Preach Ye upon the house tops!

When Jesus, in Matthew chapter ten, called his apostles unto himself, he commanded them to loudly proclaim or preach the message that he was sending them out with.

Matthew   10:27  What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

The twelve apostles were being sent not to the Samaritans, or to the gentile’s at large, but to the people of Israel.  The response that the disciples were to expect for their obedience is nothing shy of astonishing! 

 

Matthew 10:16-22  Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18  And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19  But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20  For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.21  And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

One might have thought that Israel being subjected to the dominance of the Roman Empire would have embraced the message of salvation that the apostles were bringing at the command of Christ.  The reality could not have been farther from the truth. Today our stand for truth spoken to a church oppressed by frauds and charlatans is met with similar disdain.

We as the saints of God need to quickly realise that the general response from men will be hatred.  It started off this way as we can see from the time that the twelve were sent out and has for the most part continued as such for the past two thousand years.

We, the church in the west, live in a time of great apostasy, I strongly suspect, (without delusions of grandeur!) that this great apostasy is the beginning of THE GREAT APOSTASY as foretold by Paul in 2^nd Thessalonians chapter 2.

2^nd Thessalonians  2:3-5  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

It is true that biblical Christians are a  minority scattered throughout the plethora of assemblies erected on most street corners, but that is all the more reason to ‘Shout it from the housetops!’  The battle for the TRUTH must be fought within the borders of what is called Christendom. If the truth is lost here the church ceases to have any message for a heathen world.  The message that the faithful must proclaim will be greeted with hate, with slander, with rejection,  even with violence in some instances for we must remember that the majority of men warming a pulpit or a pew today are not part of us, they are unsaved, godless and yet dead in their sins. Still, in the midst of our preaching from the housetops, some whom God has appointed unto life, will respond and repent and submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and surrender to the Holy Scriptures, aside from whom and which there is no salvation.

What is the message that we should preach?

We must proclaim the truthfulness, authority, sufficiency and inerrancy of Holy Scripture, aside from which man would be in ignorance as to any saving knowledge of God.

We must proclaim the trinity, sovereignty, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence and eternity of God.

We must proclaim the eternal and singular gospel of Jesus Christ aside from which there is no salvation.

We must proclaim the eternal damnation of the wicked

We must proclaim the utter sinfulness and hopelessness of man

We must proclaim the gift of repentance, and faith In Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice upon the cross for mans forgiveness.

In short we must proclaim the manifold doctrines of the cross.

We must proclaim the virgin birth, life, death and resurrection of Christ

We must declare the divinity of Christ.

We must proclaim the return of Christ accurately according to the scriptures.

Aside from the core doctrines above and of salvation by grace alone through faith alone we have a biblical mandate to contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints.  This involves marking false teachers and deceivers who twist and pervert or try to sell the Word of God.  We must mark and avoid them; in failing this we fail and allow wolves to ravage the sheep.  God may one day judge us on the liars and cheats we turned a blind eye to, simply because of our fear of man and desire for a life of ease.

According to Jesus man lives, not by some of the scriptures but by every word of God. Therefore it behoves us not to fail in the teaching of and proclamation of scripture.

I believe we are at a period of history where it is essential that all hands be on deck in the midst of this current storm.   We can patiently await the coming of our Lord Jesus but that ought not to be a silent vigil.  The more the true saints of Christ sow truth in an apostate church the more we slow down the coming darkness. Jesus said, ‘Work while you have daylight, night cometh when no man can work!’  There will be a time in the not so distant future when the church will be forced into hiding, that day is not yet and so friends please preach God’s truth from the housetops while God graces us with both health and time.

 

Freefall into Apostasy, How did we arrive here so fast?

