My Blog

I’ve come to enjoy going on Facebook and talking with other people. It reminds me of the Ham radio’s in the old days. People today are much more opinionated and sometimes the language is inappropriate and downright rude to say the least. When that happens, I ask them once to refrain from that language and if they don’t I just don’t respond to them anymore.

I’ve met one gentlemen from California. We argue about everything, but we do it respectfully and often end the day with something funny. Although I have a sense of humor, I also have a serious side. I am a strong conservative Christian who follows the Bible. I will often post something with other people who claim to be Christians, but go against what the Bible says.

I have been told that all religions will be up in heaven; I then point out what the Jesus says in John 14:6 NIV “I am the way and the truth and the life No one comes to the Father except through me.” Also Romans 10:9 NIV says, “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

They seem to disregard what the Bible says. I was told that I would be surprised at all the different religions that will be up there. They add that the God that they know would let everyone into heaven.

While again we have to go back to what the Bible says. In Exodus 20:3-6, “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.”

On my job I attended my first class on unionism. I was taught that it doesn’t matter what the contract says, interpret it to mean what you want it to mean. I have found that people do the same with the Bible. Example 1Timothy 6:10 has been shortened to say that money is the root of all evil. What it really says is, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” Notice the big difference? 

Another argument is when we are discussing homosexuality. Although there are numerous Bible verses against it, people will say that Jesus never said anything against it. There is a lot of thing Jesus didn’t say. Jesus didn’t say that we shouldn’t do drugs, rob banks, etc. I believe you get my point.

What I don’t understand is how someone can call them self a Christian, but do not believe what is written in the Bible. God has a simple, but precise plan for salvation and eternal life. We are all sinners. Therefore, unless we repent of our sins, and believe that Jesus Christ is our Savior, the Son of God, who died in our place for our sins. We will not see or enter into Heave, but rather hell and damnation for eternity. No other gods or prophet died for you, they are idols and men who could not redeem you, why? Because they are mortal men, who sinned just like you and I. If you believe that Jesus Christ was crucified, buried, and risen from the grave, you will receive forgiveness for all of your sins, and the gift of eternal life.

It is a gift, Christ paid the price with His life so you can have eternal life. It is not something you deserve or earned. Remember, God does the saving, all of it.

If I am wrong I have lost nothing, but if you are wrong you have lost your very soul and sentence yourself to eternal damnation, because you choose to believe a lie instead of the truth. Truth or Consequence you choose, I already have.

If you are ready to make this commitment repeat this prayer: Heavenly Father, I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. That He came to earth in the form of man, to redeem mankind by taking our sins on the cross. I realize now that sin is what separate me from you. I asked for forgiveness for all my sins that I have committed and receive what Jesus Christ did for me on the cross. I ask Jesus Christ to come into my heart, and my life and change me into the child of God that you have called me to be.

If you prayed that prayer, the Bible says your name is written in the Lamb book of Life. Read the Bible and find a church that teaches the word of God.

It is sad that we have the liberty to preach the gospel in American without persecution, but we do not really preach the gospel. However, we do preach and teach on prosperity, love, and grace, and never get to the real reason Jesus Christ came to earth and died for us. We are afraid to confront sin; afraid of offending or losing members so we walk around the root problem facing America and our Churches, SIN. We our sending people to hell with a smile, and a hug, while our church continues to physically grow and financially prosper with unbelieving believers. We pride ourselves of being a “seeker friendly” church; and the devil prides him self in the fact that hell has enlarged its borders.
                                                                                                              According to the ABCNEWS/Beliefnet poll, Eighty-three percent of Americans identify themselves as Christians.Thirty-seven percent of all Christians describe themselves as born-again or evangelical. According to Barna Group survey 80% of Americans say they are Christian, 45% call themselves Born Again Christians. 

What this tell us is according to both the ABCNEWS/Beliefnet poll and Barna survey the actual Christians in America is really only about thirty- seven to forty-five percent. If you are Born Again you are a Christian according to the scriptures. If you are not born again then you are not a Christian. 

Born Again Believers are those who have a personal commitment to Jesus Christ, have confessed their sins and accepted Christ as Savior. The larger percentage that is not born again identifies them selves as Christians based on their parent’s church affiliation, attending a church of their choice or because they believe that God, and Jesus exist. They have not confess there sins nor repented of them. They do not know what born again means, or what the crucifixation was all about. 

