OR, Have you decided
to follow the MONEY WORSHIPING MEN and WOMEN who claim “GOD is all about
making HIS followers RICH”; while robbing you blind so they can Control you
with Distorted Scriptures, live in HUGE HOMES, DRIVE NICE CARS, and OWN PRIVATE
JETS???
12/26/2017
__________________________________________________________________________________
Let’s take a look at
what the Lord God of Heaven and Earth has to say about MONEY, GREED and POWER
in the BIBLE.
Let us
take a look at the Scripture used and misused the MOST by “Prosperity
Preachers” to get their point across that God wants His people to be RICH
{false teaching}. In 3 John we have John writing to one of his pastor
friends about the way he teaches the TRUTH to the people and how his church
handles taking care of other ministers {missionaries} who come through their
city. He also warned about, Diotrephes who put himself above others, refused
to host other men of God {missionaries} in his church, was slanderous, speaking
falsely against other ministers and refused to accept authority from those leaders
in the church that were above him.
Diotrphes
is the representation of the modern Evangelical Minister who seeks the praises
of mankind, distorts the Word of God and robs the people of God of their
finances by using Scripture out of context to PAD their BANK ACCOUNTS.
Growing
up in the Evangelical Church I cannot begin to remember how many times I heard
a minister use 3 John 2 to manipulate people into giving as much
money as they could to their ministry so God would prosper them with Wealth and
Health.
It must
be so heart-breaking to our Savior to hear these men and women of God using His
Word to manipulate others. However, they continue still today manipulating and confusing
the Word to their mass following so they can live in the “lap of luxury”; while
the people following them struggle to live pay check to pay check. No wonder so
many people do NOT want anything to do with church or God for that matter.
3 John 1-4 {KJV}
The elder {John} unto the well beloved Gaius,
whom I love in the truth. Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest
prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. For I rejoiced greatly,
when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou
walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk
in truth.
3 John 1-4 {AMP}
The elder [of the church addresses this letter
{John}] to the beloved and esteemed Gaius, whom I love in truth.Beloved,
I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good
health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually]. For I
was greatly pleased when [some of the] brothers came [from time to time] and
testified to your [faithfulness to the] truth [of the gospel message], that
is, how you are walking in truth. I have no greater joy than this, to hear
that my [spiritual] children are living [their lives] in the truth.
3 John 1-4 {NIV}
The elder {John}, To my dear friend Gaius, whom
I love in the truth. Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and
that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave
me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to
the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it.I have no greater joy than to
hear that my children are walking in the truth.
3 John 1-4 {MSG}
The Pastor, to my good friend Gaius: How truly
I love you! We’re the best of friends, and I pray for good fortune in
everything you do, and for your good health—that your everyday affairs prosper,
as well as your soul! I was most happy when some friends arrived and brought
the news that you persist in following the way of Truth. Nothing could make me
happier than getting reports that my children continue diligently in the way of
Truth!
If you
look at the 4 different interpretations of 3 John 1-4 you might see how easy it would be at
first glance for a Minister to misinterpret this Scripture to manipulate you.
However, if you examine the Scripture closely allowing the Holy Spirit to teach
you the TRUTH of the Word, you will find that John was giving the Minister
Gaius praise for sharing the TRUTH of the Word of God while being an example to
the people he taught on how to treat other men of God {missionaries} who came
to their church and city. John was NOT telling Gaius or the modern day
“Evangelical Christian” that God wanted them to be RICH. He was telling us
through this admonishment that God wanted us to be RICH in what we do for
OTHERS so our SOULS would prosper for showing kindness and hospitality to
OTHERS.
When
you study the Word of God for yourself you will find that God gives plenty of
warning about the corruption that “LOVING MONEY” can do to a person even giving
us warning about believing in those who are FALSE Men and Women of God.
In John 5:43-44, we read about Jesus rebuking the
people for following after FALSE Ministers and NOT believing in HIM who was
sent from God to help them know the TRUTH.
“I have come in My Father’s name and with His
power, and you do not receive Me [because your minds are closed]; but if
another comes in his own name and with no authority or power except his own,
you will receive him and give your approval to an imposter. How can you believe
[in Me], when you [seek and] receive glory and approval from one another, and
yet you do not seek the glory and approval which comes from the one and only
God?” John 5:43-44
A true
shepherd {man or woman of God} will use his influence to draw church members
into a close relationship with Jesus, who is the only "head of the
church" (Eph. 5:23). A true shepherd realizes that the
people in his congregation don't belong to him -- they are God's flock. A TRUE
SHEPHERD will NOT take advantage of the flock like Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 2:17 we he says, “ For we are
not like many, [acting like merchants] peddling God’s word [shortchanging and
adulterating God’s message]; but from pure [uncompromising] motives, as
[commissioned and sent] from God, we speak [His message] in Christ in the sight
of God.”
I have
actually heard pastors tell their congregations that the financial decisions of
the church do not become a public matter because "the congregation doesn't
have the spiritual insight or maturity to understand the dynamics of church
finances." Have you heard this line of reasoning?
Some
pastors actually preach, "It doesn’t matter what we do with your money.
Your responsibility is simply to give." However, the Bible commands us to
be good stewards -- and part of good stewardship is making sure that proper
systems of accountability are established to handle tithes and offerings. (See 1 Peter 4:10.)
It is
very simple -- money represents power. Ultimately, control comes down to issues
of power. Therefore, it should be no surprise that controlling leaders will use
unbiblical means to manipulate people into giving.
As good
stewards, when we become aware of financial mismanagement, we are responsible
for where we sow our financial seed. I can't imagine anyone choosing to
continue to give money after becoming aware of the misuse of funds. However, if
the approval of those in leadership is more important to a person than
financial integrity, that person might still feel compelled to give -- even if
misuse of funds was involved.
It is
God’s desire that All believers be good stewards of what God has given them,
including their money. Look at how being a good steward is explained in the
Word of God.
Therefore, be sound-minded and self-controlled
for the purpose of prayer [staying balanced and focused on the things of God so
that your communication will be clear, reasonable, specific and pleasing to
Him.] Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love
covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the
best for others]. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. Just as each
one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability
graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate
for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse,
varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].
Whoever speaks [to the congregation], is to do so as one who speaks the oracles
(utterances, the very words) of God. Whoever serves [the congregation] is to do
so as one who serves by the strength which God [abundantly] supplies, so that
in all things God may be glorified [honored and magnified] through Jesus
Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
God
wants all His children to be good examples to those around them in this world.
In order to be the BEST examples to those around us we should be more “Like
Christ” and not the world, so the world will see the LIGHT that shines in us
and want to come to the ONE who shines so brightly in our lives. For good
instruction on being “Christ Like” turn to Philippians 2:1-17 and Romans 13:8-14; here you will find quality
instruction.
