The Wrath Of God

 Ezekiel 22:17-31

As children growing up in the church, we were taught to fear God, this same type of fear prevailed in our homes, we learned to fear our parent.  It was a type of fear that fostered respect.   For me it began in the early sixties, the relationship between parent and children was redefined, and the relationship between God and humanity was soon to follow.  In todays society  a child is likely to say to his parents, “If you put your hands on me, I will call 911.”  A parent spanking its child is likely to be arrested and thrown in jail. 

This revolutionary new thought process is love and punishment does not coexist.  Therefore, if I love you I will not punish you.  If I get angry with you and threaten to knock you out, I must come to you later and apologize because the Bible says, “get angry, but sin not.”  No consideration is given to the fact that the use of the whip was Jesus response to a certain situation.  But, if we teach the fear of God, we are afraid people will run from this angry God.  Society at large is suffering from the meaningless use or application of love with the fear of consequences.  Love is the means to achieving our ends. I love you is the epitaph of many committing murders.  

The point that I am trying to stress is that when we remove the fear of the parent from the home, we are more than likely to end up with an amplified problem, a problem that ends with a lack of respect.  When we remove the fear of God from within the heart, we are creating a group of people who have no respect for God or man.  I present to you, many of the younger generation. If love is to flourish and grow stronger there must be a balance between love and hate, good and bad with fear as the gatekeeper, with wrath as the instrument of punishment.  This we will later show is according to the Word of God.  If there is a fear of doing certain things because of the consequences, then this once was considered a healthy response to God and parenting. 

Now consider this.  In the movie, “The Usual Suspects” it was said, that the greatest trick the Devil pulled was to convince the world that he didn’t exist.  A search of the internet opened the doorway to the many comments of those who did not believe in the Devil or God.  The next greatest trick the Devil pulled was to convince church folk that the blessing of God was raining down upon them, thus if we are concentrating on the blessings of God we lose sight of the wrath of God.   When I stop and consider the things that are taking place today, I see  a God that is trying to get our attention.

To deny the existence of God or the Devil does not require a formal declaration of such, a simple denial of the attributes or the powers of God or Satan is all that’s required.  To take it one step further,  to trivialize the Word of God and to use his name in vain.  That in itself is a strange paradox, to deny the existence of one is to deny the existence of the other.  To deny the wrath of God is to deny the love of God.  To deny the existence of Satan is to deny the existence of God. Now, simply put, to define God simply as a God of love is to deny the attributes of God.   Respect for God cannot be achieved by our love for God alone, it is the fear of God that should direct our walk with God.  As David said in  Psalms 86:11,  Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.   A conclusion that I have reached is that there is very little fear of God in the world, in and out of the church.

The Devil and the Wrath of God are two subjects that are rarely talked about in church settings.  This creates a false illusion about the works of God and the purpose of God’s creation.  The false indoctrination began with the simple statement, “God is love” and ends with a conclusion that a God of love would not cast his wayward children into a lake of fire.  God’s love is so great  for his children that he will allow them to make mistake after mistake while gently guiding them back into the right direction.   This is not God's idea of effective parenting.  This is what God had to say about his children when he sought to establish his Will here on earth. Remember we must not divide and misapply the scripture, the process of establishing a Kingdom began in the book of Geneses and the end prophesies in the book of Revelation.

 Ezekiel 22:17-31  And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, the house of Israel has to me become dross: all they are bronze, and tin, and iron, and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are even the dross of silver.

18. Dross. . . Brass--Israel has become a worthless compound of the dross of silver (implying not merely corruption, but degeneracy from good to bad, Isa 1:22, especially offensive) and of the baser metals. Hence the people must be thrown into the furnace of judgment, that the worse may be consumed, and the good separated (Jer 6:29-30).

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD; Because you have all become dross, behold, therefore I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As they gather silver, and bronze, and iron, and lead, and tin, into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in my anger and in my fury, and I will leave you there, and melt you. Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you in the fire of my wrath, and you shall be melted in its midst. As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall you be melted in its midst; and you shall know that I the LORD have poured out my fury upon you. And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, say unto her, You are the land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation.

Eze 22:25 There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst of her, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst of her.

n. The false prophets have conspired together to make their doctrine more probable.and profitable

Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned my holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and the common, neither have they shown the difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

Eze 22:26, Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned my holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shown the difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. They have neglected my service.    I am profaned among them--They abuse My name for false or unjust purposes.

Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have daubed them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus says the Lord GOD, when the LORD has not spoken. The people of the land have used oppression, and committed robbery, and have oppressed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully. And I sought for a man among them, that should build up the wall, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

The final declaration:

Therefore have I poured out my indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I recompensed upon their heads, says the Lord GOD. 

This was the final declaration to the Children of Israel, the final declaration issued to the church is in the book of Revelation.

