There is a shaking in the making in the body of Christ

Before you read this article, I want you to understand where I stand as far as the meeting place of the body of Christ. IF you have the priviledge to attend a Biblically Sound church PLEASE do so. As I stated later on in the article if we were in Cali, we would be attending John MacArthur’s church. Where there is a biblically sound group of believers we must join them in worship, study and discipleship as God leads. This article was written as God put it on my heart as a warning against FALSE organizations that have gone apostate. I was a member of a church for 4 years who welcomed the ecuumenial movement and allowed false teachers to come in the church and “teach” the flock. This a a warning to the people who are STILL attending an apostate church. I had to make that clear :), now you can read on.

God is separating the sheep from the goats in these very last days of the end time. God is displeased with the institutions who bear the banner of “Christian church” and are leading many astray as they fornicate with the world. The “church” has not gone out to preach the gospel but has invited the world INTO the “church”. There are only 2 options at this point, repentance or judgment. The Lord is calling YOU out of wishy washy churches where His holiness is not exalted, where a life of repentance before the Lord is not taught and where sin runs like it owns the place. Come out of these manmade institutions bearing the false name of Christian churches and return to the Lord in repentance and fear. This is a call to repentance as well as a call to obedience. The church of Christ is not an organization and can’t be found in a building. The believers are the church of Christ. The apostles knew nothing about a “church” organization or building. The great commission was not to go into all the world and “invite people to church” but to go to them and preach the Gospel. I am going to suggest that if there is no organization where you live, where you can receive the unadulterated truth of God’s word, that you look into meeting with fellow believers in a home group, don’t go to an apostate church for the sake of a scripture that has been misunderstood throughout the past 2 thousand years. This scripture is Heb 10:25, which everyone quotes as a means to keep God’s people in apostate churches. We need to go back to the apostolic way of doing things, they did not regard the building where the church met as “high priority” but wherever the “church” met God was there.

Let’s find out what the bible has to say about God’s church…

 In the gospel according to Matthew we have the Lord carrying on a conversation with His disciples. He then tells them He was going to build His church on this revelation of who He is. From the beginning we can see its Jesus’ church. He is the builder, and owner. Acts 20:28 says “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” The word ‘build’ in Matthew 16:18 comes from the Greek word oikodomeo, which means to be a house-builder, construct or confirm build edify, embolden. So we can see Jesus purchased and is building his church. Next we need to Biblically define church. The Greek word Jesus used for church is ekklesia. This word ekklesia means a calling out, a popular meeting, a religious congregation, assembly. Ekklesia is from ek – “out of” and klesis “a calling” (Kaleo – “to call”). This word church (ekklesia) appears 80 times in the New Testament and every single mention of the “church” those 80 times it refers to the body of believers. The word “churches” appears 37 times in the NT, all but one refers to ekklesia. The only other reference of “churches” also translated “temple” is hierosylos (Strong’s 2417 – guilty of sacrilege, robbing temples) in Acts 19:37. We also see the word “ekklesia” translated as assembly (def. a group of believers) 3 times in the NT and translated as “church/churches” 113 times.  The exegetical conclusion is that these words are interchangeable in meaning. If you do a careful and detailed study of the word “assembly” throughout the OT and NT you will find that the word appears 49 times. The word “assembled” appears 36 times in the OT and NT. The NT most common use of “assembled” is synago which means to “gather together, collect” this word appears 73 times in the NT, this is the root word from which we get “synagogue”. The most common translations of “assembled” in the OT are qahal – to gather (Strong’s 6950) and acaph – to gather for any purpose (Strong’s 622). In psalm 74:8 our bibles have “synagogue” as a translation of “moed” in Greek (Strong’s 4159) which by definition is an appointed time, place or meeting. The author of psalm 74 laments the complete destruction of the temple and thus makes a reference to the “place where God met with us”. The word “synagogue” appears 43 times in the NT. All 43 use only 3 different definitions, aposynagogos – excluded from sacred assemblies or excommunicated (Strong’s 656), synagogue – assembling together of men (Strong’s 4864), and archisynagogos – ruler of the synagogue (Strong’s 752).

In order for us to have the biblical perspective on what the “church” is we need to go to Matthew 16:18 “And I tell you that you are Peter,^c and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

Who is the church?  The body of Christ alone!

