"Trends That Affected The Future Of The Church"

In Revelation 2 and 3 Jesus Christ sends a message to each of the seven churches in the Roman province of Asia (Asia Minor). The number seven shows completeness, just as seven days make a complete week. The seven messages of Revelation 2 and 3 paint us a picture of trends that had already begun and would continue throughout the history of the Church---trends that would shape it's future...

The seven messages gives us several indications why the division among Christians developed and why this divisiveness continues to plague generations.

The seven congregations represent seven candelsticks in Revelation 1. together they represent the Church and its mission to be a light in the world (Matt 5:14). "Jesus", stands in the midst of the seven congregations as the source of their light... He is always present and accessible. He will make good His promises always to be with His church until the end of the age (Matt 28:20)... But, its obvious from the messages to the seven congregations, not everyone who comes into the Church will "remain" faithful to Him.

The seven messages reflect conditions in the Church and are also prophetic; they reveal some of the reasons for division today. Each of the seven congregations receives a warning! "He who has an ear, let him/her hear what the Spirit saus to the churches"... Each congregation's message is a warning to the other six because the same similar conditions could develop among them. In the messages Christ cites examples of obedience and disobedience among His followers, showing who He will bless and who He will reject. He compliments where approval is due. And, He criticizes the unrepentant for faults that threathen their relationship with Him. The Church, when the messages were written, was suffering trails, persecution and imprisonment. Christ encourages the congregations not to lose heart, not to quit, not to compromise their beliefs, and--if necessary--to be willing to die for His sake. He reminds them to look ahead to the Kingdom of God, for they will help Him rule the world in righteousness...

Jesus compliments His devoted members for their service, labor, patience, perseverance, endurance and faith. But, His other compliments are revealing as well. They show that the threat from within the Church was--and always will be--cause for concern. Many members had--and--do remain faithful in spite of many hardships and trials. but others had or have lost their first love. Some are lukewarm and spiritually blind, needing salve for their eyes so they can see their spiritual deteriorating condition. Christ said to them: "I am He who searches the mind and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works"( Rev 2:23). Besides the growing problem of spiritually weak members, false prophets were infiltrating the congregation. Doctrinal error was--is-- being taught. The doctrine of Balaam, the teachings of the Nicolations and the influence of Jezebel are mentioned. Jesus tells the Christians in Thyatira: "Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you have allowed that woma Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols" (verse 20). This concerns the introduction of licentiousness--license to sin based on wrong views of  law and grace. Dissent (failing to conform to Christ standard) was developing from within, which was the real threat to the church! Members of these congregations were two types of people. The faithful: "those who cannot bear those who are evil" and "those who could and did bear, those who are evil"...

Satan had successfully infiltrated the congregation raised up by the apostles, then and now! He lures people away from the faith that was once delivered to the saints, using false teachers and prophets. but, in spite of the devil's efforts, many of the brethren remain strong and faithful, holding fast to the Apostles' teachings...

~ Church of God~

"True Christians forced out of congregations"

As the teachings of false ministers gain in popularity, their followers have gradually grown to be the majority in most congregations. The apostle John records this example: " I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence (domination) among them, does not receive us. Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind (expose) his deeds which he does, prating against us with malicious words. And not content with that, he himself does not receive the brethren (true Christians), and forbids those who wish to, putting them out of the church"(3 John 9-10).

As terrible as it sounds, those who were faithful to the teaching of the apostles were expelled from this congregation! They had become the minority. These deceived carnal Christians had chosen to follow Diotresphes, who, in his own lust for power and influence, falsely accused the apostle John. Satan had succeeded in placing "his" minister over this congregation, expelling the faithful servants of Jesus Christ.

Remember, Jesus had already warned His true servants that this would happen: "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves" (Matt 7:13-15).

He also said; " Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "These people(carnal) honor me with their lips, but their hearts are from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men, "You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men" (Mark 7:6-8).

