A TESTIMONY by Jonathan Israel , www.ConnectionMagazine.org
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Jesus is not coming back for religious institutions or organizations. He is not returning for denominational or non-denominational churches. So, where or how do we worship and who is Jesus returning for?
The Lord Jesus spoke with a Samaritan woman at Jacob's well; the conversation was very telling and eye-opening regarding true worship. The Samaritan woman thought knowing the right place of worship was of utmost importance and her primary question for Jesus; however, He revealed that it's not about the right place to worship but something more important.
The woman asked Jesus, "Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem."
NEITHER HERE, NOR THERE
"Woman," Jesus replied, "believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor yet in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews (House of Judah). Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in Truth, for THEY ARE THE KIND of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in Truth." (John 4:20-24)
Jesus revealed it's not about the place of worship; rather, it's about the kind of worship that's of primary importance to our Father, God. Essentially, Jesus clearly told her that the right place of worship is neither here nor there. The TRUE worshipers of the Lord MUST worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Yes, this is an absolute MUST!
AN INVITATION TO FOLLOW
Thirty-eight years ago, when Jesus began knocking on the door of my heart with an invitation to repent of my sins and follow Him, my first question for Him was similar to the Samaritan woman: "Please show me the right religion or church so I can serve you."
You see, I was raised in a family of catholics that lived as carnal and worldly as our neighbors who had no connection with a religion or church organization. I inherently knew this was NOT of Jesus, who is Holy and TRUTH incarnate. So, somehow in my young mind I thought I could only truly serve Jesus if I only knew of the right place to go; the right religion or church group to join.
CHURCH OF KNOWLEDGE AND GOOD WORKS
My wife and I spent our first 30 years as seekers and followers of Jesus by learning how NOT to worship the Lord. In the first eight years of our faith in Jesus, we found ourselves loosely connected to a so-called church that had a heavy emphasis on Scripture knowledge and taught we can earn our salvation by sharing the Gospel. While there was a strong emphasis on Scripture and good works, there was a lack of faith in the finished work of Jesus, and very little to no understanding of God's gift of the Holy Spirit and power.
While all true followers of Jesus are to share the good news of the Gospel of Jesus with our neighbors, acquaintances and family members, sharing the Gospel of Jesus is NOT for the purpose of earning forgiveness and salvation; rather, the true Gospel reveals we are saved by faith when we receive and accept the sacrificed life of Jesus on the cross as total propitiation for our sins. A free gift that can never be earned or deserved.
Scripture says that once we repent of our sins and receive the salvation by grace through faith in Jesus, we are then invited to apply ourselves to love and good works.
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus UNTO good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2;10)
"Jesus gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." (Titus 2:14)
So, our willingness to do good works is not an attempt to earn salvation, but simply a response to willingly obey and please the Lord who died for our sins, as we eagerly follow Him; his word and Holy Spirit, which always agree.
A ministry focused on head knowledge and works but denies the Holy Spirit power and manifesting influence, will embrace a skewed and carnal understanding of God's truth and ways.
The mind void of the Holy Spirit is hostile to God's truth. "For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace...The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." (Romans 8:6&7)
CHURCH OF SPIRITUALITY
My wife and I eventually moved on and for about the next seven years we became more connected with a so-called church that had a very strong emphasis on the "Holy Spirit" and faith. However, the members were largely Biblically illiterate and filled with many fornicators. Sure, they knew how to shout and dance unto the Lord; however, many displays of worship were carnal or fleshly motivated. Many of those shouting the loudest and jumping the highest were living compromised lives of sin.
There was a strong emphasis on sharing prophetic words; however, the whole council of the Lord was lacking as Scripture was regularly forsaken; not taught. Rather than turning people from their sin, they would prophecy peace and victory to those living in error. Under the guise of ministering by the Holy Spirit, there would often be a use of flattery, smooth words and the occasional misuse of God's promises. This would tickle ears and placate flesh but not truly deliver people from the power of sin. While there were moments of grace when the Holy Spirit of the Lord would show up, in the end, the work there did NOT line up with Holy Scripture; which is the foundational council of prophets, apostles and Jesus. So, most were left powerless over sin.
