“[The pastor] must not [be] a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.”  (1 Timothy 3)

Before we (DV) look at the main point of this passage let us look at some of the presuppositions found there in.
* The pastor must be a male, “lest…he fall…”
*”…must not…” This is an imperative and not a minor suggestion.
*The directive has to do with the pastorate, the requirement(s) of the office and a disqualification thereof.
*The disqualification is the novice or new convert.
*The reason for the disqualification from the office of pastor.
*The reason for the warning and the dire judgement included.

Let me remind each reader that these warning are inspired by the Holy Spirit of God and are not simple made up by Paul, (2 Timothy 3; 1 Peter 1) and the fact that Christ spent three (3) years with each of His chosen disciples including Paul and the fact that Paul spent much time with those that worked along with him. Many a person (females and new converts) were to be offended by these requirements through the ages down to our contemporary time and is sure to continue well after our time, if the Lord tarries.

The pastor must be a male period. This is like the requirements prior to the one (1) we are looking at currently, they are non-negotiable.  To be clear, if a person argues with this requirement, his disqualification is apparent and obvious. The person that takes exception to this rules takes exception not only with this imperative but all that come before it AND with God Himself because this is God’s Word God will.

I have heard persons, most arrogant, say “I disagree with this” or that. Reader, let me be clear, If a person says this or something even close to this, red flags, siren, a your spirit should be begin going up, sounding off. and knocking over. When a person expresses doubt or an open disagreement with God by putting their opinions or thoughts ahead of God’s express and written Word, they must be taken seriously and questioned directly and immediately. They must be shown the error of their thinking and if necessary marked as one to be watch and even avoided…Reader, I am serious and should be understood to not be speaking in hyperbole!!!.

I believe very firmly in woman being in the ministry. If one (1) looks in Scripture one (1) cannot walk a way and think differently. The Word is absolutely replete in this regard. In the New Testament alone we read that women were the most faithful to Christ and His earthy ministry. Women financed His earthly ministry, women followed Him most faithfully, Women showed some of the greatest signs of devotion. Women were present in His trials, on His way the Golgotha, women remained at Golgotha until the end and after, women prepared His dressing, were the first to the empty tomb and were the first to preach and proclaim His resurrection and were the first to be disbelieved and were present at His first appearances.

The service of women continued, after His ascension, in the ministries of the disciples and Paul. Many women are mentioned post ascension,  The many women named Mary, Paul’s fellow labourer, Lydia, Priscilla, Narcissis, Naomi, Eunice, Phebe (This woman delivered Paul’s Magnum Opus to the Roman church!!! One (1) of the greatest books (humanly speaking) of the entire Bible was entrusted to a WOMAN!!! Think about that. Other women named by Paul, Nerreus’ sister, Julia, as well as other women named in other epistles of other apostles.

In the Old Testament, there is Eve, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Lea, Hannah, Huldah, Prophetesses which includes Anna in Luke’s Gospel. There is Jael, Deborah, Monoah’s wife and Samson’s mother, Jepthah’s daughter, Rahab, Ruth, Esther, Naomi, Miriam, as well as evil but powerful women such as Jezebel, a king’s Grandmother, Attalia, that killed all but one (1) of her grandchildren, Potiphar’s wife, Delilah (if you want to, but she was in a tough position, humanly speaking) Noadiah. As you can see by the above two (2) paragraphs that women, many, many women have been, and are being used by God. Women are in no way, and no how second (2nd) rate or second (2nd) class saints.

One (1) could look in Christ-ian history and contemporary times that God is pleased and greatly glorified by the “weaker” sex. let us consider the wives of the heroes of the faith, the wives of Luther, Of Calvin, of C.S. Lewis, Jonathan Edwards, Monica, the mother of Augustine, The mother of the Wesley boys, Madame Guyon, Julian of Norwich, Joan of arc, and many other notable women. Contemporaries such as, Joni Erickson Tada, June Hunt, Janet Parshell (SP?), Nancy Leigh Demoss (Nee), Elizabeth Elliot, and many, many others.

Yes, God is greatly honoured and glorified by women past, present and future. I have named women little known, and well known, but lest I am remiss, let me mention the numerable women that are unknown and will never be known, pre-glorification and judgement seat. There are so many women labouring in love, in Christ’s Name and for His sake, and the sake of so many others. They, like those mentioned do so without desire of being known and without the spirit of vainglory. There only desire is that God knows, that God is glorified, pleased and honoured and the saints are edified.

As for new converts and novices. By history’s demonstrations, and by the Word of God Himself, It is wrong to put a novice or new convert “to work” right away or to get the new believer, “serving the Lord.” When a new saint is “put to work serving the Lord,” not only is God displeased and robbed, the Word of God is violated, the new saint is ABUSED, let me say that again… the new saint is ABUSED, and the minister that abuses the new convert manifests a misunderstanding of how things should work at best or an outright violation of Scripture and the revealed will of God. In other words, LEAVE YOUR HANDS OFF OF THE NEW CREATION, HE IS GOD”S NEW CREATION AND NOT YOURS!!!

What is God robbed of? God is robbed of His time with His new born son or daughter. Let me put this into perspective.  Imagine being in the delivery room of a hospital, your wife is giving birth to a new life. You and your wife have been waiting nine (9) months or even years and years for this moment of moments. The baby is delivered and before your see the baby, the new creation, the new life, and before our wife gets to see, who will be a great love of her life, the child is rushed out of the room and sent to an academy or boarding school where s/he will be trained to work in a cookie cutter factory.

Reader, Fellow Pastor, Fundamentalist, youth pastor, minister of any kind, take this seriously. You are, have been, and will possibly continue robbing God of His time with His new creation, God has been “waiting” since eternity past to give new life and to adopt this child and then you take this born again child OF God and kidnap him or her… You brother or sister are a man stealer…research that word. If you think me harsh or hard heart-ed and mean, think about God and His anger for you are robbing and stealing from Him!!! Do not think I am going overboard…I am very well grounded on the arc that is taking me To the Judgement seat of Christ…are you?

