The Children's Bread/The Lord Gives Strength

By Pastor Bill Taylor

A publication of My Father's House, inc. Volume 9/Issue 10

Prophecy: I’ve set a flaming fire in your midst. I’ve called forth My servant Bill; and don’t you see every chastening that’s come forth is My fire falling through My servant to purge My church? Every Glory of His Grace book is My fire to purge away the dross and to show forth the true gold. I tell you, My fire has fallen and even now it’s falling to purge and to cleanse. And as I cleanse My church, I also am falling upon those who claim to be mine but aren’t. For when I show the true gold I thereby expose the dross for what it is. I tell you, My fire has fallen in this place and My minister is a minister of fire, and I admonish you to respect and honor that fire and hold on to those things that cleanse and make you pure that you may be a fire also; every member a fire that shines forth My righteousness, My truth, and My justice in the earth today, thus saith the Lord. (Prophecy delivered at “My Father’s House”)

 When the Syro-Phoenician woman came to Jesus, Christ said to her, “It's not right to give the dogs the children's bread.” (Mk7:27) Most teachings on this have to do with faith; “She wouldn’t take no for an answer.” But the lesson God is sharing with us now concerns the fact Jesus didn’t allow a gentile to interrupt His ministry to the Jews. He wasn’t willing to stop what He was called by God to do in order to do something He wasn’t called to do; go to this foreigner’s village to heal her daughter. Jesus is called to the Jew first. (Rom2:9-10) These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matt10:5-6) Today also, my “children” are the ones God has given me who are receiving my ministry in Christ. I too must feed them first before I feed “strangers.” But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1Tim5:8)

Recently I received a fourteen page letter from an inmate, Mr. J., who claims to be a “believer,” but he’s not one of my children. He’s a stranger to me. As yet he’s never done anything to indicate he’s even a true brother. Therefore I don't owe it to him even to read his disturbingly long letter. How can I in good conscience take time from my important and needful ministries to the “children” God has given me to read fourteen intricate pages of religious meanderings and questions from someone who’s so inconsiderate as to even place such an uninvited imposition on a true servant of God? This alone shows he’s not of Christ. To even take the time to read, let alone answer such a letter would grossly interfere with the very important work I have to do for the brethren here at “My Father’s House” as well as the many who are receiving the Glory of His Grace both in the prisons and other places. It would also much hinder the work of the new Glory of His Grace books I’m currently involved in preparing. So, being fully occupied with the work Christ has given me on behalf of His true children, it would be a sin for me to interrupt this God given work to get involved “ministering” to a stranger who isn't even of God. Particularly when he’s trying to get me involved in a lot of silly questions which the Bible calls “strivings about the law.” But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. (Titus3:9) Nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. (1Tim1:4) Mr. J. wants to involve me in “disputes!” For example, he doesn't believe Mark 16:9-20 should be in the Bible. In his letter, he tried to involve me in a complex discussion about whether this passage was in the original Greek manuscripts.

And she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs.” (Mk7:28) As a “crumb” from the table, I sent him a short letter, which addressed that question, but he was too dense to see the answer. I informed him the things Mark 16:9-20 is saying are all truth! Whether these verses were in the original manuscript or not – they’re truth. Now if Mark 16:9-20 was added, then God must have added it in order to further edify the brethren in clarifying His truths. That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. (Heb6:18) Again, no one has by any means proven that Mark 16 was added, in fact, we’ll shortly show that it wasn’t. But consider, New Testament canon wasn't even established until about the third century. If something was added previous to that, it had to have been accepted by the churches who canonized the New Testament. So if such a thing occurred, they accepted it with the additions and considered it scripture including the additions. Now these are the forefathers who decided in Christ, what the New Testament actually was. Who is so bold as to argue with them. Previous to their council there was no “New Testament” Bible as we know it, only “apostolic letters.” Now, obviously Mr. J. has been spending much time reading theological commentaries about the Bible, concerning which Jesus explicitly and audibly told me when he called me, “Don’t read man’s commentaries.” So am I supposed to disobey Jesus and go back to reading heretical books just so I can have detailed discussions with Mr. J. about his foolish questions? I've already been told by Jesus, “I'm going to teach you, I don't want you being taught by men.” Mr. J. is being taught by men, not Jesus. I knew about these so-called problems with Mark 16:9-20 when Mr. J. was still in diapers. He’s not showing me something I’m not aware of. He’s very intellectual and puffed up with fleshly knowledge. We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. (1Cor8:1-2) He pretends humility but he doesn't act humble. His actions are insolent.

Discussions about the latter verses of Mark 16 have been going on for 100+ years – ever since Wescott and Hort came out with their “corrupted” eclectic Greek text. Their “new text” was based on the terribly miscopied manuscripts, the Sinaiticus and Vaticanus, both of which have hundreds of omissions and numerous places that don’t even agree with each other. When the Mark 16 question first came to my attention, I knew to go to God and ask, “God, what do you say about it?” And He replied, “Mark 16 is okay with Me.” If it's alright with God, it's alright with me. Jesus has no argument with Mark 16. The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth has no argument with Mark 16. True Christians can stand on Mark 16. Some of the brethren right here have stood on Mark 16 and been healed on Mark 16 and that means the Holy Spirit is anointing and working with Mark 16; even confirming it! So, even after I gave this “crumb” to Mr. J., he responded, “You didn't answer a single one of my questions.” I presume he means I didn’t answer the specific points he brought out in his letter questioning as to whether Mark 16 was an addition or whether it was in the original. But I don't care to respond to him personally concerning his questions for many reasons.

One of which is, the experts who disparage Mark 16:9-20 are not true brethren or reliable in their interpretation of the historical evidences. To consider what a so-called “expert” says, you have to believe he’s an honest expert. Whereas in reality, many “experts” are liars. All kinds of wicked men have attacked God’s Word from the beginning. It’s in the nature of fallen men to hate God and His Word. And the “Scribes and Pharisees,” the so-called theological experts are among the worst of fallen man; full of intellectual pride, arguments and dead men’s bones. (Lk12, Matt23) The commentary books Mr. J. reads and “believes” are much lesser books than the Bible and they’re written by much lesser men than the apostles. But he wants me to accept such unreliable witnesses instead of the apostles themselves and even the holy brethren who’ve canonized the Bible. Well, I choose to accept the Bible as God has delivered it to us and to reject Mr. J.’s “experts.” And since Mr. J. wants to believe his “human” experts concerning Mark 16, I reject him. Mr. J. also had questions concerning baptism and our Glory of His Grace book “Baptism and Salvation.” Particularly if baptism is normally necessary to salvation and immersion is the scriptural method, what could new “believers” do in an environment where immersion baptism is not available? My reply was, “For if there is first a willing mind, it is accepted according to what one has, and not according to what he does not have.” (2Cor8:12) God will accept what you can do if there is true faith. Members of “My Father’s House” and I have baptized deathbed patients using a water glass and seen the Spirit of God fall mightily. But this seemed to be something Mr. J. couldn’t grasp. It is also very needful that the new believer be baptized in a real faith by someone who actually has the Spirit and anointing of Jesus. If the new believer’s faith is real, being baptized by a true believer with a teacup will be more effectual than being baptized in an ocean by a heretic or a false believer.

