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People of The Living God |
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December 2021
WATCHMEN ON THE WALLS
SOUND AN ALARM
James Sanderson
“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand” (Joel2:1). In ancient times the mighty blast of the trumpet by the town's watchman alerted the citizenry to an impending danger that demanded immediate attention. The situation here was so dire that the Prophet Joel, by the power of the Holy Spirit, commanded the sounding of the trumpet to awaken the people of God to the alarming crisis that was “nigh at hand.” What was so pressing that God's people had to be aroused in such a drastic manner? “The day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand.” It was absolutely essential that “all the inhabitants,” that is, every man, woman, and child, realize that the day of the Lord was close at hand.
What makes “the day of the Lord” so urgent? Men of God throughout the Old and New Testaments have vividly described that day. The Prophet Zephaniah declared, “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the Lord: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly” (Zeph.1:14). Isaiah prophesied, “Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty” (Is.13:6). Malachi prophesied, “For behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the Lord of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch” (Mal.4:1). Amos, also, described that day, “Shall not the day of the Lord be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it?” (Amos5:20). The Prophet Joel declared, “The day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it? (Joel2:11).
“Who can abide it?” is a sobering question that should weigh heavily upon every heart. God has promised to shake everything that can be shaken (Heb.12:26-27). The catastrophic social, political, and economic upheavals that will accompany that day will suddenly awaken many to the fact that they are woefully unprepared to meet the demands of the hour. According to God's word, that day will be unlike any other in Earth's history. God has granted to man his day, the day of opportunity, “the day of salvation” (2Cor.6:2). The sad fact is that most of humanity have squandered this extraordinary opportunity and have chosen the broad way, “that leadeth to destruction” (Matt.7:13). Now God will have His own day, “the day of the Lord,” a short span of time in the end of the world when He will bring to fruition His complete purpose in the earth. At that time, the Lord will intervene decisively in the affairs of men. The events of that day will culminate in the utter destruction of the wicked, the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the gathering of God's people unto Himself. Jesus Himself stated that only those who endure to the end shall be saved (Matt.24:13).
The Church Is Asleep
The sounding of the trumpet is God's attempt to alert His people to the seriousness of the hour. These are unprecedented times in which we live. Those who have their spiritual senses exercised can't help but realize that the day of the Lord is close at hand. The present pandemic, which has had a profound effect in one way or another upon every man, woman, and child on this planet, is a wake up call that the day of the Lord is fast approaching. At a time when the Church desperately needs to be awake and alert, she is, sadly, spiritually apathetic, unaware of the enormity of the situation looming on the horizon. In the parable of the ten virgins, Jesus Christ made this observation, “While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept (Matt.25:5). The ten virgins represent God's people. Even though the Lord places these people into two camps, wise and foolish, He states unequivocally that they all went to sleep.
The signs of the times point to the fact that the days of Noah and the days of Lot are upon us. This country, and the whole Western world, for that matter, is facing a moral crisis of unparalleled proportions. Society has rejected God's divine absolutes and continues to extend the boundaries of evil to unheard of limits. Babylon, that is, this present evil world, is fast becoming “the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird” (Rev.18:2). The facts are clear. There have been over 62,500,000 abortions performed in this country since the Roe vs Wade decision (1973). Just recently, the New York Times reported that the governor of a western state married his longtime partner in the first such same-sex wedding for a sitting governor (NYT, “9/17/2021). That same weekend the Nashville Pride Festival started with a parade supported by a number of large corporations and well-known celebrates. Families with young children were in attendance. The Christian Post also reported that children “younger than 16 will now be allowed to take puberty blockers without parents' consent” according to a UK court after a lower court ban had been overturned (CP, 9/18/2021). Moreover, Superman will no longer fight for the “American way”, but will join the woke community and, in the name of diversity, will become bisexual (CP, 10/11/2021). The Washington Post reported that a seventeen year old transgender student had recently been crowned homecoming queen for an Orlando, Florida, high school (WP, 10/08/2021). California, also, passed a bill requiring toy outlets to have a line of gender neutral toys by 2024 (WP, 10/12/2021). The LGBTQ community has now filed a lawsuit against Christian colleges in order to strip them of all federal funding because of their stand on homosexuality and gender identity. They have also petitioned the Biden administration to remove their accreditationrelated to their biblical beliefs (The Christian Post, 10/14/2021).
All of these events, which not too many years ago would not even have been considered possible, are a slap in the face of a holy God, Who paid a tremendous price that man might find salvation and hope in Him. They also reveal how far society has strayed from everything that is righteous and pure. The forces of darkness are working particularly hard using radical gender identity and critical race theory to target our children and young people. One father, whose boy is convinced that he is a girl, stated, “We must do everything we can to save them from the jaws of this beast” (CP, 10/11/2021).
