Lois Crigger writing on MAKING OF MINISTERS

[Pastor Gary Clark]

The Making of Ministers

No Other Doctrine


Since the beginning of the Gospel, preached by Christ and sent forth through the Apostles to be taught to all nations, (i.e. Nationalities), man has consistently altered, diluted and manipulated the Scriptures. Today, the Christian Church world is divided by thousands of denominational doctrines and continues to divide as they compete for membership, financial gain and popularity (or fame).

Virtually, all denominational doctrines have complicated any distinguishable differences between the Spiritual and the physical, through which they strongly imply that all things Spiritual are obtained through increased human ability and comprehension as the means by which God operates in our lives. Through this deception, today’s Christian ministers have placed all responsibility for obtaining from God upon the backs of their congregations, rather than ministering to the needs of their congregations.

For example: Religious doctrines in existence today have lured their congregations away from the Spiritual works of God, by portraying all works consistent to the Scriptures as physical, to be performed by our abilities to obtain or perform, strongly implying that no one can obtain or perform these works until God has given them the abilities and knowledge to do so, while repeatedly hammering their congregations with Philipians 4:13, where Paul makes the statement “I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me,” by which they deceive their congregations into believing they can do it all. They always site any failure to achieve as a lack of faith of the individual, deferring all responsibility from the minister, the ministry, the Church or religious organization.

Through denominational doctrines, the responsibilities of the ministers to perform the works of the Gospel have been abolished. These doctrines place these responsibilities upon the backs of the members of the congregations to obtain for themselves those things the Lord would freely give through the ministering works of the Gospel.

There are literally hundreds of denominational and religious organizations around the world today. Many of those which have cropped up in the past fifty years tend to be based on sensationalism and hype to stimulate excitement among their congregations. This excitement is passed off as the moving of the Spirit of God among them. In stirring up enthusiasm and excitement, they have lured thousands into their congregations. The purpose being the more members they can gather into their congregations, the larger the offerings. Their doctrines are also serve to create false hope based on empty promises. In that if their listeners, members or followers are made to feel good and welcome adversities with a hope of a “some day soon” solution, and continue to support their ministries the Lord will fill their needs. Through these doctrines, they convince the people that God does not work in our time frame. Therefore, he will fill their needs in his own time as long as they remain faithful and obedience and hold on. To stop supporting the ministers will result in the loss of the means by which God will fill their needs, indicating that the lack of support for the ministers is a direct relation to the lack of faith.

While, many of the newer religious organizations lean toward this sensationalism and hype, the older generations still cling to the former guilt and scare tactics; or as many like to say, “preaching hell and it hot.”

Matthew 10:7-10

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.

Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass for your purses.

Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.

Luke 10:8-9

But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:

And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come unto you.

Luke 22:35

And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing.

Here we find that when Christ sent out the ministers, he first told them to take nothing for their journey, then, he made it very clear what he meant. They were not to take a change of clothes, or previsions, or money. Then when they got there, they were to take only what was set before them. He did not tell them to ask anything of the people above that. Yet, they lacked nothing.

Today, most ministers will ask their home congregations to fund their trips. But, before they go, they will make sure it will be worth their while. They want to know if the congregation they are traveling to and their donations will be large enough to be profitable for them to make the trip. They will pack their bags, make sure they have plenty of money, (i.e. after soliciting their home congregations for the funds), they will pack up all their equipment and their bands and singers and anyone that will to do the work to load up, unpack, set up and take down the equipment. Finally, they will not leave the place without having given their messages on giving and asking for more donations to help fund their ministries.

Through the manipulation of the Scriptures, man has changed the instructions given by Christ. One of the most popular is the account of the widows who gave two pennies, all she has, found in Mark 12 and Luke 21, ignoring the account of the good Samaritan, found in Luke 10, which gave the same amount to care for the man that fell among thieves that stripped him of his good and left him half dead. This amount, two pennies, was to take care of the man until his return, which he implied should be sufficient, but if not he would repay the amount that went over.

Also, stirring away from the point that Christ made when comparing the amount that the widow had to give with the amount that the Scribes had to give and the purpose for which the offerings were intended. The original purpose for offerings was to provide for strangers that entered among them, and for the widows and orphans and for those that did labor among them. However, rather than use the offerings for their intended purpose, the Scribes and Pharisees took up offering for their own gain. They had exalted themselves as lords over the people to drain the people of all their substance. Rather than provide for the widow, they took from her.

This is only one of many deceptions created by denominational doctrines to lure people’s attention away from the ministers and their responsibilities given by Christ through his own example, to his disciples as the first ordained ministers, whom he left in his stead to carry this Gospel of the Kingdom of God to a lost and dying world. When Christ said, “…this gospel shall be preached unto all the world as a witness to all nations; and then shall the end come.” He was not talking about the gospel being preached by the denominations and religious organizations in the world today. He was talking about the Gospel he preached.

Galatians 1:9

As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Through the instructions given by Christ to the disciples in what they were to do and say as the first to go forth into the lost and dying world, and through the testimonies of the Apostles letters concerning their ministry, we can clearly see that they followed his instructions. Through both Christ and the Apostles, we should also understand that it was never intended for these instructions to be changed or altered in any way. But, this Gospel was to continue to be taught and practiced, just as Christ demonstrated, to the end.

