Where Bible Study Makes A Difference

Jesus presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. “But while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went away. “But when the wheat sprouted and bore grain, then the tares became evident also.”The slaves of the landowner came and said to him, `Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ “And he said to them, `An enemy has done this!’ The slaves said to him, `Do you want us, then, to go and gather them up?’ “But he said, `No; for while you are gathering up the tares, you may uproot the wheat with them. `Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.”"‘ (Matthew 13:24-30 NASB)

“AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL”

One of the things associated with America is the many so-called professions in Jesus Christ here. It seems like there are a majority of people who are truly convinced they are blood bought believers. I do not think this is so. I think the number of Christians within the America is smaller than what people say. This is not a righteous nation, yet we claim God is with this country. I sort of agree in a weird way with Jeremiah Wright’s comment; only I say the Lord has turned America over to its sin. I honestly don’t know the number of Christians within America, or in any country. I am sure that America the Beautiful does not look to pretty right now!

1st thing to clarify

And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. (2 Peter 2:2)

One of the things disturbing to me is when we associate one person into a group and assume the whole group is like that. For example, Ringo4Life (a fellow You Tube user), made a point about how people associate him with certain group of Black Hebrew Israelites, and accuse he acts just like them because he holds some of their beliefs. The same is true with the church of God: men who have had a bad experiences with so-called churches or so-called Christians; an assumption is made that these people are Christians and all churches are like this. What am I saying?

If were tricked by a wolf, or seen people in what is called an institutionalized church acting crazy; let me clarify this: THAT IS NOT A CHURCH OF CHRIST JESUS. That is not Christian and it is not Christ’s church. God is bringing up His church, He knows exactly what He is doing, there’s no mistake about that (Matthew 16:18). To assume the church is messed up is to speak against Jesus Christ. Look at just how Paul, during his conversion, was rebuked by Jesus for persecuting Christians:

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: [it is] hard for thee to kick against the pricks. (Acts 9:4-5)

This is why we must be careful in what we say about churches in America. For example, would you catch those in the persecuted church speaking any evil against church buildings in America? No, why, because some of the very people who are being persecuted meet in church buildings(There is a You Tube clip of some Indians getting hit with sticks as Rebels raided their church building). They would not dare speak a thing against God’s elect nor where they choose to meet. Now in China, you have a so-called church system setup, but again this is not the church.

Clarification must be made when we speak of things happening in America. Call Christian that which is Christian, but keep that which is not Christian from being called Christian. What happens in Jamal Bryant’s so-called worship center, please don’t associate that with all real Christians churches around the country.
Where is America at?

We are a country filled with many different nations (ethnos). But those who are in Jesus Christ are living these verses I have stressed many times:

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40)

The Church of Jesus Christ are loving the Lord God, loving the brethren, and loving her neighbor. That’s it. Where we see America at is different. This is what we see:

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. (Matthew 24:12)

Professing to be a Christian is a popular thing now in the Americas. We have been blessed with much. Much goods, much riches, and much abundance; but there is a Lord who requires our allegiance. This allegiance is spit upon by unregenerate men that claim to be of the Lord. A good friend of mine calls it RELIGION. But this is exactly the immoral behavior the Lord has turned America over to. Look at this:

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (2 Timothy 3:1-5)

This describes the so-called American churches. They have a form a religion that masks itself as Christianity, but is really a satan worshipping edifice. They are not, and I repeat, not churches. Some of the older guys I know, who grew up in America, experienced seeing change in this country. Back then though, most of the foolishness existed; the difference is it was covered up. A girl having a child out of wedlock was kicked out of church in the 1930-50’s. Today she is seen running up the aisles doing back flips and even thinks herself to be a pastor. The fornication from the earlier days has now manifested itself outwardly. It was bad then, now it has gotten worse!

What’s To Come?

That is a question I don’t really want to answer because I know it is not going to get better. The pride of America is rising, something is going to break loose, sooner or later.

[When] pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly [is] wisdom. (Proverbs 11:2)

Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18)

Just a week or two ago, Maryland experienced an earthquake. A 3.7 to be exact, which is not even normal around here. My own neighborhood is changing as well, where one of my neighbors asked me to watch for him as he leaves for vacation. 6 years ago, they would have never asked me such a question. Is it like this in your part of the country? Are things getting worse? What are you doing as a Christian as the world around you crumbles?

What do we do?

I hope these scriptures make it clear what you need to do:

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God [is] one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. (Deuteronomy 6:4-7)

Blessed [is] the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. (Psalms 1:1)

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, [then] are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31-32)

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them]. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord [is]. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:1-20)

And there’s more for America the Beautiful. Your trust is to be in the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust in the Word of God. Doing this, America will be beautiful because you are obeying Christ!!!!

Karsten L. Miller