“Planted by the Rivers of Water” and “In the House of the LORD”

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.” Psalms 1:1-6

According to Psalms 1, being “planted by the rivers of water” guarantees that we are producing good “fruit.” In fact, this is a good time for each of us to examine whether or not we are truly producing good fruit. If not, it’s due to the absence of a true, abiding relationship with Jesus Christ, the Vine (John 15:1-6, 16). Though fruit saves no one, it’s also certain that all who know and are remaining in Christ, are bearing good fruit. The root determines the fruit (Romans 11:16; James 3:12).

Being planted in Christ and among His sanctified saints, is essential to flourishing and escaping the judgment/destiny of “the ungodly.”

NEVER desire friendship or companionship with a person who doesn’t earnestly seek daily after and desire more of Jesus! (John 3:30)

The most luscious greenery can be seen near rivers just as the most healthy, vibrant disciples of Jesus are planted in the rich soil of His presence, His Word, and fellowship with His saints.

“Those that be planted in the house (family) of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;” Psalms 92:13-14

Bayith is the Hebrew word from which we get “house” here and that is important. It means family. Yes, family – not a physical building or limited to a few Christians who meet at one certain place weekly as if they are a club exclusively reserved for those who have become members of that club. That structure has been set up and is being followed by those leaders who wish to control and to “make merchandise of you” using their business model for church (2 Peter 2:1-3). They have basically farmed their communities and cornered their market. Think about that.

God’s Word informs us that the blood-bought body of Christ is an eternal “family.” – “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole FAMILY in heaven and earth is named.” (Ephesians 3:14-15)

The modern so-called “church membership” push and coercion is sinful and rebellious and has no reconciliation with New Testament Christianity. No such thing occurred among the earliest disciples. It is a shame that more time and energy and manipulation is spent by wolves behind pulpits to get people to sign their roll than is spent making disciples out of them which is exactly why God calls men out to serve Him in ministry. Read Ephesians 4:11-15. Beguilers exploit their prey as if all they are is nickels, noses, and numbers.

You see friend, these enterprising business builders know that if a person signs up to be a member that they will feel obligated to give their money to that church club. Statistics reveal this to be true and that’s what they go by – what makes the most money to pay the mortgage. They are not interested in what God’s stated will is.

Being “planted in the house of the Lord” does NOT mean being a good church member but rather a fervent follower and worshiper of Jesus Christ, our “Exceeding great reward.” (Genesis 15:1)

But just what does it mean to be “planted in the house of the Lord”? Does that mean finding and joining a church? No. Does that mean being a good church member? No.

Biblically speaking, being “planted in the house of the Lord”means abiding richly in Christ and His body in “daily” fellowship. Beguiling hirelings have taught us that attending and joining their local church and becoming a member is what being a Christian is all about and yet, such a concept is fully inconsistent with what we read on the pages of the New Testament Scriptures (Acts 2:42-47).

WHEN you make your move, abandoning the futile flesh, you can bet Satan is going to send you diversionary distractions! God is able as you continue to press into Christ, looking neither to the right hand nor to the left!

“Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:27

For their own self-serving purposes, deceivers have redefined what it means to walk with Christ in a fruit-bearing, abiding relationship.

The LORD has been very gracious to us. Recently, I read Exodus 17 afresh and am reminded of the great need for fellow brethren in our lives!!! That is, to uphold us in prayer and fellowship, provoking one another to love and good works, exhortation, admonition, edification, and at times, loving rebuke (1 Corinthians 14:20; Colossians 3:16; 4:2, 12; 2 Timothy 4:2; Hebrews 3:13; 10:24-25).

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. … And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking 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 3:13; 10:24-25

In light of this passage, many who think they are good due to being a good weekly church member, will not be ready when Christ returns or if their life ends (whichever comes first). They have been grossly misled as to what the Christian life is.

Most pastors read into these passages the idea that you need to join their church and yet such is nowhere to be found in these verses of Holy Writ. They were taught this tradition and it’s to their enterprising advantage and yet it’s not the New Testament model. The New Testament Scriptures reveal that the body of Christ – the earliest saints being our example and pattern – were a “daily” and not a weekly (weakly) church. The met “house to house daily,” right? (Acts 2:42-47; 20:20) Jesus taught a “daily” following of Him through denial of self, a cross-bearing relationship where we allow Him to reign instead of ourselves and we “love one another” as He loves us (Luke 9:23-24; John 13:34-35, etc.). That friends, is being “planted in the house of the Lord.”

