Is alive and doing well even within the churches
KEEPING GOD’S WORD DOES MATTER
“So we can see who God’s children are and who the devil’s children are. These are the ones who are not God’s children: those who don’t do what is right and those who do not love their brothers and sisters in God’s family,” 1 John 3:10. Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
The Lord asked Cain, “Why are you angry? Why does your face look sad? You know that if you do what is right, I will accept you. But if you don’t, sin is ready to attack you. That sin will want to control you, but you must control it,” Genesis 4:6-7 ERV
So many believe in God, but so few believed in His words “If you love Me, keep My commandments,” John 14:15. His commandments are more than moral values. His words are His Kingdom’s policy.
What is the Spirit of Cain? It is ‘not taking Jesus by His word’. In James 1:22, we read; “But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves”. In the ERV it is read in this manner, “Do what God’s teaching says; don’t just listen and do nothing. When you only sit and listen, you are fooling yourselves.”
As a commentator, I find it easy to imagine how to apply God’s word on paper. To apply God’s word, in reality, is challenging. On paper I would reflect on past experiences, the success and the failures. But then again to walk in faith is always in the present tense pondering on the future outcome.
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. As Christians we are admonished to live by faith, Romans 1:17 and living by faith is to apply His teaching. Why? Because God knows what is good for us. He is preparing us to reign with Him. In the Book of Proverb chapter 8 is all about receiving instruction from “Wisdom”. “Wisdom” is Jesus before He was made flesh, John 1:1-3. Jesus admonishes us to pay attention to His teaching and to apply it. Do you want to please God? Trust and obey His Son Jesus' teaching and apply it.
Cain failed to please God by not applying the instruction on how to give an offering. Cain used fruits of the earth. The proper offering was an animal; a lamb was required as a proper offering. That is all it would have taken for Cain to please God, Genesis 4:7. In my previous commentary titled “More About Faith”, I point out the reason why faith is difficult to live by.
It is due to the wrong principles, and instructions we apply. As Cain applied the wrong principle, we Christians also fail to apply God’s instruction. So many Christians fail to realize that they apply secular principles as God’s words yet they are not. James 1:22 is very clear, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves”. We are deceiving ourselves by believing that God doesn’t really care what principle we live by ‘since God is all love’. This is the most misused justification that I hear within the Christian community, ‘God is all love, what difference those it makes’. What most Christians do not realize is by not taking God’s instruction we adopt a Cain-like mind, a spirit of Cain. View in this YouTube presentation “Stay Free (Part 9 - Put Faith in God, Not Man)” the effect in our society when Christians do not apply Jesus teaching.
Cain's offers displeased God. Cain was told what to do, however, he did it differently. In Cain’s mind, an offering was an offering. He questioned God’s attitude for refusing his offering and not his own attitude for refusing to offer what God instructed. Some Christians are no different by bringing God to their own level by making this statement, “It doesn’t matter with God, He is loving and merciful? If someone gave me a gift even if it wasn't what I expected, I surely would show some appreciation, and so would God!”
In my town with a population of less than 3000, there are five churches, all with low attendees. Jesus gave this instruction: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another,” John 13:34-35. This commandment seems to have been changed to “Tolerate one another”. The sad part is that by not witnessing God’s love between Christians we are accused of being hypocrites and with good reason. That is the consequence of not applying this instruction given by Jesus. Read my commentary title “Christianity is like the menu of an Ice Cream Parlour” .
The secular society in general does not take God by His word. There is a diversity of religious beliefs, breaking His first commandment, “You shall have no other gods before Me,” Deuteronomy 5:7. The secular would then question which god is the true god.
The second commandment explains that the true God is invisible and is the One that created all things as described in Genesis 1. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them,” Deut 5:8-9. That is anything above heaven which includes human figures. Deuteronomy 4:16, and creatures in the spiritual world such as angels and demons disguise as divine. Why does God command us not to carve images of any kind either made out of wood or gold for the purpose to give worshiping them? That is because they are mute and have no life in them, Habakkuk 2:18-19 and demons love to be worshipped through idols.
