A HUGE CHANGE - AT GOD'S LEADING

The Lord has given me 2 more crucial subjects to share, this week and next,

Please prayerfully consider what the Lord is saying. 

Thank you.

 

David Tait

Walking With Jesus Ministries

wwj.org.nz

A MUZUNGU’S (White Man’s) THOUGHT – Issue 44

IS IT ENOUGH TO BELIEVE?

Over the years I have always categorized Christians as believers, those who have accepted Christ as Saviour, and disciples, those to whom He is Lord of their lives as well.

The ‘Believers Doctrine’ has come from the Scriptures, the classic one being…..

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)(All NIV unless otherwise stated)

Ironically, it is also used by Lutherans and Calvinists to justify predestination, which in a way is similar, because it promotes the ‘once saved, always saved’ ideology that is so prevalent in the church today, one which, biblically, in Jewish, Middle Eastern, cultural understanding is not possible. Decisions are not just of the mind, as in our Greek based Western culture, but whole of self and life, and must be lived out to be true.

Salvation is also an Old Testament concept, particularly mentioned in Psalms and Joel…..

And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the Lord has said, even among the survivors whom the Lord calls. (Joel 2:32)

Interestingly, Paul picked up on Joel’s terminology…..

¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, ¹³ for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:12-13)

And expressed it in a similar way in Acts…..

³¹ They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” ³² Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. (Acts 16:31-2)

This concept was further promoted by Paul in Romans…..

⁸ But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your hear, that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: ⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. (Romans 10:9)

And again…..

⁸ But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.⁹ Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! ¹⁰ For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! (Romans 5:8-10)

As mentioned above the problem, as we will explain again in more detail later, is that there is a cultural gulf and difference between the Jewish, Middle Eastern biblical writers and our Greek based Western interpretation.

I have understood over the years, along with most others, particularly through evangelists, that believing in Jesus, such as saying the unbiblical ‘sinners prayer’, is all you have to do to become a Christian.

Sadly, nearly all evangelists have been mainly interested in numbers of their simplistic definition of conversion, so that they can claim salvations. Church leaders take the same stance also.

I had a good friend in New Zealand, who was a very committed evangelist right up until he was around 90, if my memory serves me right. His sales pitch was a simple one. He would tell everyone he met about Jesus, which was wonderful. However, he then got those who accepted Jesus to say a version of the sinner’s prayer and gave them a ‘Ticket to Heaven’ which assured their entry upon death.

Over the years, while his enthusiasm inspired me, his approach worried me, as it was not only simplistic but wrong. You simply can’t buy a ticket to heaven. It is unscriptural.

I have been kind on those who I see following Christ in word but not deed, for our churches round the world are full of them. And I did not really want to create conflict.

HOWEVER I HAVE NOW BEEN CONVICTED BY THE LORD, TO PUBLICLY APOLOGIZE AND SAY THAT I HAVE BEEN WRONG ALL THESE YEARS! ONLY DISCIPLES WHO SHOW A FULL COMMITMENT TO JESUS ARE SAVED AND WILL GO TO HEAVEN! THIS IS THE TEACHING OF JESUS!

Now, can I please show you why?

HOLINESS AND OBEDIENCE ARE REQUIRED FOR DISCIPLESHIP

Let us look at the more dominant scriptures that require discipleship, following and obeying Jesus, being taught and guided through the Holy Spirit in order to obey the personal will of the Father for our lives.

The first, and strongest reason is the final instruction of Jesus, before his ascension into heaven to be with His Father, having fulfilled His delegated role on earth, through the cross and resurrection. He is there to intercede for those followers, those disciples, who walk in His footsteps.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, (Matthew 28:19)

This is clearly confirmed by His closest friend on earth, John, the one whose head lay on His chest at the Last Supper, the one who was given the task of looking after His mother Mary, after He died.

John’s Gospel, written some time after the other 3, was written primarily for Christians.  Matthew’s was directed first and foremost to the Jews, hence the long genealogy which is of huge importance in Jewish culture. The briefer Gospel of Mark was to appeal to the no nonsense Roman conquerors and dominant Empire at the time. Luke’s Gospel was longer, with more detailed explanations, which appealed to the Greeks, who loved discussing new ideas in detail.

