INTRODUCTION We are right now living in the time of the APOSTASY, THE GREAT FALLING AWAY. "Falling away" simply means that a people TURN AWAY from faith in God to trusting other things then these other things become IDOLS. When we have idols in our hearts, we are BLINDED to the things of God. People in APOSTASY begin calling something CHURCH that is not THE CHURCH. They begin calling people CHRISTIANS who are not CHRISTIANS. In almost every funeral service today, people are preached into heaven. But the Bible says "the gate is SMALL, and the WAY IS NARROW that leads to life, and FEW are those who find it" (Matt. 7:14).Did you ever stop to think about all the different ways people are going to heaven today? Isn't it strange that everyone is going to the same place, but they are all speaking a different language.
SOMEONE IS WRONG!' Does this sound to you like the people in Genesis 11:1-7 whose goal was to build their own city and a TOWER INTO HEAVEN? They said, "We will use bricks and tar and MAKE A NAME FOR OURSELVES." Does this sound like they were MOTIVATED BY PRIDE? This tower was called Babel, which means CONFUSION. And there they all began to speak a DIFFERENT LANGUAGE.Many towers are being built today by false teachers and preachers. Do you realize that PRIDE and GREED are the idols of the false teachers in II Peter 2? If a teacher loves pride and greed, he will EXPLOIT his relationships and congregations to feed PRIDE, REPUTATION, NAME, CAREER or GREED which he really loves. because SELFISHNESS has his HEART. Flesh always wants to share the glory with God. Pride and greed will not subject themselves to the Word of God. We repent from pride and greed when we come to follow Jesus. Before you repented and came to make Jesus Christ your Lord and new Master, your master was Satan. He controlled your life because your HEART loved the SELFISH NATURE. This flesh nature and the nature of Satan are the SAME: therefore, they are in total agreement. This flesh nature is hostile to God and will not subject itself to the law of God (Rom. 8:7). The Lord Jesus Christ obviously does something about this flesh nature, or we would never be able to be obedient to the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God leads us to put to death the deeds of the flesh (Rom. 8:13). We have seen in the last two Bible Studies how the Word of God WISHES OUR HEARTS from loving the selfish flesh. In this study, we will see how false teachers lead congregations to believe they are on their way to Heaven, while their daily lives are full of REBELLION and WILLFUL SIN.
Chapter I At Ease in Zion :Folks who are at EASE IN ZION (who live after the flesh) have a FALSE SECURITY and have FALLEN AWAY. They will not receive correction from the Lord because Jesus is not really Lord of their hearts. They are lost. Their trust is in men, academics, carnal doctrines, intellect, theology, and the strength and works of the flesh (Jer. 14:5', Pro. 29:25). They do not come to the light because the Word has no place in them. The Pharisees had this same problem. Jesus told them, "I speak the things [Word] I have seen with my Father: therefore you also do the things [works of the flesh] which you heard from your father. You are doing the deeds of your father" (John 8:38,41). "You are of your father, the devil, and YOU WANT TO DO THE DESIRES OF YOUR FATHER" (walk after fleshly desires) (John 8:44). Jesus said, "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot HEAR my WORD" (John 8:43). They could not hear the Word because they had used only PART of the Word of God to build a religious structure. Since the words Jesus spoke would not FIT into their STRUCTURE, they did not have ears to HEAR THE WORD. They could only receive from the Word those things which fit into their structure because they had TUNNEL VISION. Therefore, the words of Jesus could have no place in them (John 8:37). God did not really have their hearts. THEIR RELIGIOUS STRUCTURE HAD THEIR HEARTS.Jesus told them, "He who is of God hears the words of God', for this reason you DO NOT HEAR THEM, because you are NOT of God" (John 8:47). The POWERS OF DARKNESS are the authors of this DECEPTION. When this happens, a spirit of sleep and darkness covers the multitudes. When anyone comes to the Word of God, the Word is like a mirror. The Word of God judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Heb. 4:12). With the heart man either believes unto righteousness or with the heart man believes unto unrighteousness. Every time you read the Word of God YOU MAKE A CHOICE as to whether you will continue to love and walk after flesh rebellion and the ways of Satan, or whether you come to the light and love the Lord and the ways of God with all your heart. If you have a stubborn heart, you will SHRINK BACK from the WORD of God and choose to continue to live in FLESH REBELLION. "If we go on SINNING WILLFULLY after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there NO LONGER remains a SACRIFICE for SINS" (Heb. 10:26). "But we are not of those who SHRINK BACK TO DESTRUCTION, but of those who have FAITH to the preserving of the soul" (Heb. 10:39). "And this is the JUDGMENT [today], that the LIGHT is come into the world, and men LOVED THE DARKNESS [flesh] rather than the light [love]; for their deeds were evil [selfish flesh]. For everyone who does evil [walks after the flesh] HATES the LIGHT [the Word], and does not come to the light [SHRINKS BACK], lest his deeds should be EXPOSED. But he who PRACTICES the TRUTH [faith] comes to the light [receives the Word], that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God" (his ambition is to please the Lord more than anything else) (John 3:19-21).Anytime you consult people who walk after the flesh about this part of the gospel (which tells flesh to die), flesh will always OPPOSE and try to EXPLAIN the Word AWAY. Anyone who loves the flesh more than he loves Jesus cannot comprehend dying to the flesh because he has a DECEIVED HEART. The GOSPEL does not PLEASE THE FLESH. This is why Paul said. "I did not come with FLATTERING SPEECH [to please flesh] or a pretext [motives] of greed, deceit, error, or impurity to PLEASE MEN, but I came to speak the GOSPEL of God amidst MUCH OPPOSITION [flesh] to please God [rather than men] who examines our hearts" (I Thess. 