I find that my heart is often a mixture of  extreme emotions. I’m like a guy who  after a long day at work comes home, showers and slips into his bed exhausted, only to find that somehow there is another person in the bed and actually it feels like I’m in the wrong house… but hold on this is my house! I’ve lived here all my life, My Father told me this home was part of my inheritance.  He gave His best that I might live here.  So who is this intruder sleeping in my bed?  In shock I go down stairs to the kitchen, perhaps after something to eat, I can sit down and try to comprehend what’s happened?  I open my fridge to make a sandwich and the only food in there is jelly donuts , twinkies and  angel food cake.  It’s all junk food!  In my shock I try to pour a glass of water from my filtered tap but all that comes out is some brown stagnant putrid liquid. I drop my glass of swamp juice on the floor run into my living room and turn on the TV. Perhaps the news will tell me  what’s happened to the water?  Every station is the same, 360 stations all pumping out MTV!  No news just horrid pop culture music and youthful adults dancing provocatively  on my screen. How do I get out of this nightmare? Will someone , anyone please pinch me and waken me from this horrid nightmare? Sadly this is no dream and like Judy Garland quickly realised, we have come a long way from Kansas!

 

Sometimes a picture says a thousand words, perhaps my allegory captures how thousands of bible believing, God fearing Christians  feel all over the world today?  I’ve been a Christian long enough to remember that the current apostasy we witness was not always so! ‘Back in the day’  is a  banner  many aggrieved saints unroll and indulge when we’re alone or not busy denouncing the prophets of Baal. I remember church prayer meetings, I remember mid week bible study.  I remember not being afraid of what the preacher might  declare from  his pulpit as being heretical.  It may not have always been Spurgeon, but it was safe.  Today for some of us all that we have left are our memories of a church healthy enough to raise a family in.  That aside we are in the midst of a holy war and too long dreaming of the good old days can steal the little strength we have left.  I say little strength without shame for in so doing I agree with my Saviour’s assessment.  The church in Sardis found themselves in a very similar atmosphere.

Revelation 3:8 -11 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9  Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.10  Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.

Saints we are promised in our weakened state an  open door that cannot be shut, vindication before the synagogue of Satan and a crown.   There is much to rejoice in. 

Getting back to answering the question of how did this apostasy happen so fast, there are several factors.  One might say that God in his sovereignty so ordained it.  This in no way excuses men for their sin or accuses God of wrong doing.  Such is the sovereignty of the Almighty, but the scripture cannot be broken and we have warnings and prophecies stretching back to the Lord Jesus, the apostles and even to the old testament prophets that declared that such times would come upon us.

Our longing to be accepted by this current world played a huge factor. Two generations ago the so called new evangelicals could no longer tolerate the mockery and disdain of this worlds hatred of Christ and his Word. They therefore rejected as true every area the world pointed its finger at in scripture and questioned. First creation, then the flood, then male leadership in church, then divorce, now it seems to be same sex unions that the new evangelicals are embracing. They have sold their inheritance for a bowl of pottage like Esau.  As the church became more world friendly, the world moved into our home. When we finally said enough is enough time for you the world to move out! They correctly stated to us that ‘if you no longer like the church you can leave, we have become the vast majority.’ The world has bought and paid for our carnal ministries, our buildings, our TV shows and our pop culture programs. They fully intend to make use of them now to misrepresent Jesus and change the gospel.  Those unwilling to live in Babylon any longer find ourselves disenfranchised and out on the street.  Yes we deserve this, yes we are loved by our Father in heaven and no we could not have changed things had we have known earlier.  Perhaps our parents  generation could have but that alas is all history.

What we can do is connect with and collect the outcasts who have been rejected for the word of God and their testimony.  We can declare the truth of God until He comes to take us home.  We can like Enoch, Noah, Moses and Elijah  be a clarion call to truth and the coming judgement .  A doctrine ill favoured in compromised churches of mirth and frivolity.  Perhaps by God’s grace we can obey like Jude states , ” Jude 1:22-23  And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

I know for sure that the saints will need to become thick skinned and haul out our leather belts for soft clothing and fine raiment , you know, the attire worn in crystal cathedrals  has a destiny with the flames. As to the loss of the house, well my Father told me it was only a temporary one.  He is going to take the good stuff out of it and relocate in heaven. The bad stuff left in the house he’s going to burn, hey it’s His house after all!   What you think that’s a bit extreme? Hey I guess you haven’t met my Father!

