2nd Peter 2:1, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”
There's nothing worse in my opinion than attending a Baptist church where
the pastor(s) rely upon someone else to prepare their sermons, lessons and
Bible studies for the church congregation. I recently attended a church
where they're using the WALK THRU THE
BIBLE materials for their Wednesday night Bible study. If you watch
their WALK THRU advertisement video on YouTube, they keep mentioning
the key word “FUN.” In the 3:33 minute video, they advertise their product
by mentioning the word “fun” at least seven times...
“...in a fun way, fun, enjoyable, it's actually fun, connect the dots, makes a lot of sense, it's fun, it's the funnest way, not a long bring day of lecture, this experience, it is fun, you get to be around fun people...”
SOURCE: words and phrases from http://www.youtube.com/user/WalkThrutheBibleUSA
God have pity on this shallow, spineless, TV generation. Unless something is “FUN,” people won't get involved and have no interest, and this includes spiritual areas. This is today's apostate church scene in America—using Rock 'N' Roll, worldliness, things that are “FUN” to sell a product that supposedly will reignite a dead church and draw everyone to God. Yeah right! And I'm the tooth-fairy! God never intended for church to be “FUN” or entertaining. If your entertainment is God, then God must become entertaining to be worshipped.
2nd Timothy 4:3, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” The Greek word for “heap” in this Scripture is episōreuō and means “to accumulate further, that is, (figuratively) seek additionally.” The Bible is telling us here that in the last days people won't tolerate THE TRUTH. When they hear truthful preaching from men of God like Dr. Jack Hyles and Dr. Curtis Hudson, and anyone who preaches like them, they seek additional teachers (instructors) elsewhere who will tell them what they want to hear. Even amongst my faithful web visitors, less than 5 percent listen to the preaching MP3's and videos that I promote in my Recent Section. I love you all, but my heart aches for CHRIST TO BE FORMED IN YOU. Galatians 4:19, “My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.” We all need preaching!
The Bible says they will not endure (put up with) SOUND DOCTRINE. Instead, they want unsound doctrine. The word “sound” is the Greek word hugiainō and means “to have sound health, that is, be well (in body); figuratively to be uncorrupt (true in doctrine).” Verse 4 tells us that sound doctrine refers to “THE TRUTH.” 2nd Timothy 4:4, “And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” Preachers like T.D. Jakes, Joel Osteen, Mike Murdoch, Benny Hinn, Pat Robertson and John Hagee say many interesting, helpful and useful things; but they censor THE TRUTH. Where is the doctrine of Christ? Where is the virgin birth and the deity of Christ? Where is the awfulness of a literal burning Hell with fire for Christ-rejecting sinners? Where is the imminent coming judgment for all mankind? Where is the gospel truth?
Most teachers aren't preachers, because only preachers can train preachers. That's what's wrong with shallow Bible collages all across America today, that is, they are training youth to teach, not to preach. Do you know why? It's because only God's Holy Spirit can impress upon a man's heart to preach! Teaching is truth made for hire, but preaching is truth set on fire!!! There is a call, gift and place for Christian teachers, but the Word of God is MANIFEST THROUGH PREACHING! (Titus 1:3).
God deliver us from this sissified generation of milquetoast, pink tea and lemonade, soft-soapin', ear-ticklin', back-scratchin', pantywaist, compromising, lazy-boy preachers who can't preach their way out of a paperbag! God give us some leather-lunged, barn-stormin', window-rattlin', shingle-pullin', uncompromising, hell-fire and damnation PREACHERS!!! America needs PREACHING PREACHERS!!! The reason why men don't preach anymore is because they're being mentored by apostates, false teachers, heretics, sissies and old fuddy-duddy professors. JUST GIVE ME THE KING JAMES BIBLE!!! God is the preacher's mentor!
The poor people in most churches today are
starving spiritually. They don't get spiritually fed.
You Can Have Moody Bible SINstitute, God Doesn't Want It!
In September of 2013 Moody Bible Institute in Chicago voted to overturn a century old ban against boozing, smoking and gambling for faculty members and staff. To counter criticism from various churches, Moody has been hypocritically promoting the theme of “HOLINESS.” What a sad testimony! Pastor Dwight L. Moody is crying up in Heaven.
Holiness Moody Style
What has Moody ministries deteriorated into? How does one teach about holiness with a 6-pack of beer, a carton of cigarettes and a deck of cards in hand? Where is the preaching of the awfulness of Hell? Where is the warning of coming judgment? Does anyone believe in a literal burning Hell anymore? Where is the cry for repentance and faith for salvation? (See also John 3:20 and repentance).
Hey Bible Students, Let's Talk About Holiness Today!
I don't think the guy even knows what PREACHING means! Even worse is that the pastor allows it. I like the pastor as a person, but he teaches the Lordship Salvation heresy (and that's really bad). He told hundreds of people recently on Sunday morning that the first step to getting saved is to “TURN FROM SIN.” He explained that you cannot get saved if you're unwilling to leave your sinful life behind. I wanted to go up to the pulpit and say, “YOU'RE FIRED!” It's really tragic!