2:3-5). FLESH will always OPPOSE this part of the gospel (Gal. 4:29: Gal. 5:17). Paul said. "We do not seek glory from men" (approval of flesh) (I Thess. 2:6). Paul EXPECTED opposition to the gospel from men who loved the flesh. So what do we do when the Word of God challenges our selfish hearts about living in flesh rebellion? It a person does not love Jesus with ALL HIS HEART, he will SHRINK BACK at the parts of the Bible that teach us to die to the flesh [selfish desires]. No one will endure SOUND DOCTRINE as long as his HEART loves the SELFISH FLESH more than Jesus. He will go to TEACHERS and DOCTRINES that TICKLE HIS EARS so that he can continue to live according to his FLESHLY PLEASURES. Jesus does not have his HEART.These teachers give him a FALSE SECURITY with FALSE DOCTRINES that were developed by men who loved pride and greed. He turns his ears from the truth as he becomes hardened to the true gospel (II Tim. 4:3.4). He becomes JUSTIFIED by the WORDS OF MEN. The BLIND lead the BLIND to the pit. Paul said that the gospel preached by him was not according to man, so he did not seek to please men (their flesh) or seek the favor of men (Gal. 1:11,10). The gospel cannot please flesh unless it is DISTORTED, PERVERTED, or made CONTRARY. This is what carnal doctrines do today. Paul tells us in Galatians 1:8 and 9 that if anyone distorts the gospel, he will be accursed. Satan uses carnal doctrines that do not conform you to godliness to capture people's hearts. He puts them to sleep and causes them to be "at ease in Zion" by telling them "YOU SURELY SHALL NOT DIE."The Gospel and False Teaching Chapter 2 We are supposed to recognize the FRUIT (words) of FALSE TEACHERS because INWARDLY (in their hearts), they are RAVENOUS WOLVES (DECEITFUL) and using congregations for GAIN (Matt. 7:15). "The good man out of the GOOD TREASURE of his HEART brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure [of his heart] brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. And why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:45,46). Their MOUTH bears the FRUIT of what is in their HEART. Can you hear PRIDE? Can you hear GREED? You are hearing the Word of God from a DECEIVED HEART. They look like a LAMB, but SPEAK like a DRAGON (Satan and the flesh) (Rev. 13:11). The true GOSPEL of Jesus Christ WASHES us from all SIN and SELFISHNESS in order that we may have a PURE HEART (Eph. 5:27,26). This is called SANCTIFICATION or purifying your heart. Without this sanctification NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD (Heb. 12:14; Matt. 5:8; II Thess. 2:13,14). This PURIFICATION can never happen if you love sin and idols more than Jesus. Jesus must have ALL YOUR HEART (Luke 10:25-28: Col. 3:5). People who love the flesh will not subject themselves to the law of God (Rom. 8:7). Jesus said that He came to FULFILL the law (Matt. 5:17). When the love of flesh (selfishness) is WASHED from our HEARTS, we are fulfilling the law (love). We then become a DOER of the law (Rom. 2:13: Rom. 3:31). We are then walking in love (divine nature the image of Jesus) instead of selfishness (the image of Satan). "And just as we have borne the image of the EARTHLY, we shall also bear the image of the HEAVENLY" (I Cor. 15:49). When we are LED by the SPIRIT of God, we OVERCOME SIN (Gal. 5:16,18,24: Rom. 6:15,1,2,17-19,22: I John 3:9,10).".. .Walk by the Spirit, and you WILL NOT carry out the DESIRE OF THE FLESH. But IF you are LED by the SPIRIT, you are NOT UNDER THE LAW. NOW THOSE WHO BELONG TO CHRIST JESUS HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH ITS PASSIONS AND DESIRES." (Gal. 5:16,18,24). "What then? SHALL WE SIN because we are NOT UNDER THE LAW but under GRACE? MAY IT NEVER BE!" (Rom. 6:15). "What shall we say then? Are we to CONTINUE IN SIN (practice sin] that GRACE might increase? MAY IT NEVER BE! How shall we who DIED TO SIN still live in it?" (Rom. 6:1-2). Grace is perverted today by teaching people they can continue to practice sin. "But thanks be to God that though you WERE slaves of SIN. you became OBEDIENT from the HEART to that form of teaching [GOSPEL] to which you were COMMITTED, and have been FREED from SIN. you became SLAVES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. For just as you presented your members as slaves to IMPURITY and to LAWLESSNESS, resulting in further lawlessness, so now- present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in SANCTIFICATION. But now having been FREED FROM SIN and enslaved to God, you derive your BENEFIT, resulting in SANCTIFICATION, and the outcome, ETERNAL LIFE" (Rom. 6:17-19,22)."Little children, let no one DECEIVE YOU: the one who PRACTICES RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RIGHTEOUS, just as He is righteous" (I John 3:7). "THE ONE WHO PRACTICES SIN IS OF THE DEVIL. . ." (I John 3:8). "NO ONE WHO IS BORN OF GOD PRACTICES SIN. . ." (I John 3:9). "BY THIS THE CHILDREN OF GOD AND THE CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL ARE OBVIOUS ANYONE WHO DOES NOT PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS IS NOT OF GOD. . ." (I John 3:10). ". . .We know that, when He appears, we shall be LIKE HIM . . . and EVERYONE who has THIS HOPE fixed on him [Jesus] PURIFIES himself just as He is pure" (I John 3:2,3). Everyone who DOES NOT purify himself does not have his hope fixed on Jesus because he is NOT BEING LED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. "Faithful is he who calls you and He also will bring it to pass" (I Thess. 