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People of The Living God |
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November 2020
WATCHMEN ON THE WALLS
DECLARING WAR ON CHRISTIANITY
Warren Berry
In a message given by Jonathan Cahn at the prayer march in Washington D.C. he made this very disturbing statement: “America has declared war against its own foundation.” This statement is absolutely true and it actually goes further than that, for in reality, America has declared war against God and the foundation He has laid, not only for the church but for the success of a nation.
The American founding fathers took many, if not most, of their founding principles from scripture. To form a government that offers liberty to all its citizens and at the same time allows freedom of religion seemed impossible. People who understand human nature and the state of fallen man realize that men must have laws to govern and order their lives. This is true even in one’s nuclear family and much more so when establishing communities, cities, societies, and nations. The founding fathers had experienced firsthand the oppression that religion can bring upon a nation and a continent, oppression even by those professing to be “Christian.” Europe had been plagued with a pseudo Christianity for centuries, a Christianity that was anything but ingenuous and pure. Rather, it was clearly tyrannical and filled with more hate, selfishness, and perversion than love, mercy, and grace. Europe’s experience with religious oppression had vividly demonstrated the fallacy of a religious state.
America’s founders understood that creating a Constitution which would provide religious freedom while at the same time keeping religious tyranny at bay, thereby maintaining liberty for all, was not an easy task, and at times seemed totally impossible.
It was God who gave them the wisdom to put together the Constitution that America has enjoyed for over two hundred years. By God’s grace, these men were able to produce a Constitution which is the best the world has ever seen, offering liberty and freedom of religion. The dangers which surrounded that Constitution were very acute and real. This is why John Adams stated, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” It is for this very reason that today when morals have decayed and been cast aside and immorality is becoming more and more prominent and acceptable, that we see our country falling apart. Even our politicians no longer can speak without using vile language, and our young people cannot speak one sentence without vulgarities spewing from their mouths. The filth which freely flows from the protesters who are destroying America’s cities night after night is an abomination. Their very language speaks of their debauchery and reeks with depravity and demonic influence. How can a nation survive such decadence, shameless immorality, and rejection of everything decent and right?
It is evident that America’s founders used many of the instructions given by God to national Israel in the structure of our present government. However, Israel was a theocratic government whereas America was to be non-religious, and yet based on Christian principles. In other words, it would not be controlled by any religious denomination or organization. Men were free to live by their own convictions. So when Jonathan Cahn stated, “America has declared war against its own foundation” it is clearly evident that in her declaration, she has declared war on Christianity. This is being exhibited presently with the nomination of Amy Barrett for the Supreme Court. The left has attacked her religion. Some on the left are saying that Christians should not be allowed to hold any public office because their Christian convictions affect their judgment. In 2017 Diane Feinstein, when questioning Amy Barrett, made this statement, “I think whatever religion is, it has its own dogma. The law is totally different. And I think in your case, Professor, when you read your speeches, the conclusion one draws is that the dogma lives loudly within you. And that’s a concern.”
Of course all who are serious about whatever religion they hold are affected by the teachings of that religion. Hindus’ dogma does affect their world view. Muslims are affected by the teachings of the Quran, and Christians’ opinions and world view are built upon the Bible. But let us not forget that atheism is also a religion. Religion is the belief in something which cannot be proven, and living one’s life according to that belief. Christians believe God created the world. It is faith-based. Atheists believe the world evolved from nothing, which cannot be proven and therefore requires faith. But they state that science proves evolution. Truthfully, it doesn’t. They just believe it does. Science actually proves there is a Creator, because it reveals the profound and infinite wisdom, power, and majesty of God. Science delves into many aspects of our world and universe unveiling more and more of God’s handy work, and every new discovery reveals the Creator. Therefore, all men are without excuse when we stand before the judgment seat of Christ. The complexities of the world and universe proves that things are too complicated to have just evolved. It takes faith to believe in evolution.
It is obvious from what we see happening all across this land and in the political circles that things are shaping up for America, along with the rest of the world, to declare war on Christianity and, consequently, upon Christians. We know this will happen before Christ returns, and there will be great tribulation such as the world has never known. While these things can be frightening, we must also remember that our loving and faithful God will provide for His people. God will give boldness and power to face these oppositions. According to scripture, some Christians will be put to death (Luke21:16, Matt.10:21), just as Stephen was in Acts7. But notice how God showed up and Stephen, as he was being stoned, was filled with the Holy Ghost and saw heaven open and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God (Acts7:55-56). Do you think Stephen was conscious of the stones which were pounding him - or - the presence of God and the reward awaiting him? God is the same today, and He promises to give what is necessary for every event in life.
Some, and I believe most, will be provided for during this time of tribulation. God will bring His people to places of safety where He will care for them and protect them. In Revelation12, we read that God carried the woman (church) into the wilderness where she has a place prepared of God for her (Rev.12:6,14). One thing is certain: God will never leave His people. He will always be with us to give the necessary strength, encouragement, and perseverance to endure unto the end. God has never forsaken His people when they walk according to His word and trust Him. The real issue here is that we take this day of opportunity to prepare for the uncertainties of the future so we can rest completely in Him. Jesus never fails. He gives peace in the storm. He always shows up when needed. He is totally faithful. Let us therefore learn to trust Him fully.