 

The lie that is the Christian deliverance ministry

 Within the Charismatic church are a broad variety of beliefs that collectively are called the deliverance ministry. These doctrines at their core teach that born again evangelical Christians can have demons  ( evil unclean spirits) dwell within their physical bodies. 

 Up until a few years ago I myself adhered to this doctrine until by the mercy of God, my eyes were opened unto the scriptures.  The practice of exorcisms upon bible believing Christians are not uncommon in most Charismatic church assemblies.  Actually many who practice this ‘ministry, tend to think that demonic entities within the bodies of Christian believers are quite common.  Those who adhere to this practice believe that it is their responsibility to evict or cast out any demons that dwell in a Christian’s body. The mystery in this is that it all takes place is after they have become followers of Jesus and  have within them the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit.

The teaching for this is based upon their understanding of man as a tricotomy.  That being that man is made up of soul , body and spirit.  They teach that demons would dwell within both the soul and the body part of man and that the spirit is the part that is seated with Christ in heavenly realms, far from any contact with demonic entities.  They believe that they are working out their salvation with fear and trembling by driving out the demonic intruders from their redeemed bodies and souls just as Joshua drove out the Canaanites from the Promised Land. 

 Philippians 2:12  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,

 

 

The trouble with this doctrine is that it is not taught anywhere in scripture. As with all false doctrines there are negative consequences that affect many other areas of belief and lifestyle once embraced. There is not one biblical example anywhere of a born again Christian needing an exorcism to be set free from an evil spirit. Everyone who had demons driven out of them in the bible by Jesus or the disciples were either heathens or unsaved Jews.  In many cases it was the exorcism of the demons that enabled the person to become a follower of Jesus. They followed Christ because he had set them free from evil spirits.  The Gaderine demoniac being a prime example..  One might also include Mary Magdalene as another who had seven devils driven out of her.  Jesus said those have been forgiven much love much and Mary Magdalene is portrayed in the scripture as one who loved the Lord very deeply. Mary is an important person in the argument of the charismatic’s for they use her as an example of one who was a Christian and had seven devils dwell within her and had them evicted by the Lord.

To counter this argument, I would say that the bible does not state when the devils were driven out of her so the Charismatic argument is not a sure one. Also this deliverance was before the death and resurrection of Christ for it took place sometime during the Lord’s earthly ministry.  It was therefore before the Holy Ghost indwelled believers as a seal of their salvation. This is really important for the primary scriptural argument I have against the possibility of Christians having demons dwell within them is the scripture: 1^st. John 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

If both the Holy Ghost and demons indwelled our earthly bodies then the apostle John would have to be more specific as to whom he was making reference to in the above quote.  Not only this, but Paul the apostle tells us in 2nd Corinthians 5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

If the Charismatic doctrine of Christians retaining demonic entities from before their conversion to Christ is accurate then this statement from the apostle Paul is incorrect. ‘Not everything has become new at all, sure you are saved but the kicker is that Christ via the sovereignty of God decided to leave demons within your body to teach you principles in spiritual warfare and victory over dark powers.’ I hope you can see how ridiculous this argument is as well as it being an insult to the work of the Lord Jesus upon the cross as it would mean that he only partially redeemed us.

The fruit of this doctrine is that charismatic’s become Christian narcissists, obsessing over personal deliverance and freedom from both ancestral (generational) curses as well as curses acquired from personal sin.  The scripture says that Christ became a curse for us… Galatians 3:13-14  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14  That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

The beauty of this is that we no longer need to be subject to the law from which all the curses come forth. He whom the son sets free is free indeed!

The negative fruit from the Charismatic deliverance ministry is that the redemptive work of Jesus is lessened as men after conversion now need to persue’ spiritual keys’ to achieve liberty in Christ.  This leads to a form of gnostic spiritual insight from deliverance gurus who suggest you may have demons and curses from the sins of your forefathers, your own sin, the iniquities of your culture and almost every evil practice that you once walked in before and after you became a Christian.  Spiritual paranoria can only be the result.

