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      If you truly hunger and thirst after righteousness and sincerely desire to serve and please God with your whole heart, please read God's warnings to us about “any man” or even “an angel from heaven” preaching “another Jesus”, “another spirit” “or another gospel” “Which is not another; but there be some that... would pervert the gospel of Christ” (Gal. 1:6-9 ;II Cor. 11:3,4,13-15). Jesus said, “Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ [Greek christos meaning ANOINTED; a priest, a prophet – divinely appointed by God)]; and shall deceive many.” (Matt. 24:4,5).

      Jesus said that “the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant” (Matt. 20:25-27). The Old Testament hierarchy of priests and prophets was done away with at Calvary. “Moses had organized a priesthood called on to offer sacrifices, to serve as intermediary between God and man. Jesus restored direct communion between the believer and his Creator. He alone is mediator; He alone is a sacrificer. Doubtless all Christians are not endowed with the same gifts; but he who is called on to teach the faith is not the superior of those to whom he preaches the divine word.” (The Papacy Considered In Relation To International Law, 1879, pp. 6,7). But ever since man was first tempted by the serpent to “be as gods” (Gen. 3:5), one of man's natural tendencies has been to exercise superiority, “dominion” and “authority” over his fellow-man.

      God has set forth in the church apostles, prophets, teachers, and so forth, as not all the members of the body of Christ have the same function. However, there is no hierarchy of priests in the New Testament. The priesthood of believers in the New Testament are the believers themselves - the royal priesthood of all believers (I Pet. 2:9; Rev. 5:10)! Jesus Christ “hast redeemed us to God by” “his own blood” “out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation” and “hath made us kings and priests unto God” (Rev. 1:5,6; 5:9,10). The Bible says that Christ hath made us, that is every believer, “kings and priests unto God” (Rev. 1:6; 5:10). The fourteenth-century reformer John Wycliffe wrote: “What sort of Antichrist is this who, to the sorrow of Christian men, is so bold as to prohibit the laity from learning this holy lesson, which is so earnestly commanded by God? Every man is bound to learn it that he may be saved, but every layman who shall be saved is a very priest of God's own making, and every man is bound to be a very priest.” (John Wycliffe: Patriot and Reformer, 1884, p. 215).

      If anyone, including a Christian, claims to be “God's mouthpiece,” or claims to “stand in the gap” for God's people, or claims to be in direct communication with God while the common Christian is not, these are usurpers of Christ who are teaching a false gospel. Jesus Christ fulfilled all the law and the prophets. He is the only high priest and mediator and mouthpiece of God under the New Testament: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son,” (Heb. 1:1,2). Every believer now has direct and equal access to God (Heb. 4:16). All believers are “kings and priests” unto God (Rev. 1:6). This is the “royal priesthood” of all believers (I Pet. 2:9). There is no more hierarchial priesthood or hierarchial prophet's office. Jesus said “that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you:” (Matt. 20:25,26). By teaching that they are “God's mouthpiece” and can “stand in the gap” and can “offer up Christ” upon the alter, the Mormon, Mason, Catholic, Jehovah's Witness, and all other modern-day “prophets” are denying that Jesus Christ fulfilled these things in the flesh, and are therefore of “that spirit of antichrist” - “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (I John 4:3). English physicist and Bible believing Christian Michael Faraday said,

      The apostle James said that “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5). But to go to any source other than the Bible for answers, is to go down the wide and broad way “that leadeth to destruction” (Matt. 7:13). Michael Faraday (1791-1867), said,

      The dividing of God's people into a superior class and a subordinate class is absolutely un-scriptural. Jesus said, “But it shall not be so among you”, and “all ye are brethren.” (Matt. 23:8,9). An elder in Christ may be older and possibly more mature, but he is most certainly not superior to his Christian brother. Jesus said, “Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (Luke 7:28). The Old Testament hierarchy of priests and prophets has forever been replaced by the New Testament priesthood of all believers (I Pet. 2:9; Rev. 1:6; 5:10). The Bible teaches us that there was no one central human leader of the New Testament church. There were pastors, bishops, prophets, apostles and other offices held by certain individuals like Peter, Paul and others, but no one individual was commander in chief. “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?” (I Cor. 3:5). The apostle Paul said, “for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.” (II Cor. 12:11). Even the two last day prophets of God in Zechariah 4 and Revelation 11, “the two olive trees” that “fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies”, even “the two anointed ones” are not the heads of the church.

      God used prophets in the Old Testament to lead his people and to make intercession and stand in the gap; and he used high priests as a sort of mediator or intermediary between God and man: “And by a prophet the LORD brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved.” (Hosea 12:13). However, in the New Testament, “the new covenant”, God himself leads each and every one of his people by his Spirit in his people (“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Eph. 4:30); “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you” (I John 2:27); “It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God.” (John 6:45)); and now there is only “one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (I Tim. 2:5); “Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people‘s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.” (Heb. 7:27).

      When our Lord Jesus Christ said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), the Old Testament office of the prophets was done away with, and the New Testament priesthood of all believers was ushered in: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”(Heb. 1:1-3). In the Old Testament, “in time past”, God spoke to his people “by the prophets” and with the scriptures written by them. But in the New Testament, “in these last days”, God speaks to each and every one of his people “by his Son” “through the Holy Ghost” in each and every one of his people with the scriptures written by the apostles (Heb. 1:1-3; John 14:26; Acts 1:2; 10:44; 11:15; 15:8; II Tim. 3:15). “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.” exclaimed the apostle John, “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”(I John 2:26,27).

