The Word of Truth Ministries
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-Response to a Reader's
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In Heb. 13:17, the scripture says to "Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief...." This is a perfectly good scripture. But does it not assume that they who watch for souls are those who are diligent watchers? Paul also says, "Let a man so account of us as stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful." [1 Cor.4:2] One who watches for souls must be sighted enough to see dangers or else how can he watch meaningful? Spiritual sight is required of one who is a watcher, lest one blind person is leading another blind person and both blind persons fall into the ditch, Jesus said. The Prophet Isaiah, using the eyes of God, saw that today, the leaders are causing the people of God to err, and those who err are destroyed with their blind leaders. [Isa. 3:12; 9:16] This cult of personalities must come to an end. We are to be built around Christ, not man! The church is built upon the apostles and prophets, and Jesus Christ is the chief corner stone. In Isaiah, it is written that children are their oppressors and women rule over them, and God laments that the leaders cause the people to err. First, let me explain this idea that Isaiah says about children ruling oppressing the people: This is not literal children as such, but spiritual children; children in their experience and knowledge of God's word. Listen to Paul, "When you ought to be teachers ye have need that one teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God and are become such as have need of milk and not meat. For everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe...." [Heb. 5:12-14] These are the children who lead God's people today. Babes, unable to rightly divide the word of truth [2 Tim. 2:15] because they have not studied the word long enough, and they have not lived God's word long enough [Hos. 6:3; 2Tim.2:7] to allow God to open their understanding to it. [Lke. 24:45] They are unlearned and ignorant and care not that they are ignorant; they do not care for the things of God enough to afflict their souls and tax their bodies into long hours of consecrated study of God’s word. Yet they would lead God’s people? God will have none of these blind guides leading his people; they are babes! So they only repeat what other blind leaders say. Hence, they cause God's people to err and both are destroyed. [Isa. 9:16] As for God's people, children are their oppressors because those whom they allow to rule over them are infantile in their understanding, and since they are, they err from the faith and teach things that God never intended them to teach. Listen to how Jesus chided Nicodemus, when he saw his lack of knowledge concerning the things of God: "Art thou a ruler/leader of the people and know not these things?" [John 3] Ignorance is a curse of God's people, and a culture of ignorance has rooted itself in the church in total and absolute defiance of God's word. God says through the mouth of Paul repeatedly, “I would not that you be ignorance.” Listen to God's word: "My people are destroyed for/because of a lack of knowledge (a good definition of ignorance). And because thou has rejected knowledge, I will reject thee, that thou shall be no priest unto me...." [Hos. 4:6] Yet we are to be made kings and priests unto him. [Rev. 1:6] But ignorance will cut us off from that promise of God. The second part of the scripture in Isaiah that says that "Women shall rule over them" you will understand this from an examination of scriptures in the Old Testament, which Paul refers us to. Paul once wrote that I would that a woman be in subjection as also says the Law. He points us back to the law in this matter. Through an analysis of the old where women were used, we see that men had fallen down on their faithfulness to God. A study of the cases of Deborah and Huldah, the prophetesses God used so mightily, and consider the situation of the men during that time--they were weak and shameful. Look at the situation today: Supposed men of God are weak, shameful, and ungodly; they have gone after money and sins of the flesh as fast as the world has. [2 Tim 6:9-11] Consequently, we see a rise of women ministers as never before. Yes, your sons and daughters shall prophesy, but there are more women preachers than ever before. That rise may well be in proportion to the great increase in wickedness of the male ministers who have put Christ to an open shame. Obey them that have rule over you who are capable of watching for your souls, yes! But also prove all things (including that they are so capable and telling the truth, for it is the truth that will MAKE you free) [John 8:32; 1Thes. 5:21] Jesus tells us to watch and pray; we are obligate to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Christianity allows each and everyone to be able to seek the face of God and to read his word. We need not be in ignorance. I am aware that we have had big voiced men who have stated things that were not of God and claimed it was, but prove him. Ask the hard questions and do not allow any preacher to give you fluff answers that make no Bible sense If he cannot answer your questions fairly and correctly, you should not be traveling in the company of blind