The Letter Killeth

It wasn’t so long ago I had thought that the Love of God was reserved only for those who had repented of their sin and been born again.  I’d studied the word of God religiously for quite a few years and believed with all of my heart that I was following Christ down the narrow path which leads to life. Interestingly the more I studied the word, the narrower and more difficult that path seamed to become and the fewer I could see as being loved by God and finding His mercy.

Not only that, but the fewer I could see that could possibly be saved from a fiery eternal hell.

I recall watching a video one day about the love of God in which the presenter outlined his case for a simple biblical truth, that God does not in fact love sinners, but condemns them to eternal damnation in which there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. In hindsight I am ashamed because at that time I whole heartedly agreed.

I’m not exactly sure how I began to move away from that place, but I can testify to a certain spiritual truth that I ought to have learned, that the letter kills. Holding to the letter of God’s word doesn’t bring forth the life that the Lord has promised. It simply continues to produce Pharisees and keepers of the law, of which I was one. And pharisaic thinking only ever produces people who pass judgment in a spirit of condemnation.

The truth is that in my heart I had become like a Pharisee, who could not see the life in His word, but rather, judgment and condemnation.

What also contributed to my moving from that place was the slow realization that many of the doctrines of Christendom which are taught as absolute truth, are in fact not. Furthermore, for all of our so-called understanding of God’s word, the multitude of teachers and preachers really did not, nor do have answers for so many of the things which Christ taught.

As a result of this doubt I began to distance myself from the institutional church doctrines and religious traditions and find a life in which I could live the gospel amongst people who were not churched. People who would be considered outcasts, on the edge of society, even oppressed and afflicted.

Many times I would come home in tears for these people. I would ask the Lord why He had me ministering amidst a people who continue to reject much of the faith, and furthermore what was the point if they were all going to burn in hell. I vaguely recall hearing the spirit respond to my cries with an “you don’t understand”

Eventually I think I began to understand why it was that Christ said that the love of many would grow cold.  It was the pharisaic church doctrines that prejudged and damned men to a fiery hell. These doctrines often plant a seed in the mind of the believer that these people are not worthy of the love of God and so we separate ourselves from them, judge them as condemned and move on to building our church buildings and ivory towers.

Sadly, much of the church have taken the words of Christ and established their doctrines on a carnal interpretation of His words. Think about it, look at how we have interpreted much of His teaching and turned the good news into a doctrine of judgment and condemnation. The letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.

This spirit of condemnation and judgment that is so prolific in church doctrine is often contradicted even by the words of the scriptures. The Gospel was delivered to men as the good news. The psalmist wrote “The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him”  We really need to ask how for instance that verse fits in to the traditional doctrine of the vast majority of humanity being consumed in a lake of fire.

If we  look at His works toward men, everywhere Christ went He did nothing but good works amongst an unbelieving and rebellious people. The works of His life are characterized by grace, mercy and truth. Yet, we turn them into the bad news.

If you, if I, if we really want to understand what Christ taught, we need to look at what He did.

I could go on for some time about the way I now view the gospel but one final thought to ponder at this time might be this. If the Lord asks us to love our enemies and bless those who curse us, then seals that verse with “and then you will be like your father in heaven”  why in heavens name would we expect that He should act in any contradictory way to this.

Surely He also loves His enemies and will bless those who curse Him.

Romans 11:32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and^[i] knowledge of God!
    How unsearchable his judgments,
    and his paths beyond tracing out!
³⁴ “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
    Or who has been his counselor?”^[j]
35 “Who has ever given to God,
    that God should repay them?”^[k]
36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.
    To him be the glory forever! Amen.

Tripped up by the Word

One of the issues that I am coming to terms with these last few years concerning Christianity is the growing realization that the history of the New Covenant people in Christ will in many ways, duplicate the history of the Old Covenant people in Moses.

