When the Very Presence of Evil Has Free Reign to Masquerade

Unencumbered as Angels of Light

Most by now, know my position on America, that she is clearly described as the (New Babylon, The Virgin Daughter of Babylon, Babylon the Great or The Whore Who Sits on Many Waters). And I am keenly aware; there are many who readily disagree with my insinuation of such. And that is certainly an exercise of one’s freewill to do so, which I fully accept as your sole right. However, there are certain revealed prophetic truths, that for many true believers in the faith of Christ, are clearly undeniable. And to willfully and with a predetermined intent refuse or accept, what the Revealer of this unsettling Truth [Jesus the Christ], has revealed to His Church, is to openly insult the Lord to His face! I want to give just a few examples of the magnitude of religious organizations masquerading as bastions of light, goodness, holiness etc., that are in-reality nothing more than a fast-forward dive into the regions of the damned! Because of their unbelief in Christ? No! But because they willfully allowed themselves to completely be brainwashed by refusing to search out “The Truth” (Christ Himself) but instead were satisfied to be fed with the falsehoods created by men of the baser sort. And these truths will not be based on my opinion but out of their own mouth and organizational design.

Jesus Tells Us Clearly Where Their Habitation Is! 

Our Lord Christ makes no mystery of where Satan’s ministers masquerading as apostles of righteousness make their habitation.  The New Babylon (America): “ Babylon the Great has become a habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit [a place where every foul spirit is trapped but feels safe] and a cage of every unclean and hateful human debauchery.” Revelation 18:3 The seriousness of America’s spiritual danger is further compounded by her pseudo title as the greatest Christian nation on the earth.  And the god of this world, Satan, unlike lukewarm people of faith, never misses an opportunity to enslave the unsuspecting.  Paul, warned of the extreme danger each person in search of the Lord’s truth will encounter, if they are slothful and too lazy to search out truth for themselves. “The simplicity that resides in knowing Christ” has always been under a full-frontal assault from Satan.  And Paul warns, “What I do, what I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which which desire occasion (to soil the simplicity that is in Christ) and even though they glory, I may exposed for who they truly are. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And do not marvel [in other words don’t act shocked or caught off guard]; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing id his minsters also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” II Corinthians 11:12-15. 

That pretty much sums-up America’s real present spiritual state.  In this post I will focus on some of the most dangerous foul spirits in this country operating with impunity [free from punishment].  First are the “Word of Faith Movement” who make merchandise of the gospel they freely received, and then there “Prosperity and Health prognosticators” who market healings for filthy lucre.  Then there are the cults masquerading as true servants of God; The Jehovah’s Witnesses [deceived into believing they are the only true witness of Jehovah in the coming paradise on earth], The Latter Day Saints, [spiritual dupes who believe they are getting their kingdom] Seventh Day Adventist who have been brain washed to live life according to the Old Testament Law that God Himself disannulled [or as though it never existed].  Today, I want to expose the darkness residing in just one of these man-created religious institutions, that continues to destroy and deceive untold millions. 

Jehovah’s Witnesses a Perfect Hold (or provides freedom to fulfill elders lust of the flesh) for Every Sexual Deviant and Predatory Action 

[1st The Directive to Protect the Spiritual Health of the Congregation] This directive from the Watch Tower Society hierarchical leadership to local congregations.  A little background on the global-wide cult.  The greatest sin one can create within this cult is to be labeled as an apostate.  An apostate is someone who turns their back on the cult’s version of biblical truth, someone who had been educating themselves on real biblical truths they went beyond the cult’s brainwashing of their man-made truths that in the eyes of this cult, have made them become the enemies of God’s organization.  The directive instructed all elders and overseers who set as judicial council members to judge a member who has violated the organizations guidelines and been judged an apostate, your duty as elders, is to ensure friends, other members as well as family members cease all interaction or involvement with the apostate.  So, parents are to sacrifice their children, grandchildren etc. just like Abraham was willing to sacrifice Issac.  Their reasoning is necessary to keep the congregation spiritually clean.  Brainwashing is so thorough that extreme measures are required to keep everyone in spiritual bondage and believing only the organization’s false versions of the Truth. 

[#2 Jehovah’s Witnesses is a Safe-Haven for Elders Who are Sexual Predators] 

Elders in the Jehovah Witness Cult become cogs in a machine designed to protect an organization’s reputation at any-and-all costs, even if it means sacrificing the innocence of children and dignity and moral sanity of the victims. Here is how it works.  The elder convinces the victim they are responsible for tempting the predator or rapists, that their natural beauty and developing womanhood had caused him to stumble spiritually.  The victim of the abuse is told repeatedly that if they ever speak about the sexual assault, they would be the one who is disfellowshipped for seducing a married bro who is a minister in the Kingdom Hall, while the elder or sexual predator will need to repent privately and continue on with their duties.  Most times, psychological manipulation is perhaps even more devastating to the victim than physical abuse.  The organization’s teachings are designed to silence any victim.  They teach elders to quote scriptural verses and texts about the dangers of immoral women who lead righteous men astray, while continually reminding the victim they are the guilty party.  This process is specifically designed to systematically destroy the victim's sense of self-worth and understanding of right and wrong.  The intent is to leave the victim fully convinced they are fully responsible for what happened to them.  Any time there is an accusation of sexual abuse, The Watch Tower’s organizational procedures and guidelines are clear about how such accusations must be handled. The elders form a judicial council to thoroughly investigate the charges by the rape victim to determine what action needs to be taken.  The first question is, are there any witnesses that can corroborate the victim’s charges.  Any physical evidence, any other victims that are willing to come forward?  The elders are then reminded of the two or three witness scripture that must be established.  Of course there are no eyewitness to the assault, therefore we can take no action on the brother.  The two-witness rule exists to protect innocent brothers and righteous ministerial servants from falsely being accused.  If we abandoned these organizational principles every time some immoral woman makes an allegation, in our organization, chaos would result. 

CONCLUSION: This is just one glaring example of demonic spirits masquerading as ministers of righteousness.  If you find yourself ensnared in this cult, don’t run, but flee immediately.  The very name is open blasphemy against the Lord, Jehovah God! 

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SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION IN CRISIS

The Sothern Baptist Convention, is set to open its 2026 Annual Meeting June 7-10, in Orlando FL. And it promises to be filled with spiritual controversy over the issue of women and the misogynist spirit seen by many women affiliated with SBC, this coupled with whether-or-not it is appropriate for women, to take on the title of ‘pastor’ and exercising authority over congregations filled with men.  We as Southern Baptist pastors and teachers have oft preached the well-known universal truth Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a person sows that shall he they also reap…As we therefore have opportunity, let us do good unto all people, especially to them of the household of faith.”

Since its creation by men as a religious institution with a hierarchical leadership by virtue of the democratic process, it has, like all man-made religious institutions patterned after secular design, has made its share of practices that have impugned the character of Christ nationally.  They were founded over a denominational split over the issue of slavery.  Southern-Baptists believers in Christ, were against emancipation, and wanted to maintain the right to own slaves, so they ended up splitting from the northern Baptist fellowship of believers to form what would ultimately become the Southern Baptist Convention, of autonomous churches.  Their early history is filled with human-hate against Jews, Catholics, Latinos and African Americans.  Southern Baptist churches maintained a strong affiliation with groups known for their cruel and inhuman treatment of every race that was not white, the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan and White Citizens Council etc.  Although an apology was issued in 1995 at the annual SBC meeting in Atlanta for its stance on slavery and segregation, the spiritual damage unfixable, in the eyes of the world.  The SBC went from 6 million members in 1946 to 12 million by 1972, and its membership peaked in 2006 at 16.2 million, this due to a shift in focus from spiritual growth to numerical growth.  Campaigns where church members were sent out door to door to enroll people into the church. etc.  It was also during this time the creation of the country-club megachurch reached a fever pitch among Southern Baptist churches.  Everything was about numbers and growth.  The next the SBC split came over inerrancy of the word.  Then they went full-bore into the Republican Party, where pastors openly promoted the Republican platform from their pulpits.  Some even campaign for Donald Trump, never realizing they were being played.  Remember Satan is the master of deception and the father of all lies.  As Southern Baptist we have forgot a few of the most important warning concerning our adversary, and the god of this world, Satan.  Just how clever is his deception?  Paul, tell us; “But i fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from (seeking the acceptance of the world, the love of money, creating super-churches, and becoming a celebrity pastor etc.) the simplicity that is in Christ…for such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into an angel of light. and no marvel (don’t look stupefied or be astounded); for Satan himself is transformed as into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great feat if his ministers also be transformed as ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their work.” II Corinthians 11: 3 & 13-15 What has befallen the SBC happens over-and-over again when men attempt to make the gospel appealing to the seekers, devoid of true brokenness and conviction by the Holy Spirit.  It’s Laodicea 101.  As a result of buying into the Republican Christian speak, Christians are eating up the falsehoods like ravenous and starving children.  The Christian goes unanswered is why conservative Christians are so bent on America becoming a Christian Nationalist country.  In other words, it’s our way or the highway, just like the Catholic Church’s creation of Inquisition to torture true believers in the faith of Christ who rejected their version of the gospel.  Enter Ralf Reed, probably one of the most calculating political consultants to ever advocate on behalf of the Republican Party.  He wielded power over the unsuspecting SBC and other Protestant religious institutions like no other!  He was the genius behind the creation of National Christian Right Movement coupled with the Moral Majority to become the most powerful voting-block of the Republican Party.  Reed, is an American political consultant and lobbyist for the Republican Party, and Executive Director of the Christian Coalition during the 1990’s.  What is Reed’s testimony?  He said that “in September 1983, he had a religious experience while at Bullfeathers, a upscale pub in Capitol Hill popular with staffers (and to a lesser extent, members of the House of Representatives.”  Reed said, “the Holy Spirit simply demanded me to come to Jesus”.  He walked outside the pub to a phone booth, thumbed through the yellow pages under “Churches”, and found the Evangelical Assembly of God Church in Camp Springs, Maryland.  He visited the next morning and became a born-again Christian.  I am not here to question Reed’s religious experience; that is between him and the Lord.  But his convincing well-meaning Christians and leaders that the Republican Party was the Church’s only hope to bring about societal change.  And the Result! 

