Friday, July 29, 2011

LLM Question of the Day for 7-29-2011, and, THE GOSPEL OF JOHN....THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, pt. 1 of 12

First the Question: The RISEN Christ never instructed the Apostle Paul to preach to Gentiles what He instructed the Apostle Peter to preach to Israel on the day of Pentecost. True or False?

Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 7-27-2011

Question: The word Gospel is not found ONCE in the Gospel of John. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! The word ‘Gospel’ is not used in John’s Record; the word ‘Grace’ is found in only three verses; and the word ‘Kingdom’ is found in only three verses. But, what we want to know is this: According to the documentary evidence, the written Message which the Holy Spirit directed John to write, what Gospel IS presented in John’s Record? Out of the 635 responses we received 81.8% of you got it right! Therefore,

Today let us consider, THE GOSPEL OF JOHN....THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, pt. 1 of 12

Some time ago there was an evangelist who announced that he was going to speak on The Fifth Gospel. He read Romans 2:16, Romans 16:25, and 2 Timothy 2:8, in which verses the Apostle Paul called the Gospel “My Gospel.” Then said the evangelist, “if you insist upon calling Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, “The Four Gospels,” I will call Paul’s Gospel, “The Fifth Gospel.”

So just as “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” has been erroneously called “The Revelation of Saint John the Divine,” the Apostle John’s Record of the life and ministry, the sayings and doings, the death and resurrection of the Eternal, Divine, Omnipotent, Omniscient, sinless LORD Jesus Christ has been erroneously called, “The Gospel of John.”

Some theologians and Bible expositors tell us that in John’s Record we have a combination of “the Gospel of the Kingdom” and “the Gospel of the Grace of God.” But most of them THEN say that there is NO difference between “the Gospel of the Kingdom” and “the Gospel of the Grace of God.”

It is very interesting to note that the word ‘Kingdom’ is found in three verses in John’s Record: John 3:3, and John 3:5, and John 18:36. And that the word ‘Grace’ is also found in three verses: John 1:14, and John 1:16, and John 1:17. But what may be a surprise to many is the fact that the word ‘Gospel’ is not found ONCE in John’s Record.

The LORD directed John to write five Messages or Books; namely, the so called “Gospel of John,” his three Epistles, and “The Revelation.” In the first four of these Books the word ‘Gospel’ is not found; and only once in “The Revelation.” In Revelation 14:6 a very strange evangelist is preaching “the everlasting Gospel,” (an angel in the midst of heaven). The minister of Christ is supposed to be, expected to be, a Faithful steward of the Mysteries of God. (1 Corinthians 4:1-4). The minister of Christ who contends that the “everlasting Gospel” of Revelation is the same as “the Gospel of the Grace of God” (Acts 20:24), which was given by special revelation from the RISEN Christ to the Apostle Paul (Galatians 1:11-12; Ephesians 3:1-3), is certainly NOT a steward of the Mysteries of God, but rather a workman who needeth to be ashamed because he does not rightly divide the Word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15).

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM vs. THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD

We have mentioned above the fact that the word ‘Gospel’ is not used in John’s Record; that the word ‘Grace’ is found in only three verses; and the word ‘Kingdom’ is found in only three verses. What we want to know is this: According to the documentary evidence, the written Message which the Holy Spirit directed John to write, what Gospel IS presented in John’s Record?

We may, of course, turn to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and learn what Gospel Christ and His apostles preached during the years of the public ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God by miracles and signs in the midst of Israel. (Acts 2:22). We learn in Matthew 3:2, Matthew 4:17, and Matthew 10:5-8, that John the Baptist, Jesus of Nazareth, and the twelve apostles ALL preached: “The Kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Then read in Mark 1:14-15: “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled; the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent ye, and believe the Gospel.” We read in Matthew 4:23 and Matthew 9:35, “Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching ‘the Gospel of the Kingdom,’ and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.”

In Matthew 10:3-8 and in Luke 9:1-6 we learn that the LORD Jesus instructed and empowered His twelve Apostles to preach the same Gospel and to perform the same miracles. But let us keep in mind the truth of Matthew 15:24 and Matthew 10:5-7; that the LORD Jesus plainly stated: “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel”, and, “Go not into the way of the Gentiles. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.”

Years after the LORD Jesus had died, resurrected, and gone back to heaven, He appeared to the Apostle Paul in the temple in a vision and said. “I will send thee far hence to the Gentiles.” (Acts 22:17-22). Several years later Paul testified, in Romans 15:8 and Romans 15:16-21, that Jesus Christ, while here in the flesh, was a Minister of the circumcision with a ministry and message which was in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy, but that he, Paul, was a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.

In this same Epistle to the Romans the Apostle Paul declared that there was NO difference between the Jew and the Gentile (Romans 10:12-13); that salvation was sent to Gentiles when and because of the ‘FALL’ and ‘CASTING AWAY’ and ‘DIMINISHING’ of Israel. (Romans 11:11-15). (Romans 11:30). Reconciliation and Divine mercy were offered to the Gentiles. Then the Apostle of the Gentiles (Romans 11:13) wrote; “the Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11). He wrote, in Romans 16:25, that members of the Body of Christ were to be established by “MY Gospel”, the preaching of Jesus Christ according to the Revelation of the Mystery kept secret since the beginning of the world. (Romans 16:25).

Surely we recognize a most radical change between the day the LORD Jesus instructed the twelve apostles to go to Israel, preaching that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand, in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, AND, the day the RISEN, glorified Christ instructed the Apostle Paul to proclaim the Grace of God at hand for all men and to establish members of the Body of Christ with Divine truth NOT mentioned or contemplated by Old Testament prophets.

Surely every spiritual, intelligent, Spirit taught member of the Body of Christ knows that Israel is God’s ‘Kingdom’ nation. They should know that God’s spiritual program for the human race, for Jew and Gentile, CHANGED when and because God set aside His ‘Kingdom’ nation (albeit temporarily); that, when and because of that great change, God ushered in “The Dispensation of the Grace of God for Gentiles,” which Paul called “The Mystery of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:1-3). But now back to Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM

In 19 of the 27 Books from Matthew to Revelation the word ‘Gospel’ is found 104 times, (yes, I counted). Then the Greek word translated ‘Gospel’ is translated several times ‘glad tidings.’ In 8 of the 27 Books the word ‘Gospel’ is not found. In ALL of the Apostle Paul’s Epistles he mentions ‘Gospel,’ except in Titus. Yet in Titus the wonderful, glorious, blessed, Gospel of Salvation by Grace, without works or religion, is presented. Any spiritual, intelligent, Spirit-led student of the Scriptures who will compare the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, from Matthew 4:23 to Matthew 8:5, “the Gospel of the Kingdom” and the more than fifty religious requirements and obligations in these Scriptures, with Titus 3:3-8, should certainly say, “what a difference between the two Gospels!”

The New Testament Scriptures have much to say concerning “the Kingdom.” The word “Kingdom” is found 155 times in these 27 Books. In the Apostle Paul’s Epistles he mentions “the Kingdom of God” 12 times and “the Kingdom of Christ” 4 times. In Paul’s Epistles we learn that members of the Body of Christ inherit “the Kingdom of God and of Christ” (Ephesians 5:5); that members of the Body of Christ have been transferred into the Kingdom of the Son of God’s love. (Colossians 1:13-14).

In the Apostle John’s Record we find the words of the LORD Jesus to Nicodemus, recorded in John 3:3 and John 3:5, that no person can see or enter the Kingdom of God without regeneration; that the person who BELIEVES in Christ, Who was lifted up as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, is born from above, born anew, born of the Spirit, born of water. (John 3:6-15). Aside from John 3:3 and John 3:5 the only other verse in John in which we find the word ‘Kingdom’ is John 18:36. In this verse we have the words of Christ spoken to the heathen judge, Pilate, “My Kingdom is not of this world: If My Kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is My Kingdom not from hence.”

Ok, but now here, in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we find the word ‘Kingdom’ 119 times, in 119 verses. In Matthew we find the ‘Kingdom’ mentioned 55 times in 55 verses. In the first 13 chapters of Matthew we read much about “the Gospel of the Kingdom,” about “the Kingdom of Heaven.” We have in the 14th chapter 7 ‘Kingdom’ parables. In the 6th chapter we have the ‘Our Father’ prayer, with the petition, “Thy Kingdom come.” In the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th chapters of Matthew we find the “Beatitudes,” “the Sermon on the Mount,” the “Golden Rule.” In those chapters we find more than 50 commands of Christ, including various religion ceremonies and ordinances given for the obedience and practice of Christ’s disciples and other Israelites.

Now by way of comparison and contrast, from John 1-13 of John’s Record, we find NOTHING of the sayings and doings of Christ, His Apostles, and other Israelites WHICH are recorded in Matthew 1-13, EXCEPT in the thirteen chapters of Matthew and the thirteen chapters of John the record of the life and ministry and message of John the Baptist, which was FOR Israel. (Luke 1:16; Luke 1:80; Acts 13:24; Acts 18:25; Acts 19:4).

