Those with eyes to see and ears to hear... are being tried right now. They are grieved in their inner man at the attacks being waged against the Gospel of Christ. On a regular basis scripture is being fulfilled before our eyes, and it is not a pretty sight.

2 Peter 3:16 Speaking of this as he does in all of his letters. There are some things in those [epistles of Paul] that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist and misconstrue to their own utter destruction, just as [they distort and misinterpret] the rest of the Scriptures.

2 Timothy 3:4-5 [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].

Man, in his finite wisdom, has devised another gospel, another Jesus, another God... more to their liking, in flagrant contradiction to scripture, all the while (mis)using scripture to substantiate their falsehoods... and they 'love to have it so.' Confusion is rampant today, both within the Church as well as the world at large. We are seeing discontent, strife, and fighting in the home, the schools, the workplace, on the roads, wherever there are people, there is turmoil.

Our generation is not the first to fall into apostasy, but it is certainly the last. That which calls itself the Church today, is overall behaving just as the Israelites did in the Old Testament. Isaiah 30:9-11 For this is a rebellious people, faithless and lying sons, children who will not hear the law and instruction of the Lord; Who [virtually] say to the seers [by their conduct], See not! and to the prophets, Prophesy not to us what is right! Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceitful illusions. Get out of the true way, turn aside out of the path, cease holding up before us the Holy One of Israel.

In effect, what we are saying today by our actions is... "We don't want to submit to and obey God, we want God to give us the desires of our heart (flesh) and let us live sumptuously in the world at the same time. We don't want anything to do with suffering in this life, or turning the other cheek, no... we want leaders that will only tell us of God's great love for us, without any strings attached." And guess what? Leaders willing to do just that are falling all over themselves in an attempt to gather as many followers as they can, building huge organizations they call "ministries," and claiming God's approval and blessing on all their efforts. Jesus said... "If I be lifted up I'll draw all men to me." How do we honestly justify lifting up our selves... and trying to pass it off as lifting up the LORD? Since when did spreading the Gospel of Christ require a savvy marketing strategy?... and millions of dollars? What happened to "Not by might, nor by power, but by MY SPIRIT, saith the Lord?"

We have multitudes today who are so conditioned and brainwashed by the ways of the world, that the ways of the Spirit are completely foreign to them. They have no personal knowledge of... or relationship with... the Father or the Son... yet they are fully convinced that all is right with them, and they are heaven bound. We have those who call themselves believers, who have never even read the Bible for themselves, yet consider themselves spiritually mature and righteous before God. Far too many people are caught up in worshiping the Minister or the Ministry, more than they are worshiping God. They are captivated with outward appearances... having no 'inner witness' by which to judge spiritual things. If we are not walking in a relationship with God, we will fall into deception today, because it is everywhere.

Isaiah 3:12 As for My people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O My people, your leaders cause you to err, and they confuse (destroy and swallow up) the course of your paths.

Luke 20:46-47 Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; Which devour widows' houses, and for a show make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

2 Timothy 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

We see those who call themselves 'Christian' ripping and tearing at each other on blogs and forums across the internet. We see wolves in sheep's clothing, ravaging the Lord's flock, and defying any to stand against what they are doing by quoting 1Chronicles 16:22 Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm. And because God doesn't strike them dead on the spot for their blasphemy, they think that they are getting away with it, while those who are following them instead of the Lord, remain ensnared by their false teachings. Jesus said, "let the blind lead the blind, and they shall both fall into the ditch." It is not enough to articulately 'talk the talk'... we must be able through strong adversity to 'walk the walk,'...and that we cannot do in our own strength.

Jesus said in John 5:41 I receive not honor from men. You have to search far and wide today to find a man of God... a man who will not accept the praise of others... but gives all Glory and Honor to JESUS ALONE. JESUS is our example; Jesus ALONE is who we are called to follow. Yet today we are much more willing to follow a man, (or woman) who tells us pleasing things, than to follow Christ the LORD. Jesus went on to say in verses 42-44 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. How can ye believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?

There is a separating work taking place, and it is the Spirit of God that is doing the separating. It is not something that man can control, stop, change or even understand. This separating is happening within homes and families, within congregations, workplaces, home groups, no place is off-limits. How many of us really believe the WORD of GOD... unto us?