In responding to some other things he said I mentioned, “The Lord gave me this teaching” which He did. That is my true testimony. But Mr. J. replied, “You answered my question by saying ‘the Lord gave it to you’ and I can't accept that.” If I had said some “human” expert gave it to me, I suppose he could have accepted that. “I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, him you will receive.” (Jn5:43) If Mr. J. really knew God he could ask the Lord concerning my testimony and the doctrine God has given me and God would show him the truth. Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me. If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.” (Jn7:16-17) But Mr. J. doesn’t know God. He knows human experts. If you reject my testimony that the Lord gave it to me, then I reject you. The whole of the way Jesus teaches is “The Father gave Me these words, what to do and what to say.” (Jn7:16) And the Spirit gives me the things He’ll have me speak. (Matt10:20) That’s true for me and should be true for every real man of God.

If you’re a true Christian you’re born of the truth and you have an anointing to recognize truth. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him. (1Jn2:20-21,27) Mr. J. doesn't have the Spirit of Truth in him. He’s intellectual. Intellectuals are one of the most dangerous kinds of false christians. He appears to be serious about God because he spends so much time studying the letter of the law and trying to understand and obey the letter of the law. That makes him look like a real Christian to people who don't know better. But he doesn't have Jesus.  Who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2Cor3:6) He doesn't have the Spirit. He doesn't have faith. In his second letter he said, “We may have trouble communicating because it's hard to overcome what happened at the Tower of Babel where God confused the languages.” But the truth is Spiritual Christians have been set free from the effect of the Tower of Babel by Jesus.  For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one (the Jew and the Gentile) and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace. (Eph2:14-15) The problem Mr. J. is having in understanding me isn't because of the Tower of Babel it’s because, We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error. (1Jn4:6) Mr. J. doesn’t hear me because he’s not of God. I don’t have time to deal with his 10+ specific and very complex questions, many of which were over a page long and containing numerous lesser questions. The Spirit of Christ would not let me reply to him in such a way as Mr. J. expected or even demanded. As if I should take a week off from ministering to the true children of God in order to give this “dog” the children’s whole loaf of bread. What Mr. J. wants he has no right to ask for or expect. Is this man considerate? Is there any love in his heart? Does he have any feeling whatsoever that other people have ministries, works, responsibilities? What arrogance makes him think he can barge into my office and tell me to do his bidding; command me to answer his questions and supply him whatever he asks for according to his terms as though he is lord of all. I gave him a crumb from the children’s table. A brief, but godly reply was all the Spirit would allow me to give him. But he rejected that answer. Rather he rebuked me for not responding to him on his terms. He wouldn’t accept the crumb because he lusts for the whole loaf, which of course, isn't his but which he wants to steal from God’s true children. That proves  he doesn't hear God because in the answer God gave him there was enough of an admonition to straighten him out if he were of God.

He also said in his second letter that I should reject Mark 16:9-20 because it “probably” wasn't in the original. My answer is, “gamblers use ‘probabilities’ but the ‘just shall live by faith.’ - Faith deals with certainties!” According to probabilities the chances are less than 1 in 10 billion that Jesus was and is the Son of God. But that He is God’s Son is a certainty. I’m certain Mark 16:9-20 is acceptable to God. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (Jas1:6-8) I pity the people Mr. J. says he ministers to, because he’s a minister of “probabilities” and not a minister of faith. So he’ll get nothing from God, nor will his disciples. He’s trying to base his beliefs on fleshly human wisdom. Intellectualism is flesh. It’s man using his carnal mental abilities to raise himself above others by fleshly efforts. “Intellectuals” study and learn things that come from other men, not from God or by faith or the “hearing of faith” (Gal 3:2) or revelation from the Spirit of Truth. (1Cor2:10) Mr. J. hasn't met Jesus or the Holy Spirit, our real teacher. “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” (Jn16:13-14) But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. (1Cor2:10) Mr. J. is studying about Jesus but he doesn't know Jesus. Because he's studious and serious, he impresses inexperienced “christians” with his intellectual acumen and they think he's Spiritual. But he's not Spiritual, he's intellectual. I recently discovered both Brother T. and Sister T. had been vexed by lengthy letters from this same Mr. J. who was burdening them with his foolish questions. True children of God bless their brethren. They don’t vex them.

Now, one of the things God stirred up in me is that Mr. J. is not the first false brother we've met like this. We've had more than a few encounters with these intellectual and legal type “christians.” Some have even come to the church. And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. (Gal 2:4-5) We quite regularly get lengthy letters from these kinds of people. Jesus said, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees.” Pharisees don’t have any revelation from God but they impress other people that they’re godly or Spiritual because they seem to have so much intellectual knowledge. Anybody can get intellectual knowledge. Just go to the library and read many books, then you can talk about things other people don't know, and impress them. Inexperienced “christians” who don’t know the difference between spirituality and religiosity may think an “intellectual christian” is godly because he knows so much. The fact is, he’s a religious devil. He’s not godly by knowing Christ. And what motivates these people is pride. Pride was very visible in Mr. J.’s first letter where he tried to impress me saying he barely had time to read one of our Glory of His Grace books because he was so busy being the “Spiritual leader” to the men in his area. Then he completely ignores my ministry and thoughtlessly imposes himself upon my “valuable” time and that of the other brethren he wrote to also.

Now, I could answer every point he brought up in his questions but there’s no profit in it because he doesn't hear God, so how will he hear me? If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead. (Lk16:31) And if I answered his every point it would take too much time away from the more important things I must do for God. Yet the Lord showed me that not to answer him at all is to leave him thinking he's wise in his own conceits and superior to the people he's been exalting himself against. So the Spirit led me to do this Glory of His Grace book to expose the sins of Mr. J. and similar inconsiderate long letter writers. I'm not talking about brethren we know who are carrying on an intimate correspondence with us. We’re talking about strangers who come to us for the first time but without the wedding garment. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.” (Matt22:11-12) I have numerous examples of young men who write a short letter to introduce themselves and they'll say, “Pastor Bill, I know you're very busy and I apologize for this intrusion, but would you please help me with this problem?” And they explain their question concisely then they'll usually close with, “Thank you for your time.” I can see the humility and consideration in such brethren and I’m always moved by God to give them what they need. When they come respectfully and even humbly, I can see the Christ in them. Here are two examples we recently received.

 Dear Pastor Bill,

Thank you for your love and faithfulness to us here at R.J. We are thankful for you and the precious work of the Spirit in you. I would ask your dear church to pray for us here to receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I know you’ll do this as your faithfulness shines forth to us already. We thank God for each one of you as you lift us up in the Lord.

With love and sincerity in Christ Jesus, M.Wh.

                                                S.C. M.Wa.