Even in this recorded ministry of John the Baptist more than 50% of the facts related in John’s Record are NOT recorded in Matthew. Matthew mentions the name ‘JOHN’ 26 times; 23 times referring to John the Baptist, 3 times to the Apostle John, the son of Zebedee. More than 70% of what Matthew tells us concerning John the Baptist is NOT found in John’s Record. John mentions the name ‘JOHN’ 20 times in his Record; all 20 times referring to John the Baptist. The Apostle John does not mention himself by the name ‘JOHN’ in his Gospel or in his three Epistles; but he does 5 times in Revelation. In John’s Record the Apostle John calls himself, “one of the disciples whom Jesus loved,” “that disciple whom Jesus loved,” “that other disciple.” And this is very interesting: inasmuch as the Holy Spirit is presenting, in John’s Record, the eternal Incarnate Word as the “Apostle and High Priest of our confession” (Hebrews 3:1), the disciples of Christ are NOT called ‘apostles’ in John’s Record.

Again by way of comparison and contrast, whereas in Matthew, the LORD Jesus imposed upon His disciples and other Israelites more than 50 ceremonies, religious observances and commands, (which had their rightful place under the reign of Law), the principal thing that the disciples and other Israelites were to do in John’s Record was to “BELIEVE.” The word “BELIEVE” is found 100 times in John’s Record. We do learn in John 3:22, in just one short verse, that the disciples of Jesus were baptizing. We do not have any record of what they preached or what they were told to preach, as we have in Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In John’s Record we do not have any mention of miracles performed by the 12, as we do in the other three Records.

Instead of laying down the law to Israelites as in the Sermon on the Mount, the Golden Rule and the Kingdom parables, we read these words in John 6:28-29, “Then said they unto Him (Jesus), What shall we do that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye BELIEVE in Him Whom He hath sent.” Then in John 16:7-10 we learn that the Holy Spirit was to be sent to convict condemned sinners of the sin of unbelief; “because they believe not on Me (Christ).” The Holy Spirit was to convict or reprove them of righteousness, because Christ was going back to His Father. (John 16:10). Here we might mention the fact that this future ‘righteousness’ in John 16:10 is the only mention of ‘righteousness’ in John’s Record. Salvation is mentioned just once, in the words Jesus spoke to the woman in Samaria; “Salvation is of the Jews.” (John 4:22). Jesus is called ‘Saviour’ just once in John’s Record, and that by Samaritans, who were saved during Christ’s visit to their city: “we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” (John 4:42).

We certainly learn in Matthew, Mark, and Luke, that sin is the transgression of the Law. But in John’s Record we read the words of Christ, “if ye BELIEVE not that I AM, ye shall die in your sins”, and, “he that BELIEVETH in Him (Christ) is not condemned; but he that BELIEVETH not is condemned already, because he hath not BELIEVED in the Name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 8:24 and John 3:18).

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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Wednesday, July 27, 2011

LLM Question of the Day for 7-27-2011, and, A Study of the Epistle of James, pt. 3 of 3

First the Question: The word Gospel is not found ONCE in the Gospel of John. True or False?

Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 7-24-2011

Question: God had no Gentile Apostles. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! All of the Apostles were Jews! And out of the 679 responses we received 66.7% of you got it right! Therefore,

Today let us consider, A Study of the Epistle of James, pt. 3 of 3

All of these unscriptural Pastors, Preachers, and teachers who tell their disciples to look to the atonement for the healing of diseases….will die, if Christ does not come back within a reasonable time. Would they die, if healing of the body were in the atonement? No!

A child of God is blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies. He is a child of God because of the atoning work of Christ. And therefore, the “all things” that every believer has in Christ are because of His atoning work. But the theory of healing in the atonement as taught by the modern healers in the Church is absolute heresy.

Surely every true Christian believes in earnest prayer for the sick and should pray that God will bless every means that is being used to bring about the recovery of that sick one. Moreover, hundreds of God's people have been raised up from serious illness in answer to the prayers of God's Faithful children even after physicians have abandoned all hope. If THIS is what is meant by “Divine healing,” surely every sensible Christian believes in Divine healing.

However, the common “healing” heresy with which the Body of Christ is today troubled is that the miraculous sign healing of Yahuwshua of Nazareth and His apostles is still God's order for the Body of Christ, because “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” By “Divine healing” then in this heresy, is meant “spiritual healing of physical diseases,” without material remedies; other than anointing with oil.

There are several verses of Scripture which are often emphasized to support the claim of these people; but before we quote these verses we call your attention to the different words translated “sick” in this fifth chapter of James.

Is any sick? The word here used is “Astheneia”, literally, “without strength.” The very same word is used in Roman 5:6, “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Look what it says, when we were yet sick, soul-sick, sin-sick. And then in Isaiah, “The whole head is sick.” Isaiah 1:5. The prayer of Faith shall save the sick, and the word used is ”Kamno”, meaning “weary or tired from toil.” I will leave it to you to explain the why of this change of words.

Now, for the several verses, so often used in healing circles today:

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” Matthew 8:17.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” John 14:12.

And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” Mark 16:17-18.

By whose stripes ye are healed.” 1 Peter 2:24.

Now the last statement is explained by the other words of the verse in which it is found and has NO reference whatever to the body. This verse in the Apostle Peter's epistle we shall refer to as we proceed to study the statement in Matthew.

Himself Took Our Infirmities, and Bare Our Sicknesses” Matthew 8:17. Yahuwshua of Nazareth was a man, approved of God by miracles and wonders and signs in the midst of Israel. Acts 2:22. However, “The Mystery among the Gentiles.” “Christ IN you the hope of glory” is quite different. Colossians 1:27.

The Word was God”, Christ was in the form of God. The Word became flesh, which was ANOTHER form. The form of a servant, a Man, and a Jew. However, NOW, He is the resurrected God-Man; GLORIFIED. The same Person, but three different forms.

Healing the sick was a part of the Kingdom program of Yahuwshua of Nazareth. Two Greek words, “bear” or “bare”, are used in the New Testament Scriptures: “Anaphero” and “Bastazo.” Bare our sickness is “bastazo.” However, “Bare our sin in His own body on the tree” is ”anaphero.” 1 Peter 2:24. This Greek word “anaphero” is used only one other time in the Scriptures, as bear. “So Christ was once offered to bear (anaphero) the sins of many.” Hebrews 9:28.

These two verses speak very definitely of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross of Calvary. For what? For SINS. Never is there any suggestion that Christ died for the believer's sicknesses. But time, and time again do the Scriptures say in many different statements that Christ died for our sins.

Bastazo” is used many times in the Scriptures; Matthew 3:11, “bearing shoes”; Luke 11:27, John 12:6, Luke 14:27, John 16:12, “bear the saying of Christ”; Acts 9:15, Galatians 6:2, Romans 15:1 “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak.”

How does one Christian bear the infirmities of another? Certainly not by making atonement; not by dying. Again, “Bear ye one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ.” One law of Christ is the law of life for believers because of His death and resurrection. We have not power to lay down our lives and take them up again. This “bear” is the same “bear” used in Matthew 8:17.

Does this explain the expression: “Greater Works Than These Shall He Do; Because I Go To My Father.” John 14:12. Yahuwshua of Nazareth fed five thousand hungry people with half a pound of food. What Christian has fed more than that number with the same number of loaves and fishes? What Christian has calmed the storm? What Christian has walked on the water? What Christian has turned water into wine by miracle? What Christian has died on a cross and abolished death and destroyed him that had the power of death; that is the devil? What Christian has said goodbye to his earthly companions and gone to heaven in a body?

All of the people whom Jesus Christ healed afterward died of the same, or some other, physical ailment. The death rate of the human race, saint and sinner alike, is still one apiece, regardless of the method of healing employed.

Ten lepers were healed by Yahuwshua at one time. Luke 17:14. To the only one who returned to him to praise God, He said, “Thy Faith hath made thee whole.” Were the others saved men? Surely not!

Some hours after Jesus gave sight to the blind man in John 9, He said to the man, “Dost thou believe on the Son of God?” The man said, “Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?” “It is He that talketh with thee.” He said, “I believe and worshipped Him” John 9:35-38.

To the man sick of the palsy Yahuwshua said, “Son, thy sins be forgiven thee”, before he healed his infirmity. By the way, where is the Christian who can do a greater work than forgive sin? It is a far greater work to get a man saved from the damnation of hell than to get him healed of fever or rheumatism. By the way, this is the only case where Jesus healed sickness AFTER forgiving the sinner his sins. This case of the palsied man.

Yet, some of the healing preachers today are telling their hearers that they must accept the sacrifice of Christ for soul salvation before they can have physical healing. Is this according to the way Christ and His apostles healed? What saith the Scriptures!

Those who are doing “the greater works” today should not insist that sick people be saved before they can have Divine healing. If they are to prove that Ya-hweh Yahuwshua, the LORD Jesus Christ, is the same yesterday, today and forever by duplicating his miraculous works and thus demonstrating His Deity in the realm of natural science, they should not CHANGE the order He followed when here in the midst of the Jews; the Jews who require a sign. God’s “sign people”.

And these “miracle workers” should give to the skeptic public the right to choose the character of miracle to be performed; if they are to be convinced of the Deity of Christ by those who are doing the greater works. One will say, “feed five thousand hungry people with these few loaves and fishes, and I will believe that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.” Another says, “My brother died four days ago. I prefer to have him raised.” By the way, was it because of Lazarus' Faith that he was raised???

