March 2, 2008

A true Church
II Timothy 4:1-8 KJV

By: Pastor David M. James

Ever so slightly, Entertainment and philosophy of man, has crept into the Body of Christ.
Programs have replaced Doctrine. Due to extreme rebellion in the 60’s and 70’s the church has coddled people to keep membership, and that Holy Fear of the Lord or the doctrine of Hell has been watered down or removed.

Religious fear is the opposite of Holy Fear. Holy Fear is deep respect for the God whom gave His son Jesus to be beaten beyond description and crucified on a cross for my sins and yours.
Religious fear: Some so called Christian camps brain wash you into fearing God just to keep your money flowing into their camp.

Fear without God is a faith killer
Fear with God is a faith builder

Prov. 1:7 NIV
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Numbers have replaced discipleship. Clubs have replaced prayer meetings, emails have replaced accountability partners.
Numbers equate to money, money equates to larger buildings, larger buildings equate to pride and success.
Jesus never alluded to or equated numbers with success. Matt. 7:13-14 NIV
13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Paul wrote this to Pastor Timothy, before the demon of denomination or disunity had reared it’s ugly head. From AD 312 Satan has successfully divided Christians into camps and interjected false doctrine. Leading them to believe, “they are the only ones with the truth and all other camps are headed to a Christless eternity”.
Some of you have been in those camps in your past, and need hands laid on you to release you from the religious soul ties.
FOA is not one of them. Here it’s about Jesus, and it is about Unity in the body of Christ..

V2 Preaching the Word has been turned into a social event, about the news, or how to become financially successful, or out of, Texas, the pastor has become just a motivational speaker: “how to just live in harmony, think only on the good things, feel good about yourself and treat others well, your life is good, I’m rich, my life is good too”.

Patient, truth filled, teaching is the most solid basis for ultimate success in the ministry (Wyckliffe/Pdj)

V3, NOT endure sound doctrine, 2008 church
Heaven is going to be a great eye opener and a mouth shutter
I fear the rapture will catch the church by surprise

When we started FOA at the Talitas location it was equated to fresh new canvas to be painted.
Broad brush stroke preaching was used to begin the picture to be created.

As time went on more precise strokes had to be applied at the correct location on the canvas.

Hearts had to be patiently prayed over for a softening to receive the truth, John 8:32 NIV “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Free from religion, religious pain, and religious lies of the past. Freedom is healthy and needed in these last days.

As the lines in the painting became more defined, decisions had to be made in those hearts attending the Worship Services. Some choose to believe, receive, and grow, others refused the Holy Spirit’s softening of the heart and choose to reject and run.

We live in the last days, doctrine is rejected, and truth is twisted to fit the occasion.
A dear friend of mine was raised in a church all her life. She told me, quote, “I never heard the gospel in my church/parish, I had to go outside my parish to a true Christian camp, to hear the truth about Jesus, and become born again”.

You want to know why God does not love denominations or disunity?
It forces you to live in a box of set rules and regulations.
Unbelief is the opposite of Faith. Heb. 11:6, “Without faith it is impossible to please God”

The book of Hebrews makes it very plain that God cleaned house of all that old religious order, by the finished work on the cross.
Then systematically man drug all of it back into the Church and called it a denomination, clergy/laity. All the opportunity for the Holy Spirit to have free reign, is kicked out.
Acts 17:28, “In whom we live, and move, and have our being”.

This is one reason I cry out to God to send in a live P&W team. I do not want songs set in stone, preprogrammed to sing. I want a Spirit filled Leader who is sensitive and can move with the HS. And between the songs we can have free flowing gifts of: Tongues and interpretation of tongues, words of wisdom, knowledge, healings etc..

Some of us here with denominational backgrounds have to search out the truth ourselves, in order to grow beyond our past education experiences. We need to cultivate an environment of freedom, conducive to growth, in order to grow to the next level of obedience in God. In order to bring the young Christians up to our level of Love.
Man’s denominational teaching will only allow you to grow to the level of the man.
Most denominational apologists only know the belief thru the cloudy lens of the pastor or teacher and not thru the clear lens of faith/truth.
Phil. 2:12b-13, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
KJV

V3b-4 (read) We are surrounded by churches’ where doctrine is twisted to the point where anything and everything fits in. All beliefs, all creeds, all alternative lifestyles are ok in God’s house. That is heresy!
Paul warned Pastor Timothy and he is warning Pastor David, BEWARE!
Speak the truth in Love; people come to church to get deliverance, not relief,

This generation of young people are tired of being lied to from the pulpit! They want the truth spoke from people who live the truth daily in their lives! Not spineless, watered down, limp wristed, wimpy useless, so called in name only Christians, where your life is more that a silly band worn on your wrist.
A healthy church will set you on the path of healed, not “recovering” on AA, NA creeds.
Sound doctrine with faith will deliver you from addictions, not Dr. Feel good philosophy.
Somebody needs to give God a shout of praise!

V5 But watch, (keep your head in all situationsNIV) beware,
Satan will send in witches, New Agers, occultists, stargazers, horoscope readers to pray against you, send in a hindering spirit to trip you up, and seek to destroy your ministry. It happens every Sunday.

V6-8 Fight then Victory!
Close
(Spirit filled members please pray softly)
Where is your heart on the canvas of FOA? Have you allowed the HS to soften you and receive sound doctrine, or are you hard, and rebelling when the truth comes forth from the pulpit and it reveals your sin. The brush strokes are becoming more and more defined, painting a picture of sound doctrine, sound truth, in Love.
Jesus is here, God is willing to change your heart, if you will humble yourself and ask him. Tell Him, “Lord I am sorry for trying to have church my own way, I am sorry for putting myself in a spiritual box, quenching the work of the HS in my life. I am sorry for holding onto my past religious experience, and refusing your latest tug on my heart strings.
Please forgive me and change my heart. Soften it, mold it, conform it to yours in Jesus’ name”.