Just as
the church was being mislead by False Ministers in the time Paul wrote 2 Corinthians 2 11:1-4, many in the church are
being mislead by False Teachings today. There are so many “Name it and claim
it” Prosperity Ministers today leading so many people away from the TRUTH of
God’s Word by their FALSE LIGHT, twisting Scriptures and evil ways because they
are posing just like Satan as “Ministers of Light”. Paul warns the church in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 about such men and women.
“For such men are counterfeit apostles,
deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, since
Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. So it is no great surprise if
his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, but their end will
correspond with their deeds.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15
False prophets,
teachers and preachers
Matthew
7:15-20 {MSG}
“Beware of the false
prophets,
[teachers] who
come to you dressed as sheep [appearing gentle and innocent], but inwardly are
ravenous wolves. By their fruit you will recognize
them
[that is, by their contrived doctrine and self-focus]. Do people pick grapes
from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every healthy
tree bears good fruit, but the unhealthy tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,
nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good
fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, by their fruit you will
recognize them
[as false prophets].
But the [Holy] Spirit
explicitly and unmistakably declares that in later times some will turn
away from the faith, paying attention instead to deceitful and seductive
spirits and doctrines of demons, [misled] by the
hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared as with a branding iron
[leaving them incapable of ethical functioning], who
forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from [certain kinds of] foods
which God has created to be gratefully shared by those who believe and have [a
clear] knowledge of the truth. For everything God
has created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with
gratitude; for it is sanctified [set apart, dedicated to God] by means of the
word of God and prayer.
2
Timothy 3:1-9 {MSG}
Don’t be
naive. There are difficult times ahead. As the end approaches, people are going
to be self-absorbed, money-hungry, self-promoting, stuck-up, profane,
contemptuous of parents, crude, coarse, dog-eat-dog, unbending, slanderers,
impulsively wild, savage, cynical, treacherous, ruthless, bloated windbags,
addicted to lust, and allergic to God. They’ll make a show of religion, but
behind the scenes they’re animals. Stay clear of these people. These are the
kind of people who smooth-talk themselves into the homes of unstable and needy
women and take advantage of them; women who, depressed by their sinfulness,
take up with every new religious fad that calls itself “truth.” They get
exploited every time and never really learn. These men are like those old
Egyptian frauds Jannes and Jambres, who challenged Moses. They were rejects
from the faith, twisted in their thinking, defying truth itself. But nothing
will come of these latest impostors. Everyone will see through them, just as
people saw through that Egyptian hoax.
For those who want to
know who Jannes and Jambres are here is a little history lesson:
The Bible does not give us much
information on Jannes and Jambres. In fact, the names of these two men appear
only once in the entire Bible, in 2 Timothy 3:8. In a passage describing the
wickedness of the last days, Paul says, “Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed
Moses, so also these men oppose the truth—men of depraved minds, who, as far as
the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because,
as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone” (verses
8-9).
Long-standing Jewish tradition says that Jannes and Jambres were the two chief magicians who withstood Moses and Aaron in Exodus 7. “Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs” (verses 10-12). Later, these same sorcerers duplicated the changing of water into blood (Exodus 7:20-25) and the production of frogs (8:7). However, the sorcerers were powerless to duplicate the other plagues (8:18-19).
The names “Jannes” and “Jambres” appear in the Talmud as well. According to one Midrash, the two magicians left Egypt with the Israelites after the first Passover (see Exodus 12:38) and were later instrumental in promoting the worship of the golden calf that Aaron made (Exodus 32). Another Midrash identifies the “two servants” of Balaam as Jannes and Jambres (Numbers 22:22). According to the Midrashim and other sources, Jannes and Jambres continued to exert a wicked influence on Israel until the time of Phinehas (Numbers 25). These stories are interesting, but they should not be taken as equivalent to inspired Scripture.
Paul confirms the traditional names of the sorcerers who challenged Moses without lending credence to the legends found in apocryphal works. His intention was to use the wickedness of Jannes and Jambres, as presented in the Torah, as an illustration of a widespread, active rejection of the truth in the last days.
Long-standing Jewish tradition says that Jannes and Jambres were the two chief magicians who withstood Moses and Aaron in Exodus 7. “Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs” (verses 10-12). Later, these same sorcerers duplicated the changing of water into blood (Exodus 7:20-25) and the production of frogs (8:7). However, the sorcerers were powerless to duplicate the other plagues (8:18-19).
The names “Jannes” and “Jambres” appear in the Talmud as well. According to one Midrash, the two magicians left Egypt with the Israelites after the first Passover (see Exodus 12:38) and were later instrumental in promoting the worship of the golden calf that Aaron made (Exodus 32). Another Midrash identifies the “two servants” of Balaam as Jannes and Jambres (Numbers 22:22). According to the Midrashim and other sources, Jannes and Jambres continued to exert a wicked influence on Israel until the time of Phinehas (Numbers 25). These stories are interesting, but they should not be taken as equivalent to inspired Scripture.
Paul confirms the traditional names of the sorcerers who challenged Moses without lending credence to the legends found in apocryphal works. His intention was to use the wickedness of Jannes and Jambres, as presented in the Torah, as an illustration of a widespread, active rejection of the truth in the last days.
Signs you may be following one of these FALSE PREACHERS today:
1. They are Not Called by God
The majority of today’s “Christian” Ministers are NOT called
and SENT forth by God to preach the Gospel. Rather, they have called themselves.
They send out resumes hoping to land a “JOB” just like any professional would
do. They preach a false gospel {2 Corinthians 11:4, Galatians 1:6-9}. They have come uninvited
through the side door to contradict the Gospel {Jude 4, Galatians 2:4}. They use the Word of God for
their own selfish gains {2 Corinthians 2:17}, profiting off the people who
blindly follow them. These FALSE Ministers have “a form of godliness but [deny]
its power” {2 Timothy 3:5}. They are basically an empty shell
whose gospel has no power to save anyone from sin. The ministers are
self-called, self-sent, oppose the truth and are men of depraved minds that
Paul warns to stay FAR FROM {2 Timothy 3:1-9}.