Getting back to my thoughts, charismatic’s eventually start blaming their own sinful habits on demons and not really owning them and repenting.  They therefore remain stuck in bondage and blame the devil. This downward spiral of self centered obsessive behaviour eventually brings an honest victim to the place of wondering if Christ actually achieved anything at all when he died for them upon the cross, such is the mountain of Gnostic ritual and secret keys necessary to bring the simplest believer in Christ to any degree of deliverance. 

The liberty of finding out that Christ really did it all upon the cross and that we are free from all demons, all curses and all necessary inner healing is almost incalculable.  Today I stand as one who by God’s mercy can rest in the completed work of redemption through Christ. When the Lord said it is finished, it was indeed.

I am thankful that the lord set me free from all demons, all curses, all sin and all failure when he shed his blood upon the cross and bought me. I am secure in the knowledge that I have become adopted as a son of the living God. My inheritance is as a fellow heir in the commonwealth of Israel and that every blessing in God is yes and amen in Christ Jesus.

Friend do not allow the false deliverance ministry of the charismatics to steal your joy or cause you to stumble any longer. Honour God by believing that He has done exactly what he has said in the scripture and start to walk in the good of that.

 

Why I Reject Pentecostal Tongues as being for Today

As a man who for almost twenty years of my life was caught in the charismatic / Pentecostal movement I believe it is necessary to explain from scripture why I have become convinced that the modern Pentecostal  baptism in the Spirit distinctive is not  a biblical one and that when one embraces such a doctrine, it opens a door to the dulling of discernment and gradually the embracing of other false doctrines.

The key passage to either make or break this doctrine of modern tongue speaking is found in first Corinthians chapter thirteen.

 Here is the chapter in full

 1st Corinthians  13:1-13  Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4  Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5  Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;6  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7  Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

There are basically two understandings of what ‘that which is perfect’ is speaking about in verse ten. The One I adhered to for almost 20 years was the Pentecostal one. That is that it is speaking of either the eternal state or the time when  the Lord Jesus returns. ( Which for all intents and purposes here are basically the same.)  At first impression this seems to be the most logical one but I hope to show that it is actually wrong and that the other traditional view is in fact the correct one.

Ok, the other view is that Paul is speaking of the coming of the complete revelation of scripture. This is the position that I hold to today, the reasons for this I will attempt to articulate below.

The primary thought from the chapter most would agree, is the superiority of Charity ( love) over certain inferior gifts. I.E. tongues , Prophecy and Knowledge. It is also about the duration of these gifts. Paul states that love along with faith and hope will abide while prophesy, Tongues and knowledge will pass away.

This takes us to when the lesser gifts would pass and that takes us to verse 10

1st Corinthians 13:10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

So what is that which is perfect? The primary reason I can no longer believe that ‘that which is perfect’ is the eternal state is because of what Paul says in verse 13.
1st. Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Paul here says that faith hope and charity will abide and this is over against prophecy , tongues and knowledge that he has already said would not abide.

Here was the kicker for me. If Paul was speaking about the eternal state then charity would be fine but both faith and Hope are totally obsolete in heaven. They will no longer be necessary. We will neither need faith, for we will be with God forever in person, nor need hope for we will at that stage already have what we would have hoped for while in this present age!

So Paul is not speaking about the eternal state but only for the duration of this present age.

Therefore we have 3 things that will abide during this present age over against three things that would pass away. ( also during this present age if the passage is to remain logical)

Paul goes on to tell us when the three that were to pass would go and that is when, ‘that which is perfect is come.’

Now,  the analogy that Paul uses for that which is perfect is very interesting.
Here is the text

1st. Corinthians 13:10-12 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

A good rule of thumb is to always allow scripture to interpret scripture. Does the scripture refer anywhere else to looking into a glass as looking into the word of God?

