THE DEEDS AND DOCTRINE OF THE NICOLAITANS (Part 2)
(Excerpt from the Deceivers and False Prophets Among Us book)
“Every man at his best state is altogether vanity.” Psalm 39:5
Since man is “altogether vanity” even when he is “at his best state,” the believer must not unduly look to him. Such a truth should compel us to seek the counsel, wisdom, and blessing from our loving, majestic, infinite, and glorious Father in Heaven. The New Covenant is a “better covenant” built upon “better promises.” He has purchased with His very own blood our priestly position and all of its inherent privileges.
“But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.” Hebrews 8:6
Do we know and understand these “better promises” upon which the New Covenant is built? Or, will we be destroyed for the lack of knowledge of them?
Saint, when we do not fully follow the LORD, our lives are then relegated to be under the control of mere men and led into deception and ultimately destruction. We are strongly told to “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ” alone has made us free from the “yoke” of man’s “bondage.” (Gal. 5:1)
Building upon the foundation of man is building on sinking sand, a faulty foundation, promised to crumble. The true disciple of Christ is placed under the control and leadership of the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, and such a relationship is never to be usurped by men.
The one who is following Jesus must keep in mind and be on continual alert for the controllers, who seek to spy out and ultimately rob the individual liberty of believers, positioning themselves in such a way as to make people become dependent upon them instead of Christ. God hates this deed and the doctrines which lead to the stealing of His glory and the robbing of His people of the divinely intended blessings.
When we begin to understand the Bible revelation of God and His relationship to men, we will be enabled to discern those deceivers who seek to assume an undue place of control in other men’s lives.
The Doctrine of Man
The doctrine of man is something few Christians understand due to lack of knowledge of the Scriptures. The Bible repeatedly teaches us that “vain is the help of man” and that “every man at his best state is altogether vanity.” (Ps. 60:11, 39:5) In light of this, we should ask: Is it not presumptuous for arrogant men to think they should unduly run the lives of others when they themselves are “altogether vanity”?
Any man who believes he should control the life of another person does not have his own life in order, because he is not submitted to the LORD. The LORD would never, ever lead someone to control another. This is the defiant evil of witchcraft, and “God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man.” (James 1:13)
This insolent and audacious presumption exercised on the part of evil men is utterly arrogant and foolish at best.
God Covers His People
God’s guidance and covering are all the guidance and covering needed by the believer.
“He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust…He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust…because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation…” Psalm 91
Having available to us a true and genuine, godly group of elders is the will of the LORD. This should be our desire, yet not all Christians in this world have such godly leadership available to them. The Bible informs us that there is a lack of spiritual fathers (1 Cor. 4:15). His ultimate desire would be that each believer is submitted one to another among His people and under divinely-appointed, anointed, Christ-centered leadership (Eph. 5:21; 1 Pet. 5:1-6).
Fear not because the LORD Almighty does not sleep nor slumber (Ps. 121). He, who is called “the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls,” is fully capable to lead, guide, and direct all of His people “beside still waters” and in the exact way He desires for them to go (1 Peter 2:25; Ps. 23). He needs no help from any man or group of men. In light of this, are you beginning to see how much of an evil indictment it is for mere men to be so abominably high-minded that they would dare think God’s people needed their authority? Unthinkable!
Are you seeing just how subtly the affections of the saints of the LORD can be intercepted and diverted from Him?
The true walk with God is to elevate Christ alone and His wonderful work on the cross, His resurrection, heavenly intercession, and soon return – not men and their organizations and supposed merit or authority.
Be not deceived: Those who seek to place themselves over others for the purpose of controlling them are false. The control of other lives is premeditated and insidious in nature, diabolical in intent, and esoteric (elitist) in scope. The Alpha and Omega Himself says that He hates this witchcraft. Be sure that He will eternally punish all who practice this evil.
Modern-day controllers are a reality for now. They refuse to hold Christ as the Head of His Church, as well as the Supreme Ruler of each individual believer (Col. 2:18-19). Instead they replace His glorious majesty with the hierarchies and teachings of mere men. Consequently, the headship of Christ is stolen and so is the individual priesthood of every believer. At best, this is a cultic arrangement where man has taken the place of God and is now receiving the worship and attention due only His holy Name. Isn’t this exactly what the Bible foretells would be the modus operandi of the antichrist?
“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; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4
The whole reason Christ came was that we might know Him and the Father. and that He alone might reign supreme in the lives of each of His people (Jn. 17:3; 1 Jn. 1:3). Any person or teaching which seeks to interfere with or does not honor and promote such a basic and foundational truth is antichrist and operating under the influence of the enemy who has come to steal, kill, and destroy. Beloved, we must stand fast (remain strong) in the liberty and privileges Christ died to give His people and not allow anyone to rob our blood-bought place.
Upholding Christ as the Only “Head” of His Church
At the foundation of every false teaching is the enemy’s goal of displacing Christ as the Head of His Church.
“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, And not holding the Head (Christ), from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” Colossians 2:18-19
Body growth is stunted when our LORD is not highly exalted among His People. Jesus Christ must of necessity be upheld as supreme Head of His Church. Any leader or so-called ministry that does not truly uphold and preach Christ is not of God (Eph. 1:22, 4:15, 5:23). The deceivers among us are detected because they are “not holding the Head” of the Church, Christ, as the only Supreme Ruler from whom all divine virtue flows.
“And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church.” Ephesians 1:22
Though Scripture does not teach that men should control other men, this doctrine of control is set forth as an essential by those who propagate it. They want their adherents to believe that it is essential, so that they submit to these beguiling leaders. Those who receive and embrace such a teaching will surely come under the bondage of it (2 Pet. 2:19).
People who are under the dark spirit and spell of this witchcraft and its teaching will press you to learn to which human authority you submit. Does anyone know what I mean? Have you ever run into someone like this? You will know it when you do. They want to know your spiritual lineage of headship. These misled people will press you for your pastor’s name, and who he is submitted to, and who that person is submitted to, and up the chain of command….and on and on.
Turning the Table
After personally dealing with this ugly teaching and evil spirit for years, I have learned what to expect and always ask a question in response to their probing and imposing questioning. When they ask, “Who are you submitted to?” I simply answer their question with a question, “Who are you submitted to?” They tell me their pastor’s name, and then I ask, “Who is he submitted to?” They tell me who their pastor is submitted to, and then I ask, “Who is he submitted to?”…. I just keep intentionally backing them up into a corner, strictly for instructional purposes. My next assertion is, “Doesn’t somebody have to directly connect with the LORD? Might as well be you/us right?”
The intended goal here is to demonstrate to them the utter mistake of believing that being under a so-called “covering” of mere human leadership is of no good consequence. Being submitted to men is of no value in the eyes of God, if one is not ultimately and supremely submitted first to Christ and His headship.
When encountering them, you will find that these people are under the deception of a dark spirit of control, and they are very insistent about their position. You may want to load your gun with the verses and texts in this message. You will probably wish you had, if you don’t.
The Vicarious Worship of “Idol Shepherds”
In instituting and executing His redemption of mankind, the central design of the plan of God was that individual believers would be able to come directly and personally to Him with the help of no man, except the God-man, Jesus Christ of Nazareth (Jn. 14:6; 1 Tim. 2:5; Heb. 4:14-16; 10:19-22). It is impossible to vicariously and at the same time properly experience God through a mere mortal or multiple levels of elders. It is not possible to know and experience Him through any sinful man or group of men. The idolatry of this is so very subtle. Men or organizations who set themselves up between God and other men, set themselves up as idols, and are called “idol shepherds” in the Bible.
“Woe to the idol shepherd.” Zechariah 11:17
Seeking to experience God through another mere man is not good. Christ came to give us the reality of a personal relationship with Himself and the Father (Jn 17:3).
“Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” Hebrews 3:1
Did you realize that Jesus is the “Apostle and High Priest” of our faith? Has anyone shared this with you or have you caught this in Scripture? See Hebrews 3:1. Isn’t the kingdom of God all about King Jesus and His kingdom? God wants us to “consider” Him above all others, and anything short of His reign in our hearts and lives He counts as idolatry.
Hint: If someone doesn’t have nail-scarred hands and feet and a pierced side and scarred brow, he is only a mere sinful man and not worthy of our worship. Only Jesus was qualified to redeem us. Only Jesus Christ took the beatings, bruising, wounding, and deep suffering for our sins, and He alone is worthy of our worship. If we are to align ourselves with the LORD, only Christ will reign as King in our lives as we fight the good fight of idol destruction and elevation of the Savior.
“Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Timothy 1:17
We are to know and experience God personally and not vicariously through another. Such is idolatry and will preempt one from entering His kingdom.
“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in
the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” Ephesians 5:5-8
“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” 1 John 5:21
When the graven images of mere men are set up to revere with undue honor, it causes God’s people to break the second commandment.
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath…for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God…” Exodus 20:4-5
Individual Priesthood of Every Believer
God came out to meet us all on a personal basis, when Christ died (Mark 15:38; Jn. 17:3; Heb. 4:14-16; 10:19-23). This does not negate the need for godly leadership, and yet true godly leadership will only and always steer people in this very direction – to know God personally and better through the rich blessing of access through Christ’s blood.
We should never under estimate the power of the Almighty who has taken up residence within all who have been born-again. He is able to lead each of His people all by Himself. The LORD needs no help to do so. His individual believers, empowered by His Holy Spirit, are fully enabled to hear His voice (Jn. 10:3-5;16, 27), preach His Word (2 Tim. 4:2), heal the sick, and cast out devils (Mk 16:15-18; Matt. 10:1-8).
Jesus sent the 70 out in pairs (Lk. 10:1). Yet, Philip acted alone – he and the Holy Spirit. The LORD was well able to fill, direct and bless through Philip as He is through those today who are full of His Spirit and prepared by Him. The Almighty needed no help from mere men. No human ministry partner accompanied Philip, but a divine One did. The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, was with him and great things were accomplished as a result. (See Acts 8:26-40.) So, to say that one cannot minister alone, or without the counsel of his elder or “covering,” is not biblically accurate and an infringement upon the sovereign power of the Almighty and the liberty Christ died to grant each individual believer.
Not long ago, I had a proselyte of this control movement forcefully tell me that no Christian should be out witnessing alone or before first checking with the elder to whom he should be submitted and accountable. As far as I could discern, there was no love within a mile of this fellow, who was zealously asserting these things. The relationship he was having with his high and mighty elders simply wasn’t enough to produce the fruit of love that only the Holy Spirit can do as we abide in Him (Jn. 15). Only the abiding presence of God the Holy Ghost can produce in the believer “the fruit of the Spirit” which “is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance…” (Gal. 5:22-23). Allegiance to men cannot fill us with these blessed dimensions of the fruit of the LORD. We should remember that vertical relationship with the LORD always supersedes any horizontal relationship with mere men.
Micro Management
Any person in a leadership position, who requires others to gain his permission or approval before ministering, courting someone, getting married, etc., has placed himself in the position of headship reserved for Christ alone. These types of non-essentials are individual Christian liberties provided by the LORD to His people, and any leader interfering with such has made himself the enemy of God. Such an evil worker is under the judgment of God.
Always remember, beloved, that we have been bought with the highest price, the very blood of God, and that we are to worship and serve Him alone.
“Ye are bought with a price; be ye not the servants of men.” 1 Corinthians 7:23
Beware of Blackmailing Beguilers
One of the evil devices and practices utilized by these satanic pastors is blackmail. These deceivers use people’s sin that they find out about via personal counseling, etc., to blackmail them. They hold it over their heads in order to keep them under their control. Once these wolves have knowledge of the people’s sin, they file it away in memory or document it, in order to use it against them later, should such a need arise. Or, they will utilize it in order to leverage themselves in their evil dealings. They use this knowledge of another’s past sin as a crow bar to influence, leverage, or pry their way into their desired positioning.
Few things could be more abominable and wicked than this practice. What God forgives is never to be used against the forgiven saint – “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” (Acts 10:15) The Bible tells us that only “an ungodly man” would dig up evil or sin that has been plunged beneath the cleansing blood of Christ. – “An ungodly man diggeth up evil.” (Prov. 16:27) So, any leader who uses another person’s sin that he has knowledge of against that person unjustly, is “an ungodly man.” Let’s read the passage in which we find this nugget of divine truth. As you read it, ask yourself if you see manipulation, sowing discord, division, exploitation, conniving, control, and divisiveness.
“An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends. A violent man enticeth his neighbour, and leadeth him into the way that is not good. He shutteth his eyes to devise froward (evil) things: moving his lips he bringeth evil to pass.” Proverbs 16:27-30
Our confessed sins are buried to infinity under the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus and are no longer remembered in the mind of God. – “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.”(Heb. 8:12) If this Bible truth is not so, neither is any other! So, to bring back up confessed and forgiven sin, is to work evil, identify oneself as an “ungodly” person, and to bring judgment upon oneself (James 2:13).
In fact, I have personally spoken with many people who are uncomfortable speaking with a pastor or being counseled within an organized local church environment due to the potential threat of those sins being later used against them.
Fear and Trembling
When godly men oversee God’s people, there is peace. When ungodly men are in leadership positions, they are controlled by the enemy who can only operate and bring fear, deception, trembling, and misery (Jer. 3:15; 23:1-40; Jn. 10:10). To illustrate the unnatural and evil effect upon the individual who is placed under bondage via a false shepherd, the following is yet another case in point.
Recently, I spoke at length with two distinguished men in their 50’s that had been a part of a certain local church for over 20 years each. The pastor, who was originally a true follower of Jesus, steadily waned away from Christ, counting his own life and sin more important than Christ. His heart became increasingly hardened, and ultimately he brought the whole congregation under satanic bondage and control. He became one who controlled the laity – a Nico-laitane.
These two men of God, who have since left that local church and are flourishing as God heals them, openly shared with me how they were literally trembling and shaking in fear when they confronted that pastor. This is how under his control they had become and how influential those devils were that controlled that pastor. In speaking to these two men, it was obvious that they were in their natural disposition not prone to fear or intimidation. However, the demon spirit empowering the pastor was very powerful and had brought them under its power through contact and submission to that evil worker.
This writer can personally attest to the trembling that he experienced on several occasions after being prompted by the Holy Spirit to leave local churches. In the early years after Jesus found and saved me, I found myself on several occasions submitted to an ungodly pastor who was exercising an evil control over my life and the lives of the whole congregation. In one case, upon deciding to dare leave a certain local church and go elsewhere, I called the pastor and asked to meet with him. We scheduled an appointment in his office, and, as a younger believer, I timidly and in trembling told him in so many words that I’d be leaving. He became immediately irate and violently asked if I already had another pastor to go submit to right away. I answered “No, not yet.” He rose up and declared forcefully and convincingly that if I left from under his “covering” that I would be out from under God’s protection and most likely be killed. Can you see in this how these men so arrogantly factor themselves in as essential to God’s kingdom? Is this not the height of evil pride? Does this not reveal their blinded and grossly-intoxicated sense of self-importance? This clearly tells us that these men do not believe that Jesus Christ, the very “great Shepherd of the sheep,” the very One who made all things and purchased His very own with His own sinless blood, is not capable enough to take care of one of His people without the help of one of these pastors! If this wasn’t so wicked, sad, and utterly absurd, it would be laughable (Jn. 10; Heb. 13:20).
A Direct Hit on the Enemy
I formerly hosted a weekly Christian television show where I produced a series of shows on the deeds and doctrines of the Nicolaitanes, both identifying the characteristics of their leaders and specifically and poignantly exposing a ring of several local pastors operating in this abominable manner against God and His people. These men were an organized brood of vipers perpetuating over the people the doctrine of witchcraft and exercising an evil control. Among many things they did which were not consistent with the truth and liberty of New Testament believers, here are a few: These wolves taught a strong tithe-binding control, commanded the people to unduly submit the them, were grossly overbearing, and would keep files on the people in order to track and control them. As each weekly show aired in this series of TV programs, which rightly exposed these errant pastors, the ring leader pastor of this group, who was also broadcasting on that same station, filed a complaint with the owners of the station, demanding that my show be taken off the air immediately (Is it any wonder that this same man was known to be involved in séances/witchcraft?). However, the couple who ran the TV station held true to their principle conviction of upholding the Word of God and exposing evil, and refused to submit to the unjust demands of the ring leader wolf. Not only was the biblical truth in these programs a direct hit on the enemies schemes and camp, but so was the stand for truth by this beloved couple (Ps. 94:16). Blessings be upon this beloved family and all who stand with the LORD in His truth and for the liberty and individual priesthood that Jesus died to grant every believer (Judges 5:24-26; 2 Cor. 1:24; Heb. 4:14-16; 7:24-26). God bless us all in Jesus’ holy name to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free that we become not yet again entangled with any non-ordained yoke (Gal. 5:1). The LORD grants us each the ability to discern and openly rebuke any evil worker who seeks to control God’s people. Jesus Christ came to save, rescue, heal, bless, and deliver and never to bind (Lk. 4:18; Acts 26:18). Those who truly serve Him do the same – they edify, lift up, build up, and exhort as unto Jesus.
