Who are you following?

  Who are you following?

In the book of Revelations we read,

"To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: 

These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword.  

I know where you live—where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city—where Satan lives. 

Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.  

Likewise you also have those who hold to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.  

Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. 

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it.” Revelations 2:12-17.

Here the church at Pergamum is commended by Jesus for staying true even though a member of their church Antipas was put to death for his beliefs.

Jesus goes on however to note that the church a Pergamum is mixing the teachings of Balaam with their faith in Christ and holding to the teachings of the Nicolaitans both heretical teachings.

He warns that if they do not repent from teaching these false teachings, Jesus himself will fight against them.

Those who turn from these teachings however will be given a reward for doing so.

Question:

Are you following false teachers?

Are the pastors, evangelist, and teachers you follow truly teaching The Word of God?

Please think about it.

Happening today

  Happening today.

The apostle Peter wrote,

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”2 Peter 2:1-3.

What Peter is saying here is happening today. There are preachers, evangelist and teachers who are proclaiming a false doctrine. They are in many cases doing it to line their own pockets. 

They quiet often exploit the poor. And those who are truly searching for Christ.

In the multi media world we live in anyone can hide what they are truly like.

Sadly it seems there are as many charlatans in the Christian world as there are outside of it. Men and women who are nothing short of snake oil salesmen selling lotions, potions and formulas that they say are from God and lead to God. Things that are completely false.

   Men and women who hide behind freedom of speech laws and freedom of religion laws.

That is why we must be vigilant as to who we support. We are called to follow Christ by faith not men and women who say they are from God.

Men and women fall all the time. Men and women have been known to fleece the sheep of their hard earned money. 

God does not!

Please take sometime to look carefully at the pastor, evangelist or teacher you support and ask yourself is what they are saying truly interpreting scripture correctly?

Please think about it.

Do you follow preachers blindly?

  Do you follow preachers blindly?

The apostle Peter writes,

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping" 2 Peter 2:1-3

Here Peter warns about false teachers arising. Introducing heresies and denying Jesus.

One commentator states they will “commercialize” the Christian faith for their own gain. It is happening today.

There are many especially in the media that are stating things that Jesus never taught. They are twisting the words of Jesus for their own gain. Sadly many of these prosperity doctrine preachers are seen as the face of Christianity in the media.

These people are giving God a black eye.

There only purpose is to line their own pockets.

When I speak to people especially none Christians and they note how commercialized Christianity seems to be I agree with them. 

Peter warns, "In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up."

Sadly many people are blindly trusting these preachers, teachers, and evangelist.

As Christians we need to look carefully at the people we follow. We need to check what they are saying against the Bible. We need to ask the question are these people truly following the teachings of Christ?

Do you do this? OR do you blindly believe the preachers, teachers, and evangelist because of their ‘position’ in the media or church?

Please think about it.

Handbarrow to hell

Handbarrow to Hell

The apostle Peter writes,

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute."2Peter2:1,2 

In his book Essentials in Christian Faith, published in 1950 John B. Harrington quotes a quote by Paul Callico published in Esquire Magazine in 1948. It is a quote that could have been written today. Harrington states,

"A writer in a popular magazine has written the following words; 'We are all, if you will pardon the expression, Headed for Hell in a handbarrow. If, ever the people of the world stood in need of a spiritual revival, it is now. We are beginning to poison the face of the earth with our miserable presence. The brakes are off. The cart of the world is sliding down the way greased with hatred, ambition, lies, self-seeking and avarice toward the pit.'"

Harrington notes that Gallico makes no pretense of being "a religious man" noting that "...for him it is precisely religion in its organized forms which has in part caused the situation he deplores. He is careful to state that it is not "religion" for which he is looking. For in his opinion, religion throughout the history of our culture has advanced its control over human beings by the investment of bigotry and persecution. 

Yet, out of despair over the current human situation he says; ‘The voice for which my heavy spirit is yearning must reach us all... For if it is not heard, we are lost. Something beyond our material enrichment and lust for power and position, some rewards founded on good will, selflessness, and the innate dignity of the human spirit...honour, humility, decency courage."

