There is only one gospel, and it is powerful. So why the question? The church today appears to be promoting the same gospel, but that oneness is simply not true as most are promoting other gospels, which is a powerless gospel. All you have to do is read the doctrines / distinctions of each group and you will see vast differences, so it can’t be the same gospel. In fact, it can’t even be Jesus because the words differ from His as found in scripture. Colossians 2:6 “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.” 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 are worshipping in vain because they have been taken captive.

         Now the odds are that the church you have chosen to be part of is not going to tell you to question everything they teach. In fact, most will take offense if you question their teaching and doctrines. Yes, there will be classes / material explaining what they believe, but they are not looking for disagreement but for you to agree and sign on the dotted line, if membership is required. Even if there is no membership requirement, it is understood that you fall in line and stay there. The truth is if you listen closely enough, there will be warnings as the enemy is so arrogant, satan will tell you what is wrong, but you must pay close attention to God’s word. They will tell you this is the gospel of Jesus Christ but will make sure their own distinctions are front and centre. You are going to see lots of we agree to disagree, which is stupid by the way, between denominations and differing groups. They will all say we love Jesus, but they will also say (amongst themselves) the others saying they love Jesus are wrong and the church will continue to have split after split while all agreeing to disagree. By the way don’t be afraid to ask hard questions, but most of all don’t be afraid to have nothing to do with other gospels. Where you spend your eternity depends on it.

    When you look at the words powerful and gospel, this must be understood in the context of scripture. Jesus showed us what powerful was and what the gospel looked like. When you put these words together you have powerful gospel and the gospel will look like Jesus. Not only will this powerful gospel look like Jesus, the church will do as He did just as He said we would. This is what the powerful gospel looks like. Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.” The church should still be doing the same but as Paul said Colossians 1:23 “if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” What you see in the church today is not that because the church did not continue. 

    The opposite of powerless is powerful. One definition described powerful as “having the ability to control or influence people or things: having a strong effect on someone or something: having or producing a lot of physical strength or force.” We see this power all the time and it has nothing to do with the power Jesus had and said we could also have. We saw on January 6, 2022, a reminder of a raving lunatic who was powerful and continues to have influence over people. Trump was able to even deceive Christians, even here in Canada to follow his rantings and believe his lies. While we must understand that God places in power who He desires, it didn’t mean Trump was the savior as so many had put their faith in. Millions believed his lies and still believe them to this day which is why the politicians are playing a deadly game with democracy. They need those votes at any cost. They will even succumb to the ravings of a madman to get them. People that have been deceived are not just everyday people but politicians, doctors, pastors, teachers and others who should know better yet people by the millions have been deceived because they believed the lie. 

    The church believing someone like Trump is just the tip of the iceberg that sunk this ship called the church leaving just a remnant of survivors. Paul warned us when he said Acts 20:29 “I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.” There are Trumps all over the place in the church distorting truth and leading people astray. Just as Trump is willing to destroy democracy for His own narcissistic ways, these leaders in the church feed themselves at the cost of the lives who follow them blindly. Jude 1:12 “These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.” 

    The other word was gospel. The dictionary defines gospel as “the message concerning Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation.” When you use the word gospel you must understand that there is only one way, truth and life but there are other gospels just as there are other spirits. People in the church have fallen for both other gospels and other spirits, even though we were warned over and over again to test the spirits. 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.” When did you think this would happen? satan has done a number on the church getting them to believe this is an event always off in the future. This deception has been happening ever since John said test the spirits and Jesus said Matthew 7:15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Mark 13:21 “At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. 23 So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.” Yes, Christians can be deceived if they take their eyes off God’s word. We must Hebrews 12:1 “run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” This rebellion and turning away from God’s word has already happened as 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. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! 9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!” We were already told this would happen. 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.”

        What gospel have you given your life to? What do you think you were saved into? Jesus continued to say Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” But wait doesn’t Romans 10:8 say, “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” What most people don’t realize is that the word is not near them because they have been deceived by other gospels and they have not actually called on the Lord, therefore they are not saved. False prophets and teachers are everywhere and satan continues to deceive the world. Revelation 12:9 “The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or satan, who leads the whole world astray.” satan has decimated the church. You do not want to die before knowing the truth.

