Articles

The Divine Case Against False Leadership

Paula White Exposed [video]

THAT’s My King! Pastor Lockridge [video]

Powerful Prayers from Children-This Will Shake You [video]

The Fear of the LORD is to Hate Evil: Pride, and Arrogancy #shorts [video]

Domination by Deception

“For of whom a man is overcome (by deception, false teaching), of the same is he brought in bondage.” 2 Peter 2:19

In the grand scheme, the leaders are pivotal. At the hands of wicked leaders, Israel was steered into dismal deception and darkness (Isaiah 9:16). The essence of what Christ hates with the “deeds” and “doctrine of the Nicolaitans,” is that they seek to control the people for their own self-serving purposes and thereby move Christ’s church/people away from the LORD’s intended purpose for His body (Ephesians 4:11-16). False leadership, “Nicolaitan” leadership, is conquering the people and that includes squandering their heart affections, energies, and resources (Revelation 2:6, 15). Jesus told us that He hates such. Nico means to conquer and laitans means the people. So, “Nicolaitan” leadership is that false leadership which conquers God’s people and exploits them for their own self-serving purposes (Isaiah 56:10-12; Philippians 3:18-19). | Beware of the Nicolaitans Among Us

“Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” 2 Corinthians 1:24

The LORD, strong and mighty, will severely judge those who have conquered the people, taking the glory from the LORD, spoiling fruitfulness (Jeremiah 12:10).

Leaders who betray the LORD and His people.

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

Broad Way Robbery

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: ¹⁴Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. ¹⁵Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. ¹⁶Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” Matthew 7:13-16

One of the more obvious observations of the visible church-building based system is the demoting, shunning antichrist spirit which does not uphold Christ but rather mere men and their organizations. To the discerning disciple, this becomes clearer daily. Hirelings who are busy fostering allegiance to programs, personalities, things, organizations, and mere men, have robbed Christ of the glory due to His holy name alone (1 Corinthians 1:29-2:5; 2 Corinthians 3:5; 4:5; Galatians 6:14). For example: Becoming a church member has replaced the daily cross Jesus mandated for all who will follow Him (Matthew 16:24-25; Luke 9:23-24). Going to church in America has become a tradition where people are made to think they are right with God because of their church membership and attendance. Recently, I met a couple who bragged about their pastor and how long they had been going to and members of that church. They never mentioned Jesus. There was no personal testimony of His life and work in their lives. Yet, at the hearing of God’s Word during our conversation, they were convicted and hurried away. This is so very common in this apostate last generation (Matthew 24:10-13; 2 Timothy 3:1-8, 13; 4:2-4, etc.). This shunning of God’s very Word, would clearly indicate that they have no life with the LORD in His Word (John 8:47). You see, their pastor is a professional hireling who only says those things that are going to help him garner the mortgage money and keep that franchise open for business. That means that he will never preach on anything from God’s Word that would possibly bring the conviction of sin in order not to anger his customers who are unrepentant worldly consumers. Jesus died to save individuals and those individuals He saves love and hear His Word and worship Him alone. Jesus did not come to save a local church body per se. No, He came and died to save individuals who make up His church. So, joining an organization does zilch to secure one for the King and His blessed, eternal kingdom.

Now are you beginning to see why many are beginning to see that visible church is a hell hole – an agent of Satan on the wide road that leads to destruction? (Matthew 7:13-14)

The Mandate to Equip

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹²For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ¹³Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: ¹⁴That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; ¹⁵But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” Ephesians 4:11-15

Instead of preparing, edifying, and sending forth the body of Christ “for the work of the ministry,” hireling wolves have actually become the leading roadblock of Christian maturity (Ephesians 4:11-15). Nothing makes this more obvious than the fact that we have a nation of people – millions of them – who are good church members and faithful attenders and yet don’t have a lick of knowledge of God’s Word. The average person claiming to be saved today couldn’t quote 3 Bible verses verbatim! Shocking! They simply do not know the Word and will be “destroyed for lack of knowledge.” (Hosea 4:6)

False leadership knows that knowledge is power and so the epidemic of wolves doesn’t want the average individual to be empowered by knowing God’s Word for themselves. Dumb people are easy to deceive and control. On that note: Please know that without exception, any person in leadership who is not teaching the people to get into the Word of God for themselves, is a vile, godless, devilish wolf.

Darrel Moore notes:

“The wolves depend on the lack of biblical knowledge and and lack of discernment in order to deceive. They rely upon the sheep not to read and study God’s Word for themselves and to look to them (the wolves) for their daily sustenance.”