Oh yes, the secular society does have the spirit of Cain and continues to do so even more now with the increased novelty in technology. Science and technology are considered by many the answers to all our woes, replacing the wisdom of God’s instruction. Even as I write this article, scientists around the world rejoice in the new discovery of a new sub-atomic particle nick name god’s particle that in their opinion could prove the origin of the universe. So much money is being spent to prove that God doesn’t exist, Romans 1:18-23. Genesis 1:2 clearly instructs us that the first atomic
particle was H²O (water). Please read my commentary title "Mystery In the TheTrinity Revealed In A Molecule Of Water (H²O)"
The world was made to believe that God doesn’t exist by replacing His act of creation by an imaginary theory of evolution, making, therefore, God’s words irrelevant. The theory of evolution is, in my opinion, the greatest deception since the beginning of time, 2 Thessalonians 2:11. Anyone who teaches and professes the theory of evolution is subject to God’s wrath, Romans 1:18-31. Now you know where the inclination to choose a homosexual lifestyle originates. It started by denying God as the creator.
The world was made to believe that God doesn’t exist by replacing His act of creation by an imaginary theory of evolution, making, therefore, God’s words irrelevant. The theory of evolution is, in my opinion, the greatest deception since the beginning of time, 2 Thessalonians 2:11. Anyone who teaches and professes the theory of evolution is subject to God’s wrath, Romans 1:18-31. Now you know where the inclination to choose a homosexual lifestyle originates. It started by denying God as the creator.
The churches in western society have adopted a Cain-like mind to a point that you cannot distinguish the difference between some Christians and seculars. Ecclesiastes witnessed it: “There is one other thing I have learned. God made people good, but they have found many ways to be bad,” Ecclesiastes 7:29.
Please watch this YouTube video titled “Stay Free (Part 12 - Revival or Riots)”. Here is an excerpt: “The Greek word for Church is ‘Ecclesia’. It literally means ‘Call out ones’. Call out of the way of the world, to be separated from the world in thought, speech, and behaviour. It is our job to bring others out also. We are meant to be different, extremely different and more different than we are comfortable being.”
‘Your good works’ are Jesus' teaching applied and by doing so we are witnessing to the society consequently we give glory to God the Father. Good works are not good deeds. We are not commanded to do good works to keep our salvation instead, we are to represent God’s kingdom here on earth. God’s kingdom is His government policies in heaven. This is one big misconception in our society and within some Christian denomination that believes that God’s kingdom is a religion. It is not. It is a government. His government will be established in the near future advent. The capital will be Jerusalem and Jesus as King and ruler over all nations.
“The Church has been a force for behaviour that pleases God throughout its history”, stated Jack Kelly at gracethrufaith.com. He comments “that it’s people in the Church who continue to lead the fight against abortion, sexual slavery, same sex marriage, and other behaviours that clearly violate God’s standards for human conduct. And its people in the church who fight for Bible-based education, abstinence among children, and other “traditional values.” As He explains, the church does play an important role in our society, yet, are we doing so in obedience to His instruction of conduct and policies given to Christians within the assembly of the saints? After all, Jesus declared, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you;” Matthew 7:21-23.
Watch and see what secular think of Christians...He does have a point.
Your Moral Guide
Christians are not going around with signed writing “How do you like my Christianity? Tell me by calling 777-777-7777.” Some trucking companies want feedback from the general public about their drivers driving, so they put up a sign on the back door of each truck with a phone number asking the public to call to let them know.
In the parable of the vine and the branches, we observe what God does to what He considers dead work. Dead works are considered to be anything which is not according to the teaching of Jesus. Dead works are thrown into the fire and destroyed. This parable has nothing to do with salvation, it is about following His teaching by applying it and rewards for doing so.
Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch of mine that does not produce fruit. He also trims every branch that produces fruit to prepare it to produce even more. You have already been prepared to produce more fruit by the teaching I have given you. Stay joined to me and I will stay joined to you. No branch can produce fruit alone. It must stay connected to the vine. It is the same with you. You cannot produce fruit alone. You must stay joined to me.
“I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I to you, you will produce plenty of fruit. But separated from me you won’t be able to do anything. If you don’t stay joined to me, you will be like a branch that has been thrown out and has dried up. All the dead branches like that are gathered up, thrown into the fire and burned. Stay joined together with me, and follows my teachings. If you do this, you can ask for anything you want, and it will be given to you. Show that you are my followers by producing much fruit. This will bring honor to my Father,” John 15:1-8 ERV.
Interesting isn’t it? Especially in verse 7, Jesus promised blessing: “Stay joined together with me, and follow my teachings. If you do this, you can ask for anything you want, and it will be given to you.” This parable has nothing to do with keeping our salvation. Salvation is given by believing. This parable is all about receiving rewards and rewards come in form of answered prayer for applying Jesus' teaching. Following Jesus' teaching is what pleases Him, and God the Father.
Do you get the point? Why are prayers not answered? One of the reasons that they are not answered is because of noncompliance with His teaching. Therefore take Jesus by His word. Follow His instruction, and His teaching passed on to His disciple: “Neither for these only do I pray, but for them also that believe on me through their word,” John 17:20.
