Religion or God's WORD!

Symptoms of Religion

Religion is quite something, and God has much to say about it in his word. It isn't as if God wants us ignorant. Quite the contrary, he wants us educated and wise.

1 Corinthians 12:1
Now concerning spiritual [pneumatikos - spiritual matters] gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.

God had his word written so that rather than being ignorant of spiritual matters we could understand them. It follows then that if we do not read the bible and understand it, we will be ignorant. We may know a heck of a lot about church administration, politics, spiritualism, religion, astrology, communism and freemasonry, but we will be ignorant. If we do not learn the bible and walk by the spirit, we will be in the dark. To be able to see, we must have our eyes open.

Ephesians 1:17-19
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

Wisdom and knowledge come from an understanding of the bible. Knowing the hope of our calling comes from knowing the scriptures. Perceiving the exceeding greatness of God's power comes only from a knowledge of the word of God and manifesting that power. If we do not know the bible, we are ignorant. Someone may have a PhD, but without a knowledge of God's word they are uneducated, they have no understanding of spiritual matters. Don't take my word for it though, Paul was one of the most educated, influential and religious men on the planet and here's how he put it.

Philippians 3:8
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

The world educates about anything and everything except the truth of God's word, and does everything it can to prevent the accurate teaching of the bible. The devil is a master at keeping people ignorant.

2 Corinthians 4:3,4But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Now, the devil isn't stupid. He is brilliant at what he does. He has been watching us for a long time and he knows us. He knows some of us will occasionally have a yearning for an understanding of spiritual matters and that we might go to the bible for help. To keep us blinded and to prevent us from ever coming to a knowledge of the truth and an understanding of spiritual matters, he invented religion. Religion is a disease that rots out the eyes and ears of anyone searching for an accurate knowledge of spiritual matters. Of course, the devil needs men to run these religions for him so it is no surprise to find sociable, personable, intelligent, educated men in control of the world's religions.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

As religion is a disease, it is only prudent that we learn to recognise the symptoms so we can treat ourselves if we become infected with it. To help us we will look at the life of Jeroboam, the first king of the northern tribes of Israel.

When Solomon turned his back on God's word by marrying unbelieving women, they turned his heart just as God had said they would.

1 Kings 11:1-13
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites;

Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.

For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

For Solomon went after Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcom the abomination of the Ammonites.

And Solomon did evil in the sight of the LORD, and went not fully after the LORD, as did David his father.

Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.

And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.

And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the LORD God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice,

And had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods: but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.

Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant.

Notwithstanding in thy days I will not do it for David thy father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of thy son.

Howbeit I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to thy son for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.

Whenever and wherever we turn our backs on God by ignoring his word, the thief has access to our lives. Solomon's love for women was more important to him than doing the word. He loved people more than he loved God. What is there in your life that is more important to you than doing the word? Is using your credit card to buy things for which you do not have the money more important than believing God to supply your need? Is having that brand new outfit or computer or latest gaming system by flashing your credit card more important to you than saving up for it and budgeting properly? You see, we have to discipline ourselves to do things God's way if we want to keep the thief out of our lives.

When Solomon turned his back on God, it was not a good situation for the children of Israel because Solomon was their king and it put their nation at great risk. God therefore took steps to try to protect his people by sending a prophet to speak to Jeroboam, who was a believer, a disciple, a man who loved God and had a heart to serve him and do what was right.

1 Kings 11:28-38
And the man Jeroboam was a mighty man of valour: and Solomon seeing the young man that he was industrious, he made him ruler over all the charge of the house of Joseph.

And it came to pass at that time when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, that the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him in the way; and he had clad himself with a new garment; and they two were alone in the field:

And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:

And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

(But he shall have one tribe for my servant David's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake, the city which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel:)

Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.

Howbeit I will not take the whole kingdom out of his hand: but I will make him prince all the days of his life for David my servant's sake, whom I chose, because he kept my commandments and my statutes:

But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand, and will give it unto thee, even ten tribes.

And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.

And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.

And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.

God always does his best for us. Whenever and wherever men and women put their trust in him and believe his word he is there to help them. God never goes anywhere because he is everywhere. God never walks away from people, it is always people who walk away from God. After Solomon's death the kingdom split, just as God had said. Solomon's son Rehoboam ruled Judea, and Jeroboam ruled northern Israel. God's word is trustworthy, you can rely on it, you can trust your life to it.

When Jeroboam had ruled for a while, for some reason he began to fear losing his position as king. He didn't deal with his fears either, he let them take root and grow. Perhaps he was too busy with his job to have time to keep himself in the word, like I've heard a thousand times from people in our day. Listen, if you love God, you love his word. If you don't have time for the word, you don't have time for God and all your talk about love is religious horseshit. If you neglect God's word because you're too busy with life, or too lazy to maintain a consistent faithful diet, or something else in life is more important to you, you are walking away from God. Is television more important to you than spending time in the word? Are computer games and glossy magazines more important to you than spending time in the word? Are your hobbies and pursuits more important to you than spending time in the word? If so, change your direction. God isn't going anywhere, it's you that's walking away.

If we ever feel fear creeping into our lives in any category, we should be scrambling to get to the word. Look at what Jeroboam said in his heart, look at his fear.

1 Kings 12:25-27
Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.

And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now shall the kingdom return to the house of David:

If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.

He was afraid of losing his job and consequently his life. Hey, wasn't it fear that almost destroyed Job? The book of Job existed during Jeroboam's day, so why didn't he keep his heart in the word? Look again at what God told him by way of a prophet.

1 Kings 11:30,31,37,38
And Ahijah caught the new garment that was on him, and rent it in twelve pieces:

And he said to Jeroboam, Take thee ten pieces: for thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to thee:

And I will take thee, and thou shalt reign according to all that thy soul desireth, and shalt be king over Israel.

And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee.

Why didn't Jeroboam stay faithful to God's word by keeping it clear in his mind? Good question. Why don't people today believe God's word? It has everything to do with keeping ourselves in the bible and maintaining a faithful, daily diet of God's word. If we don't keep ourselves in the word, we will lose it. That's not a threat, that's just life. If you don't eat, your body will become weak and ill and you will eventually die. You don't have to eat, but if you don't, you're not going to enjoy much of a life because you will be dead. If you neglect the word, fears await you and what you fear will become reality in your life. If you don't believe me, go and spend some time in the book of Job, which is where Jeroboam should have gone. He was afraid of losing his job, he was afraid of losing his kingdom, he was afraid of losing the power and authority he had obviously developed a taste for, and he was afraid of losing his life.

1 Kings 12:27
If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah.

Instead of going to God's word to deal with his fears, Jeroboam made a few plans of his own. Do we walk by the senses or do we walk by the revealed word and will of God? Jeroboam decided to do things his way.

1 Kings 12:28-33
Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

And he set the one in Bethel, and the other put he in Dan.

And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.

And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.

And Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like unto the feast that is in Judah, and he offered upon the altar. So did he in Bethel, sacrificing unto the calves that he had made: and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places which he had made.

So he offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.

Will you look at that. Jeroboam built a new religion. He turned his back on the fountain of living waters and hewed him out a broken cistern in which to house his fears.

Jeremiah 2:13
For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

A church or ministry is something man makes in which to house his religion. Man just seems to feel the need to have some kind of organised structure complete with layers of leadership into which he can place his religion. Always remember, God does not dwell in temples made with hands. If you lose this truth, you will be blown about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men and the cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive. Religious organisations constructed by men are broken cisterns that can hold no water. Any flowing of living waters they once energised will eventually leak out of them until all that is left is dry religious ceremony.

Let's look at this new religion of Jeroboam's to see what we can learn. Remember, Jeroboam had been a disciple, a disciplined follower of God, a man who loved God and his word. He neglected the word, and in its place constructed a religion, complete with gods in the form of golden calves.

1 Kings 12:28
Whereupon the king took counsel, and made two calves of gold, and said unto them, It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem: behold thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.

The first thing he did was to replace the true God with alternative gods. People require something to worship, something they can call their god. In this administration, golden calves wouldn't work, so the devil has to adapt. The intent is to strip the power of God out of people's lives and replace it with religious ceremony.

The living waters of Jeremiah refers to the energising of God's power, the manifestation of spiritual power, therefore replacing the manifestation of spiritual power with ceremony and ritual is an important stage in the development of a broken cistern. In modern day language, this would equate to turning people away from walking by the spirit to walking by the counsel of men. Instead of walking with Christ as their head, people are taught to walk within a structure of leadership who all report up the chain to a patriarch who feels responsible for the entire religious structure. That is walking by the senses because it is putting your trust in men. If you have Christ in you and you can walk by the spirit, what do you need a patriarchal system for? Either Christ is your head or men are your head. The only leadership anyone needs is whoever witnessed to them, the person who is responsible to look after them, teach them the word, and show them how to walk by the spirit for themselves. This is a family thing, a home church thing, not a monstrous patriarchal leadership man-made temple thing.

The next phase of Jeroboam's plan was to construct religious buildings in which to house his new gods. No doubt the temples he made for his golden calves would have had elaborate religious design intended to draw gasps of wonder from folks stepping inside. No doubt people would have talked in awe about the grandeur of those temples in Bethal and Dan and spread the word of the new religion.

