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Reprove, Rebuke! By Pastor Bill Taylor A publication of My Father's House, inc. Volume 6//Issue 8 Cry aloud, spare not; lift up your voice like a trumpet; tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins. (Is58:1) We’re commanded to expose sin and not to speak quietly while we do it! Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they won’t endure sound doctrine. (2Tim4:2,3) God commands us to reprove, rebuke and exhort. Paul says, Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Col 3:16) Admonishing is very similar to reproving and rebuking. But Isaiah speaks of a people, Who make a man an offender by a word, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate, and turn aside the just by empty words. (Is29:21) Christians are required to admonish one another. We’ve made much Spiritual progress in “My Father’s House” because we’ve not ignored the ministry of reproving. Most “churches” today have suppressed the ministries of reproving and rebuking. Because of that most so called “churches” today are making no Spiritual progress. The Word of God is to be taught from the pulpit and the believers are to hear it and to do it. But quite often listeners don’t rightly apply the Word preached and often they get into errors regarding the applications of God’s Word. When that happens, if someone doesn’t rebuke them, their growth will stop. Someone must point out their mistakes so the people can repent and make progress again. The very reason why our church is growing, is because if you fall into error here we’ll reprove you. Because of the ministry of reproving, many are able to overcome their errors and move on towards perfection. Where the ministry of correction isn’t operating there’s no real church going on. Such a church is dead. Their members fall into error and can’t get out. When Christ’s disciples refuse to rebuke, there’ll be no correction and without correction there’ll be nothing to get them out of their errors. Isaiah describes a sin many today are committing. Who make a man an offender by a word, and lay a snare for him who reproves in the gate…(Is29:21) The most common thing we encounter when we reprove “christians” who are misbehaving is they accuse us of judging and try to make it seem that we’re the sinners for reproving their sin. So they wickedly try to use the words of Jesus to undo the work of Jesus. Because Jesus said, “Judge not lest you be judged.” But the Truth is we aren’t judging when we’re reproving. We aren’t judging when we’re rebuking. We aren’t judging when we’re admonishing. There has to be a ministry to point out error if errors are to be eliminated from Christ’s church. (Mt18:15-17) But all too often when we minister correction the guilty reject it by saying, “You’re judging me!” And such are the very people Jesus speaks of when He says, “And this is condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” (Jn3:19) Anything that makes manifest is light, (Eph5:13) so reproving sin is light, not judging! The words most often translated “judging” in the Bible are closely related to the Hebrew/Greek words that mean condemn. Krino in its variations is one of the commonly used Greek words translated as judging, though usually it refers to discernment, and not sinful judging. But sometimes krino is used as relating to condemnation and it has many prefixes – Katakrino – Diakrino – that indicate the type of “judging” going on. The true church must discern what’s of Christ and what isn’t. She must discern who belongs to the brethren and who doesn’t. We’re to judge (Krino) those who are inside. (1Cor5:12) We’re to judge ourselves. (2Cor13:5) These are commandments given to us. We aren’t to judge those outside (1Cor5:13) – God takes care of that – but the church is to keep herself fit and clean for the Lord and it requires judgment to do that. Still one of the major aspects concerning reproving versus judging is that generally, when it’s in a sinful sense of condemnation, judging is calling down a sentence or calling forth a punishment, whereas to reprove someone isn’t purposed to bring about punishment but it is to tell them their fault so they may repent and escape punishment! The Holy Spirit has been sent to reprove the world of sin. (Jn16:8) So it’s very much a ministry of the Holy Spirit and Spiritual believers to correct any brethren who fall into sin. The intent of the Holy Spirit in doing this isn’t to condemn. Jesus says sinners are condemned already! (Jn3:18) What condemns you isn’t someone telling you your sin. What condemns you is the fact that you’re sinning. You’re condemned if you’re doing wrong whether or not someone tells you about it. The whole purpose of reproving is to help you escape the condemnation that comes from doing wrong. We can see this in many scriptures. And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come?” -- as we’re slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just. (Rom3:8) These slanderers aren’t condemned because Paul says so. They’re condemned because they’re slandering. It’s their behavior that causes them to be condemned. All Paul is saying is that they’re condemned. Their behavior shows it and it’s a just condemnation because such behavior deserves condemnation. So when people say we’re judging them when we’re pointing out sin they’re Scripturally ignorant and they don’t understand the difference between reproving versus condemning. They accuse us of condemning, but if they’re in sin they’re already condemned. And that’s what Jesus is talking about when He says, “He who believes in Him isn’t condemned; but he who doesn’t believe is condemned already, because he hasn’t believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.” (Jn3:18,19) In fact, the one who accuses the reprover is laying a snare for him who reproves in the gate. (Is29:21) He’s rejecting the light of correction and is therefore doubly condemned by his own actions. What’s the person doing who reproves in the gate? He’s trying to keep sin out of the church. (1Cor5:6) Isaiah says, “Cry aloud and tell My people their sins” (Is58:1) “This is condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.” (Jn3:19) When someone is doing wrong and you correct them and they respond, “You’re judging me” that proves they’re a lover of darkness. He who rejects correction is a fool. (Pr1:22) People who call us judges when we’re reproving don’t know the scriptures, they don’t know the Lord, they don’t know the Spirit and they’re fighting against the light. They prefer to stay in the dark because they love their sins and don’t want to be exposed which tells you who they are. They’re the condemned. They’re condemned because they reject the light. (Jn3:19) What makes manifest is light. Since a reproof is telling you what’s wrong it’s showing you light. If you’re rejecting light then you’re proving yourself to be a person who loves darkness and prefers to stay in the dark. And that’s what you’ll get. You’ll get to stay in the dark all the way to hell if you don’t wake up! Reproving includes warning you of the consequences of your sin so you can fear God, repent and be saved! Then He (Jesus) said to me, “Depart, for I’ll send you far from here to the Gentiles.” And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he’s not fit to live!” (Act22:21,22) Now that’s judging! That’s calling a sentence on somebody. This isn’t reproving in order to help someone to do better but condemning! – Desiring to destroy! Another example is the woman caught in adultery. The men who brought her are ready to stone her until Jesus says, “He who’s without sin among you, let him throw the first stone.” (Jn8:7) Then they become convicted, and Jesus turns to her and says, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She says, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus says, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” (v10,11) Jesus