I would suggest, if we want to grow in Jesus, that we should give due weight to John’s Gospel, and even later, when he was an old man, John’s Letters…..

⁴ Whoever says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person. ⁵ But if anyone obeys his word, love for Godis truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: ⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.  (1 John 2:4-6)

Obedience to the Father, that is, discipleship, (not to the pastor or church leader) is key in Jesus’s teachings…..

Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” (John 8:51)

Here again, Jesus emphasizes obedience. Only Disciples will go to heaven. Jesus emphasizes that it is not Him who is saying it, but He is saying what the Father had told Him to see. …..

²³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. ²⁴ Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. (John 14:23-24)

LOVE GOD AND LOVE OTHERS

The next series of verses show that the primary, overarching command of God, through Jesus, is that we must love one another, if we are truly a disciple of Jesus. Here John is writing toan unidentified lady friend.....

⁵ And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning. I ask that we love one another. ⁶ And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love. ⁷ I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist. (2 John 5:7)

These last 3 quotations from John’s Gospel below, all talk about love being the primary commandment of Jesus…..

 “If you love me, keep my commands. (John 14:15)

And…..

Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.” (John 14:21)

And again, following in the footsteps of Jesus…..

If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. (John 15:10)

But John is not the only source of Discipleship behaviour. All through both the Old and New Testaments, both obedience to the Father and the basic principle of love are found. Just one from the Old, but look for yourselves, for there are many more…..

I open my mouth and pant, longing for your commands. (Psalm 119:131)

Coming to the New Testament in the Gospels…..

True and False Disciples

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)

Again in Matthew, Mark and Luke, but quoting here from Mark, is the well-known Parable of the Sower which clearly states that many of those who give their heart to the Lord, don’t last the distance….. 

³ “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.” (Mark 4:3-8)

Later in Mark, Jesus is asked how to live a godly life. Do I, do you qualify? For we must in order to inherit the kingdom….. 

²⁸ One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”²⁹ “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^{[ 30} Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’^[] 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark12:28-31)

Now from Mark, talking of deception…..

For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Mark 13:22)

Moving on to Romans, more about deception and deceit…..

¹⁷ I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. ¹⁸ For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. ¹⁹ Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. (Romans 16:17-19)

Then Peter wrote about the godly committing themselves to Jesus…..

¹⁶ However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ And, “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,  what will become of the ungodly and the sinner ¹⁹ So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.(1 Peter 4:16-19)

Now let us look at the verse that has affected me personally most of all, in my questioning of the whether so-called believers are truly saved. This verse is from the Book of Hebrews which, next to Revelation, the most difficult book to understand. However this simple verse is simple, profound, and a real wakeup call to the church…..

Warning and Encouragement

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14) 

This is confirmed by Peter, in his first letter….. 

¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) 

And again….. 

⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. (1 Peter 2:9 AMPC) 

Unless you and I live not just a good life, but a holy life, we will not see the Lord! How many Christians will this disqualify? Most, I would suggest!

 

THE PARABLES OF JESUS

Let us look at the Parables of Jesus. For it is through parables, not theology, that He taught His listeners how to live as disciples for Him.

The parables teach us how to live as Jesus did and warn of the consequences of not living a fruitful life.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:23)

These are the visible signs of living a godly lifestyle. While it is sometimes possible to try and live some of these through your own effort, it will not work in the long term, for the effort will wear you out.

The spiritual fruits must come through a submission of our life to our God.

A story. In the natural, I do not have great empathy for those suffering serious illness, for I have been blessed with good health, as has my wife Kathy. While she is naturally empathetic, in her job as a nurse, I needed God to teach me.

One day, he put on me to go and visit a friend who had terminal cancer, and walk with him through the last part of his life. The thought horrified me! What will I say? How should I behave? And many more questions of a similar nature.

By nature, I am a listener rather than a talker, and when I went, I found that was the right way to be. Just to sit and listen, and talk when I was asked. After that, the Lord put me in touch with several others, whom I also walked with in their last days. It taught me a lot, and changed me as a person.

Of course, Kathy and I are now living in Kenya where we have built and are further developing a hospital. Obviously the skills, the spiritual fruit the Lord gave me back then, have stood me in good stead here. Particularly patience! The Lord knows us better than we know ourselves!

