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Christian Growth, Eric Wheeler, Faith, Financial Failure, Instruction, The Walk, Wait on God

“Regarding Your Finances…”

“Regarding Your Finances…”

by Eric C. Wheeler

[Below is a recent email exchange that I had with an inmate named Franky who is incarcerated in prison in a northeastern part of the United States. Franky read my book In His Service and contacted me a number of months ago which began a warm and sincere continual online dialogue and friendship between us. Joyfully, it appears that Franky is going to be released soon, and he has enthusiastically granted me permission to publish a recent email conversation we had regarding finances. We both felt that it would be spiritually beneficial to others for us to share what the Lord had me write in response to Franky’s question. Here is an excerpt from our email correspondence:]

Good morning, Eric!!! Happy Tuesday. I hope you’re feeling great, energized and simply blessed. God’s relentless pursuit in showing us the true definition of love, compassion and patience is more than enough for us to live our life to serve Him rather than ourselves. I ask myself every morning, ‘What kind of seeds are you planting this morning, Franky?’ The seeds that we plant will determine the trajectory of our day in every way possible. It’s helped me tremendously on staying consistent, along with self-accountability. I was hoping you could help me… I was trying to study God’s word on finances. I looked in the index for key words and I had no luck, the only word that stood out to me was money. I really want to study finances as it’s important for me to understand what God wants us to do with our finances. Making sure I’m utilizing every dollar the way God intended is important to me. God Bless you, Eric. Hope all is well.

Franky

 

Hi Franky!

In answer to your question regarding finances: God told me a long time ago, “Eric, money is a utility. It’s like electricity. You don’t want more than you need, and you don’t want less than you need. You want exactly what you need as you need it.”  Too many people think of money as an end in itself – a goal to be reached. It’s not. It’s only a utility – simply a means by which things get done and/or accomplished.

Jesus told us to not worry about money – “Don’t worry about your life, what you are going to wear or how you’re going to eat” (really this means, “how you’re going to pay your bills”). He told us that our heavenly Father already knows that we have need of all these things (Matt. 6:32). Instead, Jesus told us to focus on “seeking the Kingdom of God first, and His righteousness [His right way of doing things],” and that if we do this, God will freely give us everything else that we need, when and as we need it (Matt. 6:33).

I have found continually by personal experience that you literally can (and should) take God at His word! I try not to think about or worry about how I’m going to pay my bills (finances), and when it’s time to sit down and pay them or to do things, suddenly, the money is always there! Every single time!! It’s truly amazing!! He has taught me – and is still teaching me – to just continue focusing on doing His assignments He’s giving me to do each day (“Stay in the day, each and every day!” – Matt. 6:34), and everything will be provided for me when and as I need it. It’s incredible! It really works. He told me once, “Eric, whatever you find yourself doing each day, do it with all your might, as unto the Lord.” (see Ecc. 9:10; Col. 3:17; Col. 3:23-24). These words have served me well through the years. Realize that He’s in control of your life.

As you surrender to the Lord and realize that you are owned by Him – then nothing belongs to you anymore. Everything belongs to Him. He owns the whole Plantation that you are a slave working on. He owns you, and all the tools, all the resources, and all the machinery – everything! You are only using the tools and resources that belong to Him in order to do the jobs in the fields that He owns as well. Therefore, there is no accounting that you have to do or financing. Just take the tools (resources) that He hands you each day and do the job(s) that He gives you each and every day to do! And then in the evenings go back to the “service quarters” or the “slave quarters” each night that He owns on the Plantation, and that He provides for you, and get some rest and go to sleep, expecting to wake up the next morning to get your new daily orders and/or assignments and/or your marching orders. That’s it! No planning is necessary on your part. No accounting required. It’s easy and it’s freeing! And by the way, He’s fun to work for – He’s not a harsh or overbearing Master or Taskmaster. He’s very kind, loving, friendly, and generous – as long as you are an obedient servant who seeks to please Him and do what’s right, every day.

God promises that His servants will eat, drink, and always have what they need as they need it (Isa. 65:13-14; Luke 12:29-31). As He forcefully said to me once: “Eric, I said, ‘Don’t have an anxious mind!” (Luke 12:29). This was (and is) a direct command from Him, not a suggestion.

One more thing, we are headed into very difficult economic times and upheaval. Therefore, it’s time to start learning to live each and every day by faith. Just as the apostle Paul said: “For this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, and those who use the things of this world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away. And I want you to be without concern.” (I Cor. 7:29-32). In other words, do not allow your heart to be tied up in anything – not in people and relationships, or in your possessions, or in your feelings and emotions, in your finances, in material goods, your job, etc. Stay focused on God, His Kingdom, and His righteousness (His right way of doing things.). Remember, Scripture warns, “Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.” (James 5:1-3). Don’t put any focus on money. We’re in the last days – and money will soon mean nothing! Lay up treasures in heaven – by making God your wealth (Matt. 6:19-21).

God be with you, brother!

Eric

 

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Christian, Christian Growth, Doctrine, Eric Wheeler, General

Who or What is Israel?

Who or What is Israel?

by Eric C. Wheeler

The first mention of the name “Israel” comes to us from the mouth of an unidentified man, later identified in Scripture as an Angel of God (see Hosea 12:4), after he had “wrestled all night” with our forefather Jacob, the grandson of Abraham. This man/Angel, being a divine messenger, blessed our father Jacob by changing his name from Jacob which meant “a deceiver and supplanter” to Israel which meant “a prince with God” and/or “a prince of God.” Note that Jacob was given this new name because he “had struggled with God and with men, and had prevailed” – that is, he overcame (Gen. 32:28). God would later reaffirm Jacob’s name change when He appeared again to him in Bethel, saying, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name. So God called his name Israel.” (Gen. 35:10).

It is important to note two pertinent details here: 1) Jacob’s name was changed to Israel because he first “strove with God and men”. 2) And second, “he prevailed” (he overcame) in this struggle. These were the exact reasons given why God changed his name! This is a very important God-ordained point that He wants us to see. Jacob went from being a deceiver – a person who misrepresents and manipulates circumstances in order to get his or her own way by using deceit and craftiness – to a person who now believed God and fully trusted in Him to deliver him, provide for him, and reward him. It was only after this struggle and subsequent victory that he was renamed and made a prince of God! Let’s examine this truth further.

Jacob was named Jacob (“a deceiver and supplanter”) by his parents, Isaac and Rebekah, when, as he was coming out of the womb, he grabbed his twin brother Esau’s heel (Gen. 25:26). In an amazing prophecy, God had already informed Rebekah when she had previously inquired of Him regarding the “struggling twins” in her womb that there were “two nations and peoples” within her, and that the older nation/son would serve the younger nation/son (Gen. 25:21-26). Thus began a divinely appointed struggle from the womb. [Those who know their Bibles recognize that God plans, ordains, and executes things long before He forms us in the womb and even before He brings us into existence (see Isa. 44:24-28; 46:9-10; Jer. 1:4-5; Luke 1:41-45; Rom. 9:10-12,17). As it is written: “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.” (Psa. 139:16).] As the twin boys grew into adulthood, Jacob continued to act deceitfully, taking advantage and manipulating situations and circumstances to his favor and for his own benefit, defrauding both his brother and his father, and even his uncle’s estate.

After getting a real taste of what his deceitful and dishonest lifestyle and selfish decisions had produced in his life – just as God promised all of us in His Word, saying, “You WILL reap what you have sown!” (Gal. 6:7) – Jacob became remorseful and repented to God. Filled with fear and anxiety by what his life and circumstances had become through the bad decisions that he had made throughout his lifetime, Jacob became greatly discouraged and afraid and cried out to God in desperation: “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac… I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant” (Gen. 32:9-10). It is interesting to note that Jacob came to this recognition and confession of his mistakes and sins, and subsequent repentance, only AFTER “meeting the angels of God as he was going his way” (Gen. 32:1). This divine encounter obviously significantly changed him. For it says, “When Jacob saw them, he said, ‘This is God’s camp.’ And he called the name of that place Mahanaim” which meant “double camp” (Gen. 32:2). There are several things of special spiritual importance and significance in these verses that we tend to just read over quickly without really seeing what the Spirit of the Lord is trying to tell us.

First of all, many people don’t realize that in the Bible the word “angel” refers to any messenger who brings divine news and/or a divine message. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a supernatural being; it can also include a human being and/or a group of beings (people) sent by God. The point is that Jacob came into fellowship with several beings (human or otherwise) who helped him to see the truth. With their spiritual guidance and influence, he suddenly became aware of his own sinful lifestyle and past immoral decisions and methods, and collectively, these “angels” helped point him in the right direction to now follow God’s ways instead of his own. Prior to this divine encounter with them, Scripture says that Jacob was still doing things his own way and journeying through life “his way” (Gen. 32:1). This is apparently why Jacob called this meeting place of godly fellowship “double camp” or “two camps”. He had to now make a choice in life: Was he going to continue doing things “his way” which up to this point had only created in him and in others great fear, hostility, anger, disappointment, and a continual sense of anxiety and frustration; or was he now going to turn to God and rely on Him and do things according to God’s Way. One could say that our father Jacob was literally at a divine crossroads. That’s why it was figuratively called “a double camp”. He was in a crisis of belief. Jacob had to now make a choice. Which camp did he want to live in? His own camp or God’s Camp? He realized he could no longer live in both. He couldn’t have it both ways. And neither can we. When God sends divine messengers (“angels”) into our life, whose presence and words convict us of our sins and our evil behaviors, how do we respond? Do we run away? Do we get angry? Do we shun them? Or, do we want to fellowship with them? Do we desire to be around them more? What is our response? Which camp do we want to permanently be in?

Thankfully, Scripture shows that Jacob chose correctly, and consequently repented. He turned to God in prayer, confessing and acknowledging his sins, wholeheartedly repenting. And notice that this repentance occurred immediately after this divine encounter and fellowship with the “angels [messengers] of God” while he was encamped at the ford of Jabbok (Gen. 32:21-22). This is prophetically significant because “Jabbok” in Hebrew literally means “God will empty” and/or “to be emptied”. It is at this very place that God “emptied” (humbled and brought low) Jacob by choosing to reveal His holy and powerful Presence to him. That is why Jacob called the name of that place “Peniel” which means “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” (Gen. 32:30). It was here that Jacob wrestled with God being in the form of an Angel. And it was here that God blessed Jacob and forever changed his name to Israel after he had refused to let Him go, Jacob relentlessly holding on to God even after He had severely wounded him by permanently dislocating his hip. In hurting Jacob in this manner, God was testing Jacob’s resolve and commitment to his conversion and giving him a continual lifelong reminder that he was to no longer walk his own way and according to his own strength. God was truly emptying Jacob of himself – that is, emptying him of his own self-reliance. The Lord was literally breaking Jacob and emptying him of his human pride and futile carnal strength, while at the same time, commending and confirming his enduring prevailing faith.