Paul spoke to the Christians in Rome saying; "I urge(recommend) you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned (from the word of God). Keep away from them" (Romans 16:17).  Keep away from who? Anyone that teaches contrary to the word of God! Anyone who adds or takes away from the word of God! Keep away from those who preach watered down messages! Keep away from those who refuse to preach on sin! Refuse to be in a church where there are clicks and Special Anointings! Stop listening to people who tell you that your breakthrough is in them! Stop listening to people that tell you God doesn't speak to you, unless He speaks to the prophet first! And especially those that tell you, that your destiny is in them!

"The enemy is having a field day with carnal Christians who believe that Jesus is alright with anything that they bring from the world into the church". Anytime you can't tell the difference in the church, and the world, that should speak volumes to those who are seeking Jesus Christ...

~Church of God~

"A Falling Away Begins"

Jesus praised the Church in Ephesus for refusing to follow false Apostles (teachers) who tried to take advantage of  them and seduce them: " I know your works, your labor, your patience, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you have tested those who say they are apostles and are not, and have found them liars" (Rev 2:2).

Not everyone in every congregation followed the example of the church in Ephesians. Many accepted the teachings of the false apostles and reverted to sinning. This why Peter wrote: "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delievered to them" (2 Peter 2:20-21).

People began turning away from the teachings of Christ's true apostles just as they are doing today. They accepted the philosophies of false teachers. Peter had explicitly warned that this would occur. He said false teachers would arise "among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed" (2 Peter 2:1-2).

Peter anticipated that not just a few---but many---Christians would turn aside from the truth to follow doctrines that were more appealing to the carnal mind. Later John confirms that this is exactly what happened: "They went out from us, but they were noy of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest (exposed), that none of them were of us" (1 John 2:19).

Barnabus and Paul encountered a false prophet determined to turn people away from the truth. "Now when they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew whose name was Bar-Jesus, who was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus....But Elymas the sorcerer withstood them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith"(Acts 13:6-8). On other occasions the problem lay with "False Brethren" (Gal 2:4). Paul referred to his trails "in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among False Brethren" (2 Cor 11:26).

These false Christians had not become a genuine threat just to Paul's safety and effectiveness, but they had also become a significant part of the Christian community. Some may have finally gone out from God's special people but  continued calling themselves Christians. Others became members of new and supposedly liberated sects that retained the name Christian. Still others probably remained in fellowship of true believers and over time subverted congregations to their own heretical teachings.  Therefore a false Christianity was beginning to take a firm hold. Now, just let me add this..!  The point of this article is to help you to understand how crafty the enemy of your soul is... In some churches today, they teach that the falling away is you! Especially, when you have decided to leave a particular ministry because the Holy Spirit has enlighten you regarding the heretical, deceptive teachings being taught. They tell their congregation that people who leave "their ministry" is disobedient, rebellious and full of the devil. But, this is just one of the many ways to control the people in his/her church.

"To make it plain", The Falling Away is "anyone" who strays from the faith that was once delivered to the saints according to the letters and writtings of the Apostle Paul and the other Apostles. When we stray from The Written Word of God to follow man's idea's, philosopies, and theologies etc; we have not a love for the Truth, Just iching ears!! 

  

