Jonathan Switzer: The Church vs. The Kingdom of God

We often hear about how important it is that the church not be self-focused but rather outward focused, trying to reach the lost and care for the outcast and broken.

But, I found that when the Bible talked about church the Bible itself tended to be internally focused. Maybe that's why its so easy for the church to get internally focused!

At the same time, however, the Bible is clear that we should be reaching out.  So, if it is not the church reaching out, Biblically, then who or what is it?  What I found was that in the Bible the internal appears to be emphasized when describing the church and external when describing the Kingdom of God.

I think the distinction is worth our attention. Let’s start with the church.

Church - Internal
The church was first built on Peter’s confession of Christ, son of the Living God (Matt 16:18). It cannot be separated from Christ. Therefore, Paul observed appropriately, the church has been sanctified in Christ and is called to be holy (1 Cor. 1:2). Specifically, Paul said Christ is over everything for the church (1 Cor. 1:22). Christ is literally the head of it (Eph 5:23, Col 1:18) and God will get glory through it (Eph 3:21).

Christ's Headship
Christ’s headship of the church is very intimately illustrated by human marriage. As the church submits to Christ, wives should submit to their husbands (Eph 5:24). Husbands should love their wives like Christ loves the church who presents her radiant to God by washing her with the water of the Word (Eph 5:25-27). In this way, Christ feeds the church like it was his own body (Eph 5:30). He assures that the members names are written in heaven (Heb 12:23). We are even told that Jesus holds the angels of the churches in his hands. He walks among the churches and speaks to them words of encouragement and correction (Revelation 1-3).

Church's Power
But, here is the most public part of the Bible’s teaching on the church. With Christ at its head, the gates of Hell shall not stand against the church (Matt 16:18). In fact, God’s intent is that through the church His manifold wisdom should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms according to His eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord (Eph 3:10). The church is definitively the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Tim 3:15). Christ is central to that truth.

Internal Training
Therefore, what Christ speaks to the church is important; which turns internal again. Christ teaches His church through people. It was taught by Paul (1 Cor. 4:17). But there are others. God appointed Apostles, Prophets, teachers, workers of miracles and other gifts in the church (1 Cor. 12:28ff). Nevertheless, it is edified by prophecies and intelligible communication from all members of the body (1 Cor. 14:4). We all should excel in gifts that build it up (1 Cor. 14:12). As we do, we should remember that five intelligible words in it are better than 10,000 in tongues, though we must never forbid speaking in tongues (1 Cor. 14:19). In this way, hymns, words of instruction, revelations, tongues and interpretations should be done for strengthening it (1 Cor. 14:26). Nevertheless, elders who direct it are worthy of double honor, especially preaching and teaching (1 Tim 5:17).

Internal Standards
This leads us to some basic issues of maintaining the internal standards of the church. We are told by Christ that the church should expel all who refuse to deal with the truth (Matt 18:17). Though, we should be careful to work the full process in Matthew 18. Nevertheless, we should judge those inside not outside (1 Cor. 5:12). We are even told that men of little account are capable judges for internal disputes (1 Cor. 6:4).

There is a balance when enforcing these internal disputes. We are taught that one believer’s freedom should not be used in a manner that causes another to stumble in the church when dealing with disputable matters. (1 Cor. 10:32). In this way, the church should not be divided (1 Cor. 11:18). It should not be a place of pride, fighting and running over the weak but everything in it should be done in a fitting and orderly way (1 Cor. 14:40).

Internal Leadership
As an apostle, Paul filled up in his flesh what was lacking for Christ’s body, the church (Col 1:24). To make sure good leaders followed Paul’s example he said, if a man can’t manage his family he shouldn’t be asked to manage the church (1 Tim 3:5). Tough decisions need to be clarified by leaders; like the importance of only helping those widows really in need not those with believing family members (1 Tim 5:16). Those same elders also wield significant spiritual authority. We are told they will pray over the sick, anoint with oil in the name of the Lord and their prayers offered in faith make the sick well (James 5:14),

Summarizing the Church
This internal vision of church is so important. The church is the holy bride of Christ which is stronger than the gates of hell and shows wicked spiritual powers in high places God’s wisdom. The church is taught, edified and built up by spiritually gifted apostles, prophets and elders as well as spirit-filled average members. The church carefully upholds the truth, judging those inside not out, solving disputes and gently giving grace about disputable matters. The apostles, elders and leaders, by managing their own homes, are proven worthy of making difficult church management decisions and wielding the spiritual authority to heal believers.

