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Liars In Christendom! By Pastor Bill Taylor A publication of My Father's House, inc. Volume 11/ Issue 6 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It’s My Father who honors Me, of whom you say He’s your God. Yet you’ve not known Him.” (Jn8:54,55a) And that’s the situation with most “christianity” today; the people think they know God, they say He’s their God, but they don’t know Him! And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You’ve sent. (Jn17:3) If you don’t know God you don’t have eternal life. Yet Jesus also prays concerning those who do know God that we may be one; just as one with Him as He is with the Father. That they all may be one as You Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I’ve given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know You’ve sent Me, and have loved them as You’ve loved Me. (Jn17:21-23) This prayer hasn’t been taken to heart by many “believers” today. It may have been read, but it hasn’t been understood with an expectation that it must become true in us. “Jesus prayed that I’d be one with Him and the Father, and I must believe and press into that until it becomes so!” These verses must be made manifest. We must see the oneness, know we possess it, know these Scriptures are being fulfilled. Because this is what Jesus has desired and prayed for me and every believer, there can be no salvation apart from it. I’ve been crucified with Christ; it’s no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Gal 2:20) All the “christianity” around us that claims to know God yet isn’t pursuing this oneness, is a farce, a counterfeit, and a fake. The people who are following such lies won’t make it to heaven anymore than these Jews who Jesus rebuked saying, “You’re of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the Truth, because there’s no Truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he’s a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the Truth, you don’t believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the Truth, why do you not believe Me? He who’s of God hears God’s words; therefore you don’t hear, because you aren’t of God.” (Jn8:44-47) For example, in “My Father’s House” we’ve been studying Jesus’ “oneness” prayer (John 17) in our services for over two weeks and recently some of you admitted you haven’t even read this passage on your own during this time. Such behavior completely manifests your separateness from God, not your oneness. Jesus is the Head of the church and through the Holy Spirit He’s teaching us about His “oneness” prayer yet you’ll sit through the teaching in church then go home and ignore the scriptures insofar as meditating on how to apply them to your personal life or devotions as in, Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and there be no divisions among you, but you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1Cor1:10) To ignore Jesus’ teaching on “oneness” when you’re away from church is a rejection of what the Spirit’s doing in the body. It demonstrates you’re not of the same mind with Christ or His church. How can you be of the same mind with me or the Lord if you won’t even read the scriptures Jesus has been teaching in church for so long yourself? You haven’t even accepted that Christ is actually working in me to teach you, if you’re rejecting what I’m teaching. Therefore, my beloved, as you’ve always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it’s God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Phil 2:12,13) Do you think what’s going on here is merely from a man, or as Jesus says, “I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things?” (Jn5:19;8:28) Do you believe Bill Taylor is doing his own thing or am I doing what Jesus is showing me? If you believe what I’m doing is from the Lord then you should be responding appropriately. And to ignore what I’m teaching makes it evident that you’re separate from both me and from God! A great Truth that should be obvious is this unity of all true believers with Christ is a given! Jesus prayed for it. The Father’s answer is yes. So it’s available now to every real believer who’ll exercise the faith to receive it. I’m currently working on a Glory of His Grace book that’s been rather difficult because I’m not merely editing it; I’m rewriting. Although this book began as a “preaching” in “My Father’s House” the subject is very important and there are many things that have to be added to the book for clarity. When you preach a message, you can sometimes deal with it briefly in a short hand fashion where the listeners will just get the main points. But in putting a message in print you need to explain things really well to be sure the people rightly understand it. When a message is in writing the reader can go over and over it and even dissect it. So it has to be absolutely accurate. A person who has an inaccurate understanding of God can’t know Him rightly. Nor can they have a sound faith; their faith will be as fuzzy as their ideas. And a fuzzy faith won’t get you very far. Faith must be sharp, precise, right on target. Let not that man suppose that he’ll receive anything from the Lord; he’s a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (Jms1:7,8) If God can help me to say things in a way that’s very clear, the reader can take hold of His Word and have an accurate faith more easily! So I’m not merely editing, but usually on my first run through a new transcript I’m actually rewriting. Sometimes I can get several pages done in a day. But it requires much prayer, calling on the Lord to show me the best way to clarify God’s Truth! (Eph6:19,20) So Jesus keeps me very close to Him while I’m writing. It’s a work of faith and a labor of love toward the saints. Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father. (1Th1:3) What’s the purpose? To know God and to help others know God. In order to help others know God better, I must know God better. Also because the Holy Spirit has been teaching me how to be more accurate in expressing His Truths I’m now revising many older Glory of His Grace books because today I can illuminate the Truths in these books much better than I could even a few years ago. When I’m done with a revision it often seems like the improvement is such that it’s a brand new book. The Glory of His Grace is a foreordained “work” destined to accomplish something very important to the will of God. God planned this from the foundations of the earth! For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Eph2:10) In regard to that one of our most important “works” is to free people from the presumptuous superstitions of believing Christ is in them when their behavior denies it (Tit1:16) and help them to understand the gospel in such a way as to realize, This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You’ve sent. That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (Jn17:3,21) Salvation is unity with God! Being “one with God” is something that’s very easy to repeat in word but it’s a whole other thing to explain it or even demonstrate it in a way that’s so experiential and “visible” that the “world may believe.” Can you as a believer actually manifest your oneness with Christ in such a way as to make it comprehensible to another person? Jesus often referred to His conscious unity with His Father. Then Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He (The Father) does, the Son also does in like manner. For I’ve come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. I’ve many things to say and judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things I heard from Him.” Then Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you’ll know I’m He, and I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. I and My Father are one.” If I don’t do the works of My Father, don’t believe Me; but if I do, though you don’t believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe the Father’s in Me, and I in Him. For I’ve not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and speak. If you’d known Me, you’d have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him. Jesus said, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you’ve not known Me, Philip? He who’s seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ Do you not believe I’m in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words I speak to you I don’t speak on My own, but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.” (Jn5:19; 6:38; 8:26,28; 10:30,37,38; 12:49; 14:7,9,10) Everything Jesus does is because the Father is showing or telling Him to do it. If we’re to enter into the unity Jesus prayed for us in John, we’ll have to be that way too. As when Paul says, “That the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” (Phmn6) Understanding the good that’s in you because Christ is in you, is essential to recognizing your unity with Him. And Paul says it’s the only way sharing your faith can become effectual. Too many people think they know God when all they really know is information about God. They may “share” historical things, knowledge or opinions but they don’t speak “faith!” And since we have the same Spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak. (2Cor4:13) As true saints we’re not just sharing “about” God we’re sharing the very presence of God. He’s in me and it’s the virtues of Him who’s in me that I can share with you. Only when we share things which come from Christ in us can the people we’re sharing with know the reality of Christ’s “oneness” with us. “That they also may be one in us that the world may believe you sent Me!” (Jn17:21) When I have a faith that produces the presence of God in me, those I witness to can also come to the faith to meet and receive the indwelling God. Thus the sharing of our faith becomes effectual to produce a like precious faith in them. (2Pt1:1) By this we know He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He’s given us. (1Jn3:24) If we don’t have His Spirit we aren’t abiding in Him. If we don’t abide in Him we’re not saved. (Jn15:6) Abiding is necessary not optional to salvation, so God must give us an accurate understanding concerning “abiding.” Since to be saved we must know for sure we’re one with Christ, we need to be able to recognize the things which evidence that oneness. We have to perceive the evidences and know we have them. So what are these evidences? How do you know you have the Spirit? Only if you have the Spirit are you abiding in Christ. Only if you have the Spirit can you be one with Jesus. John doesn’t get into much detail about how to know you have the Spirit because in his church the believers already knew how to recognize when they were in the Spirit. Unfortunately in the “churches” today people don’t. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Gal 5:22,23) If you’re truly manifesting the Spirit’s fruit, you must have the Spirit! But the pitfall here is many believers are fabricating the fruit. They don’t have the real fruit so they falsely attribute Spirituality to what they do have. They drum up a little human love and say it’s God. They think they’re spiritual because they’ve done something kind or charitable. In reality the things most “church people” think of as fruit of the Spirit are no better than many things unbelievers do! Jesus comments on that. “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do so?” (Mt5:46,47) To be like your Father in heaven you must be doing things above and beyond what unbelievers do. For I say to you, unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you’ll by no means enter the Kingdom of heaven. (Mt5:20) You can’t equate to the kindness of an unbeliever and say because you have that you’re spiritual. You’re no more spiritual than an unbeliever if the unbeliever has the same kindness, love or peace you have. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Mt5:44,45,48) The fruit of the Spirit isn’t yours. It’s not the fruit of Bill! It’s not the fruit of Josh! It’s not the fruit of Elie! It’s not the fruit of Sarah! The fruit of the Spirit is of God. The first thing you must learn in ascertaining if you have the Spirit is, the fruit of the Spirit comes from God. Because it’s of the Spirit of God it doesn’t originate in you but it originates in God. And because it originates in God, when the fruit of the Spirit manifests it’s super-imposed on you. It doesn’t originate from you but it’s something that comes into and out of you that’s additional to you. For example, I often reread previous Glory of His Grace booklets and realize the wisdom in these teachings didn’t come from me. I don’t have that wisdom personally. Where does that wisdom come from? It didn’t come from me but it came to me. (1Cor4:7) I know it’s the Spirit and the wisdom of God working thru me that comes out in these books because this wisdom is greater than my wisdom. That’s how I know it’s not my wisdom because it’s bigger than me. Now the fruit of the Spirit is first of all what? Love! What kind of love? It’s a love that’s bigger than your love. It’s a love that helps you love where you wouldn’t ordinarily love. It’s a love that transcends human love so you know the source of this love isn’t you. It’s God loving thru me. And you can look at all of the fruit of the Spirit in that same way. The Spirit’s fruit is given to you by God because you have the Spirit and the Spirit is given so you can perform the will of God and behave in a way that’s Christ-like. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I don’t find. (Rom7:18) But God in recognizing our weakness and inability, has given us the grace of His Spirit to strengthen and empower us to perform what is good and do His will. That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who don’t walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Rom8:4) Although God’s Spirit lives inside us it isn’t of us but of Him. And that’s what God promised in, I’ll put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you’ll keep My judgments and do them. (Ezek36:27) It’s God’s Spirit who gives us the power to crucify our flesh. (Rom8:13;Gal 5:24) The power God’s Spirit brings to us is stronger than the sin in our flesh; it’s bigger and better than us. And Christ’s Spirit is going to make us good and make us perfect because we’re not doing it alone anymore but God is doing it through us. That’s how God’s making us His children and making us saints. Until you can truthfully recognize the love you’re demonstrating isn’t yours but it’s God’s and the wisdom you’re walking in isn’t yours but it’s God’s and you know the peace that’s guarding your hearts and minds is from God and not originating in you; until you can see these fruits and virtues of the Spirit of God are a gift super-imposed within you but not originally from you, you don’t have them! What you have is just the ordinary stuff unbelievers have; ordinary human love, the ordinary ability for a human to have an occasional sense of peace. What God gives is profound. The fruit of the Spirit is above the norm, it’s supernatural, which makes us His children, a supernatural people. And because of that supernatural activity and presence of the Spirit there’s no way a person who really has the Spirit could wonder, “Do I have the Spirit?” I know I have the Spirit because I know the kind of love coming out of me isn’t mine and I don’t ordinarily love that way. I know I have the Spirit because the wisdom that’s coming out of me isn’t of me. Where’s this wisdom coming from? It’s coming from Christ. Why is this wisdom coming through me? Because I’m continually praying and asking Jesus for His wisdom, particularly when I’m working on the Glory of His Grace. From one paragraph to the next I’m always asking, “Lord, how can I say this better?” From one service to the next I’m asking, “Lord how do I bring a message to the church that will make them one with You?” This is my goal, this is Christ’s goal. I’m to be one with Christ and I’m to help the brethren become one with Christ. Even when we’re praying for the lost evangelistically, we’re not just praying for God to save them but to make them one with Him and with us. There’s no salvation if they don’t become one with us just as we’re one with Him. And the glory which You gave Me I’ve given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You’ve sent Me, and have loved them as You’ve loved Me. (Jn17:22,23) They can’t be separate from us, following a different path and be saved. Can two walk together, unless they’re agreed? (Am3:3) If we’re one with Him they must be just like us. Because as He is, so are we in this world. (1Jn4:17b) They must become one with Him the same way we’re one with Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (1Jn2:6) And that’s what unity is really about. Being one with Christ is absolutely the center of salvation. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it hasn’t yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He’s revealed, we’ll be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (1Jn3:2) …as You’ve given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You’ve given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You… (Jn17:2,3) Jesus gives eternal life only to those who the Father has given Him. I’ve manifested Your name to the men whom You’ve given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me. (vs6) An essential characteristic of those who the Father’s given to Christ is they keep God’s Word. …and they’ve kept Your Word. (vs6) Now they’ve known that all things which You’ve given Me are from You. For I’ve given them the words which You’ve given Me; and they’ve received them. (Jn17:7,8) It’s only those who truly receive God’s Word that are saved. Therefore He’s also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God (the Father) through Him (Jesus). (Heb7:25) Who are those people, the saved? They were the Father’s but the Father gave them to Christ. They’re characterized in that they keep God’s Word. They know everything Jesus gives them is from the Father. Jesus says, “I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world.” (Jn17:9) Most “christians” think it’s our job to pray for the world. Jesus doesn’t pray for the world and I’m not praying for the world because the world is God’s enemy. We don’t pray for God’s enemies in the sense of asking God to bless them while they continue in evil. Jesus isn’t concerned with the world except where what the world does affects the elect. Jesus’ job is to save to the uttermost those who God has given Him and who are coming to God thru Him. These are the ones Jesus prays for. He doesn’t allow Himself to be distracted praying for the wicked in the world. His job is to watch over the saints, the ones who desire to be saved and who are coming to Him to be saved. These are the ones He ever lives to make intercession for. (Heb7:25) These are the ones He gives eternal life to. (Jn17:2) He’s completely consumed with His ministry to them. And He’s not ministering to anyone else. Although Jesus’ substitutionary death has opened the door of salvation to the whole world when it comes to how Jesus is living this new life, He isn’t here for the world, but He’s ever living for the saints. The Father takes care of the world! (1Cor5:13) Now if Jesus is in you what does that tell you about yourself? We’re not here for the world either, we’re here for the saints. (2Tim2:10) We’re completely consumed with the ministry to the elect and we don’t have room for anything else. Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the Truth. (1Tim2:4) The high calling of God is to get the elect out of the world and to save and perfect those who come to God thru Christ. As the body of Christ we must devote ourselves completely to that calling. We’ve no attachments to and there’s nothing we have in common with the world. “Come out from among them and be ye separate!” saith the Lord. (2Cor6:17a) We don’t associate in their pleasures or participate in their projects, etc. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Phil 3:20) Our only ministry to the world is to preach the gospel to the lost that those who receive God’s Word can come out and be saved. But when we’re judged, we’re chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. (1Cor11:32) The ministries of too many so-called “churches” aren’t to the saints but to the world. They think they’re serving Jesus when they get involved with community projects and such. Such involvements prove they aren’t of Christ but of the world. If they’re not helping people get out of the world and into Christ their work is vain. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. (1Cor3:11-13) The people who Jesus is praying for are the ones He’s making one with the Father and one with Himself. I pray for them. I don’t pray for the world but for those whom You’ve given Me, for they’re Yours. I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You’ve sent Me, and have loved them as You’ve loved Me. (Jn17:9,23) We must be one with Christ and the Father to be saved. And Jesus is making us one. There’s no real ministry apart from that oneness. Of His own will He brought us forth by the Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. (Jms1:18) We’re nearing the end of this age and you’d think the “firstfruits” would be at the beginning. But because we’re near the end of this age we’re very near the beginning of a new age and we’re to be the firstfruits of that new age which is described as, That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ. (Eph1:10) Jesus is praying for a people who are to be one with God; one with Him and one with the Father just as He’s one with the Father. That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (Jn17:21) In the new age all things will be one with Christ. So James calls us a kind of firstfruits of His creatures which means we are the first of the kind of people that will populate the new age; a people who truly are one with Christ! Because God created everything all creatures are His. But with man this isn’t always so. Most humans should be His by creation but they don’t belong to Him because they’ve decided they belong to themselves and won’t give themselves to God. Thus we live in a very independent age among independent people who God can’t claim as His own because they won’t behave like they’re His. Whereas in the new age everything will belong to Christ in Truth and Spirit. Everything and everyone will willingly be one with Him. As His church even now we’re to be the firstfruits of what those times will be like, which is why Jesus prays, “That they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us.” (Jn17:21) It’s when this prayer is answered in us that we become the firstfruits of the age in which all things are united in Christ. That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth -- in Him. (Eph1:10) For us to become the firstfruits of that age we must enter into this oneness now. Even when we were dead in trespasses, (God) made us alive together with Christ (by grace you’ve been saved) and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. (Eph2:5,6) God has united the true believers so completely to Jesus that we’re even one with Him in His heavenly throne, which is a fulfillment of, Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You’ve given Me. (Jn17:24) But these prayers must be regarded as promises to be received by faith and how few contemporary “christians” are actually demonstrating any faith to experience this divine oneness with Christ? (2Pt1:4) As God’s Word is concerned this unity with Christ is something which has already occurred in real believers. So if you really have faith to be saved you must also possess the faith to experience being seated in the heavenlies with Christ and to enter into this unity with Christ, the Father and all the other saints who are seated in the heavenlies in Christ. That we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. (Eph1:12) One of the dangerous things about this sinful world is the imprecision of language which makes it easy for the false “christians” to misinterpret even the scriptures to their own destruction. (2Pt3:16) And because of these misinterpretations many people today think they’re “saved” when they’re not. They can look at a verse like this and think, “I’m going to be to the praise of God’s glory because I trusted in Christ.” When actually such people aren’t trusting “in Christ” but are falsely trusting in some misinterpreted scriptures thinking they’ve been saved by Christ when they haven’t actually become one with Him. You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you aren’t willing to come to Me that you may have life. (Jn5:39,40) The true meaning of Ephesians 1:12 is that we who’ve trusted in Christ in such a way as to be made one with Him are going to be to the praise of His glory. It’s not merely a trusting to be saved it’s a trusting to behave in such a way where everything we do is done because Christ in us shows us, leads us, and tells us what to do. We trust in such a way that our entire life is united to His and He guides us in every step we take. That’s what the word “trust” in Ephesians 1:12 indicates. It isn’t just trusting to be saved it’s trusting to be made one with Christ in such a way that Jesus’ prayer is answered in us, And the glory which You gave Me I’ve given them, that they may be one just as We’re one: and the world may know You’ve sent Me, and have loved them as You’ve loved Me. (Jn17:22,23b) that we may truly be “accepted in the beloved.” (Eph1:6b) There’s no other way to be made one with Jesus than to trust Him completely, for in any place you don’t trust Him you aren’t one with Him. If there’s any point in which you don’t Trust Him, on that point you’re in disagreement with Him! So how often these scriptures are misinterpreted by people who claim to be saved when their behavior clearly shows they aren’t His. They’re like the Jews Jesus rebuked when He said, “I know you’re Abraham’s descendants, but… My Word has no place in you. I speak what I’ve seen with My Father, and you do what you’ve seen with your father.” (Jn8:37-38) While admitting the Jews are physically Abraham’s descendants, Jesus distinguishes between them and Himself as having two different fathers. “Your father isn’t My Father!” And He further defines this saying, It’s My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He’s your God. Yet you haven’t known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, “I don’t know Him,” I’ll be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His Word! (Jn8:54,55) Almost everywhere today there are people who say Jesus is their God, when they clearly don’t know Him. Whoever abides in