 Dear Pastor Taylor,

 I truly have been blessed to have met you and to receive such profound teachings of the Word of God. I praise God for strong men of God such as yourself. I can’t wait to come out of this place so I could meet you personally. I’m a son of a preacher but I became very rebellious to God but all throughout my life, Mom and Dad have truly shown me Christ’s love and have not let me go. However I’ve made a total about face. I’ve been truly born again. I’ve been baptized in water, I’ve received the gift of speaking in tongues and I’ve been walking for the Lord Jesus Christ for over four years.  Please keep me in prayer that God may use me for His glory. Also would you help me with a verse. I went to a Baptist bible study and the topic was “Once saved, always saved.” The speaker based his doctrine on John 5:24. I told him he couldn’t use this scripture to support this doctrine, because Jesus is only speaking in reference to how we should understand the matter in which Christ accepts us into the family. By believing Jesus’ report of who sent Him, not whether we are eternally saved, that determines whether we abide in Christ. Am I right? Pastor Taylor, please look into this verse for me as Paul said to Timothy,  “And the things you’ve heard of me among many witnesses, commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”

Thank you for your help.

Your Brother in Christ,

D.S.

 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My Word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (Jn5:24) In our reply to brother D.S. we not only affirmed that he is correct in his application of the verse but also pointed out that when Jesus says, “He who hears My Word” He means he who obeys because Jesus never considers someone who disobeys to have actually “heard.” The disobedient “have ears to hear but they don’t hear” (Matt13:13) Therefore according to this scripture (Jn5:24) only the obedient have everlasting life and shall not come into judgment. This also means only those who “continue” in obedience. We have no arguments against the obedient remaining saved as long as they continue to hear and obey. The heresy of  “once saved/always saved” is that these foolish Baptists believe you can’t lose your salvation even if you don’t obey. Which is akin to saying, “he who hears My Words and disobeys” has eternal life or even “he who doesn’t hear My Word but believes in Him who sent Me has eternal life.” Such interpretations actually verge on blasphemy!

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of heaven.” (Matt18:2-3) Walk prudently when you go to the house of God; and draw near to hear rather than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they do evil. Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few. (Ecc5:1-2) To be converted and come as a little child, means you don’t come in pride pushing yourself upon the church leadership and exalting yourself over the brethren with 14 page letters, but you come in complete humility to be taught and not to teach, to hear rather than to speak. Those who are truly “converted” have the meekness of Christ in them and they behave accordingly. But we so often encounter these fools who virtually push down the door. Some come in dumping everything they can on us; often it’s their life history, with others their endless philosophies, or maybe they want to show off how much Bible knowledge they have. Then these like Mr. J., come with numerous trivial questions. We’ve received such letters as long as thirty pages. I don't usually read them. Once I see the spirit they’re of, I know it’s just satan using them to try to steal my time and the true children’s “bread.” Such people don't deserve an answer because they’re hard hearted and inconsiderate of others. They may try to dazzle us with “spiritual” compliments and Bible talk but there’s no “fruit” in them. One thing you rarely see in these ridiculously long letters is a “thank you” and that tells on the senders right there. The unthankful aren’t Christians. They’re also inconsiderate and disrespectful of their elders and that tells you they aren’t Christians. (Heb13:17) They want to steal God’s bread with a total disregard they may be interrupting God’s ministry to the other brethren. They’re trying to cut into line ahead of the more worthy who’ve come in a righteous way and are humbly waiting their turn. Am I supposed to minister to such as these? The grace of God may allow us to give them an answer on God’s terms, but not theirs. So we can send them a short note, or a “form” letter dealing with a common question or even this book lest they think they’ve been ignored or remain wise in their own conceits. God won't let them steal the children’s bread but we can give them a crumb that may save their souls if they’ll repent.

 Prophecy: I’ve poured out an abundance of revelation here, yet there are many who thought it merely their just due and they’ve not been thankful for what they’ve received. And because they aren’t thankful, they don’t even understand the revelation or apply it properly. It’s not precious to them and they aren’t blessed by it because I don’t bless the unthankful. But I give grace to the humble and, I tell you, the humble are always thankful. Thankfulness and humility are brother and sister; they are siblings. I continue to pour out My revelation in this place because My servant Bill is always thankful when I share with him My truth. He always thanks me from the heart because he appreciates My gifts, and he doesn’t keep what I give to himself but he shares it with others whom he also hopes will be thankful. You’ve received many letters here from those who are grateful for that which we’ve shared with them in the Glory of His Grace. And those who are thankful are being blessed and they’re growing and I’m showing them the “more” that comes from My Word, “Those who have will receive more.”  But I’ll take My gifts away from the unthankful and give them to the thankful. I admonish you, when you receive here the precious revelation that I give with an unthankful heart you’ll receive no benefit from it and if you don’t repent you’ll soon be cut off. I reserve My blessed Word for those who appreciate it. What you receive with true thanksgiving, you don’t cast behind your back, you don’t forget. You value it as the treasure it is and consider it carefully. And in your thanking Me for it, you’ll also look to Me to show you how to use My gift properly and I’ll not disappoint you. For just as a father who gives his son his first rifle doesn’t say, “Now go out and hunt” but he takes him out and shows him how to use the gift, I tell you, when I give you a gift I don’t just leave you with it to work it out on your own. To those who are grateful for My gift, I’ll take you out and show you how to use the gift as a Father with His son. But if the son throws the gift aside because he’d rather play with something else; what does that father then do? He takes the gift up to the attic, puts it away, forgets about it. Some of you My people, your attics are full but your houses are empty because you’ve had an unthankful attitude towards My Word and towards the gifts I’ve given you. And I say, repent. Repent from the heart and bring forth fruits worthy of repentance and don’t play at being a Christian anymore with a token obedience that doesn’t come from the heart. Dig deep and bring forth fruits worthy of repentance that I may indeed bless you and be a Father to you, that you may truly be My children, saith the Lord. (Prophecy delivered at “My Father’s House”)

The Lord Gives Strength

Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. He changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings and raises up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding.” (Dan2:20-21) For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it? (1Cor4:7) True believers have the wisdom that comes from God, the “meekness of wisdom.” (Jas3:13) They understand God gives them wisdom and therefore, they’re not proud. The extraordinary amount of wisdom and understanding God has given me which you see in these Glory Of His Grace books surpasses anything you’ll hear anywhere else in Christendom today. Nobody in the world today has anything comparable to it. But I don’t feel an atom of pride because I know where it comes from. And often, even I have to reread these books to maintain a good understanding of this godly wisdom. It isn't “in me” as though I invented it. (1Cor4:7) It’s been given to me by God and I must get understanding from God just like you must get understanding from God. (Pr4:7) Whereas, these “intellectuals” like Mr. J. get their “wisdom” by applying themselves to study books written by men. And when they think they’ve learned something they’re proud of it because it’s “theirs.” …We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. (1Cor8:1-2) They worked for it and they “found it” so they take pride in it. But theirs is a fraudulent “wisdom,” a fake wisdom because the wisdom that comes from above has a meekness in it, not pride.

