"Awaken by these words and dream of the harlot churches"

WHAT DID Jesus DO? 

In "Princes, Pastors, and Prophets, Last week we wrote about the lack of prophets in the local church, although the scripture gives us much more mention of them than it does of pastors. Today in Bible study, out of curiosity, I did a word search of the entire Bible for the word "pastors". 

 If you are a student of Gods' Word, here is a link using the html Bible tool.  You can sure learn much by seeing what God says about a particular word!  Yes, the scripture speaks of false prophets and teachers also, but when you observe the church world kingdom around us, it is clear that the "Nicolaitane" pastors rule as the ministering majority.

Here is the entire result for "pastors":
(using the search link above, you may try "shepherds" also, which is found in 33 verses.)

1 Jer 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

2 Jer 3:15 And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.

3 Jer 10:21 For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.

4 Jer 12:10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.

5 Jer 22:22 The wind shall eat up all thy pastors, and thy lovers shall go into captivity: surely then shalt thou be ashamed and confounded for all thy wickedness.

6 Jeremiah 23:1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.

7 Jer 23:2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.

8 Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Here are some understandings from this list:

• SIX times (six is the number of man) "pastors" are used in the negative perspective.  This indicates the majority of them mentioned are apostate which the scriptures describe from the actions of the pastors.
• TWO times (the number of witness) God says He shall give some pastors after His heart.
• The majority pastors have destroyed and scattered the flock.
• The word "shepherds" is used 33 times and the majority are used verses refer to them in a negative way. Jer  25:34 Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.
• Not a single woman in scripture is referred to as a pastor, co-pastor, or even "sister Pastor".  Maybe that is one reason the pastors have become apostate is many have elevated their wife to "pastor" along side of them without a single verse giving them that authority.  The Greek word for pastor is "poimēn ".  According to the Greek lexicon, it is  a MASCULINE noun.   http://www.bibleanswerstand.org/pastors.htm 
• although the pastors "feed" the people, the people are destroyed. Sometimes, many times, this is literally true through sickness, disease, and death.  The result of the curse devouring Gods' people who perish from a lack of knowledge of Gods' truth. 
• God gives a promise of raising up true pastors and there is a remnant of them also. These will not be the showmen, the "One Man Sunday Show", self-promoting, advertised,  Big Names of Christianity. They will not be the denominational, sectarian, franchised church builders who sow the seed of their peers into the body of Christ.

"The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want..."

We see the historical patttern in Scripture clearly repeating in our day.
Jesus came to the lost sheep of Israel who were in bondage to an apostate religious harlot.  He called His sheep OUT from the establishment, dominant, religious system.  The majority leadership of the day did not follow the Christ of the Word just as most of the leadership follow another version of Jesus today.

There are things Jesus did and some things He never did either in His ministry or through His disciples.

What Did Jesus DO?

 If Jesus is a role model as a shepherd-pastor, we note that Jesus owned nothing. He eschewed notoriety, self-promotion, and the "Bible College" of the day. He spoke contrary to the religious majority and leadership. He never sold His ministry for reward, ego, self-esteem, or sought to make a name for Himself. 

He was not a smooth-talking, joke telling, well dressed, eye-appealing orator.
His Word was with power and authority, not time-burning rhetoric.
He did not organize weekly, programmed meetings, appoint a management staff, or purchase property.
He never focused on getting a building or building a "church" to corral His followers.
He was NOT a "professional" preacher.

He never asked for support or took tithes from His assemblies,
He never stored up or recommended earthly treasures, insurance, or worldly physicians.  
He was not wealthy, patriotic, or impressed by politicians.
He never "pledged" allegiance to an earthly kingdom.
He never advocated violent resistance to tyranny.
He was not impressed by successful ministries, titles, or buildings.
He was not politically involved nor did He urge His followers to "vote" or participate in the political process.
He did not seek ecclesiastical titles, robes, or the favor of the establishment clergy.
He did not promote Himself or His ministry.

He never compared Himself to what others were doing.

