Today was Communion Sunday.
Today is also the count-down-week to the importance of Calvary’s message: I wanted to be fellowshipping – and partaking of The Lord’s Supper – with fellow Believers.
I ended up in Lexington; I was running late, and Lexington was the closer option. I arrived as the song service was ending – I left following Communion service, after hearing who would be giving a message today.
Those of you who have been reading my Blog posts since I started blogging in 2003, know how I feel about the vineyard church – and all the ensuing heretical nonsense since the toronto airport vineyard craziness that has gripped the pentecostal/charismatic organizational ‘churches’: uncontrollable frenzied palsy-like body motions, manic hysterical laughter, barking like dogs/crowing like roosters, drunken stupor (not as described in the Book of Acts – but more like drunks seen in taverns); angel worship, self-proclaimed prophets uttering self-oriented ‘prophecies’ that border on the occult practices of seers and fortune-tellers, overt sexual behavior (people on hands and knees being led around on leashes = sadomasochist sexual behavior), ‘prophetic’ outbursts that have more to do with narcissistic desire than Godly desires (Godly prophesies always point to God … not to self); delusional ‘visions’ – such as jewels falling from the ceilings of ‘church’ buildings (none of these jewels have ever been photographed because they are a delusion). This is hellish behavior, not Godly manifestations.
And Scripture – specifically from the mouth of Yeshua – forbids this type of activity. Yeshua warned in Matthew 24:4 – “Take heed that no one deceive you”.
The Apostles, and Early Church Disciples (co-workers with Apostles), likewise gave warnings about being mislead by false doctrines: Galatians 1:8 & 9 tell us – “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a different Gospel, contrary to the one preached to you, let them be accursed.” 2 Timothy 4:3 & 4 says, “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears from the truth, and turn aside to myths.” 2 Peter 1:12 – 21 is a Scriptural reminder of the dangers concerning the smoothness of false teachings; and a warning to renew our minds concerning the true Gospel teachings: vv. 20 & 21, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets – though human – spoke from God as they were carried along in the Spirit.” And 2 John 1:9 -11, instructs us to note those who deviate from the pure teachings of Christ – and have nothing to do with them, lest we become an accomplice of the sinful mindset and behaviors.
Remember, Lucifer, is a renowned lair – so smooth in his delivery, that he was able to easily sway the first man and first woman by a cleaver twisting of Elohim’s conversations with Adam and Eve in The Garden of Eden. That led to banishment from the garden … and the penalty of death (physical and spiritual) for all of mankind. That spirit of luciferin conning is what we Believers need to be aware of: and steer clear of. 1 John 4:1-6 tells us plainly how to recognize which spirit we are dealing with: v. 1 tells us to “test the spirits” … vv. 5 & 6 says, “They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world – and the worldly-minded listen to them. We are from Elohei, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from Elohei does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of falsehood.”
I go where the Ruach Ha’Kodesh leads me. On any given Saturday or Sunday, I can be found at any one of the four Fellowships I frequent, depending on where Elohim wants me that particular day (often I don’t know where I’ll be until I wake up). I worship, and fellowship, as Scripture tells me to do – not as man demands I do. Each Fellowship meets a specific purpose in my walk with Christ; and according to Scripture, that is how it is supposed to be. So, that is what I do – I don’t apologize to anyone for where I spend my weekend, and I don’t feel the need to explain to anyone why I fellowship where I do on any given weekend. It’s Elohei’s business. It’s my business. It’s no one else’s business.
I was, and am saved for Elohim’s purposes … not to stroke a self-promoting, over-zealous ego of someone standing at a podium. Yeshua, very pointedly, said in Matthew 23:1 – 29, that we are to follow the teachings of God’s Word, not the self-promoting practices of the pious who make a show of being self-important with their pretenses of adherence to the Word … while being arrogantly ignorant of what The Word teaches (they have replaced God’s Word with their own doctrines).
As Believers, we must love those who claim to be Christians, as Yeshua loves us: freely, unconditionally, and in the hope of Faith: John 15:12. Yeshua gave this command knowing there was a traitor among them, that would sell them out to garner favor with the ultrareligious leaders. If they claim to be of the Faith, we are to love them as Christ loves them. Galatians 5 tells us how we should know falsehood from truth … and how we should walk with other Believers claiming kinship with God.
It is our responsibility to our saved self (joint-heirs with Christ) to safeguard our lives so that we do not easily be led astray. It is our responsibility to be filled – and continually renew that filling – with the Ruach Ha’Kodesh’s spirit, that we readily recognize which spirit we are dealing with at any given time, any given day. Yeshua said in John 2:10 – 12, “The Helper, the Ruach Ha’Kodesh, Whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” By remaining in Christ – by the indwelling of God’s Spirit – we will not be snared by the deception of the enemy of our soul, as warned of in 2 Thessalonians 2:10 – 12: “And with all wicked deception for those perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore, Elohim sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
Carl and Ruth boldly and openly announce that they “no longer believe in The Rapture – we used to, but we don’t anymore. And we won’t argue that with anyone.” I feel sorry for them, that they no longer believe as Yeshua taught … and as has been taught since the foundation of Christianity following Yeshua’s resurrection and accension. They also no longer believe that the Ruach Ha’Kodesh drew people to Christ – what they are saying now is so off-the-wall, that it’s hard to contemplate, let alone try to explain in writ. Ruth speaks it, and Carl goes on the defensive when eyebrows shoot up, saying, “Well, you don’t know that it couldn’t have happened like that!” Actually, we do: Scripture is very clear, when people take the time to read Scripture instead of giving sway to nonsensical speculative ridiculousness.