The answer is yes and is found in James, the first chapter

James 1:22-25 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

So here we have James comparing the word of God ( scriptures) as to a man looking into a glass. ( It says in mirror modern translations)

The word of God is also referred here in James as being the PERFECT LAW. Again that to me seems similar to Paul in 1 Corinthians 13. when he speaks of that which is perfect.

So, for the passage to remain logical and not self contradictory faith hope and love would remain for the duration of this present age but sometime during this present age prophecy knowledge and tongues would pass away and that was when something that was perfect and described as a glass/ mirror had arrived in its perfection or completeness.

We know that the Church had the scripture from as early as the start of the second century, John wrote Revelation sometime in the early 90′s A.D.
We also see from a church history position that as early as the second century these spiritual gifts seem to have been something that had passed away apart from the cultic deceits of Montanus, Priscilla and Maximilla who were eventually denounced as heretics. ( two of them committed suicide) This was called called Montanism. It would seem that the idea of these gifts being practiced was something that did not reappear until the middle of the 18th century and then banged off for real in 1906 at Azusa street. The rest is history. Almost every modern variance of Protestantism ( not all) has sprung out of the Pentecostal movement in the past 100 years and what this blog site and many others on the internet are battling against are the children of the modern Pentecostal movement.

It has become my scriptural conviction that the modern Pentecostal movement is wrong therefore on its baptism in the spirit distinctive. That aside I believe there are millions of sincere Pentecostal brothers and sisters in Christ who dearly love the Lord and I believe they are saved.

Today I am convinced their doctrinal distinctives are contrary to scripture and therefore become a breeding ground for almost every heresy and false teaching that the western protestant church is having to battle against  globally.  Feel free to add 2 cents if this has pressed any buttons, thanks.

 

Touch Not The Lord’s Anointed? What Utter Nonsense

 Over the years I have encountered many  subtle arguments that attempt to protect false teachers or wolves as the bible describes them.  Accusations of being a divisive person, argumentative, lacking in charity, intolerant, judgemental,  a critical person… the list goes on, but one that seems to take the cake in certain circles  is this get out of jail free card for the heretic called the ‘touch not the Lord’s anointed’ defence.

It is a blow designed to silence the very thought that a so called Christian leader might possibly be leading the flock down the wide road to destruction.  As the statement is to be found in the bible, the biblically ignorant immediately cease from all further discernment regarding the teachings or practice of  the leader being examined.  For the more flamboyant heretic, this ‘touch not the Lord’s anointed’ defence may well come with the threat, veiled or not, that if you do continue down your path of examination you and your family will be cursed by the Lord.  Sadly this proclamation of doom to the discerning Christian seems to suffice in stifling most examination of the deceiving leader in question. 

I need to show that the argument  concerning the touching of the Lord’s anointed is based upon extremely horrid doctrine, ( no surprise there!) and that if embraced proves to be an insult to  the cross of Christ and the blessings  of the New Covenant.  Those who embrace this deceit have failed to understand the very basics of New Covenant theology,  for the statement was only relevant to certain persons under the Old Covenant.  If we could in any way make a modern day comparison then it may be a word to the heathen who systematically oppose the Christian Church, but to attempt to use this statement as a defence against the church examining the doctrine or practice of any leader is a butchery of scripture and a sin against the purity  and calling of the church.

Where does it come from?

The places in scripture where we find this  statement is in the following:

1st Chronicles 16:14-22  He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth. 15  Be ye mindful always of his covenant; the word which he commanded to a thousand generations; 16  Even of the covenant which he made with Abraham, and of his oath unto Isaac; 17  And hath confirmed the same to Jacob for a law, and to Israel for an everlasting covenant, 18  Saying, Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot of your inheritance; 19  When ye were but few, even a few, and strangers in it. 20  And when they went from nation to nation, and from one kingdom to another people; 21  He suffered no man to do them wrong: yea, he reproved kings for their sakes, 22  Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

 

