Jesus Christ is my God!
Issued 25.07.1999
False gods
What you adore in your heart, is your god. Idols rule the mankind and are leading it to the battle against God. Man can be either with God against gods or with his idols against God.
Stars have an influence on your future
I don't mean stars in the sky, but persons that are your stars. Everyone has his god, for whom he lives. An idol is an object that you worship as your ideal or as your pattern.
In the heart of man there is an empty frame that is for the picture of God. Any object that is worshipped occupies that place. Everyone makes practical choices according to one's ideal image. In this way stars have an influence on your destiny. Almost anybody can be your false god or almost anything which you can worship and to which you can give yourself.
When an idol loses its brightness, it usually loses its worshippers. Admen collaborate with entertainment industry and have created stars to make people buy what advertises say. They have noticed that idols are needed for a veiled indoctrination.
"Jesus Christ is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being." Heb.1:3 If you would see His brightness even by blink, you could be able to give the throne of your heart to the one who is worthy to that place. "We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2Cor.3:18
Worshippers of God are transformed into His likeness. If you give your worship to a false god, dangerous things start to happen in you. Also worshippers of idols are transformed into likeness of their god with ever-increasing darkness, which comes from the master, who is an evil spirit.
All must be respected, but worship is only for the real God. Honouring is appreciative, but worshipping means surrendering oneself to an idol. You know very well, when respect is turning to worship.
Music is a great factor in worship. When someone worships, he feels a satisfaction and meaning of life. Therefore idol-products sell well. The worship of false gods is the reason to all bad things on earth. Property, church and state are the traditional idols of the whole nation. The national anthem means to many persons a part of worshipping.
Many wars prove sacrifices to state-idols. In the world there are gods like stars in the sky, but they all will lose their brightness, when Jesus Christ steps forward.
I don't mean stars in the sky, but persons that are your stars. Everyone has his god, for whom he lives. An idol is an object that you worship as your ideal or as your pattern.
In the heart of man there is an empty frame that is for the picture of God. Any object that is worshipped occupies that place. Everyone makes practical choices according to one's ideal image. In this way stars have an influence on your destiny. Almost anybody can be your false god or almost anything which you can worship and to which you can give yourself.
When an idol loses its brightness, it usually loses its worshippers. Admen collaborate with entertainment industry and have created stars to make people buy what advertises say. They have noticed that idols are needed for a veiled indoctrination.
"Jesus Christ is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being." Heb.1:3 If you would see His brightness even by blink, you could be able to give the throne of your heart to the one who is worthy to that place. "We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." 2Cor.3:18
Worshippers of God are transformed into His likeness. If you give your worship to a false god, dangerous things start to happen in you. Also worshippers of idols are transformed into likeness of their god with ever-increasing darkness, which comes from the master, who is an evil spirit.
All must be respected, but worship is only for the real God. Honouring is appreciative, but worshipping means surrendering oneself to an idol. You know very well, when respect is turning to worship.
Music is a great factor in worship. When someone worships, he feels a satisfaction and meaning of life. Therefore idol-products sell well. The worship of false gods is the reason to all bad things on earth. Property, church and state are the traditional idols of the whole nation. The national anthem means to many persons a part of worshipping.
Many wars prove sacrifices to state-idols. In the world there are gods like stars in the sky, but they all will lose their brightness, when Jesus Christ steps forward.
Worshippers
Everyone has an experience of worshipping, although they don't know it with this name. Adoration, sacrifice and mental dependence are included in worshipping. A worshipper and the worshipped are in alliance with each others.
Because man has got the ability to worship only for the worship of the true God, a false object gains a status as a replacement of God. When a man adores an idol, he is involved in the supernatural lie. Idol is idol, because it is worshipped. The abundance of false gods proves that people hunger for the true God.
Who are you worshipping? What are you crazy about? If you claim that you don't worship anybody or anything, I think that you worship yourself and so you have good stuff to be an idol. Nobody can live a long time without idolizing something. Everyone has a need in his heart to see something great and wonderful somewhere.
When man gives his worship to something - whatever he considers so valuable - he gets into his heart a lovely experience, though the object actually is not so lovely. He is ready to sacrifice much for his passion. He can be quite crazy with his hobby. Life without worship is boring and therefore entertainment industry produces many false gods.
Spectator sports are a sort of worship for some persons. Music and mass meetings intensify the effect of worshipping on worshippers. For some people to fall in love is a source of worship. The prince or princess of dreams is an ideal image which many are worshipping when they are young. Then they search the person that matches their image. Maybe sometimes the right one is found and it is love from the first glance, because that god has been surveyed with worship for a long time.
Many think that worshipping of an impersonal god is a better religion than any personality cult. The object of their worship has been nature, nation, state, ideology, wisdom, doctrine, art, science or another high matter. A restrained worshipper of intellectualism has got his ecstasy when he bows before "evolved creatures" or high-tech devices.