However, before Christ appeared to him, Paul persecuted the church (1 Cor. 15:9; Gal 1:13). In fact, in many places in Acts it appears the church is on defense against persecutions instead of on offense proclaiming the Kingdom of God. After Christ appeared to him, however, Paul both ministered internally to build up the church and also boldly proclaimed the Kingdom of God publicly.

This powerful vision of a loved, equipped, credible, holy and diligent church appears to be the nurturing soil for growing up believers who forcefully proclaim and advance the Kingdom of God.

Kingdom of God - External
Contrast what we just studied about the church with the outward, public nature of what the Bible teaches about the Kingdom of God.

Preached Everywhere
Jesus preached the good news of the Kingdom of God (Lk 4:43). He spoke about it everywhere (Lk 9:11). He even told one man to forget about burying his father and go proclaim it (Lk 9:60). He sent the disciples to preach the Kingdom of God and heal the sick (Lk 9:2, 10:9). He said that the law and prophets are no longer proclaimed but rather the Kingdom of God into which many were forcing their way (Lk 16:16). Philip preached it publicly (Acts 8:12). Paul argued persuasively about it (Acts. 19:8; 28:23ff). Jesus preached, “the Kingdom of God is near, repent and believe” (Mk 1:15). It will be preached in all the earth and then the end will come (Matt 24:14).

What is the Kingdom of God?
So, what exactly is the Kingdom of God? It does not come with careful observation but rather is “within you”. (Luke 17:20-21) Though it was proclaimed by Christ and the disciples, it is not a matter of talk, but of power (1 Cor. 4:20); It is not about eating and drinking but righteousness peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Rom. 14:17). Flesh and blood cannot inherit it (1 Cor. 15:50). Some of Jesus’ day lived to see it come in power (Mk 9:1, Lk 9:27). After the last supper, Jesus’ next drink of wine was in it (Mk 14:25). Whatever we leave for the sake of the Kingdom of God we will receive many times as much in this age and the one to come (Lk 18:29-30). Demonic deliverance shows that it has arrived (Lk 11:20) In fact, Christ said that no one who puts his hand to the plow (of the Kingdom) and looks back is fit for it. (Lk 9:62) At the end of the day the Kingdom of God is the rule and reign of God inside a person’s heart. When we seek it first, all other things are added to us.

Secrets of the Kingdom
However, the secrets of this Kingdom of God are only given to disciples of Jesus (Mk 9:47). In fact, the keys of it are given to the disciples (Matt 16:19). A person can not see it unless born again (John 3:3-5). They can not enter it unless born of water and spirit. In one secret, for example, it is compared to a man who scatters seeds on four different types of soils each producing different kinds of harvests (Mk 4:26). The path produced no growth with seeds eaten by birds. The rocky soil produced shallow quick harvests that failed. The weedy soil produced fruitless harvests. The good soil, however, produced 30, 60, 100 fold harvests.

The Kingdom of God was also compared to a mustard seed that is the smallest of seeds yet largest of full grown plants (Mk 4:30). It is like a treasure hidden in a field, a pearl of great price, the owner of a house that lost a valuable coin and a net let down into a lake (Matt 13). It’s like a King settling his accounts with his servants. It’s like a generous landowner hiring workers throughout the day. It’s like ten virgins with lamps. Finally, it was then compared to a little bit of yeast that makes a whole loaf rise (Lik 13:18-21).