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. (Jas3:13,17) I can express the meekness of wisdom in that in spite of so many things God has taught me, the amazing lessons I’ve learned from Him, yet I’m always aware there are many things I still don’t know. Even in situations where I know a lot about what’s going on, I’m always cognizant there may be something hidden which if I knew it, that knowledge would change my entire opinion of the matter. So, the meek may know a lot but they also know they don’t know everything. And knowing that causes them to stay in a position of not lording it over others, pushing people around or trying to enforce their ways upon the brethren. We’re always very cautious to depend on God to show us what’s actually going on and what’s truly a proper or Christlike behavior in every situation. And that’s meekness. But meekness isn't obsequiousness. Nor is it the kind of thing where a person can never make up their mind or stand for truth, which is double-mindedness. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (Jas1:6-8) I can stand for the things that I know are true and act upon them to the glory of God. But there are areas where there may be more to be seen and I must wait on the Lord to show me the more before taking action. In dealing with Mr. J. for example, I had to pray through to see how God wanted to handle it. And one thing the Lord showed me was to do this Glory of His Grace book because Mr. J. isn’t the only one who’s guilty of this inconsiderate behavior. I’ve also done a “form” letter answering to the Mark 16:9-20 question because other believers have been bothered by this “intellectual” heresy and need to know the truth.

Mistaking “intellectualism” for spirituality is a very common error in contemporary christendom. Intellectualism is flesh, the carnal mind applying itself to knowledge. Religious intellectuals seek by their prideful fleshly minds to surpass others in the knowledge of God. (Gal 1:14) But Spiritual believers are taught of God. (Jn6:45) They receive revelation by the light of the Holy Spirit who “will teach us all things (Jn14:26) and lead us into all truth.” (Jn16:13) When we finish this Glory of His Grace book, we’ll have a powerful weapon, and a very useful “form letter” to deal with and help save others having the same problems. Currently I’m building a repertoire of “form letters” concerning common subjects we often have to deal with in our correspondences with the satellite brethren. We get questions from the prisons very regularly, for example, about “Sabbath” worship because Seventh-Day Adventists are trying to proselytize in many of the prisons. So we receive a lot of letters from young brethren asking about the Sabbath. I already have a letter covering that subject. Seventh-Day Adventists and Old Testament Jews rest one day a week. But to true New Covenant believers, the Lord is our Sabbath and we are at rest in Him every day of the week. The just shall live by the rest of faith! For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest,” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. (Heb4:3,10-11) There’s of course much more to the subject which I cover in the letter, but by having a prewritten letter I don’t have to write a new one every time the “Sabbath” subject comes up.

Dear brother,

 Regarding Sabbath (Saturday) worship, the 7^th day Adventists are a false cult that espouses this heresy. They started out in the 1800s being date setters that were continually saying Jesus was coming on a certain night and selling all their belongings and climbing a mountain to wait for Him. Such foolishness shows their scriptural ignorance and they haven’t grown any smarter since. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels...” (Matt24:36) They follow the teachings of a woman “Ellen White” contrary to the scripture in 1^st Timothy 2:12.

The Sabbath was given to the Jews, not to the gentile believers. Notice even in Acts 15 Jerusalem council it was not required for the gentiles to keep the Sabbath. Paul said to the Galatians that you are fallen from grace if you attempt to be justified by keeping the law. That if you keep one point of the law, like circumcision, but also Sabbath keeping, then you must keep all the law and that if you are returning to the law for justification then Christ died in vain and you are separated from Christ. (Gal 5:3-4)

The early Church chose Sunday, the day of the Lord’s Resurrection as their preferred primary day of worship. This distinguished them from the Jews. But even this was not a legal requirement. See Col 2:16 and Rom14:5-6. For in Christ Jesus it is not the day you worship that matters, but a new creation! (Gal 6:15) I pray that God will grant you an escape from these many heresies and false brethren and that you may abide in His truth. Little children keep yourselves from idols. (1Jn5:21)

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Bill Taylor

And in responding to Mr. J.’s question about Mark 16:9-20 the Lord gave me the following “form” letter.

Mark 16: The False Controversy

 In answer to your question concerning the passages in Mark 16:9-20, let me share these truths with you. Wicked liberal theologians have attempted to discredit the passage in Mark 16 beginning with verse 9 unto the end. Some modern bibles based on the erroneous Greek texts of Westcott and Hort leave this passage out. They say it was not there in the original manuscripts but this is not true. These verses are missing from the codex Sinaiticus and codex Vaticanus along with hundreds of other errors and omissions that totally discredit these texts from being seriously considered by reputable Bible scholars. The verses are present in almost all ancient versions of Mark. And the truth of what these verses say is much supported by other scriptures. "By the mouth of two or three witnesses every Word shall be established." (2Cor13:1b)

Liberal theologians, like Westcott and Hort fulfill the scriptures having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2Tim3:5) They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. (Titus1:16) They have no power with God and this discredits them from being considered true “believers.” For example, "And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mk16:17-18) If Westcott and Hort cannot fulfill one of these signs, such as to lay hands on the sick and see them recover then these words of Christ disqualify them as being true believers. “These signs don’t follow them.” Thus to be able to pretend they are believers they must eliminate God’s words which expose their powerless false Christianity. To change the English Word of God they needed to change the original Greek text. To do that they utilized the discarded and disreputable Sinaiticus and Vaticanus manuscripts which they falsely claimed were the oldest and therefore the most reliable or best manuscripts. This was utterly untrue.  In the 1800´s these manuscripts may have been among the oldest but they were also the worst, the most erroneous and miscopied of all hand copied texts. They are no longer even considered the oldest. Some new version bibles may say in their notes such things as “the ‘best’ manuscripts omit MK 16:9-20.” Those who do this are erroneously quoting Westcott and Hort’s prejudiced opinions.

Many promoters of the Mark 16 heresy seem to be very concerned about the curse attached to adding to God’s Word. For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; (Rev22:18) They ought to be equally concerned with the curse attached to deleting from God’s Word. And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. (Rev22:19) I challenge you who have a subnoted Bible to look at how many times the word “omits” shows up in connection with NU which is the abbreviation for the texts based on the Westcott & Hort heresy. There are at least seven omissions in Rev 21 & 22 alone, which more than sufficiently qualifies Westcott & Hort and their cronies for the Rev 22:19 curse of damnation.   

