That I May Thrust Out Your Right Eye

Part Two- Unity At Any Cost?

This incident in Israel's history occurred right after God had anointed - through the prophet Samuel - Saul as king of Israel. Saul's new throne was in jeopardy and Israel was confronted by the mighty and evil forces as Nahash the Ammonite, whose name means "bright shining serpent," and had encamped before Jabesh-gilead. Nahash's forces were much greater than those within the city of Jabesh-gilead, who sued for a covenant of peace with Nahash, whose answer is the enemy's agreement to a church world seeking peace with an ungodly world system - give me your right eye! If we are not preaching the light of God's word then we are exchanging that which is God for that which is of Satan and embracing that which is of Satan for that which is of God. In this case we have had our right eyes taken out!!!! The answer to this is is found in Revelation when the Lord Jesus encourages us to buy of Him "eye salve," that our eyes may once again be anointed. We need the power of the Holy Ghost in these last days in the face of this terrible onslaught of apostasy when so many churches and movements are abandoning the Spirit of God for new age humanism.

 

By Chris McDonald

 

TEXT: 1 Samuel 11:1-3
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh-gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee. [2] And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel. [3] And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days' respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.

As we conclude this two-part sermon series on Nahash, the Ammonite King, who attacked Jabesh-gilead, and upon the people of that place asking for terms of surrender he gave them the alternatives of having their right eyes thrust out or of being put to the sword, I want to, with the help of the Holy Spirit, look at the issue of spiritual unity and how many have become blind to the real source of ALL unity - Christ!

 

For those who know their Bibles, we read in scripture that the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead obtained a respite of seven days and sent messengers to Saul, who assembled an army and routed the Ammonites (I Sam. xi. 1-4, 11). It appears, however, from I Sam. xii. 12, that Nahash had threatened the Israelites before Saul was made king, and that it was for this reason the Israelites insisted upon having a king. According to Josephus ("Ant." vi. 5, § 1), Nahash was in the habit of putting out the right eye of every Israelite that came into his power. Nothing more is told of Nahash until his death is mentioned; this occurred in the beginning of David's reign and was the occasion of David's message of condolence to Hanun, Nahash's son and successor (II Sam. x. 1-2)

 

2 Samuel 10:1-2
And it came to pass after this, that the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his stead. [2] Then said David, I will show kindness unto Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness unto me. And David sent to comfort him by the hand of his servants for his father. And David's servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

 

Despite Nahash's hideous demands of the residents of Jabesh Gilead, he evidently had shown kindness to David; it is not stated what that kindness was, but there is recorded Jewish tradition that when David entrusted his family to the King of Moab while running from Saul (comp. I Sam. xxii. 3-4) the latter slew the entire family, with the exception of one of David's brothers, who escaped and found asylum with Nahash (Tan., Wayera, 25).

 

1 Samuel 22:3-4
And David went thence to Mizpeh of Moab: and he said unto the king of Moab, Let my father and my mother, I pray thee, come forth, and be with you, till I know what God will do for me. [4] And he brought them before the king of Moab: and they dwelt with him all the while that David was in the hold.


Jerome ("Quæstiones Hebraicæ," on II Chron. xix. 2) suggests that David's sympathy was due to the fact that he and Nahash were common enemies of Saul. If the statement of Josephus ("Ant." vi. 5, § 3) is true, that Nahash was slain when the Ammonites were routed by Saul, the Nahash whose death David lamented may have and must have been a different person. History is unclear about those details but one thing is for sure - Nahash was no friend of Saul and Israel and his actions were in spiritual type what Satan seeks to do and IS doing to the modern church - putting out our right eyes!

 

As we stated in part one of this message there are very few shepherds today behind pulpits, especially behind American pulpits. We have allowed the spirit of the world to infiltrate the church and as a result our witness to the world is diluted at best and worst non-existent at all. Friend, hear this writer - Satan cannot cast out Satan; the blind cannot lead the blind; the spirit of the world cannot cast out and renounce the spirit of the world! Yet millions of pastors as well as many others in church leadership have allowed Satan to put out their right eyes. Preachers today in this milk-sop atmosphere of what we call "church," have no convictions about anything and most allow the sheep to take the easiest route to hell itself as long as the bills are paid and salaries met. If the leading tither of our church attends dirty filthy movies we sure don't want to offend our leading tither so thus, we don't preach against Christians attending such perversions and warning of the effects of such on one's spiritual life and soul! God forbid if the head deacon is a sipping saint and we know it to be so and say nothing about it because he holds the purse strings to the church. God forbid we know that our choir director or worship leader is an outward homosexual and we do nothing about it because his "charisma" attracts the youth to our church. I was told that very thing by an individual who knows a minister who is allowing just that in our own city of Knoxville.

