Living in the Fall II

LIVING IN THE FALL ll

One might ask, “How is it possible for one who is born of God and has ministered to others the profound truths of the Bible, to fall into sin and remain there for years while they continue to preach the gospel?” In times past, the most common operation of men was to pervert the scriptures so as to manipulate the saints into accepting their evil actions as sanctioned by God. And this lie was able to prosper because there was no confrontation with truth. But now for those of us who have sat under the truth and ministered such for years, a more subtle and deceitful approach is taken to maintain a life of sin in the house of God. Some of the sons have chosen to live in the fall. This means they continue to preach the truth, (in fact, they seek out the truth), but never allow that truth to touch the areas of perversion in their lives. But the trick now is to evolve with the outpouring of the truth from heaven. Therefore, they grab it as soon as it comes out of the mouth of a true apostle, study it for possible areas they can give increase and more definition, put it in their own notes and minister it to the souls before them. In many cases this truth will and does condemn their actions, deeds, ways and spiritual disposition.

However, because it is the truth, the people of God are blessed by it and desire to hear more and more. For this cause such leaders must maintain a pipeline by which they can receive such teachings from those who are truly in touch with God. Now the Word of God in its purity is what true saints really want to experience. Therefore, such leaders will only be able to hold these saints for a season. But the impurity that is in a minister’s heart will show through in spite of the truth he preaches. These leaders do not embrace the truth they preach as law for their own lives. It is merely a message that distinguishes them among others. They will never allow it to touch or destroy the iniquity or wantonness in them. Therefore, the iniquity and sin in their hearts will flow into certain segments of their teaching and preaching through cracks of contempt for the truth that exists in their imagination. This is an involuntary spiritual reflex.

Sin or iniquity in the heart creates darkness and a venomous exhalation. This iniquity will show itself in spite of all efforts to conceal it. I was in a meeting with three other ministers and I suggested to one that he needed to communicate with some of his saints who loved him and had been a blessing to him and his ministry, but were beginning to believe he had deceived them in a matter. Well, I might as well have said, “You are Satan’s favorite child.” He went off on me like a lightning bolt and continued to rant and rave furiously until one of his own ministers said, “All we need is a drink and a cigarette and we are back at the bar.” In spite of all the truth this minister preaches, when areas of dishonesty were challenged, iniquity and blatant lies flowed like a mighty raging river. When the Word of God is not sacred, but merely used as a tool of the trade, iniquity, lust, wantonness and all manner of sin will survive to have their day. The frequency and affect of those days on the population of the church will eventually cause some to depart even though they know the Word was right and good. But the character of the leader frustrates saints who are looking for purity. Now herein is an operation of the devil that has been learned and adopted by many clergymen. It is called… Ministerial Witchcraft.

There are many definitions of the word witchcraft, but one in particular stands out in my endeavor to render the heart and mind of God in this study; to enchant. The meaning here is to captivate, enthrall, beguile and to lure. The objective of ministerial witchcraft is to control members of the Body of Christ. This operation however, is not confined to ministers. Many members of the household of faith are practicing this behavior on a daily basis. Sad to say, but many have been quite successful in it. Many potentially good ministers are overtaken by their thirst for power and recognition. By such they have subverted their gift and the commission they were divinely called to. This quest for power and authority over the people of God has no boundaries and begins with structuring the thoughts of those who are appointed to the highest positions in the church. Therefore, church leadership is the first target. If a leader can control the thinking of his leaders, they will become unified with him and his/her agenda, whether it is good or bad.