What kind of world do Christian parents expect to leave for their children? “When parents were asked which sources they believed affected their child's decision to come out as transgender the most, they listed You Tube transition videos (63.6%); Tumblr (61.7%); a group of friends they know in person (44.5%); a community/group of people that they met on line (42.9%); a person they know in person (not online) (41.7%). We know a child's peers and the media he or she consumes can have a profound effect on him or her. Perhaps what we didn't know is how insidious and misguided those messages coming from peers and social media can be” (Churchleaders.com, 9/16/ 2021, “Transgender Peer Pressure: Is Your Child Vulnerable?” emphasis in original article). Newsweek reports, “Children in Scotland as young as four years old are now able to change their names and gender at school without requiring parental consent.” They are also allowed to use the bathroom of their choice. (Newsweek, 9/19/2021). California already allows children as young as 12 to receive tax-payer funded transgender treatments and services. Furthermore, Gov. Newsom just signed a bill (AB 1184) allowing a child as young as 12 to “seek services including abortions, sexual assault treatments, drug abuse, cross-sex hormones, and puberty blockers” without parental consent (CBSNEWS.com, 9/24/2021).
These facts are quite disconcerting and cause one to ponder how evil conditions must become before the Church awakens to the urgency of the hour. Furthermore, one must wonder why the governments of much of the Western world are so insidiously preoccupied with forcing these ungodly issues upon all of society, especially in our schools, colleges, and the corporate world. Will the Church quietly succumb to this onslaught of evil, or will she awaken and take a firm stand for righteousness and truth? Every individual will have to make that decision.
The Parable Of The Tares
Jesus put forth a parable saying, “The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way” (Matt.13:24-25, writer's emphasis). The Word of God tells us that the enemy is the devil (Matt.13:39). While the Church continues to sleep, Satan persists in fulfilling his nefarious plans. Vine writes that the seed that produces these tares “are poisonous to man and herbivorous animals, producing sleepiness, nausea, convulsions, and even death…” (Vine's, page 1133). Jesus stated that the devil comes “to steal, to kill, and to destroy” (John10:10). With “strong delusion” and lies, Satan has become emboldened, working overtime through his emissaries to ensnare as many as he can in his ungodly web (2Thess.2:11). “Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time” (Rev.12:12). Can one expect to see an improvement in society? The Bible states, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2Tim.3:13). The avalanche of evil that is prevalent in society today is Satan's last ditch effort to wreak as much havoc before his demise in the “lake of fire and brimstone” (Rev.20:10). God is, also, using these events to separate the wheat from the tares, those who will stand for God from those who will fall prey to the machinations of the devil. The primary focus of attack by the forces of darkness is the Church of Jesus Christ, God's people. A sleeping Church is an easy target.
As the trumpet sounds, its mighty blasts will become louder and louder until the Church is fully awake to the desperate situation. It is imperative that God's people begin to view conditions in the world from His vantage point rather than from man's limited understanding. The admonition of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Church at Rome is particularly apropos to the time in which we live, “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” (Rom.13:11-12). Berry's Interlinear reads, “...it is already the hour that we should be roused out of sleep…” (writer's emphasis). Our Lord Jesus Christ issued this warning that should stir every heart, “And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man” (Luke21:34-36).
CHILDREN AND EVIL SPIRITS
Alfred King
In reference to the preceding article by James Sanderson, entitled, “Sound An Alarm,” I would like to give warning to Christian parents regarding the spiritual safety of their children. I write this from an experience our family faced several years ago when our son was around 3 or 4. This experience taught me several lessons, which I would like to pass on to others who might face similar circumstances.
The first thing I want to point out is that there are doctrines of devils, some of which are promoted by people who claim to be Christian. (I am not judging those who believe doctrines of which I may personally see as unscriptural, but am stating passionately that some doctrines are evil and detrimental. None of us has all truth, but we must be aware of doctrines that are dangerous, especially those that invite evil spirits activity.) The doctrine of which I write is one in which men believe and teach that man is the head of the house and that women should honor them as god. Most of these men lord it over their wives and make the wife a religious slave. It is true that scripture teaches that man is the head of the wife, but it also teaches that men should love their wives as themselves and be willing to lay down their lives for their wives, just as Jesus laid down His life for His church (Eph.5:25). To love our wives as Christ loves His church is a tremendous requirement and one foreign to those who treat their wives as slaves.
