Monthly Archives: October 2016
The World will Accept ANYTHING but Jesus Christ
The following snip is from a website sent to me by my neighbor, a hybrid Buddhist, New Ager, Native American Shamanism type person.
“About SHATTERING THE MATRIX: We will co-create the world we want when we have the courage to see what needs correcting & by becoming fully proactive in its creation”.
Yes, she/they actually believe this; at some point in time, there will be a tipping point at which time, the “enlightened ones” who have “evolved” spiritually will rule and master the “cleansed world” THEY have co-created, (along with some nebulous god out there somewhere in the universe). Flaky? Yes, indeed. In fact, there seems to be no end to the delusional spiritual beliefs that run rampant throughout the New Age Community, and, even my own neighborhood, city and state. These unscriptural, ungodly persuasions are not by any means in the minority in this part of the country…
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Are We All Called To Be Perfect? — notesfromthebridge
Greetings, Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends […]
WOULD JESUS DO THE HOWARD STERN SHOW?
I’ve only seen the Howard Stern Show maybe once in my lifetime, and once was enough to know that it was nothing but trash radio/T.V. Yet the thought came to me the other day about this particular person and the Lord, which was this; If Jesus had come today, in our time instead of 2,000 years ago and started his ministry, would he sit and talk to Howard Stern on his program?
Today I am confused and bothered by the lack of commitment the church has for the lost. It seems that the only way we can reach the lost is supporting others who actively engage the areas where the lost are, yet refusing to go themselves. In other words, we seem (speaking about the American church culture) to have become settled, even safe in our own world of our securely built sanctuary walled cities. Yet is that were the…
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He Who Belongs to God Hears What God Says
Authentic ministers of God’s word are not taught it by man; we receive it by revelation from God, learning it directly by His Spirit, which is one with ours by faith in Christ (see Gal. 1:11-12; John 16:12-15; 1 Cor. 2:10-16, 6:17; 1 John 2:20, 27). God brings revelation and teaches us most often as we meditate on His word. Jesus of Nazareth heard from God this way also (see Luke 4:16-21, perhaps in a new light). Recall that He told the Jews My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. (John 7:16). He described himself as … a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. He then told them, He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear from God is that you do not belong to God. (8:40, 47).
Mere “head knowledge” of…
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Did the Lord Jesus Christ Not Speak to His People in the Old Testament?
A Series of Answers to Common Questions
Question:
In the opening statements of the book of Hebrews the author states that God spoke through his Son “in these last days” (cf. Hebrews 1:1-2). The author is obviously implying that God hadn’t spoken through Jesus during the OT period which undermines the Trinitarian view that the Angel of Yahweh is the OT appearance of the prehuman Christ, or that Christ appeared to the OT prophets.
Answer:
We first read the text within its immediate context before addressing the objection:
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3
The inspired author explicitly says that the Lord Jesus is the Agent of creation, the One through whom God created the universe, and is the One personally sustaining creation by his powerful word. Clearly, to the author of Hebrews Jesus was active all throughout history even before his Incarnation. The point of the writer is not that God hadn’t spoken through his Son during the OT period, but that he hadn’t done so exclusively. The point basically being made is that God spoke to his people through various ways and by different means, i.e. through angels, prophets, dreams, visions etc. Yet some of those ways included speaking through his Son and Spirit, just as Hebrews itself claims:
“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. HE SAYS, ‘I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.’ And again, ‘I will put my trust in him.’ And again HE SAYS, ‘Here am I, and the children God has given me.’” Hebrews 2:9-13
The author quotes the following OT texts and asserts that it was the Son, the Lord Jesus, who was speaking in them:
“I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:” Psalm 22:22
“I will wait for the LORD, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the LORD of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.” Isaiah 8:17-18
Here is another example of Jesus speaking in the OT:
“Therefore, when Christ came into the world, HE SAID: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, “Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, O God.”’ First HE SAID, ‘Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). Then HE SAID, ‘Here I am, I have come to do your will.’ He sets aside the first to establish the second.’” Hebrews 10:5-9
The passage which the author places on the lips of the Lord Jesus comes from the Greek version of Psalm 40:
“Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not; but a body hast thou prepared me: whole-burnt-offering and [sacrifice] for sin thou didst not require. Then I said, Behold, I come: in the volume of the book it is written concerning me, I desired to do thy will, O my God, and thy law in the midst of mine heart.” Psalm 40:6-8 Brenton’s Septuagint [LXX]
Furthermore, Hebrews teaches that God also used the Holy Spirit as one of his means of communication during the OT period:
“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, “They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.” As I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter my rest.”’” Hebrews 3:7-11
The passage being cited is this one:
“For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers put me to the test and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work. For forty years I loathed that generation and said, ‘They are a people who go astray in their heart, and they have not known my ways.’ Therefore I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’” Psalm 95:7-11Again:
“And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, ‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,’ then he adds, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’” Hebrews 10:15-17
The author applied the following text to the Holy Spirit:
“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:33-34
In both of the OT texts it is Yahweh God who is speaking, and yet Hebrews ascribes them to the Holy Spirit. What this implies is that the author believed that the Holy Spirit is actually Yahweh God Almighty!
Basically, this shows that the author of Hebrews believed that the Lord Jesus spoke by his Spirit through the prophets, a view shared by the Apostle Peter:
“Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.” 1 Peter 1:10-12
The writer of Hebrews also states that Moses knew Jesus and willfully suffered for him:
“By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.” Hebrews 11:24-28
The author seems to be suggesting that Moses’ encounter with God included an appearance of the Lord Jesus, a point which Paul confirms in his own writings:
“I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.” 1 Corinthians 10:1-4
It was the Lord Jesus, according to Paul, who led Moses and the Israelites during the Exodus. Interestingly, the Hebrew Bible says that God had sent his Divine Angel to lead Israel into the promise land:
“Then the angel of God who was going before the host of Israel moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved from before them and stood behind them, coming between the host of Egypt and the host of Israel. And there was the cloud and the darkness. And it lit up the night without one coming near the other all night.” Exodus 14:19-20
“Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Pay careful attention to him and obey his voice; do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression, for my name is in him. But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. When my angel goes before you and brings you to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I blot them out,” Exodus 23:20-23
“And when we cried to the LORD, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. And here we are in Kadesh, a city on the edge of your territory.” Numbers 20:16
Tying the pieces together we can conclude that Jesus was the One who appeared as a Divine Angel to deliver God’s people.
Jude is another writer who wrote that the Lord Jesus actually delivered Israel:
“For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe.” Jude 1:4-5
Some MSS read Lord instead of Jesus in verse 5:
“Now I desire to remind you, though you know all things once for all, that the Lord, after saving a people out of the land of Egypt, subsequently destroyed those who did not believe.” NASB
Regardless of the textual reading, this fact is certain: In context, according to Jude 1:4, the Lord who delivered the people and destroyed the unbelievers is clearly the Lord Jesus.