***GUARDING AND DEFENDING THE ORIGINAL GOSPEL

“That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us. 15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.” 2 Timothy 1:14-15

“A pastoral leader must guard and defend the gospel committed to him in a day when many depart from the N.T. faith (2 Tim. 3:13-15; 4:2-5; 1 Tim. 4:1). (1) He must defend it against attack and challenge the church if it is tempted to lay aside the truth. This duty is essential to ensure salvation for himself and for those under his charge (see 2 tim. 3:14-15; 1 Tim. 4:16). (2) Guarding of the deposit of faith must be done with the help of the Holy Spirit. It is He who inspired the infallible truths of Scripture (2 tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21) and it is He who is the great guide and defender of the truth (John 16:13). Defending the ancient faith once delivered unto the saints (Jude 3) means standing faithfully beside the Holy Spirit (John 14:17; 15:26-27; 16:13).” Donald Stamps, Life in the Spirit Study Bible, p. 1918

Note the sequence here in 1 Timothy 4:

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; … If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things (apostasy and the truth), thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. … Till I come, give attendance to reading (the Scriptures), to exhortation, to doctrine. … Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” 1 Timothy 4:1, 6, 13, 16

Those who servant-lead are called and accountable before the LORD to equip Christ’s people to do His blessed work and yet, in most cases they are the greatest hindrance to such a New Testament purpose for elders.

False Leaders in the Church: A Nation of Gullible Sheep Breeds a Priesthood of Wolves

Being too hard on leadership? Let’s read a sampling of what God says in His Word about apostate leadership:

“Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.” Jeremiah 12:10

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

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachersamong you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. ²And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. ³And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” 2 Peter 2:1-3

“For there are certain men crept in unawares (undiscerned), who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jude 4

“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” Matthew 23:13

“Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord. ²Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:1-2

“Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I am against the shepherds; and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be meat for them.” Ezekiel 34:10

“His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. ¹¹Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. ¹²Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant.” Isaiah 56:10-12

Now, as a student of the LORD, a student of Holy Scripture, read Jeremiah 23, Ezekiel 34, Matthew 23, Jude 1, and 2 Peter 2.

This divinely stated case and warning concerning false leaders makes it incumbent upon the individual disciple to seek and to study to show his own self approved unto God so that he will not be ashamed in that hour (2 Timothy 2:15). We must denounce at once any undue allegiance to mere men and the organizations they have set up to intercept our affections from the One who alone bled to buy us to the Father.

Deceivers and False Prophets Among Us | Predators in Our Pulpits

Pastors According to Mine Heart | What’s Wrong with the Modern Church World? | Domination Through Indoctrination

Feedback:

“False teachers are not to be followed. Teachers sent of God are to be followed, as with the example given by the apostle Paul, who said by the Spirit, “Become followers of me, even as I am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). A false teacher leads into the emptiness of self-righteousness and death, but a true teacher leads to the fullness of Christ and life.” Carol B.

Articles

Sinlessly Perfect? I Doubt it [podcast]

Yes the LORD commands His people to “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) Yet we should ask whether or not His desire is for His people to tout to others that they are “sinlessly perfect” or does His Word rather reveal that His people are to be dependent upon Him through the humility of Christ and crucified life He ordained us to walk in? Did the apostles walk around telling people they were sinlessly perfect? No. Didn’t Paul confess his own utter poverty of spirit outside of the saving, present grace of Christ? Yes. (Romans 7:18, 24, etc.) Are there biblical warnings about claiming that one is sinlessly perfect? Yes. (Job 9:20; Proverbs 20:9)

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16

Saints, would it be accurate to observe that 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 pray and 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.

“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

Solomon said:

“Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” Proverbs 20:9

Speaking of king David’s imperfections, even nearing the end of his life on earth, one commentator writes:

“Surely there can be little ground for the doctrine of perfectionism, otherwise David, whose religion was so earnest and so deep, would have been nearer it now than this chapter shows that he was.” Expositor’s Bible

“For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” Ecclesiastes 7:20

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! (Romans 7:18, 24) The Cross!

God is able to establish our hearts in His grace and to multiply His grace to us (Hebrews 13:9; 2 Peter 3:18)

ALL of our deeds are not perfect (1 John 1:8-10). “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23). The truly righteous remain humble, teachable, and repentant. Note verse 21 saints:

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3:19-21

Saved by Divine Grace and Yet Now Made Perfect by Your Flesh?

“Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” Galatians 3:3

The Galatian believers had begun their walk with Christ by responding to the conviction of the Spirit, repenting, putting their faith in Christ, and being regenerated. Yet, now they were allowing false teachers to seduce them back under the law, law-keeping for righteousness – to attempt to please God by their own self-will and performance.