2. They Invent Their Own Gospel
False Ministers preach a false gospel of their own
invention, usually based in psychology. Refusing to believe in the TRUE GOSPEL,
they preach an imitation gospel that sends people to hell. But we preach the
Scripture alone. A true Christian’s authority is not the Scripture plus
something else, whether that “plus” is tradition, or psychology, or claiming,
“The Lord told me,” or a dream, or a vision, or a false miracle. Whenever there
is a “plus,” that preacher is going to abuse and imprison people and make them
his slaves. It is the true preaching of the gospel that liberates us, as Paul
declares: “It is for freedom that Christ has
set us free” {Galatians 5:1}. We must preach
Scripture alone. True salvation comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in
Christ alone, from beginning to end. To God alone be glory! Any preacher who
refuses to believe in the absolute authority of Scripture is a FALSE MINISTER
and will teach NO TRUTH.
3. They Preach What People Want to Hear
A false minister preaches what people want
to hear, not what God wants them to hear. Most television and radio preachers
preach a false gospel. They do not preach regeneration, even though nothing
else matters unless we are new creations. They do not preach repentance, total
depravity, the law of God, the holiness of God, and, therefore, God’s demand
for holiness. For God is holy; he is “the Lord
who makes [us] holy” {Leviticus 22:32}. If we are not living holy
lives, we are not Christians.
False ministers do not preach a saving faith that leads to
obedience to God. They also do not speak of judgment and hell. Instead, they
preach autonomy, antinomianism, self-esteem, universalism, unconditional love,
psychology, emotionalism, and pure pragmatism, which says if something “works,”
it is good. In American pragmatism, “works” means making money and giving
pleasure. They refuse to preach exclusivism that salvation is only through
Jesus Christ. Instead, they entertain people, trying to minister to their felt
needs through rock music and other forms of entertainment. They say man is not
born a sinner; rather, he is born good and, in fact, getting better every day.
They say all kinds of sexual activity is permissible before, during, and after
marriage, whether fornication or adultery.
False preachers preach a gospel that promotes health,
wealth, power, and fame. They preach open theism, false ecumenism, and Marxist
liberation theology. They never preach suffering for Jesus’ sake. About them
Paul says, “For the time will come when men
will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they
will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching
ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside
to myths”. {2 Timothy 4:3-4}
4. They Preach to Make Money
False ministers preach only to make money. In fact, they
have no other motive. They want money so that they can live in luxury and
laziness and engage in every form of immorality. Five ways these ministries
make money:
A. Begging
– making appeals to the wealthy – beg in the name of an imaginary or corrupt
mission work.
B. Claim
False Healings – They come to you saying they will pray for and you will
be healed. You are not healed and they take your “Love Offering”.
C. False
Prophesy - The false minister will say, “I understand you want to have a
son. Let me pray for you. I see a son being conceived, and you are going to
call his name Daniel.” As soon as he finishes his prophecy, gullible people are
prompted to give.
D. Commissions
for Services – Arranging marriages, selling used cars, obtaining
admission into college or finding tickets for travel.
E. Steals
– T.S. Balan wrote about an American who went to India and stayed with a
local preacher. While the American was in the other room, the preacher stole
ten thousand dollars from his bag.
All these people are interested in is money. They distort
the gospel to make it palatable so that gullible people will give them money.
They remove all doctrines people do not like-doctrines like sin, repentance,
regeneration, holy living, hell, and judgment. They are like Judas, who was, in
the end, possessed by the devil. He stole money and sold Jesus for thirty
shekels of silver. They are like Simon Magus, who desired to buy the Holy
Spirit and trade it for a profit (Acts 8). False ministers are hucksters, and we
see them all over the world. They love filthy lucre.
A pastor should not be a lover of money. Peter writes, “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care,
serving as overseers-not because you must, but because you are willing, as God
wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve” (1 Peter 5:2).
5. They Build Their Churches with Unregenerate Rejects
False ministers build their churches with unregenerate
people and the rejects of true churches, including those who have been
excommunicated from true churches. False ministers gather these rejects and
build churches with them. They praise and appreciate these rejects and appoint
them as teachers so that they, in turn, can go out to gather more rejects. They
are like those who go to the city dump to gather other people’s rejects. There
is plenty of rejected building material in the city dump (see Leviticus 14:33-57).
Such ministers never tell excommunicated people to repent
and go back to the churches that put them out. This shows they are agents of
Satan. In contrast, this church will not accept someone who says he or she was
put out by another church, unless it is from a cult. But false ministers build
their churches with the rejects from true churches and with outright pagans.
False churches are synagogues of Satan and therefore they do
not have the true marks of Christ’s church: preaching of the word,
administration of valid sacraments to proper people, and discipline. False ministers
will never practice biblical discipline. They do not, because the whole church
is full of cancer, so there is no point in surgery. Instead, they practice
unconditional love, which is sheer autonomy and lawlessness. Learn more about
the unregenerate, here.
6. They Are
Sent by the Devil
False ministers are appointed and sent by the devil as his
agents to promote his kingdom of evil, yet they pose as ministers of Christ.
Read The Screwtape Letters by C.
S. Lewis. Of such people Paul writes, “The god
of this age [i.e., Satan] has blinded the minds of unbelievers for the purpose
that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the
image of God” (2 Corinthians 4:4). The false minister
is blinded by the devil and is unconverted. So he gathers around him
unconverted rejects. The blind false minister leads the blind, and both end up
in the ditch of hell.
Paul warns about false preachers: “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s
cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure
devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3), by false
ministers. He also says, “Satan himself
masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants
masquerade as servants of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). False
ministers are servants of the devil himself. They are false apostles, deceitful
workmen, pretending to be agents of Christ. They will be condemned.
7. They Are the Same as False
Prophets of Old
Today’s false ministers are the
same false prophets we read about throughout the Bible. Jesus spoke about them:
“Beware
of the false prophets, [teachers] who come to you dressed as sheep [appearing
gentle and innocent], but inwardly are ravenous wolves. By their fruit you will
recognize them [that is, by their contrived doctrine and self-focus].” (Matthew 7:15-16). Keep watching and listening to
them, and eventually you will see their falsehood.
Paul said about them, “ I know that
after I am gone, [false teachers like] ferocious wolves will come in among you,
not sparing the flock; even from among your own selves men will arise, speaking
perverse and distorted things, to draw away the disciples after themselves [as
their followers].” (Acts 20:29-30).
Peter said, “But [in those days] false
prophets arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among
you, who will subtly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master
who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves.Many will follow their
shameful ways, and because of them the way of truth will be maligned. And in
their greed they will exploit you with false arguments and twisted doctrine.
Their sentence [of condemnation which God has decreed] from a time long ago is
not idle [but is still in force], and their destruction and deepening misery is
not asleep [but is on its way].” (2 Peter 2:1-3).
They are the same old, bold,
false prophets. Ahab had four hundred false prophets, and only one true
prophet, Micaiah, who alone had the word of God and the Holy Spirit. The four
hundred false prophets were well paid by the king to tell him the lies he liked
to hear: “Do you want to go to war? You will win.” But Ahab died instead, as
Micaiah had predicted. Yet both Ahab and these false prophets were energized by
the evil spirit to persecute the true prophet Micaiah.