More Witchcraft and Manipulation
The believer must remain in the “liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Gal. 5:1) To do such, we should be aware of how controllers assert themselves (in an evil manipulating manner) as superior through the claim that they hear God for their prey – those who are not able to hear for themselves, because they are not one of the elite. In order to lure them into their net, the controller must convince the people he is seeking to control that God always speaks to people through their leaders. Jesus told us plainly that He causes each and every one of His individual sheep to hear His voice (Jn. 10:3-5, 16, 27).
Some of the pretentious, presumptuous terminology to watch for will sound something like this: “The Lord is showing me things about you…..” New believers, not yet personally grounded in the Word of God, are particularly vulnerable to this deception of the enemy. In their immature state, new believers are in awe that someone could hear from “God” so clearly and are thereby drawn into an unnatural relationship with that person exercising this witchcraft over them.
In order for these manipulators to gain control over another, they must first convince the person they are preying on to believe that they have a more direct line to God and that the Lord has called them to “help.” This is a recipe for bondage and the spoiling of the believer’s liberty Jesus died to procure.
Correct Bible doctrine clears this up. Here is but a taste:
- Jesus is the Leader of the true believer, not any mere man. He is the “Head of the Church.” (Eph. 5:23; Col. 1:18)
- Christ, not a sinful man, is “the Apostle and High Priest of our profession.” (Heb. 3:1)
- The Son of God said His sheep (people) hear His voice for themselves (John 10:3-5; 16, 27). God speaks to His people individually first of all (1 Jn. 2:27). Any divinely inspired word of prophecy would only confirm (never contradict) what the LORD is already revealing to the heart of one of His people. The individual believer needs no human to stand between themselves and the LORD Jesus Christ who is the “one Mediator between God and men.” (1 Tim. 2:5) Christ directs His children. Each blood-bought Christian has total and complete access to His throne of grace at all times (Matt. 11:28-30; Heb. 4:14-16; 7:25; 10:19-23). Only a deceiver would dare subvert or in any way hinder this relationship (Col. 2:8-19). It is of the utmost importance that the believer spends time in prayer communion with the LORD in order to learn to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd.
- All born-again believers are commanded by the LORD to “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Gal. 5:1)
- The blood-bought believer is not to be the servant of a mere man or men as far as His highest authority or in any manner that does not align with the spirit and truth of the priesthood of individual New Testament saints. “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.” ( 1 Cor. 7:23)
“Forbid Him Not”
Perhaps this next text in Luke 9 will drive a death nail deep into the coffin of lies that bind and steal the glory of God and misplace the glory upon mere men. Jesus rebuked His disciples when they attempted to bring another follower of Christ under their control or guidance (this would be equal to the “covering” teaching or doctrine/deeds of the Nicolaitanes). Those who espouse this evil and rotten “covering” doctrine and practice seek to bring others under their leadership, insisting that such is necessary.
“And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils (doing ministry) in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us (wasn’t under our covering). And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.” Luke 9:49-50
With hands on hips, Jesus’ disciples proudly began to tell Him, “LORD, this guy had the audacity to try to live for you and even minister and wasn’t even submitted under our covering, so we shut him down. How dare him!” Well, the Master shut down this evil pride and rebuked His misled disciples with, “Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.” This is clear evidence that we should never seek to put our understanding of ministry structure on other people or groups in a forceful manner.
God is God all by Himself, and is powerful enough to handle all of His people without our help. The LORD has not called us to police, micromanage, or exercise control over the faith of another (2 Cor. 1:24). We see in this text the LORD Jesus forthrightly rebuking His disciples for seeking to hinder any true Gospel work. Instead, Christ opens the floodgates to ministry – “Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.” Let us be the wind beneath the wings of other believers, all of which have been called to shine the light of Christ in this dark world.
God forbid that we ever hinder His work in our pride. Instead, should we not pray that the LORD use others mightily?
“We saw one casting out devils in thy name…Jesus said…he that is not against us is for us.” Luke 9:49-50
Notice that this believer, whom Christ said “is for us,” was operating all by himself and casting out devils, without any “covering” except the Almighty’s. What does this prove? For one thing, like it or not, it clearly shows that God grants kingdom authority without men being involved in overseeing other men. Obviously this man was in obedience to the LORD, or he would not have had the authority and power in the spirit realm to cast out devils. This man, who was operating alone, was submitted to God, and when he resisted the devil, the devil had to flee (James 4:7). Submission and obedience to the LORD of glory are what count. As He would have us submit to men, He will orchestrate the matter without men having to force themselves into people’s lives using manipulation to gain positions of illegitimate authority (1 Pet. 5:1-6).
People do not need us; they need God, their very Maker and Redeemer. So, we should cease from the pride-rooted witchcraft of leveraging ourselves into the picture. Should we not concentrate on what the LORD would do in our own hearts and lives as we work out our own salvation with fear and trembling? (Phil. 2:12-13).
May the LORD Jesus forgive us for every time we have been used by the enemy to hinder the flow of the Gospel of Christ.
Be it known that all opposition to the Word of God is of satanic origin (Mk. 4:15). Where will we stand?
Helping Joy
“Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” 2 Corinthians 1:24
Paul didn’t take a position of dominion over the faith of other believers who were saved not by Paul’s but by Jesus’ grace and sinless blood. In contrast to Christ and those who truly follow Him, controllers take dominion over and place undue burdens on others. Some of the buzzwords that are often found among these predators among us include the over use of words like submit, submission, commit, and commitment. Controllers are heavy- handed about personal performance instead of balancing personal obedience and the grace of God at work in each believer through faith (1 Cor. 15:10; Phil. 2:12-13, Col. 2:21-23; Ps. 138:8; 1 Pet. 1:5) . When personal performance is overemphasized, it frustrates the grace of God and hinders the fruit of the Holy Spirit being produced in the individual. No person has ever nor ever will be able to do the will of God outside of the work of the Holy Ghost working in him (Rom. 8:13; 2 Cor. 3:18; Phil. 2:13).
Legalism and control stifle joy. Have you ever noticed that there is no joy among the ‘religious’? When people embrace truth it makes them free and fills their hearts with joy. Those who walk in the liberty of the LORD increase the joy of the LORD in others. They are used of the LORD to bring to others the truth that makes men free. True disciples bring the message and blessings of their Master who came to make men free (Lk. 4:18).
Godly servants help promote “joy” in those they serve who “stand…by faith” in their God.
All spiritual authority given by God is given to help, lift up, restore, and edify others, not tear people down, bind or dominate them (Matt. 11:28-30). Paul penned:
“…our authority, which the LORD hath given us for edification (building up), and not for your destruction…” 2 Corinthians 10:8
Paul says here that the divine “authority” invested in him was “for edification” and not for the “destruction” of God’s people. Just as Christ was in His earthly ministry, we are anointed by God to bless and not curse, to uplift and not put down, to loose burdens and not place them on people, to preach the day of the deliverance from the LORD (Lk. 4:18). All who truly follow Christ are burden lifters not burden placers (Matt. 11:28-30).
Love that Liberates
When the eyes of those who are caught up in this cultic environment are opened, they will seek to leave (get free). They will then be accused of being “unsubmitted, rebellious, and unaccountable.” The manipulation and control never seems to stop whether one is coming or going. The attack that is waged when one
attempts to leave the cultic environment only further proves that they were captive under a spirit of witchcraft from which they must get free.
Speaking specifically about false prophets, Peter writes:
“While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome (by deception and lies), of the same is he brought in bondage.” 2 Peter 2:19
When men are the source, misery is always the end product.
We must have God’s love filling our hearts yet more and more (1 Thess. 4:9-10). This is the chief purpose of the Word of God (1 Tim. 1:5). Walking in God’s love is a non-negotiable essential for all who call upon His name. Love never fills the hearts of those who submit to the control of mere men. Such an arrangement displaces our trust to men and away from God and nullifies the divine blessings.
“Faith…worketh by love.” Galatians 5:6
Also, love never fills the hearts of those who seek to control the lives of others. The fruit (evidence) of the Holy Spirit is never borne in the hearts of controllers, because He is not at work in them. They are void of His presence, since they are choosing to be in control instead of allowing the LORD to be.
