A Different World

To say that we live in a different world is a glaringly obvious statement. One year ago today was much different than now, and 2 years from now is far different than today. That almost seems like the natural thing to assume, but the differences I am speaking of aren’t those of a natural evolution of time. But they are those of a spiritual appointment. They are those of a divine collision on the course of existence as we know it.

If it isn’t clear to anyone by now, Jesus is coming soon. I know, people have been saying that for years but it is the truth. We are closer now than ever.

The time is 11:59 P.M.

Our prices are soaring. Our world is on the brink of war, with many wars happening as I type this. The natural disasters are aloft. Hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes, etc. If you are a Christian you are looked down on. The only thing racist is white people. We literally have school districts in our country that consequences of offenses are based on color. Every person has a right but a white Christian. Our religion doesn’t have any rights, our people have no say. We are put down and looked down on because of our beliefs and our color.

Justice isn’t even a word anymore. The system is for the criminal. Our police have no say, but yet they do? The judges and courts do not care about anyone’s lives, its all about written law, sometimes. Men are women and women are men. There are more than 2 genders. People prefer different pronouns. It’s spiraling out of control faster than a black man smacking another black man on national television over one making fun of his bald wife. But yet, the whites are the bad ones.

Disney and Nickelodeon play LBGTQLMNOP everything for children as young as 1. Gay this and gay that. Sex this and sex that. Sex education and masturbation training for toddlers. I wish this was made up. It sounds like a horrendous nightmare. But God has a bride.

You can see churches who once stood for Truth, for holiness, for baptism in Jesus Name, changing to charismatic neo-Pentecostal churches that want the fire with out the sacrifice. And when they go, they blame everyone else and leave a complete trail blazing in fire that reconciliation would seem almost inappropriate to consider.

Small businesses are harassed by the masses because some how, somewhere in this “pandemic” people lost their decency. Homelessness is on the rise. There is still a portion of Seattle that is occupied by the lawless people who helped burn down half of our country. Pastors were taken to jail for having church and exercising their freedoms as an American, while people burned down major cities without recompense. No one was MADE to go to church. Why would going to church be worse than burning down cities and killing people? Because good is evil a and evil is good now.

We have Christian’s who believe they can be a witch and still be blessed by God. Open a Bible once in a while.

The mainstream “Apostolic” church doesn’t preach holiness, doesn’t talk about any sin, and wants the lights and show to impress so our differences won’t scare off people from coming to church. Yeah, tricking people will do it, those people will be solid in their faith.

There are men standing in the pulpit grooming young girls. Men taking pictures of themselves in the Holy desk of God, while their own father, and pastor, defends them, while they “investigate.” My God.

But their is still a people who are holy and devoted to God. Their still is a people who desire revival and aren’t afraid to live hard for God and hold on in this sick and evil day we live in.

There is every right for a person who wants to rearrange their body parts in the name of equality, but a person who wants to go to church, they will put you on house arrest and rip your Bible out of your hand like you’re holding a brick of methamphetamines. It’s sick and people should be ashamed.

“so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,”

Philippians 2:10

You won’t be able to escape it.

“And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”

Matthew 24:4-14

“While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

1 Thessalonians 5:3-11

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I love our church. We do not have the best of everything. We don’t have a drummer. We don’t have colored lights and we may mess up a song. But one thing we do have is the presence of God. It’s amazing. You never know what you’ve been missing until you experience it again for the first time in a long time. We were so hindered by another’s inadequacies and now we have freedom. Freedom to live for God in Truth and not be ashamed or defensive. Or controlled. God is so good to us.

What is Apostolic?

Love, love, love, and ecumenicalism.

There is a huge wave of concerning mindsets going through the Church right now. I know some people would say, “Well that’s not the True Church then” but they still are a part of the True Church as of right now. But they are trying to bring in some things that just aren’t right. We are parading singers on platforms that literally sing with people who are in false doctrine. We have new “standards’ being pushed by a younger generation, because we all know that the younger generations can always justify what was previously taught not to do. Everyone wants to give everyone a chance and love them to death, but in all reality, they plummet them further into the abyss.