Eze 22:31

v23-31 All orders and degrees of men had helped to fill the measure of the nation's guilt. The people that had any power abused it, and even the buyers and sellers find some way to oppress one another. It bodes ill to a people when judgments are breaking in upon them, and the spirit of prayer is restrained. Let all who fear God, unite to promote his truth and righteousness; as wicked men of every rank and profession plot together to run them down.

Merchandising The Word of God, Part #4

The marketing manipulation that is used to promote a form of Christianity is the same method marketers use to get potential consumers to become acting consumers. It is called the AIDA Model. This model consists of four stages: Awareness, Interest, Desire, and Action. Student in marketing, learn about this concept and are graded on their ability to bring about the desired action.  One can easily see the application of this model to promote a new idea of Christianity is the same model used to promote a new brand of box cereal.  Follow me for a moment.

The application of this model does not require a college degree, it merely requires a gift of ‘gab’, the ability to sell others on your idea and a desire to manipulate others. Manipulation seems to be such an ominous word, yet there is a good side and a bad side of manipulation. There is harmless manipulation such as being led to believe that a Honda is superior to a Cheverolet vehicle. Dangerous manipulation was to convince the public that smoking was ok. Money is usually a common factor of all types of manipulations, in the church, in the community and in business.  Yet, the church was not to be founded on the same level as an everyday business.

What happen?  The church realizing that its core membership base was eroding, therefore it implemented the AIDA Model as a means of expanding its membership base. Reverend Ike trumped the idea of, “The pie in the sky by and by”, and introduced a whole new concept of Heaven here on earth and by doing so he open the door to a host of others that would improve on his concept, many with false messages. To bring about the permutation of Christianity the ancient idea of God had to be changed. The statements of, “God is good” or “God has got a blessing waiting for you”, is enough to implement the first two steps of the AIDA platform, awareness and interest.  The desire for a little Heaven here on earth is a sellable but undeliverable attribute of Christianity.

The manipulation of desire is caused by knowing what is wanted or need and offering it. What do you want become the prime question. If you want money, God will give you money. Here again The Reverend Ike, my model for the fleecing of the sheep mailed out thousands of letters in the early sixties that said, “ SOMEBODY, reading this letter will receive a financial blessing from God, all you have to do is plant a seed of faith. The call for action was heeded by many, especially poor blacks who had become aware of this newly created God, and now they were lined up and clamoring for the blessings.   A touch of common sense from God would render that type of promotion baseless.

Problems have begun to manifest themselves when God refused to be manipulated. “If he did it once, he will do it again”, became the cry of the indoctrinated without the validity of scriptural support.  Standing on the creek bank waiting for God to put the water became a lesson in futility.  The redefinition of the works of God became commonplace, in that the starting of a flooded car has now been described as a miracle. The scripture is taken out of its context and the righteous are being indoctrinated into believing that if you speak it it will be so. If this were true, what a beautiful world we would have. A sick person in the hospital is often decreed heal, yet often that person passes on from labor to reward.

A cloak of fear is used to intimidate those who eyes have been open to the false doctrines that is prevailing.  How many people have left the altar wondering why they didn't get the blessing that was promised to them.  The man who gave his last dollar and went out looking for the blessing that was promised, found himself wondering if he and his family had been forsaken by God.  But, these are things you can't talk about because the problem is not in God, it is in you.  Through fear the indoctrination holds. The ancient prophets of the old testament urged the people to speak up and cast aside the false prophets.  Jesus, John, Peter and Paul as depicted in the first part of this study urged the followers of Christ to cast aside their false Gods. Jeremiah 23:32  Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.Revelation 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.  The angry God concept as depicted in the Book of Revelation is not a sellable attribute. When we reference God in the grocery store checkout line and in the social media, we reference a God who is laid back, arms folded and smiling as his creation dance and prance in the sunshine, with with uplifted hands begging for the blessing. But when I hear of the strange weather patterns enveloping the globe, the never ending wars being fought, the storms that are tearing our communities apart, I am reminded of an old spiritual song we once sang. “Dark clouds are rising. Poor sinner stands trembling, he is trying to hide his face from an angry God, I haven't got long to stay here. But the angry God concept is no longer sellable. 

Against my better judgement, I chose to watch several video's of worship services on YouTube. I sat mesmerized and filled with awe staring at the computer screen. The messengers of god perfecting the art of making people fall down, plucking angel feathers out of mid air and teaching all sorts of strange doctrines. A strange correlation between voodoo and Christianity has begun to emerge and is played out in many churches. Strange powers are being manifested and are promoted as the power of God. Many of these powers claimed by these messengers are nothing more than a deviant form of mind control.  Again, I pose the question, if a drunk stand before a crowd of, say fifty, and say, somebody in here have a headache do that make him a messenger of God?

Much of what we see emulating from the Christian communities are considered by many to be nothing more than self serving platitudes.  Sound bites that sound impressive and create the illusion that one has God  on speed dial (so to speak) is not an effective method of drawing people to Christ.  I know the well indoctrinated will say, if we lift him up, he will do the drawing.  Another point in favor of misinterpreting the scripture.  In John 12:32, Jesus said, " And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."  This verse had nothing to do with the worship service.  The next verse explains what he was talking about. John 12:33  This he said, signifying what death he should die. Who is talking, what is being talked about and who is being spoken to is important when seeking to understanding the word of God.   Failure to do so and we end up with a polluted mess that is being sustained through false teaching.

