PERILOUS TIMES

[Les Brewer]

PERILOUS TIMES


Today America is enjoying economic growth and prosperity; but inwardly moral corruption and spiritual adultery. We need Prophets of spiritual posterity and austerity: not a pseudo-prosperity message!

(34) And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
(35) For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
(36) For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
(37) Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
(38) Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels. Mark 8:34-38

There are many poor people whom are richer than the wealthiest of men! Why? Their riches are the riches of heaven’s knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Is it a sin to be rich in the things of this world? Emphatically I say no! Yet to put to the wealth of this world before the wealth of heaven is a cardinal sin! One cannot buy their way into heaven; one must deny themselves and seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and the Righteousness of Christ and God will bless proportionately according to his will. He knows the heart of every person whether they can be trusted to be stewards of worldly wealth.

Those who pursue wealth with a passion do it to their own destruction:

(9) But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
(10) For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 1st Timothy 6:9-10

Brethren; worldly wealth will not compensate us in eternity; it is the soul of man that needs the wealth of the word to sustain it. The soul is of the greatest value in the sight of God; he sent his Son to die for our sins that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Spiritual fortification is the stable of a wealthy soul. The soul is the seat of the mind, will, and emotion of a person; therefore it is empty and devoid of wealth without the Spirit and Truth of God abiding there. We are new creations in Christ and our substance is faith which works through agape love.

(15) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
(16) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
(17) And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 1st John 2:15-17

Our new life is filled with love for the wealth of Father; not lust for the wealth of world! Lust for the world is a death sentence; but those who love the word of God and do the will of God abide forever! Lust is the foreskin of death and needs to be circumcised through the resurrection power of the risen Savior!

Today churches are filled with pseudo-gospels with false narratives which lead the flock of God astray. Many are succumbing to errors thinking they’re serving God; but only becoming more worldly minded with a thin veneer of truth to make it seem plausible; but underneath is laid a lust and longing for the things which can never be satisfied. Why? Lust is insatiable the more you feed it the more it wants! Lust causes people to exchange the truth for a lie and then live that lie as if it is the truth; in effect they become reprobates in their own minds and no use to God or the Kingdom of Heaven.

Brethren; what are you believing in? Are you sincere about living the crucified life? Is your mind being renewed in the spirit? Do you examine yourself and question if your faith is genuinely biblical? Self-scrutiny is our duty the most urgent responsibility; but often the most neglected.

(5) Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2nd Corinthians 13:5

Brethren; I exhort you and admonish you to: Roll away the stone; cut away the circumcision of death; let eternal life come forth! Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand! Selah!

Shalom, Agape, & Amen!
Bp. D. Ray Ritchie (Emissary)

[butero]

That is a good message. I agree that having wealth is not the issue. If a man is serving God and putting him first, it may enable him to serve God full time without distractions. At the same time, if we are not putting God first, and serving Mammon, that is evil and destructive. Mammon is a destructive master. Mammon makes many demands of his servants. The Bible states that we cannot serve both God and Mammon at the same time. We will love one and despise the other. That is because the servant of Mammon spends all of his or her life looking for ways to accumulate more money. It doesn't matter how they do it, they must have more. This will often times mean they will do things that are not right in the sight of God and may even involve cheating people. After all, Mammon just wants you to get more. But the Bible asks the question, what will a man give in exchange for his soul? You can accumulate all the earth's wealth, and suddenly be taken away through death. Then what becomes of all you have gathered to yourself? You can't take it with you to your home beyond the grave. It will become someone else's possession. What we should focus on is God and His Kingdom. Accumulate treasures in heaven, where rust and moths do not destroy it. Build up that heavenly Bank Account through the giving of alms and doing good deeds. Always put God first, and trust that all the things you need to sustain you in this life will be added to you, and you won't have to lose your soul in the process.

[Les Brewer]

Amen