Who Gets Into the Kingdom?
Though, we must go through many hardships to enter it (Acts 14:22), when warning about temptations to sin, Jesus said it was better to have one eye in the Kingdom of God than to have two eyes in hell. (Mk 9:47). It is hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God (Mtt 19:24; Mk 10:23; Lk 18:24-29). In fact, tax Collectors and prostitutes are entering ahead of Pharisees (Matt 21:31). It belongs to little children and should be received like a little child would (Mk 10:14-15; Lk 18:16-17). A wisely answering teacher of the law was not far from it (Mk 12:34). Jesus said, it belongs to poor (Lk 6:20; James 2:5). In fact, the least in it is greater than John the Baptist who was greatest among those born of women (Lk 7:28).

On the day of the Kingdom of God it will be bad for those who reject it (Lk 9:11). There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth among those thrown out of it when Abraham, Isaac and Jacob come with it (Lk 13:28). However, people will come from East and West and take their place at its feast (Lk 13:29). Blessed is the man who will eat at its feast (Lk 14:15). Jesus told the story of a man who gave a banquet and people gave excuses why they would not come. (Lk 14). As a result, the wicked will not inherit it or enter it (1 Cor. 6:9-10; Gal 5:20).

The difference between Church and the Kingdom of God
Ultimately the difference between the church and the Kingdom of God is very subtle but important. The church is geared more internal, focused on Christ’s nurture and being built up, maintaining internal order and care and reflecting holiness in Christ. The Kingdom of God, however, appears to be much more public, being proclaimed to the world, forking roads and calling for repentance. Though the church manifests the wisdom of God to the principalities and powers in high places with the gates of hell not prevailing against it, it is not the church that is forcefully advancing, sowing seeds on all soil types, making the whole loaf rise and inviting people to the banquet. Rather, it is the proclamation of the imminent Kingdom of God that does all that. The proclamation of the Kingdom of God is accompanied by many parables or illustrations designed to magnify why someone should choose it. When the Kingdom of God is rejected there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. It is what Jesus and the disciples preached publicly followed by signs and wonders.

Summary
The church is in the Kingdom of God. However, the church does not proclaim the church, but rather the good news of the Kingdom of God and Jesus, it’s King. It is the Kingdom of God and King Jesus that we take to the world. Those who accept it are then brought into the church to be edified and equipped by Jesus’ gracious care.

In sales they say sell the sizzle, not the steak. The Kingdom of God is the sizzle. (Though, that is much too worldly an idea.) The Kingdom of God and it’s King Jesus is what we proclaim to the world. What they get when they accept the Kingdom is the Spirit of God, salvation, forgiveness, redemption, adoption, fellowship in the church and so much more.

Alanna Jennings: Spiritual Gardening - Part 6 "The White Pathway"

Spiritual Gardening – Part 5
“The White Pathway”
Alanna Jennings


One night in November, I was too busy to notice that there was another “White Night” painting the earth with its glow (see Part three of “Spiritual Gardening” for more on a “White Night”). It wasn’t until I started to climb into bed that I noticed the white slivers of moonlight seeping through the slats of the drawn blinds. Being unable to resist taking a chilly, autumn walk through my garden by moonlight I crept outside, knowing all the while that the last of the flowers were gone, and that I would find nothing but leaves awaiting me.

To my surprise, I found much more than dead leaves and the stalks of dead flowers. There, bisecting my garden, as usual, was the white, marble walkway that goes unnoticed all summer long, as my attention is on the flowers, and those marble stones are merely something to walk on.

Once again, I was struck by the awesome thoroughness of the Master Gardener, who ensures that there is beauty and glory and provision in His “Planting” all year long. How comforting it was to see that my natural and spiritual gardens have a clearly delineated path for me to follow in all the seasons of my life.

How encouraging it is to know that when all around me seems to be swallowed up in death; when my plans and dreams fail to bloom; when something I have poured years of effort into is past it’s time of fruitfulness and it’s time to let it die a graceful death; or in the “dark night of the soul”; the Light of the World is still there, illuminating the pathway before me. It may not be an easy pathway, in fact, I can guarantee you that it will not be. If the way before you is a wide one, choose another path as quickly as you can, for we are told to:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matt 7:13-14

And, by the way, not just any narrow way will do. Make sure that you are on the way appointed for you, and not on someone else’s path. Robert Frost so beautifully portrays for us “two roads diverged in a yellow wood”, and reminds us of our inability to travel but one. I would propose to you that we are tempted by the world in which we live, with more paths to choose from than perhaps any other generation in history.