True miracles are very rare today. Most happenings considered to be miracles can easily be explained and/or duplicated through human efforts by human ability or human knowledge. Christ being our example, stated that he did nothing, but it was his Father in him that did the works. His works consistently astounded the people, as there was no human explanation of how these things happened. For example, there was no explaining how Christ, being a man like everyone else, could speak with such authority that even the wind and sea obeyed him. These astounding works continued with the Apostles, for which Paul explained that it was by the demonstration of the Power and Spirit of God by which he preached, and by the effectual working of the mighty Power of the Spirit of God in him.

We must get back to the example given by Christ. In order to do so, there are many things that must be reinstated in the manner of preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and the ministry or works of the Gospel. We must come to know what it means to be a minister of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. We know who does the ministering and what their works are.

There are many teachings, ideas, philosophies, theories and personal preferences that have infiltrated the church world even from the times of the Apostles, have taken a stronghold that must be revealed as the deceptions they really are. The stronghold these deceptions have in today’s Christian Churches will not be easily broken. Just as it was in the days of Christ and the Apostles. The Prophets and the Law had been so distorted through deception, that the people stood in fear of the Scribes, the Pharisees and the high Priests because their teachings.

Let me give you and example. Paul loved God with all his heart. He was the son of a Pharisee. He was zealous in the Law. Because he loved God and was zealous in the Law, he sincerely believed that the teachings of Christ were against God, whom he loved, and the Law that he so faithfully obeyed. He loved God so much that he was ready to stand up and fight for what he believed to be right and on the side of God. Therefore, he sought legal permission to go out and destroy that which he believed was against God and the Law. Paul is an example of how someone can love God with all his heart, but be believing wrong doctrines. Therefore, we must show special attention to those things that lead the people to believe that it is OK to accept any and all denominational doctrines as a means of getting along, or coming together in one accord. This deception serves only to create the heap of confusion that is coming out of the Christian churches today. These teachings is utterly tossing people to and fro by every wind of doctrine.

Yes, one of the first things that must be done is that we must come to agreement, but this does not mean that you agree with me, and that I agree with you, but that we all agree with Christ. Until we have the mind of Christ in us; we cannot represent him. Christ was not tolerable of the way God and the Law was being taught in those days, because the Scribes, Pharisees and High Priests, (ministers of those days), had manipulated the Scriptures that they may use it for their own gain. The Scribes, Pharisees and High Priests of those days has exalted themselves above the people that the people were to serve them. They drained the people of all their substance, taking all that they had and casting away those people that had nothing left for them to take, and imprisoning those that protested against them.

These changes had taken place so gradually that there was none with the understanding of the Scriptures or access to the Scriptures to show them. Consequently, they did not know the truth and didn’t recognize their own Savior when he stood in front of them. It is the same now as it was then. Changes have taken place so gradually over 100s of years that many today like those in Christ’s day, can merely tell about him rather than reveal him. In this, they can only tell others what we have been taught, not able to know him.

Through the ministry of Christ the first ministry team was raised up to go forth to make disciples of men. Out of these disciples were to come more ministers to go forth to do the same. In the raising up of the first ministry team, everything from the remission of sins, to the being endued with the Power from on high was ministered to them by the operation of the Power of the Spirit of God. Healing, deliverance from unclean spirit, freedom from captivity, sight to the blind, strength to the lame, and providing for the hungry and thirsty was performed by the Power of the Spirit of God.

There were many seeking to capitalize off the new found Christian doctrines, even in the days of the Apostles, false prophets, evil seducers and wicked men came out of the woodworks to lure away the people to follow after them. Christ and the Apostles warned against them. Having no power to perform the works of the Gospel, they devised doctrines which placed blame for their failures on the people such as those claiming that if someone didn’t receive anything, it is because they didn’t have faith, or have sin in their lives or something in their passed that they haven’t forgiven or received forgiveness for. Despite these warnings, these false doctrines continued and grew, gradually diminishing the power in the Churches to simple human efforts. They have turned the works of the Gospel, baptism, laying hands on, anointing with oil to meaningless rituals, ceremonies and religious acts accomplishing nothing. They have reconstructed altars and instituted confession and profession to replace the washing away of sins by baptism and the gift of life (the Holy Ghost) by the laying on of hands. They have presented the movement of the Spirit as the stirring of emotions, whether enthusiasm, excitement or tears to replace the healing of the sick and casting out devils.

Therefore, when we go before them with the truth, they are not going to accept it. Not many will hear, see or understand the importance of getting back to the doctrines of Christ. Many think that we must get along with each other, no matter what denomination or religion we are. We must realize that in every deception there is just enough truth to make it believable. We must put a distinction between the false and the true. Christ was not tolerable of the Scribes and Pharisees in his day. Neither were these Apostles tolerable of those that came into the churches to lure the people away to follow after them. These were religious people, scholars and priests. They were deceiving the people, and using their doctrines, and beliefs to do so. It’s the same today. We have many Bible scholars, well-known evangelists and well-established religious organizations, just like they had in those days. Yet, just as it was then, many have been lured away from the truth unknowingly by them, so much that many are not searching for the truth, because they believe they have it already, and believe in what they have. Just as it was in those days, they will proclaim their willingness to fight for what they believe, and will.