Without love, we are nothing (1 Cor. 13). A lack of love in us clearly demonstrates a lack of relationship with the LORD:
“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:8
Love is the proof that we are abiding in the LORD:
“God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16
The blood-bought position and individual liberty of each believer is to be defended and preserved according to the clear teachings of the New Testament. Any teaching or leader that infringes upon the individual liberty and priesthood of the believers is to be rejected. To the Christians at Galatia and all those today, the Holy Spirit would say:
“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hast made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1
For a deeper study of this whole subject, see the book of Galatians. Paul addresses with force, the evil deceivers, legalism, and doctrine of control that added to the true Gospel burdens and requirements, which the LORD never instituted nor intended. As Paul’s posture and assault demonstrates, no mercy is to be shown to unrepentant workers of deceit who perpetuate this evil.
“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh (self-effort and works)?” Galatians 3:3
The doctrine of control is dangerous and hurtful and has brought great harm to God’s people. It is the doctrine of devils (1 Tim. 4:1-6). Surely hell is full of people who were submitted to mere men, but didn’t know the LORD personally (Matt. 7:21-23). When we knowingly add to God’s Word (requirements and duties that the LORD never gives in His Word), we are acting as the Pharisees of Christ’s day, and we will be condemned with them if we don’t repent. Or, when we overemphasize a minor truth of Scripture, elevating it to the status of an essential doctrine, we err greatly (Matt. 23:13-14). Christ lambasted the hell-bound religious hypocrites of His day saying:
“For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” Matthew 23:4
We should stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free and not be entangled again with any yokes of bondage of men or devils (Gal. 5:1). Jesus came to bless us by lifting burdens not adding any, and all those who truly walk with Him help others get freer and freer to serve their Savior and help others get free (Matt. 11:28-30; Lk. 4:18, Acts 10:38).
One writer of old stated:
“The real test of religion is, does it make wings to lift a man up or a dead weight to drag him down? Is a man helped by his religion or is he haunted by it? Does it carry him or does he carry it? … The Pharisees believed that to do God’s will was to observe their thousands of petty rules and regulations and nothing could be further from the kingdom of God, His basic idea, His love.”
The Lord’s Ministry
Any person or ministry that is adding burdens, such as yoking people with things God never told us in His Word, is working for the LORD’s enemy who has come to destroy souls (Jn. 10:10). This is the clear, outright, and brazen removal of foundational truths that have been in the true Church (people of God) since its very inception. This subversion of truth and authority is being perpetrated by those who have come and set themselves to be served by the ministry, instead of serving God according to His ordained pattern and plan.
In fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah (Isa. 61:1), at the onset of His earthly ministry Christ declared His mission:
“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the LORD.” Luke 4:18-19
Paul’s whole ministry focus was to connect people to the LORD Himself, and he purposely conducted himself in such a way as to cause them to fully trust the LORD and not Paul or any other man (1 Cor. 1,3). Witness the Apostle Paul’s mode of operation in ministry here:
“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. (here’s the reason) THAT your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
“An Holy Priesthood”
“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:5
We can’t go to church because we are the Church. Isn’t it time to be the body of Christ? No need to look for some Mr. Wonderful to come along to lead us. Wouldn’t this be idolatry and asking to be deceived? The Bible declares that Jesus Christ is our “Wonderful, Counselor …mighty God…everlasting Father …Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). “The Shepherd and Bishop of our souls” lives in us to the end and promised to be with us in accomplishing His work until His return (1 Pet. 2:25; Matt. 28:18-20).
If you have been duped into believing and induced with the associated fear of a controller, you should ask the LORD to free you to serve Him.
Abandoned to God
In order to be free from the control of men, we must first give ourselves fully to the LORD who gave Himself fully for us. We must give up our right to ourselves and release to Him the full and total control of our lives. Perhaps the place to begin would be praying as the One who died to grant us this liberty:
“Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.” Luke 23:46
Summary
Whether it be a statue, icon, symbol, wooden totem pole, or a mere man, it all falls far short of the glory of the One who inhabits eternity, created all things, and holds all the oceans of the earth in the palm of His hand (Isa. 40:12; 57:15; Col. 1:15-17).
Fear that Frees
“God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.” Psalm 89:7
In the end, it will be those who truly fear the LORD and not mere men who will be blessed to be triumphant. Fearing men brings the noose around the neck, while fearing God brings the key that unlocks and makes free from all shackles that bind. (See Proverbs 22:4; 29:25; Matt 10:28; Isa. 2:22; Gal 1:10.) We must fear God supremely and intensely and depart from any church or ministry that is not clearly and overtly walking in His Word and Spirit (Eccl. 12:13-14).
PRAYER: LORD Jesus, free me from all bondage. Set me free to serve You supremely. Bless my life to walk in the fullness of Your liberty. Break all yokes of men and devils, which have come to hinder my walk with You. I love You, Jesus, and thank You that I now overcome by the blood of the Lamb and word of my testimony of how You have made me free. Dear LORD, I pledge my full and total allegiance to Thee. I love You, my LORD Jesus. Thank You for the victory of Your cross, blood, and resurrection. I now accept Your full salvation and all the blessings that come with it. May all curses, hexes, vexes, and schemes of Satan be broken off my life this moment in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth and by Your holy, precious blood. For it is written; “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Rev. 12:11) Amen.
Deceivers and False Prophets Among Us
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“Thank you brother. This expose’ on the Nicolaitane deception is a blockbuster. I am so happy to see someone have the knowledge of how it operates. I have researched the Nicolaitianes but I think the RUACH HA KODESH (Holy Spirit) provided you the wisdom to see how it is applicable today and especially now. Praise the LORD! I know people that attend churches right now whose intel is out there and in just about every wind of doctrine you discussed. So I sent it to them.. they have to make the choice to come out .. ” Shalom Marsha
Articles
False Apostles Exposed!
Ever notice today who everyone and their uncle’s dog is supposedly an “apostle”? Laughable. Heretical. Holy Scripture specifically addresses “false apostles” two times.
“For such are FALSE APOSTLES, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
Any man pretending to be an “apostle” is one of the “false apostles.”
To the Ephesian assembly of believers, Jesus said:
“I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried (tested) them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:” Revelation 2:2
Those who falsely claim to be apostles “are evil.”
Below is a specific exposé of a network of false apostles. Most deceivers use similar schemes and methods to prey upon the unlearned.
“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.” Romans 16:17-18
Reasoning away the blatant error and deception of these self-appointed so-called “apostles” is unwise and will result in being misled and damned ultimately (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; 2 Peter 3:17). It doesn’t matter how many good things are on their site and presented in their ministry, it’s a false ministry based on the fact that they are elevating themselves as “apostles” and deceitfully manipulating people with mind control to believe they need these wolves for spiritual maturity. This is a classic, easily discerned deception (2 Peter 2:17). This is classic Nicolaitan deceit. Jesus says He hates these deeds and doctrines (Revelation 2:6, 15).
“In fact it would be the same as attempting to elevate oneself in the power of the self, over other believers, as Jesus told us we are not to be doing. Reference where the disciples were arguing with each other over which of them was the greatest. Same would be true of a a person elevating themselves as a Pope.” Trevor Gamble
Most deception is simple mind control which is witchcraft to get gullible people under their spell and false leadership by making them think they need these “living apostles.” It’s a scam.
“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.” Colossians 2:8-10
These “false apostles” will verbally agree with the fact that all true believers are “complete” in Christ and yet, they add to His Word and plan by insisting that THEY are Christ’s appointed “apostles” whom the LORD has sent to perfect them (those they are preying on). This is nonsense folks. This is no different than the Catholic cult convincing their prey that Peter was the first pope. We know that isn’t biblical and yet, when someone is convinced of this lie, they then wrongly believe that the Roman religion is the one true religion that extends from Christ and Peter. So, like Rome, these “false apostles” add themselves into the simple equation given us in the original Gospel of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). More on this below …
We hope that these men will contact us with proof that they have repented and are bringing forth tangible fruits consistent with that true repentance (Matthew 3:7-8).
Self-Appointed “Apostle” John Welty Exposed
Any man calling himself a prophet or apostle is a fraud.
John Welty is a part of the “Second 8th Week Ministries.” Their website reads: “Living Apostles Today | Restoring the Church Back to Her First Love.” This clearly indicates that they believe that no one alive today among the true servants of Christ are able to do this work of Christ except them – the “living apostles.” This statement infers that until now, the body of Christ has not been able to grow into full maturity but now it can since they are on the scene. Another false apostle involved is self-appointed “apostle” Eric Vonanderseck.