isn’t saying she hasn’t sinned. She sinned but He says, “go and sin no more.” She’s certainly sinned but He’s not calling punishment upon her, He’s correcting her – sin no more! That’s a reproof! And that demonstrates the difference between what’s sinful and what’s righteous in pointing out sin. If the purpose in pointing out a sin is to hurt, to destroy, to stone someone and not to save them then that’s the kind of judging God calls sin. “Away with such a fellow from the earth!” The Jews think Paul isn’t fit to live but they are? Well let’s see if you are. Let’s see what good you’ve done for God in this world. The Greek word most often translated “reproving” is “Elegcho.” It means to tell a fault and we are often required to do that, whereas the word for “Judging” is usually one which means condemning, or to call for a punishment. It’s not our business to do that! There are about a dozen words in the Greek and Hebrew that pertain to this and many of them are very enlightening. But the general meaning of the word for reprove, “Elegcho” is to tell or show a fault, to tell or show what’s right or what’s wrong. In areas where the Greek words are translated condemn some of them mean, for example, to judge intensely (Katakrino) as in The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah: and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. (Mt12:41) or to have a strong judgment, to pronounce guilty or to pronounce sentence against (Katadikazo) as in Judge not, and you won’t be judged. Condemn not, and you won’t be condemned. (Lk6:37) Katagnosko is translated as condemn in For if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. (1Jn3:20) In James Hupokirsis is translated as condemn, But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay be nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. (Jms5:12 OKJ) but what it means is to show the person is a hypocrite. And, if a person is a hypocrite, he’s condemned and you may have shown it to be so but you haven’t been the one that condemned him. All you’ve done is expose it. So there’s a big difference between just demonstrating what is condemned versus condemning something. You see it in And why not say, “let’s do evil that good may come?” – as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just. (Rom3:8) Paul isn’t condemning them he’s just saying what’s true that they’re condemned. Again in For God didn’t send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him isn’t condemned; but he who doesn’t believe is condemned already, because he hasn’t believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. (Jn3:17-19) Jesus shows He’s not doing the condemning – they’re already condemned. It’s a righteous thing to show someone why they’re condemned so they can repent, come to the light and get out from under the condemnation; which is what the ministries of reproving, admonishing and rebuking are about. If you’re doing something wrong then you’re convicted by the law. (Jms2:9) So there’s a useful purpose to the law, though you aren’t under the law if you’re in the Spirit for the Spirit never does anything wrong. But if we can see that you’re violating the law we know you aren’t in the Spirit. So what does the law do? It demonstrates you need to repent and get back in the Spirit if somebody can show you you’re breaking the law. Because if you’re breaking the law you aren’t in the Spirit. 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) So the ministry of reproving and rebuking by using the law is able to do that. But if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. (which means you’re condemned if you don’t get out from under that conviction) For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he’s guilty of all. (Jms2:9,10) Now we’re showing you you’re guilty for the purpose of, If anyone among you wanders from the Truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. (Jms5:19,20) Because if you’re in sin the wages of sin is death. Even though you’re a Christian the wages of sin is death! (Rom6:23) So if a brother has fallen into sin and by reproving him you turn him from the error of his way, you save him from death. The purpose of condemnation is to bring a death sentence on someone or to sentence someone to punishment. The purpose of reproving is to show someone they’re under a death sentence and cause them to repent so they can get out from under it. Therefore reproving saves repentant souls whereas condemnation destroys unrepentant sinners. To say, for example, “God damn” is to condemn! That’s why it’s a sin! And you really don’t have the ability to condemn people because you aren’t the ultimate judge. “Vengeance is Mine saith the Lord!” So condemnation is out of our providence. (Lk9:54-56) However the ministry of reproving has great value because it allows people to see where they stand and what they need to do to avoid the wrath of God. Therefore reproving is on the opposite side of condemnation. Instead of “God damn” we say “God convict!” Reproving is a ministry that gives people the opportunity to be saved from condemnation and it’s a wicked thing that the “churches” have allowed the ministry of reproving to be suppressed by the wickedness of sinful people who hate light. (Jn3:19) Those who hate the light aren’t brethren. They show by their rejection of the light that they’re by no means trying to attain to the perfection or the blamelessness that God is calling His true church to. They aren’t led by the Spirit. In fact, their behavior proves they’re actually ministers of satan (2Cor11:14,15) sent into the churches to suppress the light. “For everyone practicing evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” (Jn3:20) Of course, people who hate the light must also hate Christ and the true Christians. (Mt10:22,25) For you were once darkness, but now you’re light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. (Eph5:8) “The world can’t hate you, (the world can’t hate those who love it and are a part of it.) but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.” (Jn7:7) Jesus is light! Whatever makes manifest is light and if we’re telling the wicked what’s wrong with them and reproving them, many will hate that light. Jesus warned us. “If the world hates you, you know it hated Me first and it’s going to hate you because you aren’t of the world but I chose you out of the world.” (Jn15:18,19) “But he who does the Truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they’ve been done in God.” (Jn3:21) For everyone practicing evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. (v20) Too often people think of “hating the light” as hating a “thing” but God is light and Jesus is showing us that the believers are light in the Lord so when people hate light it’s really God and His people they hate. They hate Jesus. They hate the Holy Spirit. They hate the Word of God. They hate the people of God because the people of God are showing them what’s wrong and exposing them! Every Glory of His Grace book does that. Every sermon we preach does that. There’s absolutely no progress made in Spirituality unless there’s light because light shows what’s being done right from what’s being done wrong so the wrong can be corrected. That’s reproving and rebuking and that’s a ministry of light. For you were once darkness, but now you’re light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and Truth), finding out what’s acceptable to the Lord. (Eph5:8-10) Of course, that means exposing and getting rid of what isn’t acceptable. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. (Eph5:11) What isn’t acceptable can’t be permitted; but first it must be exposed. Expose the hypocrisy! Expose the false christianity! Expose the doctrines of demons that stop the church from attaining to God’s calling. Expose these people who say, “You’re judging” when we’re actually doing God’s work in reproving. For it’s shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light. (Anything that shows you a better way or a way you need to change to become acceptable to God, is light) For whatever makes manifest is light. (Eph5:12,13) And that’s the point! The devil wants to keep everyone in the dark, condemned in doing evil, but what the true church does is to shine light on the deeds of sinful men to show them what they’re doing isn’t right and give them the opportunity to get out of condemnation by repentance and to come to a place where they’re acceptable to God. Therefore telling a fault isn’t condemning. Condemnation is the doing of the fault not the telling of it! Condemnation comes because of what men do! And when they do wrong they’re condemned whether they know it or not. They’ll be facing condemnation in the judgment and they’ll receive the wages of sin which is death unless they repent. It’s reproving and rebuking that gives them the opportunity to repent and be saved from that condemnation. This is so important yet so little understood in the “churches!” God’s people perish for lack of knowledge. (Hos4:6) Personally we’ve been fighting this battle for 20+ years, knowing the Holy Spirit is calling us to show the “churches” their sins so the people can repent, (Jer23:22) yet being continually accused of “judging” when we aren’t judging but righteously reproving and rebuking. And if you’re a real Christian you’ve had to go thru this. Every real Christian has experienced these false brethren who aren’t of God nor of Christ but they’re wickedly religious; who twist the words of God and don’t understand the very things they affirm. (1Tim1:7) They’re proud usurpers who think they can instruct and Lord it over others when they don’t even understand the Truth themselves. And they falsely accuse the righteous who are saving souls from condemnation of condemning when we’re righteously exposing what ought not be. It’s like accusing the doctor of causing cancer when he shows you an x-ray. The doctor doesn’t cause the cancer! He’s trying to get rid of it. But first he must expose it so you can see you need an operation. And that’s what light does. It shows you what’s wrong so you can get rid of it! It doesn’t cause what’s wrong but it shows you what’s wrong. So these fools act like ostriches. An ostrich sticks his head in the sand because he doesn’t want to see. And these wicked people think that if they don’t see what’s wrong it can’t hurt them. Blindness makes them comfortable. Well the lion is just going to eat you all the easier if you don’t see him coming. So Paul says, “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (For what purpose?) That you (can) walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise. (Eph5:14,15) There are at least a dozen Scriptures in Proverbs telling us those who reject correction, or reject reproof are fools.(Pr1:7,30,32,13:1,15:5,32,17:10,23:9,29:1) But to those who are wise, who love the light and come to the light there’s an awakening of Spiritual Christianity. (Pr1:23) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore don’t be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Eph5:16,17) Understanding what the will of the Lord is, is what makes you light. And there can be no redeeming of the time except that you use it to do God’s will. Everything else is wasting time. There’s a Hebrew word “Zahar” we find in Ecclesiastes: Better a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who’ll be admonished (Zahar) no more. (Ecc4:13) This old king because of his authority and his position has become so stubborn he won’t receive correction. So what’s he called? Foolish! And that old and foolish king is just like the old and foolish “church” denominations of our present day who won’t be corrected. They’re settled in their ways and that makes them fools. And further, my son, be admonished (Zahar) by these. Of making many books there’s no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh. (Ecc12:12) In the Hebrew the actual root meaning of the word “Zahar” which is translated “admonish” is to shine or to gleam! So in Solomon’s wisdom the word he uses for admonish is exactly in agreement with what the New Testament says reproving, rebuking and admonishing are. Admonishing is light. It’s a righteous one shining light on someone’s darkness! That you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world. (Phil 2:15) If the true believers are shining it’s because they’re reproving, rebuking, admonishing; in every way showing the right and acceptable ways of God to others whether by example or by speech and it should be by both. The fact that we’re telling people what’s right and showing them right from wrong means we shine! So when Isaiah says, “Arise, shine for Your light has come.” (Is60:1) what does he mean? When we talk about shining in the sense of bringing glory to God what do we mean? It means we’re demonstrating right from wrong by making God’s Truths known to others and also living it in our own lives - that’s how we shine! In Jeremiah is another Hebrew word “Uwd” that’s translated “admonish.” The LORD has said concerning you, O remnant of Judah, “Do not go to Egypt! Know certainly that I have admonished (Uwd) you this day.” (Jer42:19) But what’s interesting concerning this Hebrew word is that its root actually means, “to tell it again.” And what does reprove mean? Re – prove: prove it again. The fact is sometimes we have to keep re-proving something until people get it. The pillars of heaven tremble, and are astonished at His rebuke. (Job26:11) The Hebrew word for rebuke here is “Gerah” and it means, “to chide.” To “chide” carries with it a sense that the correction or complaint is being repeated continually. It’s like the prefix “re” in rebuke. So to “buke” somebody and then to “buke” him again is to re-buke him or to chide someone is to repeat the correction more than once. It’s to tell them, “You’re doing wrong” and then repeat and tell them again “You’re doing wrong” until they can see it and repent. The pillars of heaven tremble, and are astonished at God’s rebuke. (Job26:11) If the pillars of Heaven tremble at God’s rebuke what should you do when God rebukes you? You ought to tremble too, shouldn’t you? Does that give some sense of what it means to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling? (Phil 2:12) Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. (Ps2:12) Although we know God is merciful to forgive us, we should never take His grace for granted. Rebuking is a necessary ministry and receiving a righteous rebuke can save your soul so you have to be able to do that if you expect to get into the Kingdom of Heaven. But as much as lieth in you, you ought to do right and avoid being rebuked. Work out your salvation in such a way as to need the very least amount of rebuking possible. When someone has to be rebuked it can cause offences. When someone doesn’t receive a righteous rebuke it can cause their sin to multiply. That’s what happened with Cain where his rebuke led to the murder of Able. “Sin lies at the door” because your offering hasn’t been acceptable and we have to rebuke you. If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you don’t do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it. (Gen4:7) When you’ve been rebuked it can open the door to the devil to try to stir up anger and resentments and how needful it is for us to be able to receive rebukes without letting ourselves get stirred up by such things. If we don’t rebuke however the danger is even greater because that means the sinner will be lost if he’s not given the opportunity to repent. But to give a righteous rebuke puts the rebuker in danger, so it takes courage to “shine!” The person who gets rebuked often doesn’t take it well. There’s an illustration in the book of Jeremiah concerning a letter written by Shemiah to the leaders in Jerusalem to rebuke Jeremiah. (Jer29:24-32) The reason why he wants