by Pastor
Mike Taylor
“Yea,
a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith
without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 “Thou
believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils
also believe, and tremble.
20 But
wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”
(James 2:18-20)
Most
of us would agree that we are living in the last days of mankind's
rule on this earth. But are we living like we believe it? We see the
evil around this nation manifested in grotesque shootings of the
innocent in our schools,
on our streets, Islam rising up to commit terrible acts in the name
of their false god, and the multitude of sins that are growing
exponentially as each day passes and we scream, “WHEN IS THIS ALL
GOING TO END?” Of course, we know that the last days will become
more and more evil as time passes no matter what any religion will
tell you, because the Bible prophesied it would be so.
2
“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters,
proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3, Without
natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,incontinent,
fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4, Traitors,
heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5,
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from
such turn away” (2nd
Timothy 3:2-5)
There
is evil rampant all around us, but is there nothing we can do about
it? Are we powerless to stop the flow of evil that is overtaking our
nation, our families, and our culture? (Maybe, maybe not). True, the
scripture above says that the times would be evil, but is that all we
can expect? Is mankind in its evil nature the only fault of the
nation going into the dark times we see? The evil of man is a given
according to scripture. But I say that there is a symptom that is
growing in this country and has been festering for a long time,
probably for the last 50 years. What is that symptom that has coming
to a fulfillment? Give up? Let's look at what scripture says about
where we are and why.
THE
LAODECIAN CHURCH ERA
14,
“And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These
things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning
of the creation of God;
15,
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou
wert cold or hot.
16,
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will
spue thee out of my mouth.
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: (Revelation 3:14-17)
If
you be a church going believer, and there are many who are not, what
was the atmosphere of the service you attended? Sadly, I would wager
that most of you have not heard a good 'ole hell fire and brimstone
sermon in years, or for that matter, a sermon that calls out sin and
its forgiveness. Scripture says that we all have sinned and deserve
death:
“For
all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”(Romans 3:23)
"Therefore,
just as through one man sin entered the world and death through sin,
and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned." (Romans
5:12)
“For
the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus
Christ our
Lord.”(Romans 6:23)
(sin
is death, and death is hell fire or the Lake of Fire, remember those?
It's high time the church tells the truth about sin).
The
Gospel according to Jesus Christ has been watered down to the point
of the average church service has become a social club gathering,
that is intent on providing the masses the comfort they desire. Sin
is no longer a subject discussed or preached on. Your local pastor
may be into the social gospel of a feel good “Christianity”. We
don't want to feel bad about ourselves, and we sure don't want to
upset that unbeliever that sits in your pews every Sunday.
NOOO...that would be impolite, or politically incorrect and we need
the support (ie. The money) to build that bigger and better sanctuary
or expand our Sunday School classrooms, or the latest buzz project
that has the member's attention. If you upset them, they may take
their money elsewhere. Sad, but it's true.
And
what of that member who leaves your churches and goes out into the
world to work and play? Do they live their faith, or do they
assimilate into the masses of the unbelieving world? Do you see where
I'm going with this? The fault of what our generation is experiencing
right now, falls into the lap of the one place where morality is
taught and implemented into each of our lives. That blame is at the
threshold of the Laodecian “church” and the men who pastor these
churches. (if you can call them that). I talk of faith, and so does
James in the opening scripture, but what of this faith?
THE
CHURCH IS TO TEACH TRUTH
You've
heard the old saying, “actions speak louder than words”? In
speaking of being a Christian, who has taken on the spirit of
redemption, who has believed in their mind, the sinner's prayer, and
believes in his heart that Jesus died for his sins, does our faith
stop there? James addresses this in this chapter and following
chapters...let's take a look at some of his admonitions.
14 “What
doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have
not works? can faith save him?
15, If
a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16, And
one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;
notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to
the body; what doth it profit?