22% (add them up) of the parables are about obedience, sacrifice, new life and first /last. These are also key elements required for living a discipleship life.

Very appropriately in today’s increasingly materialistic society, 24% of the parables are about the danger of riches.

Again, a story. I have been a millionaire twice and bankrupt twice, for I am by nature, an entrepreneur. So I know both ends of the spectrum.

I became a disciple of Jesus through my first bankruptcy. The Lord then restored me in business again, before telling me to go into full time ministry. Being David, I didn’t want to rely upon others to support us, so the money made from the sale of the business (a miracle in itself) I put into developing 14 flats to rent out to provide income for the family. The costs went up, house prices down, and I was bankrupt again! “Now you will rely upon me,” said the Lord! “Yes, Lord.” That is how we still live today, 25 years later. He has met our needs, if not all our wants! LOL!

Riches nearly always bring independence with them. The classic description of their effect is found in the church at Laodicea in Revelation 3…..

¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth! ¹⁷ For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.

¹⁸ Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see. (Revelation 3:16-18)

 The believers there then, and today, are neither hot nor cold, but comfortably lukewarm. Jesus’ reaction was to spit them out of His mouth!  That is the same in the church today. So many believers do not move on to discipleship, sacrificing their riches where God requires it, because they feel they have too much to lose. eg. The Rich Young Ruler. Wealth brings with it self-worth while in wealthy societies, the Government will provide a welfare covering should one need it. God is pushed to one side or neglected altogether. Most of those who are in the Western church in particular, are in the lukewarm category, as in Laodicea.

A further 24% of the parables talk of Judgement For No Fruit! 

Surely, now we can see that going to church on Sunday, or Saturday, or any day of the week, is insufficient in itself, to enter the kingdom of God.

Nor is saying the sinners’ prayer and getting a ticket to heaven!

Nor is giving money to the church, or a charity, sufficient to go to heaven!

Nor is answering the call of the evangelist and giving your heart to the Lord at a crusade without living out your action, of any use either.

Nor is being religious on a Sunday while living the rest of the week as you wish, going to work either.

In Jewish and Middle Eastern cultures, in which of course, the Bible was written, promises were not regarded as being for the moment, but were and are to be fulfilled over a lifetime.

We have been saved – we are being saved – and we will be saved – to finally receive our heavenly reward.

¹² Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, ¹³ but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:12-14)

Salvation is found through where we finish, not where we start!

We must live for Jesus 24/7 in order to receive our heavenly reward!

I know some will say I am taking an Armenian rather than a Calvinistic, ‘Once saved, always saved’ approach. Actually, I am not. I am simply reading the Bible to find the truth for myself.

John Calvin and Martin Luther did many great things, but sadly, in this area, they have led many, many, millions astray. Their approach is very Western, rather than seeking out the meaning of words in the society in which the Bible comes from.

The greatest extreme of his teaching was pointed out to me in Holland when I was there a couple of years ago. There were these Dutch Reformed churches full of people who did not know whether they were among the chosen elect by God, for it was God’s choice whether or not they were saved. They were very hard workers and successful people, as if they were trying to impress God to earn their salvation. It is so sad.

 

FOUNDATION VERSE OF WALKING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES

One day 25 odd years ago now, as I was weeding, freesias actually, for we had 200,000 in the flower farm we were operating at the time, the Lord stopped me and talked to me in an audible voice.

When He spoke to me he asked me to base His ministry through me, on a verse in the book of Revelation, chapter 12, and verse 11. (Revelation 12:11)

The Lord explained to me what the whole verse meant. Let’s have a look….

They overcame him                                  That is satan (see earlier verses)

By the blood of the lamb                           Jesus is the Lamb of God

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And by the word of                                     Our testimony comes our mouth, which

Their testimony                                           again comes from our heart, the seat of                                                                                  the Holy Spirit

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 They loved not their lives so much          Obedience to God the Father’s will

The issue here is, so many believers have stalled at the first step, or in reality, have never truly achieved it.