Students of the Word of God should study the lives of those who were inspired to write the Word of God. Doing so will give us a deeper understanding of the Word of God. Look at the Apostles, they walked and talked with Jesus, compare their lives with what we are taught and expect from God. Why did they languish in Jail and die horrible deaths when all they had to do was speak the word?  Matthew 14:10  And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.  In a moment of weakness I sometime wonder why John didn't say, "get behind me Devil, you can't have my head."  Are we greater than John?  If Jesus could have own a stable full of donkeys, why did he borrow one to ride into town? God got it and we want it, this is the sellable concept of God. 

In todays Christian environment, we are taught to amplify the blessing concept of God and downplay the Wrath of God. Are we being blinded by our wants? On any given day there are events taking place that should cause us to turn to God with fear and trembling, but fear and trembling are not sellable attributes of God. Planes fall from the sky, but God is blessing, Wars and violence are a daily staple of the news media, but God is blessing. Our community and our homes is being wrecked by violence, but God is blessing. Our young and old people are dying with incurable diseases, yet God is blessing. Families are struggling to get by on very little money or food to eat yet God is blessing. Is God selective blessing the rich and famous, the well prepared? Come now, let us reason together with the common sense of God. Have we not provoked the God of Heaven to wrath? 

Revelation 16:1 And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of the wrath of God into the earth.

Next

Living under the wrath of God

Merchandising The Word of God, Part #3

From the entire description in this chapter, it is clear that the persons referred to, though once professors of religion, had become eminently abandoned and corrupt. The focus of these messengers changed from fulfilling the ordinance of God to fulfilling their earthly ambition. It may not be easy to identify them with any particular denomination or class, but they existed then and they exist now. A few of the sects in the early Christian church bore a strong resemblance to this description; and there have been those in every age who have strongly resembled these persons. This chapter, therefore, possesses great value as containing important warnings against the arts of false teachers, and the danger of being seduced by them from the truth. 

One cannot help but marvel at the changes taking place in Christendom as it struggle to adapt to the changing demands of society. What once was characterizede as unholy and impure now requires a second look through tinted glasses. A religion that once flourished within the confrontational nature of John the Baptist preaching in the wilderness, "Oh ye generation of vipers...". This once confrontational religion has now dumb down its approach in the name of peace and policitial correctness, it has agreed to respect the rights of all religions. The fire and brimstone has been retired and sunshine and favors have become the modern day message. 

Verse 1. But there were false prophets also among the people. In the previous chapter, (2 Peter 1:19-21,) Peter had appealed to the prophecies as containing unanswerable proofs of the truth of the Christian religion. He says, however, that he did not mean to say that all who claimed to be prophets were true messengers of God. There were many who pretended to be such, who only led the people astray. It is unnecessary to say, that such men have abounded in all ages where there have been true prophets.

Even as there shall be false teachers among you. The fact that false teachers would arise in the church is often spoken of in the New Testament. They arise privately, in a secret manner, or under plausible acts and pretenses. They would not at first make an open statement of their doctrines, but while their teachings seemed to be in accordance with truth, covertly maintain opinions or interpretations which would destroy the very foundations of religion. The Greek word here used, and which is rendered "who privily shall bring in," (pareisagw,) means properly to lead in by the side of others; to lead in along with others. Nothing could better express the usual way in which error is introduced into Christianity. It is by the side, or along with, other doctrines which are true; that is, while the mind is turned mainly to other subjects, and is off its guard, gently and silently to lay down some principle, which, being admitted, would lead to the error, or from which the error would follow as a natural consequence. 

Those who indoctrinate error rarely do it openly. If they would at once boldly" deny the Lord that bought them," it would be easy to identify them, and the mass of professed Christians would be in no danger of embracing the error. But when principles are laid down which lead to doubts on remote points are suggested which may involve the error; or when a long train of reasoning is pursued which may secretly support the error; there is much more probable that the mind will be corrupted and turn away from the truth.

In essence, there are numerous scams being played out over the internet. The gauntlet ranges from those with impressive titles and government positions, promising to send huge sums of money, to those who invoke the name of God and promise an intersession in exchange for a small sum of money. These scams will not go away because of the profitability of such. There always seems to be a group of people who will believe whatever is dangling in front of them, if it will bring peace to their inner longing. The doctrine of prosperity that teaches Christians are wealthy and sinner are poor, fails miserably in the light of the Word of God and common sense. Yet, there is no limit to the number of struggling Christians who will defend these damnable heresies.

