Our Lenten journey is about increasing our faith. Talking about faith should also increase our repentance. Coming to the realization that most live by common and everyday faith and not living by great faith as seen in scripture, means we must repent and turn back to God’s word and turn away from man’s word. When we have remorse and acknowledge that the word of God is not our source of strength and hope, this lack of faith becomes clear. Hosea 8:1 “Put the trumpet to your lips! An eagle is over the house of the Lord because the people have broken my covenant and rebelled against my law. 2 Israel cries out to me, ‘Our God, we acknowledge you!’ 3 But Israel has rejected what is good; an enemy will pursue him.” Sunday after Sunday the church carries on as if all is well. Once the church admits this rejection and insincere acknowledgement of God, from there you seek God wholeheartedly through His word. Yes, as Hosea tells us, many will say that they have put their hope in God’s word, yet they do not believe the power and authority from on High is available today. When life doesn’t go as planned, the first thing they do is blame God. They don’t understand that God has allowed our enemies to come against us. Also, if they had put their hope in God’s word, they would realize that God tests and disciplines those He loves. You would not turn away from God, but turn to Him. He will also take you down paths that may appear absurd to the world, but to those who do live by God’s word understand that God’s path are straight. Hosea 14:9 “The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.” The rebellious also do not recognize God’s ways because they are unfamiliar with His word.
Most do not realize that the hope they have is not as secure as they were led to believe. They were told they were secure if they attend a particular church and accept their distinct doctrines. They may even have been told that no matter what they were eternally secure, but scripture says, 2 Peter 3:17 “Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position.” When you join a distinct group, denomination or independent. in the church, you are indoctrinated into the beliefs of that denomination or independent group. In doing so you have placed your faith in other gospels and a different Jesus and therefore are not secure, all the while believing that you were secure. Sadly, most will only find out they were not secure after it is too late. Matthew 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” They thought they were following Jesus, but because the word of God has been so distorted by false teachers, and they do not know God’s word for themselves, nor do they test the spirits, they end up following a different Jesus and other gospels. Paul gave us this warning. 2 Corinthians 11:4 “For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.” Having faith in other gospels and a different Jesus will not lead to eternal life. Lamentations 2:14 “The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The prophecies they gave you were false and misleading.”
This is why it is so important to turn from our wicked ways and return to God’s word. Zechariah 1:3 “Therefore tell the people: This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the Lord Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the Lord Almighty.” If you listen closely, you probably just heard satan say, did God really say that? Or satan will lead you to believe that because you go to church, followed their rules and traditions, believe their doctrines and theology, prayed a little prayer, got baptized or confirmed, you are safe and secure, even if you go your own way. But that is not true. Jeremiah 5:12 “They have lied about the Lord; they said, “He will do nothing! No harm will come to us.” Jeremiah 23:14 “And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrible: They commit adultery and live a lie. They strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that not one of them turns from their wickedness.” Deuteronomy 29:19 “When such a person hears the words of this oath and they invoke a blessing on themselves, thinking, “I will be safe, even though I persist in going my own way,” they will bring disaster on the watered land as well as the dry.” Harm and disaster did come. Jeremiah 23:15 “Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says concerning the prophets: “I will make them eat bitter food and drink poisoned water, because from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread throughout the land.” We are supposed to learn from that, which is why the church needs to return to God’s word and stop listening to people not sent by God. Jeremiah 23:16 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. 20 In days to come you will understand it clearly. 21 I did not send these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied. 22 But if they had stood in my council, they would have proclaimed my words to my people and would have turned them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.” Lamentations 2:14 “The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The prophecies they gave you were false and misleading.”
