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Beware of the leaven . . . . a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump! |
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| The Watcher |  |
On The Wall |
Dearest Friends -
I thank God for the Internet with its many opportunities to share information back and forth with people from all walks of life, all over the world. But, just as there are predators of all kinds in the natural, material and financial realm, there are also predators of the mental, emotional and (even) the spiritual realm. Beware and be wise in the Truth of the Knowledge of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. The Apostle Paul warned in 2 Timothy Chapter 3 of the sort of spirit that would be prevalent in these last days. These "have a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such" he says, "turn away" [verse 5]. "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them" [verses 13-14]; and then he clinches it with the sure antidote for error, "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" [verses 15-17]. Believe me now, in this age of the "Information Highway" there is much misinformation being passed. Know what you believe and why. Get into the Bible for yourself and read and study to hear His voice. I would suggest that the Christian spend most of his or her time reading the New Testament Scriptures (with emphasis upon the Words of Christ Himself and the Apostle Paul's writings) in these last days of the Church Era.
Whether some of these so-called Bible scholars are aware of it or not we are waging "spiritual" warfare against "spiritual" foes, and the battle is for your "spiritual" soul! Satan's arsenal of weaponry is error. He is a liar and he will twist the truth to the unsuspecting in order to get him or her to fall from his or her faith in the Truth! Please understand, Satan has no power over us except what he convinces us to relinquish. His strategy is still the same as it was from the beginning, the old 1 - 2 - 3 punch, and gottcha! The first blow is "confusion" by questioning the Word of Faith you have received. If he can maneuver you into questioning, he will follow-up immediately with convincing "doubt" of the Fact of the Word. Once you begin to move into doubting the Truth, he lands his knock-out punch of "unbelief" which renders the Word of Truth of non-effect in your life. And here is where you relinquish all your spiritual power to your foe, when you let down your "shield of faith" and turn your "sword" upon yourself in unbelief of the Truth. "Gottcha!" He cannot do that to you, he must get you to do it to yourself. Hebrews 3:7-4:13 is strong admonishing to us in this realm. Of course the end of unbelief is sin which leads to death (Revelation 21:8). However, any area of unbelieving leaves us far short of any one of the blessed promises of God. "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end" [Hebrews 3:12-14].
I have read some great swelling words from some that leave me with even a foulish taste in my mouth, as though I had eaten of some strange fruit. One thing about the Word of God, it may leave us at times with a sort of spiritual unsettling in our depth, but it always has that "honey-sweet" taste to the mouth. Now, listen please, if we be born again then are we born of the Spirit of God and are led by His Spirit as His children and heirs of His promises through Christ. Jesus says, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God cometh not with observation: neither shall they say, Lo here! or lo there! for, behold, the Kingdom of God is within you" [John 3:3; Luke 17:20-21]. He will return to this earth one day soon and He will set up a literal Kingdom with a literal throne and rule literally for 1000 years upon earth. He will actually return in the same way He went up and, even to the very place from which He ascended (Acts 1:10-11 & Zechariah 14:4). To some who seem to have such a problem trying to explain these things from their own understanding or intellect or whims, I must echo the Words of Jesus to the Sadducees of His day, "Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God" [Matthew 22:29].
Let's make something plain and clear here. The Spirit of God has always been and always will be in every place of God's creation. He is the working power of the Word of God that holds everything in its place. However, there was at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) a very unique and special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as He was given as the Promise of the Father through His Son to be the Life of the Church. Every Christian has received this new life by receiving Christ and, by faith, has been translated into the Kingdom of God as a son of God by this same Spirit of God. "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness" [Romans 8:9-10]. "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth" [John 4:24]. No one can truly worship the Father in Spirit and Truth without the Son, for both the Spirit and the Truth are of the Son. "And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life" [1 John 5:11-12]. This is not some sort of religious ideal, this is the reality of the manifestation of the finished work of Jesus Christ for those who believe to the saving of their souls. This is not any work of man but of God Himself (see John 1:10-13). To such as these, the Kingdom of God belongs. "Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" [Luke 12:32]. And, to these, the Father reveals Himself fully (see 1 Corinthians 2:9-16). Seek, child of God, and ye shall find. The great "mystery" hidden from the world since the beginning is revealed in you.
May I speak somewhat of personal revelation here? Take it as you will, but compare Scripture with Scripture and not the word of any man. ". . . yea, let God be true, but every man a liar . . ." when it comes to debating with (or against) the Word of God (Romans 3:3-4). America is what she is because of the Church of Jesus Christ and the Gospel of the Kingdom which the Church proclaims from here throughout the world. She is not a "holy nation" by any stretch of the imagination. If I could liken her to anything of the Scriptures, it would probably be Revelation 18. There is to be a catching away soon of the Church. We call this "the rapture" because that's what the word "rapture" means. I can't help but know that the moment we're gone, in the first working of the powers of darkness after the "light" is out, America will seize to be as she is. For those who have been deceived into believing that you want to be a part of her "glory" in the end, I warn you now that the only glory is to be found with Christ when He returns, not waiting here for Him, for when He is seen coming in His Glory with His saints, ". . . all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him. Even so, Amen" [Revelation 1:7].
Someone will no doubt say, "I have written a book you
should read" or "I have read a great book you ought to read." There are those
who are so sure they have uncovered some sort of "mystery" (even in Scripture)
that would prove mainstream Christianity in error. There are so many today
(so many more everyday) who are so bent upon finding some sort of "truth"
that would make them right and everyone else wrong. I join with the Church
of the First Born from the dead in proclaiming, "For I am not ashamed of
the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every
one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein
is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written,
The just shall live by faith" [Romans 1:16-17]. To those who seek to exclude
anyone from God's wonderful grace, I say consider the words of our Lord Jesus
Christ:
Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness
unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and
ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Matthew 28:19-20
[19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
[20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:
and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Mark 16:15-16
[15] And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel
to every creature.
[16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth
not shall be damned.
And consider these words of the Apostle Paul:
Galatians 3:26-29
[26] For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
[27] For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on
Christ.
[28] There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there
is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
[29] And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according
to the promise.
Colossians 3:11
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian,
Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
Now, let us come to a conclusion of understanding here. We are at war, truly at war, and "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" [2 Timothy 2:4]. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" [Ephesians 2:10]. Not only are we to maintain our personal victory over the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, but we are to be engaged in redeeming the time in "right" purpose of life by making the best of every opportunity to do good for all men, and especially them who are of the household of faith. I wish to repeat something here that I've written in prior mailings: Our greatest defensive is our love for our Lord and our greatest offensive is our love for our fellowman. These two motivating factors working together in the attitude of service will cause one to be truly victorious in this life and to reign eternally victorious with Christ!
Before you offer me your books and tapes, let me offer you a copy of the greatest Book that was ever written by the greatest Author there is (or ever has been or ever will be) about the greatest Life ever lived and the greatest "free offer" ever made! Just Click Here and you will find an offer for a FREE Boolklet, "The Gospel of John" from the New Testament. I honestly believe that no one could ever spend his or her time more wisely than in the reading of the Scriptures. Opinions are like noses: everyone has one, but eternity is at stake, and only One Opinion counts here! As for me: "If it is not Bible, I do not want it. If it is not the Gospel of Christ, I do not need it. If it is contrary to New Testament Scripture, I refuse it. If it is anti-Christ or anti-Church I stand against it!"
God bless you in your quest for the Truth. This Web
Site is dedicated to the purpose of helping the sincere seeker of the Truth.
Everyone has a right to know the Truth and it is the responsibility of each
one of us to seek after the Truth for himself.
Yours
In His Service
Rev. John Lowery
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