to rebuke Jeremiah is because Jeremiah has been rebuking them. How many times do you see this in children? Where one child rebukes another and then that child, instead of receiving the rebuke, just slaps back, “Well, you do it too!” “Stop chewing with your mouth open.” “You stop burping!” Fools won’t receive a rebuke. They just slap back. They want to find fault in the rebuker instead of repenting: “Ok, maybe I need to change that.” And that’s the danger in rebuking that there’s this carnal nature in men who don’t want to be criticized and don’t want to see the light and so rather than receiving a rebuke they just throw another rebuke back. That’s slapping back instead of turning the other cheek! (Mt5:39) If Jesus tells us to turn the other cheek to an evil person then how much more to the righteous. Let the righteous strike me: it’ll be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; it’ll be as excellent oil; let my head not refuse it. (Ps141:5) But too often when we try to tell someone they’re doing something wrong they respond angrily saying, “You’re judging” and instead of receiving the light they slap back at us! How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. Turn at my rebuke; surely I’ll pour out my Spirit on you; I’ll make my words known to you. (Pr1:22,23) The reason why most contemporary churches don’t have the Spirit and don’t understand God’s Word is because they won’t turn when they’re rebuked. Yet this is a revival verse. If the “churches” would turn and repent of their heresies, carnalities, etc., God would pour His Spirit upon them. Anyone who’ll whole-heartedly turn at God’s rebuke will receive His blessing. Recently we’d been studying Philippians 3 in our church services. After a week of such studies we asked one of the young men if he could give us a scripture from Philippians 3 and he couldn’t do it. So we rebuked him. You can’t take lightly what God is teaching His church. You need to read the scripture for yourself. But then a few days later this same young man came to the service with some scriptures out of Titus that connected nicely with what we’d been seeing a couple of nights before. We could all see he had a true revelation from God. The Lord had poured His Spirit out on him. It was obvious he’d read Titus without being told to because he paid attention to our previous rebuke. The rebuke had shown him he was doing wrong in not studying these things the Spirit was leading the church into and instead of resisting the rebuke, this young man turned and began to look deeper at home into what he was learning at church. Because he turned at God’s rebuke the Lord poured His Spirit out on him and this young man has been getting good revelations from God ever since. And that has happened anytime anybody in “My Father’s House” has received a rebuke and turned. As soon as you turn the Lord blesses. You don’t know what you’re cheating yourself out of when you refuse to receive a rebuke. A rebuke is God knocking at your door ready to come in and bless you if you’ll open the door. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I’ll come in him and dine with him and he with Me. (Rev3:19,20) Because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I’ll mock when your terror comes. (Pr1:25,26) You accused me of judging when I was righteously rebuking you so your calamity is going to come and God will laugh and won’t feel sorry for you because when we tried to save you, you rejected your own salvation. Your blood is on your own hands. Our hands are clean. (Act18:6) People need to get to know the real God: But they rebelled and grieved His Holy Spirit; so He turned Himself against them as an enemy, and He fought against them. (Is63:10) People who rebel against God’s Spirit when He tries to save them will see God turn on them and become their enemy. It’s a serious thing to grieve the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit is trying to save you, or show you what to do to get right and you reject Him He’ll turn against you. You’ve signed your own death warrant. Your blood is on your own head! You’ve done what Jesus described in John 3:19. You’ve proven you’re righteously condemned by your rejection of the light. You aren’t condemned because someone told you where you went wrong. You were already condemned because you were doing wrong. But now the light has come and someone has put himself out to try to save you and you want to punish them for it? That makes you doubly condemned and doubly wicked. When that goes too far, there’s no atonement. That’s the sin unto death in 1st John 5:16 and in Jeremiah where it says, “provide no atonement for them.” (Jer18:20-23) We see the same thing in the Psalms. In return for my love they’re my accusers, but I give myself to prayer. Thus they’ve rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love. Set a wicked man over him, and let an accuser stand at his right hand. When he’s judged, let him be found guilty, and let his prayer become sin. (Ps109:4-7) God will judge them guilty because when I tried to save them they tried to kill me for doing it. It’s a hard thing to correct people. It’s a very difficult ministry. If we’re beaten up by the people we’re correcting God isn’t going to bless those who do that. They’d have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke. Therefore they’ll eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and be secure, without fear of evil. (Pr1:30-33) And you mourn at last, when your flesh and your body are consumed, and say: “How I’ve hated instruction, and my heart despised correction!” (Pr5:11,12) If you’d have received God’s instructions God would have straightened you out. He loves to straighten people out. There’s another Hebrew word often translated admonish or rebuke “Yakada” which means, “to show what’s right.” But “to show what’s right,” often requires us to show what’s wrong. So “Yakada” rebuking shows what’s right by rebuking what’s wrong. And Yakada can also mean, “to be what’s right” so it’s a type of righteousness. There’s much righteousness in true rebuking. It’s a ministry of righteousness to rebuke, to admonish, to reprove, to correct! For the commandment is a lamp, and the law a light; reproofs of instruction are the way of life. (Pr6:23) The ministry of reproof in “My Father’s House” has been very strong which is why a lot of people don’t want to come here but it’s why we’re growing Spiritually so fast. And you can look back on every step we’ve taken forward and see there was a “reproving” service that broke us thru and got us out of the mire and got us moving on. Most “churches” around us are going nowhere because they won’t reprove and yet they think they have eternal life but – reproofs of instruction are the way of life. How can they have eternal life if they don’t have reproofs of instruction? How can you learn the way of life if the light of Jesus isn’t showing you what’s wrong? If you have a red letter Bible cross out everything Jesus says that’s in the nature of a reproof and see how many of His words you have left. Jesus has a reproving ministry! He reproves the scribes, the disciples, the Pharisees, the multitudes. He reproves Simon, Nicodemus, Peter, and the Samaritan Woman. How can you have the way of life if the light isn’t shining to show you what’s wrong? He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes (Yakada) a wicked man only harms himself. (Pr9:7) Because a scoffer and a wicked man will turn on you. You can see on this subject that the Old Testament and the New aren’t in disagreement. When Jesus says, “Don’t cast your pearls before swine because they’ll turn on you.” (Mt7:6) doesn’t that agree with Proverbs 9:7? If the person is a fool there isn’t any sense in trying to rebuke him because all he’ll do is strike back at you. Don’t correct a scoffer because he’ll hate you for it. But rebuke (Yakada) a wise man, and he’ll love you. (Pr9:8) A wise man