17, Even
so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
(James 2:14-17)
(I
believe James is speaking of faith misplaced in the wrong place or
person)
If
you neglect the nurturing of others through the application of your
faith toward your brother, your fellow human being, then what has
this faith accomplished? Faith is the beginning, not the end of our
Christian walk. Out of sheer obedience, we are commanded to show
fruit worthy of repentance. Let me elaborate, as I can just imagine
the questions in your mind concerning this teaching. Let's take an
agricultural product, say a plum tree. When the time to harvest the
plums from a producing plum tree arrives, what do we expect to find
on the branches? Of course, plums is what we would expect. What if we
found rotten apples, or thorns, or some other illegitimate product
that is in direct conflict to what this tree was suppose to be? Well,
we would have say that we have been cheated by the seller of these
trees we planted, or the seed that grew. So it is with the born again
Christian. We are to produce good fruit. Let's not get the cart
before the horse now, as many produce good works because, morally,
they are good people, but they have not faith in Jesus Christ. Those
of us who have faith in Jesus Christ are commanded to walk as He
walked. If we truly belong to Jesus Christ, we will produce fruit
just as sure as the sun comes up in the east and sets in the west or
a plum tree produces that plum. We are commanded to produce fruit
worthy of that calling of the Holy Spirit. Collectively, we are to be
taught the right teachings according to the Bible, not some feel good
gospel, and that's where the church is failing today. Jesus warned of
this in the last days:
16 “So
then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue
thee out of my mouth.
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.” (Revelation 3:16-17)
The
churches of today, including this abomination called the “Emerging
Church” relies on everything but the pure, unadulterated Word of
God. They are into meditation, self awareness, motivational speaking,
and anything and everything that is grounded in this world. They have
lost touch with God and His requirements for being a true Christian
built upon the Rock, which is Jesus Christ. The majority of the
churches today Jesus said that they make Him sick.
I
went to a church a few years ago, because my grandsons were being
baptized and I was appalled by their service. I saw steel guitars,
rock music, smoke rising through smoke machines, video cameras
focusing in on the musicians on the overhead screen, and music so
loud that I couldn't think. I thought I was at a Led-Zeppelin
concert, not a church service devoted to the worship of the Living
God. Is this an example of worship services in America's churches
today? Sadly, it is more prevalent than you would care to admit.
These churches are ripe pickings for the delusions that will come
upon the earth in the near future of the rise of the One World
Religion headed by none other the the False Prophet, ie. The grand
Poopah in Rome
WHAT
ABOUT OUR CHILDREN?
This
gets down to the brass tacks of this message. Our children are our
future. Are we teaching our children according to God's Word? I would
say in the majority, the church is failing miserably. See all the
crimes of insanity of young people who have lost hope, or desire
suicide to end their sufferings. Of course, they want to take as many
people with them as possible, hence the awful shootings of Columbine,
The Batman Rising shooter in Colorado, and the Newtown, Connecticutt
school killer just to name a few in the recent past at our nation's
schools. Do you know what the #1 single killer of our young people
today is? It used to be accidents, as in trauma from motor vehicle
accidents, or accidents of dare-devils who think they are immortal,
but that has been surpassed in recent years by SUICIDE. Yes, suicide
of a lost generation that has no hope, no anchor or faith in
something bigger than themselves. Morality begins in the home,
nurtured by the church, and guaranteed by our laws of this land
called the USA. But the last 50 years have seen morality take a deep
six nose dive. We have raised a 2nd generation of unschooled,
unbelieving, and godless people who now have kids of their own with
no compass in their lives, and pray tell do they get it in the truth
in our churches of today? The answer would be a hearty “NO”! Most
of these stay away from church, as they have figured out that the
churches provide nothing they need in their lives. Deuteronomy
explains that concept:
6, “And
these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart
7, And
thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt
talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest
by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8, And
thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as
frontlets between thine eyes.
9, And
thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy
gates.”(Deuteronomy 6:6-9)
Jesus
said, “If you love me, keep my commandments”. (John 14:15)
3“And
hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4, He
that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar,
and the truth is not in him.
5,
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God
perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.”(1st John 2:3-5)
This
is not about works, but where your faith lies. Is in Jesus Christ or
in a religion of men? Who do you love? If you love this world, Jesus
and the Father are not in you.
THE
POLITICS OF EVIL
And
what is the answer of our elected leaders on the left in Congress?
Gun control is their answer. The POTUS past (I'll not use his name,
as it makes me sick) had a plan. I would call it a sinister plan in
the same regards as Hitler had plans for Germany. And no Dorothy, we
are not in Kansas!! The world we know has changed...is that the past
POTUS idea of “hope and change”? It's not my idea, and probably
was not yours either. And you can bet your bottom dollar, nothing is
going to change for the better, until the heart of America changes
and I don't see that coming in this life, unless this nation falls on
her knees and cries out for redemption, and not to our government.
