Claiming Denomination

[UnTraditional]

The Olive Tree and the Science of Grafting

by R.E. Strange - April 10, 2001



An observation: Let us take heed as to what we are joined to. In being organically joined as plantings of the Lord, we must be joined to Christ lest we take on spirits that seduce us from ever unfolding truths as in the progressions from branch to leaf to blossom and finally fruit. In the end we must come into the likeness of Jesus, the seed that fell into the ground and died. In the end, it is the fruit that bear the seed, the saint that bear Christ and witness of the quality of the plant. “…and if the root be holy, so are the branches.” Romans 11:16

Romans 11:24, “For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?

The science of grafting involves a bit of art in joining two identical or closely compatible species of plants, taking advantage of good root stock to join good buds to shoots to insure proper propagation of the plant and ultimately the production of good fruit.

It is necessary that plant surgery be made with a clean cut and then joined together in such a manner as to assure strength to the joint as well. The xylem (sap stream or sapwood) and the cambium (a paper-thin layer of tissue responsible for producing wood tissue) must be perfectly or very closely aligned and matched up.

There are various styles of grafting depending on plant species, size and desired affect. In all cases they must be joined assuring maximum strength and protected from bug and bacterial infestation. The latter is usually accomplished with the used of a grafting wax.

Paul said of the Jewish church (Romans 11) that it was a wild olive tree that had been hewn down to which we, the believing gentiles, had been grafted into the rootstock. Many species of plants very often become wild and unproductive when left alone and uncultivated. Plants that degenerate also bring forth wild fruit if any at all.

Listen what God said of His (Jewish) Church: Jeremiah 2:20-21, For of old time, I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands: and thou saidst, I will not transgress: when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot. Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?”

Isaiah 5th chapter speaks of Israel, the Jewish church, had been planted as a “noble vine” but now produced wild grapes. Verse 5 speaks of the end of that vineyard (the house of God) that it would be eaten up, the walls would be broken down and it shall be trodden under. That church had been planted as a noble vine but now it had become a wild vine producing wild grapes.

That an olive tree and a cultivated grapevine of value does not become a degenerate wild plant, there is a need of many and various ministry to the plant. There are a number of things or the lack of them that will cause weakness, leaf chlorosis, stuntend growth, and improper fruit, leaf necrosis, funguses, insect infestation, improper fruit development, casting fruit before maturity.

The tree must be “ministered” to in appropriate fashion at the appropriate season. When that ministry is not applied properly or neglected altogether the plant is inclined to become as Paul said, “a wild olive tree.” The fruit if any, becomes a wild undesirable fruit.

Sucker growth that fills a tree will cause life to be diverted from its branches, shoots, blossoms, diminishing the quality of fruit, the purpose of the tree. The sucker growth, the excessive foliage must be pruned to prevent the appearance of deadwood and subsequent weakening of the overall health of the tree. If this is not properly pruned along with the deadwood, insects become attracted to this weakened plant as is funguses and various diseases. Excessive shade from neighboring trees must be eliminated. Application of proper nutrients must be applied as the proper time of the year. Deep root watering must be made during times of excessive drought.

Unless proper ministry at the proper time is made available to the tree, the tree will become less commercially viable as evidenced by its substandard fruit. Eventually, such a tree reaches a point which no amount of ministry can reverse its decline, though the rootstock may be very healthy and viable.

The “ministry” of the old Jewish church of which Paul spoke in Romans 11th chapter had become corrupted beyond hope. The office of High Priest was no longer filled by an appointment from God, but rather it had become a political appointment, usually from Rome. The office of Priesthood was gained by bribes. Those corrupt office holders also solicited bribes. That church had broken up into factions. That priesthood no longer depended on the Word of God for its hope and anchor, but rather they deferred to a humanly invented law called the Talmud.

You can see in that old broken off church many parallels with today’s man made ecclesiastical schemes. Today’s church world, including, or maybe I should say, especially the Pentecostal church has become very political. Political campaigns, nepotism, coveting of position, reputation, lust of wealth, have produced our equivalent of a corrupted Priesthood complete with our own modern version of the Talmud. You see the point. Many men have gradually left their first love of the Kingdom of God to take on their current love of self.
(Continued)

[UnTraditional]

This visible Church, as the old Jewish Church is growing into a wild olive tree. In stead of God ordained ministry of the Apostle which plants the vineyard, instead of the Prophet that prunes, the Evangelist which propagates new growth, Pastors which guards with the hedge around about, the teacher which supplies its nutrients, the Church is left to its own devices. The Apostle is appointed after due consideration of the District Board, which even then is not recognized as an Apostle. Pastors very often swap pulpits calling themselves Evangelists, having the affect of starving true Evangelist off the field. Prophets are entirely cut off, as they are much too severe in their pruning, especially if they do not compromise to please the host. Pastors have complete control of the church permitting very little ministry other than what he can perform, if he is able to see what needs to be done at all. The teacher is put back into a Sunday school room and is told what to teach. The Talmud, the law must be strictly observed in all, and in every case.

