The majority of church-going people have totally rejected the teachings of Jesus for the more pleasing teachings of their pastor, church or denomination. They could not even imagine their pastor, church or denomination lying to them. Church people have become so enamored with their pastor, church or denomination, they don’t even recognize the lies, the deception, and the right-out propaganda being disseminated by them. No, it is much easier to just sit there and believe what is filling the empty space between the ears.
But Jesus warns us against listening to our churches. We are to be on our guard against the hypocrisy of our pastors, ministers, leaders, teachers, churches and denominations. They have all fallen. The leaders of our churches do not know Jesus. None have a personal experience with Him. None have heard His voice. Instead of getting to know Jesus, they spend thousands of dollars going to higher educational institutions to learn more human knowledge. How sad. Knowledge will not get you into heaven. Living the perfect, sinless and Commandment keeping life will. That is all the knowledge you need to know for eternal life. And the only way you can live that life is by knowing Jesus personally.
Working your way up the church ladder will only take you down to hell. Working your way closer to Jesus will take you up to Heaven. Either way you are working. That is why we are told to work out our salvation. If you are not working out your salvation, you are working out your damnation.
Luke 12:1 to Luke 12:59
Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
And how do we do that? Do we go around taking a poll to see what the majority believes? Do we ask the preeminent scholars what they think? No! We go to Jesus and listen to Him. We carefully study the words and character of Jesus in both Old and New Testaments to make sure we are listening to the teaching of the truths of Jesus.
The hypocrisy of the religious institutions in the world today is astounding. None are living in obedience to Jesus. They don’t even teach what Jesus taught for eternal life. Truly, “Be on your guard” against your church, denomination and leaders.
There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.
For most of us, those of us who are over 50, you would think we had learned that by now. But I’m afraid not. Our dark secrets will be disclosed and brought to light. That is why we must live every day as if everyone were looking at us. That is how Jesus lived. On the other hand, when someone’s dark secret is revealed and they have repented from that dark life, do we hold it against him or forgive and accept his new life in Christ? It is amazing how Jesus was able to forgive Paul for all the murders he committed against the children of God. Could you if he had murdered your father?
I suppose that is why there are not many in churches or congregations who are repenting and confessing their sins. Those around them are not “Christian” and would hold their past against them. Few are going to Heaven. As we do to others it will be done to us. What are you doing to others?
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.
We should be fearing and loathing our churches and denominations. They are killing us and throwing us into hell. But instead, we fear to sit next to a former inmate because of his past. How screwed up our “Christianity” has become. Nothing “Christian” about it.
I went into our local church that meets on Sabbath. The leader was simply reading from information the denomination had sent out. He had no understanding of what he was parroting. I attempted to share Jesus and they threw me out. It was all about church. Bowing down to what the denomination had to say. Man’s wisdom was far more important that what Jesus had to say. How sad!
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Even though the congregation may hold your past against you, God never holds the past against someone who has repented and turned away from their sinful past. He welcomes with open arms those who walk in the new life of Jesus. God has not forgotten any of us. Only our repented and forsaken sins are forgotten by God. No, we don’t need to be “afraid” of God. We are only to fear unforsaken sins, churches and their members.
“I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God.
This is one I have failed many times. Too often we exhibit before the world unchristlike behavior. We allow our worldly feelings to get in the way of our Heavenly feelings. Too often we talk to each other in a mournful, complaining attitude instead of lifting each other up in the hope of eternal life. To publicly acknowledge Jesus is to have His attitude, love, uplifting smile and encouraging words for all around us. But too often we let the things of the world drag us down. I’m still learning how to publicly acknowledge Jesus in all His ways.
But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God.
I am guilty. Too often I have presented the worldly attitude and expressions that do not show faith, trust and hope in Jesus. This illness has challenged my faith, trust and hope in Jesus. Weeks before writing this, I was in great pain and allowed that pain to keep me from acknowledging Jesus before others. I am sorry. But the day before I wrote this (February 21, 2021), I pulled myself together and said, “Enough, I’m not letting the pain and debilitating effects interfere with my life”. I started working out and today as I type this, I’m beginning to heal and feel better. Praise God!
And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.
At times we get discouraged. At times we doubt. At times we lose our faith. There are times we may get angry with Jesus. I’ve done my share of screaming and yelling at Jesus. He just puts His arms around me and holds me close while I vent. Then I settle down, repent and go back to doing my duties and responsibilities.
However, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is totally different. The Spirit of God is constantly striving to teach us, guide us, instruct us and bring us to repentance. But if we refuse His teaching, guiding and instructing, then God cannot forgive since we have not asked for forgiveness and accepted the teaching, guiding and instructing of the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God was striving with the Pharisees and church leaders to accept Jesus. They refused. They loved their church and themselves too much to humble themselves and repent. They attributed the convicting work of the Holy Spirit to the devil and therefore refused to stop sinning. As such, God could not forgive them.