Allow me to point out the damage done by this spiritual kidnapping…but first let me point out something another minister said to me. This minister, very experienced in many offices of the ministry said, the spiritual sins of a person, in comparison to carnal sins are greater in the Eyes of God. To be clear, I am speaking to spiritual kidnapping.
Some of the damage that is caused by spiritual kidnapping…no matter how sincere a minister make be are:
*A non-thinking minister later in life.
*A non-thinking minister will breed a non-thinking church and non-thinking churches breed a mixed multitude in the church.
*The non-thinking minister and non-thinking church breeds “completely lost saints.” In other words, they make unbelievers think they are saved. When this occurs, a thinking minister or witness cannot reason with the lost person who is thinking they are saved already, because someone like you have (humanly speaking) condemned their eternal souls to Hell!!!
*A non-thinking minister and non-thinking church believe what they have been told to believe and have no need to continue fellowshipping with the truth contained in Scripture. They say things like, “I know that, ” or “I know that stuff, already,” or “That’s not what I’ve been taught,” aka “I’ve already been told what to believe and I need not look into eternal truth any further,” or “Thinking hard…thinking hard, to is to do.” (I meant the ordering of the last quote in order to provoke un-thinkers.”
*The non-thinking way of “doing church or “playing church” (In today’s church that equals playing house or playing doctor and that is also an effect of non-qualified ministers or angels of light, IE. (s)atan’s ministers filling the pulpit) is easier, more welcoming, and easier to get along. The non-thinking way is a way that leads to ignorance. We have brought up topics found in Scripture with aged believers, deacons, elders, and even pastors and they want not to fellowship with me around God’s Word. They’d rather talk about the number of persons in the audience, and it is an audience and not a collection of like minded believers, or upcoming events. Brethren, these things ought not to be.
*The Godhead of Inspired Scripture and revealed truth is not known by those claiming to be believers in the Trinity. When a sound minister speaks to God’s right to choose who will be saved and who will be damned, or God’s right to kill or God’s hatred for certain persons, or the facts that Christ died for and only for those He has loved from eternity past, and that Christ-ians are to be Christ-like, as they have been predestinated to be, in terms of words, works, and ways and in terms of holiness and righteousness, the so-called people of God begin and continue to climb walls and go into spiritual convulsions inside their heads. The non-thinking believers begin to pull their spiritual hair out as God continues counting them. These non-thinkers begin gathering sticks and a stake for the thinking minister’s murder. Knees start knocking shoulders start nudging, eyes begin rolling, the gnashing of teeth and the biting of tongues sing hate in unison. While this is happening God is on His throne and is being glorified and honoured and is showering blessings and encouragement upon His faithful and thinking minister.
*Another danger and affront to God is the Word of God being given mere lip service or eye service or both. I’ve heard a “pastor,” say, “Now close your Bibles and listen to me.” after reading a verse or even a portion of a verse. Reader, Minister, Pastor, this is a non-thinking “pastor” and a non-thinking “church” …it is the “blind leading the blind,” it is, a minister placing upon the shoulders of the people, that which he bears not, it is a “pastor” or rather, “a wolf in sheep’s clothing,” it is he that will, for as long as possible, steal, kill, and destroy as much as is possible.

Don’t get me wrong or think I am speaking up for the sheep. I am not. The sheep made the shepherd!!! just as Dr. Frankenstein made his monster and the popular and bullies make school shooters today!!! The persons in these “churches” are as guilty and responsible as the willfully ignorant self-centered, self-focused sinners attending faith healing tents and buying healing clothes and healing water and sending GOD’s MONEY into these servants of (s)atan. I know I sound hard, mean, and harsh, and judgmental. But reader, the Word of God is Present, some persons own multiple copies and remain in willful…willful…willful ignorance. Do you understand what this writer is pointing out? Are we to be mushy and gushy with these persons or should we be direct and snap them out of it?  I suppose the wise answer comes from Solomon, answer a fool according to his folly and answer not a fool according to his folly as well as it is a folly to answer a matter before hearing it, and suffer not a fool gladly. But another Example is Christ. Sometimes He would be direct and un-suffering and at other times Patience, Herself.

Reader, forgive my length, I lost track. God Willing (DV) we will pick this up at a later time.

Godspeed.

“But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”  (Matthew 5)

Marriage is forever.  A person who divorces from another person and remarries is guilty of adultery. How or why is that?  When God joins two (2) persons together, He does so forever, “Let no man put asunder.”  The person that divorces another may think they are not married any more but God says otherwise. In the Eyes of God, the divorcee is still married. Therefore, if a divorcee marries another, the charge and sin of adultery applies.

There are two (2) reasons a person may divorce a spouse.
*Adultery (Matthew 5)
*Abandonment (1 Corinthians 7:10-17)

What about spousal abuse? God does not allow divorce over abuse. BUT separation is an altogether different matter. If one is in an abusive marriage, separation is allowable and is encouraged (by me). In Scripture when the people of God did wrong did not God separate Himself from them? He put them into captivity. If there is spousal abuse in the house and I use the word house and not home. If there is abuse, it is not a home. Know that. If separation is made, the abused cannot marry.

Prayer can be weaponized as can the Name of our Lord. One who is wanting out of a bad marriage or an abusive marriage, or a mean marriage can and may ask God to lead the spouse into the temptation of fornication. One could pray and ask God to drive the bad spouse a way. If the spouse is an ongoing danger to the family, one could ask God to kill the spouse. I know this sounds bad and shocking but we are told to cast all our “cares upon [H]im; for [H]e careth for you.”

Paul tells us that we know not what to pray for. Paul continues in Romans 8 with the Spirit making intercession on our behalf. The Spirit only takes to the Father the prayers that are in accordance with God’s will. The Holy Ghost cleans up our prayers and gets to the root of our need or want. Therefore pray away…pray against, but Reader, be certain that you are of a pure heart.  OR!!! one might pray and ask God to do something in the life of a bad spouse that would give you an upper hand.

Having said all of that, I thank God and praise God for the “wife of my youth.”

If you are a Christ-ian and you have married a non-believer, thinking you will convert him in time; you have gone against God and anything that is not good in your marriage is your fault.

Again I’m so thankful to God for my wife.

“After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bythinia: but the Spirit suffered them not.”  (Acts 16)

“…the Holy Spirit said…”  (Acts 13)

Lord Jesus, in John’s Gospel, chapters 14-16 teaches the disciples and us His doctrine of the Holy Spirit.  He instructs us regarding the offices, the varied offices of the Holy Spirit. Christ tells the disciples that the Spirit would remind them of events in Christ’s Life or bring to their remembrance that which will be necessary to write the Gospels and to preach the gospel.

The Spirit would also bring them comfort in Christ’s Absence. In fact, Christ calls Him the Comforter. The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s own or in other words, the Spirit assures us of our salvation or brings us assurance of God’s continuing favour. The above mentioned acts of the Holy Ghost are done without us partaking in the act. What about those times when the Holy Ghost wants to use us?

There are a few ways to look at that dynamic.
*The Jonah way
*The John Mark way
*The Pauline way

The Jonah way is when God wants you to do something so that you might learn something and that He might be glorified through whatever God moves you to do. You might object at first (1st), but you will do what He wants you to do and you will learn what He wants you to learn. It is best to do what He wants you to do and learn what He wants you to learn because not only will you suffer but so will your loved ones.

