Monday, June 29, 2020
Christ Speaks to Every Born Again Believer
I am growing weary of these "dreams and visions" people are claiming to have.
I never pay attention to the dreams and visions of others. If God wants me to know something HE tells me because He lives in me. Why would He send someone else to tell me something that He could tell me Himself?
There is only one mediator between God and man and that is Christ Jesus and He lives in every born again believer.
Never tell me you have a word from the Lord for me, I would tell you that is silly since Christ lives in me. He tells me what He wants me to know.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 "5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.…"
In the times of the prophets of the old testament, the Holy Spirit didn't yet live in people. He came and went in the prophets as God spoke through them.
Now the Holy Spirit lives in every born again believer, Christ in us speaks directly to us. Listen only to the Holy Spirit and you will not go wrong.
I never pay attention to the dreams and visions of others. If God wants me to know something HE tells me because He lives in me. Why would He send someone else to tell me something that He could tell me Himself?
There is only one mediator between God and man and that is Christ Jesus and He lives in every born again believer.
Never tell me you have a word from the Lord for me, I would tell you that is silly since Christ lives in me. He tells me what He wants me to know.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 "5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time.…"
In the times of the prophets of the old testament, the Holy Spirit didn't yet live in people. He came and went in the prophets as God spoke through them.
Now the Holy Spirit lives in every born again believer, Christ in us speaks directly to us. Listen only to the Holy Spirit and you will not go wrong.
Obedience Even in Turmoil
When we obey God even in times of turmoil we know we can trust Him. He will always give us the next step right on time.
Hallelujah!!!!
Hallelujah!!!!
Noah Lived it, Lot Lived it and We are Living it Now
Some thoughts I shared with a brother in a discussion about what is happening all around us. Your thoughts would be interesting on this matter.
God promised these things would happen in the end times. We are just shocked because we have never seen this in our lifetimes. Now we are living in prophesy just as Noah lived through the flood and Lot the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. We are there, but find it hard to accept because it is new to us.
I am convinced we are going to see the complete downfall of America and soon. I don't feel anything about it because I am not a citizen of this world. I do worry about those who are not yet saved. Will they trust in Christ because of it or become bitter even accepting an antichrist who uses fancy words to deceive them into aligning themselves as his followers?
I am also convinced the next wave of hardship will be worse than this last lockdown. It was sort of baby steps in controlling the people, the next thing will be more severe.
What should be a Christian's response to all that is happening? I think it is clear that we are not to fear it but to realize that God told us all about it through His Word, the Bible.
I don't believe Noah rang his hands in fear and frustration over what he knew was coming. He obeyed God, kept on preaching, and building the ark until God shut him and his family in for the long year ahead while floating on the top of the waters.
God told Noah to build the ark, He told him when to gather the animals, he told him when to go into the ark and when he and his family were safely inside GOD shut the door.
When we obey God even in times of turmoil we know we can trust Him. He will always give us the next step right on time.
Hallelujah!!!!
God promised these things would happen in the end times. We are just shocked because we have never seen this in our lifetimes. Now we are living in prophesy just as Noah lived through the flood and Lot the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. We are there, but find it hard to accept because it is new to us.
I am convinced we are going to see the complete downfall of America and soon. I don't feel anything about it because I am not a citizen of this world. I do worry about those who are not yet saved. Will they trust in Christ because of it or become bitter even accepting an antichrist who uses fancy words to deceive them into aligning themselves as his followers?
I am also convinced the next wave of hardship will be worse than this last lockdown. It was sort of baby steps in controlling the people, the next thing will be more severe.
What should be a Christian's response to all that is happening? I think it is clear that we are not to fear it but to realize that God told us all about it through His Word, the Bible.
I don't believe Noah rang his hands in fear and frustration over what he knew was coming. He obeyed God, kept on preaching, and building the ark until God shut him and his family in for the long year ahead while floating on the top of the waters.
God told Noah to build the ark, He told him when to gather the animals, he told him when to go into the ark and when he and his family were safely inside GOD shut the door.
When we obey God even in times of turmoil we know we can trust Him. He will always give us the next step right on time.
Hallelujah!!!!
I FOUND THE PROBLEM!!! by Joe Kelly
I FOUND THE PROBLEM!!! by Joe Kelly
I have never seen such vile hatred for true born again believers that stand against sin and wickedness like I'm seeing right now. And it's not just the gay crowd either. It's actually coming from "so-called CHRISTIANS!"
The church has done this to ourselves, with the modern gospel of tolerance and God is ALL about love perversion. (Yes God is Love, but He's HOLY TOO!) We have taught the wicked that no matter what you do, God is ALL forgiving and just turns His head and smiles. I cannot tell you how many times people have told me that "God loves them just as they are, I don't have to change!" Oh really?
And it seems that the word REPENTANCE is getting its share of ridicule. I was told recently, we don't need to REPENT anymore. This is a different dispensation. WHAT??? We have so confused the glorious gospel, that even most PASTORS can't even tell you what it is anymore!
We have got to get back to talking much about SIN, REPENTANCE, THE CROSS, DYING TO SELF AND SIN, HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, PERSECUTION AND GODLINESS. AND SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD! We have moved the gospel to a one-sentence prayer and everybody is good!