      Some misguided modern-day “prophets” erroneously believe that they are God's “mouthpiece”. Though sincere in their beliefs, teaching that God speaks to us as “in time past... by the prophets” is both un-biblical and anti-biblical and leads to errors and false doctrines. One such misguided “prophet” was William Branham who said, “Now, I'm just your brother, by the grace of God. But when the Angel of the Lord moves down, it becomes then a Voice of God to you...But I am God's Voice to you... Now, see, I can say nothing in myself. But what He shows me.” (William Branham, Footprints On The Sands Of Time, p. 214). Interestingly, the “mouthpiece of God” theology was not original to Branham. Joseph Smith, who founded the Mormon church in 1830, claimed repeated “revelations” from God. Smith's newly formed church was given a “revelation” from God to accept “his [Smith's] word . . . as if from mine own mouth, in patience and faith.” (Doctrine and Covenants, 21:5). But even Joseph Smith was not the originator of this myth. Other cult leaders, both before and after Smith, claimed this divine authority. In the latter part of the second century a self-appointed end time prophet named Montanus, founder of Montanism (who was a priest in a Phrygian mystery cult prior to his supposed conversion to Christianity), was subject to ecstatic trances and repeated revelations and viewed himself as the “mouthpiece” of God (Another Gospel, Tucker, pp.33,34). In the third chapter of Genesis when the serpent first deceived man in the garden of Eden the temptation was not to be evil but to be good, to “be as gods” (Gen. 3:1-5). This is why almost all cult leaders and false prophets have a deity complex, to “be as gods”, to be “like the most High”, to be reverenced and feared by their followers (Isa. 14:14; III John 1:9). (By the way, the “fear of the Lord” is not the fear of a prophet's ministry or “anointing”. “The fear of the LORD is” “the instruction of wisdom”(Prov. 15:33), “the beginning of knowledge”(Prov. 1:7), and “a fountain of life”(Prov. 14:27).)

      Eighteenth century Congregational preacher Jonathan Edwards is perhaps best known for his role in the First Great Awakening, as he experienced some of the first fires of revival at his own church in Northampton, Massachusetts in the early 1700's. Edwards cautioned those who would desire to have revival experiences to beware of the many delusions and false leadings of the Spirit. Speaking on the subject of the false moves of God and the “falsely supposed leading of the Spirit” and the heathen types of experiences in false revivals including “strange ecstacies and raptures”, Edwards warned: “Such sort of experiences and discoveries as these commonly raise the affections of such as are deluded by them to a great height, and make a mighty uproar in both soul and body. And a very great part of the false religion that has been in the world, from one age to another, consists in such discoveries as these, and in the affections that flow from them. In such things consisted the experiences of the ancient Pythagoreans among the heathen, and many others among them, who had strange ecstacies and raptures, and pretended to a divine afflatus, and immediate revelations from heaven. In such things as these seem to have consisted the experiences of the Essenes, an ancient sect among the Jews, at and after the times of the apostles. In such things as these consisted the experiences of many of the ancient Gnostics, and the Montanists, and many other sects of ancient heretics, in the primitive ages of the christian church. And in such things as these consisted the pretended immediate converse with God and Christ, and saints and angels of heaven, of the Monks, Anchorites and Recluses, that formerly abounded in the church of Rome. In such things consisted the pretended high experiences, and great spirituality of many sects of enthusiasts that swarmed in the world after the reformation;... And in these things seems to lie the religion of many kinds of enthusiasts of the present day. It is by such sort of religion as this, chiefly, that Satan transforms himself into an angel of light: and it is that which he has ever most successfully made use of to confound hopeful and happy revivals of religion, from the beginning of the christian church to this day. When the Spirit of God is poured out, to begin a glorious work, then the old serpent, as fast as possible, and by all means, introduces this bastard religion and mingles it with the true;... Great and strict therefore should be the watch and guard that ministers maintain against such things, especially at a time of great awakening: for men, especially the common people, are easily bewitched with such things; they having such a glaring and glistering show of high religion; and the devil hiding his own shape, and appearing as an angel of light, that men may not be afraid of him, but may adore him.” (A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, Jonathan Edwards, 1821, pp. 177,178)

      God no longer speaks to his people as “in time past” by the prophets (Heb. 1:1,2). We are to “honour” and“Salute” our elders in Christ and “Obey” them in so far as they remain faithful to the scriptures, but we are absolutely not to fear them (I Tim.5:17; Heb. 13:17,24). In Romans 13:1-7 Paul was not talking about a prophet or apostle receiving tribute and fear. Paul was talking about civil authority, civil rulers whom God uses to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. The apostles of Christ did not execute wrath upon those who refused to show them fear or pay them tribute. Certain people, “being lords over God‘s heritage”, “who loveth to have the preeminence among them”, use these verses as fear tactics to control people (I Peter 5:3; III John 1:9). But Jesus set us free from both fear and sin. Jesus said, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:30). John said that “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.” (I John 4:18). And Paul said that “ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Rom. 8:15). “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (II Tim. 1:7). The true grace of God and the true love of Jesus Christ has made us free indeed! Prophets no longer stand in the gap for God's people because Jesus Christ is our one and only mediator and high priest and link to God. Not a preacher. Not a pope. Not a prophet. Our precious Lord Jesus does not lead us by the fear of any man, be he priest, pope or prophet.