Damnable heresies. aireseiV apwleiaV. "Heresies of destruction;" that is, heresies that will be followed by destruction. The Greek word which is rendered damnable, is the same which in the close of the verse is rendered destruction. Heresy is a departure from the truth. In the early history of Christianity, the church established the basic teachings of the faith. Those basics can be found in the Apostles' Creed and Nicene Creed. Over the centuries, however, theologians and religious figures have proposed doctrines that contradict established Christian beliefs. To keep those beliefs pure, the church once singled out people who taught or believed in ideas that was considered a threat to Christianity. 

Persecution became widespread as popes authorized inquisitions. Those investigations often resulted in torture and execution of innocent victims. This was not a workable solution to the problem. Jesus addressed the problem as such in Matthew 13:30, “Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” John encapsulated the new concept 1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Paul set guidelines by admonishing Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The thing which false teachers attempt is divisions, alienations, or parties, in the church, and these would be based on the erroneous doctrines which they would promulgate through the twisting, misapplying and misinterpretation of the scripture. What would be the particular doctrine in this case is immediately specified, that they "would deny the Lord that bought them." The idea then is, that these false teachers would form sects or parties in the church, of a destructive or ruinous nature, founded on a denial of the Lord that bought them. They would draw attention to themselves by making false promises in the name of God, for the purpose of obtaining wealth and power. Such a formation of leaders would be ruinous to holiness, to good morals, and to the soul. 

The authors of these sects, holding the views which they did, and influenced by the motives which they would be, and practicing the morals which they would practice, as growing out their principles, would bring upon themselves swift and certain destruction. It is not possible now to determine to what particular class the apostle had reference here, but it is generally supposed that it was to some form of the Gnostic belief. There were many early sects of so-called heretics to whom what he here says would be applicable.

In conclusion, It is strictly and properly true that only of the Son of God has "bought" us. The Father indeed is represented as making the arrangement, as giving his Son to die, and as the great Source of all the blessings secured by redemption; but the purchase was actually made by the Son of God by his sacrifice on the cross. Whatever there was of the nature of a price it was paid by him; and whatever obligations may grow out of the fact that we are purchased or ransomed are due particularly to him, 2Co 5:15. These considerations seem to me to make it clear that Peter referred here to the Lord Jesus Christ, and that he meant to say that the false teachers mentioned held doctrines which were in fact a denial of that Saviour. 

He does not specify what constituted such a denial; but it is plain that any doctrine which represented Jesus, his person, or his work, as essentially different from what was the truth, would be a denial. If he was Divine, and that fact was denied, making him wholly a different being; if he actually made an expiatory sacrifice by his death, and that fact was denied, and he was held to be a mere religious teacher, changing essentially the character of the work which he came to perform; if he, in some proper sense, "bought" them with his blood, and that fact was denied in such a way that according to their views it was not strictly proper to speak of him as having bought them at all, which would be the case if he were a mere prophet or religious teacher, then it is clear that such a representation would be in fact a denial of his true nature and work. That some of these views entered into their denial of him is clear, for it was with reference to the fact that he had "bought" them, or redeemed them, that they denied him. 

And bring upon themselves swift destruction. The destruction here referred to can be only that which will occur in the future world, for there can be no evidence that Peter meant to say that this would destroy their health, their property, or their lives. The Greek word (apwleian) is the same which is used in the former part of the verse, in the phrase "damnable heresies

The focus of Christianity in Jesus's day, in Peter's time and under the teaching of Paul was never about amassing wealth and claiming it to be the blessing of God.  Their focus was the finish work of the Cross.  When we present a Gospel that indicates that the Blood of Jesus alone is not sufficient to save us from our sins, that we must purchase our salvation through an MLM concept, we are guilty of denying the Power of God.

Merchandising The Word of God, Part #2

2 Peter 2:1  But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

I. That there would be such false teachers the apostle expressly states in 2 Peter 2:1; and incidentally in that verse, and elsewhere in the chapter, he notices some of their characteristics, or some of the doctrines which they would hold.

(a.) They would deny the Lord that bought them, 2 Peter 2:1.

There are many damnable peculiar doctrines that deny God, his rightful place.   In the most simplest form we are taught that Good is busy everyday directing the affairs of men.  It is based upon the thesis that God is in control and taken to the 'N degree', he is controlling every aspect of human endeavor.  Therefore, when the young child dies a horrific death at the hands of a drunk driver, we say it was the will of God.  It is hard for many to believe in this concept when we look at the condition of the family, community, nation and world.  In  Ephesians 2:2 Paul referred to  the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; but the sellable god we have created is so busy handing out blessings, he does not have time to think about such things as judgment. 

Denying God is more than saying, “I do not believe in God,” the Children of Isreal denied God at the base of the Holy mountain all the while they were dancing, shouting and praising their god for delivering them.  The story unfolds in Exodus 32:1-10  When we misdirect our praise and honor we are denying God his rightful place.  Many worship services are designed around the concept of heaping praise and honor upon the creation rather than the creator. 

