Old Landmark Ministry

Good morning from overcast Lapu-Lapu City.

Today we are looking at persecution; what it is, and is America experiencing it, yet?

Over the course of my over 50 year walk with Christ I have heard many of my fellow Americans talk about how we are being persecuted.

To which my first thought is always, “Come on, do we really understand what persecution is?”

And why?

Simple, has anyone had all their possessions ceased and been sent to a camp?

Not yet, but we will!

Have any yet been beaten or stoned as Paul was, “Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned,,,”? (2 Corinthians 11:24-25)

Not yet, but we may yet!

Has any of our family or friends been beheaded?

Not unless they lived in the Middle East, but such things will be coming to the so-called “free-world!”

We American Christians, and yes I include myself, are basically a soft, pampered, spoiled church!

If someone calls us an idiot for sharing the gospel with them our tendency is to say of that rejection “I was persecuted.”

No, they are simply exercising their freedom of speech and we can exercise our freedom to not listen.

“They persecuted me at work, they fired me!”

Oh really, or were you actually fired for talking about Jesus all the time, which was NOT in your job description, instead of working?

You see as humans we have a tendency to internalize everything and always make it about us and what we are experiencing and then tell it in a way that makes us look our “best.”

The reality as a believer it is ALWAYS about Him and what we truly endure for His sake.

But let us continue.

God has prepared many for what is ahead; in my case, for the first four and a half months after getting saved I read the Bible 4-8 hours a day, 7 days a week; no TV, no other reading; and, radio only for Christian music to and from work and J\. Vernon McGee’s “Through the Bible” with my lunch.

After the half months Shortly after getting saved I read Richard Wurmbrand’s “Tortured for Christ” and “Foxes Book of Martyrs;” and, the Holy Spirit spoke to my spirit and said, ”The catching away will happen in your lifetime but only after you see that same persecution happening in America!”

And, no it was NOT a subjective reaction to the two books I read, it was a burning conviction deep in my soul that has only grown in strength through continual study of Scripture and comparing that knowledge with world events.

We Americans tend to look at the SCOTUS decisions of 1965, 1973 and now 2015 and say “We are being persecuted!”

Yes, they did in fact remove our religious right from the class room, legalize murder and finally legalize abominable marriages.

But allow me to offer you another thought, all these things is simply the NWO paving the way for true persecution.

In my well observed opinion he next SCOTUS decision will be to totally eradicate freedom of speech and make teaching Scripture and evangelizing the lost a Federal offense THEN we will see the true “beginning of sorrows.”

Obama came close with his “hate speech” law; and SCOTUS ever more increasingly epitomizes, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)

But as God is NOT mocked they will reap “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)

And that WILL be a mighty harvest “For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind:” (Hosea 8:7a)

We may never see people burned at the stake or fed to the lions but we will see more and more Christians beheaded or otherwise slain, Jesus said so in His signs of the times warning, “For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.” (Matthew 24:7-9 and Mark 13:7-9)

And, no, that was NOT just a warning to His disciples 2,000 years ago.

But, ah yes, that ubiquitous BUT, take heart, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37)

So simply continue “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) “And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws nigh.” (Luke 21:28)

So, what do we do as we await the inevitable?

Pray for our brothers and sisters who ARE being persecuted in other parts of the world, “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.” (Hebrews 13:3)

And, encourage one another, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11) ~ Baruch HaShem Adonai

A welcome sunny morning in the midst of the raininy season here in Lapu-Lapu City!

In today’s devotion we are looking at the question, “Are you a scripture cherry-picker?”

I was guilty of that, but very early on in my Christian walk with God the Holy Spirit revealed to me that it was at least “taking away from God’s word” and depending on what I was using to it support I might actually be guilty of “adding to God’s word.”

That was a novice trait; and we are all supposed to “mature” out of them.

How?

The same way I did, by studying God’s word the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 2:15)!

In doing so God revealed to me that a verse is NOT merely a thought but is one in a flowing revelation of God’s complete continuous thoughts.

There were a number of verses God spoke to me through in that growth process.

The very first was “For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: and if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:18-19)

As I pondered and meditated on that it soon became evident that God was speaking specifically the revelation He gave John, he said “this book” not Scripture.

So there was need for more reflection, certainly it seemed to be the principle for all scripture although that verse could only be used “accurately” to reveal that John was addressing the revelation God had given to him regarding the last days.

