Success Or Obedience?

Pragmatism in a lot of churches is king. These “Pastors” are doing whatever it takes to get results; i.e. get money because they are greedy. So, if you are in a megachurch with beautiful architecture, a cafe, a wing for the children, a nice bookstore, gifted singers and musicians and plenty of money in the coffers, these optics are supposed clear indicators God is blessing that church. While there is nothing wrong with these aesthetics in of themselves, it does not mean the Spirit of God is residing there.

As we often say, looks can be deceiving. What is being sacrificed in a lot of these large churches is sound doctrine. If you’re preaching another gospel or what I call an alien gospel, you’re not blessed, but rather cursed as per the scripture.

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel - not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

As we have said before, so now I say again, If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.

Galatians 1:6-10

I hope the reader realizes how penetrating these words are from the apostle Paul. The word accursed in the Greek is anathematizo where we get the word anathema which means to devote one to destruction.

To be blunt, what I am seeing and hearing often on YouTube is stupidity. At best it is foolishness, at worst it is demonic - I vote for the latter.  Sadly, we have too many Christians that are babies when they should be mature doctrinally. Every new charlatan that comes to town with some aberrant heretical revelation gets the opportunity to defile a pulpit and butcher God’s holy Word and play spiritual “whack-a-mole” with the parishioners. The under shepherd of that house does not have the courage or the discernment skills himself to protect the flock entrusted to him by God. As a result, the flock is fleeced, and the itinerant hireling (i.e. false teacher) walks away with the money bag to defile another pulpit in a different city.

Now, on the surface those that misuse the Word of God to manipulate the minds of the unsuspecting appear to be successful - they are the ones with the fancy clothes and jewelry, the palatial homes, the private jets and bread in their pockets! In actuality they are poor. 

Here is how I know.

Jesus says:

And to the angel of the church of Laodicea write: The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. I know your works, you are neither cold nor hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have need of nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor blind, and naked.

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Revelation 3:14-19

Many churches fall into the category of the Laodicean. They are claiming they are successful, but they are not. They are disobedient. This starts with the Pastor. What he teaches often determines the behavior and worldview of his members. Since so many Pastors are deficient Bible expositors, they are misleading their congregations with these “Santa-Ana-Windy-Doctrines” (Ephesians 4:14). To cover up for their anemic teaching, they whoop and holler, babble in non-biblical tongues, and have you turn to your neighbor a 1000X’s in service. The music is banging loud. Nowadays apostate “black churches” are bumping, “They Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar. Your endorphins have kicked in - your emotion has superseded your logic and you’re ripe for slaughter by the pulpit pimp. You can guarantee there will be manipulative language with a Bible twist for the money grab - a tithes and offerings "sermon" of guilt they always teach out of context; lying to you that when you give to God (when it is actually them) He is going to give you a supernatural financial and/or material breakthrough.

The church goer has been conditioned to behave every week like Pavlov’s dogs without knowing it. These types of churches are abusive.

Success or Obedience?

You see, it’s easier to want to be culturally relevant as a church. But, the most important need for the church is the teaching and equipping the saints and preaching of the gospel to the lost. Souls are at stake. Other things while important are secondary like taking care of the needs of the poor and community outreach.

Here’s how a church will be successful and obedient:

For the Teacher/Pastor

Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers

1 Timothy 4:16

Shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

1 Peter 5:2-4

When a Pastor practices the aforementioned, he will be successful indeed because he is obedient indeed. There will never be true success without obedience to the truth.

Glorification And Glory

Christians are here on earth to serve our King, the Lord Jesus. Jesus upon His ascension to the Father after He resurrected commanded His disciples to replicate themselves, i.e. make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).

If your view of the Church is merely what you often see in cyber space and YouTube, the aforementioned does not resemble the current "church's" mission at all. What I call the postmodern church is a seeker-sensitive-concert-social club atmosphere. The bootleg Pastor does not teach on sin and repentance and sound doctrine for he/she does not want to offend those whom they claim to love with the truth. Rather they lull the naive and gullible to sleep with a hypnotic false gospel; one that gets you riled up with ridiculous whooping and hollering - making way too much noise and saying nothing, along with misleading you to be greedy for money because being rich is the goal in this life right?