Thus the olive tree has become a corrupt tree. However, the rootstock is good. In truth, it is very good. “Hear O Israel the Lord our God is one Lord,” is good root. That is good stock. “Holiness unto the Lord…Holiness without which no man shall see the Lord…” is good rootstock. It will always be good rootstock, for any church, for all people, for all time. In the end good rootstock will always produce good fruit if the plant does not become corrupted. In the absence of sucker growth that takes away life from the branches and the fruit, the plant will produce good fruit if other areas of ministry responsibility are provided for.

In this the close of the twentieth and the opening of the twenty-first century of Pentecost, we can look back to our beginning and say, “even though we are becoming a wild olive tree, we sprung forth from good rootstock.” It is still “one Lord, one faith, one baptism….” That is good root. It is still, “…holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” That is the best rootstock there is. It will still yet bring forth and produce the same kind of fruit that was produced in days gone by given proper ministry to the tree.

What is it that is happening to the ministry to the olive tree? What has become of the planted vine of the church? God said, “You were planted a noble vine, how is it now that you are now producing these wild grapes?”

The “ignoble vine” of the earth has grown up, entwining itself into and around the true grapevine choking it out while the ministry of the vineyard slumbered and slept. This vine now has all the appearances of the real cultivated vine. Who is it among us anymore that can tell the difference? Have the ministry been asleep so long that it has forgotten what the cultivated vine should look like or how to minister to a goodly vine of the vineyard of God? The false vine of the earth looks almost right. It proudly represents itself as the real, rejoicing in the light and taking in the rain as the real. It is just as prolific and just as green as the real vine. It has all the appearances that are right. There is one difference. At harvest time, the evidence of quality will show forth in the fruit. There will be no difficulty in discovery. The yield of sin and rebellion against God’s Holy order of things will be fully exposed to the light of the day of harvest. What shall the ministry of the vineyard answer when called upon to give an account?

The current system of ecclesiastical-politico ministry has decimated by default the olive grove and the grape vineyard. The truth is that we now have a hybrid ministry that has grown up among us containing both the anointed, “God called” ministry together with the unbiblical system of denominational government that panders to ambitions and politically minded men that seek to appease their lust for power, influence and dominion.

The anointed, “God called” ministry of Apostles, Prophets, Evangelist, Pastors and Teachers are all of God and are found in the Bible as is also governments and helps. The system of hierarchism of dominant unequal ministry is a bramble of the earth that has sprung up misrepresenting itself, as the plantings of the Lord, is not biblical nor is it of God. When the “God anointed” is joined by grafting into the harlot system, the inevitable result in the end is corrupt fruit, given enough time. Thus, God’s kingdom becomes polluted by the devices of men, the works of their own hands from which they will not repent. The anointing oil that breaks the yoke is no longer missed, being supplanted by learned oratory which releases wild emotions, slick sentimentalism while His commandments are not understood and often disregarded. God says, “my people loves it so.”

God always has a remnant and is never without a witness in the earth, pure and holy. One microscopic dot of error in an ocean of truth pollutes the whole. God is holy; we are called to be likewise, as he is holy. We must come to a state of growth in our spiritual lives that we must repudiate error and become that peculiar treasure unto the Lord. God is great love, yet he is greatly severe. Because He is love and full of graciousness, “therefore ye sons of Levi are not consumed.” We must purge out the old leaven, that we may become a new lump. It is not easy to purge out the old leaven after having our spiritual minds engraved with so much tradition for so many years.

The call of repentance, not more syrupy sentimentalism has never been needed as much as it is now. We need Prophets with backbone to stand up without fear of neither faces of men nor loss of their own reputation to expose error and call for the Word to fall as a hammer until we are finally broken to powder in absolute repentance. We shall perish as a movement without it.