The apostle John also believed that the Lord Jesus had appeared to the OT saints:
“Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: ‘Lord, who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: ‘He has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them.’ Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.” John 12:37-41 NIV
John says that Isaiah the prophet had already foretold the Lord Jesus’ rejection by the people because he had seen the glory of Christ. Yet one of the passages which John cites as evidence, i.e. Isaiah 6:9-10, is a reference to Yahweh actually revealing his glory to Isaiah in a visible manner:
“In the year that King Uzziah died I SAW the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of HIS GLORY!’ And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: ‘Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; FOR MY EYES HAVE SEEN THE KING, THE LORD OF HOSTS!’ Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth and said: ‘Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.’ And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’ And he said, ‘Go, and say to this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’ Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.’” Isaiah 6:1-10
The other passage that John cited is Isaiah 53:1, a reference to the servant of Yahweh who dies for the sin of God’s people:
“Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted. As many were astonished at you– his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind– so shall he sprinkle many nations; kings shall shut their mouths because of him; for that which has not been told them they see, and that which they have not heard they understand. Who has believed what they heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for sin, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 52:13-15, 53:1-12
By combining Isaiah 6 and 53 together, John is obviously identifying Yahweh’s Servant as the Yahweh whom Isaiah saw and who later became the man Christ Jesus. Putting it simply, John is basically stating that the Yahweh whom Isaiah beheld, the One sitting on the throne whose glory was manifested to Isaiah, was none other than the Lord Jesus who became a servant to suffer for our sins, thereby fulfilling the prophecy made in Isaiah 53!
In light of the foregoing, we can now better understand the point of Hebrews. Essentially, the inspired writer wasn’t suggesting that Jesus hadn’t spoken to the prophets during the OT period, but that he wasn’t the only means of communication to the people. Now, however, God speaks exclusively through the person of his Son, the Lord Jesus. In other words, the author is claiming that Jesus is the conduit, the medium, through which all of God’s revelation comes, a point Jesus himself makes:
“All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom THE SON CHOOSES to reveal him.” Luke 10:22
Notice how this text echoes the very point which Hebrews 1:1-2 makes, namely, that all things have been handed over to the Son because he is the Heir and that he reveals God to whomever he chooses since God speaks in and through him.
Thus, God has chosen to make known all of his riches and wisdom to us in Christ to the exclusion of all other mediums:
“that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3
This doesn’t mean that God wouldn’t send angels or prophets to the people, but that Christ is the One who makes known God’s revelation to those commissioned to be emissaries. As the apostle John puts it:
“As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” John 17:18
“Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.’” John 20:21-23
“The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,” Revelation 1:1
The Lord Jesus reveals God’s mysteries to his people by sending an angel to make it known to his apostle John. Therefore, every messenger and ambassador of God receives the divine commission and revelation through the mediation of Christ, coming in the authority and power of the Lord Jesus since the Son is the very focus and essence of prophecy:
“Therefore I SEND YOU prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town,” Matthew 23:34
“But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift… And HE gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers,” Ephesians 4:7, 11
“Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, ‘You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.’ For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Revelation 19:10
Hopefully, this helps explain the point being made by the inspired writer of Hebrews.
All Scriptural quotations take from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless noted otherwise.
A Series of Answers to Common Questions
Answering Islam Home Page
Christians Who Go From Blog to Blog as Self Appointed Arbiters of “Truth”
“Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”
Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.” 2nd Timothy: 14-26
“And if they are on the list, they will learn to be lazy and will spend their time gossiping from house to house, meddling in other people’s business and talking about things they shouldn’t.” 1Timothy: 5-13
“Imagine you were relaxing around the house one day and a loud knock on the door interrupts your leisure. You go to the door, and answer it, and you find two policemen standing on your porch.
One of them says, “Are you Mr. So-and-so (or Mrs. So-and-so)?” And you say, “Yes.”
And he replies, “Well, I have a warrant for your arrest.”
Obviously, you are stunned! As far as you know, you hadn’t broken any laws, done anything illegal. So, you finally say after you get over your surprise, “What am I under arrest for?” And the officer says, “Meddling. You are a busybody. I have to take you downtown.”
Now that seems pretty preposterous to us, doesn’t it? But, according to God’s word, it is not that far wrong. God doesn’t come down with a legion of angels and arrest you for meddling, or for being a busybody, but nonetheless, meddling—being a busybody—is a sin analogous in this example to a crime.
You might recall that in my last sermon, I was going through (right near the end) I Peter 4:15. If you will turn there we’ll open with reading this.
If you will remember, I had suddenly stopped in my tracks upon reading this because even though I had read this verse a dozen times or more, it was the first time I noticed something. Let’s read just this one verse.
I Peter 4:15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.
And then in my sermon I looked at that and I wanted to go smoothly into verse 16, and I suddenly stopped. The thought had went through my head, “Now isn’t that something!” Peter lumps murderers, thieves, evil doers, and busybodies all into one big category. I thought, “Hmmm. That’s pretty interesting! How can that be?”
How bad is it, really, to be a meddler, or a busybody, compared to knifing somebody, or robbing them on the road, or just being plain downright evil? That got me to thinking, and out popped this sermon! What is so bad about busybodies? Why does the Bible take such a stern view of meddling?
We will see by the time this is over (I hope I’ll be able to explain it!) that this sin has several tentacles that reach into various areas of our Christian lives, and has a great impact upon our relationships both with God, and with other people. That’s what makes it so bad.
While we’re here in I Peter 4:15, we will examine the word translated as “busybody.” Many of you have the New King James, and you will see in the margin the word “meddler.” That is a very good translation of this word—a meddler.
I don’t know how many of you know the word, hapaxlegomenon. I know some of you do, because you have written, or talked about it. It is a fancy, scholarly word that means, “only occurs once.”
This Greek word allotriepiskopos is a compound word—two normal Greek words stuck together—it is only found in this one spot (in the Bible). Because of this, and its compound nature, some commentators believe that Peter made it up or that He coined the term.
This allotriepiskopos (how do those Greeks get their mouths around these words?) literally means, “Not one’s own overseer.” “Not one’s own” is one word, and “Overseer” is the other.
It means thus, “One who oversees other’s matters, or other’s affairs.” “Not one’s own overseer.” I don’t know if you caught it, but the word episkopos is in there. Episkopos is the Greek word for “Overseer,” sometimes translated as “shepherd,” and often translated as “bishop.”
It could be a good thing—this allotriepiskopos—if it was someone like a steward of an estate who was assigned to be the caretaker of another’s matters. Or like an executor of a will, someone who is appointed to look over another’s affairs after his decease.
However, in this one time, and in the normal Greek, (which is only used a couple of other times in the classics, and not quite in this same context either) it is a negative term. It means a person who takes it upon himself to interfere in another person’s matter.
If you will turn to II Corinthians 10 we will see something from the Apostle Paul in which he doesn’t use the term, but he alludes to this very practice. He uses himself as an example of someone who doesn’t do this.
II Corinthians 10:12-16 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. We, however, will not boast beyond measure, but within the limits of the sphere which God appointed us—a sphere which especially includes you. For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men’s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man’s sphere of accomplishment.
Paul here describes what Peter means. He explains that even as an Apostle, his authority has limits. Remember and keep in the back of your mind that the word that Peter coined for this is allotriepiskopos. Episkopos is overseer, one having authority. He is talking about an overseer who has stepped outside the bounds of his authority, and meddles in areas he has not been given responsibility for.
Even an Apostle has a sphere. It simply means “an area over which a person has responsibility.”
Now in this case, Paul was, I think, primarily thinking of a geographical area over which he had been given certain authority. We might not say geographical, but Paul has been given the specific appointment to preach to the gentiles.
In divvying up the responsibilities in the places where the Apostles went, Paul had been given a certain sphere of influence, a sphere of responsibility, a sphere of authority; and he was not going to encroach into someone else’s—Peter’s or John’s or any other’s—area of responsibility.
