by Mark Herridge Sr., Pastor
The Fabled Kingdom
2 Timothy 4:1-4
1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
Luke 11:17-20
17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
18 If Satan also be divided against himself, how shall his kingdom stand? because ye say that I cast out devils through Beelzebub.
19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges.
20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.
1 Timothy 1:4
Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
1 Timothy 4:7
But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
Titus 1:14
Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
2 Peter 1:16
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
In Reality there are only Two Kingdoms
There are many different Kingdoms in this world but we know that in reality there are only two different kingdoms. There is the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of the Devil. These two Kingdoms are in opposition to one another and will never be in agreement.
The enemy would love for people to believe that there are more than two Kingdoms and he works relentlessly at attempting to convince mankind that there are many different ways to Heaven. No matter how you read the Bible there is still only two Kingdoms – not three!
Look at this scripture where Jesus mentions both the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan:
Matthew 12:25-28
25 And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:
26 And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand?
27 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast them out? therefore they shall be your judges.
28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you.
Again I want to reiterate: there are only two Kingdoms! Further reading of the scripture underscores this dichotomy of Kingdoms:
Matthew 7:13-14
13 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:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Notice that there are only two gates, two roads, and two final destinations. There is no third legitimate option. Third options are a fantasy! Third options are a fable! Third options are a myth!
I want to ask this simple question before we move on to the next section: What will happen if someone believes something false as being true? The answer is obvious: they will suffer the consequences of their misguided belief.
The Imaginary Kingdom of the Religious Man
Most people today believe, or they live, as if there is another Kingdom. They believe there is a third (3rd) Kingdom. They will tell you they believe there is a Kingdom of the Devil and then there is the Kingdom of God, which is for people that want to go to Heaven. Unfortunately it does not stop there, for they have created their own religious rules and feel that they will go to Heaven living by these misguided missives. This third Kingdom is a Kingdom of Fables! It is make-believe! It is not the true Kingdom of God! It is a fantasy of man’s own imagination!
What most people today believe about the Kingdom of God is really an imaginary Kingdom of Fables and dreams that has no basis in the Bible.
When I was a child I loved to read about knights in shining armor doing battle with fire-breathing dragons – of leprechauns hiding underneath toadstools – of elves creeping through the forests – of nasty trolls hiding underneath bridges to charge tolls on those that wished to cross over. But these were all fables! They were make believe and without one ounce of truth! It would have been peculiar for me to grow up and continue believing these myths.
This is what people believe about this Fabled Religious Kingdom:
1. This Kingdom has no set laws and absolutes. No clearly defined right and wrong.
2. In their Kingdom people can do whatever they want and still go to Heaven.
3. In this Kingdom they can live rebellious and disobedient to God’s will and in the end God will still take them to Heaven as his dear children.
4. Their ruler (God) is so loving he will not punish anyone for wrong behavior.
5. In this Kingdom there are very few things that are considered a sin. About the only thing considered sin is some churches is murder.
6. In this Kingdom no one judges any other person.
7. In this false Kingdom preachers are deified as little gods.
8. In this Kingdom people can dress however they please.
9. In this Kingdom there is no such thing as worldliness.
Beloved this is a fable! Their kingdom is no different than one made up of elves, gnomes, trolls, and houses made entirely of candy! It is all make-believe! It is not based on the reality of God’s Word!
God’s Word makes it clear what the Kingdom of God is really like and it is nothing like the Imaginary Kingdom I just described to you. God’s infallible Word sets the parameters of what is and is not acceptable.
The Bible tells us clearly that in the Last Days there would be those that would believe in an Imaginary Kingdom. The Apostle Paul said that men’s ears “shall be turned unto fables”. As a “True Church” we have to battle this “Imaginary Church” all the time. We are constantly telling people “There is no such thing!” It is just as ridiculous as telling a thirty year old man that there is no monster hiding under his bed!
The Last-Day Fable Movement
Paul told Timothy that in the last days there would be a strong “Fable Movement”. Paul told Timothy, “For the time will come…” Beloved the time is now here!
He went on to give us these three defining characteristics of this movement:
1. They will not endure sound doctrine- This fantasy loving religious bunch will not adhere to sound doctrine. They cannot even “endure” listening to a true preacher preach the unadulterated Word of God. The Apostle Paul further said that they would turn their ears away from the truth. Have you ever tried to talk to one of those misguided souls? It is an exercise in futility! They will not listen to you!
II Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine.
2. They will love teachers and teaching- Even though they will not listen to us they will listen to others, as a matter of fact the Apostle Paul said that they would “heap to themselves, teachers, having itching ears”. They are going to travel from meeting to meeting to hear the latest fad and fable. Today we are seeing just this: there has been explosion of conferences, retreats, seminars, and books/CD’s on every conceivable topic that is “spiritual”. The shelves of the “Christian Bookstores” are jam-packed with the latest and greatest from “In-Crowd” of preachers and teachers, who make millions of dollars of a gullible public.