The Old
Testament speaks much about false prophets.
1.
Isaiah 8:20: “To the law and to the testimony! If
they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn.”
2.
Isaiah 30:9-11: “These are rebellious people,
deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the LORD’s instruction.
They say to the seers, ‘See no more visions!’ and to the prophets, ‘Give us no
more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.
Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of
Israel!'”
3.
Jeremiah 5:12-13: “They have lied about the LORD;
they said, ‘He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see
sword or famine. The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let
what they say be done to them.'”
4.
Jeremiah 5:30-31: “A horrible and shocking thing
has happened in the land: The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their
own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the
end?”
5.
Jeremiah 6:13-15: “From the least to the
greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice
deceit. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious.” If it
were not serious, why did Jesus become incarnate and go to the cross? Jeremiah
continues: “‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace. Are they ashamed
of their loathsome conduct? No, they have no shame at all. They do not even
know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought
down when I punish them.”
6.
Jeremiah 14:14-15: “Then the LORD said to me,
‘The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or
appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions,
divinations, idolatries and the delusions of their own minds. Therefore, this
is what the LORD says about the prophets who are prophesying in my name: I did
not send them, yet they are saying, ‘No sword or famine will touch this land.’
Those same prophets will perish by sword and famine.”
7.
Jeremiah 23:16: “This is what the LORD Almighty
says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you
with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth
of the LORD.”
8.
Jeremiah 23:21-22: “I did not send these
prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet
they have prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, they would have
proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil
ways and from their evil deeds.”
It
matters where we go to church and who the pastor is. False ministers send
people to hell because they are ministers of Satan. Let us pray that God grant
us illumination, regeneration, a new mind, a new will, new affections, and a
new desire for the word of God. The minister’s job is to feed the sheep with
the word of life.
8. They Cannot Have Regenerate People
False ministers’ churches cannot have
regenerate people because regeneration takes place in the context of two
realities: the gospel preaching and the Holy Spirit. When you go to the church of a false preacher, you know
there cannot be even one regenerate person in that church. If someone
accidentally goes there, the Holy Spirit will tell him to get out, and will
guide that person to a church where the gospel is preached.
Since the false preacher is an agent of
Satan, he will never preach the gospel. Regeneration
takes place when a God-sent preacher preaches the gospel in the power of the
Holy Spirit. In the context of such preaching, the divine, unilateral miracle
of regeneration takes place.
This miracle cannot take place in false churches where false
ministers are in charge. In such churches, the Holy Spirit and the seed of
God’s word do not exist. They are synagogues of Satan. James says, “[God] chose to give us birth through the word of
truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created” (James 1:18). Peter says, “For you have been born again, not of perishable
seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For,
‘All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands
forever.’ And this is the word that was preached to you” (1Peter 1:23-25).
We do not preach decisional salvation.
Anyone can make a decision; that does not save us. The issue is the miracle of
regeneration. We must be born again. But we cannot be born again on our own. So
God causes us to be born again.
A person told me that she was going to a church where the gospel was never
preached. After attending a meeting in which she heard the gospel for the first
time, she came home and read the book of Romans in one sitting because of the
miracle that had taken place within her. When we
are regenerated, we fall in love with God and his word.
In 2 Corinthians 4:6 Paul says, “For God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’
made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the
glory of God in the face of Christ,” and I say, in the gospel. We
see Christ in the gospel. We see God in the gospel. We see the glory of God in
the gospel. Understand, then, the centrality of the word of God.
9. They Preach a Different Gospel
False preachers preach a different gospel that is the exact
opposite of the true gospel. Paul warns about this: “If someone comes to you
and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you received a
different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one
you accepted, you put up with it easily enough” (2 Corinthians 11:4). The evil spirit comes upon
people and they say, “Jesus is cursed.” Paul says that only by the Holy Spirit
can we say “Jesus is Lord” (see 1 Corinthians 12:3).
A different Jesus means an antichrist. A different spirit
means an evil spirit. A different gospel means an anti-gospel. It is a Jesus
who cannot save, a spirit who cannot sanctify, and a gospel that is bad news
and permits all forms of immorality. (PGM)
People hate ministers of the true gospel because they preach the Jesus of the
Bible, the Holy Spirit of the Bible, and the gospel of the Bible, which demands
that we live holy lives.
Jesus cautioned, “Watch
out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am
the Christ,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars,
but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is
still to come” (Matthew 24:4-6). Later on he said, “At that time many will turn away from the faith and
will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and
deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most
will grow cold” (Matthew 24:10-12). Paul writes, “Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion
and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from
heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be
eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is
preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally
condemned!” (Galatians 1:7-9). The highest possible
curse is put on those who preach a different Jesus, a different spirit, and a
different gospel.
Paul also declares, “I
urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put
obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep
away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own
appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people”
(Romans 16:17-18).
10. They
Abuse and Enslave People
False ministers abuse and enslave people and
send them to hell. Even while they are doing these things, they accuse true
ministers of abusing their people. But the true abusers are those who preach a
false gospel. As agents of Satan, they are just doing what Satan himself does.
Jesus said, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10).
Only true ministers love people and
therefore preach the gospel, which is the power of God unto salvation. Only
true preachers seek to liberate people from the thralldom of the devil. “It is
for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let
yourselves be enslaved again” (Galatians 5:1). Any church that preaches the gospel
preaches freedom. Who loves you? God loves you, and God-sent preachers love you
because they preach the gospel to you. Children, your godly parents love you.
Saints of God love you.
People like to remain as irresponsible infants in their
Christian lives. But if they remain in this state of infancy, they are liable
to be shaken by every wind of doctrine and corrupted and deceived. God sends
his ministers to bring us to maturity. Paul writes, “It was [the ascended
Christ] who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be
evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for
works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach
unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no
longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there
by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their
deceitful scheming” (Ephesians 4:11-14).
We must understand the gospel. Be sharp and
intelligent. Be mature so that you can oppose heresies and false ministers.
Know that false ministers want only to enslave you. Paul also says, “This
matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on
the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves” (Galatians 2:4). Elsewhere he writes, “But now that you know God-or rather are known by
God-how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles?
Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?” (Galatians 4:9). Any minister who will
not preach the gospel is abusing and enslaving his listeners. “Those people are zealous to win you over, but for
no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may be zealous
for them” (Galatians 4:17), meaning they wanted to
make others their slaves.
