Christian Men, Producers Of Godly Seed Or Earthly Tares?

Index

1. How do Christian men see and enact their priorities?
2. What are the God given Christian man’s responsibilities?
3. Is failure in a Christian man’s life excusable?
4. A husband who will not lead
5. Called to follow God or man?
6. A wife who will not follow
7. Children dying for lack of a father
8. I am zealous for my church, isn’t that enough?
9. A priest unto God or a parishioner of your church?
10. Receive the message, or shoot the messenger?
11. The Blessing of faith

Preface

This booklet is primarily directed to a Christian man with a wife and family, and for a Christian man who is going to enter into marriage.

Today, for many Christian men, spiritual direction and priorities are skewed, obscured, and misdirected. Because of this confusion, many tares of false doctrine have been sown and have found root in churches. The results of these tares are that they have robbed the individual Christian man of his place before the Lord, robbed the church of its mission, and sabotaged the power of God to work in families. In general, the Scriptural pathway God has set for the Christian man is fogged or unknown.

Josiah, King of Judah experienced the same thing in his day. Hilkiah, the priest, found the book of the law of Moses in the temple. The book of the law had become unknown to the king and to Judah. Shaphan, the scribe, carried the book of Moses to the king and read it to him. Josiah, upon hearing these things, tore his clothes and received the word of the Lord (2 Chronicles 34:14-21). Then Josiah sent out messengers with the word of the Lord to all of Judah. They also repented and received the word of the Lord (2 Chronicles 34:29-34).

It should be noted that religion in Judah was thriving before Josiah heard and enacted the word of the Lord. The same was true of Jesus’ day; religion was the energy of Israel, but not according to the revelation of God.

The same is true of this day, even though the low spiritual state of men and churches has not lacked for zeal, programs, or religious activities. It is the vitality of the Holy Spirit that is lacking in Christian men, and the condition in churches is the proof. This lack of vitality is because professed believers have come to think that the word of God is a book of suggestions.

Because a wife is one flesh (Ephesians 5:31), with her husband; one chapter addresses wives who do not have an understanding of man’s God given headship. Also, what a husband is to do when his wife has come to believe that the day of man’s headship is over. The chapter does not speak to the woman who lives in faith, and desires to follow Jesus according to His word.

For the man who is content following his church or his own religious ideas, this booklet will be offensive. This booklet is intended for those who desire the truth in Christ and want to follow Him in heart and practice.

Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink” (John 7:37). Jesus offers heavenly water for those who are thirsty; whoever, drinks of that water will find that which alone satisfies the spirit and soul. A new life will open up for those who will receive the truth in Christ, (the water of the word Ephesians 5:26). Whoever receives the word of God will find, “Old things will pass away and all things will become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way” (Matthew 13:28-29).

Tare: a noxious weed, probably the darnel; Webster’s Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary.

“But did He not make them one, (husband and wife), having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring” (Malachi 2:15).

1. How do Christian men see and enact their priorities?

A question men need to ask themselves is, “what are my priorities?” For truth to prevail, this question must be answered from the heart and from the mind. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). David tells us what God desires, “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts …” (Psalms 51:6).

A man should look to see what the treasures of his heart are. Is it love of self, wife, children, business, the world, religious pursuits, hierarchical position in the church, your ministry? Do you value the praise of men for your religious position, or you’re compromising the truth of Holy Scripture so you will not encounter any uncomfortable relationships?

Or is the treasure of your heart to follow after the Lord Jesus only? Whereby, in the love of Christ, you lay down your religious self life to follow every word of God, including loving your wife, your children, living in servant-hood to the Lord’s brethren, and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth (John 16:13). Thereby you will, be walking and rejoicing in the riches of the truth in Christ.

For those in the first category, the wickedness in the human heart (Jeremiah 17:9), has no problem excusing or justifying its intent and actions for religious purposes, no matter what the word of God instructs to the contrary (1 Samuel 15:12-23). Many men feel that having peace in the home at any cost is God’s will, so they follow the desires of their wife to keep peace. Many of these men believe and follow whatever and however their wives lead. Their reasoning is, ‘she is more of a spiritual leader than I am. Through her leadership, we have the same priorities, doctrine, pursuits of religion and peace in our home.’

Most churchmen follow a similar pattern with their children. They send them to the professionals in the church for religious instruction, to church camps for their activities, outings, and church parties. Fathers may take their children to church and Sunday school on Sundays, and to mid-week meetings. They may give money to the church, take a position of prominence in the church, and even volunteer for church work. A father may have a steady job to support his children. A father may watch as his wife buys Christian books for his children and reads to them. He may show much tolerance toward his children as they walk like their father after the world, all the while carrying out their acceptable religious duties. It may never occur to these men, husbands, and fathers to ask themselves, “are my priorities God’s priorities?” This question will be answered in the next chapter.

2. What are the God given Christian man’s responsibilities?

When contemplating the Christian man’s pathway of faith, the height, depth, breadth, and width of the kingdom of Christ cannot be confined to man’s religious understanding or his church. Faith to the truth is based on the liberty of the Spirit and God’s Word.

A Christian man has been saved to be unto God as His son, servant, priest, and if married, head of his family. He is to be a brother among the Lord’s brethren, to be as Christ is in this world, bear His image, and sit with Christ in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6).

Nowhere does God give authority to man, woman, child, church, denomination, man made religious authorities, clergyman, things of the past, present, future, or any other power to take away from a Christian man what God has given him. A man can only lose the benefit of this gift of God through the deception of the devil (religious deception being one of his most effective tools). Also through his own pursuit of the world (the religious world, or secular), or living after the flesh (despising the gift of God).

