The Truth is . . .
Pastor Jerry Wilhite,
author
I have been called about every name there is and then some, I have had some say I am of Satan because I do not conform to the way the world is about church and God. And for this I am thrilled because one of the first things I learned was not to conform to the ways of the world. I sought long and hard for years to know the truth, not as the world tells it, but as He does.
Romans 12
2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
One of the first things I learned was that our thoughts come from one of two places.
One, it is forced on us by the world (Satan). This is where from birth to death we believe our thoughts are our own and, therefore, we accept them, for the most part. This is also why so many do so much evil. Satan will force thoughts on some people about evil things. Most will cast them down, but those not as strong will, in time, come to dwell on them and finally make them their own thoughts. This explains how mothers who kill their children either say they were told to do it or cannot explain why they did it.
Two, the thoughts that are not forced on us are those we have to seek, and those are of God. If we seek God’s thoughts and refuse any thoughts that are not of God, in time we will be one with God.
2 Corinthians 10
5. 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;
One of the reasons this world, and life, is so fast paced is so you do not have time to evaluate your thoughts before accepting them and making them yours. But, if you take the time to evaluate the thoughts you have and cast down all that go against the knowledge of God or God's knowledge and take the remaining into captivity to the obedience of Christ, you will be shocked how many you will cast down at first.
Matthew 15
8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
The same is true today. People usually seek God, I mean truly seek Him, when their back is against the wall with a health issue, debt, lack, relationship, etc. Most do as He stated above give Him lip service.
In Revelation 2-3 He tells how out of the all the churches only one was of Him the rest were not.
He told us in Matthew 7:13-15 that many (actually the word in Greek is most) are on a path to destruction with no concern about the next life and only a few are on the path to life. Many today take no thought of eternity and where they will spend it. I dare say many do not truly believe in the next life and eternity and at the very least are not concerned about it. But mention college for their children, retirement, etc., and they have plans for it and more, which,between the two, is not even a blink of an eye compared to eternity.
Matthew 7
20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Above, in Matthew 7, Jesus states that not all who say, "Lord, Lord," shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. And He describes how there are those who will do many wonderful works in His name. But He will tell them to depart and call them workers of evil because He never knew them. Of course He knew of them, He just never knew them, because it is up to us to listen and hear and open the door for Him to enter.
Revelation 3
20. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
I can only think the reason why so many do not believe that we can hear, or should hear, from God is due to traditions, rituals and teachings of man that has kept man from hearing and out of the kingdom.
Matthew 23
13. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
But, here is where you have your chance to correct the teachings of man and learn from God the truth.
Revelation 3
19. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
As many as He loves, based on John 3:16, which means all, He will rebuke (this means tell us the errors or our ways), and then chasten (teach), and for us to be zealous to have a warm feeling towards Him and repent (change our ways).
John 14
26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
How can we have any of this if we are not listening to and for His voice, hear and be obedient?
Below is how we should and should not live while we are here and, especially, while we are waiting to hear from Him:
Luke 6
20. Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
21. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.
22. Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you, and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake.
23. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! for indeed your reward is great in heaven, for in like manner their fathers did to the prophets.
24. "But woe to you who are rich, For you have received your consolation.
25. Woe to you who are full, For you shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, For you shall mourn and weep.
26. Woe to you when all men speak well of you, For so did their fathers to the false prophets.
27. "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
28. "bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.
29. "To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either.
30. "Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back.
31. "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
32. "But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.
33. "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.
34. "And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.
35. "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.
36. "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
37. "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
38. "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.''
Of course, if you give it will be given back to you, but giving must be of a loving and cheerful heart, without any expectations of a return from whomever you give. Those who give and give right will get it back, those who give expecting a return, other than in sowing and reaping, will get nothing back.
Luke 6
39. And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?
40. The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
41. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
42. Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.
43. For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
44. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
45. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
The truth is that many over time have taken whatever verses they can to start their own traditions and rituals. The reason for the division in the church of this world is two-fold: one is due to Satan’s dividing it, causing thoughts that bring about divisions; the other is due to our not accepting the word taught and seeking the one who teaches as we want to be taught. The truth is, if it is not pure of the word and complete, if it has been taken out of context or changed in any way, then it is inviting Satan in as Adam did when he added to what God had said to him.
Genesis 3
3. But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
The serpent never entered the garden until Adam changed what God said:
Genesis 2:
17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
God never said "touch," and when Adam added that it gave an opening to Satan to mess with them and the same is true today.
And when mankind changes God's word for whatever reasons it gives Satan a way to mess with us.
The truth is, we can have a home, car, and money as long as two things do happen: one, we are trusting in God and not man for it, secondly, and that if told by God to get rid of it all we would.
Mark 10
17. And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18. And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24. And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
Above is one of the clues to what we are reading, "that trust in riches," we are not to trust in what we have or what we can do but in Him and Him only.
Mark 10
25. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
The eye of a needle in that time was the smaller door in the huge doors to a city, a man could get though and if you really forced a small camel through it would get through.
Mark 10
26. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27. And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28. Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
30. But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
Jesus is saying two things. One, a camel could get through the smaller door if it is a small camel, so it was not something like what most think of, an eye of a needle used today to sew something.
And no one who gave up or gives up anything for His sake or the gospel would totally lose it but in time get it back one hundred fold. So if the rich, young fool had given up all he would have gotten it back. The problem was that the things owned him, he did not own them. And notice, out of all that Jesus said in verse 29, one of the items He does not mention in verse 30, and that is "father," because we only need one father when He is our heavenly Father.
Luke 4
18. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
In Greek, the word "gospel" translated to English means "Good News," so He preached the good news to the poor. What would be good news to the poor, but that they no longer would be poor now and in the life to come?
Being rich based on what is said in Luke 6 is along the line of the man with a storehouse who had much decided to build a larger storehouse but then died, so what good did it do him? Those who horde it up and have what is considered riches in Luke 6 would be like a billionaire or, at the least, one with multi-millions who does nothing but horde it for himself.
But, one who invested well and took the invested money, used a part of it to re-invest and took the rest out and used it as God directed would be like the farmer who sold his crops but kept some for the next crops. One is neither rich nor poor because he/she is not depending on money, man, but because he/she is depending on God.
Philippians 4
19. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.