The Shack: Satan’s Shack Exposed

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]

“I am the only ‘god’ there is. I have to fix things, make sure things turn out right, try to get a handle on people and events… and frankly, I do a very poor job for it… this playing god thing.” William P. Young, Author of The Shack

First, it is interesting to see how many people who think they are genuine Christians run out and get the latest fad book and drink in its theology. These same people do not study the Word of God daily to show themselves approved unto God (2 Tim. 2:15). The true disciples of Christ, whose lamps are full, as they look for His soon return, live in His Word daily and so are not impressed with the latest celebrity wolf who writes a book. Wise virgin disciples are established in Jesus Christ and not moved about with “every wind of doctrine” that blows through the apostate church world (Eph. 4:14; Col. 2:4-10). These fear and look to the One who is above all others and gave His life for us. The LORD also gave to us the very “thoughts of His heart” in his Word (Ps. 33:11; Jn. 15:13).

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17

One positive thing that is coming out of the expose’ of the evil doctrines in this diabolical book, is that the false teachers or hirelings who fill positions and pulpits today who endorsed this book, are now openly seen for who they really are. The remnant sheep of Christ can now more clearly see the wolves who endorsed this antichrist book called The Shack. Those who gave accolades to or endorsed Satan’s shack book are false prophets and will receive the very same judgment as the wolf who wrote this book – they bid god speed to a liar who has brazenly misrepresented the LORD. – “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 1:10-11 (KJV)

Concerning this pagan book, The Shack, one believer notes:

“Makes me sad, to see how many people claim to like this book, yet with the same mouth, they claim to be followers of Christ. That’s like saying you love children, but then supporting abortion. You can’t love God, and like a book like that, whether it is ‘just a story’ or not, is nothing but heresy against God!”

Another disciple who read the books says:

“I read that book based on a recommendation from someone that I love and respect. This person was my former pastor. I read it two years ago and hated it. I didn’t realize the heresy in it at the time but in these 2 years, I’ve grown so much that I can now recognize a vast majority of the false teaching. It is full of new age stuff. I learned something new about it 2 weeks ago. I was reading a post on someone else’s wall where they mentioned Sophia Wiccan and it was like a light bulb went off in my head. Sophia….wasn’t that name used in The Shack….and I bet it means more than I imagine? I started googling and I was right. Sophia represented the Holy Spirit in The Shack and represented wisdom and is also a goddess. We now have goddess worship slipped in as a disguise for a female Holy Spirit in The Shack. This book is full of new age teaching and is just plain heresy.” Linda Reynolds

We received the following recently pertaining to the latest fad book sweeping the “Christian” marketplace. There is some real important wisdom in brother McMahon’s words here as he answered the question. It is a very dangerous undertaking to write a “Christian” fiction book and remain within the bounds of Holy Scripture without misrepresenting the LORD. Such is grave sin. Feel free to pass this on to others and oh, I placed a link to an audio message exposing The Shack as false (see end of article).

Question: I’m confused by a book that is very popular among my circle of Christian friends. It’s titled The Shack, and although it is endorsed by some leading evangelicals, I was freaked out by it and couldn’t actually finish it. I don’t understand how anyone thinks he can put God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in a fictional situation and then have them speak the words out of his own imagination. Isn’t this dead wrong?

Response: Yes. It’s also blasphemy. Here is a definition of that word from Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language: “[It] is an injury offered to God, by denying that which is due and belonging to Him, or attributing to Him that which is not [true to] His nature.” The Shack‘s author, William P. Young, conjures up God the Father as a hip-talking, now-and-then crude black woman referred to as “Papa,” Jesus as a sometimes inept good ol’ boy enamored with His humanity and creation, and the Holy Spirit as a wisp of a woman from Asia, who gardens and collects tears. Shouldn’t that be enough to turn off or offend those who profess to truly know the God of the Bible? Evidently not. Christians have pushed sales of The Shack to beyond one million copies at this writing.

Idolatry is another major abomination of the book. Young manufactures out of his own imagination an image of God and the Holy Spirit. That is condemned (Exodus 20:4) by God for understandable reasons. Any attempt by finite, fallen man even to hint at a material image of Deity would result in an absolutely false representation, let alone an offensive caricature of Almighty God. Furthermore, these two Persons of the Trinity are Spirits, who never appear in physical form, certainly not as females (nor in drag, which the Scriptures condemn!), nor are they ever referred to as female.