      The Old Testament was a typology of the New Testament, “a shadow of things to come”, “the example and shadow of heavenly things” “until the time of reformation” when Jesus Christ came to “fulfil” the “law” and the “prophets” (Col. 2:17; Heb. 8:5; 9:10; Matt. 5:17). In the Old Testament, only the high priest was allowed to enter the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all, and offered sacrifices for the sins of the people once every year. But when Jesus Christ, who is the “High Priest” of the New Testament, came “when the fulness of the time was come”, the Old Testament priesthood was forever changed (Heb. 3:1; Gal. 4:4). When Jesus Christ was hanging on the cross dying, “there was a darkness over all the earth”, “and the earth did quake”, “And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” (Luke 23:44; Matt. 27:51; Mark 15:37,38). When Christ died and the veil of the temple was torn, the priesthood then passed to all who come to God through faith in Jesus Christ (I Pet. 2:9). “The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest,” as only the high priest had direct access to God in the Old Testament (Heb. 9:8). But, as the “royal priesthood”, all believers now have equal access to God: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;” (Heb. 10:19,20; I Pet. 2:9). “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand” (Rom. 5:1,2). “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” (Eph. 3:12). The apostle Paul said, “By whom we have received grace and apostleship” (Rom. 1:5). The apostle Peter said that “ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood” (I Pet. 2:9). The Old Testament priests were responsible for carrying out their priestly functions of offering up sacrifices for the sins of the people and “accomplishing the service of God” according to “that which was written” in “the holy scriptures” (Eccl. 12:10; II Tim. 3:15; Heb. 9:6). As New Testament “priests unto God”, every believer is responsible for “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught” (Titus 1:9; Rev. 1:6). The Old Testament priests were given the responsibility of preserving the scriptures which were written by the prophets (Deut. 31). As New Testament priests, all believers are now charged with safeguarding the scriptures written by the apostles (I Cor. 11:2; I Tim. 6:20; II Tim. 4:1-4; Rev. 1:3,6). “As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.” (Isa. 59:21).

      Some people confuse boldness with pride. A person's pride will allow them to believe that their good works will gain them favor with God. But “boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” is confidence in the finished work of Christ. “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Rom. 6:14). This is not to say that God's grace is a license to sin: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;” (Titus 2:11,12). “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.... For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:22,26). “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8,9). We can have faith in Christ because he is faithful (Rev. 1:5). We are not always faithful. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (I John 1:8,9). “Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?” (Gal. 4:1-9). “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt;”(Heb. 8:8,9).

      The Lord used intermediary priests in the Old Testament; and he led and preserved his people by prophets in the Old Testament; but now, in the New Testament, we are “sealed”, “preserved” and “led” by “the holy Spirit of God”, “the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost” who “shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you”, “the Spirit of truth” who “will guide you into all truth” (“thy word is truth.”(John 17:17)), “which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”, “the kingdom of God... within you”, “the Word... made flesh”, “For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.... This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”(Eph. 4:30; 5:30,32; John 1:14; 14:17,26; 15:26; 16:13; Rom. 8:14 ; Col. 1:27; Luke 17:21). Jesus said, “I am... the truth”(John 14:6), “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”(John 17:17). Jesus said, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”(John 8:31,32). Jesus said that “the truth shall make you free.”(John 8:32). A religious initiation or ritual will not make you free. A spiritual experience or emotional feeling will not make you free. Jesus said, “my word,” “the truth shall make you free.”(John 8:31,32). “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isa. 1:18).

      The Lord said,“My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their restingplace.” (Jer. 50:6). Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28-30). “This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.” (Psa. 119:50). Jesus said, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63).

      “Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.... But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”, said the apostle Peter, “testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand” (I Peter 1:22-25; 5:12). The apostle Paul admonished us to “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.” (Gal. 5:1). “And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.” (I Cor. 4:6).

      Who is like a “refiner's fire”, and like “fullers' soap”? Who is as a “refiner” and “purifier” of silver? Who shall “purify” the sons of Levi, and “purge them” as gold and silver? The Lord Jesus Christ – “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit [“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit”(John 6:63], saith the LORD of hosts.” (Zech. 4:6). “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word [“Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”(John 15:3; 17:17], That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5:26,27). John the Baptist said, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matt. 3:11,12). “For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.” (Psa. 66:10). “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” (Isa. 48:10). “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.” (Dan. 12:10). “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.” (Rev. 3:18)

      Note that when the apostles lifted up their eyes, “they saw no man, save Jesus only.” (Matt. 17:6-8). When Peter, “not knowing what he said”, desired to make tabernacles for Moses and Elias, God set him straight, as a voice out of the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son: hear him.”. Neither Moses nor Elias, neither Peter nor John, but the Lord Jesus Christ, and “Jesus only”, is the head of the New Testament church and the “high priest” of the “new covenant” (Heb. 10:15-21). Who is “the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in” (Mal. 3:1)? Who is “Elijah the prophet” (Mal. 4:5)? Who are the “two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth” (Zech. 4:14)? Who are the “two witnesses” who “have power” “to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will” (Rev. 11:3,6)? They are members of the body of Christ with very special ministries, even “ministers by whom ye believed”; but, even these great prophets are not the heads of the church (I Cor. 3:5). The Bible talks about Elijah the prophet coming before the great and dreadful day of the LORD (Mal. 4:5). The apostle Luke said that John the Baptist was “filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.... And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:15,17).