Even denying the Lord that bought them. This must mean that they held doctrines which were in fact a denial of the Lord, or the tendency of such things which would be a denial of the Lord. We cannot suppose that, while they professed to be Christians, they would openly and avowedly deny the Lord.  To "deny the Lord" is to withhold from him, in our belief and profession, anything which is essential to a proper conception of him.

To make false promises in the name of God is to deny the power of God.  To trivialize the name of God is to deny the supremacy of God.  To reference God's power to make you look impressive is the same as denying the very existence of God.  Many public speakers once again have begun to play the "somebody card" on television and on the social media to impress and gain followers.   During any given month, somebody will be blessed with a huge sum of money, somebody will be blessed a new car.  Is this a true representation of God at work?  Even a drunk could pull of this act.  When God works nobody can claim the credit.

(b.) They would be influenced by covetousness, and their object in their attempting to seduce others from the faith, and to induce them to become followers of themselves, would be to make money, 2Peter 2:3.

Money has become the key to salvation as professed by those who seek to get rich at the expense of the people of God.  The doctrine that many teach and preach is that if you give money, God will open the windows of Heaven and pour out a blessing that you will not have room to receive.   This is a play on Malachi 3:10.  With elaborating on an issue and a concept that has been wrongly used, I will make this assertion, "the tithes were never intended to be used to fatten the purse of the priest."  The above misquoted scripture is probably one of the most quoted scripture in the bible. Unfortunately, it is being quoted out of context and used as a weapon of mass intimidation, manipulation, extortion, oppression, cajolery and outright lies and deceit used by some church leaders to collect ten percent of the gross income of their church members who have been hoodwinked and indoctrinated into believing that they are doing God’s will.   

To understand what tithes really mean one would have to understand the social reasons and cultural / religious setting within which it was situated this concept of tithes was properly explained in the Bible as stated in the laws of the tithe which can be found in the books of Leviticus 27 : 30 – 34, Numbers 18 : 25 – 31 and Deuteronomy 14 : 22 – 29. Upon reading these passages, one would understand what tithes really mean, but unfortunately most pastors prefer to neglect these passages that tell us the true meaning of tithes and emphasize on Malachi 3 : 8 - 10 which was directed to the Levites of that time to remit the priest’s share of the tithes they collected to him.  Truth is, the status quo will always be defended by the indoctrinated few.

(c.) They would be corrupt, beastly, and licentious in their conduct; and it would be one design of their teaching to show that the indulgence of gross passions was not inconsistent with religion; 2Peter 2:10, "that walk after the flesh, in the lust of uncleanness;" 2 Peter 2:12, "as natural brute beasts;" "shall perish in their own corruption;" 2 Peter 2:14, "having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin;" 2 Peter 2:22, "the dog has returned to his own vomit again."

More and more the corrupt,  beastly, and licentious ways of those that claim to be messengers of God are coming to the light and there is a rush to silence those who have the audacity to speak out.  The Bible is being used to threaten and intimidate as the indoctrination fails and the sins of the false messengers are laid bare.

(d.) They would be proud, arrogant, and self-willed; men who would despise all proper government, and who would be thoroughly "radical" in their views; 2 Peter 2:10, and despise government; presumptuous are they and self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities;" 2 Peter 2:18, "they speak great swelling words of vanity."

(e.) They were persons who had been formerly of corrupt lives, but who had become professing Christians. This is implied in 2 Peter 2:20-22. They are spoken of as having "escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ;" as "having known the ways of righteousness," but as having turned again to their former corrupt practices and lusts; "it has happened to them according to the true proverb".  There were various classes of persons in primitive times, coming under the general appellation of the term Gnostic, to whom this description would apply, and it is probable that they had begun to preach their doctrines in the times of the apostles. Among those persons were the Ebionites, Corinthians, Nicolaitanes, etc.  Jesus said he hated the Nicolaitanes.  Revelation 2:6  But this thou hast, that thou hatest the works of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

II. These false teachers would obtain followers, and their teachings would be likely to allure many. This is intimated more than once in the chapter: 2 Peter 2:2, "and many shall follow their pernicious ways;" 2 Peter 2:3, "and through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you;" 2 Peter 2:14, "beguiling unstable souls." 2 Peter 2:18.

The techqunics of the false prophet is described by Peter as someone who use words, to attract or tempt by something flattering or desirable, to fascinate; charm. 

When the prophet said, " God said, that thing you have been praying for has been released, you blessing is on it way, all you got to do is claim it and receive it."   The prophet just declared it, God's ATM machine is working full time to insure that you get what you need to build up your treasures here on earth..

III. They would certainly be punished. A large part of the chapter is taken up in proving this point, and especially in showing from the examples of others who had erred in a similar manner, that they could not escape destruction. In doing this, the apostle refers to the following facts and illustrations:

(1.) The case of the angels that sinned, and that were cast down to hell, 2 Peter 2:4. If God brought such dreadful punishment on those who were once before his throne, wicked men could have no hope of escape.

(2.) The case of the wicked in the time of Noah, who were cut off by the flood, 2 Peter 2:5.