Jacob was now ready for a name change. He was no longer going to be a deceiver, a manipulator, a cheat, and a thief. Instead, he was now going to be a son of God, a prince. One who had overcome. One who had been converted. A changed man. He was now “ISRAEL” – a prince of God! He was no longer going to rely on himself, in his own craftiness, and in his own unrighteous and evil ways and methods. Instead, he was now going to enjoy and have a lifelong reliance on God – a continual leaning on the Lord to be his daily strength and assurance as he walked through life here waiting for the promises of God to be ultimately fulfilled. Like his fathers Abraham and Isaac before him, Jacob had to continue to live and persevere in these same promises by faith, traversing this earth as a pilgrim and a sojourner looking for and waiting for the heavenly country and “city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (see Heb. 11:8-16). The book of Hebrews states that in faith our father Jacob remained a cripple all the days of his life and faithfully endured, waiting upon God till the time of his death. For it says Jacob was still worshipping God and doing His work and blessing his sons all while “still leaning on his staff” (Heb. 11:21). Truly, our father Jacob righteously and faithfully held on to God through all the pain and suffering, trials and challenges, as well as in all of the blessings and abundant surprises that the Lord our God walked him through while he lived out his steadfast faith on this earth. It was because of his overcoming and prevailing faith that God prophetically changed his name to Israel! God not only did this for our father Jacob, but He promises that He will also do this same thing for every one of us who overcomes, as we shall soon see.

Immediately after this name change, Scripture says that Jacob, now called Israel – “overcomer and prince of God” – crossed the ford of Jabbok which was a shallow stream that emptied directly into the Jordan River “as the sun fully rose over him” (Gen. 32:31). This is in accordance with what God promises will happen to the righteous who turn to Him and reject evil: “To you who revere My name, the sun of righteousness will arise with healing in its rays. Then you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.” (Mal. 4:2). If you don’t realize it by now, this account of Jacob’s life is a prophetic demonstration of our divine calling and potential human destiny!

Jacob’s Name Change Signifies His Conversion!

Let’s break down Jacob’s story: He began his life with a prophecy. A pre-determined declaration from God that he would begin his existence engaged in a great struggle, even while yet still in the womb. And though he would be considered second, the lesser brother, he would eventually become stronger than his older brother and was predestined by God to one day rule over him (Gen. 25:22-23). He was born into this world still engrossed in this prophetic struggle with his twin brother Esau – representing his “fellow man” – even stooping so low as to utilize aggressive and supplanting methods, exemplified by the grasping of his brother’s heel during childbirth from which he got his name, Jacob. He would continue this campaign of self-promotion and deceptive manipulation well into his adulthood, until he came to a place of complete and total emptiness, spiritually referred to as Jabbok. It was at this crossroads of emptiness that God sent divine messengers into Jacob’s life to show him the error of his ways and to point him in the right direction. Faced with this life-changing truth, Jacob had to make a decision! Which way would he go? He chose to repent and then was symbolically “baptized”. That is why it says that “he crossed the stream” (the Jabbok) which completely emptied into the Jordan River and thereby, he entered the Promised Land. This “Promised Land” represents the Kingdom of God to us, which during Jacob’s day was continually being watered and cultivated by the Jordan River, spiritually picturing the free-flowing Holy Spirit. It was immediately after this repentance and true heart change (Jacob’s complete conversion) that God changed Jacob’s name to Israel – and not any sooner!

Notice that Scripture shows that this too is our calling and our proposed destiny! I use the term “proposed” because Jesus said, “Many are called, but few are chosen [selected]” (Matt. 22:14). God is offering this same opportunity and divine privilege to be His son and daughter to anyone and everyone who is willing to put forth the effort and perseverance to engage in their own human struggle with both God and man, and then, to overcome. Here “man” represents our struggle with our own flesh and carnality, as well as our constant battle and struggle against society’s sinful pulls and temptations. This struggle is represented by Jacob’s struggle with his twin brother Esau – “his fellow man,” as well as with his lifelong struggle with his own flesh and carnality, beginning in the womb. And his “struggle with God” represents his natural human mind not wanting to submit to God and to God’s ways. As it is written: “The carnal [fleshly] mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can it be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.” (Rom. 8:7-9). This lifelong struggle is what every human being who is brought into the world (brought into existence) MUST come to learn. We each must come to learn this individually by experience! That is, by experiencing both good and evil. This IS the purpose of this present age. This is what this whole life right now is about! [For more information on this, please click on this link: Why Are We Here? What is the Purpose of this Life? – Sharing The Way]. By experiencing both good and evil in this life, we each must come to a decision, a choice – our own “Jabbok” (place of humbling/emptying) and our own “Mahanaim” (double camp/crossroads), so to speak, and choose to either totally and completely surrender to God, and willingly and trustingly obey God and submit to Him and His will, or to keep on going our own way, which ultimately leads to fear, frustration, disappointment, disillusionment, depression, and death. God gives us the freedom to choose. He gives us this world and its experiences of both good and evil to decide for ourselves what we want. It is His desire and will that we choose to follow Him of our own freewill and volition. That is, that we happily, willingly and trustingly, in and by faith, because we’ve come to know Him by firsthand experience, to not only believe in Him, but to actually – BELIEVE Him. Simply put, we’ve come to TRUST Him because we truly know Him!

Physical Parallels Revealing Spiritual Truths

Jacob’s life story is a physical illustration of our divine calling – God’s proposed plan for us of redemption, salvation, and offered reward. As the Bible declares, “First comes the physical, and then comes the spiritual” (I Cor. 15:46). And again, it tells us, “All these things happened to them [to the ancient Israelites] as examples to us, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the end of the ages has come.” (I Cor. 10:11). Let’s look at a few parallels from Jacob’s life in light of some New Testament Scriptures:

1) Jacob was prophesied to struggle from the womb.

The same is true for all of us. We must engage in this great struggle with our own human nature, sin, society’s pulls and temptations, and our understanding and perception of God. Notice these verses:

“I have been evil from the day I was born; from the time I was conceived, I have been sinful.” (Psa. 51:5)

“Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on (and strive) to know Him!” (Hos. 6:3)

“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” (Luke 13:24)

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life to which you were also called…”  (I Tim. 6:12)

“You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.” (II Tim. 2:3-4)

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (II Tim. 4:7)

2) Jacob met angels (messengers) of God who brought him into Mahanaim (into a “two camp” mindset and crisis) which then led him to Jabbok (the place of spiritual emptiness) where he encountered God.

We must all come to know and to understand through personal experiences and by divine intervention that our ways only lead to worry, fear, sorrow, suffering, purposelessness, and death. This realization should then lead us to the Truth – that is, it should lead us to God/Jesus who alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). It is through this knowledge and belief (faith) that we subsequently repent (we renounce and turn away from our own ways), get baptized (fully surrender to God), and receive His Holy Spirit which then leads, directs, and corrects us daily, as we seek to obediently follow God all the days of the rest of our life until death, despite the pain and the scars.

“So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ And he said, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.” (Acts 8:30-31)

“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?… So then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:14-17)

“Looking to Jesus [as our example], the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame [considering the shame of the cross as nothing], and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2)

“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death…” (Phil. 3:7-10)

“Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection…” (Rom. 6:3-5)

3) Jacob endured through the struggle, persevered through the pain, and steadfastly held on to God in faith, until God ultimately blessed him by changing his name to Overcomer and Prince of God. Likewise, we too are called to the same destiny! Notice these Scriptural promises:

“To him who overcomes… I will write on him My new name.” (Rev. 3:12)

“To him who overcomes… I will give power over the nations to rule them.” (Rev. 2:26-27)

“Come out from among them and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Do not touch [partake of] what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.” (II Cor. 6:17-18).

Remember, God is the King (Mal. 1:14; I Tim. 1:17). He is royalty and is called Majesty (Heb. 1:3; 8:1). Therefore, His sons and daughters are royalty too. They are princes and princesses. This is why Jacob’s name was changed to “a prince of God” when he overcame all his carnal (human) and spiritual struggles and obstacles, learning instead to look to God and to trust in Him. As an Overcomer, he is adopted as a son and inducted into the Family of God (Rom. 8:15-17; Heb. 2:10-13).

4) As a prince and a son of God, Jacob was now entitled to enjoy the blessings, rewards, and benefits (the “inheritance”) of being a part of God’s Family.

Immediately after God changed his name to Israel and blessed him, Jacob called the name of that place Peniel (meaning, “Face of God”) declaring, “I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved.” Whereupon the darkness of night suddenly subsided, and “he crossed Peniel as the sun rose upon him.” (Gen. 32:31). God promises the same for us who overcome and become His children.

“To you who revere My name, the sun of righteousness will arise with healing in its rays. Then you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.” (Mal. 4:2)

“They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. And there shall be no more night there: they need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” (Rev. 22:4-5)

“To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life which is in the midst of the Paradise of God.” (Rev. 2:7)

“He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the Temple [the House] of My God, and he shall go out no more. And I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God – the new Jerusalem – which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.” (Rev. 3:12)

‘Israel’ is a Spiritual Change not a Physical Descendancy

As a result of persevering and overcoming, Jacob was declared by God as being spiritually victorious in his struggle with both men and God. He became a prince of God that day – literally, a son of the King! God was now his King and his Father. He was part of the Royal Family now – the Family of God. This is who and what Israel means!

As the Bible reveals, God has ordained that each of us learn by hard experience – that is, by experiencing both good and evil (“wrestling”) – to choose the good (that is, to choose God, “who alone is good,” Jesus said) and to reject the evil. Thereby, in and through our wrestling in this life, we are presented with the opportunity to come to know God, to trust in Him, and to willingly submit ourselves to Him, so that we are able to humbly walk in constant fellowship with Him. As it is written: “He has shown you, O man, what is good: for what does the Lord require of you, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8). It is in and through this faith in Him that we are reborn through the waters of baptism – symbolizing our death and burial – and subsequent baptism of His Holy Spirit – enabling our new life and resurrection that we now have in Christ. Receiving this baptism of the Holy Spirit (also known as the Spirit of Christ) is what now makes us a son or daughter of God (a prince or princess of God)! The Holy Spirit is God’s seed – His spiritual DNA, so to speak, placed within us (I John 3:9). It’s what makes us His children! It is the Spirit of sonship and daughterhood. It is how we are adopted into His Family, and through whom we cry “Abba, Father,” as Jesus did (Rom. 8:15; Gal. 4:6). It is at this divine conception that we begin growing and maturing in the womb of the Church – meaning, we are in constant fellowship with other believers growing together in the Word, who is both Jesus and the Bible. As it is written: “Grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (II Pet. 3:18). And “as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” (I Pet. 2:2-3). I am not advocating here that a person becomes a member of some corporate religious organization that people mistakenly call “a church” or “going to church”. But rather, I am speaking about growing up in the womb of “Sarah” – the new Jerusalem – the “mother of us all”. Please let me explain. Or rather, please let me show you the Scriptures that clearly explain these things, so that your faith will not be built on human words and/or clever arguments, but rather, our common faith will be built on the words of God as taught by the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever wondered why God changed Sarai – Abraham’s wife and Jacob’s grandmother – to Sarah which meant “Princess”, and during the same time prophetically declared, “She shall be a mother of nations; kings of people [royalty] shall come forth from her.” (Gen. 17:15-16)? The Apostle Paul specifically noted this when he said that we as believers are spiritually descended from her – the free woman, and not from Hagar, Sarah’s slave (Gal. 4:31). He stated that Hagar and her descendants are spiritually considered slaves who are currently still in bondage, but we, as descendants of her master Sarah, according to both God and Scripture, are considered royalty and free (see Gen. 17:15-16; Gal. 4:21-31). Paul further explained that Sarah represents heavenly Jerusalem (true Israel), but Hagar represents physical Jerusalem (current Israel) “which now is, and is in bondage with her children” (Gal. 4:25). Even Jesus referenced this clear distinction when He told the Jews of His day – those who were the physical descendants of Abraham and Jacob (the “Israelites”) – “I know you are Abraham’s [physical] children, but you seek to kill Me, because My Word has no place in you… If you [truly] were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham. But you seek to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. [Instead], you do the deeds of your [real] father… You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your [real] father you want to do!” (John 8:37-44).