Any religious organisation with a central headquarters whose staff support a patriarchal system of leadership that walks by counsels of men thinking there is safety in a multitude of counsellors is a temple made with hands. As there are thousands of such man-made temples around, with some brands having church buildings on practically every street corner, it's also a good idea to label them so people can choose which broken cistern they would feel comfortable supporting. After all, people like to brag about the broken cisterns they've dedicated their lives to despite God stating very clearly in this administration that he does not have anything to do with any of them.

Acts 7:48-50
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

Hath not my hand made all these things?

The next thing Jeroboam did was construct an administrational system around his new religion and staff it with wonderfully sincere religious priests.

1 Kings 12:31
And he made an house of high places, and made priests of the lowest of the people, which were not of the sons of Levi.

The sons of Levi were God's leadership in the old testament. In this age of Grace, there is no priesthood. Instead, those of us with a knowledge of the word and who walk by the spirit are to establish churches in our homes and teach others how to do the same. To support this work, God gives gift ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. These gift ministries are for the perfecting of the saints (the mending, the caring of God's people), for the work of the ministry, and for the edifying of the body of Christ. These gift ministries are to be energised at the home church level for that is where they are needed. And another thing, God gives these ministries, not men. Who ordains leadership in broken cisterns? Men do. They also give them nice religious titles such as reverend, labels that you won't find anywhere in the bible. God gives gift ministries, and he absolutely does not do it through counsels of men. The worldwide network of energised home churches who walk with Christ as their head make up the body of Christ, not some dead religious temple made with hands.

Ephesians 4:11,12
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

I've never been in any church or ministry leadership programmes. I've never been to any religious educational institutions for further education, and I don't have any degrees or university qualifications. Do I have any gift ministries? Well, what does an apostle do? He brings new light to his generation, therefore how would you know if God had given someone the gift ministry of an apostle? By reading his name tag? I don't see reverend listed in the gift ministries, I see apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.

I don't see anyone calling Paul reverend, I see everyone referring to him as the apostle Paul. I don't see Reverend Philip in the bible, I see Philip the evangelist. I don't see Reverend Agabus in the bible, I see Agabus the prophet. Who gave these ministries to those men? God or a structure of leadership who took it on themselves to do it? People may call themselves reverend and enjoy the worship they get from men, but in truth they're nothing more than priests ordained by men to help prop up their particular brand of religious horseshit.

What about the gift ministry of a prophet? What qualities exemplify a prophet? A nametag with reverend on it? Prophets confront God's people and bring them back to the word. What about the gift ministry of an apostle? What qualities exemplify an apostle? A nametag with reverend on it? Apostles bring new light to God's people. It may be old light, but it's new to the generation to which he brings it. These definitions make it rather easy to see where gift ministries are in operation. Men do not give gift ministries, God gives gift ministries where it pleases him, and I can assure you that he has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with patriarchs and counsels of men dishing out reverend titles in temples made with hands.

The next thing Jeroboam did was institute a religious calendar, complete with special holy days, alters, incense, feasts, ceremonies and rituals. Which days top your religious calendar? Christmas? Easter? The anniversary of your broken cistern?

1 Kings 12:33
So he [Jeroboam] offered upon the altar which he had made in Bethel the fifteenth day of the eighth month, even in the month which he had devised of his own heart; and ordained a feast unto the children of Israel: and he offered upon the altar, and burnt incense.

This doesn't sound much different to every other religion on earth today, does it? You just will not find God within any religious man-made ministries or organisations anywhere on earth. They are all broken cisterns. Every single one of them without exception. Just because a church or ministry sings a few congregational songs every sunday followed by the reading of a script splattered with a few bible verses is no indication of anything.

So, Jeroboam constructed a new religion in which to house his fears. His fears were the motivation for turning his back on God and hewing out for himself a broken cistern. We know that fear is believing, so how did things turn out for the king?

1 Kings 15:29
And it came to pass, when he [Baasha] reigned, that he smote all the house of Jeroboam; he left not to Jeroboam any that breathed, until he had destroyed him, according unto the saying of the LORD, which he spake by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite:

Oh dear, perhaps hewing out broken cisterns and decorating them with glittering religious trappings isn't the way to go. By the way, while we're here, religious trappings come in many forms, a few of which might surprise and shock you. For example, while Moses was leading the Israelites from Egypt to the promised land, at one point they had a major problem with the local wildlife.

Numbers 21:5-9
And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

And the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died.

Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people.

And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.

And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived.

The Israelites still had not got their heads around the truths in the book of Job regarding not accusing God of doing criminal things to them. Once you start accusing God of doing criminal things to you, the doors are open to all sorts of problems. The devil tried to break Job's integrity by getting him to blame God for his problems. Job didn't break, but these Israelites just couldn't stop themselves. Here they go again, this time accusing God of taking them out into the wilderness so he could kill them with hunger. Go to any church in the world today and you will hear folks accusing God of making them sick and killing them. People, you had better wake up to the truth that God does not dwell in temples made with hands and stay well away from them.

As a consequence of their unbelief, God couldn't protect those Israelites from fiery serpents, but when the people came back to God and apologised for accusing him of doing evil things to them, he made a way for them to escape, he provided a solution. Every time we come back to God, no matter how much we've neglected him or even how terrible we've been, he will always be there to help us sort out our problems. In this case, Moses was to make a brass image of the serpents that were biting them and if someone was bitten all they had to do was run to the brass serpent, look at it and they would be healed.

Now listen, selah, God had Moses make that brass serpent for a particular job. Once the people were out of the danger area and into the promised land, did they need the brass serpent any longer? No, they didn't. It had served its purpose. However, hundreds of years later during the reign of Hezekiah, the children of Israel were still worshipping that stupid thing.

2 Kings 18:1-4
Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign.

Twenty and five years old was he when he began to reign; and he reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Abi, the daughter of Zachariah.

And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did.

He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan [a piece of brass].

This is amazing. Can you see now how religion takes the things of God and turns them into mindless ceremonies and rituals? Hundreds of years later, the Israelites were still worshipping that stupid piece of brass. Hezekiah took it out of its temple and broke it in pieces. If we want to live for God, we are going to have to take down any religious idols we may have and break them in pieces.

For example, what does the word say about water baptism? Was water baptism part of the patriarchal system? No, it wasn't. Was it part of the law administration? Moses wrote nothing about water baptism. Search and look, Moses wrote absolutely nothing regarding water baptism. In fact, there is nothing in the bible about it until John the baptist came along.

Matthew 3:1-6
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,

And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan,

And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins.

John the baptist was a prophet, a man of God, just like Moses, and God told John to get out into the wilderness and water baptize people in the River Jordan. Just as God had Moses set up that brass serpent to bless his people, God also had John institute water baptism to bless his people. However, look at what John said to Jesus Christ when he came to him to be baptised.

Matthew 3:13-15
Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?

And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [allow] it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered [allowed] him.

Will you just look at that. It's almost unbelievable. John refused to water baptize Jesus Christ, the son of God. John told Jesus he wasn't going to do it, and then told him that he had need to be baptized of him with something better. John the baptist himself knew that something better than water baptism was coming and that Jesus Christ would make it available. John the baptist knew his water baptism was but a temporary symbolic gesture until that something greater came along. Look at what John said publicly in verse 11, before Jesus came to him.

Matthew 3:11
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost [holy spirit], and with fire:

John knew that his water baptism was but a symbolic gesture preparing people for what was coming, something far greater, which was to be baptized with the holy spirit. His entire ministry was simply to prepare people for what was coming. Water baptism isn't worthy to bear the shoes of baptism with the holy spirit.

Mark 1:8
I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost [holy spirit].

John 1:32,33
And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost [holy spirit].

God told John to water baptize people in Jordan as a symbolic illustration to prepare them for the baptism with the holy spirit which Jesus Christ had come to make available. John the baptist himself taught his followers that Jesus Christ was the true way to God. John knew his ministry of water baptism was temporary and that it would be replaced.

John 3:25-30
Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews [Judeans] about purifying.

And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.

John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Jesus Christ also knew that he would make a far better baptism than John's available. On the day of the ascension, he again brought up water baptism and told his apostles that John's water baptism would be replaced in a few days.

Acts 1:4,5
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost [holy spirit] not many days hence.

Jesus Christ came to make baptism with the holy spirit available, which was something far superior to water baptism, and it first came on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 2:1-4
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost [holy spirit], and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

With the coming of the greater, the lesser was no longer necessary. With the coming of the baptism of the holy spirit, water baptism was no longer necessary, it had served its purpose. Like Moses' brass serpent, water baptism was simply a temporary measure, and once baptism with the holy spirit became available it was no longer needed. Water baptism was a symbolic cleansing, a ceremony John instituted to illustrate what was coming, to prepare the way for Jesus Christ. The actual receiving of the gift of holy spirit, which is to be baptized in holy spirit, cleanses you within and washes you entirely, making you righteous before God. No amount of washing in water can do that for anyone.