Him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. (1Jn3:6) Such false brethren are behaving in the same way as these Jews Jesus is exposing. Such people today like the Jews of old, claim they’re christians and claim to worship the same God we worship. Yet Jesus says, “Your father isn’t My Father, Your god isn’t My God. You’re of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the Truth, because there’s no Truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own, for he’s a liar and the father of it.” (Jn8:44) Satan’s the father of lies! He speaks from His own and lies are his own. He’s the inventor of lies, and that makes him the father of all lies and the god of all liars. My Father is the God of light and the God of Truth. Their father is the father of lies. Here’s the paradox. I have a God who’s Truth. I’m of the Truth and God’s church of which I’m a member is the pillar and ground of the Truth. (1Tim3:15) When I say I know God I’m telling the Truth! But what does the liar say? Exactly the same thing! If he didn’t say the same thing he wouldn’t be a liar. If the children of the devil were to admit, “The devil’s our father,” they’d be telling the truth. If they were telling the truth the devil couldn’t be their father because they have to be liars to be of the devil. So the paradox is the children of the devil will falsely say they’re the same as us. They’ll falsely claim to be what we are. Therefore we can’t differentiate between true Christians and false based on what they say. False christians will lie and say they know God! Even Muslims say they know God. Of course, Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses say they know God. The heretical Baptists say they know God! Anyone who claims to be a Christian will say he knows and worships Jesus. But Jesus doesn’t accept us according to what we say, but according to what we do. He said, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the Word of God and do it.” (Lk8:21) I’ve given them the Words which You’ve given Me; and they’ve received them. (Jn17:6,8) Why do you not understand My speech? Because you aren’t able to listen to My Word. He who’s of God hears God’s Words; therefore you don’t hear, because you aren’t of God. My Word has no place in you. (Jn8:43,37,47) Although the children of God and the children of the devil both say they’re of God, a very significant difference between them is the children of the devil can’t receive God’s Word, while the children of God both receive God’s Word and do it! Jesus says the false brethren can’t “hear” God’s Word meaning they can’t properly understand it. John says, “By this we know the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error.” (1Jn4:6b) Because, We’re of God. He who knows God hears us; he who isn’t of God doesn’t hear us. (1Jn4:6a) Here’s another way Jesus differentiates between those who are of God and those who aren’t. They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children,” Previously Jesus said the Jews were Abraham’s “descendants” (vs37) but here He doesn’t call them Abraham’s children. “If you were Abraham’s children you’d do the works of Abraham.” (Jn8:39) It isn’t enough that you “believe in God.” That alone doesn’t make you a Christian. To be a real Christian it’s an absolute requirement that you hear God. Whether He speaks through His Word, His Spirit or through a true believer you must “hear” in such a way as to properly understand and do what He says. The second thing that defines a real Christian is whose works are you doing? If you’re not doing the works of God, you aren’t of God. “Most assuredly,” I say to you, “he who believes in Me, the works that I do he’ll do also; and greater works than these he’ll do, because I go to My Father.” (Jn14:12) Jesus says, “If you’re not gathering with Me you scatter.” (Lk11:23) If you’re scattering, you’re working against God. It doesn’t matter who you “say” you’re working for. It isn’t what people “say” Jesus is considering, but what they do. When someone comes to “My Father’s House” in a state of disobedience to the Spirit, following flesh instead of God, he’s an adversary to me, not my friend. So it doesn’t matter if you “faithfully” attend church. It doesn’t matter that you claim to believe in the true doctrines of God. Your lip service doesn’t necessarily make you a true brother. What makes you my brother or sister is what you’re doing. Are you doing the works of Abraham? Abraham didn’t waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what God had promised He was also able to perform. Therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now it wasn’t written for his sake alone that it was accounted to him, but also for us. It shall be accounted to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. (Rom4:20-25) If you’re able to hear and receive God’s Word, then as it concerns you His Word won’t return void. (Is55:11;Lk8:15) God’s Word works effectually in one who believes. (1Th2:13) So if the Word of God doesn’t seem to work in some people it’s because they can’t hear His Word in such a way as to understand it, believe it, and obey it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard didn’t profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. (Heb4:2) Such people may be able to repeat God’s Word like a parrot but it’s merely bouncing off their brain without affecting their behavior. It isn’t going into their heart. When Jesus says, “My Word has no place in you.” (Jn8:37b) He doesn’t mean you don’t physically hear it. But what do you do with God’s Word after you hear it? Do you put it to work? Does it improve your behavior or does it bounce right back out of you with no affect on anything you do as though you never heard it? When anyone hears the Word of the Kingdom, and doesn’t understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. (Mt13:19) “My Word has no place in you” is the reprehensible opposite of when Jesus says, “My Word abides in you.” If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you’ll ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. (Jn15:7) A few days ago Elie mentioned she likes Edam cheese. It wasn’t a big deal she just mentioned it in passing. But last night Elie and I finished off a tasty wedge of Edam cheese. She didn’t buy it, I bought it. Why did I buy it? Because her word has place in me. When Elie speaks my heart takes hold of and remembers what she says because I love her. Now if you love God, God can speak to you and your heart will hear and remember the things He says. The proof that I heard Elie was I bought the cheese. So you might hear someone say, “I like Edam cheese,” and never buy the cheese. If so could we really say you heard? You “heard” them but their word has no place in you. You’ve no desire to receive and act upon their word. Another way of saying, “My Word has no place in you,” is to say it’s insignificant and of no importance to you. When Jesus says, “My Word has no place in you.” He’s saying, “You don’t care what I say. The things I speak aren’t interesting to you. You won’t obey or act upon My Word, because you don’t love Me and you don’t love My Father who sent Me. You neither care to please Me or the God who sent Me. You’re not My brethren. Your father’s not My Father. We’ve nothing in common.” Now do you have a realistic idea of what it means for God’s Word to have place in you? You can speak God’s Word all day to someone who has a hard heart but it won’t produce any action or fruit in them. The Word doesn’t enter them in such a way as to affect their thoughts or behavior. They have no use for God’s Word nor any interest in it. But the true children of God hear His Word, and it always finds a place in them. It’s because He has such people God can say, “My Word won’t return to Me void.” (Is55:11) In a true believer God’s Word produces fruit. For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in Truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. (1Th2:13) The sower sows the seed and the seed is God’s Word. (Lk8:11) The rain comes down from heaven and causes the seed to grow. (1Cor3:6;Is55:10) And God says His Word will prosper. (Is55:11) But it can’t prosper in someone in whom it has no place. Sharing God’s Word with hard hearted people is like throwing seed on a stone. There’s no opportunity for it to take root and grow. (Lk8:5,6) But God’s Word won’t return void when it finds a heart that gives place to it. When God’s Word has a place in your heart God can water it and nourish it until it brings forth fruit. (Lk8:15) You’d think all “christians” would understand that, but they don’t. Ecumenists and most contemporary “churches” will accept as brethren anyone who claims to believe in Jesus, no matter how little they give heed to God’s Word. But Jesus doesn’t call anyone His brethren unless they hear and obey God’s Word. But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the Word of God and do it.” (Lk8:21) Thus Jesus gives us the criteria to know who His and our brethren really are. And we can have no unity with someone in whom God’s Word has no place. If God’s Word has place in me but it doesn’t have place in you how can we walk together? Can two walk together, unless they are agreed? (Am3:3) You won’t be doing what I’m doing. You won’t be interested in what interests me. In order to fulfill Jesus’ prayer that we’d be one with Christ, just as He’s one with God, (Jn17:21) His Word must have place in us. In fact we must each receive His Word to be completely unified to Him and one another. Also we all must be involved in doing the works of Christ if we’re to be unified to Him and each other. I’m doing the works of Christ in laboring to bring forth a glorious church without spot or wrinkle and raise up a Spiritual people who are mature in Christ. That’s Jesus’ purpose and it’s my purpose which causes me to be one with Christ in fulfilling His purpose. (Eph5:27) But how can I have unity with you if your purposes are different from Christ’s. And that’s the problem, isn’t it? Because even though you’ve come to Jesus’ true church at “My Father’s House,” if you’ve a different purpose than Christ has, then you’re frustrating the work I’m doing for Jesus. We won’t be able to accomplish what He’d like to do in you if you’re purposes are different and you’re not cooperating with us! So often even here at “My Father’s House,” I have to treat you like adversaries and even deal with you as with enemies, judging and chastening in order to get you into agreement with God. Until God’s Word finds a place in you and you’re pursuing the same things God has put in my heart to accomplish, taking them as seriously as I take them and as God takes them, we won’t be in unity. And when we come into unity it won’t be because you “say” you believe in Jesus, or because you “say” you have the same Father as I have but it will be because your works demonstrate you truly believe and have the same Father as I. You’ll do the works of Abraham (Jn8:39) when you’ve truly received the Word of God and it has place and is bringing forth fruit in you. Of course everyone who claims to be a Christian will say they know the same God we know. They’ll say they’re saved but most are liars! They’re liars in Christendom! We have to consider what they’re doing. For example, Jesus says we should be perfect just as our Father in heaven is perfect. (Mt5:48) Paul labors to present us perfect in Christ Jesus. (Col 1:28,29) In God’s true church each of the brethren is required to do his part that we all may grow up into the perfect man, and become mature in Christ. (Eph4:13,15,16) The need for Christian perfection is a Truth well established in the scriptures. But if you bring up perfection with a Baptist, Presbyterian, or a Lutheran etc., often they’ll begin railing, angrily saying, “No one can be perfect, you can’t be perfect!” Then I must ask, “Who’s your father? Your father is a ‘god’ who says you can’t be perfect. But my Father is the God who says I must be perfect. We don’t have the same Father.” Whose work are you doing when you preach people can’t be perfected? Satan’s! You’re not in any way contributing to Jesus’ work in bringing forth a glorious church. If you don’t even believe people can be perfected how can you believe the church can be made glorious? Christ loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. (Eph5:25-27) A glorious church without spot or wrinkle! How can you be helping Jesus bring forth His glorious church when you don’t even believe people can be glorified? Jesus says, “With God all things are possible.” (Mt19:26) And “If you can believe all things are possible to those who believe.” (Mk9:23) But these false “brethren” say it’s impossible for God to make a saint perfect! They’re surely not participating in the work I’m doing! They can’t be helping to do something they don’t even believe can be done. I’m involved in the work of bringing forth the very thing Jesus has prayed for; that we may be perfect in one! (Jn17:23) Do you think the word “perfect” doesn’t belong there? How can I be one with God if I’m not as perfect as He is? Any imperfection in any area would cause me to be separate from Jesus in that area. It would be a place of disagreement where I’m not one with Him. So Jesus wants us to be perfect in one and He wants to have a glorious church without spot or wrinkle. These are things He’s laboring towards. And He’s laboring in me to accomplishing that, For it’s God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. (Phil 2:13) He labored through Paul that way. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me wasn’t in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. (1Cor15:10) And you say it can’t be done! Then you aren’t doing the works of Abraham so you’re not a son of Abraham. You don’t even believe it’s possible so you’re not in any way participating in the work Christ is doing. Your father’s not my Father. No matter how much you claim God is your Father, you’re a liar in Christendom! He’s not your Father! Because this is what Jesus says, “If God were your Father you’d do the works of God.” “You’re of your father the devil. (Jn8:44) I speak (and I do) what I’ve seen with My Father. (vs38a) But you want to do the desires of the devil. (vs44) You do the deeds of your father.” (Jn8:41) So your deeds reveal who’s your father! And our battle is no different than what Jesus was facing; people claiming to belong to God but lying; deceiving and being deceived! (2Tim3:13) The spirit they’re of is the spirit of the devil, the liar. You’ll know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? (Mt7:16) Jesus gives us two very important ways of testing false “brethren”! Whose works are you doing and whose word has place in you? My brethren are those who hear the Word of God and do it. (Lk8:21) And that’s the only criteria upon which we can have a true unity with true believers because what people say is often meaningless. The world we presently live in is such that the enemy often says the same things as the brethren. It must be that way because the enemy is a liar. And the lie is that he’s of God when he isn’t. If he were to say he’s not of God that would be Truth so he couldn’t say that. If he told the Truth then he wouldn’t be a liar. So if you understand the deceitful age we live in you must realize, what a person says concerning his relationship with God is never to be blindly accepted. I can determine very little by what someone says he is because if he’s a liar he may say all the right things but they’ll all be lies! How many people have come to “My Father’s House” pretending to be of us, pretending they knew God, yet when the crisis came we found out everything in them was a lie. And how do you tell? What are the works they’re doing? That’s how we tell! What do you see me doing? I’m working diligently to fulfill Jesus’ prayer that we all may be one with Him. (Jn17:21) I’m doing everything I can to make you Christ’s first fruits. (Jms1:18) To be God’s people who are the first fruits of the age to come we must be in complete unity with Christ in everything. I’m doing everything I can to expose the enemy, the false churches and the false brethren so the elect can choose to be followers of God’s Truth, in His true church, among the true brethren. Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the Truth? (Gal 4:16) Am I your enemy because I speak against the false churches? If you don’t wake up and get out of these false churches you’ll end up in hell, because concerning false brethren Jesus has shown us their father’s the devil. “Come out from among them and be separate,” says the Lord. “Don’t touch what’s unclean, and I’ll receive you. I’ll be a Father to you, And you’ll be My sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty. (2Cor6:17,18) There’s really only one proof that you’re of God, and that is you’re doing God’s works. If I don’t do the works of My Father, don’t believe Me; but if I do, though you don’t believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him. (Jn10:37,38) It isn’t God’s work to preach a false gospel. Remember Andrew? (a “preacher/missionary” who visited us at “My Father’s House”) Almost every time I heard him preach I had to rebuke him. If he was of God why would I have to rebuke him every time he preached? I had to rebuke him because he was preaching things that come out of the false churches. One of the first things I rebuked him on was when he preached it’s not right to share the gospel twice in one place when it hasn’t been shared once in another. That’s one of the most common clichés of the false church missionary fundraisers. But my answer to him was, “To him who has more is given.” (Mt25:29) So God will preach more of this gospel to those who receive it well! Also for the most part the true gospel hasn’t been fully preached in America. It’s been a false gospel that’s most often been preached here. The true gospel brings the believers into a unity with the living Christ who lives His righteous life in us. The false gospel convinces the “believer” he’s “saved” when he doesn’t really have Christ in him. His salvation is based on a external Christ not “Christ in you the hope of glory.” (Col 1:27) So America is as good a mission field as any place in the world because when it comes to preaching the Truth it hasn’t been fully preached here. Just because “churches” seem to be involved in missionary work doesn’t mean much. Muslims, Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses are involved in missionary work. All kinds of false churches do missionary work. It’s not God’s work unless it’s the real gospel they’re preaching. If the false churches don’t believe we can be perfected they don’t believe we can be one with God. That means they don’t believe we can become a glorious church. They don’t believe we can hear God like Jesus hears the Father. Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (Gal 3:5) But Jesus believes it or He wouldn’t have prayed for us to have the same unity with the Father as He has. (Jn17:21) As many as don’t agree with these Truths, their father’s different than mine. Their father is the liar. It doesn’t matter how much they say they love Jesus their father is the liar. It doesn’t matter how much these modern Pharisees say they love God, they don’t even know Him. The Pharisees didn’t recognize God when He was standing right in front of them. They didn’t know His Word even though it was read every Sabbath. (Act13:27) God’s Word had no place in them. They had no understanding of it. It was something that bounced off their eardrums and never entered into their hearts. Do you think it’s different today? It’s foolish to think things are different today. Today we face the same kinds of situations and the same kinds of people Jesus faced; a people who claim to know God, claim they’re His children and claim to believe in Him, yet they don’t believe in being one with Him, they don’t believe we can be perfected in Him; they don’t believe in all the things that Christ has put as the highest priorities of Christianity, fulfilling the Word of God. They’re liars