Another Paul writing to a member of the first century church wrote the following,

"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" 2 Timothy 3:1-4

If Paul Gallico is right and I believe he is, mankind is considerably nearer the bottom of that slope than he was in 1948. Moreover at the bottom of that slope is a very deep lake filled with brimstone.

When I speak I can only truthfully speak of what I see first hand here in North America where I live. I can see religious men and women claiming to be Christians bringing Gods name into disrepute as the apostle Peter noted. 

Sadly there are many high profile men and women calling themselves Christians and prophets who are not. Men and women who are leading people astray and turning others away from God. Possibly sending individuals into a Christless eternity.

These false teachers will one day hear the words of Jesus who said,

"Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." Matthew 25:41. 

In the meantime we as true believers in Christ Jesus need to be on the lookout for such preachers and stay away from them. We need to obey the word of the apostle Paul who said,

As the apostle Paul said,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.

Please think about it.

Away from me

Away from me
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.
Here Jesus makes things clear. Not everyone claiming to be a Christian, a follower of his really is. They will make claims that they did miracles, and drove out demons and even prophesied in Jesus name. Yet they will not get into heaven. Jesus saying “away from me you evildoers.”
The apostle Peter warns,
"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute." 2Peter2:1,2.
The apostle Paul warns,
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,  without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good,  treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God—  having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
This has happened throughout the history of Christianity and is still happening today.
Here in North America where I live we have incredible freedoms. Sadly there are many claiming to be Christians who use that freedom for their unholy ways. Men and women who are everything the apostle Paul warned Timothy about.
Sadly also many who truly believe in Christ Jesus are being led astray by these people.
As believers in Christ Jesus it is up to us to study the bible. To use trusted commentaries on the bible that are not just from one point of view.
We need to carefully listen to what the preacher, evangelist, or teacher is preaching and compare it to what is said in the Bible. We need to pray and ask God to give us guidance. To look at the scripture they are quoting and see if it is not taken out of context. Check and see if it is truly the truth being taught and not a lie.
It can be a daunting task I know for many people. But I believe if we pray with sincerity asking God to show us what is right and what is wrong He will show us.
The key is reading the bible for yourself. Get to know what the bible says well. Take the advice of the apostle Paul who writing to Timothy said,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15.
Please think about it.

Many will say, Many are not.

Many will say, Many are not.
Jesus said,
"Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Matthew 7:22,23.
The other day I found a couple of interesting quotes. One from Lenny Bruce said,

“Every day people are straying away from the church

 and going back to God. Really.” 

                                      Lenny Bruce, "Religions Inc."

The other is from an unknown author it states,

I believe in God; I just don't trust anyone who works for him.”

                                                                               Author Unknown

Sadly here where I live in North America this is true. What passes for the face of Christianity particularly in the media is not that of true Christianity. Many who profess to be Christian pastors, evangelist and teachers are not. They are nothing more than charlatans quite often trying to separate people from their money.
The apostle Paul warned about these people when he wrote,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
The apostle Peter states,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”2 Peter 2:1-3.
God will eventually judge these people, as I quoted above Jesus said,
"Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Matthew 7:22,23.
I think for anyone who is not a Christian the way to tell a true Christian a true believer in Christ Jesus is to look at their life. Look to see if what the apostle Paul called the “fruits of the spirit” are active in their life. The fruits of the spirit being,
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22,23.
For those reading this who claim to be Christians, followers of Christ Jesus, I would ask; Are you truly exhibiting the fruits of the spirit in your life?
Please think about it.

