Unseen Greed in The Church Today.
Unseen Greed in The Church Today
You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward GOD?
Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of GOD.
Or do you think that The Scripture Speaks to no purpose: "The SPIRIT Which HE Has Made to Dwell in us Jealously Desires us"?
James 4:4-5.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
"But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
"The lamp of the body is the eye; if therefore your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.
"But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
"No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve GOD and mammon...
Matthew 6:19-24.
When I was a new born Christian, and within a very short time in the church where I had received a revelation that JESUS CHRIST is The Truth, I noticed the tables put together which ran down one side of the hall where those who would come together each Sunday to congregate did so to both sing and hear The Word spoken.
On this train of tables were books by various authors which were approved solely by one known in that particular church as an elder.
These books were there for the purpose of viewing and to purchase after the service by any who would both desire them and could afford to buy them.
They would remain covered by sheets until the Pastor had said his final prayer at the end and then they, along with refreshments, were immediately served.
Though at that time I had only been a Christian for a couple of weeks, I had a hunger to read GOD'S Word and desired to know HIS Truth alone.
This was my prayer from the day I first believed.
Having read John chapter 2, this array of literature provoked something in me and to ask the man responsible,
"Isn't this the same sort of thing that provoked JESUS in the temple?"
His reply to me was, "No," though I sensed uneasiness with him at my asking.
I wasn't at all convinced by him but rather remained firmly convinced by the provocation I felt inside. I still do and even more so today, not only with merchandise sold which in truth exploits what is Spiritual, but also by other practices and beliefs in The Church which are believed on and accepted.
Some 15 months later I believe The LORD put on my heart to leave that particular church and to this I was obedient, though this was refused and with suspicion by the Pastor and others of so-called leadership in that church.
Three weeks later I tried going back one time, but when sitting there knew without doubt that I should not have done so.
And though my leaving wasn't easy for me and I wasn't completely sure as to all the reasons why, I knew that in my time there The LORD had been showing to me, with all that I was reading in The Scriptures, The Church and what I was seeing in practice were often two completely different things.
My leaving though had much more to do with just the selling of merchandise.
A few months before the day I left that particular church, The LORD told me, among other things, to pray for my ambiguity and to pray for reformation.
HE did not tell me to pray for a revival, as many Christians often seem to speak of and seek waiting for today, but for reformation.
After all, if what remains is dead and no longer fit for purpose, how then can it be restored to life when its consciousness is nought of the Godly requirements so that any restoration to Spiritual usefulness cannot be; because what is accepted is not what is according to GOD and HIS Word to us all?
Though GOD Raises the dead and Calls into being that which does not exist (John 5:21-29, Romans 4:17) how can HE Awaken that which is Spiritually dead; when the lips do reverence but the heart is far away from HIM? Revelation 3:16, Zechariah 11:9-17.
Around 18 months later, in 2011 and through a Christian I knew, I then gained temporary and sporadic employment in a warehouse with a 'Christian' company which sold thousands of Bibles, books, CD's & DVD's, all by various publications, authors and artists.
Some very clearly did not uphold Sound Doctrine but were still sold under the guise of a Christian company.
And though I say this, as was my perception of it all, there were those who, as Christians, believed that they were doing service to GOD and would pray together before the start of each working day; though not all Christians working there were freely invited to be a part of that prayer time.
My duties were to pick orders and pack them ready to be despatched, sent to those who, from all over the country, had purchased them.
It was on my first day and as I walked into the warehouse, in that instant from John 2:16 came into my mind:
"...stop making MY FATHER'S House a house of merchandise."
I lasted there for almost a year working on and off whenever they needed an extra pair of hands, and not long after this the company suffered problems, eventually going into liquidation.
To say I hated every minute I worked there would be true, with a 9 hour working day often seeming twice as long.
But on refection, as I saw it, there were two benefits from my time there (three if I count the eyes of my heart being further enlightened as to what is not of GOD).
One was that a person who worked there, an unbeliever, and one with whom I shared The Gospel with at every opportunity, sometimes to his annoyance at my words & replies, contacted me some time after I had last worked there, through a Christian whom I had met whilst working there, to tell me that he was now a believer and had been baptised.
The other was that whilst working there, anything that was deemed to be damaged stock, often being because of a most insignificant blemish, would mean that it was unsellable and on my finding out that what was deemed unusable was of no use to them I was allowed to take them for nothing.
I wasn't so much interested in the books being for myself or in the books written by various authors, unless it was A. W. Tozer or Brother Yun (though this maybe happened only once or twice), but my interest was in the Bibles.
I must have been able to take well over a hundred free Bibles and would then always carry an extra one around with me, looking to share The Gospel and to give it to anyone I met who did not have a Bible but wanted one.
