of men, but in the power of God. There is a difference when it comes to the truth, the truth sets clearly defined parameters and leaves no room for opinion or doubt. There is a saying that the truth hurts, it does if it cuts to the chase, we have to expose the lie and comfort of deception no matter how much it might hurt, the truth will reveal everything. Preaching has to be done in the power of God, not yesterday’s stale or rotten manna, Jesus said, “my words are LIFE”. Jesus is alive and he said, “Because I live, you shall also live. God is the God of the living, not of the dead; we are speaking of the God of creation. Mark 12:27. He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err. Verse twenty-four says, and Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? It is the same today every one knows what pastor misfortune says but the truth of what Jesus said they fail to believe. This is the indictment on the “church” today, dead religion.
The opinion of man and the clergy will count for absolutely zero when the Lord returns with His angels in His Father’s glory on that great and wonderful day, until that day dawns we the body of believers, have a lot of work to do. We have to reach the lost and dying world out there with the word of truth, not with the latest in techno gimmicks and daring acts of strength and bravery. Samson could say, “ been there done that”. We have to raise the dead and heal the sick and the only way we will do that is with the gospel of truth. Those that are set free must be free in deed and we must take the victory with both hands so that we can reach the hope of our future glory if ever we so desire. We have to get the basics right firstly with the baptism of water and the spirit, the bread and the wine, the gifts and most importantly the word. We have to get serious with the things of God and stop mucking about with the play on words, labels, doctrines and eschatologies, let us just preach and believe the word as it is. After all I feel confident that both God and Jesus said what they meant and also meant what they said. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved, but He that believes not shall be condemned. It is so simple that we do not have to go about teaching and preaching what we think or do not think, preach the truth and we will begin to see things change for the better, God will begin to restore, it is His promise.
Our judgment and the results will depend on what truth we believe not what we think or reason, the truth will be what God or Jesus said. Forget the rubbish about truth being perception or some other well-devised theory of science, there is only one truth and that is the word of God, written or spoken. A good place to begin is the renewing of the mind with the word and then and only then will we begin to think like Christ, it’s not an option, it’s a commandment. Just like the water baptism, Romans 6: 3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life So that we can be also in the likeness of His resurrection verse 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Heb. 9: 27-28. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. If you have been baptized in water you will have fulfilled this part. The sixth chapter of Romans explains how this scripture in chapter nine is dealt with through the water baptism, Jesus died once for all, He paid the price for you, that is if you believe and have been baptized, that was your death, baptism in water. Mark 1: 4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins It seems that in this world full of sickness both moral and physical; we have lost sight of the meaning of the word remission.
Heb. 10:10 by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. In our resurrected body we have new life and power through the Holy Spirit and the baptism of the Holy Spirit is evidenced in us by the new “tongue” or heavenly language, which we now speak. This gives us the power and ability to communicate with our heavenly Father and to worship Him in spirit and truth. We do also receive with this the power and gifts to minister the gospel as and when the spirit wills in the “five fold” ministry, contrary to popular belief, it is as the spirit wills and not as the pastor wills. These gifts if unhindered, will minister the apostolic and prophetic ministries and gifts to the body as and when the spirit is given the opportunity to minister, this is the promise to the church. This is not the reality in the “church” of today and the question has to be asked! Why? It is meant for the edifying and perfecting of the saints till we all come into the unity of the faith. The issue of unity has become such a dividing issue that we have now a doctrine of the diversity of unity or unity of diversity which it is I am not quite sure but I do know they will debate it till the cows come home and even then the job will still not get done. Praise God for heaven knows no labels doctrines or religions, programmes, titles, colors and/or a denomination, only the heart is a factor, that’s right preacher, it is the heart of the matter.
I believe that if Jesus were to return today He would have a wonderful time repeating the events of Luke 19:45 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; especially if He takes a close look at what we call the “table of the elements”. We offer a crumb of stale leavened bread with a drop of watered down juice and then ask God to bless it. Can you imagine receiving that at the banqueting feast, then wondering why you came? What takes place today with the wine and the bread is worse than the strange fire offered by Nadab and Abihu. Believe me it stinks in the nostrils of the Lord that is why He said for this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. I am appalled that we think we can escape from this injustice and malpractice Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord it says, they well might have been literally playing with fire but it is the Lord’s body we are playing with. The warning is clear. God cannot be mocked! Jesus said, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. in John 4: 32. If you do not know of this meat then as a born again believer I would implore you to find out for yourself in the word. Ezekiel 33:11. Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? His people the ones with whom he is covenanted, He does not want you to die. It is time I believe to put away the religious paraphernalia, crumbs and jargon, the mini glasses resembling the seamstresses thimble, the holy masks and get real with the celebration of the feast redemption and life. Jesus said that even the dogs would eat the crumbs from under the table. It is time for the people of God to walk in the newness of life and not like “dead man walking” someone with a death sentence to serve out.
Jesus said, “ I am that bread which came down from heaven, he that eats this bread shall live forever”. If you have a problem believing this then you should be very careful not to put yourself in the unbeliever’s category, unbelief is a sin and the sinner is cast out to the eternal lake of fire. Rev 21: 8. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. It does not matter how much you might have done for others and society your unbelief makes God a liar, He is Holy and cannot lie. If you believe there is power and life in the blood and bread why would you want a crumb and a drop? Jesus said my cup overflows and the table is a feast but religion and tradition through lies and deception have seen to it that the body becomes anorexic and a powerless “church”. God said the gates of hell will not prevail and that is why the truth must first be preached to all nations. You will never grow on a starvation diet, old manna once per Sunday followed by a crumb and a drop once per month, you will faint at the first trial or test. John 7 ;18 says, He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. I will guarantee that each Sunday each pastor will at some or other time fall into this and diverge down some personal track of glory at the expense of truth. How do you say can I guarantee, just listen next time the sermon rolls out then turn to Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. And I will bet the preacher will within fifteen minutes