A man who desires God’s blessing should weigh his life against God’s word to him to see if his path is in following God’s instructions. Here are a few commands of the Lord, which if followed, bring a man into the normal Christian life:

1. The Christian man, to follow Christ, must believe Him (John 14:11).
2. He is to abide in and keep His word (John 14:21; 15:7, 10).
3. A man must fully understand that without Christ working in him, he cannot live unto God (John 15:5).
4. The love of God is only working in the man who follows the word of God (1 John 5:3).
5. A man led of Christ is led according to truth (John 8:30). In the man’s heart, the truth of Christ and the love of God must be first and foremost. Jesus said, anything or anyone who displaces this heart direction in a Christian must be hated (Luke 14:26).
6. A Christian man is to live his life as a priest unto God (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:5-6).
7. If he is married, he is to teach his wife (1 Corinthians 14:35) and children (Ephesians 6:4) the truths in Christ.
8. God has given him the responsibility of protecting his wife and children from the many heresies and false teachings found in religious organizations and in many churches (1 John 4:1). The husband and father’s responsibility is to protect his family by listening only to the Holy Spirit and the word of God; this is imperative when the heart is set upon separating itself from evil (2 Timothy 2:19-21).
9. The Christian man is to direct his wife and children into the pureness of Christ (2 Corinthians 7:1; 2 Timothy 2:22). Fellowshipping with other believers with the same desire and hope of Christ is mandatory (2 Timothy 2:22).
10. The Christian man’s life of faith to the truth in Christ is to be an example to his wife and children, and to others (2 Corinthians 3:2).
11. He is to teach his boys to be innovative in their talents and to use them to enlarge their abilities. This entails, teaching them a work ethic, and a wholesome development of their masculinity. This will require a father to fully involve himself with his boys, to be a living example of the necessity of working as a way of life (1 Thessalonians 4:11). The prisons hold a multitude of young men who have never learned to work and find such a pursuit – not in their way of life.
12. He is to help and support his wife to teach his girls to grow into young women in wholesome femininity, not wearing men’s clothes, nor wearing provocative clothing or ornaments to draw attention to their physical person (1 Timothy 2:9-10; Titus 2:3-5; 1 Peter 3:3). Charles Swindoll, Chancellor, Dallas theological Seminary has pointed out the man’s responsibility when he said, “Husbands, fathers, it is up to you to dress your wife and daughters.” Their clothing is to reflect Christ.
    It is imperative for the husband and father to teach his wife and family the purpose of God’s command in the woman’s veiling (1 Corinthians 11:1-16). Men who do not understand this prophecy of God, will find valuable help in the book, ‘Covered or Uncovered’ (350 pages) by Gary Sanseri, Back Home Industries, P. O. Box 22495 Milwaukie, Or 97269. This book gives a complete Scriptural and historical practice of the woman’s veiling, from the inception of the church to the present day.
    The love and grace of God should be the foundation of the man’s leadership to implement God’s order in his home. Jesus is the example of servant-hood, so a man is to be to his wife and family. The word of the Lord and His grace must be in his heart for this task (2 Corinthians 8:7-9; 2 Timothy 2:1). If he lacks wisdom, he may ask God for grace and wisdom (James 1:5).
13. A father is not to provoke his children (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21). A father is to set the spiritual direction and tone in the home, so that children may learn respect for father and mother (Colossians 3:20), and equality for siblings younger or older.
14. The father reading the Scriptures daily at mealtime or after, will provide the family (especially his children) with instruction, and a time of questions and discussion (Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15). The lifelong benefits and value of this practice cannot be overestimated; by this practice a family is knit together (1 Thessalonians 2:11). This is God’s command to the father, to teach and instruct his children, for their protection.
15. The Holy Spirit, through the Apostle Paul, admonishes brethren to, “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…” (1 Corinthians 15:58). A man who will follow this admonition in faith, will not be unfruitful. The man should involve his family (if possible) in the work with him, as this will put faith into a practical place of learning for the children, and a source of joy (1 Corinthians 16:15).
16. So that the joy of Christ can fill the home, a Christian man is to practice and teach his wife and children separation from the world, unto Christ (1 John 2:15). If the man does this, the world’s practices and philosophies will not come into their home (1 John 2:16). The flesh will find little food to feed on, and the devil will not find soil in the heart to plant his seeds. This is no small task for a father, as the churches in this day look to the world, its culture and practices to find out what is acceptable practice for the church. This is especially true in the matter of headship.
    In many churches, the mind of God for His people is thought to be archaic, and not acceptable to society. Separation unto Jesus is outside the thinking of the world and worldly churches (2 Corinthians 6:17). The admonition to a Christian is, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). The joy of Christ is the power of God; it is received through believing and enacting His word (1 Thessalonians 1:6).
17. A husband and father should teach his family to pray. Children especially have openness to God. A father, who shows the same openness to God, will set the stage in the home for strong spiritual growth in his wife and children.

God commanded the fathers in Israel (not Moses or the priests) to teach the commandments, statutes, judgments and the remembrance of God’s works to their children. The responsibility was wholly on the father, not on spiritual leaders. God said to the fathers in Israel, “ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise” (Deuteronomy 6:7).

Christian fathers are given the same command of God. “And you fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). God holds the father accountable for his children’s spiritual training.

Jesus was one with His Father; the Holy Spirit will build this same oneness through a Christian father with his children. This oneness is possible, for the father and children, if the father will believe God by practicing, what He has told him to do.

In this life of faith, the father must lead even when he feels no one is following. He may think at times that his responsibility is too much to carry, but the Lord promises we will reap if we do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9). The truth of God’s word does not change. A man’s family may not understand him as he follows the word of God, and the Holy Spirit’s leading. The man, recognizing his own imperfections in various ways, weariness, and sometimes wrong judgments, does not change the truth of God’s pathway for him.

The Christian man carries a heavier load than normal when his wife or children resist his headship. God has given the Christian man a clear pathway. It is, to walk after the Holy Spirit and not compromise one word of Scripture, and to love his wife as Christ loved the Church.

The truths God has given to the Christian man, come with the same responsibilities as Israel before they were to enter into the Promised Land. God told them, “Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you…” (Joshua 1:3). The Promised Land for the Christian is the truths God has given him. For the man, it is the place of headship and is entered into by faith. Israel entered in and took the land of Canaan, by believing God. Israel was told before entering the land, “Only be strong and very courageous … Keep the word of the Lord to do all that is written in it. For in it you shall make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:7-8). The man who takes the pathway of faith in following Christ can be assured of this, “…do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). King David, in believing God, could confidently say, “This I know; God is for me” (Psalms 56:9).

3. Is failure in a Christian man’s life excusable?

“The righteous man may fail seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity” (Proverbs 24:16).

