Excerpt from the book Predators in Our Pulpits.
“For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord. Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said , We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.” – Jeremiah 6:13-17
Just as we see in our day, in Jeremiah’s day, the people who once served the LORD had become “hardened through the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:12-14). They had become “lukewarm,” and were now damnably “at ease in Zion” (Revelation 3:15-16; Amos 6:1). The covenant people of God were now living in sin and the leaders of the people were further leading them down the path of darkness and destruction by giving them what they wanted and not what they needed—the divine prescription which is God’s written Word (Ezekiel 3:4; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; 1 Peter 4:11). These “blind guides” were shamefully leading the willingly blind further down the wide road and into the ditch of eternal demise (Matthew 23:16, 24; Luke 6:39).
These people who once knew the LORD, were now fallen away from Him (Luke 8:13; Galatians 5:4; 2 Peter 2:20-22). Have you asked Him to break you lately and grant you ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to you and His true church (people)? Keep in mind that the prophet Jeremiah rebuked the false prophets of his day for offering a fake solution—all in order to tickle the ears of the people, gain their allegiance, and exploit them for their money. “They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace” (Jeremiah 6:14). True healing (namely heart healing) and a pure heart can only come from the LORD. He will only do this in response to our personal surrender in repentance to Him (Psalms 147:3; Jeremiah 29:11-13; Ezekiel 36:36; Hosea 10:12).
The false prophets “healed the daughter of my people slightly.” In other words, the wolves of Ezekiel’s day are the same as the conspiracy of wolves today who offer happiness and your best life now, to be purpose driven instead of Holy Spirit led, and all kinds of other self-centered, self-actualizing falsehoods that leave their victims empty, sinful, under judgment, and spiritually bankrupt. Hell awaits (2 Peter 2:1-4).
God always goes to the root to bring the healing and His healing is authentic, life-giving, tangible, and completely transforming (Jeremiah 1:10; Luke 4:18-19).
The prophet Isaiah also wrote of these false leaders when he wrote: “For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed” (Isaiah 9:16).
“The Old Paths”
“Ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls” (Jeremiah 6:13). Divine truth is not like clothing styles, it is always in vogue—divinely and eternally fixed, immutable, consistent, and unchanging (Psalms 119:89; Mark 13:31).
“The scripture cannot be broken.” – John 10:35
“For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” – Psalms 119:89
“My covenant will I not break, nor alter (change) the thing that is gone out of my lips.” – Psalms 89:34
Like He who is “the truth,” divine truth is eternally “settled in heaven” and not like the fickle, gullible, and sinful hearts of mere men because “the truth is in Jesus” who is the eternal God, Creator, and Sustainer of all life, the very “Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Psalms 119:89; John 14:6; Ephesians 4:21; Colossians 1:15-18; Revelation 1:8).
Those who are “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive,” jumping from one foolish fad to the next, are not grounded in the LORD (Ephesians 4:14). IF they were, they would migrate only to His holy truth, being relentlessly hungry for more of it in order to see Him more clearly, day by day (Proverbs 4:18; Colossians 2:6-7).
Those who do not seek out the LORD in the “old paths,” that is, the ancient immutable Word of God, will seek to change “the truth of God into a lie,” making it whatever they wish it to be in order to evade true surrender in repentance.
“Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen” – Romans 1:25
Of Christ it was said that He “teachest the way of God in truth” which today can rarely be seen in those feigning to be Christ’s servants (Mark 12:14; 2 Corinthians 2:17).
All who hold to and are diligent stewards of the Word of God in their own lives and in contending for the truth among men are manifestly of the LORD. “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 3:15).
God’s true people are the keepers of His holy truth as they themselves are being sanctified by it daily. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). God’s true people are known by their vigilant and diligent stewardship of His truth. It is the duty of every true believer to be the steward of the Word of God (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
There are believers who gather together to “earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints,” and that is a good thing. Yet, no organization has a monopoly on God’s eternal truth (Jude 3-4). It takes no organization of men to accomplish this. “The house of God” and “the church of the living God” speak of the people of God, which is the definition of Christ’s “church” (Matthew 16:18; 1 Timothy 3:15). Jesus’ church is not any specific organization of mere men, but rather is the very and authentic people of God—those who serve Him on His terms and not their own—those in whom He dwells— “a spiritual house” (Matthew 16:18; 1 Corinthians 6:19; 1 Peter 2:5). “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:1-2).
As has been the case in every generation, false prophets and false teachers apply a surface level, feel good, solution, or a band-aid to the problems sin causes in the lives of those who are supposedly God’s children. As we observe in what Jeremiah writes in chapter 6 of the book he was inspired to pen, these wolves tell the people that “everything is okay.” In this scenario, there is a reciprocation between the speaker and his audience. Sin is not dealt with in the biblical way by the leadership and is basically ignored or redefined. Predictably, there is no conviction or repentance found in the hearts of the people– “they were not at all ashamed” and will therefore “fall among them that fall” (v. 15).
Like the wolves of Jeremiah’s day, modern beguilers selfishly desire to have a vocation, to be applauded, and to garner ill-gotten gain. They will say what is expedient in order to advance their own self-serving cause. They are heroes in the eyes of the rebellious-hearted who love their lives in this fleeting world and refuse to lay them down at Christ’s command (Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 14:27, 33; 19:27; John 12:23-26).