The miraculous sign healing of Christ and His apostles is quite different from the healing of Epaphroditus. Miraculous sign healing CEASED after the Apostle Paul said, “The Salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles.” Acts 28:28. Otherwise he would not have told faithful Timothy to take wine for his oft sicknesses. 1 Timothy 5:23. This was not due to Timothy's lack of the Faith. The Apostle Paul praised him for his wonderful Faith. 2 Timothy 1:5.

There is another verse to be explained along with this one, “To another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit.” 1 Corinthians 12:9. The only sane and sure method of Scripture interpretation is to study Scripture in the light of other Scriptures. Violation of this principle will produce unbelief or fanaticism. We submit several facts for light on these Scriptures:

No GENTILE Christian ever had hands laid upon him for any purpose in the Christian Church, so far as the Bible record is concerned.

There is not one scriptural reference to one miracle performed by the hands of one GENTILE. God had no Gentile healing servants.

We quote Hebrews 4:4: “God also bearing (them) witness both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will.” Read this last phrase, because there are certain false prophets who are teaching the people they ought not to say, “if it be God's will.” The miracles with which God witnessed the Apostleship of the Galileans who came down with Jesus to Jerusalem were “divers.” (diverse) Acts 13:31. The Hebrew Christians to whom this epistle of James was written were NOT performing healing miracles.

Miracles were the signs of an Apostle. 2 Cor. 12:12. God had no Gentile Apostles.

With the exception of Philip in Samaria where, “the people hearing and seeing the miracles which he did” and the case of Stephen who “did great wonders and miracles” among the Jews; either the Apostle Peter or the Apostle Paul was present in EVERY case of sign or miraculous healing in the Church mentioned in the Bible after the resurrection of Christ. The Apostle Paul was permitted by God to perform a miracle similar to each miracle performed by the Apostle Peter. Ask yourselves, WHY?

Sign healing was general. There was no hit and miss proposition with either Christ or His Apostles. Therefore the healing movements of today are not genuine. Here’s what the Scriptures say, “And healed all that were sick.” Matthew 8:16; “Healing every sickness and every disease.” Matthew 9:35; “He laid His hands on every one of them, and healed them.” Luke 4:40; “The shadow of Peter.” “And they were healed every one.” Acts 5:16.

One of the modern healers whose nefarious traffic is being supported by some splendid Christians, whom he has deceived, or rather whom Satan has, failed with about nineteen out of twenty of the poor unfortunate deluded victims who responded to his invitation at the close of one of his services. And he too supports his healing with, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever”; and CONTRARY to the plain instruction of the Apostle James, the minister of the circumcision, he uses oil on Gentiles.

And here is Satan’s TRAP! Just think of the reaction when those who think these healing preachers know the Bible and are preaching true Biblical Christianity, find that the healing is but a foolish theory and sorcery, and then many of them will reason that Christ's atonement for the soul is also a false doctrine.

May God help every true saint to stand firmly AGAINST these healing heresies in this day of apostasy, and say with the Apostle Paul, concerning Satan, “We are not ignorant of his devices.”

Fully trust the LORD in health and in sickness and know that all things work together for good to the Faithful child of God. And be ready to say with the Apostle Paul, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Cor. 12:9. “Though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.” 2 Cor. 4:16. BUT, are you willing to say: “The LORD gave and the LORD hath taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21.

Now, let me close this 3 part series of messages with this: Mental Science has long since passed the experimental stage, Psychology has worked wonders with many people. Truly there are many imaginary cures of real ills, and many real cures of imaginary ills, Psychic healing. Satan put sickness upon Job. He bound a daughter of Abraham for many years. he said, “all that a man hath will he give for his life” Can Satan perform miracles? Can Satan heal? Now go read 2 Thessalonians 2:7-11.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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Sunday, July 24, 2011

LLM Question of the Day for 7-24-2011, and, A STUDY OF THE EPISTLE OF JAMES, pt. 2 of 3

First the Question: God had no Gentile Apostles. True or False?

Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 7-21-2011

Question: No true child of God can or will leave this world one second sooner or one second later than the mo­ment God is ready for that one to depart and to be with the LORD. You will die right on time! True or False?

Answer: TRUE! Of Course it’s TRUE! And out of the 613 responses we received 91.1% of you got it right! Therefore,

Today let us consider, A Study of the Epistle of James, pt. 2 of 3

And as we continue on with this study/message of the Epistle of James please bear in mind this most important statement by the Holy Spirit through James, “As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing.”

If the Apostle James could speak today to the multitude of believing Gentiles who are being beguiled by some of the fraudulent religious teachers, healers, and fanatics which has almost completely swept over Christendom, he would say, “We have concluded that they observe no such thing.” Surely, now, we shall remember these words of James when we read what he says in his epistle concerning anointing with oil. Right? We’ll remember, right? I pray so! Certainly we desire the mind of God in this matter.

There are many members of the Body of Christ, conscientious saints, today who truly want to do the will of God; who do not want to be deprived of any blessing because of the lack of Faith, or lack of understanding of God's Word. God must be sorely grieved with the discord and divisions among His people, with the disagreement and confusion over the subject of healing.

For centuries there has NEVER been so much talk about Divine healing as is heard on every side at this present time. This general discussion of healing has arisen in recent years. The Body of Christ was not troubled with this special emphasis on healing, until this present wave of destructive criticism, known as Modernism, began to sweep throughout the “professing” Church, playing havoc with Church organizations and so-called evangelical seminaries. Surely Satan is using every device to wreck the sane testimony of Christians. How pitiable is the condition of the Christian Church organizations at the present time.

Many of God's children who could not be deceived by this MODERN Christianized agnosticism HAVE been captivated and unbalanced by one of these healing delusions. Really the LORD Jesus Christ is being dishonored today by many men and women who are carrying on their unscriptural healing traffic in His Holy name. Many of them are willfully deceiving the ignorant and gullible religious masses to increase the size of their audiences and the cash receipts in their offerings.

Remember the words of Yahweh Yahuwshua, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign” Matthew 16:4. This too, accounts for the throngs who often gather around the fake, and not fake, religious healers of today. The reign of the man of sin is not far off. He is coming “after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders; with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish” 2 Thessalonians 2:9.

Satan by his false prophets will try to deceive even the very elect and many of the very elect have joined the ranks of the fanatical healers to help Satan obscure the glorious Gospel of Grace with their nonsensical, unscriptural, and unprofitable theories, which experiences are constantly proving to be false.

It is a well known fact that multitudes of genuine Christians, as well as those who are Christian in name only, never become earnest students of the Bible UNTIL they become enthusiasts in some religious sect which corrupts or twists the Scriptures. Then most of them cease to be like the Bereans who received the Word with all readiness of mind and searched the Scriptures daily to see whether those things were so, as they simply follow the leader of the sect.

But for the benefit of the Bereans, those members of the Body of Christ who are true students of Scripture, we send out this message, “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray. Is any merry? Let him sing psalms. Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the LORD: and the prayer of Faith shall save the sick, and the LORD shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults (sins) one to another, and pray one for another that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” James 5:13-16.

In every assembly of New Testament saints the spiritual oversight of the flock should be in the hands of matured spiritual Christians.

Christians who would do the will of God should be visiting the sick with their earnest prayers and messages of comfort and sympathy. Many of them are; and God truly is having mercy on many of His children and in answer to the fervent prayers of righteous men and women He is raising them up from beds of sickness, even as He did in the case of Faithful Epaphroditus, Paul's brother and companion in labor, many years ago. Philippians 2:25.

Notice what the Holy Spirit tells us through the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:20, “Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick.” Now Trophimus, too, was a Faithful servant of God and a true friend of the Apostle Paul's. In one case Epaphroditus was raised up. In the other case Trophimus was left sick. And we may be sure that Paul earnestly prayed for the recovery of Trophimus, but for some reason he left him sick. Why? Why are many Faithful deeply spiritual saints on beds of sickness today in spite of many prayers of Faith for their recovery?

Thus we see that the sick are not always healed in answer to prayer: not even the most spiritual, consecrated saints. It is very often the case that it is the will of God that some of this class go home in the LORD Jesus with the first serious illness they have. In fact, no true child of God can or will leave this world one second sooner or one second later than the moment God is ready for that one to depart and to be with the LORD. You will die right on time!

Do not as many members in the modern healing sects and cults die as sane spiritual Christians? Is the death rate of either any lower than that of the great number of unsaved people who obey God's physical laws?

God's spiritual and obedient saints die at all ages. So do the rest of the human race, regardless of any peculiar theory or method of healing, with or without the use of material remedies. There is no fixed age for the death of any class of people.

The whole creation is groaning. We who have received the firstfruits of the Spirit are in bondage.

Now, every month science is discovering and demonstrating new methods for curing afflictions, injuries, and diseases and prolonging human life. Chiropractors, osteopaths, and neuropathists, are making wonderful claims of healing. Psychologists and metaphysicians are treating every imaginable and imaginary ailment and reporting marvelous cures. Some say they were able to throw away crutches as the result of repeating over and over, “In every way every day I am getting better and better.”