1st Peter 1:15-16, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” The Greek word for “holy” here is hagios and means “sacred (physically pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially consecrated).” Being holy definitely includes abstaining from smoking, boozing and gambling!!! Yet, Moody ministries hypocritically teaches holiness while permitting staff and faculty to smoke, booze and gamble. What a shame!
The following Scripture practically gives the address of the United States. This perfectly describes the apostate condition of our churches these days...
Ezekiel 33:31, “And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.”
There's a lot of talk about love in most churches, but the Bible says they are saturated with COVETOUSNESS, that is, materialism (the desire for things). Ezekiel 33:31 associates covetousness with disobedience to the Word of God.
Be a thermostat for God, not a thermometer! A thermostat is used to RAISE THE TEMPERATURE! You change the atmosphere around you. Our youth need to be taught to follow Christ in the Word of God. I guarantee you that if you walk with God and carry a Bible that no one will invite you to their wicked parties. The best way to give up the world is to carry a Bible and they'll give you up!
In contrast to a thermostat, a
thermometer goes up and down depending on the surrounding conditions. Think
for yourself and don't allow other people to think for you. Ninety percent
of Americans today don't think for themselves; therefore, they are led as
gullible sheep to the slaughter. I choose to walk with God, not follow some
apostate radio or television minister into the Devil's ecumenical movement
(churches uniting-by-error instead of dividing-over-truth as the Bible
commands).
The Autopsy Of A Dead Church
Revelation 3:1, “And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.”
Most churches are DEAD. Revelation 3:17, “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.” God did not create man for things; God created man for God. So many people live for things. Ironically, it's the people who possess the most THINGS who are the most miserable in life. I recently read in the news that 80% of all wealthy people die poor. Some of the happiest people in this world are poor people. The poorest Christian in a wheelchair who's name is written in Heaven has far more to rejoice about than Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Donald Trump and Ted Turner combined who don't know Jesus Christ.
I just read on Forbes' website today that Bill Gates is worth $72,000,000,000. Mr. Gates is agnostic, which means he's not sure if there's a God or not. I guarantee you Mr. Gates will believe in God and the Bible the very second that he passes into eternity. Oh, how I rejoice in not being rich in this evil world, because most rich people don't think they need God.
If we were to perform a spiritual autopsy on most of today's churches, we would discover certain characteristics of a DEAD church. First, the life of the Church is the Holy Spirit. So the first thing that we need to do is differentiate between a religious cult and a New Testament Church. I've visited numerous Roman Catholic churches and there was no Holy Spirit presence other than me (as a born-again believer). A church building is merely a building. A building is not a church, nor ever can be. The Bible teaches that the believer's physical body is the TEMPLE of the Holy Spirit (1st Corinthians 3:16-17) who indwells each believer (Romans 8:9).
So any so-called “church” that isn't comprised of born-again believers is a religious cult, not a Biblical church by any means. There is no sonship. No one is saved in a false cult, like Mormonism, Seventh Day Adventism, Church of Christ, Lutheranism and the Jehovah's Witnesses (all of these religions sinfully require water baptism for salvation). They are DEAD in a literal sense spiritually, unregenerate and still lost without Christ in their sins, on their way to the Lake of Fire for ever and ever.
Then there are DEAD churches in the sense of a brown lawn, which isn't completely dead, just malnourished. These people are saved, but unmentored and undiscipled. They have no shepherd (pastor) to feed and guide the flock in the Lord. These are DEAD churches, not false cults, but dead in a lack of discipleship sense. Such was the church at Corinth in the book of 1st Corinthians. There was open sin in the church and the elders of the church weren't faithfully doing their duties (like preaching against sin from the pulpit). They were a problematic church. Paul called them “carnal” and “babes in Christ” in 1st Corinthians 3:1.
Everything born living is also born dying. From the day we are born, the decay and death process begins. We are as healthy as our body's immune system is able to fight off the decay and disease process. Likewise, every church is continually fighting for its own survival, because the flesh, the world and the Devil are always trying to destroy the Church. A church is only going to be as spiritually healthy as the pulpit. This is why it is so important for pastors to make sure they get plenty of preaching themselves. Even preachers need preaching. In fact, they need it more because they're continually under satanic attack by the forces of hell. Satan always goes after the most influential person. Ah, but Satan fears the weakest saint who falls upon their knees in prayer.
One saint + prayer = a dangerous foe to the Devil
God answers knee-mail. Amen! We ought to all thank God every day for His protective hedge. Did you ever stop to think how fast Satan would destroy your life if given the chance by God? God is good.
