Penknife Sacrilege

Forsaking the Full-Counsel of God

“And it came to pass, that when Jehudi had read three or four leaves, he cut it with the penknife, and cast it into the fire (this is what is happening today in our churches) that was on the hearth, until all the roll was consumed in the fire that was on the hearth. Yet they were not afraid (no fear of God), nor rent their garments, neither the king, nor any of his servants that heard all these words.” Jeremiah 36:23-24

At this dark time in the history of Israel, the Scriptures had been lost and out of circulation among the people of God. Then they were found and read before the king, king Jehoiakim (the son of Josiah) and his servants. As a result conviction of sin came and certain parts of God’s Word were rejected and thrown into the fire to be vanished out of their presence. Read Jeremiah 36.

This is a fascinating occurrence captured in Jeremiah 36 that is transpiring today in full scale, perpetrated by false leaders (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

Satan was the original corrupter of God’s words and is behind all such rebellion in our day (Genesis 3:1, 4, etc.).

Be careful of those who carefully select Bible verses/promises while intentionally dodging the “hard truths” found throughout Holy Scripture. Such a person who siphons selectively is a wolf. Such a manipulator is positioning you in order to deceive you and to perpetrate their own self-serving purpose, not God’s (Philippians 3:18-19). For example: People know Jeremiah 29:11 but not v 13 … or Luke 9:23-24…. amazing deception!  Share this!

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2 PARTIES GUILTY HERE: Just as it was in the days of the prophet Jeremiah, so today, many “kings,” that is, those in spiritual authority, and “servants” who claim to follow Christ, are allowing the Word of God to be diminished, distorted, damaged, denied, disdained, desecrated and dodged. Many of our leaders and those they lead are spiritual swine who refuse to “rend their hearts” in repentance of this travesty and trampling of that which is holy (Joel 2:13; Matt. 7:6). Instead of acknowledging and embracing the whole of the Word of God as we have been so privileged to have received, like the king of Judah in Jeremiah’s day, some are cutting out and denying those parts of Scripture which don’t line up with their denominational tradition. These deceitful workers refuse to lay down their lives and call upon the LORD to circumcise their hearts. They refuse to mortify the sins of the flesh in the fear of God. Those listening will never know what is being intentionally avoided and left out of their messages – unless they embark upon the blessed adventure of learning and knowing intimately the Holy Scriptures (Jer. 23:18; Jn. 5:39; 2 Tim. 2:15; 1 Pet. 2:2).

Jeremiah 36 summated: In this chapter we read how Jehoiakim king of Judah, burned the scroll where the Word of the LORD was written. Then God pronounced judgment on him (Jeremiah 36:29-31). You can burn God’s Word – ignore it, butcher it, read a fake version of it, etc. – yet that doesn’t one iota change the impending doom coming on those who refuse to obey Him. Denying, ignoring, evading, or destroying a Bible changes nothing – other than the wrath coming on those who do (Proverbs 30:5-6; Jeremiah 36:29-31; Revelation 22:18-19).

Of this magnificently revealing Bible chapter, F.B. Meyer wrote:

“These written words had been directly given from God, Jeremiah 36:18. The fast was instituted to seek divine help in the approaching conflict with Nebuchadnezzar. But of what good is a fast while the evils of apostasy and disobedience are unredressed? It was against these that Jeremiah protested; and his words were read to a vast concourse of people by Baruch his faithful friend. It was the month of December, and the royal chamber was warmed by a brazier of burning charcoal. As Jehudi read, the godless king cut the roll with a penknife and consigned it to the fire. All down the ages false priests have dealt thus with the Word that condemned them. But a sailor does not escape shipwreck by destroying the chart which indicates the rocks on which he is drifting. God’s words are eternal, though the material on which they are written may perish. He who rejects God’s truth does so at his peril, while God hides His faithful servants in the secret of His presence, secure from the attacks of enemies.”

The tragedy is that many of those claiming to be the “servants” of the LORD, namely those who are not in the pulpits, refuse to discern and raise the red flag in protest of “another gospel.” (2 Cor. 11:1-4; Gal. 1:6-9)Not only do they not object to falsehood by raising biblically-based questions, they financially support and promote these false teachings and teachers by attending churches that pick and choose what they will and will not acknowledge from God’s Word. The LORD holds us accountable for such (Isaiah 5:20-24). Believers are never to bid god speed (endorse or condone in any way) to any form of false gospel nor person peddling such (2 Jn. 10-11).