This is one reason Americans who consider themselves to be Christian have a diverse set of beliefs – but many of those beliefs are contradictory or, at least, inconsistent with the scriptures. This is because they are not Christians. They identify with the word Christian but not with what is written in the Word of God (bible).

The word Christian comes from the Greek word christianos which is derived from the word christos or Christ, which means "anointed one." A Christian, then, is someone who is a follower of Christ. A follower is one who follows (lives) according to the doctrine (bible) of Jesus Christ. The first use of the word "Christian" in the Bible is found in Acts 11:26, "And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." 

Most Americans who call themselves Christians Do Not Believe that Satan or the Holy Spirit exist according to the Barna survey.                                               

Satan                                                                                                           Four out of ten Christians (40%) strongly agreed that Satan “is not a living being but is a symbol of evil.” An additional two out of ten Christians (19%) said they “agree somewhat” with that perspective. A minority of Christians indicated that they believe Satan is real by disagreeing with the statement: one-quarter (26%) disagreed strongly and about one-tenth (9%) disagreed somewhat. The remaining 8% were not sure what they believe about the existence of Satan.

Holy Spirit                                                                                                    Much like their perceptions of Satan, most Christians do not believe that the Holy Spirit is a living force, either. Overall, 38% strongly agreed and 20% agreed somewhat that the Holy Spirit is “a symbol of God’s power or presence but is not a living entity.” Just one-third of Christians disagreed that the Holy Spirit is not a living force (9% disagreed somewhat, 25% disagreed strongly) while 9% were not sure. Yet the scriptures says differently than the opinions of 58% non believing believers. 

The Holy Spirit is crucial to our growth and development as a born again Christian. John 14:26 says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

What does this survey show us? That most people in America call themselves Christians, but do not have knowledge of what the bible says a Christian or born again believer means. Why? They do not read the bible, which is obvious by their lack of knowledge about the Holy Spirit and Satan. However, the stark reality is most Americans who claim to be Christians are not taught from the pulpit the truth about the good news; the gospel, which includes repentance for our sins, salvation though Jesus Christ, a relationship with our Heavenly Father through the Holy Spirit, and sanctification. 

Those Americans who identify with being a Christian, have no clue what born again means even based on the two different surveys. Perhaps it is because they believe in God, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, but that’s as far as their beliefs go. This alone doesn’t make you a Christian. James 2:19 says, “You believe that there is one God; you do well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” He knows the Word of God, better than most of us, and he has experience heavenly things that we have not, but the devil is not a Christian and definitely he is not saved. There are many that say they are Christians, who are not. So whether we flippantly use the word Christians, or non-believing believers we must be born again according to the scriptures…To be Continued

I want to share a prophetic encounter that I had about twelve years ago that I believe is for now. While asleep I was awakened by a demonic presence in the room. I immediately blurted out, “ I plead the blood of Jesus.” I felled back asleep only to be awakened by that same evil presence. Once again I pleaded the blood of Jesus over the room, and felled back to sleep. One more time I was awakened by this evil presence. I yelled out, “I plead the blood of Jesus.” Then the Lord spoke to me and said, “Look at the alarm clock.” The time was almost midnight. I immediately heard church bells ringing in the distance. Why are the church bells ringing at this time of the night, I wondered?

In the morning I asked my husband why would the church bells be ringing at midnight? The country church was only a mile or two from our house separated only by open fields. My husband decided to ask the pastor why was the church bells ringing at midnight? The pastor said, “The bells didn’t ring at that time nor would they have rang at that time of the night.”
The only other explanation was that God was trying to tell me something. Though prayer it was revealed that evil was creeping into church and the church was fast asleep. The time was crucial for the Church, for it was just prior to the Lord’s return.

How could the Church sleep while the devil boldly slithered its way through the front doors of the Church? Perhaps part of the reason is we have not read or obeyed the Word (Bible) of God, we have not prayed and repented of our backsliding ways. We think God is so understanding of our unfaithfulness and faults (sins). Instead of being more like our Lord, we assume the Lord is more like us, which is far from the truth.