Eph. 1:22-,23 “And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.”

Eph. 5:23 “For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body.”

Jesus Christ himself is the architect of this ekklesia. Over the past two thousand years the term church has been misused and misrepresented far and wide. Satan has been using this deception in order to keep believers in apostate churches quoting Heb. 10:25. “not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” The word  “assembling” is Strong’s 1997 – episunagoge which is a noun and it appears only one more time throughout the entire NT in 2 Thess. 2:1 speaking of the “gathering together” in the rapture of the ekklesia. Nowhere in Scripture will we find the term ekklesia used to describe an organization, an institution, denomination, or a building. The church (ekklesia) is a living organism made up with lively stones of Spirit filled believers. Church is not something we do, nor is it a place we go. As believers we need to establish in our hearts that we are the church, and where we go the church goes.

 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? (Acts 7:48:49)

Let us look at some other translations of Matthew 16:18

The “Hebrews Names Version” translates Matthew 16:18 as follows: “I also tell you that you are Kefa, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Sheol will not prevail against it”

William Tyndale who translated the New Testament into English in 1526, and paid for it with his life, translated Matthew 16:18 as follows: “And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter. And upon this rock I will build my congregation: and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

The “Analytical-Literal Translation” of the New Testament words Matthew 16:18 as follows: “Now I also say to you that you are Peter [“a stone”], and on this solid rock I will build my Assembly [or, Church], and [the] gates of the realm of the dead [Gr., hades] will not prevail against it.”

This word “ekklesia” in the New Testament was not a religious word. Ekklesia is used 116 times in the New Testament. Of those 116 times it is translated church or churches 113 times. The other three times it is translated assembly.

In the Acts 19 where Paul, was threatened by an angry mob who wanted to kill him Luke, the writer of Acts, uses the word, ekklesia and the translators of the King James Version translated it “assembly.”

And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not. And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring him that he would not adventure himself into the theatre. Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly (ekklesia) was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together. And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defense unto the people. But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, “great is Diana of the Ephesians”. And when the town clerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter? Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly. For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, (hierosulos) nor yet blasphemers of your goddess. Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another. But if ye inquire anything concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly (ekklesia). For we are in danger to be called in question for this day’s uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse. And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly (ekklesia). (Acts 19:30-41) (Greek word inserts and emphasis mine) The interesting thing about this passage is that the word assembly in the original language is ekklesia in all three occurrences. Ekklesia just happens to be the word we use to translate, “church.” We can see from the Scripture ekklesia is used to describe an assembly of people.

First, it was a confused ekklesia, then their inquiring would need to be done in a lawful ekklesia, and lastly the ekklesia was dismissed. Yet, when describing a building as a temple Luke used the Greek word hierosulos. So when Jesus used ekklesia to say “I will build my church.” It was not a religious word. It simply meant a called out group, or crowd, or fellowship, or assembly. The only place in the New Testament where churches is translated using a different word other than ekklesia is in Acts 19:37 and the Greek word hierosulos is used and it means temple. After all it was in Ephesus where the crowd or assembly (ekklesia) was concerned about the temple of Diana. If the church was a building, an institution, organization, or denomination surely Jesus would have used hierosulos or some other word and not ekklesia.

 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:15-18)

The Lord himself is erecting the building and he is doing it with people. The apostle Peter said the following concerning the people of God and the building of the church

“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5)

The word house in first Peter comes from the Greek word oikos, which means “a dwelling” The New Testament temple of God is living breathing Spirit filled people.

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22) Let us always be mindful the church (ekklesia) is people (a living organism with Christ as the head) and not hierosulos. (A Building).The idea of the church being a building is foreign the early church. The church is people, always has been, and the early church meet many places among them was house to house. It doesn’t matter where a church meets, it could be at a beautiful new building or under a palm tree. What matters is that the body of Christ follows the early church’s example in a committed love for the Lord, one another and for sound doctrine.