Owing to the ever increasing and prevailing attitude of those in charge, proper ministry is denied to the olive tree. There is little wonder that the “vine of the earth” has sprung up choking out the “True Vine.” Today, more than ever, there is greater interest among the ministry in their own schemes, programs, personal aggrandizement, their personal comforts, their ego, their reputation and their own works than for “thus saith the Lord God.” The Word of the Lord would pluck up, tear down, destroy and remove all of their worldly interests. There is a powerful inward resistance to the ministry that would bring such havoc. That resistance is both subtle and at the same time, not so subtle.

I Corinthians 6:17, “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.” We must beware what we are joined to. We draw on the spirit of that which we are joined to. Elisha joined himself to Elijah. His spirit transferred to Elisha. We should take inventory what spirit we are drawing on. Jesus said of that perishing church in his day in Matthew 23:15, “…ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” Drawing on the life of their systems, man made laws, their Talmud and corrupted perspective, which is no life, thinking to God a service perished in the sight of a crucified Christ.

Paul in connection to the above text of scripture emphasized truth that it matters what we are joined to. There is a spirit in what we are joined to. To take the body of Christ and join it to a harlot system, a harlot spirit will prevail among that body, taking on strange spirits.

I Corinthians 3:17-21, If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours.”

Sadly, we leave the pollution of the world being regenerated and recreated in Christ by the John 3:5, new birth experience and then go right on into a more subtle, insidious form of ecclesiastical worldliness cloaked with a cover of piety, tricked by the enemy of our souls.

Never in the history of the latter day Apostolic movement has there been as great need of brokeness and humility as now. Lust, pride and egotism in high places have fed the same spirit throughout the body. The condition is systemic corrupting a once noble vine. It has opened the door for the rampant spread of adultery and sodomy in the choir, pulpit, and pew and in the Sunday school classes.

Where, oh please tell me, where are the prophets today? I am so sick of modern day form of Apostolic godliness that I can stand it no longer. Where are the Prophets that once had the fire of God’s indignation in their eyes? Where are they anymore that uncovered sin without fear, in the ministry, in the choir, and in the Pastor’s seat? Where are they that once stood so tall and holy than fear fell upon all of us knowing that the angel of the Lord was in his countenance?

Where are those Prophets that called sin to task among those both high and low until we were melted into convulsing heaps on the floor agonizing with tears of repentance as we were faced with our naked sin? Today’s generation has not witnessed such men. I weep with lamentation over their demise. I fear that the Apostolic movement of today has gone so far into their own willful way that they could not possible endure the burning of a true Prophet of the Lord standing before them in a National assembly of brethren. This generation of today in the midst of their churchified, jukeing and jiving believes everything is just “hunkey dorey.” It is incredibly sad beyond words to express.
(Continued)

[UnTraditional]

I believe that those Prophets have become so intimidated by the political system that they fear to obey God lest they have no pulpit of their own? Or could it be that they have become so overcome by slumber that they cannot see the condition of the vineyard? Have they become so blind that they mistake the bramble for the planting of the Lord? Who among us anymore know how to prune and tend the plantings of the Lord?

Isaiah 4:1, “And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.”

“We are the people of the name,” we proudly claim. We boast that we are of Jesus and we sit as no widow that Christ is our heavenly husbandman, having no reproach. Yet, the churches (seven women) choose to eat the bread of their own way, wearing their own apparel of supposed holiness.

They know not that they are blemished with love of material gain, having garments wrinkled with their own unique form of religious worldliness. The shame and suffering of the cross is almost totally unknown among us today, loving in stead, this present world and its prosperity. I have to confess that for several years, I have prayed that God will knock all the props from under us and put us down to the point we can do nothing but pray and trust God for our next meal. No, I do not look forward to suffering at all, but I pray that it will spring forth across our nation and the world alike, if it will cause us to call on the Lord until he comes and rains righteousness upon us.

Matthew 3:10-12, “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

There have been millions in the recent past years that have received the baptism of the Holy Ghost and have been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. However, few, precious few, have had a baptism with fire. There is something terribly lacking in a movement or in an individual that has not experienced the baptism of fire. How we Apostolic people love the baptismal rain of the Holy Ghost. We preach the rain. We testify of the rain. We have for many decades experienced the rain. Now we are about to experience the badly needed baptism of fire that is so desperately needed.

There are times when forests become thick with underbrush the trees become crowded with such undergrowth that result in poor tree health. Nature has a way of sending fires through the forest burning out the thickets along with diseases and insects. The fire will consume the sick and dying trees that are filled with a great amount of deadwood. The fire will alarm people who will then try to put it out, but a wise forester knows that the fire is needed for the purging, rejuvenating and propagation of good, healthy trees.