The Church has committing spiritual adultery, and slept with strange bedfellows. Some we know like immorality, compromising, and seeker friendly environment, so as not to offend the ungodly. We dare not offend anyone by speaking the Truth, accept God. The false belief is God will understand and love us anyway! This worldly rationale has filtered into the church and pulpits in our country.  Jeremiah 3:11-15 (11) And the LORD said unto me, the backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah. (12) Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the LORD, and I will not keep anger forever. (13) Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. (14) Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion: (15) And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Backsliding America has justified herself more than Israel. Israel is God’s chosen people, and God had to judge them for their disobedience, how much more shall he judge us (Christian), who are not the natural branches, but engrafted into the natural branches. Israel had sacrificed their children to false gods upon an altar to baal. America sacrifices their unborn children to gods of self-convenience, and in difference. Israel disobeyed God. America is offended by the name of God.
Instead of our society being convicted by the influence of the Church and the power of God, the church denies the power of God, seeking to be religious instead of holy, justified instead of purified, understanding instead of repentive’. We are keeping up with the mindset of this ungodly generation, but not the heart of God or the heart of the founding Fathers.

This country was founded after the Great Awakening (Revival) on biblical principals. The chant and motto during the revolutionary war was, “No king, but King Jesus.”

On June 14, 1954, President Eisenhower signed the bill into law, adding under God to the Pledge of Allegiance. The purpose was to distinguish this country from any other country.

Our currency says, “ In God we trust.” But, can a nation change its God? Yes, America has. We have allowed one Atheist after another to kick God and the bible out of our schools, public places, courthouses, and soon out of the Church.
William Penn said, “If we will not be governed by God, we will be ruled by tyrants.”
The first textbook in public school was the bible. The most read and debated book in the world is the Bible. Why? This book, the bible, has the power to heal, deliver, and change the lives, and hearts of men and women. Do you really think the devil want that book in the hand of someone who just might believe and act on it?
Look what happened while the church slept and refuse to arise and fight to retain the freedom to worship God.

On Sep 14, 2005 Reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional, a federal court judge ruled, saying that the pledge’s reference to “under God” violated school children’s right to be “free from a coercive requirement to affirm God.”The suit is the second by Sacramento atheist Michael Newdow, who has been trying for five years to remove the pledge from public classrooms.

•  The Supreme Court first ruled against public school prayer in the 1962 case of Engle v. Vitale. The decision struck down a New York State law that required public schools to begin the school day either with Bible reading or recitation of a specially written, nondenominational prayer.

•   O'Hair is best known for the Murray v. Curlett  lawsuit, which led to a landmark Supreme Court ruling ending official Bible-reading in American public schools in 1963. This came just one year after the Supreme Court prohibited officially sponsored prayer in schools in Engel v. Vitale.

•   In District of Abington Township vs. Schempp (1963), the Supreme Court struck down voluntary Bible readings and recitation of the Lord's Prayer in public schools.

•   In 1980, in Stone v. Graham, the Supreme Court ruled against a Kentucky law that required the posting of the Ten Commandments in all public school classrooms.

•   In 1992, in Lee v. Weisman, the Supreme Court ruled that school officials violated the First Amendment by inviting clergy to give an invocation and a benediction at a public high school graduation.

•   In Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe (2000), the Supreme Court ruled against a Texas school district policy of facilitating prayers over the public address system at football games and holding popular elections to choose the student selected to deliver the prayer.

•   Our society use to date years as either A.D. or B.C. but now in school text books, it is C.E., which means Common Era and B.C.E, before Common Era.•      The Supreme Court ruled on June 26, 2015 that marriage between same sex is legal. 

No longer is their a separation of Church and State and the moral decisions of this country now lies in the hand of corrupt men and women who decided what the bible means on moral issues.

Each one of these people were atheist who stated they were offended by the mention of God and the bible. What does the bible say about those who are offended at God’s word? What did the Church do? It slept. Now the Church is waking up from its slumber, to realize the rights we cherished like precious jewels have been stolen from us by a Theft (Devil).

Mathew 24:10-14  says, “10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. “                                                                                          

The President of America celebrated same sex marriage ruling by hosting homosexuals at the White house and decorating the White House in rainbow colors. Rainbow colors that once stood for a covenant between man and God, that God would not destroy the earth by water again because of the sins and inequities of man. However, because of the sins and iniquities of man God will bring judgment once again, not by water, but fire!                                                                                                       

“America has now legalized homosexual immorality because the American church legalized heterosexual immorality first." Remember, reformation never comes to a society before it first comes to the church!” Jeremiah Johnson 