While preaching in a conference in Jamaica I used an illustration in which four ministers were having a conversation. But for the sake of exposing more thoroughly the wiles of the devil, I will increase that number to seven. All but one who sits at a table next to the group, belong to the same church. Each evening for several weeks, they gather and sit at a table for dinner. Each evening #1 Leader says to the group, “I went to fellowship with Brother Bob today.” This goes on for quite a while until, one day someone says to #1 Leader, “I don’t think you should be going over to Bob’s house. I don’t think you can really trust him.” The next evening at dinner, Mr. X sitting at the table next to the group asks, “Did you go to Brother Bob’s house today?” #1 Leader is livid! He begins to rant and rave insisting that he never, ever went over to Brother Bob’s house and that he never told anyone that he did. All at the table knew that this was not true but they all sat in silence. Mr. X insists, “Every evening you told us you went over to Brother Bob’s house to fellowship with him and then last week Bob told me you were coming by to see him every day to encourage him in the Lord. Besides that we all heard you say you went over to his house daily.” #1 Leader becomes even more furious and insists that Bob is a no good liar and that he never went to his house nor did he ever tell anyone such a thing. At this point Mr. X is waiting for the integrity of those in the group who heard such things to speak up. Four of the seven, in the spirit of meekness declare that #1 Leader did indeed say such things. They hold fast to the truth and do not acquiesce to the lie. For this they are labeled haughty, high-minded, evil doers and worshipers of Mr. X. But what about the other two in the group who witnessed the same thing? One of them openly bonded with the leader in the lie, and the other silently did the same.

1 Corinthians 2:13

Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

We are charged with identifying the spiritual connotations of all our experiences, whether they are direct or indirect experiences. This is how we grow in the grace God has given us. Let us look a bit closer to see what really happened here and what are the spiritual implications regarding such behaviors.

A. When truth requires a witness, silence is to agree with the lie.

St. Matthew 22:16

And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.

St. John 3:20-21

20. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

21. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

If it is in your heart to do good, then truth is not fearful. When one fears or hesitates to bear witness of the truth in the presence of a lie, due to loyalties and soulish ties, then it is manifest such a one cannot be the disciple of the Lord. Consider the passage below.

St. Luke 14:26

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Jesus made it clear that no one is to be preferred above Him and that which He represents. Paul also rehearses this principle.

Galatians 2:6

But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man’s person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me:

B. The two remaining ministers made themselves false witnesses against Christ.

St. John 14:6

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

C. #1 Leader now knows that he is able to defile the conscience of these men without a rebuttal.

1 Corinthians 8:7

Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

1 Corinthians 8:10-12

10. For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol’s temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;

11. And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?

12. But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.

Now the passage above uses the illustration of a minister of the gospel of Christ eating those things that were offered to idols. But the principle here is the same in any situation where we who have the knowledge of the truth hold it in unrighteousness in the presence of those who are weak or unlearned in the faith. In the passages above, the unlearned has no knowledge of the fact that the idol is insignificant. He sees eating that which is offered to idols as a sin. But when he sees another do it, he is convinced that it is a sin God will excuse, so he feels free to indulge in the meats offered to idols. This is where it is a sin for him to be a partaker; in his unlearned state, he regards the idol and its affect on the meats offered to it. Therefore, his weak conscience due to the lack of knowledge is strengthened in unrighteousness as he purposes to do that which he believes to be a sin simply because it is demonstrated as righteousness by those who have no consideration for his ignorance. When we do that which is unholy in the name of the Lord, and allow the weak and/or unlearned to believe that our actions are motivated by God, it is possible for them to become strengthened in the way of unrighteousness. If so, they will perish.

D. This is the beginning of the spirit of control.

When ministers are able to successfully get others to bond with them in sin and iniquity, it becomes quite easy to their thoughts and movements in the household of faith. Nevertheless, in order for this to be accomplished the one in control has either provided something the victims want or feel they need. However, it is detrimental to continue to override one’s conscience and turn a deaf ear to unrighteousness. All will end up in hell if the truth is not the authority in our lives.

E. Submission to the Word is the only escape.

Righteousness is not about taking sides with man. Righteousness is about pleasing God. Let us endeavor to follow peace with all men, but without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain (1 Corinthians 9:24).