Too many Christians walk around with blinders on. They are being led by blind shepherds who follow the latest trend found in books that aren’t God-breathed. That leads to a malnourished flock. God spoke His words to men who honored Him and wrote those words as a guide. From Genesis through Revelation, God wrote it all. If we study and pay attention to the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we will be better able to understand things we read in Scripture, and why many pulpits are dead.

Sadly, many Christians have little, if any, knowledge of Scripture. They trust pastors to speak God’s truth, but we are in the final days, and many pastors don’t preach the pure word of God. Ask a fellow Christian who won last night’s baseball game, and you’ll get an enthusiastic recount of the game. Ask that same person about their faith in God, and you get an offhand answer like, “I go to church.”

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:1-3).

Are you one who is more interested in secular happenings than in the all-important subject of eternity? If so, ask yourself if any celebrity or sports figure died for your salvation. The answer is simple. Only Jesus Christ, God incarnate, gave His life willingly for your salvation. Why, then, do you care more about this life than eternal life?

In the above passage, the Apostle Paul warned the young pastor, Timothy, about the “later days.” He said that corruption of God’s truth will happen. Paul was correct. It was Timothy’s job in those early days to teach God’s pure truth. If Timothy and the other pastors in those early days had deviated from God’s Holy Spirit-breathed truth, Christianity would have died long ago. We can see many “doctrines of devils” that have corrupted the faith. Many pastors allow and encourage yoga, contemplative prayer, and other non-Christian practices. It’s important to meditate upon God’s word, but that’s very different than Eastern meditation where you clear your mind and open yourself to be entered by a demon.

“I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways” (Psalm 119:15).

When you meditate upon God’s word, your mind isn’t emptied but filled with God’s words. If you practice yoga or eastern meditation of any kind, you are in disobedience to God.

Another corruption that has happened over time is in the mission field. Missionary work has moved away from sharing the Gospel to a works-based welfare type of effort where you repair houses, plant crops, and give gifts, hoping the lost will ask about Christ. If you want to be a missionary, study Paul’s method and stop being ashamed of the Gospel.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

Jesus told the story of the good Samaritan, but that wasn’t talking about spreading the Gospel. That was about doing what is right. Jesus said to preach the Gospel.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

It’s always wise to listen to Jesus and obey. Good works have their place, but if that’s how you’re doing missionary work, then you need to get back to studying Scripture.

Today there are some religions, even ones that claim to be Christian, that forbid marriage by the clergy. Paul wrote that forbidding to marry is one of those doctrines inspired by the devil. Marriage is a very sacred covenant between a man and a woman and was first instituted by God in the Garden of Eden. Why, then, is marriage forbidden in some denominations? Marriage between a man and a woman was established in the Garden of Eden and is a picture of Christ and the ekklesia (His church).

Paul does mention in His first letter to the Corinthians that it isn’t wrong not to marry. “I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, it is good for them if they abide even as I. But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn” (1 Corinthians 7:8-9). Paul had chosen not to be married and found it was easier to serve Christ. But we know that Peter was married; also, Priscilla and Aquilla were husband and wife. Singleness needs to be ordained by God, not forced upon a person in order to be a leader in a denomination.

Through the centuries since Paul wrote to Timothy, human thoughts have slipped in, and much of the ekklesia won’t tolerate sound doctrine. Doctrines of demons are very evident today. In order to keep the collection plates full, the pastor has no problem teaching doctrines that are inspired by devils. Those sermons might be nice and tickle the ears, but they have no place being preached from a pulpit.

I saw a video once that talked about “The Christ Conscience” (a doctrine straight from Satan’s mouth). One person loved attending services on Sunday because she could just relax and be made to feel good about herself. It’s good to know that Jesus loves you and that He died for your sin, but you have to understand that you are a sinner saved by grace.

“But if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).

Unless you recognize the sin in your life, you will never turn from it. You won’t grow in grace and wisdom. The time has come when people won’t put up with sound doctrine. Many pastors preach New Age, prosperity Gospel, replacement theology, all faiths lead to Heaven, purpose-driven lies, etc. These are all doctrines of demons.

Many will depart from the faith, and we see that happening today. Some public Christians have hardened their hearts and publicly departed from the faith… denying Christ who shed His blood. The real question is, did they ever sincerely accept Christ in the first place. Have you? Would you rather hear jokes from the pulpit and a feel-good gospel rather than be fed meat from Scripture to help you grow? You can’t blame others for your lack of Scriptural understanding. With prayer and guidance by the Holy Spirit, you will be led into understanding.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” (2 Timothy 2:15-16).

Keeping Christ outside and apart from the congregation is a sign that the Rapture is very close. “Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). That was written in the last letter which Jesus dictated to the Apostle John. It describes how congregations will be just before the Rapture. You need to answer Christ’s knock on the door of your heart before it’s too late.

The end times are here, and we are in the latter days of which Paul wrote about. Don’t be deceived. Study Scripture for yourself. It’s much more interesting than any form of entertainment you might indulge in. It’s straight from the heart of God.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com
Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.