AN UNDISCERNING SPIRIT LEADS to CHAOS

The birth of the PURPOSE DRIVEN CHURCH made pastor of Saddleback Church, Rick Warren, a wealthy man, and desired speaker at religious conferences.  Next came the PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE and well-meaning believers trying to enhance their ability to be more spiritually discerning.  This is due to continuously being fed on a milk-of-the-word diet, to appease seekers, who wanted no messages on hell! The SBC it would appear didn’t have a clue about the quagmire they were creating.Fast-forward to 2026 and we see the euphemism “history ignored is history repeated” coming to pass.  The SBC, which boasted 16.2 million members in 2006, has since lost 3.6 million members.  Those losses are larger than the total size of almost every other Protestant denomination.  And in an ironic twist, in 2026 the Roman Catholic Church is seeing a resurrection of sorts by young people wanting to join and be baptized into the Roman Church.  Did this happen by chance?  An emphatic No!  The SBC is reaping what it has sown by acting on decisions that brought no glory to our Lord.  In 1994, Satan was once again, able to accomplish the unimagined, and in the process laying stealthily created trap.  The creation of the EVANGELICALS and CATHOLICS TOGETHER, THE CHRISTIAN MISSION of the THIRD MILLENNIUM: a man-made contrived agreement that spells out the need for Protestants and Catholics to deliver a common witness to the modern world at the eve of the third millennium.  It draws heavily from the theology of the New Testament and the Trinitarian doctrine of the Nicene Creed.  It seeks to encourage what is known as spiritual ecumenism.  Ecumenism is a movement and principle that encourages cooperation, dialogue, and better relationship among different Christian denominations to promote ultimate unity within the faith.  It comes from the Gr. Wd. Oikoumene it seeks to bridge historical theological, and practical divisions.  The document received endorsement from Charles Colson (former Catholic) and SBC affiliated.  Richard Land former President of Christian Life Commission of the SBC.  Larry Lewis, former President of the Home Mission Board of the SBC.  Pat Robertson President of the 700 Club and Bill Bright President of Campus Crusade for Christ etc.  When I created a written campaign to express the danger of such an alliance sent to most every pastor in the Shelby Baptist Association in Memphis TN. and it was all but ignored.     My warning garnered one response, and that was from Adrian Rogers, who was alarmed as I was.  And we as Southern Baptist continued to reap what we sowed. 

2019 REVELATION of a WIDESPREAD SEXUAL ABUSE PROBLEM WITHIN the SBC 

National headlines reported widespread sexual abuse and the ongoing cover up by SBC leaders for decades, the fallout impugning the credibility and integrity of SBC leaders.  Even a former President of the SBC was accused by another pastor of sexually abusing his wife.  The Houston Chronicle and San Antonio Express-News published articles describing credible sexual abuse accusations involving 380 Southern Baptist church leaders and ministry volunteers with 700 victims.  Denials and reports of abuse cover-ups by SBC Executive Committee members soon followed.  In 2021, Messengers at the SBC Annual meeting approved a third-party, Guidepost Solutions, to investigate sexual abuse accusations.  The motion called for an “investigation into any allegations of abuse, mishandling of abuse, mistreatment of victims, a pattern of intimidation of victims and advocates, and resistance to sexual abuse reform activities, ‘involving’ staff and members of the Executive Committee from January 1, 2000, through June 14, 2001.”  It would be to dramatically understate the spiritual quagmire that currently embodies the SBC, that coupled with the next issue that threatens to further divide a religious institution whose foundation seems to be crumbling spiritually.   In 2022, Guidepost Solutions presented its investigative report.  In their opening statement, they wrote, “We implore our Southern Baptist family to respond to this report with deep acceptance and a commitment to the ongoing moral demands of the gospel as it relates to sexual abuse. We must resolve to give our time and resources to not only care well for survivors of sexual abuse, but provide a culture of accountability, transparency, and safety as we move forward. The Guidepost findings revealed numerous moral, ethical, and biblical leadership failures.  The Executive Committee’s primary concern was avoidance of potential legal liability.  The Guidepost report conclusion, “The prevailing attitude of some EC leaders was that the SBC had no responsibility for addressing the sexual abuse crisis within member churches, under SBC polity, those churches were autonomous and not under the control of the SBC.” It is important to note how the EC had pointed to SBC church autonomy as the reason they couldn’t and wouldn’t hold church leaders accountable for sexual abuse of the Lord’s children.  It is the same with all man-created religious institutions, protect the institution at all cost! 

SBC’s GROWING LABEL AS MYSOGINIST AND RULING WOMEN CANNOT HOLD THE OFFICE of PASTOR in SBC CHURCHES 

In 2019, another watershed moment birthed itself in the SBC when SBC leaders argued over a woman preaching.  At the center of the controversy was nationally known women’s Bible teacher Beth Moore, tweeted she would be preaching the Mother’s Day sermon at her SBC church in Houston.  In 2000, the SBC revised the Baptist faith and Message to include the following statement “While both men and women are gifted for service in the church, the office of pastor is limited to men as qualified by Scripture.” The question currently being debated within the SBC is whether the original intent of the “office of pastor” revision statement refers to the role of senior/lead pastor or whether it included all types of pastors.  In 2021 Saddleback Church elders ordained three women’, pastors.  In 2022, Warren retired as Saddleback’’s lead pastor and appointed Andy Wood in his place.  As though the church was his to dictate its future.  Wood’s wife, Stacie, also serves in leadership as a teaching pastor at saddleback.  As the 2026 Annual SBC gathering of messengers in Orlando, Florida as set to open June 7, it proposes to be filled with much chaos. Southern Baptist Conservative, Albert Mohler is proposing an SBC constitutional amendment to bar women from pastoral functions.  A Southern Baptist church launched a podcast where staff answer follow-up questions about Sunday sermons.  The problem?  One of the staff members is a woman.  While she holds no pastoral title, she gives advice and expounds Scripture to the whole church body, and Mohler said this is a problem.  She is teaching, and he warned that avoiding the issue of being labeled a pastor, does not void the issue.  The truth of the matter is the debate over women’s role is not going away, because according to Scripture the pastoral office is for qualified men.  And that raises another issue, how many men meet the true qualifications.  What do they do with “who must rule well his own house.”Many pastors have difficulty in ruling well their own households.  With their children into drugs, homosexuality, and fornication etc.  It is something else that adds confusion unfolding in the nation’s largest evangelical denomination. 

CONCLUSION:  No doubt my comments will offend many of my brothers and sisters in the Southern Baptist faith.  I served as a pastor for 35 years and have personally witnessed things that would appall fellow believers all done in the name of Christ.  Am I for women pastors, that creates women usurping authority over a man?  On the other hand, I understand fully why the present spiritual quagmire is causing such division in the body of Christ.  It’s a part of the universal curse pronounced by God upon Eve for her being deceived when she removed herself from under her protection, Adam as her head.  alone the serpent new she was fertile fodder for his deception: why? Because the man was superior to her, no!  When God’s divine order is manipulated in the slightest degree, chaos soon follows.  God’s divine order was manipulated in the Garden: God the Head of Christ...Christ the Head of Man...Man the head of the Woman!  The present issue facing the SBC is a direct result of the curse pronounced upon Eve.  “Unto the woman He said, I will greatly multiply your sorrow…and your desire shall be unto your husband.” So, how does Eve’s curse figure in the Women’s Movement in modernity and spiritual chaos in the Lord’s Church?  The Hebrew, phrase “and your desire shall be unto your husband” does not include a verb and is literally translated “toward your husband your desire.” Since the judgment is predictive, the future tense verb ”will be”is added for clarity.  “Your desire will be for your husband.” The most basic and straight forward understanding of this verse is that the woman and man would now have ongoing conflict.  In contrast to the conditions in the Garden of Eden and the harmony between Adam and Eve, their relationship, from that point on, would produce a power struggle for supremacy.  The NLT paraphrase makes it more evident: “You will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.” God’s pronouncement of this curse on the first couple in the marriage dynamic.  Sin had wrought a discord. The battle of the sexes had begun.  Both man and woman would now seek the upper hand in marriage and other societal matters.  The man who was to lovingly care and nurture the love for his wife, would now seek to rule her, and the wife would desire to wrest control from her husband.  It is important to note that this judgment only states what will take place.  God says that man and woman will live in conflict and their relationship will become problematic.  The statement “he shall rule over you” is not a biblical command for men to dominate women. 

Personally, I could not place myself under the authority of a woman in the pulpit, because it creates confusion.  On the other hand, some of the godliest people I have ever met as a Christian were women born-again in the faith of Christ.  And none of them would ever entertain the idea of usurping authority over men.  If the true gospel of Christ is being taught, I rejoice, because “the true words of Christ never return void!” One final comment, Ephesus, the Apostolic Church, the first church and the most loved, were accused of “of losing their first love” spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth.  They burned with a white-hot heat to get the gospel of Jesus Christ to a world filled with sin.  Things shifted when the last of the Apostles died, that being John.  The shift was brought about by focusing more on orthodoxy than getting the message out.  And bros. And sisters that is where we find ourselves today.  I pray my words are received in the spirit they were written with all humility in service to my Master.  Maybe it’s time for action rather than mere words!  “IF MY PEOPLE, WHICH ARE CALLED BY MY NAME, SHALL HUMBLE THEMSELVES, AND PRAY, AND SEEK MY FACE, AND TURN FROM THEIR WICKED WAYS; THEN WILL I HEAR FROM HEAVEN, AND FORGIVE THEIR ERRORS AND SIN, AND WILL HEAL THEIR LAND.”‍ ‍By all indicators, and the rapid advancement in A.I. technology, there is not much hope left for America, but our for beloved SBC, if we can humble ourselves (and that is not an easy thing for a religious institution filled with pride, immeasurable wealth and worldly success) admitting we erred from the true faith, is all so difficult. We need to pray this for our own actions committed as men trying to impress the Lord with our accomplishments, and instead just humbly serve him as a bond slave with no rights.