What I and many others know is the only ones getting rich are the wolves in the pulpit. Their parishioners are broke and will stay broke if they continue to follow a incubus/succubus.

The meaning of a disciple is to be a learner, a follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus never painted a pretty picture to those He called to follow Him. Anyone wonder why there are so many pretenders in the Church? Once they are fully aware what it will cost to follow Christ, they bail out. The Apostle John said it like this, "They went out from us because they are not of us. If they were of us, they would continue with us. But they went out, that it might become plain they they all are not of us (1 John 2:19).

Jesus said, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62).

You must know why you are a Christian. You're not likely to get all your dreams fulfilled because you're a Christian. Sometimes what we desire is out of the will of God. One of my late Pastors wisely told our congregation that God will never answer a prayer that will not give Him glory. 

How do we give God glory?

Simply put, we have to be obey the commands of the Lord. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:31-33, "So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. Give no offense to Jews or Greeks or to the Church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything. I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. 

To give glory is bestow honor, majesty and praise to God. We extol and magnify his name in the earth through our lives. The only way to do that correctly is through the knowledge of the truth of scripture. 

In Jesus' mountain sermon he preached to the crowds, "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). 

That my friends encapsulates the Christian life. 

This is what we all want Jesus to say to us when we are judged for our lives here on earth: 

"Well done good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord" (Matthew 25:21-23).

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 - Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is this the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether it be good or evil.

Wise and common sense words from King Solomon.

In order to enter God's glory, we have to glorify Him right here and right now.

Is Jesus Deity?

Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 start off identically, "In the beginning..." After that Genesis continues, "God created the heavens and the earth." John continues, "In the beginning was the Word" (Greek Logos). The word Logos theologically is a title of Jesus Christ unlike the Greeks definition of the logos which to them simply means: word, discourse or reason, a divine intelligence. Jesus is the Word of God, the Logos personified. 

Its essential I compare the two references; Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1 because what John proves is that the Word is preexistent, God in the flesh, and the Creator of the universe. John 1:1-4 reads:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men

The phrase the Word was with God ( pros ton theon) depicts a close intimate relationship with the Father. The English language does not capture the intensity of the perfect relationship between the Father and Son. The phrase the Word was God is extremely important. In the Greek it is: theos en ho logos. The word was is in the imperfect tense. This refers to continuous or linear action in past time.  What this means is that the Greek verb eimi (was) describes the Word's eternal existence, before the beginning of time. Jesus is and has always been the second person in the Trinity.

Proving that Jesus is divine, and He is deity, it should be logical to believe that He is the Creator and sustainer of all things (John 1:3). 

In Colossians 1:15-18 we read, "He (Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through Him and for Him (emphasis added). And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in every thing He might be preeminent."

Two words need to be defined here. 1) Image: Greek is eikon. This means Jesus is the same essence as the Father. 2) Firstborn: Greek is prototokos. This is a compound word. Proto means first. The second Greek word is tikto which means to beget or bring forth. So firstborn in this context is making reference to Jesus as a being first and preeminent above all things since He is the creator and sustainer of all things.

Texts that also prove Jesus is God

Isaiah 9:6 - For unto us a Child is born, unto us a child is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah made this prophecy approximately seven hundred years before the birth of Christ.

John 8:58-59 - Jesus said to the religious leaders, "Before Abraham was I AM." The Pharisees knew what Jesus was claiming; that He was the voice of the burning bush (Exodus 3:14); deity so they picked up stones to kill Him, but He was able to escape their threats for it wasn't time for Him to die yet.

The letter "I" is where we get the word ego which is a emphatic personal pronoun (epn). The emphasis is being placed on the person; in this case the Lord Jesus.  AM is the Greek word eimi which means to exist. In English we would use the verb "to be". AM is in the present indicative (pin). The present indicative asserts something is occurring in the present continuously. In essence Jesus was saying before Abraham was born, I was always here.