The seriousness and danger of this particular false teaching became very apparent to me when a couple moved into our area and attended the church we attended. They held to this false and ungodly doctrine, and while I knew they embraced this idea, I didn’t see it as serious as it proved to be. They had two children, a boy and a girl. The boy was about a year older than our son and the daughter about a year younger. Because they were neighbors our son would play with these children, especially the boy. What happened to our family that caused concern was that our son began wanting nothing to do with his mother. For this to happen for a day is not uncommon because small children will sometimes prefer one parent above another. However, this problem continued for over two weeks. I had to bathe him, dress him, put him to bed, read to him, feed him, etc. He did not want his mother to do anything for him or with him. This, of course, devastated my wife and me. I tried reverse psychology and loved on her in our son’s presence but nothing worked. Of course, we were praying about it too.
We decided one Saturday to visit this couple and let the children play together. We were in their living room visiting when their two children began to argue. The husband told his wife to go in and discipline them, which she did. After she returned to the living room, I heard the boy say to our son, “You don’t have to listen to moms.” As soon as he said that, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said, “This is your son’s problem. There is an evil spirit involved.”
I immediately decided it was time to leave, so my wife and I got our son and left. This horrified me and I began immediately to fast, pray, and fight against this evil spirit. The problem was solved by the end of the day, but I fasted and prayed another day to ensure the spirit didn’t return. And it never did. Praise God!
What we are seeing today with so many children wanting sex changes and all the garbage that goes along with that evil ideology is that evil spirits are taking advantage of children. Of course, the whole movement is demonic and what it is doing is opening the door for evil spirits to operate in children’s lives. The statement in the previous article, “One father, whose boy is convinced that he is a girl, stated, “We must do everything we can to save them from the jaws of this beast” (CP, 10/11/2021). This man needs to recognize that there are evil spirits involved in his child’s life. Too many Christians don’t realize that spirits are sometimes the underlying cause of their child’s actions. It’s not that every little mischievous action a child commits is demonically inspired, and we certainly don’t want to get on that train but, at the same time, we must be sensitive to what is happening in the spirit world. Evil is real and evil spirits are real. However true this is, it is also just as true that as Christians, we have power over every evil spirit through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Paul informs parents that we are to provide for our families. He wrote in his letter to Timothy, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (ITim.5:8). This not only means providing the physical needs of our children but their spiritual wellbeing as well.
I write these things because as I read about how children are being attacked from every angle, I desire to see parents engage in the spiritual battle for their children’s souls. It is easy to just let the church do it all or to think that everything will work out in the end. The church has its responsibility in regard to spiritual battles, but God places squarely upon the shoulders of parents, especially fathers, the responsibility of their children’s wellbeing.
When parents are spiritually blind and do not understand the workings of evil in the spirit realm, their children are in danger. Many Christian parents are indifferent to what is happening in our public schools, on social media, in our societies, in our entertainments, and the woke fads that are ever growing and, consequently they resist it very little at best. Peer pressure is also a very strong force for children, and it is becoming faddish and wokish to change one’s gender. A child can be popular and accepted by leaning toward being transgender. I am afraid, however, that it is not just a fad but something that is here to stay.
When society began to accept homosexuality as an alternative way of life, legalized same sex marriage, and allowed the perverted to come into our schools and libraries for “Story Time” we opened Pandora’s box, or to be more scriptural, a hedge was broken down (Ecc.10:8) and evil spirits are coming in and attacking our most vulnerable our children. It is past time that Christian parents recognize and engage in the battle against evil spirits which are out to kill, steal, and destroy. As Christians, we have power through Jesus Christ to put to flight the armies of the enemy (James4:7).
Today, there is an avalanche of doctrines of devils and, sadly, some churches are embracing many of them. This makes them all the more dangerous because they are demonic teaching that are becoming acceptable in Christian circles. Beware of the devices of Satan, one of which is deception, for many Christians are deceived in today’s world. May God grant deliverance for the children of this age by giving wisdom and discernment to today’s parents.
The Editor
THE TWO CITIES
PART 3
Harry Miller
The Social Factor Of Jerusalem
One of the richest discoveries in a saint's life is to find his true kinfolks, the real “family” of God: “Who is my mother? and who is my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matt.12:48-50). Man's contacts with his natural relatives are very often great disappointments; a casual glance at some of the aphorisms concerning this is very revealing: It is said “Never loan any money to your relatives;” and again: “Never get into debt to any of your kinfolks;” it is also a maxim that, “If you want to keep a secret never let your own folks in on it.” Whether or not these proverbs are true is not ours to say; the point we stress here is that they are evidence that human family ties are not the best.
For the sake of explaining the superiority of the social order in the kingdom of God, let us, for a moment, assume that the above three proverbs are true; how would these problems be met in communal life? Here is your answer: The individual member of such a society has no money to loan, neither is he ever in need of a loan. If his folks who are living in the world order are in need, he can appeal to the body of saints for help; if they see fit they, then, can make a GIFT but never a loan to needy relatives. But, how would one deal with the keeping of a secret? You may be astonished at the answer: there are no secrets in the true church of Jesus Christ; that may sound extravagant, let us say almost no secrets. If there is anything HIDDEN that might jeopardize the welfare of the body of saints this will be made known by the Spirit: “He is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest” (ICor.14:24,25).