      The scriptures tell us that Jesus' disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist. To those who received the witness of John the Baptist, and to those who receive the gospel of Jesus Christ, to those who receive the New Testament scriptures, Malachi's prophecy was and is fulfilled: “he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children” (Mal 4:6)-“to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children” (Luke 1:17) -- “and the heart of the children to their fathers” (Mal 4:6)-“and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just” (Luke 1:17). Jesus said, “if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.” (Matt. 11:14). Note that even when John the Baptist was asked if he was “Elias” (“Elijah the prophet”) he said, “I am not.” (John 1:21). Yet Jesus said that “this is Elias” (Matt. 11:14). A seeming contradiction? Not at all. John the Baptist came “filled with the Holy Ghost” “in the spirit and power of Elias”; he was not a physical manifestation of “Elijah the prophet” (Luke 1:15,17). Jesus said, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures” (Matt. 22:29). For over a hundred years now, since the late 1800's and with the outbreak of the twentieth century occult revival, there have been scores of people calling themselves “Elijah the prophet” who have come on the scene believing themselves to be the “chosen one” sent to “fulfil” the scriptures. Some would-be Elijahs are probably ruffling their feathers at this point. But what I am stating here is scripture and fact, not private interpretation and conjecture.

      The sin of pride that caused Satan to “fall from heaven” is the same sin of pride that causes man to desire to “exercise dominion” and “authority” over their fellow Christian (Isa. 14:14; Luke 10:18; Matt. 20:25,26). The apostle John said, “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.” (III John 1:9). Just as Diotrephes and others in the early church “who loveth to have the preeminence among them” and “loved the praise of men more than the praise of God” did not receive that which was written to them, there are some in the church today “who loveth to have the preeminence” who will not receive the New Testament scriptures regarding John the Baptist and the spirit of Elias (Elijah) (John 12:43; III John 1:9). Jesus said, “Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not” (Matt. 17:11,12). The apostle John said, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.” (I John 3:1). “Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:17). Jesus said, “I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:14). Just as the world did not know “the spirit and power of Elias” in John the Baptist, the world does not know “the Spirit of truth” in us, the royal preisthood of all believers, the least in the kingdom of heaven who are greater than John the Baptist (Matt. 11:11; I Peter 2:5,9). Jesus said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (Matt. 11:15).

      But some might say, “With all of the different denominations in the world, and with so many different doctrines and beliefs among the various Christian churches today, how are we to know what is true and what is not true?” The Holy Bible has all of the answers. But how many people know what the Holy Bible says? Consider the following verses: Jeremiah says, “The prophet which prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the LORD hath truly sent him.” (Jer. 28:9). But Deuteronomy says, “If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deut. 13:1-3). The gospel of Mark says, “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” (Mark 16:20). But the gospel of Matthew says, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matt. 24:24). So, we see by the scriptures that signs and wonders are not a safe way of determining the truth. And what about the prophets that prophesy in the name of the Lord and “the thing follow not, nor come to pass”, are we supposed to follow them and fear them as prophets? The Holy Bible tells us that when prophets' words fail to come to pass that “they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart”, THOU SHALT NOT BE AFRAID OF HIM (Jer. 23:26; Deut. 18:21,22).

      Jesus said that it is the scriptures, “the words that I speak unto you”, the written word of God in the Bible that brings to light the hidden things of dishonesty and breaks the yokes of seducing spirits, doctrines of devils and false anointings. It is the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, that discerns the thoughts and intents of men's hearts, pulling down the strong holds of Satan, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God (Heb. 4:12; II Cor. 4:2; 10:4,5). Many people today have lost sight of this very important scriptural fact. Instead of hearing, “what saith the scripture?” (Rom. 4:3) and “Search the scriptures” (John 5:39), we are hearing “What saith the man of God?” and “Search his latest book.” Hierarchal rule is not found anywhere in the New Testament. Jesus said that “the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant” (Matt. 20:25-27). He said that “all ye are brethren” (Matt. 23:8). According to the scriptures, the Holy Bible, every “born again” believer is a “man of God”, not just pastors, prophets and apostles. The apostle Paul writing to Timothy said, “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” (I Tim. 6:11). Paul again writing to Timothy said, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (II Tim. 3:16,17). Jesus Christ and the apostles are our pattern and our example of the true New Testament church. And the New Testament is the revelation of Jesus Christ. But this simple truth of scripture is hidden from “them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight” (Isa. 5:21). Jesus said, “I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”, babes in Christ (Matt. 11:25). “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (I Pet. 2:2). “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (II Tim. 3:15). Instead of trusting the Holy Bible and searching the “holy scriptures”, many are turning to man and leaning unto their “own understanding” (II Tim. 3:15; Prov. 3:5). The phrase, “it is written”, referring to the scriptures, occurs sixty-three times in the New Testament. But instead of hearing, “It is written”, “It is written again”, “it is written in the book” (Matt. 4:4,7; Acts 1:20; 7:42), we are hearing “Thus saith the LORD, etc., etc.” Many people are apparently unaware of the fact that the phrase, “Thus saith the LORD”, does not even exist in the New Testament.

      To retain or bring back the Old Testament priesthood of the prophets is not a New Testament doctrine; it is one of the many commandments and doctrines of men propagated by those who desire to exercise authority and dominion over others. “A careful study of the New Testament will reveal that the Early Church NEVER placed utterances through their prophets on a level with the Scriptures. Note carefully the distinctive phrase used in 2 Peter 1:21 to describe the latter—‘prophecy of the Scripture.’ See again the decision of Acts xv.28, where the difficulty was NOT solved by reference to the accredited prophets present (Barnabas, Judas, Silas, etc.), but by reference to the Old Testament Scriptures. The infallibility of prophets in the Early Church is strictly denied (I Cor. xiv. 20). Does this emaciate our conception of the nature of Spiritual Gifts so as to make them of no more worth than ordinary natural endowments? Not in the least. They are still supernatural. They remain to this day the Divine-appointed manifestation of the Holy Spirit in and through the Church (see I Cor. xii. 7-11). They have their basis in a genuine inspiration, but that inspiration is not on a level with the inspiration of the Scriptures.” (Montanism, Donald Gee, 1928).