The John Mark way speaks to the person that gives up to soon.  John Mark, the nephew of Barnabas and the author of The Gospel of Mark. During one (1) of Paul’s missionary journeys along with Barnabas came John Mark. However, John Mark left the ministry; we know not why. John Mark’s departure effected Paul so much that when Uncle Barnabas suggested bringing John Mark along on their next trip, they had to part ways over him. Paul would not have him back and would rather break with Barnabas than receive John Mark. Later in paul’s life he asked that this same John Mark be sent to him as he would be a great help. John Mark was also a friend to Peter as Mark’s Gospel is as much Peter’s as it was Mark’s.

The Pauline way is the saturated way. Paul had decided where to go next with the Gospel but the Holy Ghost thought otherwise. Paul was sensitive to the Spirit’s will. Paul bathed himself in all things God, in all things Christ, and all things Scripture. Reader, this is the way to hear God and to be sensitive to His leading and directing. A man I know once said to God, “Lord, I want to be possessed by Thy Spirit as a demon possesses it’s victim.” He knew what the man was saying and the man knew very well what he was saying. The man testifies to his life changing, his preaching changing, and his love for others growing. The man’s prayer life is constant or rather he says he dwells in God’s Presence and knows nothing of cold praying. This man prays, at times, without words, it is like two (2) close friends or family members sitting in a car together with no awkwardness. This man simply acknowledges God in all his ways and God sees his heart and thinks his feet are beautiful.

Reader, Do you desire a great sensitivity to the Holy Spirit? Do you desire to know God’s will in differing and personally specific matters? Are you scared of being too sensitive and scared of what He might say? This is understandable. However, one never need fear what God may or may not do with them. Some cardinal truths of our faith:
*God knows best.
*God knows what is best for you.
*God knows you.
*God knows what He can do with you or through you.
*God wills you no harm.
*God faileth not, therefore if you are called by God to action or exploit neither shall you.
*This is what faith is for and about.

If you desire, and you should, a sensitivity to the Spirit, bathe yourself, saturate yourself, marinade yourself in all things God. Read the Word, listen to good Christ-ian music that speaks to Christ and not you, Meditate upon God’s Word, God’s ways, God’s works. When you look at a clock or your phone and see the time, whatever time it is look to a Bible passage that mirrors the time. Watch the time and at 3:16 quote John 3:16 to God, He’ll love it. If you desire to dwell in God’s Presence or to pray without ceasing or to be instant in prayer,  practice praying…think upon God…simply thank Him throughout your day, connect God to all your thoughts. Dwell upon thoughts of God.

Something else one can do is simply ask God to possess you as the man above did. Christ tells us that the person who ask, receives. He tells us also to seek and the person that does so will find. Christ says furthermore, if you knock at His door, He will answer. It is often you and I who do not answer when He knocks. That can and should change.

“Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are [H]is…”  (2 Timothy 2)

The first (1st) twelve (12) chapters of 1 Chronicles is made up of geneologies and names. I, as a preacher, am the first to say, these chapters are tedius and monotonous.  At the beginning of the books of Matthew and Luke we find more geneologies, though much shorter. The geneologies in Matthew and Luke contain the blood line of our Lord Jesus. These blood lines demonstrate Christ’s right to the throne of David. The blood line in 1 Chronicles 1-12 demonstrate the blood line from Adam through the Hebrew nation.

Another notable feature of these geneologies shows us that God knows His people by name (He also knows His own by their new name that He will give them) .  God knows His people by their relationships with others, God knows the actions of His people and He knows their good works and their sins.

Not only is the above true but it is true that His people know Him and His voice.  His people recognize His voice when they hear it. There is no confusion when He calls out to us. As that is true, we recognize when the voice calling is not His. It should be known that others will call God’s people and they do not have the flocks best interest at heart…never. When another calls God’s people, it is to kill, steal and to destroy.  When we hear a voice or a word and it does not sound familiar, it is the Spirit of God warning us.

Christ warns us more than once that many will come in His Name, and even claiming to be Him. The elect shall not fall for this ploy. However, some will and many have. The Jehovah’s Witness cult has fallen prey to the false one. Christ forewarns that one will come and invite some to meet him in a secret chamber.  Christ promises us that will not be Him, but that He will come in great glory in the clouds. Years ago the J.W’s began claiming that they met Christ in a secret chamber…the very Words Christ warned against!!! The elect will not be fooled but the non-elect will be fooled every time.

The non-elect religions, the (m)uslums, the Mormons, and the Jehovah’s Witnesses all give veracity to this truth. Paul in Galatians, warns of angels bringing a false Gospel. The (m)uslums have fallen for this and they believed an angel claiming to be Gabriel. This angel may very well have been Gabriel. It may have been the will of God to send a strong delusion for the race of Ishmael. So this angel could have been Gabriel. Some will now object to this and say, God would never do this. God does not lead into temptation. I would not have you ignorant, Reader. God does lead some into temptation, Judges 14:4, Joshua 11:20 &  Matthew 6:13.  The Mormons have also fallen for this, though Scripture warns against it. In the case of the Mormons, it was the angel, Moroni. Again it is the J.W’s that fell for the demon in the secret chamber, though Christ warned all of these coming lie.

Reader, the above paragraph, if nothing else should encourage you to read the Word of God, learn the Word of God, and like the Bereans, search the Word of God.  The above paragraph should laso warn you against ignoring the Word of God, thinking you know it all already, and not to forsake the searching thereof.  Reader, those that love God, love His Word. Does not a husband love to hear his wife say, “I love you?” Reader, Those that are loved by God, will love His Word. Beloved, if you care not to read the Word(s) of thy God…you care not for thy God.  It really is that simple.  Let us put this in persepective, If your Dad, Mom, child, loved one wrote a book about your families history, present, and hopes for the future would you not read it?  OF COURSE you would.

The Word of God speaks to you and about you. Why would you not be interested  The Scriptures contain action, adventure, love, sacrifice, justice, sex, murder, incest, mystery, revenge, betrayal, thievery, lust, affairs, the miraculous, magic, sorcery, and It also tells us the future!!!  Why would anyone not be intrigued? How could anyone not be intrigued? When would anyone not be intriuged? What is not intriguing in the Word of God?  Who could not or would not find something intriguing in our list of Scripture’s genres? This computer is going wonky. So “Here endeth the lesson.”

[God] hath done whatsoever [H]e pleaseth.  (Psalm 115)

God willing, we will begin a book study this next Tiesday with other men of God.  I am looking forward to this. The book we are to study (DV) is called, “The Man of God.” by Albert N. Martin. The book speaks to the calling of a man by God to serve in a ministerial capacity.

