Summary: Are you willing to let a soul go to Hell because of your bias???

Jonah 1

1 Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

2 Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.

3 But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

Are you better than Jonah? Are there people you would never witness to because you are fine with then going to Hell? Will God have to give you a whale ride to get you to "...go into the world and preach the gospel to EVERY creature?" (Mark 16:15)

Ironically, Jonah means dove, but he did not want to be the dove of peace to people of war. He was sent like the Holy Spirit to preach judgment and then peace when they turned to God. He liked the judgment part well enough, but not the peace part.

In the middle of the storm caused by his rebellion;

Jonah slept while the heathen prayed.

Heathen spoke to Jonah about God and was concerned about their souls. Jonah didn't speak and didn't care about their souls.

Heathen tried to save Jonah rather than him trying to save them.

There is no place for prejudice and hatred in the Body of Christ. All humans are created in the image of God and He died for them to bring them back home.

Do not be like Jonah and go kicking and screaming and then be bitter if Jesus saves someone you don't like. Be thankful, He was willing to save you when there was nothing in you to merit His love.

All men are my temporal brothers through Creation and some are my eternal brothers through the New Birth. All of my temporal ones should have the chance to be my eternal brother.

Ask God to forgive your hard heart and foolish prejudice then seek out they whom you would not seek and show them the love of Christ!

Shalom! Maranatha!!!

Gen 2:18 And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

When God made woman “meet” or fit for the man, He meant the deal to be that Adam’s strengths were Eve’s weaknesses and Eve’s strengths were Adam’s weaknesses so that they were stronger together than they would ever be apart. That is why opposites usually attract each other. That is the ideal marriage and so many do not look at that when looking for a marriage partner. It wasn’t all about either partner, but rather both.

Of course, they don’t seek God for the right mate and also ignore parental and even friend’s advice and then wonder why it falls apart. Love is blind and hormones are insane. Not good to rely on your judgment alone. Others can see your blind spot and keep you from disaster if you let them tell you the truth and you really listen. Due to the high divorce rates of marriage for love, I could almost go back to parental selected marriages.

When He tells a Christian to not marry an unbeliever and they do or a person that only started going to church when the dating started they are asking for trouble and usually get it. Amos said it best, “How can two walk together except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3)

Consult the Creator and if you can’t figure out each one’s strengths and weaknesses there are tests out there to help you. If you both have the same weaknesses it will be difficult to overcome situations those weaknesses cause if at least one is not strong in that area. Much like a non-swimmer jumping in to help someone drowning. You normally end up dredging two bodies.

If both of you are strong in the same areas then there will be undue competition to be the one handling the situation much like one man pushing the car from the back and another pushing if from the front at the same time. Direction is determined by which one tires first and a marriage like that will likewise be tiring.

God has someone for you if you are meant to marry, but He also knows who would be better off single so let Him tell you about that. There is no sense in you ruining your life and another person’s life if you are best alone. Parents fussing about grand-kids or all of your peers being married are not good reasons to be married. Being in a hurry or settling may also make you miss the best God had for you and cause the one He had for you to also miss the best.

Control your hormones, let others point out the blind spots while you wait on God and you will have a much better marriage experience.

Maranatha!!

Summary: Care of the Body

I Cor 12:12-27

In many of my teachings, I have sought to emphasize the Church as a family. It is a very large family and all the things that go with being a family fits in the Church. We share love and responsibilities. We share joy and sorrow. We share victories and defeats. We share the peace of being in one accord and at times, we share the tension of discord. We have births and deaths. Gloriously, from God’s perspective we are wed and never divorced! In our flesh, we do suffer the searing pain of being cut in two by divorce.

God makes two into one at marriage. That union is created painlessly in love and is made to last until death. Saw a person in two and you will have nothing but pain and death. People who lose their mates in death will tell you that they are incomplete and a part of them has died. Since until the new Heaven and Earth is created death will be a part of us God heals with a balm this natural separating of one into two. This healing is much faster than if man creates the separation. This is why the phrase "what God has joined together, let no man put asunder" is very important in the marriage ceremony. God puts the couple together and if by death, He puts them asunder He will work in the healing and the half will be made whole by bringing the remaining spouse closer to Him to whom they are married spiritually and perhaps one day by a new spouse.

If man does the putting asunder, it is an unnatural act contrary to God’s will and in essence, a suicide, or a murder. Lose a loved one to a disease, accident, or old age and the pain and anguish is not nearly as crushing as that of a suicide or murder.

We know that disease and natural causes will take us all at some time or another. We accept this and grieve with hope if we are Christians. An accident is unexpected and the shock tremendous, but we cope because accidents are a normal part of our existence and an "acceptable" or at least understandable means of death. However, suicide and murder are never acceptable and the shock is greater and there are questions and emotions that will haunt us far longer than any other cause of death.

A God of grace works even in things that are out of His will. If we have been divorced under conditions other than what the Bible allows He will still be there. While I have given a graphic analogy of the results of divorce to show its seriousness lest any be naïve or haphazard in their view of it, I do not mean to bring hopelessness to those who have experienced it. God IS a God of grace. He will be with His children. He will heal any wound if we come to Him for the healing. He can raise the dead and will bring about "beauty for ashes." (Isaiah 61:3)

I have only touched on familiar issues of family and marriage to lead us into a teaching that is a little harder for us to understand. We are more than just members of God’s family and Brides of Christ. We are ONE body! Because we fail to understand this fundamental truth, there is much pain and sickness in the Church and we are weak and ineffective. This illness leaves a myriad of souls languishing in a slow and painful death outside of the love of Christ because they see no balm for their sores in the Church. For there is no balm for the Church’s wounds of self-mutilation for the Church is ignorant and anesthetized by that ignorance therefore it seeks no balm or remedy.

I fear that I am being far too kind when I use the word ignorant for that implies that we just do not know. Yet, the New Testament is nearly 2000 years old. How could we be ignorant of the issue? Stupid means one incapable of learning and I know we are not that. Perhaps slow or dull are better terms though they are a bit more denigrating than ignorant. I pray that God will grant us illumination and wisdom as we study this truth.

1 Cor 12:12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

To the Hebrews, the sum of the Old Testament is declared in Deut 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:" (KJV) The word one used here can mean one and only one, but it can be used to show a composite unity. Trinitarians believe that it is the composite unity being used in this verse. A composite unity is much like when we speak of one cluster of grapes and yet there are many grapes in that cluster. It was also used of a man and his wife when it was said they were to become one flesh. (Gen 2:24) I am not here to prove the Trinity tonight, but I wanted to give you some other concepts of composite unity to think of as we discuss the one body of Christ.

We know that our bodies are a composite unity. Unless we are doctors, we are not going to be able to name all the parts of the body. Few of us could even get all of the major systems named. I am sure someone has given a calculated guess as to the number of cells we have and maybe even guessed the number of atoms in each of us. It suffices to say that from the basic elements to the major systems we are composed of many members in this one body in which we live. Add the soul, a spirit, and the Godhead, if we are saved, and we are a very complex ONE human being.

When everything is in its place and is operating within its proper parameters, we are healthy and truly alive. Let us lose something or let it malfunction and we are hindered, ill, or dead. We are not happy with malfunctions and most of us would not just walk into a doctor’s office and tell him/her to just lop off or cut out anything he/she feels in the mood to lop off or cut out. Unless of course, he/she is a plastic surgeon and we are dissatisfied with the way God has allowed us to form or we believe a cultural fad or lie instead of "He has done all things well." (Mark 7:37) Then we might pay big money and risk maiming or death, but normally we prefer everything to stay where it is and to work like it was designed to work.