A time will come

A time will come
The apostle Paul writes,
"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2Timothy 4:3,4.
Evangelist Charles H. Spurgeon
"A time will come when instead of the shepherds feeding the sheep. The church will have clowns entertaining the goats." Charles H. Spurgeon.
This is happening today both in the media and in the pulpit. Many people calling themselves Christians are going to church to be entertained as Spurgeon put it by clowns. Church congregations in many cases have become social clubs.
Men and women as the apostle Paul put it,
“... gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”
This should not be so. As St. Augustin said,
“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” St Augustine.
Here in North America with have complete freedom of speech. Such a thing can be a blessing and a curse at the same time. This is especially true when it comes to Christians.
Such freedoms allow charlatans who claim to be Christians to preach false doctrine. Doctrine that on the surface sounds good, but upon looking deeper are wrong.
Most Christians sitting in the pew or watching an evangelist in the media don’t question what is being said. They take the pastor or evangelist at face value and thus are easily led astray.
We as Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus I believe have an obligation to question those who claim to be preaching the word of God.
To study the scriptures and see for ourselves what is right and what is wrong.
So my question to you the reader is.
If you claim to be a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus are you studying the Bible for yourself?
Are you questioning what the pastors and evangelist you listen to are saying?
Are the pastors and evangelist you listen to truly teaching the word of God?
Please think about it.

The Biggest Idiot

The Biggest Idiot
The apostle Peter states,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.” 2Peter2:1,2  
In my previous blog I quoted evangelist Charles H. Spurgeon as saying,
"A time will come when instead of the shepherds feeding the sheep. The church will have clowns entertaining the goats." Charles H. Spurgeon.
Strange as it seems I understand what Spurgeon is talking about. You see before I retired I was a professional clown and magician. I always said it was my job to make people believe I was the biggest idiot in the room. I use a carefully scripted combination of words and movement to make people think things came out of thin air.
Every sentence I used every move I made was there to fool my audience. Like any good magician I used just enough truth to make things plausible. The rest was pure deception.
Sadly it is the same with many pastors and evangelist. Particularly those in the media.
While there are some very honest men and women in the media. There are also a lot of charlatans. Their only purpose to build themselves up and line their pockets.
These are the people that the apostle Peter was talking about in 2 Peter 2:1.2.
Unfortunately as someone pointed out to me in church many of these false teachers have become the face of Christianity here in North America. They have done exactly what Peter said, brought “the way of truth into disrepute”.
As Christians. True believers in Christ Jesus, we must be on our guard. We must make sure not to support such ministries.
I feel if we support any ministry we have the right to ask questions. Especially financial questions. We need to ask where every penny is spent. Even to the point of asking the salary and benefits the pastor or evangelist gets.
I know the church I attend every year gives account to its membership where the money goes and that includes the pastors salary.
Finances aside we also should be asking basic questions as to what the doctrinal statement of the ministry is and examine what the pastor or evangelist is saying.
If things don’t add up or there is any doubt in your mind you shouldn’t be supporting them.
There are many good ministries out there who are speaking the truth. Who are financially responsible. Taking care to spend every penny prayerfully. Ensuring what is spoken from the pulpit is doctrinally correct. These are the ministries we need to support.
Please think about it. 

1 X 7= 8

1 X 7 = 8
The other day my pastor as part of his sermon wrote the following on a board,

1 X 7 = 8

 2 X 7 =14 

3 X 7 =21

 4 X 7 = 28

Immediately the congregation noted he had something wrong 1 X 7 does not equal 8. They saw and commented on the one equation that was wrong not the other three that were right.
Rightly he pointed out that is the way people see those claiming to be Christians.
The other day I found two interesting quotes,

“I believe in God; I just don't trust anyone who works for him.”

                                                                               Author Unknown

Lenny Bruce noting,

“Every day people are straying away from the church

 and going back to God.” 