The Shack is clearly the work of a false prophet. The sense in which we’re using the word “prophet” here is not that of declaring forthcoming events but rather speaking forth the words of God (2 Peter 1:20-21). The dialogue Young has created for his fictional God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit is heretical and a defamation against the character of the Persons of the Godhead. For example, Papa declares to the central figure, “Well, Mackenzie, don’t just stand there gawkin’ with your mouth open like your pants are full.” Jesus, who can’t seem to restrain his giggles and chuckles, after receiving a kiss from Papa and loving “her” earthiness, declares, “She’s a riot.” “Mack’s” interaction with his “trinity” is part-time funfest, part-time inner healing methodologies and catharses, and part-time God explaining Himself (which He left out of the Bible!), and all of it intermingled with hugs, kisses, and other displays that reveal them to be so much like us.

The audacity of anyone putting his own words in the mouth of God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit (under the guise of fiction or not) is beneath contempt. Incredibly, that hasn’t deterred conservative evangelical leader Gale Erwin, charismatic leader James Ryle, Emerging Church writer Jim Palmer, and evangelical celebrity Michael W. Smith from endorsing The Shack, and many Christians can’t seem to get enough of its “make me feel better about myself and God” talk.

Cultists have written volumes claiming to speak for God; now we have it in the church! Ravi Zacharias wrote three supposedly apologetic books not too long ago featuring Jesus in conversation with Buddha, Oscar Wilde, and Confucius. Eugene Peterson, whose The Message Bible majored in substituting his own words for God’s, is the featured endorser of The Shack (“This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his. It’s that good!”). No, “this book” is one more instrument of Satan’s grand scheme to undermine the Word of God for this generation, the basis of which began in the Garden of Eden with his seductive words to Eve: “Yea, hath God said…?”

Space prevents me from further exposing the rampant heresies, psychobabble, and the pervasive denigration of God, His Word, and His church throughout The Shack. But then, if what has been presented above isn’t reason enough to reject the book, or an appeal to be a Berean, it’s unlikely that a few more pages of input will be either convincing or convicting, especially for the many who claim their lives have been forever changed by this work of antibiblical fiction.”

LET’S LEARN GOD’S WORD TOGETHER – ONE TRUTH AT A TIME: This message was sent out to each person who is on our Moments For My Master email devotional list. We would love to add you and have the privilege of nourishing your heart with God’s Word (1 Tim. 4:6). Sign up here.

How long shall gullible people, claiming to be Christians, run out and buy the latest fad book that is supposedly Christian and be further deceived? Anyone who claims to be a follower of Jesus and yet reads anything (newspaper, magazines, books) more than His Holy Word, should be ashamed of themselves and repent before it’s too late!

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

THE SHACK Its New Age Leaven

God IN Everything?

The new fad book titled “The Shack” is chock full of new age teaching. God bless and prosper watchmen like brother Warren Smith for obeying Jesus and exposing this work of Satan to lure away and lead astray God’s sheep!

God IN Everything? (from http://herescope.blogspot.com/2008/06/shack-its-new-age-leaven.html )
By Warren Smith

“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”
– Galatians 5:9

The Shack is being described as a “Christian” novel and is currently ranked number one on the New York Times bestseller list for paperback fiction. Many believers are buying multiple copies and giving them to friends and family. The Shack reads as a true story, but is obviously allegorical fiction. The book conveys postmodern spiritual ideas and teachings that challenge biblical Christianity – all in the name of “God” and “Jesus” and the “Holy Spirit.” Author William P. Young’s alternative presentation of traditional Christianity has both inspired and outraged his many readers. All the while his book continues to fly off the shelves of local bookstores.

Much like New Age author James Redfield’s book The Celestine Prophecy, The Shack is a fictional vehicle for upending certain religious concepts and presenting contrary spiritual scenarios. Allegorical novels can be a clever way to present truth. They can also be used to present things that seem to be true but really are not. Some books like The Shack do both.

I was drawn into the New Age Movement years ago by books and lectures containing parabolic stories that were not unlike The Shack. They felt spiritually uplifting as they tackled tough issues and talked about God’s love and forgiveness. They seemed to provide me with what I spiritually needed as they gave me much needed hope and promise. Building on the credibility they achieved through their inspirational and emotive writings, my New Age authors and teachers would then go on to tell me that “God” was “in” everyone and everything.