 

In a related matter I was told by the leader of a large Methodist church in Atlanta, Georgia that their music director was gay and his partner was the piano player. When I asked why the church allowed that to take place without conviction and conscience I was told the church was a "progressive," church and one that didn't want to judge anyone based upon their personal lifestyle. Neighbor, it's not a matter of judging others if we know something is evil and wicked and we take steps to rid ourselves of the evil! I'm not taking a shot at the individuals per say, HOWEVER, if those individuals refuse to repent and cease from their sinful and wicked ways - REMOVE THEM FROM YOUR MIDST MAN OF GOD.

 

The reader may read this and say, "well why is it so hard to see that homosexuality and perversion and drinking are evil?" One reason - when the church allows the enemy to thrust out our right eyes - we become blind and we CANNOT see evil for what it is!!!! During the recent elections I got blistered from a family member who accused me of labeling the Democratic Party "satanic," and "of the devil." His comments were filled with statements like "they are not the evil party you paint them out to be - there are good people in the party." FRIEND, if the party supports homosexuality, embraces a platform that allows rampant abortion without conscience and seeks to weaken the marriage covenant between a man and woman and has a hard time defining marriage between same sexes as evil - FRIEND WHERE IS OUR SOUL AT AND WHY CAN WE NOT SEE THAT AS EVIL??????? I could care less how many "good people" are in the party - the PARTY THAT SUPPORTS SUCH IS EVIL - and if we cast our vote for that party we are endorsing what that party stands for. Don't think I'm all that about the Republicans either. I feel this election a few weeks back was actually judgment on the Republican Party for losing IT'S moral compass as well blurring the lines between themselves and the Democratic Party and leaving American voters with NO CHOICE whatsoever for leadership.

 

Just because one is conservative and moral does not mean they're born again! Just because one watches FOX NEWS does not mean one knows JESUS! I'm not advocating one party or bashing the other party; I'm about as apolitical as one can get to be frank. It sickens me yes to know we are going to be two breaths away from Nancy Pelosi being our President for the next two years but that's what America as a nation wanted and that is what America as a nation got on 11/7/2006.

 

My  point in these statements about our election is this and it's a very important one relating to the terms of surrender Nahash laid out to the inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead who had sued for peace out of fear of the Ammonites. When we stop recognizing evil and wickedness for what it is - evil and wickedness, we've lost our SIGHT and our eyes have been thrust out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Pastors who are not shepherds are either sheep herders, or worse, hirelings, who are basically wolves in sheep clothing. These are those who exploit the body and have little concern for spiritual development and growth among the people they are called to serve, not the other way around. Most worry more about their own personal gain from association with the flock than they are about serving the flock as the Lord came to serve us! With the hireling, everything comes down to money. These godless entertainers who call themselves Christian artists are HIRELINGS pastor you are allowing to come in and fleece your flock and youth for the sake of your church being known to the community. There is one such church in Knoxville right now that "majors" on doing just that - bringing in Christian rock groups and artists at a "discounted" price to offer entertainment to the public. This church is not some cult type group but belongs to one of America's leading Pentecostal denominations!!! Why pray tell me do they do such things? BECAUSE SATAN HAS THRUST OUT THEIR RIGHT EYES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Much of what is cloaked in spirituality is nothing more than glorified covetousness, pride, arrogance and ego in our churches. As I heard one preacher glibly say not too terribly long ago - the shepherd be praised and the sheep be damned. Sadly, that is the attitude of most fellowships and churches in America today.

 

The Good Shepherd Gives His Life For The Sheep

 

John 10:11-12; 14-16 - I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep. [12] But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catches them, and scattereth the sheep. 14-16 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. [15] As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. [16] And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

In a recent survey it was noted that nearly 12 million people who profess they are born-again Christians are out of church. Because God is a God of authority, He always desires His children to respond to His inherent authority out of love, not constraint and willingly, not because of guilt brought on by the manipulation, fear and control spirits of a hireling or false shepherd. Jesus called ALL those who had come to Israel before Him claiming to be the Way to God, "thieves," and "robbers." Just as the false prophets sought to lead Israel into apostasy and away from the Living God, so too today this message of "redefined" unity at all costs seeks to lead people away from the living God as well.

 

John 10:1-5
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. [2] But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. [3] To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. [4] And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. [5] And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

 

He also delegates His authority to leaders in many areas of our lives – including CHURCH. Sadly, because leaders are human, there is always the potential for the misuse of authority and power. The key issue in most of these movements is insecurity, control and manipulation. If God’s love is not the heart motive for church leadership, then abuse of power and authority is likely, if not probable. Abuse is the misuse of power whether it exists from the congregation TO pastors or from pastors TO the congregation. God hates it and He has made it clear from Scripture that the GOOD SHEPHERD of the sheep, which was speaking of CHRIST, will never hurt those under His care. Christ is called the Good Shepherd and Pastor of our souls and as local pastors, we are under shepherds to Christ caring for the flock of God.