One (1) of the points that is made early on is mistakes made by pastors and how these mistakes serve to make a better pastor, a more experienced pastor. When I look over the two (2) decades of ministry, one (1) mistake always comes to mind. I am embarrassed again and again by this mistake. (DV), we will shre this mistake with you. This mistake is something a pastor or a witness could and should learn from.

At the beginning of my preaching life I preached a message on a lamb. This lamb was a little girl’s pet but in the father’s eyes it was to be sold as meat. We’ll not go in to depth but let it be said, the girl lost her pet. The message was on sacrifice.  There were many streams of tears to be sure.

I was asked to preach at another church and I chose the same “sermon.”  I figured if it brought persons to tears once, it’ll do it again. There is no other way to say it than the “sermon” was dead, dead, dead!!! There not only were no tears but God wasn’t in it at all. I was preaching a sermon and not delivering or bringing a message to the people of God from the peoples’s God. I was utterly humiliated. I learned a very valuable lesson that day….God is not an electronic device.

God will not be turned on or turned off when you wish Him to. God does not react on command. God will not do this if you do that. I know how to press or push buttons on persons…I can do that very well, but God…..God has no buttons. God has no levers. God has no switches.  The minister, in whatever capacity he acts, must learn this…must know this…must remember this. It is God that turns you on and off. He pushes and presses your button, you have levers and switches.

This brings me to door to door witnessing. I used to do this and I know how it is done, and how wrong it is.  Christ said, “Do not go house to house.”  Christ’s directive overthrows Acts 20. I used to watch persons go from house to house like robots. These person’s (who were taught this and thought they were doing right) would say the exact same thing. It was obvious to the persons behind the doors that it was all rehearsed and was not genuine.

There is nothing wrong with going door to door….if you are inviting persons to church and if the Spirit prompts you, testify to your Faith and to Christ. There is nothing wrong with leaving invitations on front door handles but never in mail boxes and parking lots can get you into trouble.

I’ve seen sinners say “the prayer” just to get us off their property. It was obvious that thisperson meant it not, but it was reported as a soul saved anyway.  This style of….I don’t even want to call it evangelism.  This door knocking can give a person a false sense of salvation. When this person with the false sense of salvation is witnessed to by someone who is doing it properly, the unsaved will respond with, “O’ I’m already saved.” I’ve seen it.

Do not think I’m trashing the art of the witness, I’m not. I know a pastor that goes to garage sales and makes himself friendly and then before he leaves, he gives a good witness.  That’s one (1) good way it’s done. Another good way is grocery store attendants or convenience store clerks. Go to the same clerk or attendant and over time, build up a familiarity and when the time is right, give them a tracts and tell them about Christ. These are persons you plan on working with over a period of time.

My methods vary. We will go to a Panera, find a Bible study and then assault their faith as foolish. This gets them stirred up and others customers focus in. I then tell them I’m a minister and it was great to see them fight the good fight.  Many things are accomplished with this method:
*Christ-ians defend their faith and God
*God is pleased to see and hear this.
*The Christ-ians I verblly assault are greatly encourages and they share their experience with others.
*The other customers hear about God and see Christ-ians in action.
*I have a lot of fun and enjoy my God.

Often in small business shops, Christ-ian’s will play Christ-ian music, these persons can also be encouraged as those above.

T-shirts are a tremendous witness as are ball caps. There is always a way to let your light so shine….always:
*Words spoken
*Tracts
*Clothing
*Music
*Good works
*Be seen going to church.
*Invite others to church
*Give books
*Give messages on CD or DVD.

But…However…Even so, do not expect God to act or react to your witnessing or your preaching or your teaching.  There have been times I felt absolutely alone in the pulpit. I would be so close to cutting everything short. Then after the service, persons come to me and tell me how encouraging the message was and how it was exactly what they needed. Other times, I sense God and liberty and power and though no one says anything…I know God did something magnificent. It is very rare when I sense God’s Abscence and these times are aweful….I go to a quiet place and ask Him, through tears of doubt and sorrow, why?  Then I receive a fresh-filling and those tears of doubt and sorrow and lonliness are turned to tears of, “I should have known better and tears of thanks and of power and authority.  I know many do not understand this and maybe even disbelieve it….that’s your loss.

There have been times when I had to wait upon the power of God before I dare speak, preach, or teach from His Word.  But what about the persons waiting?  Let them wait, their wait will be paid off a hundred fold (“…When [H]e was set…” Matthew 5).

I know most ministers do not minister in these fashions anymore. This is why so many ministries are dead, dead, dead.  Look at the life and ministry of D. Martyn Lloyd Jones.  This man would stand in the pulpit and pray for thirty (30) minutes before beginning if he sensed not the power from God. Research the filling of Jonathan Edwards, D.L. Moody and many others that are still read today. Reader, I’m not talking about Pentacostals, I speaking to the giants of classic Christ-ianity.

In any event take what you will, but to doubt what I have written is to call me a liar or a crazy person.  Those that know me will take exception to that.

Godspeed.

P.S. Please forgive mistakes in spelling, punct., and grammar. Tired I am.

“Be ye angry and sin not.”  (Ephesians 4)

God gives us the go ahead and be angry but not to use it to commit sin.  Scripture also tells us that the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God. The Christ-ian’s anger should be quickened by righteous indignation, meaning it must come from a spirit of righteousness and no where else. In other words our anger should be ignited and enganged when righteousness has been assaulted.

Anger should not be used to punish others or to be used to relieve one’s self from frustration or aggression. However, so many use anger to relieve themselves of stress and frustration.  This is because of the fall. Anger should be used to provoke us to righteous actions This may sound foreign but that is because of our fallen nature.  Angry reactions and lashing out makes perfect sense to our fallen nature and is used for personal relief and satisfaction as Hebrews tells us. In Hebrews we learn that when some parents chasten their children it is for their own relief and release of anger…this is being angry and committing sin. Anger should be used in a constructive sense and not a destructive sense.

What about God’s Anger? God’s anger is always righteous and when He acts it is His Wrath, Righteousness and Holiness that is being propitiated and not a petty anger. God is not servant to His anger as humans are. God is subject to nothing.

To use anger to punish another is not a rightful use. To be angry with someone over a mistake is not a rightful use of one’s anger. To be subject to one’s anger is to lose  or to give up control to one’s emotions. This is a weakness and not a justified use of the emotion God has given us.

Anger should be controlled and use to right a wrong, not to punish someone for a mistake or to feel better or to vent.  When Christ was angered and acted upon that righteous anger it was because a line was crossed and God was affronted. Christ demonstrated righteous indignation in the temple and when little faith betrayed a person’s lack of trust in God’s providence and sovereignty, or when religious pride blinded a self righteous, and prideful person or group. Christ was generally kind and friendly to the common sinner, He would eat and drink with sinners and would readily forgive those that were aware of their sin sickness and were mournful over their sin or humbled thereby.