As in the days of Jeremiah, the false prophets today say “Peace, peace” (even when those claiming to be Christ’s are living in sin) and God says, “there is no peace.” When men live in sin, vainly believing they belong to God, there is no true peace due to the rebellion He sees in the people (Isaiah 59:1-2). The LORD today calls for those who have back-slid or apostatized to “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said , We will not walk therein” (v. 16). The LORD sends His servant “watchmen” to call people to repent by sounding the truth “trumpet” of His holy Word and still many “will not hearken.”
This is why the Bible tells us that only a few will ultimately be saved yet “many” name Jesus as their “Lord” (Matthew 7:21-23).
“Any Other Gospel” Will Do!
Paul wrote to the church at Corinth:
“Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. 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. 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. 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.” – 2 Corinthians 11:1-4
There is always a counterfeit for that which is true and genuine. The enemy of all souls has set up an endless variety of ways for men to rebel against God. This very often occurs when a person does not seek out the truth in God’s Word for themselves but takes man’s word for things. So when “another Jesus” or a false Christ is propelled and pushed out there by “another spirit” it leads men into a false or “another gospel.”
We are so very often warned to “Beware” of the reality and impending danger of being beguiled. In this late hour, so many are trading in the Savior who rescued them for some cheap, phony, and counterfeit substitute. It’s as if they are saying with their lives and actions “Any other gospel will do! We will take anything but the truth! We want everyone and anything except Christ! We don’t want to go to hell so that’s why we want just a little bit of Jesus but don’t want to be bothered with the details of serving Him in this life!” Make no mistake friends, this is “the spirit of antichrist” at work (1 John 4:1-6).
“To the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. … Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power.” – Colossians 2:2-4, 8-10
How Does a Person Become “Led Astray”?
Peter wrote: “Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness” (2 Peter 3:17).
Those who choose not to love the truth that reveals the one and only Savior—Jesus Christ—will be sent by the LORD Himself a “strong delusion, that they should believe a lie.”
“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
Desiring, loving, and obeying the truth is essential to remaining rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ—abiding in Him. The born-again disciple must never slack but rather must unrelentingly seek the face of the LORD daily, counting Him more important than even life. The following passage makes it more than obvious that those who “abideth (remain) not in the doctrine of Christ, hath (have) not God”:
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not 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 1:9
Jesus says to “Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you,” which simply means that spiritual darkness will overtake all who do not walk in the light of truth, found only in His written Word (Psalms 119:1-5, 130; John 12:35).
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:21). There are those who, when they were shown (or knew) the light of truth, chose not to walk in it and therefore darkness came upon them. The choice a person makes regarding believing and obeying the LORD determines that person’s relationship with Him (John 8:30-32, 36). The LORD requires belief and obedience. Or, we could say that those who truly believe or possess saving faith, will obey Christ (John 15:1-16; 1 John 2:3-6; Revelation 2-3).
The importance of being rooted and grounded in “sound doctrine” that establishes the believer in Jesus Christ cannot be over emphasized! That dark, prophesied hour is upon us where masses who have a mere “form of godliness” are not choosing to “endure sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 3:5; 4:3). Rather, they are giving ear to and migrating to false, ear-scratching teachers and thereby being led to eternal damnation.
In light of the coming reality of each of us standing before the Almighty to give account of our lives in this world, the apostle Paul charged Timothy and us with this:
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” – 2 Timothy 4:2-4
One believer noted: “People do not reject the Bible because it contradicts itself, but because it contradicts them.” – (Unknown).
Lying against and/or twisting the truth is a serious offense. It emanates out of the desire to cover up sin, whether one is cognizant of such or not. Beginning with the first transgressor, we have all done evil and sought to evade the Holy One we have offended. People who lie against God do so to avoid their own personal responsibility to Him, and yet they have no sensible reason to do such—they “hold (suppress) the truth in unrighteousness” and are “without excuse” (Romans 1:18, 20). Such an attack on God and His Word emerges out of the heart which simply refuses to humble itself in true repentance. One who has a heart like this will not ask for His forgiveness and mercy for the myriad of offences against His holiness. God stands ready to forgive those who come to Him in brokenness and true repentance (Psalms 86:5,15).
There is no shortage in these last days of the variety or flavor of conspiratorial vipers who are influencing people to sacrifice Jesus Christ on the altar of what is immediately convenient, expedient, and self-serving (Ezekiel 22:25-27). Few leaders today preach the biblical truth of the laid down life. This is what Christ and His apostles taught (Luke 9:23-24; John 12:23-25; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12, etc.). The cross-less false gospel of most in leadership today identifies them as “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Philippians 3:18-19).
Ashamed or Adhering to His Words
The person who denies the Word of the LORD, denies the LORD Himself.
“And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Whosoever therfore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” – Mark 8:34-38
Putting aside the words of the LORD for any other or foreign philosophy, tradition, or system of man’s theology, is the height of rebellion, insult, and disdain toward the LORD. This is what the Pharisees did, and Jesus harshly rebuked them for this evil.
“This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition … Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” – Mark 7:6-9, 13
The enemy of all souls does not care what bait people take, as long as they take his bait instead of repenting and serving the LORD. Whether one trades Christ in for Calvinism or Catholicism, or any other system of falsehood, Satan is pleased because Jesus is rejected for “another gospel” (2 Corinthians 11:2-5; Galatians 1:6-9).
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach ANY other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” – Galatians 1:6-9
What one and only true Gospel is the apostle Paul referring to here?