He relied solely upon His Father to supply His needs. 
He never manipulated or pulled for offerings.
He never rented a building in order to hold "church" nor did He suggest to His followers they should.
He said if we did not renounce all that we had, we could not be His disciple.

He was joyful when people exercised faith in Him to heal.
He cast out demons.
He taught faith in God to supply every need.

He was humble, He spoke as an oracle of God, He worked the Works of God. 
He sacrificed Himself and gave of Himself freely without any desire for reward.
He sought those who were scattered, poor, and in need of healing. 

He loved the people, the "lost sheep of the House of Israel", and He detested what the religious leadership had done to them.
He chased out the fundraising moneychangers making a living in the temple and taking advantage of position.
He loved, honored, and obeyed the Father.

He said He hated Nicolaitanism.

He taught the ministry was untitled "brethren" and responsible for the oversight of the flock. 
He called men to become vessels of ministry.
He was tempted in all things.
He prayed.
He obeyed.
He had the mind of God.
He said He would live in us and said we would do the works He did.

The sad truth is that very few follow the example of our Chief Shepherd , and very few know Christ as their Head. -or should we say the Christ of Scripture?  So we suggest that if you are still attending a church, why not take a few months off and attend to the study of the Word, prayer, and even some fasting?

 It will be a life-changing experience.

1Pe 2:25

For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

In your reading of the Bible, did Jesus or His disciples ever set forth the concept of a ruling elite over the people of God?   We have written about that in numerous articles and blogs in the hope our readers dare question the order of the Nicolaitane leadership they are following. 

In this column, we will look at another office of true church government set forth in scripture.

First, for clarity, let us state there is not any scripture giving pastors sole authority in a group of God's people.  Am I against pastors then? -NO! I love real pastors, the problem is the majority have apostasized from Gods' Word and they function as hirelings and are exercising an unscriptural headship position. 

What happens when a pastor or a priest exercises sole authority in the church? The overwhelming majority become corrupted and the sheep are conformed into the pastors image rather than the Christ of scripture. Do you doubt that? -then compare the signs Jesus said would follow believers with what we see in the average "church". Jesus said:

" ... Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation.   He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.  
And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues;  
they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mk 16:15-18

The average church is filled with unhealed, sick, afflicted, and spiritualy oppressed people.
Many have never even been baptized in obedience to the clear command of Christ. 
How many churches cast out demons nowadays?
(the reality? -in "church" today, the demons have little to fear!)

The power of faith in the real gospel is lost as the sheep follow their pastor instead of the True Shepherd.  The Biblical pastor was an unpaid servant in the local assembly with a gift for drawing people, comforting, and encouragement. (There ought to be a "five-fold" ministry in the local church where the other ministerial gifts such as prophet, evangelist, teacher, etc. are evident. -And none is exalted above the other, "for ye are brethren" as Christ said.)

 Paul warned the Ephesian church of this when he said "from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them."  John warned the church of  corrupt "Diotrephes who loves to have the pre-eminence".  Perverse meaning to speak contrary to Jesus.

You may include his wife in many cases who now becomes the co-pastor, or as we saw on a church banner "Welcome ---, First Lady!" -of the ABC Church we visited.  We have the spectacle of pastors' kids becoming royalty and groomed for ascendancy into ministry, even becoming the heirs who inherit their parents church. This usually means taking over management of the organization, property, and position of the "church". 

Only once in the New Testament is the word "pastor" used (Eph. 4:11), yet pastors absolutely dominate evangelical Christianity. Prophets are mentioned in 45 NT verses yet are practicaly non-existent except for a few that prophesy for pay in the church world, and a handlful of others.  Many Prophets are paid to speak to churches and most always prophecy prosperity, larger ministries, and a bigger name. We heard plenty of these types and they were welcome guest speakers in our assembly on a regular basis and usually were paid very generously.

"Take, brethren, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets.."

Now consider the role of the prophet, of which God said He placed in the church also.  The real ones do not seek the limelight but will speak when the Lord puts His Word in them.  They are more loners and isolated as they are called to be somewhat remote as he has not the warm and chummy personality of the pastor.  (people tend to be drawn to pastors and intimidated by prophets).