1Samuel 26:7-11  So David and Abishai came to the people by night: and, behold, Saul lay sleeping within the trench, and his spear stuck in the ground at his bolster: but Abner and the people lay round about him. 8  Then said Abishai to David, God hath delivered thine enemy into thine hand this day: now therefore let me smite him, I pray thee, with the spear even to the earth at once, and I will not smite him the second time. 9  And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’S anointed, and be guiltless? 10  David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish. 11  The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

There are other passages that speak of raising your hand against the Lord’s anointed but as we can read from these two,  the point was that  God’s people are a holy people set apart for his purposes and that the heathen ought not to oppose them lest the Lord deal with them.  A specifically anointed person  when not generalising regarding all of God’s people in the Old Testament were prophets, priests and kings.  Here is where applying this statement to the church discerning if a man is a true brother in Christ or a deceiving wolf is wrong. In the New Covenant all of God’s people are anointed!   All in Christ have been made kings and priests,  All in Christ have the person of the Holy Ghost dwelling within as a seal of their salvation and all are called to test doctrine and prophesy, mark false teachers and avoid them and collectively protect the church from ravenous wolves, hell bent on destroying God’s flock.

The reason I stated earlier that in holding to the ‘Touch Not the Lord’s Anointed’ doctrine was an insult to the New covenant is because to adhere to this is to suggest that in the Church there are certain anointed  leaders and that lesser followers of Christ have no place in questioning them.  In essence they are trying to embrace an old covenant reality that no longer works because the blessing of the New covenant is that  the Lord, through his shed blood upon the cross, has made all of God’s people both kings and priests. In biblical Christianity we are taught to adhere to a priesthood of all believers. touch not the Lord’s anointed is more akin to the philosophy of papist Rome.

 Here are verse’s that destroy the false doctrine in question.

All in Christ are ‘Anointed’

1st John 2:27-28  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.28  And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

All in Christ are sealed by the Holy Spirit

Ephesians  4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

All in Christ are indwelled by the Holy Spirit

1st John 4:13  Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

All in Christ are appointed as kings and priests

Revelations 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelations  5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

All in Christ are commanded to mark false teachers and avoid them.

Romans 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

I hope that my argument from the above scripture will strengthen you to oppose the wolves and not be afraid at their threats and false doctrines as you seek to glorify Christ and contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints .

Sincerely Paul Gowdy

 

Lying Signs and Wonders

 Concerning the phenomenon of gold dust falling upon people or gold fillings appearing in the mouths of people attending the various meetings associated with the counterfeit revivalists.  It has recently been suggested to me that there is indeed a biblical warning against such occurrences.  Act 17:29  Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.  

True, the people espousing this modern phenomenon are not saying that the gold or precious stones are like God but only that they are signs from God! Amongst the counterfeit revivalists the gold is taken as a sign of the favour of God or as confirmation that the Lord is indeed moving in the midst of the services. 

Recently there have been claims of precious stones, gems, appearing in the services and then suddenly disappearing.  Again, these signs are taken as from God to confirm the teaching or ministry that is unfolding in the midst of such services.  Personally, I do not doubt the validity of such signs for I believe we live in a world where the spiritual realm interacts with the physical realm. True, they could be bogus, but the bible teaches that there are two sources of spiritual power in the world. One is by far the greatest and that is the power of the Lord God Almighty.  The other source of spiritual power is the power of Satan and his minions. There is no third option as far as the bible is concerned.  All power beyond the natural realm stems from one of these two sources. 

The Bible teaches that Satan is a liar and the Father of lies.  John 8:44  You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.   

This was his first action when he appeared in the pages of Holy Scripture   Gen 3:4-5  But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.  5  For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 

 Someone once said every time you drive past a graveyard look inside and remember that Satan is a Liar! Aside from this the opposite is true concerning God.  God cannot lie!  Scripture declares this as impossible for Him.  Heb 6:18  so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.  

Jesus declares himself as the truth:   John 14:6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  

The Scripture also speaks of the Word of God as truth.  John 17:17  ‘Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.’  