Do you understand who loves you now? It is
your pastor who preaches the gospel. It is the true preachers of the gospel who
care for you and desire that you go to heaven and have eternal life. False
ministers make people their slaves, all the while saying the true pastors are
enslaving people. But any minister who refuses to preach the gospel of grace,
that salvation from beginning to end is God’s work of grace, and who refuses to
preach holiness, is one who enslaves people.
Most of modern day Evangelical Ministries
endeavor to enslave the people to “False” teachings or “Half” truths so they
will keep filling their bank accounts week after week with “Love Offerings”. Most of the Religious Right has based their teachings from
the teachings of a man named R.
J. Rushdoony founder of The Chalcedon Foundation and known for the book
he wrote entitled - Revolt against Maturity. R.
J. Rushdoony was a Calvinist philosopher, historian, and
theologian and is widely credited as being the father of Christian
Reconstructionism and an inspiration for the modern Christian home school
movement. Research into this man’s teachings will show you how the MODERN DAY
PHARISEE’S {Evangelical Ministries} are using the Word of God to ENSLAVE people
instead of teaching them the LIFE SAVING GRACE of JESUS CHRIST.
When insecure leaders are challenged
regarding any type of dishonesty or hypocrisy, they often quote 1
Chronicles 16:22: “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.” Because of their interpretation
of this verse, many pastors and leaders claim to have some form of
"diplomatic immunity" from the biblical standards to which the rest
of the body of Christ is held.
This spirit of control is not new to our generation. It has been operating in religious leaders for thousands of years. The prophet Ezekiel boldly declared the Lord's rebuke concerning the religious leaders of his day, saying:
"'The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them'" (Ezekiel 34:4).
God was accusing the spiritual leaders in Ezekiel's day of ignoring the needs of the people, and of using their positions of authority to beat down the people of God with their own set of rules and regulations.
God the Father describes the priests as shepherds who have selfishly neglected the needs of the sheep in order to satisfy their own needs.
The word "cruelty" in this verse can also be translated "harshness." In other words, according to the Lord, it was with a strong harshness that the religious leaders beat down and abused the people of Israel.
The book of Matthew records how Jesus viewed the people of His day. "When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion and pity for them, because they were dispirited and distressed, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:36).
Controlling pastors believe they are to be obeyed simply because of the
office they hold. They conveniently use scriptures such as Hebrews
13:17{AMP}, which says,
"Obey your [spiritual]
leaders and submit to them [recognizing their authority over you], for they are
keeping watch over your souls and continually guarding your spiritual
welfare as those who will give an account [of their stewardship of you]. Let
them do this with joy and not with grief and groans, for this would be
of no benefit to you.”
This spirit of control is not new to our generation. It has been operating in religious leaders for thousands of years. The prophet Ezekiel boldly declared the Lord's rebuke concerning the religious leaders of his day, saying:
"'The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them'" (Ezekiel 34:4).
God was accusing the spiritual leaders in Ezekiel's day of ignoring the needs of the people, and of using their positions of authority to beat down the people of God with their own set of rules and regulations.
God the Father describes the priests as shepherds who have selfishly neglected the needs of the sheep in order to satisfy their own needs.
The word "cruelty" in this verse can also be translated "harshness." In other words, according to the Lord, it was with a strong harshness that the religious leaders beat down and abused the people of Israel.
The book of Matthew records how Jesus viewed the people of His day. "When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion and pity for them, because they were dispirited and distressed, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:36).
The
word "weary" is the Greek word skullo, and it literally means
"to be harassed." Jesus saw the people as innocent sheep that were
being harassed and abused by the Pharisees. Obviously what was happening in the
time of Ezekiel was still going on in Jesus' day--and it is still happening
today.
11. They
Preach Themselves
False ministers preach themselves. Paul writes, “We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord”
(2 Corinthians 4:5). They promote,
exalt, and glorify themselves. They are spiritual exhibitionists, always
calling attention to themselves. We can see these spiritual exhibitionists on
television. While they preach to please people, they are promoting themselves.
They do not preach Jesus Christ as crucified. Paul
exclaimed, “You foolish Galatians! Who has
bewitched you?” That is what false ministers do-they mesmerize and deceive
people. “Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes, Jesus Christ was clearly
portrayed as crucified” (Galatians 3:1).
They do not preach Jesus Christ as crucified, raised, and
reigning. They preach themselves. They want you to believe them and perish forever.
This is what the devil wants. He knows he is going to go to hell, but he wants
others to go with him. False ministers are agents straight from the pit.
A true preacher preaches Jesus Christ as
Lord, that people may look to Him and be saved.
12. They
Practice False Miracles
False ministers practice a kind of
supernaturalism, which is really demon activity. They display counterfeit gifts
of the Spirit, such as prophecy, casting out demons, miracles, and so on. They
lengthen your legs and give you brown bags into which you can cough demons.
They bark, bite, dance, appear drunk, and are “slain” by the evil spirit. It is
sheer shamanism and showmanship designed to deceive people. They fall forward
and backward. It is all demon activity.
As a young man I attended a church that allowed counterfeit
spiritual gifts to be manifest in the church. You see I already knew at a young
age God had called me into the ministry so I was continually studying the Word
of God so God gave me the courage to stand up against this FALSE PROPHET. This
“Prophet” of God {NOT} called all the youth to the front of the church where he
would be prophesying over ALL of US. {This is
NOT how the office of the PROPHET WORKS.} So when this “Prophet” got to
me he started telling me how God was showing him that I was a baseball player
and I was not doing well but God was going to put me in a better position so I
would be a very successful ball player. I looked that man right in the EYE and
“It is too bad that God did not tell me anything about that, you are a FALSE
PROPHET and I left.”
I was later called into the Pastors office so I could
get my SPIRITUAL WHIPPING for talking against a “Prophet of God”. I had already
by this time found out that NOT one single “PROPHESY” was legitimate that the
“PROPHET” had spoken over the young people so I was armed and ready. The Pastor used the Word of God to chastise me
quoting Psalm 105:15, “Do not touch My anointed
ones, and do My prophets no harm.”
I came back at the Pastor who was YELLING at me with 1 John 4:1-6 which says;
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world. By this you know and recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ has [actually] come in the flesh [as a man] is from God [God is its source]; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [acknowledging that He has come in the flesh, but would deny any of the Son’s true nature] is not of God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world. Little children (believers, dear ones), you are of God and you belong to Him and have [already] overcome them [the agents of the antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world [of sinful mankind]. They [who teach twisted doctrine] are of the world and belong to it; therefore they speak from the [viewpoint of the] world [with its immoral freedom and baseless theories—demanding compliance with their opinions and ridiculing the values of the upright], and the [gullible one of the] world listens closely and pays attention to them. We [who teach God’s word] are from God [energized by the Holy Spirit], and whoever knows God [through personal experience] listens to us [and has a deeper understanding of Him]. Whoever is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know [without any doubt] the spirit of truth [motivated by God] and the spirit of error [motivated by Satan].