Christ’s body is one, yet has many members that perform various tasks. We may meet in homes, storefronts, clapboard buildings, or in buildings that are like cathedrals in every part of the world, but we are still one body. There is only one Christ and He only has one Body. Some try to pass themselves off as being another Body or a clone, if you please, but there is only one true Body of Christ. Some sects or denominations claim to be the only true Body of Christ, but they greatly err.

Christ’s Body like our body is made of individual cells united into one organism. There may be many cells in Christ’s Body from a particular sect or denomination and fewer or none from others. However, no denomination or sect places the individual cells into His Body.

13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

The Holy Spirit places the individual cells into the Body. He is not owned by or especially affiliated with any denomination or sect. In fact, only He is truly nondenominational. Since He works with individual hearts, He can transplant an individual into the Body of Christ in spite of denominational affiliation or lack of one.

One Spirit baptizes us into one body! There is only one Christ, one Body, and one Holy Spirit. We are either in Christ or out of Him. We are either in the Body or out of it and either the Holy Spirit has placed us in the Body and causes us to drink into that one Spirit or He did not. God is more black and white in His ways than we like to think. There is no gray area here. A leech or parasite may attach itself to the body, but it is not of the body. Many will find in that final judgement that they were leeches or parasites rather than being of the body. Pray that you in the Body!

In Paul’s day, there were only two religions - Judaism and Paganism. There were only two races - Jew and Gentile. There were only two social standings - bond or free. Nothing has really changed. There are two religions - Faith and Works. There are two races - believers and unbelievers. There are two standings - in the bondage of sin or free in Christ. Friend where are you? The one Holy Spirit can make you drink of Him and you shall be in the one Body of Christ! There is plenty of room for you! The one and only Christ died to give you a place in Him!

14 For the body is not one member, but many.

The Body of Christ can be added unto daily and never be overweight! With the addition of each individual cell, it only becomes stronger. Each cell is given one or more functions within the body and is placed in the proper organ, system, or limb where it is needed and able to fulfil its functions and gifts! The following discourse by Paul shows the foolishness of trying to be something you are not and trashing the one that is different than you.

15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?

Can you imagine this going on in your body? You feel this stretching and pain in your foot. Looking down you see your toes desperately trying to drag your foot away. You yell at it and ask what is going on! It answers that it is ticked off because it is not the hand and it says it is leaving since it is obviously not in the right position therefore it does not belong to this body. It will go and find a body where it can be a hand.

You feel a pain on the side of your head. You go to the mirror. Your ear has developed arms and it is pushing at the side of your head trying to tear itself from you. You ask your what is going on and your ear says that it is clear to itself that it is supposed to be an eye. Since it is not an eye, it must not belong to this body and it is going off to find a body where it can be an eye.

Now if you have these conversations with your body parts, may I suggest that you make an appointment with me for some counseling? Do you see the silliness of this? Even if your ear and foot could have these feelings, they would still be part of the body though they are dissatisfied with their position or function!

Many Christians are like the foot and ear in this passage. The Spirit has made them a part of the Body at their salvation and gifts have been given them. They look around and find out that they are the foot or ear and they wanted to be hands or eyes. They are ticked off and run off to join another Church thinking they can be the hand or the eyes there. It does not matter where they go, they are still called to be feet or ears, and they will not be anything else! They will never be fulfilled until they accept the gifts and position that God has given them.

We are all part of the one Body, but if you wish to look at each congregation as a body of believers, you still have problems. If a foot runs to a body of believers that has two feet it will be a third foot that is not needed. It will not be fulfilled there even if it is finally content to be a foot. If two feet run there and that body is missing eyes they may put the feet in the eyes’ position, but they will still be blind! They will also look a bit strange with feet sticking out of their eye sockets. Somewhere there will be a body without feet and thus handicapped in their service to Christ.

17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

Every part is needed. One huge eye creatures only exist in science fiction or evolution, which really are the same things. Jimmy Durante and Cyrano De Bergerac were noted for their prominent noses, but neither man was just a nose! I once knew a pastor that because of a medical treatment had no sense of taste. He would tell you the meal was good by its consistency! I might lose weight, but I would definitely miss my taste buds!!! There are no needless parts of the body and something is going to be missed if one is removed!

17 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

If you are not happy with your gifts or position in the Body, you have to take it up with God, not the Pastor, Elders, or Deacons or roam about the body fussing to the other members. None of them can help you. If they do, they are fighting God’s pleasure and if they succeed in putting you in another position they hurt the Body and themselves.

In the process, you and they have actually made you into a cancer cell that is reproducing incorrectly. The white cells in the Church are going to react and there may come about sickness that only Holy Ghost chemotherapy will fix. In severe cases, there will be surgery and maybe even the death of the local congregation. The building and people may remain, but they are dead while they live. The whole town will know that it is a mausoleum not a Church.

19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

If we were all added to the eyes, what good would it do? The eyes need the body for transportation to see things. In fact, unless the eye is attached to the head, it is useless because there is no place to transmit the images it is receiving.

Therefore, God has made us many members in one Body. We all are needed to have a complete, healthy, and useful body! Therefore, my Brothers and Sisters rejoice that you are in Christ and in the Body! Whether you are a pancreas or a pinkie a lung or a liver rejoice, for God has placed you in that position and you are needed to do things that you do best!

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

We have dealt with the folks that feel like their place is not important or needed, but here we deal with the ones with attitude. The eye may think that since it is transmitting all kinds of wonderful pictures and information to the brain that it is the most important part of the body. It may smirk at the hand because it must touch everything to experience that thing whereas the eye just views and drinks in not only the beauty of an object, but a scene and indeed a small universe. How haughty the eye may be.

Ah, but let a speck of dirt come into the eye that it cannot flush out with its tears or let the sun be so bright that the eye must close and be in darkness or be in pain. Then the hand is mighty nice to have around. The hand can shade the eye itself or be used to place a hat or sunglasses to provide protection for the eye. Moreover, what about that speck of dust that feels like a mountain? Is it not convenient that the hands can cup themselves and bring water to the eye to flush out the dirt or brush it out of the corner that the eyelids cannot move no matter how fast they blink? The hand is not a bad thing to have around after all.

There are far too many eyes or maybe the better expression is "I"s in the Body who are haughty and disdain any that are not like them in their greatness. They expect everyone to give them a hand while they bow to their cheers. They should take care for someone may give them a hand in a way that will bow them over in tears. Christ’s hands once held a scourge though they had come to give comfort, heal and express the teachings of the Word.

The head may have some wonderful ideas, but if it shoots the feet, it will not be able to bring them about because it cannot go anywhere but to the ground. In the resulting pain, it may also forget those great ideas. Many times those who think they are the heads are just headaches. Often they are just pains in the tail that managed a way to slide up the spine. Their position may have changed but not their effect on the Body. They are just like migraines. They make you sick in the stomach when you have them and they are very difficult to get rid of or keep under control. The Body that has these needs plenty of Dr. Jesus recommended Pray All Night® to call them out by morning. You literally have to bring these folks to the Head to end the pain.

