Pergamos - The Double Minded Church

Revelation Chapter Two

12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

Before I broach the meaning of the name of the third church Christ wrote to, let’s look at the two edged sword.  There are only three other places in scripture where the two edged sword is mentioned.  One scholar translated this to mean that the swords moved ‘quickly.’  That pitiful explanation does not even begin to explain this statement in Psalm 149.  I want you to read this psalm and as yourself if you can apply this kind of authority to your own life.  Remember, your real strength does not lay in who you lead openly but in who you move spiritually in prayer.

6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: THIS HONOR HAVE ALL HIS SAINTS!

This is all one sentence.  The purpose of the two edged sword is to punish, bind and execute God’s will on those who will not submit to His Word.  It continues to say that all His saints have this honor.  By the law of first mention this should have put a great dread in the hearts of the church of Pergamos.  To have their Savior begin his letter by saying the Judgment of God is hovering over their church is terrifying.  The two edged sword is not an implement of protection.  It’s only purpose is judgment.  This is reinforced in Proverbs 5.

3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: 4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

As I said before, the two edged sword is solely for judgment.  In this case it judges illicit romance.  It begins with passion and excitement and ends with broken marriages and disillusioned children and congregations if you are a minister.  One might even say it is judging a perverted marriage since this man is finding love on the lips of a STRANGE woman.  If you want to take this path further, do a word study on WORMWOOD and see where it takes you, even in Revelation.  There are eight instances of wormwood in scripture and they all bring the sense of your sins eating you up from the inside. 

The gall or bile that most of them reference is the chemical in a body that dissolves proteins, in other words…you.  Disobeying the Word of God is a bitter experience that will eat you alive from the inside.  In many instances this bitterness comes out after the initial feeling of smooth oil or sweet honey taste.  What we are warned about is that Satan has a way of making all our bad decisions seem pleasant for a short season and then they will eat us alive.  Now let’s look at Hebrews 4.

11 Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

As you can see in verse eleven, the final warning is to abstain from unbelief and then it makes it perfectly apparent that this unbelief is referring to a lack of faith in GOD’S WORD.  To those who say it doesn’t take all that or that the Word of God is flexible and can be taken with a grain of salt, know this…God watches His Word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:12).  He will not let it fall to the ground.  His sword will judge you and your every thought.  There is not one dark secret that He is not aware of and He will hold you in judgment if you do not repent.

Having said all that, let’s look at the name Pergamos.  In this place, especially in this circumstance, the name means a perverted or illicit marriage.  It doesn’t matter if you spout volumes of words about love and noble character, if your ‘love’ is not in line with God’s Word you fall into the sin of Pergamos.  This includes but is not limited to sex outside of marriage, sex with someone other than your spouse, sex or marriage with someone of the same gender or even allowing yourself to entertain thoughts in that area.  God ordained the rules and basis for marriage and if you choose to find ‘love’ outside of His plan you too are a Pergamos church.

13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Jesus isn’t a fool.  He knows exactly where your church is and whether you are in a place that is full of idolatry and sin and where you are hated for your faith.  He expects YOU to live holy and fully according to His Word.  Pergamum was a city FILLED with idolatry, sin, blaspheming and perversion.  It took a strong willed soul like Antipas to hold on when so many were winking and turning aside.  At the same time every Roman citizen was required to offer a pinch of incense to Caesar each year to buy and trade.  Simple yes?  Just a pinch and declare him to be a god.  You don’t even have to believe it, just do it and get your certificate.  The only problem you have is that two edged sword watching your life and comparing it to God’s Word.  Jesus didn’t argue about the difficulties they faced, only that He expected HIS church to be without spot or wrinkle.  The Devil likes to be creative.  Antipas was placed inside a brass bull shaped idol and it was heated till it was red hot.  It was said that he sang praises to God until he died.

14 But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

So, we’ve established that it was a difficult place to live in faith.  In the United States we have our own Pergamums like Las Vegas, Atlantic City and others less well known; places where prostitution and gambling are legal and sin is rampant.  I’ve been to airports in Europe where women come into the restrooms and clean while men are relieving themselves right in front of them.  They nobly claim to be above sexism and racism.  They call evil good and good evil.  Nevertheless people still live for the Lord in those places.  You just need to have a heart that is fully given to the Lord.  The problem is that certain unsaved religious people in these churches bring in ungodly ideas to ‘help’ the church.

In Numbers 22, Balak, the king of the Moabites was terrified of Israel.  Sadly, Go had told Israel to leave the Moabites alone but Balak didn’t believe it.  Israel was dwelling in the land God had given them and Balak hired Balaam the prophet to prophesy against Israel.  The story is quite long but the end of the matter is that Balaam told Balak to send his beautiful women into Israel’s camp and when the Children of Israel married them they would bring their pagan gods into the camp and Israel would no longer have God’s protection.  He couldn’t prophesy against a blessed Israel but for money he sure could teach Israel’s enemy how to remove the blessing.

Many churches today have believing unbelievers who take scripture with a grain of salt and think whatever unscriptural ideas they have to raise money or counsel people are God given.  They do not live separated lives of prayer and devotion to God and will do whatever they can to drag the church into the modern world.  They had this attitude two thousand years ago and they are still corrupting the church today.  There are sins we should never think of committing and these people coat them with a layer of sugar and honey to make them palatable.  These are they which say sexual perversions shouldn’t be judged because Christ died for those people.  They are like Satan telling Jesus to turn stones into bread so the church can be blessed (Matthew 4:3).  It’s just like Satan to try to prove spiritual things by allowing forbidden natural things. 