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” – 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Holy Hatred
“Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way” (Psalms 119:104). The central theme of all of Scripture which defines the true Gospel is the Person of Jesus Christ and no other. Because He is the Son of God, the work He did is the sole propitiation for all of mankind. Any other way is a “false way” and must be recognized that it is of Satan and hated by all true disciples. “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way” (Psalms 119:128).
The religionists of Christ’s days on earth traded in their own Messiah for their traditions and doctrines of mere men. They betrayed their own Messiah as many are doing today and, as did Esau, are throwing their own eternal souls away for a bowl of soup (Hebrews 12:14-17).
God has chosen to reveal Himself through His own words. Those who put something else in place of His Word have rejected Him, be it the Catholic catechism or Calvin’s corruptions. These are systems of theology external to the Word of God and convey the image of a false Christ and a false gospel. They are initiated and perpetrated by “another spirit” (2 Corinthians 11:2-5).
As “the prince of the power of the air,” Satan has provided many choices, methods, systems, and varieties of poison for people to rebel against their Maker (Ephesians 2:1-3). If a person doesn’t choose to respond in repentance to the drawing of the Holy Spirit and conviction of their sins, they will migrate to one of the many Christ-denying false gospels and philosophies available and serve the god of self through that medium. In this sense, as the Bible tells us, God created evil (Isaiah 45:7). In other words, He gives every man the choice to choose Him or not (Deuteronomy 30:19; Joshua 24:15; Romans 6:16).
The rejection of truth in some is so brazen that it produces a hatred against God and is manifested in violent persecution of His messengers. Acts 7 records the evil-hearted hatred of those who have a mere “form of godliness” and yet, simultaneously reject the reign of Christ in their personal lives:
“Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. 52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: 53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. 54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul. 59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” – Acts 7:51-60
The result of this aggressive, murderous persecution against this messenger of Heaven was, for Stephen, a glorious entrance into the very presence of the Almighty who stood to receive him into eternal bliss. As His disciple, Stephen was making a stand for Him and His truth, and “Jesus” was “standing on the right hand of God” to welcome him.
Stephen declared the truth of Holy Scripture to the religious audience who then killed him. Today, many shun and slander and seek to discredit those who hold to the original Gospel given us in the written Word (Jude 3-4). While many claim to be Christian, only a few have a true relationship with Jesus which is tested by either the acceptance or rejection of His precepts. Christ told us exactly who is “of God” and who is “NOT of God.” In a conversation with the religionists of His day, the Son of God said:
“Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God ‘s words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me. And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.” – John 8:46-50
These Jewish religionists are no different than the deceived today who vainly believe they are God’s children and yet have no desire, taste, hunger, or diligence for His Holy Word. According to Jesus, this alone proves that they are “not of God.” In many cases, they migrate to and embrace a system or school of theology that is external to the Holy Scriptures. This then causes them to see the words of Holy Scripture through the lens of the theology of mere sinful men. Millions of souls are already in hell for this same deliberate rejection of their only Hope–Jesus Christ–who gave us His Word to save and protect us (Acts 20:27-32; James 1:21).
God did not leave us without the clear and full knowledge needed to be His child (saved) and live pleasing to Him in this life, ready to be with Him for eternity. Jesus made it clear that the Word of God — “Moses and the prophets”—is fully sufficient for these things (Luke 16:19-31).
It is clear from the whole counsel of God’s Word that who a person looks to is exactly who they are serving. The source of a person’s allegiance identifies exactly who that person is serving. If a person does not search God’s Word for themselves and rather looks to their priest, pastor, or religious organization for answers, that is exactly who they are serving. No man or religion can save any soul from eternal damnation.
You know you are dealing with a lost religious person when they consult with their organization instead of God’s Word. When challenged, so many today run to their religious organization to find answers instead of the LORD by searching the Scriptures. This identifies that person as “not of God” according to Jesus who said, “he that is of God heareth God’s words” (John 8:47).
Unity’s Only Foundation is Jesus Christ–The Truth
“There are two types of unity: the man-made variety, and that which can only be given by God and will always have the cross as its foundation. The unity predicted in this prophecy (noun: prophecy, verb: prophesy) will be accomplished by the HOLY Spirit, and yet cannot be perfected until the coming of the Lord. A lack of unity is because of a lack of fidelity to the Bible. Fidelity to the Bible brings about the commanded blessing of its divine Author.” – Carol Burke
God did not leave us without specific instructions and doctrine concerning “ALL things that pertain unto life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3-4; 19-21). So, to negate the authority of Holy Scripture is to defy the Almighty—to thumb one’s nose in His infinite face.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” – 1 Corinthians 1:10
This passage and many others make it clear that the true unity of all disciples of Jesus is founded and possible only upon the bedrock of His Holy Word. Every single true disciple of Christ declares with Paul the apostle, “Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar” (Romans 3:4).
There cannot be, nor is there, any true unity outside of the truth of the One who is “the truth” and the very Word of God. He is the One who gave us His written Word, instructing us to “search the scriptures” (John 5:39; 14:6).
Displacing the written Word leads to one becoming spiritually deluded and drunken with “another gospel,” which is the doctrine of devils (2 Corinthians 11:2-5; Galatians 1:6-9; 1 Timothy 4:1-3). Many are being seduced and swept onto the wide road that leads to destruction by personal neglect of the truth of Holy Scripture (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12; 1 Timothy 4:1-3). This is the great falling away foretold to occur just prior to the soon return of our LORD.