The sin of adding to the Word of God must be understood as adding something that perverts or changes the meaning of God’s Word. If this were not so it would be impossible to translate the Bible from its original Greek/Hebrew languages into English since to translate always requires the use of additional words to make clear the meaning of the original texts. All the italicized words in your Bible are italicized to indicate they have been added for clarity sake and were not there in the original. It is never a sin to help people understand God’s Word more accurately. All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. (1Cor10:23) Whatever is helpful or edifying is lawful in God’s eyes. Jesus was accused for healing on the Sabbath, but He taught the Jews it is not forbidden to do good on the Sabbath. Likewise legal Pharisees today may say adding anything to the “letter” of God’s Word is evil. Who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2Cor3:6) Such people are in the ministry of death if they can only see the letter and not the life giving Spirit. To help people properly understand God’s Word is Spiritual and is of the ministry of life. "You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take anything from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. (Deu4:2) Here God shows the real purpose to keeping God’s Word intact, is so it may be accurately obeyed. Any kind of deletion or addition that would hinder obedience to God’s Word, therefore constitutes the sin. This also means any interpretation of God’s Word that hinders obedience is adding or deleting from God’s Word. Thus the Once Saved/Always Saved doctrine which makes people feel saved in disobedience and hinders them from obeying God’s command to be diligent about their salvation qualifies as a wicked addition to God’s Word. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; (2Pe1:10)

Omissions from God’s Word are also very serious, because if anything true is omitted even though the meaning of God’s Word overall may not be changed, the omission contributes to the weakening of the witnesses that confirm the Word. In the mouth of two or more witnesses let every word be established. (2Cor13:1) God wants you to be rooted and grounded in His truth so His Word gives many confirmations to His true doctrines. Thus the elimination of a “witness” is a serious offense that can weaken faith.  For example in Mark 16:18 it says that a true believer would be protected even from drinking poison while in the service of the Lord. Of course we understand this as being an accidental poisoning or an attack from the wicked. Voluntarily drinking poison would be “testing God” as Jesus teaches Jesus said to him, "It is written again, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" (Matt4:7) This being a similar situation.  Now suppose a young believer, who doesn’t yet know all the scriptures or the wiles of the devil, were standing on Mark 16:18 to survive some sort of poisonous attack he suffered while serving the Lord and a devilish false brother were to tell him Mark 16:18 wasn’t in the original Bible. This could gravely damage the young believer’s faith and even cause his death. And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? (1Cor8:11) Thus these Westcott & Hort aficionados are in the ministry of casting doubt upon God’s truth and that means they are ministers of death and not life. "And will you profane Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, killing people who should not die, and keeping people alive who should not live, by your lying to My people who listen to lies?" "Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life.” (Ezek13:19,22) who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. (2Cor3:6)

We can examine the meaning of every verse or phrase in the MK 16:9-20 passage and prove irrefutably that every Word is true, confirmed elsewhere in the scriptures (In the mouth of two or more witnesses) and also prove these verses were undeniable a part of the original as anyone with the wisdom of God or the love of the truth  in their heart can easily discern.

Mark16:9-11: Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. This is confirmed in every gospel. Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. (Lk24:1,10-11) And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me." Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. (Matt28:9-10,16-17) On the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. (Jn20:1,16,18) And regarding the testimony concerning Mary Magdalene’s deliverance and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities-- Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, (Lk8:2)

Mark16:12-13: After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. Which is confirmed by Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. (Lk24:13-15) So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!" And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. (v33-35)

Mark16:14: Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen. This is confirmed in Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. (Matt28:16-17) So they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?" (Lk24:33,36,41)

Mark16:15: And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” The same is commanded by Christ in "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” (Matt28:19) And that this was obeyed is confirmed in If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. (Col 1:23) Notice “every creature” in Colossians 1:23 and Mark 16:15. Mark’s gospel was believed to be the first gospel written and that previous to AD55. Paul’s Colossian Epistle was written about AD60. That Paul uses the unusual term “every creature” strongly indicates Paul was acquainted with Mark’s gospel and that Mark 16:15 was in the gospel that Paul read.

Mark16:16: "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.” Baptism is commanded also in And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matt28:18-20) Teaching them to “observe all things I’ve commanded you” includes teaching them to observe water baptism and be baptized. (See also our previous Glory of His Grace publication “Baptism and Salvation.”) And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him. (Lk7:29-30) John’s baptism was of God and even Jesus submitted unto it And John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?" But Jesus answered and said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he allowed Him. (Matt3:14-15) So how much more is Jesus’ water baptism of God? And if the Pharisees didn’t submit to the baptism of John that shows their unbelief as also it is unbelief if one who hears the gospel refuses to submit to the baptism of Christ. "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (Jn3:18)

Mark16:17a: And these signs will follow those who believe. The book of Acts especially shows us how God confirms the Word preached by His believers with multiple signs following. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. (Acts2:43) And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. And they were all with one accord in Solomon's Porch. (Acts5:12) Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. (Acts19:11-12)

Mark16:17b: In My name they will cast out demons. Again in Acts: For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. (Acts8:7) And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And he came out that very hour. (Acts16:18)

Mark16:17c:  They will speak with new tongues. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts2:4) And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. (Acts10:45-46) to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. (1Cor12:10) I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues. (1Cor14:18,39)

Mark16:18a: They will take up serpents. But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand. So when the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they said to one another, "No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped the sea, yet justice does not allow to live." But he shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm. (Acts28:3-5)

Mark16:18b: And if they drink anything deadly it will by no means hurt them. Although Mark is specific concerning these things that true believers will have immunity to while in the service of Christ “Go into all the world and preach” Jesus Himself promises safety from all dangers. "Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Lk10:19) “Nothing shall hurt you” must include serpents and poisons as well as any other dangers.

Mark16:18c:  They will lay hands on the sick and they will recover. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. (Jas5:14-15) And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. (Acts28:8)

Mark16:19: So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. Reiterated in Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. (Acts1:9) "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.” (Acts2:33)

Mark16:20: And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. Confirmed by many verses in Acts as well as in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. (Rom15:19)

In these confirming scripture passages we’ve proven nothing in Mark 16:9-20 violates the meaning of the true gospel or anything Jesus and His disciples have taught. Actually Mark 16:9-20 strongly agrees with what Christ and His apostles have taught elsewhere. This leads us to question what possible motives do these “doubters” have in trying to discredit this passage. The only conceivable answer is they want to weaken the Word of God by eliminating a very potent area of reference to the power of Christ that manifests in true believers but can’t be found among these false “liberal” theologians or their followers. Such “believers” are by no means Spiritual if they can even be called carnal or intellectual “believers.” From what you see here concerning their evil motivations it should be clear as to who they serve. "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” (Jn8:44) But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. 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 is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2Cor11:12-15)

However the final and most damning argument against these wicked allegations that Mark didn’t write Mk16:9-20 is that without these verses 9-20 the book of Mark is left sans ending, as though Mark stopped writing in the middle of the testimony of the resurrection So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. (Mk16:8) It is totally inconceivable that God, the Holy Spirit or even Mark himself would leave this gospel unfinished, with the disciples silent and afraid! Furthermore, if you compare the endings of Mathew, Luke and even some of John in many ways they are quite similar to the way Mark16:9-20 ends his gospel; not identical but in no ways contradictory. Therefore the question of the so called addition of Mk16:9-20 is mute. There is nothing in these verses that is not confirmed to be true by other scriptures, nor can their absence be considered a real possibility as to deny their place in Mark is to say God left the book incomplete. Those who have tried to promote this wicked heresy are fools and blind guides totally devoid of any real knowledge of God or understanding of His Word. They have no love of truth nor do they demonstrate any godly wisdom. And they should be shunned and abhorred as enemies of Christ, His Word and His people by all true believers. 