Jeremiah Johnson says “America is in a crisis, but the American church is in a greater crisis. We are and will continue to reap what we have sown and that is seeds of silence and tolerance on the key issues of our day that have come before the Father as sin. We must remember that the heart of a religious Pharisee continues to cry out, "Thank God I'm not like them" (see Luke 18:11). May we repent to the Father for our failure as the bride of Christ to preach holiness and purity to those that call themselves believers in Jesus and for our self-righteous attitudes toward those who are in need of His grace and mercy. I believe that God the Father is releasing burning and shining lamps in America to sound the alarm and wake up the bride of Christ from her slumber (see John 5:35).”There is still hope for America.                                                                     

2 Chronicles 7:14-15 (KJV) “14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

In 1982 while preaching the Lord interrupted me. I can honestly say I have no clue what I was preaching on, but I do remember what the Lord said to me. He said, “Truly there are some sitting here which will not taste death until they see the coming of the Lord.” I knew the Lord was speaking about the end times and his second coming. I scaled the room looking to see whom it could possibly be that the Lord was speaking about. My eyes locked unto my children who were very young at the time. Could the Lord be speaking about them I wondered?  Perhaps they will see the coming of the Lord. Thirty-five years has past since than. I’m beginning to realize that I too just might witness the Lord’s return. 

Let’s take a walk through historical founding of this country and where we as a nation is destined. We celebrate American Independence Day on the Fourth of July every year. We think of July 4, 1776, as a day that represents the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the United States of America as an independent nation.This country was founded of Christian principles. The fifty-six men who signed the Declaration of Independence, fifty-two of them were Christians. 

God wanted a nation that would provoke His chosen people, the Jewish people, to jealousy. Only two nations, Israel and America served the same God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and have the same messiah (Jesus). How far back in history does God’s plan for America goes, much further back than 1776? 

Christopher Columbus knew the world was round not flat during a time when people mocked and scorned him for believing such a ridiculous notion. But, Christopher knew what the Word of God says. Isaiah 40:22 “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in.” Perhaps it was Job 22:14 that convince Columbus, “Thick clouds are a covering to him, that he seeth not; and he walketh in the circuit of heaven.” Columbus set out in 1492 to discover the 'New World, Columbus wasn’t just looking for a new trade root, but a New Jerusalem (America). Unfortunately he chose ungodly men (sailors) to do a godly task, and was side tracked by greed and power. The very traps the devil uses today to sidetrack godly men and women. 

God would still have a country, one nation under God even if He had to ignite the fire and fan the flames of revival through the Great Awakening that would reach and encompass America. The First Great Awakening was a spiritual revival that began in the 1730s and continued through 1743. Thirty-three years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

In 1740, the Anglican revivalist, George Whitefield visited New England (America), the middle colonies, and the southern colonies, fanning into a great flame the smoldering embers of spiritual revival. 

George Whitefield became friends with Benjamin Franklin. The result of revival  efforts by Edwards, Whitefield, and others was the First Great Awakening, which provided a Christian moral code. For this reason, the Signers of the Declaration would emphasize “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God,” 
With the influence of the First Great Awakening upon the rise of the Revolution, it stands to reason that the motto of the American Revolution became, “No king, but King Jesus!”

The Continental Congress met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and appointed a committee of five men to work on a draft of the declaration. The committee consisted of John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, and Robert Livingston. The committee is known today as The Committee Of Five. Thomas Jefferson was delegated by the committee to write the Declaration although John Adams and Benjamin Franklin made many revisions before it was finally submitted to Congress on June 28, 1776. 

The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776 and signed by the President of the Continental Congress, John Hancock. 
So the main reason why we celebrate the Declaration of Independence on the fourth of July is because that was the day it was adopted by the colonies and essentially the day that the United States of America was born. That was the day in history that the United States became a free and independent state from England.

At first glance the Declaration of Independence is just a piece of paper. A closer glance reveals it is a symbol of what America stands for and a commitment to certain godly ideas. It is a symbol of fifty-six brave men, willing to die for treason for what they believed. By signing their names they were willing to lay down their lives for their convictions and unwavering faith. 

They regarded King George as having violated numerous biblical standards of human government. Has America now become like its mother country (Britain), following the same mistakes that the colonist were willing to lay down their lives to change. 

They opposed taxation without representation, no legal rights or a fair justice system when it came to the law. King George III and Parliament passing various acts and proclamations to strongly bind the chains of England on the American Colonists. There was no freedom of religion or speech. No separation of state and religion.

The Declaration of Independence is a moral document and laid the foundation for the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. •  The Laws of Nature, and of Nature’s God.• “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal”.•“That they are endowed by their Creator”.

