Seeking and finding God’s True Church is accomplished in the same manner as is seeking for true bible doctrine. We will never find God’s True Church or true doctrine unless we are willing to be emptied of self, and all that would place our own desires above God’s will is laid aside. The ability to discern the truth of God’s True Church does not come from intellectual strength, or formal learning but in the willingness to set aside preconceived opinions while bring “every thought (every desire and imagination) to the obedience of Christ.”
You can take two children with the same intellect and seek to teach them both, and the one that will advance the quickest is the one who will’s to understand. If a child doesn’t want to learn it will be very hard to teach him.
Jesus said it this way, “If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. Jn 7:17” Without the will placed on the side of Christ we will not understand.
There are “high things” in the mind of man that if not repulsed will establish man as ruler upon the throne of his own heart instead of allowing God to take full possession of it. To seek to guide and direct our own steps is to follow Lucifer in the exact path of his own downfall and destruction. Jeremiah spoke exactly of this and said, ” O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. Jer_10:23″
All Lucifer did in starting the rebellion was to seek to do things his own way to interject his own will in the things that belong to God. In what a small manner is this enormous evil of doing things our own way instead of God’s way viewed today. Yet this is the very heart of all evil— separation from God to do it our own way.
The bible says concerning the mind of Lucifer, ” For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like (it was the authority, and power of the most high Lucifer wanted without the humility and lowliness) the most High. Isa 14:15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
These (my will, I will…) are the high things, the self inflating egotistical thoughts that caused Lucifer to fall, and that he is using against humanity today. Which is why it is our duty to participate in “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 2Co_10:5.”
Do you not see how these ideas, the high and lofty aspirations of mankind pervade all society. Look at the songs in the music industry that repeat the thought, there are 100’s.
For example the hit song, “I did it my way” by Frank Sinatra but there are 100’s more…
We cannot direct our own minds to the truth; if we are to come to understand deep bible truths we will have to admit that it is the Spirit of God alone that empowers the mind to comprehend the meaning of the scriptures.
Why did God give us pastors?
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
What was the purpose in God giving us pastors?”
The bible answers, “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”
And that work has an even deeper purpose… it’s purpose is “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:” Eph 4:13
Now it is God’s purpose for all His children to “come to the unity of the faith”. We are to unify and become one body, one church, based on the true knowledge of who God is, knowing His Character, and personality, we are to grow up as Christians. The danger is that to not grow in the direction of Christ like character is to fall back, to remain idle in advancement receiving the mind of Christ is the first step to retreat. To retreat in this battle is ultimate destruction for we will quickly fall back to our own way of thinking.
Where are your feet headed? There may be a lot of activity inside the church but not much Christ likeness when the church has left the building. It is in the home, at our business, in our daily activities that reveal whether we are Christ’s people or not. “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” Eph 4:14 There is a lot of false doctrine today that is carrying professed followers of Christ all over, and into deception. But God’s church will be forever advancing.
Why is it that false beliefs, and false doctrines held by a church can destroy a believers opportunity to be saved? Because they misrepresent the character of God. They falsify His will and ways so that we could be actually doing evil instead of good and thinking we are in a saving relationship with God while we are deceived.
Is it possible for church members today to be so deceived? When Christ was alive on earth people were flocking to him in Israel, but how many really accepted him, and how many were heard on the day of Calvary crying “crucify him, crucify him”.
John’s disciples were really truth seekers, the bible record says, “And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.”
Every one is coming to Christ they said, but what did John say, “he that cometh from heaven is above all (speaking of Jesus). And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. John 3:33” John said no man receiveth Christ’s testimony, and John’s disciples said all men were coming to him. What does this mean, and why is there a contradiction here?
