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Christ’s True Church is Identified by the Ongoing Washing and Adherence to Sound Doctrine

“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not (does not remain) in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth (remains) in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.” 2 John 9

SO, will those who don’t continue to the end in “THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST” be in Heaven? No. And, the “doctrine of Christ” is that which God reveals of His only begotten Son and His will in His Word, the Bible, Holy Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16).

3 Types of Doctrine in the Bible and the World:

1. “Doctrine of God”, “Sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 3:16; Titus 2:1, 10; 2 John 10-11, etc.).
2. Doctrines of men (Mark 7:6-10).
3. “Doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1).

Are YOU enduring sound doctrine? (2 Timothy 4:2-4) Are you receiving the rebuke of the LORD or are you forsaking His mercy by rejecting His truth? If so, GOD Himself is sending “strong delusion” to your life (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). Repent sinner – before it’s too late.

“Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:25-27

Our LORD made it clear that His abiding disciples are only “clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” (John 15:3) This is not a one-time event but an ongoing experience of every true follower of Jesus who is abiding/remaining in Christ and not departing from the faith (John 15:1-6; 1 Timothy 4:1, etc.). Christ is going to return for a people who are being washed by His blessed Word. This we understand to mean that His true remnant are those who are enduring sound doctrine and not shunning anything that comes from Him in His written Word. Sound doctrine is an integral part of Jesus’ washing. Making oneself accountable to sound doctrine is evidence that one is abiding in Christ and not departing from the truth.

“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:” Titus 2:1

Those who truly know and follow Jesus hear His Word and do not shun “sound doctrine,” but rather fall on that blessed “sword of the Spirit” for continual shaping and circumcision (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12).

MANY who claim to know Jesus hate Him in reality and that’s exactly why they refuse to “endure (hold themselves accountable to) sound doctrine.” (2 Timothy 4:3)

Wolves patty cake with you because they want your money and could care less about your eternal soul (Isaiah 30:9-10; 2 Timothy:2-4; 2 Peter 2:1-3).

Enduring Sound Doctrine is Crucial

Are YOU enduring “sound doctrine”? – “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”  2 Timothy 4:2-4

To “endure sound doctrine” involves opening our hearts and lives to the full counsel of God’s Word. The word “endure” here comes from the Greek word anechomai which means to hold one’s self up against, to bear, endure, suffer. Are you suffering “sound doctrine”? Are you bearing “sound doctrine”? Friend, are you holding yourself up against “sound doctrine”?

“Sound doctrine” hurts at times and yet, later it will yield the greatest of rewards. Enduring sound doctrine requires the cutting away or circumcising of those things in our hearts, thinking, and lives that are not of God. It’s a cutting away of the old and of that which does not please our LORD. If you are like me, you still have things in your life that the LORD is dealing with.

The LORD is still working on us. Jesus said that when He causes good fruit to be born in our lives, He then purges us so that more fruit can be produced (John 15:1-6). So, we learn from this that our LORD’s purging is the result of measured victory and the facilitating of greater victory!

Why do we resist the blessed deliverance of our Father? It’s always a blessed outcome when He delivers us from something that is not of Him, right?

Guys, do you remember when you were a boy and got a splinter in your finger or foot? Everything that touched that splinter hurt and so you complained to your daddy and he got out the tweezers. Then, you resisted, pulled back, and said something like “But daddy it’s going to hurt if you pull out the splinter.” Your father then still proceeded, going against your will, and forcefully held down your hand where the splinter was. He then plucked that foreign object from your body and you were immediately comforted and the healing began.

Yielding our will to our heavenly Father is so very important. Telling Him today that He is the One in control, and not us, is a good place to start.

Many among us migrate to smiling, entertaining, ear-tickling hirelings who refuse to preach on sin, the holiness of God, the need for repentance and confession of all sin, the daily cross, dying to self, giving of ourselves and substance to God and others, and judgment to come. If this is not amended, it will result in eternal damnation. Avoiding truth speakers – those who preach only God’s holy truth/Word – is deadly. Rebellious, unrepentant, backslidden Israel did just this and they called out for the phony false prophets to give them “smooth things.” (Isaiah 30:9-10)

Saints, you are bought with the price of the very blood of Christ, and called to “endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.”

“Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. 5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.” 2 Timothy 2:3-5

Jesus and His apostles never said that enduring hardness and sound doctrine would be easy. Yet, they did promise that the rewards will be eternal (Matthew 5:10-12; 1 Corinthians 2:9; 1 Peter 4:12-14, etc.).

Those who drop out of the race before the end will lose all (1 Corinthians 9:19-24; Hebrews 12:1-4). All things are being and going to be “shaken.”

Hebrews 12:24-28

“And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. 25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven: 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: 29 For our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:24-29

Earlier in this chapter the Holy Spirit is speaking to us about the chastening of our LORD upon EVERY one of His children (Hebrews 12:1-6). If our Father in Heaven who loves us is chastening us, He is shaking those things from our lives that do not belong so that we may “remain” in the end and not be washed away in the tidal wave of His wrath, which He warned us that many would be – “many” who claim to know Him but don’t (Matthew 7:21-29).

Now, read 2 Timothy 2 and seek the LORD to properly “suffer” so you can “reign with him” and to “purge” out those things which don’t belong in your thinking and life. It’s only then that you can be His “vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” Pore prayerfully over our LORD’s words in this blessed chapter of 2 Timothy 2. Get this divine wisdom in your heart and share it with others. Underline, highlight, and put some of the verses in this royal chapter on index cards to learn, memorize, and meditate upon them.

Avoiding Sound Doctrine is Easy to do in this Last Hour

There are many options available to dodge and avoid enduring “sound doctrine.” Satan’s wolves are the overwhelming majority of all those in leadership positions in the apostate church world today. The LORD wasn’t lying when He foretold us of this hour. These beguiling, devouring wolves make it very easy to insulate ourselves from the truth. They entertain, tickle our sinful fancy, and do anything but preach the raw Word of God in the holy fear of God. They therefore lull their gullible, unrepentant, non-abiding, un-vigilant hearers further to sleep, burying them in Laodicean lukewarmness, and this will seal their eternal doom (Revelation 3:14-21). They once knew the LORD, but have since fallen away, allowing “the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things” to choke out the Word from their lives (Mark 4:17-19).

Regrettably, most modern “preaching” is a joke. Those who preach are moral softies – pansies – who are woefully “at ease in Zion.” (Amos 6:1) They refuse to “Preach the word.” (2 Timothy 4:2)

Wolves always migrate to and morph themselves into roles and titles that hide the fact that they are antichrists – subversive to truth while claiming to represent Christ. Many today who claim to be watchmen are wolves. Beware!  Hirelings do not wish to be detected. They must keep themselves hidden AT ALL COSTS!  They are thriving on your dime as they deceptively scam you in order to build their church industry business. Did our LORD not tell us they would be disguised in sheep garb? (Matthew 7:15; 2 Corinthians 11:12-15) The wolf must at all costs speak ear-tickling, “smooth things” to you – to make sure he doesn’t interrupt your life the way it is, calling you to repent and truly lay it all down (Isaiah 30:9-10; John 12:23-25; 2 Timothy 4:2-4). The absolute necessity of the daily cross and personal holiness must never be mentioned (Luke 9:23-24; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:15-16). The condition and essential of enduring to the end with Christ and overcoming sin and Satan all means dying to self and so that must be left out of the message (Matthew 10:22; 24:13; Revelation 2-3). They have “crept in unawares (undetected)” and that’s how they are able to do their work of subverting truth in the guise of representing the LORD (Jude 3-4). They ever seek to remain hidden from the view – the discernment – of those they prey upon and are deceiving. This is exactly why the LORD gave us so much instruction concerning knowing/discerning them by their fruits – namely that of their doctrine. We are told to “earnestly contend” against them and “mark them which cause division contrary to the DOCTRINE” our LORD gave us in His Word (Romans 16:17-18; Jude 3-4). Did not our LORD, the very “Great shepherd of the sheep,” repeatedly warn us because He loves and desires to protect us? (John 10:1-10; Hebrews 13:20)  Dear Pastor

You see saints, ANY so-called “Christian” leader who is not teaching you to die is false. It’s real simple – Jesus taught the daily cross and it’s all over each of the 4 Gospels which feature what our LORD taught. Any writer, blogger, or leader who isn’t teaching what Jesus taught is a fraud. Paul said that the person who does this is an enemy of the cross of Christ and minds “earthly things” – anything except that which our Heavenly Savior said and therefore counted as important to Him and those who will know Him (Philippians 3:18-21).

“Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

“Whose God is their belly” – Regrettably, most people in ministry are out to make a name for themselves and not to make Christ Jesus’ name glorious. The remnant disciple has to be wiser than to patronize such and to thereby shun Jesus and do despite unto Him with whom we have to do (1 Corinthians 1:29-31). Sound doctrine teaches us that all glory goes to Christ alone and He will share that glory with no man (Isaiah 42:8).

The Original Gospel

FEEDBACK:

“Excellent Truth righting divided. Balance makes all the difference so we do not fall into condemnation overcome with sin or even self righteousness which is pride the most damming sin of all. But for the grace of God in my life giving sound teaching and chastening me makes me appreciate my salvation and increase my love for God and sound teaching. Also makes me more patient with those being taken captive by false teachers and teaching. Knowing God gave me grace so must I give grace with truth to others. We are still on the potters wheel we need to remember we are all in different places in our salvation experience. But are we humble enough to say are we teachable and correctable this we must always ask ourselves to see what type of spirit we are operating under. Brings to mind the old hymn…grace grace God’s Grace that is greater than ALL our sin.” Nancy Cote

MESSAGE RECEIVED:

“What this world needs is Christian Unity, not denominations that misguide and divide us!”

REPLY:

Well, truth does divide. Sound doctrine is made to divide between God’s true people and those who are counterfeit.  “Heretics” (those who do not believe the truth but rather espouse lies) are to be rejected (Titus 3:10-11). They are to be marked – scoped out, identified, and rejected (Romans 16:17-18).

MESSAGE STATED:

“The Word of God is not about doctrine or theology, it is all about Jesus Christ and His Love, Grace, Mercy and Forgiveness. The Scriptures teach and guide us to a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ through the understanding given to us by the Holy Spirit….May the love of Christ be upon you all, Praise God for all glory is given to our Father in Heaven.”

REPLY:

Those things ARE doctrine brother. “Doctrine” appears 51 times in God’s Word. But you left out the uniqueness of Christ and how He – the only Messiah – fulfilled over 300 prophecies, holiness, the life and mission of Christ, repentance, sin, the soon coming of Jesus, the daily cross He commanded us to take up, etc.  Now, do we begin to see why the Bible and studying the full counsel of God’s Word is so important – so we are not misled by half truths and people who leave out so many truths from the whole message of God’s Word? Memorize 2 Timothy 3:16 in KJV and notice the very first stated reason God gave us His Word – “doctrine.”  Sound doctrine is not legalism – it’s essential for the growth and protection of God’s people (Acts 20:20-32)

When people are being taught a feelings-based spirituality instead of biblical Christianity, they want to throw overboard doctrine but God says that’s EXACTLY why He gave us His written Word – so that His divine truth (doctrine) can be firmly established as the foundation of our beliefs and lives and protect us from false teachings that Satan gives us through wolves in sheep’s clothing to subtly seduce us away  from Christ (Colossians 2:4-10). Those who do not endeavor to learn and to disclose the full-counsel of God’s Word, selectively teaching half-truths, are preaching “another gospel” and “another Jesus” as fueled by “another spirit” and are “accursed.” (Galatians 1:6-10). They are fulfilling prophecy – on the wrong side of that which is foretold – “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4:2-4).

WHY did God give us His Word?

This just in – Here’s a blessed testimony of a brother I was privileged to meet and go to Bible school with 20 years ago:

“Hi brother. I hope everything is well with you. I am going forward in the call of God. It’s been great learning so far. One thing that has become clear to me is the necessity of the minister (all who name Christ as LORD) to die to self, and daily at that. I’m starting to look for enough strength to get through one day and then worry about the next. Since I started learning this recently, I thought of you and your book (I Die Daily). There really is something to this dying to self thing. Any advice would be gladly received as my goal is the same as it was at IBC.”

MESSAGE RECEIVED:

Yeah, your book I Die Daily overwhelmed me the first time around. I think I am more ready for it now. I want all to count for Jesus.”

REPLY:

Amen. I am praying for you. Brother, you are hearing the voice of the Savior and are therefore dead center in His will …. Isaiah 37:31

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Gospel Preached at Funeral of a Decorated United States Marine Officer in Mexico [podcast]


This past Sunday, here in beautiful Mexico, a saint’s temporal body was laid to rest. Brother Mark and I were given the opportunity, asked to speak to the whole group.