There are thousands who think that sickness is all in the mind; so they are working on the mind to get rid of every kind of disease in the blood or in any part of the body. Christian Science practitioners are collecting the cash for teaching willing victims to deny the reality of sickness. Many of them who are half or two-thirds dead are lying to themselves or to others about their physical condition and paying expert liars who teach them to lie. Others claim to be cured, and can prove their claims. The Mormons cure all kinds of afflictions and diseases with their oil-anointing elders.

Certainly there is a variety of remedies. There is also a variety of diseases; “divers” diseases. The divers remedies are successful with some of the divers diseases. But while all kinds and classes of healers are busy, the sanitariums and drug-stores are being well patronized; and the undertakers are getting their share of business. Included, in those that they bury, are members of all the different sciences and healing cults in the land.

It is a blessed thing to be relieved of suffering and pain, to be restored from weakness and sickness to strength and health. And, let’s not forget, some of the most ungodly people in the community have this happy experience. However, surely every mentally well-balanced Christian man and woman is praising God for the faithful and capable physicians, surgeons, and nurses, who are doing so much to relieve suffering humanity.

The individual is naturally grateful for the healing method and remedy which has brought relief and is generally ready to recommend it to others. But the next individual with the same malady may be just as Faithful with the same remedy and find it an absolute failure, so far as affecting a cure is concerned. Christian Science says that medical science has never affected a permanent cure. Neither has Christian Science. They all die. However, the LORD Jesus Christ will affect a permanent cure for believers when He comes. Philippians 3:21.

Each of the religious sects who make a specialty of healing has some peculiar theory, and if the individual improves or gets well by applying that theory, then there is a strong probability that the individual will join the religious sect that preaches the theory that brought the relief; and, as a rule, the individual will sing the praises of the healing servant.

There are many healing sects, healing theories, and healing servants. I will leave it to you to explain why some people get rid of their physical ailments by the Christian Science theory. And, it is a fact that they do. But, the Mormons do not believe in any of Mrs. Eddy's (Christian Science) theory, but have a theory of their own. But because they do get some results by anointing with oil, does that prove that Christians should anoint with oil?

Oil belongs to the shadow days of the Old Testament. It belongs in the same dispensation with vows and purifications, shaving of the head, baptism, and circumcision, all of which James approved “for the Jews which believe” twenty-six years after Pentecost.

Now, remember that the Epistle of James is “to Jews which believe.” “To the twelve tribes in the dispersion.” “He was a minister of the circumcision.” REMEMBER, we are not to forget, “As touching the Gentiles which believe; that they observe no such thing.” This Divine principle is to be applied in the matter of anointing with oil. James is the only one who mentions oil and he tells us to observe this principle.

Many of God's true servants have had some blessed experiences using oil on the sick while praying for them, and doubtless most of them will keep on with their oil, no matter what others may say. Different servants use dif­ferent kinds of oil and have different ways of anointing. Some of the folks they anoint do not recover from their ailments; while some do.

The Apostle Paul circumcised Timothy even after James wrote his epistle; but that does not mean that we are to practice that Old Testament custom now. There was a time when it was God's commandment. It was a type of the true circumcision of the heart. Paul practiced it, “because of the Jews” But never did he become a Jew to the Jews after he reached Rome.

Well, how about praying for the sick without the use of oil? It is wrong NOT to do so. Where is the Christian to be found who does not believe in praying for the sick? All Christians believe that with God all things are possible; and that no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. “Whatsoever ye ask the Father in My Name ye shall receive.” This is the gracious promise the Savior gave to His disciples.

All Christians know that the Scriptures teach that God does hear and does graciously respond to the prayer of Faith. God's principle still maintains: “Be it unto you according to your Faith.”

AND…Every true Christian is more Faithful and earnest in prayer in the time of serious illness, or adversity, or deep sorrow, or severe testing, than at any other time. Not one such would think of denying the omnipotent power of God or discounting the importance of genuine God-given Faith when praying for a loved one or any saint of God who is in any kind of distress, physical or otherwise. But now, this brings to us this question: Just what are we to understand by the statement, “THE PRAYER OF FAITH SHALL SAVE THE SICK?”

In the Scriptures, James 5, is it the prayer of the anointing elders or the prayer of the sick? Whose Faith here saves the sick? Let them pray over him. But we say UNLESS THE SICK had some Faith he would not send for the elders. But, if the sick man has sufficient Faith, does he need the praying elders? Is not his individual Faith without elders and oil enough to bring about his cure?

Christ said, “That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 18:19. One elder and the sick man would be enough to claim this promise. But in several other places the Savior promises definite results to the individual who prays, in Faith.

Every honest Christian will confess a certain lack of Faith, yet some of the most Faithful saints have been praying for years for the salvation of some loved one, and up to the present time their prayers remain unanswered. They have had others of great Faith join with them and claim the answer to their prayer, on the authority of a precious promise in God's Word. Sometimes this prayer of Faith is answered, often after waiting many years. Sometimes the loved one remains unsaved.

It is a very common experience to see the immediate family of some “healing” Christian so disgusted with the healing fanaticism of that Christian that the members of that family will not even listen to his testimony.

Surely, the salvation of the soul is of more importance than the healing of the body. And yet the prayer of Faith for the eternal salvation of loved ones is not always immediately answered; sometimes not for many years. But if the individual has Faith in Christ, and accepts Him, no prayer is needed to save him. “He that believeth on the Son hath life.”

It is not the will of God that anyone be lost. He will save any one who will believe. Neither is it the will of God that any Christian should be defeated by sin; that any of His children yield to temptation. God had definitely promised deliverance, the way of escape. There is victory over temptation for every true believer. The prayer of Faith will always bring victory.

But the prayer of Faith will not always bring healing. And, if Christ does not come back to receive His own unto Himself within the next hundred years, every faithful saint on this earth, like every unfaithful sinner, will die of some physical ailment. Until the return of Christ, death for saint and sinner alike is inescapable.

And yet, we have some Christians who tell us that the healing of the body is in the atonement. If the sinner really believes in the atoning work of Ya-hweh Yahuwshua, the LORD Jesus Christ, and receives Him as Savior, is he not forever saved? (“Sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” Hebrew 10:10. “Justified from all things” Acts 13:39. “The free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD.”) He has eternal life and spiritually shall never die. This is his because of him having the Faith in the finished work of the LORD Jesus Christ.

But incorruptibility is NOT the Christian's in this dispensation. He is begotten into a lively hope. His incorruptible inheritance is reserved. Otherwise, he would not be in bondage, waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of his body. Romans 8:23. Every believer must have a body of humiliation until Christ comes, at which time he will receive a glorified body.

In the meantime, physical death is no respecter of persons.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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Thursday, July 21, 2011

LLM Question of the Day for 7-21-2011, and, A STUDY OF THE EPISTLE OF JAMES, pt. 1 of 3

First the Question: No true child of God can or will leave this world one second sooner or one second later than the mo­ment God is ready for that one to depart and to be with the LORD. You will die right on time! True or False?

Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 7-19-2011

Question: Jewish vows, religious purifications, baptism, circumcision, Sabbaths, feast days, and laying on of hands, do NOT belong to the Body of Christ. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! And Praise the LORD, out of the 688 responses we received 83.9% of you got it right! Therefore,

Today let us consider, A Study of the Epistle of James, pt. 1 of 3

The Epistle of James has been called several things, “the Christian at work” and “the book of practical Christianity”, just to name a few. No true Christian should discredit or disobey one word in this God breathed epistle; BUT the very first verse is a caution from the Holy Spirit to the Gentile believer to study this epistle IN THE LIGHT OF OTHER SCRIPTURES.

Comparing spiritual things with spiritual” and “rightly dividing the word of truth” are two Divine principles which must be diligently observed in the study of any portion of the Bible.

When Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, stood before Agrippa he made reference to his past history, when as Saul of Tarsus he was a Pharisee, as belonging to “the sect of our religion” Acts 26:5. “Religion” or in the Greek, “threskeia”, meaning, observances, rites or ceremonies which were practiced by the Jews in their worship of God. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatians that he had “profited in Judaism” BEFORE he was converted to Jesus. Galatians 1:14.

Then again he speaks of his past religious experience as “in the flesh”; “Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church, etc.” “But what things were gain to me, those I COUNTED LOSS for Christ.” Philippians 3:4-7.

The Apostle Paul NEVER encouraged a Gentile saint to be religious. He never used the word “Threskeia” in ANY of his epistles to Gentile believers. The Jews had religion. Christians have eternal life. They have Christ. The Old Testament saints lived in the shadow days, when carnal ordinances were imposed upon them.

Now pay attention here: the Apostle James was a very, VERY religious Jew. He was also an Apostle of Christ. HOWEVER, James was never called to the ministry to which Paul was called. James refers to religion, “threskeia,” James 1:27, because he wrote to Jews, religious Jews. “To the twelve tribes.” He wrote in terms that were familiar to them. They, like him, continued to observe much that belonged to Old Testament Judaism, even after they had been turned to Christ.

His message to these converted Jews sounds very much like the righteous demands in the Sermon on the Mount preached by Jesus of Nazareth in the land of the Jews, where the children of Abraham were more particular about outward religious observances than they were about practical righteousness.