22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

I mentioned the pinkie earlier and along with that let’s think of the thumb. Tape either one of these fingers to the next finger and see how difficult it is to get along without them. Yet, how much attention do we pay to them unless we cut them or smack them with a hammer? They are the littlest fingers, the more feeble, and yet they are very necessary. The same can be said for the big and little toes.

Tonsils seem feeble since we yank them out the first time they are sick. Although that has slowed some since science has caught up a little with God and found that they are more necessary than they thought and now they yank them less quickly.

We need to learn from that. We have some folks that appear to be feeble in the Body of Christ and we wish we could yank them out or do without them. They are often sickly in a spiritual sense and such a bother. We think the Body would be so much better off without them. Those folks are in the Body to see if the white cells are working properly and to see if our bowels of mercies are as tender as they should be. They have their purpose and one day, we may find they were not as feeble or useless as we thought and find that we were not functioning as well as we should have been.

I remember a brother once that came to church in an outdated suit, sneakers, and a ball cap. He lisped heavily when he said the church name and stuttered when he talked. If you gave him your address, he would write you letters. Those letters would be passages he copied out of the Bible. You see he could not read or write, but he could copy. He sent me those large printed letters for years after I left that church. He was a very kind man and everyone in the church loved him, especially the children. He looked like the twin of a college football coach. Folks would call him that name and he would smile broadly. He loved sports. He talked to everyone. He saw no color, age, or class. He just loved everybody. Lord, make us that are seemingly more gifted than this man, possess the simple love that he had.

23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these

we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

In high school, a female classmate of mine observed that feet were ugly and so that was why she wore ugly shoes. She was a nice girl, but that seemed strange to me especially since she went to all kinds of measures to wear other attractive clothing and did the make up thing and all that. Using her logic, she should have used no make up because if she felt her face was not as attractive as she thought it should be she should have sought to leave it unattractive or to wear makeup to make her more unattractive. Then again, this was the sixties and logic was not our battle cry though we loved Mr. Spock. Mr. Spock, not Dr. Spock, for Dr. Spock was illogical or irrational to the point he should have been committed and not published, in my humble opinion. Society is still receiving punishment for listening to him.

We are certainly not like my classmate. We seek to make the less honorable parts more honorable. By spending as much time as we do on them we are giving them lots of honor. In the old days, there were parts of the body and functions that polite society just never spoke about. Now, those parts are either shown on TV or there are commercials for the remedies of the unmentionable areas and ailments.

Though they were unmentionable and in a sense dishonored or despised, they could not be ignored. Care was taken to keep the parts covered and cleaned and if you had an ailment, you could not ignore it. You gave it all the attention it needed to get it cured. You bestowed the honor of your time and by doing that made that part more honorable.

There are parts of Christ’s Body that some people want to consider less honorable and unmentionable. They do not measure up to some folks’ concepts of respectable Christianity. These may be new additions to the Body that have some traits that Christ has not removed from them yet or their attire is not classy enough. We want to put them in the back row or maybe we could start a mission church and send them there.

Careful! Spend time mentoring them in truth and not your tradition or class pride. Those that seem less honorable may take some of your time, but they may become greater saints than you are as Christ conforms them to His image and gifts them for their place in the Body.

They may seem less comely or attractive now, but if you spend as much time on them in prayer, teaching and encouragement as you spend on beautifying your own body’s uncomely parts you may soon see the more abundant beauty of the fullness of the Spirit in them. As they grow in the beauty of holiness that never fades, the glow will hide any physical scars they may have. They will become the most beautiful parts of the Body that you have ever seen in worship. (I Chron 16:29, II Chron 20:21, Psalm 29:2, Psalm 96:9)

24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:

If they ever passed out awards for the best looking preacher, I would have no chance of winning unless they placed me in the wrong age category. Then in the 95-100 year old class I might have a chance of coming in third since I am only 46. However, in the words of that legendary man of the sea, "I yams what I yams and that is all that I yams!"

I live in reality. I am a short, balding, fat guy and no one will ever mistake me for Brad Pitt. Elvis in his last years, maybe, but never a Brad Pitt twin. When folks start picking on the fat kids and get into insult throwing, I say, "Hey, you think I’m ugly? Then give me $10 and say thank you for it weren’t for us ugly folks you good lookin’ ones would be nobody." I also quote a little poem. "At beauty, I am not a great star. There are others more fair by far. But my face I don’t mind it because I am behind it. It’s the people out front that I jar." Thank you. Thank you very much.

By Hollywood and trendy magazine standards, I t’ain’t pretty, but God made me and He saved me and if He likes me as I am what does it matter if others do not? If I yield to Him, He will make me have that inner beauty we spoke of earlier and the rest will not matter.

You see God is a God of balance. Remember the manna? Those who had big families or appetites collected as much as they needed. Those who had small families and appetites did the same so that no one lacked. No one could hoard except for on the sixth day to take care of the Sabbath or the worms ate the stash and it stunk. Hmm, wonder if God will do the same thing to the Y2K stashes since He told us to trust Him for daily bread regardless of the year.

He also led the early Christians to love Him and each other so much that the rich sold their excess to distribute to the poor so that no one lacked. Hmm, we have not seen that much love in the Body for a long time. The strong are supposed to take care of the weak. Therefore, ye that are comely (or think you are) were put into the Body to minister to the not so comely. He relieved you of certain needs or burdens (the comely parts have no need) to free you to serve the not so comely parts and thus giving more honor to the part that lacked or has needs by your ministry.

God has commingled or tempered the Body together in this way. Yet, looking at it deeper the comely parts have needs provided for by the uncomely parts as well. Imagine if our bodies were inside out? Wow! Talk about uncomely!! Livers, gall bladders, and intestines are not the most beautiful things in the world, but I am sure glad that I have them.

OK, the skin, hair, teeth, and fronts of the eyeballs are the prettier parts. However, they are not there just for pretty. The skin protects the body and helps hold stuff in place. The greater percentage of the body is under the skin. The skin is really a very small percentage of the whole body. Oddly enough, we spend much more time nurturing that small percentage then we do the rest of the body.

Not only does it protect, but it helps form the various orifices we need for various functions and its pores help ventilate the body as well as helping to remove toxins from the body. However, let the rest of the body have a problem and it shows up in the skin. The other parts or the interior uncomely parts provide the nourishment for the skin to function. Doctors look into your eyes to see symptoms of what is going on in the body. Your teeth will give clues and even hair samples can tell us what is really going on in the body. Therefore, while the uncomely is dependent upon the comely the comely is dependent upon the uncomely!

If we all function in our place within Christ’s Body and not worry that we are not something else or care if we are considered comely or uncomely the Body will be healthy! It will accomplish what God wants to do through it because each cell, organ, and system is obedient and active! It is full of His life and His power!

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

God set it up this way so that there would be no schisms or divisiveness in the Body. The ear is not trying to rip itself off or the eye trying to find away of getting rid of the hand. The Body is united and must be so to live.

Yet, we must face the reality that the Body is divided into various denominations and that there is even division within those denominations. The right hands yells at the left because it is not as strong as it is and the right foot thinks the left is lame.

Partly, these things go on because we have neglected this doctrine of one Body for so long and have allowed emotions and carnal heads to amputate and maim. We have shot our wounded and quibbled over petty things. I can tell you that there are more Baptist congregations than there should be because some family in the church had more control than God did and color of carpet was more important than the Great Commission.

I know this because if I would compare doctrinal statements of every Baptist church of the same stripe there would be little if any difference. So, if they did not split over doctrine it most likely was over a carnal issue and it is to our shame that we waste God’s resources and manpower because we would not avail ourselves of His resources to walk in the Spirit and in unity.