I discovered that author William P. Young does exactly the same thing in The Shack. He moves through his very engaging and emotional story to eventually present this same New Age teaching that God is “in” everything.

But I am getting ahead of myself. Let me first provide some background material concerning this key New Age doctrine that “God is in everything.” A good place to start is with Eugene Peterson, the author of the controversial Bible paraphrase The Message. After all, Peterson’s enthusiastic endorsement of The Shack is featured right under the author’s name on the front cover.

Ironically, it was Peterson’s endorsement that caused me to be immediately suspicious of this high-profile, bestselling “Christian” book. Through his questionable paraphrasing of the Bible, Peterson had already aligned himself in a number of areas with New Age/New Spiritualityteachings. One obvious example was where he translated a key verse in the Lord’s Prayer to read “as above, so below” rather than “in earth, as it is in heaven.” “As above, so below” was a term that I was very familiar with from my previous involvement in the New Age Movement. This esoteric saying has been an occult centerpiece for nearly five thousand years. It is alleged by New Age metaphysicians to be the key to all magic and all mysteries. It means that God is not only transcendent — “out there”— but He is also immanent — “in” everyone and everything.

But, as I found out just before abandoning the deceptive teachings of the New Age for the Truth of biblical Christianity, God is not “in” everyone and everything. The Bible makes it clear that man is not divine and that man is not God (Ezekiel 28:2, Hosea 11:9, John 2:24-25, etc.) In Deceived on Purpose: The New Age Implications of the Purpose-Driven Church, I quoted the editors of the New Age Journal as they defined “as above, so below” in their book, As Above, So Below:

“’As above, so below, as below, so above.’ This maxim implies that the transcendent God beyond the physical universe and the immanent God within ourselves are one.” (p. 32)

My concern about Peterson’s undiscerning use of “as above, so below” in the Lord’s Prayer was underscored when the 2006 bestseller, The Secret, showcased this same occult/New Age phrase. In fact, it was the introductory quote at the very beginning of the book. By immediately featuring “as above, so below” the author Rhonda Byrne was telling her readers in definite New Age language that “God is in everyone and everything.” Towards the end of the book, The Secret puts into more practical words what the author initially meant by introducing the immanent concept of “as above, so below.” On page 164 The Secret tells its readers—“You are God in a physical body.”

Most significantly, in his book The Reappearance of the Christ and the Masters of Wisdom, New Age leader Benjamin Creme reveals that a New World Religion will be based on this foundational “as above, so below” teaching of immanence — this idea that God is “in” everyone and everything:

“But eventually a new world religion will be inaugurated which will be a fusion and synthesis of the approach of the East and the approach of the West. The Christ will bring together, not simply Christianity and Buddhism, but the concept of God transcendent — outside of His creation — and also the concept of God immanent in all creation — in man and all creation.” (p. 88)

New Age matriarch Alice Bailey, in her book The Reappearance of the Christ, wrote:

“…a fresh orientation to divinity and to the acceptance of the fact of God Transcendent and God Immanent within every form of life. “These are foundational truths upon which the world religion of the future will rest.” (p. 88) [link added]

In a November 9, 2003 Hour of Power sermon – just two months before he was a featured speaker at the annual meeting of the National Association of Evangelicals – Crystal Cathedral minister Robert Schuller unabashedly aligned himself with this same New Age/New World Religion teaching. The man who claims to have mentored thousands of pastors, including Bill Hybels and Rick Warren, stated:

“You know in theology — pardon me for using a couple of big words — but in theology the God we believe in, this God of Abraham, is a transcendent God. But He is also an immanent God. Transcendent means up there, out there, above us all. But God is also an immanent God — immanence of God and the transcendence of God — but then you have a balanced perspective of God. The immanence of God means here, in me, around me, in society, in the world, this God here, in the humanities, in the science, in the arts, sociology, in politics — the immanence of God…. Yes, God is alive and He is in every single human being!”

