MARK THEM WHICH CAUSE DIVISIONS!

Rom16:17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

Phil.2:2Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

The word division means to part ways, divide or separate, today you have one church on one corner, and another one right across the street, with each one calling themselves something different from the next one, and preaching a doctrine that is also different from the other.
Many today feel that there is nothing wrong with all the different denominations in the world today, when in fact it is quite contrary to the way God would have the members of the body of Christ to “think” today.

Rom.15:5Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:
6That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God would have Christians to be “likeminded” and glorify God the father with “one mind” and with “one mouth”, but this is not how God the father and the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached today. Today there are hundreds of different denominations all over the world that call themselves Christians, but when it comes to the subject of salvation, each denomination has a different view on God’s requirement for salvation; also most preach that you can lose your salvation, if you don’t meet their requirement for salvation.

1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

God’s requirement for salvation is plain and simple; we are saved by God’s grace through our faith; through the blood of Jesus Christ. Salvation is not something that you have to work to attain, in God’s word for today it says we “are saved”, and that He “hath” translated us, notice it’s all past tense, but some today preach that you can ‘backslide’ your way out of the “kingdom of His dear Son”. Today there are also many that feel that you are not saved unless you ‘come up’ and ‘walk the aisle’, or by ‘laying hands’ on someone, or hear the ‘sinners prayer’, or through water baptism, or ‘catching the Holy Ghost’ and showing ‘evidence’ by speaking in tongues. These requirements are all man-made in view of the fact that God does not require those acts today. Is it possible after someone becomes saved to “receive another spirit”?, well many today feel that this takes place in their lives every Sunday, but God’s word tells us different. Some time ago I heard someone say, “you do it your way; and we do it our way, but we get it done don’t we?”, but is this the attitude Christians are to have? Are we to think that because someone comes along and says they are preaching “Jesus!”, that they are preaching the gospel of God’s grace in truth?

2Cor.11:3But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

So it easy to see that there are one’s that can preach “another Jesus”, and ask you have you received “another spirit”(catching the Holy Ghost), and also preach “another gospel”. But why the confusion? why does the church world all say something different from the next? Who’s right? Does it even matter? Even when trying to find a church to attend most base the decision upon how popular the pastor is, or how big the building might be, or how large the congregation is.

Phil.1:27Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

When the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached, it is to be preached with “one mind” and “one Spirit”, and with togetherness. With all the denominations out there, each one has a different message concerning God’s will for them today.

Phil.3:15Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Well, how do we become “perfect” and “thus minded”? well we must “walk by the same rule” and “mind the same thing” in the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we looked earlier, it is possible to preach “another gospel”, so how does one know which gospel God would have preached today?

Rom.16:25Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

God through the apostle Paul says that we are to be established by what Paul calls “my gospel”, most importantly; in the day when God will “judge the secrets of man”; by what gospel will they be judged?

Rom.2:16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

This gospel that Paul calls “my gospel” is the “preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery”; it was “kept secret since the world began”.

1Cor.2:5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

This “mystery” was not “made known” since “the world began”, and God kept this message “hid” within himself, and in doing so this gospel was unknown to all mankind, and most importantly to Satan. Satan knew about God’s plan to repossess the earth back unto Himself through Israel, that was spoken about “since the world began”, but he did not know about God’s plan to repossess the heavenly places back unto Himself also. To Israel God promised that they would “inherit the earth”, in our epistles from Romans through Philemon we are told we will ‘inherit’ the heavenly places. If Satan knew about God’s plan to repossess the heavens back unto Himself, he “would not have crucified the Lord of Glory”.

Acts3:21Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

Luke1:69And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
70As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

See the difference? God through “his holy prophets” spoke about his plan and purpose for the nation of Israel “since the world began”; which is different from the message that Paul preaches to us today. To his holy prophets God “spake” about the gospel concerning Israel “since the world began”, and to Paul God revealed this “mystery” which was “kept secret since the world began”. This gospel given to Paul is a different message for the gentile world today.

Eph.3:1For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Well it seems that God places a great deal of importance on the “preaching of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery”, we are told that we are to be “stablished” by this doctrine, and we are to make “all men see” this message; and most importantly we are not “to be ignorant” of this gospel. So if there is a great deal of importance placed on this “mystery;” why is it not preached in most pulpits today?

2Tim2:15Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Failure to follow the instruction that God the Father gave to and through the apostle Paul results in the mishandling of “the word of truth”, in this verse; God gives the ‘fool-proof’ way to “study” and to not be “ignorant” of his “word of truth”, but this verse is ignored and confusion begins to be understood as being the way for men to ‘interpret’ God’s “word of truth”, and do it their way. To “rightly divide the word of truth”, is to correctly understand where and when God has made the dispensational change in his dealings with Israel, as well as his plan and purpose for us today as being gentiles.

2Tim.3:16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness

Rom.15:4For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

We must understand that “all scripture” is the “word of truth”; but we also must understand the dispensational change, and when and where this is in His word. When we read God’s word of truth, we must understand that the things written “aforetime” (things written from Genesis-Acts8), is in God’s “times past” dealings with Israel, and that “all scripture” is for “our learning”, but not for our obedience today. When God through Paul talks about the different “times”, He does this for a purpose of understanding the “time” that we live; wherein God is dealing with the gentiles today.
Eph.2:7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

When Paul talks about the different “times;” like “aforetime”, and “times past”, and at “that time”, and ages “to come”, and “but now”; if God was dealing with all mankind the same way in His word, there would be no need to specify the “times”; He would just speak about the way things are done “all the time”. Today God is not dealing with the gentiles the same way he dealt with Israel, just as well; He did not deal with Israel in “times past” (or will in “ages to come); the same way He is dealing with the gentiles today.

1Cor.4:16Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.
1Cor.11:1Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
Phil.3:17Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

God has Paul say “follow me” for a very good reason; the Paul is our “apostle, preacher, and teacher” for the whole world today.

Acts9:15But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Rom.11:13For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office:

Rom.15:16That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
17I have therefore whereof I may glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
18For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

2Tim.1:11Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

The apostle Paul who is God’s “chosen vessel”; taught this doctrine that should be preached “everywhere”, and in “every church”, also this doctrine is the gospel to be preached “to every man” under heaven.

1Cor.4:17For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

Col.1:23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Right here in Colossians 1:23; Paul explains that he is “made” a minister to “every creature which is under heaven”; it is God the Fathers’ designed way that Paul be our apostle today. So then if the apostle Paul is our apostle; which we can plainly see, then our doctrine is found within the epistles of Romans through Philemon for the gentile world today. Those 13 epistles contain our gospel for our obedience as members of the church of the body of Christ.

Gal.1:6I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you ,than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Gal.2:2And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them THAT GOSPEL which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain.

Gal.2:7But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
8(For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)
9And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen (the gentiles), and they unto the circumcision.

Right here in Galatians 2:2; God sent Paul by revelation to Jerusalem to ‘communicate’ his gospel unto James, Peter, and John, and after they “saw” the gospel that Paul preached; meaning prior to Paul ‘communicating’ this gospel unto them, they never heard it before. These apostles “saw” that Pauls’ apostleship was “mighty” in him “toward the gentiles”. They agreed that Paul would go to the gentiles ONLY, and James, Peter, and John would go to Israel ONLY.

Rom.1:5By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name
Rom.16:26But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
Rom.15:18For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,

1Co 14:36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
1Co 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
1Co 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.

Today we have a “commandment” of God that the gospel that Paul preaches should be “made known” to “all nations”, for our “obedience of faith”, and by “word and deed”, meaning the doctrine that our faith should stand upon, and the doctrine on how we live our Christian lives, is contained within Romans through Philemon.

“EVIL MEN AND SEDUCERS”

1Tim.1:3As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
4Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
Gal.1:6I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

The apostle Paul in our epistles (from Romans through Philemon), warns us about ones who “pervert” the gospel, and teach “another gospel”, which is contrary to the gospel that Paul preached. Paul explains that if anyone were to preach any “other doctrine”, (contrary to the gospel that he preached) godly edifying would not take place with the saints, they would only have “fables” and “endless genealogies”, and a lot of “questions” to base their Christian lives upon.

Eph.4:14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

2Cor.11:13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

There are people today that preach this “other doctrine”, and we are told that these “deceitful workers” will “deceive” with “cunning craftiness”, and whether they know that they are Satan’s’ ministers or not, this might even be someone you have known for years, or attended his services every Sunday, but if they are not preaching “sound doctrine”, they are tossing the hearers of this “wind” of doctrine “to and fro”. As Paul says this should be of “no marvel” to the saints today, Satan understands something that a lot of christans do not today; that because God the father made a dispensational change in his dealings with mankind today, he must also “transform” himself today into “an angel of light”. Today Satan has a doctrine that preaches self-“righteousness”, and “his ministers” have the look of “righteousness”, and the message that they preach is one of works for salvation and justification instead of salvation by grace through faith alone.

Eph.3:9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ.

2Cor.4:3But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Today when a pastor stands in the pulpit, he should be preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ “according to the revelation of the mystery”, his job is to “make all men see” this gospel called the “mystery”, instead these verses are ignored by the preacher in the pulpit, and “another gospel” is preached. Today when people attend church you have more entertainment than edification taking place with the church world. Today when this gospel is not preached, it causes ones to become “lost” when these men leave people ignorant of what God said they should not be ignorant of.

Rom.11:25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

Today when this “other gospel” is preached, it speaks of physical blessings like health, wealth, relationships, etc., the reason for this is because these men preach Jesus Christ “according to the gospel of the kingdom”, which was preached to Israel by John the Baptist, and the Lord and His 12 apostles, but this is contrary to what God has said that our blessings are, today we are told of God the father that our blessings are of a spiritual nature ONLY. We are told of God the father what a Blessed man is today.

Rom.4:7Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Eph.1:3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

In Israel’s program they were told of God what would take place in their lives IF they “would harken unto the voice of the Lord”; also they were told what would take place IF they “did not harken unto the voice of the Lord”.

Duet.28:1And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God.
3Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
5Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
6Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
Matt.5:2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

The gospel “of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery” is contrary to this “good news”, Israel’s gospel is a physical-earthly one, which deals with blessings that will take place on this earth. The blessings that the gentiles have today concerns the “inner man”, we are told what to “set our affections on” and what to expect from God. Today we cannot take what God promised to Israel and apply it to our life, it won’t work.

Col.3:11If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2Set your affection on things above, NOT on things on the earth

2Cor.4:16For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man IS renewed day by day.

See the only man that God promised would benefit from any blessings today in our dispensation would be the “inward man”. Today blessings work differently in our program, different from the way it worked with Israel. We are told what to “hope for”, in our lives, we are told to “hope for that we see not”, this is because we walk by “faith not by sight”.

Rom.8:24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

2Cor.5:7(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

So if our gospel is a spiritual one, how can we tell if someone is preaching “another gospel” that is not in line with the will of God for his church of the body of Christ today?

Phil.3:17Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
18(For MANY walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

So as we see these “enemies of the cross” are minding “earthly things”, some think that these “earthly things” spoken about are things like fornication, drugs, alcohol, etc., but these “earthly things” that these “enemies” are “minding” are physical blessings from God. If this were not the case, there would be no reason for Paul to remind these saints “often” that these guys are not “minding” the “same thing” concerning God’s will for them today.

Rom.15:25But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
26For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
27It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

Gal.2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

Notice when it comes to taking up a collection for the “poor saints”, God calls this a “CARNAL” act, but when it comes to us being “fellow-citizens” with the saints, he calls this a “spiritual” thing. If God was blessing the “saints in Christ” with things like money, or helping them get through a tough financial time in their lives (which is the way a lot of christans believe that God is blessing them today), there would be no need for Peter to ask Paul to “remember the poor”, all the saints would have the same blessings in Christ.

1Tim.6:3If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
4He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
5Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that GAIN IS GODLINESS: from such withdraw thyself.
6But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
9But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
10For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

Today the gospel of Jesus Christ in truth is not preached, instead a gospel of earthly blessing and prosperity is taught, and the gospel of Jesus Christ according to the revelation of the mystery is once again ignored. There are those that claim that they are pastor, preacher, teacher, but preach that “gain is godliness”, but as saints we are told to “withdraw” ourselves from these “perverse” men with “corrupt minds”, because these men that “will be rich”, teach this bad doctrine and have “erred from the faith”, these guys are preaching for “own belly”, and do this all for “filthy lucre” (money).

1Tim.3:3Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

Rom.16:17Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

It does not matter how big the church is; or how big the smile, or how nice the guy may seem to be, they can be “zealous”, and very sincere when they preach the word of God, but they are preaching God’s “word of truth” the wrong way, they are not preaching it the way God told them to preach it; “rightly divided”. These “perverse men” do not see the division that God made in His word and by not understanding the need to “rightly divide” the bible, we can see it can be very dangerous.

Rom.10:1Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

As we see with Israel they had a “zeal of God”, meaning they were ‘God-fearing’ people, and they ‘believed in God’, but they did not ‘believe God’, they wanted to do it their own way, and go about “to establish their own righteousness”.

1Tim.4:1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

If these guys in the pulpit are not preaching God’s “word of truth” rightly divided, they are speaking “lies”, and preaching doctrines of “devils” when they preach Israel’s gospel today, they stand in the pulpit with bible in hand, some do not know that they have been taught wrong, or could be the ones who have been “bewitched”; but again, if their “conversation” is not a heavenly-spiritual one that concerns your “inner man” only; then these guys are an “enemy of the cross of Christ”(it’s sad to say, but this bad doctrine is preached in over 90% of the church world today).
Gal.3:1O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

These guys in the pulpit are not serving our Lord Jesus Christ, they might say they do, but if they are not serving our Lord Jesus Christ who are they serving? Satan.

Rom.16:18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

2Cor.11:13For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
14And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
15Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

There are some today that think that God “calls out” men to preach today, or gives them the gift to preach, which is not how God said a man would take the office of a preacher today.

Eph.4:7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Notice when Paul talks about these spiritual gifts, he talks about them in the ‘past-tense’, he says “and he gave”, but when he talks about the only gift that God is still “giving” today (which is salvation), he says “but unto every one of us is given”, grace. So when we look at what God’s requirement for the office of a bishop, deacon, preacher, etc., this is a work that is to be a “desire”, also this man is not to be a “novice”, meaning ‘unlearned’, also they must first be “proved”, but most importantly these men must be taught. And if the man has to be “taught”, then that goes against the way man received revelation before, with a spiritually gifted man, he was not taught, he had a God given gift of knowledge concerning God’s will.

1Tim.3:1This is a true saying, if a man desires the office of a bishop, he desired a good work.

2Tim.2And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Titus1:9Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Col.2:7Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

See God is not the “author of confusion”, he would not have his church saying different things, see this is where the confusion comes from today, these people call themselves Baptist, Methodist, etc., (all man made denominational names, nowhere will you find these names in the bible) and by doing this, along with not preaching “sound doctrine”, they are causing “divisions contrary to the doctrine” which God would have taught today.

1Cor.14:33For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

2Tim.3:1This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

So as you can see, the only way God the father can be glorified today, and we can know God’s will for us today, is through “sound doctrine” which we find in our epistles; from Romans through Philemon, but we also see that there are ones who will ignore this doctrine and remain “lost”, and will be turned away from the “truth” unto “fables”.

2Tim.4:3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

1Tim 1:25In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
26And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

1Cor.1:10Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
By Rod Jones

MARK THEM WHICH CAUSE DIVISIONS!

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