In the kingdom of God, saints put forth an effort to bring “into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” (IICor.10:5), for they have no desire to be found by the Spirit entertaining a lot of unclean things. An evil minded person will not find comfort in the presence of the body of Christ, and one who is addicted to mental excursions into sin will not tarry long where the God of fire dwells: “The Son of God who hath eyes like unto a flame of fire” (Rev.2:18). Listen to this: “The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly…and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil” (Isa.33:14,15).
Christ sits in His temple (His church), FIRST, as a “refiner and a purifier:” “The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple…But who may abide the day of His coming? and who shall stand when He appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire…And he shall sit as a refiner and as a purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver” (Mal.3:1-3). By the means of the Holy Spirit “the messenger of the covenant” burns out the dross, and this is most successfully accomplished while the “son of Levi” is in the midst of the communal body.
There is a very slight possibility that a “son of Levi” may be perfected while out by himself and away from the body of Christ; but to obtain perfection in such a manner is a dangerous gamble. Among those you love, your heart is exposed to the violence and ruthless crushings which are the results of this life; these are all necessary if we are to gain “the life everlasting,” for God seeks in man a “broken heart and a contrite spirit.” These are not easy to come by, for death to self means suffering, and these are not wanted by the flesh of man. Mr. C.S. Lewis (a British author) wrote these words: “If you want to make sure of keeping your heart intact, you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Avoid all entanglements, lock your heart up, safe in the coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, unredeemable.”
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, led the way for the “sons of Levi;” He, too, “learned…obedience” by the things which He suffered (Heb.5:8). It is further stated “being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation.” He became MATURE, fully grown, by the route of suffering death to SELF. He could not offer salvation to any man until He Himself had fully experienced the sufferings of the self death. It is SELF DEATH that every man must experience if he is to be a partaker of the blessings of the kingdom of God.
When a saint is being tried by fire, how sweet it is to be dwelling together with those who understand and who will help lift the load: “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity…for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life forevermore” (Psalm133:1-3). There is a lot of difference between brethren meeting in the synagogue and brethren dwelling together.
Lodges, clubs, and various fraternal orders have tried to procure some of the sweet fellowship known to be possible among men; these affairs under the Babylonian system are but poor imitations of the genuine. Members of the house of Babel have made a sport of “watching for iniquity,” and they jump at the chance to “make a man an offender for a word” (Isa.29:20,21); such character murderers are not known among saints.
Among those who fear God, it is possible to safely “confess your faults one to another,” and not be afraid that your reputation would be ruined.
“Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another” (Mal.3:16). Saints that “dwell together in unity” need no TV set to entertain them; neither are they found “running to and fro” seeking some kind of religious carnival entertainment.
The peace and quality of the social security in the kingdom of God are not to be compared with any other thing in this world; here alone is joy unspeakable and full of glory.
The Religious Factor Of Jerusalem
In this section of our study, the IDEAL will be presented: not the actual manner in which the church of Christ has operated at any time in its history. The lack of faith among Christian believers, coupled with much disobedience, has resulted in a church living far beneath her privileges. Many glorious blessings are at hand for God's people, but since all blessings are dispensed upon condition, these things are held in reserve until the saints have met the requirements.
The blessings and the blessed condition set forth in this study are all obtainable: they do not merely represent wishful thinking. The “bride” will “make herself ready;” the faithful will eventually come “…unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph.4:13). When this is accomplished, then the things set forth in this article will be in operation among God's people.
Let us review the DIVINE MANIFESTO: (A) God the Father Almighty “has spoken unto us by his son” (Heb.1:2). His speech through His Son is of great import – who would dare consider it lightly? (B) In prophesying of Him, Moses said: “Him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people” (Acts3:22,23). This is very strong language. Most certainly, if we intend to please our heavenly Father we MUST OBEY THE COMMANDS OF HIS SON.
The following five COMMANDS of the Son of God will certainly have a dynamic effect upon any man's religious life: (1) “Come and follow me” (Luke18:22). (2) “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” (Matt.6:33). (3) “Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life” (John6:27). (4) “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me” (Matt.11:29). (5) “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark16:15).
Undoubtedly, there are some who will try to dodge the call of the Lord by saying that all of these COMMANDS of Christ's are given only to ministers (meaning clergymen, or professional missionaries); but the “great commission” recorded in the last chapter of Matthew should dissolve any such illusions: here we see that Jesus ordered His disciples to “Teach all nations…to observe ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER I HAVE COMMANDED YOU” (Matt.28:19,20). In other words, EVERY SAINT IS UNDER ORDER TO SUPPORT THIS WORK OF DELIVERING THE MASTER'S MESSAGE TO THE WORLD.