As much as I’d like to say that God planned it this way, I don’t think I can. The Lord may have known how this would all play out, perhaps this is because He knows humanity better than we know ourselves. Whatever the case we ought to have been aware of the possibility that we would repeat the sins of our spiritual forefathers.

One example of a warning given us that we might not make the same mistakes is penned by Paul, who wrote the following words for our admonition in 1 Corinthians 10:1

1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.” 8We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. 9We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. 10And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. 11These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. 12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

We could also talk about many similarities of the two covenants, like the blessing of being brought into a land of milk and honey, in Christ. We could talk about the way in which God has prospered His people so that they might proclaim His Greatness, in Christ. We could talk about defeating the peoples in the land who worshiped other Gods, in Christ.

But we could also talk about, rebellion, apostasy, and a falling away. And we could look upon the Pharisaical nature of the New Covenant churches and the teaching of our modern day scribes.

One of my favourite quotes, not written in the word of God but perhaps should have been is this : One thing men never learn from history is that we never learn from history. Not sure who originally penned it, but it’s a great quote.

I read so many articles by many in the body of Christ who with the best of intention are seeking truth, but to put it simply, are being tripped up by the word of God. Don’t be fooled people, remember the example that we are given which was a generation of religious Jews who stumbled on the word of God. Though they set their minds upon the word of God, to know it, to understand it and teach it. When the Glorious Saviour and image of the living God appears amongst them, they knew Him not.

You have to wonder how that happens don’t you. I suspect that there are several reasons that we could allude to. Jesus own words offer some insight into this scenario in the following verse.

John 5:39 You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

Could it be that in our search for knowledge and understanding we so often resist the purposes of God too, because we resist Him. Preferring to lean on our own understanding, which is akin to idolatry and the breaking of the first commandment. Perhaps this is a little like eating from the tree of knowledge all over again. So in the words of Paul, lest history repeat “If you think you are standing firm, take heed, lest you stumble”

When we are so puffed up in self assured, self confident, self whatever? Pride, knowledge and biblical understanding, I’ll say it in an Aussie vernacular – You better be bloody careful.

It’s a rather humbling irony that one can diligently study the word of God, yet resist Him. We can in like fashion make an idol of our newly found place of understanding and begin to exalt ourselves in that knowledge. We can become as Pharisees, scribes and teachers of the law. Who in all sincerity did not know Him nor understand His purposes. That may sound ludicrous but I ask you to look around at what is being offered by Christianity today as the gospel of our Saviour. And I ask you to humbly look upon the sad plight that afflicted the Jewish religious system in Christ’s day who with all due respect probably studied the word of God in greater depth than you or I.

And so in this we too resist God and the cry of the prophets of old,  who could so often sum up their message like this “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!“ Amos 5:24.

Christ rebuked the religious because they neglected the weightier matters, like Justice, Mercy and Faithfulness. We may have our doctrine near perfect, but according to my reckoning, your heart can be as hard as nails and your neglect of the weightier matters no better than the pharisees. And on that count unless your rightoeusness exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:20

On one occasion when Christ delivered unto us an example of what it means to fulfill the commandment of God, He tells us a story about a wounded man laying on a road, and being taken in and cared for. You know the parable – the good Samaritan. It is not a parable about doctrinal perfection or the depth of knowledge of biblical prophecy concerning the end of all things. It is not a parable about moving in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. It is not a parable about living under the anointing. It is not a parable about words of knowledge or prophesying in the Spirit. It is a parable about Love, mercy and faithfulness.

This gospel that we are given to preach is a gospel that resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. It is a gospel that proclaims the loving kindness and tender mercies of a Gracious and long suffering God. It is the gospel of a God who sees the plight of many in this present evil age and who will one day save the poor, the meek and the afflicted out of all of their troubles. It is a gospel who’s foundation is love and finds little in kind with self exalted human wisdom that comes with the flesh of carnal men.