Our LORD Jesus’ Gospel was preached and everyone there was invited to repent and receive Christ before it’s too late—because Jesus died for them to be forgiven and receive eternal life, and that hell is forever (Revelation 22:17). Oh, the funeral attendees were also informed that “purgatory” is a lie, and that when they die, they will be going to Heaven or hell.

After a bit, an interpreter helped, joined in, and so every attendee heard the Gospel in their language—Spanish or English.

Trevor and Trish are the couple’s names. The way brother Mark met Trish, the now widow was 100% a miracle. Two weeks ago, we were invited to this couple’s home and spent the afternoon with them. Little did we know that the husband would pass shortly thereafter. God knew and orchestrated the events according to His perfect will.

Saints, thank you for your prayers for sister Trish.

After the people disbanded, several came and asked us about further fellowship. The preaching of God’s Word ignited them. A breakfast group fellowship had recently already begun to form, so they were invited.

Life springs out of death – “Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die” (1 Corinthians 15:36).

Christ’s economy is a cross economy. Here we see that very thing where out of one of His saint’s death and burial, the life of Jesus is at work, raising up others. Life springs out of death (2 Corinthians 4:10-12).

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalms 116:15

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” Revelation 14:13

God is so very good, saints. See Psalm 86.

Here’s comfort from “the God of all comfort” for each of you, concerning losing loved ones, namely born again loved ones! You can be assured that they are with Christ and the Father and protected from ANY and ALL danger, forever! See 2 Corinthians 1:2-5, also Revelation 21:4.

“The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. 2  He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness.” Isaiah 57:1-2

Interestingly, the LORD brought together 4 United States Marines/Marine vets in Mexico to bring this to pass….

“Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” Revelation 16:15

The Brevity of Life in this World

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” James 4:14

We all face death and judgment, and the Good News is that Christ’s perfect sacrifice, as we humbly appropriate it, means we are forgiven and will avert the judgment of eternal damnation.

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:” Hebrews 9:27

Our Prayer with Isaiah for God to Prepare and Send Us

It’s the “Here am I; send me” LORD prayer in action! (Isaiah 6:8)

Child of God, are you ready, today, to lift your heart and hands to your Maker and dare to declare this prayer to Him? – “Here am I; send me!”

If you dare to freshly surrender the life God gave you and cry out to Him, get ready beloved for the fruit-bearing adventure of your life! Remember that Abraham was in Haran (means barren, dry, fruit-less) until he was instructed by God to get up and leave. That’s when the promised blessings began to unfold in his life. See the end of Genesis 11 and thereafter.

When you cry out to Him with the prophet Isaiah, the LORD is going to hear, answer, and do things that are utterly miraculous.

“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

Just “Go” and watch God! (Mark 16:15). Your life is never more richly blessed by God than when you live by faith, when you surrender afresh and ask Him to take all of you, to prepare and use you.

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The High Treason of False Leaders [podcast]


PWT = Preach, WARN, Teach

“Whom we PREACH, WARNING every man, and TEACHING every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” Colossians 1:28

Did you catch what the apostle Paul did to prepare the church to meet Christ?

  • Preach
  • WARN
  • Teach

Letting God Speak for Himself

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Matthew 7:15

Bible truths/words you never hear from wolves: Repent, obedience, the cross – crucified life, holiness, judgment, eternal Hell, the lake of fire, being spotless and ready for Christ’s return, etc..

Many today preach the crown but not the cross, the promise without the condition. They perpetually peddle half truths as they use words like “soar” and “rise up” and “elevation,” a going upward but never the essential non-negotiable condition of going downward before God will raise one upward (Isaiah 37:31; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12). Their misleading cross-less messages are “another gospel” and we know that because there is no cross, no mention of dying downward, no crucified life (2 Corinthians 11:2-5; Galatians 1:6-9; Philippians 3:18-19). The LORD will raise no one upward who doesn’t first humbly bow downward before His Majestic holiness (Luke 9:23-24; James 4:6-10). | Myth of Elevation without the Cross

“MANY pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness. 11 They have made it desolate, and being desolate it mourneth unto me; the whole land is made desolate, because no man layeth it to heart.” Jeremiah 12:10-11

Were we not warned repeatedly to beware of those who would spoil us (ruin us eternally)?