I Corinthians 1:11-13

For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe that there are contentions among you.

Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.

Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Here we see one of the first attempts to divide the Church according to beliefs, changing the ministries of these apostles, Paul, Apollos, and Cephas into separate doctrines, rather than seeing them as a unified work toward the single cause of Christ, each having a part. Each part joined together for the one cause, unified the Church. Yet, by their separation of these parts, they divided the Church at Corinth, causing contentions, while claiming to be of Christ. This is what a denomination does. It accepts only part and cast the rest aside as not being important or necessary. Each denomination has its own personal belief system concerning any aspect of the Scriptures. Rather than recognize the errors or their beliefs and prevent others from pointing out their errors, they have deemed it OK to believe what you want and the way you want, just let them do the same.

We must understand that Christ and the apostles outlined the steps that must be taken for one to be saved, which we will cover later on, and that there is no other alternative. Therefore, we must not accept the changes in the method of repentance, nor the method of baptism, nor the method by which one is given the gift of life included in the outline given by Christ and the Apostles. There are no short cuts. When Paul said, “I beseech ye brethren, that there be no divisions among you,” Paul was making an urgent appeal. It was never intended for the Church to be divided in the hundreds of little pieces that we know today as denominations and religious organizations.

It is my hope that in these writings, that at least some will open their eyes to see and their ears to hear. It is my hope to show the common entities which err in most denominational doctrines today, and to reveal the deceptions which draw people to them. My hope is that there will be a people that will be separated from these doctrines of men to join together to bring forth the true body of Christ. Christ is not coming back for body parts. He is not looking for a hand, or a foot, or an elbow. He is looking for his body, his whole body, having every part properly joined together and fully functioning.

It is my hope that out of this teaching will come the true ministry to carry the Divine Banner of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, preached first by Christ Jesus unto the all the world. It is the Gospel by which God’s works will be wrought, glorious and magnificent, to the astonishment of all once again. It will not come through one well-known figure, or popular denomination or religious organization, but by many working together as one body, rather than a conglomeration of body parts that cannot be joined because of personal differences. AMEN

Chapter One

Understanding the Ministry of the Gospel


Before anyone enters any position as a minister of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, there are several questions that must first be answered and understood to the fullest. Before one can begin to understand the ministry of the Gospel, one must understand what it truly means to ‘preach’ the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Below is a list of questions that one must seriously consider:

What is the difference between telling the truth and making the truth know?

What is the difference between testifying and bearing witness?

What is the difference between telling the good news and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God?

What is the difference between the Scriptures and the Word of God?

If we are to answer and fully understand the correct answers to these questions, we must first earnestly ask ourselves, “Has God changed?”

The original definition of the word ‘preach’ is: The manifestation and impartation of the rewards of good news. Herein lays the differences between telling the truth and making the truth known and between testifying and bearing witness.

Many have changed the definition of the word ‘preach’ to simply: Telling the good news. With this change alone, it would lead us to believe that the rewards of good news are the good news itself. This good news is commonly thought among virtually all denominations as simply be that Christ died for our sins, and if we confess our sins and ask him to forgive us, we will have eternal life in Heaven someday. That is after we die, if Christ does not come back first.

The original definition above does not in any way imply that the good news is the rewards, but that the good news tells of these rewards. Therefore, to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is to manifest the rewards the goods news tells us about.

So, what is the good news and the rewards contained therein?

Matthew 8:16 and 17

When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:

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

Isaiah, or Esaias, (the Greek spelling), spoke of Christ’s coming, as did many of the Prophets. This was the good news. They spoke of the good Shepherd, the redeemer, the coming Savior, a reigning king that when he came, he would have healing in his wings and his rewards would be in his hands. They told of all the things he would do when he came and the things that he would cause to happen. This was the good news. All the things they said he would do and cause to happen are the rewards of that good news. When Christ came, he fulfilled all the prophecy, all the promises, all the truth, all the Word spoken of him by the prophets. He manifested and imparted the rewards contained in the prophecies spoken by the Prophets and the promises spoken by God. He “preached” the Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

Notice here in the sixteenth verse that he cast out the spirits with his word. Christ did not just speak a true word, he made that truth known. He preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Instead of saying something that is true, what he spoke became a reality. It became truth. This is called manifesting. For example: It is true that the Lord God can heal the sick. It is true that God has the power to heal the sick. If you believe these things, you believe the truth. If you tell these things to others, you are telling the truth. If you ask others to believe it, you are asking them to believe the truth. However, making the truth known is that the sick are actually healed by the power of God.

Anyone professing to be a minister of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, must have the Power of the Spirit God working in him, effectually. He must be able to perform by the Spirit of God, and accomplished the works of God.

Matthew 4:23

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.

Here, we see two things he did. First, he taught in their synagogue. Secondly, he preached the Gospel of the Kingdom. But, we also see something else. We see what happened when he preached the Gospel. He healed all manner of sickness and disease among them. Thus, we see here that when he preached, he did not tell about healing. He performed the healing. We also see the difference between teaching and preaching. To teach is to testify of what we know. To peach is to bear witness of what we know.

It is true that Christ was born of a virgin. It is true that he was born in a manger in Bethlehem. It is true that he confounded the wise men in the temple at the age of twelve. It is true that he turned the water to wine. It is true that he healed all manner of sickness and disease, he raised the dead, he walked on water and he died on the cross, and was raised from the dead. All these things are true. If one stands before a congregation and tells his congregation about Christ and all the things he said and did, he is merely telling the truth. He is not preaching. He is not making the truth known. He is merely giving a sermon or message about Christ.

For example, let’s look at what it means that Christ was raised from the dead.

John 14:12

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.

Here Christ tells his disciples, what they will be doing, if they believe on him. Then he tells them why they will be able to do these things. He would go to his Father. Has Christ not gone unto his Father? If so, then do we believe what he said here? If we believe what he said, the why are we not doing the works he did or greater works than he did?

Christ chose 12 men, saying “Come and follow me…” He did not tell them this so that they could follow him around and record what he said and did. Then put it in a book that would replace him after he was gone. Instead, these men were chosen to be taught, trained and instructed to go forth after his departure to carry the Gospel he preached to a lost and dying world and to do as he did, just like he preached it. This was the first ministry team.

When Christ sent out his disciple, he said, “...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.” (Matthew 10:7)

Let’s look at this statement. He said, “…as ye go, preach…” Continuing, this verse, “…saying…” The words ‘preach’ and ‘saying’ are separated by comas. This lets us know that these are two different things. It also lets us know that preaching is not just speaking. The next statement tells us what they were supposed to do when they preached. They were to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out devils. Now let’s go back to the example of Christ himself. It is very clear that preaching is the very act of these things; not speaking about them.

Matthew 8:16 “…and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick.” When Christ healed someone, he didn’t tell them all about how he could heal them. He never said that if they would believe what he said, they would be healed. Instead, he said, “Be healed,” and they were healed. Just like in the beginning when God said, “Let there be…and it was so.” He spoke the Word, and it happened. He taught his disciples to do the same things.

To top it off he told them that they were to do these things freely, (freely means without charge, having no conditions, not earned). A free gift is not given because of the deserving of the recipient, but because of the goodness of the giver. If one must pay a price, meet certain conditions, obtain through trade or earn it; it is not free.

Let’s look at an example of this at work. In Acts, Chapter 3; we can read the account of how Peter and John went to the temple, and there was a man lame from his mother’s womb sitting at the gate begging alms, which means he was begging for hand-outs, food, clothing and money. He looked on Peter and John expecting to receive something from them. Now what do you think he was expecting? Well, Peter answers that question. He says, “Silver and gold have I none…” He was telling the man that they did not have what he was expecting to receive from them. He did not have any silver or gold. Peter continued saying, “…but such as I have give I thee…” He didn’t tell the man what he had, only that he would give him what he had. He didn’t tell the man about Christ and how he could make him walk. He didn’t tell the man if he believed then Christ would heal him and he would walk. He simply spoke the word saying, “…In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” But, then he went farther and manifested the word he spoke. He took the man by the right hand and lifted him up. Immediately, what Peter spoke became a reality. The man’s feet and ankle bones received strength. He leaped up and walked and entered the temple with them.

Acts 3:16

And his name through faith in his name hat made this man strong, whom ye see and know; yea, the faith which is by him hath give him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Whose faith was Peter talking about? Was it that the man that was lame? When Peter said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk,” I can imagine the look on the man’s face and the thoughts that went through his mind. It must have been like, “Huh, me walk? What you talking about? I’ve not been able to walk a step in my whole life? What do you mean?” So, Peter took him by the hand and lifted him up. It was Peter’s faith. Peter had the word (Christ Jesus himself) and faith in him to back him up when he spoke.

Why didn’t Peter tell the man what he was going to do? The Scriptures tell us that we are not to give place to the devil. If Peter told the man what he had and what he was going to give him, it would have given room for the man to doubt. It would have given place to the devil to cause unbelief under which Christ cannot do a work. If he had told the man what he was going to do, and had asked the man to believe, he would have been placing a condition on it which the man was not able to meet. Peter knew what he had and that he had to give it freely.

There are many denominational doctrines out there that teach their congregations that only salvation is free, but if they get anything else from God, they have to earn it. Many insist that if we do not support the ministers and their ministries, we will not receive anything from God. They put a charge on it. According to what Christ said to the first ministry team, they were to heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead and cast out devils, freely you have received, freely give. This lets us know that all these things are included in what they had freely received. Also, Paul elaborated on this very thing.

Romans 8:32

He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

I Corinthians 2:12

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Many doctrines teach that we must rid ourselves of all sin in our lives, all bad habits, etc., before we can be healed, delivered or cleansed, and our needs be filled. Where was this in the Acts, Chapter 3? We must understand that if we could rid ourselves of sin, then we could save ourselves. If we could obtain the things of the Spirit of God by the ability of the flesh, there would have been no need for a Savior. We must also understand that flesh has no power over flesh. Only the power of God can overcome flesh. This is where ministry comes in; ministers that have been endued with the power that comes from on high.

The word “minister” means to supply, to provide for, to give assistance and to do for; not just a person who “ministers”. A minister of the Gospel must be able to do for others what they cannot do for themselves, and give to others what they cannot obtain for themselves. That ability comes only by the Power of the Spirit of God working in him. This Power is the Power over all the powers of the enemy, including the flesh.

Christ gave an example of how one becomes a minister of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, in the way the trained up his disciples. Once these disciples became apostles, they trained up others the same way. This process was never to have changed. Christ told them that they were to teach others as he taught them. This means using the same ways, means and methods that he used.

Here, we must understand that the operation of the Power of the Spirit of God is what Paul said made him a minister. This Power is reserved for those chosen of the Father as Christ said. The congregation cannot minister to themselves. Instead, they must be ministered to. All things from the remission of sins to the impartation of the gifts of the Spirit must be administered by one that has been endued with this Power, one that has been made a minister.

Yet, in today’s Christian Churches, the ministers teach a do-it-yourself, get-it-yourself doctrine. In doing so, they have returned to the works of the flesh, which is human efforts perform through human ability and human comprehension.

For example. A sinner, having not yet been born again is required to obtain his own salvations. Thus, requiring a man of the flesh or the natural man to obtain a Spiritual things.

I Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know the, because they are spiritually discerned.

Paul did not say this so that ministers could use it as a manipulative tool against their congregations. He was stating a matter of fact. The natural man, the lost and the sinner, cannot obtain the things of the Spirit of God. He has no comprehension or ability to do so. The things of the Spirit of God are given, not taken.

Let’s go back to Verses 4 and 5, to find out what Paul is talking about in Verse 14, Paul said, And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit of Power; that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the Power of God.” Paul did not tell them the things he knew. He operated by the Power of the Spirit of God. He practiced what he preached. He did all things by the Spirit, not by telling others the things he knew and asking them to believe. Their faith wasn’t to be in what he told them but in the Power of God. If we are asking the lost and the sinner to hear and based on what we have told them, to obtain their own salvation through confession of sins and profession of belief, we have implied that salvation is obtain through human works and not through the remission of sins ministered unto them by the Power of God.

The evidence of how well we are ministering is not determined by the condition of the ministry, but by the condition of those we minister to. If our goal is to build up our ministry, rather than those things set forth by Christ by his example, to bring forth those things for which he was sent; to heal the sick, to mend the broken hearted, to provide for the poor, and to preach the acceptable day of the Lord; then truly we have grossly misrepresented him.




























Chapter Two

Understanding Deceptions in Modern Day Doctrines


Have you heard the phrase, “Looking at the world through rose-colored glasses”? This phrase means that no matter what is going on around a person; all he can see is good. This is basically what has happened in the Christian Church world today. It does not matter how bad things get, God is in control. If it is a natural disaster, it’s God. If someone dies, God’s just taking him home. If someone is struggling, going through hard times, having a battle; it is a trial of faith or God is making us stronger.

In addition to ministering to the needs of the people, the ministry of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God is to serve to overcome evil and wickedness. Sickness, poverty, and death are works of the devil, not works of God. Virtually every religious denomination and organization today has worked it into their doctrines that anything that happens, good or evil, it is in accordance to God’s plan. Therefore, once we can work through our shock and pain and accept this; we go on having a sense of assurance that God has a reason. Whether we are convinced that he has a lesson for someone, or that he is strengthening our faith, or he making us stronger, or he is trying to get someone to turn his heart to him; we have attributed it to God and have found some type of good it in. For this reason, we do not use the weapons of our warfare against evil and wickedness, rather thinking that it is God, and we certainly do not want to fight against God.

These doctrines are taught simply to cover up the fact that the ministers have not been chosen of the Father, ordained by Christ through the Holy Ghost, and have not authority whatsoever. Though claiming to have all Power, and the ability to do all things through Christ, they have none and cannot in any way, form or fashion prove that they do.

Oh yeah, I know the doctrines that warn us against looking for signs. The thing about it is, if they were ministers of Christ, we wouldn’t have to look for them. The signs would follow them already. Jesus said, “…ye shall know them by their fruits.” He wasn’t talking about the fruits of the Spirit. He was talking about the fruits of their labor. If they are not producing fruits of a ministers labor, or what the labor of a minister is supposed to produce, they are not ministers of Christ. Let’s use Christ for example. Joseph was a cabinet maker, a carpenter. His labor was to build cabinets. The fruits of his labor were the cabinets that he built. Now, Joseph was very knowledgeable in his skill. He knew all about how to build cabinets and he could tell you everything he knew. But, if all he did was tell people what he knew, and had never produced a cabinet, he could not have been considered a cabinet maker.

A minister must be able to overcome evil. In order to do so, he must reveal evil rather than try to cover it up. If we do not recognize evil for what it really is, we will be taken over by it. For example, death no matter what the cause is taught and believed by most to be God’s way of taking someone home. Therefore, if someone is murdered, dies of sickness or disease, freezes to death, executed, or dies in some kind of accident, most will attribute it to being his time to go, or God’s time to take him home.