“The apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers of the Second 8th Week welcome you. Hear what God is saying to the church through His apostles and prophets. If God has been preparing your heart for transition and change, be ready to be ignited by the Spirit to the fulness of the hope of Christ. This is a time of separation, a time of challenge, and a time of rejoicing. (Isaiah 42:16)”
This is a network set up to entrap and ensnare souls (Ezekiel 22:25-27). Note the typical buzz words and terms used by false ministries such as “transition and change” and “ignited.” This witchcraft, manipulation, and mind control is being wielded over the minds of men and women.
Note: A warning has been sent by us to these men in hopes that they would see the light of truth and turn to the LORD before it’s too late. No reply back was received to date. It is our prayer that these men will repent and turn their lives over to the LORD afresh in humility and brokenness. If they do, they will become genuinely broken, drop their titles, and begin serving God’s people instead of exploiting them for personal gain. Yet, for now the alarm must be sounded so that others can escape the snare of their falsehoods and counterfeit pretentious “ministry.” Our desire is not to condemn or be harsh. These things must be done in obedience to our LORD to protect precious souls (Romans 16:17-18; Hebrews 13:20; Jude 3-4, etc.).
Yet, we pray these guys themselves will turn to the LORD
At the top of the page on his personal website, John Welty didn’t even pay enough attention or purposely used a lower case “c” when referring to Jesus Christ. Keep this in mind as you read the following concerning this ravening wolf (Ezekiel 22:25-27; Matthew 7:15).
Did you notice this paragraph on this guy’s site? I high lighted some things…..
“Truth, which comes through living apostles, makes all the necessary connections so that we may recognize the pattern God set for our faith to follow. With truth in the heart, we learn how to meet God’s expectations through sanctified faith in Christ which joins our faith perfectly to Him that we may experience the power and fullness of Christ.”
Typical tricky and deceit-filled language used here. Welty is positioning himself by conditioning the reader to believe there are “living apostles” and that those apostles have the same amount of kingdom authority as did Paul and the original twelve and that we are to submit to them. Not quite! Though I do believe there are apostles today, I don’t believe they fulfill the same function or place in God’s kingdom as did the original twelve and Paul, and that if they are an apostle and a true one, they are probably humble enough not to refer to themselves as an apostle. They simply go about humbly serving.
You see, if wolves like John Welty can convince the unlearned that they need him then he’s got them in his grip. After all, John Welty is a “living apostle,” right? Wrong!
We are often warned in Scripture of beguilers like John Welty.
Read and commit to memory the following verse and it will keep you till the end beloved in this time of great and treacherous apostasy:
“For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” 2 Peter 2:17
Read it one more time please. This is key.
When you allow a man to “overcome” you with a lie such as Welty is peddling, then he will bring you under his “bondage” to the lies he perpetrated upon your life.
When we are truly submitted to Jesus Christ, rooted and grounded in Him and therefore His love and truth, we will escape such beguilers.
Notice how these so-called “apostles” have inserted themselves in the equation? Didn’t God tell us that there is only “ONE Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus”? (1 Timothy 2:5). Did you catch the word “necessary” Welty used? This is classic, typical Nicolaitan (conquer the laity by convincing them they need you) usurping. Jesus says He hates this (Rev. 2:6, 15). “False apostles” is one of the perils Paul faced (2 Corinthians 11:13).
These so-called “apostles” need to repent and begin obeying Jesus by not using titles and calling themselves mere servants who do not merit being saved much less ruling unwarranted over God’s children (Matthew 20:24-28; 23:8-12; Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:15).
The 5-fold eldership giftings are to be used to glorify God was SERVING HUMBLY among His people and not to use as a title to build ones own brand in self-promotions (Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:10-11). This is a direct contradiction of what Christ taught about the necessity of humility among His people (Matthew 20:20-28; 23:8-12).
Another clue to his smoke-blowing scam is that he is a cloud and wind without rain or without any substance (Proverbs 25:14).
“These are wells without water (no substance), 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.” 2 Peter 2:17-18
This guy is very long winded to make little simple points that aren’t even biblical and he really doesn’t make those points well if at all. Doesn’t the Bible tell us that the LORD is not the author of confusion? See 1 Corinthians 14:33. It would seem, at least in part, that John Welty is striving in the flesh and wanting “job security” as it’s called today. In other words, he wants people to think they need him which would assure his rule over them and being funded. So he’s deliberately not upholding the “Head” but instead he’s usurpingly intercepting the worship due only to Christ, the only Head of His body from which all divine virtue flows. See Colossians 2:18-19.
These “false apostles” give themselves away by never mentioning the very “the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” Jesus alone is “the Apostle and High Priest of our profession.”
“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;” Hebrews 3:1
Isn’t it interesting how much time and energy these circus clown wolves spend claiming and touting their own self-appointed, supposed apostleship and say little or nothing about the very “Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus”? Now that’s a huge red flag, waving profusely!
The “Apostle” that matters is Jesus Christ, not modern men who wish to elevate themselves among other men by touting titles and thereby deceiving and snaring souls.
Paul, a known servant and true apostle of Jesus, appointed by Christ Himself, stated:
“Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” 1 Corinthians 1:13
Inserting so-called modern “apostles” into the equation is Nicolaitan domination over other souls which is witchcraft, which Jesus says He hates (Revelation 2:6, 15). JESUS Christ is building HIS true church as He promised and warns us about false prophets and false apostles, especially in these final days.
“The spirit of antichrist” opposes Christ by replacing Him who told us He is the only way (John 14:6). Those possessed with “the spirit of antichrist” don’t antichrist” don’t “consider” or esteem and factor in the only true Christ – Jesus Christ. They factor Him out of their message and your mind and life. That’s the very job of “the spirit of antichrist” who is Satan himself who has come to “steal, and to kill, and to destroy” (John 10:10). The “spirit of antichrist” is that evil spirit that works to replace Christ with something or anything else, derailing those who once knew Him (Colossians 2:8; 18-19; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; Hebrews 3:12-14; 1 John 4:1-3). Anti means in place of and so “the spirit of antichrist” replaces Christ with a false Christ or anything else (1 John 4:1-3). So, this evil spirit, working through false apostles like John Welty, seeks to replace Christ with himself in the lives of the people he preys upon.
You see, this guy is not preaching Christ but self. Paul said “We preach Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23). Welty distorts and throws out smokescreens with lots of fluff and stuff that goes undetected by those who have chosen to reject Christ in their own personal lives and therefore don’t study diligently His written Word. They therefore find it intriguing to hear all this acrobatic language that makes him appear as if he is a guru who has a special line to God and yet, in reality, what he says amounts to nothing.
Paul says: “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Galatians 6:14
You will most likely never hear John Welty say those words and if you do, he will twist them. Welty is glorying in self, not the Savior. Those snared by this man’s ministry of deceit will be like Welty – self-serving and Savior-rejecting.
1 John 4
“1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”
Glory intercepted: This fellow is under “strong delusion,” even having been sent by God this “spirit of antichrist” (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). If you look at large segments of this guy’s work, you will not see him preaching and confessing Jesus Christ who came in the flesh because he is purposely x-ing Jesus out of the message in order to be able to elevate and establish himself and give job security to himself. The spirit of antichrist comes on those who want to reign over their own lives as Lucifer vaunted himself against the Almighty but was cast down for doing so.
If you are going to understand how the enemy works, you must understand the following passage which holds the key to understanding and being able to detect the work of the enemy of all souls:
Isaiah 14
“12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.”
Did you see the 5 “I”‘s of Lucifer?
In Heaven in eternity past, Lucifer, who is now Satan, appointed himself to be “like the most High.” This is exactly what the self-appointed, so-called “little gods” of today do as they seek to wield their manipulation over the people just as Lucifer did and was successful at garnering a third of the angels in Heaven who joined him in rebelling against God (Revelation 12:7-12). The first rebel, Lucifer, was cast out of God’s presence violently and permanently because “God resisteth (sets Himself against) the proud” (James 4:6).
Ezekiel, the servant of the LORD, was told by God to “Speak WITH MY WORDS unto them” (Ezekiel 3:4). Timothy was charged to simply and only “Preach the word” (2 Timothy 4:2).
Note what the elders of Israel did in ministering to God’s people:
“So they read in the book in the law (written Word) of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.” Nehemiah 8:8
They simply read God’s Word to the people and helped them “understand” GOD’s Word. ANY person in “ministry” who is not doing this is a bona fide wolf on this basis alone.