“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition … Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 9-12
“The working of Satan” is involved in this “falling away” and yet cannot override the will of the individual when he is truly submitted to God (James 4:7). The devil is our enemy and not a fictional character, but rather a very real and extremely dangerous being who aggressively hunts and seeks to devour souls; namely the people of God (1 Peter 5:8; Revelation 12:7-12). Satan does not care what flavor of false gospel one may choose among the many available. He only cares that men and women choose something other than the original Gospel of Christ and His apostles. The arsenic in any other gospel will curse and kill many (Galatians 1:6-9). In their rebellion against the LORD and gross neglect of the study of His precepts, many today are grabbing onto and buying into things foreign to the original Gospel “once delivered to the saints” (Jude 3-4).
“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Jude 1:3-4
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I ask You to forgive me for not diligently searching, believing, and doing Your Word. Please forgive my unbelief. I now denounce any rebellion against You—whether I realize that rebellion or not. Wherever I have not embraced Your holy Word and/or migrated with itching ears to false shepherds, please forgive and purge me Jesus. I here and now denounce any system of theology that I have ever heard and abandon myself to Thy truth. In the name of Jesus I pray. I love You LORD. Amen.
Capture Points
- Write out John 8:47 and begin to meditate upon and memorize
- Read 2 Thessalonians 2 and ponder and discuss what the Bible prophesies to be the sequence of apostasy and falling away.
Predators in Our Pulpits [book]
Spiritual Warfare | On the Truth Can Make us Free | Neither Give Place to the Devil | Resist the Devil and He will Flee from You
Support | STORE | Podcasts | Christology | Judging Prophecy | A Generation of False Prophets Unleashed [podcast] | Prophetic or Pathetic? | The Holy Spirit | Beware of False Gifts |
Apostasy
GOD’S GRACE “IN THIS PRESENT WORLD” TITUS 2:12 [podcast]
Excerpt from the book Lie of the Ages
LOTS OF FRAUDS WHO CLAIM TO BE SAVED BY GRACE YET DEFEND INSTEAD OF ADMITTING, REPENTING, CALLING OUT AND CONFESSING SIN. “Grace” that isn’t leading you to live godly in this present world, denying ungodliness instead of living in it, is NOT saving grace. You are lost if this is the phony “grace” you have.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Titus 2:11-12
YES God’s grace in Christ is certainly amazing and yet, the evangelical, calvinistic worlds have grossly emphasized and perpetrate a perverted view of God’s grace…. Fulfilling the prophecy of Jude 3-4. God says these are “ungodly men” who we are to “earnestly contend” against! (Jude 3-4)
It’s only the sin-justifying, grace-perverting frauds who hate personal accountability and obedience as the manifestation, the fruit of true worship and love for God (Titus 2:11-12; Jude 4).
IF you love God, truly, you will obey Him. Those who do not obey Christ, don’t love Him (John 14:15; 1 John 2:3-6, etc.).
Hell is full of people who got saved, then made excuses for their Christ-denying cross-less life on earth (Matthew 7:21; Titus 1:16).
This is how true grace manifests IF someone is saved by it….. otherwise they have either never been saved or have since fallen away from saving grace (Luke 8:13; Galatians 5:4; 2 Peter 2:20-22, etc.).
“For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” 2 Peter 2:20-21
Dear OSAS fairytale believer: Grace is given to overcome sin and not to justify it.
This “so great salvation” (Heb. 2:3) that “hath appeared to all men” was wrought for us by the grace and life blood of the Son of God (Lev. 17:11; Rom. 3:23-26). We were down and out “having no hope” and “when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Rom. 5:6; Eph. 2:12) We were “without strength!” – In other words we had no ability in and of ourselves to get back to the one true God we were separated from due to our own sin (Isa. 59:1-2; Rom. 5:12). Yet, “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8) He saved us to be made progressively more free and to please and serve Him with joy in the Holy Ghost. He is our Salvation and enabler in all things. We truly CAN do “all things through Christ which strengtheneth” us! (Phil. 4:13)
Whenever God commands something, He also provides the grace for it to manifest in your life – as you are submitted and therefore obedient to Him (James 4:6-10; 1 Peter 4:10-11). His grace, divine enablement, operational power, is always sufficient to bring His perfect will to pass in our lives and to bring us through any and all difficulties, grueling seasons we may find ourselves in! (2 Corinthians 9:8; 12:9-10; 1 Peter 5:10)
No gift could possibly be so “great.” See Hebrews 2:3. It is to Jesus Christ the LORD of all lords that we as vile and depraved sinners, owe all thanksgiving and have the immeasurable, grand and blessed privilege to worship. There is no fathoming the magnitude of the blessing, of the grace and mercy of our God poured out to us through “the blood of his cross.” (Rom. 11:33; 1 Cor. 2:9; Col. 1:20; Tit. 3:5-6) His grace truly is amazing and yet He is holy and righteous and will not permit sin into His presence.
“By him (Christ) therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.” Hebrews 13:15
Seems to me that in “grace” circles grace itself is deified instead of the One who alone granted that grace?
“For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:17
My identity, my salvation is first and foremost in CHRIST JESUS Himself and not in the grace He brought and provided via His death on the cross! First things first! Keeping the main thing the main thing! (1 Corinthians 2:2; Galatians 2:20; 6:14; Hebrews 2:9)
The apostle Paul, the divinely inspired grace teacher, stated here in our theme verse (please re-read Titus 2:11-12 above) that when God’s grace is genuinely at work in a person, that person is being taught and learning certain things. Let’s go to the divine source, God’s Word, to discover what these things are:
According to Titus 2:11-12, just what does God’s grace teach one who possesses it?