John 20:29 - When Thomas touched the resurrected Lord's hands and put His hand into His side he said, "My Lord and my God."

Titus 2:13 - while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 1:9 - Your throne O God, is forever and ever, and the sceptor of your kingdom is a sceptor justice. You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; this is why God, your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.

In the above verse God the Father calls the Son God - twice! This text along with all the ones I have cited prove Jesus is indeed God in the flesh. He was in eternity past, He was during His first advent, and will be when He returns the second and final time to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).

Judgment Is Coming! Are You Ready?

 I believe it is safe to say those that are rich in this world are not looking to die anytime soon if they are rich and happy. Why would they? They are living the "good life" as we say. Sadly, many that are rich in this world may have everything they want materially, but are bankrupt spiritually toward God. That's a horrific state to be in. What is worse, they have no clue that their day of reckoning is near.

Judgment is coming, and none will escape it.

Two rich men: The careless fool and the inquiring pragmatist

Then He (Jesus) told them a parable, saying, The land of a rich man was fertile and yielded plentifully.   And he considered and debated within himself, What shall I do? I have no place [in which] to gather together my harvest. And he said, I will do this: I will pull down my storehouses and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain or produce and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many good things laid up, [enough] for many years. Take your ease; eat, drink, and enjoy yourself merrily. But God said to him, You fool! This very night they [the messengers of God] will demand your soul of you; and all the things that you have prepared, whose will they be? So it is with the one who continues to lay up and hoard possessions for himself and is not rich [in his relation] to God (Luke 12:16-21).

The Lockman Foundation. Amplified Bible (AMP 1987) 

The above describes one who lacks common sense, mental stability and sobriety. This person is reckless and detached from reality. He has no idea that he could die at any moment and after which time he will face the judgment of God. Why doesn't he know this? Because he is a fool and is spiritually dead. A person like this has gained the whole world but is in grave danger of losing his soul if he refuses to repent (Matthew 16:26).

Now we analyze the second man who was a rich ruler.

And a certain ruler asked Him, Good Teacher [You who are essentially and perfectly morally good], what shall I do to inherit eternal life [to partake of eternal salvation in the Messiah’s kingdom]? Jesus said to him, Why do you call Me [essentially and perfectly morally] good? No one is [essentially and perfectly morally] good—except God only. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, do not witness falsely, honor your father and your mother. And he replied, All these I have kept from my youth. And when Jesus heard it, He said to him, One thing you still lack. Sell everything that you have and divide [the money] among the poor, and you will have [rich] treasure in heaven; and come back [and] follow Me [become My disciple, join My party, and accompany Me].

But when he heard this, he became distressed and very sorrowful, for he was rich—exceedingly so. Jesus, observing him, said, How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to enter through a needle’s eye than [for] a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. And those who heard it said, Then who can be saved? But He said, What is impossible with men is possible with God (Luke 18:18-27).

The Lockman Foundation. Amplified Bible (AMP 1987) . 

From the reading of the text it appears the rich ruler was genuine in wanting to know from Jesus how he could be saved. Jesus' reply was surprising and I want to analyze it. Jesus said to him, you know the law: Do not commit adultery, do not kill, do not steal, etc. The ruler replied that he obeyed all of the commands since he was a child. Why didn't Jesus tell him to simply believe on Him only to be saved? Why did Jesus refer to the commands of Exodus 20? Was Jesus implying he had to obey the law to be saved? If so, then this would mean we can be saved by earning our way into the kingdom by our own merits. No. Jesus was testing this man to see if he practiced what he preached.

