Warning to the church of 2019

[LaSpino3]

Dedicate this post to Choir Loft:
James 2:24, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."

To the church of Ephesus in the book of Revelation, written about 96 A.D. Jesus to the church of Ephesus,
Revelation 2:4, "I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love." The word "somewhat" means, "it is everything" I have against you. They have lost their first love, that being Christ, therefore it is everything Christ has against them.

1 Timothy 5:12 states, "Having damnation, because they have cast off their first faith" (Their first promise.)

Thirty years before the book of Revelation was written, we read in,
Ephesians 1:15, "I = (Paul) heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you."

Paul had heard of the faith among this body of Christians in Ephesus concerning their love for Jesus, their conversion, and their graces. They had received Christ, proving it by their love to all their fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord. Thirty years later, Paul had to warn the church at Ephesus about their failings. They did not retain their affections for Christ, and the sacred things which they had received when first brought to the knowledge of the truth. That being, justified by faith in Christ Jesus.

Revelation 2:5, Jesus said, "I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent."

In a mere 30 years, Ephesus went from praise, to a severe backslidden condition, and a future warning from the Christ Himself, that He would remove their candlestick.
What is meant by "candlestick?"

Revelation 1:13-20, Christ is standing in the midst of the seven candlesticks or lamps. Each candlestick holds oil, producing both fire and light. Each candlestick represents a church. They are Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea. These churches are not a light unto themselves, but are instruments for dispensing light; each church must receive both oil, and then a spark, this in order to produce fire, which in turn produces light. The oil is representative of an anointing from God, and the fire is that which comes from the Holy Ghost. No church has in itself either grace or glory, but must receive both from the Lord, or it can not dispense spiritual light, or life.

Many churches today are without anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. These are those who will cry out to God,

Matthew 7:22, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? The Lord responds to these, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquities." The verb "to know" in the New Testament, frequently means to approve. So "I never knew you" translates, "I never approved you." To be fooled into thinking you are doing the Lord's work, and because of deception, both you and your works are rejected by the Lord, and your works shall be burned as stubble.

Hebrews 13:9, "Be not carried about with divers  (various) and strange doctrines."
Strange doctrines have no authority in Christ's body; they are foreign to the truth. There was, and still is a form of blending of the law, which had been abolished, with the Gospel, but again has shown its ugly head. Bringing the law, or works back, and mingling it with the Gospel is man's idea of trying to improve the already perfect Christian system, it, established by Christ.

Ephesians 5:6, "Let no man deceive you = (believers) with vain = (empty) words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." We are told in the proceeding verses that the following are not to be found among the children of God. Fornication = (adultery and incest,) uncleanness = (lust,) covetousness = (fraud, greediness,), filthiness = (obscenity,) foolish talking, jesting = (indecent conversations,) whoremongers = (male prostitution,) unclean persons = (animal desires,) covetous = (the desire for more, by any means,) idolaters = (idol worship,) or those who take part in any ceremony's, eating with, or sharing in their any form of idol worship.) These will not have any inheritance in the kingdom of the Father, and of His Christ. Men with their empty, lying words, teach that these things are innocent, or unavoidable frailties of man's human nature. But God tells us they are sin, and are an abomination in His sight. Those who practice them are called, "the children of disobedience." God's Divine punishment, must, and will come upon them.

Hebrews 4:11, "Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."

Christians are told to strive diligently, now and in the future. Our whole body, soul, and spirit are to be employed, in the Lord's work. When grace is received, we are to retain it, in order to obtain eternal glory. We are told that you can fall, either wholly or in part. When faith begins to waiver, this creates doubt. We can become shipwrecked in our faith, disobedient, and fall from a good conscience. It is said, that the parents are a warning to their children.

Revelation 3:11, Jesus said, "Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown."

Again, "I come quickly;" This is the great incentive to persevering one's faith, and the consolation for our daily trials. The Lord had just commended these believers for keeping His word, which involved the attaining of the kingdom. This can be lost if one yields to temptation. The routine of life, or some suffering can be exchanged for a compromise and ease that can be found in this world.

Revelation 3:15, Jesus said, "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold not hot: I would thou wert cold or hot."

The antithesis to hot, literally is boiling, "fervent," as seen in Acts 18:25. Acts speaks about a man named Apollos, who was an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures. "This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spoke and taught diligently (accurately) the things of the Lord." Also, in Romans 12:10-11, we are to be kind to one another with brotherly love, and told to give preference to one another. It reads " be fervent in spirit; serving the Lord."