The forefathers believed in the Creator and in a supreme being having more than just a “say” in how the government should be run. They knew without a doubt that God had intended men to be free. The freedom to worship God according to the Holy Bible and not a king, president or supreme court ruling. 

Thomas Jefferson is regarded as the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, and for this reason, secularist have believed that to depict Jefferson as anti-Christian would ensure their efforts to characterize the American Revolution as a “godless” secular effort. But in fact, Jefferson claimed to be a Christian. 

In a letter to his friend and fellow Founding Father, Dr. Benjamin Rush, Jefferson affirmed his faith:“To the corruptions of Christianity I am indeed opposed; but not to the genuine precepts of Jesus himself. I am a Christian”

Benjamin Franklin requested that prayer be offered in political gatherings. 
Just as the Constitution of the United States was born out of the context of Christianity, so the Declaration of Independence was conceived and birthed within the context of Christianity!

Pledge of allegiance to the flag of America was a part of our school policy.I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.On June 14, 1954, President Eisenhower signed the bill into law, adding under God to distinguish this country from any other country, saying,“From this day forward, the millions of our school children will daily proclaim in every city and town, every village and rural school house, the dedication of our nation and our people to the Almighty…. In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons, which forever will be our country’s most powerful resource, in peace or in war.”

God Almighty blessed this country and made it a great nation. Even our currency says, “In God We Trust”. Which God? Our Creator, the one and only God, for there is only one Creator.“That they are endowed by their Creator”. But, can a nation change its God? …to be continued

1Timothy 4:1-2 says, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;”

Jesus warned that in the last days, many shall be deceived and offended, and shall depart from the faith. (Matt. 24:10) When we are more offended by what God’s word says, then offending God, we are in grave danger of judgment as a nation, and as individuals.

(Matt. 24:3-4) (3)“And as he sat upon the Mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, tell us, when shall these things be? And what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? (4)And Jesus answered and said unto them, take heed that no man deceive you.” 

Why did Jesus say to his disciples to take heed that no man deceive you? Could it be because Christians, disciples, pastors, anyone can be deceived or else Jesus would not have warned them to take heed?

Jesus warned that in the last days, many shall be deceived and there shall be a great falling away. This warning is not to those that are of the world, because they are already deceived. How could they fall away from the faith if they never had the faith? This warning is to Christians. Many false prophets where once devote Christians who once knew and walked in the truth, but became deceived and strayed from the faith. 

Jesus goes on to tell the disciples what will transpire in the end-times. However, he did not tell them the date or the time of His return, as many have falsely predicted.

(Matt.24: 5-8) 5”For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. (6) And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. (7) For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. (8)All these are the beginning of sorrows.

”Throughout the world nations have risen against nations for territory and domination. We know there are famines, pestilences, earthquakes, and a rise in catastrophic events. However, Jesus says these are the beginnings of sorrows not the end.

(9) ”Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake. (10) And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 

(11) And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. (12) And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (13) But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. (14) And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

”Verse 5 says, ”For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” I have heard numerous sermons on this verse. Many believe that this verse refers to false prophets. It is true many false prophets have come, saying they are the Christ, and have deceived many. We may recognize some from our era. 

Sun Moon (Born Mun Yong-Myeong on February 25, 1920 – September 3, 2012) Sun Moon and his family converted to Christianity when he was a child and joined the Presbyterian Church. When he was 15, Moon said that Jesus Christ anointed him to carry out his unfinished work by becoming parent to all of humanity. 

Sun Moon believed and taught that Jesus was divine but not God; he was supposed to be the second Adam who would create a perfect family by joining with the ideal wife and creating a pure family that would have begun humanity's liberation from the sinful condition caused by Eve’s illicit sex with Satan. When Jesus was crucified before marrying, he redeemed mankind spiritually but not physically according to Moon. That task was left to the "True Parents" - Moon and his future wife - who would link married couples and their families to God.

Moon the self proclaimed Messiah was the founder of the Unification Church and of its widely noted “Blessing” or mass wedding ceremony. In his church doctrine, the wedding (or marriage re-dedication) ceremony removes couples from the lineage of sinful humanity and grafts them into God’s sinless lineage. After the third generation of intra-Unification Church blessed marriages, any children born will be free from the consequences of original sin. In 1997, about 30,000 couples took part in a marriage ceremony in Washington, DC. Officiated by Moon.