Luke 15:3-4 - And he spoke this parable unto them, saying, [4] What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?

Christ's heart reaches out to the one sheep of the ninety and nine. That is just the opposite of the mind-set of the modern church world which has gotten so “growth” crazy that we have made numbers our top priority instead of souls. To state it another way, we have judged success in the modern ministry by the world’s standards. If our churches have thousands coming, tons of money in the bank and a myriad of programs going on – we think God has ordained what we do. I’m not saying having thousands coming, millions in the bank and programs are bad – but when we use those things as a barometer of spiritual health – friend, we’re deluded and in the end the sheep will always get abused, beat and sheared. To be more frank, if that is what we're judging ourselves by - our right eyes have been thrust out by Satan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is not relegated just to big churches. Small churches who have the same mentality do the same thing to their people as the mega-church would. The only difference small churches are pushing ahead for a “vision,” while mega-churches seek to maintain the numbers.

Christ, the Good Shepherd, on the other hand was not interested in the multitudes as we are today but  was concerned MORE with the spiritual health of those He met and ministered to.  He was not worried about being on the “cutting edge,” of “ministry” or any of the other "curt" phrases and clichés the church world uses today to describe it's vision and goals. The world as a whole is SICK of the church's cliche's and phrases; they are thirsty for a touch of God's reality and power to come into their homes, their jobs, their lives, their souls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Lord Jesus came to give His life a ransom for many and minister to the needs of fallen humanity as the Holy Spirit led Him to do. He did NOTHING that He did not receive from His Father. He only SPOKE that which the Lord told Him to speak. He ever lives at this moment interceding for the sheep under His care at this very moment. He is concerned about the individual heart of every single human being who lives on Planet Earth. ALL are precious in His sight. When He saw the multitudes, He was MOVED with compassion because they fainted and were SCATTERED as SHEEP having no shepherd.

Matthew 9:36 - But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

To state it again, His concern for the multitudes was on a much higher plain than what the modern church growth movement has degenerated into today. Christ’s concern for those He saw was ETERNAL in scope, not TEMPORAL. He was not building a Kingdom on this earth made with man’s hands, vain minds and prideful flesh. His Kingdom was being built in the hearts of those He would meet and change forever. When He saved a lost fisherman named Peter and gave Him the keys to the Kingdom His concern was NOT placing Peter in a place of political power to weld over the other disciples. He was laying down the foundation for the greatest organism, not organization, on the face of the Earth – the CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD.

Jesus was a servant to all humanity, but He was FIRST a servant to God the Father. The Apostles John, Peter, and Paul often refer to the Father as the “God of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Jesus served the Father out of LOVE. In the face of quick divorces, misplaced loyalties and lack of commitment that statement may not mean much to us today.

Christ showed the depths of the compassion spoken of in Matthew 9:36 in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the first garden, Eden, mankind through the person of the First Adam, so quickly rejected obedience in favor of self-centeredness. In the second garden, Gethsemane, the second Adam, Jesus, preferred the Father’s will to His own even though it was clear through His labored prayers that the directives of His Father were far from being His own choices. Out of love He lived as a servant. And ALL good shepherds operate on that same basis if they are true shepherds and not hirelings.

Romans 5:17-21
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) [18] Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. [19] For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. [20] Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: [21] That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

John 7:17-18 - If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. [18] He that speaketh of himself seeks his own glory: but he that seeks his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

Those who are hirelings operate on a totally opposite plain of self-centeredness that caters to their own needs instead of those of the sheep. The result of such feeling is ALWAYS authoritarianism and dictatorships in leadership. We have TONS of those in the Body today wrecking havoc in the hearts and minds of millions of Christians.  Israel as a nation was like a flock of SHEEP with no shepherd. The nation was going aimlessly along needing a savior. The nation was only a smaller picture of ALL lost humanity who too needed a Redeemer then and those who need one today. Man is lost without God with no hope or help for eternity. Before the Cross, Satan held man in sin’s sway and power because of man’s disobedience. When Christ the good Shepherd went to the cross, He became a sin offering for us all, giving up His life so that man would be saved.