Since he claimed he kept all the commandments Jesus put that confession to the test. He commanded him to sell everything he owned, give to the poor so that he will have heavenly wealth and follow Him like the disciples did. The rich man was devasted by this revelation; that he had not checked all the boxes on what was required for his salvation. In Matthew's gospel chapter 19:22 it says the ruler walked away sorrowful for he had great wealth. His god was his money. He proved he did not love God by violating the first commandment, "You shall not serve any other gods but Me" (Exodus 20:3). Jesus immediately exposed the rich ruler's hypocrisy by showing him that he did not obey the commandments like he proudly claimed he did. His salvation was no longer a priority if it ever was. Jesus said, "The one that attempts to save his own life will lose it. But he that is willing to lose his life for my sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39). He made the worst exchange of all, he was willing to give up eternal riches for temporary ones. As we say today, "He bet on himself" and by default rejected Christ. In the end, he was just as foolish as the first rich man I discussed.

I call this rich man a pragmatist because a person of his ilk will do what works for them, no matter if its moral or right. All that matters is the results fit to get him what he wants. Jesus shattered this rich young ruler's theology by letting him know that the only thing you lack is to be willing to give up the thing you love the most, your possessions. That takes sacrifice and dying to yourself. You see, his version of eternal life was not godly, it was worldly. Like many today, they want heaven here on earth. Perhaps that is what the rich young ruler wanted also. Is it any wonder Jesus said it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (Matthew 19:24)?

Jesus also wisely declared, "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and Mammon (Mammon is an Aramaic word that means treasure or riches, money Matthew 6:24).

Less I am misunderstood, the rich are not the only ones in trouble here. Those that are middle class and poor are not off the hook. 

The Word of God states for the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God, and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear ( 1 Peter 4:17-18)?

I hope the reader understands the severity the Apostle's statement here. First, God will discipline and chastise His own children (Hebrews 12:5-11). Many of us will be punished heavily for our disobedience to the Lord. But rest assured, we will not lose our salvation, but I daresay most of us will be severely warned for our sinful complacency in the kingdom. Can we be honest? Are we being as effective as we can be in the Church? I know I'm not. Oftentimes we are busy about the wrong things and not about the Lord's business. Its time that we all take self inventory and tighten things up. 

Why? Judgment is coming. Are you ready?

For those of you who are not Christians, you currently are under God's wrath because of your willful rejection of Jesus and the gospel (John 3:19,36). You do not have any hope right now because the devil is your father and he desires to kill you (John 8:44). That's the bad news. Here's the greatest news of all time! You can repent right now, today and get it right with God through Jesus Christ. His bloody sacrifice on the cross for yours sins is available for you to receive if you are willing to place your trust in Him. Once you believe in Christ, He takes all your sins away, forgives you, and He adopts you into His family as a son or a daughter. This is the only way anyone is ever saved. No one goes to heaven by being a "good person". God will not accept any sacrifice other than one believing on the One whom the Father has sent (John 6:29).

To attempt to earn salvation another way is a one way ticket to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15).

By God's extraordinary love mercy and grace I will escape God's holy wrath. 

Will you? (1 Thessalonians 1:10)

Why Are You Afraid?

 There are numerous things in this world that people fear. A terminal illness diagnosis. Loss of a Job. Not having enough money to pay bills and retire. The welfare and safety of our family. And most of all, the fear of death. So many people do not have an assurance of where they will end up when they die. Most believe and or hope they will end up in a better place because they have convinced themselves they are good. But who determines ultimately who is good and who is evil? Do we or God Almighty? 

It is the latter, God.

The phrase the world is going to hell in a handbasket while poetic and popular is true. This present world is going to burn  - literally! Environmentalists that want to save this world will not succeed. This beautiful planet with all its glory and splendor is disposable. Sorry but not sorry. I'll explain what I mean. 

I am sorry in the sense that I am firm believer that we should do all we naturally can to preserve and protect our natural resources; our forests, parks, lakes, rivers oceans and wildlife. I know there are many organizations that our committed to maintaining a healthy eco system like the U.S. Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, Fish and Wildlife and National Park Service. The reason I feel bad for them is because while they are fighting a noble battle now, they CANNOT save this planet. Here's why.

2 Peter 3:10 - But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up (emphasis added).

Verse thirteen provides us the promise of a re-created world: Nevertheless we according to His promise look for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:13; Isa 65:17; Rev 21:1). So you see, in order for us to inherit the new heavens and earth, the Lord will have to destroy the current one. The one we are living in now is full of unrighteousness so it cannot remain. This old evil place will undergo a literal baptism by fire!