So why then do churches today two thousand years later still perform water baptism ceremonies? They dunk people, sprinkle them, immerse them, and submerge them in rivers. Why? Same reason the people in Hezekiah's day still worshipped that stupid brass serpent. Look, getting wet will get you nothing from God. The only way we can get anything from God is to confess Jesus as Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead. At that moment we are saved, sozō, made whole, by receiving the gift of holy spirit which is to be baptized with the holy spirit. The receiving of that spirit washes us completely and gives us the righteousness of God. Water baptism is religious horseshit, a religious ceremony, a mindless ritual that accomplishes absolutely nothing other than making people wet.

What other religious trappings could we have in our lives? Well, anything that we do with our five senses, with our human abilities to try to please God falls into the category of religion. It is impossible for any man or any woman to do any works of any kind in order to be baptized with holy spirit. It is impossible to worship God except in spirit and in truth, which is to manifest the gift of holy spirit by speaking in tongues. Anything a person may do with their five senses abilities because they think it's how you please God falls into the category of religion.

Like wearing a cross around your neck. The cross is a symbol of torture and murder. If Jesus Christ had been run through with a sword, would you wear a sword around your neck? If Jesus Christ had been shot, would you wear a gun around your neck? If Jesus Christ has been beaten to death with an iron bar, would you wear an iron bar around your neck? If you think worshipping the very tool the devil used to murder Jesus Christ pleases God, you're insane. This isn't about his death, this is about his resurrection from the dead. Get those filthy icons of death out of your life. While you're at it, you can dump all your guardian angel garbage, as well as any pictures or statues of Jesus and Mary, or any other religious trash you have around. They cost you money? Getting money from you was the whole point.

What else? Well, what about your written words? Do you think God enjoys seeing you capitalise pronouns referring to Him and His Word? Do you think He appreciates what you consider He might want? He does not want you worshipping Him with works of the flesh so shove your capitalisation up Your religious broken cistern ass. All you do with that religious garbage is alienate yourselves from the world by making yourself look ridiculous. If someone insists you should do it, ask them for the chapter and verse.

What about saying Amen at the end of prayers? Do you even know what amen means? If you don't know what it means and you just repeat it mindlessly at the end of prayers, you're just performing a religious ceremony. We don't pray to God in the name of Amen, we pray to God in the name of Jesus Christ. I once read that a hindu woman with a red spot on her forehead was asked about it and she didn't have a clue what it meant. She replied that it was just their custom. Her mother did it, so she did it too. If that's all Amen means to you, shut the fuck up. Try speaking in tongues and worshipping God in spirit and in truth instead. It is perfect prayer, after all. Amen was a congregational response to a prayer which meant no more than wot he said in modern language. It is not some magic word that somehow opens the windows of heaven for you. Used mindlessly, it is just another piece of religious horseshit.

What about saying God bless you to people, or signing your letters and emails off with God bless you? It's nice to be nice, don't you think? Is it? I don't see God bless you in the book of Acts or anywhere in Paul's epistles. I see grace, mercy and peace to you from God our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, but I don't see God bless you. Quite the contrary, I see that God has already blessed me with all spiritual blessings.

Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Why do you say God bless you to people? If they're born again, God has already blessed them with all spiritual blessings. Are you implying that God didn't do a decent enough job and that he still has some blessings to give to that person? If so, you're contradicting the bible, because the word says that God has already blessed us, all of us who are born again, with all spiritual blessings. If you want to bless someone in this administration, Corinthians tells you how to do it.

1 Corinthians 14:16,17

Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.

According to Corinthians, if you want to bless someone you're going to have to believe to operate tongues with interpretation and prophecy at a home church meeting.

God bless you? Where did you learn that anyway? From the bible or from a broken cistern? Why do you say God bless you to people? Because it's in the bible or because everyone else at your broken cistern ministry does it? It's time to be honest people. Saying God bless you to people is religious horseshit. You're already blessed with all spiritual blessings, don't ever forget that.

The origin of saying God bless you is quite intriguing. The phrase God bless you is actually attributed to Pope Gregory who uttered it in the sixth century during the bubonic plague epidemic that killed over 25 million people. In other words, saying God bless you to someone originated in death. Every time you say God bless you to someone, you are thinking death of them. It originated with a fucking pope who claimed God was killing all those people with the black death to bless them.The following verses in Corinthians have been taught extensively regarding believers marrying unbelievers, and I'm sure that's a tiny part of it, however, read the verses again in light of what we've just learned regarding religion.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18
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.

Are these verses simply addressing marriage? I don't think so! These verses address having fellowship with unbelieving believers in their temples made with hands. Come out from among them and be ye separate. Touch not the unclean thing, walk by the spirit instead because God is your father and he will not be found in temples made with hands.

What about putting your hands together when you pray? Do you really think it makes any difference to God what you do with your hands when you pray? Nowhere in the entire bible is anyone ever instructed by God to clasp their hands together when praying. So where does it come from? Haven't you ever stopped to wonder where that religious piece of shit comes from? I mean, just look at it. It doesn't take much imagination to realise that it's just making a penis in front of your face to pray to which is what the ancient pagans did. What a wonderful christian thing for parents to teach their young children hey?



I could go on forever on this subject, but I think I've made the point God wanted me to make. Yes, it is God who has been energising within me to will and to do of his good pleasure while I've been putting this class and this session together. And another thing, God is quite happy with my language. Do you think swearing means I'm not a man of God? The word says my speech should always be with grace, seasoned with salt so that I should know how to answer every man.

Colossians 4:6
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

This verse mentions grace and salt, it says nothing about swearing. If you insert swearing into this verse, you're full of religious horseshit. Do you even know what grace is? This is the grace administration. I'm extending grace by teaching about God's grace. You will find grace all the way through my teachings. I always teach grace, therefore my speech is always with grace. Salt is a reference to commitment. Does anyone out there doubt my commitment to what I do? If you think being holy and righteous means you don't swear, you're worshipping a brass serpent, attempting to establish your own holiness with works of the flesh. I worship God in spirit and in truth, do you? I walk by the spirit and not by counsels of men, do you?

While I was researching and writing this session, one morning I woke up without any idea where the class was going after Jeroboam. I was half way through and I didn't have a clue where it was going next. As I sat up and swung my legs over the side of the bed, at that moment I saw very clearly the direction I had to take. When I later finished writing up the first draft, God filled me with a deep peaceful feeling inside to let me know the job was done. All I had to do then was tidy it up and prepare it for publishing. I can assure you, God is quite happy with my language because it communicates. If he didn't like my language he would not have worked within me to do this thing and pull it all together. My righteousness I hold fast and will not let it go, my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live.

Look, I don't hate religious people and nor does God. Well, he loves them a lot more than I do, but I'm not simply out to annoy them just for the sake of it, I'm trying to get their attention. I'm confronting the world because I love enough to want to see the word live. Come out of those broken cisterns my brothers and sisters in Christ, energise that gift of holy spirit within you and establish churches in your homes that are self governing, self propagating and self supporting. Only then can you be truly free.

http://walkingbythespirit.com/walkingbythespirit/spirit11.html

FELLOWSHIP

Fellowship with the Father 1 John 1:3
   That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
    The epistle of 1st John is written to born again believers regarding fellowship with the Father, with His son, Jesus Christ, and with other like minded believers in His family.
     The Greek word translated "fellowship" is "koinonia."  Although almost always translated as "fellowship," "koinonia" is also translated as "communion," "contribution," "distribution," and "communicate or communication."  The basic meaning of the word koinonia is to "SHARE one with another."
     You cannot have a family (Father and son) sharing relationship with God until you first have "sonship."
Romans 10:9-10
     That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
      A person who confesses Jesus as Lord and believes God raised him from the dead receives holy spirit from God making him or her a child of God.  This begins a family relationship and starts a person out in a perfect, full sharing, fellowship with God.
1 John 3:1-2a
     Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
     Beloved, now are we the sons of God, . . .
     As a son of God, a person is made righteous in Christ Jesus.  Sonship is eternal.  It is God's seed in you.  You are His child and He is your Father forever.  This wonderful family relationship is made available through the accomplished work of the Lord Jesus Christ who bridged the spiritual gap between God and man.
     Just as sonship is available through the work of Christ, continued fellowship with God requires the continuing work of Christ as he intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father.
1 John 1:4
    And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
     Fellowship with God as our Father is the secret to spiritual happiness and power in our day-by-day walk.  Fellowship makes the family life a happy one.  Sustained fellowship depends upon renewing our minds to the truth of God's Word and walking in light of that Word.  God's Word is God's Will.  If you are going to have a full sharing relationship with the Father you must walk according to His Word.
     When we fail to walk according to God's Word we are no longer in a full sharing relationship with the Father.
1 John 1:6-7
     If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
     But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
     Failure to walk in fellowship with our Father, God, is sin.  It does not break the family relationship any more than if you as a son or daughter are not on good terms with your earthly father.  If a son does not obey his father he is still his father's son; but the joy is taken out of the relationship.  God's will is that our joy and fellowship with Him be FULL.  1st John is written that we might better sustain our relationship with God and share fully with Him at all times.
1 John 2:1
     My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.  And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
     And he is the propitiation [payment] for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
     When we fail to walk according to God's Word, Jesus Christ acts as our advocate to bring us back to a full sharing relationship with our Father.  He is the payment for the sins of the whole world making sonship available.  He is also the payment for our failure to walk in fellowship as sons of God.  He pleads our case before the Father and brings us back into that sweet Father and son fellowship that God so desires.
1 John 3:20-22
     For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
     Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
     And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
     When a son fails to walk in fellowship with God, he is not able to get prayers answered.  God is not unwilling to answer His son's prayer, but the failed relationship on the part of the son leaves his confidence in God shaky and uncertain.  When we do those things that are pleasing in our Father's sight with a heart locked in fellowship with God, we receive of him whatsoever we ask because we have confidence that we are walking according to His Word.
1 John 5:14-15
     And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us:
     And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
     When the Word of God dwells richly in us, we have a full sharing relationship with the Father.  As we believe and act according to God's Word, our joy is full and our lives are rich and abundant because our fellowship with the Father is strong.  When our fellowship with God is strong we have confidence toward Him and receive whatsoever we ask because we know His will and we are living according to His Word.