“When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.”
The same Spirit they have rejected will “teach you at that time what you should say”. That is why we must practice listening to the Spirit of God and living in obedience to His instructions. Every time we ignore and reject His promptings to change our lives, it makes it harder and harder to listen until we no longer hear His voice. And let me make this very plain. We do not listen to the Spirit of God by listening to our pastors, teachers, ministers, churches or denominations. We listen to the Spirit of God by kneeling before Jesus in prayer, opening His Word and reading from Genesis to Revelation. We listen to every word and apply it to our lives. Listen to the Spirit of God as He opens our minds to understand what we are reading for our lives. “The Words which I speak to you are spirit and are life.” John 6:63.
Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
I understand this. How often I wished there was a voice of authority to back up my wants. Here was someone who listened to Jesus, saw the righteousness of Jesus, but instead of taking to heart what Jesus taught, he wanted Jesus to be the arbiter between his greed and his brother. Greed got in the way of love and forgiveness. I have seen this often. There have been times when I needed to hire someone to do work for the ministry. Most of those who claimed to be “Christian” quoted prices that were truly out of this world; trying to get rich off of their “Christianity”. I’ve had greater success with those who did not claim to be Christian.
Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”
This is interesting. You see, Jesus is our judge and arbiter, but not between us. He is Judge and Arbiter between us and His Father. This puts a whole new light on our relationship to Jesus. If the only reason we are “Christian” is to “get what I want”, then we are not Christian. Being a Christian is to change our characters into the perfect character of Jesus in order for the Judge and Arbiter to present us before the Father. When we work for others we are to do it at a fair price. Never make others sacrifice for you.
Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
And there it is. Greed! Coveting! Wanting! Selfishness! It is all sin. We must be on our guard, checking our feelings all day long, making sure that what we do is for the good of others. The more possessions, the more the trouble. The more we want, the more we want. We need to activate our “stop” button more often. To look at ourselves honestly and say, “Enough is enough”. Use what we have for the good of others and God will provide what we need.
And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.
So far in this parable nothing is wrong. God wants to bless us. He wants our work to produce “abundant harvest” in whatever we do. The more we have, the more we can bless others.
He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.
In and of itself, providing places to store what God has given us is not wrong. Here at the ministry God provided us with the ability to put up videos and send out His truth online and in print. That meant we had to build a print shop and a studio. They are simple sheds that are just the right size to do the job that is required. As God continued to bless, our “harvest” increased and we had to rearrange in order to accommodate. Recently I have had to build a “health center” for my health, Joe’s health and hopefully for others in the community.
And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’
Now we get into trouble. How easy it is to retire thinking we have laid up our retirement, savings and Social Security to “take life easy”. We are never to take life “easy”. Jesus worked for the good of others until His last breath. All of God’s people in the Bible worked for the good of others until they died. What they “laid up” was used for the good of others, not themselves. That is where he became a “fool”. Let us never become fools, but wise workers for Jesus.
“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’
When I was laid low with this illness, doctors thought I was going to die. I was not concerned about myself, only the ministry. I couldn’t care less about myself. I own nothing, I have nothing. But I was anxious as to what would happen to the ministry for it to continue helping others. God saw my true desire and raised me up and gave back my abilities to work for Him. Everything God gives He can remove. Let us always remember that. Be humble and use what you have for the glory of God’s work.
“This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”
We must never store up for ourselves. We must be rich toward God. I thank all of you who are rich toward God by storing up your treasures here in the ministry so we can use your bountiful “harvest” helping and feeding others. Just this month I gave away several thousands of dollars of “emergency” food. This was freeze dried food my parents had purchased for the “end of time”. Well, their “end of time” came and the food was not used. It was handed down to my sister. Her end of time came and still the food wasn’t used. Therefore, I gave it to a place that feeds the poor. God will take care of me as long as I “feed” the poor. I have nothing to fear. I know whom I believe in.
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.
Look at all the churches, denominations and religions that proscribe what you are to eat, drink and wear. DO NOT WORRY! The devil has us all wound up in worrying over everything Jesus told us not to worry about. Why? Probably because what others think of us is more important than what Jesus thinks of us. If the devil can get our attention diverted from what is important, we are lost.
For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
Amen! Closets filled with clothes that will never be worn, or worn very little. Our eternal life is “more than food”. The “body more than clothes”. This body is to express love for Jesus by the way we treat people. It doesn’t take clothes to be kind to people. It doesn’t take food to love people. No food or clothes are needed to be able to forgive, show kindness and sympathy. Jesus was naked on the cross while all He thought about was his mother and her well-being, and a world full of sinners who needed His sacrifice. What are you thinking about?
Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them.