I will prophesy now, as I have been for several years, that the true rain of the Holy Ghost is about to be shut off in the land. Dryness is going to result. You might think to yourself, “I can’t think of a worse thing to happen.” In a sense you would be justified in your thinking. Yet that dryness must come. There is a great need of a baptism of fire among the trees of righteousness.

The undergrowth of sin and ungodliness in great variety must be burned out from our midst. The Apostolic ranks are ever growing yet, the increase of undergrowth of hirelings, sodomy, adultery, covetousness, lust for power and position, recognition, envy and heresies are ever increasing. I cannot think of anything we need any more than that of a great drought and a subsequent raging fire of judgment to sweep throughout our ranks. Let the underbrush of sinners and hypocrites alike take warned. You are soon going to experience a consuming. Oh, yes you are! You think you are hidden deep within the forest, but the coming fire will soon find you. You will not escape the judgment coming. You are not hid. God knows just where you are and he has your number.

Isaiah 33:14, “The sinners of Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?”

Do not be deceived. All things shall not continue on and rock along as always. Things are going to change. Great trouble and travail shall be upon Apostolic Churches. A big angel stalks the land awaiting a signal from the throne of God on high to begin wrecking and destroying. Who shall abide the devouring fire?

Isaiah 4:3, “And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion (the church), and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem.”

We must not be mistaken, the Lord Jesus will have a purified church having neither spot or wrinkle of any kind, neither of the world brand of worldliness nor of the denominational brand of worldliness. He will have a church purged of sin, unbelief and every form of godliness. How will he purge and purify his own Church?

Isaiah 4:4, When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment, and by the spirit of burning.”

Let us pray.



Yours in Jesus,

R. E. Strange

[Apprehended]

Originally Posted by notofworks

Definition: "One who practices Pentecostalism". There, how's that. Can you read it?

Yes, I can read it. You are the one having trouble reading...or comprehending. Should I pull up the other thread to prove it?

See how shallow you are?

Now you offer no definition of "Pentecostalism."

But, I did. I gave you a definition of Pentecostal. Since you are unable to give a definition. Just use the one that I gave above by starting out saying...

"If you mean by Pentecostal...."

Try that definition for the lack of your own.

[UnTraditional]