Success is built on failures, by people that did not give up. Thomas Edison, it is said, tried to make a light bulb and failed 9000 times before he achieved success. Albert Einstein’s teacher described him as “mentally slow, unsociable, and adrift forever in foolish dreams.” He was expelled and refused admittance to Zurich Polytechnic School. Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor for lack of ideas. It is a true saying, ‘that failed attempts are the building blocks of success.

For the man who follows the Lord Jesus according to His word, tribulation is inevitable (Acts 14:22). The Christian who will see with the eyes of the heart, to follow Christ only, will find many failures in his walk of faith. However, failure in a man’s life is not a reason to change course, for failure points out his weakness. Weakness in a man who walks in faith, will give way to the power of God to increase him in Christ (1 Corinthians 2:2-5).

Failure in a man who attempts to follow after Christ, is not the issue that brings or loses fellowship with God. A man who will believe God and follow Jesus according to the truth of His word, is the issue with God. All men will fail, but not all men exercise faith to the truth.

Scripture tells us what God’s intent is toward failure, “Then Peter came to Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven” (Matthew 18:21-22). God is not looking for perfection in the Christian man, but a response in faith and practice to the truth in Christ.

Failure in the Christian serves a good purpose. Failures show the man in faith his need to walk in dependence on the Lord Jesus, and his inability to do anything in the kingdom of Christ, except through the power of Christ. Jesus said, “Without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Looking horizontally at other people, churches, religious leaders, the doctrines of men, acceptance of men and the like, is a formula for spiritual failure. The Christian is directed to, “Set your mind on the things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:2-3). Looking to what is religiously acceptable with men will lead the Christian away from Christ and into spiritual deadness, no matter how much zeal is exhibited.

The heart that equates with the verse of this hymn will not be looking horizontally.

In His spotless soul’s distress,

I have learnt my guiltiness;

Oh how vile my low estate,

Since my ransom was so great!

The Christian man who walks in faith, to the truth in Christ, should expect failure in his life. God uses the failures in a man who walks in faith to the truth, to cut off the dead wood in his life, and increase him. Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit” (John 15:1-2).

4. A husband who will not lead

The spiritual apathy in the home and church today can be laid directly at the feet of churchmen refusing to respond to the truths of the Christian life as taught in Scripture.

The frustration of Christian wives with their husband’s spiritual lethargic apathy creates enormous loads on the wife who desires a Christian home. One evangelist wrote about a series of meetings he conducted at an evangelical church a short time ago. After a series of these meetings, he was asked to speak to the sisters. He was reluctant as he thought the revival teaching was going well. Nevertheless, he had a teaching meeting with just the sisters on ‘the woman’s place.’ After the teaching, he called for women to step forward who had not walked according to faith and truth in the woman’s place as taught in Scripture. Many women (250-300) stood up to show their desire to put away their own ways and to follow the Lord according to His word. The evangelist was greatly surprised with their response. So the next night, he had a meeting with just the men, and taught on the ‘man’s place,’ before the Lord. After the teaching he again called for men to stand to show repentance and to follow Jesus according to His word. The evangelist reported that only 2 or 3 men stood.

The disappointment of multitudes of Christian wives with their husband’s refusal to spiritually lead in their homes has led to dissensions, feminism, wives lacking Christian marriage fulfillment. Also, wives taking spiritual headship, husbands and wives leading separate lives, and many times ending in divorce. Many of these disappointed wives thought that when they married, their husband would direct their marriage in a Christian pathway.

Men who think that they are earning a living for their family, and that is good enough, are living in the deception of the enemy. God has made the man head of his family, and equally accountable to respond to God’s authority in that leadership. Jesus asks a question to those who are hearers only when He said, “But why do you call Me Lord, Lord, and not do the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

Love of self plus the wickedness of the human heart (Jeremiah 17:9) keeps Christian men in bondage and servitude to their religious flesh. All the while such men think they are doing God’s will, but the result is, wives suffer and the children are scattered. Some might think these words are too strong. However, as Michael and Debi Pearl of ‘No Greater Joy Ministries’ have stated, in her book, ‘Created To Be His Help Meet;’ after counseling thousands of marriages, “there is more divorce in the church than out of the church.”

When they were going to an evangelical church to speak on home and family, they sent ahead a questionnaire for the children to answer as to their greatest desire. Almost all the children responded their greatest desire was that mommy and daddy stop fighting. If a Christian is the salt of God, can anyone say this is salt with savor? (Matthew 5:13). Church people following churches or religious men who have much zeal or charisma cannot be substituted for following the Chief Shepherd and His word.

5. Called to follow God or man?

Samuel the prophet, gave King Saul God’s word and instruction to lead Israel (1 Samuel 15:1-3). The word Samuel gave to Saul was to attack and utterly destroy Amalek, everyone, including the animals. This Saul did and God gave Israel the victory, but Saul spared King Agag, the best sheep, oxen, fatlings, lambs, and all that were good, the worthless he destroyed (1 Samuel 15:9).

Samuel then went to meet Saul; Saul said to Samuel “Blessed are you of the Lord I have performed the commandment of the Lord” (1 Samuel 15:13). But Samuel said: “What is this bleating of sheep and lowing of oxen in my ears?” Saul told him he saved the best animals to sacrifice unto the Lord (1 Samuel 15:21). Samuel then reminded Saul of God’s instructions. Samuel then told Saul that no matter what religious intention he had, Saul’s refusal to obey God’s word was evil. Saul then told Samuel it was the people’s wish to save them. Samuel told Saul that rejecting God’s word (rebellion) is as the sin of witchcraft. And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry (1 Samuel 15:22-23). Because of Saul’s refusal to follow everything God had instructed, God rejected Saul as king.

Does the word of the Lord come with any less force to the Christian man? Is a man able with impunity to ignore any part of God’s instructions, follow his own heart, and still look for the blessing of God? God intended for Israel to reflect His person, and live in His blessing, this could only be done if they followed and obeyed His every word (Deuteronomy 8:3). For the Christian man, fully following God’s word will create him into the image of the Son of God. Will God accept anything less? Can a man, as Saul did, reject God’s word and still say he is following the Lord? Can a man today, say, the word of God does not fit in with my ethnic culture, the world’s culture, job, relatives, how my wife feels, the desire of my children, my church, or any other human reason?