      John the Baptist came “in the spirit and power of Elias [Elijah]” to “restore all things” (Luke 1:17; Matt. 17:11): “notwithstanding”, said Jesus, “he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.” (Matt. 11:11). This is the “royal priesthood” of all believers; whosoever believeth in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:16-18; I Pet. 2:9; Rev. 5:10). “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint–heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (Rom. 8:14-17). “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Eph. 1:13). “And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.... He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.” (I John 5:6,7,10).

      Sadly most people no longer believe “the record that God gave of his Son.” For nearly a century there has been an all-out campaign to destroy even Christians' faith in the Holy Bible. Even within many conservative Christian churches today many people no longer believe that God bothered to preserve his pure words for his people. What better way to deceive people than to tell them that they don't really have the pure words of the Lord in our preserved English KJV Holy Bible (Psa. 12:6; Prov. 30:5). A common characteristic among all cults and deceivers and false religions is to explicitly or subtly move authority away from the Bible to another source (a man, a vision, a confirmation in the heart, a lexicon or some other book) in order to supersede the authority of the Holy Bible. From Genesis 3:1 in the garden of Eden where the serpent said, “Yea, hath God said . . ?”, to the present day cults whose leader's words overrule the written word of God, Satan's methods of deception – to cast doubt on the scriptures – have not changed. Notice that when the serpent first deceived man the temptation was not to be evil but to be good, to “be as gods” (Gen. 3:1-5). This is why almost all cult leaders and false prophets have a deity complex, to “be as gods”, to be “like the most High”, to “exercise dominion” and “authority” over others (Isa. 14:14; Matt. 20:25-27).

      Notice that neither Jesus nor his apostles laid hands on people to shake the daylights out of them in order for them to receive the Holy Ghost or a healing. I believe in praying for the sick and “anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:” and laying hands on the believers (Jam. 5:14; I Tim. 5:22). But it was Jesus' words, not his hands, that shook people: “And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.... And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.” (Luke 4:32,36). As soon as Jesus said unto the band of men and officers that had come to arrest him, “I am he”, “they went backward, and fell to the ground” (John 18:6). And it was the apostles' words, not their hands, that shook people: The high priest said to Peter and the other apostles, “Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine” (Acts 5:28). “And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,... But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy,.. crying, These that have turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:2-7). To cleans the leper, Jesus “put forth his hand, and touched him” (Matt. 8:3). To heal the lame man, Peter said “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.” (Acts 3:6,7). The New Testament believers received the Holy Ghost “by the hearing of faith” (Gal. 3:2).

      The Ethiopian eunuch asked Philip, “what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” (Acts 8:26-39). “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.” (Acts 10:44). “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” “whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Eph. 1:13; 4:30); “the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Rom. 8:23-25) “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)” (II Cor. 5:7); “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body” (Philip. 3:20,21). Jesus' disciples asked him “when shall these things be?” (Matt. 24:3). He said, “Immediately after” the “great tribulation” when “every eye” “shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matt.24:21,29-31; Rev. 1:7); “at the last trump” when “the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.... when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality,” (I Cor. 15:52-54). “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:” (Col. 1:5,6).

      When the early disciples received the message of John the Baptist, they were later filled with the Holy Ghost and understood the spirit and power of Elias (Elijah); it was no mystery unto them, as only God can restore one's soul: “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” (Psa. 23:3; Acts 2:4; 4:31). “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12). “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (Rom. 8:14). “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:” (I Pet. 2:9).

      “[T]hat prophet” is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ: “This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.” (John 6:14). “Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” (Acts 3:26). “To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.” (Heb. 3:12,15). “If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Eph. 4:21-24).

      The Lord Jesus Christ permanently took away the Old Testament hierarchy of priests and prophets, and has made all believers “the righteousness of God” “in Christ” “by the sacrifice of himself” “with his own blood” “for his own name's sake” (Psa. 23:3; Acts 20:28; II Cor. 5:2; Heb. 9:26; 10:12; Rev. 1:5). All too often Satan will tempt man to exalt himself above measure, tempting him to take the place of God in the eyes of the people. When Jesus was crucified, just before he died, he said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). In Revelation five “no man was found worthy to open and to read the book”; no one but “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”, “Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (John 1:29; Rev. 5:4-10; Heb. 12:2): “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” (Eph. 1:13): “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (I Pet. 1:9): This is the finished work of Jesus Christ, which no man, past, present or future can ever substitute. “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power” (Colossians 2:10).

      But some might say, “Weren't there prophets also in the early New Testament church?” Yes, absolutely: “And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch. And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.” (Acts 11:27,28). And there are great ministers of God today just as there were great ministers of God in the early New Testament church; pastors, teachers, prophets and preachers “full of the Holy Ghost and of faith”, that will “heal the sick”, “raise the dead”, “cast out devils”, “speak with new tongues”, true Christians that are “led by the Spirit of God” to “Preach the word” and to “speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority” (Matt. 10:8; Mark 16:17,18; John 14:12; Acts 6:5; 11:24; Rom. 8:14; II Tim. 4:2; Titus 2:15; Jam. 5:14-18). Take note, however, that not one of the New Testament ministers in the Bible claimed to be the head of the church. Not a single New Testament prophet or apostle served in the same capacity as that of the Old Testament priests and prophets. The days of the priest standing as an intermediary between God and man, and the days of the prophet standing in the gap for God's people were over and done away with after the finished work of “Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (John 1:29; Rev. 5:4-10; Heb. 12:2).