 What are we to do when we live in a lukewarm church dispensation? Where are we to go when we can’t find a sound bible teaching church in town? Are we to just isolate ourselves from fellow believers or are we to form bible studies and home groups with the sole purpose of coming together to worship the creator in spirit and truth? The latter is the biblical option. God does NOT support the choice of any of his children belonging to the synagogue of Satan. If an institution is not teaching biblically sound doctrine (only few are), then we MUST go back to the apostolic way of sharing the gospel through evangelism, prayer, coming together to edify, share the burdens, rejoice with other believers and now that we have been blessed with the bible commit to studying the scriptures as 2 Tim 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” How can we correctly handle the word of truth in the synagogue of Satan? The church of Laodicea is the last church of the 7 Jesus wrote to in the book of Revelation. This is the worst of all 7 churches. Jesus had nothing good to say about them. These 7 churches are the 7 spiritual conditions that exist and out of the 7 this one makes the Lord so sick to the point of vomiting. Why? Because they are neither cold (rejecting the gospel completely) nor hot (saved, part of the body of Christ), this church is the “pretender church” the church that claims by mouth they are Christian yet have NOTHING to do with the real ekklesia of Christ. This is the church that has some outward or nominal Christianity yet are the ones the Lord says “depart from me, you worker of iniquity. I never knew you”. Among those that are part of this group are JW, Mormons, Pentecostals, Catholics, the modern day emerging church and many charismatic churches. They are accursed because they teach another gospel. Joel Osteen, Rob Bell, Rick Warren, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, T.D. Jakes and countless (too many to name) others who are teaching heresy. We ought to remove ourselves from the communion of such people, especially when they claim to be believer’s and yet live a life of sin and doctrinal error. 2 Cor 6:14 “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? 16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 17 “Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE,” says the Lord. “AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you.” This verse is speaking of a business partnership. What business do YOU have with the unclean? What business and/or fellowship do you have with those who mock God by teaching falsehood?

What about that meeting place? If we look into Scripture we will see the early church met in homes. This idea is truly Biblical. It is a practice that the church needs to return to at the prospect of heretic teaching. Some have and more are following. The idea of church in homes is a new concept to many in twenty-first century America. Yet, this concept had its origin in first century Christianity.  Scripture is full of examples of Christ healing, teaching, and ministering in private homes. As Jesus grew and began his public ministry it took him many places, and the Scriptures give us ample examples of Jesus preaching, teaching, and healing in private homes. And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. (Matthew 9:10)

And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. (Mark 2:1-2)

Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. (Luke 10:38-39)

When the time came for the Lord to hold the Passover which turned into the Lord’s Supper he also chose to hold it in a private home. He could have chose some place that had a religious significance; however he chose to celebrate it in a common ordinary house, and by doing so Jesus Christ gave his approval for the church (ekklesia) meeting in homes or whever else they had the opportunity to.

And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, “My time is at hand; I will keep the Passover at thy house with my disciples”. (Matthew 26:18)

Jesus spent three years teaching and training his apostles to carry on the work he began, and when he sent them forth after his resurrection they began by meeting in homes. In The Book of Acts (which is the history of the early church) we can clearly see the early Christians met in private homes. The New Testament Church was born at Pentecost, and it began in the “upper room” of someone’s home. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1-4) Jesus could have chosen some other place for them to meet and pour out His Spirit like the temple in Jerusalem or a synagogue but he chose a home. After Peter preached the first message of the New Testament era three thousand souls were added to the church in a single day, (Acts 2:41) and there was no attempt by any of the apostles to build a “Church Building.” Rather the early church would meet in the temple court yard and in private homes.

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart. (Acts 2:46)

As the apostles continued preaching and teaching the things concerning the kingdom of God five thousand others believed, and where added to the church (ekklesia).

Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. (Acts 4:4)

Shortly after (Acts 5) the Bible says “and believers were the more added.” The word of God refers to the more added as “multitudes both of men and women”. Yet, the early church (ekklesia) continued to meet in homes of people.

 And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one. (Acts 5:14-16)

Even when the great persecuted began Saul had to enter into the homes of believers to arrest them (Acts 8).

As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. (Acts 8:3)

Scripture declares that Saul of Tarsus went into homes to find “the church” to drag them to prison. Then after his conversion he would be found planting churches that would meet in private homes including his own rented house.

And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spoke unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. (Acts 11:20-24)

Scripture declares the early church grew by leaps and bounds they truly had revival. We have seen from Scripture that an untold number of believers were added. The Book of Acts records these events with the use of words like “thousands” “multitudes” and “much people.” Churches (local expressions of ekklesia) were everywhere. The Book of Acts doesn’t record the whereabouts of all the apostles going forth and planting churches, but we know they did, yet we have no record of any of them starting a building program. The record we do have (Paul) shows the church (ekklesia) meeting in homes.

