As we continue in Matthew, we find the “preliminary” work of Jesus to be finished. Up to this point in Matthew, Jesus was quiet, largely unknown, keeping away from major cities, towns and highways. Little by little the knowledge of Jesus was being spread by word of mouth. It had been approximately 33 years since Zechariah had been told by the angel that his wife would give birth to the forerunner of the Messiah. This information spread to “all their neighbors, and throughout the hill country of Judea” so that “all these things were being discussed.” Luke 1:65. It had been approximately 31 years since the angels gave news of the birth of Jesus to the shepherds. Even though the news and “gossip” of the Messiah had been making the rounds of Israel, it was low key. Since the rulers of the church refused to acknowledge these “rumors”, the people looked to the church instead of to the truth.
Also, keep in mind, Jesus was not the only one attracting attention as “the Messiah”. It is very important to understand that everyone was looking for “the Messiah” to come. According to prophecy, He was to appear at any time now. Therefore, like today, people were running around claiming to be “the Messiah” and gathering around them followers. Today we call them “church”. This we understand by the speech Gamaliel made before the Jewish council. “For in the recent past Theudas appeared, claiming that he was important, and about 400 men joined him. He was killed, and all his followers were dispersed and disappeared. After that man, at the time of the census, Judas the Galilean appeared and got people to follow him. He, too, died, and all his followers were scattered.” Acts 5:36, 37. Therefore, just because someone was claiming to be “important”, or the Messiah, or gathering a crowed of followers, did not mean he was the Messiah. People were waiting, watching and listening. Throughout history, whenever Jesus was about to work mightily, the devil begins a false work to keep the eyes of the people away from the true work.
Therefore, when Jesus started His ministry it was low key. Little by little, a miracle here and a miracle there over time and space. Most miracles were to those who searched Him out. Most miracles up to this point were done in “pagan” territory. Yes, He “cleansed” the Temple at the beginning of His mission, but then He left for “pagan” territory. Jesus had not yet “publicly” pronounced His mission. Because of this, the church leaders would not be “pushed” into acting against Jesus so quickly as to hinder His work. But at the same time, His work was making the “gossip” rounds imperceptibly. People were taking notice.
Now it was time to “jump start” the action. It was time for the people to go from talking to doing. There was no more time left to be quietly laying the groundwork. According to the prophecy of Daniel 7, Jesus only had two and a half years left to finish His mission. Having laid His preliminary groundwork, now Jesus must announce to the world who He is and what His mission is all about. While the church believed its mission to be of a dictatorial nature, church laws, routines, services, rituals and membership, Jesus came to show the true nature of God’s church. His campaign was about to begin.
Just prior to this, Jesus stated, “The harvest is vast, but the workers are few. So ask the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:37, 38. Now the “Lord of the harvest” is about to answer His prayer. Keep in mind, Jesus must always wait on His Father. We also must learn to wait on our Father.
Matthew 10:1 – Matthew 12:50
Then Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority over unclean spirits, so that they could drive them out and heal every disease and every illness.
While the church was using its authority over its members to keep them in line, it was also using its authority to drive away the “undesirables”. Jesus, on the other hand, was accepting them, healing them and including them into His “family”. Jesus wanted the world to see the difference between what man devised and what God devised. He called the twelve and commissioned them with authority to drive out wicked spirits and heal every disease and illness. That is the mission of God. He is a God of love. He did not commission them to get degrees, an education or to join the church. He did not commission them to argue with the church or set up debate teams. They were not to go to church or set up a church, they were to go house to house.
It was plain for all to see that the disciples were not able or capable of doing this work on their own. The glory and praise went, not to a church, but to Jesus and His Father. No doctors got the glory. No health institutions got the glory. No church got the glory. It was obvious that God was now making Himself manifest in the presence of man, and it had nothing to do with church. This of course enraged the church leaders and church members who loved “their” church.
As I look back over the years of this ministry, how like the commissioning of the disciples. It has no glory or praise of men. It is plain and simple with no degrees or education. It is obvious, to those who wish to see, that God is now making Himself manifest to the world in preparation for the final campaign of the Loud Cry and the repeat of the 3 Angels’ Messages. The message that God is giving today is unlike any message He has given in the last 6,000 years. The message He gave in the 1840’s fizzled out because the people settled down and became like the world. They followed the example of the Israelites who came out of Egypt. They also fizzled out by refusing to do the work required of them and had to spend 40 more years in wandering in the desert. Jesus could have come but had to delay on account of the “church”. This time is different because the times are different. Each era in God’s work had a message specifically for that time. This last and final message is to prepare 144,000 people to live for seven months, from the close of probation to the coming of Christ, without sinning. Everyone else alive at the close of probation will be destroyed eternally. At no time in the past, since the fall of Adam, has man had to prepare for this.
Our churches today are so full of ego, pride and arrogance that everything done must be done for their glory, to bring them honor and money. They put on Stop Smoking seminars that brings glory to the church and “our” message. They conduct vegetarian cooking classes and bring more glory to the church and “our” message. But none of it brings glory to Jesus and promotes His message: to live the sinless, perfect and commandment keeping life. It only promotes “church” and the people continue in sin. People come to the health message today, not to please God and make their body-temples more obedient to God, but to satisfy a long and healthy, selfish life. More atheist are becoming vegan than “Christians” are.
