I do a Bible verse every week for all 3 services at our church. This week’s was:
Act 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
So not even 30 yrs after the death of The Messiah. 30 years it started being corrupted and misconstrued. 30 years and they starting adding to it, making it more restrictive, more onerous.
The book of 2 Peter was wrote in AD 68 and Peter speaks of false prophets.
2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2Pe 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
If they had these problems with error, heresy, and lies in the days of the actual living Apostles how much more shall we have to deal with.
We have those who know not the Lord proclaiming themselves to be prophets and preachers.
We have those who can not adhere to the Bible and the Word of God who want to put themselves forth as preachers.
We have those who deny the very death burial and resurrection of Jesus in the pulpit calling themselves "christian".
1Ki 22:19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
1Ki 22:20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
1Ki 22:21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
1Ki 22:22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
We have had 2000 years for these types to perfect their lies and smooth out their facade. They have practiced and preached sedition's, heresy, lies, and full on perversions for too long.
Now some "churches" have included coffee bars, beer bashes, and bingo to raise attendance.
How did Jesus, John the Baptist and Peter do all they did with just repent?
They had the power of God on their lives that's how, (Yes I know Jesus is God.) They had the authority of God, they had the power of God. They were called of Him.
Hence their success.
We are lacking many of the true men of God. The ones who forget all they know, go with their heart and pray down the Spirit from Heaven.
The ones who totally give themselves over to His Work and His Word.
The ones who stop reading man's opinion on how to grow a church, increase church attendance, and rely on the Word of God and His truth to reach the hearts and minds of men.
We have let the term church equal social club status. We have allowed false preachers to grow wealthy while tarnishing the name of Christ.
We have a rise in this world of people talking about 'God" without truly knowing their subject matter.
I recently saw a preacher asking how to get out of the "summer slump". There were many suggestions for promotions, incentives given by other people. One even suggested reading commentaries, books on growth, talking to others men and mentors.
But not one suggested prayer study and a true dedication to God and His Word.
2Ti 2:14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2Ti 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
We are to study and pray to show ourselves approved unto GOD, not man.
God gives the increase, we must stay true to His Word, His Message. We must stay true to Him.
Stop looking at the numbers and look at the true heart results. Lives changed, hearts turned.
I listen to the preachers of old, yes it is true. I do listen to their sermons, for they speak to my heart and show me things I may not see or hear otherwise. I am not against reading commentaries, seeking guidance from different sources with more experience.
I am against man standing up and speaking in their own power. Speaking of that which they know not. Speaking out of their own wisdom, their own authority.
When you are putting forth the Word, pray down the Spirit. Pray down the power of God, Go forth in His Spirit preaching and teaching.
There is no algorithm other than study and prayer.
There is no quick fix, there is no easy money.
There is power in the Blood. There is Power in the name. there is Salvation in the name and person of the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
There is no other message.
Act 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Act 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Act 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
As I reflected further on the subject it occurred to me that 3 of the greatest preachers in the NT preached Repent and be saved. Period, that’s it. Repent.
Mat 3:1 In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
At the start of Christianity, John the Baptist, Jesus. and Peter preached repentance.
Now at what point did we deviate from this very simple, very true Gospel message.
They all agreed on the message of Christ the Messiah, the One who takes away the sin of the world.
That's what they preached, that message turned the world upside down. That message has carried true for 2000 years now.
When did we start adding to or taking away from the simplicity of this message?
The Book of Acts was written in AD 60. just about 30 yrs after the death of Christ.
So not even 30 yrs after the death of The Messiah. 30 years it started being corrupted and misconstrued. 30 years and they starting adding to it, making it more restrictive, more onerous.
The book of 2 Peter was wrote in AD 68 and Peter speaks of false prophets.
2Pe 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
2Pe 2:3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.
If they had these problems with error, heresy, and lies in the days of the actual living Apostles how much more shall we have to deal with.
We have those who know not the Lord proclaiming themselves to be prophets and preachers.
We have those who can not adhere to the Bible and the Word of God who want to put themselves forth as preachers.
We have those who deny the very death burial and resurrection of Jesus in the pulpit calling themselves "christian".
1Ki 22:19 And he said, Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD: I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.
1Ki 22:20 And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramothgilead? And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.
1Ki 22:21 And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.
1Ki 22:22 And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.
We have had 2000 years for these types to perfect their lies and smooth out their facade. They have practiced and preached sedition's, heresy, lies, and full on perversions for too long.
Now some "churches" have included coffee bars, beer bashes, and bingo to raise attendance.
How did Jesus, John the Baptist and Peter do all they did with just repent?
They had the power of God on their lives that's how, (Yes I know Jesus is God.) They had the authority of God, they had the power of God. They were called of Him.
Hence their success.
We are lacking many of the true men of God. The ones who forget all they know, go with their heart and pray down the Spirit from Heaven.
The ones who totally give themselves over to His Work and His Word.
The ones who stop reading man's opinion on how to grow a church, increase church attendance, and rely on the Word of God and His truth to reach the hearts and minds of men.
We have let the term church equal social club status. We have allowed false preachers to grow wealthy while tarnishing the name of Christ.
We have a rise in this world of people talking about 'God" without truly knowing their subject matter.
I recently saw a preacher asking how to get out of the "summer slump". There were many suggestions for promotions, incentives given by other people. One even suggested reading commentaries, books on growth, talking to others men and mentors.
But not one suggested prayer study and a true dedication to God and His Word.
2Ti 2:14 Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2Ti 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
We are to study and pray to show ourselves approved unto GOD, not man.
God gives the increase, we must stay true to His Word, His Message. We must stay true to Him.
Stop looking at the numbers and look at the true heart results. Lives changed, hearts turned.
I listen to the preachers of old, yes it is true. I do listen to their sermons, for they speak to my heart and show me things I may not see or hear otherwise. I am not against reading commentaries, seeking guidance from different sources with more experience.
I am against man standing up and speaking in their own power. Speaking of that which they know not. Speaking out of their own wisdom, their own authority.
When you are putting forth the Word, pray down the Spirit. Pray down the power of God, Go forth in His Spirit preaching and teaching.
There is no algorithm other than study and prayer.
There is no quick fix, there is no easy money.
There is power in the Blood. There is Power in the name. there is Salvation in the name and person of the Lord Jesus Christ alone.
There is no other message.
Act 4:10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Act 4:11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
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