And Christ cares for the ONE out of the ninety and nine. He has never cared for the attitudes and fickle depths of the heart of the multitudes as we are today. Men applaud when big numbers gather. Heaven applauds when one soul repents. Men applaud these modern church growth movements, which boast and arrogantly proclaim they are “blessed” by God because of the “success” they have. Heaven applauds when a cup of cold water is giving to a thirsty soul in the name of Jesus on a dirty road with nothing hoped to be gained in return. Man applauds all his programs that he feels keep people “connected” to a church. Heaven applauds when our hearts cry out in contrition and repentance that we are undone and in need of a Savior. The modern pattern in the church today is NOT pattern of the heart of Christ.

Luke 15:1-8 - Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. [2] And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receives sinners, and eateth with them. [3] And he spake this parable unto them, saying, [4] What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? [5] And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. [6] And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbors, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. [7] I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Neighbor, hear me and hear me well. Your church may have thousands “coming” to services. But it’s not those “coming” that are going to inherit eternal life! A lot may be "coming" to church, but sad to say, "MANY" are going to hell! I know that sounds harsh and blunt but it's the sad truth of which we say with a broken heart, not a haughty spirit. Those “coming” and “attending” our programs must be BORN AGAIN and I dare say that less than 5% of all churchgoers today are truly saved.

John 3:3-8
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. [4] Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? [5] Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. [8] The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

I don’t flinch stating that. I don’t back down saying that MOST gospel preaching today is a FALSE GOSPEL that preaches LIES and manipulate the masses to get people into our programs – AND YES GET THEIR MONEY. The machinery of the local church today has one goal in mind – MONEY. When the shepherds abandon the message of the Cross, they have abandoned the only message that can set the captives free. They have abandoned the only message that will keep our hearts anchored in the ONE who holds eternal life and that is CHRIST, the SON OF LIVING GOD.

While the modern pattern seems to be “programs” and “reading lists” and “cell groups” and “government of 12 bodies,” the Lord’s pattern for the church is God-ordained apostles, prophets, evangelists, PASTORS (SHEPHERDS) and teachers leading those in the Body of Christ. Of this list, I believe the PASTORS are the most important because ultimately pastors have the most influence and care over the sheep. The pastor is the one who interact the most with the sheep of the Body. Apostolic authority even comes under the authority of the local pastor! In other words, if an apostle comes into a fellowship, he is under the authority of the pastor leading the sheep. The Lord has ordained it that way so that the sheep be protected from false teachers, false prophets and false apostles. When the pastor is a hireling though, he will allow just about anyone and anybody to minister to the sheep and destroy people’s faith in the true and living God. The false minister may not be preaching “evil” but be preaching a man-based, humanistic, self-help gospel that points people to man-made doctrines instead of putting their faith in the finished work of Christ.

Eph. 4:11 - And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

I want to relate an event that took place in the fall of 2004 in a church we attended that illustrates what I just said. There was a person who came to minister from Tulsa, Oklahoma with the guise of being a gifted prophetic minister. The very first morning he was there he called me and my wife out and told me that I was going to receive a miraculous healing in 3 days and I would not die. He acted as if I had been given a report that I would die and needed to be healed. He turned to my wife and started telling her that she was being healed of a back problem. NEITHER of these statements were true. I have walked in divine health for many years, of which I deeply thank the Lord for. I have never had a history of any type of extended sickness. Other than a need to take a few pounds off and get my energy level up to snuff, I feel fine. My wife did not have back problems as the man suggested.

He started saying these type things to several others in attendance that morning. MOST of what the man said was blatantly FALSE and misleading. I’m being very serious here without laughing. These prophecies were not even CLOSE to being right. As I sat there my anger rose to the point of just wanting to walk out. Instead, I went home that afternoon, called a fellow minister friend of mine who was in the service that morning and asked him how he viewed the events that morning. My friend also has a prophetic gift on him and I look to him at times to see if the Lord is saying anything to him. He laughed on the phone with me that the things this man was saying to he and his wife were a million miles off as well.

We both agreed to just pray about it and hope the man would calm down that night and just preach. Well, that night it happened again. He even called my wife up again and acted like he didn’t know her and gave her another wild off the wall prophecy. He had just spoken to her that morning and was acting like this was her first service. My friend’s wife went to the pastor and told him that this man was spewing out false prophecies. The pastor blew her off and didn’t say anything because the man ministering was a long-time friend who had been to the church many times before.

We didn’t go back to any of the other services he was at that week to say the least. The following Sunday however, the pastor gets up in the pulpit and arrogantly proclaims that God “was ALL over the church this past week,” and those who didn’t come missed their “moments of destiny,” and other jargon most hirelings use in manipulating and abusing the sheep. (If I hear the term “cutting edge” one more time in these modern church growth movements I’m going to PUKE)

The pastor then glibly said something that basically sealed my heart to take my family out of this church and quickly. He stated, “if you have a problem with anything the prophet said last week, take it up with HIM, not me. He’s the one you need to be talking to, I was not the one giving the prophecy.”