This is why I am not sorry the old earth will be destroyed because of the new one that awaits us.

Who will enjoy the new heavens and new earth?

Only those who have repented of sins and genuinely placed their faith in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of eternal life in the here and now! Time is running out my friend to get it right with the Lord. No one knows when they will draw their last breath and wake up in eternity - either in heaven or hell. 

Those of us who are in Christ have nothing to fear because when we die, we will immediately wake up in heaven. The Bible says to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8). The Word of God are not just words on a page, they are the heart of God to mankind to internalize so that we are transformed in mind and heart. Without the truth from scripture a person is dead while they are alive. They are a corpse. How? Here it is. Scripture teaches us prior to one's conversion we are dead in our trespasses and sins. The great news is God has made us alive in Christ by regenerating us to newness of life by the Holy Spirit. (Eph 2:1; Col 2:13; Rom 6:4; Titus 2:13). It is the gospel message that saves the soul if it is received by the hearer. What is the gospel? That God in the person of Jesus Christ sent by the Father to come and save sinners from their sins, forgive them once they have believed in Him and His substitutionary work on the cross. Jesus said it plainly to the religious leaders of His day, "unless you believe that I AM He you will die in your sins" (John 8:24). To die in your sins is to die unforgiven; meaning that person will pay for their own sins in a Christless eternity due to rejecting their Lord and Master.

Jesus also gave this very sobering warning: "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell" (Matthew 10:28). If you reject Jesus Christ the only way to salvation, you have every reason to be afraid of what is going to happen to you. You need to repent today!

So in summary, a person will be afraid because they do not know what the future holds for them because they are ignorant of Biblical truth. Instead of listening to those of us who do know the truth, they rather play Russian Roulette with their souls and ape what most damned to hell people are saying when a person they love dies, "Well, they went to a better place." That is a deceptive comfort if it is not true. You do not have to roll the dice on your life. Jesus Christ has shown us the way, its Him, alone. He said, "I am the way the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by Me (John 14:6).

I know my eternal future is secure so I am not afraid. 

Do you know if yours is? If you are unsure I urge you to repent of your sins today, trust in Jesus Christ for your salvation so that your future is glorious instead of tragic.

Have I become your enemy because I tell you the truth? 

- Galatians 4:16

Is the Bible An accessory to many Church-goers?

 The answer to this question unfortunately is a resounding yes. Why do I make this assertion? Because many people take what their Pastor says hook, line and sinker instead of being like the Bereans in Acts 17:11 where it says that they received the Word with all readiness of mind and searched the scriptures daily whether these things were so. The Bereans didn't even take Paul's and Silas' word as true until they examined it; and these men received direct revelation from the Spirit of God! We have an obligation to study to show ourselves approved unto God, a workman who is not ashamed - rightly dividing the Word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). 

If you're not diligent in study, you will be duped by these numerous false teachers, wolves in sheep's clothing. Here's what these charlatans do: They love to say that "God told me to tell you..." Putting God's name on your falsehood clearly implies dogmatism does it not? This is where the hypnotism begins in these social-prosperity-gospel centers (I can't in good conscience call them churches). To make their "prophecy" appear authentic, they will take a Bible verse(s) out of context. What they are doing is claiming they have received "divine revelation", and they want the Bible to bow its knee to their divination. Remember, the Bible for the false prophet is an accessory and not the Necessity for life faith and practice. Once they get the foolish churchian[1] riled up with their ear-gasm i.e. your “breakthrough”, they fatten you up for the kill - the money grab! 

Mission accomplished. You've been played. 

I would love to say that the victim (i.e. church-goer) has been freed from their hypnotic trance, but most return the following week to receive the same abuse from the same wolf in the pulpit. We call this Stockholm Syndrome - when someone has an unhealthy affection or attachment to their abuser. This is far worse! This is spiritual witchcraft. This is what Paul said to the churches in Galatia:

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect in the flesh?