“If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 10-11

As it was in Jeremiah’s day, so it is today. There are those who will stand against deception which is causing many to fall and leading millions astray. There is no doubt that eternal hell is full of those who were (like the “kingdom of heaven” which Jesus likened to five wise and five foolish virgins – Matt. 25) once truly saved and did not endure to the end of their lives trusting and obeying the LORD with all their hearts, but rather allowed their heart lamps to run low and ultimately leak out the oil of His presence that was once there (Matt. 25:1-13). This was a parable of warning from our LORD Jesus. These foolish virgin believers did not pursue depth of relationship with Christ – they weren’t “planted by the rivers of water.” (Ps. 1:3) The five foolish virgins had “received Christ Jesus the LORD” and yet did not continue to walk in Him nor did they choose to become “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith.” (Col. 2:6-7) These who counted other things more important than their relationship with the Bridegroom, didn’t choose to endure persecutions and various sufferings associated with the true Christian life and allow Him to “perfect (mature), stablish, strengthen, settle” them in His grace (1 Pet. 5:10). They didn’t stay in intimate communion with the LORD they were espoused to but rather took the path of least resistance and lived according to the flesh, breaking their engagement with the Bridegroom (Jer. 3:8; Amos 6:1, 9:10; Lk. 12:35-40; 21:34-36; Rev. 3:15-16, etc.).

Being Planted and Flourishing

It takes a whole Bible to make a whole, complete disciple and Church!

Healthy fruitfulness is the sign of life and nourishment. As the roots of a tree go down into the earth, absorbing vital nutrients for healthy fruit-bearing and growth, so the believer who roots himself in the King and His kingdom, receives nourishment and grows and prospers. He grows and become stronger and stronger (Ps. 84:7). The LORD promised us that we would “flourish in the courts of our God,” “bring forth fruit,” and not grow faint and weary if we remained in the heart posture of hungering and thirsting after His righteousness and “planted in the house of the LORD.” (92:13) See also Matt. 5:6; Lk. 18:1; Gal. 6:9 and Heb. 6:11-12.

“Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; To show that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.” Psalms 92:13-15

May the Lord be praised for those who are calling leaders to repentance for their doctrinal atrocities, for purposely avoiding hard truths in order to grow their own church businesses. The Almighty sees all and for this evil He will judge:

“Nevertheless Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah had made intercession to the king that he would not burn the roll: but he would not hear them. 26 But the king commanded Jerahmeel the son of Hammelech, and Seraiah the son of Azriel, and Shelemiah the son of Abdeel, to take (capture, incarcerate) Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet: but the LORD hid them. ” Jeremiah 36:25-26

God hid His faithful servants then and does so today. The only safety is to be in the pure truth of God.

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield (protector) unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6

These men feared God, not man (Elnathan, Delaiah, Gemariah). They boldly beseeched the king not to cut out any part of the words of God – never to alter God’s word (Revelation 22:18-19). Are we beseeching leaders not to ignore any part of God’s Word? Are we cutting out, denying or dodging any truth we read in the Scriptures? Are you pandering to, using, and/or defending Satan’s corrupt version of God’s pure Word? Are we willing to elevate the LORD and His Word above all else and confront leaders for their refusal to teach His full-counsel from His preserved Word? (Psalms 12:6-7)

Of this indecent, Adam Clarke wrote:

“Elnathan and Delaiah and Gemariah – Three of the princes wished to save the roll, and entreated the king that it might not be burnt. They would have saved it out of the fire, but the king would not permit it to be done.”

Does this indecent not align with today’s purists, who seek to get God’s people back to His pure Word, the King James Bible? Yet many deceived souls battle to defend the enemies corrupt “bibles.”

“And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 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 17:10-11

Note here that these “more noble” disciples of Christ refused to simply believe everything Paul the apostle stated before they personally verified such in the Scriptures. They put everything he said to the acid test of Holy Scripture – “they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” They were being wise instead of naive like many today who are quite frankly overtly gullible. These Berean believers took and compared Paul’s doctrine to the Scriptures to see if the apostle’s message was from God’s Word.