- To “deny ungodliness…in this present world”
- To “deny…worldly lusts…in this present world”
- To “live soberly…in this present world”
- To “live…righteously…in this present world”
- To live “godly, in this present world”
If a person claims to be saved (secure for Heaven) and yet is not “denying ungodliness” and “worldly lusts…living soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world,” he is simply deluded. See also Matthew 7:21; Titus 1:16; James 1:22; 4:4 and 1 John 2:3-6.
If you don’t mind, I am nominating Titus 2:11-12 as that place in Scripture believers think of when they think of the grace of God. Do you think that saints and/or those who claim to be saints might take on a whole new level of responsibility if such were the case?
The person who currently possesses and is living in the grace of God can be assured of eternal life (Heb. 12:14). One can know or verify whether or not he truly possesses the grace of God by reading closely this enlightening theme passage of Titus 2:11-12. The authentically saved person is presently abiding in Christ’s grace – “Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts” and living “soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world (life).”
If these things are not manifesting in our lives, be sure that we are not presently living in the grace of God and should immediately repent before the LORD (James 4:6). In verse 11 of Titus 2, the Word states that it is “the grace of God that bringeth salvation.” And then Holy Writ reveals how those who truly and currently possess this essential grace live their lives – “in this present world.”
“‘For whom ye yield yourselves, servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey.’ (Rom. 6:16) If we are compelled, therefore, to yield ourselves servants to sin, and be subject to Satan’s power, insomuch that we cannot help but obey him, and really have no choice in the matter, then our free agency, our volition, is destroyed; and to make matters worse, the devil has more power than God. Satan can make us disobey God, but alas, God cannot make us disobey Satan. The devil compels us to be sinners, but God cannot compel us to be righteous. What kind of doctrine is this?” –Howard W. Sweeten
In America, the vast majority of those who are called evangelicals do not even realize that this Titus 2 text exists. The masses have never had this text pointed out to them and expounded upon by their leaders. What is it these leaders are afraid their audiences will discover if they unveil this text? Some leaders just simply do not teach the Word (2 Tim. 4:2-4). This alone makes them false. For the Calvinistic leader I must ask: What are they hiding? What are they afraid people might find out? Why are other Bible passages on grace spotlighted and not Titus 2? Why is this Bible passage purposely neglected and avoided? What are our leaders afraid will be revealed to the people they communicate to? Do these leaders fear that the divine truth revealed in Titus 2 will contradict what they are teaching? Do they fear offending people by communicating what the evidences (fruit) of true grace and salvation are?
Unrepentant rebels who claim to be saved lack the discernment and ability to rightly divide the word of God because they refuse to turn their hearts over to the LORD – 2 Corinthians 3:14-16; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12. OSAS dupes reject the mountains of Scripture that teach a conditional eternal security because they simply do not want to repent and lay down their lives in this sinful world.
Speaking of “A Foreign Grace,” David Servant, in his book The Great Gospel Deception, says:
“It is not only the fruit of people’s deeds that mark them as false teachers, but also the fruit of their words. If they teach what is contrary to essential New Testament doctrine, they are false teachers.
Of course, no teacher in the church is going to stand up and declare that he is teaching what is contrary to the New Testament. Rather, he will neglect certain important scriptures and twist others to persuade his constituency that he is teaching the truth. This is being done today by many very popular and influential teachers who teach about a grace that is foreign to the Bible. The grace they proclaim is not the true grace that leads to holiness…
How is it possible that people who denied the only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ, could have ‘crept in unnoticed’? The answer is that they were not standing in front of congregations declaring, ‘I deny Jesus Christ.’ Rather, they were denying Jesus Christ through their false teaching about grace, turning it into licentiousness.
Their message could be summarized as follows: ‘Isn’t God’s grace wonderful? Because our salvation stems from His grace and not from our meritorious works, holiness is not essential for salvation. Because of God’s wonderful grace, all who believe in Jesus are saved, even if they continue practicing sin.’” p. 230, 231
As David Servant points out, the false teacher is not going to stand up and announce that he is a wolf. It is the individual believer’s responsibility to discern leaders by the fruit of their teaching. What is not taught (left out of the message) can be more deadly than what is taught. What we don’t know can kill us. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hos. 4:6) To be able to discern one must study the Word diligently and be exercised therein (2 Tim. 2:15; 3:16; Heb. 5:11-14). This gross lack of knowledge among some who claim to know the LORD is also an indication that many have not diligently studied the Word of God for themselves, but rather have relied upon their leaders to tell them what God has said. Consequently, so very many have been deluded with a false gospel.
Saints of the LORD, let us allow Jesus Christ to become important enough to our hearts to learn for ourselves what He has stated to us in His Word. Is the LORD truly your first love? Are you actively and fervently memorizing Scripture – His very words? Let me encourage you to do so from the Authorized Version (KJV). See Proverbs 4:4 and Psalms 119. Index cards are a great way to do such.
“In This Present World” – Holiness Now Or Then?