This is where it gets confusing for those who think they are hearing the gospel. Every Sunday people think the word of God is being preached. Scripture is being quoted, yet there is no power to heal the sick or cast out demons. Jesus made it clear, Mark 16:16 “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” Yes there are some ridiculous snake handling churches but the example is Acts 28:3 “Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, “This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live.” 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects.” I would have loved to see the look on their faces. In some bibles that passage in Mark is marked “The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20,” so people ignored this and went with and called it the great commission. I tell people to cross that out. Why because that message is the gospel message. We are told, Matthew 28:18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” But that is saying the same thing as Mark. Jesus gives his disciples authority and power. Matthew 10:1 “Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” We are also told James 5:14 “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up.” Ask your leader why that is not happening, but don’t necessarily believe what they tell you; believe what scripture states! Jesus is still alive we are still His disciples but because most in the church have adopted the powerless church as truth, they have no problem with the church’s powerlessness. If ministers would actually preach what Jesus said and did, which would start with repentance, then the Kingdom of God would come near. Mark 1:14 “Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. 15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 6:7 “Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits. 12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.” If the true gospel was preached, power and authority to heal and cast out demons would return. If people would actually read their bibles, they wouldn’t put up with the untruths told from the pulpit. Basically, it is the same as Trump spewing his lies. If people would actually check the facts, they would not listen to him.
The church today is filled with false apostles, prophets, evangelists, preachers and teachers who are teaching people to believe in a different Jesus and other gospels. As Peter said 2 Peter 2:1 “there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. 17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.” This is why there is so many warnings about false teachers and prophets in the bible and why you need to read the bible. They are not advertising themselves as false prophets and most do not even know that they are, but by knowing God’s word, you will be able to spot them. Jesus said, Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” This is why we put our faith in God’s word and not in man’s. Today there is so much deception and delusion in the church, that unless you are being led to repent and turn back to God’s word, you are following other gospels. If you believe all is well, you have been deceived. Don’t be deceived by what you see or hear about in the charismatic circles, because what we see in the Gospels and Acts is not happening, even in those circles. What is happening, is that satan is masquerading as an angel of light.
Unfortunately, the faith that most people have is not a true and sincere faith because it has been placed in men or women and their words and not in the word of God. We are told, Hebrews 10:22 “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” If you think you are drawing near, but are following another gospel, you have no hope from He who promised to be faithful. satan just sits back and watches people go to church as most do not even know he is present in the church. This belief comes from ministers telling people that this could never happen but again if you read your bible, you will see that it can happen when God’s people rebel against Him. Daniel 9:27 “And at the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.” 2 Thessalonians 2:4 “He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” satan gives them a false sense of comfort and security. Because of this rebellion and satan’s presence, you can’t just pick out a verse and claim it. For example, we are told Matthew 16:18 “on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” That is only true if we remain true to God and our hope continues to be on the Rock. Psalm 18:1 “I love you, Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”” Psalm 119:114 “You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.” Psalm 62:2 “Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.” You will be shaken and deceived if God is not your rock. The Old Testament makes clear what happens to those who followed after other gods. We are told Deuteronomy 5:7 “You shall have no other gods before me.” Exodus 34:14 “Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.” Deuteronomy 11:26 “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— 27 the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; 28 the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.” This still applies and because the church has turned away from God’s word we receive curses and not blessings. The church cannot follow other gospels and expect God to bless them. God’s response will be wrath not blessing.
The church, because of rebellion, is filled with deception and delusion. Even though we were warned about the abomination that causes desolation, the church decided that going their own way and operating in their own strength was the right choice. Because of that choice, God allowed our enemies to decimate the church. We are told 2 Thessalonians 2:3 “Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction.4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” Daniel 8:12 “Because of rebellion, the Lord’s people and the daily sacrifice were given over to it. It prospered in everything it did, and truth was thrown to the ground.” Because the church did not listen and has rebelled against God, the church is deceived and deluded. 2 Thessalonians 2:9 “The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” The church now and for generations has been deluded and deceived. This goes all the way back to when Paul said Galatians 1:6 “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” Yes, it has been a long time but do not think that God will not act. Nahum 1:2 “The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and vents his wrath against his enemies. 3 The Lord is slow to anger but great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished.”
The intent of this journey is for all of us to question our faith and then grow in faith. Do we really place our faith in God’s word or man’s word? We all have room to grow. Job was an amazing man of faith, yet when God questioned him, Job said, Job 42:4 “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ 5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” If you read those questions, you should despise yourself and come away feeling very small compared to God, yet so many think they know better. If you came away from Ash Wednesday despising yourself and repenting, that would be a good thing but if it is just a ritual for you and did not confess and change, you missed the point. Daniel was a man of faith but confessed before God. True faith believes God at His word; therefore you believe God’s word. You cannot have faith if you do not believe His word. But so many do not believe God’s word. That unbelief starts with the priest or minister and flows into those who listen. Again, don’t listen without checking. If you are reading this, check it with scripture. Whatever you hear check with scripture. Whatever worship song or hymn you are singing check with scripture.