in Christendom! And only those people who not only profess to believe these things, but are actually involved in accomplishing them can be considered God’s true children. Because if God were your Father you’d do the works of God. Do you not believe that I’m in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I don’t speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I’m in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. “Most assuredly,” I say to you, “he who believes in Me, the works that I do he’ll do also; and greater works than these he’ll do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I’ll do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I’ll do it.” (Jn14:10-14) Prophecy: What kind of god would preach a gospel of imperfection except an imperfect god who can’t make you perfect? How difficult is it to see who the father of the gospel of imperfection is? Those who preach the gospel of imperfection have no faith they can be perfected, so they can’t have a god who’s perfect. They have a god who accepts imperfection. If I were to accept imperfection I’d have to accept the devil. Where would I draw the line? Where would I say this much imperfection but no more? But I’ve drawn the line. I’m a holy God. I’m a perfect God. And the line is drawn at perfection. You enter into perfection or you’re not My children. You pursue perfection or you don’t pursue Me! You believe I can make you perfect or you don’t have faith in Me. A god who’s imperfect is powerless and can do nothing. If he were able to do anything he’d make himself perfect and he’d make his people perfect. Why would he settle for less if he could do it? I can do it saith the Lord. My children will be perfect as I am perfect. Prophecy: In the age to come a child will reach into the vipers den and be unharmed. A wolf will lay down with a lamb and care for it and warm it. The lion will eat straw like an ox. And there’ll be nothing that can harm, hurt, or defile. Because the earth is full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the seas. Because all creatures are Mine. They belong to Me. They don’t belong to the wicked one and in that age they won’t follow any Spirit but Mine. That characterizes the age to come. But you’re to demonstrate that age now. That My Spirit covers you now as the waters cover the sea. That you belong to Me and you are so one with Me that nothing can hurt, or defile our oneness because I’m your God and you’re My people, thus saith the Lord. (Prophecies delivered at “My Father’s House”) A Letter from the Pastor Concerning Divine Healing! Dear brother A., Jesus does all things well. (Mk7:37) According to your letter you’re doing SOME things well, but you’ll note in His letters to the churches Jesus was never content to just commend a church that was doing some things well, but He always rebuked them for the things they weren’t doing. (Rev2:2-5) He also says concerning obedience to God, “These you ought to have done without leaving the others undone!” (Mt23:23) Although you appear to be diligent about sharing what you know of Christ with others, when it comes to “overcoming” the attacks of the wicked one upon your health, it’s certain from your failures here that you haven’t diligently sought the Lord (Heb11:6) or pursued faith in these matters. (1Tim6:11,12) The Kingdom of God isn’t in word but in power. (1Cor4:20) That you may know the exceeding greatness of His power… (Eph1:19) That your faith shouldn’t be in the wisdom of words, but in the power of God. (1Cor2:5) Where the word of a king is there’s power. (Eccl 8:4) We’ve not been given the spirit of fear but of POWER… (2Tim1:7) That you might fulfill the... work of faith with power. (2Th1:11) According to the POWER that works in us, (Eph3:20) etc. True Christianity isn’t intellectual but it’s knowing Christ in the power of His resurrection. (Phil 3:10) And also being able to testify of and even demonstrate the power of the living God. There’s not a member of our congregation, including the children, who haven’t experienced numerous healings from the risen Christ! “And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man whole!” (Act3:16) “According to your faith be it unto you.” (Mt9:29) Most of us have experienced deliverances from incurable and what might even have been fatal maladies. And almost all of us have been the agents through which God has healed others. These signs follow them who believe… they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. (Mk16:17,18) Jesus said, “If you abide in Me and My Words abide in you, you can ask what you will and I’ll do it.” (Jn15:7) “Whatever you ask in My name, I’ll do!” (14:13) “He who believes in Me, the works that I do, he’ll do also and even greater…” (vs12) “Whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you’ll receive.” (Mt21:22) The prayer of faith will save the sick and the Lord will raise him up. (Jms5:15) Do you believe the scriptures? Where is your faith? Jesus says, “Whatever you ask for when you pray, believe you receive it and you’ll have it!” (Mk11:24) This means act as though it’s already done. “But let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts… will receive nothing!” (Jms1:7) The “fight of faith” in this case, is to believe God’s Word in spite of contrary circumstances. It doesn’t matter if you still have symptoms. The symptoms are temporal. God’s Word is eternal. “Having done all stand!” (Eph6:13) If you keep the faith, the symptoms will pass and God’s Word will come to pass! And not being weak in faith… Abraham considered not his own body… He didn’t waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith giving glory to God! (Rom4:19,20) We’re praying for you, but you must have faith. (2Cor 1:24) On occasion we’ve been able to let a member of our congregation stand in for someone in the prisons who needed healing and God has healed them. It depends on your faith! (see Mt8:7-10) When you’re doing the work of the Lord, you must expect the devil may attack you to try to stop what you’re doing. You can’t ignore these attacks. They’re opportunities to overcome the devil by the power of God and help others to have faith in God’s power towards the saints. (Eph1:19) If this is an area where you haven’t been diligent, then repent and correct your error. (Heb12:12,13) If Christ is in you, His power must be in you. (1Cor1:24) We’re praying for you and hope you’ll soon bring forth a testimony of Christ’s mighty power and grace on your behalf. “Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ.” (2Cor2:14) And this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. (1Jn5:4) In Jesus’ Name, Pastor Bill Taylor
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