Physical descendancy (that is, physical lineage) from Abraham means nothing. Even John the Baptist noted this truth, saying, “Do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.” (Matt. 3:9). For God had even stated that He was going to give Abraham many descendants, making him a “father of many nations and peoples” (Gen. 17:4-5). Yet, some of these very nations and tribes would become exceedingly wicked: the Edomites, the Midianites, the Ishmaelites, and at various times, God would even say, the entire physical house of Israel, just to name a few. So physical descendancy from Abraham therefore means nothing to God. As Scripture soundly declares: “Only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” (Gal. 3:7); and only those who do the actual works of Abraham are his true sons (John 8:39).

Sadly, many so-called Christian pastors and churches today are ignorant of the Scriptures and falsely teach that the modern state and nation of Israel should be looked upon as holy and shown special favor because they are “God’s special chosen people”. They mistakenly apply the Bible verse that God personally spoke to Abraham (formerly known as Abram) when God first called him to come out of his pagan country and his father’s idolatrous household to know and follow the One and Only True God. God said to Abram, “Get out of your country, from your kindred and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation. I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen. 12:1-3). Referring only to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the psalmist later stated: “When they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people, He permitted no one to do them wrong. Yes, He reproved kings for their sakes, saying, ‘Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm’.” (Psa. 105:13-15). God was specifically referring to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob here – not their physical descendants, the Israelites. This is obvious because the verses that come right after this statement go on to say that God Himself turned Egypt’s heart against their descendants: “He [God] turned their heart to hate His people and to deal craftily with His servants.” (Psa. 105:25). Therefore, it is clear that this promise given to Abraham regarding the blessing or cursing of nations based upon how they voluntarily treat or mistreat Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s descendants is no longer in effect.

The apostle Paul even makes mention of this too when he says that God hardened Pharaoh’s (Egypt’s) heart in order to show His power, glory, and mercy to all the inhabitants of the earth. It wasn’t Pharaoh’s choice regarding how he treated the Israelites (see Rom. 9:15-24). In further making this point, Paul directly referenced Jacob and his brother Esau: “For the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls, it was said to her [Rebecca], ‘the older shall serve the younger.’ As it is written, Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” (Rom. 9:11-13). In other words, it is no longer a matter of cause and effect! Nations are no longer blessed or cursed based on how they treat Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob’s descendants. Rather, it is about God masterfully and creatively directing His will and cleverly working out and manifesting His great eternal hidden plan here in our midst, and yet, many do not see it or realize it. Just as it says: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and set aside the understanding of the scholars.” (I Cor. 1:19). “So then, it is not about him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” (Rom. 9:16). “So that no flesh shall glory in His presence.” (I Cor. 1:29).

Too many biblically ignorant, albeit well-intentioned, pastors and teachers are pushing a false teaching that we should “bless the modern state of Israel” because they are the physical descendants of Abraham and Jacob (Israel). Yes, we should bless the physical nation of Israel, but not to the exclusion of all the other nations of the earth! The modern state of Israel is no better or worse than all the other nations. Abraham is the father of many nations – pagan and otherwise. Jesus told us to love everybody, even our enemies. He told us to bless those who curse us; to do good to those who hate us, and to pray for those who spitefully mistreat us and persecute us (Matt. 5:44). He didn’t tell us to show partiality and favoritism towards any nation or group of people. In fact, the Bible forbids it. We are NOT to show partiality or favoritism towards anybody (Jam. 2:1-4). God Himself does not, and neither should we (see Acts 10:34-35; Gal. 2:6; Deut. 10:17). The so-called Bible teachers and pastors of today who push this “bless Israel” narrative are obviously ignorant of the very Scriptures they claim to teach. Here is what the Bible actually says regarding the ancient and modern physical descendants of Israel:

  • They have been set aside by God until their future physical resurrection.

“Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said: ‘It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you [Jews/Israelites] first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.’” (Acts 13:46)

“For if their [the Israelites] being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?” (Rom. 11:15)

“And if some of the [natural] branches were broken off, and you [Gentiles], being a wild olive tree, were grafted in… God is able to graft them in again… For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery…that hardening in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins’.” (Rom. 11:17-27)

“The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the midst of the valley, and it was full of bones. Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed, they were very dry. And He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ So I answered, ‘O Lord God, You know.’ Again, He said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, “O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Thus says the Lord God to these bones: ‘Surely, I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.’ So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. Also, He said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, “Thus says the Lord God: ‘Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. Then He said to me, ‘Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, “Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!” Therefore, prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’” (Ezek. 37:1-14)

“Then they will look on Me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” (Zech. 12:10)

“And some will say to Him, ‘What are these wounds in Your hands?’ Then He will answer, ‘Those with which I was wounded in the house of My friends.’” (Zech. 13:6)

Jesus told the Jews of His day who rejected Him, “You will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I Am, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24). Yet later, He declared further, “If anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him – the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.” (John 12:47-48). He then informed them that they would rise in the judgement (the Resurrection) with others from past generations, and they would feel a sense of condemnation (guilt, shame, embarrassment, and remorse) because they were given a greater witness during their lifetime in the form of Jesus than the generations before them (see Matt. 11:20-24; 12:41-42; Luke 10:12-16; 11:31-32). As mentioned in the verses above from Ezekiel and Zechariah, they will then get the chance to truly know Jesus their Savior when they are physically resurrected to life again. As it is written: “Then all Israel shall be saved!” (Rom. 11:26).

  • They are currently slaves and in bondage to a number of things: to an old obsolete covenant; to other pagan nations and empires; and to sin and death.

“Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise, which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar – for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children…” (Gal. 4:22-25)

“They [the Jews] answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, “You will be made free”?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.’” (John 8:33-34).

It’s really surprising that the Jews [Israelites] would say this to Jesus – that “they have never been in bondage to anyone” – because at that very moment in time they were not only the slaves of sin, as Jesus pointed out to them, but they were also the conquered subjects of Rome. Prior to that, they were in bondage to the Greco-Macedonian empire; and before that, the Medo-Persian empire; prior to this, they were the captives of the Babylonians; and before that, the Assyrian empire. And before those empires, God gave them into the hands of the Syrians, the Philistines, the Ammonites, the Midianites, the Canaanites, and the Moabites, at various times in their history because of their national sins. Not to mention, they were once slaves to the Egyptians! Throughout history, Abraham’s physical descendants – the Israelites, were almost always in bondage, and the apostle Paul said they still are (Gal. 4:25)! As Scripture attests, they never left Egypt in their hearts (Acts 7:39). They are still in bondage to man, to empty traditions, to false religion, to sin, and to death. They have not been truly set free because they refuse to believe God and obey Him. Just as Jesus said to them: “You are not willing to come to Me that you may have life… Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you…If you do not believe that I Am, you will die in your sins… Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps [believes] My word, he shall never see death… He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.… Therefore, if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 5:24,40; 6:53; 8:24,36,51)

“But now He [Jesus] has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them, He says: ‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them,’ says the Lord. ‘For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,’ says the Lord: ‘I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.’ In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” (Heb. 8:6-13)

As Christians, we are actually told to leave the current city of Jerusalem behind, not bless it: “For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore, Jesus also, that He might set apart the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate [of Jerusalem]. Therefore, let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here [in Jerusalem] we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come” (Heb. 13:11-14). Additionally, the author of the book of Hebrews writes, “We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle [in Jerusalem] have no right to eat” (Heb. 13:10). It is because they don’t believe that Jesus Christ is the once-and-for-all atoning sacrifice and Messiah.

  • Even though Abraham was the father of many nations and peoples, only those who are of faith are counted as the seed – his sons and daughters! Physical lineage to Abraham means nothing.

“For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham… Those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.” (Rom. 9:6-8)

Circumcision of the flesh means nothing to God. In other words, “the flesh profits nothing,” as Jesus said (John 6:63); only the spiritual circumcision of the heart means anything to God: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (Gal. 5:6)

“For he is not a Jew [a descendant of Jacob/Israel] who is one outwardly, nor is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, and not in the letter, whose praise is not from men but from God.” (Rom. 2:28-29)

In closing, I think it is very telling that the apostle Paul actually stated in the Bible that “being Israel” is having the understanding that in Jesus Christ the flesh means nothing; but that what matters is being a new creation in Jesus. For this is what he wrote in his letter to the Galatians: “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them – the Israel of God.”  (Gal. 6:14-16). Paul understood that truly being the “Israel of God” was spiritual and not physical. And it was for this very teaching that he claims he was persecuted (Gal. 5:11; 6:12). Paul realized that it was about a heart change – a circumcision of the heart, a conversion only made possible by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ – and that it was not about some fleshly act and physical descendancy.

As the Bible clearly reveals, this is who and what it means to be “Israel.” May we all persevere then and overcome just as our forefather Jacob did. And in and through Jesus Christ, may we, like Jacob, whose name God changed to Israel, also receive a new holy name from God welcoming us into His Royal Family!

 

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Church, Church Leaders, Church System, Churchianity, Joe Palcsak

THE EAR TICKLERS HAVE ARRIVED

THE EAR TICKLERS HAVE ARRIVED – by Joe Palcsak

In his tearful farewell address to the elders of the church at Ephesus, the apostle Paul highlighted an important and urgent warning: “Take heed to yourselves and all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also, from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves” (Acts 20:28-29). Paul’s warning became reality in the early Church as witnessed by Jude: “Certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men who turn the grace of God into licentiousness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ” (Jude 4). Jude witnessed the very thing Paul foresaw, specifically that the time would come when people would promote a destructive, watered down, cheap grace gospel, contrary to the gospel taught by Jesus and all the apostles – a gospel of obedience and perseverance. In his pastoral letters to Timothy, Paul put it this way: “The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables” (2 Timothy 4:3). Brothers and sisters, the savage wolves, the ungodly men who tickle the ears of the Church, have not only arrived but have set up shop in a great number of churches. They have seduced many Christians into a coma of comfort; the kind of lukewarm faith Jesus convicted the church at Laodicea of (Revelation 3:15-17).

The “good news” these savage wolves preach is a three-pronged attack against a real, living faith, designed to lure believers into a state of impotence and ineffectiveness. The three teachings are: 1) “Once saved, always saved (OSAS)” – meaning we have a faith that we cannot lose. 2) “Eternal Security (ES)” – our works are inconsequential and meaningless in the context of salvation. And 3) a “pre-tribulation” (PT) rapture – the resurrection of believers will occur before the “great tribulation.” These doctrines combine to seduce believers into a paradigm of lethargy, by teaching that all we need do to inherit eternal salvation and be spared from tribulation is to state “belief” in Jesus, and then go our merry way, knowing that whatever we do for the rest of our lives is of no consequence against our salvation. The same “rapture chariot” that whisked Elijah up to heaven will be swinging low to take us away from all trouble.

Does this sound too good to be true? It is. None of these three “teachings” were presented as doctrine until more than 1500 years after the resurrection of Jesus! He did not promote any of these, neither did the apostles, nor did the early church fathers. Even so, the big question is, are these doctrines biblical?

Once saved, always saved (OSAS) goes hand in hand with a misguided view of the importance works have in our walk with the Lord (ES). It is true that we are saved by grace alone. Salvation unto eternal life is through the precious blood of Jesus. He is the only way to salvation. Our works cannot save us. However, there is a big difference between understanding that our works cannot save us and believing that our works are without consequence. Knowing that our works cannot save us is to realize that we need a savior. Believing that our works are without consequence is to turn the grace of God into licentiousness.