But God is not in every single human being. God is not in everything. One of the many reasons I wrote Deceived on Purpose was because Rick Warren presented his readers with this same “God in everything” teaching. Quoting an obviously flawed New Century Bible translation of Ephesians 4:6, Rick Warren — whether he meant to or not — was teaching his millions of readers the foundational doctrine of the New World Religion. Describing God in his book, The Purpose-Driven Life, he wrote:

“He rules everything and is everywhere and is in everything.” (p. 88)

Compounding the matter further, “immanence” has been taught as part of the Foundations class at Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church. An ill-defined reference to immanence on page 46 of the Saddleback Foundations Participants Guide plays right into the hands of the New Spirituality/New World Religion by stating:

“The fact that God stands above and beyond his creation does not mean he stands outside his creation. He is both transcendent (above and beyond his creation) and immanent (within and throughout his creation).”

All of this discussion about “God in everything” immanence is to explain why The Shack is such a deceptive book. It teaches this same heresy. This book ostensibly attempts to deal with the deeply sensitive issues surrounding the murder of a young child. Because of the author’s intensely personal story line, most readers become engaged with the book on a deep emotional level. However, the author’s use of poetic license to convey his highly subjective, and often unbiblical, spiritual views becomes increasingly problematic as the story line develops. This is most apparent when he uses the person of “Jesus” to suddenly introduce the foundational teaching of the New Spirituality/New World Religion — God is “in” everything. Using the New Age term “ground of being” to describe “God,” the “Jesus” of The Shack states:

“God, who is the ground of all being, dwells in, around, and through all things….” (p. 112)

This false teaching about a “God” who “dwells in, around, and through all things” is the kind of New Age leaven that left unchallenged could leaven the church into the New Age/New Spirituality of the proposed New World Religion. And while many people have expressed a great deal of emotional attachment to The Shack and its characters — this leaven alone contaminates the whole book.

Clearly, the “Jesus” of The Shack is not Jesus Christ of the Bible. The apostle Paul chided the Corinthians and warned them that they were vulnerable and extremely susceptible to “another Jesus”and “another gospel” and “another spirit” that were not from God (2 Corinthians 2:11). In the Bible, the real Jesus Christ warned that spiritual deception would be a sign before His return. He further warned that there would be those who would even come in His name, pretending to be Him (Matthew 24:3-5;24).

Without ascribing any ill motive to William Young and his book The Shack, the author’s use of spiritual creativity seems to give a “Christian” assent to the New Age/New Spirituality of the proposed New World Religion. His mixing of truth and error can become very confusing to readers, and God is not the author of confusion (I Corinthians 14:33).

One pastor emphasized the fact that truth mixed with error results in “all error” — a direct refutation of the Emergent Church teaching to find “truth” wherever it may be found — including books like The Shack. He wrote wrote:

“Error is like leaven, of which we read, ‘A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.’ Truth mixed with error is equivalent to all error, except that it is more innocent looking and, therefore, more dangerous. God hates such a mixture! Any error, or any truth-and-error mixture, calls for definite exposure and repudiation. To condone such is to be unfaithful to God and His Word and treacherous to imperiled souls for whom Christ died.”

The Shack has touched the hearts and emotions of many people. While there are many other examples of the author’s unbiblical liberality, introducing the heretical New Age teaching that “God dwells in, and around, and through all things” is in and by itself enough to completely undermine any value the book might otherwise have for faithful believers. To allow yourself to get carried away by this story, while disregarding the book’s New Age/New Spirituality leaven, is to fall prey to the “truth-and-error” mixture that pervades The Shack. And he warned—“God hates such a mixture.”

Before Christians buy one more copy of this book, they need to come to terms with what this author is ultimately teaching and what it is they are passing along to their friends and fellow believers.

The Truth:
“And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (1 Timothy 4:4)

Warren Smith is the author of numerous articles and books on the topic of the New Age/New Spirituality and how it is entering the evangelical church.

Deceived on Purpose: The New Age Implications of the Purpose-Driven Church
The Light that was Dark: From the New Age to Amazing Grace
Reinventing Jesus Christ: The New Gospel

LINKS

“Millions of people around the world have been seduced into believing that the god of The Shack is the same god as the God of the Bible. Beware the Shack compares the real, biblical God with the one created by the imagination of the creators of The Shack.” John K. Langemann,

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PEACE with GOD

The Joy of the Bible [podcast]

The Laid Down Life [podcast]

The Book of Jude Narrated [podcast]

Articles

Clara and Her Boys Blessed! Mexico Mission Rolling!