Christians have proven that they do not apply Jesus' instruction by not loving one another John 13:34-35, by being divided and establishing their own congregation and building. To the general public, we are therefore viewed as being hypocrites and not giving honour to God. “Show that you are my followers by producing much fruit. This will bring honour to my Father,” John 15:8 ERV. We can deny it or if we agree we do nothing about it.
“My dear friends, if we don’t feel that we are doing wrong, we can be without fear when we come to God. And God gives us what we ask for. We receive it because we obey God’s commands and do what pleases him. This is what God commands: that we believe in his Son Jesus Christ, and that we love each other as he commanded. All who obey God’s commands live in God. And God lives in them. How do we know that God lives in us? We know because of the Spirit he gave us,” 1 John 3:21-24 ERV. Please read my commentary title, “The New Covenant commandments are sum up in three aspects; Believe, trust, and love”.
In countries where Christianity is forbidden, Christians meet secretly. They are persecuted, coerced to pay high taxes, imposed higher tribute, gangs kidnap children of Christian and do not release them until the family pays a ransom, and risk being put in prison, tortured, and execute.
To Christians who live in a country where they have freedom of religion, one scripture comes to mind: “Receive one who is weak in the faith but not to disputes over doubtful things,” Romans 14:1. These Christians who live in a country forbidding freedom of religion put us to shame. Watch this YouTube video: “I Have Decided To Follow Jesus”. Christians in western society who enjoy the freedom to worship do not follow the Apostle Paul's instruction, “But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless.” What a contrast! Persecuted Christians spend no time quarrelling, but rather worship in secret the Lord in one accord.
There is now an interfaith movement. Its goal is to reunite all religions of the world. It is prophesied that they will succeed in becoming a one-world religion. Christian denominations that take part in the interfaith movements are based on a false gospel. The false gospel is a counterfeit gospel, the name Jesus is used but not His deity, Matthew 24:5.
The true Body of Christ “The Church” is diminishing its influence in western society. The majority of Christians seem to live a secular lifestyle and many live a defeated life, faith not applied, full of discouragement, why? Here is a quotation I made in my commentary title “More About Faith”: “This is why some Christians fall into a rut. They keep applying the same principle taught over and over again without showing any improvement in their Christian lives, living a defeated life as if it was intended to be, according to God’s will.”
What wrong principles are we applying, or should I say what Jesus teaching are we not applying? The Church is weak because of our mindset, Cain’s mindset. We pick and choose the instructions and teaching of Jesus. We either do not challenge what we are taught or we are bench warmers and do not bother to apply the good teaching of pastors and ministers. Please read this commentary written by Joseph Chambers titled "
This commentary is not about questioning your salvation, it is about questioning your light, doing good works hence receiving God's blessing. After all, the Son of God, Jesus, became human not only to die, the most important event for the salvation of every living soul but to give us instruction, to teach us about His kingdom policies. All governments and companies have specific policies that employees are to implement. Why should it be so different within the Body of Christ? We are to be representing His kingdom in heaven? In the Lord's Prayer do we not pray, thy kingdom comes thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven? This is made possible through us. We are His light in this world, however, a lamp shade is covering it, the lamp shade is ‘the spirit of Cain’.
The church in Philadelphia is depicted to be the evangelical church of the nineteen and twentieth-century churches. It is also designated as the faithful church’ “I know your works. (Jesus said) See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.,” Revelation 3:8.
I don’t want to leave you confused. After reading this commentary some may doubt your salvation “Am I saved?” And I am not talking about keeping the Ten Commandments. In Gal 3:16-28 describes the purpose of the Law of Moses. We are saved by faith, in believing in the One God had sent which is Jesus.
Our life in Christ is beyond the Mosaic Law, although continuous repentance is our way of life; please read my commentary title “Repentance is a Must”. Our new life with Jesus must reflect new instructions given to us through His Apostle that is found in the Book of Acts and the Epistles. These instructions are a reflection, an image and an uninterruptable link of the Old Testament directives. They are THE KINGDOM OF GOD POLICIES.
If you are a reader who has not been saved yet, please answer these few questions:
Do you believe you are a sinner? Do you believe you are hopelessly lost without a saviour? Do you believe God sent His Son to die for your sins? Do you accept His death as payment in full for your sins? If you answer yes to these questions…tell it to Jesus… ask for His forgiveness and God will send His Holy Spirit… a seal for eternity. You are now the son of God. Son of God is a title given to all man and woman believers.
Additional Commentaries