    Go back to Matthew 7:22 for a moment. “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” Most people will automatically think charismatics, but it is far broader than that. You have to include anyone who preaches, even though they may not say they believe in casting out demons like the charismatics think they are doing. I was driving the other day and I came across a minister on the radio from the States I think who was talking about the miracles of Jesus. Of course, this piqued my interest, so I listened for a little bit. He talked about how amazing and powerful the miracles of Jesus were and then he talked about the false healings of the charismatics. He said he actually offered money if they could prove that they were healed with a doctor’s note from before and after. He said no one could take him up on it. While I believe very much in the power of Jesus and the falseness of the charismatic movement, this man was also wrong. I get a little vocal when driving by myself, so I was asking this preacher what about you, where is the power and authority Jesus said you could have. I already know Jesus was powerful. Then there was silence. No talk about the authority Jesus gave us or the power that comes with believing. Ephesians 1:8 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” No talk about being sent out clothed with power. Luke 24:49 “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” No talk about doing as Jesus did and then he moved on. Let me just say he and I had words, even though he was unaware of that conversation. When there is counterfeit, there has to be real to counterfeit from. Why do so many people give so much power to satan masquerading as an angle of light and do not believe Jesus at His word. They believe in the power of satan but not Jesus. What I am saying is the charismatic movement has been thoroughly deceived and has done great damage to the church just as satan planned. Yes, we should be seeking the gifts as Paul said in 1 Corinthians 14:1 “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy,” but the spirits must be tested. As soon as we got away from God’s word, we lost truth. Jesus said John 10:17 “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” You can’t be sanctified if you do not follow the truth. Other non-charismatic churches will rail against the charismatics and deny everything they do, of which they should, but the error here is they also reject the power that Jesus said we all could have. They will give all power to satan but not Jesus. They will even put it in their manuals that they do not believe as those charismatics do. But the problem is they also put in their manuals that they don’t believe they can do as Jesus did either even though, even though 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. 5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. 6 Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel. 7 As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons.” That is the gospel of Jesus Christ but not just for the twelve but for all who would believe and obey. Then Matthew tells us Jesus said, 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.” We must remember that Mark 16 is the same as Matthew 28. Mark 16:15 “He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 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. 19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. 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.” 

    If the good news is still the same, why is this not happening? It is not the same which is why it is not happening! Scripture makes it clear that being baptized is not the same as John’s baptism even though there was water baptism. John said Matthew 3:11 “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” The signs are supposed to be following the gospel when preached, just as we see in Hebrews 2:4 “God also testified to it by signs, (Mark said God will confirm His word by signs.) wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” We see those gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12:4 “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” How can people say they preach the good news when the news they are preaching looks nothing like the good news Jesus and the disciples preached? Nowhere does the bible say the power was only for the twelve and a few others. The teaching that the power gifts stopped is a false gospel called cessationism, a doctrine of demons! Jesus said and these signs will follow. “Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” How is it that people are making disciples if they do not do as Jesus did? How can you be a disciple if you do not believe what Jesus said? What have you been saved into and to whom are you a disciple of?

    Just as Trump has deceived millions of people, men and women like him have deceived millions in the church. These men and women are everywhere throughout the church. Truth has been thrown to the ground and nowhere to be found. Jeremiah was told Jeremiah 5:1 “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city. 2 Although they say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ still they are swearing falsely.” 3 Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent. 4 I thought, “These are only the poor; they are foolish, for they do not know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God. 5 So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God.” But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds. 20 “Announce this to the descendants of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah: 21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear: 22 Should you not fear me?” declares the Lord. “Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it. 23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away. 24 They do not say to themselves, Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’ 25 Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good. 30 “A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land: 31 The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?” 