Okay so here’s the original message concerning Clara.

Brother Vicente continues to minister to the Word of God to men I minister to and then hand them off to him and/or brother Salvador. Such was the case with a man named Florentine who received the spoken Word of God and a JESUS tract in Spanish last week. Both Salvador and Vicente are now in touch with this man and ministering God’s Word to him in his own native tongue, Spanish. Just now, tonight, brother Vicente sent me this: “I’m taking this opportunity, brother, to see if you have any work available for someone. She’s a woman looking for work from 7 AM to 2 PM, cleaning or anything else you can find. If you could get her something, please. She has three children and is a single mother. She doesn’t have a husband. Or if you, the group, could get her things to sell. She’s a young woman with very limited resources.” Vicente

Okay saints, here’s another opportunity. Please lift this dear lady in prayer and her children.

We are already helping a man who is cleaning the vehicle weekly – by paying him cash and buying him lunch once or twice weekly.

I am thinking of hiring Clara to clean the apartment weekly or every other week. This will help her with her monthly bills.

And anyone who wish to help her, just earmark your gift or email me to discuss.

In Christ

Todd

JESUS tract ENGLISH (click to download print-ready PDF) this is the actual text of the JESUS tract of both the English and JESUS tract SPANISH (click to download print-ready PDF]

TODAY: YOU, YOUR PRAYERS AND LOVE OFFERINGS MADE CLARA’S DAY, WEEK, MONTH, AND YEAR!!!

We live in a fallen world and as is far too common this dear woman is carrying a load, burdens that God never intended her to carry (1 Timothy 5:14; 1 Peter 3:7). And you answered her plight and pain with the love of God!

“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” Proverbs 19:17

Clara thought she was just coming over to clean my apartment and get a few dollars. God and you had more in mind though!!!!

I will let her speak to you in her own exact words. Upon receiving the cash you sent, which is a large amount in the Mexican economy, Clara broke down uncontrollably in tears for a long while. She was literally shaking, sobbing, tears were flowing down her face. This blessing shocked her – and it’s ALL your fault! 😉 You are guilty as charged beloved of God!

“No one has ever done anything like this for me … I had nothing left to feed my children at home.” Clara

Here below is the raw version of Clara’s words of gratitude for what God did through you, your love! She was only expecting a few dollars for cleaning the apartment. Clara was stunned when I pulled YOUR wad of cash out of my pocket and handed it to her for cleaning the apartment. After she broke down and cried for a while, she spoke her words into google translate to communicate to us. Clara said ……

“Seriously, thank you so much. This means a lot to me. I’ve really struggled a lot. I’m sorry I cried, but I’m very sentimental. No one has ever done anything like this for me. Many people approach me with bad intentions, and some, knowing my need, try to take advantage of it. Tell your friends that I’m so grateful for what they’re doing for me. I’ll never tire of thanking them because, honestly, I had nothing left to feed my children at home, and this will help me buy groceries so they can eat well.

I’m not tired, to be honest. What motivates me are my children.

Without them, my life would have no meaning. I came to work with you today

because of them, and I’m leaving happy, knowing that my life will gradually

improve. Now all I want is to go back home to see my children and be able to

cook them something delicious because I know they’re waiting for me.” Clara

After she spoke of cooking for her boys, I asked Clara if we could go to the grocery store first before I took her home. We went and bought a whole, very large basket full of food. This family has food for weeks and you did it!!! You stepped up and said “Yes LORD Jesus! Thank You for this opportunity to give out of what You gave me – to bless this family in need!” Clara

“Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” Proverbs 16:19

Mission Mexico

WHILE this was all happening, one of you Christ-glorifying culprits wired $150 – the exact amount that was spent to get Clara a very large portion of groceries~! There was no plan to buy her those groceries but GOD had the plan!!!! The plan was for her to have that cash she received and a basket overflowing with food!!!!

Your giving to Christ’s work …

Makes this happen …

Real people receiving real help, real love, real touch from the body of Christ.

Mission Mexico – See more here.

Download. Read. Print out your supply of the JESUS tract – English and Spanish.

Mission Mexico Part 35 Video Update, etc.

