Counterfeit Church

Dear Saints,

This article is a call to repentance, an earnest warning that we must return to our first love. The church has been anemic for so long, pursuing the spoils of a wicked world that it is now entering a full blown stage of apostasy. It will not be long before many, if not most, good Christians tumble forward into the pit of deception that has been quickly opening up. There is no great revival coming anymore, it is past that time.

The reason I say this is that scripture is clear that there will be a great falling away prophesied for this period in history. It is sad but it is true. The church herself has brought this final judgement of delusion upon herself and God is not going to allow the church, that he died for, escape his standard of excellence nor his justice. We are foolishly naive to think that God is going to judge the evil and sinful in the world and allow those in the church who continue to reject bearing the fruits of righteousness to be exempt.

Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Th 2:9-12)

Oh dear brethren we must search our hearts and repent of the pleasures of unrighteousness we have been hiding, some better than others. Many will say that they do not take pleasure in unrighteousness, but brethren this is one of the key points for God allowing us to be consumed and lead astray in the coming strong delusion. The hearts of men will be known on that final judgement day, it is true, but long before this the saints will be proven by being anchored in the truth and denying themselves the pleasures of unrighteousness. We can not be therefore anchored in truth and not display works of righteousness.

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. (1 Cor 13:10)

Granted we will not be perfect until that which is perfect is come but that is not an excuse for us not yielding to the life changing power of the Holy Spirit. We have no excuses and in the end days, that are soon to come upon us, we are no longer going to just experience his displeasure, we are going to face being proven once and for all.

Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Gal 6:7)

And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection. (Luk 8:14)

Oh may we surrender to the conviction of the Holy Spirit in our lives, for this is where the last 'revival" will take place, within our hearts, minds, body and soul. The church we see today is not the seed bed for God's truth, but rather it is a counterfeit church that Satan and the Demons of hell have groomed for the coming false prophet. The church today is truly counterfeit because it does not display the fruits of righteousness. It may have many of the outward trimmings that would convince the weak in spirit to think that it is but once again the church that Christ died for is and will always be the essence of His righteousness shining forth into the world a beacon of His glorious nature revealed to those who truly hunger after his truth.

God is not interested in numbers he is interested in those who, through the power and comforting guidance of the Holy Spirit, obey his commands and dispel the darkness of sin both within and without. Yet at the same time he doesn't need any help from us other than obedience. He does not and will not tolerate us building up our own religion in the name of his Son even if it looks very much like the original. He is not interested in how naturally good or just the members of this church are he is interested in how obedient they are to his commands.

The practical life of the true follower of Christ is not difficult to understand to the regenerated mind. Granted it is difficult for our carnal nature to embrace and this is exactly how God wants it. We are incapable of being righteous through our own deeds but we can be, and are, victorious through the power of the Holy Spirit. God's majesty is displayed over and over again as the church brings forth fruits of the spirit and righteousness. The true church is founded on, and displays, the eternal righteous principles of God. It does not embrace any "noble" human endeavors, it embraces the teaches of bearing the cross. It does embrace the deepest need of man, to be restored into right fellowship with God but the ground work and rules have already been established through the life and teaching of Jesus and later, his Apostles. We must not reinvent something that is already righteous and pure, and if we do, we must realize that it is of carnal man and not of him.

Ever since the beginning of the human race man has struggled with the simplest of rules. It is no different today. The very fact that we find hundreds of different denominations within the religion called Christianity tells us that something is wrong. God is not the author of confusion. He doesn't allow some to consider Mary the mother of God and then has some other group believe that God is restoring the five fold ministry and appointing new apostle's through out the earth. God is not interested in us trying to figure it out. He is interested in us obeying his commands which are readily available in the new testament. He is not interested in how we can draw more people up to the front in an alter call he is interested in each of us individually understanding the call and gift we are given for the benefit of the church. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts mankind and he does not need our temples to approach someone.

He doesn't work through the clergy/laity system, he works in spite of this aberration from scripture. He doesn't convict people through the pagan based Christmas events that are hosted but he actually convicts those who are yearning for truth which will eventually lead them away from these pagan offenses before God. He does not use or bless the surge of woman pastors and ministries we see today rather he loath's them for they are in violation of the standards he established for the church. He does not use people who gain wealth through the promotion of his Son's life and words, nor does he lead us into occupations that expose us to unnecessary sin. He does not use the King James version, he uses the WORD.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (Joh 1:14)

He does not send young men and woman off to seminaries to be taught his word he sends them on their knees into their private closets where they cry out to the source of all truth, repenting of their sinful waywardness embracing the life of the cross. God is serious about his church and it is time we took the same approach or we will be part of the counterfeit church that allows the false prophet to deceive most of those who at one time were truly regenerated but never took their citizenship in the kingdom of God serious.

I realize many will contest part or all that has been just written because it gives examples that are considered "untouchable", yet God is not interested in us having areas of belief that are untouchable, but rather it is solely our carnal nature that takes offense. When the true abandoned follower of Christ is presented with situations that challenge what we believe the response will not be to justify our position or positions. Rather we will find that this believer will be empowered by the power of God to extol the virtues and principles of an eternal God taking no offense to the challenge of his faith. If what we are declaring is from the heart of God then He will only use us to further extol his glory and wonder and never needs us to justify him, for He is just and Sovereign and in control.

He is so Sovereign that the ONLY thing he needs from us is our complete abandonment to live unto him in righteousness and purity of spirit. He will and does take care of the rest. Our institutions of state registered and sanctioned religion are not the venue that God needs or uses to reach a lost and sinful world. He has not encouraged or influenced governments to give us a tax deduction in order to fund his agenda let alone establish a system that rewards those who give with a tax deductible receipt. He has not established that our pastor's are called and needed to perform the state's requirements of marrying and burying. He has not sanctioned the exchange of rings when it violates the very direction that we are not to adorn ourselves.

The Almighty is will not tolerate this lukewarm church we see today for much longer and will very soon vomit it out from his mouth. Please brethren this involves most of the church today, it is not a minority. The glorious news is that there still is and there will be a GLORIUS CHURCH ready for him when he returns, the question is will you be part of it?

Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. ... Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Rev 3:3, 10-11)

Personally I found that in the past few years I have done more repenting than I ever did when I thought I was a good Christian, man, husband and father. True repentance opens the flood gates of God's grace and love I can assure you.

And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honor, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile. (Rom 2:3-10)

May His Love and Grace Abound

In His Precious and Glorious Name

Robert