Evermore...

We come across so many doctrines in the world today, I want to encourage you brothers and sisters to meet this challenge on the battlefield of life. In Hosea 4:6 we read, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."

I find myself increasingly encountering condescension from fellow Christians whom are not Sabbath keepers, as they fail to challenge themselves in their own understanding, with an earnest study of God's word. To an extent, I can thoroughly appreciate opposing views on the widely held deceptions of the trinity doctrine and rapture theory, as well as those confused on the Christian seventh day Sabbath.

Those that meet me in discussion of these topics with passionate rebuttal refuting my teaching, may have a hardened heart but, they are not lukewarm. I take these seemingly most difficult of encounters as special opportunities to not speak to my own understanding, but instead point directly to the word of God. In this way, these are the easiest and most fruitful of encounters.

Be encouraged by those whom vehemently oppose you in speaking truth, my brothers and sisters. Our time here is not far from over, and each moment passed is one moment closer to the eternity WE CHOOSE for ourselves. In consideration of your own self and family, I would ask that you take stock of how you spend your time and energy in the service of the Lord.

Are you at odds with people in your life because they don't want to hear the truth, or they just don't seem to care to expel the energy to have a thoughtful opinion? Are you sometimes exasperated, fully frustrated at those with their eyes sealed shut? Oh, my brothers and sisters, take heed in these final hours of those spoken of in Revelation 3:15-16, in which we read "I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Now, do not misunderstand the intention of my message today. I am not suggesting you give up anyone as being lost and not worth your time and energy. My challenge is for you to exercise discernment, and not allow your energy to be tied up with frustrations injected into our lives by the enemy. Satan knows who YOU are. His cunning can take a well meaning Christian warrior he knows he cannot immediately deceive, and wear them down slowly, by any means possible. Our enemy is very good at what he does, there is no art of warfare he will not employ. Do not be fooled brothers and sisters, as Satan will use both your strengths as well as your weaknesses against you. If he can keep you distracted with the frustrations of a few, he may be keeping you from a purpose to be of service to a many.

Be prayerful and keep those lost close to your heart but literally, for kingdom’s sake, do not allow Satan to use your desire to follow after lost sheep against you. In this matter of our helping those of lukewarm hearts, let us consider 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 which reads “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”

You may wish to read further into the chapter but, here we are lovingly reminded of our role. We are given a clear reminder that for all our efforts, salvation is not ours to impart. We do not give it, we cannot take it away. We can shoe the horse. We can ride him down the road hard, and we can walk him up to the water but, we cannot make him drink when we arrive at the shore. Now take this analogy further and imagine trying to tackle said horse and wrestle him to the ground, in attempts to make him drink. Just like knowledge forced upon a lukewarm heart, for all this time and energy we expel, we are not what will quench the thirst for the living water.

In consideration of the seeds we plant, in Luke 8:15 we read “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” We must remember our role, know our purpose, and meet every challenge with discernment and expectation in God as truly fully capable. After all, our God is the one true God, the living God. He is not a lifeless icon, and he does not require frivolous pandering to his ego for us to garner his favor. Instead, we simply must accept the greatest gift of all, his grace afforded to us on that great day when blood was spilled on Calvary.

In our discernment, we must take advisement from Matthew 7:6, which reads “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”

Now, I am sure you have heard it said before the admonition to refrain of “casting pearls before swine.” But marry this prescription with the knowledge of Luke 8:15 where we recognize the converted as being of “an honest and good heart” who hear the word and not only keep it, but the fruits of this are realized with patience.

What am I saying here?…Well, it’s this….

When we sacrifice energy to the enemy, however we allow ourselves to be distracted, even the most purest of intentions do not resurrect missed opportunities. If we allow ourselves to become narcissistic and pervert our mission for the Lord, we may easily become discouraged when people struggle or fail to become what we envision as being “saved.” I say narcissistic because when we are consumed with frustration at others lacking, we are denying the power and ultimately the existence of the one true God, creator of all things, the father of Jesus Christ.

In this we are lost in our own toils feeding our own fleshly lusts, to do that which we are not capable. In Galatians 6:8 we read “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Do not saw yourself into damnation my dear brothers and sisters. You cannot serve two masters, even if it is self whom is second. Study the word brothers and sisters. Arm yourselves for daily battle. Put on the armor of God and never take it off.

While you go about your daily life be emboldened with beliefs upon which you are well sealed. Be ready to answer the hard questions like those I mentioned earlier and confront situations squarely with truth in the word…but do so with discernment and appreciation of your role. Humble yourself, and when necessary comfort yourself in knowing it is “God that giveth the increase.”

Now, supposing you are well sealed in truth, when you are confronted with query, or the kind of mocking disbelief I spoke of initially, how do you meet with opposition? Answer this for yourself, be introspective and grow from that answer. While we are sometimes confronted with questions we have no easy scripture to point to, or have no prior conviction to draw upon, it’s best to default right to our knees. Be an example and with transparency, take the issue straight to the father.

As Christians we live with the knowing of truth and are sometimes so full of it, we speak like we’re full of it…and I don’t mean truth! If you don’t have an answer, it’s necessary to say, “I don’t know”, but always follow with ”But I know who does! And if you really do, say it confidently.!