So, Paul was saying that it would not be wise to move beyond what he had been given, and that he would not do that. Why should he boast or glory in something that is another man’s responsibility? He was going to go specifically to those people that God had told him to go to.
Now notice in verse 13 that it says that God had appointed him, or us (he means the Apostles) but within the limits of their sphere which God had appointed them. This is very important because in terms of the church, especially in terms of the ministry, they have been set apart for a specific responsibility. It is important for a minister not to go beyond that specific calling and appointment.
But, we should not limit this appointment of responsibility just to Apostles, just to ministers, or even to the church, or matters concerning the church, because God has given us all a sphere of influence, responsibility, and authority; and each one of those has limits.
If we are a father, we have certain responsibilities and authority, and limits to that authority. The same thing with mothers. Same thing with children. Same thing with elders, and deacons in the church. Same things with employers and employees.
We find that God even says in Romans 13 that He has appointed our governmental leaders to their areas of responsibility. The implication is that He can take them down at will if they step outside that certain responsibility that He has given them.
Let’s not limit this sphere of responsibility idea just to the church. It includes aspects of our lives far beyond what we might call normal church activities. God has given us all a sphere of responsibility which we must stay within, and not go beyond. Now of course, our best example of this is Jesus Christ.
Let’s look at two examples of this where He refused to go beyond His sphere of responsibility. First, let’s start in Luke 12, verses 13, and 14. This is the prologue to the parable of the rich fool. I just want to pick up these two verses to show His response to someone—a man out of the crowd—who wanted Him to do something that was beyond His area of responsibility at the time.
Luke 12:13-14 Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?”
We don’t need to go any farther because then He goes into the parable.
Even our Lord and Master Jesus Christ would not go beyond His area of authority. And His area of authority was one that God had specifically given Him. He was supposed to live His life a certain way. He was a man like us. He was to do the things He had to do to preach the gospel and then give His life in sacrifice as our Redeemer and build the church. But within all those responsibilities, within all his sphere of influence He had not been given the responsibility at the time, or the authority, to be a judge, or an arbitrator in matters such as these.
And so He refused to go beyond the powers and the authority that He had been given.
We might say that had He done this, He would have taken the job of someone else. He would have been meddling in the affairs of, oh let’s say, a justice of the peace. Or, one of the elders at the gate, or some other person who had been put into a legal position whose job it was to arbitrate or judge matters such as inheritances. And Jesus didn’t have any purpose, any right, to put his finger in that pie, because God had not given Him that as part of His sphere of influence.
We know and are told in other places that He has been given the responsibility and authority to be judge of all. We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. But when does that appointment take place?
We could say that it took place once He was received up into Heaven, and it began at that point, legally, because He had qualified to be our judge. But that was after this happened in Luke 12. It will come into its fullness in the judgment. It is happening to us right now. Judgment is on the house of God right now. But at this time He had not been given the responsibility to judge. So if He had stepped outside of that, His sphere, He would have been guilty of sin, taking another’s responsibility.
So, He overcame the temptation. Speaking of temptations, let’s go to Luke 4. This is another example in which He refused to go beyond His sphere. This is the temptation after the 40 days and 40 nights of fasting.
Luke 4:5-8 Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours. And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'”
Now this is a very similar example to what we just saw in Luke 12, except the context is not judgment, but rulership, and glory. Satan is correct when he said that he had the authority to give rulership to Jesus, because it was his to give.
He could have given Him all the kingdoms of the world. But that wouldn’t have been right. It would have been before the time. Jesus understood that the timing and manner of becoming King of Kings via Satan’s appointment would be illegitimate. And it would be disastrous to God’s plan. If He stepped outside the sphere of responsibility that He’d been given for that particular time then the whole plan of God would have gone up in smoke.
So, how can we take these two examples and put them into an application to us?
We cannot to presume to take an office, or authority that is promised to us, but has not yet been given. These things that I have mentioned here—the judgment and the kingship, and the glory (three things)—had been promised to Jesus, but He refused to take them until the proper time, until He had qualified to have them, until God wanted Him to have them.
The same thing can be a temptation to us to go beyond what God has given to us. By doing so, we meddle, we become a busybody in affairs that are not ours to control, to partake in, or to have anything to do with whatsoever.
Let’s see this in I Corinthians 6. This is also in terms of judgment. Here the Corinthian church had begun making lawsuits against one another, and Paul was castigating the people there in the church because they had already been given the authority to judge matters among themselves within the church. There were certain ones who should have been wise enough to be able to work these matters out.
But, notice what Paul says here:
I Corinthians 6:2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
He is basically saying that if we’re going to have this great responsibility of judging the world, we should be practicing it in our own lives—to judge our small matters in our own lives right now.
I Corinthians 6:3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels? [He ups the ante!] How much more, things that pertain to this life?
These are promised offices. Promised positions that we have. They are still future. We have not been given, just as Christ had not been given, the authority to judge during this physical life. So Paul says that we have this to look forward to, but we have to use this physical life in preparation for that.
Back to Romans 14 and let’s pick up verse 4 and get another side to this.
Romans 14:4 Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
We have the other side of the coin here. Yes, God has given us this promise of being judges, kings, and priests in the world tomorrow, but He has not given us the authority to be judges now. We are to be making judgments, and learning how to do this. But, right now, unless we have been appointed to a certain position in which these judgments must be made, if we take it upon ourselves to make those judgments, then we are stepping into the muck. We have gone beyond our sphere.
What he is saying here is that if we decide to take this into our own hands to judge another man’s servant (think of it this way: Every other man is God’s servant) judging other people for the things that they do, then we have started to be presumptuous. It is meddling in another’s matters.
Jesus would have been meddling in somebody else’s affairs had He decided to arbitrate that dispute. He would have been what is called in the Bible a busybody—someone who is doing something that he has not been called to do, or not been given that authority to do.
Let’s get a little bit of practical instruction here on this matter in Matthew 7:3-5—part of the Sermon on the Mount, the section on judgment—the chapter that begins with “Judge not, that you be not judged!” which is very similar to what Paul said there in Romans 14:4.
Matthew 7:3-5 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
This is the practical instruction on this matter that Jesus gives us. In a word we’re not qualified. If you want to break these three verses down into anything, that is it. We’re not qualified to judge, to make these judgments. Setting ourselves up to judge another to “help” him in whatever problem that he may happen to have is self-exalting, proud, presumptuous, vain in terms both of vanity and being futile, and (as Jesus says) hypocritical, because we’re guilty of the same problem. In fact, Jesus implies here that our problems are worse! Our problems are planks versus specks in the other person’s eye.
And, the one that I haven’t mentioned but is the great overriding problem here is that it abrogates to ourselves a prerogative of God. He is the Judge. What are we doing taking one of His jobs from Him? James says in James 4:12, “Who are you to judge another?”
It is rather harsh the way that he puts that. “Who are you to take upon yourself the authority to judge this other person?” “Have you become a judge of the law?” he says. That is what happens when you take it upon yourself to judge another person.
OK. We’ve spent enough time on allotriepiskopos. That’s what this whole section has been about. Let’s go to the other New Testament word for busybody.
That word is periergos. Peri, if you know your Greek prepositions (and all of you school kids should know this) means “around.” Sometimes it means “about” in terms of being around. Ergos means “to work.” So what does this word (periergos) mean? It means to work about, or to work around. It suggests being busy at trifles. It suggests puttering about, flitting here, fluttering there, doing this, or that.
Think of a piece of property. You have a job of mowing this piece of property. Let’s say that it is a couple of acres. It is mostly lawn.