A Christian man who lightly esteems the word of God will be lightly esteemed by God (1 Samuel 2:30). A man brings spiritual confusion on his own household when he does not function under the authority of the Holy Spirit and Scripture. A Christian wife is not fulfilled and suffers much from a husband who does not honor his wife’s spiritual needs. This has led many a wife to seek spiritual leadership some place else. Her own heart is made smaller as the center of the home and her rejoicing in her husband is limited and frustrated. This woman may strike out on her own and do all kinds of religious things, but her heart is poor, in the place where God designed her to be rich, as the center and heart of the home.

A husband not spiritually nurturing his wife and children is not a small thing. The man has been entrusted by God with headship over his family to do as Abraham did with his family. God said of Abraham, “For I know him that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of Jehovah, to do righteousness and justice, in order that Jehovah may bring upon Abraham what he has spoken to him” (Genesis 18:19 JND).

Some men, who have given up their headship to their wives, may say, ‘Scripture may teach leadership of the husband but I trust my wife’s leading and judgment.’ Some men have relinquished their headship of their wives over to the clergy, by the wife seeking spiritual direction apart from her husband. The affections of the wife can easily then become misdirected, confused, and split between her spiritual leader and her husband. Many a man has lost his marriage and home because the husband, by his actions, thought his God given headship was not that important. Esau lost his birthright because he thought it was not that important (Genesis 25:29-34). A man turning his wife over to a clergyman, for spiritual needs to be nurtured, puts his wife in a difficult place whether either of them know it or not.

The failure of a husband and father to lead his family into the truths of Christ is opening the door of his home for the devil to come in. Spiritual confusion, children not walking in faith, lack of love, and estrangement of family members will be the final result of the devil’s work. A family suffering these events may be faithful church members, and religious activity may be at a zenith in the family.

A man who does not follow God’s order to lead his wife and children has failed, no matter how many other things he has supplied to his family. God’s order for a family is to the root of life, man’s order, religious or not, will not bring forth the fruit of God.

A Christian man who does not set his mind on the things above (Colossians 3:1-2) will not be able to implement the order of God in his own life or his family. He will be an earth dweller (Revelation 12:12) even though his intentions for his family, from a human view point, may be the best.

For the man who will repent of his own ways or religion and believe God, the blessing and favor of God will be with him. If his children are grown, his repentance should extend to them as well, not in words only, but in action of putting feet to faith. God can bring healing and spiritual development to a family where the father expresses regret and repentance in not following the word of the Lord. A man following true repentance will not be in words only, but in a new and humble direction toward God and His word.

When the man looks into his heart to see what he is, and what Christ has done for him, the words of this hymn will not seem so far off.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were an offering far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

6. A wife who will not follow

“…your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you” (Genesis 3:16).

Any person who is in a position of authority, and has people under him who do not respect his authority, suffers turbulence. This is especially true in the family unit. A wife, who does not respect her husband’s authority over her, picks and chooses which of his words she will do, and which things she will resist or refuse. She creates disunity in her actions and sets an example for her children to follow. A husband must attempt to have a Christ led marriage with a wife who has set herself up as the final authority in the marriage and home.

All authority is given by God (Romans 13:1). A wife setting herself up as judge over her husband or his decisions is listening to the evil one. A wife resisting her husband’s authority is asking for the judgment of God upon herself (Romans 13:2).

God has given instruction for man’s authority to be over the woman (the woman was created for the man, 1 Corinthians 11:3, 9). No matter what period of time in man’s history on the earth, this truth has not changed. The woman or man who challenges man’s God given authority over the woman, is challenging the Creator (Genesis 3:16). There has been no spiritual event at the cross, or in a person’s experience that makes God’s authority through the man diminished, or null and void, “For I am the Lord, I do not change” (Malachi 3:6). Jesus prayed to His Father this prayer for His own, “Sanctify them by Your truth, Your word is truth” (John 17:17). The woman in faith following the word of God is sanctified (set apart) unto her Creator.

When a Christian woman marries, she comes under the authority of her husband. This is not a light commitment, for Scripture tells her that she has turned her whole life over to her husband to be one flesh with him (Genesis 2:23-24). “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the Church; and He is Saviour of the body. Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything” (Ephesians 5:22-24). The Christian woman’s vows, are based on Scripture and are non-negotiable. However, the man’s authority over the woman does not extend to illegal or immoral directives.

How hard it is for a Christian woman to live out these vows to a non-Christian husband, or a non-practicing Christian husband.

A man, walking in faith, whose wife will not submit to his headship is told this by the Holy Spirit, “This I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none” (1 Corinthians 7:29). This is not a directive for a husband to not love his wife, or to help her in her weaknesses. It simply means, a man who walks after Christ cannot be directed un-Scripturally by his wife. As some wives cannot understand that the word of God means submission to God’s authority through her husband, so she may say, “If you loved me you would not ask me to believe or follow that part of Scripture.”

The reasons for a woman’s refusal to submit, or to be under her husband’s authority may vary, as many churches teach that the headship of man is no longer in effect (some churches teach this by word, others by what they practice). This doctrine serves Satan well, and allows the evil one entrance into a marriage or home, to disrupt and destroy what God has established.

A woman may be very religious, even a church leader and yet not be a Christian; or she may be a Christian living in self will. Either way the word of God is an affront, hindrance, and anger to her, and seen as an attack on her religious life. Some women who have taken the bit of headship in their teeth are convinced their spiritual leadership is more important than the word of God. To these women, the Scripture is a book of suggestions to be received or rejected according to their will.

The feminist cult active in a great many churches has led many women into deception, to their own hurt. This teaching and doctrine of feminism is a work of Satan, and appeals to the religious flesh and pride in the woman. Her positive response to feminism damages herself, her husband, her children, and the Church of God everywhere. Many a woman who has desired and pursued a religious position, to be a leader, or teacher has brought destruction to her home. Satan has been given power to undermine the work of the Holy Spirit in building His Church by deceiving the woman through feminism as taught and practiced in many churches.

The rejection by men and women to man’s God given headship has done great damage to the body of Christ. This damage is seen in the homes of those who profess the name of the Lord but don’t accept or follow His words (Luke 6:46). In some cases, a woman may be a very nice church person (as people judge in nature), but she may be just as determined as the feminists to not bend her knee to the Lordship of Jesus through man’s or her husband’s authority.