3. They will turn to fables- The word fable here is the Greek word “Mythos”. This simply means that they will completely embrace the lie. They will embrace a false teaching, belief, and lifestyle. Today, people find it easier to believe a lie than to believe the truth and the more outlandish the lie the more “churchy” people seem to like it. Benny Hinn claims in his teachings that there are nine persons in the Godhead and that Adam was a Superman and could fly to the moon. Folks, if you think that is outlandish, I want you to know that there are thousands of other examples just as foolish and some even more so. People are so caught up in wanting to hear something new that they will accept any teaching as relevant. This is the generation that the Apostle Paul was writing about.
II Timothy 4:4
And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
The Pillars of this Imaginary Kingdom
The ancient Hindu mythology taught that the whole world rested on the backs of four elephants that in turn stood upon the shell of an enormous turtle. Does this sound pretty silly? Sure it does! It takes more faith to believe that than it does to believe that our God created the Heavens and the earth in six days. This fantasy kingdom of worldly churches is built upon a foundation just as ridiculous as the ancient Hindu’s view of creation.
This is no sillier than the “Imaginary Religious Kingdom” of many modern day church-goers. So, what exactly does their imaginary kingdom rest upon? Well, you guessed it: on four imaginary elephants!
The First Elephant: Tolerance. Today, intolerance is considered one of the greatest sins of all. Why, we are expected to be tolerant of every lifestyle, belief, and individual. We are told over and over, that no matter how outlandish or degrading their lifestyle, we must be tolerant of them for we are not their “judge”. The mantra of this imaginary belief system is “Judge not lest you be judged”, which is found is Matthew 7:1, but is so grossly misinterpreted and misrepresented that very few people today even know what this scripture means any more. Here is the scripture in the context of the other scriptures around it:
Matthew 7:1-5
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
As you read the other scriptures you begin to realize that Jesus was not talking about righteous judgment at all, but rather He was talking about “Hypocritical Judgment”, which of course is wrong. Certainly, we do not need adulterers judging adulterers, or murders judging murders. Righteous men must judge righteous judgment.
The Bible clearly encourages us to righteously judge. Here are scriptures that prove this point completely:
1 Corinthians 6:2-5
2 Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?
4 If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church.
5 I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren?
Does God hate judgment? Here is another scripture that reveal God’s attitude about judgment:
Psalms 37:28
28 For the LORD loveth judgment…
Isaiah 59:14-15
14 And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.
15 Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment.
These scriptures in the New Testament make it clear that we must judge righteously.
John 7:24
24 Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
1 Corinthians 2:15
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
You see the unpardonable sin of this imaginary, make-believe, third Kingdom is intolerance. You hear this mantra chanted over and over from the religious circles to the political circles: “We have to be tolerant of other people’s beliefs and differences. You can’t judge anyone. You must respect their lifestyle”.
We are told to tolerate the homosexual, the lesbian, the transvestite, the trans-gender. We are told that we must tolerate the abortionist. We are told that we must tolerate adultery in men and women because it is just a genetic flaw in the cerebral cortex. We are told that we have to tolerate the youth “fooling around” (fornication) because “kids will be kids”. Body piercing? According to these misguided abusers we must tolerate it. There is only one thing these fable-believers will not tolerate and that is intolerance! They will not tolerate anyone standing up and saying that there is only one way and it is the Bible way! How dare we to think that our “narrow way” is superior to someone else’s way!
Their kingdom is not the true Kingdom of God. These worldly religious church-goers claim they are a part of the Kingdom of God but what they are really a part of is an imaginary kingdom that does not exist. It is a fantasy, a myth, it is not real! It is no more real than four elephants standing on the back of a cosmic turtle holding up the world.
The Second Elephant: Adjustable Truth. The second foundation of the imaginary kingdom is adjustable truth, or situational truth. False believers of today believe that truth is something that can be adjusted to each individual and each changing situation. They believe that multiple ideas and divergent beliefs can all be true at the same time. With this false idea they believe that two diametrically opposing viewpoints can both be right, or in other words, nothing or nobody is wrong, everybody is right.
Can two opposite things both be true? Can black be white or white be black? Can a lie be truth and the truth be a lie? No, of course not. Something has to be wrong and something has to be right.
First we must understand that Jesus did not come to bring us the truth. The Bible tells us that Jesus is the truth. The truth is not a thing, the truth is a person and that person is Jesus.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus is the truth! What mankind needs today is so much more than just learning facts and figures. They must intimately and personally know Jesus as the Lord of their life. There is no way you can memorize your way into salvation – salvation comes as a direct result to my submission to His Lordship through repentance.
Truth is not an adjustable commodity. Truth is not an opinion. We do not preach Christ because He is our opinion. We preach Christ the Word of God. Why? Because He is the only hope for this world! If you want to know what is God’s will for your life then read God’s Word. The Word of God clearly expounds the mind of God on all matters of faith and conduct. To love the Word of God is the love Christ. To reject the Word of God is to reject Christ. To despise Truth is to despise Jesus!