That borders on blasphemy to be frank. The pastor was the one the flock needed to come to for direction on this man’s error. The PASTOR was the one ordained by God to PROTECT the sheep from wolves who would come in and destroy their faith. I laughed this guy off each time he said something but others didn’t laugh him off. There were some in the congregation, as there are in ALL congregations, who thought God Himself had spoken to them and donating hundreds of dollars to this man’s “cause.” He was a false prophet, neighbor, and should have never been allowed in that pulpit. He should have been privately talked to first by the pastor and if the situation did not correct itself immediately, then he should have been told there would be no more meetings. If that didn’t work and he pushed the issue, then a public rebuke would have been in order if he persisted in wanting to stay at the church and say the crazy things he said under the guise of prophetic inspiration.

I’m not that prophetically gifted to be certain. My heart is that more of a shepherd. I care for the sheep that I see in these churches. As a shepherd, I could see that this man was taking a holy calling and saying all sorts of things just for gain – whether it was financial or just confidence from the people he was from God.  One person in the congregation called us and tried to explain that the man was just “up in years” and had a problem with age, thus the prophecies were not coherent and right. Even I agreed with that argument, which I didn’t, the man’s prophecies should have STILL been addressed by the pastor. And the person the sheep needed to come to WAS the pastor, not the prophet.

THIS IS WHY PEOPLE ARE LEAVING OUR CHURCHES!!!!!!!! This is why millions are hurting and feeling total rejection and in need of a touch from the GOOD SHEPHERD to restore faith in the office of ministry and the body of Christ.  When Christ spoke to John and He preached His last seven messages to the church – He told John to send the messages to the “angels,” which is translated, “pastors” of those local churches in Asia Minor. The pastor is the key to it ALL! The term “shepherd” in scripture describes several things:

 

With Christ as the Great Shepherd and Bishop of our souls as believers, Pastors are under shepherds of Christ ordained and charged with the care of those under their care. Let’s take a look at some characteristics of the “good” shepherd, whom that follow such pattern, care for the flock of God as CHRIST Himself cares for the flock of God. Yet as important as the shepherd is it is the role of the evangelist that God uses many times to stir the hearts of His people and keep us from having our eyes gouged out by Satan!

 

The Role of the Evangelist

 

The early churches were started by evangelists! When the Apostle Paul founded the individual hcurches at Thessalnica, Philippi, Corinth, etc., he was an evangelist. Yes, he did serve as pastor, teacher, apostle and prophet at times to be sure! But the most intriguing feature of the New Covenant church found in the Book of Acts was the fact that MOST of the apostles served as evangelists at one time or another. The four gospels are actually called by most Jewish commentators, "the four evangelists." Just about every major church in Protestantism was founded by evangelists. John Wesley was an evangelist when the great Methodist church began. (Wesley by the way would turn over in his grave and probably worse if he saw what had become of this once proud denomination). The Holiness movements basically were started the same way. Bud Robinson was the evangelist used in the Nazarene movement. The same thing took place during the beginnings of the great Baptist movement under Spurgeon, Sunday and others.

 

Most of these evangelists DID  become pastors but most served FIRST as an evangelist as they planted the seeds that would soon bloom into great movements. The role of the evangelist cannot  be understated to say the least. We're not demeaning ANY of the other five-fold ministry gifts - apostle, teacher, prophet, pastor, etc. But God have the FIVEFOLD ministry gifst for a specific reason to keep the church on the path of life and not allow it to wind up in spiritual darkness and deception having our eyes THRUST OUT by Satan! If there are no teachers, there is no growth; if there are no apostles, there are no "sent ones." If there are no prophets, there is no "thus saith the Lord," and if there are no evangelists, there is no EVANGELISM - at least SPIRIT-Birthed evangelism.

 

We have replaced the evangelist in today's modern church atmosphere with door-to-door visitation, soul-winning teams, street ministries, cell groups and a hundred and one additional plans and projects. These things in themselves are not bad even though there is a great need for these ministries to be headed by born again individuals, not those who cannot even find where the book of Judges is in their Bibles! NOTHING friend and I mean NOTHING will ever replace the well-balanced, Holy Spriti-anointed, and God-designed MINISTRY of the HOLY GHOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Evangelists are born in HOLY SPIRIT REVIVAL and since the church world has rejected the Holy Spirit we have been left to these myriads of other things instead of seeing the Spirit's power operate in His fullness! In churches where the Holy Spirit is moving and souls are being saved - and by saved we are talking about being TRULY BORN AGAIN, not indoctrinated into some church movement, denomination or association - there is an atmosphere where evangelists and born and called!!!!!