The Adamic nature within the woman tells her it is O K to disregard Scripture, be a religious leader, teacher, and hierarchical authority in the church; to believe God would ruin everything she holds dear. She may agree, to be crucified with Christ is good theology, but the Adamic nature within her will resist putting it into practice because of not agreeing with her religious nature, or the doctrinal practices of her church. Mother Eve aspired to a higher religious position than the place of submission that God had given her, she would be like God (Genesis 3:5).

The Holy Spirit in Scripture, gives a list of practical directions for the Christian woman to follow in obedience to the Lord. We are told, the woman who does not follow the word of the Lord in these truths, causes the word of God to be blasphemed (Titus 2:3-5).

Miriam, the sister of Moses, came to a point where she did not accept the authority God gave to Moses over Israel (Numbers 12:1-2). The result of Miriam blaspheming against God’s representative authority (Moses) was that God’s anger was aroused against Miriam, and she was stricken with leprosy (Numbers 12:9-10). Today spiritual leprosy is evident in many women who will not accept God’s authority, His Son’s authority, the apostles’ doctrine, or the Scriptures, whereby Christians are taught how to follow the Lord Jesus. Such women suffer without knowledge.

What is a husband to do who has a wife who will not submit to his authority over her? Moses again is the example of dealing with rebellious people. Moses fell on his face before the Lord and interceded for Israel when they rebelled against the word of the Lord, as he did for Miriam in her rebellion (Numbers 12:13; 14:5; 16:4, 22, 45). A husband should do as Moses did, fall on his face and intercede to God for his wife. But follow the word of the Lord totally and completely, compromising nothing, and at the same time love his wife as Christ loved the Church. If a husband will follow the spirit of grace and truth, and humble himself before the Lord, God will be with him (Isaiah 57:15; Matthew 28:20). The Christian man’s power, is the power of God activated by faith through humility (1 Corinthians 2:5).

A husband should ask God for wisdom to bring his wife to faith. Taking his wife out of a feminist church, or other such religious groups, would be necessary to help his wife withstand the evil one’s onslaught. The evil one is able to undermine her home through peer pressure doctrines and keep her from being able to receive truth taught by the Holy Spirit. It is mandatory for the husband to bear the image of Christ in attempting to bring his wife into the truth in Christ, and out of satanic religious bondage.

This chapter is not at all speaking to the multitudes of Christian women who walk in faith to the truth. Christian women of faith are extremely valuable in Christian and gospel work and in the testimony of Christ. This section speaks only to women who are in bondage to their religious nature, pride, self, and are not open or teachable to following the truth in Christ.

7. The suffering of children for lack of a father

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

Today, in many professed Christian homes, through separation and divorce, children suffer because their father is not there to raise them up unto the Lord. This can be because of the father’s pursuing self interest things: business, sports, religion, or many other personal interests. Whatever the reason the father is not raising his children in the knowledge of the Lord, the weight of spiritual ignorance falls on the children. The knowledge of God, is the light of life (John 1:4), and without it, the children perish. God told Israel, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hosea 4:6).

Through the action and non-response of fathers to the Spirit of Truth, children become the silent suffering majority in the home and in the church. Children who learn the ways of their religious father, who does not honor God’s instruction to him, are likely to do the same when they marry and have children or worse. The result is, each generation will know God’s word and ways less and less. This type of confusion inflicted on the children is not without divine observation. Jesus said, “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 18:10).

Many fathers do not realize the sacred trust God has given them and the seriousness of violating it. Jesus spoke concerning children, He said, “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).

Fathers are told not to provoke their children (Ephesians 6:4). Provoking by fathers is done by neglect more than any other way. A father who does not see his children as God sees them, has the formula for provoking his children (Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21). If the father suffered the pain that his children sometimes do, from a lack of the knowledge of the word of the Lord, his compassion would deepen for his children. Children have fathers for their upbringing and protection in their developing years. A father who will personally train his children in the love of God and word of God, will build a bond with his children that will not break. The trusting simplicity in children will be rich ground to build their faith in the word of God. The father’s training of his children in the word of God is their future protection against the world, the flesh, and the devil. A father who honors God’s word will usually have children who will honor his word (Proverbs 22:6).

God holds the father responsible for his children’s behavior (1 Samuel 2:29). This entails the father first honoring the Lord’s command to him, so a child sees in his father what he is being taught. A child not trained in the truths of Christ, is a child left in the darkness of this world, where the evil one reigns (1 John 5:19). A father who teaches and prays for his children, God will honor. James tells us that the prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16).

A father not honoring the Lord by training up his children in faith puts himself in the place of being a moral policeman, and the mother in the place of being a domestic judge. God has not designed either parent for this task. A father, who is strong in the flesh, but weak in faith to follow God’s instructions, should pray that God will put the Psalm of David in his heart. “As the deer pants for the water brooks so pants my soul for You O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God…” (Psalms 42:1-2). In the true seeker, God will answer this prayer. Such a Christian man may stumble or fall many times, but God will hold him up (Proverbs 24:16; John 17:20; Romans 14:4; Jude 24-25).

From the day a man has become a father, he is on unfamiliar ground with no previous experience. The Christian man can only learn to be a father by leaning on the wisdom of Him who is a Father to the fatherless (Psalms 68:5). And to follow the instruction he has given to fathers. For a father who has not raised his children in the instructions of the Lord, his course is repentance to God first, then repentance to his children. This is God’s order for the Holy Spirit to restore what can be rebuilt. The father may not have become a believer until after his children were raised, or he may have been raised in a home or church that did not teach the whole counsel of God. Such a father should beseech God in prayer, perseverance, humility, and faith (Luke 18:1-8), for his children raised out of faith.

The Apostle Paul instructs the Ephesian believers; “…awake you, who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise” (Ephesians 5:14-15). Without heeding this admonition, fathers cannot lead their children according to the mind of the Lord.

Children are a gift from God to mother and father. God has given this gift in nature to the father’s responsibility, so the children may be raised up as godly seed unto the Lord (Malachi 2:15). Fathers who raise up their children as godly seed unto the Lord, are known of God (Genesis 18:19). “The children of thy servants shall abide, and their seed shall be established before Thee” (Psalms 102:28 JND).