Those that were pride-filled due to their religiousness, self righteousness, and refusal to confess their sin, or to mourn over their state of sinfulness were often the target of His righteous indignation and rightful wrath. The prideful sinner did not find Christ friendly but those that knew who and what they were found a Friend in Christ, not an angry, judgmental and off putting Judge.

The Christ-ian should often seek God to put a guard upon their lips and thoughts. The Christ-ian should always judge self before judging whether someone else is wrong, false, or bad. One should remember one’s own fallibility and proneness to mistakes and short comings. Of course, this is easier said than enacted, but whether something is easy or not cannot cloud our duty to righteousness and personal holiness.

Many times, in Scripture, a persons wrongful anger resulted in that which cannot be called good. Paul when his anger got the best of him, he lost his traveling companion and fellow laborer, Barnabas. When Peter acted on his anger in the garden and cut off a guard’s ear, Christ chastened him. King Saul’s misused and abuse of anger mixed with fear caused him to attempt the murder of God’s darling David. When Moses was angered he committed murder and later to strike the watering rock twice and losing his enjoyment of God’s promised land.

On the other hand, when a saint demonstrated righteous indignation it was honored and blest by God. David had righteous indignation when Goliath insulted God’s chosen Israel. Paul, when he pointed out Peter’s disimulation, it was due to a righteous indignation. When Phineas and Nehemiah demonstrated anger, it was due to the dishonouring of God. In the Psalms, when one reads the imprecatory prayers, it was again due to the dishonouring of God and against those that were contrary to God’s pleasures and purposes.

Reader, I’m not saying one should never be angry, no, not at all. The text tells us to, “be angry” but it also tells us not to used it to sin. A Christ-ian that is not angry does not understand righteous indignation or does not recognize when God is being affronted or offended. It would have been wrong if Christ let the temple be used as a den of thieves. Paul would have been wrong not to confront Peter about his hypocrisy. Phineas and Nehemiah would have betrayed a careless attitude concerning the dishonouring of God. To smile and overlook the dishonouring of God and His God-ness is not merciful, forgiving, or Christ-ian.

The Christ-ian should be angered when God and His God-ness is affronted, offended, dishonoured or mistreated. David would have been wrong if he held in his righteous indignation against Goliath. Be careful not to confuse a person’s disrespect of you and one’s doshonouring of God. If a person wrongs you, love them bless them and pray for them. If someone scorns God or the faith, one is right to suffer not the fool. It’s kin to letting someone say something about you, but not allowing someone to say something against one’s spouse. It is the difference between revenge and avenging. To act out or on a spirit of revenge is to put yourself above God’s command of not seeking revenge. Revenge speaks to self promotion. Avenging a wrong speaks to righting a wrong done to someone else.

Always remember when Christ was reviled He did not do the same in return but left all things to God, He left all things to God Who judges righteously. If we want to be Christ-like, we must defer and give up all rights to revenge and getting even or using evil against evil. We must overcome evil with good. One must be very careful not to confuse the dishonouring of one’s person or beliefs and the dishonouring of God’s Person. David hated those and prayed against those that hated God and were contrary to God’s purposes.

To use bitterness, malice, or anger to gain relief or release of stress or frustration is not Christ-like; Anger should be used as a provocation to act from righteousness and to correct a wrong. To use anger to punish someone’s mistake or short-coming is not the rightful use of anger. Paul also tells us not to let the sun go down on your anger. I heard a preacher say that he and his wife never let the sun go down when they’re angry. He then said sometimes they’re up for weeks at a time. Of course that was a joke but letting the sun go down on one’s anger is no joke because that dynamic gives the devil an opportunity to put a foot-hold on one’s relationship.

The Christ-ian can overcome anger issues if they would disallow others to control their emotions. One should not allow one’s self to be easily offended. The easily offended Christ-ian is not using anger in a Christ-like way. I am so thankful and grateful to God for allowing the fruit of longsuffering and patience to grow within my spirit.

To be easily angered or offended is the antithesis or opposite of a peace-filled and joy-filled spirit. The wrongful use of anger betrays one’s weakness in the area of emotional control or modesty.

The Proverbs tell us that one who can control one’s spirit or emotions is greater than one who can take a city. James tells us that the person who can control an angry tongue has control over their whole person. To grow angry over something someone says or does against one’s person is letting that person into the control room of one’s mindset. One hands over the control of their emotions and will to another when, “S/he makes me so angry.”

Think about that…”S/he MAKES me so angry.” You are submitting the control of your spirit to another. You are subjecting yourself to another. The Christ-ian submits to Christ and is subject to Christ’s pleasures and will, to do otherwise is to be angry and to sin against one’s self and against God.

Reader, Be angry, and sin not. Subject your emotions and thinking to no one but God.

Godspeed.

“…that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth:) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger, as it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.”  (Romans 9)

Reader, My heart is grieved. Recently I have heard about a family that has left a church because of the pastor’s “Calvinism.”  Reader, there is no doctrine in Scripture called Calvinism. There is the doctrine of election.  Calvinism has been adopted as a term to describe the doctrine’s of election, foreknowledge, Free Choice, and Predestination. Reader, you may call it Calvinism, you may call it election, you may call it the one (1) part of the doctrine of grace. You may call it whatever you want to, but it is Holy Writ.  It is clearly spoken of in the Bible. It cannot be denied…maybe it can be twisted, hidden, or ignored, but it is there!!!  It may be explained away, it may be brushed under the carpet, one can laugh it off…BUT, MY GOD IN HEAVEN….IT IS THE WORD OF GOD!!!

Some may categorize this as a hobby horse, some may say it causes division, and some may say there is no need for this to be taught. Some will say it shows God to be hate-filled and angry.  Reader, God IS…is..IS filled with hate, anger, and fury for those that believe not in the Lord Jesus…”he that believeth not is CONDEMNED ALREADY.”  Christ said that if you do not believe in Him and believe He is the Great I am of the Old Testament, you will die in your sins…to those He was speaking, He was declaring that they were, indeed, going to die in their sins, for the Word of God and the Love of God was not in them. THIS READER, IS THE VERY WORD AND WORDS OF GOD.

Christ said in John 5 that He gives life to whom He wills…meaning wants to!!! Reader, put on your grown up pants and understand that if there are some God wills to raise, THERE ARE SOME HE WILLS NOT TO RAISE!!!  Reader, the bare-naked truth of Scripture tells us that God made evil just to destroy it in the end.  The bare-naked truth of Scripture tells us God makes vessels of mercy and vessels of wrath. The vessels of wrath are made to be destroyed…THIS IS GOD AND GOD’S WORD….THIS IS THE GOD OF THE WORD THAT IS PREACHED, or rather, not preached.  What will you say, preachers, when you stand before God and He looks upon you and says, “there is something I have against you….you had a problem with the doctrine of My free-will….this means, servant, that you have a problem with Me.  Did I not give YOU free choice? Why do you deny Me of Mine?….Can I not do with mine own what I will? (Christ asked that question)”. You that deny the doctrine of election answer, “NO!!!” to His question. HOW DARE YOU SPEAK OF FREE WILL AND THEN DENY GOD HIS!!! Understand this, with this position, you take the side of those that hate Christ!!! You allow them their free will, but deny Him His.