David Koresh (Vernon Howell) Vernon Howell claimed to have become a born-again Christian in the Southern Baptist Church and soon joined his mother's church, the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Vernon Howell legally changed his name "for publicity and business purposes" to David Koresh. Koresh is the Persian name of Cyrus the Great, a Persian King who is named a Messiah for freeing Jews during the Babylonian Captivity. His first name, David, symbolized a lineage directly to the biblical King David, from whom the new messiah would descend. By taking the name of David Koresh, he was "professing himself to be the spiritual descendant of King David, a messianic figure carrying out a divinely commissioned errand."

Koresh would annul all marriages of couples that joined the group, had exclusive sexual access to the women, and would also have regular sexual relations with young girls. There is no question that Koresh had multiple children by different women in the group. His House of David doctrine based on a purported revelation involved the reproduction of 24 children by chosen women in the community. These 24 children were to serve as the ruling elders over the millennium after the return of Christ.                                                                                                        

These men like so many others were Imposters who claim to be Christ, or a prophet sent by God, or otherwise claimed to speak God's truth, when in reality they do not speak the truth and are not who they claim to be. But, they did deceive many. These false prophets had great followers in the United States. A country where bibles are sold and even given away, but apparently not read. It’s not hard to deceive those who do not read the word of God, or seek God through prayer.

We may read these profiles and shake our head that anyone could possible fall for such nonsense. Yet many have and will because they either hadn’t heard or refuse to believe the truth. However, these false prophets fall under the eleven verse “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many” not the fifth verse, ”For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” Lets us take another look at the fifth verse again, which is different than false prophets.                                                                                                      

Verse 5 says,” For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.” This verse is not in reference to false prophets who claim they are the “Christ,” but it is about false doctrine. If it referred to false prophets Jesus would not have repeated this scripture differently in verse 5 compare to verse 11.

What this scripture is saying is that many shall come and say that Jesus Christ is Savior and they shall deceive many. Who are the many? Those people who profess to be Christians or Disciples of Christ. How can this be? If we do not read and study the word of God, we cannot know what is scriptural and what is opinion. This is why Jesus warned His disciples by saying, 4 “take heed that no man deceive you.”

An example of a widely accepted false belief: We are all God’s children. When the truth is we are all God’s creation. Only those who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior become children of God (Rom. 8:14, Gal. 3:26, John 1:12). Another example of a false belief that is widely being accepted is; we all believe or serve the same God. Yet, there are different Saviors, or multiple ones (1John 4:14-15, 1Tim. 2:5).

Jesus said in verse 13, “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” Endure means to carry on or bare up under, it does not mean to give in to opinions and sinful temptations because of those who say they are Christian, but their lifestyle contradicts the Word of God.                                                                                                            

May we be like the psalmist who said, “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Psalm 119:11

References about the false prophets: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Romans 12:2 - And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 

I cannot help to think about how many people in the Body of Christ do not know the will of God for their life. Instead of inquiring from the Lord and seek His Word they seek help from the secular world who do not have the solution to their problems.

We seek secular psychologist and counselor to help advise and medicate us for a spiritual problem. We go to a medical doctor to be diagnosed with some medical condition and prescribe a life long drug to control not heal our condition. We seek advise from our unsaved friends and wonder why our relationship with our unequally yoked boy/girlfriend is missing something. We accept what the world (spiritually dead) says as truth and doubt what the Word of God say as the Truth. Are we so immersed in worldly pleasures, or bogged down by our circumstance that we don’t have time to read our bibles for the solution or pray through our circumstances? Are we spiritually shipwrecked?

Paul was a prisoner aboard a ship headed to Italy with others prisoners. The winter season was quickly approaching and sailing would be very dangerous.  Paul went to Julius (centurion) and said; “I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading (cargo) and ship, but also of our lives (Acts 27:10).”

Julius heard what Paul said, but he was more persuaded to listen to what the owner of the ship and the sailors said about the trip rather than a Godly man.  It would stand to reason that the centurion would take the advise of someone who knew about ships, especially the owner of this particular ship. However, Paul knew something about his God, and discerned that they shouldn’t go ahead with this voyage. The owner of the ship felt that they should move on to a better place to keep the ship for the winter.  No one listened to Paul’s warning and they began to sail the ship.

(Acts 27:13-20) The ship had not sailed far before the wind began to blow very hard.  It was blowing so hard that the captain could not turn the ship back.  They were caught in the middle of a terrible storm.  The sailors had to work hard to keep the ship from filling completely with water.  The ship was being tossed up and down.  Because the wind and waves crashed against the sides of the boat it felt like the ship was going to break apart.