~Church of God~

"COUNTERFEIT CHURCH" PART 4

                          " MASTER DECIEVER "
Scripture reveals that those who promoted these lawless principles were influenced by an unseen spirtitual power, satan the devil. Paul said: "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of (Christ). and no wonder! For satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if (his) ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works" (2 Cor 11)...
Satan hates God's law. "He is a master deciever". Naturally, he will spare no effort to infiltrate the Church Christ founded.
To accomplish his purpose, "satan uses people to mislead other people". It is easy for him to influence human beings who desire to teach others when they are motivated by personal ambition. This is especially true if they( lack) a proper understanding of the Scriptures. Satan simply takes advantage of their desire to be spiritual teachers. He seduces susceptible individuals to pay lip service to Christ while creating their own new sets of beliefs and ignoring or disobeying portions of God's laws.
Paul told Timothy to "charge some that they teach no other doctrine" and have a "pure heart", "good conscience" and "sincere faith"... from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm" (1 Tim 1:3, 6-7).
Misguided leaders can and do accept doctrines that in their mind permit them to break some of God's commandments. "Then they persuade others to believe as they do". Through the devil's influence, they convince themselves that their concepts are righteous---that God is pleased with them. They believe their own false doctrines that they teach. Paul says, "The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of satan... with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because, they did not recieve the love of the truth( or did not have a love for the truth) that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie" (2Thess 2). I'm sure none of these misguided teachers percieves he is in reality pushing satan's agenda!
Lawlessness is the centerpiece of satan's counterfeit doctrines. His purpose is to convince people that they are serving Christ while cutting them off from salvation by clouding their understanding of sin so they will continue in sin---so they will practiced at least some degree of lawlessness.
To accomplish his purpose, satan sways people to believe his deceptions (1John 5:19; Rev 12:9). Satan
retains just enough truth in his doctrines, to persuade people they are following Christ. But he introduces just enough error to prevent them from living the way that God requires as a condition for inheriting eternal life.
Pastor salvation is one of the craftiest ways satan has decieved people, because, most people trust their pastors and are more likely these days, to not (refer) to their Bibles for their convictions but, instead follow the opinions of leaders that they look up to! But, this is another topic that I will talk about possibly in the future.
                                             ~ Church Of God ~

"COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIANITY" PART 3

                       "A DIFFERENT GOSPEL GAINS GROUND"
The impact of distorted teachings devastated the early Church. Christians in Galatia turned from the teachings of the apostle Paul to a corrupted, cunningly devised but counterfeit gospel promoted by these false apostles. Paul described the approach they used and the effect the false teachers had on Christians in Galatia: " I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ " (Galatians 1:6-7)...
The brethren in that area were being swept into one of the many sects making up the emerging false Christianity. Paul had to contend with religious strife from the Jewish and gentile in the Galatian congregations.
These cunning pretenders did not reject outright the gospel Paul taught. They simply perverted aspects of it. then they seduced the Galatian Christians into accepting their gospel---a deadly mixture of truth and error. It contained enough error to prevent anyone who would accept it from recieving salvation.
Notice Paul's condemnation of that "different" gospel: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached, let him be accursed". As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have recieved, let him be accursed" (vs, 8-9)... Jesus warned His apostles this would happened: " Then many false prophets will arise up and decieve many. And because (lawlessness) will abound, the love of many will grow cold" (Matt 24). Jesus explained that lawlessness, the key element in the message of the false teachers, would finally become the foundation of a popular and successful counterfeit christianity...
The false prophets devised their message and doctrines by verbally acknowledging Jesus as "Lord" while refusing to obey Him (Luke 6:46). Jesus Himself warned of their decietful, cunning approach: " Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but (inwardly) they are ravenous wolves" (Matt 7:15). Jesus made it clear that teachers of lawlessness, who outwardly appear as innocent sheep performing religious acts, are not His apostles or servants: "For many will say to Me in that day 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name, cast out demons in Your Name, and done many wonders in Your Name?' and then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"...            

                                                   ~Church Of God~

" COUNTERFEIT CHURCH " PART 2

            "SABOTAGE FROM WITHIN"
As the apostles strove to establish more congregations of believers among the nations, a phenomenon arose that produced an (outwardly) christian religion--quite different from the Church Jesus and His apostles established.  New and different doctrines were (subtly) introduced.  Some began subverting (sabotaging) the Church by challenging and contradicting the teachings of the apostles. Paul said: " For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and decievers, especially those (of the circumcision), whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain" (Titus 1). To counter this subverting, Paul instructed Titus to carefully consider the background, knowledge and character of anyone being considered for ordination: "Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work and word, he must be blameless... He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it" (Titus 1:7,9)...