Remember that the Lord was speaking to a group: His command was to a body of people, not to an individual. The message of the gospel was never delivered by a one-man ministry. The twelve, and the seventy, went out and testified from door to door – two by two. The greater ministry came upon the scene when 120 people were of “one accord” as a unit: a body. “Great grace came upon them ALL;” this never happened to one lone zealous saint. There is a place in God where He has “commanded the blessing, even life forevermore;” that blessing is peculiar to a group: it is a company affair, and is delivered only when brethren “dwell together in unity” (Psalm133). The UNITED BODY OF SAINTS have untold power. Each member is a living, active cell which contributes to the function of the complete organism according to the will of the head which is Christ.
Throughout the ages, “priestcraft” has been taught and practiced by the professional clergy. It is true that, under the Old Testament, God made a distinction between the people of the congregation and the priests who carried on the appointed ritualism; but all of this ended AT THE CROSS. Now, every man is a priest: “Jesus Christ…hath made us kings and priests” (Rev.1:6); “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood” (IPeter2:9). Both of these verses are written to the church of Christ.
Through the manipulations of paganistic clergymen and the lethargy of apostate Christendom, this generation has been blinded to one of the greatest of New Testament truths: all the members of the body of Christ are ministers. In Matthew25:31-46, the Saviour tells us of the separation of the “goats” and the “sheep” at the time of the judgment. He also made it plain that identification with one or the other of these two groups rests upon whether or not men have ministered to Him. This ministry is a very practical affair: “I was an hungered, 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:” all of these ministries are of a practical nature. Any saint who is physically able to get around can do these things.
This worthy work, if it is to be done to the glory of God, must be done unto HIS BRETHREN: “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” Other social activities are not without reward – but this reward is only to those who serve the body of Christ. Many people find it hard to realize that Christ is looking for works, not for words. Here is a Biblical definition of PURE RELIGION. “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James1:27). To “visit” the unfortunate when they are afflicted is more than paying them a social call: It demands a sharing of one's means; a basket of groceries; some currency – or it may even require that one roll up his sleeves and clean up the place.
Religious fanatics are obsessed with the idea of the exact observance of all manner of ritualism; they try to make men believe that one's eternal destiny depends upon his exact obedience to the practice of some certain form or ceremony; but the practice of practical godliness isn't acceptable to the hypocrites.
Men will resort to all manner of bodily punishment and privations in order to practice self-designed holiness – but they refuse to do the will of the Lord. Like Israel of old they say: “…we fasted…we afflicted our soul” (Isa.58:3): then they blame the Lord for not hearing them. God said, “Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every heavy yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hidest not thyself from thine own flesh?” (verses 6,7) This is the sort of religion that the Father wanted in ancient days before the cross, and His desire for such religion has not changed: IT IS THE SAME TODAY.
All the ecclesiastical trappings of religion, such as strict orthodoxy, prescribed rituals, and proper customs, are not even mentioned in the above Scriptures, yet the scholars and professional clergymen insist that these ostentatious embellishments are what God demands of His saints!
Twentieth century, “nation-wide,” spectacular evangelism has glorified the pulpit ministry of the spellbinder. With each new wandering star that briefly blazes its breath-taking trail across the ecclesiastical horizons, many other zealous little orbs burst into flame by reflecting the glory of the great star. This flair for the public eye has become so popular among the egocentric religious fame hunters that few people seem to realize that this popular ministry has only a temporal reward: the praise of men. On the other hand, the real expression of true religion, though it be despised by the mob, will be rewarded by our heavenly Father.
True Christianity is not a philosophy – it is a LIFE; it is not membership in a social society – it is a COMMUNION of spiritual-minded people who are devoted to God and one another. The literal assembly of saints in a religious service is of far lesser importance to the believer than is his daily life for Christ his Lord.
One of the most disgraceful things in present-day Christendom is the “mixed multitude” permitted in the assemblies of most churchmen. “The habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every hateful and unclean bird” (Rev.18:2) describes almost every large-sized professing Christian church today. The wicked and the righteous sit down together! This ought not to be: “I would not that ye shall have fellowship with devils” (ICor.10:20); and again: “What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?…or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?” (IICor.6:4,15).
Friends, God is going to do something about this evil mixture. It cannot stand in this day of judgment: “Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous” (Psalm1:5). The apostolic church was a clean (spiritually and morally) company of people. Hypocrites and other sinners feared to assemble with them: “And fear came upon every soul” (Acts2:43); “And of the rest durst no man join himself to them” (Acts5:13); “And the Lord added to the church daily SUCH AS SHOULD BE SAVED” (Acts2:47). When the church was full of the Holy Spirit, it obeyed the Lord, and lived according to His commands. He then took care of the membership; only the cream of the crop was permitted in the assembly of the righteous.