will receive it. He’ll understand your rebuke is doing him good. Give instruction to a wise man, and he’ll be still wiser; teach a just man, and he’ll increase in learning. (Pr9:9) He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray. (Pr10:17) Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid. (Pr12:1) When you’re trying to correct someone and they accuse you of judging show them Proverbs 12:1. Tell them they’re proving themselves to be stupid because we aren’t judging but correcting. Judging would be calling down punishment but we’re trying to save people from punishment. We’re trying to show you how to repent and get out of the place where you’ll have to be punished and that’s not judging. We’ve fought such a battle with this that I’m admonishing you right now learn these scriptures and be ready to respond with chapter and verse when someone says “You’re judging.” Most “christians” today are in a very bad place. When they refuse righteous correction they’re on their way to hell! And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. (Mt18:17) They aren’t brethren. They don’t know what it means to be a child of God and we need to wake them up and show them what the scriptures say. They need to be shown from the Bible the difference between judging and reproving. And they need to be convicted that their attitude against correction proves they’re foolish, stupid and even damned! Poverty and shame will come to him who disdains correction, but he who regards a rebuke will be honored. (Pr13:18) A person who repents, takes correction to heart and changes will be honored. He who receives correction is prudent. (Pr15:5) Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, and he who hates correction will die. (Pr15:10) The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, but he who heeds rebuke gets understanding. (Pr15:31,32) So many “christians” today don’t understand God’s Word because they won’t heed a rebuke. But those who listen when God rebukes them receive understanding. Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; (Pr19:25a) This is similar to Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear. (1Tim5:20) Rebuke one who has understanding, and he’ll discern knowledge. (Pr19:25b) The one who has understanding knows a righteous rebuke is intended for his good, to teach him how to do right. He who’s often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. (Pr29:1) When God allows someone to harden their heart it’s an indication He’s going to destroy them! God has been offended by something about them and He’s letting them get hardened like He did with Pharaoh! Pharaoh became so hardened that he finally ran into the sea and drowned! What made Pharaoh so stupid? Pride and continual rejection of God! When you see someone whose heart gets really, really hard they’re in a bad way with God. It’s going to take an awesome intercession to break thru and get God to save them! The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. (Pr29:15) Most “christians” in most churches today are children left to themselves, which is why they bring shame to the true church – the Jerusalem above, which is the mother of us all. (Gal 4:26) Every Word of God is pure; He’s a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Don’t add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar. (Pr30:5,6) The idea most “believers” have today of “christainity” isn’t what real Christianity is. Their “churches” and teachers have added to God’s Word. You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother’s son. These things you’ve done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you; but I’ll rebuke you and set them in order before your eyes. (Ps50:20,21) God will rebuke them! Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear. (Pr25:12) Jesus is made unto us wisdom. (1Cor1:30) If you’re a real Christian you’re wise enough to rebuke righteously and humble enough to receive a wise rebuke. But if you’re without chastening, of which all have become partakers then you’re illegitimate and not sons. (Heb12:8) Those who accuse us of “judging” when we righteously rebuke aren’t real Christians. They don’t endure chastening so they’re illegitimate. I’ve had to deal with this in every member of my family. I’ve had to overcome it with my mother. I’ve had to deal with it in my father almost up to his dying day but God miraculously broke thru to him the day before he died and finally got him to see the Truth. Most “believers” today don’t know what real Christianity is! Most of them are in such great error they aren’t even saved! Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.” (Gal 4:30) The bondwoman and her son speaks of Hagar and Ishmael, and they represent all “man-made” christianity, since Ishmael wasn’t “born of God” but by the efforts of man and not from the true mother. Whereas the real brethren are those Who were born not of flesh and blood, nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man but of God. (Jn1:13) Which means they’re born of the Spirit. Thus if your Christianity is of the flesh and not of the Spirit you won’t inherit eternal life. (Jn1:13,Gal 4:23) And what passes for “christianity” with most “believers” and “churches” these days, just doesn’t match up to the scriptures. Most are so far from the scriptures that I tremble for their souls. I tremble for my mother’s soul. I tremble for my brother’s souls even though they go to church because I know what the scriptures say salvation is and I know what they have isn’t what the scriptures are describing. They aren’t all Israel who are of Israel (Rom9:6) and they aren’t all Christ’s who say they’re of Christ. People are very presumptuous these days, and they’re taught to feel very secure in their salvation but they aren’t taught what the scriptures say they ought to be if they’re truly “saved.” So it’s going to take a lot of rebuking and reproving to get them to see what it really means to be Christ’s that I no longer live but Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20) because that’s not what’s going on in most “christians.” They aren’t Christ’s! They aren’t behaving as He behaves! They aren’t pursuing what He pursues, and yet they’ve been told they have salvation. “As He is so are we in this world” (1Jn4:17) means if you aren’t behaving like Jesus you don’t have Jesus, and if you don’t have Jesus you don’t have salvation. Because in spite of the fact the Bible says, He who believes on Me has eternal life it also says, He who has the Son has eternal life. (1Jn5:12) A lot of people are saying they believe on Jesus but they don’t have Him and therefore they don’t have eternal life. And that means the ones who really believe and really have eternal life, believe in such a way as they have Christ in them, the hope of glory. (Col 1:27) And they behave in such a way as demonstrates Christ is in them. He’s our Lord and He’s leading us. He’s our life everyday in everything we do. We can examine ourselves and see we do have Christ in us. (2Cor13:5) Most “christians” can’t. They say they believe in Him but they can’t see He’s in them. They can’t demonstrate Christ is in them with any Truth or proof. There’s nothing happening that He’s doing in them. Those who say Christ is in them, do so only because some preacher has told them He is but they can’t see that He is. So they’re in a precarious position concerning their souls, yet they don’t want to hear about it and they think we’re “judging” them if we try to warn them. “You aren’t living like a real Christian should. Jesus isn’t really in you.” And they reply, “You’re judging me!” Well why don’t we examine the scriptures and see what the Truth is and then if you’re really living up to God’s Word as concerning what a real Christian ought to be – good! We’ll know you’re well prepared to meet the Lord, because we aren’t trying to send you to hell. We truly want to save your soul and make