Well, someone who is guilty of periergos would mow a little here, and then go do something else. And then come back and mow some more about the periphery of the property, but never get his job done because he is busy at trifles—he flits from here to there, never putting in a whole day’s work.
Thus, because of this idea—working about, or working around something, that you should be doing—it came to mean “being efficient,” or “over-busy.” Rather than being seriously engaged in work, one is busy at not one’s own responsibilities but rather interfering in other people’s responsibilities.
Someone who is periergos was always sticking his nose into other people’s affairs because he was not busy enough in his own. He was avoiding his own work. But, since he is around the periphery, he is always able to look over the fence and see what somebody else is doing. Checking out where they are going, and who is coming to their house, and what kind of things they buy, or engage in, or whatever it might be.
It is always somebody who is not working at his own affairs, but rather sticking his nose into somebody else’s.
Let’s see one of these in II Thessalonians 3. We’ll read verse 6 and then jump down to verse 10.
In the New King James, this section is titled, “Warning against Idleness.” That is the backdrop to all of his. Paul writes:
II Thessalonians 3:6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.
Just notice that he starts this by talking about disorderly conduct.
II Thessalonians 3:10-12 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
The emphasis is on “own.”
Evidently what had happened is that some in Thessalonica (after Paul’s first letter) had concluded that Christ was about to come. And so they quit their jobs. They were just waiting for Him to come. And, Christ didn’t come, and didn’t come, and didn’t come; and so they were just sitting around just mooching off the rest of the brethren who had continued to work. And because they didn’t have anything to do, they started sticking their noses into places where it didn’t belong.
Their idleness, which Paul was here warning about, caused them to become busybodies.
They spent their days meddling, gossiping, interfering, creating disorder and confusion within the Church. Paul had to write very sternly. In order to correct this thing he said that if there is anybody in there that is doing this, nobody in the church is supposed to give them food. “We’ll have no more of this mooching off the brethren. They’re going to learn that if they’re going to live and be in this church, they are going to get themselves a job, and support themselves. We will not tolerate anymore anybody living off the church. Unless, of course, there is the proper need.”
Paul had to lay down the law. These people had started off with a bad judgment call about what Paul had written in the first letter. Then they deteriorated into annoying meddling busybodies, mooching off the church.
He uses a play on words here in verse 11 where he says “not working at all, but are busybodies.” It is actually a type of pun. It is hard to bring it into the English from the Greek. They both have the word ergon in them.
Working, or to work is ergon. And busybody is periergos. So, what he says here some people have translated literally, “Not working at all, but working about,” or you could say, “Not busy, but busybodies,” which is kind of how the New King James chose to translate it.
Today, we might say, “Idle hands, or an idle mind, are the Devil’s playground.” Matthew Henry on this section comments:
“If we are idle, the Devil and a corrupt heart will soon find us something to do.”
That is so very true. The person who doesn’t have anything to do will find something to do. Chances are about even that it will be wrong, unless one has a pretty good grasp of his own will and wants to actually produce something while he’s not working.
The Bible frequently exhorts us to keep busy. This isn’t “busy work.” This isn’t busy for the sake of being busy. It means to labor, or to be working; to keep ourselves occupied with things to do.
In fact, God puts it directly into the Ten Commandments. Commandment number four, “Six days shall you labor, and do all your work…”
So, we see that if we are getting into some sort of meddling, some sort of poking our nose where it’s not to be, we’re in danger of breaking the fourth commandment. Because we’re not working on those six days in which God has given us to labor, just like He labored those six days, and then rested on the Sabbath.
John 5:17 says, “The Father Himself works, and I work…” and we’re to follow their example. They are busy Beings! Not busy bees, but busy Beings! They are constantly involved in their way of life, in ruling, in working with us.
Now, they aren’t busybodies, though. They have perfect wisdom and know everything that is wise to make us grow up into them. But, we don’t have that wisdom. We can’t do things like that. So, we have to be occupied with profitable things in terms of work.
This doesn’t mean that we should be workaholics. But, it does mean that we have to keep ourselves busy in the things that we have been given to do.
And if we do, if we keep ourselves busy in the things that we’ve been given to do, and it isn’t hard, we will not have time to step out of our sphere of responsibilities. And, the old truism, “Busy hands are happy hands” is really true!
If one is engaged in mind and body in some wholesome activity, there is little time and opportunity for mischief and sin. This is one of the things that kept Jesus on the straight and narrow.
It says there in Acts 10, I believe, that “He went about doing good.” He was engaged, both mind and body, in doing good and following God’s law. There were fewer opportunities for Him to sin, or to engage in something that would be wrong.
It is not surprising that often the most troublesome church members are those who are unemployed. Just as Paul shows in this example here. It is not because they are in financial trouble. Usually, God provides whatever is necessary to take care of their financial problem, whether third tithe, a loan, or whatever to tide them over. That is usually the easy part. The hard part is the free time that they have.
Frequently (I can speak for myself as a minister) it is the unemployed people that have time to correct the ministry about some point of doctrine, or some remark from their last sermon, or something they may have said fifteen years ago in a sermonette. Or, these people have the time to “counsel” their friends and brethren.
So, they end up sticking their noses into other people’s problems.
Let’s see an example of something like this. This is not exact, but it is close enough. It is in I Timothy 5. Paul was speaking of young widows here, younger unmarried women with too much time on their hands. It is interesting how he phrases all of this. Paul is giving instruction to the ministry about how to handle church support for people, in this case, widows.
I Timothy 5:11-13 But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry, having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.
Now this is very similar to what I had mentioned about my own experience regarding people who are unemployed. If they are unemployed for any period of time, if they don’t have strength of will, they learn to be idle.
It is a difficult Greek construction this phrase, “Learn to be idle…” I think that the New International Version, although I normally don’t like it, gets this one right: “They get into the habit of being idle.”
They get into the habit of being idle. That is how the NIV translates this. It’s not that they sit down and study how to be idle, but over a period of time (they may start out gang busters looking for a job, and being involved in something using their spare time in a profitable manner) inertia sets in.
Notwithstanding their good intentions, they start rising a little bit later, taking their time doing this or that. And they find over time that it is far easier to sit around and drink their coffee, call their neighbors or brethren, chew the fat, talk about this person or that person:
“How are they doing?”
“Oh fine!”
“But you know they have this problem.”
“Oh, do they?”
“Yes. Their marriage is not real good.”
“Well you know I went through a problem back a few years ago. Maybe I’ll give them a call and I can give them some advice. It is tried and true! It worked for me. If they need me to, I’ll go over, and I’ll watch their kids for them…”
And pretty soon they are fully involved in somebody’s marital crisis when they should not have even known about it.
Now, if you will notice just in the last few moments that being a busybody is linked with gossip, and tale-bearing, and scandal-mongering. They usually go hand in hand.
Once a person starts messing in other people’s business, before long he’s telling his friends what is happening and how wonderfully he is advising and helping these people. And soon all sorts of rumors are flying back and forth about so and so, and this and that.
And it is only a matter of time, because it is like gravity, that a relationship conflict is going to erupt.
And what we find is that often it is going to come back to bite the person who is the meddler. What do we have then in the church? War! And disunity!
Let’s show you an Old Testament graphic image of what happens to such a person. Leave it to the Hebrews to come up with a way to make it stick into your mind what you should not do.
Proverbs 26:17 He who passes by and meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a dog by the ears.
And, just a few inches away from those dog’s ears are big sharp teeth!