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What Are We to Understand About “Holding Truth in Unrighteousness?” Is the Root of the Creation of the Of Term Atheism, A Reality or a Fictious Term Created in the Mind of Man?

Paul, like a criminal prosecutor, lays out an irrefutable case for the universal degeneracy of all human creation.  In doing so, he will show why there must be away of salvation that will provide a righteousness acceptible to God, and contrary to some doctrines created by men, benefits that extends to all mankind.  “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of those, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. Because that which may be known of God is manifest (or created in them); for God has showed it unto them.” Romans 1.18-19 

Let’s first define the “wrath of God”, for it is more than anger as we define the term.  It is more than the natural consequences of sin, which is death.  God’s wrath is the necessary response of Chief Judicial action against elements that are incompatible with His universal moral government.  Furthermore, it is the duty of the Eternal Governor of the universe to rise-up-against rebellion and wickedness and all unrighteous acts.  This lack of understanding leads philosophers and some religions that draws a line where those question; “What kind of father would express wrathful anger with his children?  What have we done to deserve our Creators eternal wrath?”  This verse describes the willful degeneration of men and explains why they are universally under the wrath of God.  The “wrath” comes forth from the 3rd heaven, God’s domain where the very seat of universal moral government is and denotes the seriousness of the offense.  The verbal expression that God is wrathful implies men are to blame.  Raising the next question; why are men blameworthy?  The answer, “ungodliness and unrighteousness”. 

“Ungodliness’ is a self-imposed condition, guilty of making the wrong moral choice.  Having been created in the image of God, man has the potential to be godly.  Ungodliness is man’s fault, not his misfortune.  In other words, man is ungodly in areas where he could and therefore should be godly.  God’s wrath is revealed towards men “who hold truth in unrighteousness”.  Now Paul will present irrefutable evidence that the human condition is a blameworthy state by presenting evidence that all mankind is made responsible by “holding truth!”  If men were devoid of “truth” of God (or knowledge of a Supreme Creator) then they would never feel guilt.  Paul presents irrefutable evidence that personal feelings of guilt is proof mankind has willfully violated his natural sense of right and wrong.  If man was ignorant of having broken some unknown law, he would not and could not blame himself.  Nor could God blame him.  To blame someone is to accuse them of irresponsible conduct, or to find fault with one’s conduct.  The point Paul is making; a man could not be faulted for not obeying an unknown and knowable law.  The next question that needs to be answered, what does it mean, “to hold truth”?

To “hold truth” is to know God as alluded to in verse 21 ““Because when they ‘knew” God, They glorified Him not as God.” Paul is going to prove “that all are under sin”.  To do so he must establish guilt beyond any reasonable shadow of a doubt.  Guilt is self-blame, and self-blame comes when one cannot excuse self.  If man had no knowledge of his responsibility, of the truth, he could not blame himself.  However, there are some commentators, and many modern translations do not understand the foundation upon which Paul’s argument was built.  They present the reader with the assumption that men can be guilty of not knowing the truth.  So, they attempt to support this position by changing the definition of the [Gr. word “katecho” (which means to “hold”)] and translated [katecho] to mean to ‘suppress’ or ‘resist’.  The problem with their approach is it is flawed by the definition of the word to ‘suppress’ or to ‘resist’.  A man cannot suppress or resist the truth he “holds” until he first “holds” truth.  The context in which [katecho] is used throughout Scripture never means to resist something. 

To “hold the truth” is to intellectually embrace it and assent to its judicial relevance.  It's to concur that the law is good: “If then I do that which I would not (or say to myself I am not going to do that) I consent unto the Law that it is good.” Romans 7.16    

SUMMATION: Once a person becomes aware of the truth, they can never at any time become unaware of it.  They can of their own freewill choose “not to retain God in their knowledge“: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge,” Roman 1.28), calling themselves atheist, but verbally rejecting the truth will never blot out their responsibility awakened by the knowledge of that truth they eternally hold.  People can change the rightful image of God, which he or she holds, into an image of an idol (the worship of self, pursuit of the lust of the flesh, the worship of riches etc.) but it will never render them ignorant of the “truth of God they hold”.  They will always be held responsible for the truth they have willfully pushed back into the deep recesses of their mind.  Theoretically, if a person should hold the truth in righteousness, that is knowing that they should be righteous in regard to that truth he understands, he would be without blame, for they would be obedient to all the truth as they knew: “But he that does truth comes to the light, that their deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.” John 3.21   God Bless All with the Understanding what it means “to hold truth”. 

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A MAN WITH AN UNCLUTTERED SPIRIT

Matthew 11.7-13

INTRODUCTION

The great man of God of the 19th century, Dwight L. Moody...often said the following often throughout his ministry.

“The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in and by the man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him. I will try my utmost to be that man.” -D.L. Moody

It is certainly a sobering thought.  But I suggest to you this morning, the world has indeed seen what God can do with...through...and by such a man, fully consecrated to Him (he was able to stir the hearts of men as none other had).  Now many are thinking well certainly our Lord was such a man, and that is certainly a true statement.  But He was God incarnate, He was very God of very God...He was, God in the flesh.  But there was a mere mortal...born in the sin of Adam...a man fully consecrated to the Spirit of God...and set the known world ablaze with his fiery message. 

          In this Laodicean Age of celebrity preachers and pastors and their super mega-churches, that afford them the lifestyles of the rich and famous, because their ministries take in hundreds of millions dollars annually...has created a real struggle in the world for spiritual relevance.  In other words, how does the world reconcile biblical preaching heard 24hrs a day, with living life in the real world?  And this is certainly not a 21st century problem.  This same spiritual stagnation has existed throughout human history.  And the same spiritual condition, existed little over 2,000 years ago, when a desert firebrand, fully equipped, by a life consecrated to God...set men's hearts ablaze the with message of God. 

READ TEXTMatthew 11.7-13

About a year before Jesus the carpenter set aside His hammer, saw, chisels and plane, His cousin, the famous forerunner, John the Baptist, son of the desert, step on to the center stage.  And much like it is in the world today, it was a time of great famine in the land of Israel (not of food or a thirst for water...”but of a hearing of the word of God” .  [Israel had endured 400 years of no prophet...no real truth.]  Their had been no voice for God to stir men's  hearts.  So when the desert firebrand step onto center stage,

Questions Abounded in the Hearts of Thirsty and Famished Souls:

When John, burned black with the desert sun...his long, uncut raven locks hanging loose like a shaggy mane,thundered his mighty warnings to Israel, all Jerusalem and Judea were alert to a possible reality.  Could this be their long awaited Messiah?  Was he the promised King?  Is He the Christ?  And John flatly, and without hesitation, made it known he was not the Christ!  “He was but a voice crying in the wilderness...calling God's chosen people to “prepare for the reception of their coming royalty.  BUT MUCH MORE THAN THAT: HE WAS CALLING A DECADENT PEOPLE SUNK IN DESPAIR, DECEIT, AND DABAUCHERY, TO REPENT, AND TURN TO GOD!  HIS CRIES DID NOT GO UNHEEDED.  WITH HIS DESERT PROTEIN RICH DIET (of honey from the acacia tree, black in color) STILL VISIBLE IN HIS BEARD...HIS EYES A FLAME WITH THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD...AND EQUIPPED WITH FEARLESS COURAGE...STARTLED ISRAEL FROM THEIR SPIRITUAL SLUMBER!  The Lord Jesus described the impact John's preaching had on the world;

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”  In other words, John generated great conflict wherever he went, because his message was designed to upset the status quo.  With his call for repentance, he stirred up a hornets nest among religious elite of his day...and his accusatory message had even reached the ears of the king.  Everywhere he moved their was sharp reaction, and often violence, and it would eventually effect his arrest.

          His uncompromising stand against evil wherever it was found...whether in Herod's palace...the priesthood, or even among powerful ecclesiastical hierarchy...was met with wide acclaim.

John's fiery preaching presented the people with a form of repentance  more than skin deep.  It was not meant to evoke a superficial sorrow for misconduct.  Rather his message of repentance was a call for a radical and permanent about face...in which a sinner turns from his old life-style...to that of serving the living God in sincerity!

          EVIDENCE THAT MEN AND WOMEN HAD TRULY REPENTED HAD TO BE SEEN IN THEIR WILLINGNESS TO QUIT, ONCE AND FOR ALL, THEIR OLD WAY OF LIVING LIFE.  AND IT MEANT MEN AND WOMEN HAD NEW VALUES, NEW ATTITUDES, NEW PRIORITIES IN THEIR PERSONAL LIVES.  ANYTHING LESS THAN THIS...SIMPLY DID NOT SATISFY THE DEMANDS OF THE FIERY PROPHET!  His message; [“Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who has warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, [in other words, the exhibiting of conduct worthy of a heart change, a heart that eschews sin].  And do not begin to say to yourselves, We have Abraham as our father [for today's world, don't simply trust in you acceptance of Jesus as the Savior of the world...for even the devils belief and tremble, but produce the evidence of a true conversion]  WHY?  For I say to you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham...And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees; and every tree that brings not forth good fruit is cut down, and cast into the fire.” Luke 3.7-9

The Lord’s Response to John’s Message:

When the day came for Jesus to leave his earthly father's carpentry business for the last time, He knew exactly where to go.  With firm footsteps and queit determination He set off directly to see John.  Following the winding roads from the hill country of Nazareth, Jesus headed down into the burning heat of the Jordan Valley where John was baptizing in the Jordan River.

•      John points to the Lamb of God

•      He First resist the need to baptize the Lord

•      John said I must decrease and He increase

•      God's endorsement of His So

Conclusion : Are we surprised that the accolades conferred on John, by the Lord Jesus...are the noblest ever earned by mortal man?  Far exceeding other accolades conferred on men Abraham, the friend of God...Job, none like him in all the earth earth... Moses, whom God spoke face to face...David, a man after God's own heart, but then  this about John; He was the greatest man ever born of woman...”he was much more than a prophet.”