And so, how to choose? The Prophet Jeremiah relayed the word of the Lord to the people of God in Jeremiah 6:16, “Thus says the Lord: Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls”. True peace will never be found on any other pathway than the path of obedience. I suggest you find out what God wants you to do, and then do it. You will never know true and lasting peace until you do. And, by the way, the ‘Pathway of Obedience” is a daily journey, that can only be taken by making daily, Godly choices, and walking out each days assignments. Tomorrow’s assigned pathway is often not revealed until you have completed today’s journey.

Though the pathway set before us is rarely easy, the choice is pathway is rarely difficult. It basically comes down to two choices:

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the LORD your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them." Deut 30:15-20

I beseech you to choose life dear friends. The pathway of obedience set before you today may be one of mountains and valleys; you may even encounter a few lions and tigers and bears – OH MY! However difficult the way, rest assured that you will overcome (it is your destiny), as long as you are in His yoke, and not one of your own making.

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matt 11:28-30

Daniel Switzer Ed.D.: Who is this King?

One of the titles that we have for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is that of King. We generally think of a King as one who orders around his subjects and underlings in a peremptory manner. However, when we begin to dig deeper into what kind of King Jesus is, we get a very different picture. In this article, I would like to share a few thoughts about the kind of King Jesus Christ is.

Proverbs 28:12a says, “When the righteous triumph, there is great elation” (NIV). There is great rejoicing when righteous leaders are victorious. As God’s citizens, we can rejoice today because our King—Christ himself—has triumphed. He is a victorious and righteous King—indeed a Good King!

A Great King of Hope—the Lifter of our Head!

Sometimes I work with a child and perhaps that child has done something wrong and is ashamed. Perhaps the child is shy or has experienced some kind of defeat. What invariably happens is that the child places his head down; the child’s whole countenance—head, eyes, face, and mouth—points downward. I sometimes proceed to lift up the child’s head.

The same thing can happen to us as children of God. Perhaps for whatever reason our countenance is downcast. Our encouragement level is depressed. In those times we can remember Psalm 24:7-10, which describes the triumphal return of our King to the city and its corresponding effect upon his citizens:

Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates; lift them up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory. (NIV)

Who is this King—this Jesus? Mighty and victorious, He is the great King who lifts up our head, lifts up our countenance, and gives us hope even amid difficulty. This hope is one that is firm and secure, an eternal anchor to our soul; this King gives real hope that makes a real difference in our outlook—every day of our lives! He is a King who fights victoriously for His people—He is mighty in battle!

You can imagine what it must have been like for a victorious king to return to his city. Rejoicing, the people would lift up the city’s gates and doors to receive their king with great adulation. My question to you is “What are your gates? What are your doors? What are you letting into your city? Who are you letting into your heart?” With the doors of your eyes, your ears, your mind, and your heart—with your entire being, let in King Jesus. Receive this King with unadulterated rejoicing. This King is the Lifter of Your Head. He gives us true hope amid all of our difficulties!

Psalm 25:15 shows how this King can lift up our head when we are facing trials: “My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.” So often when going through tribulation, we are tempted to look down and get immersed in the problem. We focus on the trap, the mess we have gotten into, and do everything we can to extricate ourselves from that situation. God’s Word counsels us to do the opposite: to lift up our head and fix our eyes not on the problem but on our King—Jesus—because He is the only one who can free us from the trap.

A Victorious King Who Gives Gifts!

Not only is he a victorious King—a conquering King who wins great battles on our behalf, Jesus is also a different king. Upon his return from The Great Victory, instead of being showered by his people with gifts, this King gives his people gifts! Normally, upon return from a victorious battle, a conquering king would parade through the city streets with his prisoners in tow and the people would bestow him with gifts. Well, this King Jesus returns with captives in his train, but instead of being showered with gifts, he does things in reverse—He gives gifts to his citizens. He gives gifts to his children. He gives important gifts to you and to me.