   The prophet will "see" things others don't. For that he may be mocked, scorned, and rejected, he is by nature a watchman. 

The prophet is drawn to, of all things, PROPHECY, enjoys the Book of Revelation, Daniel, and the other prophets. He will get revelation from the Lord and it will usually upset the comfortable traditions and status quo of "church".  He makes pastors uncomfortable because he strains at their leash.

When he walks in the Spirit, he is passionate for God's Word and calling people to seek the Lord. He will be perceived as harsh, moody, difficult, and unsociable,which is often true because he just does not conform to the church "system". 
(unless he gives himself over to gain and the flesh pleasing ministry of Jezebel and Balaam for hire).

      He can be carnal and he hates his own failures.
      He is zealous for people to repent and be holy. 
      He seeks spiritual things from above, visions, and dreams. 
      He is very sensitive and perceptive of spiritual atmosheres. 
      He will shout the truth from the rooftop.
      He is excited by revelation from scripture.

      His prophecies are disdained. 
      He is rejected and has few friends but he loves people..
      He is known for his personal flaws and weaknesses.
      He makes people uncomfortable when he speaks about God.

      He is against the establishment order of manmade ministry,
      a contrarian who is stifled by ritual and routine. 
      He has a fiery heart and speaks fiery words. Sometimes to his regret.
      He talks to many about God.
      He carries the Word and truth, but is scorned as a lone ranger Christian.
      He is modest and not flashy. 

      He is not comfortable taking money from people for ministry.
      He is called to suffer affliction.
      He is without honor in his own house and country.
      He is called to suffer. Take, brethren, .. an example of suffering and of patience the prophets who spake in the name of the Lord. -james 5:10

      He dies when he is conformed to another man's ministry and loses his own Spiritual identity. 
     
      He is better for staying home and hearing from God than hearing a 3-point Bible College sermon. 
      He knows he is "different", but does not know why.
      He rejoices when demons are cast out and people healed.
      He positively grieves for what promotes itself as Christian.
      He does not follow the mainstream crowd.
      He hears from God and it is usually different from what is commonly taught.

      He thinks something is wrong with himself when the reality is it is the church that has apostasized and it is his calling to examine themselves in the light of Scripture.
For this he is marginalized, tolerated (as long as he financially participates), and very seldom recognized in the assembly as a gift of ministry from the Lord.

2Cor 1:20  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him amen.. 

This is the followup to the previous post on Preparing for the Days Ahead.  Apart from getting out of debt, downsizing, and giving to the poor,

Should we be like Joseph and store up grain? Or is there another way, another message in the life of Joseph for us to consider?  Most of us are not physically or financially capable of storing up for 1 year, let alone 7 years!  And even if we could, does anyone really think our "storehouses" or "barns" are immune from the attention of a "beast" government bent on persecuting people of faith?

here is a recent story of a government "action" against a private group of Christians making preparations, a harbinger of things to come: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/From_T...s/message/9971
Note that  nothing illegal was done .

Originally Posted by Christ4Life  This is one thing I don't understand. If the dollar drops to the point of being useful as toilet paper, then what are you going to get when you sell the gold? I don't understand the value of having gold when you can't use it at stores.

Those are excellent questions.  Gold and silver may help for a short season, but I have never heard someone ask "I don't understand the value of having gold when you can't use it at stores."

Under martial law, can we TRUST the authorities to allow gold and silver trading for goods at the marketplace? They are already monitoring precious metal sales by the dealers. I had a dream last weeek about this that I did not think about till I read this thread. In the dream, gold and silver had become worthless, and it was sudden.

How do those of us "lay up in store" against our need of provision according to Paul? Oh the goodness and harmony of the Word! -The promises of God are sure, they are the Rock we stand on if we will put our trust and faith in what he said.  