This Pastor continued to yell at me telling me even
“Prophets” get it wrong sometimes. UH NO!!! ONLY FALSE PROPHETS GET IT
WRONG”!!! I told that Pastor I would not continue attending a church that
allowed FALSE PROPHETS to come in and lay hands on the children of God. So,
after my incredibly horrific experience of being prophesied over by a FALSE
PROPHET and the Pastor chastising me for standing up against the FALSE PROPHET,
I left that church and never looked back. This
really did happen to me your Rainbow Pastor David. I did have a wonderful
experience a few years later with a TRUE PROPHET of GOD. You can read that
story here, “Be the You God Created You to be}.
Spurgeon
tells a similar story. A young man came to him and said, “I am supposed to
preach here Thursday.” Spurgeon said, “It is too bad that God did not tell me
anything about that.” Such prophecies are demon activity, designed to
manipulate, control, and enslave people.
Jesus
said, “Not
everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but
only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on
that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive
out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never
knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'” (Matthew 7:21-23).
Have
you ever sat and watched a sermon by a pastor like Steven Furtick, or Andy
Stanley? Have you ever really just sat and listened to them preach. It’s easy
to be drawn in to the charismatic mood changing, emotionally driven style of
speech or worship. They quote from Scripture, and speak with such compassion
that you wonder, how could someone so passionate about what they’re saying be
so off? Someone that seems so dedicated to their teachings, so caring and so
loving towards their congregations, how can they be so far removed from the
truth? Does God actually allow teachers who are truly dedicated to him and his
word to be raised up, undisciplined, and allowed to shepherd a flock of such
magnitude, but without any accountability to his truth? Can a false teacher be
saved, and just be wrong, or are these truly wolves in sheep’s clothing who are
on their way to Hell?
Ever
since the fall of God’s creation through Adam, man has been a slave to sin (Romans
5:12). Sin affects every aspect of our lives. It affects the way we think,
the way we feel, and the way we perceive things, understand things, and
communicate. It affects our desires and our motives and our purposes. Apart
from Christ, we are inseparable from sin. Yet God has chosen to allow sin to
flourish, without an immediate end to it. Instead of instantaneously stopping
sin, he has chosen to redeem us through Christ, yet allowing sin to continue,
while we suffer the temporal consequences of it. As a result of our sin, 1Corinthians 2:14 says “The natural person does not accept
the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able
to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” Apart from God, man
in his own state of sin will not, can not, accept the truth.
So why
do so many false teachers seem to be so caring, passionate, and sincere?
Steven
Furtick: Taking a defensive stance against Bible-believers
One thing you will notice with false teachers, is that they
always want to downplay the importance Scripture places on warning against
false teachers. You may hear defenses like “The Bible doesn’t say a whole lot
about false teachers, so we really shouldn’t be too concerned with it,” or
“Christians need to stop bickering and judging each other, and just be more
loving and Christ-like.” Some
false teachers, like Beth Moore, will refer to their critics as “scoffers,” who
are “stopping unity.” Christine Caine twists
Scripture {Six Reasons NOT to follow Christine Caine}to make a point
about an unbiblical form of unity. Steven Furtick (left) refers to them as
“haters,” and says that they are afraid of change, or afraid of anything that
is “new” and “different.”
But they always make it sound like anyone that is against
them, or their unbiblical teachings, are somehow working against God and his
people. However, this common unifying trait among false teachers is necessary
to be able to survive, and to even thrive within the visible church. They have
to devalue the importance of biblical discernment while making it look like
they are being more discerning by doing so. It’s trickery.
They must also maintain control and dominion over their
congregations. If you
remember the story of Jezebel, one of her characteristics was to maintain
spiritual control over people. When she became queen, she eradicated all of
God’s prophets and replaced God’s altars with those of Baal (1 Kings 18:4, 13). But she didn’t just take control of people by force.
She was cunningly deceptive. Her doctrine (1 Kings 21:1-29), cleverly penned The Jezebel Doctrine, is
strikingly similar to what we know today as the Prosperity Gospel.
This false prophetess seduced her husband Ahab by only “prophesying” good
things, and endorsing covetousness. Teachers and pastors who are seduced by these spirits maintain that they
are 100% right, and can not be corrected.
These people can stand in front of crowds, and draw real
emotional responses—tears. They appeal to the worldly senses of people, and
carnal desires of their nature. Their impassioned speeches are often
intertwined with a seemingly supernatural sense of urgency, co-opted with
breathlessness, sweating, and even cracking voices that to the average person,
seems surreal in nature. This person “must” be passionate about God, one thinks. But the Bible says that even Satan himself
masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14). False teachers are very good at
deception (Matthew 24:23–27), and have many tactics that they use to
carry out their sinful desires (2 Peter 3:3), and more often than not, they don’t even
realize they are false teachers, as they have been deceived themselves (2 Timothy 3:13). The fact of the matter is, they are
passionate about what they are saying, and they do, for the most part, believe
it. They are in fact so passionate about it, that they will use whatever method
they deem necessary to get you to believe it as well, and this most often
involves evoking your emotions through deceitful tactics.
Can false teachers be saved?
First, I want to be clear, I’m not referring to the average
preacher, or Bible teacher, who sincerely has a desire to see people be saved,
but has some minor doctrinal errors that don’t affect one’s salvation. I’m
referring to those who deliberately and unrepentantly teach a message contrary
to the Gospel of salvation by grace. Those teachers who, for example, would
lead people into believing that they are saved, apart from Christ’s teachings.
Like Beth Moore who leads Catholic’s into believing they are part of Christ’s
church, or Steven Furtick, who leads people to believe they are saved when they
pray a prayer or are spontaneously baptized. The Bible teaches that those
teaching these doctrines are the enemy of the Gospel. 2 Peter 2:1 says:
But false prophets also arose among the
people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring
in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon
themselves swift destruction.
Scripture also teaches that those who are truly saved do not
depart from the faith (1 Corinthians 15:1-2). It seems to me that teaching false
teachings would be a departure from the faith. The Bible refers to saved people
as “believers” (Acts
5:14; 1 Timothy 4:12). But if you are teaching and/or believing
something contrary to the truth, how can you be a believer? This isn’t to say
that a false teacher can’t ultimately repent and be saved, but you can’t be
teaching a false Gospel while believing the true one. One of the attributes of
a saved person is the act of God’s discipline on his children.
Hebrews 12:7-8 says:
It is for discipline that you have to
endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does
not discipline? If you are left without discipline, in which all have
participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
God disciplines his children, his believers, just like we
discipline our own children. We don’t generally go around disciplining other
people’s children. As with God, he doesn’t go around disciplining those who are
not adopted into his family through Christ. I’m not saying he doesn’t punish,
but punishment and discipline are two different things. Discipline is to
correct inappropriate behavior. False teachers generally do not correct our
behavior, they generally breed more deception.
Punishment, on the other hand, is God’s wrath. God hates
those who are contrary to his nature (Psalm 5:4-6; 11:5, Proverbs 6:16-19), and desires to take his wrath out on
them.
The Book of 1 Kings, Chapter 11, Solomon’s heart was turned
against God, and God raised up an adversary against him. This was for the
purpose of tearing Solomon’s kingdom away from him. So we know that God does
raise up enemies, but this enemy was raised up for the purpose of God’s wrath.
Do false teachers serve the purpose of God’s wrath? Does God raise up false
teachers to serve his purpose of turning over the unrighteous to their sinful
lusts and desires? I’ll leave it with this Scripture, Romans 1:18-31:
For the wrath of God is revealed from
heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their
unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to
them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely,
his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since
the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are
without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or
give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish
hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the
glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and
animals and creeping things.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts
of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among
themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped
and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
***{For this reason God gave them up
to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those
that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations
with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing
shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their
error.}***
And since they did not see fit to
acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be
done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness,
malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are
gossips, slanderers, haters of God, and insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors
of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, and ruthless. Though
they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to
die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
More from Pulpit&Pen,
here
***When you research the Word of God from the original texts
you will find this is a teaching referring to TEMPLE WORSHIP of the FERTILITY
gods and goddess, NOT about homosexual relationships***
The Canaanites were also immersed in sex rites revolved
around their father god El, the mother goddess Ashera and their son called
Baal. They believed that sex acts would stimulate the passion of their father
and mother deities to give them fertility. They linked the fertility of the
women to the fruitfulness of the land, thus they believed that sex orgies would
make the land grow good crops because the “gods” would be pleased.
These sex rites made the ancient Canaanite cults so
appealing. This is why the Bible makes several references to the nation of
Israel becoming ensnared in their worship (Numbers 22:41, Judges 2:13, 8:33, Jeremiah 5:7 etc).
More from Sex
Worship, here
The Hebrew Bible uses two different words for prostitute,
zonah (ΧΧ Χ) and kedeshah (or qedesha) (Χ§ΧΧ©Χ). The word zonah
simply meant an ordinary prostitute or loose woman. But the word
kedeshah literally means consecrated (feminine form), from the Semitic root q-d-sh (Χ§ΧΧ©)
meaning holy or set apart. In spite of the cultic significance of a kedeshah to
a follower of the Canaanite religion, the Hebrew Bible makes it
clear that cultic prostitution had no place in Israelite or Judahite religion.
Thus the Hebrew version of Deuteronomy 23:17-18 tells followers:
None of the daughters of Israel shall be a kedeshah, nor
shall any of the sons of Israel be a kadesh. You shall not bring the hire of a
prostitute (zonah) or the wages of a dog (kelev) into the house of the Lord
your God to pay a vow, for both of these are an abomination to the Lord your
God.
Stephen O. Murray writes that biblical passages
ban qdeshim and link them with gods and "forms of worship detested by
orthodox followers of Yahweh".Celia Brewer Sinclair has written that
"the ethical demands of the covenant preclude worshiping Yahweh in
licentious sexual rites (sacred sexual rites )". Male priests who engaged
in same-sex sacred prostitution were called kadesh or qadesh (literally: male
holy one); the word evolved semantically in ancient Hebrew to take on a similar
meaning to sodomite. The Hebrew word kelev (dog) in the next line may also
signify a male dancer or prostitute. Some scholars see the injunctions against
foreign worship, including male sacred prostitution, as possibly the original
cause of what would later become Judaism's condemnation of sexual contact
between men.
So watch out for wolves coming in sheep’s clothing. In due
time they will put away the sheep’s clothing and manifest themselves as they
really are-ravenous wolves who tear up and devour the sheep.
The True Minister of the Gospel
How, then, can we recognize a true minister? First and
foremost, a true minister is appointed by God. Paul says, “And in the church
God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then
workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help
others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different
kinds of tongues” (1
Corinthians 12:28). God-not man-must appoint the true minister.
Such a pastor is Christ’s gift to the church to prepare God’s
people for ministry by preaching and teaching the word of God (Ephesians
4:11-14). A true pastor is Christ’s gift to his church. He is appointed by
God the Father, by Christ the Son, and by the Holy Spirit. He is charged with
taking care of God’s flock, as Paul admonished the Ephesian elders: “Keep watch
over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you
overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own
blood” (Acts
20:28).
Such a God-appointed pastor is committed to feeding the sheep
by preaching the Bible, so he will be committed to the principle of sola
Scriptura. His goal is to present the church as a pure virgin to Christ her
bridegroom, who himself makes her holy and a radiant church (2
Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians
5:27).
A true minister knows his responsibility is to feed the
flock by the word of God. Jesus said, “Feed my flock.” Paul said, “Preach the
word.” To that end, a true minister will be gifted by God so that he can preach
and teach the gospel. God will lead him always and everywhere in triumph-in
trials, temptations, and persecutions, in the valley of the shadow of death, in
life and in death. He follows Christ the victor, whose victory is the victory
of his people. Paul declares, “And having disarmed the powers and authorities,
he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians
2:15). Jesus said, “I
have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you
will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John
16:33). Paul also says,
“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans
8:37).
This is why a true minister is unafraid. He is bold and
confident as he follows the conquering Christ. In Jesus we achieve every day
and everywhere super victory. In Him we are overcomers. The ark goes before us.
Christ is leading us. At our shout in Jesus’ name, the gates and walls of
Jericho shall fall.
As we are led by our triumphant Lord, WE MUST PROCLAIM THE
GOSPEL TO ALL {including the LGBTQI+ Community}, because the gospel is the
fragrance of God that gives life to the dead who believe, and death to those
who reject it (2
Corinthians 2:14-16).
Paul says, “We are fragrance.” God through us spreads the fragrance of the
knowledge of God. We are the fragrance of Christ. That means we are filled with
the gospel and with Christ. We are a bottle whose top has been taken off so the
fragrance can come out. Wherever we go, we send out a fragrance that makes the
dead live and believe, and kills those who reject the gospel. When one sinner
repents, heaven rejoices. It is fragrance to God, fragrance to the believer,
and fragrance to the preacher.