Reader, Do you have free choice?  Reader, do you have anger?  Reader, do you pick and choose who you will be-friend and who you won’t?  If you DARE TO SAY YES TO THESE QUESTIONS YOU ARE MORE OMNIPOTENT THAN GOD IS!!!…in your finite mind.

One question I have had for Christ-ians for a long time is this: WHY would you have a problem with God doing what He would do? IF the doctrine of election be true, what does that say about you?

In the beginning God chose to make man in His Image. He chose to name him Adam.  God Chose Abraham to be His chosen vessel. God chose Noah and his family to live and everyone else to die. God chose Moses to be His vessel of mercy (Exodus 3; Romans 9). God chose Joshua, God chose the judges, and God chose His prophets….GOD HAS FREE CHOICE.

The doctrine of election tells persons how much God loves them. The other doctrine of “asking Jesus into you heart,” says you choose to “allow Him to save you”…yeah, for Him, right? The doctrine of election begets a love, a confidence, a certainness, a comfort, A PURPOSE in the heart of those who have the courage to believe it.

Reader, if I sound angry…I am.  This is the doctrine that would change the face and the spirit of churches…if it were taught.  But churches today hide it, twist it, laugh it off, etc. Look into church history. All the great revivals were under believers in the doctrine of election and preached a great BIG GOD WHO is ALL-SOVEREIGN and reigns over EVERYTHING……AND HE CHOOSES TO LOVE YOU AND DIE FOR YOU!!!  Reader, My God!!! That is a message that will excite the spirit of persons.  IF God created you and chose you to be saved, then you must admit, He can do as He wills with you…right?  On the other hand, if you chose GOD then you can do as you will with Him!!!…see? That’s the corner the deniers of God’s free choice are in.

The doctrine of election says God loves you over those that hate Him.   Why is this such a problem?….you are on the side of the sinner…you give the sinner the right to choose God, but then deny God to choose what sinner He will save.

Reader, if you think I sound angry….what do you think God will sound like when you stand before Him and charges you with preaching a weak and impotent GOD Who is waiting and hoping someone might CHOOSE Him and ALLOW Him in their heart?  IT’S NOT THEIR HEART…IT’S HIS HEART…HE CREATED IT AND HE CAN DO WITH IT AS HE PLEASES and He can do with that heart what He wills…harden it, or bless it, or soften it by grace.

Reader, when you buy something you can use it as you will, right? If I purchased or even made a vase, I could set it on a shelf, I could use it for practical purposes, I could paint it anyway I chose. I could use that vase for a fish bowl or for flowers…or I could look at it, see an imperfection in it and then destroy it and make a new one….right?  I would have that right, right? READER!!! THAT IS TRUE OF GOD TOO, LEST YOU BE MIGHTIER THAN HE!!!

It is as simple as this….I can choose, you can choose, others can choose, BUT GOD CAN’T…YOUR GOD IS IMPOTENT AND WEAK and too small, AND SCRIPTURE KNOWS NOTHING…NOTHING ABOUT…him.

David said, we should never think God is like us.  YOU AGREE WITH HIM…GOD IS NOT LIKE US. HE HAS NO FREE CHOICE.

MY GOD, CHRIST-IAN, GET ON YOUR FACE AND REPENT AND BELIEVE IN THE GOD OF HOLY WRIT!!! TELL HIM YOU ARE SORRY FOR SEEING HIM AS SMALL AND WEAK AND HAVING LESS FREE CHOICE THAN YOU DO!!!

Godspeed.

P.S. I wd be glad to discuss this with anyone. I do not do debates, but in this case I would debate any preacher of any denomination on this topic.  I would not do this to prove myself right…God forbid. I would do this so GOD might be glorified in the minds of His people as He should be.

“…If any man think that he knoweth anything, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.”  (1 Corinthians 8)

Knowledge, according to this passage, does one (1) of two (2) things.  The first (1st) thing knowledge can do is, puff up a man.  The second (2nd) thing knowledge can do is tell a man, he knows nothing in relation to all that can be known.  I have come a cross many of the first (1st) but very few of the other. It is due to the grace of God, I am of the second (2nd). In this article (DV) we will diagnose the first (1st).

Most from the first (1st) come from the following:
*New convert.
*A person that has little education in other areas of academia.”
*A person who has not a diploma or degree and is shamd by that fact.
*A person who has found theology as an area of knowledge s/he excells in.
*A person who can “show-off”
*A person who has an tremendous mind but has had little opportunity for further formal education.

Those from the second (2nd) group
*Cares not for any of the above.
*This person is not interested in the praise of men.
*This person’s all consuming passion is to walk with God and not men.
*This person has learned that the more he learns and knows the less s/he knows and the more s/he desires to learn.
*This person wants to KNOW God more than know ABOUT God.
*This person hungers for the God OF the Word more than JUST the Word of God.

As said above we have come a cross many of the first (1st) group.  These are obnoxious, irritating, irritable, they glisten with dripping pride.  They are more interested in what they have to say than what anyone else has to say.  If they are asked a question, they are more interested in being heard and holding the room, instead of really answering the question and helping the questioner….the questioner is merely a means to demonstrate his or her brilliance.  This type likes big words and likes to keep up or surpass others. Others do not desire to spend much time with them, personally.  When persons do spend time with them, one can watch those person’s minds drift away.  This type has no shut off switch.

Some, at this point, are asking themselves or others, is he speaking about me?  if one is rather certain, they might be a bit embarrassed and they will keep quiet and stay low.

Reader, that is one of the things about being a minister or at least an effective one.  The effective minister cannot fear others or fear at all for that matter.  God told His prophets of old, “Fear not their faces.”  A man of God or at least the effective minister, must speak clearly and truthfully.  He must be willing to speak straight to the issue and straight to persons.  James said, the minister will offend in all points, but he must speak.  If the minister speaketh not….who will, Reader? The minister does not seek to be offensive.  The truth will do that.  He must merely speak that truth.

The one hearing the truth has two (2) choices of response.  The Proverbs says the wise man will accept it and grow from it. The fool will not accept it and he will grow hard and hateful against the truth speaker and the truth.  Reader, which are you? I have been the first (1st) many times…many, many times. I have not been the second (2nd) too many times and that is due to the Great Grace of God.