As He Is!

As He Is
When a person confesses with his/her mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and believes in his/her heart that God raised him from the dead, the Bible declares that that person is saved (Romans 10:9-10).  At that moment and for all eternity that person is a son or daughter of God, born again of God's spirit.
The epistle of first John is written to born again sons of God and its subject is fellowship.  Five times in the epistle of 1st John we are told to be as he is.  These uses of the phrase as he is describe how we can walk and maintain fellowship with God.

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Fellowship 1 John 1:3
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
When we walk according to God's Word we walk the way Jesus Christ walked.  We have fellowship with God, with the Lord Jesus Christ, and with each other because we are all walking the same walk.
Sonship and Fellowship are not the same thing.  You become a son by believing God's Word in Romans 10:9-10.  Sonship is a gift.  Sonship is eternal.  Sonship cannot be "sinned away."
However, as a son you can walk in fellowship with your Father (God)  or you can walk contrary to God's Will and outside of the loving fellowship of your Father.  When you walk contrary to God's Word you are still God's son!  You just are missing the blessings and continual loving care you would experience walking with the Father.  The epistle of 1st John was written concerning our walk in fellowship with the Father.
1 John 1:5-7
This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. [broken fellowship with the Father]
When we walk in light as GOD is LIGHT we have fellowship one with another.  We have fellowship (God and I); and we have fellowship (you and I) because we are both walking with God.  If we are not walking with God who is light we are in darkness.  God is light and in him is NO DARKNESS AT ALL.
James 1:17
Every good gift and every perfect gift [act of giving] is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
 
If we walk in darkness (or even in shadow) we are not walking with God for in God there is no darkness;...there is no variableness (the light don't flicker!); there is not even a shadow of turning.
God's Will is that we walk with Him: that we walk in light.  When we do we are AS HE IS - Light.
1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins [our broken fellowship], he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins [broken fellowship], and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
To walk as he is we must walk in light.  We must be faithful and we must be just for He is faithful and He is just.  And when we mess up and walk in darkness, we must go to God and say "Father, I'm sorry."  We stop walking in darkness and get back to walking the Word.  And God is faithful and just to forgive us and restore our fellowship with Him.
Just as you walk with your earthly father: When you do something contrary to your father's will, you say "Dad, I'm sorry.  I'll do better next time."  If you change your actions and follow your father's instructions then you begin again walking in fellowship with him.  If you say "Dad, I'm sorry.  I won't do it again.", but then you go out and do the same thing then you are a liar.  You told your dad you would change but you did not change.  To walk in the light of God's Word and in fellowship with Him we must change our behavior when we break fellowship [sin].  But even if we never walk with God again we are still His sons.  Just like your walk with your earthly father:  If you never speak to him again, he is still your father because his seed is in you.
1 John 2:1, 6
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin [break fellowship] not.  And if any man sin [breaks fellowship] we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. . . He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he [Jesus Christ] walked.
Jesus Christ always did the Father's will.  Jesus Christ always walked with God.  Jesus Christ maintained his fellowship with God and never walked contrary to his Father's will.  When we walk as he walked we also maintain fellowship with God even as he did.
John 4:34
Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Jesus lived to do God's will.  When we walk as he walked, we also live to do the will of God and to finish His work.  To walk in the light AS HE IS light is to walk with God as Jesus Christ walked.  It is to maintain fellowship with our heavenly Father.

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Our Hope The second use of the phrase as he is occurs in chapter 3.
1 John 3:1-2
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God [and we are]: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he [Jesus Christ] shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
The first use of the phrase as he is described how we can walk in fellowship with our heavenly father today as his sons and daughters.  It is our fellowship NOW.  This second use describes our fellowship eternally with the Father at the return of Christ.  It is our fellowship of eternity.
 

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Purity 1 John 3:3
And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
 
Purifieth and pure are translated from a Greek word which means to keep pure or uncontaminated even though living in a contaminated environment.  As we look toward that hope of Christ's return, knowing that we shall be like him, we keep ourselves pure even though we are living in a contaminated world just as the Lord Jesus Christ kept himself pure even though living in this world.
Hebrews 4:15
For we have not an high priest [Jesus Christ] which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus Christ was a man.  He was tempted to break fellowship with God just as we are yet he continually walked in the Light and walked without sin [breaking fellowship].  He kept himself pure from the sin that is in the world and always did the Father's will.  As we hold fast to the hope of his return and focus on what we shall be when he returns we also keep ourselves pure from this contaminated world we live in even as he is pure.
On the night that Jesus Christ was betrayed and taken captive he prayed a prayer to God for his disciples and he also prayed for us.  Following is some of what he asked God:
John 17:14-24
I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world [remove us from the contaminated environment], but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil [one].  They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  Sanctify them [set them apart] through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.  And for their sakes I sanctify myself [set myself apart] that they also might be sanctified [set apart] through the truth.  Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also [US!] which shall believe on me through their word:  That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us [that is the fellowship described in 1st John chapter 1]:  that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.  And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; . . .
Jesus Christ kept himself pure from the contamination of sin in the world.  He prayed that we also would be set apart from the world [sanctified] but not that we be removed from this contaminated world.  Finally he prayed that we be with him where he is [in heaven at God's right hand!]  As we look to that hope we purify ourselves even as he is pure.  We focus on what it will be like at the return of Christ and not on the contamination around us in the world.

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Righteousness
1 John 3:7
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. When you are born again you are righteous.  Righteousness is a gift.  When you walk in fellowship with God then you doeth righteousness.  But righteousness is not based upon your walk or your works.  You are righteous because God made you righteous not because of your works.
Righteousness can be understood as follows:  You are in court for committing a crime.  The judge is about to pronounce sentence and in walks the Lord Jesus Christ and says: "Put the punishment on me. I'll take his place."  The judge then declares that you are free to go.  You are acquitted of the crime.  Even though guilty the judgment is not guilty because the righteous one [Jesus Christ] who always walked in God's will offered to take your place.  Righteousness is your God given justification to stand in the the presence of God without sin or condemnation because the Lord Jesus Christ paid the price for your acquittal.  It is not something you did or something you earned. It is something God offered and you accepted by believing that the Lord Jesus Christ took your place.
Romans 10:10
For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
II Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Romans 3:22
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 5:17
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one [Adam]; much more they which receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
When we walk in the righteousness that God has graciously given us we reign in life and we are righteous even as he is righteous.

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Boldness 1 John 4:16-17
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.  God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
God is light.  God is faithful.  God is just.  God is righteous. And God is love.  When we walk in love we are walking in fellowship with God who is love.  Our love is made perfect so that we may have boldness in this day of man's judgment.
The day of judgment spoken of in this verse is not "the Judgment day" of the book of Revelations.  It is the judgment of man today.  It is "man's day."  Today men judge.  When men judge contrary to God's Word and we are walking in fellowship - as he is - we boldly declare God's truth.
Acts 4:18
And they [those men doing the judging] called them [the believers], and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
The judgment of men: "Do NOT speak in the name of Jesus."
Acts 4:19,20,29
But Peter and John answered and said unto them [the judges], Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. . . [and later that day in a prayer to God...] And now, Lord, behold their [the judges'] threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, . . . v31b ...and they spake the word of God with boldness.
The response of the believers: "Speak the word of God with boldness."
In this day of man's judgment we have boldness to speak God's Word because of the love that God has toward us.  We speak with boldness because as he is so are we in this world.

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AS HE IS - Fellowship with God

• Walk in light as he is light - The fellowship of our daily walk with God
• We shall be like him for we shall see him as he is - The fellowship of eternity is our hope
• Focusing on that hope we are pure as he is pure - The fellowship of purity from the world
• Righteous as he is righteous - The fellowship of righteousness - a gift of God
• We are as he is in this world - The fellowship of boldly speaking God's Word

The Big LIe -- Consequences of Believing Satan's Lie!

The Father of Lies

Among other things, Jesus Christ came to expose Satan's methods. Chief among these is the Devil's consistent contradiction of God's Word.