So, what we see is that when you meddle in other people’s affairs, it comes back to bite you. No one wins when meddling is happening.
So, what does Paul advise?
I see this in my family. For these days and times, I have as fairly large family—four kids. Johnny and Aric have formed a kind of bond. John is ten, and Aric is two. I don’t know exactly why they have this affinity for one another, but they do. We just have to deal with it. Sometimes that affinity gets in the way of how Beth and I parent—rear—our children.
For instance, this happened this morning. It wasn’t so bad. It didn’t turn out badly. But, it could have.
Beth has been trying to potty train Aric. Being two and a half, he’s getting to that time he should be trained. He did a no-no. You have to know Aric, he is a sweet little boy, but he is almost as stubborn as Jared. That’s bad. We have some hard-headed kids. Probably every parent says this about their kids at some point, but Aric has been resisting, and resisting, and resisting, and so Beth let him have it.
He was basically being stubborn. He is refusing when he is supposed to go to the potty and do his business. He has been digging in his heels and won’t do it. She did not spare the rod as biblically instructed just to get through that very thick steel barrier that he has at the front of his forehead.
Anyway, he started wailing as all kids do. I don’t think it is as bad as he made it out to be. Of course, no parent does. Beth didn’t hurt him. It was just a smack to remind him that he needs to get himself to the potty. That is the only way that he’s going to be a big boy.
So, he lets go of Beth, and goes to Johnny. Johnny, of course, full of sympathy for his younger brother, picks him up and puts his head on his shoulder, and generally meddled in our affairs.
The problem with this is that Aric uses Johnny as a tool in his relationship with Beth.
“Well, if you’re not going to be nice to me, I’ll go give Johnny hugs.”
Sometimes Johnny inserts himself willingly, but oftentimes because Aric is playing him, and Johnny doesn’t know and is being made use of. I have to tell Johnny, “No! Don’t let him do that! Mommy is trying to teach him something.”
But, I don’t know that Johnny completely understands. He probably does now since I’m using him as an illustration.
That can be applied spiritually as well.
Think about it in terms of our Great Parent, God. Oftentimes He spanks us. He gives us something to remember our sins by. If we go running to somebody else for comfort, or we go running to some certain person, or allow somebody to insert himself into that process of God’s chastisement, and His teaching, suddenly the whole process becomes much more complicated than it otherwise would have.
Another factor has been inserted into the relationship. Instead of it being a one-on-one relationship where direct teaching is being related from God to the person, now there is a three-way problem.
Every time you add an additional person to these things the opportunity for friction, for confusion, for you-name-it things to go wrong, increases.
So, we’re getting into some of the reasons why being a meddler in another person’s affairs is so disastrous, and sinful. Paul’s advice:
I Thessalonians 4:9-12 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more [in love]; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
Paul’s advice is to increase in love for the brethren, try to live quietly and unobtrusively, mind your own affairs, and keep yourself busy in productive labor.
Now this brings up a seeming paradox.
Philippians 2:4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Is there a contradiction between that and not meddling in other people’s affairs? Actually, there is not. This is resolved quite easily by the “Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
Yes, we are to help. We are to look out for other people’s interests. But, how often do you want people to meddle in your affairs? I would say that probably 99.9% of people, if I asked them the question, “Would you like somebody to interfere in your life?” would say, “No. People should get their noses our of my business.”
In fact, this whole nation has turned into one big advertisement to the whole world for the “right to privacy.” Now we have homosexuals and what-not having convinced the Supreme Court that their right to privacy trumps their breaking of God’s Law in terms of commandment number seven.
But, most people don’t want other people to interfere in their lives. And when they do, they ask for it, don’t they?
Let’s say Joe and Mary are having a marriage problem. Now, a busybody would go and insert himself between them, and say, “What can I do to help?”
A godly person would say, “They are having a problem. Let them work it out for themselves. And if they want any advice from me, they will have to ask for it.” Or, “They will seek counsel from the ministry.”
It is one thing if someone asks for help, and when that happens we should give it to the best of our abilities. It says in James 4 that if a person knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is a sin. It also says in Galatians that those of us who are strong should bear with those who are weak.
If people are having a problem, we should build them up and edify them if they want it and ask for it. If they don’t ask for it, we are to keep our minds on our own affairs, and not theirs. Thus, Paul says to mind your own business, because Someone is working with them. That is God Himself.
Consider that our interference in another’s life (I mentioned this earlier) may be complicating God’s work with that person.
Whether we realize it or not, whether we have made this association or not, our meddling in another person’s affairs says about us, the meddler, that we have more confidence in our own solution than we do in God’s.
Do you know what that is? It is Idolatry!
It is placing ourselves, and our own “wisdom” above God. It is as if you are saying, “God, you have had your try. Now let me get in here, and roll up my sleeves, and solve this problem for you.”
Whereas, God has a plan for that other person and He is taking him step-by-step-by-step through this problem. And then we come in and interfere.
Think about this: Do we really want to bear the responsibility for someone else’s salvation? Do we really want to bear responsibility for someone else’s character growth? Maybe their salvation is more assured, but if we had not meddled in their problem, they would have learned that point of character a lot sooner.
Do we want to be the one who may make or break that person’s relationship with God? Do we want to be, let’s say, that third person who may steer the original person from his relationship with God to a relationship with us, the marriage breaker?
Do we want to see ourselves in that light, as a home buster? God has a covenant relationship with each one of His children. If we come in riding our “white horse” and wearing our white hats with the best of intentions, but (as the saying goes) we pave the road to hell for that other person, what is our judgment going to be?
That makes meddling pretty serious, doesn’t it?
That is why I think Peter puts meddling in with terms of murder, thievery, and evil doing. The ramifications of getting in between God and one of His children are disastrous.
So, over the course of this sermon, we’ve seen that meddling—being a busybody—has some serious ramifications: It directly or indirectly breaks the first commandment (idolatry): Presumptuousness, self exaltation—putting ourselves in place of God, and worshipping ourselves thinking that our solutions to somebody else’s problems are better than His.
The third commandment: We saw here in I Thessalonians 4:12 that when we become a meddler and create problems we are being a poor witness. We are not bearing the name of God in a proper manner. We are not glorifying Him before the gentiles, or those who walk outside as it said there. We are actually stirring up the nest by inserting ourselves into other people’s lives.
As I mentioned before, it also breaks the fourth commandment in terms of idleness, or not working. The Sabbath commandment is really far reaching in this instance.
And, it also breaks the ninth commandment, bearing false witness, because oftentimes as mentioned, being a meddler, or busybody includes gossip, and tale-bearing.
So, it is not a minor offense at all. In several ways it breaks both of the great commandments. It either destroys, or harms our relationship with God, and it does the same to our relationship with our brethren.
So, what should we be doing?
Philippians 2:12 is a good place to start:
Philippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
Let’s read that again!
“…Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling…”
We have enough on our own plate not to be eating off somebody else’s. Our Christian lives are full of minute by minute decisions that we need to be making all having something to do with our salvation. And if we’re getting involved in another person’s life, and in their salvation, in one way or another we’re probably neglecting our own.
And so if we keep ourselves busy, if we do the work at hand, which is our own Christian life and walk toward the kingdom of God, we’re going to stay out of these disastrous messes in other people’s lives.
We have enough problems of our own. Don’t make more by inviting other people’s.
Let’s close now in II John 8. It is only slightly out of context, but the principle is sound:
II John 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.”