(3.) The case of Sodom and Gomorrah, 2 Peter 2:6.

(4.) The character of the persons referred to was such that they could have no hope of escape.

(a.) They were corrupt, sensual, presumptuous, and self willed, and were even worse than the rebel angels had been--men that seemed to be made to be taken and destroyed, 2 Peter 2:10-12.

(b.) They were spotted and blemishes, sensual and adulterers, emulating the example of Balaam, who was rebuked by even a dumb ass for his iniquity, 2 Peter 2:13-16.

(c.) They allured others to sing under the specious promise of liberty, while they were themselves the slaves of debased appetites, and gross and sensual passions, 2 Peter 2:17-19. 

Next

Damnable heresies.

Heresies of destruction

Merchandising The Word of God, Part #1

2 Peter 2:1-6  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment; And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;

Before we began an indepth multipart study of Peter's message, I shall attempt to set the stage for a modern day comparison of an ancient message.  We intend to study with great diligence the message presented by Peter and also compare it the message that Jesus sent to the church in the book of Revelation 1st thru 3rd chapter.   Jesus said to Peter in Matthew 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."   This does not mean the Devil will not come against the church, nor does it mean the Devil will not create counterfeit churches.  There is the true church that exists in the heart of man and there is the apostate church.  Jesus said to the apostate church in  Revelation 3:15-16  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spew thee out of my mouth.  

As a final act of repudiation God divorced his chosen people, as a final act of disdain or repudiation Jesus offered these words, "I will spew thee out of my mouth."

No lets read and study the last words of Jesus to the church here on earth.  Revelation 3:20-22 Behold, I stand at the door and knock,: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. He that overcometh, I will give to him to sit down with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and sat down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.  This is a message to the individual, he used words like, "if any man", or "He that overcometh."

Let us explore the possibility that Jesus and Peter were concerned about those who had come into the church and with great words they began merchandising the people of God.  2 Peter 2:3 And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.  Now let us explore the act of merchandising.

Feigned words, words that are insecure, artificial, man made words that are designed to suit a particular purpose., words that are able to cause the unstable soul to falter and follow after  the teaching of men.  False teachers often follow the pattern of their master, they come with great promises.  Feigned words; artful and hypocritical pretenses. --Make a merchandise of you. Judas made merchandise of his Master, betraying and sacrificing him to promote his own ends. So it is said these men should sacrifice the cause of Christ to their own selfish purposes.

There exists the possibility that through the use of feigned words, anything, irregardless of how worthy, vain, even unpretentious acts can be sold to the public.  All that is required is a marketing plan, a marketing team with an appealing marking concepts.   Consider this, tennis shoes and blue jeans once the garment of the poor and working class, used a marketing concept to become the preferred dress of the rich and famous.  What was it that caused  the market value of a pair of cheaply produced tennis shoes to dramatically increase in value?  Better yet, consider the enterprising man who sold rocks (pet rocks) to an adoring public.

The primary objectives of life have been reset, feeling good about what we are, what we have or what we do, has become our primary objective and the value of life is diminished.  In essence, if we pay two hundred dollars for a four dollar pair of tennis shoes the value of the shoes did not increase, we are paying for the right to feel good about yourself or your accomplishments.  The desire of feeling good is one of the most powerful and sellable aphrodisiacs known to mankind.  It is sellable in and out of the church.

'Feel good' can be defined as that which is intended to make one happy or satisfied, causing or characterized by a feeling of self-satisfaction: feel-good factor, achieving a high state of euphoria, often defined as the Spirit of God.  The operative words, here is the, “feel good factor.” The feel good factor is present in every aspect of human endeavors.  Why do we go to work?  Because going to work allows us to accomplish things that make us feel good.  Why do we go to concerts and football games, because somewhere within our line of reasoning, it is something that makes us feel good.  Now apply that to church worship services and Gospel music.

The evolution of gospel music sat the stage for the evolution of worship service.  Gospel or sacred music once existed within the shadows of the sanctuary and enjoyed a  special place that was considered to be Holy next to the Word of God.  The singers of spiritual songs was not something that was done for worldly acclimation or money, it was something that was done in the service of God. Therefore, those who sung in church as a part of their church worship services did not do it to  become rich and famous.  Sacred music as the name implies was not intended to be entertaining, it was intended to reverence God and give him proper praise.   When we injected the entertainment 'feel good' factor into worship, are we guilty of denying God his proper reverence?

In todays contemporary society gospel music has crossed over or morphed into the entertainment  venue.  The sacred solitude that gospel music once provided has been replaced by a hand clapping, foot stomping feel good sellable type of music that rewards the performer and entertain the listener. Worship services that once was designed to serve God is now designed to make you feel good.  Feeling good is an emotional attribute that can be manipulated, it can be merchandised, it can be marketed in the same fashion as a pair of tennis shoes made out of cheap plastic.  Somewhere between the opening song and the closing chords of contemporary worship services you will also be asked to pay for feeling good.