These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James, the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus. These were the Twelve whom Jesus sent out after he had given them these instructions: “Don’t turn on to the road that leads to the gentiles, and don’t enter Samaritan towns. Instead, go to the lost sheep of the nation of Israel.
Jesus did not choose any of the “media mega-stars”, or church leaders, or church teachers as His disciples. They were too busy with “church”. After all, they earned their living from the “church” and had to promote it to keep up their lifestyle.
Another interesting point is the fact that Jesus accepted Judas into His inner circle. He knew that Judas would betray Him. He knew the whole life and future of Judas, yet, He gave Judas the opportunity to change his life. Do we write people off for a mistake or two? Do we give people an opportunity to change? We need to be more like Jesus and less like our churches. This ministry has given many inmates the opportunity to work for Jesus. So far, none have accepted the high calling. Some have even betrayed it as Judas did. But the ministry is God’s and the work will go on as He directs it.
The first miracles of Jesus were actually preformed in the communities of the pagans. You might say He was “testing the waters” and laying down a foundation. The disciples were learning. It was better for them to make mistakes and learn among the pagans than in front of the “church”. Now that the disciples had time to watch, observe and learn from Jesus, before the bigotry of the church became too strong, Jesus sent the disciples out on their first missionary campaign to church members. He didn’t want their message to be tainted or maligned by the church in having it go “first” to the gentiles. He wanted the disciples to have success first among their own people. It would also be easier for the disciples since church training had prejudiced them so greatly against associating with pagans.
“As you go, make this announcement: ‘The kingdom from heaven is near!’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. You have received without payment, so give without payment. Don’t take any gold, silver, or copper in your moneybags, or a traveling bag for the trip, or an extra shirt, or sandals, or a walking stick, because a worker deserves his food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who is receptive in it and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet its occupants. If the household is receptive, let your blessing of peace come on it. But if it isn’t receptive, let your blessing of peace return to you. If no one welcomes you or listens to your words, as you leave that house or town, shake its dust off your feet. I tell you with certainty, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town!”
“As you go, make this announcement: ‘The kingdom from heaven is near!’” Why was it “near” and not “come”? Because, “the kingdom from heaven” is not a “place” or “thing”, but a “Life”. “The Kingdom from Heaven” is a kingdom of character. It is built upon the 10 Commandments. The 10 Commandments are righteous and perfect. All who live in the Kingdom of Heaven live by them. It was this “Law” that was being taught by Jesus. It was “near” but the people had to accept it into their own hearts before it had “come” to them. Same with us. If you want to live in the “Kingdom of Heaven” you must develop the Law of that kingdom in your life and make it your own: perfectly. As Jesus fulfilled that law perfectly, so must we.
The church needed to see a demonstration of what “true” religion was. The message, “The kingdom from heaven is near”, was to open up the minds of the church members that the “kingdom from heaven” had nothing to do with church going, or rituals or services and other church activities. It had to do with healing a sin-sick world. Unlike the church that did everything for payment, the disciples were to “give without payment”. They were to love as they were loved. Give as they had been given too.
The disciples were to take nothing with them on this first missionary trip. Jesus didn’t want anything of pride, ego or selfishness to get in the way of the message of the kingdom from heaven. The people they were going to were poor and in need. Taking anything along would create prejudice and hinder the work. Therefore, they were to accept from the poor what was given. They were to live among the poor, thereby, opening up the hearts of the poor. No griping, no complaining, no talking about “what I have” was allowed. They were to eat what was set before them without prejudice or opinion. The disciples were to be a blessing and show that the Kingdom of Heaven had nothing to do with riches, wealth, food or what a man had. The only thing that counts in the eyes of God is the character: Blessing and serving others.
And how true for today. This little ministry that Jesus raised up has nothing. It sends out healing for all who accept it. Those who refuse to accept the message and truth God is giving through this ministry will be worse off than Sodom and Tyre. But those who accept the truth given through this ministry are blessed, healed and experience the true happiness and joy found in the Kingdom of Heaven. So, yes, through this ministry, “the kingdom from heaven” is being brought “near” to the world today. Who will accept it?
“See, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves. Watch out for people who will hand you over to the local councils and whip you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings because of me, to testify to them and to the gentiles. When they hand you over, don’t worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, because in that hour what you are to say will be given to you. It won’t be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
Many letters that come to me are like whippings. People love their churches, but how they hate Jesus and His teachings. Oh, they name the name of Jesus and put on a big show of “loving” Him, but when it comes to being obedient to His teachings, “no thank you, I love my church”.
God called this ministry and has sent it out like a sheep among wolves. The “Spirit of your Father” dictated and directed the book, “Change Your Life Biblically”. In truth, your Father is speaking through this book to you. This ministry, the book “Change Your Life Biblically”, has had to “testify” before a Federal Magistrate. The State of California was attempting to block the book from entering the California Prison system. But God intervened. The ruling the Federal Magistrate made is equivalent to saying, “This book, ‘Change Your Life Biblically’ must be allowed into all prisons and jails in the United States of America”. As the devil works hard to destroy this ministry, God is doing all in His power to keep it working for Him. Those who help us are helping Jesus. Those who hinder us are on the side of the enemy. The line is being drawn closer and closer as we get nearer and nearer the end of Earth’s History.