The same thing happens in other denominations. I am a Baptist, so I have more experience in those types of churches, but my friends of other persuasions have told me some tales. Carnality is no respecter of denominations.

Sometimes, the divisions are really nothing more than using different bait for different fish. If I am trying to catch flounder, I will use different bait than if I am trying to catch bass. I cannot call the one that is bass fishing and using bass bait a moron because he is not using bait for flounder unless he is in a lake where there are no bass. Then I might question his sense of direction if there is a lake full of bass five miles down the road. I should then gently offer him directions.

Some people just cannot worship unless they are in a big, gaudy building with a pipe organ, stained glass and a fifty member robed choir singing songs that were written at least one hundred years ago and many even older. Personally, I think those big buildings are a waste of money and three-piece suits and choir robes do not do a thing for me. Different fish, different bait. They would think our church too plain, our music worldly, and our members without class. They’d be wrong, but then again, different fish, different bait.

As long as they are truly in the Body of Christ, we are not divided. They are just a different organ performing a different function. They work in their place and we work in ours. The lungs don’t go on field trips to see how the liver is doing and the pancreas doesn’t vacation behind the wisdom teeth for the view. In that sense, the parts of the human body function together without even being aware of the other parts. We may not picnic together or worship together, but we are still the Body of Christ.

This is probably a good place for me to say that I am not an ecumenist. You cannot sacrifice truth for unity. We are enjoined to test the spirits in I John 4. We are also given the parables of the wheat and the tares and the foolish and wise virgins. Not everyone naming the name of Christ or even doing miracles in His name is part of the true Body. (Matt 7:21-23) Paul even said that the devil would appear as an angel of light and his ministers as ministers of righteousness. (2 Cor 11:14,15) Therefore there must be great discernment especially in these last days when we were warned that many would come working great signs that would be so wondrous that IF it were possible they would deceive the very elect. (Matthew 24:24)

Luther said, "Peace if possible, but truth at any rate." We cannot deny the principle, foundational, or fundamental doctrines of the church for the sake of unity. We are not even to wish Godspeed to those who do not hold the doctrine of Christ or we are partakers of their evil deeds. John plainly states that they have not God.

(2 John 9-11)

If they have not God, they are not of the Body and are therefore leeches and parasites. We must avoid them. We must be constantly on guard for they will invade the Body. White cells permeating the Body with truth will usually clean them out, but at times they overwhelm a local body or even a denomination and then we are to come out from among them and seek a local body or a denomination that is not dying. We are to let the dead bury the dead and move on.

This message of unity is for the true Body of Christ. We must stop the senseless fighting amongst ourselves. We must quit the childish name calling, and the prideful assertion that we are the only ones left. Let us learn from Elijah’s mistake. (I Kings 19:14,18) We must accept each part of the Body for what they are and rejoice in the fact that God can work with other sheep that are not of our fold.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

The forces of evil are united. The Body of Christ should even more so because as verse 26 states when one member suffers, we all suffer. If someone cuts your left arm the right one does not rejoice and say, "Yeah! You deserved that because you are not as strong as I am!" Your body is jumping up and down because of pain and not of joy.

When we beat on each other and shoot ourselves in the feet, we are hurting the whole body in ways that we do not know. We give victory to the devil. We lose souls to Hell and sheep to the world or to the infirmary. Our mission is hindered. Worse yet, we are slapping our head!

Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (KJV)

Christ is the Head of the Body! Who are we to tell Him how He should use His own Body? He knows what size muscles He wants and whether He wants to use the left hand for one purpose and the right for another or both in same manner. He is the Head. The Body is to response to the commands sent from the Head and not to tell the head what to do. He and He only, is to have the preeminence. Stop slapping your Head!

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (KJV)

Praise Him that by His grace and sacrifice that you are part of the Body of Christ! However, you are members in particular or a member with a specific portion or task within the Body. If you are a hand, then seek to be hand of Christ and give all you can, lift up all those you can, hug all you can, teach all you can, lead all you can by your hand to Him. If you are an eye then be sure that you are in proper connection to the Head. Then what you see will be what He sees and then convey that to the Body so that it can rejoice, mourn, go, stop, or be warned of the conditions that lie around it. If you are a foot, then be strong and steadfast to support the Body as it goes about its Christ life. If you are the head of the local body than be very, very sure that you are submissive and in contact with the true Head of the body and do not seek to replace His preeminence in the church. You will lead the Body astray and place yourself in a position of requiring brain surgery to correct your ego.

The bottom line is keep looking up to you Head and listen for His commands. Love Him. Love His Body because you are loving yourself and promoting health in the Body. Lost friend, bring yourself to the Head of the Body for salvation and the Holy Spirit will place you in that Body that will never die and neither will you. Seek Him! He is waiting with open arms and eyes full of love!

Dear Mills, Zs and Alphas. My wife and I made $2,760 a year. My '69 Camaro was $3,400. Rent was $85. Our treat was an ice cream cone once a month. I had a child.

I guarantee that you are making ten or more times what I did so yes, your Camaro is $35K and your rent $850 or more depending on where you live. We were married 15 years before I could get my wife a $75 engagement ring at an auction. We made it because my wife is very frugal and we did not try to have what her parents had after 40 years of marriage in the first four years of ours. We had no fancy coffees. We wore clothes from thrift stores and of course, not $1K or more phones and multiple internet subscriptions. We did not buy our first house until we were married 34 years and I got my next new car at 46 and it was basic and as cheap as I could get it. Every Realtor kept saying I could afford a bigger home, but I wanted to live in the home not live for the home. We became debt free at 58 and I retired from secular work at 63.

Her parents and mine were dirt poor when they got married. Her parents retired comfortably. My Mom was a widow and yet survived on "Widow's Pension." Yes, things were cheaper than today, but salaries were very low. If you made $10 a year, many considered you rich.

Life requires sacrifices. Live for your need, not your greed and you will find success far sooner than buying on a whim and always wanting the latest and greatest. Improvise, adapt and overcome, not sitting whining on your bum. Hooah!

Malachi 3:8  Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 

9  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. 

10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 

11  And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 

12  And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts. 

I know some say the tithe is not for today, but all I hear is blah, blah, blah. We are not under Law, but the tithe was before the Law. There is no new direction to replace it in the New Testament. The passages they use are clearly about giving to the poor, not about supporting the pastor. We still take up freewill offerings, but we do not use them wisely. Those issue are for a different sermon.

Tithing was not meant to be a burden. It was to be an act of obedience in faith that God would provide for us as the tithe provided for the priesthood. If we attained wealth with 100% of our money, we would say it was our wisdom and power that did it. Even with the tithe many think it is their financial prowess that gave them what they have.

I started tithing at a time where I did not believe I could afford it after God turned my head towards my model train collection to show me I could tithe. Since that time, I have had jobs I was not qualified for making money more than I would have made normally. I retired from an IT job without ever going to college or tech school for that career.

We have been able to support a couple of girls in Africa when it was clearly God supporting my two children while in college and through a couple of periods of unemployment.

My wife is our bird dog looking for people in need and sends money to an organization here in the US that cares for kids in need. We support a pastor in the Philippines.

Because He has blessed my income and my careers, I was able to retire early and become a volunteer in both my church and community rather than working until I am ninety or die on the job.