Ephesians 4:7-8 says, “But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: ‘When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.’”
When King Jesus returned from his great victory over Satan and all the spiritual principalities that are now defeated foes, He gave his people gifts. And these grace gifts are for a purpose!
Why does He give us gifts? Why does this King Jesus give his children gifts? What do all children want to do? In our school’s first and second grade classroom, there is a place where the students can measure their height to see how tall they have grown. They are able to see how much they are growing throughout the course of the year. Of course, children want to grow up; they want to grow up physically and in every other way. They want to grow up physically, mentally, spiritually, relationally; in short, they want to become more and more mature.

In the same way, God gives us his children gifts so that we can grow up—so we can grow to maturity in Christ. He desires us to grow up spiritually as a Body into the full stature and character of Christ. Jesus—the Great King—uses grace gifts, or equipping gifts, to do just that. He calls us to use our gifts for His use—to help us to grow.

Ephesians 4:12-13 says that God gave us gifts “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Far from an individual focus that so oftens occurs when we receive material gifts, these equipping gifts are for a community focus—to build up the Body of Christ! In other words, these grace gifts make us others-focused as opposed to self-focused. These equipping gifts help us to reach the goal Christ has for us together as a Body—to be unified in the faith and in knowing Christ.

As we mature in Christ, we will show the balance of Christ’s character—full of grace and truth. We become fully grown in Christ and are not easily shaken like infants because we hold firmly to the sound Word of God. And all of the members of the Body are used in order to enable this process of growth to occur. “The whole body . . . grows . . . as each part does its work” (Eph. 4:16). In the Kingdom of God, growth occurs as the whole body—not individual parts of the body—grows together in love.

The King asks us today: What gift have I given you? Are you using it to build up my Body? I encourage you to understand that we grow as we also help our brothers and sisters in Christ to grow. This Great King Jesus has given us special gifts, and He calls us to use them to help others to grow up into Christ. This King is a different King—He is the Lifter of our Head and He gives us gifts for a purpose—to build up the Body of Christ—all for His glory! Indeed, we serve a great King!

Rod Levey: The Day of Delay

THE DAY OF DELAY

Sometimes we don't know what to do in the delay. You're waiting for a loved one and they're held over at a connecting airport because of bad weather. Supper is on the table and you're waiting for your husband to get home from work; he should have been home forty-five minutes ago but he's caught in traffic. Let's turn it up a notch. You need a miracle and it's not happening. Your church's finances are on tilt, you need a job, a healing, etc. We can go on and on. The bottom line is we need Jesus to show up on the scene and we need Him to arrive now or preferably yesterday.

How are we going to conduct ourselves while we wait for Him to show up? Do we become casual and lazy? Do we work something up in our own strength? Do we compromise and take something close enough? These are very legitimate questions we have to ask ourselves.

Abraham was promised by God that he would be the father of a multitude. Abraham and his wife Sarah were both well along in age. I think it would be safe to say past child bearing years. They devised a plan because they couldn't wait for God to move. They chose to do things their way. We all know that Abraham went into his wife's maidservant, she conceived and birthed a son by the name of Ishmael. Ishmael was blessed of God and became a great nation; however, he wasn't God's original plan. What Abraham and Sarah had done in their own timing and in their own strength became more than they bargained for.1 This is definitely building on a wrong foundation. If we do these things the end result is normally a nightmare.

If God isn't moving or moving fast enough, do you manipulate things or take things into your own hands to produce something that looks like His creation on the outside but was never of His genesis?

Saul was set in as king because the elders of Israel wanted a king like all the other nations.2 After Saul was anointed as king Samuel gave him direction to go down to Gilgal and wait for his arrival.3 Upon his arrival, Samuel was going to tell Saul what he should do.

