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Why Bad Things Happen To "Good" People/Purify Your Hearts By Pastor Bill Taylor A publication of My Father's House, inc. Volume 12/ Issue 5 Prophecy: I’m raising you up as vessels of righteousness. But in raising you up, in some I’ve found areas of uncrucified flesh. I see you when you come to Me in your prayers and ask Me to anoint and bless, and pour out My Spirit upon you. But you’ve not removed these spots, these areas of carnal behavior in your life. Look at these corruptions of flesh, repent of them, put away these wicked things and turn towards Me. Be zealous, be diligent to crucify your flesh, and I’ll pour out My Spirit upon you and you’ll be blessed and anointed, saith the Lord. (Prophecy delivered at “My Father’s House”) Like a flitting sparrow, like a flying swallow, so a curse without cause shall not alight. (Pr26:2) In dealing with the many varieties of so called “christianity” and even unbelievers, one of the questions we often hear is “Why do bad things happen to good people?” We know concerning true Christians that even when bad things appear to be happening they work out for our good, because all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Rom8:28) But to the faithless bad things do happen, whereas when the same things happen to real Christians, God makes them work for good. So it’s not that we never experience “Bad” things, but by faith in Christ we overcome the “Bad” in them. Don’t think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you. (1Pt4:12) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man. (1Cor10:13) But some “churches” have attracted members by telling them if they come to God, He’ll bless them in such a way as they’ll never have any significant problems. So new “believers” in such churches, expect only good things to happen, but instead their mother dies, or they get sent to jail, or lose their jobs, or have an automobile accident. And when such things happen they can’t understand it. It’s typical of these “christians” to look at “unbelievers” and think they’re having a good time, while here I am suffering with so many things. “Why me?” they say and “What’s wrong with God or why’s God doing this?” But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled; my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the boastful, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no pangs in their death, but their strength is firm. They aren’t in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like other men. Surely I’ve cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence. For all day long I’ve been plagued, and chastened every morning. When I thought how to understand this, it was too painful for me. (Ps73:2-5,13,14,16) The Psalmist soon saw his error. (v22,17) But how many today have become angry and even bitter towards God? Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled. (Heb12:15) Of course, anyone who’s resentful towards God can’t be a real Christian. It’s obvious their expectations as “believers” have been wrong. They’ve been led to Christ, with an erroneous understanding of what He’ll really do for them. Liars and incompetent preachers have caused them to think Jesus is going to deliver them from all problems in the temporal realm. It’s obvious they haven’t read their bibles. Many in the laziness of their flesh don’t think it’s necessary to read their bibles. They prefer to let someone else tell them what it says. These are those who are continually asking foolish questions while the bible contains every answer they need; which makes it obvious they don’t read their bibles. So they come up with all kinds of wrong ideas and have no sense of scriptural Truth. What kind of “believers” are these? They certainly don’t love God and they aren’t called according to His purposes. (Rom8:28) It’s not surprising bad things do happen to them. But it’s also common for unspiritual people to categorize the unrighteous who are all bad; as both good and bad. What do we mean by that? There’s none righteous, no, not one; there’s none who understands; there’s none who seeks after God. They’ve all turned aside; they’ve together become unprofitable; there’s none who does good, no, not one. (Rom3:10-12) Everyone who isn’t born again and walking in the Spirit is bad according to God. Everyone who hasn’t truly put on Christ (Eph4:24) is still living in the carnal, selfish nature. For I know that in me (that is in my flesh) nothing good dwells. (Rom7:18) But sin dwells in me. (v20) Carnal, selfish people aren’t going to heaven; they’re iniquitous which means they don’t do the will of God, but their own will. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it’s not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh can’t please God. (Rom8:7,8) If you’re not led by the Spirit, Jesus isn’t in you. Though false “churches” and lying “preachers” may tell such people Jesus is in them, they don’t act anything like Jesus. If they really had the Spirit of Christ then “As He is so they’d be.” (1Jn4:17) They’d do the things He does. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (1Jn2:6) It’s a great misconception to look on carnal mankind and divide them into good and bad. Of course murderers, child molesters, and drug addicts are bad, but then there are better ones like my dear old sainted mother who never did anything terribly wrong, yet she ends up getting cancer. The Truth is if your dear old mother isn’t born again and led by the Spirit, she’s still in the selfish carnal nature and she’s in the group God calls unrighteous. “There’s none righteous, no not one.” (Rom3:10) Of course she’s not as wicked in her behavior as the worst of the sinners, but she’s still not good. “There’s none good but one.” (Mt19:17) She’s under the curse if she hasn’t rightly received Christ and the Holy Spirit. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it’s written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. (Gal 3:13,14) But my mother was a devout Catholic! Unfortunately the Catholic church is a false church and it’s members are cursed, not saved. As we’ve said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you’ve received, let him be accursed. (Gal 1:9) The Catholics preach a different gospel – they teach their members to pray to Mary when the bible says for there’s one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus. (1Tim2:5) They teach repetitious praying; praying the rosary over and over while Jesus says, “When you pray, don’t use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think they’ll be heard for their many words.” (Mt6:7) which means the Catholic’s prayers won’t be heard. Also Catholics baptize infants when the bible teaches baptism must be done in faith, which infants can’t yet have. Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here’s water. What hinders me from being baptized?” Then Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” (Act8:36,37) And many other such things the Catholics do making God’s Word of no effect by their traditions. (Mt15:6) In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (v9) “In vain” means “useless.” There’s no salvation in the Catholic “faith.” Thus your dear mother is under the curse of “vain” traditions and being a member of a false church. She’s one of the “regular” people who aren’t in Christ. But since there are worse people, you’re looking at your mother and saying she’s good because she’s not like the really bad ones. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, aren’t wise. (2Cor10:12b) But by not being a true Christ-like Christian your mother is bad. She’s never lived in obedience to the Spirit of God, nor really given her life for Jesus. Although she’s lived according to the rules of society, or even the standards of “good” her family has expected from her, in all these things she didn’t really know God. Paul calls people like that “mere men.” (1Cor3:3) What’s missing in them is 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) Worldly “good people” can’t truthfully say “For me to live is Christ, I’ve been crucified with Christ and I don’t live any longer.” Jesus says of the ordinary people who don’t live to serve God, “Your time is any time.” (Jn7:6) Meaning that because I serve God, God won’t let me die till my work is finished. But because you don’t serve Him – you can die anytime and it makes no difference to God’s purposes. Your life is insignificant to God because you live for yourself. The one who’s really good doesn’t live to self any longer. If you’re really in Christ you won’t look upon things selfishly as in “Why is this happening to me?” True Christians know thru many tribulations we enter the Kingdom of Heaven. (Act14:22) And those who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2Tim3:12) We know we must suffer in the flesh to cease from sin. (1Pt4:1) We know the bad things in this world can really only hurt the old man. (Eph4:22) The Jews in Hebrews took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, because they knew they had a greater reward in Heaven. (Heb10:34) It doesn’t matter what happens to the old man, it’s the new Man we’re concerned about. Even in afflictions the new Man is being enriched and gaining great heavenly treasures. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. (2Cor4:17) So the “believer” who says “Why do bad things happen to good people?” doesn’t recognize the need to live in the Christ-nature. He doesn’t recognize the true rewards of a genuine salvation. He thinks salvation should make his carnal life enjoyable, but Jesus says, “He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Mt10:39) The carnal life must be given up for Christ. The greatest blessing of a true salvation is the inheritance we gain in heaven. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that doesn’t fade away, reserved in heaven for you. (1Pt1:3,4) Being “Born Again” doesn’t keep us from having problems, but by faith in Christ we can receive the grace to overcome every problem. For whatever’s born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that’s overcome the world -- our faith. (1Jn5:4) Also in Christ, we have access to the comforts of God to sustain and console us thru sufferings. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. (2Cor1:3,4) Bible ignorant “believers” (bibs) don’t know these Truths. Their “christianity” produces nothing of the reality of the Spirit and presence of God. They follow a false theology, an erroneous doctrine, a man-made lying philosophy of “christianity” and they wonder why God isn’t making their life easy! Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Mt7:14) It’s not men of God who promote this erroneous “christianity” but liars who “sucker” their followers into false expectation. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it’s no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2Cor11:13-15) One Truth that’s seldom preached today is that real Christianity is death to you so Jesus can live in you. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Col 1:27) If you’re full of complaints because things aren’t going the way you like, then you’re still in the old nature. That’s always the problem with people who think it strange that bad things happen to them. It’s a shameful thing most “churches” are so ignorant of scriptural Christianity that they lead people into false expectations telling them Jesus will bless their carnal lives when He’s actually come to crucify them. True believers are required to pick up their cross and follow Him; lose their carnal life and enter into a new life in Christ. (Mt10:38,39) Don’t marvel at this; for the hour’s coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His (Jesus’) voice. (Jn5:28) How many believers are struggling with “Why can’t I hear God? In the new age, all things will be brought into one in Christ, meaning everything in the universe will respond to Jesus’ will and agree with His purposes. This includes the wolf lying down with the lamb. (Is11:6) Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 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. (Eph1:9,10) There’ll be no problem then hearing God. But today most people, even so called “believers” don’t hear God at all. Yet true believers are required to live by the “hearing of faith.” (Gal 3:2) The just shall live by faith. (Rom1:17b) The bible describes New Covenant believers as “They shall all be taught of God; they shall all know Me.” (Jn6:45;Heb3:11) People who don’t “hear God” don’t know God! They think they’re saved because they know some things about Jesus but they’re deceived. Jesus says “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (Jn10:27) If you don’t hear Jesus’ voice and follow Him you’re not in real Christianity. Many “believers” don’t read their bibles enough to find out what real Christianity is. Even many so called preachers don’t know the scriptures well enough to rightly divide the Truth. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. (2Tim2:15) Such aren’t men of God but ear scratchers. (2Tim4:3) In real Christianity you MUST hear God or you’re NOT a Christian, because if you don’t hear God, you’re not living by faith. Living by faith is living by the hearing of faith. (Gal 3:2) Faith comes by hearing, (Rom10:17) so the just shall live by the hearing of faith. (1:17) Jesus says, “Why don’t you understand My Words? (Jn8:43) Because you’re not of God!” (v47) Those who hear us are of God, because we’re of God. (1Jn4:6) If they can hear God, they can hear us. Those who don’t hear us can’t hear God either. They’re still in the old nature. God is love. (1Jn4:8) The old nature is selfish. It hears selfish things that please the flesh and doesn’t care to hear love’s things. Flesh has no interest in walking in love. One day everyone will hear God. But why wait? If you wait until Judgment Day to hear God, you’ll hear Him say “Depart from Me I never knew you!” (Mt7:23) But concerning the just “If you’ve done it unto the least of these My brethren; you’ve done it to Me.” (Mt25:40) So we’ll hear Him say “Enter into the joy of the Lord.” (v23,34) not “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Mt25:41) Don’t marvel at this; for the hour’s coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth -- those who’ve done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who’ve done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. (Jn5:28,29) So what prevents most people from hearing Him now? The Truth is, Jesus doesn’t make people hear His voice today. In the Judgment, God will make everyone hear Jesus’ voice. Today, Jesus lets you hear His voice, but only if you want to hear Him. In the Judgment it won’t matter if you want to hear His voice or not. He’ll make you hear. But in this age listening to God is voluntary. He won’t force Himself on you. Be sure, you’ll hear Him eventually. In the Judgment for sure! But how much better is it to hear Him now and do what He says? Hear Him now and in that Day He won’t be a new and fearful voice. “Knowing the terror of the Lord!” (2Cor5:11) He won’t be a voice you’ve never heard before now sending you to hell! He’ll be the friend you’ve been listening to and obeying all along, who’s now calling you into His glorious Kingdom. And that’s the choice you actually make today when you decide whether to hear Him or not. You’re witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe. (1Th2:10) Peter says, “Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” (1Pt5:2,3) Paul’s an excellent example, as true church leaders are always required to be. Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (1Tim4:12) As you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children. (1Th2:11) A father must be a good example if his children are to grow up right. Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Mt5:48) But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct because it’s written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1Pt1:15,16) “As a father does his children” includes the idea that a father usually behaves differently towards his children than a mother. In the world it’s common for a mother to threaten but never do anything. A father usually doesn’t threaten but does something. If a mother is known for making empty threats it can get to where the children don’t pay attention to her. Fathers are generally known for: “Wait till your father gets home!” Father won’t give you a warning; he’ll just get the strap out! Now when Paul says “as a father does his own children” that includes My son, don’t despise the chastening of the LORD, nor be discouraged when you’re rebuked by Him, for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father doesn’t chasten? (Heb12:5-7) What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? (1Cor4:21) When Paul says “I’ve treated you like a father does his children,” it means he knows how to discipline when necessary and to comfort when that’s necessary. He uses strong language like: exhorted and even charged. (1Th2:11) When a father charges you, you better do what he’s commanding. He’s giving a strong order and you’re going to suffer if you don’t do what he’s charging you. But as a father, Paul also says he’s comforted. (1Th2:11) There’s a place for comforting in the church, but it’s not the place where the false “church” puts it. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ. (2Cor1:3-5) Remember when Dave was in tears from dealing with his wicked family, their false christianity and all the nasty things they were doing to oppose his walk with God. But God comforted him by supernaturally giving me a message that revealed the secrets of his heart, and confirmed God was with him in all he was going through. When real Christians are obeying God and suffering for it, they deserve comfort and God gives it to them. You don’t get comforted for doing nothing. You get comforted because you’re obedient, and particularly when your obedience is bringing you persecutions. So God comforts you to strengthen you in your obedience and let you know you’re doing right. But the false “church” comforts people in their sins, telling them they’re forgiven and nothing bad will happen to them. Whereas the Truth is they’ll be punished if they don’t repent. The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and reserve the unjust under punishment for the Day of Judgment. (2Pt2:9) The solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2Tim2:19) Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God. (1Th4:1) That you may walk worthy of the Lord. (Col 1:10) No one can walk worthy of the Lord without considering everything they do as to whether it’s glorifying to God. Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (1Cor10:31) Only such things as are in accordance with God’s will are pleasing to Him, so you must know His will if you want to please Him. Having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 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. (Eph1:9,10) To walk worthy of God you must consciously seek to please Him. Whatever’s not of faith is sin. (Rom14:23) But faith comes by hearing God. (Rom10:17) So to please God you must do what you do by the “hearing of faith.” (Gal 3:2) Therefore you can’t be “unconsciously” in faith. To walk worthy of God and to please Him you must make sure everything you’re doing is glorifying Him and fulfilling the good pleasure of His will. Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you’ll know that I’m He, and I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father hasn’t left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (Jn8:28,29) But without faith it’s impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and He’s a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb11:6) To please God you must walk in the Spirit by faith. So, those who are in the flesh can’t please God. There’s therefore now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. (Rom8:8,1) To walk worthy of God I must know I’m in Christ’s Spirit and everything I’m doing, is in faith. I must know what I’m doing is God’s will if I really want to represent Him well in everything I’m doing. If people know you’re from “My Father’s House” (and we’ve been one of the most slandered churches in town,) how can God be glorified except by YOU walking worthy and thereby showing everyone how wrong the slanderers are. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. (1Pt2:15) Most of today’s “christians” don’t consider walking worthy of God necessary to salvation. The “walking worthy” verses are ignored in many “churches.” (See our Glory of His Grace book “Walking Worthy”) Whereas the very fact Paul’s exhorting, comforting and charging us to keep doing right means he doesn’t consider our salvation to be fully accomplished. We’ve not arrived at the goal yet, so Paul says we must walk worthy of God “who calls us into His own Kingdom and glory,” (1Th2:12) if we’re to attain. We can’t consider ourselves irrevocably saved until we actually arrive in God’s Kingdom. As long as we’re obedient we’re being saved, but we must be accepted in God’s Kingdom at the end to be forever saved. For we’ve become partakers of Christ (only) if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end. (Heb3:14) Brethren, I don’t count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:13,14) If you want God to let you into His Kingdom when the time comes, you better be careful to please Him now. The words Paul uses here are very strong: “Exhorted and charged!” (1Th2:11) If you aren’t walking worthy you must be walking unworthy of Him. And if you’re walking unworthy where do you think you’ll end up? You can’t get to heaven walking unworthy of God! To make it into God’s Kingdom you’ve got to be worthy. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that’ll come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Lk21:36) Then the King will say to those on His right hand, “Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.” (Mt25:34-36) These are the worthy. But Then He’ll also say to those on the left hand, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you didn’t take Me in, naked and you didn’t clothe Me, sick and in prison and you didn’t visit Me.” (v41-43) If you didn’t do the things that make you worthy of the Kingdom, Jesus will say, “Depart from Me into everlasting fire.” What we do to the saints, we do to Jesus. And the King will answer and say to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” (Mt25:40) To save us, Jesus must grant us opportunities to do good to the saints so when the time comes He can say “Enter into the joy of your Lord! You blessed of My Father,” (Mt25:21,34) instead of “I never knew you; depart from Me, into everlasting fire.” (Mt7:23;25:41) The foolishness of the Baptist-types is they think works have nothing to do with salvation, whereas “What you’ve done to the least of these My brethren” has everything to do with whether you get into the Kingdom of heaven or are cast into hell. Those who call these things “works” and say we don’t need them to be saved are making Jesus a liar! If you want to be “saved” you better redefine what you call works, because “What you’ve done to the least of these My brethren” determines whether you end up in heaven or hell. There’s no argument about this! It doesn’t need a complicated theological explanation. It’s clearly understandable! You better figure out why your “theology” tells you you don’t have to do these things to be saved when Jesus says you do. You’re obviously misinterpreting the scriptures when you say you’re saved by “faith not works” if your way of believing contradicts Jesus’ words. Why is Jesus telling us this if what you do “unto the least of these My brethren” has nothing to do with salvation? It has EVERYTHING to do with salvation! It’s false prophets who say such works as helping the brethren have nothing to do with salvation. They’re wrongly dividing the Word of God. (2Tim2:15) They’re of their father the devil. (Jn8:44) They preach lies. They don’t know God, or His Spirit! The Word has two kinds of works in it: dead works, which come from the law of the flesh, which can’t save us, and works of faith that are foreordained from the foundations of the earth. (Eph2:10) These are live works, that we do “in the Spirit.” And if you don’t get into these living works of God, you won’t go to heaven! You’re saved by works, but not yours. You’re saved by God’s works. God works in and through a true believer to will and to do of His good pleasure. (Phil 2:13) To be saved you must get into a faith that works. (Jms2:22) It’s those works that produce your treasure in heaven. (Mt19:21) It’s those works which clothe you so you won’t be found naked. (Rev19:8;16:15) And it’s those works by which you use unrighteous mammon to make friends who’ll accept you into heavenly habitations. (Lk16:9) The most important Friend to make is Jesus. (Jn15:14) Whenever we do good to the least of His brethren, we’re making friends with Christ who’ll accept us into everlasting habitations. That’s the True gospel which if you follow you’ll be blessed. For not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law. (Rom2:13) Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it! (Lk11:28b) But those who follow a different gospel are cursed. Even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we’ve preached to you, let him be accursed. (Gal 1:8) If you love Me, keep My commandments. (Jn14:15) If anyone doesn’t love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. (1Cor16:22) And bad things happen to “cursed” people. Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame -- who set their mind on earthly things. (Phil 3:19) While good things happen to those who are blessed. We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Rom8:28) It’s only the doers of God’s Word who are the blessed. He who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and isn’t a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (Jms1:25) Prophecy: The foolish virgins, false christians, worldly churches look at the promises and prophecies in My Word and say they believe I’ll fulfill them, but they make no effort to help in the fulfilling. They never ask Me what I’d have them do. They follow futile thoughts and do only the things they feel like. They praise Me, worship Me and pray that My will be done on earth as in heaven, but they do nothing, while I actually do My will through a people who hear and obey Me. For My will can be done on earth as it is in Heaven only by a people who’ll do the things I show them. I tell you, you can’t serve Me unless you first ask Me what needs to be done. And you can’t do what needs to be done unless you come to Me for the power and the wisdom, even the means to do what I show you. Some of you have done that and you’re bearing much fruit to My glory and to the building up of the elect. But this is what you must continue to do. Seek Me so you can find the part I’m giving you to do because My people will be participants with Me in the fulfilling of the scriptures. And you’ll have a good reward if you endure to the end because I do remember your works and won’t forget what you’ve done. But you must seek Me to know what to do and be led by My Spirit in taking effectual steps to do it. There are some in the so called “churches” who think they know what needs to be done but they never take the steps to do it. So what fruit do they have? I tell you none! And they’ll not be welcomed in My Kingdom. As the foolish virgins were cast out because they didn’t have the needed oil so I’ll cast out all who don’t come to Me prepared to serve effectually, saith the Lord. Prophecy: Those who hear Me won’t be shaken. When they’re criticized for what they do it doesn’t shake them, because they know I’m the One who showed them to do it. But those who don’t hear Me, when they do something whether they’re complimented or criticized, they take it to themselves. They either get into pride or they become depressed because it didn’t work the way they thought. That’s why I called Peter a stone when he heard the revelation My Father gave him. Because he heard from God no one will ever talk him out of it. All around you are religions that come from man. There’s no faith in that which comes from man. There’s nothing to stand on, it’s sand. But the true Church is made of living stones who hear Me. Because they hear Me they’re unshakeable. They know what they have is from Me so no one can talk them out of it. And that’s what I’ll make of you, and everyone who truly comes to Me. Those who desire to enter into salvation must know Me, be taught of Me, and hear Me with the hearing of faith. They must be unshakeable in their faith because what they do isn’t of them; they’re doing it in obedience to Me. So whether they’re received or rejected they know they’ve done well, because they’ve done what I showed them. Consequences are on the heads of those who receive or reject. Blessings to the receivers, curses to those who reject. But My living stones are always blessed, because they do what I’ve instructed them to do. Now if you want to be a living stone make sure everything you do is done in Me, in faith, because you’ve sought Me and heard Me, thus saith the Lord. (Prophecies