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Bill Taylor

Thus, in God’s wisdom, by the use of such “form” letters I can save the children’s bread for the children, and not get wrapped up in excessive repetitious research and lengthy correspondence. God has given us much wisdom in being able to handle things like this rightly. So, as we encounter common problems we don’t have to rewrite letters or research subjects again and again. We already have what we need on file and I can print out a “Seventh-Day Adventist letter” or a Mark 16 letter to answer a young brother’s questions in a moment!

Right now, the subject we’re considering is wisdom and might. Wisdom and power belong to God and God gives wisdom. When you recognize you’re getting wisdom from God you should be very thankful for it. I know most believers don’t have an “inner life” like I have. By “inner life” I mean that hidden part in you nobody else can see. And what is hidden in me is a constant communion with God. In that communion with God, there’s a lot of “Thank you God” going on. Often I’ll look at Ellie and say, “Thank you God, she’s such a wonderful wife.” Or I’ll thank God for the children and the brethren. When I’m counting the offerings, there’s a constant, “Thank you God, bless these people for their faithfulness.” I’m thankful when God gives me a message and I always pray God would grant the people to take hold of His message. There’s much thankfulness when I get an encouraging letter from somebody who’s reading the Glory of His Grace books. We thank God for the many testimonies of our brethren who are doing well in the Lord. “Thank you” is continually flowing out of my heart in my “hidden speech” with God. And that should be in the heart of all real Christians; that you’re not taking things for granted. You know where the blessings are coming from and you value them and count them precious. And if you’re thankful for what God gives, you’ll also use it well. People who take things for granted, misuse and abuse God’s grace. But the thankful use God’s grace rightly so God can give them more. “To him who has more is given” (Matt25:29) because the one who “has” in the way God is talking about is thankful and he uses what he “has” rightly and that’s why “more” is given to him.

Now, two sides of “Christ in you” (Col 1:27) are, Christ the wisdom of God and Christ the power of God. (1Cor1:24) Where the wisdom isn’t, Christ isn’t. Regarding the letter we received from Mr. J., it’s obvious he has no wisdom. He has much fleshly intellect but he doesn’t have the wisdom to even introduce himself to a minister or new brother in the Lord in an acceptable fashion, so Christ isn't in him. And if Jesus isn't in him he has no power. But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. For the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power. (1Cor4:19-20) I know he has no power because you can't base faith on “probably.” You can't “probably” believe. You can't “probably” receive a healing. A person who’s living in “probablies” isn’t living by faith and it’s certain he won't receive anything because he’s a double-minded man and a double-minded man gets nothing. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (Jas1:6-8) Until Mr. J. gets out of probabilities and into faith he’ll receive nothing from God. The just live by…throwing dice? Probabilities? The just live by faith (Rom1:17), hearing God (Gal 3:2), certainties (Jas1:6), the absolute conviction of God’s will in all things. (1Jn5:14-15) The Lord gives wisdom. (Pr2:6) Where Jesus is wisdom will be manifested. But the Lord also gives power. (Isa40:29)

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. (Isa40:28) One thing Mr. J. is trying to do with all his questions is search my understanding to test me. But he can't do it. He doesn’t have the wisdom to do it and I don’t have the time to give him to even let him try do it. Also, my understanding is far too big for him to search out. “But we have the mind of Christ!” (1Cor2:16) If you read all the 70+ Glory of His Grace books currently available you might get some idea of the measure of my understanding. But even then the Lord has shown me many things I haven’t yet published. Now, if you can't properly search my understanding, how are you going to search God’s? How big is He? How infinite is His understanding? As the elect, we’ll be spending eternity with Him and yet we’ll never get to the end of His understanding. It’s the “unsearchable riches” of Christ. (Eph3:8) There’s no limit to His resources and there’s no end to His wisdom and knowledge. Still the Kingdom of God is not in word but power and the Lord gives power. 

He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths (the young men are usually the strong – see 1Jn2:14b) shall faint and be weary, and the (unbelieving) young men shall utterly fall, (God will wear out their flesh) But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. (Isa40:29-31) There are many scriptures which tell us God gives grace to the humble. But who do you think He gives strength to? Isn't strength grace? So God gives strength to the humble too. And when it says He gives power to the weak, that agrees with “…My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness…” (2Cor12:9) Jesus says He gives grace to the humble and He gives strength to the weak. The people who are already strong don’t need strength do they? The strong think they don’t need God’s strength because they have their own. And this is one of the important principles of God, that He doesn’t give to people who are full. He gives to people who are hungry, thirsty, needy.

One condition is, they must have faith. Another condition is, they must be humble. We can see how humility and thankfulness are siblings. They are closely connected. Jesus says, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.” (Jn9:41) You say you see and you stay blind because what you think you see isn't what you need to see. But when someone realizes, “Jesus I’m blind, I don’t understand how to do this.” And then says, “Jesus please help me see.” Then because you admit you need help and ask for help Jesus can help you. Remember even with blind Bartimaeus, Jesus asks, “What would you have Me to do?” Of course Jesus knows Bartimaeus is blind but He still waits for him to ask, “That I may receive my sight!” So, Jesus heals him. (Mk10:51-52) What about you? Is there something you’re not letting Jesus heal because you don’t see the need or haven’t asked? A lot of people here who thought they were decent Christians found out later they weren’t. In such a case, as long as you think you’re an acceptable Christian, you can't be one. By thinking you’re already acceptable, you don’t ask for what you need to become a real Christian. You won't get what you need from God until you see what you really are and comprehend what you really need.

Prophecy: I see many places who call themselves the body of Christ, professing Me with their lips, lying and deceiving one another. And when someone enters such places looking for My presence, they don’t find Me. For My presence isn’t with them, for they’re not My people and My Spirit doesn’t dwell in them. Such are a people who are full; full of themselves and full of pride. And those who are full, I send away empty. They receive nothing from the Lord. So those who come to such places to find Me only get to know a little about Me. They never get to know My Spirit, never get to see My glory, they don’t see My power manifest in the sanctuary and they can't see a holy people filled with My Spirit. And I tell you, My people, don’t be found complacent among the full. I feed the hungry who come to Me thirsting to see My power and My glory in their midst. So, come with hungry expectations and you’ll be fed. Look for Me to move and I’ll manifest in power. I’m raising up “My Father’s House” for My elect. This is where they’ll come and learn to know Me because here My people demonstrate My Spirit and power. So don’t be satisfied with what is, but come in hungering for more; to search for Me, to pursue My highest power and My glory in this place. My children, I truly desire to pour out My Spirit upon you, to manifest through you, to work in My elect to build up their faith because I’m a saving God. My loving kindness is here to be poured out on My people who come hungering for Me. And though they come hungry, they’ll not leave hungry. For I fill and feed those who look to Me in faith. So open your mouths wide that I can give you the very things that are salvation to you and your brethren. This is what I speak to you today. If you’re full you’ll soon be cast out, but the hungry I’ll bountifully feed and I’ll be glorified in you, saith the Lord. (Prophecy delivered at “My Father’s House”)