 

If we do not have evangelists raised up by God soon the Pentecostal movement will die friend plain and simple!!!!! ANY church that seeks to alter God's ministry and method for its own is embracing DEATH. today's evangelists have become nothing more than glorified television talk show hosts. We have counselors (who come under every persuasion and stripe) and seminar directors, prosperity promoters and the like - but we have very few true SHEPHERDS and EVANGELISTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I can hear the cat calls already as I write this  - "but the church is GROWING in record numbers Brother Chris - you are just being divisive and vindictive attacking these things that has 'caused' the growth." I don't care how large the "system" is growing; cancerous tumors "grow" as well but eventually they KILL YOU if not eradicated from one's body!!! They are full of poison that destabilizes the inward organs and destroys the vital areas of one's life that keeps us breathing!! In the spiritual realm it's no different - if we don't ask the Lord to give us our sight back so we can see the POISON among us we are going to DIE FRIEND! The "vital" organs this poison will ultimately destroy are the souls of men!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One idiot preacher proclaimed over our local radio station the other day that he was "tired of the old fire and brimstone type preachers," and that "those days are over in this age of family counseling and seminar based religion." GOD HELP US! Friend, the old fire and brimstone preaching is what kept people out of HELL in years past and it will keep them out of hell in years PRESENT! God's order is to SEND A MAN, like He did so long ago in John the Baptist

 

John 1:6
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
 

And when God sent John, John came preaching one thing - THE KINGDOM OF GOD and REPENTANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He preached "REPENT," for the Kingdom of heaven was at hand. He didn't seek to conduct a counseling session, he demanded a heart repenting session! He didn't care about a seminar on church growth - he cared about a heart changing repentance that would RUN OFF 3/4ths of most of our professing saints who sit on church pews lost without God and on their way to hell! What this writer is talking about is something GOD produced, not man produced!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm talking about the foundational structure for ALL true unity where GOD CALLS men full of the HOLY GHOST to preach His word and then in turn bring the body into the only true unity known to God - THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH GROWING UP UNTO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JESUS IS THE UNITY OF THE CHURCH - not some man-made doctrine or some get together where all different types of faiths (even those who blatantly deny the deity and Lordship of Jesus) come together and we all smile and shake hands with movements that are godless, faithless and sending MILLIONS to hell itself! WAKE UP MAN OF GOD. OPEN YOUR EYES MAN OF GOD. CRY OUT TO GOD TO HAVE HIM ANOINT YOUR EYES WITH EYE SALVE once again so you can SEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We must SEE what the Spirit wants us to see. We must SEE what the heart of Jesus is and what He wants to do through us! We must SEE the vision of heaven for all mankind not just see some temporal fix to an eternal and SPIRITUAL problem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

True evangelists and shepherds are born at the altar and formed in the crucible of the fire of God, as the Spirit of God touches their lives and hearts. But because there is less and less a prevailing atmosphere of the HOLY GHOST in our churches, precious few evangelists and shepherds are being called.

 

Paul exhorted Timothy the pastor to DO THE WORK OF AN EVANGELIST from time to time, meaning, "Timothy lay bare the hearts of men with Holy Ghost filled preaching that brings conviction to the souls of men and hangs the lost over hell with a broken stick!"

 

2 Tim. 4:2-5
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. [5] But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

 

True Unity Centers On Jesus, The Living Word of God AND the Spirit of God - NOTHING ELSE

 

Today, if anyone reproves and rebukes, he is accused of "dividing the body." As a consequence we now have puppets instead of prophets. America does not need more puppets it needs a PROPHET. The church world does not need another form of entertainment it needs a PROPHET. The church needs PROPHETS to bring it back to God and stir the fires of the HOLY GHOST flames wishing to consume us ALL for Christ and burn in our hearts a true zeal to see the lost saved, the sick healed and the bondages of mankind broken! Today we wallow in conformity that is sending millions to hell in the name of "unity," and "togetherness." No one is supposed to be against anything; we must never disagree; we are instead called to approve all winds of doctrine no matter how godless and evil that doctrine may be. We have had our eyes THRUST OUT BY SATAN, who was typified in 1 Samuel through Nahash, the "bright shining serpent."

 

It burdens this writer when he turns on TBN and other so-called Christian networks and sees men like Benny Hinn, Jack Van Impe and Paul Crouch interviewing Catholic leaders who spew their ungodly and unscriptural doctrine that is leading millions to a devil's hell. What part of "JESUS CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY TO GOD" do we not understand??????????????????????????????????? What part of "there is no other name under heaven whereby men must be  saved," do we not get in this modern church world? Why is it the cab driver who knows nothing about God can see something that is evil and wicked and we in the church can't???????????????????????????? It's because we have had our right eyes thrust out by Satan in the name of unity and as a result we grovel in darkness not knowing where we are going or where we are at!