This was a great joy to me.
In my sharing all of this, it is just for means of a little introduction and toward the main purpose for my writing.
It is for shedding light onto what is not seen by many professing Christians today and according to The Word Of GOD.
It certainly is not seen by many Christians in this day and age; the unseen and often unrecognised error of greed in The Church today.
Some on reading this may reject my words. But for those who choose to do so, I would ask them to be mindful of justifying their denial and rejection of what I write and their doing so solely being by The Sword Of The SPIRIT, which is The Word Of GOD; just as all are Called to do. Ephesians 6:10-18, Hebrews 4:12-13, Hebrews 13:5-8, 1 Peter 4:10-11, Revelation 12:10-12.
Do this, rather than it being as many will look to do and choose today to do; that being of a self-justification in fleshly wisdom, in and by their own interpretations of The Word and all that is contrary to GOD with their own views and values on any and all things Spiritual as they themselves see them to be; because this is how they are able to see.
Thus Says The LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches; but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows ME, that I AM The LORD WHO Exercises Lovingkindness, Justice, and Righteousness on earth; for I Delight in these things,” Declares The LORD. Jeremiah 9:23-24
“...but let him who has MY Word speak MY Word in truth. What does straw have in common with grain?” Declares The LORD. “Is not MY Word like fire?” Declares The LORD, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?” Jeremiah 23:28b-29.
I also include Scripture references in my writing, not only to reiterate what is being said and showing it from The Word Of GOD but also to expand further on the words written. John 6:63.
"It Is Written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every Word that Proceeds out of The Mouth Of GOD.' " Matthew 4:4. Romans 15:1-7.
In The Gospel we are told by The LORD JESUS HIMSELF that the worker is worthy of his support.
With this HE also Instructs HIS Disciples not to acquire, by any means, gold, or silver, or copper for their pockets and that as HE Sends them out as sheep in the midst of wolves they are to know to understand the cause; being as shrewd as serpents, and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:5-16).
Luke writes of the same, our LORD'S Instruction that HE Sends us out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
That of those who are HIS, the one who listens to them listens to HIM, and the one who rejects them rejects HIM; and he who rejects HIM rejects The ONE WHO Sent HIM (Luke 10:1-22. 1 John 2:23-29).
And at that time HE Rejoiced greatly in The HOLY SPIRIT, praising The FATHER, LORD Of Heaven and earth, of HIS keeping The Things Of GOD secret from those who will deem themselves wise and learned, but revealing them to those who are as babes.
“Truly I Say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter The Kingdom Of Heaven...” Matthew 18:3. Psalm 131.
As HE also Says in another place (Matthew 12:25-30), of those who know their wretchedness and need of The LORD and who thirst for Righteousness, to their knowing the sure Mercies of David; that they will know them as being theirs also (Isaiah 55).
The Apostle Paul also wrote along with his instruction,
...Do you not know that those who perform sacred services eat the food of The Temple, those who attend regularly to the altar have their share with the altar?
So also The LORD directed those who proclaim The Gospel to get their living from The Gospel...
1 Corinthians 9:13-14.
But today we have both Godly Instruction and the warnings contained in The Scriptures not known by many, so that all their words and deeds are aligned with them; that there be no contradictions and so, accordingly, without any contradictions there be no hypocrisy.
And yet still this proves to be the case with many, holding to what are contradictions, even though they may read The Scriptures often enough and which warn us clearly enough.
1 Timothy 6 & 2 Peter 2:12-22.
These two passages of Scripture speak toward and against those who, contrary to the Instruction of The LORD JESUS CHRIST and HIS Holy Apostles, shall, despite their own denials of any wrongdoing, prove to blindly follow the way of Balaam, son of Beor, who, according to Peter, loved the wages of unrighteousness.
Those who, despite the clear instruction and warnings given through Paul, yet still prove themselves, as many today do, with what they live to practice not being agreeable with Sound Words, those of our LORD JESUS CHRIST and with The Doctrine Conforming to Godliness.
They will justify themselves in what it is they do; in the riches they seek to acquire for themselves by using The Name Of GOD, not knowing to align it all with The Word Of GOD, but rather doing what they will do which is according to the lusts of the flesh; the ways of the world; by their own fleshly standards and interpretations of what is Spiritual.
A slave will not be instructed by words alone;
For though he understands, there will be no response.
Proverbs 29:19.
Psalm 32:5-11, Romans 1:28 - 2:13.
See Micah 6:5-15 and understand that whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and encouragement of The Scriptures we might have hope.
See Jude:1-25, understanding just who Jude is writing to.