God through us diffuses the fragrance of the knowledge of Him
everywhere in every place. At home, at work, in the church, and when you
travel, you are radiating fragrance. Paul says we are to God the fragrance of Christ, that is, we
reveal His person and saving work. Thus Paul exhorts, “Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in
psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the
Lord” (Colossians
3:16). The gospel is the most costly fragrance from heaven, more costly
than Mary’s fragrance that cost her three hundred denarii.
God makes His ministers competent to this difficult task. We
can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians
4:13). His grace is sufficient to do all the work He asks us to do. God
said so (2
Corinthians 9:8). He is the head of the church and the Lord of the
universe. And because He lives forever, we also will live forever.
Thank God for ALL TRUE MINISTERS, appointed by the triune
God! Paul himself was one, as he wrote: “Paul, an apostle-sent not from men nor
by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father” (Galatians
1:1). He was not humanly appointed and sent, but sent by God himself.
We can recognize a true preacher by his character and his
preaching of the true gospel. He will never peddle the word of God for profit,
fame, or power. He knows he is accountable to God, as the Hebrews writer
states: “Obey your
[spiritual] leaders and submit to them [recognizing their authority over you],
for they are keeping watch over your souls and continually guarding your
spiritual welfare as those who will give an account [of their stewardship of
you]. Let them do this with joy and not with grief and groans, for this would
be of no benefit to you.” (Hebrews
13:17). Peter also
speaks of this: “Therefore,
I strongly urge the elders among you [pastors, spiritual leaders of the
church], as a fellow elder and as an eyewitness [called to testify] of the
sufferings of Christ, as well as one who shares in the glory that is to be
revealed: shepherd and guide and protect the flock of God among you, exercising
oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God;
and not [motivated] for shameful gain, but with wholehearted enthusiasm; not
lording it over those assigned to your care [do not be arrogant or
overbearing], but be examples [of Christian living] to the flock [set a pattern
of integrity for your congregation]. And when the Chief Shepherd (Christ)
appears, you will receive the [conqueror’s] unfading crown of glory.” (1
Peter 5:1-4).
A true preacher diffuses the gospel fragrance that makes
people alive when they believe and causes people to die when they do not
believe. This is a most serious job. May God, therefore, help us to avoid FALSE
PREACHERS and APPRECIATE all GOD-SENT, GOSPEL-PREACHING, TRUE MINISTERS of
CHRIST.
It is the soul desire of this ministry that you find a deep
and lasting personal relationship with the King of Kings - Christ Jesus.
You may also Email with any questions or concerns, Rainbow Pastor
David
Blessings and Peace be upon you as you continue forward in
your journey in life. May your life always shine bright with the LOVE of JESUS
so the rest of the World will want what you have inside. Praise the Lord!!!
In Christ Service,
Rainbow
Pastor David
For those who want to study more of the Word of God concerning money and false teachers {preachers}, here is a list to study. May the Holy Spirit guide you into ALL the TRUTH of God's Word.
Hebrews 13:5
Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”
Come [quickly] now, you rich [who lack true
faith and hoard and misuse your resources], weep and howl over the miseries
[the woes, the judgments] that are coming upon you. Your
wealth has rotted and is ruined and your [fine] clothes have become
moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and
their corrosion will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like
fire. You have stored up your treasure in the last days [when it will do you no
good]. Look! The wages that you
have [fraudulently] withheld from the laborers who have mowed your fields are
crying out [against you for vengeance]; and the cries of the harvesters have
come to the ears of the Lord of Sabbath. On
the earth you have lived luxuriously and abandoned yourselves to soft
living and led a life of wanton pleasure [self-indulgence, self-gratification];
you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and have put to death the
righteous man; he offers you no resistance.
For those who want to study more of the Word of God concerning money and false teachers {preachers}, here is a list to study. May the Holy Spirit guide you into ALL the TRUTH of God's Word.
Don’t
love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes
out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the
world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear
important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The
world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does
what God wants is set for eternity.
He
who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with
its gain. This too is vanity (emptiness).
Hebrews 13:5
Let your character [your moral essence, your inner nature] be free from the love of money [shun greed—be financially ethical], being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!”
Then
He said to them, “Watch
out and guard yourselves against every form of greed; for not even when one has
an overflowing abundance does his life consist of nor is it derived from
his possessions.”
“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 mammon [money, possessions,
fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].
He
who leans on and trusts in and is confident in his riches will
fall,
But the righteous [who trust in God’s provision] will flourish like a green leaf.
But the righteous [who trust in God’s provision] will flourish like a green leaf.
Wealth
obtained by fraud dwindles,
But he who gathers gradually by [honest] labor will increase [his riches].
But he who gathers gradually by [honest] labor will increase [his riches].
He
who oppresses the poor taunts and insults his Maker,
But he who is kind and merciful and gracious to the needy honors Him.
But he who is kind and merciful and gracious to the needy honors Him.
He
who profits unlawfully brings suffering to his own house,
But he who hates bribes [and does not receive nor pay them] will live.
But he who hates bribes [and does not receive nor pay them] will live.
A
good name [earned by honorable behavior, godly wisdom, moral courage,
and personal integrity] is more desirable than great riches; and favor is
better than silver and gold.
He
who oppresses or exploits the poor to get more for himself or who gives to
the rich [to gain influence and favor], will only come to poverty.
He
who has an evil and envious eye hurries to be rich
And does not know that poverty will come upon him.
And does not know that poverty will come upon him.
An
arrogant and greedy man stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in the Lord will be blessed and prosper.
But he who trusts in the Lord will be blessed and prosper.
Shepherd
and guide and protect the flock of God among you, exercising
oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of
God; and not [motivated] for shameful gain, but with wholehearted enthusiasm; not lording it over those assigned to your care [do not be
arrogant or overbearing], but be examples [of Christian living] to the flock
[set a pattern of integrity for your congregation].
As
for the rich in this present world, instruct them not to be conceited and
arrogant, nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who
richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good
works, to be generous, willing to share [with others]; In this way storing up for themselves the enduring
riches of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that
which is truly life.
But
godliness actually is a source of great gain when accompanied by
contentment [that contentment which comes from a sense of inner confidence
based on the sufficiency of God]. For we have
brought nothing into the world, so [it is clear that] we cannot take anything
out of it, either. But if we have food and
clothing, with these we will be content. But those
who [are not financially ethical and] crave to get rich [with a compulsive,
greedy longing for wealth] fall into temptation and a trap and into many
foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction
[leading to personal misery]. For the love of money [that is,
the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root
of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the
faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.
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