 

Our teenagers today have little idea of what is right or wrong. When someone stands up and says "sleeping with and having sex with someone else before marriage is adultery and fornication in the eyes of God," our young people today look at us as if we're speaking French or German. If we tell and warn people the consequences of whoremongering and living in sin people look at us and roll their eyes as if we're some dinosaur relic who most feel is "out of touch" with the mainstream of modern religious thought and practice. Neighbor, the problem rests solely on one thing - the pulpit. Our preachers are not preaching anymore. Part of the problem is we are not developing preachers anymore but we're producing talk show hosts and individuals with conformist degrees!

 

Why do two million teenagers commit suicide every year and a number of them succeed? Why are so many teenage girls pregnant before they are married? Why do so many people snort cocaine, smoke marijuana, do crack and high base heroin without conscience or thought? Why do we have Christians who say the Lord's prayer on Sunday morning less than 24 hours after they were swearing and cursing in a drunken state at the local bar and dance clubs the night before? It's because if the PREACHERS would come back to God and become men enough again to say "THUS SAITH THE LORD," and declare to our parishioners that social drinking is wrong and is a SIN, pre-martial sex is SIN, gambling is a SIN, nightclubbing, partying are SIN and wrong, that movies that purvey filth are SINFUL and we should not be exposing our hearts and spirits to such (that includes the television which has become just as much a purveyor of filth into our homes on the regular network stations, just as Hollywood has done through theatrical releases)  the church would stand as a LIGHT against the darkness of today's moral degeneration in America!

 

But when preachers preach such they are said to be too "controversial," and "divisive." Friend, hear this writer as he attempts to close this message. We are so afraid we're going to hurt someone's feelings; well better to hurt someone's feelings and they repent than we pacify their sinful behavior and they refuse to repent and be lost in all eternity! We need to preach about hell again. We need to preach about heaven. We need to preach about repentance. We need to be hearing about the HOly Ghost until the fallow ground is shaken with men and women coming down the aisles, tears streaming down their faces, burdened over the lost condition of our souls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Neighbor, where have the tears gone? Where has our conscience gone? Where has the sense that we even blush anymore at that which is evil??????

 

Loving people utlimately means and demands we speak the Truth - IN LOVE! The self-serving, ear-tickling pap that passes for love today is not love at all - it is hypocrisy. Remember this - Cain murdered Abel because Abel's deeds were righteous and Cain's were wicked; the whole world thought Noah and Enoch were crazy; Jeremiah was buried in mud up to his armpits; Isaiah was sawed in half; tradition says every single apostle died a martyrs death except John; the Apostle Paul was beheaded. These men experienced a very horrific end to their lives - but they never lost the message or the conviction that drove the hearers to either accept the Words of God or cause them to reject the words of God and turn on the messengers with anger and malice.

 

When we call out people for "psychological" rehabilitation," friend we have had our right eyes blinded by Nahash. When we dno't call sin "sin," any more, we have had our right eyes blinded by Nahash! Man does not need rehabilitation he needs repentance!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Man does not need a social gospel he needs a gospel that sends him running to an old fashioned altar crying out to God for mercy and grace before it is eternally too late!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The world "sin" does not seem to be in our preaching vocabulary anymore yet it is the call of the PASTOR and the EVANGELIST to do both!

 

2 Tim. 4:1-5
I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; [2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. [5] But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
 

Paul lists five things Timothy was to do as a pastor:

 

The word "rebuke," in the Greek implies a sharp, severe reprimand, with perhaps a suggestion of impending penalty. Even where the preacher himself has experienced a failure (or a series of failures), he is to persist in attacking sin. I can tell you from experience - the one who has himself fallen understands more than anybody the results of sin and will hate those results!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No, that doesn't mean we go out and sin to "see how it feels," don't be moronic. But those who have fallen and come back to the Lord tend to have the compassion and conviction of their own hearts that brings the reality of sin into a greater perspective than those who have not had any problems in their lives.

 

The second word, "Exhort," carries the idea of support and encouragement in the area of giving people what they NEED instead of what they want. Paul warned Timothy that in the latter times (the days we live in today) men would "heap to themselves 'teachers' having ITCHING ears, and shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." In verse 5, Timothy is warned to "watch" and to "endure affliction," as a military leader would during a time of war. Neighbor, we are at WAR for the souls of men and how sorely does the modern ministry need this injunction today! We are so afraid to come out clearly in support of the truth or to take a stand against false doctrine, fearing the rejection, and even ostracism or our fellow ministers or the ecclesiastical displeasure of our superiors - or at worse the cutting off of our livelihoods. Remember this friend, - what we're willing to lose is what we ultimately gain and vice versa; what we hold to for the sake of truth is what we always wind up losing! Those that seek to lose their lives SAVES them; those who seek to SAVE their lives - loses them!