There’s no contradiction in the bible, it is only revealing that the prophet had a much deeper insight and understanding of the mind of man, and his fallen condition than his disciples did. John knew that few, very few were willing to accept Christ as a Saviour from sin, although all were willing to accept Him as a deliverer from their Roman oppressors and desired their nation to be set free from this conquering power. That was what they were focusing the prophecies of Christ on, that he would free the Jewish nation from the political power that ruled over them, but Christ came to set the captives free from sin.
Everybody is willing to receive Christ as an Earthly King and Victor over their enemies but few are willing to receive Him as the Heavenly Guest who comes to rule the heart and remove all sin from the life. That is a battle that requires supernatural power to remove the entrenchments that have fortified the selfish heart against the promptings of the Spirit. Those entrenchments are the obstructions that few are willing to wage war against.
This is why John said, “no man receiveth his testimony” because no natural man will of himself admit he is a captive of sin, and must seek deliverance only by the power of God to remedy his defects. The only answer we have are the words Christ gave to Peter when he testified that Jesus was the Christ the Son of the Living God. “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Mat_16:17”
Natural man made of flesh and blood cannot attain to this understanding. It is revealed to man only as Christ said it could be, by “my Father which is in Heaven”. Those who are seeking to overcome all sin in their lives reveal that the Father in Heaven is communicating to them a truth which “no man (unaided by God) receiveth”. We will see that this is what the bible describes as the workings of the “the testimony of Jesus Christ”.
A testimony is a witness, and the testimony of Jesus can be found throughout the books of the bible. This testimony is a wonderful blessing to the church; it is practical, full of power, and only God’s living church has it. And it is one of the three ways God has designed for His church to gain the victory over Satan and be prepared for living in eternity.
Here’s the verse that contains those 3 ways to overcome sin, and Satan: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death Rev_12:11 .”
1. overcame him by the blood of the Lamb
2. by the word of their testimony (This has much to do with the testimony of Jesus)
3. and they loved not their lives unto the death.
What is the testimony of Jesus? It is mysterious in operation, unknown to the natural man, but very well know to God’s true people.
Here is a scripture on it:
Rev_1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
So John was in jail for it…
Rev_12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
And the church which keeps all God’s commandments has it and this has enraged Satan against this church…
Here are some practical manifestations of “the testimony of Jesus”.
1. The Angel Gabriel appeared unto Joseph and testified of Christ, “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. ” Mat 1:21
Now what was the testimony of this High and Holy Angel. It was that God “… shall save his people from their sins.” The angel reveals that God’s true people that make up His victorious church whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life are those saved from sin.
And that is the testimony of the Highest Angel in Heaven, so if a pastor were to say you can be saved in sin who are you to believe? We know that the Father sent the Angel Gabriel to declare that Christ would save His people from sin, but not saved in sin. Paul said if any man, or even another angel preaches to you another gospel than the one received from God let him be accursed.
Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Therefore a gospel where people are saved while continuing in sin they should have confessed and repented of long ago is a cursed gospel, a the messenger is cursed, therefore the people who receive it must be cursed. But God desires to bless, and not curse (see article on blessings and cursings).
Was not this message that salvation is from sin sent by the Angel from heaven to Joseph? It was the true gospel, and the true account of what Jesus would do for His people. It was the true testimony, and true witness. Those who truly love God will reject any other testimony that is not in harmony with the witness of God’s angel that salvation is being saved from sin.
We need to be in harmony with heaven and heavenly beings. Angels like God hate sin, they are not willing for anyone who practices sin to enter into the gates of heaven. Not one person unsafe for heaven will go there for all in heaven is unwilling for a rebellion to start again there.
“And there shall in no wise enter into it (heaven) any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Rev. 21:27” Nothing that defiles will ever enter the gates of heaven. But, “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. Rev 22:14”
Commandment keeping is righteousness the opposite of sin that defiles…
Did you not know, have you not heard, that the true gospel is an everlasting gospel, it is eternal in nature, it will never change, it is unalterable, it cannot be changed for God has set his seal to the testimony of this gospel with His own BLOOD. The gospel is ratified (confirmed) forever.