RTR/rwu/cah
The Clergy-Laity Church System=Nicolaitanism- that Jesus said He Hated
“Behold, with a strong and mighty hand will I bring My people out. Yea, as I brought the Hebrew children out of bondage of Egypt and Pharoah, thus, and with yet a greater form of liberation will I bring my children out from under the yoke of Nicolaitanism and the bondage of legalism. For My people shall be a FREE PEOPLE , SAITH THE LORD! My people shall obey me, not a human leader. saith the LORD. My people shall not labor in the straw and stubble of the works of the flesh. But my people shall walk in the newness of life, and they shall be energized and led by my Spirit, saith the LORD.
Through the Red Seas, through the Wildernesses, through the Jordans, through the Promised Lands of spiritual conquest, I am with my people. Let no fear dismay! Let no aspect of the past be a hindrance or a stumbling block. For I bring you out of the traditions of the past into Living Reality! I bring you out of traditions of the past into fresh revelations of Myself in this Present Hour.
The past I use for thine instruction, but not as a blueprint of the present, nor guidance for the future. Be not afraid to follow Me. Indeed, if ye but knew how close I am standing to “the curtain of time”, ye would draw very near and be filled with expectancy. For one of these days…..so very soon…..the curtain of time shall be drawn; the heavens shall be rolled back; the canopy of the “sky” as ye know it shall be lifted away, and the Son of Man shall be revealed in Power and Great Glory.
Then shall My Church be as a diadem upon My head; as a tangible evidence of My Kingship and Victory! What manner of men ought you to be with such a prospect in view!?
Break loose the Fetters! Cast off the fears! Walk with Me in the Conquering Strength of My Holy Spirit!”
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Friends, it is highly unlikely that you will ever hear a sermon preached on Nicolaitanism in the organized church system. Why? Because the pastor-preacher would be telling on himself, and that just isn’t going to happen. So, that said, most “church going” Christians have no clue as to just what Nicolaitanism really is…..simply because it is never taught by the man made system taught in their local assemblies! And so, Christians have never studied this out for themselves…to their own detriment!
Then, what IS Nicolaitanism, and why does the Lord Jesus Christ say that He hates it? It is the very clergy/laity system that operates and controls the majority of organized Christian churches and their congregants, and indeed has, for the past nearly 2,000 yrs. The Catholic Church of Rome “perfected” this man made system, but it has been continued on in the majority of Protestant churches as well. Martin Luther did a lot to bring reform to the Body of Christ, but even he continued on with the clergy/laity mode of counterfeit Christianity. This is wrong from the very get go, because it places man, (pastor/preacher) as overlords to the “laity”, (those who sit in the pews), as reduces the “laity” to spectators and takes away their God given right to be participants as Christ intended when He established the early church. Worse, this system has usurped the Headship of the rightful place of the Lord Jesus Christ as Head of the Body of Christ and placed man there instead, which is mutiny, if you stop and think about it. In essence, the effect of this over the passage of time has been to put the children of God in bondage and shackles, just as the Lord said in the above prophecy. These Nicolaitans have been warned about in scripture…they are the ones who lead the children of God away from truth, making disciples unto themselves.
“making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” Mark 7:13
I believe with all my heart, our instruction should be first and foremost anchored in the Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, with the Holy Spirit, not man, as our teacher. But, it is scriptural that prophecy, (as the spoken word of God), is according to the will of God in His word, as is still valid for today. Of course, we must test these things according to the Word and by scripture. And if it’s out of line, reject it. However, God does still work in the realm of the Spirit and supernatural. And we do need to hear him, for guidance in these present dark days.
Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice”. If he didn’t still speak to us then how could we hear his voice?” Really, personal prophecies, His spoken word, spoken forth, by God’s gifted people, has ministered to me through many times of struggle, and hardship. We need all we can get from God to carry us through these difficult times.
There is a little volume by Frances J. Roberts, “Come Away My Beloved” that I treasure. This was a prophecy from that volume that seems fitting for the times we are in today, what with all the upheavals going on in the churches. The Lord Jesus speaks to His Children in many ways, and they will indeed recognize His Voice, when He speaks because they have ears to hear and eyes to see, and they will not be lead away by another hireling shepherd.
For you’re discernment..and blessing! Scarlett~
What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and how does one receive it?
BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
The purpose of the baptism of the Holy Spirit is to fill the believer with power for service. People that claim to be filled with the spirit and are not doing anything for God, DO NOT have the same baptism that was received on the day of Pentecost.
One of the best ways to explain the difference between the new birth and the baptism of the Holy Spirit is as follows. In the new birth the Holy Spirit is the agent, the atoning blood is the means by which it is accomplished, and the new birth is the end results. In the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Christ is the agent…” he shall baptise you with holy ghost and fire” (Luke 3:16; Matthew 3:11), the Spirit is the means, and the enduement with power is the result.
SO WHAT IS THE WORK OF THE…
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A Woman will be President: “I am Woman” a prophecy from 2001 coming to pass in 2021
Prior to the Destruction: The Spirit that Strengthens all things Feminine
Through Steven Crowder
“A spirit has arisen in your country, My son,—a spirit that was put in place, according to My will, decades ago. It is growing in strength and influence, and no one shall be able to stop its progress, says the Lord. Those who attempt to do so shall proceed forth in vain—it will be as futile as attempting to stop the rain from falling in Noah’s day. This is the great judgment upon your country, and no one will be able to stop it. I will cause it to run its course in your nation, and when things are in their proper place, it is then I will cause the foretold catastrophic events to take place that will crush this modern day harlot known as the United States of America.”
“The spirit of the strong woman riding atop the devil’s beast has been going forth and conquering with great subtlety and deception for scores of years in your country, and the purpose in this is to bring forth My desired results as a judgment upon your nation—My great judgment that will lead to her fall, says the Lord. Therefore, make your ear attentive to My words that I shall speak to you here, and then go forth and warn those of My people who will listen so that they will understand that it is the hand of the Lord at work in this matter concerning your country. You must warn them not to intervene in this matter with their prayers, for in this they can only attempt to hinder My purposes, for these things shall come to pass, and they must come to pass, for it is the judgment that I have chosen for her [the United States of America] and set into motion years ago.”