“FOR THE REBELLIOUS ALSO”
Marjorie Hidley
“Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them” (Psalm68:18).
“And it shall come to pass afterword, that I will pour out my spirit upon ALL FLESH; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit” (Joel2:28,29).
Friends, a most amazing event is about to occur. It is on God’s program. In fact, even now the pending clouds of glory are rolling overhead, and the drops of rain have begun to fall. Before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, there is to be a mighty outpouring of His Spirit. “The former rain, and the latter rain,” it is called by the prophet Joel (Joel2:23). God is not selfish with this mighty gift to man, but rather, extremely generous and liberal, for He has promised, “I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh” (verse28).
Have you ever stopped to consider what is meant by “all flesh”? Does this include the wicked as well as the righteous? Would God ever share the glory of His presence with the ungodly? And if so, what would be His purpose?
As we look into the Scriptures concerning this subject, we find a number of occasions when God by His Spirit did work on, and through, ungodly men. In ISamuel19:18-24, we read the account of King Saul, as he set out to murder his friend David. In Ramah a great prayer meeting was in session. A whole company of prophets were prophesying, with Samuel in the midst as leader. Saul, having been informed that David also was there, sent his messengers to take him. But sending the messengers was of no avail, for upon arriving, they, too, began to prophesy. After attempting this three different times, Saul decided to perform his own errand of murder. But as he arrived in the place where the Spirit was falling, he forgot his wicked plans. The spirit of prophecy fell upon him, also, and he prophesied all day and all night! What could be the reason for such happenings?
Balaam, one of God’s worst enemies, tried to outwit the Spirit of God as he set about to curse Israel (Numbers, chapters 22-24). But instead of a cursing, his prophecies were turned into blessings by the God of heaven.
In Judges (chapters 13-16) we read the account of Samson, a powerful man, whose birth was announced by an angel of the Lord. While twenty years a judge in Israel, he was used of God to begin to deliver His people from the hands of the Philistines. Samson was endued with mighty power from the Spirit of God, and his strength was beyond that of any other man. But, like many, he did not treasure the gift of God, or esteem heaven’s blessing of inestimable worth. Instead, he played fast and loose with the gift God had given him, and finally betrayed God’s secret to an ungodly woman. This resulted in the loss of his power. In Judges16:20 we read that “he wist not that the Lord was departed from him.”
Caiaphas, the high priest, prophesied gloriously concerning Christ and His work among the children of men (John11:49-52), and then later proclaimed Him “guilty of death” (Matt.26:57-66).
God’s rain falls upon the just and the unjust. Every intervention of God in the lives of His creatures has purpose, is designed to accomplish a certain end. Our Lord is faithful in all His ways. He is bringing men to a place of decision. There is no neutral ground in serving God. The day is coming when men will be filled with the Spirit of God or the spirit of hell. The response of a man’s heart is the determining factor. The outpouring of God’s Spirit upon all flesh will be like a great flood which acts as a mighty sifter. Every man will have a personal witness from the Father Himself. “That the Lord God might dwell among them,” the Psalmist David tells us (Psalm68:18). Man MUST choose whom he will serve. If men desire to walk in their own ways and satisfy the desires of their own hearts, they will be caught in a great snare. “For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to this people…yet they would not hear. But the word of the Lord was unto them precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken” (Isa.28:11-13).
What could be a greater snare to any person, than to have one of God’s gifts with a heart that is unprepared? To most men this would seem to be a stamp of God’s favor upon their lives. But beware of such conclusions! The more of the Spirit of God we have, the greater are the requirements of our obedience unto God. His word is our measuring line. “Because they received not the love of the truth…God shall send them strong delusions” (IIThess.2:10-12). Our love for God and His words is most essential to our soul’s salvation.
Friends, most people today do not care for the word of the Lord. Men do not desire to live by the words of the Book and obey the “Thus saith the Lord.” Many, today, have substituted spiritual experiences for obedience to our God. There is no security in spiritual experiences. The Corinthian church considered themselves very spiritual because they had many gifts of the Spirit of God, but the apostle Paul called them carnal. We become close to God as we look into His word and apply ourselves to the business of measuring up to its standards. Jesus did always those things which pleased the Father (John8:29). This also must be our standard. The only satisfaction to the soul is to serve God and do His will. Nothing else matters.
As God’s Spirit is poured out in this end time, He will not come to entertain. He is a great Teacher. Will we hear Him? Are we obligated to hear Him? He will show us the will and the word of God. Will we obey this Teacher? Many will say to Christ in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Greek: lawlessness)” (Matt.7:22,23). Why will these people be destroyed? They refused to obey our Master. Jesus called them workers of lawlessness.
“Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the father and the son” (IIJohn9). Friends, what could be a more glorious reward than to have the Father and the Son? The cost of this relationship is to abide in the doctrine of Christ. His doctrine was His words. “If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him” (John14:23). And to this man the outpouring of God’s Spirit will result in a deeper, fuller, and richer walk in the divine presence of our God.