      Jesus told the apostle Peter (Simon) to “Feed my sheep” with “the bread of life”, “the word of life”, “the word of God” (John 6:33-63; 21:16,17; Luke 8:11; Philip. 2:16). Jesus did not make Peter nor any other apostle, prophet or priest head of the church. Jesus Christ himself is the one and only head of the church (Col. 2:19) - “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church” (Eph. 1:22). Exhorting the elders of the early church, the apostle Peter said, “Feed the flock of God which is among you . . . not for filthy lucre . . . Neither as being lords over God's heritage” (I Peter 5:1-3). The apostle Jude said that “certain men crept in unawares.... their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men‘s persons in admiration because of advantage” (Jude 1:4,16). Jesus refered to this system of admiration and hierarchy in the church (those who “exercise dominion over” “the flock of God” “being lords over God's heritage”) as “the deeds” and “the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.” (Rev. 2:6,15,16)

      There is a saying that “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. The apostle Paul said that “Knowledge puffeth up”(I Cor. 8:1). Even spiritual knowledge and spiritual power can sometimes cause the heart of man to be lifted up in pride, as it is natural for man to get caught up in being looked up to by others. When in positions of authority, it is easy for man to be carried away with notoriety and admiration, which is another reason why we need to be all the more watchful and humble (I Peter 5:5). Paul said, “I will not be brought under the power of any.”(I Cor. 6:12). God did not tell us to be subject to one certain leader or orginization, but “all of you be subject one to another”(I Pet. 5:5), and “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”(Phil. 2:12), “Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God”(Eph. 5:21). “Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.”(Psa. 34:11).

      “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.”(Psa. 2:11); “walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost”(Acts 9:31). “Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.”(Prov. 2:5). Indeed, God has placed in his church diversity of gifts and administrations, 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:”(Eph. 4:11,12). We are told to “Remember” and to “Obey them which have the rule over you”(Heb. 13:7,17) and “to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake”(I Thess. 5:13) and to “hold such in reputation”(Phil. 2:29) and “Let all things be done decently and in order.”(I Cor. 14:40). “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”(I Peter 5:5).

      Babes in Christ and younger Christians need to have good examples, elders and overseers who will faithfully teach the scriptures: “and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully.”(Jer. 23:28). The apostle Paul said, “Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.”(I Cor. 9:14). Paul also said that “the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine”(II Tim. 4:3). The time is come when many will not endure “sound doctrine” which is the Holy Bible, “the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation”(Eph. 1:13). There are comparatively few Christians today who truly believe that God said what he meant and meant what he said and gave it to us in writing: “Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” (Prov. 22:20,21). Even preachers today no longer believe that the Holy Bible is the infallible, pure, preserved word of the Lord (Psa. 12:6,7). “O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.” (Isa. 3:12). Many are turning from the words of God to the words of man. Even true prophets and true apostles can be misled by deceiving spirits. For example, when the revelation of Jesus Christ was given to the apostle Peter, Jesus told him, “Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 16:23). A few verses later Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” (Matt. 16:16-17). The Holy Ghost can reveal something to someone, and then five sentences later Satan can use them for something else. Peter was so anointed that his shadow healed people (Acts 5:15,16). Barnabas was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith; yet, both he and Peter were wrong: “They walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel.” (Acts 11:24; Gal. 2:14). And God used the apostle Paul to straighten out Peter and Barnabas.

      Notice that Paul did not say, “Well, since Peter became an apostle before me, I shouldn't touch my brother's calling or anointing”. In fact, Paul did not hesitate to openly rebuke Peter. God told us to “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.” (II Tim. 4:2-4). Instead of hearing preachers preach “Repent and believe the gospel (the Bible)”, we are hearing, “Touch not thy brothers calling” and “Believe the signs and wonders of silver and gold dust”. Brothers and sisters in Christ, these teachings are simply un-biblical. There is not a single New Testament verse supporting the type of teaching that is being propagated by some preachers and evangelists. “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!” (Prov. 16:16). Peter said unto the lame man, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6). The lame man did not receive a platinum prosthesis, a silver nugget or a golden tooth; “he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God”. The lame man was not healed “with corruptible things, as silver and gold” (I Pet. 1:18), he was healed with the “incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” (I Pet. 1:23).

      The apostle John warned us to “believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (I John 4:1). Jesus warned us that “there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” (Matt. 24:24). We should by all means help one another, and exhort one another, and admonish one another; but we should never allow ourselves to be brought under any man's authority. The apostle Paul said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.... But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ”(I Cor. 11:1-3). Jesus said to “beware of men” (Mat. 10:17). Even good men will make mistakes: “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not” (Col. 2:8; Mark 13:5; Eccl. 7:20; I John 1:8). As a man, Jesus Christ said that “there is none good but one, that is, God” (Mark 10:18). Jesus told the devil, “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” (Luke 4:8). Jesus said unto Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (Matt. 16:23).

      “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever.” (I Pet. 4:10,11). “Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.” (I Cor. 12:4). God may have given different members of the church different ministries and “gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us” (Rom. 12:6), but if we all have the same Spirit then we will all speak the same words. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” (I Cor. 1:10).

      God has indeed set forth in the church ministers with differing gifts, not for recognition or admiration, not for honoring one another or the praise of men, but “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 fulness 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” (Eph. 4:12-14).

      The apostle Paul said, “If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.... What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.”(I Cor. 9:12,18). Some religious leaders today are abusing their authority in Christ by taken advantage of their followers. Paul spoke of the “authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction”(II Cor. 10:8). Some “leaders” have taken the scriptures out of context in order to usurp authority over others and “exercise dominion over them” (Matt. 20:25-27). In the fifth chapter of the book of Acts, Ananias, and Sapphira his wife, died because they “lie[d] to the Holy Ghost” and “tempt[ed] the Spirit of the Lord” (Acts 5:3,9). Some “overseers” misuse the scriptures to keep members of their flocks walking on eggshells, making virtual slaves of their followers.