Now the gears were turning, so if God’s principle is “do not add to or take away from any scripture” it should be supportable by other scriptures otherwise my very attempt to support that might lead to my being guilty of adding to or taking away from scripture.

A quandary indeed; but as God does not create quandary (confusion) but rather clears up the ones man creates my studies led me on.

The next thing that caught my attention was, "But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15:9, Mark 7:7, Colossians 2:22)

Whoa!

That was Jesus talking to false teachers 2000 years ago, and it is impossible for man to create a doctrine contrary to God’s without taking away from and/or adding to God’s Holy Scripture.

The skeleton had taken shape but more meat was needed to make a strong case.

Next the Holy Spirit focused me on, “God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou might be justified in thy sayings, and might overcome when thou art judged."(Romans 3:4)

Powerful words, in other words ANYTIME I say anything contrary to scripture I am in point of fact a liar!

Those verses were followed up by, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie,” (Titus 1:2a); “Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” (Psalm 119:89); “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Even Solomon understood God’s doctrine, “Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” (Proverbs 30:6)

There are many more as well; but, we must hasten on.

What had the Holy Spirit done for me?

Well upon reflection there were three things: first, through a preponderance of evidence (scriptures) He had proven it is clearly taught we are not to add to or take away from ANY scripture.

Second, He taught me an attribute of God, He cannot lie!

And third, He laid the foundation for God’s immutability, His attribute that He cannot change.

And the Holy Spirit taught me all this years before I attended Bible School and formally studied “The Attributes of God.”

So let us NOT be found guilty of lying against God by taking scripture out of context and creating a doctrine that has nothing to do with God.

In other words, do not fill your cup with your personal cherries; while they may “appear” to prove your point at the moment; it just may not pass the test of agreeing with God! ~ Baruch HaShem Adonai

On this sunny Lapu-Lapu City morning we come to our last thoughts on the “How much mores” of scripture, “Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? 1 Corinthians 6:3)

When it comes to judging, people fall into three camps; but, in two of those camps people do NOT follow scripture!

Oh yes, they follow “A” scripture; but NOT ALL scripture.

In the first camp is “Do NOT judge!”

We have all seen it, post a single thing about someone speaking heresies and all they offer is, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1); taken out of context!

Then someone in camp two often fires back with our “How much more” verse for today; again, taken out of context.

But, as with most controversies over scripture; there is a far left that is wrong; a far right that is wrong; and, a narrow road in between where people are Bereans and see what God ACTUALLY says on the topic!

Yes, we know that Paul queried, "Who art thou that judges another man's servant? to his own master he stands or falls. Yea, he shall be hold up: for God is able to make him stand." (Romans 14:4)

James commented, "There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who are you that judge another?" (James 4:12)

And, each of us WILL stand before the judgment seat of Christ, “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why do you set at nought your brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.” (Romans 14:10)

But, Paul also tells us, “But he that is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.” (1 Corinthians 2:15)

Note that is all things NOT people.

As has aptly been said, “We judge what is produced, Jesus does any necessary pruning.”

And, as “fruit inspectors,” we have been given strict guidelines.

So we MUST go beyond simply “Judge not,” and see ALL that Jesus said in that flow, first know that when we judge we ARE setting ourselves to the same standard, “For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.” (Matthew 7:2)

Thus it behooves us to NOT condemn others but forgive them,
Let us look at this verse again, “Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:” (Luke 6:37)

Tt also means that we MUST FIRST judge our own sins, "And why do you behold you the mote that is in your brother's eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3)

At times we have all gotten something in our eye and it becomes irritated and waters, causing temporary myopia, or distorted vision.

That is why Jesus used it as an illustration; not to not judge, but rather to make sure we can see clearly first, otherwise we are a hypocrite, “You hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of your own eye; and then you shall see clearly to cast out the mote out of your brother's eye.” (Matthew 7:5)

The problem is appearances (sight) that most people to go on but Jesus said, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” (John 7:24)

Additionally, although FEW churches follow scripture we ARE told believers should bring issues to believers so they can “judge” which is right.

That is the context in which Paul said how much more, “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints? Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?” (1 Corinthians 6:1-3)

Finally, whenever we are dealing with another persons sins we must not only take care of our own sins first; but, we MUST be humble and, remember the objective is restoration NOT condemnation, “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1) ~ Baruch HaShem Adonai