James says: “If there come unto your synagogue ” James 2:2. The Greek word for assembly is the same as the word elsewhere translated “synagogue.” The epistle is written to Christian religious Jews. There is much in it for the Gentile Christian of today. If every professing Christian today were measuring up to the standard of James' practical righteousness, many more in the world would behold their good works and glorify God.

There is no book in the entire Bible in the study of which it is less difficult to apply the Divine principles of Bible study. It is a very simple matter to get the mind and ministry of James by studying just three chapters in the New Testament Scriptures; Galatians 2, Acts 15, and Acts 21. Surely the reading of these three chapters will enable any child of God to better understand this epistle of the Apostle James, which is being quoted quite frequently today to support some unsound doctrines and fanatical religious practices carried on in the name of Christianity.

It was James who was the spokesman at the council at Jerusalem in the year 52 A.D., when it was agreed between the eleven apostles, who were located in Jerusalem, and Paul and Barnabas, who made their headquarters at Antioch, that the religious observances of Judaism which were STILL being practiced by the Christian Jews and the Law of Moses should NOT be imposed upon the Gentile Christians. In that Jerusalem council James said:

“Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God” Acts 15:19. Trouble not Gentile believers with things Jewish. Today, Gentiles which are turned to God through the LORD Jesus Christ are certainly being troubled by teachers and preachers who are giving to them things Jewish; some things from the Epistle of James.

Remember his sentence. Again, how simple are these words of James which should be self-explanatory, “As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing.” Acts 21:25. This he declared in the year 60 A.D. some time after he had written his epistle.

When Christians today UNWISELY preach to Christian Gentiles what God by the pen of James intended for Jews, we may be assured that it is being done in spite of James' clear instructions not to do it. “That they observe no such thing.”

Jewish vows, religious purifications, baptism, circumcision, Sabbaths, feast days, and laying on of hands do not belong to the Body of Christ. Notice the first verse of this epistle, “James, a servant of God and of the LORD Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” James 1:1.

The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Galatians, referred to the writer of this epistle as James, the LORD's brother. Shortly after he was converted the Apostle Paul visited the Apostle Peter in Jerusalem, and while there he also saw this other apostle of the LORD Jesus Christ: James. Galatians 1:19.

In Luke 6:16, James is mentioned as the son of Alphaeus and the brother of Judas. These two brothers were numbered with the twelve apostles. Of course James, the writer of this epistle, was not the James who was beheaded by Herod. That James whose death is recorded in Acts 12 was the brother of John. They were the sons of Zebedee.

In the gospel according to Mark, James, the writer of this epistle, is referred to as James the “Less”, the son of Mary. Mark 15:40. Again, he is mentioned in connection with his brethren and his sisters in Matthew 13:55-56. Jude, in the opening verse of his epistle, is spoken of as the brother of James.

After the resurrected Christ was seen by more than five hundred brethren, he was seen of James. 1 Corinthians 15:7. The mothers of both James' were eye-witness of the crucifixion of Jesus. Matthew 27:56.

This James was also one of the Apostles in the upper room after the ascension of Christ. He was with the apostles when they were all with one accord in one place on the day of Pentecost. Acts 1:13.

James was mentioned by the Apostle Paul as one of the pillars of the church at Jerusalem. Galatians 2:9. By common consent and according to the will of God, the ministry of James was Jewish, “To the circumcision.”

The Epistle of James is just as much inspired as any other portion of the Holy Scriptures. But when God has plainly told us that James was a minister to the circumcision, we must surely bear this in mind when we are studying his epistle. Galatians 2:7-9.

Nowhere in the New Testament Scriptures do we have any record or even the slightest suggestion that the Apostle James ever preached one message to even one Gentile. On the contrary, we certainly have scriptural evidence that he was never completely delivered from his Jewish prejudice and from the religious observances of Judaism. James was clinging to these with other Jews who were zealous of the Law in the year 60 A.D.

When the disciples were scattered abroad, at the time of the persecution which arose at the death of Stephen, the Apostles remained at Jerusalem. Acts 8:1. We find James at Jerusalem in Acts 1, and eighteen years later in Acts 15, and twenty-six years later in Acts 21. The last we hear of the Apostle James in the Bible, he is still at Jerusalem, one of the rulers of the Jewish disciples, apparently the chief ruler.

James did sanction the declaration of Peter regarding the purpose of God in this age, to first visit the Gentiles and take out from among them a people for His name before Jesus shall return to occupy the throne of David in Jerusalem. Acts 15:14-16.

But it would be well for us to read Acts 15 in its entirety and thereby learn that James believed in ONE order for “the Jews which believed” and ANOTHER order for “the Gentiles which believed.”

This is again very definitely and clearly set forth some years later when the Apostle Paul made his last visit to the city of Jerusalem before he was delivered to the Roman government as a prisoner. This visit is recorded in Acts 21:17-18, “And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly. And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.” This gives us some idea of the prominence of James among the rulers in the church at Jerusalem in the year 60 A.D.

In order that he might please James and “the Jews which believed” in Jerusalem, Paul made the sorry mistake of becoming a Jew for seven days, as we learn from Acts 21:26-27. But we find very clear instructions in Acts 21:25, that the Gentiles which believe were not to observe any of the ceremonies which belonged to the Jews. Did not James sanction two different orders, one for believing Jews; quite a different one, for believing Gentiles? Surely this experience of Paul with James the LORD's brother in the year 60 A.D. at Jerusalem will throw much light on the epistle of James which we are studying.

The exact date of the epistle of James is not known; but it is quite certain that it was written at a much earlier date than the time of Paul's visit, perhaps from eight to eighteen years before that time. Some authorities believe it to be the first New Testament epistle written. So, as we study this epistle we shall bear in mind that some years after it was written, James insisted that the Apostle Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles become a Jew for seven days to please the Jews at Jerusalem.

At that time, even the Christian Jews were still practicing circumcision, which truly has no place in the Body of Christ; and surely no Christian should become a Jew to gain the Jews today. 1 Corinthians 9:20. We shall likewise receive much help in the study of this epistle of James by reading carefully all of the second chapter of Galatians, especially Galatians 2:12 which we quote, “For before that certain (Peter) came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles; but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.”

Peter feared them which were of the circumcision, James is mentioned here by name. “Came from James”, Then Peter was afraid to eat with Gentile Christians years after Pentecost because of James.

During the time covered by the Book of Acts, James and the other apostles who remained at Jerusalem did not preach outside of the land of the Jews, the land of Palestine. They were ministers to the Jews in the land of the Jews. God said to the Apostle Paul when he visited Jerusalem, “They will not receive your testimony here so I will send you far hence to the Gentiles” Acts 22:18-21.

Paul, therefore, was not numbered with the twelve apostles. He was the chosen vessel of God to the Gentiles. He labored very little with any of the twelve.

Let me right now point something out, that isn’t always OBVIOUS: The Jews were turned to Christ FROM Judaism. The Gentiles were turned to Christ FROM paganism.

And as the Gentiles did not have the experience of the Jews who were converted from Moses to Christ, some of the believing Jews who were zealous of the Law tried to give “the Gentiles which believed” Moses and the law, after they were turned to God from their idols. But this was displeasing to the Holy Spirit. God forbade it. AND IT IS STILL HAPPENING TODAY!!!

In Galatians 5:9, the Apostle Paul referred to the legalism which the Jews were mixing with the Gospel of Grace as, “a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” The “modernism,” “ritualism” and “fanaticism” in the Body of Christ today is very largely due to that leaven. So, where is the denomination wholly delivered from legalism? It’s not! EVERY denomination exists as a result of mixing some iota of religion with Grace. The Christian is dead to the law. Galatians 2:19.

The Apostle Paul said, “I would that they were cut off which trouble you” Galatians 5:12. The Gentile Christians were continually troubled by the Jews who were determined to force Old Testament religious ceremonies upon them; thereby subverting their souls with the perverted gospel which they preached. Circumcision, days and seasons, laying on of hands, washings, anointing with oil, baptism, Sabbaths, etc., belong to Jews. Remember what James said, “My sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God.”

Are YOU troubling Gentile believers with Jewish observances today?

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

LLM Question of the Day for 7-19-2011, and, Christian Fundamentalists, WAKE UP! Pt. 4 of 4

First the Question: Jewish vows, religious purifications, baptism, circumcision, Sabbaths, feast days, and laying on of hands, do NOT belong to the Body of Christ. True or False?

Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 7-16-2011

Question: The Mystery of the Church AS the Body of Christ was NEVER made known in Old Testament times, nor yet when our LORD was on Earth...it was HID. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! Well PRAISE THE LORD! On this question, with 786 responses, 90.7% of you got it RIGHT! That is wonderful! Therefore,

Today let us consider, Christian Fundamentalists, WAKE UP! Pt. 4 of 4

CHRISTIAN FUNDAMENTALISTS NEED TO WAKE UP NOW!

The Body of Christ is only one phase of this precious Divine Truth, which is the most blessed and glorious truth for saints in all of God's Word: The Truth of The Mystery, the Eternal Purpose of God in Christ. Many centuries ago the RISEN Yahweh Yahuwshua, The LORD Jesus Christ, revealed this mystery, "His eternal purpose in Christ." Ninety-nine plus per cent of Body of Christ members are as ignorant of this truth as though it were not in the Bible. It is God's answer to the fanaticism, and to all the Israelitish movements with which the joint-Body of Christ is afflicted. It is the Divine curative for every ill and "ism" that is troubling the Body of Christ.