Acts 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,

Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Likewise greet the church that is in their house. (Romans 16:3-5)

The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. (1 Corinthians 16:19)

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bare him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea and them in Hierapolis. Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you. Salute the brethren which are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the church which is in his house. (Colossians 4:12-15)

Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlaborer, And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house: (Philemon 1:1-2)

The early Christians knew they were the church. Church wasn’t a place for them to go, and neither was it something they did.

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)

And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (2 Corinthians 6:16)

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are built together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:19-22)

The word temple in these verses is referring to that holy or sacred place. Nowhere in the New Testament is there the idea or concept that some special building constructed by man is the church. It is not the temple, and it is not a special holy place. There is nothing special about that building. You can call it a sanctuary all you want to, but the truth of the matter is it leaves people thinking the building is the church. The apostle Paul told the early believers over and over they were the temple of God.

Of historical note: “The first recorded use of the word ekklesia (church) to refer to a Christian meeting place was penned around A.D. 190 by Clement of Alexander (150-215). Clement is the first person to use the phrase “go to church” which was a foreign thought to the first century believers.”
Any student of history will tell you that in the fourth century with the rise of Emperor Constantine great changes were brought into the church, most of them with origins in paganism. Then to add insult to injury money from state funds was used to build special buildings (now called churches).

Furthermore, Centralized congregational assembly with an officiating priesthood is a former thing. God’s wisdom provided a dramatic and vivid demonstration; the former building-as-a-tabernacle was erased, the temple dismantled for God does not dwell there any longer. The former building tabernacle/temple has been replaced with the substance it foreshadowed; a body. A new experiential dimension has been provided. A righteous lamb and a substitutionary death made a way. A wall of separation was removed, to bring us as individuals into a shared experience among all other members of a singular body, fitly joined together, with every joint supplying. Every born-again Christian is part of God’s abode, part of the singular tabernacle in which God dwells, his own body, made without any man’s handiwork. To return again to the former things would be to deny the anointing that establishes the new.

 Finally, Christianity was declared to be the state religion. While all this was taking place, The Edict of Milan came into being which resulted in thousands of pagans “joining” the church because it was politically correct, after all their Emperor embraced Christianity. This great influx resulted in the adoption of many false doctrines and practices. They (Constantine and the pagan masses) were never spiritually converted. The final result, many pagan practices were woven into Christianity, changing it to the point the apostles would find it unrecognizable. From Constantine onwards the state began to mingle in church affairs. The saddest part is many of these customs, traditions and practices are still in the church today.

Finding a fellowship of true believers becomes an issue when you have more apostate church organizations than you have biblically sound ones. We live in the church age of Laodicea, you can clearly see this by the alarming growth of the “prosperity” gospel preaching, the ME centered preaching. Most of these institutions are preaching either a “better you now”, steps for success, Jesus wants you rich, baptism of the Holy Spirit with evidence of speaking in some pagan babble, easy believism gospel, you know the type where they tell you “if you want eternal life in heaven, believe in Jesus, accept Jesus, recite this prayer and mean it in your heart” and then they welcome you into the family of God as if they knew what’s in your heart, if you are a true convert or not. The institutions that are concerned about being relevant to THIS generation and are “relationship centered”. These “relationship centered” places are here to connect you to Jesus as if Jesus was something to be “connected” to. Institutions that believe they have an anointing to heal (blasphemy indeed), for ONLY God is the healer. Institutions that do not take the word of God literally but allegorize scripture and the emerging church who seems to believe they are the epitome of humility by saying they have no idea what the Bible says and who can know for it is too “high of a knowledge” to attain. As if ignorance was a humble attribute. This is glorified ignorance at it’s best. The emergent “church” doesn’t want clarity as to what the bible states because they do not like what it says. They would have to change if they were to know what it said, so they claim ignorance. John 3:19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.” They sanctify the culture, they believe “If we’re going to change these people we must become like these people”. They allow the culture to dictate what Christianity should be. They wish to be as relevant as they can be in order to reach as many as they can always being politically correct in order NOT to offend anyone. They state that Christianity must adapt itself in order to reach unbelievers.  