They love money because they worship products. They love machines, because they adore human skills. Many understand that when worshipping their high objects they are untruthful, but they are trapped to that enjoyment, which they get in the experience of worship. In the gripper of his idol man is powerless and cannot be saved, if he doesn't cry out for help from the real God.
Also Jesus was tempted in his human nature to give his worship to someone else than God. "Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. 'All this I will give you,' he said, 'if you will bow down and worship me.' Jesus answered him: 'Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'" Matth.4:8-10
Your worship is the most valuable you can give. The devil knows it and therefore he offers much to get your worship. Jesus showed us a good example of what kind of persons we must be that we will get the good life. In addition to that He also is that only God, whom we have to worship.
After his resurrection Jesus appeared to his disciples: "When they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted." Matth.28:17 Worshippers of Jesus worship the real God, for "He is the true God and eternal life. Dear children, keep yourselves from idols." 1John.5:20-21
It is difficult for many to see Jesus at the same time as a man and God. Therefore many who are called Christians don't worship Jesus, but they doubt. This is the reason why Christianity has so many idols.
Pope is a most obvious idol on the earth. The next idols are worshipped by Christians thinking that they can worship at same time God: churches, Mary, saints, crucifixes, icons, sacraments, revivalist movements, congregations, Bibles, great preachers, right doctrines, faith, grace and love. These all have their own values but they are not enough to be the object of your worship.
God is love, but love is not God. Many want to receive Jesus only as one object among their many idols. God doesn't allow that, but He is fighting against all idols so that man must always make his decision between these two, to reject Jesus or to reject all idols. Worship the true God and you will be happy. In Jesus Christ you will see that He is worthy.
Everyone has an experience of worshipping, although they don't know it with this name. Adoration, sacrifice and mental dependence are included in worshipping. A worshipper and the worshipped are in alliance with each others.
Because man has got the ability to worship only for the worship of the true God, a false object gains a status as a replacement of God. When a man adores an idol, he is involved in the supernatural lie. Idol is idol, because it is worshipped. The abundance of false gods proves that people hunger for the true God.
Who are you worshipping? What are you crazy about? If you claim that you don't worship anybody or anything, I think that you worship yourself and so you have good stuff to be an idol. Nobody can live a long time without idolizing something. Everyone has a need in his heart to see something great and wonderful somewhere.
When man gives his worship to something - whatever he considers so valuable - he gets into his heart a lovely experience, though the object actually is not so lovely. He is ready to sacrifice much for his passion. He can be quite crazy with his hobby. Life without worship is boring and therefore entertainment industry produces many false gods.
Spectator sports are a sort of worship for some persons. Music and mass meetings intensify the effect of worshipping on worshippers. For some people to fall in love is a source of worship. The prince or princess of dreams is an ideal image which many are worshipping when they are young. Then they search the person that matches their image. Maybe sometimes the right one is found and it is love from the first glance, because that god has been surveyed with worship for a long time.
Many think that worshipping of an impersonal god is a better religion than any personality cult. The object of their worship has been nature, nation, state, ideology, wisdom, doctrine, art, science or another high matter. A restrained worshipper of intellectualism has got his ecstasy when he bows before "evolved creatures" or high-tech devices.
They love money because they worship products. They love machines, because they adore human skills. Many understand that when worshipping their high objects they are untruthful, but they are trapped to that enjoyment, which they get in the experience of worship. In the gripper of his idol man is powerless and cannot be saved, if he doesn't cry out for help from the real God.
Also Jesus was tempted in his human nature to give his worship to someone else than God. "Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. 'All this I will give you,' he said, 'if you will bow down and worship me.' Jesus answered him: 'Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.'" Matth.4:8-10
Your worship is the most valuable you can give. The devil knows it and therefore he offers much to get your worship. Jesus showed us a good example of what kind of persons we must be that we will get the good life. In addition to that He also is that only God, whom we have to worship.
After his resurrection Jesus appeared to his disciples: "When they saw Him, they worshipped Him; but some doubted." Matth.28:17 Worshippers of Jesus worship the real God, for "He is the true God and eternal life. Dear children, keep yourselves from idols." 1John.5:20-21
It is difficult for many to see Jesus at the same time as a man and God. Therefore many who are called Christians don't worship Jesus, but they doubt. This is the reason why Christianity has so many idols.
Pope is a most obvious idol on the earth. The next idols are worshipped by Christians thinking that they can worship at same time God: churches, Mary, saints, crucifixes, icons, sacraments, revivalist movements, congregations, Bibles, great preachers, right doctrines, faith, grace and love. These all have their own values but they are not enough to be the object of your worship.
God is love, but love is not God. Many want to receive Jesus only as one object among their many idols. God doesn't allow that, but He is fighting against all idols so that man must always make his decision between these two, to reject Jesus or to reject all idols. Worship the true God and you will be happy. In Jesus Christ you will see that He is worthy.
Adored love
Once I met a man who boasted that he loved a wife whose husband was a believer. He told that the wife didn't get love from her husband, but he gave it her. They also had spent a night together in a hotel room. I said to him that, are you not aware of that you committed adultery? The man defended himself and said to me that are you not aware of that we loved each other. He, wretched, didn't understand how much evil he had done against himself, against the wife and her husband and against God. It was most awful that he claimed that he had done right, because God is love. Then I said to him: God is love, but love is not God.