Then again learning to live off of 90%, thanks to a frugal wife, helped us make wise decisions. We only paid for the cars we needed, not what people said we could afford. The same with homes. Real Estate agents would say you can afford a larger house. I said I want to retire so I can live in the house not live for the house. Indeed, living below our means helped us prepare for retirement and making less than we did working. I am not Bill Gates, but we are comfortable and better off than most of my peers according to the reports I have read.

When we married my wife was one who could stretch a nickel into a $50 bill and I was able to turn a $50 bill into a nickel in no time flat. It was a bit of a challenge until I realized that unless I wanted to be hungry, naked and homeless it was best for her to manage the finances. Many could learn from her! If we were to want less we would need less and live quite nicely.

Indeed, I am sorry the minimalist thing was not around when we were younger. I would have more money because I would not have bought so much stuff that just creates clutter or became a burden when we moved around. Less is better. Indeed, clutter causes stress so if you are stressed out get rid of stuff to the point where you can even downsize your house and put some money in the bank. If you are storing stuff, it may not take very long until the rent money you spend is more than the stuff is worth.

As I look back on what God has done, I really could not afford to not tithe. It is something God said you could actually test Him or prove Him. In my experience, He has shown Himself to be true and faithful in my finances.

You might say that our decisions also helped. Yes, but we would not have made some of those decisions had we not tithed or learned other things from God. Many in the Church need to learn those lessons. They would be happier, fruitful and prepared for an economic downturn or collapse which many are predicting. Those who have learned to live on less and have less to lose will endure hard times better.

Tithe, Downsize, Thrive. Maranatha!

"Rise, take up your bed and walk. John 5:8. You know, something had to stir in that man. He'd been lying there for 38 years. For 38 years, he couldn't walk. But the living water coming from the mouth of Jesus Christ stirred something within him. I don't know how he got up. I don't know if he leapt to his feet or slowly rose up, but I know that he got up. He took his bed under his arm and started walking. The same God who stirred that man is still able to stir hearts today. He's still able to awaken faith where hopelessness has lived for years. When God begins to stir your heart, don't ignore His voice. Respond in faith and take the step He's asking you to take. Whatever place of hopelessness you've been lying in can't keep you anymore. Take up your bed and walk. It's time to pray." - Carter Conlon

If you cannot look at the lifestyles of the original Apostles and Prophets and the lifestyles of the current self-proclaimed apostles and prophets without realizing they are two different kinds of people you may need to check your salvation as your trust may be in someone or something else than Christ.

The current ones claim you can be as God and that is what the evil one offered Eve. They say you can achieve all the things the enemy offered Jesus in the wilderness. They say that gain is godliness when the Peter did not have silver and gold, but had the power of God. Paul said godliness and contentment is great gain. There is no decreeing and declaring to manifest our greed. They claim that Christians are going to take dominion over the earth when Jesus questioned if there would any faith on the earth when He returned. Not to mention that Christianity is waning in the West and is the most persecuted religion in the world.

We are seeing a vast form of godliness, but no power of God as most so-called miracles are either fake or unsupported. Indeed, a full study of those claimed to be God's generals reveals fraud, failure and hypocrisy. Jesus did His miracles out in the open with verifiable evidence as did His Apostles. Today, most things are claimed, but are not proven or later proven to be false. Jesus healed all that came to Him, but the faith of people is claimed to be why they are not healed instead of it being the healer not really having the power.They say we are always to be healthy and wealthy when the final five verses of Hebrews 11 shows that not all saints blessed by God have a soft life with no persecutions or pain. Indeed, Paul guaranteed if you live a godly life you will suffer persecution and that you are called to not only believe on Him, but to suffer for His sake. is resume is full of such things. He did not start a seminary, build a 30,000 sq ft church, drive around in gold plated chariots and live in a mansion.

Yea, there is a great difference between the true Apostles and Prophets in the Word versus the lower case apostles in this age. Flee such men and seek the truth in Jesus. If you are paying for the blessings of God or expect to gain some kind of material wealth or breakthrough from sowing a seed, run. The 70 were told that they had received freely and freely they should give. One person tried to buy the power to bestow the Holy Spirit and it did not go well. God does not charge for His gifts or blessings. If it is purchased it is neither a gift or a blessing. It is a product that was sold.

Jesus may not have walked today to many places, but He would have flown economy class in a "tube full of demons" to cast them out to win souls rather than own multiple jets and live in lavish mansions. If your "man of God" boasts of his "blessings" and asks you for money, he is a false prophet and to be ignored and avoided.

Seek the Holy Spirit in truth as He is the giver of true gifts. Seek to be sober and free!

Summary: Are you ready to be a Stephen or a Demas?

Hebrews 11:35b ... others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

There two hallways in the Hall of Faith. Everyone wants to be part of the one side described in verses one to thirty-five a. No one really wants to consider being in the other hallway described here.

There are many brethren entering this hallway around the world. We have had our time of being in the first hallway. We have seen many rise to greatness in the Church as well as some current wannabes that are more flash than substance that would be rebuked by the great pastors and evangelists of the past.

We are most likely on the brink of seeing the doorway to the first hall being closed. We are asleep in our "prosperity" like the Laodiceans. We see the current resurgence of economy and a glimmer of interest in church, but this may only be a respite before the door opens to the hallway of faith in the above passages.

We have the opportunity to win more souls and get the saints edified to be able to stand in the coming days when this season is ended. Yet, we are not using it. We are still doing church as usual not seeing the signs like those who ignored the preaching of Noah.

When the persecution comes will you enter into this hallway rejoicing that you can sufferer for Jesus or will you abandon the Gospel ship for the lifeboats of this world? Will you be a Stephen or a Demas? Prepare now and ask God to give you a heart ready to be sacrificed for the truth and that blessed hope we acknowledge theologically but do not serve it in faith. Maranatha!

Summary: There are days when you feel like the Unknown Soldiers in DC, but your Commander-in-Chief, Jesus, knows you, your battles and scars.

Heb 11:35  Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 

36  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: 

37  They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; 

38  (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 

39  And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: 

40  God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. 

The Fellowship of the Unknown

On one of the forums I frequent they started a Hall of Fame for preachers and added a picture of their favorites. I have a few of my own but with all the hoopla about big name preachers I started thinking about who really does get the job done here. So, below is my comments added to the Hall of Fame.

--------------------------------

Here's to all my brethren, The Fellowship of the Unknown Preachers!

While no one discounts the impact of the famous preachers we must realize that the bulk of the work of God has been done by the unknowns. Many who bought the books and sermons of the famous were won by and ministered to by unknown preachers who labored in places where many would not go for more years than many would have sought to stay.

Though the numbers seem huge when you look at them from an overall number of saints it may actually be a small percentage of the total that they ministered to by radio or actual physical membership of their church.

Yes, even Joel, only reaches a small percent of the total Houston population of Christians and even his worldwide numbers are a small percentage of the total. A man who lives in a town of five thousand and has two hundred and fifty members may have a higher percentage of the population than Joel. In fact, if there are only five hundred believers in that town he has 50% of the total and Joel is nowhere close to that. So do not discount the power and impact of the unknown, for like Sergeants in the military, they may indeed be the backbone of God's work on earth.

Thus I offer a salute to those who serve like those in the passage without fame or much earthly reward but serve faithfully until the end. They may even see a bigger reward in glory than the noteworthy in this life.

Shalom! Maranatha!!!