That is the LAST place any sane American would look to today. I do
have to give credit to our present POTUS, as the man is trying to
turn this country around and rebuild the foundations that made this
country great..But how long will this reprieve from our downhill
slide into complete lawless last? One man cannot change the hearts of
all the men and women in this country, only God can. Many of our
leaders are as clueless about the root cause as the rest of the
unbelieving world. The only answer was to teach our children the way
they should go from the Word of God and as a nation, but we have
failed miserably as parents, as a church, and as a nation...just look
around you.
A
clear command comes from God to give our children a Christian
education. Are we prepared to say that, because not to do so is sin?
After all, God orders it. How are we doing it? What have we provided
for our kid's Christian education? How much time are we spending
doing it? If we have children, we can be sure these questions will be
asked.
Obviously,
the church is not doing it's job. The parents are not doing their
job, as they were not taught either. So the nation is falling apart.
So the problem grows, and grows until we have a lawless society bent
on destruction of other human beings because of their own pain and
inability to cope. Men look to the government to fulfill their
needs. Ask any bleeding heart liberal that is on food stamps and
welfare. Pity the fool that looks to men and not looking to God for
their salvation or provide for their needs in this life.
YOUR
FAITH ON TRIAL
Let's
take that evidence of faith and put it into a courtroom setting of
this age. At the Great White Throne judgment at the end of time, the
Judge has brought you before the high court and the prosecutor reads
the charges. If we are asked about our faith, the Judge will ask to
show us our faith by our actions as evidence for our defense. True
enough that works cannot save anyone and we could get into the
argument of works based salvation as the Pharisees of Jesus Christ
day thought salvation was achieved by. They were wrong, as faith is
all that is required, but what of the above verses? Is there anything
required or let's say, expected for the truly converted believer to
show this High Court if their faith was in God, or was it misplaced
in something else? Maybe that faith was in their church, their
denomination, or their parish priest or pastor. We see people
everyday that we see in our churches, and you know, you can't tell
them apart from the sinner down at your local bar drinking himself
into a stupor. Listen to their speech. James mentions this as well in
chapter 3:
3 “Behold,
we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn
about their whole body.
4, Behold
also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of
fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm,
whithersoever the governor listeth.
5, Even
so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold,
how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6, And
the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our
members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the
course of
nature; and it is set on fire of hell,
7, For
every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in
the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind
8, But
the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly
poison.
9, Therewith
bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are
made after the similitude of God.” (James 3:3-9)
Understanding
we live in a sinful world and evil talk and crude language is all
around us. Do we take on the actions of this world, this Laodicean
Age of apostasy? If we are guilty of this sin, what does it say to
the unbeliever? Are they impressed with your aura of righteousness?
Do you honor God in spirit and your actions? Do you esteem your
neighbor above yourself? Are you kind, considerate, careful of your
language, and project an aura of a bought and paid for saint for
God's Kingdom? If no, then are they impressed? I think you know that
answer to that one. They are not and they see no need for your
luke-warm religion as it doesn't speak to them of their lost
condition. Many on judgment day will think they are alright. They
went to church, they paid their tithes, and they even believed in
their heads about this person “Jesus Christ”. Remember the
portion of the opening verse. “thou
doest well. Even the demons believe and tremble” But
they are not saints. Let's examine what Jesus said about these
pseudo-christians, in name only.
31 “When
the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with
him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And
before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them
one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
he
shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the
left.”(Matthew
25:31-32)
If
you are familiar with the parable, Jesus separates the true
Christians apart from the fake, in name only Christians. This is
after the Tribulation that Jesus will judge the nations. Both thought
they were doing God's will. The goats on His left, they did what they
thought right in their own eyes. Pseudo-Christians, or the ones in
name only, missed one vital point, they were playing the game, but
didn't have the power within their lives. They relied either on
themselves being a good person, or their church, or their
pastor/priest, or something else in a religious nature, but missed
taking on the likeness of Jesus Christ and into their heart, and
their very being. They put their trust in a false religions, a false
god or even no god at all. They only had the label, not the power of
God or the seed planted by Jesus Christ had been over run with thorns
and weeds and they were not really a new creature in Jesus Christ,
but play acting. They spoke it, they read about it in their bible
(rarely), they counted on their priest to get them to heaven, or they
just thought being religious was good enough. You know what, it was
not. That scenario can both happen before and after the beginning of
the Tribulation, so applies even more so today before the true Church
is removed. I speak of misplaced trust and faith in the wrong place
and the wrong Person.
As
in the final court case at the end of the age, noted above, the Judge
is our Father in Heaven, the prosecutor is God's Holy Word found in
the books opened. If you are not found to be written in the book of
life, but who were just going through the motions and had not really
taken Jesus Christ into your heart, then God have no choice but to
repeat what was said at the Bema Judgment seat of Christ by saying:
41” Then
shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye
cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his
angels” .
You
will have no defense, and Jesus Christ cannot/will not defend you, as
you have not taken on His likeness and have not been clothed with His
righteousness. God the Father will see you in all your sinful nature
without being clothed in the righteousness of His Son, as the only
pardon for your awful condition. The sentence will be passed and you
will be condemned for all eternity to separation from God and
destruction in the Lake of Fire...the second death burning with fire
and brimstone mixed with sulfur.
TIME
RUNNING OUT
Understand
one thing my reader, the nation of the United States is sadly going
down in flames. How long it will take, I haven't a clue, as the time
table is in God's hands, but going down she is. This past POTUS put
its demise on warp speed. I only see a short stall of that complete
fall in this present administration. The evil nature of men will
continue to grow worse and worse long after he is gone. Morality and
the love of anyone but yourself will vanish, if it hasn't already
done so. Men will tear each other apart just to get what they think
they want or need. If a crisis develops, men will take guns and kill
anyone and everyone in their way. This government will be elected
(you will do it, I won't) will come down with both feet and declare
martial law. The United States of Socialist America will be upon you
and despair will be the order of the day.
There
is coming a day, and I pray it is soon, where the righteous saints
clothed with the blood of Jesus Christ will make a sudden exit from
this earth. Men will be astounded. Men will be confused and looking
for a reason for the calamity that has come upon this earth. Only the
faithful will be removed. When I say faithful, I mean those who have
taken on the likeness of Jesus Christ in all our imperfect attempt at
following in His footsteps. Jesus knows each of our hearts and where
our faith and our treasure lies. Does yours lie in this world, or
does it lie in the next life to come through Jesus Christ our Lord?
19 ,“Lay
not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth
corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20,
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21, For
where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew
6:19-21)
So
where does your faith lie? Are you acting on that faith? Are you
putting Jesus Christ first in your life? Paul said in Galatians
chapter 3:
v.26 “For
ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
v.27 For
as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on
Christ”.(Galatians 3:26-27)
What
does it mean to put on Jesus Christ? Paul speaks of it in Romans:
11, “And
that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of
sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12, The
night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the
works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13,
Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and
drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and
envying.
14, But
put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the
flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”(Romans 13:11-14)
We
are commanded as believers, true believers to put on Jesus Christ.
Emulate what he said, what He taught, and what He lived everyday of
His short life and ministry on earth. To do so, is to “Show true
faith”. Nothing else is but playing around and hoping we are not a
goat...Don't take that chance. Your final eternal home depends on
it...
There
is coming a day, where those who have played the game of the
Laodecian Church age and think they are OK who will sadly find out
that they were not OK...at least not in God's eyes. They have
rejected the one thing, the One Person who could have changed their
destiny and gave them the right to be called the “sons of God”,
but alas, they have succumbed to the spirit of the Anti-Christ and
been lulled to sleep in a Laodecian mindset and having a form of
Godliness, but denying the power there-of.
II
Timothy chapter 3:
5,
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from
such turn away.
6,
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive
silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7,
ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the
truth.”(2nd Timonty 3:5-7)
This
age is fast closing and the Tribulation spoken of in Daniel's
prophesy could be right around the corner, just out of sight. When
that time period begins, then to be a Christian will come with a
higher price than even it does today. Let us not rely on man, or the
apostasy that grows in luke-warm churches of this Laodecian Age, but
let us turn to the only source of our salvation and victory over this
world.
“For
God so love the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting
life”. (John 3:16)
Who
does the Apostle John speak of? The only source of our salvation,
Jesus Christ, the Lord
This
is Pastor Mike Taylor, praying your salvation through the Way, the
Truth and the Life, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Should you have a need
for prayer, counseling, or just a friendly ear to listen, then drop
me a line at realteam1999@sbcglobal.net,
or visit me online at
www.pastormiketaylor.blogspot.com,
for more biblical teachings from the Word of God. God bless you all:
TILL
WE MEET AT JESUS FEET