This fantasy kingdom of deceived religious people is built upon a faulty foundation that does not exist. Their false idea is that all religions, all creeds, and all people are going to Heaven that each person has to make his own path to Heaven. No! Jesus is the only Way! There is no other way to the Father but through Him.
The Third Elephant: Lawlessness. These people are often referred to as anti-nomians, or “Against the Law”. Many of the modern churches of today believe that they can live any way they choose to because the Bible does not teach any rules to live by. This is absolutely incorrect!
Can you imagine the chaos in this world if there were no laws to govern by? Just think about the roadways that you drive a car on: what if there were no speed limits? What if there were no stop signs at the intersections? What if there were no laws telling cars which side of the roadway to drive upon? What if there were no laws governing licensing, vehicle inspections, and safety? It would be complete chaos on the roadway! It would be unsafe to travel on the road. My friend, if we do not have laws then this world in its natural setting could not function.
The same is true of the Church. Without laws, rules, and directives to live by then chaos will ensue. This is exactly what is happening today in churches all over the world. Most believe that God is so loving that he would not tell them what they can and cannot do. They believe that God would not dare tell them anything that would make them the least bit uncomfortable and the moment anyone tells them that God expects obedience out of them they cry, “Legalism”. Well, I would rather be “legal” than “illegal”!
This imaginary kingdom that people think is God’s kingdom has no laws. You can dress (or undress) any way you want to. You do whatever you like. You can drink, curse, view pornography, listen to worldly music, hate you neighbors, and anything else you want to and at the end of your life the great imaginary ruler of this Kingdom will take you to Heaven and heap more pleasures upon you. Nonsense! You might as well believe in tiny fairies flying around your house at night will you sleep than believe that any kingdom of God exists as the one I just described.
There is law in the true Kingdom of God! There are absolutes, meaning, there are things that are absolutely right and absolutely wrong. God did not give us suggestions. God has given us commands!
Jesus said this about the Law of God.
Matthew 5:17
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
This scripture, along with others, makes it very clear that Jesus did not come to eradicate the law as so many claim today. The modern day anti-nomians claim that grace removes the law but Jesus never made no such claim. Rather, the grace of God enables us to live an obedient and victorious life over sin.
This leads us to the next conclusions of the anti-nomians that inhabit this kingdom of trolls, elves, and fairy godmothers: no one can overcome sin, everyone is a sinner, and you have to sin every day. One once-saved-always-saved (OSAS) preacher was asked on national television if he was committing adultery at the time the Rapture took place would he go to Heaven. His reply was without hesitation and he unequivocally replied, “Yes”. When asked by the interviewer to explain he replied, “Well if my sins are this high”, and he held his hand up to his chest, “the grace of God is this high”, and he held his hand over his head, “so no matter what I do the grace of God covers my sin”. This is a lie! And the saddest part of this is there are millions upon millions of people that believe this.
I want to make it clear that no such Kingdom of God exists! God will not excuse unrepented sin. A moral failing as I just described will damn a man’s soul to Hell for eternity.
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
Revelation 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
On the subject of sin the Bible clearly teaches us:
Romans 6:1-2
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
1 John 3:6-9
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
John 8:34
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
This mythological kingdom that some men call church or religion today does not exist as far as God is concerned. They may claim they are a part of the Kingdom of God but their Kingdom in no way resembles the Kingdom of God described in the Word of God. Jesus did not save us so we could continue in sin but he saved us to free us from sin. It is possible for you and I to “walk in the Spirit” so as to not “fulfill the lusts of the flesh”. There is a complete victory over sin for the Christian! Perfection is not a pipe-dream but a reality and all Christians are striving for perfection in Christ.
The Fourth Elephant: Humanism. This fourth elephant is highly visible in the deceived churches of this hour.
The Kingdom of God in the Bible is built around Christ. Jesus is the central figure of the true Kingdom. Everything is about Him and for Him. Our service is not to ourselves but to Him.
Today, in the modern fantasy kingdom of the religious man, everything is about people. One preacher I know made this statement in a service where I had visited to hear him preach, “The Church is all about people. People are the most important thing in the Church.” This may sound good to you up front but this is a total error. The Church is not all about people! The Church is all about Christ! To be sure, there are people in the Church and they are important to God, but our focus should never be on people, our focus should always be on Christ. When you make the Church all about people then the Church becomes humanistic. This is exactly what has happened today.
Today everything in Churches is about making the people comfortable. If the pews are not soft enough they will add another layer of padding. If the temperature is not pleasant enough they will adjust it to your satisfaction. Is it too loud? They will turn it down! They will put a gift shop in the Church so you can shop before service or during bathroom breaks. They will put a Starbucks coffee shop so you can enjoy a latte on the way in.