John 8:44 (KJV)
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

In John 10:10a (KJV), Jesus clearly revealed Satan's intentions: "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy…." Satan's ultimate goal is to promote death and destruction, as the Bible makes clear.

Hebrews 2:14
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil.

The Devil holds the power of death, and one of his most effective aids in exercising this power is the lie that death is in reality the gateway to everlasting life and ultimate wisdom. He first told this lie early in Genesis.
Perhaps you recall that Satan's first recorded utterance in Scripture was a challenge to the veracity of God's Word. Satan said, "…Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" (Gen. 3:1 - NIV). This deceptive misquote of God's revealed Word led to his second utterance, "…Ye shall not surely die" (Gen. 3:4 - KJV), which was just the opposite of what God had said to Adam.

Genesis 2:16 and 17 (KJV)
(16) And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:
(17) But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

God said, "thou shalt surely die." Satan said, "…Ye shall not surely die." Scripture makes clear who was telling the truth.

Romans 5:12 (KJV)
Wherefore, as by one man [Adam] sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Death, both spiritual and physical, was the result of man's believing Satan's lie. The idea that there is really no such thing as death is still being promoted today, even within the Christian Church. Satan's purpose has remained the same: to promote the idea that humans do not actually die, but go on living after their death whether they believe God's Word or not. In this way, he obscures the light of the good news of Christ and his resurrection, one's only hope of deliverance from death unto everlasting life.

 False Hope

The false doctrine that the dead are alive and already in heaven or hell is so well entrenched in the average Christian's mind that he has probably never considered its harmful ramifications. Understanding that Satan is the "father" of this lie explains why the consequences of believing it are so serious. The first, and perhaps most serious, consequence of believing this doctrine is that it changes the Christian's focus from the appearing of the Prince of Life, Jesus Christ, to the coming of one's own death.

In 1829, the Scottish Bible scholar Edward Irving, in a lecture entitled "The Second Advent of Our Lord," stated that:

Instead of looking to that glorious event [the Lord's appearing], and to all the circumstances connected therewith, the church has nearly forgotten it, and instead of it, to take up with miserable substitutes, such as that every man should think but of the day of his death; from which consideration there comes not joy nor strength, but weakness and oppression....

In contrast, the late Dr. Walter Martin, a noted Christian apologist, in his epochal work The Kingdom of the Cults, which well represents the position of orthodox Christianity on this subject, wrote:

The great hope of the believer, then, is the joy of personal union with the Lord, and this union, the Apostle Paul tells us, takes place at the death of the body.

How sad it is to teach God's people that the hope of a Christian is his own death, and how opposed to God's perspective that death is an "enemy," as 1 Corinthians 15:26 (KJV) clearly states: "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." Biblically, death is a thief not a benefactor. Death takes away life; it does not give a greater life.

In attempting to preserve the traditions of historic, orthodox Christianity, such teaching that the "dead" are "alive" blatantly contradicts God's Word and further entrenches the Christian Church in this error. Those who have mistakenly propounded this doctrine have apparently overlooked the many verses plainly stating that the focal point of a Christian's hope is not his own death, but the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ from heaven. For example:

John 14:2 and 3 (KJV)
(2) In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
(3) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

1 Thessalonians 2:19 (KJV)
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

1 Thessalonians 4:16 and 17 (KJV)
(16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
(17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Titus 2:13 (KJV)
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

It is the occasion of Christ's appearing from heaven that Christians should anticipate as the way of deliverance from the bondage and corruption of death. Jesus Christ is the only gateway to everlasting life and the only means by which believers will have access to God's presence in Paradise. When Jesus Christ comes again, he will fashion new, glorious bodies for us (Phil. 3:21). Apart from having these new bodies, there is no hope of entrance into the presence of God. Near the end of his life, the Apostle Paul wrote the following about this occasion:

2 Timothy 4:8 (KJV)
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

Shifting the event that triggers our entrance into the presence of God from Christ's appearing to our own death is nothing short of satanic subterfuge. In the minds of many, Satan has subtly changed the gateway to eternal life from Jesus Christ to death itself. Considering the past actions of God's archenemy, this clever trick is totally consistent with his methods. The Christian's hope is not death, but the appearing of Jesus Christ. When he appears, each Christian who is still alive will exchange his mortal body for a glorious immortal body, and each believer who has died will be raised to glorious and everlasting life.

 Who Needs Resurrection?

A second consequence of believing the doctrine that the dead are alive is one that has drastic implications for biblical integrity and harmony. Believing that all the dead are conscious in heaven or hell reduces the great truth of resurrection to virtual insignificance. Death must be true death if resurrection is to be meaningful. If death involves only the body, with the soul and / or consciousness living on, then resurrection has lost at least half its significance.

If all believers have gone into the presence of God at their deaths, the monumental importance of Jesus Christ's resurrection is negated. If Abraham, David, Job, and others were already in heaven as disembodied souls or spirits, enjoying the presence of God in "eternity," then our enemy, death, had already been vanquished before Christ's resurrection and eternal life was available without Christ. In fact, if it were true, as many teach, that Enoch, Elijah, and Moses went to heaven bodily, then Jesus is not even the only human in heaven with a body. Such teaching contradicts the Word of God, confuses sincere Christians, and dilutes their joy of hope.

It also leads to a question posed by Wycliffe, Tyndale, Luther, and others during the course of Christian history. If disembodied souls are able to live and enjoy the presence of God in heaven for eternity, then what is the need for a resurrection?

If a body is not required for life in the "hereafter," then God is going to a lot of trouble for no apparent reason by "reuniting" everyone with his body. And the physical death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, serving only to allow the disembodied soul or spirit to be united with a body that it obviously can do without, seems to be of little significance.

The teaching that the soul lives on after death destroys the uniqueness of Christian doctrine, that is, that Jesus Christ's bodily resurrection is prerequisite to anyone being given everlasting life. With so much biblical emphasis on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, any doctrine undermining it is highly suspect.

 That Sounds "Familiar"

A third consequence of believing the doctrine that souls live on after the body dies is that it plays into the hands of those who promote the practice of communicating with the dead. Today, many people, both Christian and non-Christian, attempt to communicate with the spirits of the dead, often in séances or via "channeling." Such practices are similar to ancestor worship, historically a practice of most non-Christian religions. Pagans believe that the spirits of departed ancestors intervene in their lives, both for good and evil. Thus, as godlike beings, they must be worshiped and entreated. Superstition and fear of the unknown are always hallmarks of such false doctrine.

If there really are "departed souls" or "spirits" that are conscious and have knowledge of eternity or other matters of interest to those of us still earthbound, why not communicate with them? Because they are not there to answer. What will answer are evil spirits (fallen angels currently under Satan's dominion) impersonating the dead. In the Old Testament, however, God expressly forbade communication with such "familiar spirits." For example:

Leviticus 19:31 (KJV)
Regard not them that have familiar spirits, neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them: I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 20:6 (KJV)
And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.

Deuteronomy 18:10 and 11 (KJV)
(10) There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.
(11) Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.

2 Kings 23:24 (KJV)
Moreover the workers with familiar spirits, and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the abominations that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the Lord.

They are called "familiar spirits" because these evil spirits are familiar with people who have died and can even reproduce their likenesses and personalities as if they were still alive in the realm of the "hereafter." The judgment of God against Saul, Israel's first king, which led to his death, was in part caused by his attempt to divine the LORD's will through a familiar spirit impersonating Samuel (1 Sam. 28:7–9; 1 Chron. 10:13 and 14). It is appalling that the orthodox Christian position cites this record as evidence that the dead can appear and communicate to the living.

Sometimes a familiar spirit will appear to a person who is not actively seeking to contact the dead. Although such experiences are very convincing to those who see what appears to be a dead friend or relative, God's Word exposes this counterfeit as another satanic attempt to convince people that the dead are actually still alive.

Scripture makes it plain that contacting the dead is a sin forbidden by God. Surely those supposedly living in heaven with God would not sin by initiating or participating in contact with the living.

There is nothing in the New Testament that changes God's Old Testament prohibition against attempting to communicate with the dead. The reason for this is simple: The dead are unconscious in "gravedom" and cannot communicate with the living. If anything is communicated, it will be from evil spirits attempting to deceive people into accepting that the dead have not "surely died."

 Death: Friend or Foe?

A fourth consequence of believing the doctrine of immediate entrance into heaven at death, and the corollary teaching that death is God's will, is that it may subtly undermine a Christian's will to live by causing him to accept death as a "friend." But God's Word is clear:

1 Corinthians 15:26 (KJV)
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

If a person is persuaded that death is a "friend" that will introduce him to the glories of eternity, he may adopt a cavalier attitude toward his own death. Satan can then wield the power of death more easily, manipulating the untimely death of his victims by fatal disease, murder, suicide, or accident.