We recently, and I mean 2 years ago, had to make a horrendously difficult decision and uncomfortable at best. Our church (pastor) without any direction or counsel from the church decided that he wanted to go a different doctrinal way. That’s fine with me, but I won’t be able to do that. In an effort to grow the church, he decided to “error” (his own words) on the side of grace than to preach Truth. First off, you are erroring. It’s “err” on the side of caution. But scripture doesn’t back that up. Scripture tells us to be vigilant, to be holy, to be set apart, to preach the Truth, with doctrine, which is profitable for reproof (disapproval), correction, and instruction in righteousness (right living according to God.) That brings up an interesting point.

Many people equate self righteousness to standards. We dress and act a certain way because we are self righteous, which couldn’t be further from the truth. I mean, there are always going to be those ones that think they are better than everyone else because of what they look like or have, but as a group, no. But in all reality, turning your back on standards literally is self righteousness. You think you know how to live right according to your self, not God.

Women on the platform in pants, short hair, makeup and ear rings, while us congregants are trying to teach our children to live right. I could go into detail on the entire situation which would blow your mind, but I digress. We had to leave and find a new church that taught the truth, that wasn’t embarrassed or ashamed to preach it over the pulpit. We found that church and have been there 2 years. But we have watched others who were what we thought sold out to the Truth, stay in that church (although most left) and backslide with them. It’s heartbreaking really.

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject; knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”

Titus 3:8-11

This is where the title comes in. Love. What is love? The dictionary says its deep feelings of affection. There are some other definitions, for this cause, this is the one I chose.

We all have a desire to care, most of us anyway. Well, we all should. But what is true Biblical love? Biblical love is what doctrine is about. Biblical love is sacrificial (John 3:16) demands obedience (John 5:3). What Biblical love isn’t is sloppy agape or greasy grace. So when we come to someone to bring them the truth, and they reject it 2 or 3 times, they are a heretic. That’s what the Bible says. Grace comes in with what God decides to do after we tell them the truth. And we can deliver salvation to someone with grace, I am not advocating anyone being ugly. But sometimes the Truth doesn’t look pretty to someone who feels convicted. Flesh rears its ugly head and they become defensive, but that’s a different situation.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch not the unclean thing; And I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, And ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

I don’t know how you can read this and still have sloppy agape and love for people who do not live according to the Bible. Now, don’t get me wrong, we love everyone. We witness to everyone and we want to bring everyone to the knowledge of Christ. But there is a major difference in loving someone to salvation and love them in their sin. What happens when you love someone in their sin? I am glad you asked.

“Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: and likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Romans 1:24-32

The point of the above verse is that last line. These people who do these things are worthy of death, and those who take pleasure in them as well. That means if you enable sin, you are guilty of it. No one wants to hear things like this anymore. The world has infiltrated the Church so much that if you feel this way or voice it, you are accused of being a bad Christian. I didn’t write the Book, I just try to live by it as best as I can.

My precious pastors wife told me that Bro. T. W. Barnes said that the political world is a reflection of the spiritual world. GOD HELP US. But it’s true. I see it. I see the BLM, feministic, love what is bad and shun what is good mentality so much. I have interactions with people who claim to be in the Truth, on Apostolic platforms that call me a zealot or a Pharisee. You can call me whatever you want, but I only know one thing, Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Principles

As time moves forward, and the Lord tarries, the more and more “open-mindedness” is increasing. People these days can talk themselves out of anything. They can run through rabbit trails to justify anything and everything, leaving all rational reasoning behind. And the Church is certainly not exempt from this. But the Lord has been dealing with me in the area of principality. The definition of principle is a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or a chain of reasoning.

I tend to be a wordsmith and an amateur at that. But, I digress. The definition states that it is a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation of a system. Obviously, it says that, you just read it. But that is the portion of the definition I love. FUNDAMENTAL TRUTH. Fundamental is “of central importance.” Can you see where I am going with this?