                                        Lenny Bruce

Sadly for many people outside the church this is true. I have met many people who truly believe in God but are turned off by the people who supposedly serve Him.
It is a sad fact there are many particularly here in North America where I live claiming to be Christians who are not. This is particularly true of many, But NOT ALL, evangelist and pastors who are in the media here in North America. The trouble is many both outside and inside the church cannot tell the difference. To them someone claiming to be a Christian and quoting from the bible is a Christian whether they are or not.
Jesus said,
“Many will say to me  on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:22,23.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
The apostle Peter states,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”2 Peter 2:1-3.
While ultimately these false teachers will be judged by God. I believe we as Christians have an obligation to speak up against these false teachers. The apostle Paul states,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
While it is true Christians should not judge anyone with respect as to where they will spend eternity. We have an obligation to expel false teachers from our midst.
I am however a realist. Here in North America there is no governing body that controls evangelist and pastors other. Added to that freedom of speech laws allow them to say what they wish.
The only control on a pastor or evangelist comes from the denomination they are part of. That being said if someone is expelled from their denomination they can set themselves up as independents as many have done, with no oversight whatsoever.
Thus it is incumbent on individual Christians to study the scriptures for themselves. By studying the scriptures I don’t mean following some lesson plan per say. As good as many may be.
I mean reading the Bible along with biblical history books and commentaries written by scholars of different stripes. Pray and ask God for wisdom and insight into the scriptures you are reading.
Always remember while there will be differences between believers in the minor things, there should never be differences on the major things.
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy and through him to us said,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15.
It is only by doing this that we will win souls for Christ.
Please think about it.

Just as there will be

Just as there will be
The apostle Peter wrote,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.” 2Peter2:1,2.
Someone once said to me if you want to find “juicy scandal” just look in the church. Sadly I think they are right. I think also when someone does things wrong that claim to be Christians be they in the pulpit or in the pew it comes across something far worse than if a non-christian did it. After all do not Christians claim the moral high road?
Peter warns there will be individuals who are false teachers. Teachers who introduce heresies. Who deny the sovereignty of Jesus. Who bring “bring the way of truth into disrepute”.
Sadly this happens a lot and Christians of every strip do not do a good job of policing themselves.
The apostle Paul tells Christians,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1Corinthians 5:12,13.
Now there is a wide range of interpretation when it comes to the scriptures and there is nothing wrong with that. That being said however we as believers in Christ Jesus must at times stand up against anyone who is bringing the teachings of Christ into disrepute.
Francis of Assis said,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                      Francis of Assisi

The world is watching Christians. Thus we must do all we can to live a life that reflects the love and teachings of Christ.
Please think about it. 

A Bible and a Whisky Bottle

A Bible and a Whisky Bottle

Harper Lee in her book To Kill a Mockingbird said,
“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)...”Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird.
A man with a whisky bottle in his hand, may be drunk, he may get into a bar brawl he may even cause bodily injury or death. As tragic as they are they in themselves have no eternal consequences.
On the other hand a man with a Bible in his hand who is incorrectly quoting scriptures can lead people away from God and the Salvation Christ Jesus brings. He can cause people to give up on God period. Things that have eternal consequences.
The apostle Paul warns,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
As Christians we need to be careful how we use the scriptures. We need to make sure we are using scripture in context. Not cherry picking verses to make them say what we feel they should say.
St. Augustine said,
“If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” St Augustine.
As believers in Christ Jesus people will see God through the lense of our life, of our words and deeds. As Francis of Assisi said,

“The deeds you do

 may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                   Francis of Assisi.

A grave responsibility sits on the shoulders of those who claim to be followers of Christ Jesus. Our words and deeds have eternal consequences.
People will make up their minds as to what they believe about Christ from what we say and do.”
Are you correctly handling the scriptures?
Are you correctly presenting the Love of Christ in word and in deed?
Please think about it.

An Admission from a Christian

An admission from a Christian.
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”Matthew 7:21-23.
The Church has been around a long time and like with any institution that has been around for millennia false teachers have entered the Church.
Unfortunately especially it seems when it comes to those who espouse to be in the evangelical church there is no policing. Preachers in North America in particular can say what they want to say. Which is a good thing in one respect. It’s called freedom of speech. With such freedom  however comes a responsibility to teach the truth. And puts the onus on believers to police themselves. The apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians tells us,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13
 In the above quoted scripture Jesus himself admits there will me many who say they did God’s work but were not true believers at all.
The Apostle Paul writing to Timothy said,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”  2Timothy 4:3,4.
I see these men in the media all the time. You only have to Google the names of some of these preachers to see they are not true Christians.
There is however a growing group of Christians in all denominations who are starting to take a hard look at the Bible and its teaching. They are turning back to the true teachings of Jesus. One of love for God, our neighbour and our enemy.
Men and women who believe the teachings of the Apostle Paul who said,

“If it is possible, 

as far as it depends on you,

 live at peace with everyone.”

