[4]
thy works, and I
will shew thee my
faith by my works.
19 Thou believest
that there is one
God; thou doest
well: the devils
also believe, and
tremble. 20 But wilt
thou know, O vain
man, that faith
without works is
dead? (empasis mine)
Most of us would
agree that we are
living in the last
days of mankind's
rule on this earth.
But are we living
like we believe it?
We see the evil
around this nation
manifested in
grotesque shootings
of the innocent in
our schools, the
multitude of sins
that are growing
exponentially as
each day passes and
we wonder, “what in
the world is going
on?” Of course, we
know that the last
days will become
more and more evil
as time passes,
because the Bible
prophesized it would
be so.
II Timothy chapter
3:
2
For men shall be
lovers of their own
selves, covetous,
boasters, proud,
blasphemers,
disobedient to
parents, unthankful,
unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers,
incontinent, fierce,
despisers of those
that are good,
4
Traitors, heady,
highminded, lovers
of pleasures more
than lovers of God;
5
Having a form of
godliness, but
denying the power
thereof: from such
turn away
But is there nothing
we can do about it?
Are we powerless to
stop the flow of
evil that is
overtaking our
nation, our
families, and our
culture? Maybe.
True, the scripture
above says that the
times would be evil,
but is that all
there is to it? Is
mankind in it's evil
nature the only
fault of the nation
going into the dark
times we see? The
evil of man is a
given according to
scripture. I say
that there is a
symptom that is
growing in this
country and has been
festering for a long
time, probably for
the last 50 years.
What is that symptom
that has coming to a
fulfillment? Give
up? Let's look at
what scripture says
about where we are
and why.
THE LAODECIAN CHURCH
ERA
If you be a church
going believer, and
there are many who
are not, what was
the atmosphere of
the service you
attended? Sadly, I
would wager that
most of you have not
heard a good 'ole
hell fire and
brimstone sermon in
years, or for that
matter, ever.
Romans 3:23, For all
have sinned and come
short of the glory
of God,
Romans 5:12,
"Therefore, just as
through one man sin
entered the world
and death through
sin, and thus death
spread to all men,
because all sinned."
Romans 6:23,
23
For the wages of sin is death; but the
gift of God is
eternal life through
Jesus Christ our
Lord.
(sin is death, and death is hell fire or the Lake of Fire, remember
those?).
The Gospel according
to Jesus Christ has
been watered down to
the point of the
average church
service becoming a
social club
gathering, that is
intent on providing
the masses the
comfort they desire.
Sin is no longer a
subject discussed or
preached on. Your
local pastor may be
into the social
gospel of a feel
good “christianity”.
We don't want to
feel bad about
ourselves, and we
sure don't want to
upset that
unbeliever that sits
in your pews every
Sunday. NOOO...that
would be impolite
and we need the
support (AKA money)
to build that bigger
and better sanctuary
or expand our Sunday
School classrooms,
or the latest buzz
project that has the
member's attention.
If you upset them,
they may take their
money elsewhere.
Sad, but true.
And what of that
member who leaves
your churches and
goes out into the
world to work and
play? Do they live
their faith, or do
they assimilate into
the masses of the
unbelieving world?
Do you see where I'm
going with this? The
fault of what our
generation is
experiencing right
now, falls into the
lap of the one place
where morality is
taught and
implemented into
each of our lives.
That blame is at the
threshold of the
“church”. (if you
can call them that).
I talk of faith, and
so does James in the
opening scripture,
but what of this
faith?
CHURCH IS TO TEACH,
BUT THE PERSON IS
RESPONSIBLE
You've heard the old
saying, “actions
speak louder than
words”? In speaking
of being a
Christian, who has
taken on the spirit
of redemption, who
has mouthed the
sinner's prayer, and
believes in his
heart that Jesus
died for his sins,
does our faith stop
there? James
addresses this in
this chapter and
following
chapters...let's
take a look at some
of his admonitions.
James chapter 2:
14
What doth it profit,
my brethren, though
a man say he hath
faith, and have not
works? can faith
save him?