sure it’s really saved. But so many won’t listen and they get angry. And do you know what their anger proves? It proves that Christ isn’t in them. It’s not the fruit of the Spirit. (Gal 5:22) If they had Christ in them they’d be patient. They’d have the love of God in them and could bear with the inspection. But these who rebel against the light indicate what spirit is really in them. It isn’t Christ. That’s what happened the last time I saw my father and tried to tell him some things about his “christianity” and the true state of his soul. He became very angry at first but the Spirit of the Lord led me thru to a place where he could see his sin and he repented. He was humbled like a little child before I left and I knew God had really gotten hold of his heart. He really got saved that day and died the next. God didn’t give him any chance to backslide, which proves backsliders aren’t saved. If he was already “saved” in the state of carnal “christianity” I first found him in, God wouldn’t have sent me to him to get him saved. But to the wicked God says: “What right have you to declare My statutes, or take My covenant in your mouth, seeing you hate instruction and cast My words behind you? (You won’t receive correction.) When you saw a thief, you consented with him, and have been a partaker with adulterers. You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit. You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son. (Accuse us of judging!) These things you’ve done, and I kept silent; you thought that I was altogether like you; but I’ll rebuke you, and set them in order before your eyes.” (Ps50:16-21) There’ll come a time when God will set things in order. Though He may seem to be silent, He’s just letting sinners dig their own graves! Do you know how I got thru to my father? I let him speak long enough that I could use his own words to show him his sin. I didn’t twist his words. I just let him speak and gathered enough out of what he was saying to prove to him from his own mouth that he was in serious error regarding his “christianity” and needed to repent! The Lord got thru to him but I had to be silent and just listen and collect his words until the time was right. Now what do you think God’s doing when He says, “You thought I was altogether like you because I kept silent?” He’s keeping silent but it’s not that He isn’t hearing. He’s keeping track of every idle word. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they’ll give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you’ll be justified, and by your words you’ll be condemned. (Mt12:36,37) When the time comes He’ll rebuke in such a way that there’ll be no escape. Let the righteous strike me; it shall be a kindness. And let him rebuke me; it shall be as excellent oil; let my head not refuse it. (Ps141:5) When you have this attitude you aren’t far from the Kingdom of God. If you know someone’s righteous you know they won’t do you harm. Their rebukes are to help you. When someone rejects rebuke they’re actually rejecting the Truth that we’re trying to help them in love. They’re considering us evil and think we’re trying to do them harm. But the Truth is when a righteous man rebukes he’s doing it to save. So they’re the ones judging and their judgment is very wrong – it’s slanderous. If you know someone’s righteous then you ought to also recognize their rebuke isn’t meant to hurt you. Their rebuke isn’t to punish. God’s job is to punish. Our job is to correct you and save you from punishment. But if you’re always afraid God’s out to punish you – you don’t know Him. If He wanted to punish you He wouldn’t rebuke you. He’d just let you go on in your sin and then send you to hell! His rebuke is His love and His desire to spare you from hell. We’re the same with our children. For example, if we tell one of our children to quiet down else we’ll punish them, the fact is we don’t want to punish them so we’re giving them a warning. The warning is to spare them from punishment, isn’t it? If I just started punishing with no warning that would be as though I liked to punish. But those who don’t want to punish will warn you because they hope you’ll repent and they won’t have to punish and that’s the way it is with God. The whole Word of God shows His desire isn’t to punish us. He’s sent prophet after prophet to warn us and given us all this Word to teach us His ways because He doesn’t want to punish. He will punish the unrepentant because as a righteous God, He has to uphold justice. Eventually God must deal righteously with all who are deserving of punishment. To do otherwise would totally violate His nature as the Highest Judge. He must punish but He doesn’t want to. The way to save yourself is to learn His righteous ways so He won’t have to punish you. And if you know God you’ll understand He’s going to punish, He has to punish. But He’ll give you every possible blessing to spare you from punishment by helping you become someone who behaves in such a way He won’t have to punish you. And that’s what salvation is. It’s becoming the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. (2Cor5:21) We don’t ignore the precepts of God because we have the blood of Jesus. But we need not despair when God rebukes us because we can be forgiven through the blood so we can face up to the rebuke and repent and get the sin out. We can move on with God because He’s given us the way to overcome punishment through repentance and the blood of Christ. Will you show partiality for Him? Will you contend for God? Will it be well when He searches you out? Or can you mock Him as one mocks a man? He’ll surely reprove you if you secretly show partiality. (Job13:8-10) Job knows you have to side with what’s right not with what’s powerful or popular, because if you aren’t siding with what’s right you aren’t siding with God. A lot of people are siding with their “churches” thinking they’re siding with God when their “churches” are wrong. They think they’re standing up for God when they stand up for lying doctrines, doctrines of demons, and traditions of men that make the Word of God of no effect. (Mt15:6b) Such people are partial to their own parties and God isn’t with them because they aren’t judging by His Word to find what’s true. (Act17:11) Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it. (Job40:2) God’s speaking to Job and asking, “Are you going to correct Me, Job? Are you going to rebuke Me?” You’d think that would be laughable that such a thing would happen. But do you know it goes on all the time? People are always questioning God. They say things like, “Why does God let little children starve to death?” They imply that if they were God they’d be more righteous than He. But they don’t know how wicked such words are because God doesn’t let children starve to death. People let children starve to death! God tells the people what to do and they don’t do it. Now, what do you want God to do about that – kill all the people? Children are starving to death, so you want Him to make more orphans? Do you think you have an answer to these problems? God is wiser than you. He’s ruling righteously and He knows what to do. He’ll bring it all to a just end one day. You aren’t the source of wisdom – God is! He has the answers and knows what’s right and does what has to be done and sometimes it’s hard things that have to be done but God always does what’s right. There is no right if it isn’t first found in God. And people who argue with God are fools. They should be asking God what they could do about such problems not complaining about what they think God ought to do. Remember where Hezekiah was being attacked by Sennacherib so he goes to Isaiah and asks for help from God. It may be that the LORD your God will hear all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the LORD your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left. (2Kng19:4) Hezekiah is considering that when people are speaking against or contending with God, God Himself may rebuke them. Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude1:9) And this is consistent with Beloved, don’t avenge yourselves, but rather give place to (God’s) wrath; for it’s written, “Vengeance is Mine, I’ll repay,” says the Lord. (Rom12:19) “Vengeance is Mine,” says the Lord. Therefore, give place to (God’s) wrath and let God take vengeance instead of you. Michael the archangel, says to the devil, “The Lord rebuke you!” Would you rather rebuke or have God rebuke? Do you know what God did when He rebuked the words of Sennacherib? He sent an angel who killed 180,000 of Sennacherib’s soldiers in one night. That’s how God rebuked! When Michael the archangel says to the devil, “The Lord rebuke you!” do you think that’s a weak response? By no means! “The Lord rebuke you!” is the strongest response you can make. You’d better hope that a man would rebuke you because if the Lord rebukes you, you’ve no idea what He may do. Sapphira and Ananias were rebuked by the Spirit. God’s rebuke killed them. Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. (2Tim4:14) Is this a weak statement? You might wish a man would reward you according to your works when you see what God’s going to do. “The Lord rebuke you” isn’t a mild rebuke. It’s an awesome rebuke because the Lord is an awesome God. But if we’re righteous we can ask God to rebuke us. Habakkuk is righteous and he expects the Lord to rebuke him. I’ll stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He’ll say to me, and what I’ll answer when I’m corrected (rebuked). (Hab2:1) Habakkuk was bringing something up before the Lord that he didn’t understand correctly. Habakkuk knew it couldn’t be possible that God’s actions weren’t righteous but he didn’t know what else to do. He had to come before God with his complaint. So he also knew God would rebuke him yet he was ready to receive the rebuke because he knew it would give him understanding. That should give you some indication of how open the throne of grace is to us. When you come with a heart that’s not rebellious, a heart that just want to understand, you can lay it all out before God and even if He rebukes you He’ll do it in a way that won’t harm you. “The Lord is righteous and God’s rebuke is going to be oil to my head.” (Ps141) Often in prayer I’m facing things where I don’t exactly know what the correct attitude is in this situation. Maybe I know what justice would do but I’m not sure what mercy would be. So I pray, “Lord, help me.” Well, what’s God going to do? If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (Jms1:5) He’s going to show you the right path when you ask in faith, isn’t He? When you’re coming to Him to find out what righteousness is so you can do right He upbraideth not. He’s not going to rebuke you in a way that’s harsh. He’s going to help you. (Heb13:6a) This also comes from the Lord of hosts, who’s wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance. (Is28:29) His delight is in the fear of the LORD, and He’ll not judge by the sight of His eyes, nor decide by the hearing of His ears; But with righteousness He’ll judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He’ll strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He’ll slay the wicked. (Is11:3,4) Concerning the wicked, that’s what the Lord’s rebuke can do. With the breath of His lips (that’s like His rebuke) He’ll slay the wicked. Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backslidings will rebuke you. (Jer2:19) It’s also common for God to let people bring about their own punishment in the sense that they’ll reap what they’ve sown and their own actions will bring disasters upon them. Now let no man contend, or rebuke another; for your people are like those who contend with the priest. (Hos4:4) Can you conceive of someone with a brain tumor arguing with his surgeon about how to remove it? If you had a deadly cancer that needed to be removed, wouldn’t you go to the expert and listen to him and find out what he knows and what he can do to help? But regarding their souls few people these days consider their preacher to be an expert. Almost every “christian” thinks he’s his own prophet these days. Well, those of you who’ve recently began reading the Glory of His Grace should be getting some idea of how little you really know. (1Cor8:2) And when someone who doesn’t know very much argues with a God appointed preacher he shows himself to be as foolish as a cancer patient who’s arguing with his doctor. The reason God appoints true apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers is so you can be taught by someone who has the knowledge to help save you. And if you don’t want to receive their help you’re cutting yourself off from your own salvation. We’re in an age today where people think they’re their own priest, their own expert and their own minister of salvation. They’ve been taught to do that by false preachers, who tickle their ears and flatter their pride instead of teaching the Truth in Christ! Who can understand his (own) errors? (Ps19:12a) Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they won’t endure sound doctrine…(2Tim4:2,3) That time has come. You can’t instruct most people today because they won’t listen, they won’t endure sound doctrine. They’re the kind of people who’ll argue with the priest! And when He’s come, He’ll (the Holy Spirit) convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. (Jn16:8) The word that’s used here in the Greek for convict is “Elegchos” and it’s defined as “to prove – to show or to tell a fault.” Elegchos is often translated as reprove or rebuke which isn’t the same as to judge or condemn. Because to condemn is to sentence to punishment! Now telling a fault may prove that you’re under condemnation but it isn’t the telling that produces condemnation. It’s doing the fault that causes the condemnation. When the Pharisees brought the woman who was caught in adultery to Jesus, He said, “He who’s without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” Then those who heard it, being convicted (Elegchos) by their conscience, went out one by one. (Jn8:7,9) They were convicted means their consciences witnessed to them that they also were at fault. But when they picked up stones to stone her that was “condemning.” Which of you convicts (Elegchos) Me of sin? And if I tell the Truth, why do you not believe Me? (Jn8:46) “Which of you can prove to Me that I’m at fault?” Jesus says, and they couldn’t do it. But to “Elegchos” is to show there is a fault and it’s a ministry of the Holy Spirit. You can’t do it without the Holy Spirit. “Apart from Me you can do nothing.” (Jn15:5) You can’t convince someone they’re wrong unless the Spirit is working with you so in the ministry of reproving we must be very prayerful and certain it’s the Spirit leading us. A common criticism we hear concerning this in the “churches” is, “It’s the Spirit that is supposed to convict me not you.” But what happened on the day of Pentecost? Who convicted them? Peter spoke and the Spirit convicted. If you’re looking for the Spirit to convict without the aid of man, it probably isn’t going to happen, particularly with people who are resisting conviction by telling you not to convict them. How can they be convicted by the Holy Spirit if they won’t listen when men speak? They sure aren’t going to let the Spirit speak. If they won’t hear godly men they can see, how will they hear the Spirit of God whom they can’t see? (1Jn4:20) This is the kind of the foolishness we’re dealing with in so many today who claim to be “christians.” This isn’t a rare thing. The “churches” today are filled with these foolish ideas which anyone who knows the scriptures can easily see are contrary to Truth. The Holy Spirit has come to convict you. (Jn16:8) Now why don’t you look at how the Holy Spirit convicts as thru Peter’s preaching! (Act2:37) People who make up such