THE RESTORATION
Harry Miller
“And He shall send Jesus Christ…whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts3:20-.21).
Here is truth that is more than “fundamental” – it is vital. If any truth was ever essential to salvation, this is a major one for Christians today. Many fables have been taught concerning the second coming of our Lord, the most popular one being the Rapture fable: a teaching that the church of Christ is about to be caught away at any moment, and that the wedding feast will be held in the air, with the Lord.
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed” (IIThess.2:3). Paul opposed the error that “the day of Christ is at hand,” and that we might expect to be “gathered together” at any moment. There will be no gathering unto the Lord until certain things come to pass; so, also, are we taught in many other places in the Scriptures, for we are living in the day in which “all these things” must be fulfilled (Matt.24:34).
“The marriage of the Lamb is come” (Rev.19:7). But this cannot be proclaimed until it can be said that “His wife hath made herself ready.” “Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you. This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled” (Luke21:29-32).
The word of the Lord must be fulfilled and not one jot or tittle shall in any wise fail from that which He has decreed will surely come to pass. Man shall not change God’s program; he can only fit into it. A true knowledge of the program, and a willing spirit, will help us to be accounted worthy in the day of the Lord. “Then cometh the end…when he shall have put down all rule, and all authority and power. For he must reign till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (ICor.15:24,25).
There is a great “war” raging in the unseen world about us, for “the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed” (Rev.12:17). This war shall rage until “the saints of the Most High shall take the kingdom” (Dan.7:18). “And they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end” (Dan.7:26).
Satan’s greatest weapon, and man’s greatest enemy, is death. But death shall have an end; for “He will swallow up death in victory” (Isa.25:3).
Many enemies shall be subdued before this great enemy is finally conquered, and as the enemies are put down, there will be a restoration of the things that evil powers robbed from the Israel of God.
Communication lines are the most vital things to an army or to a nation. Cut off every form of communication, and the army or nation will soon cease to exist. So, also, with the human body. Communication is vital to its proper functions and even to its continued existence.
One of the wonders of the “body of Christ” is that it has continued to exist during the long absence of divine communication. For almost nineteen centuries the main body of true Israel has received no communication from the throne, and only a very few giants of prayer have been able to hear from above. The rest of the body has wandered and groped in the darkness of this long night.
“At evening time it shall be light” (Zech.14:7). And again: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come” (Isa.60:1). And, “It shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy” (Acts2:17). Here we have definite promise of the restoration of the Spirit of prophecy which will lead us even as God’s people were led in the days of old.
Revelation12:17 tells us that “the remnant…have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” Now the testimony of Jesus Christ is not an oral speech of a human being, but “the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of prophecy” (Rev.19:10). By this we know that the remnant people will be led by the direct leading of the same Spirit which led the apostles in days of old.
“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” (John14:26). Again, in chapter 16 verse 13: “Howbeit when he, the spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak.”
“And the Lord shall cause his glorious voice to be heard” (Isa.30:30). “The Lord shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem” (Joel3:16). “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations” (Rev.19:15).
These and many other passages show that the word shall come directly from the throne of the Lord in the last days.
The “lamps” of prophecy which have been dormant for centuries shall again blaze by the fire and oil of the Spirit, and the wise virgins shall “go forth” into the service of the Master, where direct and definite leading shall “finish the work in righteousness.”
The Spirit again speaks as He did to Philip (Acts8:29 and 13:2), and again angels of the Lord converse and give instruction, as is recorded in Acts12:7,8. Visions, dreams, and prophecies are again being given to many godly men and women, and great is the joy as heaven’s leadership is restored.
“Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God” (Ezek. 20:36). “Therefore my people shall know my name: therefore they shall know in that day that I am He that doth speak” (Isa.52:6).
The true Israel of God (everyone that has the circumcision of the heart) will be “gathered” for safety and for preparation to meet Christ. This work of gathering can only be accomplished through the direct leading of the Holy Spirit; so the voice of prophecy must be heard and obeyed by everyone who will go in.”
Not every son and daughter will have the gift of prophecy, but God will “set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets” (ICor.12:28). The apostles will have the gift of prophecy; and they, like Moses of old, will be used as leaders. As a matter of fact, the Lord has said that the Spirit which actuated Moses and Elijah will actuate men in the last day.
An apostle is a leader; but the leadership mut be according to the mind of the Holy Spirit if the work is to be of God. So the gift of prophecy is given to leaders as a channel through which the Spirit might direct the work.
The gift of prophecy is a distinctly different gift from the gift of anointing that is given an evangelist or a preacher. Many have quoted Acts2:17, saying “Sons and daughters shall preach,” but this is not according to truth, for preaching is not prophesying, “for no prophecy ever came by the will of men” (IIPeter1:21, RV).
In Ephesians4:11,12 the Spirit differentiates between the work of pastors and of prophets.
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound” (Isa.61:1). Here the Spirit anointed to preach. But when prophecy comes through the power of the Holy Ghost, then the human mind is not a factor in the making of the message. A simple study of the methods of the Spirit in prophecy will soon convince any open mind of this truth.
“Words…which the Holy Ghost teacheth” (ICor.2:13). The prophet’s concept, and very thought, word, letter, tense, case, and number were inspired. This is the reason the message of the prophet was the word of God.