The idea of cold means more than negatively cold, it is rather, positively icy cold: Having never yet been warmed. This church of Laodiceans was in spiritual things, cold; not as cold as the world outside, or as those who had never belonged to the Christian community. They were lukewarm. In this lukewarm condition, they were listless and indifferent, caring little if any, weather Christianity, or paganism prevailed. Their walk was in that gray zone of indifference. They have become the great compromisers. Lazy, and ineffective. They had little zeal for their own salvation or that of others. Yet they have retained enough conviction of and for the truth, and for the importance of Christianity, they would not give it up totally. Jesus tells them to decide, adopt, and commit, or leave. "To good and evil equally bent, I'm both a devil and a saint."

Too good to go to hell: too bad to go to heaven! It is the twilight zone. This is the state of the Laodicean church, and Jesus expresses here, you ought to be one kind of man: either a good man, or a bad man. The warning to them is seen in,

Revelation 3:16, "Because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." The adjectives, "hot," and "cold," are in the masculine, agreeing with the angel = (minister of the church, and not feminine, the church). The minister (angel) is the embodiment and representative of the church. He is answerable for his flock, and is to warn the members of their condition.

Jesus said, "I will," or, I am about to, or, I am ready to, or, I have it in my mind to, "Spue thee out of my mouth." He is implying the possibility of this threat which had not yet been executed, but will, if you do not repent. His dealing with them, depends on their dealing with their condition. Doctors used lukewarm water to cause vomiting. He said, I will cast you off, implying, thought you have been dear to my heart, I must pluck you from out of my Kingdom, and cast you into outer darkness.

Further in Revelation 2:20, Jesus is speaking to the Church at Thyatira. He said, "Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols."

Jezebel the wife of Ahab, the seventh king of the northern kingdom of Israel, reigned for 22 years. He married Jezebel, the daughter of the king of the Zidonians, a wicked people. Ahab's move was politically advantageous, but was religiously disastrous. His new pagan wife introduced the idolatrous worship of Baal, as well as the orgies of the goddess Ashtoreth. She instituted a persecution against the followers of Jehovah and killed all His prophets. To please her, Ahab built a temple and an altar to Baal in Samaria.

This symbolic name Jezebel was given to the Church of Thyatira, and what Jezebel, was to Ahab, this church of Thyatira was is to Jesus. A self-styled prophetess, or as the feminine in Hebrew is often used collectively to express a multitude, or a set of false prophets. This symbolic name was now attached to Thyatira. As a bad wife can be to her husband, a powerfully influence for evil. Jezebel like her father, was quick to shed blood, strong willed and able to seduce the weak easily.

Jezebel's spiritual counterpart at Thyatira lured God's servants through lying words. This by inspiring them to the same desires, the same uncontrolled lusts, fornication, and eating of idol meats, as the Balaamites and Nicolaitians had. By these false spirits, these seducers led their victims into the gravest of sins, as though things done in the flesh were outside the true man, and were therefore indifferent. The deeper the church penetrated into heathenism, the more she herself became heathenish. This prepared them for the following expressions, harlot, Babylon, whore.
This corrupted prophetesses' goal was "to teach and seduce my = (Christ's) servants." She is a liar and deceiver. There is very little love here, yet some activity of faith and love. But an insufficient zeal for godly discipline, doctrine, and a patience for error is allowed, even where there was no participation in it.

The warning from the Lord concerning this Church is found in verse 22 and 23. "Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am He which searcheth the reins and hearts; and I will give unto every one of you according to your works."

Her bed, the place of her sin, is the place of punishment. Their bed is sickness and anguish. The church members committed spiritual adultery with her, and by leaving her alone, they have encouraged her. Her punishment is distinct from those who encourage her. She is cast into bed, her children are to be killed, and those who make themselves partakers of her sin by tolerating her, are to be cast into the great tribulation. This could mean anyone today, who is alive. If the Lord should return, those who are in a church like Thyatira, having taken on the ways, thinking, and attitudes of this ancient church, will pay a high cost for their carelessness.

The parable of the sower is a good example of those who profess to be Christians; but aren't. Scripture speak of those who do not bear fruit, have a hardness of the heart, and eventually leaving the body of Christ, returning to their old ways.

Matthew 13:20-21-22, further states, "But he that received the seed = (the word) into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but endureth = (with courage and boldness receive the word) for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended = (stumbles.) He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful."