          Though a man of the desert, rough and tough in appearance John was giant in God's economy.  For it was God in Christ that said, none born among women greater than John.  A “man” with an uncluttered spirit.

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IS GOOD WORK A LEGIMATE AVENUE IN THE PURSUIT OF ETERNAL LIFE? THE ANSWER IS YES! BUT IS IT A PROFITABLE OPTION FOR MAN?

To answer this question by a person of the faith of Jesus Christ, that tells someone the only way to have eternal life is through Jesus Christ, would appear to be a contradiction of the Word of God according to the 7th verse of Romans chapter 2.

“To them who by patient continuance in well doing, seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.” Romans 2:7

So, what is the point Paul is making? If an individual “seeking glory and honor” from God, with a hope of achieving “immortality”, were to “patiently continue” to do “well”, it would result in “eternal life”. For some believers in the Christian faith, they naturally struggle to understand Paul’s statement, and that based on what we know of grace and salvation. However, it is most important to remember that Paul has not yet begun to introduce God’s unmerited favor through Christ in his progression of thoughts thus far, because Paul like a prosecuting attorney is presenting the facts that brings everyone born, guilty before God. At this point following Paul’s logic, he is dealing with those who have no revelation from the Bible and no knowledge of Jesus Christ.

One of the often-made indictments against God, is that He is unjust when He condemns those who have had no access to Biblical revelations or exposure to knowledge of the forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ. So, Paul is stating that God is declaring His righteousness by offering a person eternal life through a life of continued good work. When a person is told there is “NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED”, they are quick to cry, “Injustice”! What of those who have never heard? What about other religions? What if a person is sincere and does the best they can do? Paul responds by framing an argument, “ok, you want to approach God’s judgment bar with evidence of your good works, then have at it; if it is your testimony that you continued uninterrupted in good works, then the court will find in your favor, and grant eternal life.” In fact, this is the offer made throughout Scripture. In Romans 2.13“FOR, NOT THE HEARERS OF THE LAW ARE JUST BEFORE GOD, BUT THE DOERS OF THE LAW SHALL BE JUSTIFIED.” In Romans 10.5 “For Moses described the righteousness, which is of the law, that the man which does those things shall live by them (in other words, will have eternal life). Galatian 3:12 “AND THE LAW IS NOT OF FAITH: BUT THE PERSON THAT DOES THEM SHALL LIVE (achieve eternal life) IN THEM.” In Luke 10.25 a man put this question to Jesus; “A certain lawyer (one who taught the law) stood up, and tempted him (Jesus), saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And He said unto him, what is written in the law? How do you read it? And he answering said, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. And He (Jesus) said unto him, you have answered right: this do and you shall live (have eternal life).” Again, in Matthew 19.17, a man asked Jesus what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus answered, “if you will enter into life (eternally), keep the commandments.” All these passages declare salvation and eternal life can be obtained by good work in keeping the law.

So, the question that begs to be answered, is why would God offer salvation by works when we know from many Scriptures that ‘no one’ will ever be saved by works? Because even though no one has ever found eternal life through the principle of good work, it yet remains true. If a person could not be saved by keeping perfect obedience to the law, neither could they be damned who fail to keep it. Remember, the law never offers salvation to those who have already broken it. Once the law is broken even to the slightest degree, there is no provision in the law for forgiveness.

The law had one purpose and one purpose only. It was an instrument for instructing every person what it took to please God and to satisfy one’s own conscience. It was ordained by God to produce life, but because of universal disobedience, it failed universally to give what it was designed to do. There was no fault with the law, nor the offer of life. In other words, the offer of life through the law was not made invalid by universal failure to obey it. The offer still stands to each new-born individual that pulls the breath of life into their lungs. It is still to be tried as a pathway to life. However, those who fail in keeping one tenet of the Law must look elsewhere for forgiveness and eternal life. “BUT WE KNOW THAT THE LAW IS GOOD, IF A PERSON USE IT LAWFULLY” I Timothy 1.8 The setting of laws is to set boundaries that must be obeyed.

If we are made perfect, by our attempts to keep the Law, keeping the Sabbath Day and keeping the dietary laws given specifically to the Israelite people, all in a vain attempt to gain favor with God for their good efforts, yet never realizing they are wasting their time! They are made spiritually ignorant by following the false teachings of man-made religions: such as Seventh Day Adventist, Jehovah’s Witness and Latter-Day Saints etc. who teach keeping of the Law is required to obtain eternal life. If this is Scriptural truth, then what further need do we have of another avenue for obtaining forgiveness and eternal life. The lack of being taught the meat of the word coupled with their lack of understanding, leaves them devoid of understanding the true value of God’s work of grace. Also, many Christian believers who have been fed a steady diet of the “milk of the word” have been rendered Biblically illiterate, never realizing that the keeping of the Law as a way for obtaining favor with God, was disannulled (in other words, to render void, particularly in the context of contracts or laws), why? There was no further need of it to gain the acceptance of God. “FOR IT IS EVIDENT THAT OUR LORD (the Son of God) CAME FROM JUDAH; OF WHICH TRIBE MOSES SPOKE NOTHING CONCERNING (being a member) OF THE PRIESTHOOD (of the tribe of Levites). AND IT IS YET FAR MORE EVIDENT: THAT AFTER THE SIMLITUDE (or likeness) OF MEL-CHIS’-ED-EC (priest of the most-high God) THEIR ARISES ANOTHER PRIEST, WHO IS MADE, NOT AFTER THE LAW OF A CARNAL COMMANDENT (given to Moses), BUT AFTER THE ORDER OF AN ENDLESS LIFE (Christ resurrection to a life without end). F0R HE (God) TESTIFIES, YOU (Jesus) ARE A PRIEST FOREVER AFTER THE ORDER OF MEL-CHIS’-ED-EC. FOR THERE IS VERILY (an adverb that means truth or certainty) A DISANNULLING (to render void) OF THE COMMANDMENT GOING BEFORE (the 10 Commandments written by the finger of God for Moses to deliver to His people) BECAUSE OF THE WEAKNESS AND UNPROFITABLENESS THEREOF. FOR THE LAW MADE NOTHING PERFECT, BUT THE BRINGING IN OF A BETTER HOPE DID (the sinless life of Jesus); BY WHICH WE DRAW NIGH UNTO GOD.” Hebrews 7.14-19

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BAD RELIGION RISING IN MODERNITY

(Christians Endorsing Heretical Beliefs Without Realizing It?)
Matthew 24.3-14

Introduction:

[1] “And as He sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto Him privately saying, when shall these things (the end times) be? [3] And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man decieve you. [4] For many will come in My name, saying I am Christ; (in other words that Jesus is the Savior) and shall decieve many…[11-12] And many false prophets shall rise, and shall decieve many. And because iniquity shall abound (wickedness is no longer hiding it parades proudly and openly in society) the love of many shall wax cold.” Matthew 24

The disciples sought the Lord privately...to inquire about His “coming again”.  While wrestling with His declaration to them His impending death that He had told them would surely come. 

          And and like many people of faith in today's world, they believed what Christ said to them, but as history reveals, they didn't embrace His words, as a reality!  For when God's divine plan became a reality...the offering up His Son for the sins of the world...the disciples openly rejected the truth for a lie of their own making... believing it was their responsibility to save the Son of God from His divine fate.  They embraced a heretical truth by denying the Words of the Lord!

       Fast-forward to the 21st century...and evidence abounds all around us as we witness the explosion of Bad Religion Rising!  How dangerous is the Heresy that embodies the Rise of Bad Religion?  Consider the following oxymoronthat aptly describes American Christianity;

•      There are more believing unbelievers(those who believe the Words heard and readily accept as the Truth...but they are conflicted by their love for the world and the things there of...making their believing in reality, unbelieving!)

•      And more unbelievers believing(Those who “change the truth into a lie” these find a heresy that identifies with their ideology and embrace it as believers in the faith, when in reality, they are still unbelievers!  Note Paul's warning; “The Spirit speaks expressly (or in a definite matter of fact manner) in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared; (in other words, unable to undo the damage!    1st Timothy 4.1-2 Resulting in MORE UNBELIEVERS that are BELIEVERS than simply TRUE BELIEVERS!

Now Let’s Examine the Warning of Our Lord; in our text;“take heed that no man deceive you” (in other words, be spiritually wise, alert and vigilant of what is being revealed all around you...don't use your belief in Me as the “Savior of the world” as the sole foundation of your spiritual strength and saving faith!  Don't sleep-walk through life... as people of faith...whose main priority in life, is minding the things of this world. 

          And because their priorities are amiss...they become easy prey for men and women “who craftily bring in damageable heresies (false-hoods masquerading as saving faith) even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction...whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their judgment slumbers not” (No need to question God, why they are allowed to continue to deceive men and women even to this day...while it appears God's judgment stands idly by?)  The apostle exhorts believers not to despair when these false teachers continue to prosper uninterrupted...FOR JUDGMENT IS ON THE WAY!  What we need to concern ourselves with, TAKE HEED NO DECEIVES US!

“For many shall come in My name, saying, I am Christ; and shall decieve many.

We can liken it to the unbridled corruption that surrounds Bill and Hillary Clinton, and their Foundation...in which both of them are accused oftrading on her office as Secretary of State.  Selling access to the State Department and preferential treatment for donations of 100's of millions of dollars to the Clinton Foundation. In the same manner, the Lord says these false prophets, teachers, and self-identified ministers of Christ, will trade on His name as the Son of God... as well as His Divine office as High Priest and Savior of the World...in order to deceive many...while in the process enriching themselves and spawning their own glory! 

“And you shall hear of wars and rumors of war: see that you be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet...all of these are the beginnings of sorrow.”

The present and ongoing war with Iran, war on terror, war with Isis and Radical Islam, the war against the unborn, the war against the 4th amendment right to bear arms, the war on Christian beliefs, the war on traditional marriage between a man and a woman, the war on morality, and yes the war for our children is all a part of “the beginning of sorrows”.