This “famine” is here and has been induced by the “MANY false prophets” Jesus and His apostles foretold (Amos 8:11; Matthew 24:11; Isaiah 9:16; 2 Peter 2:1-3, etc.).

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:” Amos 8:11

Self-induced “famine”: Those rebels who refuse to repent and get into God’s Word for themselves are starved out and deceived by the false gospel of the apostate modern church world. In contrast, every true disciple will study God’s Word diligently for themselves and feast in the midst of this prophesied “famine” for the Word of God.

“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

PAUL GAVE LITTLE PLACE TO FALSE LEADERS (GALATIANS 2:4-5). THEY ARE TO BE IDENTIFIED, REBUKED, REJECTED, AND MARKED UNLESS THEY REPENT (ROMANS 16:17-18; TITUS 1:13).

Jesus warned:

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening (devouring) wolves.” Matthew 7:15

The false leaders Christ speaks of here would have all the trappings of a true Christian leader so as not to be detected. But the true remnant cling to Christ and therefore His Word and are thereby able to discern (Ezekiel 44:23).

“The majority has always believed the lies, gone the wrong way, never changed, and suffered great devastation. The pattern is repeated every third or fourth generation. People warning them are always considered alarmist or fools (conspiracy theorists). But God ordains faithful people. They will not cease to warn them until repentance is no longer an option.” C.

Paul Speaking to the Ephesians

“Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” Acts 20:27-32 

God’s Word informs us that Christ’s true servant-elders WILL TEACH God’s people to discern by weighing all against the standard of the Word of God (Ezekiel 44:23; Acts 17:10-11; 1 John 4:1, etc.). Therefore we know that any man in leadership not teaching people to discern between the holy and profane, between true and false, is himself a wolf!

“Even the very elect! We need to be guarding our hearts every moment because the devil loves an idle mind.” Charles Pray

“DISCERN”

“And they shall teach my people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean.” Ezekiel 44:23

For a moment, let’s explore what true ministry is so that we can see what is not true ministry.  Perhaps one good definition of what true ministry is would be:  Giving people God’s Word in order to endear them to Him by His very own words. Is not the divine Person of the Holy Spirit integrally involved in that exchange? Did He not orchestrate it?

Watch closely at what the elders of Israel did when they stood before the people:

“So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly (directly, literally), and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” Nehemiah 8:8

Truly God-fearing servants of Christ get people into HIS Word so that they follow Him and not them – mere men. Note that in this important passage in Nehemiah 8, we see the principle for leadership: Leading the souls of men to Christ, not to self.

Those who flatter you by refusing to preach the absolute necessity of repenting, taking up the cross daily and following Jesus…. Are setting you up for the kill …. You may vainly believe that it’s all fun and games now but judgment is coming if you don’t repent and diligently study and adhere to the whole counsel of God’s Word. When you do truly repent, you will no long put yourself under a smooth talking wolf who refuses to preach the whole counsel of the original Gospel of Christ (Isaiah 30:9-10; 2 Timothy 4:2-4).

“A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.” Proverbs 29:5

All ministers who soft peddle and do not endeavor to unapologetically declare the whole counsel of God’s Word, are deceivers. Run.

JUST because a preacher has a few good quotes does NOT at all mean he’s not a false teacher. If he has one false doctrine, he is false. Speaking of false doctrine, Paul wrote: “A little leaveneth the WHOLE lump” (Galatians 5:9). Example: There are many teachers/pastors of old who left behind good quotes and yet were false teachers. Examples would include the often quoted wolf C.S. Lewis, the diabolical monstrostity John Calvin, and the vile legalist Charles Finney. Also, there are many today who say a lot of good things and yet, then you find out they believe calvinism or the lie of eternal security/OSAS. Run.

One minister of Christ declared:

“People think that because I skin the brethren alive when I preach, that I’m not showing any love. That’s because they’ve been brainwashed by the glass toilet (the TV), and they respond to the tone of my voice much as my German Shepherd would. But I do love the brethren. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t preach against their sins. I would preach on coping and sharing and family values and let them hit a bonfire at the Judgment Seat of Christ.”  

Think about how many people are promoting THEIR ministries and how much money is wasted on such trash.

“For THE LEADERS of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.” Isaiah 9:16

Leaders who betray the LORD and His people.