I can tell you these things because I have walked this broad road at times, I have stumbled and I have tripped up on the word of God. I have become proud and puffed up in knowledge and have at times felt that it would be better to be a fool than take upon oneself this attitude that looks down upon and despises those who walk on in darkness.

Just be bloody careful out there people, for when you think you stand, good chance you’re about to trip yourself up and fall.

Few

It’s a word we just don’t wanna hear isn’t it, that word few. I mean it’s not as though we don’t hear it, I think it’s rather that we don’t want to believe it. Not a hard word, not a big word, not too many letters in it, barely a few.

The more you say it the more ridiculous it sounds. Try it! Few, few, few, few, few,few, few…..

Oh brother Tim the day is coming when multitudes will be gathered into the kingdom in these last days, God will pour out His spiritual latter rain on humanity and multitudes will come to Christ.

Really! Cause I thought Jesus said it would only be a few.

Oh brother Tim, where is your faith, Oh ye of little faith. Do you not see that God is bringing reformation to the church and many are gathering together under the apostolic anointing to usher in the last day harvest of multitudes of souls.

Really, Cause I’m pretty sure that Jesus said it would only be a few, that would be saved.  He did say that many would be called, yeah, multitudes, a vast number, but pretty sure only a few would be chosen.

Brother, can you not see your folly, where is your faith.

Well actually my faith is in the word of God which says something along the lines of “as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in that day in which the son of man comes” and Noah was one of eight, of which it says, only a few were saved.

That’s it people, few! Few, few, few few, few. Got it now!

Mat 7:14       “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it”
Mat 22:14     “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
1 Peter 3:20 when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

Spiritual Intoxication

I’m no longer a big drinker but I certainly remember the days in which I was. Having a beer or few is a part of the Aussie culture, it’s the right of passage to manhood for many young Australian men. Sad but true, that was me, can’t deny it, though I’m not in that place anymore thank goodness, thank God.

A strange thing happens when we consume alcohol to the point of intoxication. Strange because there is a twofold effect. Firstly a false confidence, and secondly, a diminishing of one’s ability to see as clearly and react quickly.

It’s these two effects working together that often cause the most damage. The false confidence, the bravado, the bogus assurance, working hand in hand with a diminished ability to see clearly and react quickly is like a double whammy.  Of course we know the result of this is in terms of driving a vehicle, or operating machinery. Downright dangerous! Quite delusional when you think about it. To suppose that one can drive better, fight better, do something better in any sense at all, when one has had a few drinks. But that is usually what the brain tells us at that time, this is intoxication.

Looking at the natural effects that come with alcohol intoxication, we are granted some insight into the effects of spiritual intoxication.  A false confidence working alongside a diminished sensitivity to perceive danger and react accordingly. The net result is the same, downright dangerous. It’s just that this intoxication could cost you your soul.

Spiritual intoxication may not sound like a biblical concept but we are assured that it is.  Jeremiah wrote about this intoxication in his prophecies concerning Babylon the great, as did John in Revelation ;

Jer  51:7 Babylon has been a golden cup in the hand of the LORD, intoxicating all the earth. The nations have drunk of her wine; Therefore the nations are going mad.

Rev 17:2     Come I will show you the judgment of the Great Harlot,  with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication.

As you work your way through the many prophecies concerning Babylon the Great, this gift of hers to the world, to cause the whole earth to become intoxicated is clear.

The very problem that we are presented with in perceiving spiritual intoxication is that which presents in the natural variation. There will be a false confidence, a bravado and a bogus assurance attached to it. Which in turn causes a delusional state of mind. In like fashion the spiritually intoxicated person presumes that they will be fine, that all is ok, when in fact quite the reverse is true. The dark and profoundly dangerous reality of the situation being that the spiritually intoxicated person is blinded to the ever-present danger and in fact hindered from responding appropriately.