This imaginary kingdom panders to every want and whim of its deluded subjects. We refer to this as the “Seeker-Sensitive” approach and it is the way of doing “church business” in the 21st Century. Their goal is to make the Church a completely benign and pleasing place to visit. Research firms are hired to poll the community to find out what the neighborhood wants from a Church. Psychologists are put on Church payrolls to advise the leaders on how to appeal to a larger audience. Interior decorators are brought in to make sure all of the colors and decorations in the building create a blissful environment to lull the senses. The Church staff is routinely sent to training classes to be taught how to engage the populace in their kingdom. No stone is left unturned in the attempt to make the human comfortable. Are they kidding themselves? Nothing in that Kingdom is about Christ! It is all about the flesh! Can you imagine how John the Baptist or the Apostle Paul would have fit in those churches?
The pampered, perfumed, petted, and powdered leaders in these seeker-sensitive churches do not preach the Word of God but they preach a trimmed down Gospel that has been sanitized from all references to sin, repentance, and holiness. The message of their false gospel is not what you can do for God but what God can do for you. The prosperity message of today is completely humanistic. By their estimation man was not put on earth to serve God but put here so God could load them down with blessings. The tables have turned! God is no longer the focus of the Church – now people are the focus!
Look at the titles of the books by the ever-popular Joel & Victoria Osteen and you can clearly see what their kingdom is all about:
1. Your Best Life Now
2. Becoming a Better You
3. It’s Your Time
4. Love Your Life (Victoria Osteen)
There is one word that all these books have in common: You/Your. Who are they kidding when they say it is all about Jesus? No it is all about “You”. Christ is not the center of this nefarious gospel, “You” are! This is humanism pure a simple. The human has become the center of this kingdom.
Conclusion
My friend, hear me loud and clear: most of what men call “Church” and the “Kingdom of God” today is not the Kingdom of God. The followers of this illusory kingdom do not resemble the Christians of the Bible that left all to follow the Lord and many of them were martyred for it. The leaders of this third kingdom are not following the New Testament pattern of the Godly, holy, and serving ministry that was willing to face death and dismemberment to preach the Gospel. The one law of this fantasy kingdom is “If it feels good do it”. This false kingdom does not exist.
When I grew up a realized there are no giant beanstalks you can climb into heaven upon, I realized that Goldilocks did not eat all of the porridge, and that the big, bad wolf did not talk to Little Red Riding Hood (Wolves talking? I may have to take another look at that!). All of those were myths, fantasies, and imaginary. The false kingdom of “religious ideas” of our modern day is just as ridiculous as the bedtime stories of our childhood. If you want the truth then you need to turn to Christ the Word of God.
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Abiding
10 Clues Your Love for God has Waxed Cold [podcast]
The wise virgin saints are keeping their lamps full of divine oil, they are taking personal responsibility for their own spiritual state with Christ the great and soon coming Bridegroom. Read Matthew 25:1-13.
“The Love of Many Shall Wax Cold”
“And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:10-14
Did you notice in verse 14 that those who hot for Jesus are participating in the preaching of His Word to the end of the earth (Mark 16:15).
Anyone not devouring God’s Word daily is falling away, is not enduring to the end, is choosing the let their love for Jesus wax cold, and on the wrong, the losing end of this prophecy Jesus gave here on record in Matthew 24:10-14.
“I will spue (vomit, reject) thee out of my mouth”
“So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” Revelation 3:16-17
Praying God will help you love Him more (Matthew 22:37-40). It really all boils down to WHO we love most. THAT is exactly who we are serving (Romans 6:16).
Loving God is everything as far as what’s in our control – because it’s a choice, daily, and will determine if one remains in Christ to the end.
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Matthew 22:37-40
“Thou hast left thy first love”
“Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.” Revelation 2:4-5
1. When you are choosing not to spend quality time with God in prayer each and every morning… When you are choosing not to spend quality time with God in His Word each and every morning (Luke 9:23-24; 1 Chronicles 16:11).
2. When your love for God’s people is being reduced instead of increased (Philippians 2:12-13; 1 John 5:1) Marks of the True Christian …. “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;” (Romans 12:9-11) See John 13:35.
“And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. 21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.” Luke 8:20-21
“We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” 1 John 3:14
“Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.” 1 John 5:1
Reading 1 Corinthians 13 today will refresh your heart and mind on the divine importance placed upon LOVE.
3. You are not denying self and not taking up the cross daily (Luke 9:23-24; 19:27; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:3, etc.).
4. You aren’t communicating the light of truth to others because you no longer seek or fear the LORD and so His divine virtue isn’t teeming in and flowing out of you. Your cup no longer runs over but instead is running empty (Psalms 23). You have a lampshade over the light and are not letting His light shine in and through your life and words… “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” (Isaiah 58:1)
5. You live in fear instead of faith and the joy of being with Jesus (Luke 21:28; 1 John 4:16-18; Proverbs 28:1; Psalms 2:11).
6. You preach promises and not conditions…following the apostate modern church and you don’t preach the cardinal doctrines of the original Gospel which we are commanded to “earnest contend for.” (Jude 3) You begin meditating on and living by trends instead of truth (Jeremiah 9:3; 2 Timothy 4:2-4; Philippians 4:8; Romans 12:1-2).