15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. 16 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.

As for the Nicolaitans, some believe that you cannot come to God for yourself; that you needed a priest to show you the way.  Jesus said if you want to be a priest you should serve as a slave.  These people however, like the middle ages Catholic Church, said you had to come to Jesus through the church to be saved.  The word Nicolaitans means “Ruler over Laity.”  The laity is the ordinary members and these people believed you must come to Jesus through leaders only.  These people began to take the scriptures away from the people until one Catholic Pope said that salvation only came through the office of the popes and it was punishable by death to possess a personal Bible.  Today many churches can hardly get you to remember your Bible (even though it’s legal) to services and most Catholic churches don’t require you to bring one at all.

Notice that Jesus said, “Repent or I will come quickly and destroy you with the sword of my mouth.”  That is the two edged sword of judgment again.  God will overcome the false word with the true word.  The false word will not come true but the true word will.  Remember when Jezebel who had that same spirit brought 450 prophets of Baal and 400 priests of the groves into Israel (1 Kings 18:19).  Elijah came with the Word of God and ordered King Ahab to bring the false prophets to Mt. Carmel.  He had them prepare a sacrifice to Baal and he prepared one to the Lord God.  Whichever God lit the fire supernaturally was the true God. 

The prophets of Baal prayed for hours with no success while Elijah mocked them.  “Perhaps your god is asleep or on a journey or maybe he is relieving himself!”  They became so incensed that they began to cut themselves until they became faint with blood loss and still no fire fell.  He then repaired God’s altar which Jezebel had destroyed and poured water all over the sacrifice three times and prayed a simple prayer.  God completely devoured his sacrifice.  Elijah then put all 850 to death.  He used the word of God against them and God came through.  He burned the sacrifice, the stones of the altar, the water and even the dust of the ground.

17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

For the 3^rd time; “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”  Once again, they needed to listen to God’s Word and take it literally.  When we come to the Lord we are given a name.  That name holds our life’s promise and skills.  It is who we are.  Our gift will make room for us and provide for us.  Like the wishy washy saints in ancient times were willing to burn incense to Caesar to keep their jobs so they might receive a white stone with their old name on it to use as a pass visit the coliseum and obtain bread, Jesus will also give this church a white stone if they are faithful, only his stone will have a new name to identify their new abilities.  This new name is between them and God alone.  We need to trust our Lord to give us this name and to remain faithful long enough to reap its benefits.

I’ve said it often in my lessons that the receiving of a name from God is a big thing.  Whether your name is prophet or priest or king it lets you know what God expects from you and gives you a head up to press on in a specific direction.  Jacob (trickster, supplanter) was called Israel (yis ra el – he will rule as God).  Saul (named after a failed arrogant king in Israel) was renamed Paul (little).  Why?  Because as we read in 2 Corinthians 12:7-8, Paul had a certain arrogance himself as a former Pharisee and needed to be reminded of where his strength truly lay.

Proverbs 22:1 says that a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.  Ecclesiastes 7:1 says that a good name is better than precious ointment.  What can be said about men and women of God who ignore God’s Word and attempt to pollute His house with ungodly and immoral decisions?  My late Apostle could be frustratingly single minded in his commitment to scripture but when you looked back on his walk with God, confused and undecided would NOT be his names.  Integrity and certainty would shine over everything he did in Christ.

Beloved, it is difficult to obey scripture when our own governments and social peers may look down on us.  This does not make scripture wrong, it makes the government or peers wrong and our choice clear.  We must use all the weapons at our disposal to heal this breach.  The Bible tells us to pray for our government and to witness to our friends.  Be bold in the Lord beloved.  If only one soul is won or strengthened by your words and you meet that soul on judgment day it will be worth it.

Bishop J

Smyrna - The Bitter Church?

Revelation Chapter 2

8 And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;

Unto the messenger of the church in bitterness, in difficulty; hear the words of the protos, the one before all and the eschatos, the one remaining at the end of all things, which WAS dead, yet death could not hold Him, who continues zoe, the life of God Himself…

9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Because I dwell in you who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's chosen? It is God that justifies. Who is he that condemns? It is Christ that died, in fact, more to the point, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for you. Who shall separate you from the love of Christ?  Well?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Psalm 44:22 says, “For your sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

No beloved, in all these things YOU are more than conquerors through ME because I love you. Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate YOU from the love of YOUR God, which is in ME, your Lord and Savior (Romans 8:35-39).

Life in Christ is not often easy.  The church in Smyrna was the ONLY church that received NO complaints about their actions.  Of seven churches they were in the most difficult situation.  They worked hard, endured terrible trials and were poor.  Of all the churches they appeared to be the least esteemed in the kingdom and yet Christ said, “YOU ARE RICH!”  They fulfilled Romans 8:10 and lived in the spirit while their flesh was kept under subjection.