It is telling that the word “daily” appears 63 times in God’s Word. Christ used the word “daily” 6 of those times concerning His own mission and His mandate upon all who would truly follow Him and not be surprised in the end. Daily fellowship with our heavenly Father, Jesus, and His beloved family is the biblical definition of being “planted in the house of the Lord.”

Paul wrote his letter to Philemon to “to the church in thy house.” (Philemon 1:2)

It’s interesting to note that the great apostle Paul was not a staged production hireling. He didn’t wait till people came to his Saturday or Sunday performance hall so he could entertain them and how them how wonderful he was at delivering the message or staging the event. It’s interesting that biblically speaking, a “hypocrite” is defined as an actor or poser. Jesus called false leaders “hypocrites” in His day and as Scripture promises us, nothing has changed today (Ecclesiastes 1:9; 2 Timothy 3:13; 1 John 4:1). The Greek word for “hypocrite” is hupokrite which is defined as an actor out of an assumed character, stage player, dissembler. Folks, most meetings in physical church buildings are nothing more than staged productions put on by a committee of clowns or actors. Remember, they have a mortgage to pay and if they tell their audience the hard truths of Scripture, there won’t be many patronizing their church business with their attendance and tithes. It’s a business model no doubt.

“And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house.” (Acts 20:20)

Paul taught out of his own “house.”

“And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31  Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” Acts 28:30-31

The synagogue was a type of the church building concept of ministry today.  When you look up the word “synagogue” in the New Testament, in all places that it appears, you may discover a variety of interesting things. You will see that it was a mission field in many cases. It certainly wasn’t a hard fast fixed place where the saints all met once weekly. No disciple is ever on record inviting someone to “go to church.” No, they knew Jesus and were making Him known “publickly and from house to house” and “in the market daily with them that met with him.” (Acts 17:17; 20:20) They “went every where preaching the word.” (Acts 8:4) You will actually discover that many of the persecutions against Christ and His disciples came out of those who convened in these synagogues as good “church members” in those so-called “houses of worship.”

This is a whole different picture than what we see today in the structure of the apostate, tradition-controlled modern church world where false leaders do not want individual disciple to learn God’s Word and be able to go “every where preaching the word.” (Acts 8:4) Why not? – Because then they can’t control and “make merchandise” of them (2 Peter 2:1-3) They keep the sheep done in order to exploit them for their own self-serving purposes (Philippians 3:18-19). Again, deceitful hirelings are building a church business and are not interested in Christ’s kingdom being advanced by every member of His body as was being done in the early church (Ephesians 4:11-14). Wolves are not following Christ but rather are self-willed and given over to their own lusts (Isaiah 56:10-12; Jeremiah 23). They therefore are not interested in participating in the building of Christ’s church. They are not abiding in Him and therefore are not bearing the fruit consistent with all who know and remain in Jesus Christ (Matthew 3:10; 7:19; John 15:1-6, 16, etc.).

Below is an example of how Paul and those who were true disciples of Jesus were forced to depart from the rebellious rebels who occupied the “church building,” manifesting their “evil heart(s) of unbelief” while clinging to their traditions. Paul then taught those who truly knew and wanted to genuinely follow Jesus in a school atmosphere for two years.

“And he went into the synagogue (church building), and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 11  And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul.” Acts 19:8-10

Some who are reading these words should follow Paul’s example and come out of the church mentality, the church world, and modern church formula and simply follow Christ daily. Yoke up with true disciples who truly walk in the Spirit with Jesus, following Him fervently and daily.

Is the LORD calling you to get a real life with Him?

Beware. Being planted in Christ Jesus is what matters supremely and most and without which we have nothing and are hell bound. Yet, hireling wolves aren’t interested in preaching this to you. They want you dependent upon them so they can justify their salary and “make merchandise of you.” (2 Peter 2:1-3) They are using you. That’s why they never preach the cross or things that convict you of sin, nor call you to repent and lay down your life or you will perish eternally in the lake of fire (Revelation 2-3; 21:7-8; 27; 22:14-15, etc.).

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