The bible is irrelevant and is meaningless for today. It is basically a book of the dead, written by men who are long dead, for the dead. I grew up in the church hearing stories about a powerful God of the past that “usetocould.” This is a word that one comedian describes as something you were at one time able to do, but now you can’t.” There were powerful stories of creation, walls falling down, God’s people being saved, enemies being defeated, and lands of promise taken. There were signs and wonders that were truly astounding. Then as described there was the old, old stories of the birth of Jesus, His love, His ministry, His power to heal, perform miracles and more signs and wonders, and the power to cast out demons. Then there was the amazing story of the death of Jesus and His resurrection. The bible states that it is true but is it really true because the bible seems to be just words and stories made up by men and women who may or may not have lived. It appears that those words / stories were only for those who lived at the time of Jesus and the times of those few disciples. It seems like someone took these writings, put them together and called it God’s word. Since written by man, those words would be modified as each new generation came along to fit their own beliefs. It was really clever how each very distinct group could formulate their own beliefs from the same book, yet be radically different. The God in this book really sounded like a powerful God who at one time “usetocould” but now cannot could. Every Sunday this God is talked about as a God that could in the past but now is an irrelevant God. As we recently saw (doctrine of demons called the rapture) at Rash Hashanah, the church also talks about the God of the future, but it appears that most have no idea who that God is or what He is going to do. Hell also seems to be just another made up story as the idea of hell really has no impact on people’s lives.
The God of the past is talked about and stories are told about Him, but God remains powerless for today. Since there is no power, therefore, the church took it upon themselves to do it themselves by adding more words and taking words away so that the bible appears to be more relevant. Since the bible is boring, people have to be entertained to keep them coming. Also, since the power of God is all but a story from the past, the church had to create their own power and do it themselves. The church must be more relevant to the lost around us, so the bible as written needs to be set aside or just selected passages are used that may apply because of its irrelevance. In order to be successful, the church needed to look to the top companies of the world and emulate the business model they have created or are following. The church needed to read books that help with emulating those models. Years ago, one book I was told to read to help with that, at one of the pastors retreats I was at, was Stephen Covey’s book, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” It doesn’t matter that he was a hardcore Mormon, the church needs to entrench ourselves in the minds of highly successful people.
No, I did not read it as it does matter that he was a hardcore Mormon that is a cult. If scripture was truly believed to be God’s word, the leadership would have placed the bible above everything else, but obviously that was not the case as they looked everywhere else for guidance except God’s word. Obviously, I do not believe the sarcasm that you just read. This was an attempt to convey the fact that the God most worship is a God of the past who is powerless and irrelevant in our day. Some do not even believe what they read about the God of scripture. The church talks about God as the living God, His word as the living word and Jesus who rose from the dead and lives and sits at the right hand of God. By their actions, therefore, the church really doesn’t believe Jesus is alive, nor do most believe that the bible is the living word of God. Every year Easter is celebrated but the power that raised Jesus from the dead is not expected to be present in the church and most are not even aware that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to the church. Ephesians 1:18 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” When you look at the church and see how it operates, and what most believe, all you see is a group of people who act as if God is dead, His word is irrelevant and Jesus like all other great leaders remains in the tomb. Mark 6:6 “Jesus replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” Instead of worshipping Jesus and following His word, man has been elevated and God and His word have been humanized. When humanized, God is irrelevant, Jesus becomes a children’s story, and the bible becomes just another book on the shelf and treated as such.