Recently, just a few months ago, they closed their doors.
The true church of Father God is "built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone..." (Ephesians 2:20)
A ministry focused on spirituality disguised as the Holy Spirit without the word (Scripture) of the Lord is also powerless to help raise up mature strong and victorious disciples for Jesus.
"Woe to the foolish prophets, who follow their own spirit and have seen nothing!" (Ezekiel 13:3)
"For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple." (Romans 16:18)
CHURCH OF WORLDLY PROSPERITY
My wife and I were eventually led of the Lord to then connect with a so-called church that had a seemingly just balance of both Scripture as well as the Holy Spirit, but in a very elementary way. However, over roughly the next seven or eight years, we saw the group slide into falsehood in the name of Jesus.
More and more, the emphasis became learning how to obtain worldly prosperity and earthly success in the name of Jesus, rather than faithfulness, godliness, holiness and obedience. At this time, we began to see the power of the Holy Spirit recede. We watched as the Holy Spirit gifts were purposely marginalized for the purpose of not offending newcomers, and eventually replaced with entertainment skits for the flesh. Success and prosperity were the goals, so the word of the Lord was then twisted to accommodate the message.
The Lord warned all of us, "No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You can not serve God and mammon (money and earthly gain)." (Matt. 6:24)
"For the love of money is the ROOT of all evil:" (1 timothy 6:10)
We were led out of that so-called church about 15-years ago, and have since watched as the root of that so-called church produced it's unholy fruit. The so-called leader of the group and his son were charged with pedophilia. Recent news reports reveal the he eventually plead guilty to a lesser charge of child endangerment in exchange for his agreement to never minister again.
"Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah." (Jude 1:11)
Regarding those who preach worldly success and earthly gain, they are "men of corrupt minds and destitute of the TRUTH, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such WITHDRAW yourself." (1 Tim 6:5)
SUMMARY: CHURCH OF BABYLONIAN ROOTS
The Roman government created the religion of catholcism, which is the first beast cited in Revelation, literally ruled both politically and religiously, the ancient world of Europe for almost 1,300 years. From the Sixth to Eighteenth Centuries, the Roman Government's cathololic religion forced people to turn from tradition and doctrine in Scripture. Reportedly they tortured multitudes and killed over 500-thousand people. When the catholic church split during what is called Martin Luther's reformation, the world was left with 'catholocism original' and 'catholocism light', which, today, is known as protestant christianity.
Today's formal so-called 'protestant churches' are mostly a mix, mingled group of many religious organizations and denominations having Babylonian teachings in origin, (the Babylonian sabbath of Sunday in honor of the Babylonian sun-god; mix, mingled Babylonian pagan holy-days of catholocism's Christ-mass as well as their Easter, which is in honor of the Babylonian goddess of fertility and her egg laying rabbit; the Laity system of clergy/laity where you must go to the Lord through a man, etc...)
Sadly, many of the modern traditions and doctrines of what is now identified as "churches" or "denominations" are contrary to the holy word of the prophets, apostles and Jesus as written in Scripture.
True believers are instructed to stay away from those so-called believers who deny the word, doctrine, power and tradition in Scripture.
"WITHDRAW yourselves from every brother that walks disorderly, and NOT after the tradition (Scripture) which he received of us." (2 Thess. 3:6)
Those who forsake Scripture are in grave error and sin. "The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule by their own power; And My people love to have it so. But what will you do in the end?" (Jeremiah 5:31)
True followers of Jesus are instructed to depart from those who have a FORM (formality) of godliness, but deny the power thereof: from such TURN AWAY. (2 Tim. 3:5)
We've been warned and instructed... "Come out of her (Mystery Babylon), my people, lest you share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues." (Revelation 18:4)
WE ARE NOW FREE!
Yes! We have the liberty and freedom to worship Jesus directly without a man as the mediator. Scripture confirms Jesus is our ONLY mediator.
1 Tim. 2:5, "For there is one God, and ONE mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"
And Jesus promised us, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them." Matthew 18:20
JESUS IS RETURNING FOR HIS TRUE....
No! Jesus is NOT coming back for religious institutions or organizations. He is NOT returning for denominational or non-denominational churches.
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