delivered at “My Father’s House”) Purify Your Hearts! Since you’ve purified your souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren. (1Pt1:22) This describes true Christians as in: Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience. (1Pt1:2) The souls of true Christians are purified by obedience, and our sanctification is unto obedience, so it’s not wrong to say since you sanctified (purified) your souls in obeying (the Truth)… or in purification (sanctification) of the Spirit for obedience. God won’t use impure or unsanctified vessels to do His Holy work, so if you’re to be fit to serve Him you must be sanctified and purified. But in a great house there aren’t only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he’ll be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. (2Tim2:20,21) Since you’ve purified your souls in obeying the Truth through the Spirit, in sincere love of the brethren. (1Pt1:22) The true Christian’s obedience to the Truth is motivated by his love for the brethren. By this we know we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. (1Jn5:2) Love motivates us to obey God’s commandments because His commandments are given for the welfare and benefit of the brethren. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there’s any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Rom13:9,10) Love one another fervently with a pure heart. (1Pt1:22) Since your soul (or heart) is purified through obedience, then to love one another fervently with a pure heart means with an “obedient” heart. Obeying the Truth is the love of the brethren. We love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. (1Jn5:2) So the Spirit of obedience is loving the brethren. You’re “in the Spirit” when you’re in God’s love. God is love. He who loves is born of God. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. And we’ve known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. (1Jn4:7,16) It’s God’s love for the brethren that causes Him to work all things together for their good. (Rom8:28) If you’re “in the Spirit” you must be in God’s love and you must be involved in that work. “Since you’ve purified your souls” – therefore “love one another fervently!” (1Pt1:22) You have to be “purified” to be capable of “fervent” love. The word “fervently” only occurs a few times in the New Testament. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (Jms5:16) In the Greek the word “fervent” derives from a word that means “to stretch.” To “stretch,” your love must go beyond the norm and cause you to reach farther than usual, farther even than is comfortable. It’s not a suggestion that you love fervently, it’s a command. And the command can only be fulfilled in accordance with the fact that obedience to the Truth has caused you to be purified. This means if you can’t love the brethren fervently, it may be because you haven’t obeyed the Truth and aren’t purified. Your soul can only be purified by obedience. Most “believers” think all cleansing is by Jesus’ blood. The blood of Jesus does cleanse your past sins but it doesn’t cleanse you of wrong inclinations, the carnal nature and such. Concerning such things the scriptures say we’re to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom 12:2) This also requires that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts. (Eph4:22) The blood washes away past sins but there also needs to be a cleansing of the mind, thoughts, carnal inclinations, worldly ideas and such through the washing of the water by the Word. That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word. (Eph5:26) You’re already clean because of the Word which I’ve spoken to you. (Jn15:3) “Since you’ve purified your souls in obeying the Truth” means obeying God’s “Word.” God’s Word is Truth. Sanctify them by Your Truth. Your Word is Truth. (Jn17:17) Sin defiles. Sin in every form is disobedience to God. If disobedience to God always defiles then what does obedience do? Obedience purifies! You purify your souls when you’re not just hearing, but obeying everything God’s Word tells you to do. This includes – A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I’ve loved you. By this all will know you’re My disciples, if you have love for one another. (Jn13:34,35) Many believers think doing miracles will cause people to believe in God. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He’d looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him. (Mk3:3-6) Seeing Jesus do a miracle caused these people to want to kill Him. Jesus doesn’t say doing miracles will cause people to believe we’re of God. He says when they see us love each other like Jesus loves us, then they’ll believe we’re of God. 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) At “My Father’s House” right now, we’re receiving hundreds of testimonies and letters from inmates who are seeing the love we have for the brethren and truly believe we’re of God. They’re also receiving and being thankful for the Truth that’s being presented to them through the Glory of His Grace. The readers know we’re of God. And they know the things we’re teaching them are from God, solidly backed up by the scriptures. God has done a mighty work here in opening a door to His Word by our love. A lot of contemporary “christianity” has to do with a desire to feel God’s love personally, which isn’t the same thing as demonstrating His love to others. Although it’s nice to feel God’s love, when God demonstrates His love to me, it’s usually in the fellowship of things He’s doing that are helpful. He isn’t just rocking me in His arms or speaking kind words; He’s actually leading and helping me in some way. You know that His hand of love is upon you and His grace is there when He lifts a burden off you, when He straightens things out for you, and gives you peace. The terrible error in most so called “christians” today is they think telling you they love you satisfies Jesus’ command to love as He loved. Actually Jesus rarely told the disciples He loved them, but showed how He loved them by what He did – love isn’t in saying; it’s in doing. If you don’t do things that help what good is your love. My little children, let’s not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. (1Jn3:18) And that’s the love that’s being recognized in us by those we’re helping. They don’t hear me telling them I love them! Most of our Glory of His Grace books don’t literally say we love them. More often our books are telling them what’s wrong and needs to be fixed if they want to be real Christians. They’ve discerned our love for them not according to what we say, but according to what we do on their behalf. By this all will know you’re My disciples, if you have love for one another. (Jn13:35) Many “churches” are filled with people who come together every Sunday hugging each other and telling everyone how much they love them. But that’s not the love Jesus is talking about. Many of us have experienced that, but we never saw any real love, until someone actually started doing good things for us. And that’s what’s convincing the prisoners we and God love them! They’ve seen thru the lies of people who say they love, but do nothing. The Truth is found in what you do. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. (1Pt2:15) Because of the good we do, they know we love them, and they know we’re Jesus’ disciples because we have such love for one another. For you brethren have been called to liberty; only don’t use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Gal 5:13) As free, yet not using your liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. (1Pt2:16) To be free yet bond servants isn’t a contradiction. Jesus sets me free from lesser things so I can choose to be a servant of God. I’m free from pursuing the necessities of the world. My Father knows what I need before I ask Him. (Mt6:8) I’m free from the pressures to please men. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I wouldn’t be a bondservant of Christ. (Gal 1:10) In Christ I’m even free from having to cater to the expectations of my relatives. (Mt10:37,38) I’m also free to help the needy with no fear it will impoverish me. Give, and it’ll be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you. (Lk6:38) I’m free to serve Christ, not to do iniquity or pursue selfish interests. My God given liberty sets me free to do good. I’m free to be holy! Peter says “As obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.” (1Pt1:14,15) If you call on the Father who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear. (v17) Are you conducting yourself in fear? We’re commanded to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. (Phil 2:12) Jesus says “Fear Him who’s able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Mt10:28b) Every book in the bible, from Genesis to Revelation tells you to fear God and work your salvation out in the fear of God. Yet the last place you’ll find the fear of God today is in the average “church.” Most contemporary “churches” are laboring to teach their people NOT to fear God. They want to make God seem harmless, someone who’d never do anything detrimental to a “believer.” But they’re teaching lies. That God will judge your work without partiality means, He won’t favor you as in “Because you’re a believer I don’t mind if your work is deficient.” Remember the “wicked” servant who buried his talent? But his lord answered and said to him, “You wicked and lazy servant, you knew I reap where I haven’t sown, and gather where I haven’t scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I’d have received back my own with interest. Take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he’ll have abundance; but from him who doesn’t have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness. There’ll be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Mt25:26-30) The fact that you’re a “believer” means God actually expects more from you. Without partiality means He doesn’t consider His relationship to you in such a way as to favor you while He judges your work. He looks at the work alone. If your work isn’t good then you’re not a good Christian. You won’t be able to do sloppy work and think I’m getting by with this because God’s my Father. God’s going to decide according to your work whether or not you’re His because if you’re not doing the good works of Jesus, Jesus isn’t in you. (Jn5:36;1Jn4:17) Usually I’m up before anyone else in my house. I have my morning devotions; pray in tongues (in the Spirit) and pray with the understanding. (1Cor14:15) I read my bible and spend time working on the Glory of His Grace or the mail. When I complete the things Jesus shows me need to be done, I usually go back to prayer. I’m conducting myself in a way that’s fruitful; redeeming the time. (Eph5:16) I’m inwardly conscious that God will judge my work, so I can’t feel satisfied if I don’t do it well. Jesus in me is making sure the work’s being done to God’s satisfaction. The time’s coming when I’ll stand before Jesus and hear Him say “Well done!” because I’m making sure right now the job is done well. This pertains to “Judge yourself and you won’t be judged.” (1Cor11:31) Jesus is working mightily in me and He ought to be working mightily in you. (Col 1:29) Therefore, 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) Conduct yourselves throughout the time of your sojourning here in fear. (1Pt1:17) Make sure everything you do is pleasing to God and you’re doing as good a job as possible. (1Cor10:31) So likewise, whoever of you doesn’t forsake all he has can’t be My disciple. (Lk14:33) How does this connect to “Love one another fervently with a pure heart?” (1Pt1:22) Or love each other the way Jesus loved us? (Jn13:34) How did Jesus love us? He gave everything! What are the limits of what you’ll give for the brethren? Can you forsake all on Christ’s behalf? How can you demonstrate you’re loving each other fervently? How can you know for sure you’re keeping this command? Doubtless if you’re giving all to help the brethren, you’re loving one another fervently. If there’s nothing left to give, you’ve stretched yourself to the uttermost. Jesus did that and He’s our example of loving fervently. If you’re holding something back, you know you aren’t loving with all your heart. Are you holding back or are you giving everything that’s needed without qualification or complaining? How far are you willing to go? In the early church the brethren counted everything as not their own. (Act4:32) Whoever had anything shared it with those who lacked. (Act2:44,45) We can see they loved each other fervently. We see this love again when the Macedonians were freely willing imploring us with much urgency that we’d receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. (2Cor8:4) Remember the rich young ruler, to whom Jesus said “Sell what you have, give to the poor and you’ll have treasures in heaven.” (Mt19:21) How much is God asking you to give? He’s asking you to give it all. In this He’s calling us to fulfill the scriptures to love one another fervently the way Jesus loved us. Jesus laid His life down for us which means He gave all He could give. Ought we not then to lay our lives down for one another, to give as much as we can? By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1Jn3:16) Doing this causes you to enter into obedience to the commandment to love one another as I’ve loved you (Jn13:34) which purifies your soul. (1Pt1:22) How does obedience purify? To love one another fervently, we must let go of everything that has a hold on us, and by doing that our souls are set free. When you give it all up, you not only receive treasures in heaven, but you get purified of things that you used to covet, desire to possess or keep for yourself, because whatever you won’t give up has a hold on you. You may think you’re holding on to it but it’s actually holding on to you. When you give it up, you break free from the bondage. The exceeding riches of Jesus’ inheritance (Eph1:18) is concerning His true saints, they’ll give Him EVERYTHING! The false church thinks they’re satisfying God when they give a ten percent tithe. Actually this is Old Testament law and you’ve fallen from grace if you’re following the law, so tithing is cursing not blessing them. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it’s written, “Cursed is everyone who doesn’t continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.” (Gal 3:10) For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he’s guilty of all. (Jms2:10) Even giving ten percent is nowhere near giving ALL. Giving all means you’re giving your savings, your furniture, your house, your car, your land, and even your life! When Jesus commended the widow who gave two mites, it wasn’t because she was “tithing.” But she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood. (Mk12:44b) Then Jesus says So likewise, whoever of you doesn’t forsake all he has can’t be My disciple. (Lk14:33) A saint who’s giving it all, is worth a lot more than a “tither.” In the early church, believers sold houses and lands and distributed as anyone had need, because they were obedient to the Spirit. (Act2:44,45;4:34,35) They weren’t tithing. They were forsaking all, and it put them in a place where no one lacked. We’re experiencing some of these things with the prisoners. If we were only “tithers” at “My Father’s House” we could only help a fraction of those we’re actually helping. People often ask us, “How can such a small church do so much?” It’s because we give all! What we give to each one may seem a small amount, but at the same time to the one who has nothing, that small amount is precious. And even though we’re giving such a small amount to each, because we’re giving to thousands, it becomes very expensive. We’re giving our all to give as much as we’re giving them. But when you compare what we’re losing to what they’re gaining, it doesn’t seem expensive. We don’t lose what we give in love. (2Cor8:9;Heb13:8) If Christ’s in us then we’re going to love fervently, and like Him we’ll stretch ourselves. In the stretching, we’ve become more and more pure; detached from material things and crucified to the world. But we’re also becoming more and more connected to the will of God, and more united to the brethren. We’re being made perfect. (Mt19:21) Have you purified your souls in obeying the Truth, thru the Spirit, in sincere love of the brethren? (1Pt1:22) Those of us who’ve been giving all, are experiencing the purification. Beloved, now we’re children of God; and it hasn’t yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know when He’s revealed, we’ll be like Him, for we’ll see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He’s pure. (1Jn3:2,3) When Elie was expressing how her heart was yearning to find a way to help more; that’s a stretching, that’s fervency. Such passions we don’t see in everyone. Are you looking in love for more ways to help the brethren? Have you experienced this purification by letting loose of things, which if you held onto would be covetousness? Lusting to keep unnecessary things is as idolatry. (Col 3:5) Trusting in the creation for your sustenance or happiness stands in the way of God. If you’re holding onto unnecessary things, God may put you in a place where you have to obey Him and let the unfruitful things go. In such a case if you refuse to give them up, you show yourself to be an idolater instead of a child of God. But when you obey and let go of everything God asks of you, you’re purified of the covetousness that was making you satan’s captive. So there’s a true liberation in forsaking all. (Lk14:33) When I ask if you’re being purified, you should be able to say “Yes, I’m experiencing that. In obedience to God, I’m letting go of everything else that Jesus alone may have hold of me.” What prevented some from coming when God called us to have church every night was the TV shows they didn’t want to miss. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (Heb10:25) Those who hold to this world’s pleasures and entertainments are spiritually dead. (1Tim5:6) If God says to come to church every night, He’s setting you free from carnal things you used to do with that time. To be obedient to God, you must cut those things off and say “goodbye and good riddance.” You get purified every time you choose God instead of the flesh. That’s one way you purify your soul, just as He is pure. (1Jn3:3) Your soul is cleansed and set free when you crucify fleshly lusts. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Rom13:14) Have you purified your soul by obeying God thru the Spirit, in sincere love of the brethren? (1Pt1:22) Then make sure you’re loving each other fervently, which doesn’t mean just telling me you love me. Saying you love means nothing if there aren’t any deeds of love! My little children, let’s not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in Truth. (1Jn3:18) In the past there’ve been some in “My Father’s House” who didn’t love Jesus at all. “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (Jn14:15) Some have listened to the preaching and disobeyed everything the Spirit told them to do day after day, service after service. There was no purifying of the soul, no sincere love of the brethren and no obedience in the Spirit. What this verse calls true Christianity wasn’t going on in some of you for most of the years we’ve been a church. Now that you’re improving the question is “Are you really experiencing the purification of your soul?” Are you choosing to obey God because you love the brethren? Whatever God is telling us to do in some way always benefits the brethren. By this we know we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. (1Jn5:2) Are you considering your brother’s welfare; not just your own? Let each of you look out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others. (Phil 2:4) Are you doing your part to edify your brothers and sisters in love so they can grow up into Christ? (Eph4:16) Are you provoking one another to love and good works? (Heb10:24) From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love. (Eph4:16) In a real church the brethren love one another and are laying their lives down to help each other grow up in Christ. They aren’t wasting time watching TV. For we’ve spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles -- when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. In regard to these, they think it strange you don’t run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you. (1Pt4:3,4) Real Christians are in the prayer closet, praying until they get something useful to help the brethren. They’re obeying God by laboring and interceding, giving and sharing. These things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who’ve believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. (Tit3:8) To do God’s good works we must give up our own things; crucify our lusts and purify our souls. Unless you purify yourself even as Jesus is pure you can’t be saved. (1Jn3:3) Because the purity of your soul depends on it, make sure you’re loving each other fervently. To judge yourself as to whether you’re really loving each other, you must look at what you’re actually doing for each another. The prisoners we minister to didn’t have to hear us tell them we love them, and might not have believed us if we did; they’ve heard it all before. They believed we were real when they saw us love them by sacrificing our own things to give them what they needed. That’s when they could believe. We’ll believe you love one another, when we see what you’re doing for each other. (Jn13:35;17:21) Most christians don’t do the things Paul says are Godly love (1Cor 13:4-8) even though the “churches” preach it, and preach it. The worst adulterers in “Christendom” have preached these love verses over and over, while they still practiced their sins. Love is the most popular and easy thing to preach, because everyone wants to “be loved.” But people seldom want