Since coming to Lucerne Valley in 2003, I have watched the birds, the rabbits, the bobcats, the crane, hawks and other critters like snakes, all come to the ministry for water and food. God feeds them all. He uses this, His property, to take care of all His animals. From that I have learned to trust Him. He will take care of me. Everyone of our donors has been sent by God to care for this ministry. What a privilege our donors have!
And how much more valuable you are than birds!
Sometimes I have felt less valuable than the birds. It is very hard looking after this ministry God has given me. But then I have to stop and look up at the mountains. Then I remember how powerful my God is and how much He loves me by giving me the privilege of taking care of this ministry and the property for Him. He has never let me down. Is there much I could worry about? Absolutely! Would it make a difference? Probably not! So I practice very hard not to worry. I thank all of you who provide in order to reduce my worry. However, like Paul, I do “worry” about all who are involved in this ministry. I have great concern for the spiritual well-being of each of you.
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?
I want to take this moment of your time to share an interesting experience. For over three days the toilet was plugged up. Every now and then it would slowly seep, but no matter what I put down, it refused to unplug. I even used my “snake”, but even then the water refused to flush, only seep. Finally, during morning worship, I was frustrated and prayed for God to send his “plumber” angel to unplug the toilet. As we were praying, I heard the toilet water gurgle and go down. After prayer, I flushed it and it worked perfectly. Why do we worry? Now you know why I love my God and continue to serve Him.
“Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!
Along with the thought of wild flowers, I look at my dogs: Butch and Duke. They do not worry if we have enough food to give them. They don’t worry about seeing the food level go down in the food dispenser. They don’t worry about the water dish and how much water is in it. They don’t worry about the weather or whether or not the door has shut them in or out. They know that everything they need is taken care of because I love them.
And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
We look out on the world from our churches or church membership, and think of “those people” as pagan. But if you are running after all “such things”, you are pagan. Sitting in, or belonging to, a church or denomination doesn’t make you “Christian”. Your actions, worrying, running after the things of the world, makes you pagan. I have put my life into the hands of God and refuse to worry about myself. He knows what I need, I just live in obedience and trust Him.
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
Let that sink in. “Your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom”. God wants to give you everything that is good for you. The problem is the difference between what we think is good for us and what our Father thinks is good for us. Turn your likes, loves, wants, wishes and “goods” over to Jesus and live His simple, holy, perfect and sinless life and find out how good life can be.
Sell your possessions and give to the poor.
Does that mean you walk the streets naked? Not unless you live in San Francisco. No! It means you have a lot of possessions you don’t need. Sell, give and get rid of them. Get them out of your life. The less you have, the greater your happiness. Our joy is not to be in things, but in Jesus. You have a “kingdom” waiting for you. What are shoes, dresses, suits, cars, computers or phones compared to that? We really do have our priorities upside down. Why? Because we are not spending enough time with Jesus.
Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.
The concept is a simple one. Whatever you “get”, buy or purchase, make sure you are not wasting God’s money by getting something “cheap” that will wear out. God wants us to use His money wisely, buying things that are necessary, dependable and “will not wear out”. That way, the money you spend, and the money you save by spending on durable things, is treasure in heaven. You will then have funds and time available for God’s work.
I spent years trying to repair the little trailer I was living in. It had so many holes I had buckets for catching water inside when it rained. It shook terribly when the wind blew at 100 mph, as if it was going to blow over. Critters were constantly coming in. The tin roof would pop up and down making terrible noises. Finally God told me to replace it. I built a real stick home on the trailer and it has not caused me any trouble since. Thus saving me lots of time, money, worry and trouble. I can do better work for the Lord now.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
My heart is in Heaven, therefore, nothing of this world is of any interest to me, unless it can be used for Jesus.
“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, . . .
I think most Christians are walking around in their bathrobes. They have no idea how to be dressed for service. Being dressed is to be prepared for any and all situations that may arise. Since we live in a world of blackness, where sin abounds, we must have our lamps of perfect characters burning at all times. We must stay in the Word of God, meditating, reading, memorizing and exploring every aspect of it and how it applies to our lives. Then when we are brought into service, we will be able to serve.
What I have discovered is, many are caught up in crazy conspiracy theories. Many are trying to hide so they can’t be found when the “Time of Trouble” comes. They are trying to find ways to hide their water and food. They are doing everything except what Jesus said to do: GO TEACH, not hide. They will be lost. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when that day comes. Not by the wicked, but by church people who thought they were going to Heaven. They never once asked Jesus what He wanted them to do. It was all about their wicked conspiracy theories, hiding and what the church wanted.
. . . like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.
When I was in the Army, we had to be dressed in our best when a high ranking officer came to inspect. Then when he arrived we were ready to open doors and provide for His every need. We didn’t want to disappoint him by trying to hide. Not many are dressing to be inspected by Jesus.
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes.