 

Matthew 10:37-39
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. [38] And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. [39] He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
 

In Closing - The ONLY ANSWER

 

1 Samuel 11:6
And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

 

I know there are preachers out there (maybe some reading this) who have not made a covenant with Nahash and still believe in the old-fashioned power of God and winning souls. Sin is still sin and sin calls for repentance. Why do we shun away from that message today? Could it be that we have compromised with Nahash and had our right eyes blinded? Another local pastor was on radio the other day here in Knoxville claiming that calling people down the aisle to publicly pray before the Lord was 'uncouth' according to his assessment of things. Neighbor, having people come down to publicly pray and accept Christ is uncouth to him because he has had his right eye thrust out by Satan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

A rock singer came to the Lord recently; he cut his hair, took the earring out of his ear, cleaned himself up because Jesus had come into his heart. But his pastor hold him to let his hair grow back and to replace the earring in his ear. if he would continue to sing rock and roll, perhaps he could attract "young people to his church," the pastor said. Oh yes, this probably would have attracted people to his church but the question is would it had attracted and drew them to CHRIST??????

 

This pastor, like so many others have had their right eyes put out by Satan. He made a covenant with Nahash and his eyes have been put out.

 

The remedy for spiritual blindness is found in the 3rd chapter of Revelation where the Lord addressed a spiritually blind church named Laodicea. He told them that because they "SAID" they were rich, increased with goods and had need of nothing," they failed to recognize they were BLIND, naked and wretched. He counseled them as He is counseling many reading this journal today to "buy of Him gold tried in the fire and to have their eyes anointed with eye salve so they can see." What is that eye salve you may ask? It's the anointing of the HOLY GHOST that the church so desperately needs right now to come back to. Only the Spirit of God can bring true conviction that will change the hearts of men and set the captives free.

 

Rev. 3:17-22
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: [18] I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. [19] As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. [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 overcomes 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.
 

Lord "send us preachers who will abhor the ear-tickling and itching gospel; men who will take a stand regardless of what it costs and preach without fear or favor, men who will preach repentance, men who will call sin by its name; deliver us Lord men who will reprove and rebuke - as well as show the tenderness, sympathy and love of the heart of your Son, Jesus Christ. Deliver us preachers who in thunderous tones, will preach the Word, mincing no words, pulling no punches, blowing the trumpet with NO UNCERTAIN SOUND, leaving no room for question as to where they stand; send us men who will not compromise the message of the gospel even if their churches won't accept it - men who, if the money doesn't come in, still won't compromise their principles. Give us leaders who will lead instead of bowing down to political expediency."

 

Friend, the Pentecostal World as well as the church world in general stands today at Jabesh-Gilead, the hall of witnessing. We are faced by Nahash, the bright and shining serpent. There is going to be a battle for the wouls of men; blood is going to be spilled; The men of Jabesh -Gilead say, "make a covenant with us and we will serve thee." The price is stiff, Nahash the Ammonite says, in effect, "then I must thrust out your right eyes."

 

1 Samuel 11:6
And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.
 

The ONLY ANSWER IS THE SPIRIT OF GOD. Our degrees won't do it; our great church buildings won't do it; our conseling sessions won't do it; our rock concerts won't do it; our "inner healing" seminars won't do it; our "40 days of purpose seminars" won't do it; the Purpose Driven Life won't do it; NONE OF THESE THINGS WILL BRING VICTORY IN THIS BATTLE!

 

At this point in time, Saul had not become the demented king he wound up being later but in essence here stands as a type of the TRUE CHURCH anointed by the HOLY GHOST against the powers of darkness. When this happens, we will get angry with a good Christian anger; we will be engaged at sin; we will hate the destructive powers of Satan; it will be a HOLY ANGER, but the anger against sin WILL BE THERE. We don't hate PEOPLE, we hate the SIN that binds the people! Which will it be reader? "And the spirit of God came...." or "make a covenant with us and we will serve thee."

 

We are at the devil's bargaining table and only we can make the choice man of God what will we do and chose to put our faith and trust in. I pray you chose the Spirit of God and come back to His anointing upon you and your ministry before it's too late and your eyes are thrust out and you wind up in total spiritual oblivion and darkness. The souls of men are the prize and we stand at a late hour in this fight. I pray for you today as I pray for myself that I will make the right call when the conditions are laid down in this fight for such a precious thing that no amount of money can buy or barter for - even the whole world.

 

Mark 8:35-37
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. [36] For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? [37] Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?


 

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