To Choose Jesus or Barabas
by R.E. Strange - Nov. 2, 2000

An Observation: Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” For a no good purpose would a thief come calling. It is incumbent upon us all to safeguard the pure truths that we possess lest Satan should steal them from our hearts, leaving behind a counterfeit truth. Furthermore, we need to have an endowment of divine wisdom to know the difference between the two.
________________________________________
Hebrews 4:12, “For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword piercing even to the diving asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
A companion scripture from which I will draw a few thoughts is found in Hebrews 6:4-6: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come. If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance, seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”
There are a number of thoughts that I would like to draw from these scriptures but first of all let us look at the word, “quick.” The definition of that word is, “that which is alive and active.” This is said of the “Word of God,” that it is QUICK. It should be known that it is the Word of God that is by definition is “alive and active.” Therefore the question should not be “what” is quick, or alive and active but rather “who” is it that is alive and active.
John saw Him in Revelation 19:11-16. “And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood AND HIS NAME IS CALLED THE WORD OF GOD. Read the entire text and you will readily understand that He, The Word of God, is alive and active, with a sharp two edged sword proceeding from his mouth, making war, smiting nations ruling with a rod of iron and treading the winepress. He is revealed from heaven with armies of heaven following behind into war. Make no mistake, He is very much alive and active.
We know this one as Jesus, whom God hath made both Lord and Christ. It is He that we know as the Word of God according to John l:l and 14: “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and TRUTH.”
He, the Word of God, who is God, came unto His own and His own received Him not. When a clear choice between Jesus and Barabas was presented to the Jews in the Halls of Pilate, they cried for Barabas to be released to them. Barabas was a thief. Concerning Jesus, the Word of God, the alternative to the thief, Barabas, they cried, “Crucify him. Away with Jesus who is called the King of the Jews. Let his blood be upon us and upon our children forever. Crucify him.” Thus Jesus, the Word of God, the Redeemer and Savior of the World was rejected in the ultimate sense, shedding his own precious blood as evidence of the total rejection of Him in favor of a thief. To reject the Word of God in the spirit, wittingly or not, is tantamount to crucifying the Lord Jesus Christ. This ought to give us pause as none of us would wish to nail Jesus to the cross. There is no pain as great as that of rejection, no, not nail nor spear can equal to it.
Now, here I want us go get a grasp of this if we can. Jesus, the Word of God is not with us in the flesh, that is a body in which blood is found. We nonetheless have the Word of God with us which is “alive and active” as Jesus said that he would not leave us nor forsake us, that He would be with us even unto the end of the world.
The crowd cried for the thief and against the Word of God in the flesh, so it is today. Jesus rejected by his own people suffered a shameful death upon a cruel cross, shedding His (God’s) own blood subsequent to the rejection. Those that received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God, even as many that believed on His name. The Jewish church of that day received not the Word by whom they could have received life, the manna sent down from heaven.
The question that has been debated among Apostolic people for so long time is this: “When is the blood applied?” Is it applied at repentance, baptism in water or only after one is baptized of the Holy Ghost?”
First, we should note that it is impossible to make natural application upon our natural selves with the natural blood that is in the spiritual Word. The answer to this question should be understood that when one receives the Word of God, that is Jesus, and become willingly obedient to it from the heart, the blood is then applied. Why? The blood is in the Word of God which is alive and active. The Word of God is Jesus. Thank God for the blood! While He was here, He walked and talked with us in the flesh. He had blood in His veins. The rejection of Him brought about His shedding that blood. So now it is not so much the question of “when is the blood applied,” but rather, “how is the blood applied?”
This above referenced scripture in Hebrews teaches us that the Word of God, that is Jesus, is alive and active. It should be known that there is blood in the Word of God. As we “eat His flesh and drink His blood” as we are commanded to do in John 6:56, “He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him,” we receive His life in us. To ingest His flesh is to assimilate the pure Word of God within our own spirits. To drink His blood is to DO his commandments, that is, observing His testament, which is DOING His will. This is eating His flesh and drinking His blood. The Word, the Person of Jesus then becomes "alive and active" in us. This we show forth in partaking of the elements that we commonly call the “communion.”
A hybrid Word does not give life. You can plant hybrid seed and it will come up but it will not reproduce itself. Why? The answer is because of the nature of a thing that is bred with something else out of its kind. A donkey and a horse may cross breed. If they do, the result is a mule but it has no life in itself to bring forth and reproduce life. It is a hybrid. The seed is polluted and destroyed by the mix. Jesus, the Word of God mixed with a little error is a hybrid Word. It is corrupted Word. It has no life in it. The scripture teaches us that a little leaven, leaveneth the whole lump. In other words, it corrupts the whole.
Therefore the danger that we face in ingesting and subsequently assimilating within our spirits this hybrid Word is that of death to our spirit man. That hybrid bread is not the bread sent down from heaven. It is the flesh of devils. The blood in that flesh is the blood of devils. It is antichrist flesh and blood. It is an alternative to the true Jesus. He is that Barabas thief that has come to kill, steal and destroy.
There is a thief for whom the crowd cries today. In days of the body of Jesus on earth, the substitute for whom the crowd called was the thief, Barabas, the alternative to Jesus, the Word of God. Today, he is the antichrist, which are the doctrines of men and their many traditions. This thief stands as a stark contrast to the pure Word of God. The two have, through the ages, been presented as a choice to the crowds.
“Give us C. I. Schofield,” the crowds chant. “Give us Tim LaHaye and Clarence Larkin. Give us The Late Great Planet Earth and the doctrines of Hal Lindsay.” The moaning multitudes of dying humanity cries can be heard in the heavens, “Away with the pure Word of God, we want the thief, the antichrist delivered unto us. We crucify afresh to ourselves the Son of God. Give us Trinity Broadcasting and all those false prophets and seducers.”
On and on the cries lift higher, “Give us your learned interpretation of Daniel, Matthew 24, Luke 21, Mark 13. Give us your commentaries on The Revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ. Give us Van Impe and anyone else that can tickle our ears the way we like it. Crucify Jesus, the Word of God, we will not have Him to rule over us, we love our traditions.”
“Teach us that which you have learned in Bible School so that we may eat on that each time we assemble ourselves together in the house of God. Give us ‘saved by faith only’ and every other perversion of scriptures that you have.”
“Give us that good Word over which you all have deliberated in committee, brought before the general body, debated on the floor, passed by 51 percent majority. Give us THAT Barabas, that antichrist (imitation Word of God) that we can adore him. Bring him forth, deliver him unto us that we may honor and adore him.”
They cry even louder, “Give us those creeds and doctrines of men that some call “Articles of Faith” so that we can eat that, because, that is the pure Word of God, is it not?” Let us adore by our worship that which you have sworn and continue to swear to uphold by an annual contract every year, signed in writing as an oath. Let the blood of the pure and undefiled Word of God be upon us and upon our children forever, but give us the thief, Barabas.”
(Continued)