"2 Corinthians 10:4-5. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. We learn to stand. It doesn't matter what our education is or is not. It doesn't matter what our abilities are or are not. We have living water within these earthen vessels. When we get up and speak what God gives us to speak, miracles start to happen. Lives start to be transformed. Situations start to change. Captivity is taken captive. So today, don't live beneath your inheritance. God has placed His Holy Spirit within you for a purpose. Trust Him today to use your voice to bring hope, to bring freedom, to bring truth to those who are looking for it around you. It's time to pray." - Carter Conlon

Created In 2020, but still valid

Summary: As horrible as this pandemic it, it may well be the eye salve to allow the Church to see the path back to its real mission.

Jonah 3:1 And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,

2 Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.

3 So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.

4 And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

Listening to a sermon on Jonah this morning these thoughts came to mind.

It was great that God did not start the clock on the forty days when he called Jonah, but rather when he started preaching. Yet, in the days Jonah was on the run, in the belly of the fish and on his way to Nineveh how many people died who did not get to hear the message and have an opportunity to repent?

In this time when hundreds are dying of COVID-19 daily and perhaps millions around the world of all causes how many must die without hearing Gospel of repentance, mercy and forgiveness in Jesus Christ? Sin is a fatal disease and we have the cure that we do not take the time to offer to those in the death rattle phase.

It may well be a great thing that our churches have been closed and our routines shattered. While we have been sheltered in place and feeling imprisoned maybe we have been given a taste of what is for people still in the prison bonds of sin. Indeed, maybe we have done some soul searching and found that we have had some bonds that needed broken and mercy given because we have not been about our Father's business, but rather our own.

It has been said that Nero fiddled while Rome burned and we have allowed souls and nations to be burned while we fiddled around with our pleasures and pursuits building castles in the sand made of wood, hay, and stubble. Oh, they are pretty and some cost millions, but they are shacks compared to the temples of the Holy Spirit that would be built by God from saved sinners. Our value system is twisted.

Maybe our music is so loud that it drowns out the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit that would cause to hear a myriad of Macedonian cries to come over and help them to find Jesus or the cries from Hell for us to reach loved ones before they enter Hell.

While the Gospel is about love, grace and mercy maybe we need to bring back a little Hell and damnation preaching as well. How can you truly appreciate grace if you do not really comprehend what it has done for you? As the preacher said this morning, some you save by love and others by warning. The Law condemns and grace saves, but many will only run for grace when they realize how condemned they are without it.

May we come back to church to be the Church when this pandemic wanes. May our priorities shift. May we be less material or earthly minded. May we learn to live with less so that we can give more of our time and money to the mission God gave us rather than various lenders for that which will only burn up in the end.

Let us rise up as the people of God who are passing through this world as Ambassadors of Christ and the eternal Kingdom. Let us get out of mammon debt with man so that we can pay the debt we truly owe them which is to share what God has done to save our souls so they can have their debt to God paid by the blood of Christ!

Lord God, make it so and start with this wretched man! Maranatha!

1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; 

2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 

4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: 

5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. 

Definitely experienced verse 4 when I saved back in '75. I was still in the AF working as a maintenance-supply liaison in Material Control. I had a civilian next to me who would often say, "Sarge, you're number one in my book!" Well, he did before I was saved. After that, I was not even on the bottom of the back cover. I was out of the book.

Some people did encourage me and were amazed at the change. Others did everything they could to get me mad or find some flaw so they could say, "HA! You call yourself a Christian." Once I answered the phone and the voice said, "Sgt Shultz, this is the devil." I said, "No, but you are kin."

I confess I was closer to the Lord when I was places where people heckled and even threatened my life. When it is easy, you get lazy. I have a feeling the lazy Church and I are about to get a heavy dose of what I experienced earlier in my journey. I pray we are both up for it. May God strengthen and change us through the fire. Maranatha!

"Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark, but Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work. Acts 15:37. Verses 39 and 40 say, they parted from one another. Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus, but Paul chose Silas. It's a mistake to write off people that God hasn't written off. Paul felt as though Mark wouldn't be useful because of a seeming failure, maybe a fear, whatever, to help in the work of God at an early point in Mark's life. But God hadn't written off Mark, and he ultimately became the author of the Gospel of Mark. If we sow judgment, we will reap no mercy. God is not finished with us yet. Let's you and I choose today to be kind to others who are still with us on this journey. It's time to pray." - Carter Conlon

Summary: I love a chocolate and vanilla twist soft yogurt cone. Mixing flavors can bring about a beautiful and tasteful marriage experience. Yet, you do not mix gas and oil or saved and unsaved or one sect with another without peril.

I saw an article on interracial marriage and since race has been a big issue in recent days I figured I would say just a bit on this topic.

First of all, race as we use the term is really an evolutionary term and should not even be considered or used by believers. There are no races. There is but one race on a physical level and that is the human race. The human race has a variety of skin tones and has developed many sociological groups, but it is still one race. We do well to drop the notion of race from our concepts and work from a one race perspective.

Even our color assignments are in error as science has now shown we are all a shade of brown, There are no red and yellow, black and white that are precious in His sight, Brown and brown and brown, He loves everyone in town. We are all brown and God is down with all of us as He loved all of us to send Christ.

Indeed, as people of faith, we know only eight people got off the Ark so we are all cousins. Some of us are just closer than others because of Babel and personal preferences.

On a spiritual level, there are two races. Those who by birth are offspring of Adam and those who by second birth are offspring of the second Adam, Jesus Christ. All men are my temporal brothers through Creation, but some are my eternal brothers through Christ.

That said, the only interracial marriage is between those only of Adam and those of the Second Adam. Skin tone variations or geographical points of origin are irrelevant. What counts is parentage and family ties.

A child of God is not to marry outside of their race. Our Father knows the heartbreak that an unequal yoke can bring and would spare us all of that. Warning, there are those who claim to be in the family are not. Be sure you ask Father to bless the marriage and approve of your choice lest your choice be the wrong one.

Indeed, just as widows were told they were to free to marry, but "only in the Lord" that is an injunction for all who are in the family of God. Do not practice evangelistic dating or hope for a conversion after you are married. You will be greatly disappointed and your life less than abundant, even miserable. I know we all know someone who is an exception, but the percentage rate of modicum success is very small. Not even a gambler would take those odds in Vegas.

However, if you were born into the family of God after you married then stay and pray for the conversion of your spouse. Read 1 Corinthians 7 to understand this exception.

Therefore, while I can bless a marriage between two Christians regardless of skin tone or origin I cannot encourage an interracial marriage between Christian and Non-Christian. It is also best to marry within your branch of the family as those differences can cause much friction and strife especially when children come along. Having been in many doctrinal discussions and seeing how intersect marriages fare, I can say that with some authority be wise and look for your spiritual well-being not just your emotions or eye candy. Maranatha

"You know, there's a danger in believing what you feel more than what God has said. You can begin to trust your fears, your doubts, and your circumstances more than His word. That is how unbelief takes root. You may say that you have faith, but if your confidence is in what you see and feel, you are actually placing faith in unbelief. God has not changed. The same God who created the universe, who calmed the storms, who raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, is still at work today. How can we say that He's not able today to move in our lives? Refuse today to give more authority to your thoughts than to the word of God. Choose to believe. Choose it now. Believe what He has declared. Even when your situation wants to tell you otherwise, God has a wonderful plan for your life. Talk to Him about it now, because it's time to pray." - Carter Conlon

Summary: If indeed, God has given you new insight then use it for the sake of the Body and Christ not for your own devices or else you are an Absalom and in trouble with the Father and the Son. If you twist or deny Scripture you are in even deeper.