The way to Heaven is not through church. The churches have all fallen. In order to get to Heaven, we must get out of the churches at this time of Earth’s history and get on the very narrow path that Jesus walked. The closer we draw to Jesus on this path, the more of this world we will leave behind. And yet, if you look at our churches and their members, they are accumulating more and more of this world’s goods. People, open your eyes. I would like, at this time, to share a dream that God gave a very special person to show how narrow the way is to Heaven. Listen and understand that instead of accumulating, if we are on the narrow path, we must be dispensing of our earthly goods in order to support the ministries that are teaching people how to live the perfect, sinless and commandment keeping life.
“While at Battle Creek, Michigan, in August, 1868, I dreamed of being with a large body of people. A portion of this assembly started out prepared to journey. We had heavily loaded wagons. (Think of the wagons as churches, and their luggage as all the ceremonies, services, rituals and properties, etc.) As we journeyed, the road seemed to ascend. On one side of this road was a deep precipice; on the other was a high, smooth, white wall….
“As we journeyed on, the road grew narrower and steeper. In some places it seemed so very narrow that we concluded that we could no longer travel with the loaded wagons. We then loosed them from the horses, took a portion of the luggage from the wagons and placed it upon the horses, and journeyed on horseback.
“As we progressed, the path still continued to grow narrow. We were obliged to press close to the wall, to save ourselves from falling off the narrow road down the steep precipice. As we did this, the luggage on the horses pressed against the wall, and caused us to sway toward the precipice. We feared that we should fall, and be dashed in pieces on the rocks. We then cut the luggage from the horses, and it fell over the precipice. We continued on horseback, greatly fearing, as we came to the narrower places in the road, that we should lose our balance and fall. At such times, a hand seemed to take the bridle, and guide us over the perilous way.
“As the path grew more narrow, we decided that we could no longer go with safety on horseback, and we left the horses and went on foot, in single file, one following in the footsteps of another. At this point small cords were let down from the top of the pure white wall; these we eagerly grasped, to aid us in keeping our balance upon the path. As we traveled, the cord moved along with us. The path finally became so narrow that we concluded that we could travel more safely without our shoes; so we slipped them from our feet, and went on some distance without them. Soon it was decided that we could travel more safely without our stockings; these were removed, and we journeyed on with bare feet.
“We then thought of those who had not accustomed themselves to privations and hardships. Where were such now? They were not in the company. At every change, some were left behind, and those only remained who had accustomed themselves to endure hardships. The privations of the way only made these more eager to press on to the end.
“Our danger of falling from the pathway increased. We pressed close to the white wall, yet could not place our feet fully upon the path; for it was too narrow. We then suspended nearly our whole weight upon the cords, exclaiming: ‘We have hold from above! We have hold from above!’ The same words were uttered by all the company in the narrow pathway.
“As we heard the sounds of mirth and revelry that seemed to come from the abyss below, we shuddered. We heard the profane oath, the vulgar jest, and low, vile songs. We heard the war song and the dance song. We heard instrumental music, and loud laughter, mingled with cursing and cries of anguish and bitter wailing, and were more anxious than ever to keep upon the narrow, difficult pathway. Much of the time we were compelled to suspend our whole weight upon the cords, which increased in size as we progressed.
“I noticed that the beautiful white wall was stained with blood. It caused a feeling of regret to see the wall thus stained. This feeling, however, lasted but for a moment, as I soon thought that it was all as it should be. Those who are following after will know that others have passed the narrow, difficult way before them, and will conclude that if others were able to pursue their onward course, they can do the same. And as the blood shall be pressed from their aching feet, they will not faint with discouragement; but seeing the blood upon the wall, they will know that others have endured the same pain.
“At length we came to a large chasm, at which our path ended. There was nothing now to guide the feet, nothing upon which to rest them. Our whole reliance must be upon the cords, which had increased in size, until they were as large as our bodies. Here we were for a time thrown into perplexity and distress. We inquired in fearful whispers, ‘To what is the cord attached?’ My husband was just before me. Large drops of sweat were falling from his brow, the veins in his neck and temples were increased to double their usual size, and suppressed, agonizing groans came from his lips. The sweat was dropping from my face, and I felt such anguish as I had never felt before. A fearful struggle was before us. Should we fail here, all the difficulties of our journey had been experienced for naught.
“Before us, on the other side of the chasm, was a beautiful field of green grass, about six inches high. I could not see the sun, but bright soft beams of light, resembling fine gold and silver, were resting upon this field. Nothing I had seen upon earth could compare in beauty and glory with this field. But could we succeed in reaching it? was the anxious inquiry. Should the cord break, we must perish. Again, in whispered anguish, the words were breathed, ‘What holds the cord?’
“For a moment we hesitated to venture. Then we exclaimed: ‘Our only hope is to trust wholly to the cord (Not church). It has been our dependence all the difficult way. It will not fail us now.’ Still we were hesitating and distressed. The words were then spoken: ‘God holds the cord. We need not fear.’ These words were then repeated by those behind us, accompanied with: ‘He will not fail us now. He has brought us thus far in safety.’
“My husband then swung himself over the fearful abyss into the beautiful field beyond. I immediately followed. And oh, what a sense of relief and gratitude to God we felt! I heard voices raised in triumphant praise to God. I was happy, perfectly happy.
“I awoke, and found that from the anxiety I had experienced in passing over the difficult route, every nerve in my body seemed to be in a tremor. This dream needs no comment. It made such an impression upon my mind that probably every item in it will be vivid before me while my memory shall continue.” CET 791-184.