BONUS:

 Why should a Christian aggressively cling to life on earth and endeavor to live it to the fullest when a much brighter and higher existence awaits him with God "on the other side"? Does this teaching motivate a Christian to behave in a manner that will cause him to prolong, preserve, and enjoy his earthly existence and service to God? To the contrary, one's belief in an immediate afterlife might even cause him to hasten his own death. In fact, history contains a great many records of Christians who have committed suicide so that they could "be with Jesus." Tragically, they have often taken others with them to the grave by murdering them first.
One effect of this false doctrine may possibly be seen in the context of a serious illness. It is generally understood that an individual with a strong will to live is more likely to survive a life-threatening illness. How ironic that Christian believers who have access to God's miraculous, supernatural power for deliverance often negate it by a truncated will to live based on their misunderstanding of the true nature of death. Unbelievers who think that this life is all there is can too often muster more of the innate and God-given instinct for survival than does a child of God. Does it glorify God that His people should have less desire than unbelievers to live as long as they can on earth? Does this help win the lost and persuade them of the benefits of following the way of Jesus Christ?
In the same vein, many Christians are very fatalistic about the moment of their deaths. Perhaps to deal with the fear of death, they assume the Lord already has the day picked. When their "number is up," they will die regardless of their behavior, thoughts, or even prayers. They think that God alone determines the day of their death when He is ready.
There is, however, no biblical justification for the idea that the day of one's death is "set in stone." Rather, the Bible is replete with examples of men and women shortening or prolonging their lives by the way they lived—for example, Saul (1 Chron. 10:13) and Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:1–6).
Although believing that God determines the day of one's death may seem comforting to a misguided believer in, say, an airplane bouncing through turbulence, it actually may work against him. In a critical situation, intense prayer and supplication would be much more beneficial than passively waiting to see what God's will is. It is obvious that our own choices go a long way toward determining what kind of life we live and for how long. Thinking fatalistically, one is probably less likely to do those things that make for a long and healthy life.
If it were true that it is God who determines one's appointed time to die, then death would be a friend and God would be its cause. Neither is true. God's will for man is a long, healthy, and prosperous life as a testimony to His love and goodness (e.g., Prov. 4:10, 9:11; Eph. 6:3). Jesus said that he always did the Father's will (John 4:34, 5:30, 6:38, 17:4), and he healed all who came to him in faith (Matt. 4:23, 8:16, 9:35; Luke 9:11).

Of course, most Christians who teach that God kills His people seldom say it that way. They usually say, of a Christian who has died, that God "called him home." What an incredible euphemism! Think about it. "Home." What visions the word carries with it: a hot meal, a warm bed, a loving family. But what are people really saying about a saint who has died when they sweetly say that God "called him home"? They're saying that God, Who is love, light, and goodness, ran him down with a bus, ate out his insides with cancer, or had him beaten to death in an alley. Repulsive? Yes, death is just that.
Although Jack Sharkey, former world heavyweight boxing champion, was hardly known as a spokesman for fundamental Christian orthodoxy, his statement in 1978 upon hearing of the death of his friend, boxer Gene Tunney, is representative of its confusion. Sharkey said that Tunney's death "makes me think it's too bad. We all get along and the good Lord takes us." How can the good Lord do bad things?
The Word of God clearly states that God is "good" (Mark 10:18) and that death is an "enemy" to His people (1 Cor. 15:26). God tells us also that it is the Devil who holds the power of death (Heb. 2:14) and that the Devil was a "murderer from the beginning" (John 8:44).
It should be noted here that although death is of the Devil, this does not mean that a Christian who dies is "bad" or "out of fellowship" or "possessed." Because of the fall of Adam, physical death is the inevitable end of life for each person unless he is still alive when Christ again appears.
If the Church fails to change its wholly untenable biblical position that the "dead" are actually "alive," it will unwittingly continue to play into the hands of spiritualists, adherents of Eastern mysticism, and the proponents of the rapidly growing New Age movement, who deny both the significance of Christ's resurrection and the unique opportunity for everlasting life through faith in his name. It will also continue to offer people a weak and false hope based on paganism rather than the comforting and satisfying truth of God's Word.

God's Dwelling Place Today

Where does God Dwell - LIVE!
PART 1
God Dwelleth not in Temples made with Hands

You won't find God in any religious organisations constructed by men because he does not frequent those places, he does not hang around in them, he does not attend them, he has nothing to do with them.


Acts 7:48,49
Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet,

Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?



Acts 17:24,25
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;


A temple is any religious structure built by the work of men's hands. In addition to churches and cathedrals, religious organisations are man-made structures built by the work of men's hands. Is a religion a work of men's hands? Certainly. Is a church, or group, or denomination a work of men's hands? Unquestionably. They have all been built by men. Does God dwell in temples made with hands? Certainly not, and that includes the Roman Catholic church as much as it does the Muslim religion, the Way International, the Hindu religion, the Salvation Army, or any other denomination, ministry or religion. They have all been built by men.

Jesus Christ's biggest challenges came from the organised churches of his day, and it was the religious leaders who had him murdered by the Romans. You cannot and will not defeat the devil by constructing more churches made with hands. You will not find God in any church, organised religion, centrally controlled group, denomination or ministry, because God dwelleth not in temples made with hands.

Where does God Dwell - LIVE!
PART 2

So where does God dwell today then? If it isn't in religions, groups, ministries, churches, temples or other works of men's hands, where is it? The woman at Jacob's well asked Jesus Christ this very question. Let's go and meet this woman.


John 4:5,6
Then cometh he [Jesus Christ] to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.


This is what you call living life. Jesus Christ had been travelling and he was tired, so he sat himself down for a rest. The disciples had gone into a nearby town to get some lunch, so he was on his own, enjoying the day. One interesting point here is that Jesus Christ was tired. Does God ever get tired? Nope, so Jesus Christ wasn't God then, was he? Then along came one of the women from the nearby town.


John 4:7-9
There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, [Judean] askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews [Judeans] have no dealings with the Samaritans.


The woman was surprised. She was accustomed to Judeans ignoring her because they considered Samaritans half breeds. She had grown up with this Judean attitude, and yet here was this Judean man speaking to her.


John 4:10
Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.


Jesus Christ obviously enjoyed talking to people, even if they were half breeds. He had no hang ups about people, no prejudices, no bigotry. He even spoke to Samaritans.


John 4:11-15
The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.


The woman wanted this living water Jesus Christ was offering. Living water is mentioned in Jeremiah, and this is worth exploring.


Jeremiah 2:13
For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.


The living waters in Jeremiah refer to God, who is the fountain of living waters, therefore the living waters Jesus Christ referred to was a reference to something spiritual. In Jeremiah's time, people had forsaken the fountain of living waters and hewed them out man-made cisterns. A cistern is something man makes to hold water. If our supply is God, a living fountain, there is no requirement for a cistern, as a fountain has an endless supply. Men hew out cisterns because they do not believe God will supply all their need. Consequently, they turn their backs on the fountain and hew out for themselves cisterns - they build churches, ministries, religions and organisations to contain their religion. They put their trust in the work of their own hands rather than in the living God.

Not only are cisterns limited in their supply, man-made spiritual cisterns are broken, they are not capable of holding any living water, any spiritual power. Religions, churches, denominations and organisational ministries are all cisterns, man-made cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no living water. Any flowing of living waters, any manifestations of holy spirit they once energised will eventually leak out until all that is left is dry religious ceremony. That is why God dwelleth not in temples made with hands. You will not find God in any religion, church, ministry, or religious organisation for they are all broken cisterns. If you want to find the unlimited supply of living waters, forget about cisterns, all of them, for they are broken and they leak.

Jesus Christ made another reference to living water in the gospel of John, where he was clearly referring to manifestations of holy spirit.


John 7:38,39
He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

(But this spake he of the Spirit [spirit], which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost [holy spirit] was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)


This fits with what Jesus Christ was teaching the woman at the well. He offered her living water, which he knew he had come to make available, and it was a reference to the future gift of holy spirit which we now know came on the day of Pentecost. Jesus Christ then changed the subject.


John 4:16-19
Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.

The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:

For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.

The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.


Now that Jesus Christ had her attention, she asked him the one question that was burning in her heart.


John 4:20
Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.


The woman wanted to know where she could worship God. She wanted a personal relationship with him. The Judeans taught her that you found God in their temple at Jerusalem. Her people taught her that she had to go up to the pagan temples on the tops of the mountains. Doesn't this sound just like religion today? Join this group, join that group, join this religion, join that religion, join this ministry, join that ministry, right? It's all bullshit. You don't have to join any ministry or church to find God. You can find him anywhere, yet miss him everywhere. He's right where you are now, and you will discover and learn of him in the pages of the bible. You don't have to go to any church or group or ministry or religion to find God, just learn to read your bible.


John 4:21-24
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews [Judeans].

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.


This woman wanted to find God. She wondered if the temple in Jerusalem was the place to go, or up to the temples built on the hilltops. Jesus Christ told her to forget both because the Father desired people who would worship him in spirit and in truth, a reference to manifestations of holy spirit. This same truth is very relevant today. If you want to find God, forget about churches, ministries, organisations, religions and temples. God dwelleth not in temples made with hands. If you want to worship God, you can only worship him in spirit and in truth, truthfully by way of spirit, and that does not involve performing weekly ceremonies inside religious buildings or ministries. Stay away from churches and groups and religions and ministries, no matter how much truth they claim to have, for God dwelleth not in temples made with hands.