                             Romans 12:18.

Who follow the teachings of Jesus who said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you,

 for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” 

                                               Matthew 7:12

Jesus who said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”Matthew 5:43-45
Jesus who when asked,
 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  
This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                      Matthew 22:37-40
Such men and women are the “new fundamentalist”. Men and women who know Jesus reached out to everyone irrespective of what they believed, their race, their ethnicity, or their lifestyle.
Men and women who dislike what passes for Christianity sometimes. People who wish to ensure that all people have the opportunity to feel the Joy and Peace only a relationship with Jesus can bring.
A relationship that costs nothing more than having faith in Christ.
As the apostle Paul put it,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9
Christianity is God reaching down to man. It is Jesus calling to each and every person saying,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
We believe as Christians have believed from the time of Jesus that the most important message we can give to the world is the words of Jesus who said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 
Please think about it.

Beware!

Beware!
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping” 2 Peter 2:1-3.
Here Peter warns about false teachers arising. Introducing heresies and denying Jesus.
The apostle Paul also gives a warning about false teachers. He states,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”  2Timothy 4:3,4.
As I look in the media I see these people all the time. Men and women who are perverting the word of God.
They talk a good talk but they are not speaking the word of God in spirit and in truth. It is these people we as Christians have to look out for.
I have heard a lot of wild claims made my men and women claiming to be speaking for God. Claims that have never been proven. Claims that have been disproved yet the people making these claims have not repented. They go on deceiving people usually for their own gain.
In the twenty-four seven multi media world we live in, we as Christians need to be vigilant.
We need to be studying the word of God for ourselves. We need to be in a Church that treats the word of God with respect. With pastors that truly fear God and do their best to teach the Bible the way God intended it to be taught.
Pastors who believe the words of Ecclesiastes when he states,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14
We need to remember the words of Jesus who said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”Matthew 7:21-23.
Please think about it.

Watch out

Watch out
The apostle Peter wrote,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.
Peter’s warning is a warning for the ages. We as believers in Christ Jesus must keep our own house clean. We must be completely committed to proclaiming the gospel message in the purest form possible.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. 
“Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
We as believers in Christ Jesus have no right to judge anyone inside or outside the church with respect to where they will spend eternity. That is God’s job. Not ours.
That being said we have an obligation to look at what is being taught in our church congregations and to expel from our congregations and denominations those who are not teaching the word of God in spirit and in truth.
We must remember we are the light of the world. The great evangelist Charles Spurgeon said,
“The Bible is not the light of the world, it is the light of the Church. But the world does not read the Bible, the world reads Christians! “You are the light of the world.”” Charles H. Spurgeon.
We therefore must not let anything dim our light. The message we proclaim to the world must be proclaimed to the world in word and in deed.
The apostle Peter telling us,
“Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.” 1 Peter 2:11,12.
Francis of Assisi reminding us,

“The deeds you do 

may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” 

                                                                  Francis of Assisi.

We must remember this. We must always be vigilant when it comes to those who would be preachers, and teachers of the word God.
We should be checking what they are saying against the Bible text, and if they are in error, we must correct them. If they will not take correction then we must be willing to as the apostle Paul put it “expel the wicked” from among us.
The only way we can do this is if we as individuals study the scriptures ourselves and with others in order the see the truths as they appear in the Bible.
Please think about it. 