“Brother will hand brother over for execution, and a father his child. Children will rebel against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the person who endures to the end will be saved. So when they persecute you in one town, flee to the next, because I tell you with certainty that you will not have gone through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.
We are not to place ourselves deliberately in the way of persecution. We are not to do anything that would provoke persecution. All of that will come very naturally to those who are living the Christian life. Light and darkness cannot dwell together. But we are to make the “Light” as tolerable as possible for those coming out of darkness. Just as it hurts the eyes to be in total darkness and then to have a bright light turned on all at once to the eyes, so it is with truth to those who have lived in the darkness of their churches. Slow and easy, but it must be a continual brightening. If it is rejected; love and move on. The path gets narrower and narrower as the persecution gets harder and harder. It is in giving up the “crutches” of church and things of this world that our faith in God will grow. Giving up church will increase your faith in God by thousands of percent. Hold on to Jesus and Jesus only.
“A disciple is not above his teacher, and a slave is not above his master. It is enough for a disciple to be like his teacher and a slave to be like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they do the same to those of his household! So never be afraid of them, because there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing secret that will not be made known. What I tell you in darkness you must speak in the daylight, and what is whispered in your ear you must shout from the housetops.
There are too many churches filled with gripers and complainers who call themselves Christians. Since a “disciple is not above his teacher”, why gripe and complain? Jesus has gone before us and has experienced every hate, power of darkness and cruelty that can be meted out. The amazing aspect is, He did it without any griping, complaining, murmuring or retaliation. He took it, absorbed it and returned nothing but pure, unselfish love in exchange. He is our example and teacher. Let us follow in His footsteps.
You have nothing to fear. Fear is awakened when we think we are going to lose something. Since we as Christians are to own nothing, what have we to fear? Everything we have, including our lives, belongs to Jesus. Therefore, if it is all taken away, praise God you have nothing more to “fear”. Now rejoice in the Lord always and get on with bringing people to the teachings of Jesus to stop all sin by living the Ten Commandments perfectly as Jesus did.
“Stop being afraid of those who kill the body but can’t kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Two sparrows are sold for a penny, aren’t they? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father’s permission. Indeed, even the hairs on your head have all been counted! So stop being afraid. You are worth more than a bunch of sparrows.”
How many are afraid of the physical abuse, hurt, pain and killing of the body, while they refuse to acknowledge the fear they are to have of their churches; churches that are destroying both their body and soul, leading them to “hell”. We sit in our churches as if they are taking us straight to Heaven. In actual fact, they are taking us straight to hell. We have given our salvation to our churches instead of to Jesus. I would surmise that not one member in a hundred churches is capable of giving a biblical answer for his faith. Not one. They have given their salvation into the hands of the church and blissfully sit in ignorance to the fact that God is about to destroy them. Why, because, “My church told me so”. How sad. Unless you take your salvation in your own hands (“Work out your own salvation . . .” Philippians 2:12) and know what God requires of you by studying His Holy Word, you will sit in church going to hell. God wants to make Himself known to you personally. To share with you your duty, personally. That duty has nothing to do with sitting in church. That duty is to get up and go share the teachings of Jesus with all around you. As long as you are working for Jesus, you have nothing to fear. If you are sitting in church, you have everything to fear!
“Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before people I, too, will acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before people I, too, will deny before my Father in heaven. Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword! I came to turn ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A person’s enemies will include members of his own family.’
How do we acknowledge Jesus before people? By living in obedience to His commands to be perfect, to stop sinning and keep the Ten Commandments for our eternal life. How do we deny Him? By sitting in church. By refusing to accept His teachings. As long as we are sinning we are no different than the world and are lost. Sitting in church does not change that fact. We acknowledge to the world that we are Christians by living in obedience to Jesus Christ. The only difference between a “belief” the devils have in Jesus and a “belief” a true Christian has in Jesus is obedience. Very few acknowledge Jesus before the world. Very few are going to heaven. Most are sitting blissfully, along with Lucifer, in church.
Many claim that Jesus came to bring “peace and safety”. But Jesus made it very plain that He did not come to bring “peace on earth”. Since the world belongs to Lucifer, how can there be “peace on earth”? Light and darkness cannot dwell together. Darkness hates the light. Light hates the darkness. Lucifer will not allow the Light of God to shine in his dark world. Therefore, when the two come in contact, there is no peace, only war. However, if you are sitting in peace in your church, it is because you are living like the world. “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” 2 Timothy 3:12.
However, even though Jesus did not come to bring “peace on earth”, He did come to bring peace to the soul. That is a big difference. In the world you will have conflicts, hate and persecutions, but if you truly live as Jesus commands, you will have peace and happiness, joy and contentment in your heart. Even though the devil throws everything he can at me, I have peace and joy. I know who I serve, and it isn’t a church. I serve Jesus Christ – personally.
“The one who loves his father or mother more than me isn’t worthy of me, and the one who loves a son or daughter more than me isn’t worthy of me. The one who doesn’t take up his cross and follow me isn’t worthy of me. The one who finds his life will lose it, and the one who loses his life because of me will find it.”
We call ourselves Christians, but we do nothing that is Christian. Going to church is not what a Christian does. Obeying and “loving” our family or church, instead of God, is not what a Christian does. Jesus loved His family, but He left them in obedience to His Father’s will. How few of us are willing to leave all or even to put God first in our lives over our families and their desires for us? Most are trying to “find life” in family, work and church and in the process have lost their eternal life. When will church members wake up, stand up, get out and pick up their cross and follow Jesus? When will they get a “backbone” and no matter what the consequence, live in obedience to Jesus? Will you join the fight? Will you ask for a case of books and give them out?