The mixed character of the kingdom in its present state, and the final absolute separation of the two classes is spoken of in many places in Scripture. The enemy will come in when the people fall asleep. The enemy is Satan. His disciples plant their false doctrines, among the good doctrine; thus, the work of destruction being done in the church itself.

Deceived members of a church, attempt to come to Christ by way of exhibition, smooth talk, self glorification, exaggerated claims, unity among the deceivers, false claims of receiving Holy Spirit power, claiming to have received a special gift, or form of anointing, and/or false claims of enlightenment. Also adding doctrines of salvation by works, and the neglecting of Biblical verses concerning salvation and grace; these creating a false gospel, and a false form of worship.

Hosea 4:6, God said, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I = (the Lord) will also reject thee."

Time is short, and many have become lukewarm and fallen asleep. Take a few moments and evaluate your Christian life, examine who and what you are. Repent of any deadness that God's Holy Spirit may reveal to you; walk in the truth and in God's will, He can, and will help you to cast off the old, and put on the new.

LaSpino3

[LaSpino3]

Thought you may find this interesting but sad:
Why are so many churches failing in America? Following are 4 different signs standing outside of 4 different churches that call themselves Christian.

The first outdoor sign was a two-sided sign outside of a Lutheran church, it read,
"Everything Jesus said about homosexuality see other side." The other side was empty.

The next outdoor sign was found in a Methodist church, it read,
"Humans are one family so make peace with your family Quran 49:10.

The third sign was found outside of an Angelicin church, it read,
"Jesus had two dads, and he turned out just fine"

The 4th was found outside of a Unitarian Universalism church. It read,
"Bible study 7 P.M. bring Bible and scissors."

I find it hard to believe that the so-called shepherds of these churches have fallen so low as to make enemies with the Lord Jesus, but they have and they will continue to do so. 
1 Timothy 4:1, "Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing (deceiving) spirits, and doctrines of devils;"

And here we stand in the latter days! Pastor's had better wake up and start spending more time in the Bible, don't you think?
Laspino3

[notreligus]

A preacher friend of mine once told me about how church membership at his church would complain that he is not feeding them spiritually.  This man said to me, "I am feeding them but I can't force them to eat.  They must do that for themselves."   I've never met any preacher that stayed in and preached directly from the Bible as he did.   The problem is not just with preachers but with those who are the consumers - consumers of everything but the Scriptures, and believers - believers that the Bible is a book of moral stories about a far distant wizard.   

What would the outdoor sign for Grace Centered Discussion Forums look like?   What sort of invitation message would be on that sign?

[notreligus]

LaSpino3, I believe you like everything to go exactly as you want it in a thread - me, too - but it never happens that way.   Live with it.

Do you not see this forum as representative of the church?   I've asked reasonable questions.    I'm not your opponent.

The churches referred to in Revelation not only point to literal congregations of the time but are also types of what we have today.   This is an assembly of believers, 24/7, and is surely representative.   

[LaSpino3]

Notreligus, no disrespect, just get busy!

The first sign would read, "The doors to this church swing both ways, they have no hinges."

The second sign would read, "Were thinking about building a moat around the church, bring your own lifejacket!"

The third sign would read, "Come in, were a congregation of uncanny abilities! In what? were still not sure!"

Laspino3

[LaSpino3]

Here are a few more ideas for signs:

All new members must first play the part of a three-legged stool in our next play before we baptize them.

All new members must wear suede loafers.

We long for your company, but thank the Lord when no-one shows up.

Were a humble church and most of our members feel jilted.

This week's Bible study will be, "Parasites lose" by pastor John Milton!

Next week's Bible will be on, "grasping for the wind!"

If there's any sorrow in life, let it always be at someone else's expense.

Phil

[LaSpino3]

One more list of outdoor signs to put in front of certain churches:

Please come in and meet pastor Churnable!

We've done it again, were a perfect 10!

Let our pastor tell you what really happened to Jonah!

Our next end time Bible conference will concern Idiotic idioms.

Next month the pastor will give a message on taking the high road, saddles are optional.

Our special guests next week will be Reverend Rocky Belboa, he will give a lecture on how to speak gooder English.

There was a gay community church in San Francisco that had a sign outside that read, "Come in and say hello to sister Frank and brother Shirley!

Our church is like the little Cho-Cho that never gives up.

The perfect sign for this forum, "How to lose friends and infuriate people!

Phil