Interesting isn’t it! What exactly? I hear you ask. Yes the spiritual and the natural parallels, but more than that. That the Apostle Paul said that the Lord would send a strong delusion at the close of the age, to condemn all who received not a love of the truth that they might be saved. And the point being that strong delusions come to those who are spiritually intoxicated. And Babylon the Great’s gift to the world is to make the nations drunk, to intoxicate them with her idolatries.

As the prophet penned “therefore the nations have gone mad”

We also find a likeness of these last days unveiled for us in the days of the kingdom of Babylon under the reign of Belshazzar. Daniel Chapter 5 tells us that the people were feasting and drinking, using the vessels of the Lord and bowing before idols, thinking that all was well. We see parallels of intoxication, feasting and rejoicing, and the accompanying delusion of security. I imagine Belshazzar was thinking peace and safety, all is well, then sudden destruction came and Belshazzar was slain that very night. The kingdom was given to the Medes and the Persians.

So too, the end of Babylon the Great will come when many are confident, assured, even proclaiming peace, prosperity and safety. Unaware that they are drunk on the wine of the wrath of their fornication, deluded and blind to their perilous condition.

In closing this post I am mindful that we Christians need to be aware of that which brings the delusion. This is what you need to know, what causes the delusion. For if you know what causes the delusion, then you are granted a way of escape. You may well say at this very moment “I am not deceived” yet how will you know if you are deceived, for you may be deceived! Do those who have believed a lie, know they have believed a lie. Of course not, because they are deceived as a result of spiritual intoxication.

The great challenge which End-Time Christians are facing in this day is the need to discern the truth from the error. That we might not be found naked before God. And in this you need to be assured that in and of yourself you have very little ability to do this whatsoever.  Simple truth, just a fact. I trust that the most brilliant of human minds will stand confounded before God in that great day. It is only in Christ that you are granted the way of escape. And if we will do what He has asked us to do in His word, we will do well.

The primary cause of the end time delusion and snare that comes upon the whole world is idolatry. Babylon the Great seduces, lures, beguiles, draws and entices the world with her abundance and promises of peace, prosperity and security.

If you follow her, expect to become intoxicated, deluded and ensnared.

Other wise, follow Christ.  Give up, forsake, let go, abandon, deny…..just follow!

The magician and the strong delusion of these last days.

2Thes 2:11  And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,  2Th 2:12   that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

If you’ve ever watched great magicians at work then you have probably wondered at times how they manage to do such wondrous things.  I’m not a magician but I am aware that they skillfully use misdirection as one of their tools and through sleight of hand have you focus elsewhere whilst they work their magic. This is what makes it all so magical.  As a young man I watched Uri Geller many times, yet I couldn’t bend the spoons like he did.

And so it is in our day, that great trickery is being performed on the people by a master of intrigue, by one who causes deceit to prosper. So wondrous are his ways that he being like a skilled magician, weaves his web of deceit across the earth.

This end time trickery which is granted to satan to perform is in accordance with the judgment of God on an unrighteous generation, who delight in wickedness. The apostle Paul goes so far as to say that it is God who allows this deceit to prosper. “God will send them a powerful delusion, that they will believe the lie, so all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness” 2 Thess 2:11

And the lie is confirmed by counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders and by every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing.

The church is not mysteriously exempt from it, but it comes upon all who delight in wickedness, who receive not a love of the truth that they might be saved.

There is one particular aspect that I want to comment on concerning this end time delusion. It concerns sleight of hand, and misdirection. It seeks to mislead the people who have been called in Christ. You know the ones of whom it says “many are called, but few are chosen” It may even deceive the elect, if that were possible.

The game is almost over and most of the church is looking for a man of intrigue to arise in these last days. A man in the Spirit of Antichrist, a man who looks like Adolph Hitler or Antiochus Epiphanes, a stern faced king who comes to persecute and destroy the Holy People. And here is where so great an act of trickery has occurred, sleight of hand, and misdirected focus. So many looking forward to the coming wicked ruler, who will take his stand in the temple and destroy the Holy people.