7. You have little or no true fellowship with other born- again Bible believing disciples of Jesus as is defined in God’s Word and not by the modern church world (Acts 2:42).
The Word of God is to run rich, to be abundant among God’s people … “In all wisdom” and “all in the name of the Lord Jesus” … “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:16-17)
8. You know you are backsliding when your main thrust and identity become politics, not the work of the Gospel. YOU are a blood bought disciple of Jesus, not a conservative. You are a Bible believing follower of Christ (Luke 9:62; Galatians 6:14).
9. When you love this world…..When you spend more time and money on hobbies and the things of this fleeting world than you do on attending to knowing, walking with the LORD and preparing to be used of Him (Mark 4:17-19; 1 John 2:15; James 4:4).
10. When you spend more money on trash and trinkets then helping the work of the One you claim to love and the poor. You know you are backslidden when you are not obeying God with what He’s placing in your temporal possession. He shall bring you into full account for this.
Regrettably, people will give their money to any and every pleasure under the sun but make excuses when the opportunity to support the work of the One they claim to love and serve. The Holy Spirit foretold that in the final days before the return of Jesus, there would be those with a mere “form of godliness”, “men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous,” and “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:1-7) According to the LORD, one of the main ways to measure our true love for Him or lack thereof, is by peering into our personal stewardship of the resources He’s placed into our temporary possession. Luke 12 and 16 offer a plethora of divine wisdom and warning concerning the judgment to come, the judgment we shall endure in giving account for our stewardship in this life.
The clear proof that God is working in our lives, that we are truly following Jesus, is that we are becoming less and less vested in this fleeting, fallen world (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-17). And that we, our good works, our giving are more and more invested in eternity – in the eternal kingdom of Christ, laying up treasures in Heaven, sending them before us, relinquishing the things of this world for the glory of God – putting them to work for the eternal Gospel of Christ – for saints to be fed and equipped and the lost to hear the Word of God (Matt. 6:19-21).
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:19-24
To underscore the importance of stewardship, we should realize that 16 of our LORD’s 38 parables involved stewardship. Those who now do not wish to face and confront this truth, are apparently those who are in the most need of hearing it.
PRAYER: Father I come to You now in the name of Jesus Christ. Please cause my conscience to be super sensitive to Your conviction, Your leading, and to evade all that defiles me in Your holy eyes, sin. Here and now I submit my life afresh to You dear LORD. You must increase but I must decrease. I am crucified with Christ and thank You for conforming me to His holy image. I am all Yours LORD and thank You that You are all mine. I love You Jesus. Please make me one with You and the Father and with Your beloved body. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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Articles
More Good News! Mission Mexico Part 42
IF YOU SAINTS WEREN’T SO FAITHFUL TO JESUS, NONE OF THIS WOULD BE HAPPENING…..
So while going to bring a good supply of food and household essentials to Clara and her boys, by divine ordination I tracked and spoke God’s Word to a Holy Spirit filled sister in Christ. Her name is Maria La Luz. She eagerly took about 100 or more JESUS tracts with her to distribute!!!! That’s how Mexican people are – If they have something good to give, they give it!
Boom. Oh, and Maria LaLuz are in touch by phone so she will be letting me know when she needs more. Thank you for continuing to pray as Jesus instructed in Matthew 9:35-38 – that the Father would send forth labourers into the harvest!
Working with, supporting, equipping, fueling, and supply indigenous missionaries in key to exponential kingdom momentum in the spread of Christ’s Gospel in this beautiful nation.
Just think if this kingdom operation can be duplicated throughout Mexico and Latin America! (Matthew 24:14; 28:18-20) Do we think God has a plan? Yes He does!
Because you care, prayed, and gave, another sister who was just saved recently, was given (purchased) a brand new study Bible (Life in the Spirit Study Bible) KJB. She is elated and devouring God’s Word and growing daily! (2 Peter 3:18)
Also, once again Clara was elated that you prayed and gave. She just now texted me the following after receiving your gifts today:
“Seriously, thank you very much for helping me, it means a lot to me that you help me because I have not been able to find a good job and with this we survived a few days my children and I but just like if you have work do not hesitate to send me a message and I will also go it would be very helpful since the day comes when I have to pay my rent. And again, thank you very much, you are an angel that our Lord sent me, thank you, thank you, thank you 🙏🏻” Clara
Okay now get this…. Clara has been ministered to directly and she has read the JESUS tract. I don’t think she’s saved yet. She has seen your love for Christ in action by your prayers and giving. At first I didn’t know how she was receiving the Gospel but now, from above, it’s obvious that she is being ministered to by our LORD. Perhaps she’s already saved. I don’t know due to the language barrier. But we do know God is showing her His love and power! (1 Corinthians 3:6-9)
Here’s some of the food you purchased for this single mother today! See pic.
*More than half the 10,000 JESUS tracts are already passed out or in the hands of Christ’s witnesses!!! Yes more than half in just 2 weeks.
God is hearing your prayers and honoring your giving to Him!