WHILE the people of America have made up their mind, don’t want to be bothered with the Gospel, openly reject it, the people of Mexico grope in darkness, knowing something huge is missing in the lives, waiting only for someone who will deliver the message of Jesus to them. It’s absolutely stunning. “How shall they hear without a preacher?” Romans 10:14 If you’re going to try to convince me that God has millions of professing “Christians” sitting around doing nothing but chasing the next fleeting trinket while the people of Mexico and other countries perish for not having the Gospel… […]

Video Update Mission Mexico [video]

You can help us minister to the people of Mexico. Your prayers and financial support is needed. It’s a grand evangelism opportunity. | Support Mission Mexico Mission Mexico Mission Mexico – See more here. Download. Read. Print out your supply of the JESUS tract – English and Spanish.

Articles

What’s Wrong with the Modern Church World? [podcast]

Is Church Membership Biblical?

State of the Earliest Disciples of Jesus

It’s more than obvious that local churches today are about EVERYTHING EXCEPT JESUS. If you don’t see this, that only proves how Satan has used this system of rebellion called “the church” to blind you to the true Gospel, plan, and will of God.

Anyone who doesn’t see that most pastors are preaching a false Gospel, do not know the true Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:2-5; Galatians 1:6-9).

It’s amazing how we learn to truly begin to trust and walk with the LORD when we leave the modern church system. When we leave it, we no longer trust the idols and elements we once relied upon. Then we can experience true fellowship with Christ and His beloved people.

Just after Pentecost, when the Church was born, before any deceivers or deception could enter in, the saints flourished with Christ and His beloved people. See Acts 2:42-47 as the model of fellowship. Acts 2:42-47 is the prescription for true New Testament worship. Note the word “daily.”

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine (God’s Word) and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” Acts 2:42-47

Note that only the LORD can add to His church.

Is there a difference is what we see when peering into the early church and that which calls itself the church today?

What four things were these earliest Christians doing as they met together? Read the first verse one more time and notice closely those four things.

Notice in verse 43 above it says that “fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.” Wow! Where’s the fear of the LORD among those who claim to be saved in this late hour? Where is it? Where are the “wonders and signs”?

The “wonders and signs” aren’t present today because of the lack of the communication of the Gospel to the lost which Jesus promised to confirm with signs following (Mark 16:15-20).

“And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Mark 16:20

Beloved saint, I want to encourage you to read this blessed passage every day for the next week (Acts 2:42-47). Drink it in, allowing the LORD to use His very words here to begin to possess your heart and mind with His vision for His beloved people.

“There was a Great Persecution Against the Church”

“And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. 3 As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. 4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” Acts 8:1-4

The apostles (under shepherds) stayed at Jerusalem but of the other Christians, the Word relates here that “they were all scattered abroad.”

When persecution hit, those who fled went forth “preaching the word.” When persecution hits our land, how many will even know God’s Word in order to go forth spreading it to others?

That will require knowing God’s Word and most who claim to know Christ today have very little learning in God’s Word. They have been entertained and / or steeped in something else other than Jesus Christ through His Word.

You see, let’s piece together the Word of God a bit. When the LORD poured out His promise – the baptism with the Holy Spirit – His people flourished in worshiping Him and being prepared of Him to do exploits. – “the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many.” (Daniel 11:32-33)

As we see in this powerful passage of Scripture in the book of Daniel, knowing the LORD, doing exploits by His power, having His understanding of His Word, and instructing others in His truth, all go hand-in-hand.

Leading up to and before this hour when “great persecution” hit Jerusalem, the earliest believers were engaged in authentic fellowship which begins with continuing “stedfastly in the apostles doctrine” which is contained in the 27 books of the New Testament canon of Holy Scripture (Acts 2:42). These earlier followers of Jesus flourished in vital union with Him. They were individually consumed. Then, persecution hit and when it did, each individual disciple “went everywhere preaching the word” of God (Acts 8:4). The individual believers in the early church were equipped and this is obvious because each of them “went everywhere preaching the word” of God (Acts 8:4).

Before the “great persecution” hit, the saints of Jesus were flourishing in fellowship with Jesus and therefore one another. They were learning of the LORD. They weren’t being entertained by hireling wolves because none had yet entered into the flock (Acts 20:27-32). God was moving and they were learning of Him, being equipped, trained, and prepared.