Woe, how much evil is done in the world in the name of love!
Many think that it is love, when they get what they want. God loves us by giving us what we need and taking into consideration at the same time the needs of others.
Because love is very widely worshipped, though all worshipping belongs to God, consequences are seen in every life area. Children have become disobedient, because they are spoiled to be selfish. They who adore love are not able to see, what the difference between assault and a corporal punishment is.
Marriages are broken down, because they are based on feelings of love, not faithfulness in the covenant. People don't pay their debts, because they have got accustomed to forgiving of their sin-debts without facing Him, who paid their invoices for them.
Working moral is going down, because the spoilt doesn't adapt to disciplined life. Criminals are getting protection more than their victims, because it is believed in love without atonement. The euthanasia of a sick person is an extreme example of where adoring love is leading to.
The true love of God is clearly said in the Bible: "He who loves his fellow-man has fulfilled the law. The commandments, 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not covet,' and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law." Rom.13:8-10
"This is love for God: to obey His commands. And his commands are not burdensome." 1John.5:3
The commands of God are burdensome to those who have not received Jesus as the Redeemer of their own sins. It is not possible to replace conscience cleaned with the blood of Jesus by finest loving words.
The preachers of the false gospel have got well their message into the hearts of people. They have worshipped love and are ashamed of Jesus. They have flattered people by pronouncing many sins permitted. They have done this therefore that they would be considered merciful and loving persons. They are the salt that has lost its saltiness, because their hearts adore love, but not God.
They don't want to read the Bible texts where it is spoken about hell, for the evil spirit named love is whispering in their heart: Would the God of love throw people into the eternal fire? They don't want to understand that just there is the love of God that He would like to save us from that terrible place.
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1John.4:10 So that you would not appreciate this atonement-love of God, it has been preached to you about the love's god, who allows all, what you desire and finally takes all people into heaven. In this way Christianity is without Christ. The message of atonement doesn't get room in the hearts of people, because they are so full of "love".
You can be sure, that the sweeter and more merciful one is in his words the more evil he is in his practical deeds. The words of God may sometimes feel hard, but you can be sure, that His deeds are always good. Also then God will do well, when He will throw the devil and his followers into hell. It is love in truth!
Why is love adored instead of God? The reason is very simple. Because they don't know the true God, they worship false gods. Don't Christians know Jesus Christ! Many really don't know Him, though they say to be believers. My heart cannot worship Jesus, if I don't consider Him crucified for my sins, and exalted to God's throne for my justification.
When man becomes a believer, he has the ability to worship God through Jesus. Knowing God stays in him, if he doesn't put idols beside Jesus. Churches have their traditional idols. Usually these contaminate believers, who live in the orbits of those churches. So be careful not to bow Christian idols! If you don't stay away from them, you will lose your faith. Don't fear or serve them, but bow and worship the Lamb of God, Jesus. He sits on the Throne.
Once I met a man who boasted that he loved a wife whose husband was a believer. He told that the wife didn't get love from her husband, but he gave it her. They also had spent a night together in a hotel room. I said to him that, are you not aware of that you committed adultery? The man defended himself and said to me that are you not aware of that we loved each other. He, wretched, didn't understand how much evil he had done against himself, against the wife and her husband and against God. It was most awful that he claimed that he had done right, because God is love. Then I said to him: God is love, but love is not God.
Woe, how much evil is done in the world in the name of love!
Many think that it is love, when they get what they want. God loves us by giving us what we need and taking into consideration at the same time the needs of others.
Because love is very widely worshipped, though all worshipping belongs to God, consequences are seen in every life area. Children have become disobedient, because they are spoiled to be selfish. They who adore love are not able to see, what the difference between assault and a corporal punishment is.
Marriages are broken down, because they are based on feelings of love, not faithfulness in the covenant. People don't pay their debts, because they have got accustomed to forgiving of their sin-debts without facing Him, who paid their invoices for them.
Working moral is going down, because the spoilt doesn't adapt to disciplined life. Criminals are getting protection more than their victims, because it is believed in love without atonement. The euthanasia of a sick person is an extreme example of where adoring love is leading to.
The true love of God is clearly said in the Bible: "He who loves his fellow-man has fulfilled the law. The commandments, 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not covet,' and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law." Rom.13:8-10
"This is love for God: to obey His commands. And his commands are not burdensome." 1John.5:3
The commands of God are burdensome to those who have not received Jesus as the Redeemer of their own sins. It is not possible to replace conscience cleaned with the blood of Jesus by finest loving words.
The preachers of the false gospel have got well their message into the hearts of people. They have worshipped love and are ashamed of Jesus. They have flattered people by pronouncing many sins permitted. They have done this therefore that they would be considered merciful and loving persons. They are the salt that has lost its saltiness, because their hearts adore love, but not God.
They don't want to read the Bible texts where it is spoken about hell, for the evil spirit named love is whispering in their heart: Would the God of love throw people into the eternal fire? They don't want to understand that just there is the love of God that He would like to save us from that terrible place.
"This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." 1John.4:10 So that you would not appreciate this atonement-love of God, it has been preached to you about the love's god, who allows all, what you desire and finally takes all people into heaven. In this way Christianity is without Christ. The message of atonement doesn't get room in the hearts of people, because they are so full of "love".
You can be sure, that the sweeter and more merciful one is in his words the more evil he is in his practical deeds. The words of God may sometimes feel hard, but you can be sure, that His deeds are always good. Also then God will do well, when He will throw the devil and his followers into hell. It is love in truth!
Why is love adored instead of God? The reason is very simple. Because they don't know the true God, they worship false gods. Don't Christians know Jesus Christ! Many really don't know Him, though they say to be believers. My heart cannot worship Jesus, if I don't consider Him crucified for my sins, and exalted to God's throne for my justification.
When man becomes a believer, he has the ability to worship God through Jesus. Knowing God stays in him, if he doesn't put idols beside Jesus. Churches have their traditional idols. Usually these contaminate believers, who live in the orbits of those churches. So be careful not to bow Christian idols! If you don't stay away from them, you will lose your faith. Don't fear or serve them, but bow and worship the Lamb of God, Jesus. He sits on the Throne.
Adored Bible
The adoration of the Bible affected that many Jews didn't recognise Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus said to them: "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." John.5:39-40 Although they stood before Jesus they had not come to Him.
To come to Jesus means that our inner man turns from its idols to worship Jesus as the true God. They knew what was foretold about the Messiah in the Scriptures. Although the prophecies came true before their eyes, they were so blind that they couldn't see that. By worshipping and bowing the Scriptures they were blind to its message.
They thought that they had eternal life, because they knew the texts of the Bible and considered them true. Jesus thought that the meaning of the Bible is to lead people to Him. Jews were proud of that they believed in Moses, but Jesus said to them: "If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me." John.5:46 The Bible is a witness of Jesus.
The adoration of the Bible exists also in Christianity. Many Christian institutions are proud of their biblical doctrines, but they don't worship Jesus. Written word of God is the foundation of their faith, not Jesus who is the living Word of God. The Bible is true but the Truth is not the Bible. The Bible is studied very much, because it is believed that life is in the Bible.
Jesus is watching sadly beside them wondering why they don't come to Him that they would get life. They, who emphasise how their church is very biblical, can say: "The Bible is the word of God". However the Bible itself says that Jesus is the Word of God and He still is much more than the Bible.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John.1:1 Don't kiss the Bible but Jesus. The right attitude to the Bible is to consider it the Holy Scriptures. "From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." 2Tim.3:15
The adoration of the Bible has made many theoretical believers who don't live in practice according to the word of the Bible. It has also generated many needless quarrels. He who adores the Bible easily considers heretical another believer, who speaks the same truth of the Bible with different words than he himself uses.
Man who knows the letter of the Bible but not its Spirit, has not received the Word who is God. He has an unhealthy interest in quarrels about words, because he is so proud of the letter of his doctrine. Because the word that he heard has not entered into his spirit, he is able to be zealous only of the letter.
In the salvation of man the witness of God has greater meaning than the Bible. That testimony He gives directly into the spirit of everyone. "The Father who sent me has Himself testified concerning me." John.5:37 "No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." John.6:44 "They will all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to me." John.6:45
When Peter has confessed Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus said to him: "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven." Matth.16:17
If man doesn't obey this silent testimony of Jesus, through which the Father affects his spirit, all his knowledge of the Bible is needless. "We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which He has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony; God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1John.5:9-12
The adoration of the Bible affected that many Jews didn't recognise Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus said to them: "You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." John.5:39-40 Although they stood before Jesus they had not come to Him.
To come to Jesus means that our inner man turns from its idols to worship Jesus as the true God. They knew what was foretold about the Messiah in the Scriptures. Although the prophecies came true before their eyes, they were so blind that they couldn't see that. By worshipping and bowing the Scriptures they were blind to its message.
They thought that they had eternal life, because they knew the texts of the Bible and considered them true. Jesus thought that the meaning of the Bible is to lead people to Him. Jews were proud of that they believed in Moses, but Jesus said to them: "If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me." John.5:46 The Bible is a witness of Jesus.
The adoration of the Bible exists also in Christianity. Many Christian institutions are proud of their biblical doctrines, but they don't worship Jesus. Written word of God is the foundation of their faith, not Jesus who is the living Word of God. The Bible is true but the Truth is not the Bible. The Bible is studied very much, because it is believed that life is in the Bible.
Jesus is watching sadly beside them wondering why they don't come to Him that they would get life. They, who emphasise how their church is very biblical, can say: "The Bible is the word of God". However the Bible itself says that Jesus is the Word of God and He still is much more than the Bible.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John.1:1 Don't kiss the Bible but Jesus. The right attitude to the Bible is to consider it the Holy Scriptures. "From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." 2Tim.3:15
The adoration of the Bible has made many theoretical believers who don't live in practice according to the word of the Bible. It has also generated many needless quarrels. He who adores the Bible easily considers heretical another believer, who speaks the same truth of the Bible with different words than he himself uses.