It had been dark for many days.  No one could see the sun during the day or the stars at night.  The winds were still raging against the ship.  Luke wrote that they had given up hope that anyone would come and rescue them at sea.  Everyone was sure they were going to die at sea.  They had lightened the ship and threw overboard everything that would lighten the load. They no longer was in control but was tossed about by the wave and an uncertainty of where they were headed.
Have you ever found yourself in a turbulent storm that left you wondering if you will ever get out of it, and what will become of your finances, health, career, or relationship? If only we would have listened to that still small voice, or sought godly advise/prayed. 

Everyone goes through trials, some more than others. If we are honest with ourselves we must admit there is something we did or did not do that brought us to this storm in our lives. God will allow the storms in ours lives to perfect us, but also to teach us how to trust and rely on Him. 

The men on the ship didn’t heed the warning from Paul and found themselves in need of a deliverer. We will not know real peace until we accept Jesus as the Prince of Peace. We cannot be healed unless we allow Jesus to be our Chief Physician. We will never receive a miracle unless we step out in faith and trust our Lord to provide one. We will not know the Joy of being delivered until we see the need to be delivered by our Redeemer. We will not know who Jesus is in our lives until we see the need for Him to fulfill our needs. Jesus has fulfilled all things and yet we only go to Him for some things. Have we eliminated the solution by limiting God?

Paul stood up in front of all the men on the ship. He said, “Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss. And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man’s life among you, but of the ship.” 

Another words if they would have listen they wouldn’t be in this predicament. However, there are consequences for disobedience. They will be all right, yet they lost precious cargo, and the ship would be destroyed. When we go through a storm we too loose valuable cargo, sometimes we loose the very thing we are trying to hold on to. Most of the time it’s our peace or joy we loose, but that is our choice.

(Acts 27:30) “And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship…” verse 31 says “Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.” They were getting ready to jump ship because they believed the ship would crash, so they would rather take their chances in the turbulent waves. Even when we are about to crash, we must abide in Christ, we might be hurting, but we won’t die, but live and proclaim the works of God. 
Verse 42-43 “And the soldiers’ counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any escape. But the centurion willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose.” The soldiers were willing to kill the prisoners then that any should escape. 

We sometimes forget that we have an enemy of our soul the devil, which wants nothing better than to keep us bound and imprisoned in our circumstances. He like the soldiers want to steal, kill, and destroy if not our lives then our faith. We also like Paul have an advocate, Jesus Christ who intercedes in our behalf.

God had a plan for Paul’s life and no one was going to end Paul’s life before God’s work for Paul was done.  Believers can find comfort in knowing that God is in control of their life and their lives will not end on this earth until God’s purpose for his/her life is fulfilled. Even if the ship you are in is falling apart or crashing, you must abide in the ship and allow Jesus to be the anchor of your faith. In order for Jesus to be the anchor of your faith you must be anchored in His Word. 

2 Tim. 3:1-9 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.”

Paul isn’t warning Timothy about the unsaved, or the world, but rather those who say they are Christians but choose sin, over righteousness. Paul calls them reprobate concerning the faith. How do I know they are not speaking about the world or unsaved? These things were already going on in the world. Remember God sent a flood once to destroy the world because of sin. Paul would not have warned Timothy about sinners in the world. Paul is addressing perilous time concerning sinners in the church, or so called Christians. 

Somerset Maugham, a British writer, who once wrote, “No action is in itself good or bad, but only such according to convention.” Those with this belief have no reservations about living as they choose without fearing any consequences for their actions. Sadly this belief has filtered into the Church, and into the heart many of our leaders and others in the Body of Christ. Romans 12:9 says “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” If we call evil good, and good evil, where is there room for repentance? 

When Christians believe that Sin is no longer sin, but a personal choice or lifestyle they are accepting the world’s view instead of God’s WORD. Those who choose to believe sin is no longer sin, they know that God is a loving God; therefore they used this as a license to do what ever they please without any guilt or fear of consequence. They sadly and perhaps unknowingly take the convicting power of the Holy Spirit out of the equation. Without conviction there is no remorse, therefore no repentance. If it’s not sin in their eyes, then there is no need to repent.They feel justify because the world says its ok, but in God’s eye they are not justified. God is also a just and righteous God, who hates sin, because sin separates us from God. 1John 1:8 clearly says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”

Romans 12: 2 says, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”The Word of God renews our minds. However, a person choosing to sin, most likely isn’t reading the word of God, or earnestly praying because it would convict them of their ungodly choices (sin).Now understand I am not speaking of the person who is sinning and feel guilty. Who knows sin is sin and wants to be set free. That person will be set free as he/she yield and surrender to the word of God, and the Spirit of Truth.