He is not writing to those who are righteous in their own eyes; those who testify of themselves that they are a Christian but by their words and deeds do not live to follow JESUS CHRIST, and who, because of their manner, are actually not confessing that JESUS CHRIST has Come in The Flesh, though they will speak from themselves that they do.
But Jude is writing to those of whom he speaks in verse 1, who are the Called, Beloved In GOD The FATHER and kept for JESUS CHRIST; which means a great deal in both their words and deeds; the Called and Chosen because they are faithful, who walk in a manner worthy of The LORD, to please HIM in all respects, bearing fruit in every Good work and increasing in The Knowledge Of GOD; Strengthened with all Power, according to HIS Glorious Might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to The FATHER, WHO Has qualified us to share in The Inheritance of the Saints In Light.
Colossians 1:9-23, 2 Corinthians 2:14-17, 2 Corinthians 4:1-7, 2 Corinthians 9:6-12, Matthew 6:19-34.
It is not to be of those who, among other sins, rush headlong into the error of Balaam, who shall perish in the rebellion of Korah, who, in being apart from repentance, shall accordingly know to receive just recompense for their sins, in and by their own greed and hypocrisy in rebellion to Divine Authority.
There is no partiality with GOD, and all are Sanctified only in The Truth. John 17:17, John 8:31-36, John 15:1-8, Psalm 119:9-11, Luke 8:11-21.
But it is rather to live to understand what The Will Of The LORD is and that The Message of The Gospel is repentance for Forgiveness of sins. Revelation 2:12-17.
The unrepentant heart knows no forgiveness, which is then borne out, showing the uncleansed heart not knowing the fulfilment of The Law which comes through faith, and becomes faith working through love; toward furthering The Administration Of GOD, which is by faith.
Romans 3:31, Romans 13:8-14, Luke 10:25-28, Luke 7:40-50.
...But The Goal of our Instruction is love from a pure (Cleansed) heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith... 1 Timothy 1:5.
"If anyone loves ME, he will keep MY Word; and MY FATHER will love him, and WE will come to him, and Make OUR Abode with him.
"He who does not love ME does not keep MY Words; and The Word which you heard is not MINE, but The FATHER'S WHO Sent ME...
John 14:23-24.
Today many churches and other organisations peddle much merchandise, exploiting The LORD GOD and doing so in the name of a Christian.
They do this, not as The LORD Instructs those who proclaim The Gospel to do, to how they should only know to do and as HIS Holy Apostles speak to uphold; to get their living from The Gospel; but they do what they do because of greed.
They do this whilst knowing that GOD HIMSELF Says none can serve both GOD and mammon, and often doing so determined to justify themselves, refusing the correction of The Word (2 Timothy 3:16 – 4:4) in what it is they live and show loving to do.
What they fail to acknowledge is that The LORD GOD shall Judge them according to all HIS Word; John 12:44-50, and not according to their own interpretations and desires of what they themselves want it all to be and will then make it to be, by their own fleshly standards determining what is good and acceptable and perfect, rather than perceiving what is to this standing wholly according to GOD. Jeremiah 5:20-31 & 1 Timothy 6:10-12. Romans 11:33 - 12:3.
If we are of those who make money from The Gospel, who do not purely get our living from The Gospel (and by our purely doing so means wholly according to GOD) but will see The Good News as a means to profit; peddling all manner of merchandise rather than acquiring only what we need for the necessities of life according to our need, then in greed and by instinct like unreasoning animals for pay (as many live doing today) we live to break The Scriptures. And being apart from repentance it shall be to our own destruction.
As we have sown, so it is we shall reap. Galatians 6:8-9, Psalm 126:5-6, John 6:27-29, Romans 6:22-23.
And if we enter into the labour of those who will do such as this; purchasing their wares, then are we not participating in their evil deeds?
Are we not giving our hearty approval to them?
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge JESUS CHRIST Coming in The Flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.
Watch yourselves, that you might not lose what we have accomplished, but that you may Receive a full Reward.
Anyone who goes too far and does not abide in The Teaching Of CHRIST, does not have GOD; the one who abides in The Teaching, he has both The FATHER and The SON.
If anyone comes to you and does not bring this Teaching, do not receive him into house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds. 2 John: 7-11.
It is easy to slip away and believe in it all because it is a commonly accepted practice today.
For those who will do it and do so without fear, often knowing to vehemently justify themselves in what it is they do, those that will do so, who will refuse to know repentance toward all their living truly being in line with the words of The LORD JESUS CHRIST, it is their refusing Godly wisdom and instruction; it is their being of those who scoff at sin.
To them is the question, “what will you do at the end of it all?”
Rather, take care with your liberty; 1 Corinthians 9:7-27. Malachi 3:13 - 4:6.