I Corinthians 15:26

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Hebrews 2:14

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, the devil:

Death is an enemy. The devil has the power of death. Yet, when someone gets sick, he will first go to a doctor for treatment and medication. When his illness gets worst, he will go to the hospital for surgery and medical care. He will try every means available and/or affordable to get well. But, when he has tried all physicians and spent all that he has, only to grow worse, he finally gives up and dies. It is said that it was just not God’s will for him to be healed and it was his time to go, so God called him home.

We must learn the true will of God is that we prosper and be in health, that all of the world might be saved, and that it is not his will that any should perish. Once we learn his will, then we can begin to work toward fulfilling his will, and our prayers can truly be toward the will of God being done.

Many are taught to pray saying, “….if it is your will God,” when praying whether asking for healing, deliverance, blessing, freedom from captivity or some kind of bondage, or whatever. This way, when their prayers are not answered, they can say it just wasn’t God’s will.

Matthew 21:22

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Mark 11:24

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

If we do not know the will of God when we pray, how can we pray believing that we will receive what we ask? Oh, I know you believe that if it is God’s will, you will receive it; but is that believing? Yet, when you pray you do not know if it is his Will or not. How can not knowing if you will receive it or not be believing that you will receive? Christ is being specific here. He said ‘whatsoever’ ye ask.

There are many that are lead to believe that God only provides what we need, not our wants. Look at Mark 11:24. Christ said, “…whatsoever things ye desire…” The word ‘desire’ means wants.

This is not something new. Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Again, the Scriptures are given for our learning. It is through the Scriptures that we learn the will of God, and learn about Christ. But, we must also get to know him that we hear his voice and obey him as he gives us commandment.

The Scriptures testify of Christ. Christ said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life,” (John 5:39 and 40). Here, the Jews had come the Christ accusing him and trying to find fault in him, beginning with verse 18. He spoke to them at length through verse 47, concerning the witness he had of his Father. He did not testify of himself, but his Father in him bore witness of him. Christ was explaining to them that if they search the Scriptures they would know that they testify of him. Here he was showing them the difference between testifying and bearing witness. However, because they thought that eternal life was found in the Scriptures, and believed not the witness of his Father, they would not come to him that they might have life, saying finally, “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father; there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me; But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe me?” (John 5:45-47) Here, he referred to the Scriptures given by Moses as writings. Not the Word of God. If they could not believe his writings, how could they believe him, the Word, himself?

Knowing the Scriptures does not mean that we know God and his Son Jesus Christ. The Scriptures are not the voice of God. It simply means that we know about them. But, even in this, do we really know the truth about him? Do we really know the Scriptures?

Christ told the his disciples that he was sending another Comforter who would teach them. This Comforter, the Spirit of Truth which is the Holy Ghost would teach them all the things he has said. He would speak to them what he heard spoken to him. In the Book of Acts, there are many examples of the Holy Ghost speaking audibly to the Apostles. An example can be found in Acts 13:2.

In all the time the disciples spent growing up as Jews under the teaching of the Law and then under the teaching of Christ, they were still without understanding. I was just before Christ up into Heaven that he opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures. It didn’t matter how much Scripture they knew or how much they had been taught they had no understanding whatsoever, until Christ opened their understanding. The disciples loved God. They loved him with all their hearts. Their desire was to serve him. They worshipped God. Yet, they were without understanding. All the things they thought were right and good was proven by Christ to be wrong or evil, though they themselves were not evil.

Deception stems from this lack of understanding. The Scriptures give us many accounts of how man through his own knowledge, understanding and wisdom has completely missed what God intended. For example, Moses was given the Commandments and the Law straight from the mouth of God, himself. Yet, time and time again, God confronted Moses, reprimanding Moses for not hearing his voice and obeying him. He cited Moses many times for following after his own understanding. Yet, rather than lead the people into the land promised by God, Moses led the people to battle for the land of Cannon. The prophets of Israel consistently failed in the operation of their duties as overseers of the people in their lack of care for the people in sickness and poverty. Thereby repeatedly leading the people into bondage, turmoil and battle; for land stained with the blood. Not one time in all those battles did anyone ever stop to even consider that God did not need man to fight his battles; but that at any time, just one word from God would bring all things to God’s desired conclusion. This God that by the Power of his Word spoke all things that exist into existence. They did not trust him or look to his Power as Paul said, “…if they had been mindful of God and his Power…”

Denominational doctrines consist mainly of man’s knowledge of the Scriptures, interpreted through man’s understanding and implemented by man’s wisdom. Christ place much emphasis on the Scriptures being Spirit. The writers of the Scriptures took that which was Spirit, spoken by God, who is Spirit, and commanded them to write in a book, and put it into a human form, the written human language. As the Scriptures were translated into various languages much of the meaning was lost. For example, the scholars that translated the Scriptures from the original Hebrew, Arabic and Greek to the old English language, they warned that there was great difficulty in that there were a large number of Hebrew, Arabic and Greek words used in the Scriptures that there were no equivalent word in the English language. For this reason, it was imperative that the reader communicate with the Spirit of Truth.

Only the Spirit can reveal Spirit. As long as the Scriptures are viewed through the eyes of man’s understanding, man cannot walk in the light for there is no light in him. His understanding is darkened and he will believe a lie to be the truth.