After watching my sister and her need for acceptance and to control, I see that it is impossible for church-going people to follow Jesus. Not possible! How many have made their “church” their “father and mother”. We must choose and have only one master in our life.
“Without the Spirit of God a knowledge of His word is of no avail. The theory of truth, unaccompanied by the Holy Spirit, cannot quicken the soul or sanctify the heart. One may be familiar with the commands and promises of the Bible (going to church, repeating the mantra and phrases of the church); but unless the Spirit of God sets the truth home, the character will not be transformed. Without the enlightenment of the Spirit, men will not be able to distinguish truth from error, and they will fall under the masterful temptations of Satan.
“The class represented by the foolish virgins are not hypocrites. They have a regard for the truth, they have advocated the truth, they are attracted to those who believe the truth (church); but they have not yielded themselves to the Holy Spirit’s working. They have not fallen upon the Rock, Christ Jesus, and permitted their old nature to be broken up. This class are represented also by the stony-ground hearers. They receive the word with readiness, but they fail of assimilating its principles. Its influence is not abiding. The Spirit works upon man’s heart, according to his desire and consent implanting in him a new nature; but the class represented by the foolish virgins have been content with a superficial work (going to church). They do not know God. They have not studied His character; they have not held communion with Him; therefore they do not know how to trust, how to look and live. Their service to God degenerates into a form (church). ‘They come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee (in church) as My people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.’ Ezekiel 33:31. The apostle Paul points out that this will be the special characteristic of those who live just before Christ’s second coming. He says, ‘In the last days perilous times shall come: for men shall be lovers of their own selves; … lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness (going to church), but denying the power thereof.’ 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
“This is the class that in time of peril are found crying, Peace and safety. They lull their hearts into security, and dream not of danger. When startled from their lethargy, they discern their destitution, and entreat others to supply their lack; but in spiritual things no man (or church) can make up another’s deficiency. The grace of God has been freely offered to every soul. The message of the gospel has been heralded, ‘Let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.’ Revelation 22:17. But character is not transferable. No man (church) can believe for another. No man (church) can receive the Spirit for another. No man (church) can impart to another the character which is the fruit of the Spirit’s working. ‘Though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it [the land] (church), as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.’ Ezekiel 14:20.” COL 408-411.
Character is not transferable. You cannot be saved in a group or church. Get out of your churches now! God is warning you. Do not sit in church thinking you are saved. You must get out, cling to the cord of faith and develop the character of Christ by living as He lived: perfect, sinless and commandment keeping. The narrow path is the keeping of the Ten Commandments, not going to church.
“The one who receives you receives me, and the one who receives me receives the one who sent me. The one who receives a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. I tell you with certainty, whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple will never lose his reward.”
I have watched, over and over again through the years, those who have “given a cup of cold water” to this ministry by their donations and friendship have received blessings after blessings. On the other hand, those who have rejected this ministry live under the curse of God. This is just a fact. The Bible is very plain. Those who reject God’s truth, and look to their church and family, are not under the blessings of God. They may be “blessed” by the world, but worldly blessings are to be avoided at all cost. Is there blood on your wall? Is there blood on your feet?
When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left there to teach and preach in their home towns. Now when John in prison heard about the activities of the Messiah, he sent a message by his disciples and asked him, “Are you the Coming One, or should we wait for someone else?”
John also had been raised around the church. After all, his own father had been a priest and officiated at the temple. John also was looking for the Messiah to come and be more active in bringing about a religious reformation in the church. He was wondering why, if Jesus was the Messiah, He would leave a disciple of His in prison? Maybe he had made mistaken? Being in prison can bring lots of doubts to the soul. A cell-life can begin to erode the confidence of the most adamant believer.
Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and observe: the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news. How blessed is anyone who is not offended by me!”
Jesus didn’t stick His chest out and get boastful and try to persuade John’s messengers. He didn’t try to argue and convince with words. He didn’t point to the number of baptisms or the crowds around Him. He didn’t tell them how many He sent to church. He simply instructed the messengers to share with John what they were hearing and seeing. Jesus wasn’t sitting in church looking pious. He wasn’t sitting in church singing loud and giving His “praises and amens”. He wanted John to believe in Him because He was living a life the Scriptures said He would live. Jesus wanted John to believe in Him because of His fruit, not church sitting. Jesus was producing fruit: “the blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the destitute hear the good news”. That was the greatest argument for Jesus. His life brought healing to every single soul who accepted what He had to offer. That is what made Him God. Why get offended? But many do. How many are offended at this ministry because it doesn’t promote their church and ego, but simply does what God has commanded it.
We as Christians are to prove to the world our “bona fides”, not by sitting in church, but by living as Jesus lived. We are to live as the Bible commands us. We are to live the perfect, sinless life the Bible says God’s people will live. Church people will only be “offended” at you if you are producing fruit. No church people are offended by people sleeping in church. Especially the devil. But if you are working as Jesus worked, Christians will rejoice to hear and see the good news in action.
As they were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John. “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? See, those who wear fancy clothes live in kings’ houses (churches). Really, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! This is the man about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ I tell you with certainty, among those born of women no one has appeared who is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least important person in the kingdom from heaven is greater than he.