    This is a description of the church. Does this sound familiar? “Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear” Jesus said Matthew 13:13 “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.” But as Hebrews said people do not even try to listen Hebrews 5:11 “We have much to say about this, but it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand,” but instead of seeking truth 2 Timothy 4:3 “the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” Before Jesus commissioned the disciples in Mark 16:14, He appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.” Paul tells us in 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 today is filled with unbelief and because of that the church is deceived and deluded. Most people in the church do not want to hear about a God who is different than the god they have been taught to believe in. The only belief they have is in the words, traditions, reasoning and experiences of man. Mark 7:6 “He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules. 8 You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” God is who He says He is and He does not change. The church has rejected the God of the bible and have turned to other gods. People will say God is love but have no idea what that involves. They will stake their lives on the teachings of man and say this is how God must act and then when He doesn’t do as they say or think He should, they throw a tantrum, get mad and blame God for everything or they will just put blinders on and continue down a path that leads to where the dead are. Proverbs 9:13 “Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, 15 calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, 16 “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, 17 “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” 18 But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.” They say what kind of a God would allow… Meanwhile they refuse to return to His word and follow wholeheartedly. They forget Proverbs 81:13 “If my people would only listen to me, if Israel would only follow my ways, 14 how quickly I would subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!” Yes, God is love but he demands obedience and there are severe consequences for disobedience as we saw beginning with the Garden of Eden and the Promised Land. Jesus warned us the church in Revelation 3:15 “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” After being vomited out of the land just as God said would happen, there was only a remnant of survivors. God does not change so because the church has disobeyed, satan has been allowed 2 Thessalonians 2:4 “to oppose and 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.” This is the abomination that causes desolation and the church is severely desolate with only a remnant remaining. People will say God would never allow our enemies to conquer us, but the bible says He will. Read the Old Testament and see. Also read the book of Job and he did nothing wrong but he was faithful and persevered. James said, James 5:11 “As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” At the end Job said Job 42:5 “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6 Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” 

    This statement by Job is what we must also say before God. It doesn’t matter who you are, we all must despise ourselves and bow before God Almighty because we do not deserve grace. Over the last month I asked you to look in the mirror and then change. Yes, you have the choice to stay the same but that will have deadly consequences. In this desolate condition we find the church, you do not want to die without seeking God and turning from your wicked ways. Wicked ways are any way that is not good news of the gospel. Yes, you may die in the next month and not see what is coming but you will be ready for eternal life. All of us must repent and turn from these wicked, empty and powerless ways that have been handed down from our fathers. God said Jeremiah 29:13 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” You should also note that 2 Chronicles 16:9 “the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” If you want to get strong, get more committed to God. We see the church described in Deuteronomy 4:25 “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. 27 The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. 28 There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. 29 But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. 31 For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.” Proverbs 8:17 “I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.” Jesus said Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Make every effort to look for the right door. As of now many are flocking through the wide gate. Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Luke 13:22 “Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!” If you are not worried about this, you should be!

    If at this point you are not sure how this could happen to the church, just think for a moment how a corrupt man like Donald Trump could have so much power. How is it that his lies have deceived millions of people? How could a political party be so afraid of this man? Since it happened right before your eyes, then it is possible for the church to be deceived in the same way. At this point many will say nothing can take away my salvation or quote John but leave the unbelief part out. John 10:25 “Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” The question is whose voice are you listening to. Are you willing to bet your eternal life on the words of men and women? If you do, you will lose. Peter warned us when he said 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 follow the wrong voice or don’t believe the true voice, you are then powerless and will not see eternal life. That is the powerless gospel that only leads to death and destruction for all eternity.

        The good news, the true gospel is all powerful and yes just as Joshua was told when they took the land, Joshua 1:3 “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. 7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” This also happens today when we take back the land, but it only happens when we obey and follow wholeheartedly. If we do as we are told, we too like the disciples will be clothed with power from on High and God will turn His face back to shine upon us and dwell with us just as it was supposed to be when the church started. Revelation 21:3 “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Jude goes on to say Jude 17 “But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” Paul said 1 Corinthians 6:9 “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” You can only be washed and sanctified by the word of God. Yes, there are men and women distorting God’s word and dividing the church who only follow themselves. As God said 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. 17 They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’ And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’ 18 But which of them has stood in the council of the Lord to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word? 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. 30 “Therefore,” declares the Lord, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes,” declares the Lord, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The Lord declares.’ 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares the Lord. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares the Lord.”

        Even though these men and women are everywhere, and truth has been thrown down, this desolation is coming to an end and the remnant will rise up and go in the authority of Jesus name to the ends of the earth clothed with power from on High. Daniel 7:26 “But the court will sit, and his power will be taken away and completely destroyed forever. 27 Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be handed over to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.” When this happens, you will see demons cast out, people healed of their diseases, the list from 1 Corinthians above will be washed whiter than snow, as will others. The good news of the kingdom of God that Jesus preached will once again go out into the world. This verse still applies to us today. Mark 1:15 “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” As does this verse. Matthew 9:35 “Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.” And this one. Matthew 8:16 “When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” We know the kingdom came because this took place. Matthew 12:28 “But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” It wasn’t just Jesus who did this. Luke 9:1 “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” Luke 10:1 “After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 9 Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ 10 But when you enter a town and are not welcomed, go into its streets and say, 11 ‘Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’ 12 I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town. 17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” Acts 5:12 “The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. 13 No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. 14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. 15 As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. 16 Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed. 42 Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.”