“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.” 1 Timothy 4:6

Being daily nourished in our hearts by God’s Word is essential and so is attaining to “good doctrine.” This will only happen by diligent, deliberate obedience to the LORD. This is how He prepares His people to do His work. Of Ezra, the servant of the LORD, the Bible records:

“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.” Ezra 7:10

The LORD requires preparation in order to use someone.

“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21

What will happen when persecution hits America? Have the individuals who sit in church buildings every Sunday ever even been told they need to repent and surrender completely to the LORD? If so, are they being prepared/equipped as is the mandate upon all elders to do? (Ephesians 4:11-12) Jesus commanded us to teach and feed His sheep.

Wolves entertain goats.
True disciples feed sheep, prepare them for the work of the ministry, and push them on to spiritual maturity/perfection. Any leader not doing this is a wolf!

The LORD told us plainly through the prophet Isaiah that “the leaders” among us are the problem:

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

In a time when many reading these very words should be teaching, you don’t even know the fundamentals of the faith.

“Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil. 1 Therefore leaving the principles (basic fundamentals) of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection (maturity); not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit.” Hebrews 5:11-14; 6:1-3

Most who name the name of Jesus as their Savior do not even know there are foundation doctrines of Christ. They have never even heard about this. Yet, as we just read, all believers are to know and be teaching the words of our LORD and to go on to maturity, bringing others along.

“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 4:16

If you now realize that you have been a gullible pawn of some man or men who were/are simply building their little church business at your expense, I want to encourage you flee for your life at once and to get rooted and grounded in God’s love and in His Word. – “Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.” (Genesis 19:17) The LORD is going to judge the wicked who now occupy that which poses as His church and yet is merely using His name in vain to make themselves popular and rich (Isaiah 56:8-12; Matthew 7:13-23; Romans 16:17-18; Philippians 3:18-19).

God has a much larger plan for His called-out elders than being in leadership in a physical building. His sphere is much more expansive, unrestrained, unencumbered by man’s imposed borders and limits. If a physical building defines or determines a man’s ministry, would that not be an indictment upon Christ and His twelve? Jesus and His apostles don’t qualify as much if possessing real estate where man is king is a defining factor. None of them chose to have a building to minister out of. No, instead they went to the people and were free to be led by the Holy Spirit to the exact places and people whom God wanted to bless.

No Scripture Knowledge

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.” 1 Peter 2:2

To illustrate this great deficiency of truth in that which calls itself Christ’s church, please allow me to convey a conversation I recently had. While talking to a lady about the things of the LORD and the Bible, she wrote this to me (These are her exact words):

“How do you know all these verses? I’ve gone to church all my life, and I can’t quote anything.”

This is an all-too—common admission among those who are good church members but not true disciples of Jesus Christ. This lady is sitting under a false shepherd who has not obeyed God by getting her into His Word for herself. The man or men she has wrongly submitted to are not obeying the LORD by teaching all men all the things Jesus teaches us in His Word (Matthew 28:18-20). Those leaders she has placed herself under are not equipping the sheep of the LORD’s pasture for true worship and the works of the LORD He commands His people to do.

The current apostate system has completely incapacitated the working of the Gospel and Holy Spirit of God in each individual saint. The system is simply making people part of the system – the status quo membership, tithing, and weekly attendance is the extent of involvement. Basically, it’s a brainless, just-follow-along type social club. The deepest involvement of the individual may be giving their own opinion about a topic in a cell group meeting. Hardly an activity seen in the book of Acts. Pitifully lame!

Most who claim to know Jesus don’t even have five Bible verses memorized. This is a telling fact. Instead of learning to take up the cross daily and walk with Jesus, learning God’s Word diligently, they depend on their CEO style pastor and local church and not on Christ. Because he wants job security, the hireling pastor(s) never teach their naïve audiences to deny self, take up their cross, and follow Christ themselves.

But the LORD holds each of us individually responsible to study and know His blessed Precepts – and to do them.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15

The fact that God’s very Word – “the apostles doctrine” – is not the main course of local churches today, is clear evidence of complete apostasy and guarantee that divine judgment is coming upon them (Jeremiah 6:19).

The Great Commission Command of Christ

What shall we answer the LORD on that Great and Terrible Day? How shall we make excuse? How will we explain to Him who bled and rose again that we didn’t understand His simple command – the Great Commission?
“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20
Those who aren’t following the teachings of Christ, are not following Christ!