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to confirm by expressing consent, approval, or formal sanction:
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made certain as to truth, accuracy, validity, availability, etc.:
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firmly established in a habit or condition; inveterate:
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“And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.Matt. 24:14″. Those are the words of Jesus, very clear, very exact. He said this gospel, so there is room for no other gospel. Do you want to see it: another manifestation of the “testimony of Jesus”.
Here it is: “1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” Why was the Son of God revealed… to destroy the works of the Devil. What are the works of the Devil?
The works of the devil are found in his seed. ‘1Jn 3:10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” So we see that the children of the devil don’t do righteousness. What is the opposite of righteousness? Unrighteousness. What is unrighteousness? “All unrighteousness is sin Jn 5:17.” What is sin? “1Jn_3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” Therefore for what purpose did Christ mainfest Himself? To destroy sin which is the work of the devil.
God’s Character is Righteousness = Lawfullness = Christ submission to the will of His Father expressed in 10 commandments
Satan’s Character is Unrighteous = Lawlessness = Satan’s willful and rebellious disregard for the will of God manifested in 10 commandments = transgression of the Law = Sin
If you break the law, and don’t repent and turn from sin you do not have eternal life: “Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. 1Jn_3:15”
Murder the violation of the 6th commandment
Any commandment violated without genuine repentance and victory over that sin results in the loss of eternal life. “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. Jas_2:10”
Jas 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.
Jas 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
At the judgment it is the law that will be the standard we will be judged by. Why then is it a law of liberty? Because it binds us to the will of God. The will of God is power that frees us from our own perverse will appetites and sinful desires.
God’s people will not be found continuing in sin. If they sin they will feel Godly sorrow, seek repentance, confess, and in sincerity of heart ask God to empower them to “go and sin no more”. These are the responses of a heart softened by the manifestation of the love of God on the Cross paying the penalty for those sins, and forgiving man of those sins. This church understands that God’s people will soon have to gain the total victory over sin to live in the trying times ahead with the 7 last plagues are poured upon the earth.
Does God have the power to fulfill the promise given to the woman caught in adultery? “… “And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. Joh_8:11”
As your faith is (in this promise ) so be it unto you… “Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. Mat_9:29”
How about the man who took up his bed and walk for the first time in over 30 years. Joh 5:14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
How about for us… does Jesus have the power to enable us to go and sin no more to? “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 1:25”
God is wise enough, God is powerful enough, God loves us enough, do you have faith enough to believe Jesus, to believe the testimony of the Holy Angel Gabriel, and reject all the false witnesses of this modern age who lie and say God doesn’t have the power to keep you from sinning.
This message of victory over sin will be heard sounding throughout the earth preparing honest hearts for the return of Christ, “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. ” Rev 14:6-7
Here is a preacher alive and well today that won’t lie, that will tell you like it is, this preacher has the “EVERLASTING GOSPEL”, would you like to hear it…. do you have the courage to listen. Did you know that the first two groups of people, the two largest groups of people that don’t go to heaven are also found in the church, it appears that these two groups may far out way the people involved in what people consider to be the grosser sins of the world which is why God placed them first in this verse.
Rev_21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Did you see those first two groups, the fearful and unbelieving that are leading and paving the way to hell. Those are sins that you might be able to hide while sitting in the first pew in church. The fearful, there was a lot of fear among God’s children during the days of Joshua and Caleb, and there was a lot of unbelief among God’s true people in the days when Moses was leading the Israelite’s while they were in the wilderness.
Would you not come to Jesus today… come dear one the hour is late… “and the Spirit, and the Bride say come, and whosoever will (that’s anyone who will) let him take of the water of life freely. Rev 22:17 tripintothesupernatural.com
Please click below to proceed to message 3 in the series “Why should I seek to find God’s True Church”
only the TRUE CHURCH has the TRUE EVERLASTING GOSPEL
blessings to you my brothers and sisters
pastor Ken