And yes it was. When the officer found us at attention, dressed and knowledgeable, he was very pleased. Hiding would not have pleased him.
Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.
Jesus Christ, the Creator of the universe, will dress Himself and serve us. I can’t fathom that. The One who created me in the womb, gives me my every breath and wakes me up to life every morning, will serve me. I love Jesus and want to serve Him with all my heart.
It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak.
How are you dressed? Are you dressed with conspiracy theories? Are you dressed with worldly conversations? Are you dressed with worldly ambitions? Are you dressed for hiding? We do not know when our time will come. That is why there are no dates after 1844. All time prophecies have ended. Now it is about events. Those events can happen in the middle of the night of your life, or toward daybreak of your life. In the midnight of your sins, or toward daybreak of a new life. But you had better be ready. And again, let me make this very plain, hoarding food is not what Jesus commands us to do. He isn’t going to take your food back to heaven with Him. He has enough already. What He can’t take back to heaven is a character that is still sinning by thinking about her own needs.
But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”
That is why we must be careful about setting dates and times. Jesus will come when “you do not expect Him”. Therefore, trying to figure out when He will come is futile. Don’t waste your time. Instead, use your time to keep your clothes on and your lamp burning brightly. Don’t let the temptations sneak up on you and break into your soul and steal your eternal life. However, we can know the events. Our website has those events spelled out. (Updated recently)
Peter asked, “Lord, are you telling this parable to us, or to everyone?”
Even though the parable is for everyone, only a few will understand. Only a few will keep their clothes on. Only a few will have their lamps burning brightly where all can see, not hiding them.
The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?
Each of us are “managers” of the little flock Jesus has given us. Whether it is myself in this ministry managing thousands of inmates and our online flock, or each of you managing your homes, businesses or friends whom the Lord has given you; we are all responsible for someone. Provide them with the food of love, joy, happiness and the words of Jesus in their proper times of need. Don’t hide!
It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.
We do not want to be found hiding and negligent when Jesus comes. We must be wise managers, managing as the Master has commanded us: sinless, perfect, Commandment keeping and teaching others His commands.
Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.
It amazes me the total selflessness of God. Everything is His. Yet He is willing to give up everything He has created and let us enjoy them as if they were our possessions. They aren’t, but He will give them to us as if they are. What love!
But suppose the servant says to himself, ‘My master is taking a long time in coming,’ and he then begins to beat the other servants, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk.
There is a lot of that going on in our churches, denominations and religions. They are beating God’s servants, lying to them, taking advantage of them and eating and drinking from the sheep’s hard earned labor.
The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.
Why don’t the churches, denominations and religions believe Jesus? It is right there in black and white, and yet they keep on living the “high-life” and destroying God’s people.
“‘How can you say, “We are wise, for we have the law of the Lord,” when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely?’” Jeremiah 8:8
Yes indeed, the lying pen of the preachers, pastors, ministers and teachers have all handled the Law of the Lord falsely. Not one teaches the teachings of Jesus. That goes right along with 2 Peter 3:16. People, wake up!
“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.
So be it!
But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
Each of us will be demanded to give an answer for what has been given us. Are we griping and complaining about the assignments given to us? Or do we look to the One who gave them for the strength and courage to fulfill them? Is it hard working for Jesus? Look to Jesus and see how hard it was for Him, then get some backbone and carry your load.
“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed!
We all do. If you claim to be a Christian you have a baptism to undergo. We are all under constraint until it is completed. Let us pick up our cross and follow Jesus without any griping or complaining. The troubles we go through are our true baptisms into the Christian life. What joy!
Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
“‘Both prophet (minister) and priest (pastor) are godless; even in my temple (church) I find their wickedness,’ declares the Lord.” Jeremiah 23:11
He said to the crowd: “When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, ‘It’s going to rain,’ and it does. And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It’s going to be hot,’ and it is. Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
We do the same today. We watch the news, the weather stations, the political commentaries and all the rest, but very few know “how to interpret this present time”. So many are putting out their theories, opinions and speculations they have no time to actually listen to what God says.
“Why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?
Interesting statement. Why don’t we? No, we go to our pastor, church, denomination or religion to judge for us what is right about when Christ will come and what to eat, drink and wear. But we will be held responsible for what we ourselves judge to be right. We must do our own study and allow the Spirit of God to teach us personally.
As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
We are all “going with your adversary (Jesus) to the magistrate (the Father)”. So yes, “try hard to be reconciled on the way”. We must become reconciled with Jesus and live as He commands, otherwise He will turn us over to the Father and the Father will throw us into the prison of fire. There are so many parables, concepts and illustrations given in the Bible, there will be no excuse for anyone who will be destroyed. All who stand before God will bow and exclaim that He is just in destroying them. You have a choice, stand before God in fire, or stand before God on a sea of glass. It all comes down to obedience.