Jesus’ disciples must live a set apart life. Living sinless? Well, it can be done: Here’s the key – “In him (Jesus) is no sin. He that abideth in him sinneth not” (1 John 3:5-6). We whom Jesus has saved must “cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1). Yet, the only way to be sinless is in presently abiding in Him and that begins with the essential of announcing our own poverty in self which is being poor/desperately dependent on Him in spirit (Matthew 5:3, 6). Yet some insist that they are perfect by their own will, ability, and doing. This is the exact error of the Galatians which caused them to fall from saving grace (Galatians 5:4). They left Christ for something else – law keeping. Leaving Christ, departing from faith, and casting off trusting fully in HIS saving grace, is deadly. Realizing there is “NO good thing” in us except Christ, is essential to abiding saved in Him (Romans 7:18, 24; John 15:1-6). Galatians 3:3 says it all – “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). The great apostle of Jesus was desperate for the LORD, ever seeking His holy face and dreadfully not wanting “to be found having mine own righteousness which is of the law” (Philippians 3:9-10).

“The great secret of abiding in Christ is the deep conviction that we are nothing, and He is everything.” Andrew Murray, Abide in Christ

Heart purity and a sinless life emanate only from intimate union and abiding with a holy God. This occurs as we consent to the cross and not by human effort alone. Jesus raises up those who are truly bowed down – crucified with Christ (Psalms 145:14; 2 Corinthians 4:10-12; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.). One cannot possibly “stop sinning” until they come to Jesus and He saves them, making them new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). Only then can the regenerated disciple “put off the old man” and “put on the new man” (Colossians 3:9-10). There MUST be something to “put off” …. that inherent sinful nature, otherwise no such language would be in Scripture (Colossians 3).

Beware of the sinless perfectionists who speak of overcoming sin outside of the daily cross and the saving, enabling grace of God. It’s only possible by God’s enabling grace in and through a true abiding relationship.

If we claim we are sufficient in and of ourselves and because of our own “natural ability” to do right, and can be perfect (which God requires) without Christ and our total trust IN HIM, we are apostate. Memorize Romans 4:4-5.

We cannot be “made perfect BY the flesh” or by means of our own self-will and effort alone. If that were possible WHY then did Jesus come? We are only perfect in the sense of Christ’s perfection AS we abide in Him (John 15:1-6). As we do, we will “walk in the light, as he is in the light … and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” Here’s the whole verse:

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7

Yes, we are “new creatures” in Christ and must humble ourselves before Him, put off the old man, put on the new man, and walk in the Spirit with Him. Yet, the victory Christ has wrought and ordained for us to walk in daily all begins with acknowledging instead of denying that there is something to deny and die to and “put off” (Colossians3:5; 2 Corinthians5:17-18). Denying that we have inclination toward sin is not the answer. Crucifying the deeds of the body by the power of the Holy Spirit is the answer (Romans 8:12-14). Many are getting hoodwinked by this self-righteous “I can do it with my own ‘natural ability’” spirit. This is a Christ-denying devil-exalting heresy, doctrine of devils (1 Timothy 4:1-3). Many who are not grounded in the grace and Word of Christ are adopting this error of Pelagianism which fosters self righteousness. They are aggressively teaching this sinless perfectionism (in the flesh) error to others. These people seem to have one common denominator – they have studied the teachings of Charles Finney or Mike Desario. Beware!

Many of those who preach sin without saving, rescuing, enabling, overcoming divine grace are perhaps still trapped in their own sins. They have no answer for others and therefore we should wonder if they have the LORD’s answer for and in their own lives. If they did, would they not be full of His great joy and sharing with others how to be delivered? Why are they content with condemning others in sin? Is God willing that ANY should perish? See 2 Peter 3:9.

Never forget to make a decision to be deepened in the essential truth that it’s “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.”

“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

WHEN we realize that God is “Holy, holy, holy,” we will no longer wrongly condemn others if they sin, just because the flavor of their sin differs from that sin which we’ve committed, knowing that the sin we committed was no less evil in the eyes of He alone who is “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8).

G.R.A.C.E. = God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense

It’s only by God’s grace that we are found and saved by Him and kept and enabled to please Him which includes participating in holiness, separated unto the LORD, as He is holy (Hebrews 12:14-15; 1 Peter 1:15-16; Revelation 4:8, etc.).

Titus 2 tells us that we are only saved by divine grace and only kept to the end by His enabling grace.

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.” Titus 2:11-15

Deliverance from sin/sinning is only possible through faith, loving, worshiping, and obeying our LORD, that is, moment-by-moment abiding in Christ, the crucified life, being raised up by His Spirit (Romans 6; 8:13-14, etc.).

“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.” 1 John 3:3-6

Perfection is the perfect forgiveness and justification of the LORD which God brings about by His Spirit and our faith which always brings our adherence to the daily cross (Philippians 2:12-13). It’s divine perfection worked out in the abiding disciple as he walks in the Spirit abiding in Christ (Galatians 5:16, 25, etc.).

True OR Feigned Holiness? | Saving, Enabling Grace | Have We Ourselves Become Pharisees? | The Spirit of Holiness |

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