      The thirteenth chapter of the book of Romans is misused by some spiritual leaders to abuse their authority: “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.” (Rom. 13:1-7). Some in the Christian community hold these scriptures over their followers heads threatening them with ex-communication or even eternal damnation. But if we will read the rest of the New Testament we will see that it is the Lord Jesus Christ, and not man, who is “the power” (“Christ the power of God” (I Cor. 1:24)) that Paul said “Whosoever therefore resisteth... shall receive to themselves damnation.” And since “there is no power but of God” this would include civil authority as well. “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates,.. shewing all meekness unto all men.” (Titus 3:1). “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.” (I Peter 2:13,14).

      And this is the authority that Paul is referring to in Romans 13, civil temporal rulers whom God uses to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil, the “ordinance of man... for the punishment of evildoers.” As stated earlier, the apostles of Christ did not execute wrath upon those who refused to show them fear or pay them tribute. Of course Christians are endued with power from on high after that the Holy Ghost is come upon us, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels,” exclaimed Paul “that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” (II Cor. 4:7; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8). No prophet or apostle in the New Testament demanded the type of fear and respect that some modern-day “prophets” demand from their followers. Yes, we are certainly taught by the scriptures to honor our elders in Christ. But, we are not taught by the scriptures to fear our elders to the point of “damnation.” “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (II Tim. 1:7). “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.” (Rom. 8:15). And “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.” (I John 4:18).

      The scriptures tell us to “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.” (I Tim. 5:17,18). Pastors in the church and evangelists on the field need as much support as they can get from the body of Christ. That being said, tithes and offerings are sometimes another area of misunderstanding, contention and even outright abuse by church hierarchy. Jesus didn't say to “sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the church hierarchy to live as superiors or higher class Christians”. Jesus said to, “sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” (Mark 10:21). John the Baptist said, “He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none;” (Luke 3:11). Cornelius was “A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people” (Acts 10:2). When the believers “sold their possessions and goods” and “brought the prices of the things that were sold” and “laid them down at the apostles’ feet”, “distribution was made unto every man according as he had need” (Acts 2:44,45; 4:32-35). The apostles did not take their followers’ money and go out and buy themselves new luxury chariots and expensive homes with exotic hot tubs. The apostle Paul said, “Provide things honest in the sight of all men.” “Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.” “and be content with such things as ye have” (Rom. 12:17; II Cor. 8:21; Heb. 13:5). Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth” (Matt. 6:19). Many preachers today have been given over to covetousness, “teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake”, teaching un-biblical prosperity doctrines, “supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.” (Titus 1:11; I Tim. 6:5).

      The apostle Paul said, “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.” (I Corinthians 13:3). James said, “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:14-17). The apostle John said, “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” (I John 3:17,18).

      The scriptures teach equality among the saints, and of the household of God (Eph. 2:19). Read the following scriptures: “And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.” (Acts 2:44,45). “And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 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 4:32-35). “For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality:” (II Cor. 8:13,14). “For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;” (II Cor. 9:12,13).

      Note that God “humbled” his people; he did not “humiliate” them. “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.” (Prov. 15:33).“Serving the Lord with all humility of mind,” (Acts 20:19). “Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility:” (I Pet. 5:5). There is a big deference between “humility” and “humiliate”. Humility [L. humilitas] means “freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; a modest estimate of one's own worth.... a deep sense of one's own unworthiness in the sight of God, self-abasement”. Humiliate [L. humilio] means “to lower in condition; to depress; as humiliated slaves.” There is also a big deference between a “servant” and a “slave”. The Bible calls Jesus' disciples “servants”. Nowhere in the Bible are we called “slaves” of Christ. The apostle Paul referred to himself as “the prisoner of the Lord” (Eph. 4:1) as an obedient trusting child in the custody of a loving Father; not “the slave of the Lord” as an unwilling captive in the chains of an oppressive tyrant. Servant: [L. servans, from servo, properly one that waits] “Servant differs from slave, as the servant's subjection to a master is voluntary, the slave's is not. Every slave is a servant, but every servant is not a slave.” We serve the Lord Jesus Christ willingly, not reluctantly; “not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” (I Pet. 5:2,3). “If ye be willing and obedient [“the obedience of faith”(Rom. 16:26], ye shall eat the good of the land:” (Isa. 1:19) “For if there be first a willing mind” (II Cor. 8:12). (American Dictionary Of The English Language (Noah Webster) 1828, 1860, 1911, et al).

      The apostle Paul said, “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:” (Rom. 16:25,26). Paul said, “O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth,..? This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?.” Paul said that “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Gal. 5:4,5). “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.... But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Rom. 10:4,8-10).

      Paul said, “For they [the “holier than thou” (Isa. 65:5] being ignorant of God‘s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” (Rom. 10:3). Jesus told us to be “perfect” (Matt. 5:48): “Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (Lev. 11:45; I Pet. 1:16). But living a clean and holy life does not bring salvation: because “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6): “for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Gal. 2:21). While it is true that God has given us a “highway” to travel, “The way of holiness” that “the unclean shall not pass over it” (Isa. 35:8,9), and without holiness “no man shall see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14), it is also true that this holiness is not of the flesh (I Kings 11:4; I Chron. 28:9; Psa. 101:2), “for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Gal. 2:16), “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight” (Rom. 3:20). Paul said, “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” (Philip. 3:3). Jesus said that “hypocrites” “make clean the outside” as to “outwardly appear righteous unto men”, “but within ye are full of hypocrisy”, “iniquity”, “excess” and “wickedness” (Matt. 23:25,28; Luke 11:39,40). He said to “cleanse first that which is within [the heart]... that the outside... may be clean also” (Matt. 23:26). “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you.... and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God. I will also save you from all your uncleannesses” (Ezek. 36:26-29). Jesus said, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” (John 15:3). It is salvation that brings a clean heart and in turn a clean and holy life. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8,9).