15
If a brother or
sister be naked, and
destitute of daily
food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and
filled;
notwithstanding ye
give them not those
things which are
needful to the body;
what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (I believe James is speaking of faith misplaced in the wrong place or
person)
If you neglect the
nurturing of others
through the
application of your
faith toward your
brother, your fellow
human being, then
what has this faith
accomplished? Faith
is the beginning,
not the end of our
Christian walk. Out
of sheer obedience,
we are commanded to
show fruit worthy of
repentance. Let me
elaborate, as I can
just imagine the
questions in your
mind concerning this
teaching. Let's take
an agricultural
product, say a plum
tree. When the time
to harvest the plums
from a producing
plum tree arrives,
what do we expect to
find on the
branches? Of course,
plums are what we
would expect. What
if we found rottten
apples, or thorns,
or some other
illegitimate product
that is in direct
conflict to what
this tree was
suppose to be? Well,
we would have say
that we have been
cheated by the
seller of these
trees we planted, or
the seed that grew.
So it is with the
born again
Christian. We are to
produce good fruit.
Let's not get the
cart before the
horse now, as many
produce good works
because, morally,
they are good
people, but they
have not faith in
Jesus Christ. Those
of us who have faith
in Jesus Christ are
commanded to walk as
He walked. If we
truly belong to
Jesus Christ, we
will produce fruit
just as sure as the
sun comes up in the
east and sets in the
west or a plum tree
produces that plum.
We are commanded to
produce fruit worthy
of that calling of
the Holy Spirit.
Collectively, we are
to be taught the
right teachings
according to the
Bible, not some feel
good gospel, and
that's where the
church is failing
today. Jesus warned
of this in the last
days. Revelation 3:
16
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither
cold nor hot, I will
spue thee out of my
mouth.
17
Because thou sayest,
I am rich, and
increased with
goods, and have need
of nothing; and
knowest not that
thou art wretched,
and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and
naked:
The churches of
today, including
this abomination
called the “Emerging
Church” relies on
everything but the
pure, unadulterated
Word of God. They
are into meditation,
self awareness,
motivational
speaking, and
anything and
everything that is
grounded in this
world. They have
lost touch with God
and His requirements
for being a true
Christian built upon
the Rock, which is
Jesus Christ. The
majority of the
churches today Jesus
said that they make
Him sick. I went to
a church some time
back, because my
grandsons were being
baptized and I was
appalled by their
service. I saw steel
guitars, smoke
rising through smoke
machines, video
cameras focusing in
on the musicians on
the overhead screen,
and music so loud
that I couldn't
think. I thought I
was at a
Led-Zeppelin
concert, not a
church of the Living
God. Is this an
example of worship
services in
America's churches
today? Sadly, it is
more prevalent than
I would care to
admit.
WHAT ABOUT OUR
CHILDREN?
This gets down to
the brass tacks of
this message. Our
children are our
future. Are we
teaching our
children according
to God's Word? I
would say in the
majority, the church
is failing
miserably. See all
the crimes of
insanity of young
people who have lost
hope, or desire
suicide to end their
sufferings. Of
course, they want to
take as many people
with them as
possible, hence the
awful shootings of
Columbine, The
Batman Rising
shooter in Colorado,
and the
Newtown,Connecticutt
school killer. Do
you know what the #1
single killer of our
young people today
is? It used to be
accidents, as in
trauma from motor
vehicle accidents,
or accidents of
dare-devils who
think they are
immortal, but that
has been surpassed
in recent years by
suicide. Yes,
suicide of a
generation who have
no hope, no anchor
in faith in
something bigger
than themselves.
Morality begins in
the home, nutured by
the church, and
guaranteed by our
laws of this land
called the USA. But
the last 50 years
have seen morality
take a deep six nose
dive. We have raised
a 2nd
generation of
unschooled,
unbelieving, and
godless people who
now have kids of
their own with no
compass in their
lives, and pray tell
if they get it in
the churches of
today. The answer
would be a hearty
“NO”! Most stay away
from church, as they
have figured out
that they meet
nothing they need in
their lives.
Deuteronomy chapter
6:
6
And these words, which I command thee
this day, shall be
in thine heart:
7
And thou shalt teach
them diligently unto
thy children,
and shalt talk of
them when thou
sittest in thine
house, and when thou
walkest by the way,
and when thou liest
down, and when thou
risest up.