Ear ticklers love to quote Ephesians 2:8-9 as scriptural evidence for the truth of their position: “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” But does it truly follow that because our works cannot save us, our works are therefore meaningless? Many ear ticklers will often concede, “our works should be consistent with our faith,” but if they are also preaching a OSAS message, which is usually the case, such teaching becomes nothing more than an empty platitude. If we cannot lose our salvation, our works are truly devoid of consequence. Perhaps this is why the ear ticklers do not include verse 10 with verses 8 and 9 when they teach from Ephesians 2: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” If, as Paul tells us, we should walk in good works, what happens if we don’t? Nothing? If OSAS is true, there are no consequences. If there are no consequences, what purpose does verse 10 serve? It has been rendered completely meaningless. The Scriptures teach that our works do indeed come with consequences. This is not the same as saying consequences are necessarily the forfeiture of our salvation (although I believe it is possible in some instances). God blessed us with free will. He does not take our free will away when we pray “the sinner’s prayer.” We can, of our own volition, freely choose to reject the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ at any time. It is silly, dangerous, and unbiblical to believe that such rejection carries no consequence.

In Luke 6:46 Jesus says, “Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do what I say?” He goes on to point out that those who obey Him are building a good, solid foundation and those who do not obey Him are building a shaky one. We are indeed saved by faith alone, but what is faith? The Greek words used in the Bible which we translate as “faith,” and “belief,” encompass the concept of trust and obedience. Rightly understood, obedience is a work. Therefore, faith is not merely intellectual assent, it is also obedience and works, and the Scriptures confirm this. True faith encompasses both obedience (Luke 6:26, Romans 1:5, Hebrews 3:18-19, 1 Peter, 1:2) and works (Titus 1:16, Ephesians 2:10, James 2:20,24 and 26). In fact, the book of James makes it very clear that “faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26). In other words, apart from works, faith does not exist – there is no true faith then!

Consider this stern warning from Revelation 22:19: “If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the book of life, from the holy city, and from the things written in this book.” Notice the phrase, “God shall take away his part from the book of life.” One must first be in the book to be removed from it. And according to Revelation 22:19, we can indeed lose our salvation!

Paul warned that “evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived” (2 Timothy 3:13).

THE RAPTURE

Paul used the Greek word harpazo in 1 Thessalonians 4, which means “to snatch away”. According to Paul, “The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up (harpazo) together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16-17). He elaborates in 1 Corinthians 15, teaching the order of the resurrection: “Christ the first fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming” (v. 23). Then, after pointing out that we cannot inherit eternal life in our corrupt earthly  bodies  (verses 42-50), he promises, “We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed – in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (verses 51,52), reinforcing his teaching to the church at Thessalonica that this will be a sudden, instantaneous event which includes those who are both dead in Christ and alive in Christ. The apostle John calls it “the first resurrection,” confirming that the event is exclusive to those in Christ: “But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection” (Revelation 20:5). Jesus simply calls it the resurrection. The concept of a resurrection exclusive to those in Christ is well established in the Scriptures, attested to by Jesus and the apostles. The question is, do the Scriptures tell us when this glorious event takes place? The ear ticklers would have us believe that it will occur before the onset of what they call “the tribulation period.” Does Scripture back this up? And what, exactly is this “tribulation period”?

It is critical to understand that most of those who teach a pre-tribulation (PT) rapture, hold as their foundational belief, that the PT rapture is true. This is a critical insight. Unlike the Bereans, who believed first and foremost that the Scriptures are true, and it is necessary to test all things against the Scriptures for confirmation (Acts 17:11), most PT teachers endeavor to fit the Scriptures into their paradigm, seeking ways Scripture can confirm the PT rapture, regardless of what they actually say. We can see this by examining doctrinal pillars upon which the PT case is built because they cannot be found in the Bible:

*A “third coming” of Jesus. Every Christian is “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). Jesus promised to return in Judgement immediately after gathering to Himself those who are in Him (see Matthew 24). This glorious appearing has come to be known as His second coming. But for the PT rapture to be true, there must also be an additional coming; one that occurs 7 years before His coming at the end of the age. Where does the Bible tell us about this extra coming of Jesus? Nowhere!  So why do the ear ticklers teach such a thing? Because the PT rapture must be true!

*A “secret coming” of Jesus to rapture His Church. Moreover, PT holds that this unbiblical extra coming will be a secret event. But when Jesus returns, He will be seen by both believers and unbelievers: “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory (Matt. 24:30)”. Revelation 1:7 promises that “every eye will see Him.”  The apostle Paul taught the church at Thessalonica that “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God” (1 Thess. 4:16). He taught the church at Corinth the same thing, saying that the dead will be raised at the last trumpet (1 Cor. 15:52). Paul directly contradicts the notion of a secret coming. So why do PT teachers insist Jesus is coming for His Church in secret? Because in order for the PT rapture to be true, it must be so!

*A seven-year tribulation period after the harpazo during which the wrath of God is poured out on the earth.  PT teachers believe there is a seven-year period spoken of by the prophet Daniel that will be fulfilled at the culmination of this age, and that, among other things, this period is the great tribulation Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24. There are many problems with this view. First, the PT view of Daniel’s prophecy is one of many. Some say this seven-year period has already been fulfilled, others say it is merely symbolic. Second, there is nothing in the Scriptures to suggest that the wrath of God – a.k.a., the Day of the Lord – at the end of the age will last for seven years. Third, the Bible never explicitly mentions a seven-year tribulation period. Finally, the great tribulation Jesus speaks of is a completely different thing than the wrath of God. God’s wrath is poured out by God through angels at the end of the age on those who disobey the gospel, through the trumpet and bowl judgements (Revelation 8-11, 16). Tribulation at the hands of the antichrist and those who dwell on the earth is promised to the saints (Matthew 24:9, 21-22, Revelation 6:9-11, 13:7, Daniel 7:25). So why do PT teachers believe that the wrath of God is the same thing as the great tribulation when the Bible lays out a clear distinction between the two? And why do they believe that the wrath of God will last for 7 years? Because for PT to be true, these things must be so!

*An entirely new category of saints in Christ. PT teaches that all believers will be raptured at Jesus’s secret coming and the rapture will leave no saints behind on the earth. How do the PT teachers reconcile this with Revelation 6:9-11 which says, “I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. And they cried with a loud voice, saying ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.”? PT holds that the rapture occurs before Jesus opens the first seal in heaven. We learn that saints are still being martyred on earth with the opening of the 5th seal. Do you see the problem? If all believers are raptured before any seal is opened, how is it that at the opening of the 5th seal, believers are still on earth being martyred? According to the PT doctrine, because the rapture must be true, these poor souls have become believers after the rapture. So even though they are in Christ, they are disqualified from the “blessed hope” and must instead endure the wrath of God along with the unbelievers. This creates an entirely different category of saints, a category PT subscribers affectionately refer to as “tribulation saints.” In the pre-trib view, these saints – and only these saints – must endure the great tribulation. What does the bible say about this category of saints? Well…nothing. In fact, the bible promises all believers both tribulation in this age (John 16:33, 2 Timothy 3:12, Matthew 24:21, Daniel 7:21, Revelation 13:7), and deliverance from His wrath (Romans 5:9, 1 Thess. 1:10, 5:9, Revelation 3:10); no exceptions. Further, there is no indication that a single person will come to Christ while God pours out His wrath on the earth; indeed, the Scriptures indicate otherwise (see Revelation 8:13, 9:20, 11:10, 16:9-11). These verses indicate a clear absence of believers on earth during the wrath.  One final note: Recall that according to PT, the rapture occurs before any seals are opened in heaven. Look once more to Revelation 6:9-11 and notice that after the opening of the 5th seal, the Lord tells the souls under the altar that something else must happen before He judges the world – more saints must be killed. The opening of the seals is well under way by this time, but the wrath of God is still to come! How does PT deal with this?

*God deals with Israel differently than He deals with the Church. What?! PT embraces a doctrine called dispensationalism which holds that history is divided into distinct periods (dispensations), and that God deals with people in different ways in different dispensations. In this view, God has different plans for Israel than He does for the Church. According to dispensationalism, we are currently in “the Church age” – a phenomenon that can be found nowhere in the Bible. In this age, God is dealing exclusively with the Church, having put Israel aside for a while. He will resume His program with Israel after He has completed His dealing with the Church, the culmination of which is the PT rapture.  According to the PT doctrine, God cannot deal with both Israel and the Church at the same time. This is not biblical!

Among other things, this view trades on a fundamental misunderstanding of what the Church is. The Greek word for church is ecclesia which means “called out ones” or “called out assembly”. God has always had His called-out people – His ecclesia, His Church.  God called out Abraham and His seed thousands of years before the establishment of “the Church,” which, according to most dispensational teachings, occurred at the first Pentecost (Acts 2), shortly after the ascension of Jesus. The first Christians were Jews and even today, they are turning in droves to their Messiah!  God is indeed dealing with both Israel and the Church at the same time. He always has been!

To summarize, the doctrine of the pre-trib rapture holds that in this “Church age,” God has temporarily put Israel aside to deal exclusively with His Church (because He is not able to deal with both at the same time; at least not on the earth). But He needs to turn His attention back to Israel, so He must first remove the Church, which He will accomplish by facilitating a third secret coming of Jesus in advance of God pouring out His wrath for seven years on both unbelievers and the hapless believers who missed the rapture conveniently called the “tribulation saints”. None of these things can be found in the Bible! Paul implores us, “Even if we or an angel from heaven, preach any gospel to you other than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8). The gospel of OSAS, ES, and the PT rapture come to us through the ear tickling ravenous wolves we have been promised through the Scriptures. May God open their eyes, soften their hearts and expose the fallacy of their teachings.

 

Footnotes:

  • There are many who have attempted to “prove” that the doctrine of dispensationalism was established early in Church history – such as the book Dispensationalism Before Darby by William C. Watson – but the weakness of this attempt is easily exposed.
  • To legitimize a biblical basis for the category of “tribulation saints”, PT subscribers point to Revelation 7:9-14: “After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…So he said to me ‘these are the ones who came out of the great tribulation.” Indeed, they have come out of the great tribulation, and we may call them tribulation saints, if we wish, but they are not a unique category of saints who needed to endure God’s wrath, unlike all other saints. The great tribulation is not the wrath of God, and the wrath of God is poured out on unbelievers (not believers) at the trumpet judgements and the bowl judgements. Notice that these judgements occur after chapter 7. (In light of this, I really do think it would be more honest for the PT subscribers to refer to them as “wrath saints” then! Obviously, biblically, there is no such thing.)

 

APPENDIX 1: SCRIPTURES THAT CONTRADICT THE DOCTRINES OF OSAS AND ES

Romans 11:21-22 – “If God did not spare the natural branches, He might not spare you either. Therefore, consider the goodness and severity of God; on those who fell severity but toward your goodness, if you continue in His goodness, otherwise, you also will be cut off.”

2 Corinthians 13:5-6 – “Examine yourself as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves that Christ is in you – unless indeed you are disqualified.”

Phillipians 2:12 – “As you have always obeyed…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Notice that this verse clearly links obedience with salvation.

Phillipians 3:11-12 – “If by any means I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained or am already perfected. But I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.” If the apostle Paul has confessed that he has not yet attained the resurrection of the dead, how can we claim that we have?!

Colossians 1:21-23 – “Now He has reconciled [you] to present you holy and blameless and above reproach in His sight – if indeed you continue in the faith.”