      The apostle Paul said that “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.... Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”(Rom. 10:17,18). The Lord said, “I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth”; “I have not spoken in secret from the beginning” (Isa. 45:19; 48:16). The apostle James said to “receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21). “And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (I Pet. 1:25), exclaimed the apostle Peter, “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (I Pet. 1:9). This is God's will for man. The will of God is not some deep profound mystery hidden from the world; it is the simple plan of salvation, “that all should come to repentance” “and believe the gospel”, “the holy scriptures” (II Pet. 3:9; Mark 1:15; II Tim. 3:15). Paul said, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” “whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” (Eph. 1:13; 4:30); “the redemption of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” (Rom. 8:23-25) “(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)” (II Cor. 5:7); “For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body” (Philip. 3:20,21); “Immediately after” the “great tribulation” when “every eye” “shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matt.24:21,29-31; Rev. 1:7); “at the last trump” when “the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.... when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality,” (I Cor. 15:52-54). “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:” (Col. 1:5,6).

      God promised in the above scriptures to preserve his pure words forever to all generations. And God “cannot lie” (Titus 1:2). It is “impossible for God to lie” (Heb. 6:18). So why all the confusion? From the multiplicity and diversity of gods and scripture interpreters came the multiplicity and diversity of bible versions and confusion. The deeds and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans is but one example. Does this mean that God is unable to keep his promise of preservation? “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?”(Num. 23:19). “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isa. 55:10,11). “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Jer. 32:27). We can rest assured that God's words are preserved. We should also be aware of the fact that God will often allow counterfeits to creep in, because “the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins” (Psa. 7:9). God “trieth our hearts” (Prov. 17:3; I Thess. 2:4) “to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.” (Deut. 8:2).

      The word of God tells us that “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism,” (Eph. 4:,5). We know that “God is not the author of confusion” (I Cor. 14:33). Therefore, the various conflicting/confusing bible versions and translations cannot be from God, because that divides the body of Christ. Divisions are caused when we do not “all speak the same thing” (I Cor. 1:10). Just as there is but one true Spirit, there is but one true English Bible, as the Spirit and the word agrees. The apostle Peter said that “the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” (I Peter 1:25). Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.” (Luke 21:33). “The Old Testament priests were given the responsibility of preserving the scriptures which were written by the prophets (Deuteronomy 31). When Christ died, the veil of the temple was torn; the priesthood then passed to all who come to God through faith in Jesus Christ (I Peter 2:16). As priests, believers are now charged with safeguarding the scriptures written by the apostles.” (New Age Bible Versions, p.34). God's promise to “preserve” his “pure words” “forever” “to all generations” of believers “of every nation under heaven” is well documented by the overwhelming majority of manuscript evidence (aprox. 99% of the New Testament manuscripts, some dating back to the first century, are in agreement with the text of the KJV) (Psa. 12:6; 33:11, 119:90; Acts 2:6,7). Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they [the scriptures] are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:39,40). God's word tells us that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (II Tim. 3:16). Regardless of who the messengers are, whether they be apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers or “an angel from heaven”, the Holy Bible is the only ruler by which we should measure their words and deeds (Gal. 1:6-9; Eph. 4:11; Heb. 4:12; II Tim. 2:15).

      God has kept his promise of preserving his “pure words” as faithful Christians passed down from generation to generation the holy scriptures uncorrupted. It is a myth that few people had scriptures or could read during the first centuries after Christ and through the middle ages (The Cambridge History of the Bible vol. 2, pp. 389-390 et al.). The myth, that the common folks “had only scraps of scriptures” before John Wycliffe (1325-1384) who faithfully translated the Holy Bible into English in the 14th century, is perpetuated to degrade God’s promise of “the word which he commanded to a thousand generations” and “to all nations” (1 Chron. 16:15, Romans 16:26). When the impression is given that the common man has no preserved and infallible scriptures, the position and authority of the word of God can more easily be pirated by “Popish Persons” and “self conceited Brethren, who...give liking unto nothing, but what is framed by themselves, and hammered on their anvil” (“The Epistle Dedicatory,” King James Bible). “If mythmakers can convince us that generation upon generation of men and women went to their graves without reading or hearing the word of God, they can implant the false impression that we do not need scriptures (but need Catholic sacraments, ecstatic experiences, or myth-makers [or “prophets”]).... Foxe’s Acts and Monuments (A.D. 1563) traces Christianity from the first century to the 1500s. A thorough reading of all eight of its large volumes makes it abundantly clear that all who wanted scriptures, had them, in hand or in heart, as much or as little as they wanted.” (In Awe Of Thy Word, pp. 774, 778)

      “Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31,32). Please, dear reader, examine the historical records and the manuscript evidence for yourself with an open heart and mind and let the truth set you free from the deeds and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans and other un-biblical and anti-biblical doctrines and commandments of men.


            Bro. Terry

A.
They all teach that you cannot trust nor believe the Holy Bible; and that you must put your faith in their theologies, traditions, customs and rituals in order to please God and have everlasting life.

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