If we do not possess His grace “in this present world,” evidenced by our denial of ungodliness and holy living here and now, then how can we deceive ourselves into thinking we are truly His? If not now, the then (eternity) is surely eternal damnation. According to God’s Word, without holiness, no person will be with Jesus Christ in eternity (Matt. 5:8; Heb. 12:14; Rev. 21:8, 27). Think with me for a moment of how many people who are at this very instant, residents of the domain of the damned – hell. What is their unalterable and horrible future? These eternal souls will shortly be cast into the lake or ocean of fire (Rev. 20:11-15). Why? These people were given the choice and willfully and deliberately chose in their brief earthly life to make something else more important than the LORD and doing His will (Exod. 20:3; Matt. 7:21; Eph. 5:3-6; 1 Jn. 5:21). Pretty simple, yet the consequence is forever fixed – They have reached the point of no return. Hell’s eternal occupants who have gone before us to damnation will, after a million years of excruciating and conscious torment, have not one less second to spend there.
Is it worth it? Is living apart from life-giving fellowship with Jesus in this short life worth eternity in torment? Is justifying instead of crucifying the sins of the body worth spending eternity in the prison of fire? Jesus told us we must abruptly cut off the hand and pluck out the eye that causes us to offend the one true and holy God with our sin, that we might be in Heaven (Mk. 9:42-50). Ready or not – Jesus is Coming!
The Fruit of True Grace: Grace that is not taught with responsibility and the fear of the LORD is not Biblical grace at all. Be not deceived! (Tit. 2:11-14) According to Titus 2:11-12, true grace produces a specific fruit. God’s grace is active. When it truly abides in a person, it has specific earmarks of its possession while “grace” without this fruit is shown to be no saving grace at all. This is a sham that so many today have been taught. It is the bill of goods that is being sold from pulpits across America every week.
Comprehensive grace includes the fear of God which alters the lifestyle and causes the recipient to live a holy life. The adherent is led into intimate fellowship with Christ and from living in habitual sin that would disqualify him from the prize of eternal life. The good news is that there is the precious blood of the Savior available at the “throne of grace” to grant us all a fresh start! This believer, who is less than the least of all saints, has had enormous reason to rejoice in that he has fallen short so many times, only to be drawn back in by the LORD to receive mercy and grace afresh! This priceless grace, purchased with the blood of Christ, is available at all times to those who are born again. We therefore have no excuse to have any sin remaining on our account (Heb. 4:14-16; 1 Jn. 1:7, 9). We are blessed to have EVERY sin washed away in His holy blood as we simply go before His precious throne of grace and cry out in repentance and receive His priceless mercy which we do not deserve yet was merited by Christ’s blood. This truth makes me want to shout for joy!
What a rich blessing it is that God’s grace empowers the believer to fulfill what its Author demands. Through the apostle Paul the Holy Ghost tells us that “sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Rom. 6:14)
PRAYER: LORD Jesus thank You for Your saving grace which enables me to experience relationship with You and live completely pleasing in Your holy sight in all things. Right this moment I denounce all dissimulation and self-deception, lies, and excuses. LORD I beg You to make my heart pure LORD Jesus! Thank You that sin shall not have dominion over my life as I obey You in the daily crucified life, as I remain in fellowship with You, forsaking all thoughts and deeds that offend You. Your grace is sufficient to bring about Your perfect will which is holiness. In the name of Jesus, amen.
No honest Bible student reads the whole of Scripture and comes out with the idea that he’s OSAS. No, such a doctrine is taught by men who lure in their un-repentant prey with ear-tickling promises. “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.” (2 Peter 2:18) Instead of preaching the original Gospel message by calling their audiences to repentance and live a holy, cross-bearing life, they assure them in their sins, just like the false prophets Jeremiah cited (Jeremiah 23:17). This is exactly why those wolves who teach this lie of the ages have such lucrative “church” businesses. They’ve gotten rich peddling Satan’s first lie and are fulfilling prophecy as they lead many to damnation (Genesis 2:17; 3:4).
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering 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
The OSAS believer is vested in his own flesh which he serves instead of Christ and so he doesn’t care how many Scriptures contradict the lie he loves – because he refuses to truly repent and bring forth fruit consistent with that authentic repentance. Instead of overcoming all sin he wallows in it, justifying that which God condemns because he’s self-deceived with this antinomian (lawless) lie.
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Abiding
The Book of 2 Peter Narrated [podcast]
Chapter 1
Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, 3 according as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 4 whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7 and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11 for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 14 knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. 19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost
Chapter 2
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. 3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. 4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; 5 and spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 7 and delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) 9 the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 10 but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. 12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; 13 and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; 14 having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: 15 which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; 16 but was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
Chapter 3
This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2 that ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3 knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 but the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
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Apostasy
The Sensual Seduction and Solicitation of the Modern Church!
Spiritual Seduction is a Reality!
“How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly LUSTS. 19 These be they who separate themselves, SENSUAL, having not the Spirit.” Jude 18-19
Of this passage, one disciple notes:
“The dictionary defines sensuality this way: sen•su•al (sen shu – al) adj.
1. Relating to or affecting any of the senses or a sense organ; sensory.
2. a. Of, relating to, given to, or providing gratification of the physical and especially the sexual appetites.
b. Suggesting sexuality; voluptuous.
c. Physical rather than spiritual or intellectual.
d. Lacking in moral or spiritual interests; worldly.