Man who knows the letter of the Bible but not its Spirit, has not received the Word who is God. He has an unhealthy interest in quarrels about words, because he is so proud of the letter of his doctrine. Because the word that he heard has not entered into his spirit, he is able to be zealous only of the letter.
In the salvation of man the witness of God has greater meaning than the Bible. That testimony He gives directly into the spirit of everyone. "The Father who sent me has Himself testified concerning me." John.5:37 "No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." John.6:44 "They will all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to me." John.6:45
When Peter has confessed Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus said to him: "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven." Matth.16:17
If man doesn't obey this silent testimony of Jesus, through which the Father affects his spirit, all his knowledge of the Bible is needless. "We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which He has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made Him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony; God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 1John.5:9-12
Jesus is God
The Bible authenticated it, Jesus is the Messiah.
God the Father drew to the Saviour.
My sinful heart looked at the Lamb of God.
Judged, punished and defamed for my sake.
He suffered the hate of God instead of me.
Stop now, said the Spirit.
Wherever you are, whatever you do, obey this heavenly invitation.
Worship the Lamb of God.
He has been exalted onto the Throne.
Kiss the Son, bow and pray Jesus.
For the glory of God the Father let Jesus Christ be God.
The Bible authenticated it, Jesus is the Messiah.
God the Father drew to the Saviour.
My sinful heart looked at the Lamb of God.
Judged, punished and defamed for my sake.
He suffered the hate of God instead of me.
Stop now, said the Spirit.
Wherever you are, whatever you do, obey this heavenly invitation.
Worship the Lamb of God.
He has been exalted onto the Throne.
Kiss the Son, bow and pray Jesus.
For the glory of God the Father let Jesus Christ be God.
Adored faith
Believers of the early congregation confessed their faith and said: "Jesus Christ is Lord." The fathers of the church changed it to the confession: "I believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and the holy catholic church..." This confession is not from the apostles of the Bible, because here the faith is worshipped instead of Jesus. They replaced the word "Jesus" by the word "I" and the word "is" by the word "believe".
Also nowadays many are boasting how the faith has saved them, just as if the salvation would come from the person named Faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God, but he who believes in his own faith has made his faith into the false god.
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" James 2:14 Faith doesn't save anybody, but Jesus does. The first deed of your faith is receiving Jesus into your heart. Apostle James takes for an example the father of faith Abraham and says: "You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did." James 2:22
If the heart is without Jesus the faith is without right deeds.
The apostles confessed from their hearts to Jesus: "'Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.' 'You believe at last!' Jesus answered." John 16:30
It was not only the confession of their mouths, but their hearts knew that Jesus is the true God. Just a little earlier Jesus had to say to Philip: "Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?" John.14:10 When you lose your doubts about Jesus and surrender to worship Him, He will say about you: At last you believe. Apostle Thomas doubted Jesus, until he was convinced of Him and worshipped Him and said: "My Lord and my God!" John.20:28
If somebody claims that he believes in the Bible's Jesus, though that is not true in his heart, he is misleading himself and receives through his confession the religious spirit of lie. When people are made to say in chorus the confession, they are trained to be pretenders. If a priest would serve the truth, he would warn the audience and say: "Do not join in this confession, if you cannot do it with all your heart."
Many think that it is better to have some outward Christianity than nothing. God doesn't agree, for He hates pretending. "You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 'These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." Matth.15:8 "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Rom.10:10 That confession of your mouth is not, "I believe", but "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord',..." Rom.10:9
Faith is a gift of God and I thank Him for that. I know that it doesn't depend on my desire or effort whether I can believe, but it depends on Him. Praise God for his mercy that He speaks to us one way or another. I can stay to listen to Him and faith comes from listening. In the faith that I got I can reply to Him. I can put in practice what I heard with my thoughts, words and deeds.
Sometimes God affects through the faith we've got so that the sick are healed or it happens something else miraculous. Then many start to worship the faith, as though the faith would be the doer of miracles not God. Peter did not worship the faith after healing the crippled but Jesus: "By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see." Acts 3:16
The adoration of faith as an false god is closely associated with the adoration of church. It is talked about the Catholic faith, the Lutheran faith or the Pentecostal faith. Many Christian churches teach that man is saved when he is joined to the membership of the church. This is the way how the church is made an idol. Therefore people are asking, what is the right faith? The Bible proves that only the faith of Jesus is right. "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Gal.2:20
Believers of the early congregation confessed their faith and said: "Jesus Christ is Lord." The fathers of the church changed it to the confession: "I believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and the holy catholic church..." This confession is not from the apostles of the Bible, because here the faith is worshipped instead of Jesus. They replaced the word "Jesus" by the word "I" and the word "is" by the word "believe".