5:24). Jesus cannot bring His will to pass in your life unless He has all of your heart. The Spirit of God is able to do the work of sanctification in your life only as you submit to the Word of God and the Spirit of God. Carnal doctrines today teach you that you do not have to be obedient to the Word and the Spirit. THEY CALL OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD LEGALISM AND WORKS.When you come to Jesus Christ and you CONTINUE TO PRACTICE SIN WITHOUT DISCIPLINE, you prove that you are not really a son because the Spirit of God is not ruling your life. Your sins have become idols because you prove you love your sins more than Christ when you will not give them up. These sins become STRONGHOLDS. Sin is controlling your life instead of Jesus (Col. 3:5: Gal. 5:19-21). The Word of God can never CLEANSE and PURIFY YOUR HEART if you do not love the Word and Jesus more than selfish desires. JESUS IS NOT REALLY YOUR LORD UNLESS HE HAS ALL YOUR HEART. We are BORN AGAIN by the WORD OF GOD by giving up everything CONTRARY to the WORD OF GOD. This is how the Word WASHES us. We want all our deeds to have been wrought in Christ. Our ambition is to love and please Jesus more than loving or pleasing ourselves (selfish ambition). This is why we are commanded to love the Lord with all our hearts (Matt. 10:16-19: Matt. 22:36-40). If Jesus does not have all your heart .reading the Word becomes only a RELIGIOUS EXERCISE which cannot change your heart or your life. THIS IS A FORM OF GODLINESS. This is how SATAN uses CARNAL DOCTRINES and FALSE TEACHERS to lead people away from the FAITH. The Word of God cannot wash your heart from loving the selfish flesh because you are TAUGHT YOU CAN LOVE THE FLESH. You then continue to practice sin and love your idols with no repentance. JESUS has become JUST ONE of your IDOLS. This is a STUBBORN and REBELLIOUS heart. If Jesus Christ is Lord of your heart, you will receive REPROOF and DISCIPLINE from the Lord. You will give up your sins and idols. We are commanded to walk in PEACE. When we do not have peace, we have lowered the hedge because of sin. When we repent of this sin, we are cleansed and the hedge and peace return. This is how we receive REPROOF and DISCIPLINE. Our Lord is coming for a church that is HOLY and BLAMELESS, having NO SPOT or WRINKLE. "That he might SANCTIFY her, having CLEANSED HER [hearts] by the WASHING of water WITH THE WORD" (Eph.5:27,26). ". . .My son, do not regard lightly the DISCIPLINE of the Lord, nor faint when you are REPROVED by Him . . . If you are WITHOUT DISCIPLINE, of which ALL have become PARTAKERS, then you are ILLEGITIMATE CHILDREN and NOT SONS [if we are true children, this discipline will cause us to put to death the deeds of the flesh] . . . He DISCIPLINES us for our good, that we may SHARE HIS HOLINESS" (Heb. 12:5,8,10). "As OBEDIENT CHILDREN. DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THE FORMER LUSTS [flesh] which WERE yours in your IGNORANCE [darkness], but LIKE THE HOLY ONE [Jesus] who called you. be HOLY yourselves also in ALL your BEHAVIOR . . . YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY" (I Pet. 1:14-16). The opposite of holiness is to continue walking after the flesh. You have been called for this purpose "since Christ, has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the SAME PURPOSE, because he who has SUFFERED in the flesh has CEASED FROM SIN, so as to live... NO LONGER for the LUSTS of men, but for the WILL OF GOD" (holiness) (I Pet. 4:1,2). We suffer in the flesh when we give up pride, anger, hate, immorality, slander, unforgiveness, etc. "ALL DISCIPLINE [dying to the flesh) for the moment seems not to be JOYFUL, but SORROWFUL: yet to THOSE who have been TRAINED BY IT. AFTERWARDS it yields the PEACEFUL FRUIT [fruit of the Spirit: love. joy, peace, etc.] of RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Heb. 12:11)."For this is the WILL OF GOD, your SANCTIFICATION . . . that each of you know how to POSSESS his own vessel in SANCTIFICATION [a pure heart ] and honor, NOT IN LUSTFUL PASSION [flesh] . . . For God has not called us for the purpose of IMPURITY [impure heart] but in SANCTIFICATION" (pure heart). HE WHO REJECTS THIS IS NOT REJECTING MAN BUT GOD. (I Thess. 4:5,7.8). THE WILL OF GOD IS SANCTIFICATION. If anyone is not OVERCOMING by putting to death the deeds of the flesh, he is NOT BEING SANCTIFIED (washed). Every good tree bears GOOD FRUIT, but the bad tree bears BAD FRUIT (Matt. 7:18). "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of Heaven [many will be surprised and disappointed], but he who DOES THE WILL of my father [SANCTIFICATION]. . ." (Matt. 7:21: I Thess. 4:3). The ones who DO the WILL OF GOD (sanctification) go to HEAVEN. They are the TREES that bear GOOD FRUIT from a PURE HEART.' The others FOLLOW THE FALSE PROPHETS (preachers and teachers) and bear BAD FRUIT (flesh) from an IMPURE HEART."BEWARE of the FALSE PROPHETS [preachers] who come to you in SHEEP'S CLOTHING, [pretending to be servants of righteousness] but INWARDLY [their hearts] are ravenous wolves" (deceitful) (Matt. 7:10). These false shepherds and teachers are the very opposite of a lamb because their MOTIVES are PERVERTED. They will cause many people to come to Jesus in the last days saying, 'Lord, Lord,' but He will not know them because they will be BEARING the WRONG FRUIT (lusts of the flesh). A BLIND TEACHER led them after carnal doctrines, so they did not ACT on the WORD. Their FOUNDATION was SAND' (Matt. 7:15-27). ". . CURSED is the man who TRUSTS in MANKIND and makes FLESH his STRENGTH" (source) (Jer.17:5). "For the gate is SMALL, and the way is NARROW that leads to life, and FEW are those who find it" (Matt. 7:14). "Pursue peace with all men, and the SANCTIFICATION [a pure heart] WITHOUT WHICH NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD" (Heb. 12:14). "OR DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT THE UNRIGHTEOUS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD? DO NOT BE DECEIVED: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers . . . thieves, nor the covetous . . . nor revilers SHALL INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD. AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU; BUT you WERE WASHED, BUT you WERE SANCTIFIED, but you were JUSTIFIED [eternal life]. . ." (I Cor. 6:9-11: Rom. 6:22: II Thess. 2:13,14). And someone said to Jesus, "Lord, are there just a few who are being SAVED?" And He said to them, "Strive to enter by the NARROW DOOR; for MANY, I tell you, will SEEK TO ENTER AND WILL NOT BE ABLE." "Then you will begin to say. 