wait for Sunday to be religious while vainly believing that that is what pleases God as we have been manipulated to believe (Luke 9:23-24; Acts 2:42). And, as we leave we can clear to Him, and to walk by faith on the water with Christ Himself like Peter did while the 11 sat in the boat. The organized church is  a crutch for many and we don’t even realize it … He’s calling us to step out of the boat and walk on the water with Him and see and experience that He alone can sustain and uphold us and He sure will continue to do the good work HE alone began in us. He doesn’t need rebels who claim to know Him yet will not follow the instructions of His plain Word to teach or lead us. Jesus alone is the Good Shepherd of His sheep who hear His voice and follow Him alone and no other (John 10:1-10; Hebrews 13:20). In fact we will grow in strides and “increaseth with the increase of God” which can only come from truly upholding Christ the Head of His body (Colossians 2:18-19). God deliver us and bless us not be of those who are “ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth,” but having only a mere “form (weekly, Sunday morning formula) of godliness” and yet are truly lovers of our own selves, not Christ (2 Timothy 3:1-7) …. It’s very healthy to “Come OUT from among them and be ye separate” (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1). Think about how Jesus threatened to remove His candlestick from the 7 churches in Revelation 1-3 …. Ichabod – meaning the LORD has departed … do we not think He has already done that (departed) with most of the organized churches today? Christ told the Laodicean church that He was going to spew (vomit) them out of His body and then said, as He says this moment to those who have turned away from His Word – “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” (Revelation 3:17-22)

That devil is mad today! …. his evil agents who pose as pastors for Christ while completely misrepresenting HIM are being exposed ….. this is the great falling away. This is the wolves in sheep’s clothing we were so often warned about. Invasion of the End Time Wolves 

WITCHCRAFT in the Church  <<<< Read this and watch the video and please pass it on.

Sign up for free email devotional HERE.…. The Moments with My Master email devotional is sent out for the edification of the body of Christ.

What Is the Church?

by Mark Grosse

In the Bible the word church is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia, meaning “a calling out.” It never refers to a building or meeting place, but always to people, the ones “called out” of the world’s society by God calling them into His service. The Church of the Bible is not a cold, stone building, but a group of warm and loving people specially chosen by God.

In the Scriptures church can refer to the group of believers in a particular location, such as a city or region, or to the entire body of believers God has called.

So a building with no worshipers cannot really be a church in the biblical sense. The New Testament Church is a group of people called out of this world’s society by God, even if they meet in a rented hall or on a grassy hillside. For example, the apostle Paul greeted the church—the congregation of people—that met in the house of Priscilla and Aquila in Rome (Romans 16:3-5).

What are the roots, the history, of the Church? What sets apart people whom God calls His own? How does God use the Church to achieve His purposes? What does the Church do for us, and what should its members do for the Church? How can we be part of what God is doing through His Church?

When Jesus said, “… I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18), He was saying the Church—His chosen people—would not die out. It would be alive-a warm and caring body of believers, thriving and flourishing in oneness with Christ and one another, and serving God by faith and practical obedience to His Word — to do His work and support each other. Today, with so many conflicting doctrines and practices, how can we recognize the Church Jesus built?

In this lesson let’s learn what the Bible teaches about God’s Church and what it means for us.

Sign up for free email devotional HERE.…. The Moments with My Master email devotional is sent out for the edification of the body of Christ.

Grace vs Holiness [podcast]

Un-Biblical Local Church Structures [podcast]

How to Learn God’s Word

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


The reCAPTCHA verification period has expired. Please reload the page.

Articles

The Daily Cross in Prayer [podcast]


Prayer is inseparably connected with knowing God (John 17:3).

(Excerpt from the book I Die Daily)

“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Psalms 5:3

Let’s isolate and dismantle these words of God a bit. Under the direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David says to the LORD:

  • That He (God) would hear his (David’s) “voice”
  • That “in the morning” the Psalmist would arise and seek God in prayer
  • Deliberately “in the morning,” he would “direct” his prayer and praying to the LORD – “in the morning … I will look up”

From this passage, we see that David planned or scheduled, in an intentional and calculated fashion, to meet with the LORD every morning. The phrase “in the morning” appears twice in this inspired transmission of the Holy Ghost. The man whose heart panted after the LORD – to behold His precious beauty – declared that he would “direct” (point) his prayer upward to the LORD “in the morning.” (Ps. 5:3; 27:4; Acts 13:22) Communing with the LORD was priority to David, and therefore occupied first place in his daily life. He sought the LORD firstly as he arose from sleep, and before he went forth into his day.