            That is the good news of the gospel. This is what it was supposed to look like, not what the church looks like today that teaches and preaches a powerless gospel. As Paul said today’s preaching is just a lot of talk and no power. 1 Corinthians 4:18 “Some of you have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you very soon, if the Lord is willing, and then I will find out not only how these arrogant people are talking, but what power they have. 20 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.” Whenever there was preaching, there was power. I know I use this verse often but if you want to know what the kingdom looks like, this is it. Matthew 4:23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.” And this! Matthew 11:1 “After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee. 2 When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.” Again, not just Jesus but disciples who were sent out. Acts 8:4 “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city.” Even when Paul was longwinded, there was power to raise the dead. Acts 20:9 “Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.” This summed up the ministry of Paul. Acts 19:11 “God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” Notice when there was little power. Mark 6:4 “Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith.” How is your faith?

        At Pentecost Peter preached and 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.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.” So, you have looked in the mirror and don’t like what you saw and you now understand that you have been deceived by another gospel. How do you save yourself from this corrupt generation. First of all you thank God that He has opened your eyes and ears and you continue to ask for knowledge and understanding. You will receive this as you learn to fear the Lord. Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” If you do not fear God, you will be forever sorrowful. As you fear God you trust His word and live by His word. God said 2 Chronicles 7:14 “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. 16 I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.” Ezekiel 33:11 “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?” So, we repent and Jesus said the Kingdom would come near.

     There is an amazing story about a jailer and Paul and Silas. You can read the full account in Acts 16:16-40. There was a slave girl shouting at Paul. Acts 16:17 “She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her.” She made men a lot of money and now that was gone. They then threw Paul and Silas in prison. Then Acts 16:25 “Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” The jailer thinking everyone had escaped was about to kill himself but Paul stopped him. This is the amazing part of this story. The jailer then, Acts 16:29 “called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Paul then responds “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 32 Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33 At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. 34 The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.” Many households have been saved or have they? Titus tells us whole households are being ruined. What about yours? Titus 1:10 “For there are many rebellious people, full of meaningless talk and deception, especially those of the circumcision group. 11 They must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain.” Have you followed these men and women and believed in other gospels? If you have turn away. Save yourself from this corrupt generation. For example, if you have listened to the likes of John MacArthur who says there is no power and power gifts have ceased, you have been deceived by a false teacher and doctrines of demons. Turn and run.This is what happens when there is true power. In this case they stayed in jail but in other cases they walked out. Acts 5:19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. 20 “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.” Another example was when Peter was in jail and the church was praying. Peter then walked out with the angel and wen to where the people were praying. He knocks on the door, 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” 15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” 16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished.”

    I believe the power I read about in scripture can still happen today. Why because the bible says so. I don’t just mean if God so desires as so many people pray. I mean the power available to all who believe just like it was in the Gospels and Acts. Are you thinking Paul you are out of your mind and yes I have been told that and I am sure many think it, but scripture is clear, so why don’t you believe what scripture says? Are you prepared to meet Jesus face to face and say I don’t believe you? Then be prepared to hear depart form me I don’t know you. If you believe the gospel, you must believe in the available power that goes with it. The gospel is powerful not powerless. Don’t be afraid to turn away from empty, powerless gospels and turn to the truth. Jesus said Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. 26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” Luke 14:25 “Large crowds were traveling with Jesus, and turning to them he said: 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. 27 And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” But do not fear Jesus also said, Mark 10:29 “Truly I tell you, no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” 

    What must you do to be saved - Believe the true word of God, the powerful gospel, not the one specific to denominational distinction that promote a powerless gospel. 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.” Peter declared Matthew 16:16 “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God. 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and 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.” Who do you say Jesus is? If you answer correctly, nothing can stand against you and the kingdom will come near just as Jesus said it would. We will then do as Jesus did. 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.” Matthew 21:21 “Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”Hebrews 10:38 “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.”