The next portion of text refers to “those who say they are Jews and are not!”  I hesitate here only because the text I wish to use has been used over the years to deny the Jew’s any future in God.  This attitude ignores the fact that God’s promise to Abraham and his physical seed was not up to Abraham or Israel to accomplish.  It placed the burden upon God.  Israel is very much the chosen people of God and once this season of the gentiles is accomplished they will turn their hearts toward God once again.  Their blindness as a nation right now is brought by God for a season because they refused to acknowledge Jesus when He came the first time to the very day of the promise according to scripture.  Israel has often failed God’s tests the first time but passed the second.  They will believe at the second coming.

It says in Romans 2:28-29 and Galatians 3:26, 29, For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

God has not transferred His love from Israel to the Gentiles.  God’s love is sufficient for us all and He is not willing that any should perish.  The early Christian church suffered more by the hands of the Jews than by the hands of any pagans.  Paul loved the Jews and begged God to save his nation.  In truth, one day they will awaken and acknowledge that Jesus is Lord.  Sadly, in their blindness the natural seed of Abraham lashed out against the Christians with near madness.  It is a warning to us all not to allow our fears and doubts to turn us against God Himself.

10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Matthew 6:25 says, “Take no thought for your life, what you will wear or eat or where you will live.”  Verse 34 says, “Take no thought for tomorrow because today is enough to concern yourself with.  Matthew 10:9 says, “Take no thought for what you will say when you are brought before judges.”  We are the children of God.  We don’t always know what tomorrow will bring but God does.  If we trust in Him we will not starve nor will be face the day alone.  His children do not need to beg.  His children seek His face and He finds them work or money or provisions.  We may be fed by ravens but we will be fed.

We live in a war zone.  It has been said that every famine has been caused by man.  God has only caused a few, but man, trying to get over on man, has caused most famines by blocking rivers or deliberately starving those they hate.  There are entire villages and cities in Africa and other countries who know intimately what verse 10 says.  It isn’t the exception to suffer for Christ; it is the rule.  God says to fear none of the things you shall suffer.  Can you do that?  Is your walk with God deep enough and trusting enough that you can walk without fear in that perfect peace of Isaiah 26:3?  God has promised this peace and yet all too many churches today say the Word of God is just a feel good document with no real power for deliverance and help.  Either God is totally real and His Word is totally real or He is a fraud and His Word is a fraud. 

My God is not a fraud.

If you take the time to look up the phrase ‘ten days’ you will discover it is not used often.  The first instance is when God smote Nabal the husband of Rebecca and he lived ten days before he died.  In Jeremiah 42:7, Jeremiah prayed for ten days before God gave His answer.   Three verses in Daniel chapter one say that God allowed Daniel to be proved for ten days and after that time they won the right to eat kosher food.  In Acts 25:6 Festus waited ten days to judge Paul’s case. 

In each of these circumstances there was a judgment coming.  The final decision of God was withheld until the end of those ten days.  Had Nabal realized what a fool he had been and repented, God may well have healed his body.  Nabal however was an example; his name meant fool and so he was.  Jeremiah received the people’s judgment within ten days and Daniel received God’s blessing.  There is also ten days from Rashashana, the festival of trumpets, until Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement.  The Jews call this time the ‘days of awe.’ 

Those ten days are your days of testing.  It is your opportunity to bow your head and bend your knee to God in the hopes of averting his wrath or punishment.  Even Ahab had his opportunity in 1 Kings 21:27.  He had allowed his wife to kill Naboth and his family line over a vineyard.  God pronounced judgment on his line, but because Ahab bowed his head and humbled himself before God the judgment was withheld while he was alive.

In the case of Smyrna, Jesus is telling them to hold fast to their profession of faith.  A great trial of affliction is coming and they need to hold on.  He has honored them for their faith.  He says they are rich.  All they need to do is hold on during this final pressing and they will receive the crown of life.  In some of our lives this death is to our will and desires; for some it is literal death.  Whichever it is in your life, Jesus has determined that you will ultimately receive the crown of eternal life if you pass this test.  You will have come to your day of atonement and passed with His help.

11 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

Verse eleven is for every honest and attentive person.  It forces you to examine your life and judge your own future.  Life in Christ is not based on whether you have been a bad person or a good person because none of that matters.  Your life must be in Him, living in faith and trusting for His provision.  To keep our lives filled with Christ takes a lot of effort because Satan is always on his job.  The end of the verse says, “He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death,” but it could also say, “He that does not overcome WILL be hurt by the second death, the death of the mortal body.”

Our lives in Christ are a constant battle and the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.  Pull those strongholds down and stand tall in Christ Jesus!

Bishop J

Ephesus - The Sought After Church

Revelation Chapter 2

1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Always bear in mind that God’s Word is filled with different levels and that each of those levels reinforce the others.  You cannot find a deep meaning in God’s Word that contradicts the basic meaning but you will find reinforcements everywhere.  In verse one you note that Jesus is writing to the angel, the messenger or spiritual overseer of the church.  Remember, when we fight a battle, whether that battle is natural or spiritual, the true battle is ALWAYS spiritual.  You will never be fully successful if you do not fight the spiritual side.

The second thing you see is which church Jesus is writing to and in which order.  In its most basic meaning, Ephesus means DESIRABLE, worthy of being wanted.  Ephesus is the first state of a bride, beautiful, full of life and passion toward her husband.  You love what he loves and hate what he hates.  On that day in the second chapter of acts, Jesus could well have stood over his rapidly growing church and said, “Ephesus … I want you!”  The early church was tied heart to heart and breast to breast with our Lord.