Titus 1:16 – “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him.”

1 Corinthians 10:12 – “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 – “Moreover brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you – unless you believed in vain.”

1 John 2:3-4 – “We know that we know Him if we keep His commandments. He who says ‘I know Him’ and does not keep His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.”

2 Peter 2:20 – “If, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.”

 

APPENDIX 2: VERSES FROM THE BOOK OF HEBREW – basically a continuation of Appendix 1, but all from the Book of Hebrews:

Hebrews 3:19 – “So we see that they could not enter in [His rest] because of unbelief.”

Hebrews 4:1 – “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.”

Hebrews 4:11 – “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest any fall according to the same example of disobedience.” This verse clearly shows that faith equals obedience.

Hebrews 5:9 – “Having been perfected He became the author of salvation to all who obey Him.” Again, faith equals obedience!

Hebrews 6:4-6 – “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance.”

Hebrews 10: 26-29 – “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgement and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?”

 

APPENDIX 3: JESUS ON WORKS

During His time on earth Jesus not only had a lot to say about the critical importance of works and obedience, but He also promised consequences (see, for example, Luke 6:46-49). We are going to focus on 7 letters He dictated through the apostle John to seven churches in Asia. These 7 letters comprise chapters 2 and 3 in the book of Revelation. Jesus begins each letter by stating, “I know your works…” In the case of 5 of the 7 churches, He promises consequences:

To the church in Ephesus, He says, “I know your works…Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place – unless you repent.”

To the church in Pergamos, “I know your works…you also have those who hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans which thing I hate. Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.”

To the church in Thyatira, “I know your works…and I will give to each one of you according to your works.”

To the church in Sardis, “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God.”

To the church in Laodicea, “I know your works…because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.”

 

Pease feel free to reproduce, reprint and/or forward as desired. Altering or editing is strictly prohibited. To contact us, send a request to info@sharingtheway.com or visit our website at https://www.sharingtheway.com/. Using an article for any form of advertising is strictly prohibited.

Church System, Churchianity, Gregory Turner, Hear God's Voice, Revival

Doctrines of Men

Doctrines of Men

By Greg Turner

Today I stumbled across an article that I wrote almost 10 years ago and although it is quite lengthy, I was astonished at its contents. It quite perfectly mirrors what I have shared recently. I know that what I shared recently is a difficult pill for most to take, but realize that we are now already in or upon the Day of the Lord and there is a transition happening. The world doesn’t end but rather is transitioning to the government of the Lord. He is making ready a people for rulership. There have been many transitions on this planet. From a world covered in water to one that was a paradise for Adam and Eve. From Enoch prophesying the end of the world as he knew it to Noah surviving the Flood. From Abraham living by faith to the Israelites living under the law. From Babylon and Assyria destroying Judah and Israel to Ezra restoring the Old Testament and creating the synagogue system. From the temple system to a system of faith as restored by the Lord. From a system of faith back to a temple system as created by the Romanists which we are living under to this day in the churches. Yet, there is another transition in the making, and it is happening right now before our eyes.

The following article shows how the Bible and the church system was created:

https://sharingtheway.com/2010/08/20/where-did-the-bible-and-the-church-system-come-from/

It will take you hours to read it if you are inclined to understand these things. Here is an excerpt:

“Should it be any surprise that the Catholic and Protestant churches of today consist almost wholly of doctrines created by men and that the people going to those churches know so little about the actual Scriptures that are contained in the Bible. The process seen above [in the article] where a so-called ‘oral law’ took over, replaced ‘the Law’, and became the religion of the Jews also has happened in Christianity. What started out as a pure worship of God handed from Jesus Christ to His disciples and then to all those who believe – both Jew and Gentile – has devolved into institutions filled full of doctrines of men (Matt. 15:8-9) that has a form and appears Christian, but has taken the people (their hearts) away from God and the truth. Jesus said “it is written: ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart [their actions] is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’  For laying aside the commandment of God [the Scriptures], you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do. He said to them, ‘All too well you reject the commandment of God [Scripture], that you may keep your tradition’” (Mark 7:6-9 NKJV). Can we not see that we have done the same thing today in Christianity?”

What started out as small groups of Christians gathering from house to house where in each one (men and women) exercised the spiritual gifts given to them by Jesus slowly turned into a system of churches with church buildings and church headquarters and clergy and laity. This approach to religion is not unique as we can see from another excerpt:

“The evidence strongly supports the view that the Temple and the synagogues together comprised a massive cultic system centered at Jerusalem. Thus, the synagogues served as gathering places for prayer and the reading and expounding of Scripture on days sacred to the cult, such as the Sabbath, Yom Kippur, and the Feast of Tabernacles. Such observances allowed Jewish communities around the world a measure of participation within Temple ritual.

While the Temple alone served as the Jewish sacrificial center, our sources reveal that the synagogues functioned as local repositories for offerings that envoys conveyed annually to Jerusalem [church headquarters]. The strength of the solidarity between the synagogues and the Temple can be measured not only by the abundance of these offerings, but by the fact that the local congregations protested vehemently to the authorities whenever the transport of these sums was interfered with.”

Seemed like a good system as it kept all the Jews in alignment with the religion. But now Christianity has fallen into the same trap. The Christian churches are filled full of traditions. Here is another quote from this article:

“God through John the Baptist says, “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, ‘We have Abraham to our father.’ For I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.  And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire” (Matt. 3:7-10, KJV).”

The exact same thing could be said today to the churches. Think not to say within yourselves, ‘We have Peter as our father.’ Please note that within 40 years of this statement from the Lord the Temple and most synagogues throughout the Roman empire were completely destroyed. If you read the article, you will see how the Jews had completely replaced the Law with their traditions and their own interpretations of the Law. It is why Jesus said it. It is why He destroyed it. He wants a people living by faith doing His commands. The bottom line is that we need to change the way we conduct things in the churches. Otherwise, the ‘axe is laid unto the root of the trees.’ If we want society changed, then we must unleash the might of all the Christians in all the churches each one with their own spiritual gifts. Jesus said:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.” (Luke 4:18, NKJV)

He said this to the Jews in church at a synagogue on the Sabbath day. He did not say it to the Romans. Why were the Jews captive? Because they were in a church system that forced them to follow rituals and doctrines made up by the Jewish leaders, and they would be expelled from the ‘one true religion’ if they did not follow these leaders and their teachings and consequently condemned. You couldn’t question the church leaders or share with them anything new (John 9:34). It is this way today. If you question church leaders or church doctrine, then they threaten you with expulsion or excommunication. People are told that they are “not learned enough” to know the truth. Is that true? How did we get this way?

Well, first it was prophesied long ago as we can see in Malachi:

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence?’ says the Lord of hosts to you priests [pastors/elders] who despise My name. Yet you say, ‘In what way have we despised Your name?’ You offer defiled food [spiritual knowledge and doctrines] on My altar [where people meet to worship God]. But you say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ‘The table [the Scriptures] of the Lord is contemptible.” (Mal. 1:6–7, NKJV)

Why is it contemptible? Because the pastors literally delete verses from the Bible by saying that they don’t apply today or that only the original Apostles could do certain things which we cannot do today and many other such arguments. Why is the food – the things that they teach the people – defiled? Because they don’t teach the whole truth on a subject. They teach “once saved always saved” when there are many scriptures that show that a Christian (a virgin – see Matt. 25:1-13) can be cutoff and not allowed to enter into the Promised Land (the Kingdom of God). These kinds of false doctrines lead to what Malachi says next:

“And when you offer the blind [people in the churches] as a sacrifice, is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick [more church people], is it not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you favorably?’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘But now entreat God’s favor [ask God for help], that He may be gracious to us.’ While this is being done by your hands. Will He accept you favorably [answer your prayers]? says the Lord of hosts. Who is there even among you who would shut the doors [shut down these churches], so that you would not kindle fire [stir up the people’s desire for God] on My altar in vain? I have no pleasure in you,’ says the Lord of hosts, “nor will I accept an offering [the people] from your hands. For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles [unbelievers]; in every place incense [prayers] shall be offered to My name, and a pure offering. For My name shall be great among the nations,” says the Lord of hosts. ‘But you profane it, in that you say, “The table of the Lord is defiled [has things in it that don’t apply to today]; and its fruit [spiritual gifts], its food [Scriptures], is contemptible [despised].” You also say, “Oh, what a weariness [it’s a pain to follow the Scriptures]!” And you sneer at it,’ says the Lord of hosts. ‘And you bring the stolen, the lame, and the sick; thus, you bring an offering! Should I accept this from your hand?’ says the Lord. ‘But cursed be the deceiver who has in his flock a male, and takes a vow [ordains], but sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished [ordains those who do not follow the whole Bible]— For I am a great King,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘and My name is to be feared among the nations.’” (Mal. 1:8–14, NKJV)

Jesus showed us who are the blind and the lame. They are the people in the churches (Luke 4:18). If they are not taught the truth then they are blind, lame and sick (I Cor. 11:29-32)! The Bible explains that the blind are religious people and their leaders who are not teaching and living the whole truth of God’s Word (see John 9:39-41; Luke 4:16-21; Matt. 15:12-14; Rev. 3:14-19). And the spiritually lame are those who are not walking WITH Christ – that is, they are not walking according to the whole Word of God. As we see in Malachi, God will severely punish those who are not teaching the whole truths of His Word (Mal. 2:1-9). They are keeping the people spiritually ignorant, blind, stunted, lame, and sick and presenting them to Him as such, thereby making His table [His worship] contemptible through their doctrines.

There are plenty of scriptures in the New Testament that talk about false apostles, prophets and pastors. Paul talks about false apostles in the following verse:

“But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” (2 Cor. 11:12–15, NKJV)

And

“I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars.” (Rev. 2:2, NKJV)

And false prophets and teachers:

“But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.” (2 Peter 2:1–3, NKJV)

And continuing:

“But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption, and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices and are accursed children. They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet. These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” (2 Peter 2:12–17, NKJV)

And by twisting the Scriptures and not using the full knowledge of Scripture they create false doctrines:

“… and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You, therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:15–18, NKJV)

And finally, the antichrists:

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.” (1 Jn. 2:20–23, NKJV)

That is a lot, but we can see that these pastors – the so-called teachers – are doing it for money and power. They make themselves antichrist because through their twisting of the Scriptures they come up with unholy doctrines that lead people away in error. If you are led away with false doctrines, then you are not in the Way. Jesus is the Way (John 14:16, Acts 16:17, 18:25-26, Is. 28:7) and the truth. What is truth? Well, we know that Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1) and the Word is truth. It is clearly said here:

“The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.” (Ps. 119:160, NKJV)

And here:

“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17, NKJV)

Why do men sell themselves out to doctrines that are clearly false? One example is “once saved always saved.” This is easily proved false by many scriptures (Matt. 25, John 15:1-8, Matt. 3:7-10). And then baptism of infants. How in the world can a baby repent? John the Baptist said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance” (Matt. 3:11), and Jesus said “For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Matt. 9:13). From here they even ignore the command to ‘lay hands’ on people and to pray that the Holy Spirit be given them after baptism of water. The Apostles did it and Paul (Acts 19:6) did it and others (Acts 9:18). The claim that only the Apostles could do it is completely false as shown in Acts 9:17-18. The scales that fall from our eyes is a type representing the receiving of the Holy Spirit which then helps us to see and understand the truth (John 14:26). God’s Word is the truth, and we can understand all Scripture by His Spirit (1 John 2:27). This is how we can be a part of the kingdom (realm) of God and understand Him and what He is doing. The false doctrines taught by the churches today actually prevent you from entering into the kingdom (Matt. 23:13-15). These verses are here today for us! They were not just some interesting stories about Jesus and the Pharisees. The Pharisees were the priests of that day and were types of the priests and pastors of today! Please understand that not all pastors are deceived and false. But if they are unable to admit to the truths of the Word of God then they do not follow Christ. For that matter their whole denomination isn’t following Christ due to the erroneous and false doctrines of that denomination.