For the time will come

For the time will come
The apostle Peter states,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”2 Peter 2:1-3.
Sadly as in the day’s of the disciples there are many today who proclaim to be followers of Christ Jesus who misrepresent him.
That’s why we must study the Bible for ourselves and even question those who teach us as to why they believe what they believe. That is especially true if we believe what they say is contrary or seems to be contrary to what the Bible says.
The purpose in the writing of the New Testament is to steer true believers away from false teachers. The purpose of the scriptures is,
1/ to proclaim God’s saving grace that comes through Christ Jesus.
2/ to teach new converts how to live their life for Christ Jesus.
3/ to rebuke and correct wrong teaching.
God knew there would be false teachers arising, that I believe is one of the many reasons He inspired the writing of the Bible.
In writing to Timothy the apostle Paul writes,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
As believers in Christ Jesus we need to pray and ask God to show us His truths. To study the Bible for ourselves and with others. To find a good church congregation that believes the Bible is the inspired word of God and presents it correctly.
We need to always remember that when there is a difference of opinion between the teachings in the Bible and the teachings of men, the Bible is the ultimate authority.
Please think about it.

Watch Out

Watch out
Jesus said,
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matthew 1:15.
Never has such a warning been necessary as in this century.
We live in a multimedia world. Where anyone with a smart phone can post there views on anything. This is especially true it seems when it comes to speaking about God. There are many people claiming to be Christians that are not.
They may seem to be. They may string a few scriptures together that makes them sound good but a closer look will see that they are not teaching the truth about Jesus.
The apostle Paul warned,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”  2 Timothy 4:3,4
The apostle Peter warned,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. 
Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.
  Such teachers were around in the time of the apostles and are very much around today.
Now I know within the Christian world there are differences of opinion on minor things.
However in order to be a follower of Christ Jesus we must agree on the basics.
The apostle creed while not written by an apostle of Christ is the baseline as to what I believe you need to believe in order to be a follower of Christ Jesus. It reads,
1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth
2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.
3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary
4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.
5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.
6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost
9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.
11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.
12. I believe in life everlasting.
What do you believe?
Please think about it.

Beware

Beware
Matthews Gospel records this parable of Jesus,
“Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field.  
But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away.  
When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 
“The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ 
“ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 
“ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them.  
Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’ ” Matthew 13:24-30.
This parable reflects the church today. There are many people calling themselves followers of Jesus who are not. They are “weeds” They may look like Christians outwardly. They may even quote scripture after scripture. They may even say they have performed miracles. But they are not Christians.
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  
Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  
Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.
Like someone has said just because someone goes to church or even speaks from a pulpit does not make them a true believer in Christ Jesus.
The apostle Peter warns,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.”2 Peter 2:1-3. 
As believers in Christ Jesus we need to be cautious. We live in a world filled with media of all kinds. Because of it we quite often do not see what a certain preacher, teacher of evangelist is truly like.
Just because someone seems a good God fearing person in the media, dose not mean they are good God fearing person. Does not mean they are following Christ.
Thus as believers we need to be praying and asking God to show us who is rightly administering his word.
We need to be studying the word of God to ensure we are not lead away by false teachers.
At the same time we need to hold those who would be espouse to be leaders in the Church, Be they pastors, evangelist or teachers up to a high standard.
The apostle Paul stated,

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? 

Are you not to judge those inside?  

God will judge those outside. 

“Expel the wicked man from among you.” 

                                                       1 Corinthians 5:12,13

While we should not judge a person as to where they will spend eternity. We do as Christians have the right to judge others who claim to be Christians with respect to what they are teaching, and how they are conducting themselves morally.
And if they are not teaching things correctly, or living a morally impure life, we have the right to expel them from our congregations.
Please think about it.