Another thing to notice is that Jesus is walking in the midst of the candlesticks which Revelation 1:20 tells us is the church; in other words…us.  At this point the candlesticks are on Earth and the spirit of those churches is in the palm of His hand, His RIGHT hand.  Even as Jesus is at the right hand of the Father (Acts 2:33), we are at the right hand of our Savior.  Jesus performs all the will of His Father (John 5:30) and we perform all the will of our Savior…if we choose to remain with Him.  Jesus said He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  We might forsake Him but He cannot deny Himself and forsake us. 

2 I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.

Jesus is giving them their report card.  At first glance, Ephesus, the desirable one seems to be living up to her name.  She performs good works and labors for the Lord and she is patient, hating evil.  This church has discernment and did not receive the men who made themselves false apostles.  They have born the grief and sorrows of their savior and have great patience.  For the sake of the name of Jesus our Lord they have worked and not fainted during the difficult times.  At first glance this seems to be a wonderful report card but the church has been in operation for a while now and Satan’s influence and chipping away at its foundation has been felt.

4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Nobody likes to hear ‘nevertheless’ in this situation.  Like ‘but’ it means the opposite is coming up and you won’t like it.  The word ‘nevertheless’ is alla which has the same root as allo which means another.  It could read, “Nevertheless I have an aught, another spirit toward you.”  We never want God to change His spirit toward us from loving tenderness to frustrated anger.  The rest reveals why His spirit has changed toward them.  They no longer agape God first.  This is the result of an, ‘it doesn’t take all that’ spirit.  When a child asks God which toy or which candy they should buy we all think, “Oh…that’s cute.”  God on the other hand looks at them and says, “That’s my child!”  We think we’re too grown up to ask God which pants to buy or which car and yet each time we cut Him out of our decision making process we cut Him out of our romance and all the foolish seeming minutia of first love.

Remember first love when neither of you would hang up the phone?  Remember how you would dress alike so people would know you were a couple?  Do you do those things any longer?  Why not?  What is stopping you?  Does it seem sophomoric or stupid?  God doesn’t think so.  I remember praying out loud while driving my mother to the mall during the Christmas season.  “Lord, we’re going to the hardware store and I pray for a parking place so my mom doesn’t have too far to walk.”  My mother looked at me and said, “God doesn’t have time to worry about little things like that.”  The truth is, God has time to do anything He wants.  He’s God.  As we approached the store a man backed out and drove off leaving me the very closest space in the lot.  That is a first love relationship.  Does it happen that way every time? 

No. 

Why? 

I think it’s because God is often wounded by the way we take Him for granted and just looks at us and sighs.

5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

Have you ever tasted the difference between someone who is totally surrendered to God and one who only pays their tithes and shows up on Sunday?  Some Christians get angry when they meet those sold out God lovers.  All those grumpy saints really show is how much God does not mean to them and how much more gracious and loving those sold out saints are.  Living in that Ephesus moment, like living in the newlywed moment, is something that takes work, dedication and constant attention to comforting and nurturing your partner.  When we take our marriage to Christ or our spouse for granted we have fallen from that place.

For His part, Jesus says He will remove your candlestick from its place unless we repent of our attitudes.  One of the most exciting aspects of serving the Lord is that He can never be fully known, so the idea that you and He will become like socks and shoes is foolish.  God will always keep you amazed and filled with wonder if you allow Him to.  The reason most people begin to receive less and less from Him is that they EXPECT less and less from Him.  God will usually encourage you to expect more but as it says in Malachi 3:10, “Prove the Lord and see.”  He wants to amaze you but He likes to be asked.

6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

There is more than a little confusion as to who the Nicolaitans are but the name alone may shed a bit of light.  Nico means to rule and laity means the people.  It could mean that the people rule in the church but the opposite is more likely.  The early church was given an example of service to God and His people.  Jesus came to the supper and washed the disciple’s feet.  He went on to say, “Let the one who would be lord of all first become the servant of all (Mark 9:34-35).”  How about it?  Does it make sense to have such a strong Christian leadership that they begin to dictate policy to presidents and kings or does it make more sense that following Jesus’ example we will pray for our leaders and trust God to direct them?  If Nicolaitans are religious leaders who rule their people with an iron fist rather than by example of humility then this makes even more sense.

7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Seven times it says, “He that has an ear, let him hear.”  In this case you might even say, “If you’re spiritually deaf you’re spiritually dead.”  Do you see how it says you must overcome to be able to eat of the tree of life?  It’s not just a matter of acting right before God.  Satan hates you and he is the lord of this present world.  This means that his children will hate you too.  Living in sin is easy.  There is little spiritual warfare trying to get you to live holy.  Satan is trying to FORCE you to live in sin.  God is trying to ENCOURAGE you to live in love and faith.  Satan fights you on many different levels, emotional, physical and spiritual.  God strengthens your spirit and tells you to learn His Word so you might survive.  The weapons of your warfare are not carnal but mighty through God but you have to use them for them to work.  If you don’t then Satan is the only one effectively using warfare. 

Beloved, regain your first love and embrace the depths of God’s passion and grace.