What do you go to church to see? People all dressed up in fine clothes, speaking wonderful nice things for your ears? Living in expensive houses? Driving expensive cars? Is that where you expect to find Jesus? He isn’t there. Those who are messengers of Jesus are not sitting in church, they are out working as John the Baptist was, as Jesus was and as the disciples were. They are going house to house, person to person, teaching them to stop sinning, be perfect and to keep the Ten Commandments to get their eternal life. Without that knowledge, they will die. Look around you, do you want those people’s blood on your hands?
“From the days of John the Baptist until the present, the kingdom from heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people have been attacking it, because the Law and all the Prophets prophesied up to the time of John. If you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come.
From the days of John the Baptist the message he taught was “forcefully advancing” the kingdom from Heaven. Are you “forcefully advancing” the kingdom from Heaven? When was the last time you actually gave a Bible study? Oh, you don’t know your Bible? Shame on you! Or are you sitting smugly in your church? Are “violent people” attacking you? I guess that is why they attack me and this ministry; we teach the “Law and all the Prophets”. Why have they “prophesied up to the time of John”? Because what they had predicted and prophesied was now coming true. The Messiah was here and was doing exactly what had been prophesied about Him.
Why “Elijah”? Elijah brought about a great reformation. Where? In the church. Why? Because the church had fallen. The church had taken in pagans who were now in control of the church. The members had sat quietly by while the leaders invited the pagans to substitute their forms in place of God’s truth. Little by little the pagans substituted pagan methods in place of God’s methods. The same has happened in all churches today. They have all been taken over by the devil’ servants. Now, right now, God is waiting for members who will rise up and become “Elijah” for our day and begin teaching the truth that will bring about a great reformation in the church. From the “church” it will spread to the world.
Let the person who has ears listen! “To what can I compare the people living today? They’re like little children who sit in the marketplaces and shout to each other, ‘A wedding song we played for you, the dance you simply scorned. A woeful dirge we chanted, too, but then you would not mourn.’ Because John didn’t come eating or drinking, yet people say, ‘He has a demon!’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a glutton and a drunk, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Absolved from every act of sin, is wisdom by her kith and kin.”
“Little children”. That is what church members are today, little, immature children. They have not grown up into Christ. They have not put away childish things. They run around like little children pointing fingers, wagging their tongues and trying to “out-church” each other. They take each other to court, fight over a church name, symbol or logo. Why, because the church is like a big baby’s crib keeping the babies happy with rattles and toys. Take away a toy or rattle and the babies cry and get angry. When John came, they pointed fingers and wagged their tongues and complained that he was not eating and drinking with the church. His message was not what the church wanted to hear. It was too hard, too strong, too stiff and too rough. No, they wanted someone who was nicer.
So Jesus came nicer, eating and drinking, and the little childish children again pointed fingers, wagged their tongues and complained that He was eating and drinking with sinners. Church members are never satisfied because they do not know God. They are not content with true Christianity, they must be entertained by their church system. But God is not in it. The “little children” do the same to this ministry as they did to John the Baptist and Jesus. Gripe, complain, point fingers and wag the tongue. None of it is Christian. We need to look away from church and people and look to Jesus and Jesus only. Forget who has what “name” or symbol, designation, title or degrees. None of it matters for eternal life. Just teach people to stop sinning, be perfect and to keep the Ten Commandments to get their eternal life.
Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had taken place, because they didn’t repent. “How terrible it will be for you, Chorazin! How terrible it will be for you, Bethsaida! Because if the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Indeed I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you! “And you, Capernaum! You won’t be lifted up to heaven, will you? You’ll go down to Hell! Because if the miracles that happened in you had taken place in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. Indeed I tell you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom on the day of judgment than for you!”
Up to this time, the majority of Christ’s miracles had taken place around the Sea of Galilee. This was pagan territory. The Jews in those places refused to accept Jesus since the church leadership refused to accept Him. He was warning Jerusalem through His warnings to Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum what would happen to Jerusalem if she did not repent and turn away from the church and return to God. Capernaum was a wealthy city of commerce. The Jews and pagans were so involved in moneymaking and commerce that they had no time for Jesus. They thought they were blessed and lifted up by God for all their church activities. But they rejected God and would be destroyed. Do you have eyes? Are you seeing? Do you have ears? Are your ears hearing?
At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from wise and intelligent people and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, because this is what was pleasing to you. All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one fully knows the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows the Father except the Son and the person to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
How true that is. The “wise and intelligent people” of the church rejected Jesus. God found His true followers in those who were outcasts, “infants” by church standards. They were not worldly wise, but simple people who could accept truth. Truth that was not subjected to bias, church doctrine, feelings or political correctness. The same is true today. Those who belong to church are arrogant, prideful and too “wise and intelligent” for God. They have molded their church around their own opinions and desires. Who needs God? Therefore, God has done what He said He would do, taken His truth to the outcasts, the inmates, the streets and the “infants” who can understand and appreciate the simple gospel message.
God raised up this ministry to bring the simple Gospel back to the world. He has chosen to reveal Himself to me. Why? I do not know. I just accept it and want to share with you what He reveals. But few truly want to know. I think they are afraid that God is actually alive and truly working right now. That would mean they would have to leave their ego and pride and listen. Not many want to do that in today’s world of me, mine and I. It is much easier just to sit in church.