What can we as people of faith expect?  IMPRISONED...PERSECUTED...SOME WILL PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR THEIR FAITH IN CHRIST... BY BEING PUT TO DEATH...AND YOU SHALL BE HATED OF ALL NATIONS (all member nations of The New World Order) FOR MY NAMES SAKE! And your enemies will be those of your own household, natural family as well as those of the household of faith!

“And many shall be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another...because iniquity shall prosper, the love of many will wax cold”

This is a fulfillment of Satan's charge before the LORD!  “Satan answered the LORD, Skin for skin!  Yes, all that a man has will he surrender to save his own life” Job 2.4 Amplified 

            In this present day, and what Jesus described plainly as “the beginning of sorrows” we are witnessing almost daily, out of control family tragedies of betrayal and abuse because of the war on moral behavior.  “A MAN'S FOES SHALL BE THOSE OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD” 

          Here is what our Lord said would happen in the time known “as the beginning of sorrows” “And brother shall deliver up brother to be put to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death.  Because you shall be hated of all for My name’s sake: but he that endures to the end shall be saved. Matthew 10.21-22

THE HERETICAL MESSAGES OF APOSTATE RELIGION’S…AND ITS DANGEROUS IMPACT ON CHRISTIAN FAITH:

•      Is Rooted in False-hoods about the purpose of the Gospel of Christ:  It's not to be used as a sugar-stick, but to break down a sinner’s resistance.  Here is what our Lord said, [“Think not that I am come to send peace on the earth...For I am come to set a man against his father and a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.  Your enemies will be right in your own house.”] Matthew 10.34-36

•      The True Gospel of Christ Is Rejected in Favor of the Doctrines of Devils: Once held Biblical Truths are rejected in favor of “Doctrines of Devils” [“Some shall depart from the faith, giving heed (or embrace) seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.  Speaking lies in hypocrisy] 1st Timothy 4.1-2 The reason behind this shift is four-fold; 1.) To keep attendance and growth moving in the right direction 2.)  To keep the bottom line (revenue taking) at acceptable levels 3.) The creation of programs, to keep worldly attendees interested in Church 4.) Making everyone feel comfortable by being accommodated to cultural change!  In other words, seducing the unsuspecting church attendee with another spirit, other than God's Holy Spirit! In the 21st century, it's an accurate statement to suggest American Christianity is geared more toward reaching Seekers than Sinners!

These true and shocking revelations are leading some Christian leaders to sound the alarm. Several pastors and Bible teachers are arguing the church needs to stop compromising the Christian message and work to strengthen both faith and knowledge of doctrine among the faithful.

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How the Megachurch Model Has Become Satan’s Most Powerful Attack On True Christian Faith

In the annals of war history, there is one strategy that almost never fails: “know your enemy better than they know themselves.”  Christians know Satan is a master-strategist in his war against the LORD!  Remember there was only two people in the Garden of Eden, and he was able to turn both against God.  Now fast-forward to the 20th and 21st centuries and gauge the strategy he employed against the Lord’s Church to neuter it of much of its power.  What was intended to be a bastion hope has now become a seeker-sensitive Country Club of life talks and strategies.  He accomplished this by zeroing-in on man’s perpetual spiritual vulnerability “pride and the pursuit of lost glory.”  We too often minimize his mastery of deception, using his mastery of deception to convince us the counterfeit is good and method of biblical spiritual growth is a flawed model, that doesn’t produce substantial growth and numbers desired.  Planting the idea of creating megachurches by philosophically focusing on seeker-sensitivity as the fail-proof model.

Last post we talked about Bill Hybel’s creation of the seeker-sensitive church model, that had 1,000’s of pastors chasing after the model like female dogs in heat.  We showed how over time the model continued a systematic decline.  Across America seeker-sensitive megachurches that thrived and grew in the dawn of the 21st century began to struggle and some even collapsed by 2010 and into our present day.  One of Southern Baptist models eagerly adopted was the Mars Hill model which some SBC leaders like Jack Graham Sr. Pastor of the Preston Wood megachurch outside Dallas TX eagerly embraced and he even promoted Steve Furtick of Elevation Church.  Mars Hill Church in Seattle, led by its disgraced pastor Mark Driscoll grew to 15,000 in attendance at its peak, with multiple campuses. However, the church imploded completely, because of allegations of abuse by Mark Driscoll.  This shining model adopted by SBC imploded completely closing every campus within months.  New Life Church pastored by Ted Haggard with weekly attendance of 14,000 was exposed as having homosexual sex with a paid male prostitute.  Bill Gothard head of “Institute of Basic Life Principles was dismissed accused of molesting and assaulting over 30 women and some were underage girls.  Robert Moore pastor of Gateway Church with attendance of 100,000 with 9 campuses throughout Texas, was dismissed after a victim came forward that he had started abusing her sexually when she was 12 years old.  His board and people of the church wanted him to stay.  Harvest Bible Church in Chicago grew to 13,000 then collapsed amid financial improprieties and leadership failure.  Hill Song Elevation Church, Bethel Church and this is just the tip of the iceberg.  Nearly every seeker-sensitive brand has faced crisis, scandal, or significant decline in the past two decades.

                The model that seemed fail-proof and unstoppable broke and very few people of faith even saw it coming.  The seeker-sensitive model, like most man-made schemes designed to by-pass the Holy Spirit doing the work of the heart, made a fatal error.  It treated the modern church like a consumer product and congregants like customers.  The logic seemed sound.  Their thinking, if we give people what they want, they will come.  Remove all theological barriers, meet their life challenges like a life-coach, make church convenient, comfortable and entertaining, and it worked for a while.  People came by the 1,000’s, churches grew at unbelievable rates, the weekend services were spectacular productions that would rival any Hollywood productions.  Professional music, dynamic oratory with humor mixed-in to lighten the moment, state of the art productions, coffee shops in the lobby, and programs for every demographic.  However, what they miscalculated, when you treat and train people to be consumers of religiously designed merchandise and services, they start acting like consumers.  Then like religious vagabonds they shop around for the next religious gimmick and leave when they are no longer satisfied, because they have no loyalty.  They are constantly in pursuit of the next religious novelty and entertainment production. 

                One megachurch pastor commented, “we’ve created a religious monster.  Consumer Christianity creates shallow commitment.  People attend when it is convenient.  They give when they feel like it.  They serve when it fits their schedule.  The Church becomes one option among many avenues for entertainment, and when a better venue presents itself, like a sporting event, concert, trip to the lake, or just sleeping-in people choose those instead.  Why?  Because the modern megachurch taught them its all about felt needs, preferences and self-satisfaction.  The obvious reality concerning the megachurch design is seeker-sensitive congregations are unable to produce mature Christians.  For most megachurches the messages are practical and encouraging (what Paul called “milk”) but theologically empty.  30-minute talks about 5 keys to a better marriage or how to overcome stress, or finding your purpose in life, all helpful topics, but devoid of “meat” of the word.  This concludes Part 2

CONCLUSION:

In Luke chapter 14, Jesus lays out the terms of discipleship.  There were great crowds

following Him.  Everyone loved the miracles, healings, and free food.  In their mind, Jesus was cool, the talk of the seekers, in pursuit of the latest fad.  But Jesus knew their hearts.  He knew their only interest was in the benefits of what He was physically performing, rather than interest and understanding of who He was.  They loved His gifts, not the life He was calling them to.  So, He, explained what it takes to truly be one of His followers.  He quickly put an end to the idea that He offered some kind of welfare program.  Although the gift of eternal life is free to anyone who asks (John 3.16), he asking requires a transfer of ownership “IF ANYONE WILL COME AFTER ME, LETY THEM DENY THEMSELVES, AND TAKE UP THEIR CROSS DAILY (dying to selfish desires of the flesh daily) AND FOLLOW ME (surrender to My lordship over your life).

HAVE WE REDEFINED WHAT CONSTITUTES THE CHURCH"?

Have We Lost the True Meaning of Who Is the true Church?

 You look around and say is this all there is?  It’s not because your are rebellious, not because your cold hearted, but because deep down you have always known, there is something more, something pure, something sacred, something that no building, no program, no pastor can manufacture.  Often you are told you are backsliding, that walking away from church, was walking away from God.  But you didn’t walk away from Him, you walked away from noise, you walked away from performance, you walked away from the place your spirit was starving.  While others saw you leaving, what they couldn’t see was what God was doing in secret.  You were being called out, set apart, not to rebel, but to listen, to be still, to be taught by the Lord Himself, because you are not lost, you seek to satisfy a burning hunger for knowledge.  Here is something important to note: God’s chosen have always walked a narrow path that few understand.  They don’t need stain glass to see His beauty.  They don’t need a sermon to hear His voice.  They don’t need a crowd to feel His presence.  His children are those who hear the whisper of His voice in the wilderness, who meet Him in the quiet, and who walk with Him when no one else will.  This message is not for everyone, but if your heart burns for more intimacy, just maybe I am speaking to you.  Maybe you don’t fit the mold, or don’t feel like you belong to the system, the ones who have been called by name meant to search out fulfillment for that unsatisfied yearning.