Bishop J

James Chapter 5 - Get Your Attitude Straight

1 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

You often hear of wealthy men and women who pour millions and even billions into impoverished nations and people’s lives.  If you are not psychotic or mentally damaged in some way you begin to realize that there is more to life than simple money making.  I suppose I should be comforted that I don’t have this money making gift but I often wonder if it would be a blessing or curse.  Making money is not a sin, in fact it is taught at an early age in Hebrew families and schools.  Scripture does not say that making money is a sin.  It says the love of money is (1 Timothy 6:10). 

Because many wealthy love making money and especially having it, they fall in the trap and it causes all manner of grief in their lives.

Archaeologists would love us to believe that every shard of pottery and every bone fragment is absolutely priceless and to be preserved.  God has a different take on it.  He’s not nearly as concerned about greenhouse gasses as we are or whether a particular species of animal might go extinct.  His concern is that Hell, which was created for fallen angels, will be enlarged by the vast numbers of souls who will be lost eternally (Isaiah 5:13-15).  Our modern activists protect a dog and kill an unborn child.  They once again call good evil and evil good (Isaiah 5:20).  Those who want to kill children are called PRO-choice.  Those who fight against abortion are said to be against women’s rights. 

These are the treasures the unsaved are heaping together for the last days.  They are treasures of murdered children, denial of responsibility by releasing murderers against God’s Word.  They are treasures of lies and rhetoric that reach to Heaven and have become a stench in the nostrils of God.  They shall never succeed nor will they prosper.  They have denied the Holy One and mocked His servants.  In the final battle, they shall fill Meggido with acres of blood.

4 Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabbath.

These are those who promise a day’s wage for a day’s work and on payday tell your workers, “So sue me.”  God has heard the pleas of these little ones and the Lord of the Sabbath, the Lord of Rest will not let it stand.  Your grain will grow worms and your finances given to another more worthy (Proverbs 13:22).  Your hearts are cold and the violence of your answer will be required by God’s own hand. 

Many ask, “Why should we treat others differently?  It’s have’s and it’s have not’s and if I don’t climb higher faster I’ll be a have not.”  Have you watched the world these days?  Fewer and fewer will step up and like the parable of the neighbor, care for that man beaten and robbed (Luke 10:30-35).  You might look at the world around us and say you are justified, but God has something to say to you.  1 John 4 says, “7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 

God is love.  God’s love comes with unlimited faith because faith operates by love (Galatians 5:6).  God is unlimited.  His love is unlimited.  Because faith operates by love, his faith is unlimited.  The more we are perfected in love the more we are perfected in faith.  The more faith we have the more we are able to affect the world around us for the Lord.  It is love that moves the entire world, not power.  Dunamis, God power, comes from love turned into faith.  This is the true power of God, the power of love.

A Jewish sage once said that God could not really love man because man was too evil and devilish for Him to love.  The truth is that that sage forgot or never learned that our minds and bodies are the lowest and least important part of who we are.  God said, “Let us make man in Our image and Our likeness.”  God is a Spirit.  We are spirit.  God does not love our flaws and failures but His grace is sufficient to see past them to who we are in the spirit.  What that sage missed was the fact that God loves mankind enough to send Jesus to die on our behalf. 

The flesh of God died for the flesh of man.  The flesh of God could not remain in Hell because He had done no wrong (Acts 2:24).  With a shout and with a trumpet from the angels Jesus arose from the dead and appeared before us with many incontrovertible proofs.  In other words, He proved He was Christ, God, Messiah and Lord to anyone who did not want to believe the lie.  Sadly, Israel chose the lie for a season to allow the gentiles in.

Now that I have gone off on a long rabbit trail, I hope you understand that Jesus came so we might have life more abundantly IF we are willing to follow God’s plan of redemption.  That plan requires you to be gracious, to forgive, to be merciful, to help others more than you help yourself.  Can you do it?

5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.

Those who rob God’s little ones have it all; fancy cars, large homes, personal jets, the admiration and respect of those around them.  People take their pictures and want to shake their hands.  They continue to take it all in and suck up all the benefits until that day when God cries, “Time!”  On that day your life is forfeit, your money goes to someone else and your future spirals downward into the depths of Hell.  Scripture says you will cry out for someone to touch your tongue with only a drop of water.  Those in Christ who have served God and incurred your contempt will be received into everlasting glory and heavenly habitations while you will live in a place of torment and pain.  You had all the benefits of sin for a short season but they will reap the rewards for their humility and faith for eternity.

6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.

Even the humility of the just ones make you angry.  You “baa” at them as if they are sheep and in rage would kill them if you could.  Seeing them go to churches you cry with emotion, “Fools and idiots!  Weak minded and flawed!”  You lash out and they continue to worship the God of Heaven.  It is almost too much to be endured and you try to find ways to tear them down.  You might have respected them if they had fought back but because they were too busy serving their God you wish them dead as all sheep must ultimately die.  Sadly for you, the Shepherd God has promised an unending answer of eternal suffering or eternal joy and His children receive the Joy.

7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

First of all, the promises of God are yea and amen (2 Corinthians 1:20).  They will only be withheld for so long before God says enough.  Satan may be expecting you to take the highway while God sends you along the mountain paths.  The way is somewhat slower to be sure but ultimately will lead to every promise of God.  There was a time when the king of Syria asked his generals who was spying on him for Israel.  The astonishing answer was that God’s prophet was telling the king of Israel the king of Syria’s plans. 