Where Christ walks in the midst of His church there is FIRE: “The messenger of the covenant whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like refiner's fire” (Mal.3:1,2): and again: “the Son of man…his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace” (Rev.1:13-15). The Lord God Almighty will not tolerate corruption in His Presence. When His church is in session, He will uncover the secrets of the hearts of those who come before Him: “…he is convinced of all, he is judged of all: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest” (ICor.14:24,25). Sin could not be hidden; in the early church THE SPIRIT SPOKE AND UNCOVERED THE SECRETS OF THE TRANSGRESSORS.
The most important event in “the restoration” (Acts3:21), will be the return of the VOICE of prophesy. “Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy” (Joel2:28). This is to be a supernatural operation, not a prophetic message of a coming deluge of PREACHING – it will be the manifestation of God speaking through SEERS.
When the Master again speaks to His people, the changes in the midst of the church will be astounding. The exhibitionists and the egocentrics will flee with the hirelings, as judgment begins “at the house of God.” Through the voice of the Master the “refuge of lies” shall be swept away and the truth of Christ shall be exalted: His every word, as it is presented in the gospels, shall be accepted and obeyed when the Lord shall “bring again Zion.”
These Scriptures are being fulfilled today: “The Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left” (Isa.11:11); “Thus saith the Lord God; behold, I, even I, will both search my sheep, and seek them out. As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among his sheep that are scattered; so will I seek out my sheep, and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered” (Ezek.34:11,12).
Let us rejoice that we have been accounted worthy to live in this momentous day when God's saints shall be delivered from every force of evil; when the “beast” and his dark kingdom shall be brought to an end; when Babylon, that great city, shall be utterly destroyed, and God's saints shall be revealed standing in the glory of the Lord: “And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory…Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God” (Isa.62:2,3). This is the promise to Jerusalem, that holy “city,” the true bride of Jesus Christ.
THE FUNERAL
Warren Berry
Several years ago, when attending a Christian conference in Atlanta, Georgia, a pastor from South Africa gave a very interesting presentation which he titled, “The War With the Most Casualties: The War Between the Saints.” This was the first time I had heard the late Pastor Daniels. Pastor Daniels had a very unique manner in which he presented his messages and his sense of humor was such that often I was uncertain whether he was serious or was speaking in jest. However, the sermon he presented in Atlanta revealed a man of great intelligence and one with a tremendous memory.
After returning home I sought him out on You Tube and over the next few years listened to quite a few of his sermons and found them most interesting. While his presentations were different, they were nevertheless very thought-provoking and seemed to bring Christianity down to where the rubber meets the road. In one of his messages, he told about the time his brother had passed away and his account has lodged in my memory ever since.
Pastor Daniels’ brother was, according to Keith, one of those “Christians” who was Christian in name only. He attended church but his life was anything but holy. At his brother’s funeral, Keith Daniels was honored to sit on the platform with the officiating pastor. The pastor of the church stood up and gave his prepared message and in his discourse, he preached the deceased into heaven. When the pastor sat down, Brother Daniels leaned over to him and said, “You have just lied to all these people.” He continued, “You just told this congregation that my brother is in heaven but he is not; he is in hell. And you have told all these people that they can live just as my brother did and still go to heaven, and that’s a lie.”
One of the most difficult and unpleasant duties of a pastor is a funeral. It is sad to see the departure of one loved and observe the pain and grief of those left behind, even if the deceased was a Christian and you are convinced they are now with the Lord. But the most unpleasant funeral of all is when you are fully convinced the deceased was unsaved and obviously lived a sinful life. The pain of those left behind can be just as acute and tears can flow like a river, yet you cannot preach them into heaven. How to circumvent that tragic truth in one’s sermon, especially in today’s world where so many believe that if you go to church and profess to be a Christian you are one, is very challenging. Jesus said that many would come to Him on the Day of Judgment and say, “We have prophesied in your name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works.” But what did Jesus say would be His response? “I never knew you, depart from me ye that work iniquity.” (Matt.7:22-23) The Greek word here translated “iniquity” is lawlessness. They professed Jesus but in works they denied Him.
The most serious funeral that we, sadly, too often see is a funeral of one’s soul. The Bible speaks of those who “fall away” from the faith. They once had come to Christ and experienced the spiritual life that only exists in Christ Jesus. They once bowed before the cross, confessed their sins, and were born again. They received the Holy Spirit into their lives and became a new creation, just as scripture promises. But they were unable to hold on to that new life because they did not war against the strongholds in their nature. When one comes to Christ, he is not immediately delivered from, what is often termed, “remaining sin” or “the old life.”