The clearest indicator of a DEAD church is a DEAD PULPIT. I wish I could convince every pastor of every church to walk with God, and abide in the Scriptures (using the King James Bible only instead of all the modern corrupted Bibles that attack Christ's deity). You are the only Jesus that many of the folks in your congregation have ever known, so you need to point them to the Lord and teach them to love the Word of God, and not follow you if you stray away from the Word. Even the apostle Paul told the church at Galatians not to listen to him if he preached any OTHER GOSPEL than the one delivered in the Word of God (Galatians 1:7,9). Paul said not to listen even to AN ANGEL if they come preaching ANOTHER GOSPEL.
Signs of a dead church are a lack of fundamental, Bible, preaching. A church that doesn't preach against sin is a worldly church. Something is not right. You show me a church full of gossip, hatred, envy, jealousy, backbiting, worldliness and carnality and I'll show you a church where the PULPIT IS DEAD. The congregation cannot rise above the spirituality of the pastor who preaches to them every week.
The average church today is like visiting a morgue or a funeral home. The pulpit is DEAD. Most preachers are really just teachers and wouldn't know how to preach if their life depended on it. Preaching is truth set on fire. Preaching is teaching with a moral attitude and the fire of God in your bosom! Teaching is the transfer of information from my mind to yours; whereas preaching is the transfer of convictions (an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence!!!).
A sure sign of a DEAD church is formalism, like in the Roman Catholic religion and the apostate Church of England.
My friend, if something is worth
doing it is worth doing right, especially teaching the Word of God.
America's filthy Playboy philosophy and the evils of feminism have
infiltrated our churches, indoctrinating women to wear pants and dress sexy.
You say, preacher I don't like your preaching. Well that's proof that you
need it! Bless God, this world is looking for something real in Christians!
The Bible commands Christian ladies to dress modestly (1st Timothy 2:9), and
to be shame-faced (innocent; not impudent with a casual look of disrespect),
having a meek and quiet spirit (1st Peter 3:4). One of the signs of a dead
church is women wearing pants and worldly clothing, which shows that they
prioritize their own will above that of God's, or else they are babes in
Christ and have never been properly mentored.
The Curse Of Zionism In Our Churches
I am saddened that so many Baptist churches are corrupted. So many people are confused about the Jews. Biblically the Jews were God's chosen people, a special and holy people in the early Old Testament. But God made His promise of continued blessing CONDITIONAL, as evidenced in Exodus 19:5. The key phrase is “IF YE OBEY.” We'll, the Jews refused to obey, so God divorced Israel in 586 BC. Today, God has turned to the Gentiles to preach the gospel to the world. We are living in The Times Of The Gentiles (Luke 21:24).
Please don't misunderstand, I DO believe that Israel is God's nation, but not present political, religious nor cultural Israel. The nation itself belongs to God. The land of Palestine belongs to God alone. Israel won't be regathered until Christ's Second Coming, when Israel's TRUE MESSIAH is revealed and comes in power to reign upon the throne of David.
Genesis 12:3 simply means that the nations of the world have been blessed by the giving of the law, the prophets, the Bible and Jesus Christ Himself, the promised Messiah. The promise to bless or curse those who bless or curse applies only to Abram (Abraham), as evidenced by Exodus 19:5. God never blesses Christ-rejecting, blaspheming, wicked Jews (which is what Israel is today).
Zionism is a fraud. God's promise to regather Israel to the Promised Land will happen when the Lord returns at the Second Coming. The Zionist effort to claim the land of Palestine today is NOT the fulfillment of Bible prophecy. Just as Abraham and Sarah took matters into their own hands because they were impatient to wait for the Lord to fulfil His promise, so also are Zionists doing the same today by forcing the issue of Zionism. The fact of the matter is that the Jewish community rejects Christians as Jews! Jewish Community Adamantly Opposed To idea That One Can Convert To Christianity And Still Be A Jew. Isn't that something!
My point is that the so-called “Jews” who are being restored to the land of
Palestine today are in nearly all cases unsaved heathens. Less than 2.5% of
the citizens of Israel today profess to be a Christian. Do you really think
God is regathering unsaved people, most of whom aren't even biological Jews,
to Israel? I think not.
Satan Secretly Brings False Doctrine Into The Church
Dr. Jack Hyles explains from the Bible how the Devil sneaks into churches with false doctrines...
SOURCE: Dr. Jack Hyles, quote from the excellent book titled, THE CHURCH, chapter 24, How the Wall of Separation Is Broken Down -By Pastor Jack HylesWe need to be right on the man of God, the word of God, and the plan of salvation. The false teachers mentioned in II Peter are unsaved people who were trying to bring something other than the true Gospel from the true Word of God.
The word privily means, to sneak in somebody or something. It means that something is hiding behind something else in order for it to also get in. In this passage we see that damnable heresy had snuck in by hiding behind something that was not a damnable heresy. These false prophets have a false doctrine they want to spread. They know we will not accept it, so they hide that false doctrine behind one with which we do agree.
For there are certain men who crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude 4
The phrase crept in unawares is used for two things in the Bible.
1. It is used for masquerading. It is false teaching being masqueraded.
2. It is used as entering in the side door.