'We ate and drank in your presence, and You TAUGHT IN OUR STREETS' [I listened to sermons for 30 years in my church]; and He will say, I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from me, all you EVILDOERS [wrong fruit]'" (Luke 13:26-27). We have been WARNED that "if anyone advocates a DIFFERENT DOCTRINE, and does not agree with the sound words [GOSPEL), those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine [gospel] conforming to GODLINESS [the image of Jesus], he is conceited [pride] and UNDERSTANDS NOTHING [blind teachers]; but he has a morbid interest in CONTROVERSIAL QUESTIONS, and DISPUTES ABOUT WORDS [oppose the truth]; out of which arise envy, strife, ABUSIVE LANGUAGE, evil suspicions, and constant friction [opposition] between men of depraved mind and DEPRIVED OF THE TRUTH, who suppose that godliness [the gospel] is a means of GAIN "(making the things of God an opportunity for the flesh, NAME, REPUTATION, PRIDE, GREED, REWARDS) (I Tim. 6:3-5).Like the Pharisees, these men attack the gospel with CONTROVERSIAL QUESTIONS the way they did the Lord Jesus Christ and His disciples. Neither the gospel nor flesh has changed. They will either repent or attack, because the gospel exposes their fleshly kingdoms, kingship, and carnal doctrines which have their hearts. They seek to DISCREDIT the man who brings the truth so that the TRUTH will not be able to tear down the DOCTRINES and IDOLS which have captured their DECEIVED HEARTS. They will ATTACK THE TRUTH with CONTROVERSIAL QUESTIONS such as, "I am afraid he is teaching legalism: he is teaching works: he does not understand grace; he believes Christians can have demons: he sees a demon behind every bush; he believes Christians can be possessed; he believes in sinless perfection; he believes all sickness is sin; he has gone off the deep end; he does not believe in 'once saved, always saved,' etc., etc." These controversial questions take the focus off their white- wash and messages of "peace and safety." THESE CONTROVERSIAL QUESTIONS SCARE CONGREGATIONS TO DEATH so that they will OPPOSE the TRUTH without even EXAMINING IT. These controversial questions OPPOSE everything their HEARTS have been TRAINED to love through their CARNAL TRADITIONS. This is the way congregations learn to HATE MEN they don't even know. They are TAUGHT to REJECT TRUTH without even EXAMINING IT to protect their false security. They are controlled by FEAR and INTIMIDATION and taught to hear God only through their KINGS.Many people today JUSTIFY the practice of sin by using only PART of the Bible to the exclusion of the rest of the scripture. They use part of the scripture to BUILD A DOCTRINE; then the doctrine CAPTURES the HEART of people, then THEY CAN NEVER LEARN THE TRUTH. A FORM OF GODLINESS always teaches you that you can PRACTICE SIN. An example would be the distortion of the first letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians, some of whom were still walking after the flesh. They were saying such things as "I am of Paul, I am of Apollos" (I Cor. 3:4). Paul warned them, ". . .Do you not know that. the UNRIGHTEOUS shall not inherit the KINGDOM OF GOD? Do not be DECEIVED" (I Cor. 6:9). Paul was trying to tell them to be MATURE and OVERCOME THE SINS they were PRACTICING. "But a NATURAL MAN [fleshly] does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot under- stand them because they are spiritually appraised" (I Cor. 2:14)."And I, brethren, could not speak to you as SPIRITUAL MEN, but as to MEN OF FLESH, as to BABES IN CHRIST" (I Cor. 3:1). We all BEGAN as babes in Christ, but we OVERCOME and PUT TO DEATH THE DEEDS OF THE FLESH. Paul said, "I gave you milk to drink, not solid food . . . for you are STILL FLESHLY. For since there is JEALOUSY and STRIFE among you, are you not FLESHLY and are you not WALKING LIKE MERE MEN" '(men of the world) (I Cor. 3:2-3)? When these particular scriptures are used to JUSTIFY PRACTICING SIN, a person then has TUNNEL VISION and will not even receive these other scriptures we are using which plainly teach that you MAY NOT continue to PRACTICE SIN. People will say today, "It is OK to practice sin because babes in Christ practice STRIFE and JEALOUSY." Do not have tunnel vision like others. Let's look at the rest of the Bible.Remember that STRIFE and JEALOUSY are the WORKS OF THE FLESH. "So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the FLESH, to LIVE according to the FLESH for if you are LIVING according to the FLESH, you must DIE, but if by the SPIRIT you are PUTTING TO DEATH the deeds of the 'body [ flesh], you will LIVE. For ALL who are being LED by the SPIRIT of God, THESE ARE THE SONS OF GOD" (Rom. 8:12-14). "But I say, WALK BY THE SPIRIT, and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh', for these are in OPPOSITION- to one another so that YOU MAY NOT DO THE THINGS THAT YOU PLEASE [walk after the flesh]. Now the DEEDS of the flesh [fruit of rebellion] are EVIDENT, which are immorality. impurity, sensuality . . . STRIFE, JEALOUSY . . . and things LIKE THESE', of which I' FOREWARN YOU just as I have forewarned you that THOSE who PRACTICE such things SHALL NOT inherit the KINGDOM OF GOD" (Gal. 5:16,17,19-21). Very plainly, STRIFE and JEALOUSY do not inherit the kingdom of God. Let's now look at the second letter Paul wrote to the Corinthians. Paul said, "Here for this THIRD TIME I am ready to come to you" (II Cor. 12:14). "For I am AFRAID [Paul fears for them] that perhaps when I come I may find you to be NOT WHAT I WISH and may be found by you to be NOT WHAT YOU WISH; that perhaps there [still) may be STRIFE, JEALOUSY . . . I am AFRAID that when I come AGAIN my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many [brokenhearted] of those who have SINNED IN THE PAST [STRIFE AND JEALOUSY] and NOT REPENTED of the IMPURITY, immorality, and sensuality which they have PRACTICED" (II Cor. 12:20-21). Paul plainly said that he feared that when he returned again they would still be PRACTICING STRIFE and JEALOUSY and would not have REPENTED, Paul was saying, "I am afraid I may find you to be not what I wish [still practicing sin], in which case I'll be found by you not to be what you wish" (because Paul would not distort the gospel to please men; HE WOULD POINT OUT THIS FLESH REBELLION). ".. .Let us therefore lay aside DEEDS of darkness [flesh] and put on the ARMOR OF LIGHT ... NOT in STRIFE and JEALOUSY. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make NO PROVISION for the FLESH [strife, jealousy] in regards to its LUSTS" (Rom. 13:12-14).Paul further said, "TEST YOURSELVES to see if you are in the FAITH: EXAMINE YOURSELVES! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you unless indeed you FAIL THE TEST" (II Cor. 13:5)? "For the MIND set on the FLESH is DEATH, but the MIND set on the SPIRIT is LIFE and PEACE, because the MIND set on the FLESH is HOSTILE toward God: for it DOES NOT SUBJECT ITSELF to the law of God . . . However, you are NOT in the FLESH, but in the SPIRIT. IF INDEED the SPIRIT of God dwells in you" (Rom. 8:6,7,9). If the Spirit of God is in you, you will be led by the Spirit of God. Otherwise, you are walking in the flesh. Is it now also OBVIOUS that men who love the flesh are BLIND TO THIS PART OF THE WORD OF GOD? They develop doctrines that please men and do not conform them to godliness. They do not deal with the parts of the Bible about judgment, holiness, righteousness, resisting the devil, resisting the flesh, resisting the world, church discipline, overcoming, suffering in the flesh, discernment, doctrines of demons, demons, harlotry, and the weapons of warfare against an enemy who came to steal, kill, and destroy you. Each one is DECEIVED when he is TEMPTED and ENTICED and CARRIED AWAY (from the faith) by his own LUSTS. Do not be DECEIVED, my beloved BRETHREN James 1:14,16). If you are LED by the SPIRIT of God. you WILL NOT carry out the DESIRE (lusts) of the FLESH (Gal. 5:16). There will be FALSE TEACHERS among you who will lead many to follow their SENSUALITY. BECAUSE OF THEM, THE WAY OF TRUTH (the Word) WILL BE MALIGNED (perverted), and in their (love for) GREED, they will EXPLOIT you with FALSE WORDS. Having eyes full of adultery, ENTICING unstable souls, having a HEART TRAINED IN GREED (motives not Jesus), accursed children, they speak arrogant words (pride) ENTICING PEOPLE BY FLESHLY DESIRES, promising them FREEDOM ("No calamity or judgment will come upon you") while THEY THEMSELVES are SLAVES of CORRUPTION (blind) (II Peter 2:1-3,14,18,19). THOSE WHO BELONG TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST HAVE CRUCIFIED THE FLESH WITH ITS PASSIONS AND DESIRES (Gal. 5:24). "And you WERE DEAD in your trespasses and sins, in which you FORMERLY WALKED according to the course of this world, [walked and talked after fleshly lusts like the world] according to the prince of the power of the air [Satan], of the [demon] SPIRIT that is NOW working IN the SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE [who walk after the flesh]. Among them we too all FORMERLY LIVED in the LUSTS OF OUR FLESH ... and of the MIND, and were by NATURE [flesh nature of Satan] CHILDREN OF WRATH, even as the rest" (Eph. 2:1-3). "FOR THIS YOU KNOW WITH CERTAINTY, THAT NO IMMORAL OR IMPURE PERSON [the opposite of a pure heart] OR COVETOUS MAN, WHO IS AN IDOLATER [who will not give up sin], HAS AN INHERITANCE IN THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST AND GOD." "Let no one DECEIVE YOU with EMPTY WORDS, for because of THESE THINGS the WRATH of God comes upon the SONS OF DISOBEDIENCE [those who continue to obey the lusts of the flesh and the desires of the flesh]. THEREFORE, DO NOT BE PARTAKERS WITH THEM" (Eph. 5:5-7). ".. .CONSIDER THE MEMBERS OF YOUR EARTHLY BODY AS DEAD TO IMMORALITY, IMPURITY. PASSION, EVIL DESIRE, AND GREED. WHICH AMOUNTS TO IDOLATRY" (an idolater will not give up these things because he loves them more than Christ). "For it is on account of these things [lust] that the WRATH OF GOD will come, and in them you also ONCE WALKED, when you WERE living in them. But NOW'' you also. put them ALL (lusts) aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth" (Col. 3:5-8). ". . .DO NOT LET IMMORALITY OR ANY IMPURITY OR GREED EVEN BE NAMED AMONG YOU, AS IS PROPER AMONG SAINTS [THE CHURCH ]" (Eph. 5:3). He who OVERCOMES (the world, flesh, and devil) shall INHERIT the spring of the water of life and he will be MY SON. But for the COWARDLY (those who fear man instead of God), UNBELIEVING, ABOMINABLE, MURDERERS. IMMORAL PERSONS, SORCERERS, IDOLATERS, AND ALL LIARS, THEIR PART WILL BE IN THE LAKE OF FIRE (Rev. 21:6-8).". . .ARE WE TO CONTINUE IN SIN [practice sin] THAT GRACE MIGHT INCREASE? MAY IT NEVER BE! HOW SHALL WE WHO DIED TO SIN STILL LIVE IN IT" (Rom. 6:1,2). ".. .SHALL WE SIN BECAUSE WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW BUT UNDER GRACE? MAY IT NEVER BE!" (Rom. 6:15). The choice is clear. We either REPENT WITHOUT REGRET or we follow men and carnal doctrines. Then we become religious and REMAIN HOSTILE TO GOD. THIS IS NOT TRUE REPENTANCE. (II Cor. 7:10). "But according to His promise, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth in which RIGHTEOUSNESS DWELLS. "Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be DILIGENT to be FOUND BY HIM in PEACE, SPOTLESS and BLAMELESS" (II Peter 3-1314).Chapter 3 - False Teachers ". . .Our GOSPEL IS VEILED [today] . . . to THOSE who are PERISHING in whose case the god of this world [Satan and the powers of darkness] has BLINDED the minds of the unbelieving that they may not SEE the light of the GOSPEL. . ." (II Cor. 4:3,4). "They DRAW NEAR with their MOUTHS, but their HEARTS ARE FAR FROM THE LORD. THEY WORSHIP HIM IN VAIN. TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS [opinions] OF MEN" (Mark 7:6-9,13). Many DECEIVED ANCESTORS who loved PRIDE and GREED have developed CARNAL DOCTRINES which are DECEIVING people TODAY. The MEN who teach these doctrines become KINGS as they also FULFILL their OWN LUST for PRIDE, GREED, NAME, and REPUTATION, as they HONOR ONE ANOTHER and TEACH OTHERS to HONOR MEN. The powers of darkness use these doctrines to capture the hearts of people. The people are then BLINDED to the REAL GOSPEL. They are LED into a FORM OF GODLINESS. A form of godliness is a LIE which leads men to HELL and DESTRUCTION. FALSE TEACHERS use these CARNAL DOCTRINES (that do not conform you to godliness) to PLEASE MEN and make them FEEL SECURE in their worldly and rebellious lifestyles. In exchange, SATAN sets these BLIND TEACHERS up as LORDS over God's heritage while he (Satan) FULFILLS their SELFISH AMBITION. They then LEAVE OUT or EXPLAIN AWAY the PART of the GOSPEL which tells the believer that he must put ALL REBELLION in his life to DEATH. The POWERS OF DARK- NESS cooperate with these FLESH KINGS by keeping the congregation in SUBJECTION through FEAR, INTIMIDATION, GUILT, and CONDEMNATION. When the powers of darkness can get a pastor or teacher into this position, they will then attack their MINDS with THOUGHTS of FEAR WORRY, and INTIMIDATION. When a TEACHER of PREACHER'S HEART LOVES GREED and PRIDE, the POWERS OF DARKNESS can then use CHURCH BOSSES. BIG TITHERS, FEAR OF LOSING NUMBERS, WORRY and FEAR OF LOSING HIS