For those of you who will say, “that’s what satan wants, to dismantle the church” I have this to say.

How could Satan convince believers that the Church was going apostate? Don’t you think believers know when the Church is going apostate? Didn’t Popery try to convince the men of the Reformation that the Church was not going apostate? But they weren’t convinced, were they?

What satan does try to convince professing christians that the Church is not going apostate, and that these ministers are ministers of righteousness. 2 Corinthians 11:13 “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds”.

Satan destroys the Church by his seducing the unfaithful to worship him there, not by dismantling it. When we carefully study scripture we find that his intention is to reign (rule) in the Church. To be lifted up above God and worshiped there. He is already prince of this world, he wants to be prince of the Church also. There is no need to speculate about his tactics in deceiving, Satan has a long history we can refer to. He will do the same that he’s been doing since the beginning. Fomenting lawlessness and inciting disobedience to God’s Word. That’s his tactic.

Genesis 3:1-4•”Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

•And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

•But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

•And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

•For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”

Satan uses humanistic reasoning with man to deny God’s clearly spoken Word, that they would be beguiled. This is Satan’s Modus Operandi. To take God’s unambiguous Word, and playing upon man’s vulnerability, wrest and distort it so that it’s palatable to man, for his own purposes. So if he wants to rule the Church, he says,

..sin in the Church is really not that bad,

..don’t worry about sin, God is love and will forgive,

..we’re no longer under law, you have liberty,

..you can do it, and you shall have peace,

..follow your Church tradition, and it’s leaders,

..you must not leave an apostate Church,

..there will be no judgment on God’s Church,

..etc., etc.

This is the ear-candy that people want to hear. Smooth things, things which are palatable. Prophesies that are not faithful things, but that are smooth things, deceitful or dishonest prophesies. And Satan accomplishes this by having “his ministers” appear in the Church as wolves in sheep’s clothing, saying Peace, Peace. Declaring how “things are not so bad,” and in their building a sub-standard temple with sub-standard material in wood, hay, and stubble, giving them a false sense of security. This is how Satan works.

Ezekiel 13:6-11

•”They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.

 •Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith it; albeit I have not spoken?

•Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity, and seen lies, therefore, behold, I am against you, saith the Lord GOD.

•And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

•Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying, Peace; and there was no peace; and one built up a wall, and, lo, others daubed it with untempered morter:

•Say unto them which daub it with untempered morter, that it shall fall: there shall be an overflowing shower; and ye, O great hailstones, shall fall; and a stormy wind shall rend it.”

This is the end of Satan’s ministers who attack not the world (his own) but the Church.

Have you ever thought that there is a reason why the Lord allowed the temple to be brought down brick by brick by the romans and there is NO “temple” in Jerusalem right now? Are we like the Jewish people who are running to the former things? They are planning to rebuild the temple in order to start sacrificial offerings to a God that has done away with that system. Christians are going back to the tabernacle times when the Lord has replaced his dwelling in the holies of holies to the body of a believer. Modern “church institutions” are corrupt, satan had invaded and resides in most churches today. God is calling you out to be a separate people, to be a holy people consecrated unto Him.

Beloved, I plead with you not to take my word for it but to seek God’s will in the matter. God has spoken to me and my duty is to deliver the message, now it is your duty to take what you have read and seek the will of God. I strongly believe that we’re living in the very last days and we  need to go back to how the apostles carried out the great commission. In a world where 99% of organizations are apostate, we can take refuge in the way the apostles ministered and how the body of Christ grew. By no means am I advocating to leave a congregation of believers if sound doctrine is taught. I wish I would be able to be part of John MacArthur’s church, I would attend in a heartbeat with the spirit of a servant. If you have a sound group of believers you are a part of, serve as Jesus would, pray for them as Jesus commanded and be as faithful as our Lord was to His apostles. The reality remains my friend, the chances of any of us finding such group of believers is 1 in a million.

PS. Most “church buildings” are designed according to tradition that perpetuates the notion that it is a sacred place. Instead of it just being a room where people meet to fellowship and worship, it has some mystical aura attached to it. We even require different behavior when entering these “holy” places. I cringe when I hear people refer to a building as “the house of God” or refer to the meeting room as “the sanctuary.” NOTHING could be further from the truth!

Resources…

A Biblical Church by Paul Washer.