If there is to be a revival before the LORD Jesus comes for His Body, it will be when this glorious truth is brought from under the rubbish heap and ecclesiastical tradition. THIS IS THE PURPOSE OF THE LION AND LAMB MINISTRY!

Let’s see why God WANTS this glorious truth known:

"And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the Body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of The Faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a Perfect Man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. That we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men. and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive."

Let us no longer be children! Let us obey the LORD's command!

If there is any reason why the LORD is delaying His coming for His Church, it is not because He is waiting for the revival of the Roman Empire, but because He wants His saints to see and obey Ephesians 3:9-11, "And to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in the heavenlies might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our LORD." And all God’s people said…AMEN!

SO LET US DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!

Now let us be gracious and longsuffering and forgiving. Let us obey Ephesians 4:1-6, "I therefore, the prisoner of the LORD, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one Body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One LORD, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, Who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

But in kindness let me ask you, do you think a man is honest or intelligent when he says he obeys all the LORD's commands?

We do not obey Matthew 10:8 and we cannot, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils freely ye have received, freely give."

But we can, and should obey Ephesians 3:9, "And to make all men see what is the dispensation of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God."

WE do not, and we should not, wash one another's feet.

WE do not agree with our adversaries quickly, or slowly, in obedience to Matthew 5:25.

WE do not and cannot perform miracles.

But WE CAN, and should obey Ephesians 3:9.

When we obey Ephesians 3:9, we shall see why we cannot speak with tongues, heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead, have visions, preach political signs to prove that Christ's Second Coming is at hand.

We do not, and should not, preach "he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved," or "repent and be baptized for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

But we should obey Ephesians 3:9.

We do not sell our houses and lots and give the money to religious leaders, because “he that provideth not well for his own household denies the faith and is worse than an infidel.”

WHO OBEYS MARK 16:14-18?

Why did not the twelve apostles obey Mark 16:14-18? Why do not Fundamentalists obey Mark 16:14-18 today? Do you know of a single “Grace” Pastor who preaches or practices Mark 16:14-18? Do you know of a single Scripture to prove that the twelve apostles preached the gospel throughout Asia, Africa and Europe?

Now before we begin our comments, carefully read Mark 16:14-18, "Afterward He appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but He that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

Surely we have here in very simple and plain language a clear program presented to the eleven apostles by the resurrected Christ; "Go ye into all the world". "Preach the gospel to every creature." "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved." "These signs shall follow them that believe."

Now note Matthew 24:14 and compare it to Colossians 1:5-6 and Colossians 1:23:

"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

Compared to…

"For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the Grace of God in truth"

And…

"If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister"

Note carefully, "Whereof I Paul am made a minister."

Then note 2 Timothy 4:17, "Notwithstanding the LORD stood with me, and strengthened me, that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion."

The Gospel of Grace to be preached in all the world to every creature was under the Apostle Paul's authority. But when he had accomplished this, the end mentioned in Matthew 24:14, did not come. The end of the Apostle Paul's earthly ministry came. But he commissioned Timothy to go right on with the Grace message and program. But the Apostle Paul did not tell Timothy to put hands on the sick. Note carefully 1 Timothy 5:23, "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine oft infirmities."

If you will open your Bible and turn to the Book of Acts, you will read these headings, "Paul's First Missionary Journey.", "Paul's Second Missionary Journey", and "Paul's Third Missionary Journey". But you will NOT read of the Apostle Peter's first, second, or third, missionary journey or of the twelve apostles’. Why? Because they did not take any such journeys, according to the "Acts" record; they remained in Jerusalem. Acts 8:1, and Acts 15:1-3. How then could they have remained in Jerusalem and have preached the gospel to every creature in the world?

Note carefully the LORD's instructions to the Apostle Paul, "And it came to pass, that, when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; And saw Him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me. And I said, LORD, they know that I imprisoned and beat in every synagogue them that believed on Thee: And when the blood of Thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him. And He said unto me, Depart: for I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles."

As we carefully examine the Divine Record telling of the ministry of the twelve Apostles and the Apostle Paul, we learn why Paul said, "I am the apostle of the Gentiles." Romans 11:13. The language in Galatians 2:9 is very plain and any misunderstanding of the statement certainly seems inexcusable. Here is this plain statement, "And when James, Peter, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the Grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision."

Again the question, how could any student of the Scriptures teach that the twelve apostles even began the task of going into the entire world to preach the Gospel to every creature when they agreed to evangelize the Jews?

The Apostle Paul preached to many Jews in many different places, but he was peculiarly the LORD's special messenger to the Gentiles. Paul emphasized this fact time and again. 1 Timothy 2:7, 2 Timothy 1:11, and Ephesians 3:8.

Once again, THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH AS THE BODY OF CHRIST WAS NEVER MADE KNOWN IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES, NOR YET WHEN OUR LORD WAS ON EARTH. IT WAS HID. THE DIVINE METHOD OF MAKING IT KNOWN WAS BY A SPECIAL REVELATION TO THE APOSTLE PAUL, AS HE TELLS US IN EPHESIANS 3, COMMITTED TO HIM TO PASS ON TO THE SAINTS.

If there is to be a revival before the LORD Jesus comes for His Body, it will be when this glorious truth is brought from under the rubbish heap and ecclesiastical tradition.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

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Friday, July 15, 2011

LLM Question of the Day for 7-16-2011, and, Christian Fundamentalists, WAKE UP! Pt. 3 of 4

First the Question: The Mystery of the Church AS the Body of Christ was NEVER made known in Old Testament times, nor yet when our LORD was on Earth...it was HID. True or False?

Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 7-14-2011

Question: Water baptism was instituted by the LORD to take the place of circumcision. True or False?

Answer: FALSE! On this question, out of 713 responses, 75% of you got it right! Therefore,

Today let us consider, Christian Fundamentalists, WAKE UP! Pt. 3 of 4

UN-SCRIPTURAL OR UN-DISPENSATIONAL

Now, believe it or not, there are some terrific Christians who religiously practice the washing of feet. Are they Scriptural or un-Scriptural? There are some very nice Christians who religiously abstain from eating pork. Are they Scriptural or un-Scriptural? There are some splendid Christians who anoint the sick with oil, while others use blessed handkerchiefs. Are they Scriptural or un-Scriptural? There are some splendid Christians who tarry for the Holy Spirit after they have received Christ for salvation. There are many Christians who claim visions, angelic visitations, and that they hear supernatural voices. Are they Scriptural or un-Scriptural? There are thousands of Christians who break forth in some kind of a speech which they call the gift of tongues. Is it Scriptural or un-Scriptural to speak with tongues?

I wonder how many others of you Christian Pastors, preachers, and leaders, have any idea of the number of zealous, sincere Children of God who are troubled to know why Christian pastors and Bible teachers wholly ignore the truth of 1 Corinthians 12:28, "And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily, prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

And 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, "For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom: to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; to another Faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues."

They have the right to ask the question, "If God put them in the Body of Christ and if Christians in 2011 belong to the same Body, who has taken these gifted men out of the Body?"

Men who are God's Bible-teachers are stewards of the Mysteries of God. They should rightly divide the Word of Truth, and show from the Scriptures why the most carnal saints of the Apostle Paul's time exercised all of the sign-gifts, whereas the most spiritual and gifted Christian "Grace" preachers today do not even attempt to exercise one of these gifts. They simply ignore them without explanation or apology.

Members of the Body of Christ have the right to know whether or not they are to obey 1 Corinthians 14:39, 1 Corinthians 5:5, and 1 Corinthians 7:29. Here they are in order:

"Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues."

"To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the LORD Jesus."

"But this I say, brethren, the time is short; it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none."

And then…How much of the program of Acts 19:5-12 is for today ?

"When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the LORD Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied."

"And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul; so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them."

This was God's program for more than twenty years AFTER many of you Christian leaders claim that "the Dispensation of Grace" and "the Dispensation of the Mystery" began, (these “leaders” say they began on the Jewish Pentecost with the Twelve Apostles). What part of this program is for this present Dispensation of Grace?

We have here, in the above verses, the LAST Bible record of water baptism. Imposition of hands, Holy Spirit baptism, speaking with tongues, miraculous healings, FOLLOWED water baptism. Should we not insist on the complete program today as the Pentecostals do, OR at least give an INTELLIGENT Scriptural explanation as to what right we have to take just the water baptism (as do the Baptists and others) and drop everything else? When we find this explanation we shall find that we have no such right. But the Christians who have done this have followed sectarian, (denominational), creeds and human traditions instead of the Word of truth rightly divided.

So, I say again, "This is a Call for Fundamentalists to WAKE UP!"

Think of the wild fanaticism among the religious "healing" and "tongues" Christians. Ridicule and condemnation will NOT remedy the situation. God's antidote to this behavior is obedience to 2 Timothy 2:15, and Ephesians 3:9.