JOB, FEAR OF LOSING HIS POPULARITY and APPROVAL, etc., TO ATTACK and INTIMIDATE him even while he is PREACHING. Since the powers of darkness have his HEART in bondage to pride, greed, carnal doctrines, and traditions, he will then either SKIP SCRIPTURE, WATER DOWN THE WORD, or BACK OFF the WORD because his MOTIVES have become PERVERTED. The congregation does not get ALL the gospel because the WORD has become PERVERTED. He teaches only PART of the GOSPEL because he has a DECEIVED HEART. His heart's ambition is not to PLEASE JESUS, but to PLEASE HIMSELF (flesh, selfish ambition, a job, popularity, approval, reputation, etc.). He consider the message of judgment and dying to the flesh a message of doom and gloom. He always reminds his congregation of mercy, grace, and blessings rather than dying to the flesh and the judgment of God upon sin. The only ROOT (motive) in a person's HEART is supposed to be JESUS. Then ALL of his MOTIVES are to PLEASE JESUS, not selfish ambition. If a person has a ROOT of PRIDE and GREED in his heart, his MOTIVES will be to please PRIDE and GREED. He begins using a part of the Word of God to EXPLOIT congregations as he builds his own image and name for himself and his church. This is the BOASTFUL PRIDE OF LIFE. His MOTIVES have become PERVERTED. This is HOW a TEACHER or PREACHER becomes DECEIVED. He will preach PART of the BIBLE to make A NAME FOR JESUS (since He is one of his idols), as he WATERS DOWN the REST of the BIBLE because he wants to build a NAME. REPUTATION , and CAREER for HIMSELF. He wants his flesh (the Satanic-nature) to look good while he is trying to build a name for Jesus in the STRENGTH OF THE FLESH. You cannot teach the whole counsel of God's Word and follow after any reputation for the flesh. Furthermore, the Lord does not share His glory with anyone. Only the rebellious flesh seeks part of the glory. This man is DOUBLE-MINDED (has a defiled heart) and his MOUTH will speak BLESSINGS and CURSES (pride, anger, greed, slander, unforgiveness, judgments, condemnation, etc.). He does not OVERCOME the FLESH because he is an ADULTERESS. THIS IS HARLOTRY. His WISDOM is not from above, but is WORLDLY, FLESHLY, and DEMONIC (James 3:8-10,15,16: James 4:3,4,8,7). Anyone who loves greed or pride can never sanctify and purify a congregation. They can never make a congregation holy and righteous. They cannot TEACH RIGHTEOUSNESS because they are BLIND TO RIGHTEOUSNESS. They will not consistently or seriously preach the judgment of God. nor will they seriously and consistently preach against sin, because this would offend flesh and they could not receive glory from men! This would also cause them to lose rewards and numbers which their hearts really love and need to build their reputations. The powers of darkness are always there reminding them of this. THEY ARE COMPROMISERS OF THE WORD OF GOD. The result of this is to be "AT EASE IN ZION" while they build UNGODLY NUMBERS for God. These "NUMBERS" become like their FALSE TEACHERS (Luke 6:39,40). Men of this world (and false teachers and preachers in the church) who love pride and greed always show partiality and EXPLOIT their RELATIONSHIPS with other people in order to fulfill their lust (love) for pride and greed. This is why it is called the LUSTS of DECEIT (Eph. 4:22). Selfish flesh always shows partiality and uses people selfishly rather than truly LOVING THEM. With his mouth one SPEAKS PEACE to his neighbor, but INWARDLY (in his heart), he sets an AMBUSH for him (Jer. 9:8). "And at that time MANY will fall away ... and hate one another, and MANY FALSE PROPHETS will arise, and will MISLEAD MANY and because LAWLESSNESS [sin, self-love] is increased, most people's LOVE will GROW COLD. BUT THE ONE who ENDURES TO THE END [overcomes], HE SHALL BE SAVED" (Matt. 24:10-13). The powers of darkness deceive the heart of a false teacher by making him believe HE NEEDS TO LOOK GOOD in order to bring the congregation to God. THIS IS THE BOASTFUL PRIDE OF LIFE. He begins to believe that everything that is good for him and his career and reputation is good for God (because he helps God after the strength of the flesh). He believes that his apparent success has come as a result of God's favor and blessing on him. He is TOTALLY BEREFT of the SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING} and DISCERNMENT that would show him that the POWERS OF DARKNESS always COOPERATE WITH THE ONES WHO PRACTICE PRIDE AND GREED. He does not know that both he and his congregation are "wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked" (Rev. 3:17). Because their hearts are lifted up in PRIDE, they pick through the Word of God for the parts (BLESSINGS) which will make them LOOK GOOD to flesh. Satan also TEMPTED Jesus with the BOASTFUL PRIDE OF LIFE when he tried to get Jesus to stand on the pinnacle of the temple and throw Himself down into the court- yard. Then all the people would see Jesus and He would LEAD THEM to God wit h His NAME and REPUTATION (after the flesh), rather than God leading the people through Jesus (Luke 4:9-12). Since this false teacher seeks the APPROVAL OF MEN. he will be very careful not to make the flesh uncomfortable. He uses very little of the Word of God and entertains the flesh with stories. He is trying to take the congregation to heaven through his fleshly wisdom and intellect rather than by the Word of God. He becomes an IDOL IN THEIR HEARTS as he leads them in FLESHLY REBELLION and into FUTILITY. Because his heart is DECEIVED, he in turn deceives their hearts. ". . .EVIL MEN and IMPOSTORS will proceed from bad to worse. DECEIVE G and BEING DECEIVED . . . For men will be LOVERS OF SELF. LOVERS OF MONEY, BOASTFUL. ARRO- GANT . . . holding to a FORM OF GODLINESS, although they have denied its power:' and AVOID SUCH MEN AS THESE" (II Tim. 3:13,2,3). He is a puppet of the powers of darkness. "And although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things [greed, envy, strife, gossip, slander, arrogant, boastful, unloving] are worthy of death, they not only DO THE SAME, but also GIVE: HEARTY APPROVAL ''TO THOSE WHO PRACTICE. THEM" (Rom. 1:28-32). "And we KNOW that the JUDGMENT OF' GOD rightly falls upon THOSE: who PRACTICE SUCH THING'S " (Rom. 2:2). "Because of your STUBBORNNESS AND UNREPENTANT HEART, you are storing up WRATH