[1]   God’s voice is not bound by brick and stone.  So, the first thing we need to understand is this.  God has never needed a building to reach His people.  Long before there were steeples and signs, before there were stages and microphones, power points, so you don’t have to burden yourself by caring a Bible, God was already speaking in deserts, on mountain t6ops, in caves, and even through burning bushes.  He doesn’t wait for us in man-made temples.  He meets us where we are, often in the raw, unpolished places of life.  Think of Moses, he didn’t hear God’s voice inside a temple built with hands.  He encountered God in the wilderness, barefoot, face to the ground, trembling before a bush that burned, but not being consumed.  At the time they didn’t require stain-glass windows or pews.  It required only a heart’s willingness to listen.  Moses wasn’t seeking a religious experience; he was simply walking and God interrupted him with His glory.  For Elijah, weary and hunted, hiding in a cave, despairing of life and pleading to die, was not surrounded by choirs or huge crowds, but by silence and his fear.  And it was there in the stillness of his solitude that God whispered to him.  Not in the earthquake, not in the fire, not in the wind, but in a still small voice.  Elijah didn’t need a church to hear God; he just needed solitude and surrender. What about John the Baptist?  He never set foot in a religious synagogue to preach.  He wore camels’ hair and ate wild honey.  He cried out from the wilderness, not from a pulpit and the people came to him.  Why?  Because something in him carried the voice carried the echo of heaven.  God had by-passed Herod’s temple once again and chose a wild prophet to shake a nation. This is the pattern over and over, God bypasses the expected and chooses the wilderness in life’s journey.  He calls His children into places far from comfort, far from traditions, far from systems created by men, because there they can finally hear.  There He can finally speak.  There he has their full attention.  So, if you have found yourself away from the crowds, if you have walked out of the country club styled buildings and into the quiet, you are not far from God. You may be closer than ever, because He is still speaking, not just in the temples, or megachurches with their comforts of the world built to appease man, but in the secret place where only those that truly hunger know to go. 

[2] The true church is not a building, but a people.  It’s one of the most misunderstood truths in all of Christianity.  The church is not a location, it’s not a building, a denomination, or a service time on Sunday morning, that has a time limit in which the Holy Spirit must work.  The true church the one Jesus died for, the one He is returning for, is not made of brick and mortar.  It’s made of people, living, breathing, spirit-filled people.  The word ‘church’ comes from the Greek word ‘ecclesia’, and it means the called-out ones.  Not gathered in ones, not the weekly attending ones, but those who have been called out of the world, called out of man-made religions, out of darkness into His marvelous light. The true church is a living organism, not an organization.  It cannot be contained within four walls.  When Jesus said: “Where two are three are gathered in My name, there am I in the midst of them”.  He wasn’t giving a church planting strategy. He was giving us a glimpse of His heart. He is interested in communion with His beloved.  Two hearts on fire for Him gathered in love and in truth.  That is more church than a thousand distracted souls in a megachurch or majestic cathedral.  Throughout scripture, God’s presence shows up where His people are hungry, not where the structure is styled to attract, appeal and compete.  In Act’s, the early believers didn’t have fancy buildings.  They met in homes, open skies and catacombs deep in the bowels of the earth and other secret places.  And yet they turned the known world upside down.  Why?  Because they understood they were the temple.  The Spirit of God wasn’t behind the 3’ thick curtain anymore hiding His holiness, it was inside the fleshly church.  God’s true children know this truth deep in their bones.  That no matter where they are, in a prison cell, a hospital room, a quiet living room, they are the true church.  They carry His presence, they are His house, they are His body.  When they walk, He walks.  When they speak, He speaks. So, if you’ve left a building, but still burn for Jesus, you haven’t left the church, you are the church!  And maybe, just maybe that is what God has been trying to show you all along.

[3] Jesus rejected the religious system of His day.  If you truly want to understand why some of God’s sincere children choose not to belong to a man-made church, look at Jesus not just as Savior, but as a bold and relentless challenger of religious systems.  He didn’t just preach love and forgiveness.  He confronted corruption, exposed hypocrisy, and stood toe to toe with the religious elite of His day, who behaved as though they owned access to God.  Jesus didn’t fit in with the temple system.  In fact, He disrupted it!  When He walked into the temple courts and saw religious merchants turning sacred ground into a medium for merchandizing, he didn’t offer a polite rebuke.  He flipped their tables!  He drove them out with a whip, because they had turned His Father’s house into a den of thieves.  They had commercialized what was intended to be holy.  The Pharisees and Sadducees, the exalted church leaders of that time, hated Him.  Not because He sinned, not because He was evil, but because He exposed them.  He openly revealed that they were more in love with power than with God.  They were more devoted to tradition than to truth.  And He refused to participate in their falsehood.  Think about this also, Jesus spent for more time in the streets, fields and mountains than He ever did in man-made synagogues.  He preached to fishermen on boats, sinners at the well, and the broken in life hiding in alleyways.  His pulpit was the dirt beneath His feet.  His congregation was the hungry, the outcast society had dispensed with, the rejected for religious violations created by men and the forgotten.  God’s true children have always followed that example.  They don’t seek platforms.  They don’t need stages or lights or smoke.  Like our Savior they speak truth in love wherever they are.  Often outside the four walls of religion.  And just like Jesus, they are more often than not misunderstood, ridiculed and even cast out as Sowers of confusion and discord.  But here is an undeniable truth.  Jesus never came to repair the old religious system.  He came to replace it with something new, something alive.  And those who truly follow Him hunger for that same heart.  They don’t just leave religion behind.  They step into the untamed, raw spirit-led life that only a true child of God can understand.

[4] The Holy Spirit teaches God’s children directly.  There is a sacred truth hidden in plain sight.  Those who are truly God’s children are not ultimately shaped by a sermon designed to support a doctrinal stand or to embrace a rebranding of the gospel of Christ, seminars designed to re-educate (like promise keepers, true love waits etc., or religious education of denominational talking points.  They are taught by the Holy Spirit Himself.  Heaven doesn’t outsource discipleship to man.  For the true sanctified believer, the voice that guides them is divine, not institutional.  In 1st John 2.27: we are told something that sounds radical: “but the anointing you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not anyone teach you. But as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, you will abide in Him.”  That is not poetic language.  That is a spiritual reality.  When God chose us to be His children, He places within each child His Spirit and that spirit becomes your teacher, your guide, your counselor.  Note: The early disciples didn’t graduate from religious schools, they walked with the Spirit.  Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, didn’t immediately consult church leaders in Jerusalem after his conversion.  Instead, he went into Arabia alone in the wilderness for years, because the Lord was teaching him directly, stripping away the old (religion as a member of the Sanhedrin) and pouring in the new.  This is what the Lord does with His chosen, He sends His teacher the Holy Spirit to comfort their confusion and teaches them truth.  Every true born-again believer is shaped by Christ.  Many times, that shaping causes the believer to go through valleys and deserts, not for pain’s sake, but to sharpen our resolve to serve only Him.  He tunes our hearts to His whisper.  He uses everyday moments, storms, failures, stillness and suffering as His curriculum.  And when we emerge, we carry something no seminary can give.  They speak with authority that didn’t come from man.  Their words pierce hearts not because we are eloquent, but because they are saturated with the oil of intimacy.  They’ve sat at the feet of Jesus, not behind a pulpit, but in the unseen hours of prayer and surrender.  So, if you find yourself outside the reach of formal teaching.  If you have been learning in secret, don’t feel like an outcast, Rejoice!  Because true teaching most often comes in the wilderness of life wandering searching for true fulfillment.  And when the world sees you, they may accuse you, ridicule and they may not understand your path, but they will know one thing for sure.  You have been with the Lord.

[5] persecution that often comes from organized religion.  One of the most heartbreaking yet eye-opening realities in the Bible is this.  The fiercest opposition against the Lord’s bride has rarely come from the world.  It most often happens and comes from within religious systems.  In the beginning those who carried the pure voice of God were hunted, not by unbelievers, but by religious leaders who feel threatened by truth.  Jeremiah was called to speak God’s words to a nation drowning idolatry. But it wasn’t the pagans who beat him and threw him in cistern, it was the priest and false prophets of his day.  They hated his message because it cut through their comfortable lies.  His tears were not just for the sins of Isarel, but for the torment he endured at the hands of those who claimed to serve God.  And what of Jesus’ ministry, crucified not by unbelievers and atheist, not by Rome’s authority alone, but by those He had touched, who heard His words, the religious experts, the religious hierarchy who ran the temple.  They couldn’t tolerate His light, because it revealed their hypocrisy.  His very presence exposed their powerless religion, and they would rather kill the truth than lose their influence and livelihood.  Steven the first Christian martyr, preached with fire and love.  He didn’t insult or attack, he simply proclaimed truth and yet he was stoned to death by a mob stirred up by religious leaders.  Paul himself, a student of Gamaliel the great religious teacher of his day, and a Pharisee went about persecuting the beholders of truth, before his encounter with the Lord on the Damascus Rd, held Stephen’s garment while the religious crowd stoned him to death with vengeance and unbridled anger against truth.  Believing with all his heart he was serving God and His righteousness.  Even today members of the bride of Christ or rejected for a plethora reasons, by religious authority religious leaders attitude it’s my way or the highway so they split churches because of their religious learning and degrees like a thermomotor.  Never stopping to consider the consequences of their actions, that blaspheme the name of Christ. Many of God’s children are rejected not by the lost but by fellow believers.  Then they are mocked for leaving the system, labeled rebellious, unteachable and full of pride.  But this progressing rejection in the body of Christ is not new.  It’s the very road Christ walked.  And every true disciple must walk it too.  So, if you felt or feel cast out by the churches, misunderstood by religious leaders, or slandered by those who wear their religious titles, don’t be disheartened or dismayed.  You’re in holy company.  You’re walking the same narrow path the prophets walked.  And in the Lord’s eyes your not a threat.  You’re His voice in a wilderness of compromise. 

[6] The Lord’s chosen are called into wilderness seasons.  Before the Lord uses someone in power, He usually leads them into a season of isolation, a wilderness, a stripping away.  And it’s in that lonely uncomfortable place that the chosen are shaped.  Not on platforms, not in popularity, but in silence, in waiting, in hiddenness.  Moses spent 40 years in the backside of the desert before he ever stood before Pharoah.  David, having already been anointed Israel’s king as a young man, was hunted like a wild animal by King Saul, chased into a cave surrounded by the outcasts of society, and there the vessel became fit to be a king, David cried unto the Lord in the loneliness of the cave: “Lord, no man cares for my soul but You!”  Elijah fled to the wilderness and hid in a cave despairing of life itself, after having just called fire down from heaven.  Even Jesus, perfect and deity, learned obedience through the things He suffered.  Led by the Spirit into the wilderness wear He fasted 40 days and waged spiritual battles with God’s most vile enemy, all to prepare Him for His public mission and the spiritual battles that lay ahead,  And there He proved that God’s strength does not come from surrounding ourselves with the world’s comforts and gimmickry, but yielded surrender.  Wilderness is not a punishment.  It’s a refining fire.  It is where noise is silent so that the voice of our Lord can grow loud.  It is where false identities fall off and identity is revealed.  It is where comfort dies and dependence on God is born.  Many of the Lord’s chosen today are in that very season in 2026.  You feel unseen, misunderstood, like your life is on pause, but you’re not being forgotten.  You’re being prepared.  In the hidden place of rejection, the Lord is molding you, breaking off the untruths, anchoring you in His truth.  And when the time comes, you won’t rise with charisma.  You will rise with anointing.  The church may not even recognize what is happening in you.  The system may dismiss you, but heaven sees and heaven celebrates.  And in the 21st century God is raising up voices from wilderness wandering, ones who been taught with truths like a fire shut up in their bones in the silence of rejection of religious institutions.  And when these speak, demons will tremble.  Not because of titles, but because he is mastered by God’s truth. 