 So absolute truth is found in two sources one is the Lord Jesus and the other is the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God! Therefore when we come back to the signs appearing at the counterfeit revival meetings,  these signs seem to validate the teaching coming forth from such meetings. If these signs of gold and precious stones are from God, as is suggested then the teaching from the preachers, prophets and apostles who are leading would have to be truth.  For as I have shown from scripture God cannot lie.  He is the truth and so is His word. 

The next question that arises then is:  Is the teaching coming forth from such meetings true?  Does it stand up to the scrutiny of scripture? If the teaching in such meetings is not biblical then the signs must be from Satan,  for God could never approve of what is false!  But the opposite is true of Satan. He is in his perfect environment where lies abound and I am convinced that in such an atmosphere it is very easy for his kingdom to demonstrate with lying signs and wonders in order to deceive the elect. 

Mat 24:23-24 ’ Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There he is!’ do not believe it.   For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.’   

The bible teaches that just before the Lord returns there is to be an increase in signs and wonders that will lend themselves to the deception, if possible of the very elect.  The Antichrist arises in such an atmosphere!  2Th 2:9-12  The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, 10  and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11  Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, 12  in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.  

To know the source of such supernatural activity all one needs to know is if the Scriptures are being taught accurately.  The fact that God nowhere in scripture confirmed his word with such strange manifestations ought to be concern enough.   We can never trust our feelings in such matters for the bible tells us:    ‘The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?’ Jer. 17:9  

Therefore the old saying  “ I just know it in my knower” sadly is not going to cut it! Jesus stated    “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” Mt.6:24  

 I find it of interest that what seems to be appearing are the treasures of this present world,  gold fillings in the teeth, gold dust and precious stones.   These appeal to the flesh and greed in the hearts of men.  I believe we live in perilous times and that Satan has infiltrated the Church and many are wandering along on a road to destruction. ‘

sincerely, Paul Gowdy

 

Whatever happened to the Gospel?

Whatever Happened to the Gospel?

For the past number of years I have noticed some subtle changes in how the evangelical church presents the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I suspect that this has been a case of the frog in the kettle syndrome – slowly increase the heat and little Kermit will just stay there until he has been boiled to death! I am not sure if this is true or not and do not, under any circumstances recommend anyone try!

I suspect that the same slow increase in heat has been applied to the western evangelical Church. About a quarter of a century ago, as a teenage boy, I became a follower of Jesus. Indeed, a truly born again Christian and a committed disciple of Christ. I saw “the light”, got saved and my lifestyle changed. Call my conversion whatever you like, God through the power of the Holy Spirit entered my life and transformed my life completely. I willingly surrendered myself to the Lordship of Jesus whom I confessed to be the Son of God and Lord of all creation.

What brought about this radical transformation? It was the faith released within my heart as a result of the simple proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I was told that: (1) Jesus was the Son of God; (2) that He created everything including me; (3) that He came to earth becoming a man in order to save all men; (4) that He being fully God and fully man gave His life, shedding His precious blood as a ransom for my sin and the sins of humanity by dying upon a cross; (5) that His sacrifice was acceptable to atone for sin and appease the wrath of God the Father; (6) that He rose from the dead and conquered death, proving His divinity and the scriptures, in order that we might have hope who die in the Lord that we also shall have a glorious resurrection; and (7) that for those who trust in Him and confess Him as Lord He grants unto us forgiveness of sins and adoption as sons and eternal life!

As the Scripture says: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not by works, lest any man should boast. Eph. 2:8-9

This is the same Gospel that many, but not all, preach today. So what is the difference? There is more to the Gospel than what I have just mentioned above and the subtlety in the change is not necessarily what is proclaimed, rather what is the truth that is omitted.

A Gospel without mention of Hell. Twenty-four years ago when I became a Christian, I did hear the information posted above but I also heard a little more. I heard that the wages of sin is death! I believe much of the church fails to preach the Gospel by the withholding of primary information. The death that sin brings is not only physical death, for all men die physically, but spiritual death where men are separated from God for eternity and condemned to Hell for ever. The doctrine of the eternal punishment of the wicked is so horrific that there are few today who actually preach it. Yet Jesus preached about Hell. To fail to warn men of the horrors of Hell is to fail to preach the gospel in its entirety.