Another area that must be addressed is the concept that everyone is good so therefore we must accept the gay and lesbian and trans people as they are. This is a false doctrine that many churches have fallen into. The Scriptures are clear on the matter:

“You have wearied the Lord with your words; yet you say, ‘In what way have we wearied Him?’ In that you say, ‘Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and He delights in them,’ or, ‘Where is the God of justice?’” (Mal. 2:17, NKJV)

The Scriptures show in so many ways that these lifestyles are wrong and against God. Why do we strive so hard to be like the world? We must not be so. Now if one of these people repents of that way of life and turns to God to live a godly way then of course we are to forgive and welcome them into the realm of God for we were all sinners at one time. But until they repent, we must not have them in the body for “a little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1 Cor. 5:6, Gal. 5:9). Indeed, the leaven of the doctrines of pastors and leaders of the churches has leavened the whole lumps of those denominations to the point that their people are no longer entering the kingdom (Matt. 16:12).

The doctrines of men lead to one way – and that is to the lusts of the flesh. Paul shows us:

“I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Gal. 5:16–21, NKJV)

The churches are full of these people both in the laity and in the clergy. None of them will inherit the kingdom of God. What should we do then? One man recently asked me, “Should we throw the baby out with the bathwater?” But I say that we can. No, we must! Get rid of the clergy. Get rid of the laity. Let all return to God and to the Scriptures and follow them. We just simply need to stop building kingdoms here on earth and instead we must follow Jesus. This is as simple as the Scripture confirms:

“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matt. 10:38, NKJV)

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.’” (Matt. 16:24 (NKJV))

“Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’” (Matt. 19:21, NKJV)

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (Jn. 10:27, NKJV)

So, there it is. Do you still want to keep following men, their doctrines, and their denominations? Give it up and go follow Jesus. His Word is right there in front of you every day. Read it and you will draw close to Him (Jas. 4:8, Heb. 7:18-19, 10:19-22).

 

Pease feel free to reproduce, reprint and/or forward as desired. Altering or editing is strictly prohibited. To contact us, send a request to info@sharingtheway.com or visit our website at https://www.sharingtheway.com/. Using an article for any form of advertising is strictly prohibited.

Christian Growth, Doctrine, Eric Wheeler, Instruction, The Walk

Friendship with Jesus – Conditional?

Friendship with Jesus – Conditional?

by Eric C. Wheeler

 

I realize that this will probably come as a shock to many people, but Jesus explicitly said that friendship with Him is conditional. Yes, you read that right! Friendship with Jesus is conditional – NOT unconditional. In fact, believe it or not, neither is His continual love unconditional – according to what Jesus Himself said. Notice what He clearly stated to His disciples:

“IF you keep My commands, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and abide in His love… You are My friends IF you do whatever I command you” (John 15:10,14).

Those are two pretty big “IFs” (pun intended!). Despite what many people think and what most churches have erroneously taught, Jesus is not the lovey-dovey ‘What-a-Friend-We-Have-In-Jesus’-type person that the world has portrayed Him to be. Jesus flatly declared in these verses that friendship with Him (as well as remaining in His love) is contingent upon obedience to Him!

I’m willing to bet that nobody has ever seen these verses from the Bible displayed at a football game alongside the signs in the audience that read, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” (John 3:16). The very thought that God’s abiding love and friendship is contingent and dependent on whether or not we obey Him seems utterly inconceivable; but this is clearly what Jesus declared. Yes, it is indeed true that God loved us so much that He gave Jesus to die in our place for our sins while we were yet still engrossed in our sinful lifestyles and in our ignorance were hostile towards Him (Rom. 5:8). But now that we’ve come to know and realize, and to understand and appreciate this profound and humbling truth, we are now expected to fully come to Him and to serve Him with our whole hearts in complete and total submission, faithfully and reverently obeying His every command. Anything short of this wholehearted commitment and allegiance to Him is not acceptable – and can (and will be) construed as taking His love and grace (and friendship) for granted. The Bible assures us that God will not tolerate any of us taking His great and precious love and sacrifice for granted. So say these Scriptures:

“We love Him because He first loved us.” (I John 4:19)

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:6-8)

“For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself… (Heb. 12:3)

 “He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” (II Cor. 5:15)

“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, ‘It is Mine to avenge; I will repay,’ and again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God.” (Heb. 10:26-31)

These verses make it abundantly clear that once we’ve been enlightened to the truth of God’s love and grace that have been shown to us – in that while we were still sinners and hostile against Him in our ignorance He showed us mercy and forgiveness by having Jesus die for us – we NOW must recognize Him as not only our Savior but as our Lord (“the Boss”). We must now do what He says. We cannot go on sinning. That is, we can’t go on continuing our sinful behaviors and lifestyles that are against Him and contrary to His commands. If we do so, we will no longer be shown His continued love (we will no longer “abide in His love”) nor be looked upon favorably as His friend but will be accounted an enemy of God. As Jesus warned, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ and don’t do the things I say?!” (Luke 6:46). “Behold, I will surely say to these people, ‘Depart from Me, you who practice sin and disregard My commands. You will be cast into outer darkness!’” (see Matt. 7:21-23; 13:40-42; 22:12-13; 25:30).

Don’t we realize that this is what happened to Satan? Before his name was changed to Satan which means “one who opposes” and/or “the adversary,” his name was Lucifer which meant “light bringer” or “light-bearer.” His name was changed to Satan when he quit bringing and bearing the Light (who is God). Instead, he chose to oppose God wanting to work against God; therefore, God changed his name to Satan, calling him what he is and what he chose to be – God’s enemy. As a consequence, he was thrown out of heaven (“cast into outer darkness”) and ultimately, he will be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where he and his demons will be tormented forever and ever (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10). The Lord God is consistent in all that He does. Therefore, don’t we realize that this same terminology is also expressed against us who have tasted God’s goodness and have been made aware of God’s grace shown to us, yet who haven’t continued on in faith and obedience to God and are rebelling just as Satan did? Don’t we understand that the punishment will be the same? As Scripture says: “It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting Him to public disgrace!” (Heb. 6:4-6). Jesus said that these people too, like Satan, will be cast into outer darkness and potentially subsequently thrown into and burned up in the lake of fire which is the second death (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:14-15). The only difference being is that they, being human and mortal, will be burned up, whereas Satan and his demons, being immortal, will be tormented forever and ever.

Jude, the half-brother of Jesus and a leader among the first-century believers wrote to the Church that certain corrupt teachers had secretly infiltrated the Church and had brought-in destructive heresies “changing the grace of God into license for immorality while also denying the lordship and sovereignty of Jesus Christ” (Jude 4). In other words, they were teaching that you don’t have to obey Jesus’ commands; that you are now under “grace” so you can continue to sin and do things which are immoral such as fornicate (sleep with your girlfriend or boyfriend), get drunk, take God’s name in vain, cheat on your spouse, use foul and perverse language, lie, take recreational drugs, view pornography, steal, lust after things or people, be unthankful, complain, talk back to your parents and dishonor them, be selfish and self-centered, and the like.) They were teaching that you don’t have to repent and change because “God already did everything for you. Jesus died on the cross for you, so you don’t have to do anything or need to change your behavior or even pick up YOUR own cross and follow and obey Him. Do whatever you want – just make sure you come to church regularly though.” Sound familiar? This is the same garbage and heresy that many of today’s church leaders and pastors are teaching, just like Jude warned the brethren about in his day. Don’t be fooled. Jesus IS the Boss. He is Sovereign and He is Lord, therefore we must obey Him and do everything He says. He is not going to allow immorality of any kind. He is the One who said that if you even look at another person lustfully, you have already committed adultery in your heart. He expects much more from us than Moses ever commanded (see Matt. 5:20-48). And Jesus said that friendship with Him and continuing in His good graces (“abiding in His love”) were completely conditional and based upon whether or not we obey Him once we have come to the knowledge of His loving and gracious sacrifice for us. If we don’t, then Scripture says, “there no longer remains a sacrifice [grace] for sins for us, but rather only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God” (Heb. 10:26-27). Let us all take note, my friends, and faithfully obey our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

 

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Christian Growth, Church, Church System, Churchianity, Eric Wheeler, Holy Spirit, Instruction, Repentance, The Walk

The Secret to Real Conversion

The Secret to Real Conversion

By Eric C. Wheeler

 

I find the number one reason why so many professing Christians (“Churchians,” as I call them) aren’t really converted and saved is because they don’t truly have the Holy Spirit. Oh, but they think they do! They think “they are [spiritually] rich and wealthy, and have need of nothing,” but don’t realize or recognize their own wretched spiritual condition and poverty (Rev. 3:17). They think and believe that they have the Holy Spirit; yet they have no power, exhibit no lasting fruits of the Spirit, and don’t exercise any of the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. They “have a form of godliness but completely deny its power” (II Tim. 3:5). They have been falsely taught that because they have “accepted Jesus in their heart,” attend church, sing in the choir, do “works” (like provide doughnuts and coffee to the clergy and parishioners, vacuum the sanctuary, hand out food and clothing to the poor, and volunteer to work in soup kitchens), that they are saved and in right standing with God. All of these things mean nothing if you don’t truly know God! Jesus said so: “Many [not a few] will say to Me, ‘Lord, didn’t we do all of this stuff in Your name.’ But I will say to them, ‘Depart from Me. I never knew you!’” (Matt. 7:22-23).

People don’t realize that the biblical definition of “knowing someone” (“I never knew you,” as Jesus said) denotes and signifies the biblical concept of sexual intimacy and intercourse. That is, it is the biblical idea of two completely differing entities becoming one. That is why it is written in the Bible that “Adam knew his wife Eve and she conceived” (Gen. 4:1). This is why it is also written that we shouldn’t have sexual relations with a prostitute or anyone else who is not our spouse because in doing so we have then become one body with that person, just as “the one who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (see I Cor. 6:15-17). Biblically knowing someone is sharing an intimacy with them – that is, having intercourse with them. They are in you, and you are in them! This is why Jesus prayed, “Father, I desire that they may be one in Us. I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in One, just as You are in Me, and I am in You; that they may be One in Us” (John 17:21-23). He said that if we love Him and keep His word, then He and His Father would come and make their home within us (John 14:23), thereby making us truly One. This is the same reason that He made us male and female from the beginning – in order to demonstrate to us this spiritual concept – that in Him, we, being two completely different and opposing entities by nature (that is, male and female – “opposites”) can become one in Him and by Him. In the beginning when He created us male and female – opposites, and yet, both sexes bearing His image, He divinely declared, “These two shall become one flesh.” (Gen. 2:24; Matt. 19:4-6; I Cor.  6:16). That is, they shall be intimate with each other. They shall have “intercourse” with each other. They shall become one. This is the biblical definition of truly knowing someone. Likewise, when we receive the Holy Spirit, we become One with God (I Cor. 6:17; Heb. 2:11; John 14:17,23; Rom. 8:16-17). This is what Jesus meant when He said, “Depart from Me. I never KNEW you!” – that is, “I wasn’t in you, and you weren’t in Me!” As Paul also wrote: “If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ dwelling in them, they are not His!” (Rom. 8:9).