“Tragically, many are eating at the table of demons, serving their own lustful appetites, and then attempt to come to the Lord’s table to feast with the righteous. This leads on to spiritual sickness and death because these deceived ones do not discern the true Bread of God.”  (1 Corinthians 11:29)

How well did Jeremiah speak the word of God concerning God’s people in his generation and ours, “My people have changed their Glory for what does not profit…They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.”(Jeremiah 2:11, 13)
Let’s quit being a “friendly oriented church” and become a righteous church that leads by example.

It grieves my heart to see my brothers and sisters, pastors and leaders believing a lie rather than clinging to the truth. My prayer is that their eyes would be open. That having eyes to see that they might see the truth, sin as sin, and that their heart would be soften to receive the truth that they might be set free. Free to love and serve the Lord, the Author, and Finisher of their faith.

[1]David Wilkerson, Hungry for more of Jesus, 1992 Baker Book House Company, Grand Rapid, MI. pg. 17 Para 4

2 Timothy 3:1-5 says, “But understand this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. 

2 For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane. 3 [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good. 4 [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God. 5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].” (Amplified Version)   

When we first take a glance at this scripture we assume Paul is speaking to Timothy about the lost or unsaved. However, these things Paul describes has been going on among sinners since the world began. Paul would not warn Timothy to stay away from heathens or the lost since this is whom Jesus came to save.   

Then who is Paul referring to when he warns Timothy to turn away from them? Paul is speaking to those who have a form of godliness or true religion, those who proclaim to be Christians. But they deny the power thereof, those who do not walk in the regenerated life. They may know and preach the scriptures, but they do not live or abide by them. They have their own standard of living and interpretation of the word of God to suit their lifestyle.   

2 Timothy 4:3-4 Amplified Bible (AMP) 3 “For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, 4 And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.”   

We cannot profess to be Christians and live a lifestyle contrary to the Word of God. Christianity is not just a multiple-choice answer that people check off on a form. Christianity is not a denomination or a religion, it is a life style. There seems to be a falling away from the faith. I have personally witnessed pastors and ministers who once were on fire for the Lord turn away from the truth. Some pastors lusting after other people, leaving their spouse to be with another. They believe that they are  unequally yoked with their Christian mate, and God has brought them someone else. Others who are gifted in leading worship at their local churches are now leading Karaoke or a Disc Jockey at the local taverns. One minister is struggling with pornography and homosexuality while studying for a pastoral position. Each one think they are justified in their actions. Why?  

I read this statement and I couldn’t agree more with it. “For years, we have preached a cheap gospel and peddled a soft Savior. We have taught salvation without self-denial and the crown without the cross. We have catered to the unsaved and, have compromised with the world. Now we are paying the price.”   

The Apostle Paul warned Timothy to be aware, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine”( 2Timothy 4:3);. I understand this was directed to Timothy, but it is written for our benefit. I am convinced that we are living in a time and age where the gospel has been compromised, and our own faith is in jeopardy. We are indeed paying the price for teaching and preaching a compromised message, and not preaching the Truth. We have gone from one extreme, hell and damnation to the other extreme, love and mercy on the pendulum. Then there are others who are stuck on prosperity messages, instead of messages to prosper the soul. We are living in a spiritual famine, and a falling away from the faith.   

We must come back to the foundational truth and build precept upon precept. To those who choose to preach the uncompromising Word of God, continue. People may leave the church because they are offended by the preaching of the Word of God. Let them leave, God’s judgment is on them, not on you. However, if we choose to save our congregations instead of souls, then we will face God’s judgment.   

 

God is not concerned about the size of our church, but the size of our heart. He is not pleased on how large the offering was, but whether we are offering ourselves as a living sacrifice unto Him. He is not listening on how well the choir sang, but rather how quickly we repent. It is not how talented we are, but how yielded we are, that will result in spiritual growth and fruit.   

Death couldn’t keep Jesus in the grave, this life should not keep us from heaven. The Lord is knocking at our hearts, will we let him in as a temporary guest, or will we allow him to take resident in our hearts and lives. Only when there is a difference in our own lives, will we make a difference in the lives of others.