Carl and Ruth’s whacky religiosity reminds me a lot of what my sister ramona, and her husband (who died a few weeks ago) believe, promote, and preach. It’s so far removed from Christianity that it borders on heresy.
There is always a Judas spirit in operation among the Body of Believers.
Petra – ‘Judas Kiss’ song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAU6fo3QDes
We Believers today, must behave towards our Judas’ as Yeshua behaved towards his Judas. Yeshua didn’t browbeat. Yeshua didn’t react in anger. Yeshua didn’t castigate. Yeshua responded with tender compassion. Yeshua expected the Judas kiss – and forgave. Yeshua knew the self-serving weakness of humanity … and freely loved his Judas anyway. Yeshua also knew that Judas was on a path of self-destruction; and that even the purest love (the love only Yeshua can give) couldn’t save Judas because Judas had deluded himself into believing that what he had done was justified, and righteous.
The leadership out at the Lexington fellowship really idolize the Lindquist’s, and I don’t. I couldn’t in good conscience even consider becoming a member of that fellowship. I don’t mind drinking coffee with them, and reminiscing about ‘the good old days’ … but I have no desire to get caught in the trap of idolizing leadership members; or parroting talking points of a false teaching.
Everyone there already knows how I feel about deviating from Scriptural writ; they know I can’t be shaken, or moved to the right or the left – I am moving straight forward on the ‘straight and narrow’. I intend to get to Heaven: Heaven is where Yeshua and Bob are. Nothing, and no one, is going to blindside me with a hard-hitting T-boning.
I have over the years been accused of being a ‘church hopper’ because I will not enter into membership with any particular church affiliation. Well, my interpretation of Scripture as written, is that my {membership contract} is to be with Yeshua – period: no one else. A building is a place to gather together; but Yeshua is Who, we as Believers, are to cleave to … not a man, or an organized doctrine (every organized church affiliation has its own set of doctrinal ‘tenants’ based on leadership wants and desires). Organized religion may start out good – but it always ends up very bad: like the toronto airport craziness that is still running rampant through organized religious affiliations. I do not want to be linked with religious nonsense by a membership mandate.
I walk with Yeshua. I move wherever the Ruach Ha’Kodesh moves me: it may be in a small gathering, or it may be in a larger gathering, but membership does not have to be the calling card. Yeshua said in Matthew 18:20 – “Where two or three are gathered in My Name, there am I, in the midst of them”. I answer to Elohim’s call only. I know how to behave; I know how to read the Word for myself – I won’t be told that I need someone with {theological learning} to ‘rightly interpret’ the Scriptures for me: that’s not what Yeshua said. The New Covenant scriptures tells me that The Ruach Ha’Kodesh brings discernment, and teaches Elohei’s Truth to me – in that, I put my trust to “get it right”. John 8:32 says, “And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.” The New Covenant scriptures tells Believers not to adhere to one specific person’s persuasions. 1 Corinthians 1:10 – 13 says, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the Name of our Lord and Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you; but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me that there is quarreling among you, brothers. What I mean is that each of you says, ‘I follow Paul’, or ‘I follow Apollos’, or ‘I follow Cephas’, or ‘I follow Christ’. Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”
I want to leave myself free to go where the Spirit of God will send me – whenever, and wherever He decides. Currently, the Ruach Ha’Kodesh is directing my car, and my feet, to Lexington. I do not argue with Elohim’s directions – He sees the entirety; I only see the present moment.
My 2021 Blog Post, “You Can’t be Serious, Lord” (also a
part of today’s post; and Carl & Ruth were in the middle of that, too, 6 years ago):
https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/12/you-cant-be-serious-lord.html
I will firmly stand on what Scripture teaches me – not on the ever-changing whims of any man or woman who fancies they have a ‘prophetic gift’; especially, and specifically, when that {gift} is so far off-base with God’s Word that it’s speedily and consistently rolling into a dangerous foul-ball heresy.
There have been recent changes in Lexington leadership with covid deaths, and the Lindquist’s are getting older: the old guard is changing. Maybe things will right themselves again – only time will tell.
I will meet with the folks in Lexington for coffee and laughs on occasion (I’ve been invited) because I believe everyone gets a shot at redemption during this Later Days period of redeeming the time (only God knows who will be restored) and we are not to be respecters of people – if people are questioning where they stand in relationship with God (several are), and seeking a deeper relationship with God (all say they are), we who know who we are in Christ are to be open to their questing and ready to answer their queries; you know, Elohei gives people free will – if some doggedly choose not to accept salvation on His terms, that’s something they will have to live with in the present and in the future. And, I want to give Rick a fair chance in his leadership position (he was promoted to pastor position 3 weeks ago); so far, nothing he has said, has lit up the red danger light – or set alarm bells to ringing. But if push comes to shove in a pious tug-of-war with the Lindquist’s that will lead to churlish schism (Carl has a hot temper, and Ruth can be pretty snarky: both have a feverish need to be the center of attention) … I will gather my stuff, get up, and leave the building.
Like I did earlier today.
Life is too short, and time is wrapping up quickly; there is no time to waste on pettiness – and I am not the only worker available for that harvest.
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