"Give and it SHALL be GIVEN UNTO you"  and, "... my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" , tell us,
and this:
 2Cor 8:14 that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:

Giving was meant for meeting the needs of the brethren, not the weekly plate, a ministers salary, supplying funding for sound systems, parking lots, and a mortgage.  If you have faith in what God said, you have access to the promises of Gods' provision in heaven where there is an endless supply. 

A friend wrote me this about a discussion HE had with another Christian:

"Jesus commands us to store up for ourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust corrupts.
 I said, "Amen! That's the answer to the question many of God's people are starting to ask more and more - 'Should I be storing up food for tough times ahead?'  Jesus commanded us not to store up anything on earth, but to store up heavenly treasures that will always be there when we need it .

The  friend said "I think it is wise to store up some food, especially dry goods that don't spoil, just in case."
I replied, "If we store up on earth, then what Jesus said would happen will happen - the thief will break in and steal what we store up on earth.
For instance, the thief could be a sickness that puts you in the hospital and costs you more than you have saved up. People who store up on earth just in case things go wrong are planning for a rainy day instead of trusting God to keep them from ever encountering such a day."

He asked, "So, if you had children who want to go to college, would you save up for them to go to college?"

I was too quick to speak, (I said, "Yes,") and he asked, "Doesn't that contradict what you just said?") and eventually, I said, "There has to be an answer to that question, because Jesus commanded us not to store up on earth, but He also commanded us not to borrow on credit."

 After that, I asked him how he feels about insurance. He thought for a while before answering, "I don't know how to answer that, because I don't have children, and my parents have plenty of money if I should die, but I think if I had kids or if my parents were not able to afford the financial responsibility of my death, it would be wise to get insurance. But then again, God gives us everything we need, so I don't know."

 I replied, "Well, no matter how circumstances turn out, we know that PHP. 4:19 promises, 'My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches.' Those who believe that promise can testify that they had a need, and God sent someone to them who said, 'God told me to give this to you' - miracles like that."  

He agreed, but maintained, "Yeah, but I think it would be wise if someone has children." I could not sway him, though I cited the Israelites who drank the sweet waters after they had been changed from bitter to sweet, and water from a rock, and ate manna from heaven.

 

I mentioned that God did let the Israelites take a store of goods with them from Egypt, even causing the Egyptians to give them articles of gold and silver, but God brought them through the wilderness for the purpose of running them out of their "storehouse" before He could teach them to trust Him to feed them manna from heaven.  

He began to really agree after I said, "God's people often have a difficult time stepping out of their comfort zone. "
..............................

My comment (rory) back to him was:

That is true, also the fact in "church" we did not have role models walking in and obtaining those promises, as the scripture says:
Heb 6:12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Friends, God wants our faith and He is about to push the church into a wilderness, and a position of weakness, in order for us to be purged of our worldly dependence and finally learn how to live the faith that Jesus and the disciples role modeled for us.

This is reason to store up the Word (God's manna) in our hearts (His barns) in order to exercise faith in His promises which never fail, nor do thieves break in and steal.  We  store up our treasures in heaven by meeting the needs of others and giving to the poor, according to a multitude of scriptures. Therefore in the day of our own need, we may access God's promises to feed and cloth us without becoming anxious.

"The just SHALL LIVE by faith"

The real messsage of Joseph is that our Joseph, who is Jesus, has more than the world can ever supply whether it be food, healing, or whatever need we have.  When the people in Egypt ran out of money, goods to exchange, and became totaly surrendered, then Joseph supplied their needs and they lived.

The sellors of survival food and gear are not trusting in the faith of God, they are trusting in their own ability, just like the foolish rich man in the story Jesus told.  Whose report will you believe?

 Jesus once told a story of a man who trusted in making his own preparations by building bigger barns and storing up his goods and a food supply.  Perhaps he believed he could "rest" from his own labors and sell from his abundance thus providing for others and assuring his own wealth as well.  He probably thought he was being wise in planning out his retirement and assuring himself of security with his "insurance" of a full barn.  In the passage, the Lord did not commend him for being "wise" in Luke 12: