Category: local church assembly

Signs of Shallowness #6

Sunday, November 17, 2019

“Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:11-14 KJV).

Behold the signs of shallowness!

It was no accident the Holy Spirit moved the writer of the Book of Hebrews to employ the expression “dull of hearing” in today’s Scripture. This condition applies to Israel not only during the early to mid-Acts period, but also in Christ’s earthly ministry (Matthew 13:15) and the late Acts period (Acts 28:27). They are lazy (Greek translated “slothful” in Hebrews 6:12) when it comes to hearing the Word of God. This infirmity goes all the way back to Isaiah 6:9-10, some 700 years earlier, when Israel was not responding positively to God’s message to them. Again, the Jews had prolonged exposure to God’s words but refused to believe them, thus resulting in persistent spiritual immaturity.

Here we are, friends, almost 20 centuries since God gave mankind a completed Bible. We have yet to master it because the Church the Body of Christ has spent 99.9 percent of that time dillydallying with denominations, speculations, and hallucinations. It is a tragic commentary, but the average local church building is nothing but a nursery where spiritual children play with spiritual toys (rituals, ceremonies, singing, dancing, hand raising). Therein is an offensive, pervasive odor—people unable to control themselves (like babies with soiled diapers). They cannot function independently, requiring constant service from the preachers (who themselves likewise need tending to). Unable to make Christian decisions, they languish in worldly thoughts and deeds. Like Israel of bygone days, they too are “dull” of hearing the things of God. Spiritual truth has fallen on willfully deaf ears!

Brethren, it is high time for us to leave the spiritual nursery and grow up….

Signs of Shallowness #5

Saturday, November 16, 2019

“Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:11-14 KJV).

Behold the signs of shallowness!

First Corinthians chapter 3: “[1] And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. [2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. [3] For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” For nearly two years, the Corinthians heard the sound Bible doctrine they needed to grow (Acts chapter 18). Yet, they had not accessed it by faith. As Israel’s history demonstrates, possessing God’s Word will profit us nothing unless we trust it (Hebrews 4:2).

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Peter 2:2). Like the Corinthians, these new believers in Christ drink from the spiritual baby bottle. Again, as in the physical world, this is normal. The problem is when people stay with the baby bottle (see today’s Scripture). Just as the nation Israel wasted 16 centuries with spiritual nonsense when they could have learned the pure Word of God, so the Church the Body of Christ has squandered 20 centuries with spiritual nonsense when we could have learned the pure Word of God.

Today, we have a completed Bible, and are still overwhelmingly ignorant of it. It is as if God never revealed anything at all! We have the principles of grace, how the grace edification process works, but we have yet to grow. Let us see how to grow in grace….

Signs of Shallowness #4

Friday, November 15, 2019

“Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:11-14 KJV).

Behold the signs of shallowness!

We can understand why atheists, agnostics, and other skeptics are spiritually immature. Unless they seek to “disprove” it, they actually do not read the Bible. They often do not attend church, and are less likely to be exposed to “Christian” teaching. We do not expect them to be skilled in the Scriptures. Yet, here is a real dilemma, something even they find unbelievable. Actually, for this reason, people despise the Bible and have no time for Christians. What is this problem?

How is it that individuals who attend church regularly still wind up clueless about the Scriptures? How can preachers who have been in ministry for 30 or 40 years, look like fools when Bible critics tear them apart for their ignorance? How is it that people who claim to “believe the Bible” often live worse than those who never frequent church or believe in any “god?” They are not using God’s Word, God’s way.

God has designed His Word to spiritually mature His people: there is a “Divine design for the edification of the believer” in Israel’s program as well as for our current program. Romans chapter 16: “[25] Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, [26] But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:….” Here is how we grow from “babes” to people of “full age….”

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What happens after death?”

Signs of Shallowness #3

Thursday, November 14, 2019

“Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:11-14 KJV).

Behold the signs of shallowness!

Ancient Israel is an excellent case study in spiritual immaturity. JEHOVAH God furnished the Jews with His words, that they might grow to spiritual adulthood. For 16 centuries, they possessed the Holy Bible (Old Testament). The Holy Spirit assesses the nation in today’s Scripture: Israel is still (!!!) a spiritual baby! Not only unable to teach the Gentiles the Word of God, the Jews themselves must first be taught Bible basics!! What happened?!

Frankly, there is no substitute for sound Bible doctrine—“sound” as in “healthy,” “whole,” or nourishing (see 1 Timothy 1:10; 1 Timothy 6:3; 2 Timothy 1:13; 2 Timothy 4:3; Titus 1:9,13; Titus 2:1,2; 3 John 2; cf. Luke 5:31; Luke 7:10). Not retaining the Divine revelation given her, Israel had played around with religious tradition (rabbinical speculations). After consuming that massive amount of “spiritual junk food,” Israel was now spiritually emaciated (sick, thin, and frail/weak). Languishing in this extremely dangerous spiritual condition, Israel demanded her Messiah be killed (God, writing the Book of Hebrews, is looking back on Calvary).

Today, dear friends, listen to professing Christians as they share their own spiritual journeys. These poor souls, “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” (Ephesians 4:14), are exact copies of ancient Israel. Deceived by denominational systems, they have trodden so many loops, U-turns, excursions, detours. After attending church services for decades (!), they still have no idea what the Bible really teaches. No wonder they are too ignorant to teach Scripture to others. As tragic as it sounds, “Christians” are often the least likely (!!) to have stable Christian beliefs….

Signs of Shallowness #2

Wednesday, November 13, 2019

“Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Hebrews 5:11-14 KJV).

Behold the signs of shallowness!

“Tell people about Jesus.” “A.S.A.P.: always say a prayer.” “Praise God.” “Thank Jesus.” “Let God’s love be inside us.” “Jesus, I surrender to you.” Local churches featured these messages on their signs. Dear friends, do you not see how shallow they are? There is no spiritual steak here, something of sustenance—just spiritual milk and childishness. No wonder the professing church is so doctrinally weak! We abound with spiritual children in the church because spiritual children lead it! Have these ministers not taught their people enough Scripture to post powerful, thoughtful Bible messages?

For over 18 months, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul directly taught the Corinthians (Acts 18:1-18). Later, Paul wrote to these new saints (1 Corinthians chapter 3): “[1] And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. [2] I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. [3] For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?”

It is certainly not a sin to be immature. Development is a process—whether spiritual or physical. We begin in our mother’s womb as a fertilized egg, but we do not remain like that indefinitely. Eventually, we are delivered at birth, passing from infancy to toddlerhood, then to childhood, next to adolescence, and finally to adulthood. How preposterous is the notion that one never leaves mother’s womb! Apply this simple illustration to the spiritual realm….

Our latest Bible Q&A: “What are ‘evil communications’ in 1 Corinthians 15:33?”

One Another

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

“For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another” (Galatians 5:13 KJV).

Grace living is living for others—not for self.

A dear sister in Christ shared her distresses with me regarding appalling posts she had seen on social media from fellow “Christians” (?). The wife of a “grace” pastor wrote something highly inappropriate. On another website, the sister saw a video where members of another assembly acted like fools with their “contemporary Christian music.” Here, their pastor had joined them in the entertainment! Most disastrous!!!

It is lamentable, but Christians often have no one to blame but themselves when lost people refuse to hear them talk about the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Scriptures. Unsaved souls see right through hypocrisy—especially in places where “righteousness” is proclaimed loudly and proudly. We have far too many individuals in denominational churches—and that number, sadly, is growing among “grace” circles—engaging in flagrant (open!) misconduct. Have they no shame? The church members? Not even the preachers and teachers? No wonder the complaint is lodged (and certainly with merit): “You Christians use grace as a license to sin!”

In contrast to Judaism, Christianity is certainly not a list of “dos” and “don’ts.” Yet, 1 Thessalonians chapter 4 declares: “[1] Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. [2] For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. [3] For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: [4] That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; [5] Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: [6] That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. [7] For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”

We are free in Christ—to serve others (not self!).

But He Has a Doctorate!

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual” (1 Corinthians 2:13 KJV).

He may have a doctorate… but does he listen to the Holy Spirit?

Recently, I counseled with a highly confused Christian. Almost 40 years after trusting Christ, she still has not been stabilized in sound Bible doctrine! Her mind was greatly scrambled by various wild ideas. When I asked her to turn to a specific verse and read it, she replied, “Oh, I know that verse,” and then she proceeded to quote another verse! This dear soul is just one of two billion church members so thoroughly deceived in Christendom. They read books about the Bible, but do not read the Bible. If they have read Scripture, it is little snippets here and there—read while wearing denominational eyeglasses. Refusing to let the Holy Spirit teach them, they approach God’s Word with countless assumptions and misconceptions.

I was honest with that poor lady: “Your preacher is not telling you the truth, and you know it. He has hidden truths from you, concepts I just shared with you by having you read Bible verses.” Earlier, she defended her pastor by rebutting, “He has a doctorate! He has been to seminary!” After our discussion, she began to see that “seminary” is often nothing but a Bible cemetery! Here is another common fallacy worth correcting. The first qualification for a preacher is not a seminary diploma—or even a high school diploma for that matter! Any human Bible teacher must first have the real Bible Teacher: the indwelling Holy Spirit is the only ultimate Instructor in the Holy Scripture.

A man led by his flesh, a man not submitting to the Holy Spirit, has no business whatsoever teaching the Bible. It does not matter if he can speak and read Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and Aramaic. It does not matter if he has been a missionary to 80 countries. It does not matter if he has water baptized 50,000 people. It does not matter if 35,000 individuals attend his church services every week. Brethren, we must stop thinking about ministry like lost people. Let us heed the warnings of 1 Corinthians chapter 2—and fast!!

Bible Q&A #660: “Who or what are the 10 ‘toes’ or ‘horns’ or ‘crowns’ associated with the Antichrist?”

The Blind Leading the Blind! #5

Wednesday, July 3, 2019

“Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:12-14 KJV).

Do the blind still lead the blind? (Yes, they do!)

Greek, Hebrew, and Latin literacy are no substitute for the indwelling Holy Spirit! Familiarity with theology, church history, and denominational tenets are no replacement for sound Bible doctrine! Yet, the Holy Spirit and sound Bible doctrine are usually ignored when evaluating and choosing local church leaders. Followers of such ministries “carry on the tradition” by using those faulty criteria to assess life!

Read the first three chapters of 1 Corinthians. These saints exalted “scholarship,” believing that philosophy was key to learning God’s wisdom. First Corinthians chapter 2: “[11] For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. [13] Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. [14] But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Sadly, the professing church today has yet to learn these truths. Most preachers and teachers are filled with the world’s wisdom. Very few are filled with the Holy Spirit, thinking as He would have them think. They do not approach the Bible dispensationally. They do not use the right Bible text (the manuscript family of the King James Bible). We can meet the people resulting from those ministries. They are copies of the confused souls who taught them. All this perplexity leads to atheism, agnosticism, and more denominations. Indeed, the blind are leading the blind! (And God is not to blame!)

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The Blind Leading the Blind! #4

Tuesday, July 2, 2019

“Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:12-14 KJV).

Do the blind still lead the blind? (Yes, they do!)

In today’s Scripture, the Lord said, “And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” What exactly is this “ditch?” That deep hole into which Israel will fall had already been predicted in Proverbs chapter 23: “[26] My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. [27] For a whore is a deep ditch; and a strange woman is a narrow pit. [28] She also lieth in wait as for a prey, and increaseth the transgressors among men.” There is something more than physical prostitution here.

Notice the spiritual whoredom in Revelation chapter 17: “[1] And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: [2] With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication. [3] So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. [4] And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: [5] And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.”

Since Israel’s religious leaders had taken her away from God’s truth, the nation would fall for the Antichrist’s false religious system (still future). Likewise, Christendom’s leaders have lured billions of church members into Satan’s trap….

The Blind Leading the Blind! #3

Monday, July 1, 2019

“Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:12-14 KJV).

Do the blind still lead the blind? (Yes, they do!)

Notice Israel’s religious leaders. They misquoted Micah 5:2 in Matthew 2:6, and were willfully ignorant of other Old Testament passages and truths (Matthew 12:3-5; Matthew 19:4; Matthew 22:31; Mark 12:10,26; Luke 6:3; John 7:52). Even after witnessing numerous miracles, they asked Jesus to perform more (Matthew 12:38; Matthew 16:4). They were content in their unbelief! The Lord exposed the fact that they had set aside God’s Word so as to keep their church traditions (Matthew 15:1-9; Mark 7:1-13).

They pretended not to know the truth, so as to conceal their unbelief (Matthew 21:24-27; Mark 11:27-33; Luke 20:1-8). On three occasions, to no avail, they attempted to trick Jesus (Matthew 22:15-46; Mark 12:13-34; Luke 20:40). They actually looked for false witnesses to accuse Christ to condemn Him to death (Matthew 26:59-62)! Read His scathing rebukes of them as found in Matthew chapter 23, Luke chapter 11, and John chapter 8. They even lied to cover up His resurrection (Matthew 28:11-15).

Even today, those in “church leadership” are often unfit to lead God’s people. I can honestly tell you that most of the so-called “Christian clergy” I have encountered these past 10-plus years could not identify Christian teaching. In fact, some have taken scoffer’s (!) positions at times—the preacher who did not take the Bible literally, the priest who outright laughed at Scripture, and so on. I recall the “Christian” lady who refused to hear me read the Bible to her. Never will I forget the church members who had attended denominational services for decades and were still biblically illiterate.

Long ago, I too was an ignorant Christian leader—one of the many blind leading the many blind. However, when I learned about dispensational Bible study, I left my denomination and never returned to it! Indeed, the blind do not have to stay blind….

Bible Q&A #625: “Why did multitudes follow Christ during His earthly ministry?”