8
And thou shalt bind them for a sign
upon thine hand, and
they shall be as
frontlets between
thine eyes.
9
And thou shalt write them upon the
posts of thy house,
and on thy gates.
And what is the
answer of our
elected leaders? Gun
control is their
answer. You bet your
bottom dollar,
nothing will change,
until the heart of
American changes and
I don't see that
coming in this life.
Our leaders are as
clueless about the
root cause as the
rest of the
unbelieving world.
The answer was to
teach our children
the way they should
go from the Word of
God.
A clear command
comes from God to
give our children a
Christian education.
Are we prepared to
say that not to do
so is sin? After
all, God orders it.
How are we doing it?
What have we
provided for our
children's Christian
education? How much
time are we spending
doing it? If we have
children, we can be
sure these questions
will be asked.
Obviously, the
church is not doing
it's job. The
parents are not
doing their job, as
they were not taught
either. So the
problem grows, and
grows until we have
a lawless society
bent on destruction
of other human
beings because of
their own pain and
inability to cope.
YOUR FAITH ON TRIAL
Let's take that
evidence of faith
and put it into a
courtroom setting.
The judge has
brought you before
the high court and
the prosecutor reads
the charges. If we
are asked about our
faith, the judge
will ask to show us
our faith by our
actions or evidence
for our defense.
True enough that
works cannot save
anyone and we could
get into the
argument of works
based salvation as
the Pharisees of
Jesus Christ day
thought salvation is
achieved by. They
were wrong, as faith
is all that is
required, but what
of the above verses?
Is there anything
required or let's
say, expected for
the truly converted
believer to show
this High Court if
their faith was in
God, or was it
misplaced in
something else?
Maybe that faith was
in their church,
their denomination,
or their parrish
priest or pastor. We
see people everyday
that we see in our
churches, and you
know, you can't tell
them apart from the
sinner down at your
local bar. Listen to
their speech. James
mentions this as
well in chapter 3:
3
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us;
and we turn about
their whole body.
4 Behold also the
ships, which though
they be so great,
and are driven of
fierce winds, yet
are they turned
about with a very
small helm,
whithersoever the
governor listeth.5 Even so the
tongue is a little
member, and boasteth
great things.
Behold, how great a
matter
[2]
a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is
a fire, a world of
iniquity: so is the
tongue among our
members, that it
defileth the whole
body, and setteth on
fire the course
[3]
of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
8 But the tongue
can no man tame; it
is an unruly evil,
full of deadly
poison.9 Therewith bless
we God, even the
Father; and
therewith curse we
men, which are made
after the similitude
of God.
Understanding we
live in a sinful
world and evil talk
and crude language
is all around us. Do
we take on the
actions of the
world? If we are
guilty of this sin,
what does it say to
the unbeliever? Are
they impressed with
your aura of
righteousness? Do
you honor God in
spirit and in truth?
Do you esteem your
neighbor above
yourself? Are you
kind, considerate,
careful of your
language, and
project an aura of a
bought and paid for
saint for God's
Kingdom? If no, then
are they impressed?
I think you know
that answer to that
one. They are not
and they see no need
for your luke warm
religion as it
doesn't speak to
them of their lost
condition. Many on
judgment day will
think they are
alright. They went
to church, they paid
their tithes, and
they even believed
on the person “Jesus
Christ”. Remember
the portion of the
opening verse. “thou
doest well. Even the
demons believe and
tremble”
But they are not
saints. Let's
examine what Jesus
said about these
pseudo-christians.
Matthew 25:
31
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels
with him, then shall
he sit upon the
throne of his glory:32
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate
them one from
another, as a
shepherd divideth
his sheep from the
goats:
33
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the
left.
If you are familiar
with the parable,
Jesus separates the
true Christians
apart from the
Pseudo-christians.
Both thought they
were doing God's
will. The goats on
His left, they did
what they thought
right in their own
eyes.
Pseudo-christians,
or the ones in name
only, missed one
vital point, they
were playing the
game, but didn't
have the power
within their lives.