“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” Matthew 24:14
In Christ
Todd
Ever feel like just hitting the eject button and leaving the USA? If so, why not consider a town in Mexico? Pray. Ask God where HE wants you on His planet. Rest.
Also, perhaps begin research Mexico or Latin America on youtube.
A few days ago ….. WHEN we first arrived to refresh and minister to our LORD servant Maria, she was not her usual self, not overflowing with joy. Then when the body of Christ ministered to her, including replenishing her supply of JESUS tracts, there was a notable difference. See if you agree. Your prayers and support make this possible. | Mission Mexico Updates
“Wow!! I think of Jesus when he marveled at the faith of the centurions faith! Luke 7:9. I marvel at all the Lord is doing among the Mexican people! And now He is raising up Labourers into the harvest who emanate the joy of the Lord and His fruits! Some are crying when receiving these Jesus tracts and some are actually kissing the picture. Actually kissing the son (Psalm 2:12). Fills my heart with so much joy and I am not even there! But I am part of Team Jesus!” Karen Cochran | Mission Mexico
The meeting fellowships with Juan and Maria the evangelists continue. They are both, for the time being, stocked up on their supply of JESUS tracts and distributing them daily!
Over breakfast, when I brought the first shipment of the Spanish Bibles to Juan, he asked me if he could give them away to people who are not in prison. Of course I said “Yes” and that these Bibles are for him to be used of God to give wherever he wishes, as he ministers.
Juan is a man who is filled with God’s Word. He speaks verbatim Scripture in Spanish perpetually. The reason I know that is that when we sit down to talk at length he speaks and it’s translated into English and is pure Scripture. He has volumes of Holy Scripture memorized.
Here is Juan ministering to a dear lady. And remember, most Mexicans it seems, do not have a Bible in their home. They greatly treasure God’s Word.
“PRICELESS, LIKE OUR SAVIOR!!! She reminds me of my Great Grandma…she glowed with God’s love. It was written all over her face. She brightened the room, and you KNEW she loved you! It wasn’t till I knew the Lord, that I realized where that glow and love came from. This little light of mine, I’m a gonna let it shine… The tragedy is when that light goes out, and you can see and feel that also. VERY SAD. It’s like shutting off a light switch…from light to darkness. And they can’t see it?! So, I thank God for those who are sharing that light of God’s love, and sharing with them. Will keep praying for Maria, you, your ministry, and the family of God. Felipe, Mark, all the brethren. I keep wondering about Paul and Carol Galloway–will keep praying. God knows. May the LORD bless you Brother Todd….What a wonderful first E-mail of the day! GOD’S JOY.” Crystal
Message from brother Juan on the Spanish communications group (WA whatsapp).
“There are many injustices in life; the Word of God says so. Many receive no visitors. God works in us both to will and to act according to His good pleasure. We are called to be doers of God’s Word. And knowing the good we ought to do, yet failing to do it, is sin. To Him be all glory and honor.” Brother Juan
RECENTLY: Immediately upon beginning to hear God’s Word spoken to him in Spanish, this man began to weep and to profusely thank God, to call out to Jesus, to kiss the Jesus tract he was given, to kiss my hand and cheek. Need I state the obvious, of how hungry these beloved people are to hear and believe Jesus’ bless-ed Gospel? …. Beloved Filipe was given the Gospel of Christ and instructed to go home and repent and receive Christ for the forgiveness of his sins and that only Jesus can forgive him and that it’s not about religion but relationship. Like the vast majority of Mexicans (99%), Filipe had never heard the Gospel of Jesus till today. Please lift beloved Filipe and the Mission Mexico heavenly operation in prayer. Thank you.
WHERE does God want you in this last hour – doing HIS will, being about the “Father’s business”? (Luke 2:49) Are you surrendered and therefore crying out to the LORD to put you on HIS EARTH exactly where you can please Him the most? | Mission Mexico
It’s all because of God’s love in Christ and your prayers and support…. This homeless man received God’s love in the form of the spoken Word, a JESUS track in Spanish, and a warm breakfast and hot coffee! Jesus is moving!
“For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8
Mission Mexico
https://safeguardyoursoul.com/mexico-mission/
Issidro asked for prayer. He’s catholic but he’s open, a little bit. He received an abundance of truth from God’s Word today and a JESUS tract in Spanish. Thank you for lifting these precious souls in prayer saints.
“Praise the Lord ! She is shining for Jesus! Overflowing Joy! It’s a blessing to see how God is moving in the ministry, Mexico for Jesus, Glory to God!!” Darlene
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10
Mission Mexico – See more here. | Give support here. Many options
Download. Read. Print out your supply of the JESUS tract – English and Spanish.
Articles
Why the Apocrypha Isn’t in the Bible
MESSAGE GIVEN:
“I’m reading the apocrypha now and you can tell it’s definitely from the Bible and seems like it should be in there. I guess that is why God said in revelation if anyone changes or removes or adds anything to this Holy book all the plagues in it will come on them, cos he knew that it would happen.” V.