Remember that according to the record of the Gospels, it was the wicked religious leaders, the Jews of Christ’s day, who betrayed the Son of God their KING to the Roman authorities, calling out for His crucifixion (Matthew 27; John 19, etc.).

The kingdom of God is not about mere men’s ministries or churches or church organizations. Reading the history of Israel and the New Testament plainly reveals that false leaders have done inestimable damage – they have done so very much to oust Christ right out of the hearts and minds of the people they are misleading while posing as those who are leading them in the ways of the LORD (Isaiah 9:16).

“And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer (true worship); but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matthew 21:13

Today is no different – In fact we are told it will get even worse in these final days at the hands of deceivers (2 Timothy 3:13). Like the wolves of old who were constantly exposed by Israel’s prophets, modern beguilers are intercepting the heart affections and resources of those they have misled. Listen to God’s prophet Ezekiel:

“There is a conspiracy of her prophets (false leaders) in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening (devouring) the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof. 26 Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 27 Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening (devouring) the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.” Ezekiel 22:25-27

Ready to Magnify Christ?

“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Psalms 34:3

The eternal kingdom of God is all about KING Jesus.

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil (ruin) you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power … 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 2:6-10, 18, 19

Most men in ministry are “not holding the Head” of the body – Christ – and therefore have intercepted the affections of the people in order to exploit them to build their own ministry business.

Any leader who is not constantly doing every possible thing he can to get YOU into God’s Word for yourself, is an absolute wolf of the worst kind.

Revelation: People don’t need you and me – they need the LORD – and He reveals Himself through His Word.

Christ must be magnified, not mere men – “And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another” (1 Corinthians 4:6).

IT’S SO very important not to over aggrandize any mere man. We must rid our hearts of all idols (Ezekiel 14:3). The personality cults must be seen for what they really are and shunned by Christ’s true remnant. Think about the personalities so many (most) modern popular ministries are built upon? Think about the ingratiating, manipulative, and flamboyant personalities of circus clowns like Jesse Duplantis, Joel Osteen, and Joyce Meyer, Rick Warren, and a host of other false leaders who have built their enterprises/empires on THEIR own personalities and telling people what THEIR unrepentant hearts want to hear instead of what God says in the full counsel of His Holy Word (2 Timothy 4:2-4). Others we could name are more subtle and yet nevertheless draw people to THEMSELVES, not Christ! This is robbery – robbing Christ of the glory due only to Himself.

The great apostle went out of his way – he made sure and steadfast provision – to never draw or entice the affections of men’s hearts to himself. That would be theft – high treason against Heaven.  In the holy fear of God, Paul took great precaution not to endear the hearts of men to himself, a mere man, but rather he espoused them to Christ (2 Corinthians 11:2-5). Listen to him:

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2

Have you memorized the above verse yet?

“I Have Espoused You to … Christ”

Let’s again listen closely to the heart of Paul to the people of God, Christ’s messenger/apostle:

“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 5 For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.  6 But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. 7 Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that ye might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely?” 2 Corinthians 11:2-7

Paul espoused those he oversaw to Jesus, not to himself. He caused them to trust Christ through His blessed Word and invited others to compare what he taught to the Holy Scriptures (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:15-17). Is this what your pastor is doing?

In a recent conversation with my friend Tim, he was edified to hear the encouragement that every time he gets someone into the Word of God for themselves, he is doing much more than most pastors or “Christian” authors who make people dependent upon them – so that they get repeat customers for their business.

Are you in the Word daily friend?

How can God’s Word get into you if you don’t get into it?

Are you drawing and remaining close to the Savior in this late hour like the wise virgins who kept the oil of His presence in the lamp of their lives and were therefore ready when He returned? (Matthew 25:1-13)

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly (abundantly) 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

Listen to this audio message:  Esteeming the Words of His Mouth | Colossians 1:28 PWT Preach Warn Teach  

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Apostasy

Why Did God Give Us His Word? [podcast]


The 4 Pillar Purposes for the Holy Scriptures

There are 4 reasons detailed in 2 Timothy 3:16 for the Holy Scriptures being given to us by God. Under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, the apostle Paul wrote:

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16

According to this verse, the Bible, God’s very Word, has been given to the people of God for 4 reasons: Doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. Let us take a brief look at these 4 reasons for the written Word so carefully presented here concerning the very purpose of the Bible.

Doctrine – (Gr. DIDASKALIA): that which is taught; teaching, instruction. An individual’s doctrinal body of truth consists of that which he has been taught and holds to be true.