According to Scripture, prophecy is 100% supernatural; the prophet acting as medium between God and man. The words are God’s; the voice is the prophet’s.
In the olden days prophets were called “seers,” because they actually SAW the message of God before their eyes. “Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a prophet was beforetime called a seer” (ISam.9:9). IChronicles26:28 speaks of “Samuel the seer;” and IISamuel24:11 tells us that “the word of the Lord came unto the prophet Gad, David’s seer.”
There is little room for any mistake when the prophet can plainly read the message from God. Most of the Old Testament prophets record the fact that they saw the messages, and at times even saw the angelic messenger who brought the message to them. John the beloved was given the message of Revelation in visons of many symbolic things, and frequently conversed with the messenger at the time the message was brought.
QUESTION FROM A READER ON BAPTISM
Shalom brother.
I would like to inquire about baptism. There are several kinds of baptism that are done here by many churches. Some put marks of the cross on the face; others baptize in big rivers with flowing water in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Others also baptize the same but in the name of Jesus, only centrally to what is in Mathew28:19. Some Sunday churches here build a trough and pour water in and use it. When I read Acts2, Peter told them to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus. So my question is: Which baptism is correct according the bible and which name, the name of Jesus, or Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit?
Thanks from, J.G.
Dear J.G.
We at “The Testimony of Truth” always welcome questions from our readers. We know that if one person has questions about a subject, there are others who also have the same questions. While we do not profess to have all truth nor do we claim to understand every topic fully, we know that God has graciously given us some insight into many of the truths of the Gospel, for which we are eternally grateful.
I will respond to your questions on baptism in the order in which you asked them, although some do overlap. The first issue you raised was concerning putting marks of the cross on one’s face. This practice seems to have originated with the Catholic Church. I will present a paragraph written by Anthony Lilles in the “Catholic Exchange,” August 2016, entitled, “The Sign of the Cross and Our Baptism.” “The Sign of the Cross has a special connection to baptism. It is traced by the Church on the forehead of the catechumen (a convert to Christianity receiving training in doctrine and discipline before baptism) before baptism. It is a sign that this life has been brought under the shadow of Christ’s work of redemption. It marks the soul as the Lord’s special possession and erases all absolute claims any principality or power attempt to make over it.” He continues by saying that the sign of the cross, which Catholics are encouraged to do frequently, is a reminder of the commitment made at baptism. He states several times throughout the article that this sign of the cross is a way in which we bless ourselves.
I find several problems with this practice and the premise upon which it rests. First, I find it difficult to imagine that man can bless himself when it comes to spiritual matters. God blesses us when we follow His teachings. Catholicism has many teachings, practices, traditions, and superstitions which are not scriptural and have been used over the centuries to psychologically enslave its members. This is just another of those many superstitions. To begin with, scripture does not teach the idea of placing the sign of the cross on one’s forehead when they are baptized. It is an ordinance incorporated into the religion of Catholicism. John the Baptist was baptizing before the cross and it is obvious that he did not promote this practice. In the book of Acts, where many believers were baptized, nothing is ever recorded that those baptized were to mark their foreheads with a cross. Therefore, it is not a part of biblical baptism.
Your second question is in reference to the water: does the water need to be flowing water, such as a river or stream? In scripture we find John the Baptist baptizing in the Jordan River, but it appears that this was a convenient place at the time. There are no instructions in scripture that states one should be baptized in flowing water. The command is to be baptized. Men tend to add to scripture all too often. We want to keep God’s word and do things according to His directions and commands and not get caught up in traditions of men. The purpose of baptism is that one is committing himself to serve God for the remainder of his or her life. It is an outward sign to men of an inward commitment. Our church has baptized in rivers, lakes, canals, and even in the Gulf of Mexico. I have read of people being baptized in troughs and even in bathtubs, and I believe God accepted their baptism. The main thing is that we are baptized, and whether the water is flowing or still is not where the focus should be. We simply do what God commands without all the additions. The most important issue regarding the water is that it must be deep enough so the person desiring baptism can be immersed. In Romans6:3-4 Paul gives us an understanding of why immersion is necessary, “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” This verse shows us that our old life is buried and we come up out of the water in a resurrected new life. Old things are passed away and all things become new (IICor.5:17). This brings us to your third question.
Should Christians be baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, or in the name of Jesus? Churches generally baptize in one of these two manners. People of the Living God baptizes in the name of Jesus. There are a couple of reasons for this, but the most important is that in the book of Acts. The apostles always baptized in the name of Jesus. There is no record of any converts being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Following is a list of verses from the book of Acts where baptism in the name of Jesus is stated: Acts2:38, 8:16, 10:48 (‘Lord’ used in this verse refers to Jesus), 19:5. In the Apostle Paul’s letter, he refers to being baptized into Christ, never into the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It seems the practice of the early church was to baptize in the name of Jesus, so this is what we practice.