As the video goes on, Welty speaks of “tools we can use daily.” I don’t like this word “tools” for more than one reason but firstly, I don’t like it because it’s not biblical language. What’s wrong with using the word “tools” and other non-scriptural terms and words? Well, lots. The premise from which he speaks is that WE use God and the things He has given us instead of being LED by and of Him. In this guy’s Luciferic theology, we take what God gives and use it as we see fit. He’s an enemy of the cross of Christ (Philippians 3:18-19). When we obey Jesus, we lay down our lives and deny self, take up the cross and follow Christ who is “the resurrection” and raised us up in His power, humbled before Him and simply following His lead. “As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God” (Romans 8:14). Do you see the difference here of being led by the Spirit and taking things into our own hands, even the “tools” God gives us? In this guy’s corrupted theology, God isn’t in control but he is.
Then he speaks of these so-called modern apostles whom he says “God” has called to “steward these things to you.” In other words, you need THEM. THEY are essential, not Christ, but them. You seeing this baiting and switching? This is slight of hand friends of Christ, so beware!
He says “this is what Christ is doing….. not apart from my stewardship but through it.” So, according to this wolf’s deranged theology, you must have him to have the work of God done in your life. It’s through him, not Christ but him, that God is doing His work. Absurd!
Then he says Christ was not our substitute but rather did what He did for “our benefit.” There we go again – he is making everything revolve around man when God’s Word teaches us that man is utterly depraved, corrupted, and sinful and that Jesus Christ is the propitiation for our sin. This man has replaced who the Messiah revealed in Holy Scripture with a false Christ that simply does all he does for the benefit of man. He’s like some cosmic bellboy who has come to give man tools to do his (man’s) own bidding as he sees fit as his own little god.
He uses more code language here such as “sanctified contact.” No such term or language appears in Holy Scripture. It’s like these guys create their own language to hoodwink the unlearned who refuse to study God’s Word and seek His face.
“Nine spiritual tools”? There are nine “GIFTS” of the Holy Spirit given to the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:4-12) and nine dimensions of “the FRUIT of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23); but never are nine or any “tools of the spirit” mentioned. What spirit is this man speaking by and of? The answer should be obvious.
Ouch, then he digs himself deeper with this feigned idea and worn out scheme of “learning the language of the covenant.” But his use of the words “language of the covenant” is not referring to simply learning the language given us as Holy Scripture which would be the language of God’s covenant if you will. You see, by his whole new language, he has to complicate the simple Gospel, the original Gospel, in order to establish his own position and profession and make people believe he is above them; and that they need him to know all these useless things he is putting forth and making sound fancy. To the contrary, Paul speaks of “the simplicity that is in Christ”:
2 Corinthians 11
“2 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.”
John Welty is the typical esoteric clairvoyant channeler or medium who feigns to have some special line to God; and be a modern apostle of Jesus in order to trick people into submission to his high and mighty calling and Luciferian self. This man is a self-appointed false apostle and false prophet just as we are warned about in Holy Scripture (2 Corinthians 11:13). As we are doing here in identifying and exposing this false apostle. So did the Ephesian believers. Jesus said to them:
“I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried (tested) them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:” Revelation 2:2
Welty is a classic and typical example of a man who does not memorize God’s Words but rather has learned a simulated certain type of terminology in order to feel as though he has something unique that people need to learn. That’s his purpose for not preaching God’s Word – so he can introduce and seduce. Instead of simply teaching the written Word of God, false ministers try to come up with something different or something other than just the Bible so that they have their own brand of ware to peddle and make themselves seem unique and a needed commodity. But the Bible instructs us to “Preach the word” and to “speak with MY words unto them;” and “If any man speak, let him speak as of the oracles (written Word) of God” (2 Timothy 4:2; Ezekiel 3:4; 1 Peter 4:11).
I don’t sense the Holy Spirit in this man’s life at all which would be evidenced by “the fruit of the Spirit” or that Christ-like evidence produced in the life of the true disciple who is dying to self and being conformed to the holy and humble image of the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us (Romans 8:28; Galatians 5:22-23). A self-serving man is a man who is separated from Him who “is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). With no exceptions, those who are possessed with the fruit of God’s love live their lives to serve others and not exploit them for selfish cause.
Welty’s use of the words, “being in submission to my stewardship as an apostle,” gives his whole gig away. To the contrary, the Bible says:
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
Submitting to God is what is important, not submitting to mere sinful men. And, we are commanded to only submit to those servant elders who preach only God’s pure Word, and diligently watch for our souls (Hebrews 13:7, 17). Such a servant is very rare and nearly impossible to find in this late hour.
Welty’s system of submission is no different that that used by the catholic church which has added itself to the equation of salvation, falsely claiming that there is no salvation outside of Rome. But the true believer knows there’s only one Hope, one Way, one Truth, one who is eternal Life, one Mediator, and one great Intercessor!
Listen to what the apostle of Jesus, Paul, said concerning his place as an apostle:
“Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith (faith in God not Paul) ye stand.” 2 Corinthians 1:24
Yet Welty, and deceivers like him, claim to possess some great authority that believers should submit to. Nonsense!
Paul said that the Corinthian disciples of JESUS were only to follow him AS he followed Christ, and not if he departed from the faith and ceased to follow Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Paul was protecting the people even against himself, of whom he said he must “KEEP under” his body and bring it into subjection lest he also become rejected as a reprobate or one who is “castaway” from God (1 Corinthians 9:27). The apostle Paul, a true apostle of Jesus Christ said to the Galatians, that even if a very angel from HEAVEN (not hell), or if he (Paul) ever told them anything different than what he gave them in giving them the Gospel of Christ, that they were to consider him “accursed” (Galatians 1:6-9).
“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 1:8-9
This guy is a false as they come. I stopped the video here. It should be more than clear that John Welty is a child of Satan himself, posing as a minister of righteousness.
2 Corinthians 11:12-15
“12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we.
13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”
This guy is so obvious that part of me wants to burst out laughing, and the other part is very sad that there are so many severely lost and unlearned souls who would follow this error; and are one step away from the Lord’s wrath and don’t even realize it.
Paul, a true servant and God-fearing overseer, cried with literal tears for three years day and night, because he knew devouring wolves were going to enter in from among the people of God to lead away and destroy souls. He therefore commended them to the Word of God which is our only protection – but only as we ourselves seek His face and study what He told us in His Word.
Acts 20:27-32
“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.”
In verse 32 Paul gives you and me the solution and safeguard to deceit and wolves – “the word” which is able to grant us a heavenly “inheritance.”
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“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” 2 John 9-11
Concerning apostles, one servant writes:
“I believe the scripture bears out that the use of the title of apostle should be reserved for those first apostles who were taught directly from the mouth of the Lord. That would include the eleven, plus Mathias, and Paul. Those apostles will forever be held to a greater position of respect since God chose them to be firsthand representatives of the message and Messenger He sent, Jesus Christ. Their revelation of Him and His message should never be added to, but it may be expounded on by the Spirit who continues to give us understanding of those things. Thus, those men stand alone in their call, and the bearing of the title should be reserved for them alone. That title makes that distinction clear. To strengthen this by the scripture, let us remember that while Barnabas and others were apostles, they were NEVER referred to as apostles by title. (Apostle Barnabas?) This was to distinguish them from second generation apostles who did not learn directly from Jesus Christ, but followed the first generation apostles and continued in the apostle’s call of teaching among the scattered sheep, establishing churches, and walking in the way of the Lord as examples to the whole flock. Yes. Genuine humility is essential in our walk and call, regardless of our particular position for edification in the body; but it is a particularly important characteristic for those who are entrusted with the call of a second generation apostle since we minister to the whole body. Our example should be the life walk of the High Apostle of us all, even Jesus Christ (Hebrews 3:1).
Finally, Some may argue that they need to use the title as Paul did, so that they will be given proper respect. However, the use of the title does not necessarily give respect and usually turns true believers off (thankfully). Paul was indeed a first generation apostle and even his use of the title did not always work to his favor. There was a lot of pain that went with his authentic title. I dare say, not many who call themselves that today would be willing to pay the price that he did – which was another PROOF of his apostleship.
In His grace,” M.
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JESUS. IS. COMING. SOON. A powerful cache of posts on the Return of Jesus – and how to be ready.
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Articles
Addiction’s Only Solution [podcast]
The Victory is in Jesus
There’s no problem God can’t solve.
“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:31-32
Jesus only makes free those who hear and obey Him. Every other “solution” is a cheap counterfeit, yet another trap of the enemy of all souls.
ADDICTION…. good or bad. Sin is the root of evil addictions. Those not doing God’s Word will inevitably be caught up in sinful addictions. Repentance is a must for deliverance.