Jesus commanded that if any person will come after Him – truly follow Him – he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Him (Luke. 9:23-24). There is no place that the cross applies more than in daily prayer. The moment one arises, he will choose either to seek God or dwell upon self-sentiments and such. He will seek Christ, or he will seek his own salvation or rescue from his troubles. We all make a “daily” choice:

“… choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” Joshua 24:15

No different from those covenant saints the LORD spoke to in this important passage, those whom we dwell among are serving self – the flesh – and yet we are called upon by the LORD to “choose” to daily serve Him rather than self. We are called to “be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life.” (Phil. 2:15-16)

The LORD is calling us to purposefully declare Him as the LORD and Master of our lives, and this we do by making the premeditated decision to seek Him daily in prayer communion. Like Joshua, the way we “choose” to “serve” God must be premeditated, deliberate, daily, and in practicality. Daily, early morning, first fruit prayer is all three of these. It is the fruit of the crucified life – the life that is dead to self and in whom Christ dwells and reigns. – “Ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God.” (Col. 3:3)

To those who seek God and not their own devices, there are many benefits (Ps. 68:19).

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

The precious peace of the “Prince of Peace” rules and reigns and makes sound the hearts of those who deny self’s ability to overcome and solve issues and problems, and instead earnestly and diligently rely upon God’s power to do such for them (Isa. 9:6; 26:3).

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.” Isaiah 26:3-4

As we fix our whole being upon Jesus Christ, our thoughts will be upward to His “glorious high throne,” which is “the place of our sanctuary.” (Jer. 17:12)

God is calling each of His saints to give his whole being to Christ, and to those things that “are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Php. 4:8).

So, according to Philippians 4:6-8, saints are to rely upon the LORD and not self by submitting all their requests in prayer to Him who is their Source, and to think upon those things of Christ which are “true … honest … just … pure … lovely … of good report … if there be any virtue … if there be any praise.” It is upon “these things” that we are instructed to “think on.” (Phil. 4:8)

God’s thoughts are infinitely higher than ours, and yet it is not until we become truly “crucified with Christ” that we are going to be ruled by His thoughts and peace (Isa. 55:8-9; Gal. 2:20; Phil. 4:6-7).

Changing the way one thinks is being done by millions of people who are not regenerated (not born again). New age and religious teachers hold this thought transformation teaching closely. Anyone can change the way they think for self-serving reasons – to stop smoking, to visualize and earn more money, to have more self-esteem, etc. However, hell still awaits all who are not born again, and that takes facing the living God and Judge in repentance for sin and placing all faith in Jesus Christ, the only Savior (Acts 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:5). The only renewing of the mind and thoughts that brings glory to Jesus Christ, is that which begins with one casting his whole being upon the LORD afresh – presenting himself a “living sacrifice … unto God.” Let’s look at Romans 12:

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2

Those who are presenting their bodies to the LORD as “living sacrifice(s)” are infused and enabled by His grace to keep their minds or thoughts stayed (fixed) upon the LORD and not self, as they look for Jesus’ soon return (Col. 3:1-4). They trust Christ and not their own strength, reasoning, whims, philosophies, or wisdom. As they give themselves over to Christ and His infinite divine power, and become weak in self and self’s abilities, Jesus’ power raises them up to trust Him and rely upon Him alone – to rest the weight of their whole beings in Him who is able. They first declare that they are not able, and that only “God is able.” (Eph. 3:20; 2 Cor. 9:8) These are they who have and are finding out in a personal way that there really is nothing impossible with the LORD!

“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:27

Abraham trusted God. He is our human example of a man who walked with God – by faith believing that God would raise up that to which he died. Concerning the promise of a son being born to him and his aged wife, the Bible records these words from the LORD to His servant Abraham:

“Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” Genesis 18:14

If God can and will split the Red Sea for His people, and cause a 100-year-old man and his 90-year-old wife to have a child, what in your life can’t He do? (Gen. 17:17)

Here’s yet another question posed to our hearts from the LORD:

“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27

God requires that we die to self-will, self-help, and self-esteem, and lay our lives in His holy, perfect, and more-than-sufficient hands. He can then work in us and in our lives – raising up His holy standard and power to glorify Himself in and through His children. Nothing will be impossible for the LORD to perform in the lives of those who deny themselves and, like Abraham, trust God to raise up His solutions, answers, and blessings to bring Himself glory.

“(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth (makes alive) the dead, and (God) calleth those things which be not as though they were.” Romans 4:17

God called forth Isaac out of Abraham’s loins when it was an otherwise impossibility in the natural. In your life, beloved, “Is there anything too hard for the LORD?” (Gen. 18:14)

Our connection with God is all about relationship, and the quality of that relationship is exemplified in our prayer lives – or lack thereof. If a person is pursuing the LORD, he has a prayer life. He lays down his own desires and life and seeks God’s life. This is perhaps in no other scrutiny seen more clearly than in the value he assigns to his prayer life, and the heart affections and time he is willing to invest in it.