[7] The child of God who walks in spirit and in truth, not man-manufactured religion.  And not everyone will understand this path.  Not everyone will agree, but throughout scripture and still today, God has always reserved for Himself a remnant, a small group, a hidden few who do not seek popularity, the tv cameras, that use the latest high tech sound systems, to enhance the attractiveness of the product they are selling.  Those who are not defined by religious appearance, and celebrity status, but by spiritual substance.  They do not promote themselves; they don’t follow the crowd.  They follow the One coming in the clouds with great glory.  They are not led by routine, but by revelation.  Jesus’s spoke of them when Jesus told the woman at the well: “The hour is coming and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and in truth.  For the Father is seeking such to worship Him.” John 4.23-24.  We are to worship Him in purity of heart. The remnant has never been the majority.  Most often they are the outcasts, the ones who find it difficult to embrace the religious hierarchical structure.  But these often burn for the Lord when no one is watching.  They pray and worship alone in their closets, weep in the night, and walk with the Lord when the path is dark and strewn with a plethora of life’s misery.  They don’t need recognition or the plaudits of men.  These are true disciples; they walk in truth when created doctrines are popular.  They refuse to compromise even when it may cost them everything.  They are not bound by denominational structured mandates and religious institutional directives to protect the brand at any cost.  Their loyalty is not to a system; it’s to the Savior.  God is raising up a people in this generation who will not be confined by religion.  They are being led by the spirit, grounded in truth and sealed with fire that burns for Christ righteousness.  And no matter how small their number, they are mighty in power by the Comforter sent by our Savior Jesus the Christ.  Some may never enter organized religion again.  They carry heaven inside them.  They are the temple of the Lord.  They are the church. 

Conclusion: Called to blind obedience, to walk alone, but never without their Savior Jesus the Christ.

THE ENIGMA of ZECHARIAH’s VISIONS IN Chapter 5

[PART ONE]

 The Biggest Fraud Ever Perpetrated By the god of This World, Satan, on the Willful Ignorant, Is Convincing Them They Are ‘Atheist’ (a belief that no deity or any God or gods exist). [PART ONE]

When a person is diagnosed with a fatal illness, their immediate response, is what kind of treatments are available?  Spiritually, in much of modern Christianity at least in America, the greatest of all Christian nations, a diagnosis has manifested itself that will in the end prove to be fatal for many.  The result of being fed a steady diet of the “milk of the word” while ignoring the preaching of the “meat of word”.  Leaving the spiritual babes in the Christian faith full of questions that have never been addressed or answered, other than the pat elementary truths as their answers, that doesn’t answer or satisfy their questions of why.  This answers a dangerous and growing spiritual question of Christian influence waning in United states.  The numbers in church attendance, religious affiliation, belief in God, prayer and Bible-reading have been in decline for decades.  Much of America’s Christian beliefs are becoming more ‘post-Christian’ (a situation in which Christianity is no longer a dominant importance of a society that has gradually adopted values, culture and worldviews that are not necessarily Christian).  America’s Christian identity is changing.  Enter Generation Z: Born between 1999 and 2015, they are the first truly post-Christian generation.

                More than any other generation before them, Gen Z does not identify with any specific religious identity.  The percentage of Gen Z that identifies as ’atheist’ double that of the U.S. adult population.  Sadly, for Gen Z “atheist” is no longer a dirty word.  So, what has led to this eternal-spiritual disregard?   For most “atheist” especially among Gen Z, the growth of evil and suffering is a deal breaker for them.  For most as well as some adults they struggle to find a satisfactory answer for the existence of both evil and good and a quote-unquote loving God.  We as the ministers of Jesus Christ have done an unsatisfactory job of answering this question by using the “meat of the word” rather than laboring under the fear of offending a seeker, so many take the safe way out, preaching a steady diet of milk of the word.  Many pastors, especially those of mega-church congregations or more like a “life-coach” rather than vigilant shepherds against rising spiritual dangers.  So how do we biblically and satisfactorily answer the rising popularity in identifying as an “atheist”?  For it is impossible to not believe in the existence of deity, a God and Supreme Creator of the universe.  Let’s biblically dismantle Satan’s fraud that has enslaved so man.

                The “wrath of God is revealed from heaven against those who hold truth in an unrighteous way”.  “BECAUSE THAT WHICH MAY BE KNOWN OF GOD IS MANIFEST IN THEM; FOR GOD HAS REVEALED IT TO THEM”.  That “which may be known of God” will vary from person to person.  It will vary based on culture and religious beliefs.  There is a plethora of degrees of the knowledge of God, just as there is a plethora of the ethnicity of people.  It is “in them” as intuitive knowledge.  In other words, there is no person with all their mental faculties that is without some knowledge of God (or their Supreme Creator).  “FOR GOD HAS SHOWED IT TO THEM”.  Man was created as a trichotomy-being.  Meaning we exist with three parts: body, soul and spirit.  Our ‘body’ consist of (5) senses, the ‘soul’ comprises our intellect (to question, imagine and ask why), but the ‘spirit’ is the most noble part of who we are which comes directly from God.  Being in the image of God refers to our personality, conscience, intelligence, awareness of right and wrong.  We are individual and moral creatures capable of loving, sacrificing and doing good deeds.  The Spirit of God is active revealing to every person all that they are capable of understanding.  The Apostle John said: “THAT WAS THE TRUE LIGHT (Jesus the Christ) WHICH LIGHTS EVERY PERSON THAT COMES INTO THE WORLD.” John 1.9  The knowledge obtained of God is not external, that is, it does not come through reading the Bible or through scientific investigation.  It is an inner awareness based on an outward revelation seen in nature and all that surrounds us (nature itself)

            “FOR THE INVISIBLE THINGS OF HIM (the Creator) FROM THE CREATION OF THE WORLD ARE CLEARLY SEEN, BEING UNDERSTOOD BY THE THINGS THAT ARE MADE (order of nature itself (4) seasons, sun rising every morning and setting every evening.  Atoms not crashing into each other etc.) EVEN HIS ETERNAL POWER AND GODHEAD; SO THAT THEY (all human creation) ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE.” Romans 1.20  Paul tells his readers how it is that the heathen know God.  He explains how God has showed it unto them.  He defines the ‘external’ means (our physical world and all that is in it) God uses to impart the internal knowledge of Himself.  Any knowledge we have of God must come as he reveals Himself.  The things we know are said to be “invisible”.  He names three invisible things:  1.) God is “eternal”.  That which is eternal must be the cause of all causes.  All men intuitively know that God is the “Eternal”, without beginning or ending.  2.) Creation confirms our innate knowledge that God is “eternal power”.  The cause of all power must be equal to or greater than the sum total of all power—thus God is omnipotent (all powerful and there is none greater).  3.) All of natural creation is stamped with the marks of the Creator that it reveals the “Godhead” to us.  By this personal, divine revelation seen in nature we know that there is one God over all.  Other invisible things revealed in creation are, God’s goodness, love, justice, judgment, wrath etc.  All these things are readily visible through viewing “the creation of the world”.

            This revelation seen in nature eliminates all claim’s of ignorance.  The degree of knowledge gained through nature will not come close to the knowledge available through Scripture, but it is sufficient to make man responsible.  According to the truth he has seen and yet disobeyed, renders him “without excuse.”  When he is unaware of truth, he would feel no compulsion to offer excuse, now would anyone blame him.  That truth which each person is personally consciousness of is sufficient weight of responsibility.  Atheism is Satan’s greatest fraud.

[PART TWO]

Understanding A Dangerous and Growing Spiritual Threat in Modernity, By Embracing a Non-existant Falsehood

WHEN THEY KNEW GOD (because Christ Lights every person’s knowledge of God), THEY GLORIFIED HIM NOT AS GOD, NEITHER WERE THEY THANKFUL; BUT BECAME VAIN IN THEIR IMAGINATIONS, AND THEIR FOOLISH HEART WAS ‘DARKENED’ (means it is an ongoing process).” Romans 1.21 “Vain imaginations” is a good term for a lot of popular mental sin we so easily rationalize: engaging in internal arguments with people who aren’t even there, the lusting that accompanies sexual pornography for men or emotional pornography for women (steamy romance novels). We all spend time thinking about things that are empty, fruitless, and harmful to our spirits.  And we all need to guard against them.  

            Those who will stand at the “Great White Throne Judgment” are without excuse on judgment day “BECAUSE THAT, WHEN THEY KNEW GOD, THEY GLORIFIED HIM NOT AS GOD!”  Paul reaffirms that natural revelation, received by all mankind, cause all men to know God.  It has been well-established truth all people unavoidably know God. This is not to be confused with knowing Him in forgiveness or in an intimate way (as Jesus revealed to the woman at the well “if you knew who it was that said unto you give Me drink”) but to simply know of surety of His attributes (what is right and what is wrong) of the glory and His righteousness of His person.  They responded to this knowledge by making a choice to disregard the truth “AS CLEARLY SEEN”.