8. I am zealous for my church, isn’t that enough?

It is not unusual to hear a person tell about the love he has for his clergyman, church friends, and loyalty to his church. In fact, the idea of turning his back on people and church to follow Jesus according to His word may have never entered his mind. To many people this thought would upset their whole religious life. People of this mindset cannot believe that Jesus would have any words of rebuke for their church. However, in Revelation chapters 2 and 3, there are 7 churches addressed. Jesus rebukes 5 of the 7 churches. These same rebuked conditions are present in churches today.

For example; in Ephesus, Jesus rebukes the loss of first love (is there love for the truth in Christ or the church?). In Pergamos, worldliness (idolatry), and Nicolaitanism (clergy/ laity system) does this exist in churches today? In Thyatira, Jesus rebukes the church for allowing the woman Jezebel to teach, who calls herself a prophetess (a spiritual leader). A declining spiritual condition brings feminism (headship of women) to flourish in the church, a condition that is readily seen today. Jesus calls attention to Sardis who has a name to live, but is dead. It is not uncommon today to hear people proclaim their heritage of faith of past days, without having a present day response to Christ themselves. Laodicea is lukewarm (towards the truth in Christ), it says I am rich and have need of nothing (it is spiritually blind because of rejecting the truths in Christ) and refuses to acknowledge its own spiritual condition. It is neither hot nor cold and is vomited out of the Lord’s mouth, even though much religious zeal may be present, but without knowledge (Romans 10:2).

Today, all forms of humanism exist in the churches. But, the underlying decline for church people is based on them following the church and what it teaches, or does not teach, rather than faith in the word of Christ, and what He directs.

Jeremiah prophesied to Israel, by the Spirit of God, against this misaligned faith in the religious center, the temple of the Lord in his day. “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Do not trust in these lying words, saying, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these” (Jeremiah 7:3.4).

One who claims to follow Christ should be very clear who he is following, the church or the word of God! Are you one of the flock of your church, or a sheep of Christ? Are you submitted to your church, or the Word of God? The test of the heart is: am I willing to turn away from church, clergy, wife, children, mother, father, and self to follow the Lord Jesus and His Word (Luke 14:26)?

Many church people think that their pastor or church is the final word of truth. However, God does not save or teach churches; He saves and teaches individuals to follow His Son. And in His Son, the Word of God is final truth. Scripture alone is where this truth is found. If Scripture is not received as final truth, the heart of a believer can be misdirected by soulish peer group theology, acting very zealously, and by deceiving religious spirits. Is the fruit of your life unto Christ or unto your church? Scripture shows us where the power of God is found to divide between the soul and spirit. “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

God has made known His thoughts on man’s ways through Jeremiah. “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:10).

9. A priest unto God or a parishioner of your church?

Not one person has been called by God to be a church member. God has Spirit baptized every believer into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12-13). This is the only church God is building; all others are carnal manifestations of man’s religious flesh (1 Corinthians 1:10-15; 3:1-7). He has called every believer, “…into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9). A believer being called into fellowship with the Son means obedience of faith unto the truth in Christ. What it means to follow Christ in obedience is found only in Scripture, whereby the Spirit has liberty to make the voice of the Chief Shepherd known to the believer.

Without this freedom of the Spirit, a man comes under the bondage of man’s religious institutions, ordained clergy, hierarchy, deceptive religious spirits, etc. He loses God’s ordained order and blessing for himself to be head in his family and often, the support of his wife (because of confused spiritual direction and values). A man should ask himself, are you a priest by human permission? Does your authority come from man or God? Is the practice of your priesthood subject to man or your church? Are you spiritually directed to be unto Jesus as revealed in Scripture, or directed to be a parishioner? Every Christian should study these questions to gain understanding according to Scripture and the mind of the Lord.

A believer’s ties of fellowship in a church, or its denominational doctrines can squash his priesthood from being freely used unto God. The believer following humanist doctrines that sound spiritual but are not from the Holy Spirit, and natural human relationships in a church will keep him from walking in the freedom of Christ.

Every Christian is saved to be in the full favor of God, and to walk in it. This full favor of God was given to the believer the day he came into faith. To walk and live in it, he must turn away from those things, (entities doctrines and yokes) that impede the Holy Spirit’s blessing and freedom. A person who has been ordained by men to serve as a clergyman, pastor, evangelist, or church hierarchy leader in a denomination, sect, or independent group is obligated to man, to serve man. However, every believer has been ordained by God, as a priest unto God, not man. His ordination from God is not subject to man’s religious systems. He has been made a priest unto God for His pleasure and His service.

10. Receive the message or shoot the messenger?

God gives prophesies to be received into man’s spirit. A Christian is instructed that after love, prophecy is the highest priority he is to seek after; he is to desire to prophesy (1 Corinthians 14:1-4). Prophecy reveals the mind of God, past, present, and future. Prophesies are received in great joy by those seeking the things above (Colossians 3:1-2), for others prophesies are a stumbling block to their religion. Old Testament prophets, for the most part were rejected, isolated and killed. This rejection of the prophets of God and their message was always by the leaders.

Jesus, the great Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15-19), was rejected because the leaders did not examine the Scriptures to see if He was who He said He was. The leaders used their own religion as a standard to judge Him (John 7:48). Many people today commonly reject prophesies of the word of God. They use their church, denomination, sect, or the ideas of men as the standard to judge the prophecy and the messenger. The Apostle Paul in his ministry experienced this rejection over and over as he prophesied the word of God (2 Corinthians 11:22-33). Paul, was also rejected by many church people for following the crucified Christ (2 Timothy 1:15). The Jewish religious leaders branded the Apostle Paul a troublemaker, a plague, and a profaner of the holy place. He was called the ringleader of these acts among the followers of Jesus (Acts 24:5-6).