Faith in God’s word really starts from the very beginning. Can you explain the existence of God? No? But you can believe by faith. You have a choice to believe in a God particle or the God who made all particles. You have a choice to believe in a big boom or to believe in the voice of God. Hebrews tells us Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.” Do you have that confidence? If not, you should have! Faith starts here. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 3 And God said…” God could have instantly spoken the universe into existence, but He didn’t; He took six days. If you do not believe that, you need to start over. If you cannot believe God created the world in six days, your God is too small and you need to repent and return to God’s word. As we talked about last week, out faith begins with the belief that God can move a real mountain, not just a hardship. If you cannot believe God created the universe in six days, you will not believe Jesus who is the word of God. John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” And that word became flesh and now we have that word written down. You will also not be able to believe all that He did or what His disciples could do, nor will you believe today’s disciples should also be able to do as they did. Man says no but God says yes. Who have you chosen to believe? Even if your church doesn’t believe healing power has ceased, the belief is present that it has ceased, and God does not do that anymore because it is not being sought. If you are not hearing healing and casting out demons as stated in scripture is available to His disciples and if you are not hearing about repenting and turning from wicked ways, you have accepted that belief even though we are told, John 14:12 “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” It really is amazing that people try to discredit this verse instead of simply believing what it says. Believing what it says means repenting and changing your wicked ways. It appears that most would prefer to stand before Jesus and have Him say depart from me, I don’t know you. The reason for this discrediting is because that verse doesn’t line up with their views and doctrines. Very few in the church actually believe this verse to be true nor are they seeking God so that His power will flow once again. It really is a lack of faith / belief in God’s word.
We are told as we just read John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” By the way this one verse shows the JW’s are not witness of Jesus. The New World Translation, which is not the bible, says, “In the beginning the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.” NO! They go on to say, “the Word” should not be identified as the “God” referred to earlier in the verse.” They are a cult and stay far away from them. The Mormons also have made alterations to God’s word by adding another book called the Book of Mormon – Another Testament of Jesus Christ. No, it is not. As a Mormon once told me the book of Mormon is like taking two pieces of wood that has only one nail in it. One nail allows the wood to spin freely but the second nail, the book of Mormon, makes it secure and stops it from spinning. Ridiculous! That too makes them a cult. But it doesn’t stop there. Every denomination has their additional book of their distinct beliefs and doctrines that make it clear that they do not believe as others believe. I shared this before, but we have a church in town that says “We are part of the Church in the city of Strathroy” but then go on to list some very distinct beliefs that they make sure people know about that sets them apart from the other churches. Some churches have handbooks, manuals or disciplines. This is also very wrong. It is strange that the church has more faith in the words of men and women and doctrines of demons, but that is the deception and delusion. The bible simply is not enough for most to believe in. Our job as ministers is to point you to scripture, not away from it. Isaiah 2:22 “Stop trusting in mere humans, who have but a breath in their nostrils. Why hold them in esteem?” Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Isaiah 40:6 “A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” “All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. 7 The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” 1 Peter 1:3 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.”
If the word of God endures but everything else fades away, why does the church insist on changing it and not abiding by it. Every group that calls themselves the church does this, as they all have a distinct set of beliefs even though we are warned not to do that. We are told, Proverbs 30:5 “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” Deuteronomy 4:1 “Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. 2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.” Revelation 22:8 “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.” That is very clear, yet every church adds to and takes away from the word of God either in writing or belief. Each makes the bible say what they want it to say according to their own doctrines. I grew up Methodist and believed what I was taught. Others grow up Baptist or catholic or Pentecostal and each has their own words that they believed in. In my case, even though I went to seminary, I started to read scripture and commit my life to it and God opened my eyes. God said Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” What I found out very quickly is that most prefer to have their eyes shut. Matthew 10:22 “You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Matthew 5:11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” It is here you will find out whether or not it is God’s word you have faith in or someone or something else. Will you stand firm on God’s word to the very end? We will talk about persevering faith in one of the upcoming Sundays.