Message from Miletus

Message from Miletus
The book of Acts records a meeting between the apostle Paul and the elders of the Ephesian church at Miletus. While the meeting is recording Paul’s last visit with the elders from Ephesus, there is within it a warning we in the twenty-first century church need to heed.
The book of Acts states,
“Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again.  
Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men.  For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.  
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.  
I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.  
Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.  
So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. 
“Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” Acts 20:25-32.
Here Paul notes that he will never see the elders at Ephesus again. At the same time he points out that,
“Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men.  For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.”
In other words Paul states he has done his duty to God by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ whenever he has had to opportunity.
As believers in Christ this something we should be able to say. That we have not hesitated to present the Gospel of Christ, the salvation message whenever we have had the opportunity to do so.
Paul however goes on to give a warning to the elders of Ephesus and through them to us, who are believers in the twenty-first century. He states, 
“I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock.  
Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.  
So be on your guard!”
Matthew’s gospel quotes Jesus as saying,
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Matthew 7:15
It has been over two thousand years since Paul and Jesus gave us those warnings it however is a warning we today need to heed.
We live in a media filled world. A world where the truth can easily be twisted. It is very easy to string several scripture verses together and make them say something that is not true.
There are many men and women who use scripture for their own ill-gotten gains. To swindle people or lead them astray spiritually. Men and women who say they are of God but are not. That is why we must be on guard.
The Berean’s set the example for what we today need to do. The Book of Acts states that when Paul preached there,
“They received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” Acts 17:11.
Question:
If you claim to be a follower of Christ, when you hear an evangelist, preacher or other teacher of scripture are you examining the Scriptures to see if what they are saying is true?
Please think about it.

Caution

Caution
The Epistle of Jude warns,
“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.  
For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.” Jude 1:3,4.
Jude is warning believers about false teachers. Men who are teaching false doctrine. This is something anticipated by Jesus who said,
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matthew 7:15.
The apostle Paul also warns about such people.
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4.
It is so easy for a person to sound like a believer and not be one. It’s easy to memorize some scripture. Then take them out of context to make them sound as though it is right teaching when it is not. Many people have been deceived this way.
As Christians we need to know at the very least the basics of our faith. We need to understand that anyone who does not believe the core beliefs of our faith is not a true believer in Jesus Christ.
One universally accepted statement of Christian faith is the Apostles Creed. While not written by the apostles it states the basic beliefs of all true believers. The Apostle Creed reads,
1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth
2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.
3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary
4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.
5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.
6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost
9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.
11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.
12. I believe in life everlasting.
The other important things Christians need to be doing is studying the scriptures for yourself. To pray and ask God to show you personally the truth that is in the scriptures.
Thus the question, Are you truly taking time each day to study even just a small portion of scripture?
Please think about it.

A Warning from Jude

A warning from Jude
Jude who is generally recognized as a half brother of Jesus states,
“Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.  
For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
“These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead.  
They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.” Jude 1:3,4,..12,13
Jude like the apostles Peter and Paul writes to warn believers in Christ that there are men and women who are claiming to be believers of Christ that are not. Jude notes,
“They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.”
Jude states,
“These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves.”
It can’t be emphasised enough that there are many who claim to be Christians, Men and women not only sitting in church pews but preaching from the pulpit that are not.
There are many evangelist, pastors and teachers who as Jude states are, “shepherds who feed only themselves”.
Outwardly these men and women look good. Inwardly they are nothing more than charlatans who claim to be of God but are not.
The apostle Paul states,
“But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days.  
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” 2 Timothy 3:1-4.
As a believers in Christ we must heed Paul and Jude’s warning.
In our multimedia world all too often we cannot see what a given preacher or evangelist is truly like.
I would say most are good honest men and women who love God and are doing their best for him. However we still need to be cautious.
The terrible times Paul is speaking about is upon us. There are many evangelist and pastors out there in the world who are not speaking the truth.  They are as Jude stated, “shepherds who feed only themselves”.
Put bluntly they are in the “preaching game” to make money and enrich themselves nothing more. Thus we must be careful.
There are also others who claim to be preaching the world of God but are not. The apostle Peter warns,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.” 2 Peter 2:1.
As Christians we must read the Bible. We must read especially the New Testament to see exactly what those who knew Jesus personally said and believed. It is the only way we can truly know what right teaching is. Pauls advice to Timothy is as true to day as it was in the day he wrote it. He said,
 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.
Please think about it.