 

 

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:11-14).

Paul’s letter to Titus holds many important instructions about living a Christian life. When we come to Christ for salvation, we aren’t just “kind of saved” or “will be saved when we become perfect,” but if our confession was sincere, we are a new creation.

“And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality, and power: in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ: buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all the trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Colossians 2:10-14).

We are saved by the grace of God, through Jesus Christ. Our sin is forgiven, but we will continue to sin until that glorious day when we are taken Home.

Sin isn’t something to be proud of. Even though we understand that all of our past, present, and future sins are forgiven by the blood of Christ, we need to examine our life, our words, and our actions, and honestly see our sin and take our thoughts captive.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds:) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Corinthians 10:3-6).

Sin begins with a thought that is allowed to run wild. If a person says something mean to you, do you stew on their words? Do you allow them to fester and grow into anger and hatred? Jesus had every earthly reason to be angry with people. He was rejected by the very people He came to save. Yet, He showed compassion.

“And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise” (Luke 6:31). Let Jesus be your example.

Even though we’ve been forgiven, we need to recognize sin in our life and repent. “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not” (1 Corinthians 10:23).

Most languages have many, many words, so why is it that in everyday conversation, many Christians choose words that are vulgar, angry, or words that hurt others? God forgives your sin, but you don’t honor Him with foul language. Neither do you honor Him if you choose to “live in sin” rather than be married. God has forgiven you, but Scripture speaks strongly against sexual sin of all kinds. Marriage is likened to Christ and the ekklesia (His Church), so why would anyone purporting to be a Christian mock Him by living in sin relationship?

Jesus even attended a wedding ceremony in Cana where He turned water into top-quality wine. Before you get married, be sure you talk it over with Jesus and be sure your spouse is a God-fearing person. In reading through the New Testament, we find many lists of sins God hates in Mark 7:21-22, Romans 13:13, 2 Corinthians 12:21, Galatians 5:19-21, and many others. Of course, the Old Testament also lists sin. For a quick summary, check out the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17; Deuteronomy 5:7-21).

When we truly accept Christ, our sin is forgiven, but it goes even deeper than being forgiven. You become a new creation. That means that whatever lifestyle you lived before coming to Christ, you’ve been forgiven, and now you can go on to a new life in Christ by taking your thoughts captive and living for Him.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Sometimes we think that the people in Scripture are different than we are, and somehow it was easier for them to put sin aside and live perfectly. Not so. Paul lets us know that he struggled, just like we do.

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me” (Romans 7:18-20).

Sometimes Paul is a little hard to decipher, but what that means is that even though he desired to always honor God, he was still a victim of his sin nature. So are all of us. It’s not a matter of “if we sin” but “when we sin.”

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9).

God is always ready to forgive. We aren’t to confess our sins to a so-called priest who is only human. Confession is made to God and forgiven through our faith in Jesus, not by any works done by us.

While we live on this side of heaven, Christians have a special calling. We are ambassadors for Christ. “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21).

An ambassador represents His country. Christians are found in many nations throughout the world, yet we all have one Home. While we live on earth, we are called to be ambassadors for God, representing Him in this fallen world. We can’t represent Him properly if we continue to live a life that more closely represents the enemy… Satan. Turn from sin, and be a good ambassador for Christ.

We read news headlines and know that the world around us is filled with wickedness. Mass murders, corrupt governments, and perverted lifestyles. All this is winked at by Christians who water down God’s truth. Shame on Christians who accept sin instead of standing on God’s word at all times. One day, we will all stand before our King, our Lord and Saviour. At that time, we will want to have earned crowns to give back to Him in gratitude for all He did for us on the cross. We can’t earn those crowns by living a life that reflects Satan. On the night before Jesus was arrested, He talked with His disciples (His first ambassadors) and told them many things. Not the least of which was the promise of mansions.

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:2-3).

A study of Jewish weddings of that time will enlighten you to exactly how special this promise is. He has been preparing those mansions for nearly 2,000 years. If you follow Biblical prophecy, you know that our time on earth is drawing to an end.

Go back and read the first verses cited above from Titus 2:11-14. Christ died for our salvation. Our Blessed Hope is that He will return for us. None of the sin you’re holding on to will be found in Heaven. Let go of it and leave it in the world. Jesus will soon call all His ambassadors Home in the Rapture. That will happen sometime prior to the final 7 years of Tribulation. Ambassadors are called home prior to a war beginning. God will call His ambassadors, the ekklesia, Home prior to the Tribulation. The Rapture is our Blessed Hope. Christians won’t be left on earth to face God’s wrath.

If you know anyone who hasn’t accepted Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, it’s time to reach out to them and tell them and share the Gospel. Thank God for our Blessed Hope.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com
ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

Recommended prophecy sites:

www.raptureready.com
www.prophecyupdate.com
www.raptureforums.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

If you’d like to be on my mailing list to receive the commentaries, just drop me an email and let me know.