We think that just because we have received the early rain things ought to be ready for reaping the rewards but this is not true.  Between the early rain and the latter rain is a time of intense preparation and growth.  Many times the plants look completely ready for harvesting after the latter rain but even then there is a final growth and ripening before the reapers may move in.  Perhaps you have completed your initial growth and appear to be tall and strong.  It may be that you have even received your latter rain, but you must trust God to be sure you have completed every test required that your skill and temperament is fully prepared for God’s great blessings.

8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

This first part is most difficult.  There is always a testing to establish your heart’s trust and that takes patience (James 1:4).  James is all about patience and waiting on God.  Whether His coming is actually, in fact, HIS COMING; or simply his movement in the next stage of your life, it draws closer with every moment you patiently wait on Him to prepare you for this victory.

9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.

Not only aren’t we supposed to begrudge one another, but according to 1 Corinthians 13:5 we are supposed to be rooting for one another’s benefits.  Just the mental act of begrudging is a sin whether it causes you to treat the other person differently or not.  Jesus is our intercessor, but if we do not live for and trust in Him through actions and thoughts, God stands as the judge of all.  Jesus stands at the door and knocks, but if you do not willingly answer and invite Him in to rule your life, the Judge of all stands beside Him.

10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience. 11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.

I know people who love God and yet insist that we need not endure suffering to serve Him.  I am astounded when I read scripture after scripture that says we are partakers in Christ’s sufferings (1 Peter 4:13, Romans 8:17, 2 Timothy 2:12).  Prophets suffer the worse because they speak the IMMEDIATE Word of God and that Word will make the godless gnash their teeth in anger.  Even many in the church are terrified or infuriated by a sure word of prophecy. 

In spite of this, 1 Corinthians 14:1 states that we ought to seek the gift of prophecy above all others.  This means that God, knowing full well that we are likely to suffer persecution from without AND within; has admonished us to seek to prophesy.  Under those circumstances we should acknowledge that prophecy is for us today AND that the ministry of the prophet is with us today.  These truths come with a major admonition however…

Apostles and Prophets have been the FOUNDATION of the church from the very beginning (Ephesians 2:18-20).  Is it any wonder that of all the ministry gifts, priests, evangelists, pastors, teachers, bishops, deacons, etc…, that apostles and prophets are the two most maligned and ignored ministries?  How is it that we have allowed Satan to steal our FOUNDATION?  Are we so afraid of the supernatural that the two most supernatural gifts should be cast out into the cold of disuse?  Few are called to the ministry of prophet and apostle and those who are have endured years, often decades of abuse, attack and painful preparation to walk in those callings.

I have seen ministers call themselves apostles and prophets without preparation or consecration.  This is an anathema to God and ought never be.  If we examine the prophets and apostles lives, we see men who often die young, endure great affliction that would cause many of us to stumble, and live with ridicule for much of their lives.  These men are called of God.  Even the act of prophesying does not make you a prophet.  Prophet is a called ministry, not the mere gift given to a broader group of people.  Apostle is a called ministry and every one of those called has seen God in a vision.  Just acknowledging your calling can open you up to ridicule as one who sees God and hears Him speak.  Most people are as uncomfortable with this idea just as Israel was uncomfortable with God on the mountain of God with all the thundering and shaking.  They finally told Moses they could not endure God’s great presence and Moses would have to be their go-between. 

12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

This section tries to open our eyes to the difficulties of ministry and an acknowledgement of our own flesh and its inherent weakness.  Why would anyone want to claim a calling that God has not given?  Many famous pastors and evangelists have traveled the world over and have ministered to thousands and tens of thousands but they represent a very small percentage of those actually called to ministry.  The average American church today is under 100 members.  That makes up 56% of church attendance.  The next most is between 100 – 500 members and makes up 35%.  The early church met from house to house and not in centralized houses of worship.  Less than one half of one percent of all churches are over 2000 members.

What am I trying to say?  If you accept your call to ministry you are unlikely to become famous or wealthy.  Your reasons for ministry MUST NOT BE for fame, honor or prestige.  They must be for the purpose of service, obedience and an overwhelming desire to nurture others.  You show up at the hospital because you have a heart for the people, not because the people are paying.  You weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice because it is in your heart to do so.  People can recognize a false spirit and if you have no love for them, they will know and move on.

13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

Why?  If you ask the world they will say church people are idiots who pray and fast and afflict themselves when they should eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die.  If you know God is real then you should believe His Word.  The idea that God has only a passing interest in us and in keeping His Word is foolish.  God is either God or not.  If He is, then He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).  If He is then the weapons of our combat are truly MIGHTY THROUGH GOD to the pulling down of satanic strongholds (2 Corinthians 10:4).  That scripture continues on to say that much of our battle takes place in our minds and spirit.  If we win there, the natural universe must follow.

God rejoices when we rejoice and answers when we pray.  If we believe this then He will continue to bless us and anoint us to grow and prosper.  God will comfort our hearts and encourage our souls.  We will prove the Word of God in our very lives.