to do what love does for others. The heart of such Truth is “love seeks not its own.” (v5) How much you’re seeking your own, is how much you’re not loving. How much you’re seeking your brethren’s welfare is how much you’re really loving. How often are your brethren on your heart in such a way that you’re not content to do a little for them, but you must do much! (Lk7:47) The one who’s doing the least, loves the least. What can you do to obey the royal law of love (Jms2:8) and make sure you’re loving one another fervently? Recently we corrected a brother in “My Father’s House” by showing him how little he’s loved others, and how often he’s let others carry the load for him while not even being thankful. He was always wrapped up in himself and his needs. After his correction this brother repented and became a useful member of the church. Concerning everyone who’s left “My Father’s House” it’s always because we couldn’t get them out of their selfishness. To be “saved” you must get into Godly love. And how far do you need to go in God’s love? Until you’ve forsaken all. (Lk14:33) That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height; to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph3:17-19) Your love isn’t Jesus’ until you’ve forsaken all, as in taking joyfully the spoiling of your goods knowing you have a better reward in heaven. (Heb10:34) The Hebrew’s goods were being spoiled, but at “My Father’s House” we’re voluntarily giving our goods in love. Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality. For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing, imploring us with much urgency that we’d receive the gift and the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. (2Cor8:1-4) And what does such liberal giving do? It cuts off your attachments to what’s down here. Where your treasure is there your heart will be. (Mt6:21) To be “saved” your treasure must be in heaven, where all you have down here is willingly being given away in love. Don’t let the devil steal God’s Word from you. (Mt13:19) The Lord is giving you a Word today, but everytime God gives a command what happens? Sin in the flesh rises up to oppose God, and too many of you have followed the flesh because you haven’t purified your hearts. Whatever’s impure in your heart is going to rise up against God. This is God’s command: Love one another fervently with a pure heart. A pure heart has given up everything selfish in obedience to the Spirit and in sincere love of the brethren. (1Pt1:22) What can you do to keep this command? Draw near to God and He’ll draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (Jms4:8) You better find the way to obey because this is connected to If you call on the Father who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear. (1Pt1:17) God’s going to judge you according to what you’ve done for the brethren; and He better be able to say “Well done!” The world won’t know we’re Jesus’ disciples because we do miracles. Jesus didn’t say they would. He said they’d know because of our love. (Jn13:35) But when the power gifts operate properly some people can see God’s love in what He’s doing thru His power. “Without love it profits you nothing!” (1Cor13:3) So even “miracles” must be done in love or there’s no profit in them. Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, haven’t we prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?” And then I’ll declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (iniquity) (Mt7:22,23) We don’t have to tell the prisoners we love them. They know we love them because we give them things most “churches” won’t give. We’re spending ourselves (2Cor12:15) and they can see our love. When we work in the power gifts in such a way as to lay our lives down, many will see that’s love also. The scriptures prove your soul doesn’t get purified until you do something in obedience to God. Peter says the believers purified their souls when they obeyed the Truth thru the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, not when they merely heard the Truth. (1Pt1:22) Faith isn’t real until it acts. (Jms2:21,22) This doctrine is completely contrary to the false christianity in the Baptist-type churches who claim to be saved by “faith not works.” In the reformation Luther so badly overemphasized being “saved by faith” that he threw all works out. The Catholic church was teaching the heresy of salvation by “works of flesh,” so Luther fell into the ditch on the other side of the road and taught salvation by faith without any works. He threw the baby out with the bath water! The Truth is your faith is nothing till you start doing something about what you’re “believing!” A true faith originates in hearing God (Rom10:17) and then doing what God is telling you to do. If you want to call that a “work,” it’s a “work of faith or a work of God.” Such a work of faith isn’t a dead work. It’s not a work of the law! The law isn’t of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.” (Gal 3:12) A work of faith isn’t a work of the flesh. And your faith isn’t going to save you unless it has such works as make it a living faith. Thus also faith by itself, if it doesn’t have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I’ll show you my faith by my works. (Jms2:17,18) Peter is teaching us the soul won’t be purified until your faith works by obeying the Truth thru the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren. (1Pt1:22) And if your soul isn’t purified you won’t see Jesus in the first resurrection. (The resurrection of salvation.) Beloved, now we’re 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’ll see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure. (1Jn3:2,3) I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I’ve suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. (The resurrection of salvation.) (Phil 3:8-11) Prophecy: A little leaven leavens the whole lump. I struck Sapphira and Ananias so they wouldn’t leaven My new lump. I had a holy, a pure church and I protected her. And if you’re a holy and pure church I’ll keep you. Even now when I see one amongst you who refuses to live up to My Holy standards, I move upon the elders of My church to remove that one lest there be leaven in My church. So you’ve seen many removed here. They weren’t carried out physically dead, but they were driven out spiritually dead. Most places that call themselves “churches” these days are filled with the unacceptable, those who continually make wrong choices; the ones who won’t do My will and aren’t purified because they haven’t obeyed the Truth in the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren. Where the disobedient are allowed to continue and aren’t chastened, the leaven multiplies until such “churches” are filled with people who aren’t purified and who won’t do My will. But it shall not be so in this place. I’ll have a pure lump here and I’ll remove everything that won’t purify itself, that won’t obey My Truth in a true love of the brethren, and be led by My Spirit. For I’m building a church that will glorify My Name; a church of true saints, purified in body, soul and spirit, a church I can present to Myself unashamed; glorious without spot or wrinkle, thus saith the Lord. (Prophecy delivered at “My Father’s House”)
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