The Minister must have a close walk or intimate walk with His God. This walk is necessary because:
*The minister will lose many friends and make many enemies. The minister needs God to be His Friend.
*God is his Strength and Defender, his Soundness, his Anchor, his Rock, his Refuge, his High Tower, his All in All, his Everything…the Light of his life.  It is because of God, he need not fear anything or anyone.  There is strong confidence in the Fear of the LORD (Proverbs 14:26).  When one walks in the Fear of the LORD, he is not allowed to fear anyone or anything else…fear is forbidden.
*The minister walks with God because he loves God and is loved by God and there is no other love like it…none other.
*The minister walks with God because it is from God, he receives his directions, instructions, and messages for the people of God.  Fellow minister…If you are getting your messages from current events, newly released books, “52 Sermons for the Year,” Other preacher’s sermons (without giving them credit), if you are using old sermons of your own all the time, etc.  You are failing your people or more importantly, God. You are a Fraudulent Fellow Minister. Fellow minister…Are you feeding them with old putrid manna?  I knew a minister once (he’s changed now) that had the first (1st) six (6) months of his sermons prepared before ever having a church.  What’s worse? these were his grandfather’s sermons!!!  This can be likened to eating manna after it has been digested and exits the body. The same can be said of stolen sermons or even one’s own sermons, if one is to lazy or is out of sorts with God. Some preachers, if they lose their notes, they to are lost in the pulpit.

The man that walks intimately with God will never, ever want for a Word from God for God’s people. I can say and this is not boasting, this is simple truth and all glory goes to God…We have never, except once, preached a message twice in over twenty (20) years. That message that was twice preached….the first (1st) time was blessed by God and brought hearers to tears.  I thought why not preach it a second (2nd) time, well get the same results, right?  WRONG!!!  The second (2nd) time I preached it, “i” preached it alone and God would not give me His power.  It was a dead…dead…dead sermon and sermon it was as it was no message from God.  The only message from God that night was the one (1) I received loud and clear.

Lets look at the second (2nd) type. This type realizes that there is so much more, so very, very, much more to learn by the more he learns. The Spirit has taught me much over my two (2) decades or more as His student.  Reader, this writer did not attend a Bible school or Christ-ian college and I thank and praise God for that. Occasionally those bastions of cookie cutting puts forth a sound and godly minister to be sure, but that is rare.  I have found that the men that come from those schools usually burn off most of what they learned and God starts them all over again. I’m not talking about one (1) school in particular or one (1) denomination in particular.

If you have read me often you may have read my thoughts on fundementalism and we know we have been rough.  Nothing has changed.  However, we are not talking about themin particular. I listen to John MacArthur on the radio and watch him on youtube. He has a college.  You might think, Reader, I would be in favour of this school.  Spurgeon had a school and no doubt, I would be in favour of that, too.  Sproul, an excellent teacher also has a school or had…he has gone above.  However, you might be surprised to learn you are wrong, wrong, wrong.

Just as Hyles-Anderson college put out little Jacks, little John MacArthurs come from his school, little Spurgeons from his, and little Sprouls from His.  Reader, we are not predestined to become jacks, Johns, Spurgeons, or Sprouls.  Except for the first (1st) none of the teachers named wanted their students to be like them.

I am in favour of Christ-ian schools as far as Christ-ian youths being taught by Christ-ian teachers.  I am not in favour…and I know this will not go over big and will probably lose me some readers and friends, but here go……I am not in favour of Bible teaching or teaching to be a preacher.  Let the church do that.  Let God do that. let the Spirit do that.  Christ-ian schools could teach Christ-ian kids about architecture, accounting, engineering, nursing, hospitality, sales, pesticides, auto mechanics, psychology, biology, Oceanography, etc.

Let there be Christ-ian trade schools and teach Christ-ian youth about plumbing, electricity, heating and air conditioning, landscaping, tiling, carpentry, etc.

BUT leave the Bible teaching to God and His church.  This is how it tends to work today.  A man pastors a church, he teaches and ministers to God’s people.  There may be a few young men that see themselves a “pastor material.”  The Church’s pastor trains these young men. Then these young men leave the church, go to a college, and then go to the college’s church. Never to return.  The pastor back at the home church is called elsewhere and now the church has to find an outsider, so to speak, to be their new pastor.  Do you see the problem.  The church already had a few young men that could take the church when the pastor is called away.  Bottom line, Preacher schools steal from the church.

I have noticed that when a man is taught by the Holy Spirit, he is in union with other men taught by the Same Spirit.  How does that happen lest it truly is the Same Spirit?  Look at men like D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, Arthur W. Pink, John Calvin, Martin Luther and others.  Lloyd Jones was not formally bible trained nor was Pink, yet they are in  agreement in almost all points.  In fact, Lloyd-Jones’ counsel to his flock?  “Read Pink.” Calvin and Luther had to unlearn all that they had learned from their Catholic upbringing. They both were trained as attorneys and had very little Biblical training other than that which they received from the Spirit, Himself in the study.

My point is simple…my arguement is simple…the man that is called by God to be His minister needs no other teacher than the Holy Spirit.  That’s all the Apostles had…are the Bible School EduMacated better?

Reader, God must always have the glory.  When a preacher is taught by men outside the church and inside a school or college, glory must be shared with those that taught.  When a man is taught by God Alone…God Alone is glorified, get it?

Reader, the more one learns…the more one learns that there is so much more to learn.  Are you even learning now? Are you learning from God or are you simply being told what to believe?  Do not be satisfied by being told what to believe.  The good pastor will teach you how to learn and how to think but never only what to think.

The independent thinker is trouble to those that will tell you what to think and how things just are. Reader, ask questions when something doesn’t seem proper or correct.  In my minds eye, I see a question mark, but this question mark does not have a period at it’s bottom, but an arrow down symbol and it’s bloody.  My questions tend to draw blood. So should yours.

Godspeed.

“…I am meek and lowly in heart…”  (Matthew 11)

“You are with [M]e or against [M]e…”  (Matthew 12)

So which is it, Reader?  Is the Lord Jesus meek and mild or mean and wild?  Methinks the answer is simple.  To those that love Him and are loved by Him, He is meek and mild.  To those that oppose Him and His message, He is mean and wild. In Scripture we see a Christ that is tender and loving to those He loves and we also see a Christ that is harsh and hard.

This is true or tyhe Old Testament God and the New Testament God.  It is often asked by unbelievers how the God of the Testaments can be so different.  It has also been said that the God of the O.T. and the God of the N.T. are two (2) different Deities.  The Old Testament hard and hateful.  The New Testament God is all loving and kind.  What have you to say, Reader?  Have you ever wondered this?