You lead by the best example when you remain in plain sight. How beautiful it is to be an example in someones memory. This is why, just as our creator, we also should be consistent. This means who you are at work, is whom you are at home. Whom you are online, is whom you are in church. You never know whom besides our father is watching you, and being the image someone recalls and draws upon for action when confronted with their own struggles, should be no greater a testimony than how others witness you in your hours of celebration and triumph.

Someone I once knew used to speak to my youthful exuberance by saying, “don’t go getting cocky, and acting like a fool.” I now remember such things said to me lovingly, because I know every word spoken to me, has a purpose. Even the things which outwardly seemed abusive or just unkind.

In Zechariah 13:9 we read “And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.”

Sometimes all you can do is fall to your knees. Not to be seen for the action or ritual, but for the example of selfless submission and palpable expectancy in your words. An example to whom you may ask….well, the answer is all who might bare witness.

Each of us has a unique purpose. My calling to be of service may look very different from yours. You may never stand before a congregation without your voice trembling. You may hold my same beliefs but not my exact convictions, and if you do, what God might have you do with that conviction may appear foreign to how I act upon my conviction, but both may be nonetheless anointed and of Gods best plan for us in our role as members in one body.

We read in Romans12:4-5 “4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

If you feel called and convicted as I do to speak the word of God, the words you choose to frame your message, your “book-ends” if you will, may package your message differently, but the “meat” should always be from God’s book, not your mouth.”

For the times we are confronted with questions which are easily answered from the word of God, let our every word point wholly selflessly to our Father, glorifying His word.

In John 10:16 it is written that “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”

Let us take confidence in the answers of the Bible, so when someone asks for example, “why do you call the trinity” a false doctrine, meet them first with the fact that 1 John 5:7 is a counterfeit scripture. How do we know?

Well... in the The King James Version

1 John 5:7 reads “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”

Let us take direction from Sainte Paul whom taught “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21” and apply it in thoughtful practice. By doing so, forgeries and bias become easily recognizable.

Here is a translation of 1 John 5:5-8, from one of the oldest complete Bibles, known as the Codex Sinaiticus:

1 John 5:5.

ϲτιϲ(faith) ημων(of us).

τιϲ(Who) δε(now) εϲτιν(is) ο(the) νεικων(overcoming) τον(the) κοϲμον(world) ει(if) μη(not) ο(the) πιϲτευων(believing) οτι(that) ιϲ(Jesus) εϲτιν(is) ο(the) υϲ(Son) του(the) θυ(GOD)

[Faith of us who now is the overcoming the world if not the believing that Jesus is the son (of) the God]

Notice that Sainte John Does not proclaim or even infer that Jesus is God or a member of a TRINITY. It does state unambiguously that Jesus is the Son of His God.

Moving on to 1 John 5:6 we read:

ουτοϲ(this) εϲτιν(is) ο(the) ελθων(having come) δια(by) υδατοϲ(water) και(and) αιματοϲ(blood) και(and) πνϲ ιϲ(Jesus) χϲ(Christ) ουκ(not) εν(by) τω(the) ϋδατι(water) μονον(only) αλλ(but) εν(by) τω(the) ϋδατι(water) και(and) τω(the) αιματι(water) και(and) το(the) πνα(Spirit) εϲτιν(is) το(the) μαρτυρουν(testifying) οτι(because) το(the) πνα(Spirit) εϲτιν(is) η(ho, hé, to, the) αληθεια(truth)

[This is the having come by water and blood and Jesus Christ not by the water only but by the water and the water and the Spirit is the testifying because the spirit is the truth.]

Then, 1 John 5:7 states:

οτι(For) οι(the) τρειϲ(three) ειϲιν(are) οι(these) μαρτυρου(that testify)

[For the three are these that testify]

And lastly, 1 John 5:8 is translated as:

τεϲ(three) το(the) πνα(Spirit) και(and) το(the) ϋδωρ(water) και(and) το(the) αιμα(blood)

[Three the Spirit and the water and the blood]

Now, you can go online and easily translate scripture for yourself. We live in a time unlike any time in history. Gone are the days when it is necessary for us to have an interpretation of the word of God, spoon fed to us as yet incapable children. We need nothing more than the simple tools of our age to find truth for ourselves. If you want to have the truth, seek it out. Stop asking, “but” questions and find “why” answers.

If you are hearing my words or reading a transcription of them online, chances are you have all you need at your fingertips to find real answers and be sealed yourself in truth.

Did you notice that the verse saying “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one, Is completely missing from the Codex Sinaiticus.

What if I pointed out that it is also absent from the oldest of manuscripts? If you are not convicted on this topic, does learning of this excite you, enrage you, or just intrigue you with an urge to seek truth for yourself?

Trinitarianism makes claim that God is one spiritual being with three personalities(father, son and Holy Spirit), with the son of God being fully(100%) of God, and not one-third. Trinitarians often purport a belief that these beings are co-equal, and co-eternal. I plan to unpack this and delve into a deeper study of this in a future lecture but, I encourage you to test everything I say with deep personal study, just as you should test every teacher, regardless of their denomination or the alphabet of titles behind their name.