Also nowadays many are boasting how the faith has saved them, just as if the salvation would come from the person named Faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God, but he who believes in his own faith has made his faith into the false god.
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" James 2:14 Faith doesn't save anybody, but Jesus does. The first deed of your faith is receiving Jesus into your heart. Apostle James takes for an example the father of faith Abraham and says: "You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did." James 2:22
If the heart is without Jesus the faith is without right deeds.
The apostles confessed from their hearts to Jesus: "'Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.' 'You believe at last!' Jesus answered." John 16:30
It was not only the confession of their mouths, but their hearts knew that Jesus is the true God. Just a little earlier Jesus had to say to Philip: "Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me?" John.14:10 When you lose your doubts about Jesus and surrender to worship Him, He will say about you: At last you believe. Apostle Thomas doubted Jesus, until he was convinced of Him and worshipped Him and said: "My Lord and my God!" John.20:28
If somebody claims that he believes in the Bible's Jesus, though that is not true in his heart, he is misleading himself and receives through his confession the religious spirit of lie. When people are made to say in chorus the confession, they are trained to be pretenders. If a priest would serve the truth, he would warn the audience and say: "Do not join in this confession, if you cannot do it with all your heart."
Many think that it is better to have some outward Christianity than nothing. God doesn't agree, for He hates pretending. "You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 'These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." Matth.15:8 "For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Rom.10:10 That confession of your mouth is not, "I believe", but "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord',..." Rom.10:9
Faith is a gift of God and I thank Him for that. I know that it doesn't depend on my desire or effort whether I can believe, but it depends on Him. Praise God for his mercy that He speaks to us one way or another. I can stay to listen to Him and faith comes from listening. In the faith that I got I can reply to Him. I can put in practice what I heard with my thoughts, words and deeds.
Sometimes God affects through the faith we've got so that the sick are healed or it happens something else miraculous. Then many start to worship the faith, as though the faith would be the doer of miracles not God. Peter did not worship the faith after healing the crippled but Jesus: "By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through Him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see." Acts 3:16
The adoration of faith as an false god is closely associated with the adoration of church. It is talked about the Catholic faith, the Lutheran faith or the Pentecostal faith. Many Christian churches teach that man is saved when he is joined to the membership of the church. This is the way how the church is made an idol. Therefore people are asking, what is the right faith? The Bible proves that only the faith of Jesus is right. "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Gal.2:20
Adored Church
The adoration of church means in practice praising the name of the church or the revival movement, sacrificing to the church and taking the oath to its doctrines. Some priests, evangelists or preachers have made the name of their church so great that it puts the name of Jesus into shade. Therefore also believers are called according to the name of the church. They are Catholics, Orthodoxies, Lutherans, Baptists, Pentecostalists and so on. Believers of the early congregation praised so much the name of Christ Jesus that they were started to be called Christians.
God has made for himself the great name by becoming a man in Jesus, by atoning our sins in His death and by creating all new when He raised Jesus from death. "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow..." Phil.2:9-10
Christian churches rebel against God when they exalt their own names over the name of Jesus.
Also Jews did not appreciate marks which God had exalted, but they put their own marks to their facade. "Behind your doors and your doorposts you have put your pagan symbols." Isaiah 57:8 You can break away from your church-idol by not allowing to call yourself with the name of your church. For example don't say you are a Pentecostalist, if you are a member of the Pentecostal Church.
I am Jesus Christ's own. My identity is in Him. There is the invisible text on my forehead that is made by the Holy Spirit: "Holy to the LORD Jesus Christ". People can call me whatever they want, but those names don't attach to me.
When Simon Peter had confessed Jesus as the Son of God, Jesus gave him the new name Peter and said: "I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matth.16:18-19
Jesus gave the same promise all who believe in Him. "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matth.18:18 Jesus gave the promised keys after his resurrection. "'As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' And with that he breathed on them and said: 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." John 20:22-23
It is easy to see in the Bible's text that all apostles got those keys when they received the Holy Spirit. Fortunately the true owner of the keys of the kingdom of heaven is the Holy Spirit not Peter or Pope or anybody else. When the words of man loose someone to enter God's grace or bind one to His judgement that is the action of the Holy Spirit in him.
Every believer who speaks in the Holy Spirit uses the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Nobody can bind or loose only by virtue of ministry, but it is needed that the Holy Spirit agrees with every action so that the keys would work.
As soon as Jesus had promised the keys to Peter, he was revealed unable to use them. Peter dared to rebuke Jesus for walking on the way to the cross and said: "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" What the future leader of church had to hear as a reply from Jesus: "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Matth.16:22-23 This is the actual message of Jesus to all leaders of congregations who act according to the human mind. A leader has the mind of Satan, if he allows the congregation or himself to be adored as an idol or he lords over his flock.
Jesus warned his apostles against lording over His congregation, when they were disputing among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves." Luke 22:25-26 Peter speaks like one who has learned his lesson: "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care,... not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away." 1Peter 5:3-4
Where does the true congregation of God come together? Jesus defines the matter with the next words: "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matth.18:20 If it is said in the beginning of the meeting that now we have come together in the name of Jesus, that doesn't realise the previous promise.