As I said, the answer to the second (2nd) question regarding the two (2) testament Gods is the same as the Lord Jesus.  To the people of God in the O.T. God was good and He is just as good in the N.T.  In the O.T. God would put His people into captivity when they sinned against Him, but just like in the New, He chastened them in order to bring them about.  In The New, we read time and again that god chasens those He loves and if He chasens not, He loves not.  Nothing is changed.

Another point…Read the Psalms. Read the words of David and various other Psalmists.  Are not the Psalms a book of love to the O.T. God?  If the God in the O.T. was so aweful, why did the saints remain loyal to Him?  Certainly the saints drifted but did they not always return? weren’t they always accepted?

In the Old, we find God speaking roughly to those that offered up false worship and lip service and praise, “Ye offer polluted bread upon [M]ine altar..ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now to the governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of Hosts.  “But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even [H]is meat is contemptible.  Ye said also, Behold, what weariness is it! [S]hould I accept this of your hand? saith the LORD.”  (Portions of Malachi 1)

In John2, we find the Lord Jesus, entering the temple or the house of prayer.  In this house of prayer He finds, again, God being mistreated and corrupted.  Do we see the meek and mild in John 2?  Not so much.  We find the Mean and Wild completely overwhelm all that are polluting the temple.

We find tables being overturned and both men and animals running for fear as the mean and wild Son of God uses a scourge made up of small cords.  Do not think for a second that He was out of control.  While man and beast run for cover, Christ commands the caged doves to be set aside with care.  If the lord had been out of control, the doves would have flown freely. The dove is the offering for the poor and He would not deny them their offering.

It is certain in the book of Revelation, our Lord Jesus is mean and wild to His enemies. However, in His letters to His churches, there are Words or comfort, and consolation as well as Words of chastening. However, after the end of the church-age in Revelation four (4) it is all warning.

In Revelation nineteen (19), there are Words such as, “His [E]yes were a flame of fire…[H]e was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood…out of [H]is [M]outh goeth a sharp sword, that with it [H]e should smite the nations: and [H]e shall rule them with a rod of iron: and [H]e treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and and wrath of Almighy God.”  (Portions of Revelation 19)

Through out Revelation, the people of god sing songs of praise and worship to the God of wrath.  For those that love the God of Revelation, they are loved.  To the enemies of the Wrathful God of Revelation, they find an Enemy…an enemy like no other.  They find an Enemy that is mean and wild!!!

Reader, which will you find?  It depends upon which you know today, hear and now.  If you find the mean and wild, so shall you find then, lest you come to know the meek and mild and take His yoke upon you.  Lest you submit and serve Him, He will not be your Saviour, but your vengeful and eternal Enemy.

I know words like the last paragraph bother a great many persons and people, that is not my problem..it is their problem that should be taken up with the Lord.  I am fully ready to defend my teaching and belief, are they…Methinks not.

Godspeed.

“…another Jesus…”  (2 Corinthians 11)

Paul in his second (2nd) epistle or letter to the Corinthian church, he forewarns them of another Jesus.   Christ Himself forewarns in the Gospels that many Christs would come claiming to be Him and that we were not to adhere to them nor their false claims. So we should not be surprised by deceiving wave of false Christs or false teachinge preaching about their false Christ.  If fact, we should be surprised if there weren’t any.  To me, it is surprising that with these dire warning that more of the church is not watching for them and that so many instead, are falling for them!!!

This writer is always on the lookout and is in doubt of every preacher and their false Christ, until they prove otherwise. Yes, Reader, if you are a preacher or even a Christ-ian, I have doubted you at the beginning and doubt still, in some cases.  I have been told to “test the spirits.” so I do.  I have been warned to “prove all things,” so I do.  I have been told to “Take heed unto all I hear,” and I do.  I have been told of lying and deceiving sprits, false tachers, false prophets, false Jesus’ and not to take heed, so I do and I do. Reader, you are told to do the same.

In the movies there is the “American Ninja,” in Pro Wrstling there was the “American Dragon,” and in the world and in the church, there is and will be the “American Jesus.”

In this article we’re going to write about the “American Jesus.”  Of course, the American Jesus” is a made up but very believed in Jesus. This article, I must forewarn, may offend some and I hope it does. Sometimes to offend someone gets them to read on and also think about the offense instead of letting it pass. We do not seek to offend simple to be offensive but the truth tends to do this on it’s own. James tells us that we will offend in many ways, we need to try to offend, it will happen naturally or manbe, supernaturally.

What are some traits of the false Jesus?
*The false Jesus often has skin that is white or black.  I have preached in black churches and they had large paintings of a black Jesus.  Am I racist or bigoted for objecting to these? The only objection I have to these is there unfaithfulness to sound doctrine and Scripture.  Reader, Christ was not a white man with blond hair or blue eyes.  Reader, Christ was not a black man with brown eyes.  The Sciptiual Christ was a Man of olive colred skin and brown eyes!!! How do I know this?  The Scriptures tell us he was jewish and there was nothing about Him that made Him stand out, interms, of physical appearance.

In Scrpture, there were a number of times where His listeners had to asks, “Is this Jesus?”  or “Are you Jesus?”  In fact, He Himself tells us that He will return with great signs that will not be mistaken. He will return in the cloudes with great power.  He will return with a great army of angels and saints and tremendous signs. These are to let it be known His real identity because many will have come in His Name, claiming to be the deal Jesus. In fact, the anti-christ will be on the stage claiming to be Christ and he will have great signs and wonders accompaning him, if it were possible this anti christ would deceive the very elect of God!!!

This false Jesus will and does love everyone. He would be everyone’s idea of Jesus. This false Jesus will be everything to everybody.  He will do great things. This false and abominable Jesus will want every one to be rich and cured of every disease. This liar will preach or be preached and will want everybody to be saved, healthy, wealthy, and wise.  Remember, Reader, I am not only writing about the anti christ but about the American jesus that has been in the church for many, many, many years…all the way from the beginning and birth of the church. John wrote that they “already are [present].” Peter, James, John, and Paul all dealt with them, “from the beginning.”

Reader, the real Scriptural Christ, does not love everybody (John 17), does not offer Salvation to every body (John 6), Does not desire health and wealth to everyone (John 5). This Jesus will not be confused with false shepherds when He returns (Matthew 24 and 25).  This Jesus is not nice to every one or all the time, (Matthew 23).  This Scriptural Jesus is not to be trifled with (John 2, and John 18; Acts 5)

Reader, the American Jesus is a far, far cry from the real Jesus, but so very many have fallen for this fake shepherd and will not be convinced otherwise, for the fake Jesus is far more apealing than the Real Deal.  Bo not deceived, the false jesus and His people will be cast away into utter darkness and eternal torment with each other.  “Even so, Come, Lord Jesus.”