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and loaded down with burdens, and I will give you rest. Place my yoke on you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest for your souls, because my yoke is pleasant, and my burden is light.”
We are to “come” to Jesus, not church. The church had loaded down the people with burdens and routines, ceremonies, do’s and don’ts that were wearing out their life forces. Jesus invited them to let all that ego, pride and arrogance go and accept His gentle, humble rest. Working for Jesus is pleasant compared to working for man’s church. I find my greatest joy, happiness and rest working for Jesus here in His ministry. He is a wonderful Boss. His “burden” is truly light, and His “yoke” is truly pleasant. I love working for Jesus. I would have nothing if He had not called me to do this. I owe Him for the joys and simple pleasures He has given me in working for Him.
At that time Jesus walked through the grain fields on a Sabbath. His disciples became hungry and began picking heads of grain to eat. When the Pharisees saw this, they told him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!” But he told them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? How is it that he went into the house of God and ate the Bread of the Presence, which was not lawful for him and his companions to eat but was reserved for the priests? Or haven’t you read in the Law that on every Sabbath the priests in the Temple violate the Sabbath and yet are innocent? But I tell you, something greater than the Temple is here! If you had known what ‘I want mercy and not sacrifice’ means, you would not have condemned the innocent, for the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
“Something greater than the Temple is here!” Yes, it was. Something greater than our churches is here, also. God is beginning a work that will be accomplished outside of “His church” in today’s world. “His church” is no different than all the other churches. They have all fallen. They are all fighting against God. They are all doing it “their” way. But Jesus is “Lord of the Sabbath”. He is not “Lord of the church”. The “church” had taken possession of “the Lord’s Sabbath” and did not want to give it back to the Lord. The Sabbath and all the Ten Commandments belong to Jesus. Jesus wrote them, He gave them, and He shows us just how to keep them. There is a work to be done and it isn’t sitting in church. He is Lord of the work that is being done and it doesn’t matter if the Pharisees of the church like it or not. With or without them, it will be done. While the church is running around claiming, “It is not lawful to do”, this ministry is simply doing what Jesus commands. Who will listen? Who will help?
Moving on from there, Jesus went into their synagogue. Suddenly a man with a paralyzed hand appeared. The people asked Jesus if it was lawful to heal on Sabbath days, intending to accuse him of doing something wrong. But he asked them, “Is there a man among you who, if he had one sheep and it fell into a ditch on the Sabbath, wouldn’t take hold of it and pull it out? How much more is a human being worth than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on Sabbath days.” Then he told the man, “Hold out your hand.” He held it out and it became normal, as healthy as his other hand.
“Is it lawful”? “You can’t work outside the church.” “You must first get church leadership permission.” You can’t use “our church name”. I have heard it all. All of it is of the devil. They are all trying to accuse me “of doing something wrong”. But I ask the same question Jesus asked, “Is it lawful to do good”? Do we need a “church” to do good? Do we need “church permission” to do good? Do I need a certain “name” of a church to do good? Must I do good only through the church? The Catholic Church does more good than any other institution on the face of the earth. But “doing good” has nothing to do with eternal life if the conditions of eternal life are not taught. When Jesus did good, he also taught and lived the perfect, sinless and commandment keeping life. “Sinners” have fallen into a ditch and I have been called to pull them out. Who will help me? Is sitting in church really more important than pulling a “sinner” out of a ditch. While my Father is working, I too must work. The day will soon be over, what are you doing for Jesus?
The Pharisees, however, went out and plotted against Jesus to kill him. When Jesus became aware of this, he left that place. Many crowds followed him, and he healed all of them, ordering them not to make him known. This was to fulfill what was declared by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “Here is my Servant whom I have chosen, whom I love, and with whom I am pleased! I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the gentiles. He will not quarrel or shout, and no one will hear him shouting in the streets. He will not snap off a broken reed or snuff out a smoldering wick until he has brought justice through to victory. And in his name the gentiles will hope.”
Why is it, when God begins to move, the church always steps in to block it? Why is it that those called by God are hated and plotted against by the church and its members? It was the Pharisees, Sadducees, Lawyers and scribes of the church who wanted to argue, fight, quarrel, shout and “snap off a broken reed” and “snuff out a smoldering wick”. But Jesus came to bring justice, mercy, love, healing and joy. When will church members wake up, get up, walk out of their churches and listen to what God is saying? Why do they plot against Jesus and His message? Why do they ignore it? Do we ever truly learn? This ministry is bringing to “the gentiles” the teachings of Jesus so they can hope in Jesus.
Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and unable to talk was brought to him. Jesus healed him so that the man could speak and see. All the crowds were amazed and kept saying, “This man isn’t the Son of David, is he?” But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” He knew what they were thinking and told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is destroyed, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. So if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How, then, can his kingdom stand? If I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own followers drive them out? That is why they will be your judges! But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.
After the Pharisees, who thought they could see, left, one who was blind and unable to talk was brought to Him. Jesus could not heal the self-righteous church members who thought they could see. He could not heal those who thought they were the ones to speak. But those who recognized their “sickness” were able to accept the healing Jesus offered and were made whole.
Again, whenever God begins a good work, the devil will try to take the eyes of the people off of God. He will try to disparage it. Anything to keep the people from believing in the work God is doing. No, the church wants the eyes of the people fully planted on the church and church name. How sad.