Jesus said that a man should do what ever it takes to avoid going to this evil place. He said that it was better to enter Heaven with one eye or one hand than to have both hands and sin with them or both eyes and sin with them. The reason for this is because if we continue sinning with our eyes and hands and do not repent we will end up burning in hell for eternity! Jesus in no way espouses people cutting off hands or poking out eyes. His point is that Hell is so horrific that mankind needs to do what ever it takes to avoid going there.

Thankfully, the vehicle for sinful man to come into relationship with Christ is the gift of repentance. This means that when a person hears the good news about who Jesus is, what He has done on the cross and the gift of forgiveness and eternal life that He offers, that person can turn away from their evil, selfish, sinful lifestyle and turn to the living God by trusting in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour! This is repentance and is considered by the Holy God as a gift, a vehicle to bring us into relationship with God the Father.

Sadly, and to the shame of the church today, a gospel is preached that does not proclaim the sinfulness of man. Men are no longer sinners – but have just made wrong choices! I am convinced that the wicked motive behind this shift is simply that the modern church refuses to carry the shame and stigma associated with standing for the Truth. To proclaim the Truth as the Scriptures teaches it would be the death knell to the seeker-sensitive, packed out auditoriums that have become the Nirvana of the modern church growth movement! The modern church refuses to preach the Truth because the fear of man is stronger than the fear of God!

Men are no longer called sinners so they see no reason to have to repent! Alas, repentance is deemed a negative and the church is only obsessed with preaching a positive message! Worst of all, no one preaches about the fires of Hell any longer. The post-modern church does not wish to think about such doctrine. ‘Anyway,’ they say, ‘if we can persuade men to just say a prayer of acceptance, asking Jesus into their hearts and granting them eternal life then they are not going to Hell! So why mention it?’

If any mention of Hell is omitted from the Gospel, lost souls would not understand the results of their continuing in sin. If they do not understand the “wages of sin is death,” they can not comprehend that the “gift” of eternal life is only for those who freely accept what God has offered. In exchange for eternal damnation, He offers us eternity with Him.

The very first thing that Jesus said when he came out of the desert to start His public ministry was “Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Mt. 4:17

The last thing that Jesus said before His ascension was: . that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations.. . Lk 24:47

Paul, when speaking to the Greeks on Mars Hill said: And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. Acts 17:30-31

According to the next verse, some mocked, and others said,: “We will hear thee again of this matter.” Where do you stand on this very serious issue as we enter the New Year. The church today needs to wake up! Paul says that the resurrection of Christ from the dead is the evidence that there is coming a judgement, therefore all men are commanded to REPENT! The pastor and/or leader who omits this truth is nothing less than a traitor to his Lord!

The watered-down gospel that the church proclaims today does a marvellous job of creating backsliders. Some statistics suggest 19 out of every 20 people who say the ’salvation prayer’ (or the sinners prayer) end up backsliding! (I would suggest that is because only 5% of the church are actually preaching the Gospel!)

The answer is very simple. The Gospel is not being proclaimed and men and women are not truly repenting of their sins. When Jesus does not become Lord of a person’s life, all that transpires is that more heathen join the ranks of people who confess, “Oh I tried Jesus, It did not work for me!”

When the sinfulness of man, the horrors of Hell and gift of repentance are included in the Gospel we present, men and women are truly saved! It doesn’t matter if thousands are packing out huge arenas that give live entertainment and everyone goes home feeling good. What is happening is that the so-called ministry is promoted, the pastor has “star” quality and the money is flowing. The truth is – multitudes are not coming to true faith in Christ. No, they are not really saved.

If the church fails to preach the once and for all Gospel entrusted to the saints – genuine Christianity could die out with this generation. I pray that God grips your heart Christian! If you are reading this, my prayer is that you may you be one who, without shame or compromise, will carry the Cross and proclaim God’s Truth until He comes.