In our series of articles entitled, “LLM’s Rules” Especially Rule 7 “LLM’S SEVENTH RULE: KNOW THE ENLIGHTENING UNIFYING MYSTERY”, we have not only made the claim, but we have proven by the Scriptures that the understanding of Ephesians 3:1-11, (the unsearchable riches of Christ and the Enlightening Unifying Mystery), is God's curative for every ill and "ism" with which the Body of Christ is afflicted.

ARE YOU A FOLLOWER OF JESUS? REALLY??

Then Christian leaders say commonly that a Christian is one who follows Jesus Christ. So, let us read carefully Luke 2:21-22 and Luke 21:24, then Acts 2:39 and Acts 4:16. Here we see the infant Jesus and the Man Jesus. Are we to follow Him in circumcision? Are we to follow Him to the Jewish synagogue on the Jewish Sabbath? Note John 7:10 and Luke 22:11, "But when His brethren were gone up, then went He up unto the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret."

Jesus Christ was circumcised thirty years before He was baptized with water, and about thirty-four years before His Death Baptism. Luke 12:50. He was a Minister of the Circumcision. Romans 15:8. He was sent to the circumcision only. Matthew 15:24. He said unto His twelve apostles "go not into the way of the uncircumcision". John the Baptist baptized with water that Christ might be made manifest TO THE CIRCUMCISION. John 1:31.

All the time Jesus Christ was on earth the covenant of circumcision was in full force. Acts 7:8. Genesis 17:5-15. Note the attitude of the eleven apostles toward Peter because he preached to an uncircumcised man seven or eight years AFTER the Baptism of Christ on the cross, "They of the circumcision contended with Him saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised and didst eat with them." Acts 11:1-3.

Now note some years later how the Apostle Peter still feared the circumcision, "For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision." Galatians 2:12.

Then note what even the Apostle Paul did about that time, "Him (Timothy) would Paul have to go forth with him; and took and circumcised him because of the Jews which were in those quarters for they knew all that his father was a Greek." Acts 16:3.

From the day John the Baptist began to baptize with water until the day Peter baptized Cornelius and his household no man was baptized who had not first been circumcised. So we may be sure that the Eunuch of Acts Eight was a circumcised proselyte. As we compare Acts 19, where we find the last Scriptural record of a water baptism, with Acts 21, we learn that God's Book shows that circumcision was being practiced AFTER the last record of water baptism.

From THIS we see the absolute folly of teaching that water baptism was instituted by the LORD to take the place of circumcision.

Thousands of Children of God have been led into this erroneous teaching and accept the error as truth because they follow their Pastors, Preachers, and leaders, without following the example of the noble Bereans who searched the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were true. Then, to think of outstanding preachers who tremendously preach the Grace of God, and then immerse little infants in a bath tub and say little Israelitish infants were immersed in the Red Sea and we should immerse the infants of Christians in obedience to 1 Corinthians 10:1-10.

Think of a Christian pastor telling other Christians that he obeys all of the Bible, that he does not give some of it to the Jews and some to the Gentiles and some to members of the Body of Christ. Did not the LORD state positively that unless a man was circumcised he should be cut off from His congregation? Genesis 17:5-15. Was this not binding at the time the LORD Jesus Christ gave the commandments in the Sermon on the Mount, at the time He taught the "Our Father" prayer, and for some years thereafter?

Surely we are the victims of tradition and have substituted commandments of men for the doctrine of God rightly divided. Whenever a Christian leader holds on to a religious ceremony, he will interpret the Bible to defend his religious practice.

SHOULD WE FOLLOW THE LORD JESUS IN KEEPING THE PASSOVER?

"And ye shall say unto the goodman of the house, The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest chamber, where I shall eat the passover with My disciples?" Are we to follow the LORD Jesus and keep the Jewish feasts? We are told by some zealous religious leaders that we are to follow the LORD in baptism; but they seem never to have read Luke 12:50 and Colossians 2:11-12.

Circumcision is just as essential to salvation as is baptism. No one can get into heaven who has not been circumcised or baptized with the circumcision and the baptism of Colossians 2:11-12, "In Whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made WITHOUT hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; Buried with Him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the Faith of the operation of God, Who hath raised Him from the dead."

I am sure we are all agreed that since the days of the Apostles the human race has lived in God's Dispensation of Grace. We believe Romans 6:14, "ye are not under the law, but under Grace." We are sure that God's will concerning members of the Body of Christ, expressed in Colossians 2:16, is to be obeyed by these Body members, "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, (holiday), or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days."

Any spiritual intelligent Child of God knows that it is utterly impossible for him to obey this command in Colossians 2:16, and at the same time obey the command of the LORD Jesus, in Matthew 23:1-3, with respect to the authority of those who sat in Moses' seat.

The explanation is that, between the command of Matthew 23 and that of Colossians 2:16, the great event mentioned in Colossians 2:14 took place, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross."

Now let us compare Ephesians 4:32 with Matthew 6:14-15, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” compared to “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Do you see that one is Grace and the other is law? Now, note again Colossians 2:13 and Acts 13:39, and compare with Matthew 18:34-35. We quote these four verses:

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath He quickened together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses", and, "And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." Compared with, "And his LORD was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."

So, tell me, which is God's message for us in this Age of Grace?

THE RECOVERY OF TRUTH

Now pay attention, this is VERY Important! Let us remember that BEFORE John, the Apostle, died, the prophesied apostasy from the Faith had set in. By the end of the third Christian century the organized church had been plunged into spiritual darkness, which grew worse and worse until Luther's reformation. The fundamental doctrines of Christianity had been lost to the great majority of professing Christians. The church-leaders, for the most part, were unregenerate religious political rulers or religious men allied with ungodly political potentates. This condition prevailed for centuries. Christendom was in an awful spiritual state. Religious teachers had departed from sound doctrine.

Even the recovery of "justification by Faith" produced a tremendous reformation. The people who sat in darkness saw a great light. However, sadly, Luther and his co-laborers and followers recovered little or nothing of the truth of Ephesians and Colossians concerning the Body of Christ.

The church-leaders of the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries would have persecuted unto death Christians who would have dared to teach concerning the Body of Christ and the Gospel of Grace what "Grace" preachers are proclaiming today and what John Darby taught in his day.

Here is a quote from the writings of Pastor John Darby. This note is concerning the ONE Body of Ephesians,

"It is a great truth that the LORD is teaching many over again in the present day, after it has been buried in the rubbish of ecclesiastical traditions for centuries that God has a Church upon earth. It is our part then, not to be making churches, but to acknowledge what He has already made. The various churches spoken of in the New Testament are but severally the Church of God in such or such a place. Nothing is owned but this; the Church of God.

Membership is in this, and NOT in local bodies Into this membership man cannot admit, but the LORD only. Our part is only to bow to what He has done, and to receive one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God. Now all those making terms of admission is plainly out of the question, for we do not admit at all."

Even now, centuries after "The Reformation", how many Christian pastors, all of whom are supposed to be stewards of the Mysteries of God (1 Corinthians 4:1-4), are obeying Ephesians 3:9? "And to make all men see what is the Dispensation of the Mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God."

Be honest, servants of the LORD, Pastors, Preachers, and Leaders, are we to obey this command or ignore it? What are you doing about it? Christians will never enjoy the most blessed and glorious truth of the Bible, for them, until they see this.

The pastor, who branded as servants of Satan men of God who do not obey all the commands of the LORD (as mentioned in part 1 of this series of messages), and who himself ignores most of them, bitterly condemns and maligns and abuses God's servants who are Faithfully endeavoring to obey Ephesians 3:9, while he does absolutely nothing about it!

Note what Paul wrote in Colossians 4:2-4, "Continue in prayer and watch in the same with thanksgiving: Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the Mystery of Christ, FOR WHICH I am also in bonds; That I may make it manifest as I ought to speak."

This precious truth certainly got the Apostle Paul into plenty of trouble. Note what he wrote in 2 Timothy 2:9, "Wherein I suffer trouble as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the Word of God is not bound." Leaders among the Fundamentalists of today will certainly treat as "evil-doers" men of God who seek to follow the Apostle Paul as they are commanded to do.

If you are Faithful in proclaiming this precious truth today you will be in plenty of trouble. This is because of sectarian, (denominational), prejudice resulting from mixing man's traditions with God's truth, or by using some hit-and-miss, snatch-grab method to bring some of Israel's religious program over into "the Dispensation of Grace" (Ephesians 3:1-3), without exegesis, explanation, or apology. As a result of this practice, the Mystery is still a mystery.

THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH AS THE BODY OF CHRIST WAS NEVER MADE KNOWN IN OLD TESTAMENT TIMES, NOR YET WHEN OUR LORD WAS ON EARTH. IT WAS HID. THE DIVINE METHOD OF MAKING IT KNOWN WAS BY A SPECIAL REVELATION TO THE APOSTLE PAUL, AS HE TELLS US IN EPHESIANS 3, COMMITTED TO HIM TO PASS ON TO THE SAINTS.

How earnest was the Apostle Paul in seeking to lead Christians into the knowledge of this precious truth.

Now, read carefully: That this doctrine, so clearly revealed in the Scriptures, could have become so utterly lost is only to be accounted for by the Judaizing of the Body of Christ, and the consequent minding of earthly things that cloud up the heavenly ones.