“The Holy Spirit here warns us concerning the Last Times when people would be Sensual not having the Spirit. These are people who would enter the churches not simply people outside the churches; else we would not need to be warned against them. It is commonly felt that “Sensual” always is synonymous with sexuality; however the context here is with regards to the physical ‘senses’—’Feelings’ and ‘sensations’. We have five senses; Sight, Sound, Touch, Taste and Scent. We are told that we ‘walk by faith’, as opposed to walking ‘by sight’. -2 Corinthians 5:7 ‘For we walk by faith, not by sight’. This is simply a reminder that our lives must not be governed by our feelings, our senses. Back in the sixties one of the philosophies of the world was always, ‘If it feels good, it IS good’. Another question that is often asked is, ‘Is this so wrong if it feels so right?'”
“There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Proverbs 14:12
Most of the social media messages tell us, continually remind us that God loves us but nearly none of them inform us that the God who loves us, sent His Son to die on a cross for us, and requires and commands us to be “crucified with Christ.” (Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:29; Colossians 3:3) Beware of the half-truth false gospel of today! We must walk in the original Gospel – all of it – if we are to escape and not be “Led away with the error of the wicked.” (2 Peter 3:17)
False prophets will speak about seeking the supposed presence of God yet never preach on the cross, personal holiness, or obedience. Beware.
The only way we can prevent being deceived is by astute study and belief of God’s Word whereby we are able to rightly divide His Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15).
One saint writes: “Throughout the whole world error and truth travel the same highways, work in the same fields and factories, attend the same churches, fly in the same planes and shop in the same stores. So skilled is error at imitating truth that the two are constantly being mistaken for each other. It takes a sharp eye these days to know which brother is Cain and which is Abel!”
Those who do not submit to God in their daily personal life, calling upon the LORD to circumcise and purify their hearts, will be caught up in and snared by sensuality. They will live by the senses, the flesh, and not the Spirit and be sent by God Himself a “strong delusion” so that they “believe a lie” and are ultimately “damned.” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12)
Some seek the rush of a sensual feeling instead of the reality of the risen Savior – through the cross life!
“I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.” Revelation 3:1
HAVE you noticed how these new lightweight “churches” brag about their “Top 10 Core Values”? What a joke! In other words they pick out 10 socially acceptable things most people will like and that’s their top 10. And they do this instead of simply announcing that they endeavor to adhere to the whole of the Bible. KJB. Lame.
The primary way God leads His NEW Testament church is by the Holy Scriptures and not self-appointed false prophets and false apostles (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Psalms 119:105; 2 Peter 1:19-21, etc.).
Those who pretend to be today’s prophets aren’t grounded in the written Word! RUN!
Scripture often warns us of those who would seduce us away from Christ – just as an adulterous woman seeks to seduce a husband away from his wife!
“For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.” Mark 13:22
“These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.” 1 John 2:26
“Not Withstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols.” Revelation 2:20
“And this I say (here’s the reason I write you!), lest any man should beguile you with enticing words … 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 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.” Colossians 2:4, 8-10
“Church” attendance was never ordained by God to displace, to replace the personal study of His Word. Church membership endears the people, the prey, to the organization and it’s leaders and members and not to the LORD Himself. This has displaced the individual priesthood and fellowship God ordained for each and every individual believer. Lots of people replace personally diligently seeking the LORD with going to “church.” They either merely dabble with or don’t even personally study God’s Word for themselves and yet are members in good standing at these local entertainment centers many call “church.” The pastors have sold them on this lifestyle by promoting and emphasizing church membership and not discipleship.
Seminaries are wolf factories. The protestant seminaries were infiltrated by the vatican jesuits decades ago and are now marketing schools producing greedy wolves who set up church busine$$ to market the gospel – which is the meaning of taking the name of the LORD in vain! (Exodus 20:7). Satan’s Seminaries Exposed!
“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7
To take the name of the LORD in vain is to use His name for any other purpose except true, honest worship of Him! Those who use the name of Jesus to make dishonest gain by exploiting people for their own self-serving purposes, are not guiltless before a holy God!
Many Seek the Presence and not the Person, the Face of Jesus Christ!
If you name the name of Christ, this writer, this disciple would encourage you to honestly search out this whole “seeking the presence” cult. Contemplative prayer and spiritual formation are a cheap counterfeit for a real walk with God. They substitute a real walk with Jesus wherein He commands us to seek and obey HIM, not merely His presence. When we do seek HIM and obey Him, He promises to manifest Himself to those who obey His Word (John 14:21-23).
Perhaps those who seek the presence of God and not the face of God, are simply looking for some kind of feeling. They have not truly repented and are self-willed and living out of a self-serving agenda.
God plainly told us that he will only give His presence to those who know, seek, and obey Him – and not those who merely seek His presence (John 14:21- 23).
Those who seek His HAND instead of His FACE are completely self-serving, cross-less idolaters!
“Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his FACE continually.” 1 Chronicles 16:11
WE seek the PERSON of Christ and not merely the PRESENCE of Him. Beware of this deception saints. When we seek the FACE of the LORD, He will fill us with His Spirit and make His abode in and with us. Our part is to worship and obey Him and not to merely seek His presence. Many who are not seeking to know the LORD seek a feeling instead of seeking the face of the LORD! Beware of this idolatrous spiritual adultery. These same people are not studying and grounded in the Word or the cross of Christ.
Let’s look at who Jesus says truly loves Him:
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. … 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:21, 23
In this passage above, Jesus teaches us that His presence, He and His Father, abide in the lives of those who are His (born again) and presently obeying Him.