Are you learning and teaching God’s Word to others? Such will answer whether or not you are genuinely following Christ. He command it – now “Repent” and “Go.”

Many will regret the wasted years and dollars they squandered on lukewarm local fellowships (Revelation 3:16-17; 21:4). They will have lost volumes of eternal reward for doing so – if they are in Heaven.

The cry of the disciple’s heart is “I simply want to know and follow Jesus as His authentic disciple.” And, most of the time, the local church gets in the way of this – hinders and misdirects the time, energy, and resources of their capture, their corralled prey! Beware.

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The Curse of the Judaizers [podcast]

MODERN ANTICHRISTS BLASPHEMOUSLY SAY THAT JESUS’ SACRIFICE WASN’T ENOUGH SO YOU HAVE TO KEEP TORAH. Jesus says “IT IS FINISHED” (John 19:30). SOMEBODY’S LYING, AND IT ISN’T JESUS.

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” Romans 3:28

The Curse of the Judaizers

It has been rightly observed that the most prolific, prevalent heresy of the New Testament era is the curse of the Judaizers. That is, the “accursed” snakes seducing the members of the body of Christ to go back under the law, which is “another gospel” (Galatians 1:6-9). Since they have put law-keeping (the law), in place of Jesus, we know they are antichrists. Remember, ALL Judaizers, Hebrew Roots groups have this goal—to seduce you to cease trusting Christ and go back under law-keeping. They will vehemently swear that this is not their goal and yet experience tells us different. They are snakes, in every case. Read Galatians closely, afresh. Also Colossians 2.

The true New Testament saved-by-grace-through-faith-in-Christ-alone disciple, sees the Old Testament through the eyes of the infinitely superior NEW Testament. In contrast, the Judaizing serpents seduce their prey to do the opposite—to see the New through the Old. Hebrews 8-10 clearly emphasizes the infinitely superior blessings of the NEW Testament He gave us in Christ (John 1:17).

Glory robbing devils of the vilest nature: Torah keeping antichrists are not upholding Christ, the HEAD of HIS church. Memorize Romans 10:4.

“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power …. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, 19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.” Colossians 2:8-10, 18-19

REST is the blessing of God and wise to partake of in worshipful observance of the LORD who will thereby grant great productivity. Yet keeping a certain day is never commanded under the NEW Testament—because it’s BY FAITH that we rest in our Sabbath, JESUS CHRIST—the only One to perfectly keep the law, then He nailed it to the cross and took it out of the way (Colossians 2:14-19). Read Hebrews 4. Keeping or not keeping a day weekly has nothing to do with salvation. This is how the judaizing wolves seduce saved-by-grace-through-faith saints back under law keeping. And there’s where they are cut off from God, they fall away—due to rejecting Christ’s perfect sacrifice alone for their redemption (Galatians 3:1-3; 5:4). When Jesus says “If ye love me keep my commandments” He is not saying to keep SATURN-day and we know that because He nor His holy apostles ever once instructed any born again disciple to keep any certain day. Paul warns about this often. See Colossians 2:14-19. Salvation, eternal life is Jesus Christ, not His creation, not a day He made (1 John 5:20-21).

The Old Covenant is Obsolete:

“In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old (obsolete). Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:13

The Old Covenant is “abolished” yet we have antichrists going around insisting that people “keep Torah.” They are not saved.

“And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is ABOLISHED:” 2 Corinthians 3:13

“Having ABOLISHED in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;” Ephesians 2:15

The old covenant is “ABOLISHED.” It has been superseded by the infinitely superior NEW Covenant ratified in the blood of the Son of God (Matthew 26:28). The old covenant is “abolished.”

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” Galatians 2:16

Read 2 Corinthians 3 each morning this week.

Anyone who gets saved and then doesn’t drill down into the doctrinal letters and epistles and get grounded in grace through faith justification and living, will be susceptible to being deceived by the antichrist Judaizers in our midst. It will cost many of them their eternal souls. There will be not one law-keeping Judaizing snake in Heaven. If you don’t know that, you are biblically illiterate. Romans. Galatians. Ephesians. Philippians. Colossians. Hebrews.

“The yoke of bondage” is law keeping.

“Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” Galatians 5:1

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