for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous JUDGMENT of God" (Rom.2:5). This is exactly how Satan has the WORLD and THE WORLD IN THE CHURCH living for THEMSELVES today. People of the world spend their whole lives seeking a name, reputation, career. power, success, and control. Because of this, they will never know the love of God because they do not seek God with a whole heart. Satan has very subtly moved this into the church and you can no longer tell the difference between the methods of the world and the methods of the church. Their goals are the same TO MAKE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES (pride and greed). What do you think a false shepherd such as this will make the flock look like? "And they come to you as people come, and SIT BEFORE YOU AS MY PEOPLE [pretending to be God's people] and HEAR YOUR WORDS [the Word of God], BUT THEY DO NOT DO THEM." Why:' "For THEY DO THE LUSTFUL DESIRES [rebel- lion] EXPRESSED BY THEIR MOUTH [fruit of the flesh] AND THEIR HEART [a wolf's heart, not a lamb's heart] GOES AFTER THEIR GAIN . . . THEY HEAR YOUR WORDS, BUT THEY DO NOT PRACTICE THEM" (Ezek. 33:31,32). "Those who HATE THE LORD would PRETEND OBEDIENCE to Him: and their time of PUNISHMENT would be FOREVER" (Psalm 81:15). They will not practice the Word of God because they have been given a FALSE SECURITY. "Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but see not', who have ears but hear not. But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart. They have turned aside and departed. They do not say IN THEIR HEARTS, 'Let us now fear the Lord our God who gives the rain in its season [the Holy Spirit], both the autumn rain and the spring rain . . .YOUR INIQUITIES HAVE TURNED THESE AWAY . . . for WICKED MEN are found among My people [unevenly yoked] . . . Therefore, they have become great and rich [Laodicia, reputation, pride] . . . Shall I not punish these people" (Jer. 5:21,23-29). "An APPALLING and HORRIBLE THING has happened . . . The prophets [preachers] PROPHESY [preach] FALSELY [carnal doctrines and the PRIESTS [flesh kings] RULE ON THEIR OWN AUTHORITY [not God's authority] and MY PEOPLE LOVE IT SO! BUT WHAT WILL YOU DO AT THE END OF IT?" (Jer. 5:30-31). "TO WHOM SHALL I SPEAK AND GIVE WARNING, that they may hear? Behold, their EARS are CLOSED, and they CAN- NOT LISTEN. BEHOLD, THE WORD OF THE LORD HAS BECOME A REPROACH [offense] TO THEM; THEY HAVE NO DELIGHT IN IT" (they SHRINK BACK from it) (Jer. 6:10). These BLINDED LEADERS become KINGS and PRINCES who want GLORY and APPROVAL from MEN and not. God. They honor one another. They are always watching and working the crowds. They bring to their congregations a constant stream of revivalists and entertainers who arouse their religious emotions and make their ministry and church look exciting and good. But the people go away UNCHANGED, because only the TRUE GOSPEL OF REPENTANCE AND HOLINESS (purifying the heart) WILL EVER CHANGE THEM. The congregations know they are EMPTY, but they don't know what will fill the emptiness. They cannot SEE, HEAR. or UNDERSTAND. They believe they are experiencing the normal Christian life in their SHALLOWNESS and CARNALITY as they become more and more HARDENED to the Word of God. Their leaders always please the flesh and receive their glory from men. Jesus said, "How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another, and do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God" (John 5:44)? ". . .Many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees [the religious crowd] they were not confessing Him, lest they should be PUT OUT of the SYNAGOGUE [church]; for they loved the APPROVAL OF MEN [flesh] rather than the APPROVAL OF GOD" (John 12:42,43). Paul warned the overseers to guard the flock since savage wolves (false preachers and teachers who love pride and greed) will come in, speaking PERVERSE things (A PERVERTED GOSPEL). who DRAW AWAY FOLLOWERS AND DISCIPLES AFTER THEMSELVES (pride) (Acts 20:27-30). So we will know them by their fruit. ".. .Every good tree bears good fruit [the fruit of the Spirit], but the bad tree bears bad fruit [the fruit of the flesh]. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit . . . so then YOU WILL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS" (Matt. 7:17-20). "Not everyone who says to Me. 'Lord. Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day. 'Lord, Lord, did we not PROPHESY in Your name and in Your name CAST OUT DEMONS, and in Your name perform many MIRACLES?' " Then Jesus will declare to them, "I NEVER KNEW YOU. DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS" (continue to practice sin) (Matt. 7:21-23). "Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness', and sin is lawlessness. Little children, let no one DECEIVE YOU: the one who PRACTICES RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RIGHTEOUS, just as He is righteous" (I John 3:4,7). The man in Matthew 7:22,23 continued to follow the flesh. Remember that it is the FLESH which is LAWLESS. FLESH IS HOSTILE TO GOD AND IT WILL NOT SUBJECT ITSELF TO THE LAW OF GOD (Rom. 8:7). Those who love the Lord Jesus Christ with ALL THEIR HEARTS will REPENT and turn from FLESHLY SIN. If their MOTIVES are wrong, they will not turn to God, but they will always turn to the APPROVAL OF FLESH. Flesh, of course, WILL ALWAYS JUSTIFY FLESHLY SIN. "Now the DEEDS of the FLESH [fruit of the flesh] are EVIDENT- DENT [and you will know them by their fruits] which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes . . . factions, envying . . . and THINGS LIKE THESE of which I... FOREWARNED YOU THAT THOSE WHO PRACTICE SUCH THINGS SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD" (Gal. 5:19-21). You will know FALSE TEACHERS by their FRUITS. The Bible has given