men. Get out from among them! Finally, a minister who tells you that the Old Testament teaching of tithe-paying applies to the New Testament church is a blind leader and for such a one to assert that one should obey him into an error is expecting a type of Jim Jones cult loyalty that should NEVER be asked for and NEVER given. [Read Tithes] He is not watching for your soul; he is watching for his bank account. He needs faith. Faith giving is God's method of New Testament giving for saints. Notice that I cited where Paul referred back to the Law for behavior of women in some instances; he also referred back to the Law for supporting the ministry (notice ministry, not the minister/pastor) but his referral was not to tithes at all. Instead he talked about the oxen that thread out the grain should also live by that grain. Contrast that with Paul having perfect knowledge of the Law but NEVER points back to tithe-paying in the Law as a method or an example for New Testament saints to pattern themselves by. The poor people of Jim Jones followed him unto death, and they died in their sins following a man. The great Apostle Paul said that ye know how ye ought to follow us; for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you. [2Thes. 3:7] Paul, when saying follow him, also said that he had behaved properly. How far do you follow a preacher? Should one follow a pastor into sin because he is the pastor and says so? Of course, such is a desire is ridiculous and damnable, yet many false prophet preachers are asking for and getting such damnable obedience. And people are dying as Abner died: As a fool dies! One should follow a pastor’s teachings (and the teaching is what Paul meant when he said that they ought to follow him) when the are correct. And that is something that you can prove: Ask thoughtful and repeated questions; if he cannot or will not answer or is incorrect in his answers, challenge those answer. Those wrong answers are clear signs that something is very wrong with his leadership. Is he capable of watching for one's soul? If he does not know the scriptures correctly and if his knowledge goes no further than Acts 2:4 and 38, and Jesus is God, such a one can bring you into the kingdom of God, but no further. He will thereafter deform you in Christ. He needs teaching to grow himself. Unlearned men cannot bring other unlearned men into wisdom—it is simply impossible! Each saint is obligated to work out his own soul salvation. NEVER allow yourself to be misled by a pastor or whatever he calls himself--pastor, prophet, evangelist, etc. You must be a faithful steward of Christ. Prove all things; examine yourself and see if you are in the faith. It is true that you need another to aid in that self-examination because we will never see ourselves honestly, but a babe in Christ is not the one who can help you because you are limited by his limitations. Some years ago, I had a friend who had been the head of her family until she had a massive aneurism. She stayed in a coma for six months and in the hospital for a year. When she was sent home, that family placed a brother of hers who loved her dearly to take care of her and nurse her back to health. The problem with that arrangement, however, was that that particular brother was mentally ill—seriously bipolar and some other conditions as well. As my friend started healing, I recognized that she was bound to the mental height of her care-giving brother. For her to get back to where she was before the aneurism, she had to get from under his tutelage; he was limited and were she to stay under him, he would teach her to his damaged level, regardless of his love for her. This is the problem with blind guides: those following them are also blind and can never learn to see. Sighted saints never stay in the company of blind leaders, lest they too become blind, as many have become. Years ago, my brother attempted similar foolishness in a church he and I built together. He stated that since he was the pastor, even though a thing is not written in the Bible or taught as correct biblical teach, the people should do what he said out of respect for him and his position as pastor. That is absolute foolishness and satanic teaching. That type of teaching opens up the floodgates for any other foolish thing! Fortunately, I was there and put a quick end to that cult of personality effort. The time is late; Christ is
soon to come, and we have allowed false and blind teachers who
need someone to teach them again the first principles of the oracles
of God to go unchecked too long. The Bible says prove all
things and hold fast to that which is good. And that is exactly
what is needed today among these ministers. It is a false minister,
untutored in God’s word says to any saint of God that “You should
obey me because I am the pastor,” please ask for scriptural
reference and study it long. God gives no such reference!
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this be enough in response to this issue for now. But do understand
that I will address the concept and function, as well as the
limitation of the ministry of the pastor at another time. And
this is a subject that needs much addressing because that ministry
has, in the hands of wicked men, assumed a position God never
intended.
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2006