Another reason is that no one knows the name of the Father nor the Holy Spirit. This seems trivial to some people because they say, “Jesus instructed His disciples to baptize with these titles and, therefore, is the correct manner for Gospel baptism.” It’s difficult to argue this point, but because of the record found in Acts and the fact that the Apostle Paul commanded, “Whatsoever ye do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col.3:17) we believe this is the best practice. Generally Christians who believe in the Trinity baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and most of those who believe in “Jesus Only” baptize in the name of Jesus. However, People of the Living God believe in the Trinity but still baptize in the name of Jesus and for the reasons stated above.
Some Christians place extreme importance on immersion, to the point that if one is sprinkled, they claim their baptism is not acceptable by God. Yet those denominations that sprinkle use a few scriptures to support their practice of sprinkling. A few scriptures they use are: Heb. 9:12-14 (“Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”), Heb.11:28, Heb.12:24, and IPeter1:2 which refer to the sprinkling of the blood of Christ. These verses coupled with Ezek.36:25-26 “Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh”. These are just a few scriptures used to support sprinkling rather than immersion.
The question that always arises deals with people who may be elderly and immersion is not possible or, at least, dangerous. In His dealings with us, God looks at our hearts, and He is a merciful God and not nearly as rigid as religious men are. God is not religiously unbending on many issues, for He loves and is very merciful. We must be careful not to judge or make an issue where God does not. This paragraph will probably bother some people, but consider how David took of the shew bread and ate and gave to his men who were hungry. Jesus mentioned this event to the Pharisees when they accused Jesus and His disciples of breaking the Sabbath because they plucked corn on the Sabbath when they were hungry (Matt.12:1-8). Religion tends to make one sanctimoniously rigid, while the Gospel is that which stems from mercy and love.
There are some things relative to baptism which I believe to be critical and binding, and every person who is going to be baptized should have confidence that the method and means by which he receives baptism is acceptable to God. Some Christian groups don’t believe in baptizing a person but once and that is all that is necessary. However, there are times when a person gains more insight into Biblical baptism and feels he needs to be re-baptized, baptized a second time. People of the Living God sees no problem with this, for we do not see in scripture that a person can only be baptized once. Sometimes, a person may have back slid for a season and upon returning to God, he feels it necessary to be re-baptized. In the end, what we do must be in keeping with scripture and that which we are certain is acceptable to God. May God lead and bless every believer to know God’s standard and submit himself to it.
The Editor
LET US GO ON
Harry R. Miller
“Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works” (Heb.6:1).
The fifteenth chapter of the Gospel of John has one main theme: growth. Progress and development in the economy of God are not mere desires or requests upon the part of the Father; they are absolute requisites.
There are certain things that a Christian M-U-S-T DO in order to continue as a Christian. Christ plainly taught these things in this chapter of John. We are likened unto branches; He is likened unto a vine. Branches can be, and are, removed from the vine if necessary.
The good branch is the one that “brings forth fruit.” It brings forth fruit by “abiding.” If a branch fails to abide then it becomes withered and is “cast forth.”
The “husbandman” can rightfully look for and expect fruit. God made an investment in His creatures: why should He not rightfully look for His due returns? Is it not written that “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied”? Also that “the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it”?
Too many people are trusting in the mere fact of belief in Jesus Christ to save them. Belief is a vital thing, and is necessarily the starting point, for without belief no man could be saved; but most people stop here. They have failed to recognize the fact that God the Father expects something from man for His part in the investment. The salvation of man is not a one-sided affair, either in cost or in profit. A covenant has been entered into by two individuals – God and man. Each has assumed an obligation; each pays a price; each enjoys a substantial profit.
Much of our modern religious thought pictures God as a great philanthropist who, without thought of any kind of remuneration, has voluntarily, and without solicitation, rescued men from a burning hell. If this is true, then all the world has been “saved” since the death of Jesus Christ. But even the most extreme schools of such thought still require man to believe.
To believe requires effort. To demand belief also means that there is obligation. In other words, salvation is conditional. The primary question is how conditional is salvation?
The Philippian jailer asked Paul and Silas what he must do to be saved (Acts, the 16th chapter). Paul answered: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” According to this, belief would not only save him but also his house! If this man had ten children and three wives then all of these folks became Christians the moment he “believed” on Christ! That is, we can suppose this if we are to isolate this passage from all other Scriptures. But in establishing any doctrine it is well to place its foundation upon all scripture.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God,” but not all acts or sayings of the men of Scripture were inspired of God. The foundation must not rest upon one saying, or one stone, but must rest upon all the “stones.”
Consider now some of the folk who just “believed” on Christ, but failed to go on, or failed to grow. “Nevertheless among the chief rulers many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue” (John12:42). Here we have men who were convinced that this was Christ, yet they “loved the praise of men more than the praise of God,” so they did not confess Him.
If all that the Philippian jailer had to do was to believe, then also all these men had to do was believe, and no matter what they did about it they were saved! But is such a conclusion scriptural?
“But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my father which is in heaven” (Matt.10:33). These men denied the Lord, not because they did not believe on Him, but because they placed a greater value upon the “praises of men” than they did upon the “praises of God.” To them, a bird in the hand was better than two in the bush. They “esteemed the treasures of Egypt” of greater value than suffering the “reproach of Christ.” Could anyone dare to presume that these men had salvation in spite of their unfaithfulness?