14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

I love this passage.  These two verses promise your healing and forgiveness.  It is not dependent upon the faith of the elders but upon God keeping His own word.  The act of faith is for you to call the elders and thereby acknowledge their place in the hierarchy of the kingdom and for them to obey the scripture and pray.  What could be simpler?

16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Little is fraught with as much personal danger to your reputation as confessing your faults one to another.  It requires a faithful (James 5:20) saint to help you work through your difficulties without spreading it abroad.  God has the right to punish and publish.  We do not.  God has given us the responsibility to comfort, nurture and forgive.  How can we call ourselves forgiving when we are spreading our brother and sister’s weaknesses around?  It’s not possible or right to do both. 

17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.

Elijah (Elias) killed hundreds of prophets of Baal and then ran away from a woman.  He performed great miracles and still got scared and fled.  God knows your flaws and while He is not pleased with any of them and expects you to work on them, He insists upon using you for kingdom work.  It doesn’t matter what you think about a matter; if you have His heart, you will do great things.

19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; 20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

This is the end of the matter and the most important part of it.  Our purpose in life is to win, rescue, encourage, drag, and motivate souls away from Hell.  Nothing else really matters.  Their current sins or your past sins make no difference to God in the long run because Jesus came to save that which was lost (Matthew 18:11).  Our personal opinions and emotions do not matter when God says to forgive. 

Beloved, God desires to be all powerful in your life to bring salvation to pass for the greatest number of people.  It’s up to you to adjust your mindset to place salvation and forgiveness above your desire for justice and retribution.  I pray you will love with all the love of God.

Bishop J

Faith - You Can See it Coming!

Faith is only mentioned twice in all the old testament.  Deuteronomy 32:15-20 states that, ‘God will hide His face from those who forget Him, His own children who say there is no God.’  Many think, “So what?  God is only for the superstitious and frightened.  He is an imagination and a falsehood.”  Others say, “Faith is overrated.  God only expects us to do our best.”  The trouble with this attitude is that God’s plans will not waver because of our opinions or beliefs and as He continues toward His goals and the very earth trembles under His mighty hand He looks upon these lost souls with amusement.  “What will you do LITTLE ONES?  Will you make war against your God?  Will you battle Him along with all the nations of the earth?”  Verse 20 says that his own children have no faith.  They have become His enemy and seek to somehow destroy God from the earth.  How sad to hear these things from former Jews and former Christians.

We know from Psalm 2:1-3 that one day all the kings of the earth will indeed fight against God.  We know from Revelation 16:16 that this battle against God will decimate earth and all life on it.  God says that if He had not shortened our days we would have destroyed all life on this planet.  Our political leaders in America used to believe in God and while each of them wished for different things for their people, they ultimately wanted what God wanted.  During this time our country prospered and became the greatest and most prosperous land on the planet.  Now however, we want what we want and few enough are willing to limit themselves to obedience of God’s Word.  We have little enough faith in the church, and much less on the earth. 

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has publically stated that he would rather go to hell than go to a homophobic heaven or serve a homophobic God.  The Pope said, “Who am I to judge whether a priest is homosexual or not?”  They do not even see the madness of their stance.  A priest may not marry and raise a family and be in line with nature but they may have homosexual encounters with children or each other with no penalty?  Well does scripture say, “Woe to them that call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).”  This year Hollywood has begun a reality show of pastors in their sin and the statements above have happened just this week.  Satan has sped up his timetable. 

Remember Jeremiah 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?

If we have no faith in our God in this time of peace in America then how can we expect to stand by faith in the soon coming time of trouble.  Make no mistake beloved, the time of trouble is upon us.  It does not tarry.  The days will wax worse and worse and many who stand beside you in faith and service to God will fall and be swallowed up by sin.  I believe that many will be tested to failure like Peter but will get back up like Proverbs 24:16 states.  Which will you be, the one who fails and stays down or the one who fails and gets up?  Perhaps you will be the miracle who never falls? 

The only other place in the Old Testament that speaks of faith is Habakkuk.  In chapter 2 verses 1-4 it reads:  1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will look forth to see what he will speak with me, and what I shall answer concerning my complaint. 2 And Jehovah answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tablets, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hasteth toward the end, and shall not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not delay. 4 Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith.

God warns us to be vigilant in our faith.  It is one thing to stand when wind and wave crash around you, it is much wiser to watch out for the coming storm and be prepared for it.  God said the storm will not take us as a thief in the night if we are prepared like the five wise virgins.  If we fall because we have not studied and meditated on God’s Word until His Word is all we see then we are like the five foolish virgins who failed to keep the lamps of wisdom filled with oil and lit at all times, night and day (Matthew 25:1-13).  Look deep into your heart beloved.  How full is your supply of the oil of wisdom?

Are you proud?

Are you certain of your righteousness? 

Or are you humble, believing in the grace and mercy of God to get you in? 

Do you know and believe that God will meet your needs and feed and clothe you?  Matthew 6:30.

Jesus’ disciples were terrified about the storm that raged around them and thought for sure they would die.  The problem is that they were professional fishermen and knew just how dangerous the current storm was.  Their past knowledge overshadowed their current knowledge of who they traveled with and caused them to be terrified.  Are you terrified with sudden amazement?  Matthew 8:24-26.