The name and the person of Jesus must be let to rule everything what is done in the congregation, so that the promise would come true. It is the will of God that Jesus is on view in the publicity-image of the congregation. Poor shepherds and pastors in churches, where this is not true!
The adoration of church means in practice praising the name of the church or the revival movement, sacrificing to the church and taking the oath to its doctrines. Some priests, evangelists or preachers have made the name of their church so great that it puts the name of Jesus into shade. Therefore also believers are called according to the name of the church. They are Catholics, Orthodoxies, Lutherans, Baptists, Pentecostalists and so on. Believers of the early congregation praised so much the name of Christ Jesus that they were started to be called Christians.
God has made for himself the great name by becoming a man in Jesus, by atoning our sins in His death and by creating all new when He raised Jesus from death. "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow..." Phil.2:9-10
Christian churches rebel against God when they exalt their own names over the name of Jesus.
Also Jews did not appreciate marks which God had exalted, but they put their own marks to their facade. "Behind your doors and your doorposts you have put your pagan symbols." Isaiah 57:8 You can break away from your church-idol by not allowing to call yourself with the name of your church. For example don't say you are a Pentecostalist, if you are a member of the Pentecostal Church.
I am Jesus Christ's own. My identity is in Him. There is the invisible text on my forehead that is made by the Holy Spirit: "Holy to the LORD Jesus Christ". People can call me whatever they want, but those names don't attach to me.
When Simon Peter had confessed Jesus as the Son of God, Jesus gave him the new name Peter and said: "I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matth.16:18-19
Jesus gave the same promise all who believe in Him. "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Matth.18:18 Jesus gave the promised keys after his resurrection. "'As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.' And with that he breathed on them and said: 'Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." John 20:22-23
It is easy to see in the Bible's text that all apostles got those keys when they received the Holy Spirit. Fortunately the true owner of the keys of the kingdom of heaven is the Holy Spirit not Peter or Pope or anybody else. When the words of man loose someone to enter God's grace or bind one to His judgement that is the action of the Holy Spirit in him.
Every believer who speaks in the Holy Spirit uses the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Nobody can bind or loose only by virtue of ministry, but it is needed that the Holy Spirit agrees with every action so that the keys would work.
As soon as Jesus had promised the keys to Peter, he was revealed unable to use them. Peter dared to rebuke Jesus for walking on the way to the cross and said: "Never, Lord!" he said. "This shall never happen to you!" What the future leader of church had to hear as a reply from Jesus: "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Matth.16:22-23 This is the actual message of Jesus to all leaders of congregations who act according to the human mind. A leader has the mind of Satan, if he allows the congregation or himself to be adored as an idol or he lords over his flock.
Jesus warned his apostles against lording over His congregation, when they were disputing among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. "The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves." Luke 22:25-26 Peter speaks like one who has learned his lesson: "Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care,... not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away." 1Peter 5:3-4
Where does the true congregation of God come together? Jesus defines the matter with the next words: "For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Matth.18:20 If it is said in the beginning of the meeting that now we have come together in the name of Jesus, that doesn't realise the previous promise.
The name and the person of Jesus must be let to rule everything what is done in the congregation, so that the promise would come true. It is the will of God that Jesus is on view in the publicity-image of the congregation. Poor shepherds and pastors in churches, where this is not true!
Last revival
The Holy Spirit represents Jesus in the world. "He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you." John.16:14 It is His job to make the glory of Jesus known to people. His actions have caused spiritual revivals. Then people have become believers and those who believed have got a new power to follow God.
Jesus promised to build his church there where believers come together in His name. On the other hand people are not able to come together in the name of Jesus, if the Holy Spirit has not been allowed to glorify the name of God. "No-one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit" 1Cor.12:3
Shortly before Jesus returns onto earth, He will appear among his owns in a special way through the Holy Spirit. About this last revival has been written: "'Suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,' says the Lord Almighty. But who can endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when He appears?" Mal.3:1-2 God's congregation is His temple on earth. "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" 1Cor.3:16 Jesus will appear suddenly to purify his church before He will pick it up from the world.
Jesus will purify His church of idols. It will be "Jesus is Lord" -revival movement, which will put in order the pastors who are lording it over the church. "'And now this admonition is for you, O priests. If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honour my name,' says the LORD Almighty, I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honour me." Mal.2:1-2
It is easy to see in the history of church how often God has cursed the blessings which believers have got as gifts from the Holy Spirit. That curse has gradually eaten away life from the church and left only solemn ceremonies. Also now Christian congregations are persisting under curses that were sent by God, although they also get real revival of the Holy Spirit. Many believers have got confused by this mix. Do not get mixed up but understand this: The Holy Spirit is fighting against Christian idols and therefore everything is mixed up in church like in a threshing floor.