A very simple and easy way to determine whether you have the Holy Spirit or not is to see whether the fruits and gifts of the Holy Spirit are manifested in you and by you. For example, the old adage, “If it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck, and behaves like a duck, then it must be a duck” rule applies here. Jesus acknowledged the same principle when He said, “You will know them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:16). The Apostle Paul used this same line of reasoning and spiritual evaluation when he came across some disciples in Ephesus. He obviously noticed something was seriously missing in them when he asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” (Acts 19:2). Paul could tell that the fruits of the Spirit – that which the Holy Spirit produces in your life, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (see Gal. 5:22-23) – were strangely missing in these men’s lives. In addition to this, Paul could see that they obviously weren’t displaying and utilizing any of the Holy Spirit’s powerful supernatural gifts and abilities that Spirit-filled believers would undoubtedly possess as delineated in his first letter to the Corinthian brethren (see I Cor. 12:1-11). Paul observed that something (or rather, Somebody) was clearly missing in these professing believers’ walks. Where were the fruits of the Holy Spirit? Where were the manifestations and demonstrations of the power of the Holy Spirit in them and through them? As Paul himself said to the brethren: “I didn’t come to you with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit’s power that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (I Cor. 2:4-5). Notice that when these believing men of Ephesus heard Paul’s question as to whether or not they possessed the Holy Spirit, they didn’t become offended. Instead, they immediately realized and recognized their spiritual poverty – that is, they humbly acknowledged and confessed that they didn’t have the Holy Spirit. Upon this realization, they humbled themselves by quickly getting re-baptized in water; and then when Paul laid his hands on them, they received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and promptly began demonstrating the supernatural gifts of the Spirit as God through His Holy Spirit gave them these miraculous abilities (see Acts 19:5-6).

Do you know why we don’t really see these things happening among Christians today? Because so many Christians are refusing to acknowledge and humbly confess their own spiritual poverty! They think they already have the Holy Spirit. They think they “are rich and have need of nothing” (Rev. 3:17). In their spiritual pride they won’t readily admit to themselves and to others, and especially to God, that they are spiritually empty, poor, blind, miserable, and naked – that is, they are spiritually impotent (powerless). As it is written: So many Christians today “have a form of godliness but deny its power” (II Tim. 3:5). And consequently, God won’t draw close to them because “He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6). He will not draw near them because their spiritual pride is a stench in His nostrils (Isa. 1:11-17; 65:5). As Jesus said, “You Pharisaical people believe and think you see, but you won’t admit your glaring spiritual blindness, therefore your sin remains.” (John 9:39-41). Instead of admitting and recognizing that they aren’t really doing the supernatural and miraculous works of God as expressed and delineated by Jesus, such as “the blind receive their sight and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them” (Matt. 11:5), the church leaders of today, just like their Pharisee counterparts of Jesus’ day, are convincing the people sitting in the pews, that the Holy Spirit died in the first century and is no longer acting in power. They conveniently teach “cessationism” – the belief that the Holy Spirit’s real and living demonstrations of power were only for the first-century Christians and has since ceased. These church leaders HAVE to say and teach this because they themselves are spiritually powerless, and they need to have a way to justify themselves, and to excuse and explain away the fact that they can’t do any miracles or demonstrate supernatural anointing. Just like the Pharisees, they too try and discredit others who have this supernatural ability and divine power by attributing it to demons and/or to satanic powers (Matt. 12:22-30). This is not to say that there aren’t any counterfeits out there utilizing demonic powers and influences; indeed, there are many counterfeits out there (such as some Pentecostal churches and Assemblies of God denominations); yet these counterfeits do not negate the true. For instance, you can’t have a counterfeit unless there also exists its true counterpart! Think about it. Men don’t bother to counterfeit $4.00 bills; neither does Satan bother counterfeiting that which doesn’t have its true counterpart. The point is, you can’t have “many false prophets arising in the last days” (Matt. 24:11) if there aren’t also going to be true prophets existing at the same time! You can’t have the false without the true, and you can’t have the true without the false.

The point of my writing is this: Quit letting churches and ignorant and/or deceived pastors convince you that you possess the Holy Spirit but don’t have the fruits of the Spirit in your life or exercise any of the miraculous gifts of the Spirit such as: giving words of Godly wisdom; relaying supernatural knowledge; exercising and demonstrating powerful faith; performing healings; working miracles; utilizing the gift of prophecy (speaking under the direct influence and anointing of the Holy Spirit); exercising the discernment of spirits; speaking in tongues; having the ability to interpret tongues, dreams, and visions. Don’t let a church or pastor deceptively convince you that these things no longer exist or that they’re demonic. Repent and acknowledge and confess that you may not be as spiritually equipped and as spiritually “rich” as you think you are. Get on your knees and acknowledge to God that you are nothing like Jesus Christ – though you claim to follow Him. You need His Spirit in you to be like Him, or else it is impossible to walk as He walked (I John 2:6; 27). Jesus said that “the servant is not greater than his Master; but that it is right that the servant be like his Master” (Matt. 10:24-25). And again, He said: “A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his teacher.” (Luke 6:40). Jesus said that we as believers would be doing the exact same works and miracles that He did, and even greater things than He did when He was here (John 14:12). Why then do we let the churches erroneously teach us that Christ’s Holy Spirit is dead? They may not use those exact words, but by convincingly telling us that the Holy Spirit no longer does miracles or gives powerful demonstrations and displays by imparting supernatural abilities to God’s chosen children is effectively communicating that the Living Spirit of our mighty God is now dead. Nothing could be further from the truth! Look inward at yourself and humbly admit that YOU (and the church that you attend) might be the one who is spiritually dead, not God. It’s time to recognize and acknowledge your own spiritual poverty – and then repent by confessing it, getting baptized (or re-baptized), and then receive His Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands by someone whom God sends, while there is still time! Jesus said, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing!” (John 15:5). He also said to the crowds following Him, “Blessed are the poor in spirit [those who recognize their spiritual poverty] for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:3). True conversion and salvation begin with repentance – an acknowledgement that you are not as spiritually rich as you think you are!

 

Pease feel free to reproduce, reprint and/or forward as desired. Altering or editing is strictly prohibited. To contact us, send a request to info@sharingtheway.com or visit our website at https://sharingtheway.com/. Using an article for any form of advertising is strictly prohibited.

Christian Growth, Eric Wheeler, Instruction

Biblical Reasons for Sickness and Infirmity

BIBLICAL REASONS FOR SICKNESS AND INFIRMITY

by Eric C. Wheeler

 

About three years ago, the Lord showed me several biblical reasons why people get sick or are infirmed. Before I address the reasons, we need to first remind ourselves of certain important spiritual ground rules that God lays down in Scripture:

  • We must judge ourselves, not each other!

I Cor. 11:28-32 – “But let a man examine himself… For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.”

Matt. 7:1-2 – “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge [others], you will be judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

II Cor. 13:5-6 – “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.”

  • God wants us to search out the reasons why we are sick or infirmed rather than just blindly accept our circumstances!

Prov. 25:2 – “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; but the honor of kings to search it out.”

Deut. 29:29 – “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this Law [the Bible].”

I Cor. 2:9-16 – “As it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man, the things God has prepared for those who love Him.’ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.”

  • It takes maturity in the Holy Spirit to rightly discern what your specific situation might spiritually mean. Learn to be in tune with the Spirit in all things.

I Cor. 2:13-16; 3:1-3 – “These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but that which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he who is spiritual discerns [examines and investigates] all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one… For we have the mind of Christ. And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal.”

I Cor. 15:46 – “First comes the physical, then comes the spiritual.” God sometimes gives us things physically so that we can eventually come to understand things spiritually. He does this to broaden our experience, knowledge, and understanding, thereby imparting wisdom to us.

II Sam. 21:1-14 – David wondered why there was a physical famine in the land for three consecutive years, so “he inquired of the Lord” realizing that there must be a spiritual reason, and there was. Likewise, ask God about your own particular set of physical circumstances and see if there is anything spiritually He would like for you to do.

Once we understand and apply these biblical ground rules, we can then consider the following reasons the Bible gives us for sickness and infirmities:

 

I. It is part of this world and common to man.

 

I Cor. 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

I Pet. 4:12-13 – “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.”

 

II. It’s the inevitability of aging – our bodies were made to deteriorate.

 

Ecc. 12:1-7 – “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them’ – before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark [before your sight is impaired], and the clouds return after the rain; when the keepers of the house tremble [the hands and the arms], and the strong men stoop [the feet and knees]; when the grinders [the molar teeth] cease because they are few; and those looking through the windows [the eyes] grow dim; when the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades [hearing loss]; when men rise up at the sound of birds, but all their songs grow faint; when men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets; when the almond tree [white hair] blossoms and the grasshopper [a little thing] is a burden, and [sexual] desire and appetite fail. Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets… and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”

Everything in Creation must deteriorate and is subject to corruption and must die (see Rom. 8:20-21; Ecc. 3:19-20; I Cor. 15:36, 50, 53). Joshua and David both said on their deathbeds, “I go the way of all the earth…” (Josh. 23:14; I Kings 2:1-2). David’s faithful elderly servant Barzillai said to him: “How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? I am today eighty years old. Can I discern between the good and bad? [I don’t have the mental acuity I once had] Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any longer the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a further burden to my lord the king?” (II Sam. 19:34-35).

Time and chance happen to us all (Ecc. 9:10-12). There is a time to die appointed for each one of us (Ecc. 3:1-2; Heb. 9:27). Yet, in some rare cases, God may choose for a person to retain their vigor and vitality well into their advanced years for His reasons and for His service (see Deut. 34:7; Josh. 14:6-11; Luke 2:25-38). Nothing is impossible for God. Therefore, ask Him about your own personal circumstances!

 

III. In the Bible, some righteous men and women died of illness. Many also suffered from sickness. It didn’t mean they were sinning.

 

  • The prophet Elisha died of an illness (II Kings 13:14).
  • Righteous king Hezekiah was originally slotted to die of an illness by the will of God even though he hadn’t specifically sinned (II Kings 20:1).
  • Righteous Tabitha (aka Dorcas) fell sick and died (Acts 9:36-37).
  • Godly men such as Timothy (I Tim. 5:23), Paul (Gal. 4:13-15), David (I Kings 1:1), Epaphroditus (Phil. 2:25-27), and Trophimus (II Tim. 4:20) were all sick at times in the Bible.
  • Satan struck Job with painful boils even though Job had not sinned (Job 2:7); yet Satan could only do this with God’s permission (Job 2:3-10). Satan gave Paul “a thorn in the flesh” – which most scholars believe was some sort of physical malady with his eyes – in order to be a continual trouble and affliction to Paul. Jesus told Paul that He had allowed this satanic attack against him to keep Paul humble and Christ-centered and God-focused, and also so that Paul wouldn’t become self-reliant and self-absorbed because of the many revelations that he had been given by God (see II Cor. 12:7-10).

 

IV. God uses sickness/illness, physical infirmities and afflictions (even death) for the following biblical reasons:

 

  1. To slow us down, get our attention, and re-focus us in order to teach us what is most important (“to test us” – to see if we will trust and follow Him by putting God first and foremost in our lives).