Where does God Dwell - LIVE!
PART 3

If any church, ministry, organisation, religion or group offers to teach you how to worship God in spirit and in truth only on condition you join them and give them your money, it is a bribe. Both God and Jesus Christ gave the word unconditionally, without charge. Yes, folks gave of their finances to support Jesus Christ during his ministry, but it was not on condition of getting the word in return, it was a thankful response to being taught the word free of charge.

In answer to the woman's question, Jesus Christ told her to forget about churches, all of them, because God was looking for people to worship him in spirit and in truth. What does that mean? Well obviously you cannot worship God by attending religious meetings, going to church, performing ceremonies, singing songs, going to prayer meetings, lighting candles, or reading bible verses. If you want to worship God, you must worship him in spirit and in truth, you must learn to walk by the spirit and that is not something that comes by going to church, joining ministries or groups, or leaving one religion to join another. I don't care what religion you are, or what group or ministry you are a part of, you can speak in tongues and learn to walk by the spirit right now right where you are. God dwelleth not in temples made with hands. He used to, but not anymore.

Back in the old testament, God instructed Moses to build the tabernacle, a tent in which he could live among his people. Looking back it is easy to see that the tabernacle was a temporary residence, a temporary home.


Exodus 29:44-46
And I will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office.

And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God.

And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them: I am the LORD their God.


After the tabernacle was built, God moved in.


Exodus 40:34,35
Then a cloud covered the tent of the congregation, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.

And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.


God has always desired with great longing to live among his people. His heart bursts to be with us, to have fellowship with us, and the tabernacle was a first step towards that reality. Later, Solomon built the temple, and with the coming of the greater, the lesser was no longer necessary. After the building of the temple, God moved home, he moved out of the tabernacle and into the temple, and that became his new home among his people.


1 Kings 8:2-11
And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month.

And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.

And they brought up the ark of the LORD, and the tabernacle of the congregation, and all the holy vessels that were in the tabernacle, even those did the priests and the Levites bring up.

And king Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be told nor numbered for multitude.

And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD unto his place, into the oracle of the house, to the most holy place, even under the wings of the cherubims.

For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above.

And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle, and they were not seen without: and there they are unto this day.

There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place, that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,

So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.


This is the record where God moved into his new home. However, Solomon's temple was also temporary accommodation. It was not God's permanent home among his people, and later he would move house again. In this Administration of Grace, since the day of Pentecost, God no longer dwells, God no longer lives, God no longer resides in temples made with hands. On the day of Pentecost, God moved house. Neither the tabernacle nor the temple sufficed to contain him, neither afforded the home comforts, the companionship and love he so desired. They were provisional arrangements, temporary accommodation until a permanent home became available.

A basic understanding of the overall structure of the temple affords us a few clues in our search for God's dwelling place. The temple was basically divided into three separate areas. There was the court of the Gentiles, which was where Jesus Christ turned over the tables of the crooked merchants and drove out their animals. Another part consisted of the sacred courts for Judeans only, which Gentiles were not permitted to enter. The third part was the Holy of Holies, where God resided, and into which only the High Priest entered once a year. These three separate areas were divided off with walls and veils. Ephesians teaches us what Jesus Christ accomplished regarding these divisions between the Gentiles, the Judeans, and God.


Ephesians 2:13
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.


Those who were far off refers to the Gentiles mentioned in verses 11 and 12, who were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the covenants of promise, and who were without hope and without God in the world. The blood of Jesus Christ brought the Gentiles nigh, close, next of kin to God.


Ephesians 2:14
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;


The middle wall of partition refers to the wall separating the court of the Gentiles from the sacred courts of the Judeans in the temple. As well as figuratively, at his death there was an earthquake which literally destroyed this wall separating the Gentiles from the Judeans. Jesus Christ broke that wall down. That's why he is our peace.


Ephesians 2:15
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;


Jesus Christ made of two one new man, the two being the Gentiles and the Judeans. Of these two, Jesus Christ made one new man, and that's how he made peace between us. He abolished that enmity between Judeans and Gentiles in his flesh, referring to the price he paid in giving his life.


Ephesians 2:16
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:


The price Jesus Christ paid by way of his death reconciled both Judeans and Gentiles to God in that one body, that new man he had made of the two. The enmity was slain, destroyed, it no longer existed.

At the same time as the wall of separation between the Gentiles and the Judeans was broken down, the veil separating all of us from God in the Holy of Holies was torn from the top to the bottom.


Mark 15:38
And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.

As well as the walls of separation, the earthquake tore the veil, signifying that the way back to God was now open to all men, whether Judean or Gentile.

Where does God Dwell - LIVE!
PART 4

What man had lost in Adam back in Genesis had been regained by Jesus Christ. Man had been reconciled back to God.

Ephesians 2:17,18
And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.


Through Jesus Christ, both Judeans and Gentiles have access by one spirit unto the Father, our heavenly Father, God.


Ephesians 2:19-21
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:


In contrast to Solomon's temple, which was made of stone, we are now all builded together as a holy temple, a permanent home for God through the spirit. It is the spirit, that gift of holy spirit we receive at the time of the new birth, that is our eternal life. God now lives in us through the gift of holy spirit. We are God's permanent home. God no longer dwells in temples made with hands, he lives within those of us who have his spirit.

There is only one building God lives in now in the 21st Century, and it is not any temple made with hands, it is not any man-made ministry, group, or religion, it is within those of us who are born again of his spirit, those of us who are his children. We make up the household of God. The household of God is not a ministry or a church building, because God dwelleth not in temples made with hands, and they are all the work of men's hands. We, his children, are the temple, the house, the home of the living God, and we are not temporary accommodation, we are his for eternity.


1 Corinthians 3:16
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

1 Corinthians 6:19
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

2 Corinthians 6:16
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.

Ephesians 2:22
In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.


It is an interesting phenomenon that most folks in religions and churches around the world think they are right, that they are in what they believe to be the true household of God. Quite how the devil instils this insipid lie into people is really brilliant. The vatican believes it is the only true church on earth, and the pope and the jesuits are committed to exterminating everyone on earth who is not one of them. All other christians regard themselves as right. Muslims believe they are the only true followers of God on earth. Buddhists believe they have found the true way to God. Jehovah's witnesses, a particularly insipid brand of religion, believe they are the only true way to God. Mormons believe they are the only true church on earth. The Way International believes it is the only true household of God and instils that lie into its followers. Folks, God dwelleth not in temples made with hands, they are all broken cisterns, they all leak. If God does not live in them, how can they be a source of living waters?

The good news is, God does not want you to leave one religion or church and join another. What he wants you to do is enjoy his endless supply of living waters. Forget ceremonies and rituals, forget going to church and making a fool of yourself. God isn't there anyway, so going to them is a waste of time. Constructing churches over the graves of once energised ministers is how the devil destroys the word they stood for.

God does not live in the vatican. God does not live in any christian church or denomination. God does not live in the Muslim religion. God does not live in the jehovah's witnesses. God does not live in the mormon church. God does not live in the Hindu religion. God does not live in the way international. These religions may teach they are the only true way on earth, but they are liars, for God in his word teaches that he does not dwell in temples made with hands. Regardless of which religion you are in or where you live in the world, you can have fellowship with God right now right where you are by worshipping him in spirit and in truth.

Acts 17:24
God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;


It is clear in scripture that God did at one time live in temples made with hands, but it is also abundantly clear in scripture that God moved home on the day of Pentecost when the age of Grace was ushered in. Where is his home now? Where does God live now?


1 Corinthians 3:16
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?


We need to take a second look at this. Here in Corinthians, these believers are referred to as the temple of God. We know that God dwelleth not in temples made with hands, so we can assuredly and categorically state that this temple referred to here is not any temple made with hands. This temple is most definitely and absolutely not any ecclesiastical structure, ministry, church, religion or organisation which has been built by men. The spirit of God no longer lives in temples made with hands, so no ministry, church, religion or organisation can claim to be the temple of God, the church of God, or the household of God.
When we are born again and receive the gift of holy spirit, God moves into us. That's right, God now lives inside you and me. God now lives in people, not in temples made with hands.
Here, a group of people are collectively called the temple of God. What group is this? Who are these people? Who is this addressed to? This is a good question, because it brings us to another extremely important key to the bible's interpretation. The bible interprets itself, yes, but we must apply keys to unlock that interpretation. We already know that we must understand the administrations in the bible so we can properly apply scripture written during each administration, as well as a few other keys, but we must also know to whom certain books of the bible are addressed. Not everything in the bible is addressed to everyone. If you read the bible thinking it is all addressed to you, major problems in understanding await to assail you. For example, take these verses in Romans.


Romans 8:38,39
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature [creation], shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 11:22
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.


According to Romans 8, nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our lord, not even death, yet three chapters later Romans states that if I'm not careful I'm going to be cut off. Most waggle their fingers at this and call the bible contradictory, but in reality all they do is publicly display their ignorance.

Men have different classifications for men and divide humanity into many groups, like nationality and culture, race and religion, but God only divides men into three general categories. Let's examine them.