Galatians 3:1-3

        Screenshot taken from Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words                                                                   Thomas Nelson Publishers 1985, pg 65             
 

Understand why Paul is rebuking the Galatian church: He is upset with them and calling them fools because they received the true gospel and were saved by grace through faith and by the Holy Spirit - not by any external work they performed. But they began regressing, thinking their salvation would be sustained by works of the law rather than realizing their justification was by faith alone in Christ alone. Paul is piggy backing off a discussion he began in the previous chapter after witnessing Peter and other Jews play the hypocrite- stating that Gentile converts needed to keep the Mosaic law in order to be saved (Galatians 2:12-21). This is how a person begins to doubt their salvation, the power of God in their lives and the trustworthiness of the Bible. Think about it, if everyone in the pulpit is coming up with some new aberrant revelation every week, then the Bible is nothing more than an accessory to their heterodoxy[2] - it’s no longer the engrafted Word alone that saves the soul (James 1:21).

My Bible clearly tells me that God is not the author of confusion (1 Corinthians 14:33).

The abuser is masquerading as a representative of the Lord - using the Lord's name in vain as they mentally, intellectually and spiritually devour your mind and soul as they line their pockets.

What we are to do is what I said at the very beginning of this article is to carefully analyze what we are hearing and place it beside the scriptures to see if what they are saying is confirmed through Holy Writ. If it’s not, reject it and them (i.e. a person that habitually misinterprets scripture is not being Spirit led).

A person who is genuinely Spirit-filled will not perpetually teach gross and careless error on purpose - they just won't. They reverence and love God and His Word too much to do that. I get that we are flawed as humans, even the best of us will mis-interpret scripture due to poor hermeneutics[3], ignorance, naivete and sinful impulse which can lead to subjective unbiblical private interpretations, but that is never an excuse to not work hard to get the text of scripture right. We have the tools - commentaries, Bible Dictionaries, lexicons, Bible software, Authentic Bible Teachers and Expositors, etc. Most importantly we have the Spirit of the Living God (1 John 2:20).  You see, delivering the Word of God faithfully is a lifestyle and worship to God.

At least that is the way I see it.

Job said, "I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12). 

Jesus said to the devil, "It is written man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4, originally from Deuteronomy 8:3).

Psalm 19:7 - The law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul (italics added for emphasis). The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

Psalm 119:105 - Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path

John 6:63 - My words are Spirit, and they are life (Jesus speaking italics mine).

Using the Bible as an accessory shows one's disdain for God. We cannot treat the Bible like a handbag shoes or jewelry that we put on and take off. The Word of God if intentionally studied and understood changes your worldview, continually. You will (not probably) filter everything through a Biblical lens. It is a narrow road to think Biblically and most unpopular, but it is the only way that saves the soul.

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[1]  A Churchian is a church attendee not a Christian

[2] One of the meanings of Heterodoxy is unbiblical teaching vs Orthodoxy which is biblical teaching

[3] Hermeneutics is the science of interpreting scripture

Is the Bible a Accessory to many Church-goers? A Preview

If you're not diligent in study, you will be duped by these numerous false teachers, wolves in sheep's clothing. Here's what these charlatans do: They love to say that "God told me to tell you..." Putting God's name on their falsehood clearly implies dogmatism does it not? This is where the hypnotism begins in these social gospel centers (I can't in good conscience call them churches). To make their "prophecy" appear authentic, they will take a Bible verse(s) out of context. What they are doing is claiming they have received "divine revelation", and they want the Bible to bow its knee to their divination. Once they get the foolish churchian[1] riled up and ear-tickled, they go in for the kill - the money grab! 

Mission accomplished. You've been played. 

I would love to say that the victim (i.e. church-goer) has been freed from their hypnotic trance, but most return the following week to receive the same abuse from the same wolf in the pulpit. We call this Stockholm Syndrome - when someone has a strange affection or attachment to their abuser. This is far worse! This is spiritual witchcraft.