Firstly, the cross – the crucified life – must be front and center in our daily personal lives. There will be no resurrection victory until there is a definite door nail dead dying and burial. Pour over 2 Corinthians 4:10-12. Attempting to serve God any other way will result is defeat 100%!
“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24
“This, right here, is your call to obedience. Anyone who claims you can follow Jesus on your own terms, by your own rules, and according to your own desires, is ultimately leading you to a false gospel.” unknown
Good addiction:
“I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that THEY HAVE ADDICTED THEMSELVES (a choice) TO THE MINISTRY OF THE SAINTS,).” 1 Corinthians 16:15
Those not given over to the LORD and therefore ministering His grace to others, WILL be caught up in sin, evil addiction.
Choosing to be addicted to Jesus
and therefore His work
cures all other addictions.
“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. … 15 I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have ADDICTED themselves to the ministry of the saints,)”1 Corinthians 15:57-58; 16:15
With no exception, those whom Jesus saved in the past and yet today, those people are not busy about the “Father’s business” of the Great Commission, are living in sin.
“…at the time when kings go forth to battle, … David tarried (stayed behind) still at Jerusalem.” 2 Samuel 11:1
When David was experiencing great victory, he laid back, he ceased being diligent to obey God (2 Samuel 11:1). That’s when the temptation came and he entered into it. The fall out, the reaping was horrendous. Read 2 Samuel 11-12.
“And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.” 2 Samuel 11:1
What transpired when David hung back instead of engaging in war?
What happens when you and I hang back, do not forge forth in diligent obedience and abiding in Christ. The 2 Samuel 11 text continues, showing David’s descension into temptation and sin ….
“2 And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. 3 And David sent and enquired after the woman. And one said, Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite? 4 And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house. 5 And the woman conceived, and sent and told David, and said, I am with child.” 2 Samuel 11:2-5
Remember, EVERY disciple will be tempted in this world. Temptation is not sin. Yet only those who diligently seek, worship, and obey Christ, will be overcomers – which is essential to eternal glory (Revelation 2-3).
“Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.” Jeremiah 48:10
Doing “the work of the LORD deceitfully” includes doing it half-heartedly, ceasing to engage in fighting “the good fight of faith” which includes diligently loving and obeying God, fervently putting forth the “sword” of God’s Word, engaging it against the enemies of God (1 Timothy 6:12; Ephesians 6:17).
“The idea here seems to be that those called to be God’s instrument of chastening upon Moab (God’s enemies) were to be blessed in their work if they did it honestly and boldly; but if they did it half-heartedly and cowardly they would be cursed.” Dake
“But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” 1 Timothy 6:11-12
Do we recall what James 1 tells us?
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:13-15
Memory Verse
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 1 Peter 5:8
When the 12 Slept instead of Seeking the LORD
When Jesus’ 12 fell asleep while they were to be praying, Jesus warns them and us …
“And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:40-41
As Christ’s disciple watches and prays, remains ever vigilant, he will not “enter … into temptation”, sin. Memorizing the above words of Jesus (v41) will be a blessing to your life.
Satan offers Band Aids
“They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.” Jeremiah 6:14
God is holy, unchanging and gives no peace between Himself and any mere man who is not obeying Him – beginning with genuine repentance, and faith (Acts 20:21, etc.).
“They have – This refers peculiarly to the prophets; making light of these threatenings, daubing over the misery and danger that was coming on the people, by persuading them, that it should not come, or if it did, it would be easily cured.” John Wesley
Giving false hope and false solutions is the work of wolves. Men who pretend to represent the LORD and don’t preach that He is “Holy, holy, holy” and requires absolute repentance, faith, worship, and the cross life (crucified life), are clearly false prophets (Isaiah 6:3; Luke 9:23-24; 13:3; .Matthew 22:37-39; Revelation 4:8, etc.).
Many today listen to the prophesied “MANY false prophets” of this last hour and are reaping the harvest of separation from God and a gross lack of wholeness (Matthew 24:11; Romans 6:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).
As long as one panders to and submits to the lies of the world, the false prophets, and their band aid “solutions,” that person will never experience victory. Pills and potions are fake solutions and will only perpetuate the pain and shame.
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36
Jesus died on that cross, conquering Satan, and He alone holds your victory over all sin – which is what grants Satan legal right into your life.
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11
Only Jesus can make you free and He desires to deliver you and will if and only if you truly repent and submit your life to Him. Jesus says:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
You are either caught up with Jesus or you are caught up in the dismal bondage of sin.
The root sin of all sinful addiction is self-idolatry which can and will only be broken off your life by true repentance, sincerely submitting yourself to the LORD.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7
It’s only if you submit your life to the LORD that He will grant you His power to resist, oust the devil. Then he must “flee from you.” He has no choice at that point.
Satan gains and possesses the right to keep one in bondage as long as that person refuses to truly repent – to truly submit oneself to God. Such a person is caught up in the snare of the devil and therefore unable to resist or stand against and oust the devil.
Charles Pray writes: “So many want to hide their sins, especially those who like to appear Holy on the outside while inside they are dark, unholy ministers of the flesh. They have become a product of their own desires. Dear Lord, please bring them back to their first Love–Jesus! Amen.”
You’re never stuck as long as you have Jesus!
There’s nothing at all that Jesus can’t fix. He promised you this …
“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
Prayer: Father in Heaven, I come to You in full admission of my sin of neglecting You, of disobeying You, of putting myself before You. I am absolutely in sin and need You to deliver me now Jesus. Please break and make me LORD. This very instant, I now lay my life in Your holy hands. I’m crucified with Christ and I’m all Yours Jesus, from this moment forth. I love You LORD Jesus. Please now fill and use me for Your eternal glory as I look expectantly for Your soon return. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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Apostasy
SINLESS PERFECTIONISM: WHOSE Righteousness are You Trusting? [podcast]
Salvation, justification, overcoming sin all come by way of the mercy of God, the divinely enabling grace of God, and the cross, the daily crucified life (Luke 9:23-24; Romans 3:24-26; 4:4-5; 6:14; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; 3:1-3; Titus 3:5-7, etc.). It does not come by mere self-determination or self-will.
Don’t strive. Surrender.
Beware of the sinless perfectionism mob.
Beloved, God found us, in our sins, and saved us into His eternal kingdom! (Romans 5:6-9; 1 John 4:19). We didn’t find Him. He found us!
Defusing the iniquity of self-righteousness increases exponentially when we begin learning the biblical doctrine of fallen mankind (Genesis 6:5, 12; Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 7:18; Psalms 39:4-5).
“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. … 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:18, 24
“It’s actually freedom when we embrace the Bible truth of how wretched we are! We don’t have to hide it or try to be better than we are! Jesus can now reign on the throne of our hearts and not self!” Karen Cochran
Realizing our own utter helplessness, hopelessness, and depravity and taking up the cross is the only the safe place with God right, the cross, the bowing to Him to take full control…. See Matthew 5:3; John 3:30.
All self-righteous religious hypocrites are going to hell (Matthew 21:31). May God save, forgive, and cause us, to bless us to be His authentic disciples. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Paul’s flesh was and our flesh is a constant reminder of the ever momentary need for the cross, burial, and resurrection grace of Jesus (Romans 6:3-10; 8:11; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20, etc.). Read Romans chapters 6-7 each morning this week.
The cross reveals your sin, and God’s love, not how wonderful you are! Repent!
Saints, we cannot possibly begin to appreciate this “so great salvation” that is Christ until we understand how lost, helpless, and alienated we were in our sin (Ephesians 2:1-10; Hebrews 2:3). We must study to understand the biblical doctrine of inherent sin, fallen mankind, and the holiness of God …. in order to begin to be able to appreciate the redemption that is in Jesus Christ.
Touting our own supposed righteousness is a dangerous undertaking. Lifting ourselves up will result in being brought down low, with no exception.
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18
All I have to do to find the man most in need of God’s saving grace and mercy, is to look in the mirror (Romans 7:18, 24; James 1:23-24). As long as we neglect to look in the mirror, honestly, we will continue to be self-righteous as were Jesus’ most evil enemies, the religious frauds, the pharisees of His day (Matthew 23). Are we pharisees or humble, broken, honest disciples of Christ? (Matthew 18:3-4)
“If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.” Job 9:20
“Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” Proverbs 20:9
There is NO righteousness outside of Christ (Romans 7:18, 24).