Does your faith in God motivate you to action, or do you wait around for God to drop it in your lap?  Perhaps you are frightened and this keeps you from moving forward.  Faith moves you to move mountains; it does not move mountains for you.  Faith defeats failure because God honors and turns failure into success.  I am reminded of a saying that says, ‘a waiter is someone who waits ON God and not someone who waits FOR God.’  Wait I say on the Lord and He will give you a great tip.  Matthew 9:1-2.

God has given every man the measure of faith.  My grandson is not quite two yet.  If I was to arm wrestle him I would win.  In twenty years that might be different.  Still, in twenty years I ought to be able to out pray him wouldn’t you agree?  I might not get physically stronger every day but I ought to get spiritually stronger day by day.  Peter stepped out of the boat to walk beside Jesus on the water but stepped past his faith when he saw the waves.  We each need to pray in the spirit until our faith is greater than the wind and waves Satan sends against us.  Matthew 14:28-31.

The Pharisees for all their negative press were the ones who lived holy according to the law in Jesus’ time.  Some churches place faith above all else, but Jesus gave us His own order of importance.  The Pharisees were self righteous and arrogant but they tried to live holy in all things.  Jesus chided them, not for what they did, but for what they did not do.  He expected them to live holy and upright while still keeping three important duties in front place. 

The first was judgment.  Pride and a sense of entitlement destroys judgment.  You begin to see yourself above all else and you do not acknowledge the benefit of others when you see it.  The second is mercy.  People will fall short and unless you are something very odd, you are people too.  God requires you give mercy when judgment won’t help.  God is a God of mercy and we ought to be merciful to those who fall short.  This includes ourselves too.  The third is faith.  Faith moves God because faith works by love (Galatians 5:6).  It is third after Judgment and Mercy.  Mercy will stop you in your tracks when you are feeling self righteous.  Matthew 23:23.  None of us are without sin.

Faith is the substance, the foundation and reality of those things we hope for and have not as yet seen registered by our five senses.  Faith aligns us with God’s miraculous power and allows us to take a step where no bridge is and not plummet to our death.  Faith is powerful and even violent in its action but in spite of that, faith is loving and kind.  Because it works by love, faith does not keep a record of wrongs suffered.  Faith operates when the vessel is unworthy because faith, like the love that empowers it, does not keep a record of wrongs.  God will not abandon you or fail to recognize your faith simply because you have fallen short.  Many unworthy and faulty men and women over the years have had their prayers answered simply because they believed and God in His mercy set aside their judgment and answered their prayers.  Faith also hopes for the best and seeks the benefit of others.  1 Corinthians 13.

Faith is an action and must be seen to be real.  When the friends of the man with Palsy brought him to Jesus, tearing a hole in the roof to get to Him, scripture says that Jesus SAW their faith.  Mark 2:5.

Since it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6), and since faith works by love, faith in Christ can also forgive sins (Luke 5:20).  This is why scripture says, “By grace through faith we are saved (Ephesians 2:8).  Salvation requires an ACT of faith.  When Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus, it made him visible to his Lord who invited himself to dinner at the chief tax collector’s home (Luke 19:1-9).  On the one hand scripture says the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the just (Proverbs 13:22), but on the other, how much better for the wicked to be saved as Zacchaeus was.  This sinner displayed faith in abundance, first climbing the tree to be noticed and then to freely offer to restore the money stolen by falsehoods with a trespass offering.  This complete repentance made Jesus declare he was saved.  Would we be so quick to forgive?

Luke 12:28 shows us we ought to know God is working on our behalf at all times by watching the wonders of the natural kingdom around us.  The very heavens declare His glory, how can we continue to doubt when even scientists can’t explain it all?  What do I mean?  The giraffe and woodpecker are two wonders that can’t be explained.  They shouldn’t be able to do what they do.  Both should die before they manage to take a drink of water in predator filled areas or go blind by the violence of their hammerings.  A single cell cannot be formed in the presence of oxygen but it requires oxygen to function.  How can those contradictions occur?

Each day scientists discover new things about ourselves and while they apply those things to the list of truths, they refuse to examine the falsehoods in their belief system.  Some of the most colorful fish in the world live so far down that light never penetrates.  No living creature will ever see their colors so why did they develop.  The colors are not to find a mate as they are on dry ground or to blend in with the flora and fauna, the colors serve no useful purpose to the fish.  The only one who might appreciate the color is God Himself.

Some of us are grumpy in faith.  We’re buoyant enough when things are going our way but cranky as can be when disappointment comes.  Paul said, “I have learned to be content no matter what my condition.”  Are you at peace in all circumstances?  It’s easy to rise and fall with our apparent status, but that status is blind and empty without taking into account our faith.  Once you step out into the terrifying truths of faith you will be able to release your dependence on sight to be at peace. 

Nobody’s faith is perfect.  Abraham, Paul, Isaac, Peter, Sarah, Jacob and many others named in scripture lived lives of stumbling failure in the eyes of many.  God alone looked into their lives and declared them to be the pillars of faith.  He doesn’t require perfection on your part or mine.  He merely requires your very best.  It grieves me that we struggle so with our flawed brethren when God, our true judge, has accepted us. 

Beloved, do not allow others to tear you down and don’t you go around tearing others down.  It is by God that we stand or fall and He alone is our judge. 

Bishop J