2 Peter 2:1-6, The  general subject of this chapter is clearly stated in the first verse, and it embraces these points:

(1.) That there would be many false teachers among Christians in modern times, as there were false teachers in ancient times;

False teachers have risen up and many are trying to strike fear in the Children of God thru threats of annihilation by God if they open their mouth against them.  1 John 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. When the Devil approached Eve in the garden professing to know the word of God, he made promises by twisting the scripture.   When that old Satan, the Devil approached Jesus on the mountain quoting the scripture, twisting it and professing to understand the Word of God,  offering him all of the richness of the world, Jesus condemns him as nothing but the devil.  Yet, when they come to us in the name of God promising prosperity in a sin cursed and dying world, we are quick to follow.  A world that Jesus said for you not to lay up your treasures upon earth.  Matthew 6:19  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Are we to believe that the numerous doctrines and split denominations are all apart of God's plan? What about the changing values of Christianity that are designed to make Christianity more relevant in a modern society?   Why are Christians eager to embrace every new wind and doctrine?   These are questions that should be seriously considered when engaging in un-indoctrinated Bible.study.

(2.) That they would introduce destructive errors in the scripture, leading many astray through peculiar doctrines; 

These peculiar doctrines are numerous in today's society and they are all built upon a twisted interpretation of the scripture. These destructive errors many times are nothing more than making numerous false promises in the name of God.  To do so is a direct violation of God's laws and is a form of denying the true power of God.  Many are led astray by promises that God is moving in a particular way that embrace the 'feel good' aspect of human nature.  It is easy to be blinded by the twisted promised and fail to see the direction that we are being led in. 

Ages and dispensations are no longer a factor in Bible study. We take the Old and New Testament, and figurative speaking, we dump both into the pot, then we add The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit and mix it all together.  To congeal the mix we add a bit of paganism with a touch of Voodooism.  According to the teaching of Peter, what emergences is a polluted mess that is neither sustainable thru the Word of God or common sense.   On one extreme we have people dancing with snakes and on the other extreme we have the magical sideshow.  Somewhere in between we have those who are clamoring for and claiming the blessing of Abraham, while the healing power of God is defined as going into the hospital and surviving a surgical procedure.  We have trivialized the God of our salvation and he is seen as an ineffective landlord.

(3.) That the wrath of God would certainly be poured out upon them. The design of this study is to illustrate and defend these points.

The wrath of God presently is being stored up and reserved as depicted in Revelation 15:7 And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. The watered down messages of modern Christianity does not reflect the wrath of God.  Seven Golden vials full of the wrath of God are indicative of stored up wrath that is being withheld by the Blood of Jesus.  Fire and brimstone message does not project the 'feel good' atmosphere that is prevalent in many churches, therefore It is more appropriate to speak of what God is doing for you or what he is going to do for you.   These are sellable points.

If we were to rightly divide the polluted mess that we have created as Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  The works of God the Father was manifested in the Old Testiment and when he divorced his people as portrayed in Jeremiah 3:8  And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce;... Afterward, God was silent. When God spoke in the New Testament, he said in Luke 9:35... This is my beloved Son: hear him.  Jesus prepared his disciples for his death and departure.  One of the things he stressed was in John 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  This dispensation is under the authority of the Holy Spirit and when it has run its course the wrath of God that is presently being withheld, will be poured out on a sin cursed world.

To Be Continued

The Meaning of Double Honor

1 Timothy 5:17  Let the <elders> that rule well be counted worthy of double < honor>, especially they who <labor> in the word and doctrine.

I recently attended an appreciation service for a pastor and to justify the excessive splurging that members were drawn into,  the Master of Ceremony  quoted  1 Timothy 5:17.  A sense of indoctrinated relief seems to settle over the church, because of what they were asked to do was justified by the Holy Scripture.   Some were asked to forgo paying their bills or even giving up their grocery money to make this glorious occasion a huge success.  However, there were some who squirmed uncomfortably in their seats, because they were aware that nothing in that scripture referred to the pastor.

The festive occasion was filled with honor and praise for the pastor.  These services were once nothing more that a private affair where the members of a congregation came together to show their love for their pastor.  Often it was done after church services or outside of the church setting.  Today, in many churches they have morphed into a multi-church community affair, hosted and directed by the pastor or his appointee.  Letters or invitations are sent out to different churches, money is swapped causing undue suffering among the church community.  Often these appreciation services became the measuring rod that determined the effectiveness of the pastor’s ministry,  based upon the amount of money collected. 

The interpretation of this verse also adds to what I call the confusion of Christianity.  There are certain sections of Paul’s letter to Timothy that we will defend and apply word for word, while other segments can be  explained away.   The contradictory nature of our interpretations  comes full circle in that while we are shaping and twisting the scripture, often within the same chapter, to coincide with our indoctrinated doctrine or personal ideology, all the while we are quoting Matthew 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

The shaping and twisting of the scripture is easily achieved in the household of faith because of the  belief that once a person  acknowledges the anointing of God, that person cannot lie. This naive concept of God's messengers has open the door for the wolves to come in among the flock.  The scripture encouraged the believers in 1 John 4:1, it said, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”  Not one God fearing soul would stand up challenged Jim Jones as he led hundreds of believers to their untimely death.