Those who reject prophecy from the word of God will transfer their rejection to the messenger. The supposed or real imperfections of the messenger will be used to reject the prophecy (Matthew 4:14-30). The Apostle Paul is an example of this truth. Those who do not receive God’s revelation to him (Galatians 1:12) say he was a bachelor who disliked women, teaching his own ideas, teaching legalism, or he was teaching culture. Therefore, his message is null and void. Many also reason that the Christian life is a life of peace; Paul’s prophesies cause disruption of peace in churches, and lives. So his prophesies can be received or rejected according to whether peace and direction of life is disrupted. The Holy Spirit records in Scripture that, the Apostle Paul’s gospel will be the standard of God’s judgment: “In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel” (Romans 2:16).

Some church people have wondered how a messenger’s prophesies could be of God, since none of their religious leaders accept or follow his prophesies. People who resisted the prophesies of Jesus, said the same thing, “Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him?” (John 7:48). Many church people when faced with the word of God through a messenger invoke their own standard to test the messenger, such as this thought; ‘only people who don’t follow our church and our leaders believe those prophesies, they are un-spiritual or don’t understand what we identify with.’

In general, the messenger is lacking and is not to be believed or his prophesies to be acted upon. The Jews said the same of the people, when they believed on Jesus, “But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed” (John 7:49).

John the Baptist was not received by the religious leaders of his day. John dressed in animal skins and lived on locusts and wild honey (Mark 1:6). When Jesus asked the chief priest and elders, “the baptism of John was from what source, from heaven or from men?” (Matthew 21:25). They said, “We do not know” (Matthew 21:27). They thought, no doubt, if John’s message was from heaven, John would have fit right in with the teachings of their religious sect and been received by their leaders. The rejecters of his message thought he was not right and had a demon (Matthew 11:18). Is not this same spirit active today; the same thinking for rejecting prophesies of the Holy Spirit and Scripture?

No doubt many leaders thought John’s message was culture for another time, and had no relevance for the day in which he was prophesying (Matthew 22:27). To those who sought out John to hear him, Jesus asks them what they sought, “A reed shaken in the wind, a man dressed in soft clothing…? But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet” (Matthew 11:7-9).

Some may think prophesies are legalism. To avoid legalism, some pick and choose which prophesies to follow. The standard for such a pathway is, ‘if the prophesy goes against my will, church, pattern of life, or understanding, I disregard it, due to the internal strife it brings and the friction it causes with others. Others follow their clergy to keep them content in how they want to live, so they won’t feel under bondage to those prophesies that would redirect their life. Some say, ‘I believe in John 3:16, that is good enough! However, Jesus said to Satan, “It is written, man shall not live by bread alone, but every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).

The more someone follows a church, denomination, or religious group, the more likely they will see the prophecies of God and the messenger of those prophesies as the problem. Ahab, king of Israel (870 B.C.), made a statement upon seeing Elijah the prophet that typifies people who resist a messenger speaking the word of God. He said, “Is this you, O troubler of Israel?” (1 Kings 18:17). Elijah then said to Ahab, “I have not troubled Israel but you and your father’s house have, because you have forsaken the commandments (word) of the Lord…” (1 Kings 18:18).

Jesus, when addressing the religious leaders, or teaching his disciples relied on two witnesses, the Scriptures, and His Father (Deuteronomy 19:15; John 8:16-18; 10:35; 2 Corinthians 13:1). These two witnesses always agree. The apostles filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied and taught the revelation of Christ according to these two witnesses.

The evidence of a messenger and his message being of God are still the same two witnesses. These two witnesses give evidence as to whether the messenger is speaking religious dogma, church doctrine, religious culture, following or pleasing man, or is filled with the Holy Spirit.

11. The Blessing of Faith

The ways of man are a snare, but the purposes of God are to bring blessing and favor upon all who believe, and follow His Son in what He has instructed. This can be seen throughout Scripture. For example, the woman of faith in Proverbs 31 had children who called her blessed, and a husband who praised her (Proverbs 31:28). The blessing of God was upon Job in his prosperity, and in God pruning off his self-righteousness, (Job attempted to please God by his own ideas and works). When God’s pruning was done, Job humbled himself, and repented. His knowledge and blessing of God increased, as he followed Him according to His word (Job 42:1-6, 12).

Abraham believed God (Genesis 15:6), and was blessed of God in all that he did; his enemies became God’s enemies (Genesis 12:2-3). Abraham’s hope was not in religion, man’s ideas, or refusing prophesies of God, but in looking above for the promised, eternal city of God (Hebrews 11:10). Abraham received the hardest of all prophesies, God told him to sacrifice his son as a burnt offering (Genesis 22:2). Abraham believed God and complied with His word, he became God’s standard of faith, for all men (John 8:39; Romans 4:16).

Othniel was a man of faith, a valiant warrior for the taking of the Promised Land, (typifying, the Christian’s battle to enter into the truths of Christ, Matthew 11:12). He was given Caleb’s daughter to marry. He was also given land, and the upper and lower springs (Judges 1:15). Springs of water above are life, Revelation 22:1, and springs of water below bring life where there is none (John 4:10, 13-14; 7:37-38).

Naaman an idolater from Syria, who had leprosy believed the prophet of God, and was healed (1 Kings 5:14). Upon being healed, Naaman became a man of faith in the God of Israel. He said, “indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel (2 Kings 5:15).

The man who ceases from his own works, ideas, religion, man pleasing, and believes God according to His word will enter into the rest of God (Hebrews 4:9-10). This blessing of God is not circumstantial, but eternal rest of the soul. The beauty of the Lord is seen in this rest, and the heart of faith seeks after it (Psalms 27:4). The blessing and promise to him who seeks after God is, that he will be filled (Matthew 5:6; Hebrews 4:9).

The favor and blessing of God is with the one who fears (reverences) Him. He will show him His secret (Psalms 25:14). And he will go in and out and find pasture (John 10:9).

The man who will believe God in word and deed will be the one whom God knows (Galatians 4:9), and blesses. The promises of God to a Christian are founded on the finished work of Christ, seen as follows: Forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43; Ephesians 1:7) Receiving of eternal life (John 3:16) Receiving of the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:44-45) Made a priest of God, by God (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:5-6) Sealed by the Holy Spirit, unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30) Adopted by God, and called a son of God (Romans 8:14; Galatians 4:4-7) Given the hope of Jesus coming to take His saints unto Himself (Titus 2:13) The hope of the resurrection of the body (1 Corinthians 15:51-53) The hope of being with God forever, in His eternal city (Hebrews 11:10; Revelation 21:3)

These promises of God are for all men, who will believe God in Christ, through the truths which the apostles taught. As Jesus was One with His Father (John 10:30), so the one who believes the words of Jesus in faith as taught by the apostles, will be one with the Father and the Son (John 14:23).

