This message is not for those who have it all together doctrinally and are enjoying God's blessings for being right. Nor am I trying to answer any questions for you who's questions speak much louder than the answers you have been receiving over the years. But it is my privilege to introduce you to the one who is willing, able and ready to answer any question or meet any need you might have.
In Job 38:1,2, it reads, "Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?"
There are those within the Christian faith whose counsel has been darkened concerning the new testament teachings of grace and faith and concerning the spiritual rites, if you will, of the Church such as water baptism and communion, and also our "spiritual works of service to God" such as fellowship, witnessing and giving, as well as, giving to the ministry.
Let's take "giving to the ministry" for example. Many have questioned as to how we are to give of our "carnal things" (1 Cor. 9:11) as a spiritual work of service to God and his church when it doesn't seem to be clearly laid out for us by the Apostles in the new testament scriptures. After all, didn't God do away with the old covenant? So why are we still tithing according to Malachi 3 where it reads,
"10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." and in verse 11, "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, says the Lord of host."
We all like that portion of scripture, not because it tells us to bring all the tithes into the storehouse but because of the promise that is attached to it, and that is, he would "rebuke the devourer". So we have those who claim to understand God's word much clearer, who, to the satisfaction of most, have weaved for us an old testament ordinance with our new testament theme which is "by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is a gift of God... 'not of works'". They basically teach, "Come to Christ and you will have eternal life but you must pay your tithes if you want God to rebuke the devourer.
Yet, when the rich young ruler asked Jesus what he would have to do in order to have eternal life, Jesus told him to sell all he had, give the sum of it to the poor, and come and follow him. Even for those who are satisfied with tithing, it still brings many to question within their hearts as to what they are to do with the rest of the old testament.
Lately, I have seen different ones within the Christian faith who are leaning toward Christian Judaism. I can appreciate the allure, and it would have made the Apostle Peter really pleased at one point to see this merge into Judaism. And the Apostle Paul said he would be all things to all men in order to win some to the Lord but is this really the way to deal with the lack of clear counsel concerning old testament ordinances and spiritual works of service to God within the new testament church? After all, God's dealings with the Jewish people is different, is it not? So, why are we trying to be Jewish as long as salvation has come to the Gentiles as well?
And here out of this whirlwind of doubt, our Lord is speaking and He is not pleased with those of us who have darkened the counsel of God by the multitude of words. Yet, Hosea 4:6 reads, "My people are destroyed (or they perish) for a lack of knowledge". So, what do we do? We drive hundreds of miles each year attending seminars trying to obtain knowledge. However, God's word speaks of those within the church who are unfortunately "ever learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth". The Lord says it all in three words: Words without knowledge. And I know some of you are like that robot right now, with his arms flailing wildly in the air, and you're thinking, "this does not compute" for you have gone to great lengths to obtain just that, spiritual knowledge.
After all, "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" does it not? Yes, faith does come by hearing but by hearing that inner voice of God and that comes through a personal relationship where God is speaking and we are hearing and obeying His word.
And yes, the word says, "how will we believe unless we hear and how will we hear without a preacher?" We need preachers. We need preachers who will preach the uncompromised, whole counsel of God. What we don't need are those who darken the counsel of God
for their own means. The letter kills, the Bible says, but the Spirit gives life. I think it's regrettable that there are so many who feel the need to attend seminar after seminar in order to obtain knowledge.
Yes, we need the fellowship of other believers. Yes, we need to hear what God is saying through other ministries to the church. What we don't need is to go to all those lengths just to hear what God is personally speaking to us. If you read the book of Job, you will see that Job went to great lengths to get counsel and to get understanding, because he was drowning. His wife and kids just died. His crops failed and his livestock got sick and died as well and he needed some help and he didn't care where he got it or what it costs him to get that help. The only thing was though, all that effort was for nought. Instead of things getting better, he got sick and came close to dying and he was more broke than ever. The Lord told Job, "Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?" Here, after Job had finally exhausted all his resources and was near death's door, he finally heard from God.
And like Job, there are those of us who have done the very same things Job did. Through so much getting of knowledge, and through the multitude of words, we have allowed the counsel of God to become darkened by the very words that were meant to be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. And the gospel that was supposed to be the power of God unto your salvation became hidden from you. In whom as it reads in 2 Corinthians 4:4, "the god of this world has blinded the minds which believe not lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them".
In Matthew 15:14, Jesus said, "Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." Now, it's usually right about now that I would say, "I know you're probably asking yourself, "who does this guy think he is? All I can say to that is, "let God be true and every man a liar. No, his word didn't say, "lawyer", he said "liar" because a lawyer would argue the point. It is not my intention to provoke you to anger. However, we really need to get mad. At who? At the devil. For Jesus said, "the thief comes not but for to steal, to kill and to destroy; but I have come that you might have life and that more abundantly".
Who came? Jesus came. What? not Charisma Magazine's number one apostle/prophet of the year? They didn't come? No! It says Jesus came. He says, I have come that you might have life and that more abundantly. We are speaking of the one who in 1 Corinthians 1:30 it is said that "he is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption". He was speaking to the church in the book of Revelation when he said, "I am he that liveth, and was dead, I am alive for ever more... and have the keys of hell and death."
Who has the keys? Brother So and so? No! Why would you want to go to some seminar to get the keys when the very Son of God who took the keys of hell and death and has conquerored death has come to your heart's door and is with you right now. You can try and look up your favorite preacher's phone number if you want to. But don't be surprised if it's unlisted. And even if it isn't unlisted and you do get through, try inviting him or her to your home to eat at your table so they can answer the questions that have been plaguing you over the years. Even if they did try to make themselves available like that, you would probably have to wait in a very long line for a very long time.
But Jesus, who has a name greater than any other name that is named in heaven and earth is saying right now, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me." In other words, if you need wisdom, he is right there to give you wisdom. If you need righteousness, sanctification or redemption. He is right there ready to give you the things you need.
His word says, "as many as received him, in John, chapter one, to them gave he power to become the sons of God". And in I John 2:26, it reads, "These things I have written unto you concerning them that seduce you. But the anointing which you have received of him, speaking of Jesus, abides in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, ye shall abide in him."
And in verse 28, it reads, "And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming". That word "ashamed" brings another scripture to mind... "2 Timothy 2:15 which reads, "study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth,..." You mean, I can do that? You mean I can rightly divide the word of truth? You mean, I don't need the pope or the priest to tell me what God's word says? or I don't need Pa Pa So-and-so and Prophet What's his name? You mean all I need is Jesus to teach me all things? That's what he says, "All you need is Jesus".
He said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me". Hallelujah! And he has given us counsel and he has given us his word to live a godly and blessed life. And it's called the Holy Bible. 2 Timothy 3:16,17 tells us that "all scripture, the whole counsel, the testaments, old and new, every chapter, every verse and every line are "given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that you may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto every good work"... Yes, all you need is Jesus. but that's not to say we don't need preachers.
When Jesus ascended on high, the Bible says, he gave gifts unto men. And those gifts are called "gift ministries" which many of us know as the five fold ministry. And that is the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, pastors and teachers. And someone might say, "Yeah, but you read that scripture that said we don't need any man to teach us! Read I John 2:26 again. it reads, "These things I have written unto you concerning, here it is, THEM THAT SEDUCE YOU".
In other words,If you can't find the truth, the Lord is saying, "Don't worry! the anointing will teach you all things and he is the Spirit of truth". Can you say, Amen? But this verse is not an excuse for you to stay out of fellowship with the God's people. Do I need to say that again? This verse is not an excuse for us to stay out of fellowship with God's people. And if you're more spiritual than anyone else where you live, maybe you ought to open your home and start a fellowship of your own. But the Bible says we need to assemble ourselves in spiritual fellowship and all the more as we see the day approaching. You need the people of God and the people of God need you. And we still need the five-fold ministry.
They are a part of the government of God, until what? until we all come in the unity of faith, unto a perfect man. His word says, when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. And I know there are those of you that don't believe tongues and miracles and things like that are for today. Because you believe that which is perfect is already come. Well, if you follow that line of thinking, you preachers who preach that, ought to just go home and sell insurance or retire or whatever you did before you were called because that which is perfect has come, they won't need you either.
But that's not what the scripture is saying. "That which is perfect" is speaking of the body of Christ, the saints of God coming into a place of maturity in Christ. Paul said "when I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. I don't know about you, but we're not there yet. Paul said, "As long as there is envying and strife among you, we have yet to reach a place of maturity". Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?
Jesus is all we need to learn and to grow in God. After all, he was the word made flesh and he dwelt among us and we beheld his glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. If you need grace, if you need truth, Jesus is right there with you to give you grace and to give you truth. In Job 32:7,8, Elihu said, "Days should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdom." Thank God for men and women of God who have years on us, and they have experience on us and they have that time with the Lord on us. But someone also said, "There's no fool like an old fool".
But when we are at a place where evil men and seducers are waxing worse, as the Bible says will happen in the last days, verse eight reads, "there is a spirit in man, and the inspiration of the Almighty gives him understanding". Nobody knows you like you and Jesus in you. And he is speaking if you will only listen. No longer will you have to hear dark counsel. You know why? For He is the Wonderful, Counselor, the Prince of Peace, the Bible says, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father. God Bless You! is my prayer.