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven.” “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord…I will profess unto them, I never knew you” (Matt.7:21-23).
It is evident from these Scriptures that mere belief is not sufficient to bring men to that eternal world.
Through belief in Jesus Christ we are given power to become children of God. “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John1:12). There is a great deal of difference between having power to become a thing, and having the actual thing itself.
At the “new birth” we become “sons of God.” Then, because we are sons, does all obligation cease? Are we then licensed to do as we please, having a full assurance of eternal salvation?
Listen to the words of Paul: “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect; but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I was apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended…I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil.3:12-14).
Paul said he was “apprehended” of Christ for a specific purpose: a “high calling.” He says that he had not yet made it; but he was putting forth every effort to attain unto it. In this passage he tells us that there are many who walk but are the enemies of the cross of Christ, “whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.”
In ICorinthians9, he says, “Every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things…I therefore so run…I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” Here the great apostle confirms the teaching of Christ’s vine and branches. Christians must bring forth fruit for the Master, or be cut off.
Regarding the body being “kept under,” Paul said to the Romans, “Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey?” (Rom.6:16); and concerning a reasonable Christian service he said, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Rom.12:1).
In the eighth chapter, Paul says: “they that are in the flesh cannot please God,” and “if ye live after the flesh ye shall die.” Paul was a firm believer in the fact that a Christian must devote himself to the service of God or be lost. None of his letters offer hope for a “weekend Christian,” a mere church member.
John, the beloved disciple, might have had reason to believe that an over-abundance of the “grace of God” would cover any multitude of sin, but his epistles are stern with the language of obligation. He even goes so far as to say, “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (IJohn2:4).
In the third verse he says the way we “know that we know him” is that we keep His commandments. In the first chapter he places the condition for the covering of the blood of Jesus upon our walk in light: “if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
According to John, there would be no cleansing by the blood of Jesus to any man who failed to walk in the light. Plenty of Christian duty here!
Consider the statements of the Lord Jesus Himself concerning certain men who cannot be His disciples: “If any man come to Me, and hate not (e.g., love less)…his own life he cannot be My disciple” (Luke14:26). Here is Christian duty: not a mere belief in Christ, nor ordinary acceptance of the Christian faith.
The next verse places obligation upon the believer. “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after Me, cannot be My disciple.” Just what constitutes a Christian’s cross is a big study in itself. It is enough here to note that this is an imperative Christian duty. You bear the cross or you are just not one of His.
The thirty-third verse is more specific as to what is required of any man who would be His disciple. “Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be My disciple.” Where is there place for worldly goods or business in the life of such a believer?
The true child of God is not of the “multitude” that has gone through the “wide gate”; he walks the “narrow” road. He is a “stranger upon earth, having no certain dwelling place.” He looks for the city of God to be his home, so he is completely devoted to His Lord; body, soul and spirit. He lives here to do but one thing, and that is the will of the Father in heaven.
“HIS GOODS”
Harold Scullin
YOU HAVE A TALENT! Your very salvation is dependent upon the use of your ability to increase or multiply this talent. You don't believe that? The fact that men do or do not believe God's word does not affect the veracity of His truth. His law is immutable; it is indestructible; it is eternal.
“For the kingdom of heaven is as a man (a nobleman, Luke19:12) traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability” (Matt.25:14,15).
He “called his own servants.” “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?” (Rom.6:16). According to IJohn3:4, “sin is the transgression of the law.” Can we not then say that those who do not obey and keep the commandments are transgressing the law? This Scriptural definition of servants helps us to differentiate between His servants and those who are not His servants. “Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ” (Rom.1:1). “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ” (James1:1). “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ” (IIPeter1:1). “Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ” (Jude1). The lives of these men and their works testified to the fact that they were indeed the servants of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Delivered unto them his goods.” The nobleman entrusted to his own servants the things of his kingdom. As we search the scriptures, we find that the Great God of heaven and earth has also entrusted to His servants certain heavenly values. “But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (Eph.4:7). “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Rom.12:3). “But all these worketh that one and the selfsame spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (ICor.12:11). Grace, measure of faith, dividing or distributing the gifts of the spirit severally as He wills – these eternal values have been placed in the hands of His servants to exercise, to increase, to multiply, for profit.
The nobleman “delivered unto his servants his goods.” Here, then, is the source of the talents. These talents were not earthly and material in substance, but heavenly in nature. These heavenly values were given to the servants – they were committed into their keeping for a purpose. Individual likes and dislikes have nothing to do with the talent you have received. But you are responsible and obligated to see to it that your talent or talents are increased. The particular talent or talents that were given to you have been designed to meet the needs in your walk with the Lord. They are best suited to your individual nature. The fact that His goods were likened unto talents indicates that His goods possess value. Heavenly values. Think of it – “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (IICor.4:7). We read in Ephesians1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.”