2 Samuel 15:4  Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice!

Absalom was a son of the King who thought he knew better than the King and swayed many to his side in a rebellion to remove David. He appeared successful for awhile and in the end was killed and David returned to the throne.

I can see an application to this in so many who name the name of King Jesus, but are not happy with the way He is governing and dislike much of what He had the Holy Spirit speak through the Apostles. Thus they break off into little groups drawing people away with the promise of doing Christianity the right way when in reality they are rebelling against Christ deliberately or in ignorance. Some add to the Word and some subtract either by complete denial or using theological manipulation to redefine it in such a way as to not have it hinder their desires or goals.

The true King will at some point return and burst their bubble tearing down their fortresses of rebellious error. They will be conquered and they will see Him on the throne they thought they kicked Him off. It was only the throne of their life and they will die because of that removal.

David returned with sorrow over the loss of His son and so God is not willing that any should perish. David recovered from the rebellion. God is never diminished by any rebellion and in Psalms it says the He laughs at the rebellious and has them in derision that rebel against Him and His anointed, Jesus Christ, His Son.

You may be a child of God, but have been swayed by slick tongues, intellectual gymnastics and even false signs and wonders making you walk in rebellion. Repent and study the Word seeking His mind and the instruction of the Holy Spirit.

You may still be the rebellious unbeliever who has been swayed and suckered by science falsely so-called or some other imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. You are enjoying the pleasure of sin for a season, but that season ends when you die or when the King of Kings comes backs to take out His own and then seals your fate by allowing you to believe the lie satan uses to explain that event.

It is time for you to seek the forgiveness and salvation. As Peter said in Acts 2:39, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

This a call for all the Absaloms to cease your rebellion and become a son in whom He is well pleased. That goes for the Absalomettes as well. Maranatha!

Summary: Some people are going to panic while others will have some explaining to do if we enter a deep recession or worse and they lose their wealth or do not get what was prophesied. When it isn't scriptural prophecies will fail.

2 Timothy 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.

12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

When you look at Paul's resume, you better know he did not know anything about any prosperity preaching. He had to suffer long due to persecutions and afflictions, not over whether he needed a new private jet or a Lamborghini or should he buy the five million dollar house or the ten million.

Lest you think that was just him, note he said ALL who will live godly, not luxuriously, SHALL suffer persecution. Menno Simons said that the true Church will always be persecuted. Western civilization seems to have a lack of true churches. That may be changing soon.

Rather than checking out our relationship to God based on all the bling we have, we should be looking for our scars. They may be physical, emotional, social, familial or even corporate, but there should be some sort of persecution or Paul says we are not living very godly or may not be godly at all. OUCH!!!

For a culture who is all about the blessings of material things that we deserve because we are God's children or as some heretics teach that we are little gods this a body slam followed by a pile driver.

Prosperity and persecution start with p, but that is the only similarity. Is prosperity indeed a sign of God blessing or godliness? Jesus said it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into Heaven. There are many wicked rich people in this world. He also told the richest church in Revelation that there were poor, blind and naked. OOPS!

It has been said that all of the churches in Revelation have existed in every generation. If we look around the world, I believe we could find "daughters" in this age. That said, if we had to pick a church that defines this age it would be Laodicea at least in the 1st World nations. There are some very godly Christians enduring persecution all around the world. They are the church at Smyrna who was in tribulation and poverty, but Jesus said the were rich.

I believe it is in early stages in the US and it will greatly intensify in the coming years. One need not be a prophet to see this. One must just be aware. Two Canadian social scientists have been encouraging their government to prepare for an influx of Americans as they see the country collapsing in 2025. I do not know what indicators they are looking at, but I can see that as very plausible. Christians will not be very welcome there and some notable ones who might head to that border may be arrested for what they consider hate speech or other issues.

We are into celebrity preachers, modern Taj Mahal like churches and we are all to be rich and healthy by the things we decree and declare into being. It has been said that if Jesus preached like many preachers today He would not have been crucified. Not sure why God calls the weak, base and foolish if we are all to be rich and celebrated. Someone failed to tell that to myriad of martyrs from Acts 2 until today and His return. What kind of losers are those under the throne that are martyred in the Tribulation. Why did not not walk in prosperity, decreeing and declaring a better life? Yet, these saint will be avenged by God. If God is avenging you, I would call that being a winner.

John 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

Was Jesus wrong when He said we would be hated like Him? Are we really greater than Him so that we do not suffer persecution? We can easily look about and see that the world and even much of what is called Christianity has not kept His saying. Indeed, many have gone off into New Age or Hindu Kundalini manifestations. Many have leaders that deny the authority of the Scriptures. They say there is no heaven or Hell and Jesus is not God in the flesh and the list would most likely take up two pages or more and I would probably still miss many things that I have just not heard of, yet.

Many of these “pastors” are cemetery, ah, seminary trained in seminaries that once stood on the truth. We are in an age of apostasy that I believe started in the late nineteenth century with higher criticism, evolution, Marxism and even psychology. Role play was initially designed to take God out of decision making because we are the masters our destiny with no need of a divine entity to guide us.

A form of godliness that denies the power thereof would not be persecuted. Indeed, it would just be considered a perspective among many and as long as it did some humanitarian work it would be well spoke of and hailed on talk shows. If a well known preacher is invited to a talk show, it is either because they want to mock or discredit him or they find him to their liking because he is not in any way a challenge to their beliefs as he is most likely a motivational speaker than a preacher of sound doctrine.

“For there is some danger of falling into a soft and effeminate Christianity, under the plea of a lofty and ethereal theology. Christianity was born for endurance; not an exotic, but a hardy plant, braced by the keen wind; not languid, childish, nor cowardly. It walks with firm step and erect frame; it is kindly, but firm; it is gentle, but honest; it is calm, but not facile; obliging, but not imbecile; decided, but not churlish. It does not fear to speak the stern word of condemnation against error, nor to raise its voice against surrounding evils, under the pretext that it is not of this world. It does not shrink from giving honest reproof, lest it come under the charge of displaying an unchristian spirit. It calls sin “sin,” on whomsoever it is found, and would rather risk the accusation of being actuated by a bad spirit than not discharge an explicit duty. Let us not misjudge strong words used in honest controversy. Out of the heat a viper may come forth; but we shake it off and feel no harm. The religion of both Old and New Testaments is marked by fervent outspoken testimonies against evil. To speak smooth things in such a case may be sentimentalism, but it is not Christianity. It is a betrayal of the cause of truth and righteousness.”

? Horatius Bonar,1808-1889 from Peace and Holiness

Pastor Bonar would not have considered himself a prophet. He was a pastor and a poet and in the fuller definition of prophet he prophesied when he properly exegeted the Scripture and when he wrote poetry as any writer or singer was declared as inspired or a prophet. However, not like the bulk of prophets in the Bible or the many soothsayers we have today claiming to be prophets. Yet, in this quote he nailed our current condition.

As long as we do good things in the community, as we should, even the atheists will at least tolerate us. As long as we speak of love, grace, and prosperity we can gain a following and even become a mega-church. But, if we get down to preaching like Jesus or Paul, they will walk away as they did in John 6 when He quit feeding them bread and started feeding them theological steak that they could not chew let alone digest.