“I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” Psalms 138:2

No leader alive today possesses more kingdom authority than the apostle Paul did. And yet, the Christians at Berea acid-tested what Paul stated against God’s Word to see if it were true or if it were false. They magnified the Word of God above any man’s teachings – “yea, let God be true, but every man a liar.” (Rom. 3:4)

As you can see from this account in Jeremiah 36, selective penknife sacrilege is no new thing. In fact, it started in the Garden when Satan added one word to God’s Word/statement concerning sin (Gen. 2:17; 3:4). Adding to or taking away from God’s Word brings the ultimate death sentence (Rev. 22:18-19).

Is this not exactly what we are warned about in the very end of the Bible?

“For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Revelation 22:18-19

More penknife sacrilege or taking away of God’s Word: The NIV removes 64,000 words from God’s Word. This is due to the fact that it is taken from the diabolically corrupted (few) manuscripts as are all new versions. See Bible Versions page on this site.

The believers living in the city of Berea are a glorious example of what the LORD desires in all of us – a noble heart that believes nothing unless they dig it out of His Word for themselves! Saint, consider making Acts 17:10-11 your focal text this week. Memorize it. Meditate upon it. Highlight, underline, and cross-reference this vital passage with other like verses. Pour over this text until it begins to take root in your understanding.

Some who claim Christ as Savior do no want all of God’s Word, only those parts which coincide with the lifestyle they are living. Many would rather buy into doctrines foreign to Scripture, teachings which do not demand death to the self-life. They migrate to teachings which place their lives at ease and do not call for repentance from sin. These teachings pander and grant license to those who do not possess the love of the truth. The uncircumcised heart chooses to please its own evil desires instead of honoring the LORD and His Word. We must delight in and endure sound, full-counsel Bible doctrine and love the change the Potter will bring as we allow Him to pour the water of His Spirit upon our hearts, making them pliable putty in His holy hands (Jer. 18:6).

Those who have been schooled in the “once saved always saved” message will have a decision to make after reading the myriad of irrefutable Scriptures in this volume. The OSAS adherent will be faced with the decision of whom to trust – his favorite pastor, doctrine, denomination, or God. Divine wisdom instructs us in this way:

“Let God be true and every man a liar.” Romans 3:4

“There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against (equal to) the Lord.” Proverbs 21:30

“For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” Psalms 119:89

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

If you are ready and willing to embrace the purity and fullness of God’s truth and relinquish this ungodly, anti-biblical, unholy, license-to-sin teaching from your life, from a humble heart, repeat the following prayer aloud and from your heart:

Dear Father in Heaven, I truly love You. Thank You for finding and saving me through the blood of Your Son and for continually leading me into all truth about Yourself. Thank You kindly for all the grace and mercy you have shown me. I hereby repent of and denounce the unconditional eternal security lie and all its effects upon my life and those around me. Please forgive me for ever buying into this lie. I begin now to embrace the truth of Your Word, Your full-counsel. Please forgive me for believing this falsehood which is not taught in Your Word. Help me to discern truth from error. Restore to me the fear of the LORD. Father, please teach me Your ways and Your wisdom in all things pertaining to Your kingdom as I seek Your holy face and study Your words. In Jesus’ holy name. Amen.

There is virtually no end to the Bible truth that can be unearthed and studied to expose this lie of the ages as diabolical in origin and intent. Our Great Shepherd informed us that the enemy, the father of lies, has come to steal, kill and to destroy (Jn. 8:44; 10:10).

The Word of God is absent of any such teaching as an unconditional eternal security. This teaching is no where to be found in Holy Writ except as the message of Satan and the false shepherds. In light of this, may God bless us to study what He has given us in His Word and apprehend His mind. May He grant us to have no other agenda but to know Him and His truth and to forsake all we have previously espoused which does not align with His Word.

Suggestions:

1.  Get a King James Bible (accept no substitute – see BIBLE VERSIONS button on this ministry site).

2.  Get up early and embark upon seeking the LORD’s face in Bible study and prayer communion.

3.  Fast and pray regularly, pouring over Isaiah 58.

PRAYER: LORD, please make my heart tender with Your grace. I choose to magnify Your Word above the counsel of all others! Forgive my sin of ever dodging or ignoring anything from Your Word. From this moment forward, I count Your holy truth above the words of any and all mere men. Cleanse me with Your blood and Word, for my allegiance and loyalty is to You Jesus. I embrace the fullness of Thy counsel and despise all that does not align. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

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