REPLY:
You are missapplying Revelation 22:18-19. God oversaw the canon of His Word, just as He promised to do in Ps 12:6-7. It’s exactly how He desired, ordained it to be in the King James Bible. To say God checked out, was negligent, is a lie, is bearing false witness, and is an indictment against the Almighty (Psalms 121:4; Daniel 4:32, etc.). There were specific reasons those apocryphal books were not included in the real Bible, as opposed to the catholic “bible.”
Roman Catholics may tell you, “You Protestants are missing part of the Bible. We have the rest of it.” [Note: These people’s leaders (popes, priests, etc.) have led them astray to this wrong belief.] This comment about missing books can throw people off, but it no longer has to. These popish additions to the Bible are commonly called the Apocrypha or sometimes the Deuterocanonical books. This is a short treatise on WHY these books are not in the Bible.
What is the Apocrypha anyway?
The Apocrypha is a collection of uninspired, spurious books written by various individuals. The Catholic religion considers these books as scripture just like a Bible-believer believes that the 66 books in the 1611 Authorized Version of the Bible are the Word of God, i.e., Genesis to Revelation. We are going to examine some verses from the Apocrypha later in our discussion.
At the Council of Trent (1546) the Roman Catholic institution pronounced the following apocryphal books sacred. They asserted that the apocryphal books together with unwritten tradition are of God and are to be received and venerated as the Word of God. So now you have the Bible, the Apocrypha and Catholic Tradition as co-equal sources of truth for the Catholic. In reality, it seems obvious that the Bible is the last source of truth for Catholics. Roman Catholic doctrine comes primarily from tradition stuck together with a few Bible names. In my reading of Catholic materials, I find notes like this: “You have to keep the Bible in perspective.” Catholics have been deceived into not believing that the Bible is God’s complete revelation for man [but they can come out of these deceptions in an instant if they will only believe the Bible as it is written].
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC APOCRYPHA
- Tobit
- Judith
- Wisdom
- Ecclesiasticus
- Baruch
- First and Second Maccabees
- Additions to Esther and Daniel
Apocryphal Books Rejected by the Catholic Religion:
- First and Second Esdras
- Prayer of Manasses
- Susanna*
*A reader says: “Susanna is in the Roman Catholic canon. It is Daniel 13.”
Why the Apocrypha Isn’t in the Bible.
Not one of the apocryphal books is written in the Hebrew language (the Old Testament was written in Hebrew). All Apocryphal books are in Greek, except one which is extant only in Latin.
None of the apocryphal writers laid claim to inspiration.
The apocryphal books were never acknowledged as sacred scriptures by the Jews, custodians of the Hebrew scriptures (the apocrypha was written prior to the New Testament). In fact, the Jewish people rejected and destroyed the apocrypha after the overthow of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.
The apocryphal books were not permitted among the sacred books during the first four centuries of the real Christian church (I’m certainly not talking about the Catholic religion. The Roman Catholic “Church” is not Christian).
The Apocrypha contains fabulous statements which not only contradict the “canonical” scriptures but themselves. For example, in the two Books of Maccabees, Antiochus Epiphanes is made to die three different deaths in three different places.
The Apocrypha includes doctrines in variance with the Bible, such as prayers for the dead and sinless perfection. The following verses are taken from the Apocrypha translation by Ronald Knox dated 1954:
Basis for the doctrine of purgatory:
2 Maccabees 12:43-45, 2.000 pieces of silver were sent to Jerusalem for a sin-offering…Whereupon he made reconciliation for the dead, that they might be delivered from sin.
Salvation by works:
Ecclesiasticus 3:30, Water will quench a flaming fire, and alms maketh atonement for sin.
Tobit 12:8-9, 17, It is better to give alms than to lay up gold; for alms doth deliver from death, and shall purge away all sin.
Magic:
Tobit 6:5-8, If the Devil, or an evil spirit troubles anyone, they can be driven away by making a smoke of the heart, liver, and gall of a fish…and the Devil will smell it, and flee away, and never come again anymore.
Mary was born sinless (immaculate conception):
Wisdom 8:19-20, And I was a witty child and had received a good soul. And whereas I was more good, I came to a body undefiled.
It teaches immoral practices, such as lying, suicide, assassination and magical incantation.
No apocryphal book is referred to in the New Testament whereas the Old Testament is referred to hundreds of times.
Because of these and other reasons, the apocryphal books are only valuable as ancient documents illustrative of the manners, language, opinions and history of the East.
Wasn’t the Apocrypha in the King James Bible?
The King James translators never considered the Apocrypha the word of God. As books of some historical value (e.g., details of the Maccabean revolt), the Apocrypha was sandwiched between the Old and New Testaments as an appendix of reference material. This followed the format that Luther had used. Luther prefaced the Apocrypha with a statement:
“APOCRYPHA–THAT IS, BOOKS WHICH ARE NOT REGARDED AS EQUAL TO THE HOLY SCRIPUTRES, AND YET ARE PROFITABLE AND GOOD TO READ.” KING JAMES VERSION DEFENDED, PAGE 98.