And so in this presumption that he is yet to come, many refuse to see that he is already amongst us!  He has taken his stand against the prince of princes (Dan 8:25), and this because many were complacent,  felt secure amidst the kingdom of this world and the comforts that Babylon offered us.

Dan 8:25      He will cause deceit to prosper, and he will consider himself superior. When they feel secure, he will destroy many and take his stand against the Prince of princes.

Love for the things of the world has blinded the eyes of many to truth and the powerful delusion spoken of by the Apostle Paul is coming to it’s conclusion.

The devil has misled many, the stern faced king has hidden himself behind a facade of leaders, rulers and ministers who look more like angels of light than they do evil imposters. Such trickery!

Awake people, lift up your eyes? The church is being slaughtered by the spirit of antichrist in our day. A day in which so many suppose that he will yet appear in a Jewish temple. The land is strewn with the bodies of the dead who have delighted in the wickedness that the false prophets and false teachers have offered. Can you not see it? It is every bit as real as the slaughtered bodies of the Jews under the reign of Epiphenes.

Jer 4:10 Then I said, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, how completely you have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, ‘You will have peace,’ when the sword is at our throats.”

People, you cannot follow Christ, a little bit. You cannot have the world and Christ. You cannot serve God and mammon, you must pick up your cross and follow. You cannot love the lord your God and hate His people or have no desire for their good. You must deny yourself and your own desires in order to gain Christ. And without holiness no man can see God.

To attempt to enter the sheepfold by any other method is lawlessness and according to the working of satanic lying signs and wonders. The only way is the way of the cross of Christ.

Our security in this day is to abide in the love of Christ. That is to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, all of your mind, all of your soul and your strength. And He will be your strong tower in the day of trouble.

The end of all things is at hand, watch and pray lest you be caught in the net that has been set to ensnare all who would not receive a love the truth, that they might be saved. But rather they delighted in wickedness.

Deception in the church

Thanks to “slaughter of the sheep” for highlighting the video below in a recent post. I’ve been pondering this performance with  a sense of sorrow since I first watched it some days ago.  Initially I kind of laughed it off but later felt somewhat saddened at the realization of the place to which much of the  church has arrived.

I imagine that if every Christian were to sit down and watch this video there would be a huge division between those who felt is was genuine Holy Spirit inspired preaching and prophecy, and those who thought it were more akin to dealing in familiar demonic spirits. That is to say from a biblical perspective that satan himself had appeared as an angel of light.  2 Corinthians 11:13.

And it is this huge division, and absolute lack of spiritual discernment that adds to the sorrow.  How is it that we cannot discern Christ from Satan anymore? What have we done to the gospel? What have we done to the Christ?   This is all just so awful, an abomination! Sorrow, because the temple of God is defiled.

You may be waiting for satan to inhabit a temple in Jerusalem as a sign of the end, but I’m pretty sure that this is the temple defilement that the scriptures allude to. And if it is, then it’s a sign that we are perilously close to something significant concerning the end of all things.

Perhaps you are one who supposes that this is Holy Spirit inspired teaching and prophecy. If you do then as lovingly as I can suggest, would exhort you to search the scriptures with all godly fear, and seek the wisdom and discernment that a luke-warm and materialistic generation desperately needs. Lest you also be part of the spewing out of the body of Christ, which is taking place right now. Christ told us it was going to happen, and here it is. Rev 3:16.

In the video one cannot ignore that in almost every case that the prophet (so called prophet) gives a word of knoweldge, he makes an association to either financial blessing, financial increase, ministry increase or healing as a result of financial giving (seed offering). To those who are covetouss in heart, it is music to ones ears.

In response to prophet Mannaseh’s prophecying :

People, your love of money, riches, finance and worldliness have blinded you to the true riches that I offer, and now behold I will allow you to perish in your own delusions, lest you turn from your wicked ways and seek My face.

Peter answered: “May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! Acts 8:20

Come out of her My people!

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4).