Believing God in faith brings the fruit of His kingdom into a person’s heart and purpose of life. This fruit is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). This joy of the Holy Spirit is the work of God as seen in this verse; “And you became followers of us and the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:6).

God has given His Son unto this world to show His kind intentions toward man. The proof of God’s word is in prophecies of the Messiah to come. They are seen in His coming, living among His creation, allowing evil men to crucify Him, taking the sins of us all upon Himself, and suffering God’s wrath and judgment for them. Then He arose from among the dead, and ascended to the Father (1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Acts 1:9-11; 7:55). These historical facts are the evidences of God. This work of God in Christ has made available eternal gifts and promises of God to all men.

“And let him who hears say, come! And let him who thirsts come. Who ever desires, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17).

Final

One would like to think that all who are called the people of God would receive the word of the Lord. However, it was not true in Israel and it does not show evidence of being true in present day churches either. Few among the older generation are willing to reject all to follow Jesus according to His word. This has brought the younger generation into a place of ignorance of Scripture and the mind of God. Young people have, in many cases, not seen the reality of God’s word in their elders .

The rejection of God’s word has led an untold amount of churches into a fallen spiritual state. The fallen state of many of these churches have large numbers of people and sometimes much religious zeal is shown. Along with this zeal are people and churches that are sure that they are exactly what God desires. This kind of thinking is not true of every church, but is a general condition of this day. However, it is unlikely that this nation can stand one or two more generations like the present one. A recent survey calculating church attendance has said that within ten years one half of all churches in this country (USA) will close their doors.

A recent poll taken by well known evangelical pollster, George Barna, found that 5% of teenagers were Bible-believing Christians. Another poll quoted in the book, “The Bridger Generation” by Thom Rainer, a Southern Baptist and former professor, had put the number at 4%. These numbers compare to 35% for the current generation, and 65% for the World War II generation.

Ron Luce, who organized many summit meetings and founded “Teen Mania,” a 20 year old youth ministry, is quoted as saying, “We’ve become post-Christian America, like post-Christian Europe. We’ve been working as hard as we know how to work — everyone in youth ministry is working hard — but we’re losing.”

The spiritual condition of Europe is where this nation (USA) is headed. Authorities calculate that in 100 years Europe will have more Muslims in it than Europeans, because of low birth rate, and immigration. If true, it will be a Muslim Europe at that time without a shot having been fired. Europe’s spiritual condition which had much religion in its past, and yet presently, there is no bowing to the truth of the word of God. This is the course of this nation and has been for some time. This is a nation (USA) that calls itself Christian, but resists the word of God, but not religion. Religion can mean anything, as every Jew that contributed to crucifying Jesus believed in God, according to man’s idea of what it means to believe in God.

God in His mercy uses violence or travesties of nature to convey His message of repentance to those who call themselves His people, but do not believe His word. Also to a nation that has known God’s blessings, but is fast falling away from them (Mark 13:1-31; John 9:1-5). God reveals His way of bringing forth His truth by the prophet Amos, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy? (Amos 3:7-8). Prophesies of God not acted on by men always bring the judgment of God.

God’s judgments attempt to turn a fallen people back to Himself and His word. In this day and country (USA) school shootings have become an ever increasing sign of God’s protective hand being pulled back from demonic forces, which are ever ready to destroy. This release of evil forces is only a small warning of worse to come. When children are being murdered in schools, and in the womb it should awaken the conscience of all people.

The recent Amish school killings of children, gave opportunity for the Spirit of God to manifest His nature, returning good for evil, revealing the true nature of Christ. The Amish went to the home of the man who killed their children. They prayed for the widow, blessed her and her children and gave her money they had collected for her. God has used Amish Christians to show forth His glory, and purpose of life in Christ, from which this generation has fallen away. This spirit of grace is a testimony to the churches and the nation.

If this nation and its church people are to continue in the great blessing that God has shown to this nation, repentance is mandatory. Believing God according to what He has established is the family as the center of His government on earth. This started with Adam in the garden, and has not changed. The fathers teaching each generation after them the way of walking with God, has always been God’s purpose for those who believe Him. King David expresses this truth, “I will go in the strength of the Lord God; I will make mention of Your righteousness, of Yours only — Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come” (Psalms 71:16, 18). Ethan the Ezrahite expresses the same truth, “I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever; with my mouth will I make known Your faithfulness to all generations” (Psalms 89:1).

Is there hope for the future?

God is no respecter of persons, repentance of heart, to faith, to a changed direction of life brings forth God’s blessing. Repentance in believers is where hope for the future lies. Pray that God will grant it (2 Timothy 2:25-26).

In the present

There are believers, many in small groups who gather unto the Lord Jesus according to what He has prophesied through the apostles. The fruit of faith to the truth is seen in these groups. And there is a growing Christian home school movement that has no isms or denominational teachings to promote or follow; young people are instructed according to Scripture as well as academically. And there are other assemblies of believers (some smaller, some larger) who have not followed the popular religious winds of the day, but continue to follow truth as the apostles taught it in Scripture. In Elijah’s day, there was a remnant of 7000, known only to God, who had not bowed the knee to Baal. Today, God has reserved 7000, or a remnant (unknown to the religionists) of a much larger number, who have not bowed the knee to the Baals of the religious world. It is through such small insignificant people (as men think), known only to the Lord, who believe God, who are free to receive the truth of His word, that His Spirit can work.

The answer to the falling away of this day (if God gives mercy) is with men converted to Christ alone, young Christian men, and fathers who will believe God, and direct their lives, and families according to His word. In men who have faith in what God has told us, God can do a work, which he cannot do in churches, because of ignorance of Scripture (in many cases) and outright rejection of His word in others. This is the history of Israel’s downfall through turning away from God’s word.

Never has there been a nation blessed of God like this nation. Yet, Jesus said, “…to whom much is given, from him much will be required…” (Luke 12:48).

D. Neely

1-17-07