People at work will not care if you go to church everyday as long as you do not invite them. They will not care if you wear religious bling, but when you take up your cross, dying to self and following Christ, they will trample the pearls of truth you try to share and will want to rend or break you. I worked in an environment where there I was threatened with death and persecuted in other ways by a man claiming to be a nondenominational Christian. He would rile up the non-practicing Catholics to rant and rave. I spent a lot of time in a part of the tool cage when headphones listening to sermons and reading my Gideon’s NT. Property was broken, evil notes and pictures were placed in and on my desk. After eighteen months, I got another job across the base, but the main instigator had a friend over there and though it was diminished it continued until I was able to get a promotion and move South.

I was threatened online with “when we take over, we are coming after people like you.” When I asked what I had done to harm or offend that person I received no answer. That was some years ago, so the desire to persecute was already there. The lack was ability to do so until “when we take over.” I do not know the “we” they were referring to, but I may have an idea.

There are not many Bereans in the Body. They are easily tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine or sleight of hand or magicians. Touch on a sacred cow and they will cut you off without any discussion about why they think you are wrong. They just stick to what has been traditional thought or the current consensus and that is it. There are things practiced that have no basis in the Word, but if you speak to those issues you would think you have attacked the deity of Christ, the resurrection or the Virgin Birth. Some traditions or teachings are non-negotiable, but there are many left over errors from the Reformation and many more have been added since and especially since the age of apostasy began. We talk about being 1st Century churches, but we are a far cry from them.

Bottom line, though there are times when God allows us a respite from our enemies. That is when our ways please Him, not the world. Yet, Israel had many enemies and God allowed them to conquer and harass them when they strayed from His ways. However, in the NT when your ways please God, you will suffer persecution, but He will be with you. Indeed, the Church suffered spiritually after Christianity became the official religion of the government and the persecution ceased. It grows best under persecution which explains how it is growing so well in places where it is outlawed and dying where there is none.

Philippians 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 

30  Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me. 

Say what! Suffer?? Somewhat opposite of the prosperity gospel, which is not a gospel. Same conflict as him? He was in a filthy Roman prison. Come on, Paul, why did you not use the law of attraction or declare and decree yourself out of that mess. Did you decree yourself to end up beheaded? Why did you or your crew not speak life over you? Peter did not think of declaring or decreeing himself out of prison so God sent an angel to make it happen. People, run away from that nonsense.

1 Peter 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 

13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 

14  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. 

15  But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. 

16  Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 

17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 

18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 

19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 

There is no one in the West who wants suffering or fiery trials. Many want Christ’s authority or to walk in resurrection power, but before the resurrection came persecution, unjust accusation, illegal trials, bad governance, the Cross and death. Indeed, in some groups today if you are poor, sick or anything not considered to be the normal life of a King’s kid or little god it is all because of you. You are not saved, you’re in sin or you lack faith. Yet, the man healed by Peter and John at the temple gate was only looking for a handout. He had sin, was not saved and had no faith except that they might give him a few mites.

Paul left one person sick at Miletus, another he thanked God for healing the man and gave Timothy a prescription to add wine for his stomach and other infirmities. Why were they not healed like others. All three were saved, had great faith being in the ministry with a lad who spent a great deal of time in jail when he was not being stoned and no sin as a cause is mentioned in two of them and Timothy became the pastor of the Church of Ephesus when he was 21 and single when culturally he should have been at least 30 and married. Probably not in sin for Paul to endorse and encourage him.

If you got this far as it is TLDR for many in this age, I pray that God will give you wisdom and discernment to get out of hyper-Charismatic circles by being Bereans. Let the Word teach you through His Spirit. There are many false prophets out as were prophesied so study and get out from their clutches. If you have to pay for dreams to be interpreted or for prophetic utterances you are not in the right place. When God sent out a prophet no one paid for the prophecy in cash though they may have paid for their sin if it was a prophecy of judgment. They did not murmur or peep either. Unless, it was something that was a prophecy for the future they were absolutely clear and the prophet and the one it was being given to knew what was meant. They did not do vague ones that make you guess and have a back up meaning if it failed. God’s prophets are not like Nostradamus. God does not give willy-nilly prophecies where it seems He changes His mind on a whim.

In conclusion, I am going to just put it out there. If you are in a church that teaches the prosperity gospel GET OUT! I believe it is not just a heresy, but a damnable heresy as it misrepresents God and the Word. God is not the great slot machine of the universe that delivers a jackpot if you say the right things or follow some formula. That is New Age law of attraction theology, but not Scripture. It is diametrically opposed to the Word in principle and is only supported by Scripture taken out of context or redefined by a self-proclaimed apostle/prophet or pick a title. If you are saved, you are a child of God, but not a little god. God in you does not make you a god. You are still a human. Only Jesus is the God-Man who saves us from our sin from His sacrifice.

Summary: You want a deeper walk with Jesus? That will mean persecution, not prosperity. It may mean sacrifice of health to walk in holiness. Remember, He was rejected and crucified. Apostles often lived in jail or the open field, not mansions.

Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you,and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Someone forgot to tell Jesus about the prosperity gospel as well as decree and declare bringing about dominion.

Matthew 10:24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.

25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house

Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

A great deal is spoken about identity. Indeed, we are to identify with Jesus as His disciples/servants. What they did to our Lord/Master is what they will do to us, if indeed we faithfully follow Him so they can see our identification with Him.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Wait! What? Children of God to suffer and not reign in power here on earth before the Millennium!!

Philippians 1:28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;

30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

We are not only to believe, but suffer!! No, no, no! We are supposed to be living the American greed, I mean, dream. The conflict Paul was in was prison. No way! We are to have mansions, private jets and a Lamborghini!

Brothers and sisters run from this false doctrine! Listen to the Word! We are not promised health and wealth. Indeed, most Christians throughout history have lived in persecution and poverty. Look around the world today. Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world. What we have is a fake Christianity based upon greed and personas.

1Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,

5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.

6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

Gain is not a proof of godliness. We are to be content with food and clothing. When persecution comes these wolves in sheep’s clothing will be revealed and sadly, many people will lose their faith because of the lies they believed. Do not be one of them. Maranatha!

"There are those who feel empty, as if they've nothing left to give. You look at others and think, "Wow, they're full of faith," but you feel like you have nothing. But God has always worked with empty people. Mary was empty. Elizabeth was empty. Hannah was empty, until the hand of God touched all of their lives. All they did was recognize that God had seen them in their emptiness and chosen His mercy to bring something out and through their lives for His glory. They had no idea what God was about to do through them, and of course, neither do you. Today I want to challenge you to refuse to believe that your emptiness disqualifies you from being someone that God can use. God is able to bring something powerful out of what feels like nothing. Stop Waiting Until You Are Ready, and allow Him to begin to use your life now. Talk to Him about it. He's willing to tell you what He has for your future. It's time to pray."- Carter Conlon

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18. Do you ever feel that you can't share your faith because you feel that you must be perfected in every area of your life before you do? You and I have a tendency to forget that a little bit of God in our lives is way bigger than a thousand of us. As we behold God, we start changing little by little. It doesn't happen overnight, but it does happen. We're changed by the Spirit of God into the same image that God has desired us to be from glory to glory. We're changed into what God actually desires us to be. So let's start to pray. Let's start to call out. Let's you and I now bring glory to His name. It's time to pray." - Carter Conlon