In Psalms 63, the Psalmist captures the life of the person who truly has a heart after God.

“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” Psalms 63:1-8

The following is an excerpt from My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers:

“’At that day ye shall ask in My name.’ John 16:26.  We are too much given to thinking of the Cross as something we have to get through; we get through it only in order to get into it. The Cross stands for one thing only for us – a complete and entire and absolute identification with the Lord Jesus Christ, and there is nothing in which this identification is realized more than in prayer.

‘Your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.’ Then why ask? The idea of prayer is not in order to get answers from God; prayer is perfect and complete oneness with God. If we pray because we want answers, we will get huffed with God. The answers come every time, but not always in the way we expect, and our spiritual huff shows a refusal to identify ourselves with Our Lord in prayer. We are not here to prove God answers prayer; we are here to be living monuments of God’s grace.

‘I say not that I will pray the Father for you: for the Father Himself loveth you.’ Have you reached such an intimacy with God that the Lord Jesus Christ’s life of prayer is the only explanation of your life of prayer? Has Our Lord’s vicarious life become your vital life? ‘At that day’ you will be so identified with Jesus that there will be no distinction.

When prayer seems to be unanswered, beware of trying to fix the blame on someone else. That is always a snare of Satan. You will find there is a reason which is a deep instruction to you, not to anyone else.”

PRAYER: Father, please bless this life to honor You and Your will first and foremost in this life You have granted, by my being authentically crucified with Christ. Please unite my heart to fear Your holy name and to number with wisdom this short time on this earth as a gift from You. I love You, Jesus, and thank You for dying for my sins and for the resurrection power of the Holy Ghost You placed in us upon salvation, and the infilling of the Holy Spirit. You must increase but I must decrease. This moment, if never before, I declare and deliberately decide to place You first daily in my life – I am crucified with Christ. Early will I seek Thee. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Capture Points

  • Discuss Psalms 5:3 along with Mark 1:35 and the importance of daily and first fruits prayer in the life of every disciple of Jesus.
  • Transcribe onto an index card and discuss Romans 12:1-2 (KJB recommended).
  • Write out on an index card Mark 10:27: “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” (KJB)

PrayerSupport | STORE |

Let’s Grow Together! Sign up here to begin receiving the Moments with Our Master email devotional that is sure to help you grow in grace and in the knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Pet. 1:2; 3:18).  It’s sent out 2-3 times weekly for the edification of the body of Christ. Sign Up HERE.

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Support | STORE | PodcastsTHE BLOOD OF JESUS | Blood AtonementPEACE with GODChristology (the study of Christ)Christ CrucifiedWas Jesus the “One and Only Son”? [podcast]The Remission of Sins

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Continue Reading

Abiding

The Joy of God’s Word [podcast]


“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

“Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.” Psalms 119:89

“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

PRAYER: Heavenly Father please match and exceed every trial You allow me to go through with Your joy! For You said that the joy of the LORD is my strength! In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | Purifying Ourselves as He is Pure [podcast]10 Clues Your Love for God is Waxing Cold [podcast]

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Continue Reading

Audios

Current Events and the Name of Jesus Christ [podcast]


“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.” John 14:13-14

IF we are praying God’s WORD in the name of JESUS CHRIST…. in His bless-ed humility, God is answering!

I don’t think we begin to realize the power that is in the name of Jesus Christ – and available exclusively to those who are HIS.

Memorize the word of our LORD Jesus recorded in John 14:13-14.

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3

One commentator notes: “The universal fascination with knowing what is going on in the world has ancient roots. Knowing that Jesus is a well-known rabbi, some ask for his take on the hot news of the day. “There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices” (Luke 13:1). Pilate, the governor, has executed some Jews while they were in the act of offering their sacrifices, mingling their blood with the animal blood. Jewish sentiment is likely strongly against Pilate, although some seem to be critical of the people who have suffered. Maybe they deserved it.”

End Times

Jesus Christ

Support | STORE | PodcastsBecause You Care Page | The Greatest of these is CharityBe 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  | Waste | Stewardship | GivingLet Him be Your Fear [podcast]Why We Need Not Fear DeathFear Not Little Flock | The Glorious Church Jesus is Returning For [podcast]

Join Us

We saved a place for you to receive our weekly newsletter.

Please wait...

Thank you for signing up!

Continue Reading

Categories

donate button round
sgys-books01

Trending