~ By Their Words... ~

BY THEIR WORDS...

"For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple" Romans 16:18.

There are so many 'words' floating around today; speakers, conferences, books, articles, everyone has something to say. How is the 'average Joe' supposed to know who to listen to... who is right and who is wrong... what is truth and what is error? The deceptions today are widely accepted and promoted by acclaimed leaders throughout mainstream Christendom. The simple believer would be hard-pressed to come against their leaders, or the 'man of the hour.'

Should we even consider questioning what is coming forth as to its Biblical accuracy, or the spirit behind the words?

Then again, how can we not?

Jesus said in Matthew 12:36-37, "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."

It is safe for us to surmise that not only are our words important, but equally important are the things said by others which we ingest. "BUT THE [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach, Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared (cauterized)" 1 Timothy 4:1-2.

There is only ONE whose words we need be concerned with hearing...

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" Psalms 119:105.

and that ONE is GOD.

"BUT UNDERSTAND this, that in the last days will come (set in) perilous times of great stress and trouble [hard to deal with and hard to bear]. For people will be lovers of self and [utterly] self-centered, lovers of money and aroused by an inordinate [greedy] desire for wealth, proud and arrogant and contemptuous boasters. They will be abusive (blasphemous, scoffing), disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy and profane. [They will be] without natural [human] affection (callous and inhuman), relentless (admitting of no truce or appeasement); [they will be] slanderers (false accusers, troublemakers), intemperate and loose in morals and conduct, uncontrolled and fierce, haters of good. [They will be] treacherous [betrayers], rash, [and] inflated with self-conceit. [They will be] lovers of sensual pleasures and vain amusements more than and rather than lovers of God. For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them]" 2 Timothy 3:1-5.

Sadly, this is an all too accurate description of much of what is being promoted by the mainstream religious 'movers and shakers' of today.

Books like

'The Shack,'

'The Message,'

'A Course In Miracles,' and

'The Great Emergence: How Christianity is Changing and Why'

succeed in promoting a false representation of God's nature and purposes. Yet they are high on the best sellers lists... being widely embraced by leaders and laymen alike. (I would encourage you to follow these links and see for yourselves what is being presented - and accepted - as an alternative; even a replacement to - the Gospel of Christ).

At the same time, we are being pressed to accept concepts like

Christian Universalism...

The Emergent Church... and

the New Spirituality.

In our modern man arrogance, we have cast aside Paul's admonition ... "According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is" 1 Corinthians 3:10-13.

We foolishly assume that we can build whatever we so desire upon the foundation laid by the Apostles, without any fear of reprisal or reprimand. Once a lie (deception) has been first entertained and then accepted, the recipients will then never think to apply Jesus' words to themselves... "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." No... they speak even more boldly the errors that they hold, defying both God and man to contradict them. This is not new to our generation; it is simply evidence that we are entering into the fullness of times. These people freely and liberally twist and distort the scriptures to suit their own ends, without any thought of retribution.

"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect" 1 Corinthians 1:17.

"I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel" Galatians 1:6.

"And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear" 1 Peter 1:17.

"When the boughs thereof are withered, they shall be broken off: the women come, and set them on fire: for it is a people of no understanding: therefore he that made them will not have mercy on them, and he that formed them will shew them no favour" Isaiah 27:11.

"For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge" Jeremiah 4:22.

We must be very careful whose voice we are listening to... "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness" 1 Corinthians 3:19.

"For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist" 2 John 1:7.

The genuine believer in Jesus Christ is even now becoming harder and harder to find. Those who refuse to compromise and conform will soon come under an all-out attack, not only from the world's political system, but also from Apostate Organized Religion. There is no room in the new, enlightened religious world's mindset for those who actually believe the Bible, or strive to keep the commandments of Christ. Conform or face unprecedented persecution will soon be the only options open to us. As we see the foretold signs taking shape all around us, we are drawn to press ever nearer to our Lord and Savior. He alone can keep us and bring us through the spiritual and moral darkness that has already enveloped the whole world. Only as we place our entire trust and confidence in our Redeemer, will we find the 'Rest' that eludes the rest of humanity. These are indeed challenging, trying days in which to live... but we can Rejoice, for we know that our redemption draweth nigh! "Not by power, nor by might, but by my Spirit saith the LORD."

Amen & Amen
Cathy Morris

12/15/2008