Another story! I was brought up in a Baptist family and knew all about Jesus. I attended church, even got baptized, for my only, younger sister wanted to. I thought it might change me, but all it did was make me wet! I met my wife to be at a Christian camp and when we married Kathy thought she was marrying a good believer. Our pastor even suggested I should go to Baptist College to train to be a minister. I told him that if he knew what was in my heart, he would not have said that! Finally, after an incident that I saw as hypocrisy, I left the church and went out into the world for 13 years, living a worldly life.

It wasn’t until I went bankrupt and could no longer rely upon myself to succeed in life, that I gave my heart truly to the Lord. I was humiliated, waiting in the queue to sign up for the New Zealand Unemployment Benefit that I finally gave up on myself and gave my heart to Jesus.

There are many believers out there who are as I was. Sitting in church because it is a family thing to do. Going to church for social or entertainment reasons, something that is very common today. Or perhaps attending because they have been misled by the false prosperity doctrine so prevalent today.  Or again, maybe they have been promised a ‘ticket to heaven’ by my evangelist friend, or another, and think that is all that is required to make peace with God. Then there are those who are disciples of the church, the denomination or the pastor or leader. And you may be, or may know of others, who are not walking with Jesus who may think they have done enough to obtain their salvation.

Please do not think it is David making all this up! Let’s look to Jesus…..

The Narrow Door

²² Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. ²³ Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, ²⁴ “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. (Luke 13:22-24)

Many will try, but few will succeed! Jesus was a revolutionary! Truly following Jesus is not easy! Jesus again…..

¹³ Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. (Matthew 7:14)

The road to salvation is narrow, and a lifelong pursuit. It is not simple to live the Christian life, to live like Jesus did.  As Paul said to Timothy as his life was nearing its end…..

I have fought the good (worthy, honorable, and noble) fight, I have finished the race, I have kept (firmly held) the faith. (2 Timothy 4:7)

We are not Paul, but the requirement is to finish the race. Then we will receive our reward.

 

 CONCLUSION

This discourse is not written judgementally, but rather, with a heavy heart. For it saddens me so much to see the multitudes of believers, believing they have eternal salvation, yet biblically, taking into account all the Scripture, not just a single verse or two, are unknowingly are entering through the wide gate that leads to destruction.

If only they knew, if only they were taught, some would change from believing and take the narrow road of discipleship leading to their heavenly reward.

I repeat the words of John, this time however in the Amplified Bible which expands on the meanings of the words. If I can’t convince you, maybe John can…..

⁴ Whoever says, I know Him [I perceive, recognize, understand, and am acquainted with Him] but fails to keep and obey His commandments (teachings) is a liar, and the Truth of the Gospel] is not in him. ⁵ But he who keeps (treasures) His Word [who bears in mind His precepts, who observes His message in its entirety], truly in him has the love of and for God been perfected (completed, reached maturity). By this we may perceive (know, recognize, and be sure) that we are in Him: ⁶ Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself. (1 John 2:4-6 AMPC)

Shurakini

(Thank You)

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ABOUT US

WALKING WITH JESUS MINISTRIES is a non-profit, non-denominational, Bible based ministry located in Hastings, New Zealand. A ministry dedicated to developing discipleship, fostering unity amongst God's people to achieve the Great Commission, and in doing so, preparing for Christ's return. It is securely based upon the foundational principles of the Apostles Creed while recognising the wide and rich diversity of beliefs amongst Christians in other areas. In accordance with the Lord's direction, materials produced by the ministry are available, free of charge, to genuine enquirers upon request. The ministry is solely funded by donations, as the Lord provides. A list of materials available (plus some fun!) is obtainable and freely downloadable from our website
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Walking With Jesus Ministries
7 Bull Street
Ahuriri
Napier
New Zealand

Phone: (06) 835 0567 International (+64) 6 835 0567

Email: enquiries@wwj.org.nz
Web: wwj.org.nz

Our role is to bless and encourage those in ministry while promoting co-operation and unity of direction amongst the body of Christ, as emphasised 3 times by Jesus in His longest prayer, immediately prior to His arrest and crucifixion. "... so that they may be one as we are one." (John 17:12, 21, 23-4) Our website is currently being developed to encourage your participation one with another, to share resources, and to enable you to promote events and items of interest to the body as a whole - and have a smile while doing it!

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