General CREDULITY

[LeeB]

To believe in the teaching of someone without proving it yourself can be dangerous. When I was in the Worldwide Church of God I was guilty of credulity. Whatever Herbert Armstrong said I believed it. Armstrong had a way about him where he could twist the scriptures to fit his own views. This was a cult experience and I was totally absorbed in it. Armstrong did have a few truths which made the deception more effective that acted as a lure to attract members. In 1993 God Almighty began to work with me to guide me out of that cult and into HIS truth. I began to study under the guidance of Gods Spirit exposing one Armstrong lie after another. Now 30 years later I not only know the truth about the lies of Armstrong but of many others as well. Since being here on Simply Christian I have noticed that there are some who are yet in the same struggle I went through. This, I believe, is due to various reasons that have one common thread connecting them. You still believe a man who you think is a leader or teacher, huge mistake. Your salvation cannot be trusted in the hands of anyone else but yourself and God and Christ along with the Apostles and Prophets. Would you turn over you money, wife or children to someone else because your leader tells you to ? Why then your salvation? I do not not care who it is that you currently view as a spiritual leader or teacher among men, Gods Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ should be your ONLY leader, guide or teacher. There are no more Apostles , evangelists or Pastors. The so-called 5 fold ministry ended long ago with the death of the Apostle John. Since then Satans attack on the church has been devastating but there is yet a remnant in the world today. Now there is ONLY ONE WAY to know the truth and that is by your connection to the source of all truth who does not lie and cannot be deceived.
People are failing to use the precious gift that Christ gave his life for so that all Christians today are prophets and prophetesses receiving divine revelation of Gods truth. When any man tells you something not be a respecter of persons, do not be impressed with titles or letters after his name, God and Christ aren’t, prove the thing with a clear mind and conscience using prayer, study and meditation so that you are convinced in your own mind that should be in the mind of Christ. John was not joking when he said that you have no need that ANY MAN teach you because you have the anointing, the Holy Spirit, have you quenched or grieved that Spirit do you hear the voice of Christ. IT IS A LEAP OF FAITH AND FEARFUL THING TO FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIVING GOD.

 

[LeeB]

When reading Paul’s description of what a church meeting was like it was not a one man show where the pastor, preacher has the floor entirely with no participation from the dumb sheep led to the shearers who give money to basically be taught lies. It was a group participation, with the pastor serving to keep order and follow the instructions Paul gave. I am part of this type of church. We meet whenever time permits using no physical thing to worship God, we worship in spirit and truth. All present may participate in an orderly manner. We open and close with prayer and partake of the bread and wine. No one there is the leader or teacher, Jesus is there in spirit and is leader and teacher. Our studies are with prayer, scripture and meditation and the Spirit then guides all to the same truth. We have been doing this now for 30 years and have been blessed richly .

 

[LeeB]

Not long after Pentecost false teaching was confronted in Acts 15 and the first church council met to solve the problem but after the ruling was made those false brethren left the church as 1 John 2:19 mentions. The degree and intensity of deception today is extreme.

 

[Lori Jane]

You still believe a man who you think is a leader or teacher, huge mistake.

I don't think that is accurate. Many here listen to a variety of teachers - you included now. But the point is taken to rely more on what holy spirit is revealing to us. But can't holy spirit reveal things to us or point us in a direction of study by the words of others?

 

[LeeB]

I am not a teacher or leader. If I share here what the Spirit teaches me and someone understands it, it will be God who opens their mind to understand. When Jesus asked Peter , who do you say that I am, Peters correct answer came by revelation from the Father. This is how it works. Paul could plant, Apollos could water but only God could give the increase. Knowledge, understanding and wisdom come from God only. If you were to share with me a truth God taught you and I understood what you say, it would be God that gives me the understanding not you. The reverse is also true. This way God receives all the glory. Even Jesus gave his God the credit for his words and the miracles. One of the signs John gave in 1 John 4:5-6 , the Holy Spirit teaches the same things to all the saints and through fellowship and sharing the spirit opens the minds of all to any new revelation received by any in the church, this is why John said, you have no need that any man teach you. People who are unconverted will not understand. Jesus preached to thousands of people but only 120 were in the upper room on the day of Pentecost. God determines who will be added to the church and the rest are blinded spiritually Romans 11:7 God does it this way so that each person will have the best hope of success in salvation in the different times offered; today, the millennium or second resurrection. I do not believe God would call and choose a person today that in His omniscience would know would fail and suffer the second death, God is not willing that any should perish. There were certain numbers that did creep in unawares but were obviously not converted. The millennium and second resurrection periods are different because all humanity will be given the Holy Spirit In those days .
For me or anyone else to claim to be a teacher or leader would be trying to take the place of Christ , our leader, and the Holy Spirit of the Father, our teacher. Moses was denied entry into the promised land for failing to give God the glory for the water gushing out from the rock. Peter failed to take the gospel to the gentiles when God plainly showed Peter the giving of the Holy Spirit before baptism to gentiles, so God raised up Paul who later confronted Peter over his conduct concerning gentiles. Supposed leaders and teachers can be wrong but a church composed entirely of prophets has a built in check and balance system were it is very difficult, if not impossible, for Satan to introduce lies and deceptions. A leader or teacher is a witness of one which is not accepted, in the church it is two or more prophets for a matter to be established and in a multitude of witnesses is safety. All of this was needed for God to combat the constant attacks by Satan on the church from the time of the Apostles to this day and has been ever increasing up to the point of Revelation 12:9 , the world deceived except for the elect saints. This is why I say what I have said, I have experienced first hand to not put a man into what God only controls. The prophets and Apostles had a very powerful anointing due to their office that came from God and they received revelations from God. There are no more Apostles but the church is composed entirely of prophets operating in the same Spirit of God. We should never elevate any man as all members of the church have need of each other. 1 Corinthians 12:7-20 The church does not consist of one part, but many. When you have a man who controls what is believed and cannot be questioned or challenged, like in the Jehovah Witnesses or the Worldwide Church of God and many others churches, it far easier for Satan to deceive the one at the top to get to all or deceive the top dog and the rest will follow.

In summary; no man can convert another, no man can teach another or lead another as all this is in Gods complete control alone. Jeremiah 17:5 Psalm 118:8 Isaiah 2:22 Isaiah 30:1 Love and treat all men equally showing no favoritism for God is no respecter of persons nor should HIS people be.