"Increasingly", false apostles began contradicting and undermining the teachings of the true apostles of Christ. Paul cautioned the church in Rome: " I urge you, brothers and sisters, to keep an eye on those who cause dissensions (discord) and offenses, in opposition to the (teaching) that you have learned; (avoid them). For such people do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they decieve the hearts of the simple-minded.  Competing religious leaders, masquerading as ministers of Christ began teaching their own false doctrines. Simon the Sorcerer was one such false teacher mentioned early in the scriptures. After his baptism by Philip, Simon attempted to buy the office of apostle from Peter, hoping to obtain the power to grant others the Holy Spirit. Motivated by greed for power and influence, he faked his conversion, was baptized, to appear to be Christian ! (Acts 8). Later sources indicate that he blended elements of paganism and mysticism into a counterfeit Christian philosophy. A dangerous trend was established in the church, and soon "false apostles, "false teachers" and "false brethren" abounded. A counterfeit christianity was born. And it continues to grow this day..

In saying his farewell to the elders in Ephesus, Paul stated: "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock! (Acts 20)... As one Pastor put's it; "the devil is raising the level of deception in this country/church and he is trying to pervert the ways of God and cause us to remove all of the boundries of holiness and righteousness for the sake of "mammon"...   ~Church Of God~

" COUNTERFEIT CHURCH "

           " Take heed that no one decieves you.  For many will come in My name... and will decieve many "

                                                                     Matt 24: 4-5

People assume that all, or at least almost all, who bear the name Christian follow the beliefs, teachings and practices of Jesus Christ. But the Bible tells us that not everyone who accepts the name of Jesus is really a Christian!  Jesus said; that some would claim His name but deny Him by their actions. He said they would "call Me 'Lord, Lord," but "not do the things which I say" (Luke 6).  Jesus and His apostles spoke of false prophets, false apostles and a false brethen. They revealed that two opposing religions would emerge, both claiming to be Christian. One--the actual Church (people) Jesus founded--would be led by God's Spirit and remain faithful to His teachings.  The other--guided and influenced by a different spirit--would accept the name of Jesus but twist His teachings to create a convincing counterfeit of the Church...  Both would use Jesus name and claim His authority. Both would perform works that would outwardly appear good. Both would claim to be following Jesus true teachings. But only one would faithfully represent Him (Jesus Christ). The apostles repeatedly warned Jesus followers to be aware of false teachers who would introduce this counterfeit Christian belief. Jesus Himself warned: "Take heed that no one decieves you. For many will come in My name... and decieve many"... Where do most churches get their teachings and practices? Most of us assume they come from the Bible, Jesus Christ Himself and The Holy Spirit but do they? Jesus commanded His apostles to teach others exactly what He taught them--"teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you" (Matt 28). He condemned the replacing of God's commandments with the traditon of man and his human reasoning. Speaking to religious leaders of His day, He said: "For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men... All to well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition"(Mark 7).He warned: "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied (preached) in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness"!! (Matt 7). He knew that false teachers would arise and reject the commandments of God for a distorted gospel of NO LAW-- lawlessness!! Like Jesus, the apostles consistently taught obedience to God.  Peter and the others risked their lives to make it clear that "we ought to obey God rather than men" (Acts 5). Paul later cautioned members of the congregation in Colosse to hold fast to what he  had taught them: "As you have therefore recieved Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in faith, as you have been taught" (Colossians 2).  Paul warned: " Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ"...

Why would Jesus Christ and His apostles sound such urgent warnings to avoid the traditions of men? It's in your Bible !!  "That's why it's so important to study the word of God for yourself "...  Jesus not only promised He would build His church, but He assured His disciples that His Church would not perish.  The promise that" the gates of hell shall not prevail " should be consisdered a guarantee that those who believe on His name and stand on His word will always seek the narrow path....   ~Church Of God~