AND, if this doctrine is NOT utterly lost on the many Pastors, Preachers, and Christian leaders out there, then they should be as earnest as was the Apostle Paul in seeking to lead Christians into the knowledge of this precious truth, instead of being a great hindrance to this truth. If the truth IS utterly lost to them, then it is because they have Judaized the Body of Christ and are minding earthly things. This is their own confession. But the explanation is that they came face to face with a decision. They had to make his choice; a tank of water for their baptism ceremony or the Proclamation of the Mystery. They must have decided that the water ceremony, their watery grave theory, was more precious than that truth that was so precious to the Apostle who said "Christ sent me not to baptize."

Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,

The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.

Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20)

Subscribe Here to the LLM Newsletter , Follow LLM on Twitter , Subscribe to LLM on Youtube , LLM on MySpace , and FaceBook

Thursday, July 14, 2011

LLM Question of the Day for 7-14-2011, and, Christian Fundamentalists, WAKE UP! Pt. 2 of 4

First the Question: Water baptism was instituted by the LORD to take the place of circumcision. True or False?

Please take a moment to respond at the LLM Question of the Day

And now the answer to the LLM Question of 7-12-2011

Question: To select the commands that you please from the Sermon on the Mount and then wholly ignore other commands is handling the Word of God deceitfully. True or False?

Answer: TRUE! On this question, with 629 responses, 100% got it right. Therefore,

Today let us consider, Christian Fundamentalists, WAKE UP! Pt. 2 of 4

Something is wrong with Bible teaching today. We do not obey such commands of the LORD Jesus as we find in Matthew 10:5-8 and we do not give any Scriptural explanation for our negligence or dis­obedience if we are guilty of either. If ever the LORD Jesus meant what He said, He meant it when He said and gave the command, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give."

Why is it that these dear brethren who claim to obey the orders of Christ wholly ignore these plain commands? They do not do one single thing included in this Divine command, and they cannot. They also, do not do one single thing to obey Ephesians 3:9. They could and they should. But instead they malign, ridicule, condemn, and dis-fellowship other brethren who use Ephesians 3:9 to show why they make no attempt to obey the great commission of Matthew 10:5-8, which was God's program in a former Dispensation, but which has no place in the LORD's present program, the Dispensation of Grace for members of the Body of Christ. Is it not a mark of ignorance for any Christian to say, "I am not a dispensationalist?”

So, let’s now quote some other commandments of the LORD Jesus and ask you if they are to be obeyed in this present dispensation?

SOME OTHER COMMANDMENTS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

"Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth."

"And He said unto His disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on,"

"And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind."

"But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for He is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”

"And He said unto them. Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece."

"If I then, your LORD and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet."

"And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away."

"Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal."

How interesting it would be to examine these type of Pastors and Preachers, in the presence of witnesses and say, "I understand you bitterly condemn other men who are saved by the Faith in the precious shed blood of the LORD Jesus Christ, because you say they do not obey the commands of the LORD Jesus Christ."

Now a few questions:

1) Have you sold your property and earthly possessions?

2) Do you take any thought for your life or lay up any treasures on earth? Have you a savings account in the bank?

3) Do you wash each other's feet?

4) Do you put any money in your purse when you go away to hold a religious meeting?

5) Do you take more than one coat?

6) Do you love your enemies or do you hate men that disagree with your faulty doctrine?

7) Do you give to him that asketh of thee?

I wonder if these brethren would be satisfied to have our Heavenly Father forgive them no more than they forgive Christians who disagree water baptism theories. They should really tremble when they read Matthew 18:34-35. But they can be SAVED from trembling by reading the "Grace" message of forgiveness in Ephesians 4:32. What a difference!

Yes, it would be interesting to ask the two brethren to whom we have referred why they do not obey Luke 12:33 and urge their hearers to do likewise, "Sell that ye have and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth."

"Neither was there any among them that lacked; for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need." Acts 4:34-35. "And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need." Acts 2:45.

These very same type of brethren erroneously teach that this present "Dispensation of Grace" began on the day of Pentecost. They get into no end of trouble because of this blunder. They consider that the first Church under the Apostle Peter's authority, was the ideal Christian Church. BUT, then the message and program should also be considered ideal, and they should preach Acts 2:38 and practice Acts 4:34-35. But they wholly disregard the division of property.

They present no Scriptural explanation for the elimination of many of the practices of Christ and His apostles from their spiritual program. They do not even offer an apology. And yet they condemn and ridicule and malign and dis-fellowship other men of God who likewise eliminate certain Kingdom messages, ordinances, and ceremonies from the present "Dispensation of Grace" but who present an intelligent Scriptural explanation for the difference between the program of The LORD Jesus Christ and the Twelve, and the program which the RISEN LORD Jesus Christ in Heaven gave through the Apostle Paul to SUPERCEDE His "Kingdom of Heaven" program. One of the very important commands which the LORD would have His servants obey is 2 Corinthians 4:2, "not handling the Word of God deceitfully.”

Now think for a moment of an intelligent man of God, who is considered an outstanding leader among Fundamentalists, a man, regarded as a gifted Bible teacher, making the statement that any person who does not obey the commands of Jesus Christ is a servant of the devil. If this brother really believes what he says, the very first command of the LORD Jesus he should obey is Matthew 5:23-24. He knows his brother has something against him and he has not gone to that brother to be reconciled. To him that knoweth to do right, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. If asked why he does not obey this, he would have to confess his disobedience or prove that that command belonged to a different dispensation.

Recently this same brother, who will remain nameless, is doing something that he never did before. He is coming out strong for the "Our Father" prayer. He states that this is the command of Christ. But the command we have just quoted is in the same sermon of Christ. Therefore, is it not handling the Word of God deceitfully to select what you please from the Sermon on the Mount and wholly ignore other commands? To say the least it is very inconsistent to practice one command and ignore the other.

THE KINGDOM SETTING OF THE KINGDOM PRAYER

Now, let us take a look at the "Kingdom of Heaven" setting of all these commands. The commands are in Matthew 5, and Matthew 6. Now note carefully Matthew 4:17-23, and Matthew 10:7-8:

"From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.", "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.”, "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received, freely give."

Does any intelligent preacher and teacher of the Grace of God, preach "the kingdom of heaven is at hand"? Certainly not! However, they definitely preach and teach that "that kingdom of heaven" has been postponed and that God's message today is Titus 2:11, "For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." Thus they claim to obey 2 Timothy 2:15 and prove that they are indeed dispensationalists.

So I ask, are these brothers servants of Satan because they do not obey Matthew 10:8? Suppose some evangelist would stand in his pulpit and condemn Dispensationalism, and say with the radio messenger to whom we have referred prior, "I believe the whole Bible is for us to obey and practice. So, in the series of meetings, which I am to conduct here we shall take the message and program of Matthew 10:8 during my stay". The evangelist would not even be permitted to finish his first message. Why? Because, "the kingdom of heaven" is not at hand. The brother couldn't heal the sick, or couldn’t raise the dead, or cast out demons, or cleanse the lepers. Did not the LORD give that command, and mean it? Did not the apostles obey it?

However, Is it for us today? How about the credentials of a Christian in Mark 16:17-18? Who practices those signs in this Age of Grace? What became of those signs? God has an answer. God's servants should know God's answer!

If a Christian worker owns several suits of clothes, has a savings account in the bank, owns real estate, stores fuel and food in the cellar for the winter, and refuses to give money to someone who asks him, is he not breaking the commandments of Christ? Does that mean that he is a servant of Satan?

Note the positive and definite command of Christ in Luke 24:49, "Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." Since those disciples lived before the advent of the Holy Spirit and we live in this Day of Grace, is any kind of a tarrying meeting, in any city, in order today? Absolutely NOT! When we have the Scriptural explanation as to why we do not have to tarry for the Holy Spirit, do we not have God's Dispensational Principle by which we interpret, appropriate, and apply the Scriptures in obedience to 2 Timothy 2:15? "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth."

Again referring to that petition in the "Our Father" prayer, (which is, dispensationally, a "kingdom" prayer), "forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors", how could either of the brethren to whom we have referred ever get into heaven, if God condemned them for their unforgiving spirit as well as for their utter inconsistencies in taking two or three of Christ's commands and entirely ignoring thirty or forty of them?

If ye keep the whole law and offend in one point ye are guilty of all. Remember, was not the Anathema of God pronounced upon the religious preachers who mixed Law with Grace? Galatians 1:7-9. Note carefully Matthew 6:15, "But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Now in the name of the LORD, I challenge these types of Pastors, Preachers, teachers, and brethren of today to prove by the scriptures, that they were sincere or Scriptural in the statements they made, "I take the whole Bible" "it is all for me to obey I do not divide the Bible up, and give some to the Jews and some to the Gentiles".

I am reminded of Shakespeare's words, "my words fly up, my thoughts remain below; words without thoughts never to heaven go." (The King in Hamlet).

Men of God should be very careful about misrepresenting the LORD's WORD and His Ministers.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” Acts 16:31, while there is still time!

So There You Have it!

Spread this message to everyone you know, far and wide. The time is short

Grace be to you and peace, from God: our Father, and The LORD Jesus Christ.

In The LORD Jesus Christ,
The Lion and Lamb Ministry

Pastor David Picos, D.D.
Minister and Ambassador for Christ in the Ministry of Reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18-20

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