Every single day is the opportunity to overcome – yet this will only happen as we choose to do things God’s way – the cross. Romans 6-8; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc. Sinless Perfectionism Exposed
The no sin nature people are missing the cross. The Mike Desario’s, the Charles Finney’s, and the Jesse Morrell’s of the world peddle the no-sin-nature heresy and also do not preach the cross, the crucified life. They rag on endlessly about “stopping all sin” but never mention the crucified life which is the only divine prescription for overcoming sin (Romans 6, etc.). That alone makes them false, peddlers of “another gospel.” (Galatians 1:6-9) This is why they can’t understand this. They do not realize that God gave us the solution to this sin bent (iniquity), this inherent in fallen man sin – and that answer is the crucified life which is at the heart of the original Gospel.
“True holiness” comes exclusively from the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Yet this is not just our position in Christ, it must also be the practical reality of our lives lived (Ephesians 4:24). The holiness of God, “true holiness,” requires the “daily” cross Jesus commanded which separates us from self and sin (Luke 9:23-24; 1 Corinthians 9:27, etc.). Sin is overcome exclusively via oneness with Christ in an abiding relationship (John 15, 17) and not by mere self-effort alone – which is antichrist. The point established in the whole of Holy Scripture is that we are beholden to the Savior, the LORD Jesus, and must be honest about our wretchedness outside of a present abiding relationship with Him (Romans 7:18, 24) whereby the fruit of holiness is produced. There’s a slew of self-righteousness being promoted as “holiness” today through wolves who’ve digested the false teaching of devils like Mike Desario and Charles Finney and those who peddle these doctrines.
“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and 
upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (not self): 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (atoning sacrifice) through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:21-26
After being attacked and accused of being a Roman catholic, Baptist heretic…. the response to the accuser was as follows:
Thanks for the attack, the persecution. I do rejoice (Matthew 5:10-12). I am certainly anything but Catholic or Baptist. Now, to examine what you wrote ….No one is a more staunch exposer of Rome, nor a more critical exposer of the eternal security Baptist, protestant lie (the ministry has 3 landmark books exposing OSAS – over 1,000 pages total) ….. So what you are saying here is a lie, bearing false witness, instead of dealing with the Scripture truth of these things. There is no cross in this sinless perfectionism movement, and the cross is the only way to overcome all sin – by the resurrection power of Christ (Gal 2:20; 2 Cor 4:10-12). Also, there is no grace (divine enablement) or faith in your message, but rather only rote mechanical obedience as if people are earning their own way. This alone makes your message errant, not according to the whole counsel of Scripture. | Eternal Security Exposed | Catholic Church Exposed
You offer some truth here and yet this sounds like Mike Desario, Charles Finney falsehoods, the no-sin-nature, sinless perfectionism heresy.
Sinlessly Perfect? You Sure? [podcast]
Beware of the sinful self-righteousness masquerading behind feigned perfect obedience. This Sinless perfectionism they are pushing is pure self-righteousness.
I am not your enemy ….. attack if you see fit. Yes, the LORD does say that obedience is essential, it proves that one knows the LORD or is known of Him (Matt 7:21). Good works do not save us – Christ alone saves us. This is a real subtle deception. There is the need to synthesize “ALL scripture” which teaches, that faith, obedience and good fruit do not save us, God does, by HIS sheer mercy.
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:5-7
Sinful self-righteousness has no place in the life of a disciple of Jesus. Matthew 21:31
Self-righteousness was one of the sins of the pharisees and is soul damning (Matthew 23, etc.). Even the publicans and harlots will be in Heaven before the self-righteous religionists (Matthew 21:31).
Obedience is the fruit of saving faith and yet our obedience doesn’t save us. According to this passage, you are under a spirit of witchcraft – to think your own works-righteousness, law-keeping saves you:
“O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:1-3
Think about this that Jesus says from perhaps a new perspective … “IF you love me, keep my commandments” …. perhaps He is saying “If you don’t love me, don’t bother obeying Me, because that is futility.” Good works/obedience, fruit are borne out of an abiding relationship. It’s about relationship, not earning our own way I know this well as I was out of balance for many years. I am not seeing this as an argument … just discussing, okay?
There is no cross, no crucified life in the message of the sinless perfectionist heretics and therefore they are preaching “another gospel.” (Gal 1:6-9) The cross is the divine solution to sin and is at the center of the original Gospel and that’s the only way to be raised up out of the flesh and victorious over sin, not be mere self-effort. You are kidding no one but yourself if you believe your own good works are at the ground level of your justification before a holy God who sent His only begotten Son to do what we cannot do. – If righteousness comes out of just sheer obedience, law-keeping, then Christ is dead in vain.
“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21
God is holy and holiness is essential for eternal glory (Hebrews 12:14, etc.). Yet such comes about by the crucified life Jesus prescribed, the cross and the resurrection (raising up) grace of God – not by seeking to be perfect on our own, not after beginning in the Spirit and then vainly attempting to be made perfect in the flesh (Galatians 3:1-3).
“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under GRACE.” Romans 6:14
There’s no cross and no grace (divine enablement) in the message of the sinless perfectionists and therefore their message is false. Heretical.
It’s like they seek and are boasting about their own obedience and their own self-willed sinless perfection. Nonsense. Laughable.
Overcoming must be done in and through Christ – in a real, abiding relationship with Him which sinless perfectionist frauds never mention.
Recognizing our own need to be humble, contrite, broken, and fully dependent on the LORD is what we learn in Scripture, not hiding behind sinless perfectionism but rather being authentic, honest, and realizing that without JESUS and being one with Him in an abiding relationship, we can do nothing to please God (John 15:5).
“For without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5
It’s better to cease pretending in my opinion, in light of the whole counsel of Scripture. I am not a good person, neither are you. “There is none righteous, no, not one” (Romans 3:10). Admit it. The sooner we become HONEST with that which is more than obvious, announcing freely and transparently – that there is “NOOOO good thing” in us except CHRIST, the sooner God will begin a new, deeper work in us! (See Romans 7:18, 24.) The Cross!
We are all very imperfect and in present and perpetual need of the LORD’s saving grace which requires a born again and abiding relationship with Christ.
Those who truly follow Christ are to be fully dependent upon Him, not self, or self’s supposed perfect obedience – which is a farce. See Posture of Dependency
Lest someone should erroneously believe there is any justification for any sin, let me say this: Jesus is coming back for “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), And “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged.”
“By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.” Proverbs 16:6
This is how we can observe the ministry of Jesus and His apostles. The only people they were harsh with were the rich and the religious. They were not harsh with people who sinned and were convicted and contrite, humbled before God, seeking His mercy, repentant. The woman taken in adultery is one such example…..
Stone Casting Qualifications
Jesus never called the woman taken in adultery (John 8) or the woman who had had five husbands and was now living with another man, a whore (John 4). Jesus was not harsh with either of them. What does this say for some of these self-righteous, hate-mongering, arrogant, pharisaical, enraged, embattled, need-to-get-saved street preachers so prevalent today who openly call scantily clad women whores instead of winning them as Jesus did? Perhaps it’s the lust in their own hearts driving them? (See Romans 2:1-3.) We never see Christ needlessly provoking, condemning, screaming at, or yelling at lost sinners. WHERE did Jesus or any of His apostles possess such a hate-filled attitude other than when Jesus rebuked them in their younger years for seeking to call down fire from Heaven? Christ rebuked them with “Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of” (Luke 9:54-55).
DID Cain murder his brother Abel because of Abel’s sins or his own?
“Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.” 1 John 3:12
Those who slander others do so because of the wickedness that exists in their own hearts.
No Sin to Deal with?
1 John 1:8-10 should be kept in mind…. synthesized, right? Yes…… 1 Corinthians 2:13
“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:8-10
If we are saved by our supposed obedience, we all fall short, right? Should we not rather trust in the perfect obedience of CHRIST? Memorize Romans 4:4-5. This is in no way to excuse any sin, period (Romans 6:1-2).
“Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:4-5
WHO earned our salvation? Jesus.
“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20
FROM A SINLESS PERFECTIONIST:
REPLY:
May God find us with Christ’s righteousness, not our own …. The righteousness Jesus Christ accomplished at the cross is the only righteousness God honors, all else is “as filthy rags.”
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6
What righteousness does God see us in right now? Is it our own, or Christ’s?
“And be found IN HIM, NOT HAVING MINE OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” Philippians 3:9
Without Christ’s present saving mercy, this disciple is absolutely hopeless, sinful, and doomed. I will trust Christ’s righteousness and not my own!
“Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” Proverbs 20:9
None is righteous by himself, on his own merit and that what sinless perfectionism teaches….. you are being fed by wolves like Finney and Desario…. you didn’t get this in the Bible, by organic personal study… that’s why there’s an imbalance…..
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