They relied either
on themselves being
a good person, or
their church, or
their pastor/priest,
or something else in
a religious nature,
but missed taking on
the likeness of
Jesus Christ and
into their heart,
and their very
being. They only had
the label, not the
power of God. The
seed planted by
Jesus Christ had
been over run with
thorns and weeds and
they were not really
a new creature in
Jesus Christ, but
play acting. They
spoke it, they read
it (sometimes), they
counted on their
priest to get them
to heaven, or they
just thought being
religious was
enough. You know
what, it was not. As
in the court case
noted above, the
Judge is God the
Father, the
prosecutor is Satan
the devil, and the
defense counsel is
Jesus Christ. If you
are found to be one
of the goats who
were just going
through the motions
and had not really
taken Jesus Christ
into your heart,
then Jesus as the
defense counselor
will have no choice
but to say:
41 Then shall he say also unto them
on the left hand,
Depart from me, ye
cursed, into
everlasting fire,
prepared for the
devil and his angels .
You will have no
defense, and Jesus
Christ cannot defend
you, as you have not
taken on His
likeness. God the
Father will see you
in all your sinful
nature without being
clothed in the
righteousness of His
Son, the only pardon
for your awful
condition. The
sentence will be
passed and you will
be condemned for all
eternity to
separation from God
and destruction in
the Lake of
Fire...Some call it
HELL.
TIME RUNNING OUT
Understand one thing
my reader, the
nation of the United
States is sadly
going down in
flames. How long it
will take, I haven't
a clue, as the time
table is in God's
hands, but going
down she is. The
evil nature of men
will grow worse and
worse. Morality and
the love of anyone
but yourself will
vanish, if it hasn't
already done so. Men
will tear each other
apart just to get
what they think they
want or need. If a
crisis develops, men
will take guns and
kill anyone and
everyone in their
way. This government
we have elected (you
did, I didn't) will
come down with both
feet and declare
martial law. The
United States of
Socialist America
will be upon you and
despair will be the
order of the day.
There is coming a
day, and I pray it
is soon, where the
righteous clothed
with the blood of
Jesus Christ will
make a sudden exit
from this earth. Men
will be astounded.
Men will be confused
and looking for a
reason for the
calamity that has
come upon this
earth. Only the
faithful will be
removed. When I say
faithful, I mean
those who have taken
on the likeness of
Jesus Christ in all
our imperfect
attempt at following
in His footsteps.
Jesus knows each of
our hearts and where
our treasure lies.
Does yours lie in
this world, or does
it lie in the next
life to come?
Matthew 6,
19
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust
doth corrupt, and
where thieves break
through and steal:
20
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust doth corrupt,
and where thieves do
not break through
nor steal:
21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
The beginning of
this message was
asking, “Show us
your faith”. Where
does your faith lie?
Are you acting on
that faith? Are you
putting Jesus Christ
first in your life?
Paul said in
Galatians chapter 3:
26 For ye are all
the children of God
by faith in Christ
Jesus.
27 For as many of
you as have been
baptized into Christ
have put on Christ.
What does it mean to
put on Jesus Christ?
Romans 13,
11
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out
of sleep: for now is
our salvation nearer
than when we
believed.
12 The night is far
spent, the day is at
hand: let us
therefore cast off
the works of
darkness, and let us
put on the armour of
light.
13 Let us walk
honestly,
[2]
as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in
chambering and
wantonness, not in
strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the
Lord Jesus Christ,
and make not
provision for the
flesh, to fulfil the
lusts thereof.
We are commanded as
believers, true
believers to put on
Jesus Christ.
Emulate what he
said, what He
taught, and what He
lived everyday of
His short life and
ministry on earth.
To do so, is to
“Show us your
faith.” Nothing else
is but playing
around and hoping we
are not a
goat...Don't take
that chance. Your
final eternal home
depends on it...
This is pastor Mike
Taylor, praying
God's salvation
through faith comes
into your life. If
you need counseling,
prayer, or just a
listening ear, email
me atrealteam1999@sbcglobla.net,
or visit me online
at
www.churchofgod-usa.org.
God bless you all,
till we meet at
Jesus Feet.