In 1599, TWELVE YEARS BEFORE the King James Bible was published, King James himself said this about the Apocrypha:
“AS TO THE APOCRIPHE BOOKES, I OMIT THEM BECAUSE I AM NO PAPIST (AS I SAID BEFORE)…” KING JAMES CHARLES STEWART BASILICON DORON, PAGE 13
In his, “A Premonition to All Most Mightie Monarches,”–found in his Workes (a collection of the king’s writings)–King James said this–
“…IS IT A SMALL CORRUPTING OF THE SCRIPTURES TO MAKE ALL, OR THE MOST PART OF THE APOCRYPHA OF EQUALL FAITH WITH THE CANONICALL SCRIPTURES…?”
Not only this, but the sixth article of the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England (1571 edition. The Church of England published the Authorized King James Version) states that
(1) the Old and New Testaments are the Bible–
IN THE NAME OF THE HOLY, WE DO VNDERSTANDE THOSE CANONICAL BOOKES OF THE OLDE AND NEWE TESTAMENT, OF WHOSE AUTHORITIE WAS NEVER ANY DOUBT IN THE CHURCHE…
(2) the apocrypha is not the Bible–
AND THE OTHER BOOKES, (AS HIEROME SAYETH), THE CHURCHE DOTH READE FOR EXAMPLE OF LIFE AND INSTRUCTION OF MANNERS: BUT YET DOTH IT NOT APPLIE THEM TO ESTABLISH ANY DOCTRENE. PHILIP SCHAFF, CREEDS OF CHRISTENDOM. GRAND RAPIDS: BAKER BOOK HOUSE, 1977, VOL. III, PP. 489-491.
The Hampton Court Document came as a result of the famous Hampton Court Conference of 1604 when King James specially commanded the translation of the Bible that would one day bear his name. Concerning the apocrypha and the Church of England, it states–
THE APOCRYPHA, THAT HATH SOME REPUGNANCY TO THE CANONICAL SCRIPTURES, SHALL NOT BE READ…
Select Statutes and Other Constitutional Documents Illustrative of the Reigns of Elizabeth and James I, edited by G.W. Prothero, Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge, 1894, p. 416
The Apocrypha began to be omitted from the Authorized Version in 1629. Puritans and Presbyterians lobbied for the complete removal of the Apocrypha from the Bible and in 1825 the British and Foreign Bible Society agreed. From that time on, the Apocrypha has been eliminated from practically all English Bibles–Catholic Bibles and some pulpit Bibles excepted.
Not even all Catholic “Church Fathers” believed the Apocrypha was scripture.
Not that this really means anything. The truth is not validated by the false. Nevertheless, this may be of interest to some… Jerome (340-420) rejected the Apocrypha:
“AS THE CHURCH READS THE BOOKS OF JUDITH AND TOBIT AND MACCABEES BUT DOES NOT RECEIVE THEM AMONG THE CANONICAL SCRIPTURES, SO ALSO IT READS WISDOM AND ECCLESIASTICUS FOR THE EDIFICATION OF THE PEOPLE, NOT FOR THE AUTHORITATIVE CONFIRMATION OF DOCTRINE.” JEROME, JEROME’S PREFACE TO THE BOOKS OF SOLOMON
According to Edward Hills in The King James Version Defended p. 98 other famous Catholics with this viewpoint include Augustine (354-430 who at first defended the Apocrypha as canonical), Pope Gregory the Great (540-604), Cardinal Ximenes, and Cardinal Cajetan.
There are other spurious books.
These include the Pseudepigrapha which contains Enoch, Michael the Archangel, and Jannes and Jambres. Many spurious books falsely claim to have been written by various Old Testament patriarchs. They were composed between 200 B.C. and 100 A.D. There are lots of these spurious books like The Assumption of Moses, Apocalypse of Elijah, and Ascension of Isaiah.
Concerning the Dead Sea Scrolls, there may be some information in them that parallels the Masoretic Text, but there are fables in them, too. I went to see the scrolls a few years ago with great expectation but found a bunch of fables. The best defense against error in any form (unauthorized Bibles and religions) is a solid knowledge of the AUTHORIZED (King James) Version of 1611 of the Bible. If you read it, forgeries become readily apparent.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
King James VI & I Page
The Workes of the Most High and Mightie Prince Iames [James], By the Grace of God, King of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c.
Translators Revived, Alexander McClure, p. 142
Bible Believing Study, Edward F. Hills, p. 15
The King James Version Defended, Edward F. Hills, p. 96, 97, 98
God Wrote Only One Bible, Jasper James Ray, p. 90
An Understandable History of the Bible, Dr. Samuel Gipp, p. 245
Making Peace with God | Bible Versions Issue | Why Did the 1611 KJV Include the Apocrypha? | THE NEW AMERICAN BIBLE OR DOUAY? Catholic “Bibles” Exposed | Lineage of the Modern Corrupt | The Catholic Church Exposed
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More Good News! Mission Mexico Part 42
Why the Apocrypha Isn’t in the Bible
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