            Important to NOTE: the first sin listed is not murder, rape, idolatry, drunkenness or fornication; it is failure to “GLORIFY GOD.  They did not do what one ought to do in regard to One so high and holy.  When common people come into the presence of King Charles, they all bow in recognition of his high estate.  To not glorify God is the greatest of sins, people can commit.  It is the beginning of rebellion against His Sovereign Authority.  It is a statement to all our values are not in agreement with what is inherently the most valuable asset we possess. 

            We are all naturally endowed with an inclination to glory in that which seems to us august in beauty.  It is predictable that when one views Niagara Falls, or the Grand Canyon, we are awestruck by its natural beauty.  When a person knows God, as all humans do, and yet glorifies Him not, then we have a conflicting understanding of God’s glory, a lack of understanding that is willful and unworthy.  They are at fault in choosing to glorify some things but refuse to glorify God.  In these individuals, it shows a preference that openly reveals a fault in their character.  Choosing this preference renders them unworthy of and unfit for God’s august presence.  The point, to not glorify God is the root of all sin.

            “NEITHER WERE THANKFUL” Paul, in his presentation that all people are sinners, lists “UNTHANKFULNESS” as the second distinctive charge deserving of the “wrath of God”.  A person that sees the beauty of nature’s phenomenal, magnificent beauty that surrounds us, the work of the Creator, and recognizes the very air they breath to be a gift of God yet neglects to pause in life to be “THANKFUL”, is proud and self-willed.  The growing and popular belief by many in the 21st century, is that they have received a raw deal of being guilty of death, by the sin committed by one man in the Garden of Eden therefore, they cannot be “THANKFUL”, but believing they are justified in their belief of being wronged, does not excuse their thankful-ness, but rather confirmed it thereby rendering themselves “WITHOUT EXCUSE”.

            “BECAME VAIN IN THEIR IMAGINATION” As already revealed, God endowed us with some of the abilities of a creator.  How?  We can imagine a thing as we would like it to be and apply ourselves to bring it to pass.  We have total control of our imaginations and can determine what directions they will take.  Therefore, if we imagine the impossible (like finding a way to keep from dying) or the ridiculous (a man can become pregnant), these constitute “VAIN IMAGINATIONS”.  Resulting with people, uncomfortable with an eternal God of infinite power and authority, imagine Him to be something less.  This is especially growing in popularity among Gen Z who view God as less than all knowing, completely righteous God that judges all sin and instead views Him as hindered and unable to stop evil, tragedy’s, disease and predatory animalistic behavior.  So, they rethought God as something less than revealed in the Holy Scripture.

            “AND THEIR FOOLISH HEART WAS DARKENED.”  In Scripture, the word ‘heart’ is used to describe that center of the human soul, wherein moral intentions, affections and motives reside.  Remember John’s revelation John 1.9: God had illuminated the heart of everyone born into the world, but the ‘light’ (or knowledge) has become dimmed, due to their imaginations causing them on a continued path into darkness.  Notice their “foolish heart was darkened” is present tense, meaning a continued progression.

            “PROFESSING THEMSELVES TO BEWISE, THEY BECAME FOOLS.”  In their imaginations, observing the creations of their own minds, they thought themselves wise.  They published the falsehoods generated by their “vain imaginations” (such as the theory of evolution, order out of a cataclysmic combustion, it’s natural to want to change the gender of their birth, to something else) they established universities, institutions of higher learning, and praised themselves for their mutual knowledge.  They called it philosophy, Scientific advancements and the need of Comparative Religion that eventually all lead to the same end.  They created degrees for these professors rewarding in some cases their “vain imaginations” and called them “Doctors of psychiatry, Doctor of Divinity etc.  People called them enlightened.  God calls them fools.

            Their “VAIN IMAGINATIONS” will ultimately lead them to replace God altogether with themselves becoming the all-powerful god.  The vehicle of choice “Artificial Intelligence, or A.I. their crowning achievement from a heart in a continuous darkened path forward.

[PART THREE]

The Innate Danger of Committing the (3rd) Strike and Finally Experiencing True Freedom and Peace of Mind!

“AND CHANGED THE GORY OF THE UNCORRUPTIBLE GOD INTO AN IMAGE MADE LIKE TO CORRUPTIBLE MAN.” 

They “CHANGED”, proof they well perceived and understood the “GLORY” of God.  In other words, it was a conscious act involving rejection of “HELD TRUTH”, not ignorance of truth.  The self-deceived “FOOLS” using their “vain imaginations” created in their minds the “UNCORRUPTIBLE GOD” to an image they could accept, of a “CORRUPTIBLE MAN”.  These people were not “DEVOID OF KNOWLEDGE OF GOD”, poor misguided victims of their time and culture.  They were “FOOLS” remaking God into an image more compatible with their lusts.

Other than Judaism and Biblical Christianity, there is no religion that demands so high and holy a life as does just plain natural revelation.  People will willfully turn away from “glorifying” the eternal God of righteousness to serve a god produced in their “imaginations” that permits them to selfishly indulge their fleshly lusts without fear of judgment to come.  When people accept a distorted “image” of God, they forfeit the only reference by which they can identify themselves.  They become philosophers who abound with unanswered questions and resent the answers that imply responsibility.

“WHEREFORE GOD ALSO GAVE THEM ‘UP’ TO UNCLEANESS THROUGH THE LUSTS OF THEIR OWN HEARTS, TO DISHONOR THEIR OWN BODIES BETWEEN THEMSELVES:

 Verse 24 specifically encapsulate the moment when God allows a person to pursue the very desires which lead to their own demise.  Paul illustrates a progression: the turning away from God leads to uncleanliness and physically depraved conduct.  It emphasizes that turning away from God results in humans pursuing sin and eventually experiencing its destructive effects.  Here, we also see the overarching theme of God’s justice.  He gives humanity the freedom to choose, but there are always consequences attached to those choices. 

“WHEREFORE”, is an illustration that says because of the former willful actions of people, “GOD GAVE THEM UP TO UNCLEANNESS.”  The underlying motive for rejecting the revelation of God that all humans are born with, always involves indulging of the flesh.  Nearly all of ancient religions involved the sanctification of prostitution and gross immorality, teaching fleshly indulgence as a vital part of worship.  God reacts by pulling the hand away, of His provision (the Holy spirit) which reveals the spiritual danger against such indulgence.  Giving them “UP TO UNCLEANNESS”, the object of their lusts filled pursuits.  The means by which God gave them up was “THROUGH” their own “LUSTS”.  They had given Him up ‘for’ lusts, so God gave them up ‘to’ their lusts.  In other words, they had become preoccupied with their own bodies (like our addiction in the 21st century to taking and posting selfies of ourselves, billions spent on plastic surgery, the creation of having sex-change operations seem a normal desire etc.).  Instead of behaving as the children of God, spreading love and goodwill, they turned inward and found pleasure in worshiping their own bodies.  Like maggots they feed upon the flesh until they worship the creature.  They took their tabernacles of flesh, which the Creator has given as vessels to house the human spirit, and “DISHONORED THEIR BODIES BETWEEN THEMSELVES.”  By mutual consent, they made an industry of promoting, stimulating and gratifying one another.  Our present culture is feverishly reinventing a plethora of ways to dishonor the body.  “BUT EVERY PERSON IS TEMPTED, WHEN THEY ARE DRAWN AWAY OF THEIR OWN LUSTS, AND ENTICED.  THEN WHEN LUST HAS CONCIEVED, IT BRINGS FORTH SIN: AND SIN, WHEN IT IS FINISHED, BRINGS FORTH DEATH.” James 1.14-15

“WHO CHANGED THE TRUTH OF GOD INTO A LIE, AND WORSHIPED AND SERVED THE CREATURE MORE THAN THE CREATOR, WHO IS BLESSED FOREVER AMEN.” v.25  They          “changed the truth of God” of which they were all aware (of the “truth they held”) to a “LIE” conceived in their “IMAGINATIONS”.  Possessed by hedonistic spirit, their lusts suggested to them that the body alone was the object of devotion, leading them to “WORSHIP AND SERVE THE CREATURE”.   In our culture there is an attempt to maintain some visual persona of devotion and worship of God and His Son while indulging in the flesh, not realizing that in a real sense they worship each other’s bodies “MORE THAN THE CREATOR.”

“FOR THIS CAUSE GOD GAVE THEM UP UNTO VILE AFFECTIONS: FOR EVEN THEIR WOMEN DID CHANGE THE NATURAL USE INTO THAT WHICH IS AGAINST NATURE:”  It has already been revealed God shines the light of truth into every soul that comes into the world.  They took what they understood of the truth of His nature and changed it into a corruptible image based on the immorality they pursued.  God, as He did with Adam’s decision to willfully give his authority over this world to Satan, honored their choices and gave them ’up’ to uncleanness.  Their pursuit of unclean behavior drew them further into lust until they worshiped their own bodies.  “FOR THIS CAUSE GOD GAVE THEM UP UNTO VILE AFFECTIONS.”  In other words, to love the obscene and vile depravity of their conduct.  How depraved has our culture become?  In our former culture, we would expect men of acting base and vile, but not women.  When I was growing up you would never hear profane language used in the presence of a woman.  In the present culture you have a female candidate running for president of the U.S. openly in public spewing forth the “F” word, and women now commonly use language that you were more likely to hear among construction workers, but not women, and to their open vileness they have no shame.  It’s the fruit produced by progressive and liberal policies that has all but erased femininity among women.  “EVEN THEIR WOMEN DID CHANGE THE NATURAL USE INTO THAT WHICH IS AGAINST NATURE.”  God placed within each of us natural drives toward the opposite sex.  Such drives are wholesome within themselves.  But women “CHANGED” what God made into something “AGAINST NATURE”.  Lesbian acts are contrary to nation.  Such drives are not natural.  They have to be cultivated, invented and promoted in each new generation.  No one is born a Sodomite, or a lesbian.  If one commits either of the aforementioned acts, they do so “AGAINST” one’s own “NATURE”. This sin is against nature in the most elementary understanding of truth.  Take all lesbians or sodomites and put each group on a separate island and how long will the island remain populated?  Until the last of them die.  It’s against nature.  

SERIES ON THE CHURCH OF ROME‍

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