Reproof – (Gr. ELEGMOS): proof, proving, test. As the noble Berean believers demonstrate and John commands, to test every doctrine that comes from the mouth or pen of men, against the holy Standard – the Scriptures. This is, in part, what is being spoken to us by the Holy Spirit in this verse at hand. Therefore, we conclude that we have been given “All scripture” in order to exercise “reproof,” or the testing of men’s doctrines against Holy Writ and to test every notion of belief we currently hold against the divine standard of the written Word which is final divine authority (Acts 17:10-11; 1 John 4:1).

Correction – (Gr. EPANORTHOSIS): a restoration to an upright state or right state. The Scriptures are “given by inspiration of God” to bring correction into our own hearts, and into the hearts of all who heed the divine message (James 1:21-25).

Instruction in Righteousness – (Gr. PAIDEIA): training in righteousness is what is meant here. The Bible is given to train us in the ways of the One who inspired the same. The divinely given Precepts of life can never fail anyone who would search out and do its commands (Isaiah 34:16). All of life’s answers, as pertains to man, are found within its pages (2 Peter 1:3-4; Psalms 119:128a). Millions of godly pilgrims, journeying through this earthly life, has found the perfect divine will and direction by studying the words of Holy Scripture (Psalms 119).

The verse following this monumental 16th verse, v17, also reveals to us another reason for the Scriptures – “That the man of God may be perfect (mature), throughly furnished (equipped) unto all good works.” This maturity will come as a result of the workings of God as we walk with Him. He will teach our hearts His doctrine, His correction, His reproof, and instruct us in righteousness.

In review, what are the 4 reasons that God gave us His Word in written form?

  • doctrine
  • reproof
  • correction
  • instruction in righteousness

The Bible was written to CHANGE you – TO CORRECT FALSE THINKING – and not to accommodate the lies you believe. Are you washing your mind of every false notion – by daily study of God’s Word, OR are you backslidden? (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 5:26) Repent now and conform to Christ by learning, embracing, adhering to, searching, studying, and obeying His truth (2 Timothy 3:16-17). WHY DID GOD GIVE US HIS WORD? WHAT are the stated 4 reasons God gave us His Word? Do you know this truth, and are you ready to share it with others?

You are obviously saved when you are putting God’s Word as final divine authority of your life and that’s pleasing to the LORD (John 8:47). When we allow God’s Word to correct us, we prove He is authentically the LORD of our lives (2 Timothy 3:16).

SOFT-PEDDLING, HALF-TRUTH preachers are Satan’s agents. No conviction, no cross, no holiness, no repentance, no readiness for the return of Christ, no judgment to come, no hell, no lake of fire! RUNNNNNN

WHY did God give us His Word? It was to establish His truth in  and to protect His people from the many deceivers – “them that seduce you.”

“These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.” 1 John 2:26 

God gave us His Word so that we may be established in him and kept safe from the “Many false prophets” He so often warned us about. He provided His written Word, his tangible revelation, so that we may fear Him (Deuteronomy 4:10), and so we can know Him (John 5:39). As you study Scripture, be on the look out for the many divinely stated reasons our LORD gave us His written Word.

Beloved saint, will you now teach these Bible truths to others? Share this.

Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 3:16

God gave us His Word in written format so they’d be no confusion and also, no excuse on Judgment Day (John 12:48; Romans 2:16; 1 Corinthians 14:33; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, etc.). The Word of God is the basis by which the LORD shall judge each of us.

“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

“Read your Bible for yourself. Please. A YouTube sermon clip is not enough. A podcast is not enough. Your favorite preacher is not enough. Know your Bible.” Biblical Man

“Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail…” Isaiah 34:16

Read God’s Word itself, yourself (KJB). THAT is God speaking. Every time you read His Word, God is speaking to you.

In Christ’s Love.

PASS IT ON

Memory Verse: 2 Timothy 3:16

GOD’S WORD

LET’S LEARN GOD’S WORD TOGETHER – ONE TRUTH AT A TIME: Are you tired of reading Scripture or hearing a good message from the Word and not retaining any of it for yourself and to help others? This message was sent out to each person on our Moments For My Master email devotional list. We would love to add you and have the privilege of nourishing your heart with God’s Word (1 Tim. 4:6). Sign up here.

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