Christians are called to a warfare, and that warfare begins shortly after one is saved. The old life tries to come back and regain its control. If the new convert does not resist the enemy and grow in the grace and strength of the Holy Spirit, he will experience what scripture calls, “a falling away” (IIThess.2:3). In fact, the Apostle Paul informs us that in the last days there will come a great falling away. In other words, many will turn back to their old way of life. Peter refers to this as a pig which was cleaned up but then returns to his wallowing in the mire (IIPeter2:22).
The question when this happens is: Who would want to preach a sermon for one who has died spiritually? Who would want to try to make people feel good when one who was once alive in Christ but afterward returned to his previous ways? His life now leads to eternal death. What can be said at such a funeral? Nothing can change one’s eternal destiny, even though once saved, if he later returns to his wallowing in sin.
Today is the day of salvation. Let us make our calling and election sure by staying the course no matter how difficult the battle becomes. The victory is sure if we hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering (Heb.10:23). There is a crown of righteousness laid up for all who will endure to the end. May we each be found faithful in that day and be found in Jesus Christ.
“WE WOULD SEE JESUS”
Alfred King
“And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus” (John12:20-21). Maybe the words of these Greeks sound as though they were only for the days in which Jesus walked upon the face of the earth, but I don’t believe this to be the case. We can even, today, catch a glimpse of Jesus and, with that revelation, gain a deeper love for Him and find greater power in Him. In a song written by the late Helen Lemmel entitled, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” she writes in the chorus: “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full into His wonderful face; And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, In the light of His glory and grace.” How then can we see Jesus today?
I believe the answer lies in scripture. There were men of God to whom God showed Himself. We are all familiar with John, the beloved, through whom we have the book of Revelation. Jesus appeared to him in a most wonderful manner and left us with many profound and mystical truths. John records his encounter with Jesus in Revelation the first chapter. So overcome by the appearance of Jesus, John states, “And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead…” (Rev.1:17). In the Old Testament we read that God appeared to Moses, first on the Mount of Sinai where He wrote the Ten Commandments upon two tables of stone, and later when God passed by and Moses was permitted to view only His “back parts.” God caused His glory to pass by Moses, and he saw God’s glory.
Isaiah was also one who was privileged to see God. In Isaiah 6:1 we read that Isaiah “saw also the Lord, sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up and His train filled the temple.” Isaiah was totally overcome by this glorious and majestic view of the Lord.
Seeing God as these men saw Him was an experience that forever changed them. It increased their faith. It empowered them to declare Him to others. It produced an intense love for God, even above what they previously possessed. It gave them greater power over every enemies, for they had seen the glory and omnipotence of Almighty God. I guess, then, the question is: Do we today need to see Jesus? Maybe just a little clearer than we do?
How Can We See Jesus Today?
Scripture teaches us that there are ways we can see Jesus today. Consider just a few: The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote, “… let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesusthe author and finisher of our faith …” (Heb.12:1-2). In chapter two and verses eight and nine is written, “But now we see not all things put under him (man) but we see Jesus, crowned with glory and honor …” And we read also in IICor.3:18, “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Paul expressed it in ICor.13 as looking through a “glass darkly” (Berry translates this “a glass obscurely”). While we may not behold Jesus vividly with our natural eyes, yet every revelation of Him to our spirit is a certain view of God’s glory.
Every recorded vision or appearance of Jesus to men of God in scripture is an unveiling of Christ to us. We catch a view of Christ through John’s description in Revelation one. Our spirits are enlightened through Isaiah’s experience. The same is true with Moses and other men and women of scripture to whom God appeared. It is true that we don’t see all our enemies put under foot at this present time, but we do, through faith, see Jesus, crowned with glory and honor, sitting at the right hand of the Father. And as we behold the beauty of Christ, our hearts are enlarged and praise flows to Him who has seen fit to give us just a glimpse and foretaste of His glory. As we behold the beauty of Christ recorded in scripture for us, we find the lure of the world fades and power to labor in His vineyard increases.
When We Fail To See Christ
What happens when one takes his eyes off Christ? Or maybe the question should be: “What happens when we keep our eyes on Christ?” One such case in scripture is when the twelve spies returned from spying out the land of Canaan. We see the answer to both questions above in this account. The ten spies who came back with an evil report said that they could not capture the land. Why? Because there were giants in the land and they considered themselves as “grasshoppers in their sight” (Num.13:33).
Why did they make this statement? Because they were looking at themselves rather than seeing the Lord. They had forgotten God, Who had brought ten plagues upon Egypt. The memory of the parting of the Red Sea had passed. The manna and supply of water throughout their journey though the wilderness had become common and taken for granted. Their eyes were set upon earthly things rather than on God and His power. They forgot the power of God on Mount Sinai and all they saw was themselves and the obstacles before them.