The one who gets wisdom from God is the one who knows, “I can't trust my own wisdom.” So, he goes to God in faith to receive God’s wisdom. For example, concerning Mr. J., I’ve seen enough intellectual fakers to know that even to believe the commentator who’s doubting Mark 16, you’d have to research him to see if he’s really an expert, if he’s honest, a lover of God’s truth or is he biased against God’s Word? Is he ambitious and just looking for an issue to “advance” himself? Is he interpreting his data correctly? Are his sources reliable or even questionable to begin with? What do other experts in the field think of him? What do his friends and acquaintances say about him? What kind of life does he lead? Is he truly an upright scholar or has he ever been found fabricating, twisting or exaggerating evidences? Is he omitting evidences that disagree with his case? Are there evidences he doesn’t know about? You see, Mr. J. isn't wise enough to understand he might be misled or even lied to by these very books he thinks are making him wise. But he’s not wise, he’s a fool if he gullibly believes everything he reads. I run everything by God before I can believe it. I don’t believe anything I read until the Spirit confirms it. And if I’m to fulfill the call of God on me, I don’t have time to get involved in complicated intellectual research such as Mr. J. and such “issues” would demand of me. 

Also, arguments like this are forbidden by the Bible. But avoid foolish disputes, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and useless. (Titus3:9) Nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. (1Tim1:4) All you’ll get out of Mr. J. is disputes because he’s striving about the law. Arguing if Mark 16:9-20 is in the Bible is “striving about the law” and has no value whatsoever in edifying someone in faith or building them up in Christ’s love. Nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith. (1Tim1:4-5) So, in all of his so-called religion, Mr. J. is not even obeying the basics of God’s Word. Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned. (Titus3:10-11) Mr. J. is self-condemned! Now, I know that I don’t know enough about many things to accept or reject them on my own. So, I have to ask, “God, what do you say?” The Bible says I have an anointing and the Holy Spirit will lead me into all truth. (1Jn2:27, Jn16:13) A Spiritual man knows what’s true because the Spirit of God shows him. God is an authority I can trust so I don’t have to run through a whole series of fallible human authorities in order to dig out the truth and waste my life searching for “answers” in that way.

God gives to the one who sees his need and looks to God in faith to receive from God. That applies to wisdom and it also applies to strength. God gives strength to one who is weak but sees his need and looks to God in faith to receive help. This principal also applies to other things concerning salvation and the needful things in life.

“Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (Eph5:14) The first step in waking up is to see your lack. When you can see you’re in the dark is when you can ask Jesus for light. For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight…(Ecc2:26) Of course, one God considers good is good. And He gives grace to the humble, means He considers the humble good because to give wisdom, knowledge, and joy is all of grace. Thus, humility has much to do with being good. When God sees humility, He’ll respond to it just as I’ll always respond to a brief letter saying, “I apologize for imposing on your time, but can you help me?” versus someone who writes a fourteen page letter, where the size of the letter alone tells me this person is proud and inconsiderate even before I begin to read it. Thus, I have little inclination to answer him. Now, does that make me different from God or like God? God has no inclination to help a proud person. He has an inclination to help the humble. And that’s exactly the way I feel because God’s in me. When it comes to God giving, He gives to people who consciously look to Him because they know they need help. And if the subject we’re looking at is God’s power, then we must know we need God’s help to have strength or to manifest God’s power.

A lesson we need to teach many is they aren’t reading their Bibles right. Are you reading to read but not reading to fulfill? You may read something like, “Be holy, for I am holy.” (1Pet1:16) and think, “Okay, I know God tells me to be holy” but you don’t pray, “God, help me to be holy, show me how to be holy.” If you read, Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers (1Pet1:18) and yet you are still involved in aimless conduct, that means in effect you aren’t redeemed. And how foolish it is to do nothing about the problem when you could be redeemed from your aimless conduct if you took that verse to heart and prayed, “Lord, help me to manifest this redemption from futility and to have a truly purposeful Christlike conduct.” So, a true believer is not just reading, but fulfilling the scriptures concerning his sainthood. And that doesn’t just apply to the scriptures, but also to the Glory Of His Grace books and any “present truth” God brings forth to the church. Consider, “Even so, since you are zealous for Spiritual gifts” (1Cor14:12) Are you zealous for Spiritual gifts? There was a time when in almost every prayer service I’d have to rebuke the church because of the lack of prayer for God’s power to manifest. When that’s going on, you’re not zealous for the gifts of the Spirit are you? Yet true believers should be zealous for Spiritual gifts. What’s one of the things Spiritual gifts do as opposed to a church where all you get is preaching? And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1Cor2:4-5) “Believers” who don’t think highly of Spiritual gifts must be caught up in human wisdom. You must be deceived into thinking you’re good Christians just because of what you know! We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. (1Cor8:1-2) Too often the tragedy is you don’t even know what you think you know. I have to keep teaching some things over and over because much of the time, even the things you think you understand, you mess up. You’re proud of knowing things that you don’t even know rightly. You don’t do them right and yet you’re content to think you’re part of a great church because of all these things you know. When you’re puffed up because of what you know, that makes you no better than Mr. J.

A true Christian’s faith is to be in the power of God! (1Cor2:5) When a church has faith in the power of God, God is there and He does things to demonstrate His presence. That’s the kind of church the true children of God are looking for and you ought to be working toward. If you’re content to be in a “church” that isn't like that, you aren’t a child of God; your heart is wrong. Even before God called me to start “My Father’s House,” He told me I’d see His glory because I had it in my heart to see God manifest in power from the beginning. And I will see it. And when it happens, I’m sure it will be in a church full of people who are zealous for Spiritual gifts and who want to see God manifest because they know it’s glorifying to God for His gifts to manifest. But for God to manifest, your faith must be in the power of God not in the wisdom of men! Your faith is dead if you don’t have faith in the power of God! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (Jas2:20) And when the Bible talks about the early church, you keep hearing things like “Stephen was full of faith and power!” (Acts6:8) Philip did many miracles. (Acts8:6-7) It was God’s power that came through Peter’s faith that Christ is raised and Christ is alive that healed the lame man. (Acts3:16) Now, wisdom is the principle thing. You must get wisdom first. But if you really had Christ’s wisdom you’d be zealous for Spiritual gifts because it’s wise to be zealous for the power of God to manifest. Your wisdom is deficient if you don’t have a heart that’s zealous to see God show His power. When we see gifts of the Spirit operate, it causes us to have faith in the power of God, to know God is actually present and His power is actually working. It shows us God is really alive today; He’s not just historical and Christianity is not all theoretical and just words. So, how important is it for our faith to be established in the power of God? And how needful is it that we be in a place where the power of God is visibly manifesting? Again, we’re looking at what constitutes real church. Is it a place where the people’s faith is just in words? Because that’s the kind of “faith” that you find in most so-called “christians” these days. Having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! (2Tim3:5) Whereas the true church is a place where our faith is in a God who moves powerfully and supernaturally on behalf of His people so others can have faith for Him to move in their lives too.

Pursue love, and desire Spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. (1Cor14:1) Paul says to pursue love and desire Spiritual gifts. Now, how many of you have taken this scripture to heart? If you took it to heart you’d be praying for God to cause you to abound in Spiritual gifts and you’d be seriously asking God for prophecies. Whereas, a lot of you just read verses like this and then forget them as though you think knowing you’ve been told to pursue love is equivalent to actually pursuing love. So, you substitute the knowledge of what you should do for the actual “faith” to do it and your religion becomes all about what you know instead of what you do. For not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds” (Rom2:13,5-6) So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isa55:11) God won't waste His Word. It won't come back void. He’s sending His Word to a people who won't be content to just read it, but they’ll do it; such people as will pray, “Lord, make me zealous for Spiritual gifts.” And after you pray you start behaving as a zealous Christian. One of the first places to exercise faith is in prayer, which means you ask God to do things. “God, I want to see You manifest in the service so the people can see You’re here in power. Be glorified. Help us, oh Lord, to show forth Your glory in the services; that we’d have awesome prophecies, secrets of hearts revealed, miracles, healings, etc.” When the Holy Spirit is really moving in a church the people are awed. They get a real understanding that it’s far better to be in church than to be out in the world. What makes churches dull is a lack of the presence of God. When God really shows up, church is never dull. Every real Christian should want a church where God is glorified and He’s manifesting. We must be zealous for Spiritual gifts if that’s to happen. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. (Isa40:29) “God gives power” and doesn’t that include the gifts of the Spirit, miracles and healings? Of course it does. And who does He say He gives power to? The weak! Then if you’re not getting power, it must be because you consider yourself to be strong. As a person who thinks his intellect is his power, will not be seeking God’s Spiritual power for healings and miracles. Nor would he be seeking God’s revelation for wisdom. Only when you recognize how foolish and weak you are on your own, will God’s wisdom and strength become available to you. Only when you ask from the heart with a real appreciation, “I need Your wisdom, God.” And only when He can see your humility and faith will the wisdom and power of God manifest for you. Christ the power of God begins to manifest when you see your weakness just like His light begins to manifest when you see your blindness. And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.” (Jn9:39-41) When you acknowledge your lack of wisdom and look to His, is when His wisdom will show you the way.

The first secret to God’s power is recognizing your weakness and the need for His strength. We aren’t strong enough without His strength, and all the wisdom and resources we have apart from Him aren’t enough to do the job. We must have Him present and moving in power to make us a real church and a glory to Him. We can't glorify Him in our strength. Jesus says, “My strength is made perfect in your weakness.” (2Cor12:9) He’s telling Paul, “I’m making you aware of your weakness so you can depend upon My strength because My strength is much better than yours.” God’s wisdom is better than man’s. God’s strength is better than man’s. God’s light is better than man’s. When you’re walking in your own strength, you don’t get God’s strength. You think you have what you need but what you have is inferior. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. (Isa40:30) No matter how strong you are in yourself you’re going to wear out. Right now, you may think you’re doing okay but you’ll soon fail. Those who are walking in God’s strength however, won't wear out. When you’re following man’s wisdom it’ll only take you so far. Jannes and Jambres (2Tim3:8) got to the third plague, then it was over. They couldn't go any farther. (Ex8:19) Men can have a measure of wisdom but it runs out. As long as you’re holding on to man’s wisdom, you have the inferior wisdom and you’ll fall. Whereas, the one who recognizes from the start “I don’t have wisdom” and gets God’s wisdom gets the better wisdom and he’ll endure. So when it comes to anything God offers, if you’re strong in yourself or smart in yourself, full of yourself or you’re trusting in yourself, you’ll miss out on what God offers. Because holding on to what you have means you keep the inferior and lose the superior. The greatest blessing God can give begins when you learn that what you have isn't good enough. The quicker you learn that, the quicker you can take hold of what God has. When you get what God gives, there’s nothing better, you have the best. Real Christianity is continually involved in cutting you loose from the inferior so you can attain to the better. You must crucify what isn't of God so you can have what is of God because what God gives is far superior.

As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, saying: “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill brought low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough ways smooth.’” (Lk3:4-5) Mountains being brought low is God’s way of saying He’ll humble the proud and valleys being filled is God saying He’ll exalt the humble. If you’re proud or strong in yourself God will bring you down. If you’re humble God will lift you up. Then which is better to be, a valley God is lifting up or a mountain God is bringing down? I’d rather be the one who “doesn’t have” that God will lift up than the one who “thinks he has” that God must bring down. And that applies to everything. Be the one who’s empty of self so God can fill you because when He fills your valley up, you’ll be filled with God. But when He brings that mountain down, He isn't filling it with anything. He’s destroying it. So the valley will be established. It will become a good foundation for the highway of God because it’s filled with God, as in the “Word of God.” But the mountain is being turned into nothing. A mountain that’s been brought down doesn’t exist, it’s not a mountain anymore. So wisdom will tell you not to want the kind of strength that men settle for but to recognize your weakness and seek the strength God gives. Let God be your strength.

Real preachers, true men of God often experience divine manifestations of their own weakness. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2Cor12:9-10) Often, we’ll get a sense just before an important service like, “Oh, God I feel so weak, so incompetent, so incapable of this. But I have faith in You.” Then you step out in your weakness because you have faith in the Lord’s strength. And it’s in those services where you feel the weakest that God often does His greatest works because you’re depending on Him alone and you’re not depending on your own abilities, your knowledge or your intellect. So, if we’re to see God manifest in this church it’s because we recognize our emptiness, our lack, our weakness and we know we must have His strength to be a church that glorifies Him. If we’re true Christians we can't settle for being a church that just has “the Word,” we must have the demonstration of God’s power. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. (1Cor2:4-5) Our faith must be in the power of the living God to manifest in the here and now. That’s when God is glorified. That’s when “The Kingdom of God has come upon us.” (Matt12:28) That’s what makes us a habitation for God in the Spirit. (Eph2:22) And that’s what proves Christ has been raised and lives among us right now. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. (Acts4:33)

Humble The Hearts

The pride of man is worse than a thousand diseases,

Causing him to ignore God and do as he pleases.

The pride in his heart will eat away at him like cancer.

He may pray when in trouble, but the proud, God won’t answer.

A proud man refuses to receive instruction,

Leading him in the path of his own destruction.

Pride keeps a man’s heart locked in terrible deception,

Where he doesn’t seek God, and doesn’t seek perfection.

Our words alone can never lead them to eternal life,

Their pride only brings arguments and continual strife.

These proud men today are more in number than the sand.

We pray, humble them, oh God, under Your mighty hand.

Bring them down and uncover all their secret parts.

Do an awesome work that will break their hardened hearts.

It’s only by Your power that this work can be done.

Perform it, oh Lord, so many souls can be won!!

(Poem delivered at “My Father’s House)

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