There were many miracles and mighty works in the first century Church. Let’s understand, at that time there were no divisions in the first Church. The divisions started when first the Pharisees that believed began to try to implement their own ideas, Acts, Chapter 15. First they demanded that the Gentiles had to be circumcised before they could be saved, verse 1, and commanded to keep the Law of Moses, verse 5. Of course, they had their own doctrines and chose out certain Scriptures to back up their ideas. However, we see in verses 6 thru 11, how Peter set them straight, pointing out that before they came up with these ideas, God was already saving the Gentiles the same as they without making these requirements and it God was already doing so, then why were they continuing in these same ideas themselves, especially trying to tie a yoke about the necks of the Gentiles that they nor their fathers could keep. Yet, despite the clarity of the Apostles, some of them went out from them and continued to do so, verse 24, “Forasmuch as we have heard that certain which went out from us have trouble you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment.”

Many denominations have been formed from theories, philosophies, ideas, and personal preferences. Someone takes a few factors and puts them together with human logic and rationality, adding in a couple of circumstances, material and physical facts, sprinkled with just the right amount of truth, and forms a theory. He takes this theory to the people, and gathers a group of those that agree with him and forms his own congregation, and gives it a name. He teaches the people to reject anything that contradicts his theory, by telling them if they listen to anything else they are not putting their faith in God, uses guilt and fear tactics to keep them from seeking the whole truth, and establishes them by telling them they have to stand up to the opposition and fight for what they believe. This is deception.

Paul stated that the law was added because of transgression, and served only until the seed came four hundred and thirty years after the law. Therefore, we must understand, the law of Moses is no longer in effect, because there is a higher authority over us now.

In Deuteronomy, Chapter 10, we find that God reminded Moses that his circumcision was not that of the foreskin of the flesh, but of the heart. Yet, despite God’s rebuke, Israel continued to circumcise the flesh and it is still practiced today. This is a very good example of transgression. In the Scriptures we find the words, iniquity, transgression and sin all in the same sentence. This let’s us know that these are individual things. However, deception is the modern Christian Churches covered iniquity and transgress, by putting them under the same definition as sin.

As we know, definitions of many words have changed from generation to generation, mostly prevalent among teens. For example, when a teen says something is bad, he means that it is good. The word gay, which used to mean a cheery, happy attitude, now means homosexuality. Changing the definitions of words or replacing certain words with another in the Scriptures has been a very powerful tool in spreading deception.

For example, the older versions of the Scriptures make use of the word synagogue or synagogues. Today the newer versions of the Scriptures have replaced these with the word church or churches, implying that the old words mean the same. In fact, modern versions of both the biblical and secular dictionaries define the word synagogue as being a place of worship. However, I have found that as early as the late 1940s the word synagogue was defined as a place where people gather together, listing such places as theaters, stadiums, auditoriums, council halls, the market place as well as churches. So, how does this create deception within denominational doctrines?

Christ told his disciples that they were to go into the synagogues of the world and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. According to the definition of the word synagogue at time, this meant that they were to go wherever people were gathered together, including the market place. Having changed the definition of the word synagogue to mean only a place of worship or church, it made way for laws to be put into effect against preaching in public places, confining the modern Christian Churches to their own buildings. Christ said that we are to go to all the world and compel them to come into the House of God, the Church. He did not say that we are to confine ourselves inside the walls of a church and ask him to send them in. Christ will back up only what he has commanded.

This is where the clarity of the words iniquity and transgression is extremely important. Iniquity is trusting in ways, methods and means to accomplish a desired result other than the Power of God. Examples are science, technology, psychology, engineering, human ability, human knowledge, human understanding and human wisdom. It is trusting in the rudiments of the world, which is the worldly system of checks and balances, the gross national product, stocks, bonds, credits and debits, profit and loss, etc. Even more so, when we imply that God gave us all these things. For example, the Scriptures are very clear in that the flesh wars against the Spirit. That flesh has no power to overcome flesh. If we use our human abilities to overcome certain faults, and then say that God gave us the strength, we have not only performed the works of iniquity, but also portrayed God as the one that performed the iniquity.

Another example is most people that overcome alcoholism first stops drinking, after a time, his body begins to crave the alcohol, and he must continue to resist. Then his body begins to show signs of withdrawal, which can result in anything from ill tempers, to nervousness, to what is called DTs. It is very hard to get through these things; but through determination, will power, persistence, and perhaps some support from others, it can be done. It is being done everyday through alcohol rehabilitation organizations such as AA. It is also being done in the Christian Churches the same way. The only difference is, the Christians claim that God gave them the strength to do it.

This is deception. The Power of God is reserved for those that are his, and of these, only to those that have showed obedience and faithfulness to God. If the natural, fleshly, human man can accomplish the same things using the same ways, methods and means to accomplish them, it is not the Power of God. It is iniquity.