Notice the difference between these ten and Caleb and Joshua. “And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it” (Num.13:30). These two men had seen God through His manifestations in Egypt and in the wilderness. They remembered God’s power, and they knew if God was for them, no enemy could stand before them. We see here the importance of keeping our eyes off ourselves, off our weaknesses, and fastening them upon Christ and His words. God had promised to give them the land, and that is where their faith should have rested. They should have seen God in His previous acts in their behalf and had the faith to see Him in their future as well.
We have another very interesting account of having one’s eyes opened in IIKings6. In this passage we see the Syrian armies had surrounded the town of Dothan, where Elisha was living. Elisha sat calmly and undisturbed by the threat of the Syrian army while his servant was wringing his hands and fretting. He arose early that morning, and here was the might of Syria surrounding them. He asked Elisha, “Alas, my master, what shall we do?” This servant had seen God working through Elisha but, when he felt his life threatened, his faith in Elisha’s God failed him. Notice Elisha’s little prayer, “O Lord, open his eyes that he may see.” With that opening, all fear subsided and a wonder and amazement filled this servant’s heart. He saw the power of God. When one sees God’s power in the situation, there is great encouragement, and heavenly power far beyond human strength enters into one’s spirit, soul, and body.
Keeping Our Eyes On Jesus
We can see Jesus through several avenues. We might actually be blessed with a vision or revelation of Him. We might become so aware of some of His attributes, such as His love, or His peace, His joy, victory, grace, mercy, or of His preciousness. The value of His presence in whatever manner He decides to reveal Himself to you is most wonderful, and it will sustain you through the most difficult battles.
When we are blind to Jesus, we fail to see Who He is and What He is. He is everything to one who sees Him, but that everything is lost when one is blind. When we take our eyes off Jesus, we find ourselves defeated in the battle, overcome with fear, weak in the flesh, and hopeless in adversity. When we look at ourselves, we find only weakness and defeat. Depression and discouragement come upon us and any incentive to persevere fades. We find very quickly that the arm of flesh fails us and the wisdom of man is not sufficient for the complicated situations in which we so often find ourselves.
How can one keep his eyes on Jesus? As already pointed out, we must remember those great blessings, both promised in God’s word and also through events in our lives where God showed Himself mighty in our behalf. If one has walked with God any length of time, he will have those moments when God showed up in a marvelous and wonderful way. Those are the times when we know positively that God got involved in our lives. Those are wonderful memories and we must not be like those ten spies who forgot God’s wonders in the land of Egypt and in the wilderness. We must remember them and know for certain that that same God is still watching over us today, even if we are in the midst of the storm. It may appear He is asleep, but He’s aware and is ready to calm the storm as soon as we call upon Him.
Keeping one’s eyes upon Jesus involves several things, but I believe it starts in one’s prayer closet where he searches God’s word and seeks God in prayer. Elisha did not wait until the Syrian armies had surrounded the city to call upon the Lord. He was in a continual and personal relationship with God through prayer and meditation. Caleb and Joshua had the faith to conquer the giants and possess the land because they had seen what great things God had done for Israel and they knew He would do it again. If Egypt could be destroyed by God’s power, Canaan could be possessed by God power.
Jesus is our Example above all others and His life was a life of prayer. He prayed all night before He chose the twelve disciples. He prayed and fasted forty days and forty nights before He began His public ministry. He did not wait until He crossed over into the land of the Gadarenes and stood before Legion to pray, for He regularly spent time in prayer and was constantly listening to His Father’s voice. The greatest battle Jesus faced was in the Garden of Gethsemane. He did not wait until He stood before Caiaphas to pray or before He faced Pilate to suddenly engage in battle. He engaged in Gethsemane where the battle was so intense that it is recorded that great drops of blood fell down upon the ground where He kneeled. The battle was won in His prayer closet, where He wrestled with Satan and quenched every dart that Satan could hurl against Him. As Jesus carried His cross, the die was cast and the Rubicon crossed. While it seemed to the Pharisees, the religious rulers in Jerusalem, to Pilate, the Roman soldiers, to Satan and his demons, and even to the disciples that Jesus had been conquered, the very opposite was true. Jesus rose three days after He was laid in the tomb and now sits at the right hand of His Father, highly exalted and victorious over every devil and every evil whether from human or demon, and He has opened the way for His people to enter into the glories of His kingdom.
Let us therefore keep our eyes upon Him who is able to do exceeding above all that we can ask or think, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith so we might be strengthened by His might as we face the battles which are forming on the horizon. The enemy is angry with God’s people, and he is moving evil men and corrupt governments to silence God’s church. The church will stand however, and we will be a member of that church if we keep our eyes on Jesus and stand firm on His promises. May God open the eyes of His church to see Jesus.