Many people today like to say “well, I feel…” and then you can insert anything at the end of that sentence that has anything to do with a difference of opinion. Let me give an example. “I don’t feel like I need to go to church to be a good person” or “I don’t feel like God cares about the way I look on the outside.” I literally can not handle a sentence that begins with “I feel” or “I don’t feel.” The problem in those sentences is I. That leads to a very narrow and narcissistic view on anything that would follow. What it comes down to, the things of God are not contingent on how I feel about them. They aren’t contingent on my feelings, my thoughts, my opinions or how well it fits into my agenda. They aren’t contingent on my loved one’s status with God (saved, not saved, believer, atheist.) But what the things of God are contingent on is principle.

As of late, I have heard many Apostolic’s and former Apostolic’s using these sentences. I’ve watched many leave the faith over things that they couldn’t feel this way or that way over. Or they feel that certain things aren’t necessary anymore, even though a couple of years ago the preached them. They use excuses like, the Bible doesn’t say that in black and white. Or, God won’t send me to hell over not wearing a skirt. Or, the Bible doesn’t say you have to wear skirts, everyone wore dresses back then.

The list goes on and on. But it’s time to keep the main thing the main thing. People can ask every question, foolish questions, sincere questions, and at times, the answers aren’t always comfortable. “Can I go to heaven if I don’t get baptized?” That isn’t a comfortable question. “Why did God take my child?” That is a very uncomfortable question. To answer either of those, you would have to base your answer on principle. Consider the following verse.

Isaiah 28:10 – For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

A precept is a general rule intended to regulate behavior or thought. Other words for precept are command, ordinance, oracle, injunction.

We are given precepts and lines all over the Word of God. Here is an example: The Bible does not say that you can’t smoke Camel cigarettes. But as Christians, Apostolic ones at least, we believe smoking cigarettes is wrong. Why? The Bible doesn’t say its wrong. Well, you are correct, but it does say that our body is a temple of the Holy Ghost and that it doesn’t even belong to me (1 Corinthians 6:19.) So the precept is that our body belongs to God and is a temple of the Holy Ghost, and the line is that I don’t damage my body with cigarettes. God gives the precept, and He gives us the power and authority to draw the line, and He HONORS the line.

Consider Moses. He had to go up Mt. Sinai to get the commandments from God, and God told him to draw a barrier so that the people wouldn’t follow him up the mountain.

Exodus 19:23 – And Moses said unto the LORD, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it.

God told Moses to draw bounds (lines). God did not tell Moses where to draw the lines, He just told him to draw them. So Moses did. And God honored those lines. That’s the same way for us. We are His servants.

Lines aren’t placed to keep people in, they are placed to keep the enemy out. Lines aren’t placed to hinder people, or to keep us from “living life,” they are placed to keep up set apart and unblemished from this world. It is up to the pastor to place lines, that has been God’s fundamental truth since the beginning. When you don’t understand the importance of precepts and lines, and how they are unmovable, then you will be easily swayed by the voices of this world and the enemy. Draw your lines, and keep those lines! Because God is.

Theological

I have seen so much, in the Church, the sideline Christians. The Christians that worship, but if you were to ask them something concerning anything other than knee deep doctrinal theology, they couldn’t answer. I understand if a Christian is new, but I am talking about years and years of church, and not knowing the Word. Consider the following…

2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers

We need to be ready. We need to be ready to dodge the fiery darts of the devil. How?

Acts 17:11
These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

Acts 17:11 is talking about the Bereans. They searched the scriptures on EVERYTHING they heard to make sure it was sound.

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

2 Peter 3:17
You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;

Aside from being prepared to fight the good fight against the devil with the Word, we need to have it in us, in our heart. If we know the Word, it encourages us. Example. I am at home, the dog starts barking at strange noises in the night, I know that God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of POWER, love and a SOUND mind (2 Timothy 1:7). When I feel all hope is gone, and I don’t even know what to pray, I know that the Holy Ghost will intercede for me (Romans 8:26). I know that when I study the Word of God, it draws me closer to Him. John 1 says: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. He is the Word. Read the Word!