So, if I understand this correctly, God spoke the universe into being. Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” God created humanity for His glory. Isaiah 43:6 “Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the ends of the earth— 7 everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made. the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.” Not only did God create everything, He sees everything. David said to Solomon, 1 Chronicles 28:9 “And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.” Solomon did not listen. 1 Kings 11:6 “So Solomon did evil in the eyes of the Lord; he did not follow the Lord completely, as David his father had done.” 1 Kings 15:5 “For David had done what was right in the eyes of the Lord and had not failed to keep any of the Lord’s commands all the days of his life—except in the case of Uriah the Hittite.” Just in case you didn’t know, God is watching. 2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” Notice He strengthens those who are committed to Him. Psalm 33:18 “The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love 19 to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.” Psalm 11:4 “The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them. 5 The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion. 6 On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot.” Psalm 53:1 “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good. 2 God looks down from heaven on all mankind to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. 3 Everyone has turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Deuteronomy 4:24 “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. 25 After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time—if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God and arousing his anger, 26 I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed.” Yet in spite of all that, God’s people decided to go their own way and depend on their own strength and reject God’s word, thus putting faith in themselves instead of God. Ezekiel 28:2 “‘In the pride of your heart you say, “I am a god; But you are a mere mortal and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god.” Isaiah goes on to say. Isaiah 43:22 “Yet you have not called on me, Jacob, you have not wearied yourselves for me, Israel.” Jeremiah 6:10 “Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the Lord is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.” Amos described God’s people who refuse to return to God and God responds, Amos 4:12 “Therefore this is what I will do to you, Israel, and because I will do this to you, Israel, prepare to meet your God.” 13 He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the Lord God Almighty is his name.”
Since God created everything and sees everything, why does man put their faith in men and women who can’t see anything or create anything, without using what God has already created. Man has the audacity to say there is no God and He did not create the universe. Yet, they cannot find the end of the universe, and the common cold can’t even be cured. God said to Job, Job 38:4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it?6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— 7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” The church has the audacity not to even believe that God created the world in six days. When I first started in the ministry, I had to attend an introduction to the denomination. I should have left then. Today I have no part in any denomination or independent group. The teacher actually taught that the bible did not mean six days based on his understanding of Genesis. I showed another guy in the class this verse. When talking about a week, God said, Exodus 20:11 “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day.” Exodus 31:17 “It will be a sign between me and the Israelites forever, for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.’” So, then people not only reject Genesis but also Exodus and where does it stop? A day has meant a day ever since. As I said earlier, God could have just said “the world” and it would have appeared or even just thought about it but He took six days and rested on the seventh. If you want to increase your faith, start there.
You may say you believe God’s word with your lips, but have you actually given God your life and have faith in His word. We are told Hebrews 4:12 “the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Yet, men and women continue to go their own ways without any regard for where they will end up. Exodus 15:26 “He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” The church is filled with disease and sickness and has accepted that as normal. That is because the church has rejected the word of God and placed faith in man, even though God’s people were warned what would happen for disobedience. Deuteronomy 28:27 “The Lord will afflict you with the boils of Egypt and with tumors, festering sores and the itch, from which you cannot be cured. 28 The Lord will afflict you with madness, blindness and confusion of mind.” Leviticus 26:16 “I will bring on you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and sap your strength. “ Take the time to read Deuteronomy 28 and Leviticus 26.
God’s people were supposed to obey and follow God’s word. Jesus said, Matthew 28:20 “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” As we see all through scripture, when God’s people obeyed, they were blessed with God’s presence. If you are still wondering if the bible is God’s word, stop wondering and believe. Don’t decide based on the church you see today. Turn to God and believe. As Peter said when He was preaching Acts 3:19 “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” He also said Acts 2:38 “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” You can trust God’s word. Psalm 12:6 “The words of the Lord are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times.” Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” Proverbs 2:1 “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, 2 turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— 3 indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, 4 and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, 8 for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.” We are supposed to tremble at the word of God. 1 Chronicles 16:30 “Tremble before him, all the earth!” Psalm 119:120 “My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.” Isaiah 66:2 “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” There should be great fear when handling the word of God. 2 Timothy 2:15 “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” The church today still has this problem of not handling the word of God correctly. Jeremiah 8:8 “‘How can you say, “We are wise, for we have the law of the Lord,” when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely?”