Before the foundation of the earth, in the very beginning, the Father devised a plan whereby He would share His divinity, His selfless nature, His benevolence, with creatures that would be like Him. This plan would be extremely costly – to Himself, and to those who would choose to use the means He devised for them to enter into this marvelous relationship. To accomplish His purposes, He demonstrated the integrity of His word and His love to these creatures by giving His only begotten Son to be crucified. To those who would embrace His Son, obey His word and desire to please Him, He would invest within each one certain heavenly values. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth, was to be the teacher who would instruct each servant as to the worth of these values. Only as the servant obeys implicitly, without reservations or question, the instruction of The Teacher, can edification, value, or profit be obtained from God's investment. Those who continue to exercise themselves in obedience to this heaven-sent Teacher are promised the blessings of the Kingdom of God. This is quite an investment. What are you doing with these “spiritual blessings”? They have great value within themselves to strengthen those who will exercise them.
These “spiritual blessings,” these “talents,” “His goods” possess cleansing value for the sinful nature. This is one of the purposes of God's investment of His goods in His servants. The talent is the means for the cleansing of the soul – for the complete removal of the sinful nature. The Lord not only expects but demands returns from His investment in each of His servants.
This heavenly gift, this talent, which has been entrusted to you was meticulously measured out to you “according to your ability” to use and multiply it. The frailty of the flesh, the weakness of the carnal nature, the reasonings of the carnal mind, your position in life, your environment, nothing can be used as an excuse for not increasing your talent. The statement in Matthew25, which reads that the talents were given to every man according to his several “ability,” is a poor translation of this word. It does not give the proper meaning or thought. A better rendering of this same word ability is given in John1:12 – “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.” The word that is here translated as “power” is the same Greek word that is translated as “ability” in Matthew25. This has to do with authority: the power, or ability, and the means that are necessary to become a Son of God and to increase the talent. Through the Lord Jesus Christ and His work on Calvary, the resources of heaven have been placed at man's disposal. Provision has been made to meet every need. Great obligation now rests upon every servant to use these resources in the exercising of his talent.
The talent is a means by which an individual can express or show forth a true testimony. A talent cannot be operated apart from a spirit. The expression, the testimony that is given by the individual with the talent is the testimony of the Spirit of God. As the Spirit anoints and moves upon the individual, the individual responds by obeying in some form of expression. This expression shows forth the true character of the Kingdom of God. Such a witness is not of man. That is why man cannot decide in himself that he is going to perform or do some kind of service to, or for, God, such as prophesying, teaching, preaching, and others. The Master gives out the “talents” or “His goods.”
To exercise a talent requires the individual to surrender his will to the will of God; it necessitates the putting to death the deeds of the flesh, and expressing himself as the Spirit of God dictates. Obedience of this kind will cause a transformation in the nature and mind of the servant of God. Continued exercising of the talent will lead to a depth in God that gives complete satisfaction. The things of the world, the desires of the flesh, drop off. A new set of values begins to be manifested in the life of such a person. A hunger for the things of the Kingdom of God comes in the heart. A great desire to please the Lord crowds out the selfish desires of the human heart. The talent is doing its work.
The Lord has a variety of talents. “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all…To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; to another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will” (ICor.12:4-11). “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him” (ICor.12:18). “God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers; after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues” (ICor.12:28). All of these, and others, are “His goods” that the Lord “divides severally as He wills.”
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal” (ICor.12:7). PROFIT. The manifestation of the Spirit of God is to bring profit to every man. Here, then, is the increase, the profit that every man should seek for. Only that which is given through the manifestation of the Holy Spirit through the gift, the talent, “His goods,” can give the increase. Here, again, is why man, in his own desires to minister, cannot minister except it be through the talent the Lord his given him – there is no profit in what he does of himself, no true testimony of the Kingdom of God can be given. According to Paul, “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in his presence” (ICor.1:27-29). The natural man does not like to be considered foolish, or weak, or base, or not seen or heard – but the attributes of the natural man are contrary to what God can use.
The Lord does demand an increase from His investment – but this increase, this profit, this edifying, can only come as the individual or individuals respond to the moving of the Spirit of God. We have a good example of this in ICorinthians3:6-8, I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase…now he that planteth and he that watereth are one.” Each of these servants of God had a ministry, a talent given them of God. As they responded to the moving of the Holy Spirit upon their talent, God was able to give the increase. Another example is taken from the teaching of Jesus, “If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my father which is in heaven” (Matt.8:19). Each of these servants had a talent, a ministry of prayer. Prayer was their means of expression in the Kingdom of God. As the Spirit of God moved upon their talent, they responded to the Holy Spirit and the Father could work for them.
Since each servant has been given a talent, it is the responsibility of each servant to find his talent and use it for profit. The servant that did not use his talent for profit was condemned as an “unprofitable servant” and was cast out into “outer darkness” where “there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt.25:30). As Jesus continued His discourse in Matthew25, He said, “Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?…And the king shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me” (Matt.25:34-40). The Master has many talents, many gifts, many ministries, that he gives to His servants “severally as he wills.” It is imperative that each servant learn to move and obey when the Spirit of God moves him.
In so doing he ministers to others and is edified himself, and is profitable to God's investment in him.
A man of God who had a marvelous talent – the gift of knowledge – gave this definition of a talent: “Expression of a human being through his intellect, his spirit, his body, and influenced by the Holy Spirit, is a manifestation of a spiritual. And when the Holy Spirit is able to manifest the spiritual as the Holy Spirit desires, then we may safely say that the talent is permanent.”