“I have shown other watchmen of Mine the horrendous judgments that will come upon your nation, the stars falling from heaven, and the mists and vapors that will fall upon her, leaving countless dead in their wake. What I am showing you here is what will occur just prior to and leading up to these horrific events, for many have cried out to Me, ‘Lord, when will these things come to pass, and what will be the sign of their coming?’ Have I not said that I will do nothing, unless first I reveal it to My servants the prophets?” [Amos 3:7]
There are many of My watchmen scattered about, warning My people that danger looms upon the horizon, but sadly, the great majority of those who call themselves My people only listen to them in order to placate their itching ears. To put it more simply, their hearts can not truly comprehend what the Lord is saying to His people, for so many have chosen beforehand that they will only hear what they want to hear and then discard the rest, lest it become bitter within them. My son, when I told other servants of Mine; those who would actually do all that I told them, to eat of the book or to eat of the scroll, was it not sweet in their mouth, yet it made their stomachs bitter? And yet these blessed ones of Mine partook of this bitter meal out of their obedience and out of their love and devotion to Me. It is this type of compliance that is pleasing to your Lord, and yet the great majority of those who call themselves by My name have never learned to walk in this type of obedience. Instead, they have deceived themselves into thinking that if something becomes bitter to them it must not be of Me—this is the lie that they’ve chosen to believe in order to keep them from suffering! And sadly enough, this is the great lie that so very many have been given over to—so many in fact, that if you saw it, your heart simply would not be able to endure it or even to comprehend it! This is how great the deception has become in these last days, for sadly the great majority has chosen to deceive themselves into believing only in part that which I have tried to show them, discarding the rest as though it is of no use to them. My pearls have truly been cast before them, and yet they have foolishly trampled them underfoot! I am not speaking of the world here My son, but of those who call themselves My people! Let it be known that those who have chosen to follow this course will receive a much greater judgment in the coming days than those who have willingly bore their crosses and who have chosen to suffer rather than to only obey Me in the parts that they have chosen. Those who have chosen suffering rather than the fleeting pleasures of this world are the ones who have produced their fruit in the great furnace of affliction, and this fruit can never be taken away from them—it has been stored where moth and rust can never touch it, and where the thief can never take it away. Soon, the wheat [those of Mine who have produced true fruit of the Holy Spirit] shall be safely set aside into the barns of My choosing—the safe places that I have reserved for them, while the tares [those who resemble the wheat and grow in the same field, yet who did not bear the fruit of the Holy Spirit] shall be bundled up together to be burned in a very hot oven. And it is in this oven that the last chances will be given to them to produce fruit meet for repentance—the same fruit as the thief upon the cross brought forth in his last hours upon the earth. Although his life was indeed over, yet he was spared an eternal punishment and was granted a place in the eternal Kingdom and the Paradise of God. This shall serve as an example for the many who will be thrown into the great furnace of affliction in the days to come. Selah.”
“Do not be surprised or discouraged My son when this message is only received in part by some who hear it. There will be those who will attempt to lift you up with great flatteries, and those who will outright despise you for speaking as My mouthpiece, saying in their hearts, ‘Who is he that he should speak the words of the Lord?’ There will be those who will truly be blessed by this message, while others will be blessed only in part, seeing that they’ve chosen to believe only the parts that they desire, while forgetting the rest. Do not let your heart be heavy or troubled by the rejection that you will see, for they are not rejecting you, but they are actually rejecting Me and casting aside My words, and I the Lord will deal with them accordingly. As for you My son, go forth into that which I have allotted for you, and be careful to guard your heart from the snare of pride, for in that which you have proven yourself faithful in, more shall be given. And think not that My hand is not upon you anymore when there are periods of peace and silence, for the Lord knows of your endurance and He will place you in restful places as He sees fit.”
“The spirit of the strong woman riding atop the devil’s beast has been at work in your country for decades now. She is haughty and proud, yet reserved and cunning. The spirit of theatre has been upon her, causing her to act out her part with great deception. Although she smiles widely in her heart while inflicting cruelty, she will not allow her facial features or her body language to disclose this. It takes great spiritual discernment in order to see this, for its veil is very deceptive and very convincing. This is why I sent you to the stable, and why I kept you there for many days. What was it that you saw while you were there, My son?”
I said, “Lord, I saw a beautiful woman who lived solely for the purpose of controlling the great beasts that she rode upon. This woman possessed exceptional strength and poise, and she was very influential. She received great adulation and many prizes for her mastery of the horses she rode upon. As I watched her, I began to discern many things in my spirit, things that troubled me.”
And the Lord said to me, “What were these things that you saw?”
I said, “Lord, there were many things out of place in this woman’s life, as she truly lived to master her control over the horses she owned. Her marriage was one that was based out of convenience rather than love, and I saw very little affection between her and her husband. Rather than seeing two lovers, I saw a man who was used for the talents he possessed. He was used to build things and to fix things in this woman’s quest for more, more and yet still more. And although she was married to this man whose name means the rock, she refused to take his name, continuing to go by a name that she was not even given by her own father. This prideful thing caused me to shake my head and to ponder why it was this way. And sadly, Lord, I saw that the union of this couple brought forth a child whom she’s orphaned due to her dedication toward mastering the control of these great beasts that she sits upon. I was appalled to see that in her quest to master these horses, it was really the beast itself that was controlling her.”
And the Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly in this. What is the name of the child that this woman has brought forth?”
I said, “The boy’s name is Travis.”
And the Lord said to me, “What you have seen here is very symbolic, and a foreshadow of what is happening in the spirit realm. The boy’s name means ‘Travesty.’ The woman goes by the name of her own choosing, although she is married to a man named Rocky—the name that means ‘the Rock.’ This is what has become of many of My people in your country. Pay close attention to Me as I explain this.”
“Claiming to be married to and reserved for Me; the great Rock of their salvation, many of My people have chosen to go their own way, choosing to go by the names of their own choosing and bringing forth children in a great travesty–children that eventually become orphaned, this being due to their parents being controlled by the beast. These children that they bring forth are an easy prey for the enemy, seeing that they have absolutely no influence from the one that bore them, and in many ways they’re abandoned and must fend for themselves during their lifetime.”
And the Lord said to me, “What is it that you have observed concerning the heart and the influence of this woman who sits upon the beast? I placed you for many months as a fly upon the wall so that you could observe her and learn. Tell me now, what is it that you have seen?”
I said, “Lord, I saw a great disdain that was brought forth toward all men, although it was veiled with a smile and a type of feminine pose that I was able to see through. What I saw was actually more masculine than it was feminine, and it was concealed by a front that was very beguiling. I saw a great disdain for men that poured forth from this woman, and it affected all of the women around her and within her sphere of influence. And once in the spirit I actually saw this woman standing with other women of like-spirit. She was boasting and saying, ‘The actual purpose of men is to serve us and to kiss our backsides.’ Lord, I feel badly saying this, but that’s exactly what was shown.”
And the Lord said, “You have seen correctly in this.”
I said, “Lord, this woman was rich, and she was married to a man who was also rich, and through her wealth she was able to control people with a cruelty that was also masked behind a beautiful smile. While buying herself many expensive things, she stated that she simply could not afford to pay her servants any more than the meager wages she offered them. And what shocked me the most is that I saw other women coming to her and paying her to teach them how to be just like her! And these women also had a great disdain for men, saying in their hearts, ‘You may clean up after our animals, but you can never be our friend.’ And it was common to hear them say things such as, ‘Typical male reasoning,’ and ‘Typical male response,’ as their prideful boasting poured out of their lips. At this I wanted to become violent, but I was restrained from doing so. Lord, what does all of this mean?”
And the Lord said to me, “My son, I have placed you within the confines of the stable in order to show you the heart of the spirit that is sweeping your nation. It is cruel and cunning, using the wiles of a woman who has patiently waited for her chance to control things. The beast she is riding upon is none other than your adversary the devil, and although she attempts to control him, it is actually he that is controlling her. This is a spirit, and it is going to run its course in your country, using its influence to bring forth My desired results, and then her end will come before the whole world.”
“I am raising up the spirit of the strong woman in your country, and in her quest for power she will act very cruelly, although her feminine wiles will cause her to appear beautiful. She will have a great disdain for men, and will treat them as mere servants to fulfill her needs, although she will claim to be submissive. This spirit is going to affect every facet of your society, including politics, religion and especially the entertainment industry.”
I said, “Lord, just how will this affect our country, and how will it manifest itself?”