The problem is the church has not listened to the word of God. Zechariah 7:12 “They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by his Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry.” The church does not fear God as it should because the church has no problem changing God’s word to suit their own appetites. Because of rebellion, the true gospel is not being preached and people are not hearing. Isaiah was told, Isaiah 6:9 “Go and tell this people: “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ 10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” Jesus aid the same. Ezekiel was told Ezekiel 12:2 “Son of man, you are living among a rebellious people. They have eyes to see but do not see and ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious people.” Because the church has rebelled, God has turned His face and there is a severe famine in the church and people are not hearing. Amos 8:11 “The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord.” Today people are starving.
What the church has ended up with is empty words and has been deceived, even though we are told, Ephesians 5:6 “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.” 2 Peter 2:18 “For they mouth empty, boastful words and, by appealing to the lustful desires of the flesh, they entice people who are just escaping from those who live in error.” The church instead of being built on the rock, has been built on these empty words. Matthew 7:26 “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” When talking about the false prophets, Ezekiel said, Ezekiel 13:8 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because of your false words and lying visions, I am against you, declares the Sovereign Lord. 9 My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and utter lying divinations. They will not belong to the council of my people or be listed in the records of Israel, nor will they enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Sovereign Lord. 10 “‘Because they lead my people astray, saying, “Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, 11 therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. 12 When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, “Where is the whitewash you covered it with?” 13 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: In my wrath I will unleash a violent wind, and in my anger hailstones and torrents of rain will fall with destructive fury. 14 I will tear down the wall you have covered with whitewash and will level it to the ground so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you will be destroyed in it; and you will know that I am the Lord. 15 So I will pour out my wrath against the wall and against those who covered it with whitewash. I will say to you, “The wall is gone and so are those who whitewashed it, 16 those prophets of Israel who prophesied to Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her when there was no peace, declares the Sovereign Lord.”’
The words are empty because the church has changed them. Man’s words are powerless and have no power over our enemies and the church remains desolate because of the abomination that causes desolation. The church decided to rebel and operate in the flesh instead of the power Jesus said we would have. Paul said 1 Corinthians 15:2 “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.” Today most in the church have believed in vain. Paul also said Galatians 3:3 “Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?” Jesus said John 6:63 “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” John 6:68 “Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” As Moses said Deuteronomy 30:19 “This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live 20 and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
The bible is not a book like all other books. Yes, it looks like a book, and many treat it like a book, but the bible is the living word of God. Jesus said John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” If we reject God’s word, we reject Jesus. Luke 9:26 “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.” The bible is unfathomable. What I have found is the more I read, the less I feel I know. My knowledge of scripture has greatly increased over the years but at the same time I have just scratched the surface. Be leery of anyone who tells you they have full comprehension of everything in the bible, especially when it is easy to see they follow other gospels. John MacArthur is an example of that. As a warning be careful with study bibles. The additional writing is not God’s word. One that did a massive amount of damage in the church was the Schofield Study Bible. I believe God gives us understanding as needed. The more we fear God, the more understanding He gives us. Psalm 111:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.” Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” The question is do you believe what you read. The problem is that there are so many false teachers telling you what you should believe with very few questioning what they have been taught. In this day and age, you should question everything. 1 John 4:1 “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Just read the bible. Commit to actually reading the bible, not books about the bible. You will starve to death reading tools like the Daily Bread. If you are a Christian and that is all you are getting, that is not enough. It is interesting how people can read whole books but can’t sit down and read a book of the bible. If you struggle with reading, then read some more and take your time. You can even listen to passages being read just don’t pick a boring voice. I am not a fan of reading plans, but you might be. When you read the bible, God is talking to you, so make sure you are listening. But also know that satan uses scripture also. Just like with counterfeit money, the more you know the real money, the easier it is to tell what is fake.
The bible can be made to say whatever you want, so be careful who you are listening to. John 14:24 “Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.” John 15:7 “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” Revelation 2:12 “These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword 17 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” But be warned, our enemy has one also. But Proverbs 5:3 “For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; 4 but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. 6 She gives no thought to the way of life; her paths wander aimlessly, but she does not know it.” So in faith we stand firm on the word of God. 2 Corinthians 4:13 “It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, 14 because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Hebrews 12:1 “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