Enoch was a man who had reached this stature. “Before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God” (Heb.11:5). Such a testimony as this can only be given of an individual who has absolute knowledge that “the flesh profiteth nothing.” Such knowledge is only acquired by a day-to-day walk in the Spirit of God.
The writer of the Book of Hebrews is unknown. The identity of the man is lost as far as man is concerned. But the Spirit of God knows this writer, for through the exercising of his talent he became lost in God.
The commendation, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matt.25:21), will be given only to those servants who were profitable and increased their talents.
You have a talent given you of God. You can find it. You can increase it.
ANOTHER THANKSGIVING
November is a special time each year when we are reminded to count our blessings and give thanks and praise to God who showers us with them: blessings both physically and spiritually. Last year at this time, we never could have imagined what would transpire in 2020. Everything seemed to be roaring along just fine: the economy was booming, unemployment was at an all-time low, jobs that had been lost to China were coming back to America, the stock market was at record high, the reports of terrorism were less frequent, and most Americans were extremely blessed. That doesn’t mean there were not catastrophes in various parts of our nation, such as floods, tornados, hurricanes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters, but most Americans were not directly affected by these calamities. It’s not that we were unconcerned, nor do we want to diminish the grief and pain that many faced through these tragedies, yet life was good for most Americans and we were thankful.
Of course, the spiritual blessings God pours upon His people are the greatest treasures for which we have to be thankful. Those who know God are ever conscious of His presence with us, and these rough times serve to make us stronger in faith. In IPeter4:12, we are told “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you.” Peter continues to tell us to “rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” We often wonder if this trial is necessary, but the writer to the Hebrews informs us of the necessity of those tests: “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb12:11). These are times where we are to learn some very important lessons; one being to trust God fully and place our lives totally in His hands. So, if we are in the lion’s den or the fiery furnace, or if we are in a prison cell, or in a tempestuous sea, we can trust God to make everything work out for good because He promises to do so.
2020 came and turned our world upside down. The Covid-19 pandemic imposed upon us a necessary lockdown that caused the economy to slow to a snail’s pace as people began to lose their income by the thousands. Unemployment sky rocketed as millions were laid off and businesses were forced to shut their doors for months while the bills continued to pour in. Schools have been shut down and our children and young people’s education has suffered as a result. The actions of a very few police officers sent thousands to the streets in protest against law officers. These protests, which were to be peaceful, protected by the United States Constitution, turned into violence and chaos. Stores were vandalized, looted, and set on fire, as were many police stations and official buildings. Even car lots were set ablaze, destroying not only the buildings but also the vehicles on those lots. Police vehicles and fire trucks were set ablaze by angry and hostile rioters, supported by certain millionaires who hate America and long for her destruction.
Violence has raged through many of America’s major cities with little restraint from those who, when they were voted into office, swore to protect the people of their jurisdiction. The division and strife in our nation is the greatest since the Civil War, and tension continues to grow as our political leaders have decided to turn violently against one another, party against party in some of the most disgraceful displays of arrogance, hostility, and actual stupidity while they neglect their assigned duties for the welfare of America’s citizens and the nation at large. These politicians are struggling to gain power and control over those they pledged and vowed to protect. They have become America’s number one enemy. America’s greatest enemies are in Washington DC and state capitols, and their actions threaten the very survival of our nation.
I know many are thankful that 2020 is almost over and hope things will turn around in 2021. One person wrote that they were going to stay up on December 31st, not to welcome in the New Year, but to make sure 2020 leaves. It has definitely been a very difficult year.
So - what do we have to be thankful for? These crises have been a call to the church to wake up. For this we can be thankful. The church has been asleep far too long. Indifference, carelessness, apathy, and complacency have brought the church to a very low spiritual state. 2020 has been a call to the church to repent and return to God. Many are endeavoring to do so as was demonstrated with the prayer march in Washington DC on September 26th and the gathering for prayer at Plymouth Rock on October 6th. Thousands attended these two events in which prayer was made for our nation and our leaders. God sets up whom He wills and He removes them in His time. Repentance and prayer is the only thing that will save this nation, and only the church has this honor. May we use this time wisely and pray for our nation, our churches, and the body of Christ. The fact that God is giving us time to awake and redeem the time is something we should be very thankful for.
The church has long awaited for the return of Jesus Christ. However, before He returns, Jesus said there would be a time of great tribulation such as the world has never seen. While we do not relish tribulation, yet we can rejoice in the assurance that Jesus will soon return, and this will be the greatest event the world has ever seen. To see the Lord Jesus coming in the clouds with all His holy angels, with power and great glory, is the desire of every born-again believer, for when He returns, we will be caught up together to be with Him forever. Therefore, let us be thankful that while in this world, we may face tribulation, yet Jesus promises to never leave us nor forsake us but will remain with us forever. We also have that wonderful promise that He makes everything work for our good so that no matter what we face or go through, Jesus Christ works it for benefit. We serve a great God, who loves us, died for us, redeemed us from the hand of our greatest enemy, and promised to finish the work which He began. For these things we can be very thankful!