1 Corinthians 10:32
Give none offence, neither to the Jews [Judeans], nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

Here Corinthians succinctly places all men into just three categories. According to God, every single human being on the planet is either a Judean, a Gentile, or part of the church of God. That's it. That is God's classification of men. Either we are Judeans, Gentiles, or church of God. According to Ephesians, the church of God is made up of both Judeans and Gentiles who have received the gift of holy spirit. This definition clearly and unquestionably exposes any ministry or group or religion that claims to be the church of God as liars. The church of God, by definition, comprises men and women called out from both Judeans and Gentiles who have been born again and who have received power from on high, the gift of holy spirit. Anyone who has Christ in them is part of the church of God, the ekklēsia, the called out of God.
By definition and by scripture, ecclesiastical and religious structures built by men which claim to be the church of God are liars. God dwelleth not in temples made with hands.

Galatians 5:1-4
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.

For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.

Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace.

Being entangled in law or even in a patriarchal religious ministry made with hands is something God commands us to avoid.

1 Corinthians 3:16
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?


Here, the church of God comprising those who are born again and have the gift of holy spirit is referred to as the temple of God. Elsewhere in the epistles, individuals are occasionally referred to as tabernacles.


2 Corinthians 5:4
For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

The temple of God comprises those who are born again, those who have the gift of holy spirit, those with Christ in them, called out from among both Judeans and Gentiles.
God now lives in each of us. We all have the spirit of God living within us, and together we make up the church of God, the ekklēsia of God. The church is not to construct any more temples made with hands, it is to meet in people's homes. In this administration of Grace, God wants his people meeting in home churches, well away from temples made with hands. This is made remarkably clear in Romans through Thessalonians, the scriptures addressed to the church of God.


Romans 16:5
Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my wellbeloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

1 Corinthians 16:19
The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

Colossians 4:15
Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house.

Philemon 1:2
And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

Acts 9:31
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost [pistis - holy spirit], were multiplied.

Acts 15:41
And he went through Syria and Cilicia, confirming the churches.


God wants to hang out with us, fellowship with us, enjoy our company with us in our homes. The centre of outreach in the 1st Century was not some centralised ministry headquarters where everyone sent all their money to support a patriarchal hierarchy, it was in folk's homes. God lives in us, we are his church making up the temple of God, and he wants us to teach and minister in our homes well away from suffocating patriarchal temples of men. Get away from them for they do not walk by the spirit, but by worldly senses wisdom they seek through councils of men. Find a home church where people speak in tongues, walk by the spirit, and operate the power of God.

Prayer in the Epistles/Prayer

Prayer in the Epistles
     Prayer is very important to God.  Many have taught about what prayer is and how prayers ought to be offered to God.  Some have looked at the prayers of men and women in the Old Testament.  Some have reviewed the prayers of Jesus Christ in the Gospels.  Some have taught that the example of prayer offered by Jesus Christ to his Judean followers ought to be "the prayer" offered by his followers today.  Some have looked at the prayers of the Book of Acts.  Some have examined the prayers in the Epistles. Some have even developed "formulas" for prayer.
   When it comes to believing the Word of God, that which is addressed TO US must be applied BY US.  All other scripture is for our learning and can be applied IN LIGHT OF that which is addressed to us.  That which Jesus Christ taught prior to his sacrifice for sins and the giving of holy spirit is of necessity void of that which became ours on the day of Pentecost.  As sons and daughters of God with holy spirit our prayers ought to be offered to our Heavenly Father in light of all that was accomplished by His son Jesus Christ.  We have been given remission of sins.  We have been made righteous in Christ Jesus.  All of our needs are supplied according to God's riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  We have been rescued from the power of darkness and we have been made citizens in God's Kingdom by the work of His beloved son.  To ask God for His Kingdom to come, to ask Him to deliver us from evil, to seek forgiveness based on our forgiveness of others, and to pray for God to supply our daily bread is to ignore that which God has already freely given to us in Christ Jesus.  So what do the Epistles written to us say about prayer?
The "formula" in the Epistles:
Philippians 4:6
   Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Prayer is pouring out your soul.  Supplication is making a request for others.
Prayer is to be with thanksgiving.  Prayer is to let your requests be made known unto God.
The Epistles tell us to pray often:
1 Thessalonians 5:17
   Pray without ceasing.
Romans 12:12b
   . . . continuing instant in prayer;
Colossians 4:2a
   Continue in prayer, . . .
The Epistles tell us to pray spiritually:
Romans 8:26
   Likewise the Sprit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
1 Corinthians 14:14-15a
   For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
   What is it then?  I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: . . .
Ephesians 6:18a
   Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, . . .
The Epistles show how leaders pray for the believers to whom they are ministering:
Romans 1:9b
   . . . that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
Ephesians 1:16
   Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
Philippians 1:4
   Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
Colossians 1:3
   We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.
Colossians 1:9
   . . . do not cease to pray for you, . . .
Colossians 4:12
   Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, . . .
1 Thessalonians 1:2
   We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
These leaders prayed "without ceasing, always", "gave thanks for the believers",  and "made request for the believers."

The Epistles show how believers are to pray for those ministering to them:
2 Thessalonians 3:1
   Finally brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
1 Thessalonians 5:25
   Brethren, pray for us.
Colossians 4:3
   Withal praying also for us that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also an ambassador in bonds:
Ephesians 6:18-19
   Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
   And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
2 Corinthians 1:11a
   Ye also helping together by prayer for us, . . .
Romans 15:30
   Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
   The context of these prayers are that the believers are praying in order to help men of God move the word of God:  "that the word of the Lord may have free course . . . that I may make known the mystery of the gospel."  We help each other move God's Word when we include requests for the movement of His Word and for the men and women speaking it in our prayers.
Following are some of the requests made in prayer in the Epistles:
Romans 1:10
   Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
Romans 15:31
   That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;
2 Corinthians 1:11
   . . . that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.
Ephesians 1:17
   That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him . . .
Ephesians 1:18-19
   . . . watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints . . . that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.
Philippians 1:5
   For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now . . .
Colossians 4:3b-4
   . . . that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; That I may make it manifest as I ought to speak.
Colossians 4:12b
   . . . that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
1 Thessalonians 1:3
   Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, and in the sight of God and our Father;
1 Thessalonians 3:10
   Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
   . . . that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
   That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 3:1
   . . . that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
   The requests of the prayers in the Epistles are not requests for the Kingdom to come, forgiveness, daily bread, money, power, or worldly things.  The requests made in prayer in the Epistles are for the Word of God regarding the revelation of the mystery to be made known.  They are for the goodness and grace of God to be manifested in the believing action of those who walk as members of the one body of Christ "that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God!"

 Prayer:
    The Greek word for prayer is the word proseuche.  Proseuche means to pour out the soul.  Prayer is a pouring out of your soul to God.  All of the other aspects of prayer are a part of this one.  Whether you are making intercession, making a request or supplication, giving thanks for God's blessings upon your life, praising God, or just telling God about something,  you are pouring out your soul to God.
I Corinthians 14:15a
    What is it then?  I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also;. .
For believers after the day of Pentecost there are two ways to pray: with the spirit and with the understanding.  To pray with the spirit is to speak in tongues.  To pray with the understanding is to pour out your soul to God.  Both are important aspects of a believer's prayer life.
Jesus Christ taught his disciples about (proseuche) prayer:
Matthew 6:5-6
    And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men.  Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
    But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to the Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.
Most of the time when you pour out your soul to God it is a very private and personal thing - just you and God.  If you are praying to show others how religious you are - you have your reward.
Mark 1:35
    And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Mark 6:46
    And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.
Luke 5:16
    And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
Luke 6:12
    And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Jesus Christ made it a habit to get up early, get away to a solitary place and pour out his soul to God.  We too should find a time when we can get alone with God each day and pray.
Matthew 18:19-20
    Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
    For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Praying together with other believers is also very important.
Matthew 6:7-9a
    But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do; for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.
    Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
    After this manner therefore pray ye:  Our Father which art in heaven . . .
When you pour out your soul to God you are not reciting a rote prayer or rosary.  Your prayer then becomes a vain repetition that means nothing.  It is interesting that in this context Jesus Christ gave them an example of a simple prayer request to God that has become a rote prayer used by most of the Christian churches today.  He was telling them not to make vain repetitious prayers and we have taken his simple example and turned it into a vain repetitious prayer.  Just keep it simple.  You don't have to repeat some rote prayer to be heard by God.
Luke 18:1
    And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint.
It is important that we continue in prayer and not quit when our answer does not come immediately.  This is not to say use vain repetitions.  Just don't give up.  If you know that what you are asking will glorify God - keep asking until you get your answer.  George Mueller was a man of God who lived his life relying upon prayer.  Following are some of his words:
I live in the spirit of prayer. I pray as I walk, when I lie down, and when I rise. And the answers are always coming. Tens of thousands of times have my prayers been answered. When once I am persuaded that a thing is right, I go on praying for it. The great point is never to give up till the answer comes. The great fault of the children of God is, they do not continue in prayer; they do not persevere. If they desire anything for God's glory, they should pray until they get it.  George Mueller