Those who love Jesus seek His Word and obey Him. These true disciples, God manifests Himself to. These are those He chooses to make His abode with and not those who simply seek to exploit the LORD for a feeling they call His presence. Beware!
Many today seek a feeling, a sensation and not the Savior! They’ve allowed the false leaders of today to mislead them.
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away … Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Timothy 3:5,7
Those not submitted to the authority, the power of God which is Christ, have only a mere “form of godliness.” As was specifically foretold, today we see the fulfillment of Paul’s warning where we have so many with a mere “form of godliness.” In their daily lives they deny, reject “the power” or the authority of Jesus to reign. When Jesus reigns in a life, His cross is central to that person’s life. They are grounded in the cross – the crucified life – without exception.
Yet today we see some who never grow after being saved because false ministries have intercepted them from the LORD. Those false prophet ministries emphasize any and everything except Jesus Christ!
The vast majority of today’s pastors are sensually soliciting their prey to worship at the altar of self and not soundly grounding their audience in the cross and sound doctrine which is God’s written Word!
So many run to pack themselves in with the herd, to get turned on in what is supposed to be praise and worship. Some of it is a hollow sound and mere lip service.
“This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.” Matthew 15:8
The hoards consist of the same souls who do not daily, diligently seek the LORD in His Word and a set apart life of prayer (Matthew 6:6; 2 Timothy 2:15). They do not live a crucified life! (Luke 9:23-24; Galatians 2:20, 24, etc.) They are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” because they are not being grounded in the Word of God.
The powder puff pansies use fake news “bibles” instead of the KING JAMES BIBLE.
Any leader not getting you into God’s Word for yourself, is absolutely a wolf! Run!
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
The Witchcraft of the Modern Church!
There is no instance in the 27 books of the New Testament canon where God’s people gathered to be entertained and enamored in what the modern church falsely claims to be praise and worship.
Those false ministries who stage these events are appealing to your natural senses, your emotions. They are on a marketing journey – to sell their prey into a community and not to root them in Christ!
Proof? Name 5 people you know who attend such false churches who can quote just 5 Bible verses they’ve memorized. Case closed!
Seeking and Knowing the LORD Himself!
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” Philippians 3:10
Jesus told us that the chief purpose that He came is that we might know Him and the Father. Such a cardinal, central Gospel truth is never heard in modern apostate churches today!
“And this is life eternal (the whole divine reason for it), that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3
The cross reveals your sin, and God’s love, not how wonderful you are! Repent!
Beware of this “knowing the Tangible Presence” idea. Spiritual formation and contemplative prayer is heresy! These heretical systems are rooted in the occult and perpetrated by “many false prophets” which Jesus specifically warns us “shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:11). Christ’s true disciples today live BY FAITH not feelings (2 Corinthians 5:7). True followers of Jesus live by the Word of God and not by their senses, their feelings (Psalms 119:105; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Yet, many today are being led to conjure up a feeling, not realizing they are summoning up evil spirits that pose as the Holy Spirit of God – another Jesus, another gospel, another spirit (2 Corinthians 11:2-4, 11-15). Those who seek an experience instead of seeking the face of the LORD, will be misled by evil spirits and false prophets (1 Chronicles 16:11). Many today are sensual and not truly spiritual in the biblical sense. There is no cross at the center of their lives (Colossians 3:3). Their daily life is not rooted in Christ – the cross! They have been led by the self-serving wolves of today’s modern church to get addicted to a feeling instead of growing in grace and obeying the LORD and Savior Himself. Self-idolatry. They love to go do what some falsely call “praise and worship” to get that feeling. Praise and worship are biblical and yet, not what many have made it out to be. There are many houses of worship if you will, which do not have Christ, the cross, at the center and therefore are not worshiping the LORD by teaching the pure, sound doctrine of the Word of God – the King James Bible. These ravenous wolves know how the church busine$$ works and so they front with a good band, good music, using young, gifted people as their pawns as they stage their deceptive exploitation, hiding behind that good music! Beware saints.
Wolves entertain goats and market their church busine$$ to grow, to gain nickels, noses, and numbers. True under-shepherds ground God’s people in the daily cross, in the fear of God, and in the sound doctrine which is the written Word of God (2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17; 4:2-4; 2 Peter 1:19-21, etc.).
This is a big part of the end time deception we were often warned of….
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” 1 Timothy 4:1-2
Have you ever been part of this type “church”? I sure have. Think about it. If you’re like myself, you enjoyed the praise and worship (to some degree) and yet, were left empty due to the lame “word” and lack of biblical teaching. Can anyone relate?
In any given town in America, one can search high and low, near and far, and never find even one pastor who is true to God. Is this not a fulfillment of prophecy?
“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
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering 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
If you still believe that most pastors today are true, stay deeply in God’s Word daily and your discernment will change. You will begin to realize that over 90% of today’s pastors are “accursed” wolves and we know this because they do not preach the original Gospel that Christ and His holy apostles preached and gave us (Jude 3).
Modern church false gospel …. No repentance, no sin, No judgment, no holiness, no cross, No warnings to beware of false prophets and heresies, no return of Christ for a spotless – sinless – bride, no Christology (study of Christ!) …
Those who preach any other gospel other than the original and complete Gospel of Jesus Christ, are “accursed.”
“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: 7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.” Galatians 1:6-9
Then Paul reveals why false leaders do not preach the original, the real and whole Gospel of Christ – because they love self and therefore fear and cater to mere men and not Jesus Christ!
“For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
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