excuses as “The Spirit’s supposed to convict me not you!” aren’t even looking for the Truth. They’re looking for lies they can hide behind. They aren’t going to the Word of God to find how to obey God. They’re going to the Word of God to find something they can twist around to cover their disobedience or something they can use against the righteous to stop them from doing what the Spirit would do thru them to save people. Luke says when John the Baptist rebuked Herod that Herod, in spite of all the wickedness he’d already done, he added this; he shut John up in prison, (Lk3:19,20) These wicked men like Herod, instead of repenting of their sins when they’re rebuked they add to their sins. When you rebuke a wicked man he sins even more by coming against the one who rebukes him instead of repenting. So he brings even more condemnation on himself. From childhood you’ve known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. (2Tim3:15,16) To reprove someone, you must be able to quote the scriptures, because it isn’t your opinion that reproves a sinner it’s God’s Word. You must show them God says it’s wrong! So in the ministry of rebuking you must study to show yourself approved if you’re going to be a workman that isn’t ashamed. (2Tim2:15) You can’t get by just thinking you know what’s in the Bible. When a confrontation comes you can’t behave like, “Ok, I have a sword around here somewhere!” You must be able to pull God’s sword out and use it. (Eph6:17) You have to be able to quote the right verses at the right time if you’re to succeed in these battles. An Elder must hold fast the faithful Word as he’s been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict (Elegchos) those who contradict. (Tit1:9) It’s part of the Elder’s ministry to be able to exhort and convict! But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he’s convinced by all, he’s convicted (Elegchos) by all. (1Cor14:24) So prophecy also reproves and convicts. Conviction is a ministry of the Holy Spirit and prophecy is a gift of the Holy Spirit and Jesus said, “When He’s come, He’ll reprove (Elegchos) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” (Jn16:8) Too often “charismatics” and Pentecostals define prophecy as only But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. (1Cor14:3) and they reject a prophecy that has “conviction” in it but, If all prophesy and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he’s convinced by all, he’s convicted by all. (1Cor14:24) Real prophecies often have conviction in them. Now when much time had been spent, and sailing was now dangerous because the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, (Act27:9 NKJ) In the OKJ it says Paul admonished them. The Greek word for admonish is “Noutheteo” and it means to caution, put in mind or warn. We’re not condemning when we warn but we’re trying to save. “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.” (Act27:10) Paul’s admonishment is meant to turn the ship’s owner and officer away from a disastrous course which they’ve chosen. He’s not condemning them but warning them. I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish (Noutheteo) one another. (Rom15:14) In the New Covenant church you’re expected to admonish each other. And you, fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. (Eph6:4) Don’t rule over them harshly but with understanding; warn them, teach them. Help them stay on the right track. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another. (Col 3:16) Ministering the Word of God to each other is Christ in you, loving the brethren thru you. That you love one another as I’ve loved you. (Jn15:12) Look how patiently Jesus labored to teach His disciples and finally laid His life down for them. Now you do the same for each other. We urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, (1Th5:12) The leaders of the church are appointed to admonish the brethren. Now you receive them and their admonishments. Yet don’t count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother… if anyone doesn’t obey our word in this epistle…don’t keep company with him. (2Th3:15,14) Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, (Tit3:10) Those who reject righteous admonishment, you reject. You don’t keep fellowshipping with them. The scriptures prove that condemnation or judging is passing sentence and it’s a sin to do that. But admonishing and reproving is telling a fault in order to help someone repent and escape from condemnation. And it’s a righteous thing to do that! That many “churches” have confused the two and allowed wicked people to call reproving “judgment” when, in fact, it is very much the opposite, is a great sin that’s allowed corruption to enter and defile the churches. Reproving saves repentant sinners from judgment and condemnation, and this wicked lie that rebuking is judging has to be brought down. These mouths must be stopped (Tit1:11) who are running from the light when light is the very thing that exposes sin. (Eph5:13) And where there’s righteous admonishing and reproving there’s light! But where such correction has ceased, in those churches Spiritual growth has ceased and there’s no longer a work of the Holy Spirit taking place but rather a work of the devil. And we pray that our Lord will cleanse the churches of this sin of calling “rebuking” “judging” and cause God’s people to see their great error in this matter; that Christ’s light may shine again as it ought in the true New Covenant churches. And that all God’s people may move on to perfection with the help of His Godly ministries of reproving, rebuking and admonishing as Christ intended for His church. Amen! Prophecy: They aren’t all Israel who are of Israel and they aren’t all Christ who claim to be of Christ. I’ve a controversy with the churches, saith the Lord. They’ve perverted My Words and interpreted them in ways to reject My correction and to resist My instruction. And they’ve tried to use My own Words against Me. Even as those who suppress the Truth in unrighteousness and try to put out My light as thru the ages people who’ve claimed to be of Me have killed the prophets and persecuted the just. But it shall not be that way anymore. I’ve raised up a light that’s so bright it won’t be extinguished. I’m bringing forth the Word of My Truth in such power it can’t be denied. I’ve given the angel of My church the message for the church and that message will be heard. Those who’ve sought to stop My Truth from going forth will be swept out of the way by the force of My Truth. Be bold to stand up for what’s right. No longer will the wicked be able to lie in wait for him who reproves in the gate. No longer will the false brethren be permitted to set snares and try to catch the righteous by a word for the wicked shall be caught in their own snares and be exposed by their own words. My light makes manifest and My light reproves and those who’ve been resisting My light and claiming My righteous servants who reprove and rebuke are judging and sinning are the ones who themselves have been sinning for they’ve sinned against My light and I’ll show them to be who they are for they’re indeed children of darkness. And the wicked shall no longer rule over My church, they’ll no longer suppress My Word and they’ll no longer persecute My people who know My voice and who know My light. And to you My faithful witnesses, to you who reprove, correct and admonish righteously in My name and My Spirit, I say, I’m with you. I the Lord am in your midst. All of your works I’ve done in you. And I’ll work with you to bring down this wickedness and to raise up My holy church and to cleanse her from those who’ve tried to pervert My church to their own uses. For My bride will be glorious and I watch over her jealously and I’ll perfect the things concerning her, thus saith the Lord. (Prophecy delivered at “My Father’s House”)
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