These verses ranks number one  as to the high level of contention within the household of faith.  We cannot in good faith accept what Paul said, word for word, there must be a way to explain all of this away.   If we cannot explain this away “church is out”.  1 Timothy 2:9-11  In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;  But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.   How many churches would cease to exist if these verses were enforced, word for word?  But, if there is a slight indication that the scripture is referring to money, then it is enforced. 

In the early sixties the bishops mills began to turn out bishops by the thousands.  The roster of Bishops could be reduced  if these rules were applied.  1 Timothy 3:2-6  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;  Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;  One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.  We have long since relegated the training of our children over to some other or higher power.  Proverbs 22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.  We can explain this away, and the husband of one wife simply means one wife at any given time.

Is this verse telling you not to rebuke a preacher?   Once you make the claim that you are a preacher are you beyond condemnation? Maybe a firm understanding of who is an elder is needed, not our modern day interpretation, but in the language of the Bible.  1 Timothy 5:1-3  Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity. Honor widows that are widows indeed.

Teachers of the Gospel of prosperity should read and re-read this scripture, but Rev. Ike explained this one away long ago.  1 Timothy 6:5-10  Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.  But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Now lets get back to our study verse.  If we are to understand the meaning of 1 Timothy 5:17, we need to understand the meaning of three words.  Elders, honor and labor.  These words must be defined in accordance with the ancient Hebrew meaning and not some twentieth century polluted definition.

The apostle had given full instructions respecting bishops, 1Ti 3:1-7; deacons, 1Ti 3:8-13; widows, 1Ti 5:3-16; and he here proceeds to describe the duty of the church towards those who sustain the office of elder. The word used--elder or presbyter--properly refers to age, not an appointed position and is then used to denote the officers of the church, and was relevant to the church in which they served.  Probably because of their aged they were at first entrusted with the administration of the affairs of the church. The word was in familiar use among the Jews to denote the body of men that presided in the synagogue  Can we justifiable change the meaning of the word to accommodate the desire for power of a few, or the desire of one man to rule over the House of God?

That rule well. Presiding well, or well managing the spiritual interests of the church. The word rendered rule -proestwteV -- is from a verb meaning to be over; to preside over; to have the care of. The word is used with reference to bishops, Tit 1:5,7; to an apostle, 1Pe 5:1; and is such a word as would apply to any officers to whom the management and the government of the church was intrusted. It is probable that the same organization was pursued in every place where a church was established; and where there was a Jewish synagogue, the Christian church would be formed substantially after that model, and in such a church there would be a group of presiding elders. The language here seems to have been taken from such an Organization.

"Be counted worthy of double honor. With double respect; that is, of a high degree of respect; of a degree of respect becoming their age and office. From the quotation which is made in 1Ti 5:18, in relation to this subject, it would seem probable that the apostle had some reference also to their support, or to what was necessary for their maintenance. There is no improbability in supposing that all the officers of the church, of whatever grade or rank, may have had some compensation, corresponding to the amount of time which their office required them to devote to the service of the church. Nothing would be more reasonable than that, if their duties in the church interfered with their regular employments in their secular calling, their brethren should contribute to their support.   Especially they who labor in word and doctrine. In preaching and instructing the people. From this it is clear that, while there were "elders" who labored "in the word and doctrine," that is, in preaching, there were also those who did not labor "in the word and doctrine," but who were nevertheless appointed to rule in the church. Whether, however, they were regarded as a separate and distinct class of officers, does not appear from this passage. It may have been that there were elders to whom the general management of the church was confided, and that a part of them were engaged in preaching; a part may have performed the office of "teachers"  and a part may have been employed in managing other concerns of the church, and yet all were regarded as the <proestwteV presbuteroi—or>  "elders presiding over the church." It cannot, I think, be certainly concluded from this passage, that the ruling elders who did not teach or preach were regarded as a separate class or order of permanent officers in the church. There seems to have been a bench of elders selected on account of age, piety, prudence, and wisdom, to whom was intrusted the whole business of the instruction and government of the church, and they performed the various parts of the duty as they had the ability. Those among them who "labored in the word and doctrine," and who gave up all their time to the business of their office, would be worthy of special respect, and of a higher compensation."

Now, the progression of Christianity and the church as a business required that it adopt a business model that provide a clear and enforceable means of collection and distribution of wealth.   Many have struggled all of their lives and gone to their grave waiting for God to make them wealthy.   The age of the community church has gone the way of the community school.  Churches often collect and funnel money to organizations outside of the community that serves no purpose within the community or the local church.   Church buildings remain locked during the day as the pastors work their regular job and drug abuse and gang violence erupt, even on the steps of the church.