The sad part is, even the demons are healing, curing, “doing good” and driving out demons. But their healing, curing, “doing good” and driving out demons is a selfish work. It is a show that brings glory to men and church. God is not glorified because the people are not taught to turn to God and live as He commands: perfect, sinless and commandment keeping. Therefore, since demons are driving out each other and curing sicknesses that demons produced in the first place, the devil’s kingdom is divided against itself and it will come to an end. All who refuse to teach the teachings of Jesus to be perfect, to stop sinning and to keep the Ten Commandments to get their eternal life will come to an end.
How can someone go into a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions without first tying up the strong man? Then he can ransack his house. “The person who isn’t with me is against me, and the person who isn’t gathering with me is scattering. So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.”
In order to rob a home or person, you must make sure that the person you are robbing is in some way incapable of getting the better of you. Then you will have an easy time taking what he has. The church has incapacitated its members and the devil is picking them clean. We as Christians have a wall of fire around us as the Israelites had around them in the desert. As long as they were obedient to the commands of God, nothing could win against them. Their goods and their persons were secure. But when they let down their guard and became deluded with sin, their wall of fire and protection was gone. Then the enemy had access to take their goods and their eternal life.
Today, like the Israelites of old, we have been voluntarily letting down our guard. The wall of fire is being withdrawn because we are not living in obedience to God. By going to church we are no longer able to keep our eyes on Jesus. We are deliberately placing ourselves in the company of sin. Paul tells us, “bad company corrupts good character.” How true. Church members wonder why they are getting sick. Why they are having so many difficulties. Why they are not able to experience the joy and peace that Christ offers. The answer is, they have given their salvation to the church.
Blasphemy is to call the work and words of Jesus the work and words of the devil. Those who fight against this ministry, calling it of the devil and refusing to surrender to the teachings of Jesus, have committed the unforgivable sin. There is no more that the Spirit of God can do for them. Jesus said that His words bring life. Therefore, if you refuse to accept them because you attribute them to the devil, you have no possibility of eternal life. Those of us who teach the teachings of Jesus are of God. Those who fight against us, fight against God. You can sit smugly in church, but you and your church are lost.
“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree rotten and its fruit rotten, because a tree is known by its fruit. You children of serpents! How can you say anything good when you are evil? The mouth speaks about what overflows from the heart. A good person brings good things out of a good treasure house, and an evil person brings evil things out of an evil treasure house. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give an account for every thoughtless word they have uttered, because by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
There is a difference between an “earthly good” and a “heavenly good”. Evil people say “good things”, but it is not the “heavenly good” that brings eternal life. Our churches are full of “evil-good” sayings. Much “good” is said and done, but none of it brings eternal life. Therefore, it is an “evil-good”. The churches are “children of serpents”. The serpent was used by Lucifer in the Garden of Eden to deceive Eve into thinking she could disobey God and get away with it. Lucifer said evil-good things to Eve. The “good” he offered her only produced evil in her. There are a lot of “good” things God never wanted us to know. Lucifer is using churches to do the same today. The only good fruit is fruit that produces eternal life. If you are not being taught to be perfect, stop sinning and to keep the Ten Commandments to get your eternal life, you are not producing fruit for eternal life.
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees told Jesus, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” But he replied to them, “An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign. Yet no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah, because just as Jonah was in the stomach of the sea creature for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment and condemn the people living today, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah. But look—something greater than Jonah is here! The queen of the south will stand up and condemn the people living today, because she came from so far away to hear the wisdom of Solomon. But look! Something greater than Solomon is here!”
As always happens, when the enemy is not able to win by argument, they then demand a sign. The true sign is a life living and teaching the perfect, sinless life of Christ. The devil can imitate anything else. What he can’t imitate is obedience to the teachings of Jesus. That is why the devil loves those who go to church. God does not require it or command it. What God requires, churches do not teach. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment and condemn the people living today because they repented while the churches today refuse. The queen of the south will stand up and condemn the people living today because she travelled a very far distance to here Solomon’s wisdom, but the churches of today refuse to listen to what God is saying through this ministry.
“Whenever an unclean spirit goes out of a person, it wanders through waterless places looking for a place to rest but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will go back to my home that I left.’ When it arrives, it finds it empty, swept clean, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and settle there. And so the final condition of that person becomes worse than the first. That’s just what will happen to this evil generation!”
People go to church, clean up their lives a bit, tidy it up by stop smoking, getting rid of the alcohol, dropping off the drug use and maybe even going vegan. But none of that will get you into heaven. More sin is produced in church than out of it. The lives in church are “empty, swept clean, and put in order.” But they are not filled with truth, the truth Jesus taught to stop sinning, to be perfect and to keep the Ten Commandments to get your eternal life. Therefore, after time, the devil returns with a lot of friends and the “final condition of that person becomes worse than the first”.
While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Look! Your mother and your brothers are standing outside asking to speak to you.” He asked the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” Then pointing with his hand at his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers, because whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
There are many who think they are the family of Jesus. They go to church, do all the church things and call themselves “Christian”, but they are not the family of Jesus. The family members of Jesus may not even know they are of His family, they are simply doing what is right. Those who do “the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother”. It is that simple. Paul said, “God accepts those who obey His Law, but not those who simply hear it”. (Romans 2:13). It is not the will of the Father for us to go to church. It is His will that we stop sinning, be perfect and keep the Ten Commandments to get our eternal life.