[UnTraditional]

The choice is clear. It is Jesus or Barabas. The choice is between the thief or the giver of life. It is impossible, according to Hebrews 6:4-6, to renew them again unto repentance after they have received the Holy Ghost, tasted of the heavenly gift, and of the good word of God if they should fall away. To fall away is to finally and ultimately reject Jesus and receive the thief, Barabas. To receive the substitute in place of the pure Word of God, which is Jesus, is to crucify to themselves the son of God afresh, and to put him to an open shame. The reason that it is impossible to renew them is that they become so cemented in their traditions and comforts of their “ecclesiastical worldliness” that you could not within any degree of light and revelation truth, move them. They love it too much. I said, they love it too much. It is impossible to move them. They are cemented in it.
Just watch someone after they first receive their Holy Ghost baptism and has been baptized in the wonderful name of Jesus. The new birth is so real and fresh to them that they do not have enough hours in the day to read their Bibles, pray and to go to church as much as they would like to. The presence of God is so very new, real and fresh to them. However, over a period of time, with a little indoctrination here, and a little tradition there, a little catechism over there, a little Nicolaitane teaching picked up along the way, the Word of God then somehow does not seem as fresh anymore.
It was once that they could not get enough of it. Now, they will read it to confirm what they have been taught by tradition. If they are preachers, they read it to get a sermon as the ones that he has preached in times past have become musty and stale. Many times these will read the Word for an intellectual exercise only. Finally they read and study the Word less and less as it has no longer that vivifying life that was once so exciting to them.
They begin to notice that there is a little something different but they can’t exactly identify it. The Word does not seem to have the same exploding light of life, captivating, moving, working and purifying affect anymore. What could be the difference? They have received a Barabas, the thief and have crucified afresh the Lord of Glory, the Word of God. The thief has come and has stolen the life giving Word of God from their hearts and has left only a lifeless replica of the real and sadly, they do not know the difference.
Gradually and little by little they become so confirmed and cemented in tradition and error that they have fallen away to the point that it is impossible to renew them again to that dynamic, leading light, the bread sent down from heaven. Jesus, the Word of God, is now crucified afresh and put to an open shame. Barabas, the thief has been released instead. They are now fallen away, though carrying on an outward form of Godliness. From this, we are admonished to turn away.
Revelation 22:17-19, “An the Spirit and the bride say, come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”
Let us pray for grace and wisdom from our beloved Lord that the Holy Ghost will lead us and guide us into all truth. Let us also pray that we, by the Spirit of Truth, may recognize that which is error and opposed to truth. Let us not accept a robber when we can have the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

[Apprehended]

Brother UnTraditional...

You have greatly blessed me.

If you are married, I hope you never lose that good woman. But, if you ever get married again. I would be honored to give that woman away to you.

God bless your sweet soul. I'm so grateful, I am almost in tears.

I wish I knew who you are.

[notofworks]

Originally Posted by Apprehended

Yes, I can read it. You are the one having trouble reading...or comprehending. Should I pull up the other thread to prove it?

See how shallow you are?

Now you offer no definition of "Pentecostalism."

But, I did. I gave you a definition of Pentecostal. Since you are unable to give a definition. Just use the one that I gave above by starting out saying...

"If you mean by Pentecostal...."

Try that definition for the lack of your own.

You continually throw fifth-grade level "You can't even read" taunts at me and you can't define "Pentecostal" after spending a lifetime as one? That's funny.

[Apprehended]

Oh my! My!

Lookee here.

You had both articles.

I'm about ready to shout.

I thought I had lost those two articles forever.

If you will send me by PM your email, I will send you an article that I have recently written that Brother Kilgore, Sr. called me and said that he was going to try to have the Herald to publish. He said that he had never been so blessed by it.

I would be happy to send it to you.

[Apprehended]

Originally Posted by notofworks

You continually throw fifth-grade level "You can't even read" taunts at me and you can't define "Pentecostal" after spending a lifetime as one? That's funny.

See, you can't READ!

I gave you a definition even though you were not willing to supply one yourself.

I then, by that definition left no doubt....except in your own mind.

Did I read on another thread that you went to bible school?