The stories about the power of Jesus are talked about, but the same power from on High is not expected, nor is that same power believed possible for today. 1 Corinthians 4:20 “The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” Most will not admit they worship a God of the past and follow a book from the past about the past, but their admission comes in their contentedness to be powerless and remain in captivity. Most will continue to act as if they are God and their words are more important, thus more relevant. Those actions will produce the same results as this verse. King Josiah said, 2 Kings 22:13 “Great is the Lord’s anger that burns against us because those who have gone before us have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us.” Because God is the God of the past who “usetocould,” the bible is humanized because it became irrelevant for today. Even during the apostle Paul’s life, God’s word was set aside. Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” Even Jesus was replaced. 2 Corinthians 11:4 “For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” Many in the church even believe in a false doctrine of demons called cessationism, which might as well be called “usetocould.” That simply means the power of God ceased to operate in His disciples after the original disciples. According to scripture, cessationism is utter nonsense and a doctrine of demons because nowhere in scripture is this found. To be clear it is not just the cessationists who believe this, as most in the church worship a God of their understanding who “usetocould.” Belief in this doctrine and those who are content with powerlessness is a rejection of God’s power and His word. As Paul said to Timothy, 2 Timothy 3:1 “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.” The humanization of the bible deifies man and at the same time despises God. This is easily seen by looking at the names of men and women who have been idolized such as Calvin Wesley, Luther, Aimee Semple McPherson and the gurus of recent times. The list is too long to list. As I have shared before, the seminary I went to even erected idols to men they idolized and the denomination I was once part of actually had Wesley in its name. This veneration is throughout the church even to this day as God’s people continue to be easily swayed to worship man instead of God. This has been going on since the beginning of time. Adam and Eve listened to satan and Israel listened to the false prophets and today the church listens to false teachers all the while ignoring the word of God. Because the church worships a God of the past, it was necessary for the deification of man as the church needed someone to worship. The church then operated as a business, and everything was done in the strength of man and honor was also given to man. Yes, some churches look very impressive and successful, but at the same time look nothing like the church Jesus is the head of, nor is there any power. In their efforts to be relevant to those around them, they became irrelevant to God. The gurus say this is the vison God gave me for the church and then write books about it and then people clamor after their words and try to emulate what they believe God was doing. No, God did not forget to give us His plan for the church, as it is all there. Meanwhile the word of God has been set aside and replaced with the words and plans of man. Jeremiah 23:16 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord.”
Most people who call themselves Christians have become very content with the church as they know it. Most are so content that even when confronted by the word of God, they reject God’s word and accept man’s word instead. Everywhere you look, the church is powerless but don’t be confused with churches who are powerful and successful from a world’s point of view. Yes, they may have the masses, but they do not have the anointing of God’s presence because they look nothing like the early church, nor do they do what Jesus did. The church Jesus started to build and empowered His disciples to continue is not the church we see today. 1 Corinthians 15:2 “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.” Therefore, most worship in vain. There are also those like the charismatics who believe they have the anointing of God, but they too look nothing like the early church. Instead, they were deceived by satan masquerading as an angel of light. Most do not test to see if the manifestations (tongues, glory clouds, falling to the ground on their backs, etc.) they are witnessing are actually from God. They are not! It is easy to see they are teaching a false gospel because the signs are not signs from God. This can be said because scripture does not confirm them. Some talk about the presence of the Holy Spirit, then bark like dogs, laugh like hyenas and flop and flail like salmon amongst other ludicrous behaviors. It is not the Holy Spirit who was possessing them! Read about the demon possessed man Jesus healed Mark 5:14 “Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.” Most who call themselves the church, have been deceived into thinking the church they have committed their lives to is a necessary step to eternal life, but the reality is deception and delusion will prevent them from hearing well done my good and faithful servant and instead hear Matthew 25:41 “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels,” all because they did not test the spirits by standing firm on the word of God. 1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
The lack of power in the church is a sign that God has turned His face from the church. Jesus said to the disciples, Mark 16:15 “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues (Acts 2 - not the gibberish of the charismatics); 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” Hebrews 2:4 “God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” The signs are missing, and the church is content to remain in captivity, remain demon possessed, stay sick and die.
While doing a little research on the opposition to God, I came across Bertrand Russell’s China Teapot analogy. “Bertrand Russell, in an unpublished 1952 article on the existence of God, described an analogy designed to show the burden of proof regarding the existence of God in terms of a teapot orbiting around the sun.” “If I were to suggest that between the Earth and Mars there is a china teapot revolving about the sun in an elliptical orbit, nobody would be able to disprove my assertion provided I were careful to add that the teapot is too small to be revealed even by our most powerful telescopes. But if I were to go on to say that, since my assertion cannot be disproved, it is an intolerable presumption on the part of human reason to doubt it, I should rightly be thought to be talking nonsense. If, however, the existence of such a teapot were affirmed in ancient books, taught as the sacred truth every Sunday, and instilled into the minds of children at school, hesitation to believe in its existence would become a mark of eccentricity and entitle the doubter to the attentions of the psychiatrist in an enlightened age or of the Inquisitor in an earlier time.” Basically “it should always be on the person making any sort of claim to prove their point.” I really like this argument and yes those who call themselves the church should be able to prove not only the existence of God, but His presence among them. If the church believes Ephesians 2:19 “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit,” that means the Almighty God, creator of the universe lives among us. If the church believes Jesus rose from the dead and is alive, therefore everything we read in the Gospels and Acts should still be happening. We should be able to say yes there is a teapot and that teapot makes amazing tea.
Obviously, God is not a teapot in the sky, but is very real and powerful. The church should also say He is the God who answers by signs, wonders, miracles and fire. Sadly, as of present, the church cannot do that as most do not understand that the church should be able to say that, not just with biblical examples but those same examples happening today. After the severe famine / drought, Elijah called the people together. 1 Kings 18:19 “Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” 20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him. But the people said nothing.” At this point that is the response of the church because most do not know that the Lord is God other than He “usetocould,” according to the stories they have been told. The false prophets did their thing, but nothing happened. 26 “Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made. 27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.” Then Elijah stepped forward. 36 “At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. 39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”
When Joshua was about to cross into the promised land the second time, Joshua 3:9 “Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. 10 This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites. 11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you. 12 Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap. 15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off.” Joshua 2:8 “Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. Joshua 5:1 “Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.”
The God we serve is not a God who “usetocould,” but still can. The God we serve does not change and we saw the same power that parted the Red Sea, dried up the Jordon and took possession of the land of promise, is now in Jesus and then in the church. Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.” Matthew 11:2 “When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”
Not only did Jesus have this power, He also anointed his disciples so that they could do as He did. Matthew 10:1 “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” Mark 6:6 “Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7 Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” Luke 11:1 “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 8 “When you enter a town and are welcomed, eat what is offered to you. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you. 17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
Then the church was given this same power and authority at Pentecost. Acts 2:1 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” Acts 3:1 “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. 6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” Acts 4:29 “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Pentecost was not a one-time event, but the beginning of power and authority given to the church.
That power would continue. Acts 5:12 “The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.” Yes, there is an argument that only apostles did this but as we see here, that is simply not true. Acts 6:1 “In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2 So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” 5 This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6 They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. 7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”
Then there is the account of two of those men. Acts 6:8 “Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.” Acts 8:4 “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.” Acts 21:8 “Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied.” Acts 19:11 “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.”
Many argue that the power stopped because there were not many examples, but Paul said in Galatians 3:1 “You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?” The miracles were still there, they were all not written down just as everything Jesus did was not written down. John 21:25 “Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.” It really is amazing how hard many in the church tried to disparage and reject the power of the Holy Spirit. Many are so afraid of the distortions of the charismatics that they reject what scripture says. Why would so many not want to have the power of God present among them. The answer is obviously the presence of satan who knows what happens when the church’s power is restored. His work will continue to be defeated. As Paul said Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”
This is why the power stopped. It was not because power was no longer available, it was because God turned His face from the church because of rebellion. Jeremiah 2:5 “This is what the Lord says: “What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves. 6 They did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord, who brought us up out of Egypt. 8 The priests did not ask, ‘Where is the Lord?’ Those who deal with the law did not know me; the leaders rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, following worthless idols. 17 Have you not brought this on yourselves by forsaking the Lord your God when he led you in the way? 19 Your wickedness will punish you; your backsliding will rebuke you. Consider then and realize how evil and bitter it is for you when you forsake the Lord your God and have no awe of me,” declares the Lord, the Lord Almighty.” Jeremiah 9:2 “Who is wise enough to understand this? Who has been instructed by the Lord and can explain it? Why has the land been ruined and laid waste like a desert that no one can cross? 13 The Lord said, “It is because they have forsaken my law, which I set before them; they have not obeyed me or followed my law. 14 Instead, they have followed the stubbornness of their hearts; they have followed the Baals, as their ancestors taught them.”
Rebellion always leads to disaster just as we were warned would happen by Daniel. Daniel 10:14 “Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.” 15 While he was saying this to me, I bowed with my face toward the ground and was speechless. 16 Then one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing before me, “I am overcome with anguish because of the vision, my lord, and I feel very weak. 17 How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe.” Daniel 8:12 “Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.” Daniel 9:27 “And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” Daniel 7:21 “As I watched, this horn was waging war against the holy people and defeating them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came and pronounced judgment in favor of the holy people of the Most High, and the time came when they possessed the kingdom.”
John also saw the devastation that was coming soon. Revelation 22:10 “Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.” Revelation 17:6 “I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God’s holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished.” These men were astonished and overcome, yet the church continues week after week giving glory to a God they believe “usetocould,” and continue to reject the word of God and accept the words of man who have made their words out to be a message from the Lord and they and the people who listen to them do not seem to care about this warning. Jeremiah 23:33 “When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, ‘What is the message from the Lord?’ say to them, ‘What message? I will forsake you, declares the Lord.’ 34 If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ I will punish them and their household. 35 This is what each of you keeps saying to your friends and other Israelites: ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 36 But you must not mention ‘a message from the Lord’ again, because each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort the words of the living God, the Lord Almighty, our God. 37 This is what you keep saying to a prophet: ‘What is the Lord’s answer to you?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 38 Although you claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ this is what the Lord says: You used the words, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ even though I told you that you must not claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord.’ 39 Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors. 40 I will bring on you everlasting disgrace—everlasting shame that will not be forgotten.” We will talk more about words in the next blog.
Down the street from me is a large Pentecostal church that believes they are filled with the Holy Spirit. Next door to them is a Mosque. One states they believe Jesus is the only way, truth and life and the other does not, but who is right. Because the church has rebelled, there is no way to know. The reality is that when it is prayer time the Mosque appears to be right plus Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. Now this does not have to be about Islam, but any religion including atheists and others who say there is no God and cults like the Mormons or Jehovah’s witnesses. This could also be between churches and their beliefs. When God sent Moses to Egypt, he went with power but those he stood against also had power. Exodus 7:10 “So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the Lord commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. 11 Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: 12 Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron’s staff swallowed up their staffs. 22 But the Egyptian magicians did the same things by their secret arts, and Pharaoh’s heart became hard; he would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the Lord had said.” But in the end, they could not stand against the power of God. Exodus 8:18 “Since the gnats were on people and animals everywhere, 19 the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.”
Elijah said, “the God who answers by fire, He is God.” Jesus said, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Elijah and Jesus proved the power of God, and the church was supposed to continue in that same power which proves to all that God is God. So yes, the burden of proof is on the church, which is why power and authority were given to the church at Pentecost. This was not a one-time event but was to continue until Jesus returns. The church was to do as Jesus did and continue to destroy the word of the devil. 1 John 3:8 “The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” If the church had obeyed, the coming of Jesus to take us into eternity would have sped up not slowed down as we have seen. 2 Peter 3:11 “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”
At this point our enemy satan has been allowed decimate the church. But there is hope because God promised David there would always be a remnant of survivors. Even though this abomination that causes desolation has been devastating to the church, we have hope because Jesus said after talking about the abomination, Matthew 24:22 “If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. 23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. 24 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 25 See, I have told you ahead of time.” Those who survive will rise up and be the church Jesus is building and will continue to go to the ends of the earth just as the first disciples were sent out but we need the anointing just as they received. The good news for us is as Peter said after Pentecost. Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those words still apply. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Matthew 24:12 “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” The same power will be present as when Jesus said, Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” As you wait, do not give up. Isaiah 54:7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. 8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.” Isaiah 66:2 “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word. 6 Hear that uproar from the city, hear that noise from the temple! It is the sound of the Lord repaying his enemies all they deserve. 9 Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the Lord. “Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?” says your God. 10 “Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, all you who love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her. 11 For you will nurse and be satisfied at her comforting breasts; you will drink deeply and delight in her overflowing abundance.” 12 For this is what the Lord says: I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees. 13 As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” 14 When you see this, your heart will rejoice and you will flourish like grass; the hand of the Lord will be made known to his servants, but his fury will be shown to his foes. 15 See, the Lord is coming with fire, and his chariots are like a whirlwind; he will bring down his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire. 16 For with fire and with his sword the Lord will execute judgment on all people, and many will be those slain by the Lord.”