us some examples of the FRUIT OF PRIDE. COMPARE IT WITH TODAY. Their teacher is not Jesus. THEY ARE FOLLOWING ANOTHER JESUS. "A blind man cannot guide a blind man, can he? Will they not both fall into the pit [hell]? A pupil is not above his teacher. But EVERYONE, after he has been FULLY TRAINED, will be LIKE HIS TEACHER" (Luke 6:39,40). "See to it that no one takes you CAPTIVE through PHILOSOPHY [intellect and academics] and EMPTY DECEPTION [their hearts love the flesh], according to the TRADITION OF MEN [doctrines that please men's flesh rather than telling men's flesh to die], according to the elementary PRINCIPLES OF THE WORLD [doing the work of God through the strength of the flesh, manipulating flesh and using the world's methods], rather than ACCORDING TO [the true gospel of the Lord Jesus] CHRIST. AS YOU THEREFORE HAVE RECEIVED CHRIST JESUS THE LORD, SO WALK IN HIM" (Col. 2:8,6). We eat the Word of God by taking the Word to heart. Or we eat the words (lusts) of Satan by receiving his temptations of lust rebellion. God tests the heart of everyone He creates. Adam was given a choice to choose between the tree of life and the tree of death (lust rebellion). Adam and Eve were told that in the day they ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (lust of flesh, lust of eves, and the pride of life) "YOU SHALL SURELY DIE" (Gen. 2:9,17). Satan then tempted and enticed Eve to eat from the tree of death by saving, "Indeed, has God said. . . ? . . .And the serpent said to the woman, 'YOU SURELY SHALL NOT DIE!' " (Gen. 3:1,4). This is a DIRECT CONTRADICTION of the WORD OF GOD and the FIRST DOCTRINE OF SATAN in the Bible. This doctrine is still the SAME TODAY as Satan still leads people to eat of the trees of death (FALSE TEACHERS) who say, "YOU SURELY SHALL NOT DIE." Eve was led astray by a DIFFERENT SPIRIT, ANOTHER DOCTRINE, and ANOTHER GOSPEL. Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" "And the woman said, 'THE SERPENT DECEIVED ME AND I ATE.' " (Gen. 3:13). ". . .In the last time there shall be MOCKERS, FOLLOWING after their own UNGODLY LUSTS. THESE ARE THE ONES WHO CAUSE DIVISIONS, WORLDLY MINDED, DEVOID OF THE SPIRIT. These are grumblers, finding fault, FOLLOWING AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS: they speak ARROGANTLY, FLATTERING PEOPLE for the sake of GAINING AN ADVANTAGE" (for the flesh) (Jude 18,19,16). "But FALSE PROPHETS (preachers) also arose among the people, just as there will also be FALSE TEACHERS among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies. . ." (II Peter 2:2). "And in their GREED they will EXPLOIT you with FALSE WORDS. . ." (II Peter 2:3). "And many will follow their sensuality and because of them the WAY OF THE TRUTH will be maligned" (perverted) (II Peter 2:2). "For speaking out arrogant words of vanity, they ENTICE by FLESHLY DESIRES [lusts]..." (II Peter 2:18). "And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising that his SERVANTS also DISGUISE themselves as SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS; whose end shall be according to their DEEDS" (lust rebellion) (II Cor. 11:14,15). "But I am AFRAID, lest as the SERPENT DECEIVED EVE by his craftiness, YOUR MINDS SHOULD be LED ASTRAY from the simplicity and PURITY [ pure heart] of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and PREACHES ANOTHER JESUS whom we have not preached, or you receive a DIFFERENT SPIRIT which you have not received, or a DIFFERENT GOSPEL which you have not accepted, YOU BEAR THIS BEAUTIFULLY" (II Cor.' 11:3,4). "For you BEAR WITH ANYONE if he ENSLAVES you, if he DEVOURS YOU, if he TAKES ADVANTAGE of you, if he EXALTS HIMSELF. . ." (II Cor. 11:20). "For I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy: for I betrothed you to one husband, that to CHRIST I might present you as a PURE VIRGIN" (pure heart) (II Cor. 11:2). ". . .We know that, when He appears, WE SHALL BE LIKE HIM, because we shall see Him just as He is. And EVERYONE who has THIS HOPE fixed on Him PURIFIES HIMSELF just as He is pure" (I John 3:2,3). "For God has not called us for the purpose of IMPURITY but in SANCTIFICATION (pure heart). Consequently. HE WHO REJECTS THIS IS NOT REJECTING MEN BUT GOD. . ." (I Thess. 4:7,8). ".. .Hallelujah! For the Lord our God. the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the MARRIAGE OF THE LAMB has come and HIS BRIDE HAS MADE HERSELF READY [pure, spotless, holy, blameless]. And it was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the RIGHTEOUS ACTS OF THE SAINTS" (Rev. 19:6,7,8).
"A WORD FROM JOYCE GREEN" I trust that you have been blessed in this BIBLE STUDY THROUGH THE WORD. We plan to continue to make them available to all who are on the mailing list. Our entire budget is dependent upon those who read the Bible Studies and send us help. It is God who supplies our needs through you. Your gift to help lift our financial load for the Bible Studies is truly needed. God bless you, and thank you for caring. This Bible Study merely represents a basic foundation in the Word. If you would like more information on the subjects covered in this study through the Word, Be Fruitful and Multiply have tapes available that deal with these Scriptures in depth. The audio tapes are designed to help you build on this foundational study. Our new book, THE GREAT FALLING AWAY TODAY, is now available. For a much more complete scriptural understanding of the great falling away and these last days, you may order this book either from your local Christian Bookstore or directly through our office. *** NOTE*** PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR CURRENT PRICE LIST, TAPES, VIDEOS, BOOKS, AND MEETING SCHEDULES.
WRITE TO: BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY P.O. BOX 3459 PALESTINE, TEXAS 75802 OR CALL US AT: 903-723-2448 copyright (c) BFAM 2002
~ IMPORTANT
NOTICE ~ |
| COPYRIGHT/REPRODUCTION LIMITATIONS: This data file is the sole property of New Life Ministry. It may not be altered or edited in any way. The material on this website may be reproduced 'only in its entirety,' for circulation as "freeware," without charge, or printed for distribution to Church groups, Home Bible Studies, Jail Ministry, or for personal use. Please include a link back to: www.bibleword.com on all distributed material. All reproductions of this data file must contain the copyright notice (i.e., "Copyright (C) 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004,21005,2006,2007, 2008, 2009 by "NLM"). This data file may not be used on any other website. Or for resale or the enhancement of any other product sold. This includes all of its content, by: Gary R. Kane, and others so marked, by This copyright signature, without the express permission of NLM. Please give the following source credit: Copyright (C) 1999/2000/2001/2002/2003/2004/2005/2006/2007/2008/2009 by: New Life Ministry P.O. BOX 453111 Garland, Texas 75045 |