    • Exod. 15:22-27 – When God first brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He had them travel three days into the wilderness, making them thirsty. Then, He led them to a spring which produced only bitter water. They groaned and complained wondering how they were going to survive. He remedied their situation by turning the waters sweet, miraculously healing them with a “medicinal tree” that He had Moses throw into the water – changing their situation from bitter into something good and sweet. “There,” the Bible says, “God made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, saying, ‘If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you!’” He then led them to Elim, a beautiful oasis with twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees, where they could camp. God slowed the Israelites down using a physically distressing situation to get their full attention, to teach them that He is the Only One who controls their healing, provision, direction, and their destiny. And by seeking Him, learning His ways, and obeying Him, they would be divinely taken care of, protected, healed, provided for, and guided.
    • Like the carnal Israelites, too many professing Christians today are completely oblivious and blind to the fact that God may be trying to get their attention – to make them spiritually aware that He is their Provider, their Healer, their Sustenance, their Counselor, their Attorney, their Defender, their Sword, and their Guide. Don’t force God to give you some kind of illness and/or sickness to slow you down in order to remind you of these things.
    • God demonstrated in the life of Gehazi what may happen to us if we are focused on and value the material things over the spiritual (II Kings 5:1-27). Gehazi was Elisha the prophet’s personal attendant and servant. He pursued material items that his master Elisha had previously refused. For this, Gehazi was struck with lifelong leprosy. Gehazi pursued worldly treasure over the spiritual work God had tasked him with. Elisha even asked Gehazi, “Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants?” (II Kings 5:26). Gehazi was given a lifelong reminder through this illness and affliction to keep his priorities straight. We all must realize and remember that this warning applies to us today as well!

 

2. For His glory and power to be revealed in us and through us.

 

    • A man was born blind so that God’s glory and power would be revealed in him (John 9:1-3).
    • Lazarus fell sick and died so that God’s glory and power in Jesus might be displayed (John 11:3-4).

 

3. To punish us for disobedience and sin.

 

    • God punishes His people with diseases, illnesses, cancers, etc. for disobedience (see Deut. 28:21-29, 35, 58-61); and He also blesses us with good health for our obedience (Exod. 23:25-26).
    • “I will put none of these diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians if you will obey Me” (Exod. 15:26).

 

4. To chasten and correct us for not rightly discerning His Presence among His Body – the Church, or for rejecting and/or hindering His servants who are performing His will.

 

    • God punished Miriam with leprosy for criticizing her younger brother Moses the Lord’s servant and failing to show proper respect for his position (see Num. 12:1-15).
    • God gave Nabal a fatal heart attack for speaking ill of David and maligning him (see I Sam. 25:2-39).
    • God struck Elymas Bar-Jesus with blindness for hindering Paul and Barnabas in their ministry work (see Acts 13:6-12).
    • Paul told the Corinthians that they were not properly discerning the Lord’s Presence in their midst while they were gathering as the Lord’s Body – His Church. And as a result, many of them were becoming sick and dying (I Cor. 11:29-31). These Church members were not taking God’s Presence among them and in them seriously enough, and consequently, many of them were getting sick, and some were even dying. Let’s not let this disrespectful and spiritually undiscerning attitude occur among us. For Scripture forewarns, the consequences can be deadly!

Brethren, I would strongly recommend and encourage that anyone who is sick, ailing, physically hurting, and/or physically suffering to dig deeper and search your heart and conscience with God in prayer. Ask Him if there is anything in your life displeasing to Him. Are you being disobedient in any way or failing to perceive His will in a matter? Perhaps you’re too preoccupied with the world and its vain pursuits, tuned-in to its “daily noise” which is drowning out God’s still small voice trying to speak to you (see I Kings 19:11-13)? Maybe God is slowing you down (or sitting you down for a while) through sickness because you’ve been too busy with your inconsequential daily affairs to actually “hear” what He wants to tell you? Brethren, search your hearts, and honestly examine yourself to see if you are truly putting the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first in your life (Matt. 6:33). Don’t allow yourself to be entangled in the affairs of this life, thereby neglecting the right ways of God and the things that truly matter to Him (see Luke 8:14; 12:42-46), so that He has to slow you down with illness to get your attention and/or refocus you!

Ask Him why you’re sick. God answers those who truly seek Him regarding any matter! Who knows, He may even tell you that you are innocent and blameless before Him in all things, and that He just wants you to “sit down for a while and get some much-needed rest.”  You can patiently enjoy (or sometimes, endure) this God-given break. Learn to faithfully rest and rejoice in Him, understanding that “we glory in tribulations, for we know that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. And that this hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Rom. 5:3-5). Therefore, we don’t ever have to be ashamed of anything that happens to us. For our God is always with us; therefore, who or what can ever stand against us (Rom. 8:31-39).

May God always keep you and bless you, my friends.

 

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Joe Palcsak, Testimonies, Testimony

My Testimony – by Joe Palcsak

My Testimony – by Joe Palcsak  (joepalcsak@gmail.com)

(I share my testimony in the hope that it will help someone)

I have always been fascinated by the ultimate questions of life – why are we here, why does anything exist, etc. My highest value has always been to know what is true. Some people act as if they wish a thing to be true hard enough, it will be true. I need to know what is true regardless of whether I want it to be true. I left college a committed Darwinist. Based on what I had been taught, I believed that the inorganic cause-and-effect natural world was a sufficient explanation for everything. I saw no need for God and spent the first three decades of my adult life describing myself as an atheist. That all began to change on September 12, 2001, the day after the attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon.

That day, many were saying that we should learn why these people did what they did. This struck me as perfectly reasonable, so I began investigating why they did what they did. For the next few years, I became immersed in a detailed study of Islam. I became instantly consumed. With the rarest exception, I spent several hours a night in my research.

One day, my wife – a beautiful and loving life-long Christian – declared to me, “I need a church!” Then she added, “I found one that you might be OK with.” This meant that I was going to church with her. The church turned out to be the local Unitarian church. Now to paint all Unitarians with a slightly unfair brush, this church tolerated pretty much any belief – except Christianity. With no solid spiritual or moral foundation, the sermons there tended to be what they considered “social justice” sermons. But on one Sunday, the sermon title interested me: “Intelligent Design: Creationism in a Cheap Tuxedo.” I had heard the term but did not know what it meant, and I looked forward to learning about ID, but with nefarious motives: I wanted to be able to defeat their arguments. But this sermon would offer help. It was nothing more than a rant. But the Lord had prepared me…

During that period of my life, I was spending a lot of time in my car alone, listening to talk radio. The Tuesday after the sermon, there was a debate between two scientists: ID vs. Darwinian evolution. I was excited to listen in on a butt-kicking. And a butt-kicking is exactly what I got! Only it was the ID guy, who presented a logical, well-reasoned defense of his position, backed by plenty of solid data. Meanwhile, the Darwinist offered little more than, well, an anti-ID rant. I was shaken. But by Thursday morning I was able to rationalize to myself that what I had heard was a one-off. As fate would have it, on Thursday morning, a different talk radio show hosted the very same debate, but between 2 different scientists (actually, the format proved to be 2 against 1 as the show’s host and moderator, an unapologetic Darwinist, was also an active participant). It didn’t matter. The result was the same. And though these two Darwinists put more substance on the table than the Tuesday guy, the ID champion won the day. Easily. Even the host had to admit as much.

I now had a different but even more fascinating question to occupy my evening studies: am I the deliberate product of a Creator, and if so, how can I learn everything I possibly can about Him? I was asking a question that had the potential to destroy my worldview, but I had to know. Honestly, it did not take long at all. The evidence for intelligent design is overwhelming. And in my quest to learn about my Creator, the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus also proved overwhelming.

C.S. Lewis said that if God raised Jesus from the dead, that is the most important thing we can know and if God did not raise Jesus from the dead, that is the most important thing we can know. He’s right. If God raised Jesus from the dead, He is who He says He is. It really is that simple. The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus constitute the central event of human history. It is therefore no surprise that the historical record is rich with plenty of excellent data on the resurrection. An objective study of the available data confirms the resurrection as established fact. Even unbelieving (truly objective) historians will concede that the data point to the truth of the resurrection. But they will hold on to their unbelief based not on the data, but on their conviction that miracles do not happen.

Honestly, the evidence for the resurrection is enough for me; the evidence for the intelligent design of life is icing on the cake. And make no mistake: every new discovery at the molecular level confirms that all life – to include the simplest single cell organism – relies on the most advanced data processing meta-systems and the most breathtakingly advanced engineering marvels we have ever encountered, putting exclamation point after exclamation point on the truth of ID and driving nail after nail into the coffin of any and every abiogenesis story.

I began to see that the evidence for God is everywhere (how did I miss it?) and became familiar with several other strong lines of evidence; notably the evidence from the universe, the evidence from the Bible, and the evidence from the existence of objective morality. Each of these five lines of evidence is very powerful in its own right. Collectively they build an overwhelming case that no sincere objective seeker can dismiss.

So, unlike the typical testimonial, my journey to faith was purely intellectual. But now I would like to pivot a bit and share two miracles in my life that cannot be explained by medical science…

APPENDIX: 2 MEDICAL MIRACLES

#1. I inherited a genetic condition from my mother, called “Schatzki Ring;” a gradual narrowing at the base of the esophagus. Mine would get so bad that it became difficult to impossible to pass any food through my esophagus. It required a stretching procedure every 18 months to restore the opening. In November 2013, the 18-month cycle had fully matured, and I could barely eat any solid food. Unfortunately, my doctor could not fit me in before Thanksgiving. There is a man in our fellowship with the gift of healing. I turned to him. I asked him to anoint me with oil and pray over me for the healing of my Schatzki Ring. After his blessing I enjoyed dinner that evening with no problem, as if I had a normal esophagus. It is going on 12 years now and I have had no problem eating anything and I have not had any stretching procedures. You can ask any doctor: there is no cure for Schatzki Ring. Medical science has no explanation for my healing.

#2. In 2019 I was diagnosed with 2 torn biceps and 2 torn rotator cuffs. My surgeon advised that we do nothing about the biceps, but the rotator cuffs could be fixed with surgery. The plan was to fix my left cuff first, then the right cuff after the left had healed. Everything went well with the left cuff, and a March appointment was scheduled to finalize plans for surgery on the right cuff. Before the appointment, the covid lockdown was put in place, putting all “elective” surgeries on hold and rendering our appointment pointless. But by March, the pain in my right rotator cuff had become constant and unbearable. I lived the next three months in agony, barely getting any sleep. By June I had had enough. I once again turned to the people I fellowship with and at our next Monday night Bible study, I asked for hands to be laid on me to take away the pain (this is an important detail). Several brothers and sisters laid hands over me and prayed for the Lord to take away the pain. I went home that night and slept like a baby and when I woke up on Tuesday morning, the pain was gone! Shortly thereafter, the appointment with my surgeon was re-scheduled for July. When I showed up, he asked me how the pain was doing. I told him how the Lord had taken it away and that I had been pain free for over a month. He was puzzled and put me through a battery of range-of-motion exercises, which I accomplished with ease. He folded his arms, shook his head and said, “At this time I can no longer recommend surgery.” It has now been almost 5 years and although my biceps and right rotator cuff are still torn (remember what I asked for: to take the pain away!), I have had no pain. If you ask my surgeon – himself a believer – he will tell you this can only be explained by the hand of God.

I have now been walking with the Lord for two decades and have had the honor and the privilege to both witness and be on both sides of several miraculous healings; some of them more dramatic than the two I have shared. Of all the lines of evidence pointing to the existence of God, the most powerful of all is the most personal of all: experiential evidence. I will close with a quick observation:  I have noticed that there is almost a direct correlation between how closely one walks with the Lord and how much one loves Him. I invite you to put my observation to the test!

Maranatha!

Joe