Transgression can occur in two different ways. One is to overstep the authority of God. The second is not to exert authority God has given us. For example, there were two men that decided that a certain town needed a revival and decided they would go to that town and start that revival. This town was hundreds of miles away and they had no money. But, they decided that they would go on faith that God would supply all their needs. When their car ran low on gas, they pulled into a gas station and started preaching to the patrons and asking for donations, but there were none. They had to call home and ask for money. A friend helped them out, but rather than realize that it wasn’t working out like they thought and go back home, they decided that God had provided their need and they continued on. When they got there, they found that there were no doors open to them to hold a revival. They were stuck. No place to hold their revival, in which they would solicit the congregation for funds, no offerings, broke and no way home. First of all, Christ told his disciples they were to go where they were sent of God. Christ himself said that he was sent of his Father and he did only that which he saw his Father do. Paul ended up in bondage because he refused to listen to the Holy Ghost that spoke through Mark. He was like many today that say, “I don’t have to listen to you. If God wants me to know something, he will tell me himself.” When God speaks, it doesn’t matter whose mouth he uses. Paul went to Jerusalem anyway. He overstepped the authority of God, for which he confessed later that he had transgressed against God.

Secondly, an example of not using the authority given by God is found in the beginning. God gave dominion over the earth and all that is in it. Then he formed the woman. After awhile, the serpent tempted the woman and she did eat and gave to her husband ‘with’ her and he did eat. Rather than exert the authority God had given him, the man yielded to the flesh, which is the woman form out of his rib, flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone. The woman was deceived, but the man transgressed against God. He did not use the authority given him.

Many Christian churches promote and encourage iniquity and the works of iniquity. You see, their ministers do not have the Power to cast out unclean spirits, so they tell their congregations, they have to overcome their own faults, failures and weaknesses if they want anything from God. They said that God will not dwell in an unclean vessel. They tell the people they must rid themselves of their sins, etc. Christ, being the example, teaching his disciples to do all things he has shown them as he did them, healed, delivered and set free, then he said, “Go and sin no more.” He didn’t tell them to sin no more and then he would heal, deliver and set free.

Christ warned that there would be many that will pervert the Gospel. To pervert means to turn around, to turn upside down, to twist and to cause to go in a different direction. To put the cart before the horse is an example of perversion. Christ cleanse the people of all their sins, saying what’s the difference between saying be thou healed and saying thy sins be forgiven them. Why, because the flesh has no power over the flesh, flesh does not war against flesh, as this would be a house divided against itself. Only the Power of the Spirit of God can overcome flesh. This is why Christ gave the power to remit sins to the first ministry team saying, “Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them and whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained.”

True ministers of Christ that have been endued with the Power that comes from on high is given authority to remit sins, heal the sick, cast out devils and raise the dead. However, most miracle healings that we do hear of, have not involved ministers at all. Instead, they are very remote and few, and came about through the individuals faith and belief. Oh yes, we’ve seen many televangelist perform miracles on TV. However, aside from the television, there has been documentary proof that these were fake due to either an act performed by actors and actresses, or temporary surges of high adrenaline caused by increased emotional upheavals, which later subsided and the symptoms returned. Such things many television viewers do no see, or have access to. Such television broadcasts such huge amount of deception produced by cameras.

But then there are very subtle deceptions which are hard to detect. This is called manipulation. The most common use of manipulation in the Christian church world, is guilt, shame and fear. Normally, a pastor uses the story of how Christ died for our sins, giving details of what he went through, saying that he went through all that to do this for you; and you don’t want to give to him, (or the use of shame, to those that do give, all you want to do is put a dollar in the offering plate)?

Another popular method of manipulation is the use of the dear sainted mothers and grandmothers who spent their life in faith, and went through so much to raise their children up to do right and be good citizens, who have died and gone to Heaven. What would they think if they knew how little you are giving to the Lord? If they knew how often you are not in church? If they knew of the excuses you make for not pitching in to help the church in their fund raisers and events? After all, they had very little to give in their day, but they gave it. They spent endless hours on their knees praying for you. What would they think how you are too proud to come to the altar and kneel down before the Lord? Christ died to rid us of all guilt and shame, not to put it on us.

And then there are those sermons that consist of fear, telling them that this might be the last chance they get to obey the Lord, or give to the Lord. If they walk out that door, they may never get another chance. They could drop dead of a heart attack, or be killed in an automobile accident, or meet with some other kind of death. If they walk out that door, they are turning their back on God, and risk some kind of harsh punishment. They could loose their families, their homes or their jobs; they could even loose everything they have. This is fear. God does not give us the spirit of fear.

Finally, there is the sermons that consist of how God has the Power to do all things, to heal all manner of sickness and disease, to deliver us from bondage and set us free, to bless us with riches untold, etc. They tell about how God created the heavens and the earth, how he parted the Red Sea, how he deliver Daniel in the Lions den and out of the fiery furnace, and of all the mighty things he did in the Scriptures. They tell of how he will do the same for us, if we had that same kind of faith. Only to end up saying that God don’t do things like that anymore because the world has gotten too wicked and turned away from God. Since when does the world have power over God? This is confusion. God is not the author of confusion.

If we are mindful of the Scriptures, we should be able to recognize those things that do not come from God. Guilt, shame, fear, confusion and any other adverse thing do not come from God. If it is coming out of the pulpits its not coming from God. It is deception.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Windows Live™: Keep your life in sync. Check it out.