And the Lord answered my request and said, “In the entertainment industry, women and men are going to change positions. You will more and more see women becoming the heroines, with the men serving them and being made to look foolish. You will more and more see women leading the way as hunting and fishing guides and carpenters and supposed ‘experts’ in the fields that men once dominated. You will see more women in professional sports, and women dominating the music industry. Many of the songs that they will bring to great popularity will speak in demeaning ways about men, and this will influence many. And; as is presently the case, the most popular music will be about sex and love, as this theme will continue in its ever-seeking quest to deceive people that sexual lust is to be equated with true love. Some of the worst examples that you will see will come from the television, as beautiful women will be used to seduce many, this being due to their physical attractiveness and their talents in being able to act. They will be like so many beautiful puppets on the stage, spitting out lines that have been created by those who are completely given over to doing evil—people called ‘screenwriters’ and ‘songwriters’ who abhor the Lord and desire to play out this hatred by flaunting their well-conceived words and scenarios in front of all people. Increasingly, the good versus evil theme will be artfully projected as woman versus man; with man being the evil character and this will seduce many into siding with this way of thinking and acting. When you hear them singing the words, ‘I am woman, hear me roar,’ know that the time of the end is drawing very near for your country, and that her judgment will soon come quickly and without mercy.”
“You will see women rising in power and influence within the world of religion, with an ever-increasing abundance of them pastoring churches and teaching My Word from the pulpit. Is it not written in My Word by the apostle Paul that “I do not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man, but to remain silent”? [1 Timothy 2:12] And was it the apostle Paul speaking, or was it the Lord? Paul was merely a messenger, a chosen vessel as it were, to speak My words. There is nothing wrong with a woman sharing with the brethren that which the Lord has given her, but that is a completely different thing than it is for her to stand up in front of all and teach! In your country you are going to see more and more women standing before all and teaching from My Word, and the people will love to have it so, says the Lord. For it is easy to teach from the well of knowledge, and there shall be many brilliant ones that will stand up and boldly proclaim the Word of God, all the while not knowing that they are only a small part of the overall plan that the Lord has in order to bring this spirit of the rebellious woman into its final place of power before the great hammer falls. These women will be greatly influential, speaking of the great things that your Lord has done, but this will not be the type of preaching that comes from being led by the Holy Spirit. At best it will be earthly, speaking to the natural man to come and get ‘saved’ by Jesus in order to prevent an eternity in hell. And this type of preaching will be very common in the days to come, and there will be those who will come forth in order to receive Me into their lives. But, there will be those who will go on from there and who will make Me not only their Savior; but more importantly their Lord and Master, and they will see the need to forsake man’s systems and they will gather only unto Me and will not attach themselves to the systems of man any more. These will indeed be the blessed ones of My flock, says the Lord.”
“Within the world of religion, you are going to see the powerful woman growing in strength and influence, and the feminine things that reside in the area of the soul shall become more and more manifest. There will be movements coming that will operate completely within the emotions, with great deceptive fits of crying and wailing—and these will be called manifestations of the Holy Spirit. No more laughing and barking like dogs, but weeping and wailing and crying—all in the name of the Lord. It shall be said in that day; and rightly so, that the time of great sorrows is soon to be upon us, therefore the great bouts of weeping. This too shall be a great deception, for it shall be wailing from the soul and not out of conviction brought forth from the Holy Spirit, and all the while the people will say, ‘We are weeping due to the time of great sorrows—behold how the Lord will bottle our tears and pour them back down upon us as a great blessing!’ I say to you that you will see manifestations in that day that will absolutely stun you due to their completely carnal nature, and yet the people will continue to say that it is the ‘sweet anointing of the Holy Spirit upon them.’ This too will be the fruit that will come forth from the emotions of men and women, due to the strength and influence of the spirit that shall strengthen all things feminine.”
“It shall be not only women who will be affected by this spirit, says the Lord, but men also who shall open up to it and become affected. The evidence of this will be in them bowing down to and serving these strong women in an undue manner. This manner shall go way past that of normal servitude, as it shall be geared at lifting women up to a highly elevated place, and submitting to them with great zeal. Men who are affected by this spirit will also become much more emotional, even to the point of acting effeminate as part of their walk. There will be men who are infected by this spirit who will have great ministries that will become geared more and more toward the ‘emotional’ side of things, and they too will become highly influential in the days to come. Sadly though, what they will equate with the blessings of the Lord in that day will be no more than great emotional outpourings that are a direct result of the leavening of this spirit. It is written in My Word ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord of hosts.’ [Zechariah 4:6] and that which you shall see in that day shall not be done by the power of My Spirit, but by the power of the spirit that I shall allow to rise in power and that people shall be given over to in that day, says the Lord.”
“In the political arena, you are going to see women rising into more and higher positions of authority, says the Lord. This spirit that is at work in your country will empower them to boldly enter into places that have in the past been dominated by men. Ultimately, you will see a woman attain to the highest office in the land, being swept into office by those who are under the influence of this spirit. As part of the political campaigning, you will see evidence of this powerful spirit at work if you’re looking for it—it will be very obvious to you in that day. Whether this woman will attain to the highest executive office in the land due to running as number one or number two on the campaign ticket does not matter—she will attain to the highest position at My appointed time, whether it be due to winning by attrition or winning by election. And, at that time, you shall see the great many rejoicing in this so-called victory, not knowing all the while that it is the Lord who has set their table before them and they shall eat a very bitter harvest. Of this new leader, it has been said decades before that she shall be ‘Well-dressed and beautiful, but cruel in heart.’ Her heart shall be as far from the Lord as north is from south, and she shall lead the country into its final ruin. Again, when you hear the words ‘I am woman, hear me roar,’ take great heed, for the time of the end in your country is soon to be upon you, and you will stand absolutely shocked at what you will see happening in the days to come, says the Lord.
“When I cursed the woman in the Garden of Eden, part of that curse was that her desire would be for the man’s position of authority, for it is written, ‘your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.’ And so it is in your country My son, for women are now heading into the final phase of the great takeover that has been ordained years ago, and what the people shall call a great blessing shall in fact be a great curse—a terrible judgment that will mark the end of the United States of America—a country that had; years before, sold itself out to do evil.”
It is written in My Word that ‘a house divided against itself can not stand,’ and in this case the house is your country My son—the United States of America. I have and I will cause the men and women of this country to be divided against one another, and then her end will come. Do not pray against what your Lord has already ordained, but warn the people of this coming judgment and tell them to get their hearts right before the Lord, to hold on steadfastly to what is right, even though everything around them may be going completely off course and contrary to the Lord’s will. I am the Lord, and I will protect My own in that day. Although they will walk through the valley of death, they will not fear, for I will be with them. There will be great mourning in that day, for the slain of the Lord will be many, and this will include friends and family as well as those who have persecuted you. In that day, says the Lord, fear will be far from you, although you will lament those who have fallen by the sword and by the multitude of pestilence about you. And in that day, says the Lord, you will know without a doubt that it was by My hand that you stood, and that you are My people—and blessed will you be in that day! This is the word of the Lord.”
I received this word in 2001–sometime between January and July. The Lord was saying that the saying “I am woman, hear me roar” would be one of the earmarks that would become popular when this spirit really got going, succeeding in elevating a woman to great political power. The Spirit of God said that a woman would ascend to the highest office in the land, and said that she would attain that position either by election or attrition. My thinking in this is that there could possibly be a woman running on the ticket as the Vice-Presidential candidate, only to become President at a later time. It is said that this woman; once she gets into office, will be the last President. Interestingly enough, I heard that song being sung as an advertisement for a network on TV called “The Oxygen Network” recently–I was surprised to hear it.”
Your Brother,
Steven Crowder
Spiritual Abuse Sanctuary 