Saul waited the appointed days in Gilgal and Samuel didn't show up, therefore, King Saul took things into his own hands.4 He felt compelled, or we could say he forced himself, to present a burnt offering, the very thing that Samuel was suppose to do. Samuel arrived and appeared to be a bit perturbed and asked Saul what he had done. Here are Saul's reasons, or what are really excuses, why he did what he did: 5

1. He saw the people were scattered from him.
2. Samuel didn't come within the appointed days (he did finally arrive on the scheduled day).
3. The Philistines gathered for war against Israel.

Things didn't look too good in the natural.

We, as leaders in the community of The King, should realize that God will delay His coming to see if we will trust and obey Him, or work something up that appears to be very spiritual in the delay. He's looking for those who will obey Him and wait for Him no matter what it looks like or what is surrounding them.

When God delays, do you get moved by what you see or don't see around you in the natural? Can you hold your position and not be moved to enter into spiritual activities that you shouldn't be? God is looking for those who can keep their head in the midst of pressure and His delaying.

In the parable of the Ten Virgins they all slumbered and slept as they awaited the bridegroom. They nodded off.7 This particular setting doesn't depict them in a place of rest, which would be good, but rather a state of idleness and laziness. They enjoyed the life of ease. They kind of got caught off guard when the call came that the bridegroom was coming. The foolish virgins certainly had not made purchases while they had the time and opportunity to. They were lacking the oil which was necessary.8 I'm sure they were wishing they would have done things different after they showed up late and the door was shut.

As Jesus delays His return, are you in a place of passivity or activity? Oil (the Holy Spirit) increases in our lives as we actively surrender to the Lord and walk in obedience to His will. This is a costly affair in which we can pay now or pay later.

After Moses, who is a type of Christ, spent time with God up on the mountain receiving the Ten Commandments, he came back down only to find that the congregation got a little antsy. Moses was taking too long. In the postponement they started to partake of, or join in, some activity that was impure. They were playing with fire. God's Word says that the Israelite children sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. This playing was a form of spiritual fornication. The children of God were now flirting with, or making sport with, another god (spirit). God's children were in a state of defenselessness. Their spiritual discernment was void. They entered into a state of looseness. They had abandoned themselves to the experience at hand. They had cast off all restraint. I'm sure there was great excitement and stimulation as they “worshiped”.9

There is much available in these days to dabble in while we wait for our Lord's return. Ezekiel speaks of a people set apart to God who will teach between the holy and the unholy and will cause the people of God to discern between the unclean and the clean.10 This is relevant for us in our day.

What are you joining in on? What will you join yourself to, or allow to be joined to you? We all so desperately want God to move in our midst. We all desire something fresh in God. I'm afraid we will jump on board with just about anything that makes itself available if we aren't careful and in an attitude of testing the spirits.

There are “moves of the Spirit” going on right now as you read this, in different parts of the body of Christ. My question is this: are the children of God sitting down to eat and drink of the flesh and blood of Christ;11 which would mean walking in the way of the cross displayed by crucifying their flesh, or are they sitting down to fulfill the lusts of their flesh and of their idolatrous spirits with something termed “this is God”?

The works of the flesh are laid out clearly in Galatians 5: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, to name a few. Please understand, all these mentioned are also attainable in the spiritual dimension. We need to be aware that all of this above mentioned spiritual idolatry is happening all around us. We have outward image worship taking place and magical mystics are on the loose. There are so called “men of God”, manifestations and angels that are taking a place of preeminence above Christ. There is an increase of spiritual uncleanness throughout the body of Christ like I've never seen.

As the Lord delays His return many are running after the experience(s) of some god (spirit). Others are running after the experiences of God instead of the God of the experience(s). What will our choices be?
My hope and prayer is that we will not compromise in the flesh or the spiritual in the day of delay.


1 Genesis chapters 15,16,17
2 1Samuel 8:4-5
3 1Samuel 10:1, 8
4 1Samuel 13: 8-9
5 1Samuel 13:11-12
6 Judges 7:4
7 Matthew 25:5
8 Matthew 25:8-9
9 Exodus 32:1, 6, 25
10 Ezekiel 44:15, 23
11 John 6:53-56