Poor pastors, how can they endure "the day of His coming"! Poor Christians, "who can stand when He appears?" "For it is time for judgement to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" 1Pet.4:17 This means that God cleanses his owns with his judgement. "For He will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver." Mal.3:2-3
Peter says about believers: "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,..." 1Pet.2:9 He knew how hot it gets for the priesthood in the refining smeltery of God: "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you." 1Pet.4:12 We cannot "stay" in the faith, if we are surprised at a judgement of God.
He who endures the trial sees the cleansing hits of God as love. "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves,..." Heb.12:5-6
The preaching and worshipping of Jesus' name exposes preachers and worshippers to insult and mockery. He who wants to follow Jesus gets from this world the same kind of treatment as Jesus.
Because believers want to live an easier life than Jesus, they are hidden behind the name of their churches, so that they would be not persecuted for the name of Jesus. Whoever can be persecuted or mocked for whatever is his conviction. Which is better, to get persecution for the sake of Jesus' name or for Baptism or Pentecostalism? "If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." 1Pet.4:14
If one is persecuted for the name of one's church, one is left without the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Then he maybe seeks comfort from elsewhere. Usually he starts to seek acceptance of the world and falls into taking something away from the doctrine of Jesus. Poor him! Let him soon run to the safety place of Jesus' name. "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Prov.18:10
In those congregations which the last revival touches the own names of congregations are left only for the use of the association work. Outwards the publicity-images of the congregations are so full of Jesus that it is hard to notice what the name of the association is that organizes the meetings. Many will be surprised at this revival movement and ask where so many congregations of Jesus suddenly appeared from.
False gods deceive you. They do not turn out to be worthy of your worship. He who alone is the true God is trustworthy. He cannot disown Himself and He always keeps his promises.
The Holy Spirit represents Jesus in the world. "He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you." John.16:14 It is His job to make the glory of Jesus known to people. His actions have caused spiritual revivals. Then people have become believers and those who believed have got a new power to follow God.
Jesus promised to build his church there where believers come together in His name. On the other hand people are not able to come together in the name of Jesus, if the Holy Spirit has not been allowed to glorify the name of God. "No-one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit" 1Cor.12:3
Shortly before Jesus returns onto earth, He will appear among his owns in a special way through the Holy Spirit. About this last revival has been written: "'Suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,' says the Lord Almighty. But who can endure the day of His coming? Who can stand when He appears?" Mal.3:1-2 God's congregation is His temple on earth. "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?" 1Cor.3:16 Jesus will appear suddenly to purify his church before He will pick it up from the world.
Jesus will purify His church of idols. It will be "Jesus is Lord" -revival movement, which will put in order the pastors who are lording it over the church. "'And now this admonition is for you, O priests. If you do not listen, and if you do not set your heart to honour my name,' says the LORD Almighty, I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not set your heart to honour me." Mal.2:1-2
It is easy to see in the history of church how often God has cursed the blessings which believers have got as gifts from the Holy Spirit. That curse has gradually eaten away life from the church and left only solemn ceremonies. Also now Christian congregations are persisting under curses that were sent by God, although they also get real revival of the Holy Spirit. Many believers have got confused by this mix. Do not get mixed up but understand this: The Holy Spirit is fighting against Christian idols and therefore everything is mixed up in church like in a threshing floor.
Poor pastors, how can they endure "the day of His coming"! Poor Christians, "who can stand when He appears?" "For it is time for judgement to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" 1Pet.4:17 This means that God cleanses his owns with his judgement. "For He will be like a refiner's fire or a launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; He will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver." Mal.3:2-3
Peter says about believers: "You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood,..." 1Pet.2:9 He knew how hot it gets for the priesthood in the refining smeltery of God: "Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you." 1Pet.4:12 We cannot "stay" in the faith, if we are surprised at a judgement of God.
He who endures the trial sees the cleansing hits of God as love. "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves,..." Heb.12:5-6
The preaching and worshipping of Jesus' name exposes preachers and worshippers to insult and mockery. He who wants to follow Jesus gets from this world the same kind of treatment as Jesus.
Because believers want to live an easier life than Jesus, they are hidden behind the name of their churches, so that they would be not persecuted for the name of Jesus. Whoever can be persecuted or mocked for whatever is his conviction. Which is better, to get persecution for the sake of Jesus' name or for Baptism or Pentecostalism? "If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you." 1Pet.4:14
If one is persecuted for the name of one's church, one is left without the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Then he maybe seeks comfort from elsewhere. Usually he starts to seek acceptance of the world and falls into taking something away from the doctrine of Jesus. Poor him! Let him soon run to the safety place of Jesus' name. "The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Prov.18:10
In those congregations which the last revival touches the own names of congregations are left only for the use of the association work. Outwards the publicity-images of the congregations are so full of Jesus that it is hard to notice what the name of the association is that organizes the meetings. Many will be surprised at this revival movement and ask where so many congregations of Jesus suddenly appeared from.
False gods deceive you. They do not turn out to be worthy of your worship. He who alone is the true God is trustworthy. He cannot disown Himself and He always keeps his promises.
The Bible version used in references is NIV