THIS IS EXACTLY WHY WE ARE SEEING CARNAL FALSE CHRISTIANS CELEBRATING SIN! THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD THE GOSPEL!!! WE NEED TO GET BACK TO PREACHING THE OLD RUGGED CROSS. NOT FOR YOU JUST TO KNEEL IN FRONT OF IT. BUT FOR YOU TO GO THROUGH IT AND DIE! DIE TO SELF. DIE TO SIN!
WHERE ARE THE PREACHERS OF THE GOSPEL??? PREACHER! COME OUT OF THE CLOSET AND BRING SOME RIGHTEOUS FIRE WITH YOU!!! I'm TIRED OF HEARING WARMED OVER INTERNET SERMONS! I WANT SOME GET IT OUT OF THE CLOSET OF PRAYER SERMONS!!! ONES THAT ARE BURNING IN YOUR BONES KIND OF SERMONS!!!
WHERE ARE THE PREACHERS OF OLD THAT WOULD STAND AND PREACH ON HELL??? THE WAY WE ACT IN THE AVERAGE CHURCH, HELL HAS CLOSED ITS DOORS AND WENT OUT OF BUSINESS! THE ONLY TIME YOU HEAR ABOUT HELL NOW IS WHEN A WICKED CARNAL CHURCH GOER GETS OUTSIDE THE CHURCH DOOR AND CUSSES! LORD GOD, MOVE ON SOME MEN OF GOD ONE MORE TIME!!! THE CHURCH NEEDS IT MORE THAN EVER!!!
Joe Kelly!....
I have never seen such vile hatred for true born again believers that stand against sin and wickedness like I'm seeing right now. And it's not just the gay crowd either. It's actually coming from "so-called CHRISTIANS!"
The church has done this to ourselves, with the modern gospel of tolerance and God is ALL about love perversion. (Yes God is Love, but He's HOLY TOO!) We have taught the wicked that no matter what you do, God is ALL forgiving and just turns His head and smiles. I cannot tell you how many times people have told me that "God loves them just as they are, I don't have to change!" Oh really?
And it seems that the word REPENTANCE is getting its share of ridicule. I was told recently, we don't need to REPENT anymore. This is a different dispensation. WHAT??? We have so confused the glorious gospel, that even most PASTORS can't even tell you what it is anymore!
We have got to get back to talking much about SIN, REPENTANCE, THE CROSS, DYING TO SELF AND SIN, HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, PERSECUTION AND GODLINESS. AND SEPARATION FROM THE WORLD! We have moved the gospel to a one-sentence prayer and everybody is good!
THIS IS EXACTLY WHY WE ARE SEEING CARNAL FALSE CHRISTIANS CELEBRATING SIN! THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD THE GOSPEL!!! WE NEED TO GET BACK TO PREACHING THE OLD RUGGED CROSS. NOT FOR YOU JUST TO KNEEL IN FRONT OF IT. BUT FOR YOU TO GO THROUGH IT AND DIE! DIE TO SELF. DIE TO SIN!
WHERE ARE THE PREACHERS OF THE GOSPEL??? PREACHER! COME OUT OF THE CLOSET AND BRING SOME RIGHTEOUS FIRE WITH YOU!!! I'm TIRED OF HEARING WARMED OVER INTERNET SERMONS! I WANT SOME GET IT OUT OF THE CLOSET OF PRAYER SERMONS!!! ONES THAT ARE BURNING IN YOUR BONES KIND OF SERMONS!!!
WHERE ARE THE PREACHERS OF OLD THAT WOULD STAND AND PREACH ON HELL??? THE WAY WE ACT IN THE AVERAGE CHURCH, HELL HAS CLOSED ITS DOORS AND WENT OUT OF BUSINESS! THE ONLY TIME YOU HEAR ABOUT HELL NOW IS WHEN A WICKED CARNAL CHURCH GOER GETS OUTSIDE THE CHURCH DOOR AND CUSSES! LORD GOD, MOVE ON SOME MEN OF GOD ONE MORE TIME!!! THE CHURCH NEEDS IT MORE THAN EVER!!!
Joe Kelly!....
God Puts in and Takes Out Leaders
No matter what happens in the next election it will be God's doing!
Romans 13:4
"For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer."
Even a wicked leader was placed by God to punish a country in times past, he does the same thing today.
America is wicked and unrepentant, even believers are attempting to get back something they think they lost. It will not come back because as a nation America has not repented.
Also, let us remember that America is not mentioned in the bible. We have been a world power but that is coming to an end right before the antichrist is revealed.
Proverbs 25:26 "A righteous man who falters before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well."
Christians in this country have given into the ways of the wicked without even realizing it. The church as a whole has become apostate desiring prosperity and freedom above righteousness.
Most people I know who claim to be Christians twist more of the Bible to fit their own desires than they believe and obey as God wrote it.
"Out of context" plucking is not only common but continual among most.
Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘ These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”…"
2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but having itching ears, they shall heap to themselves teachers in accordance with their own lusts."
Brothers and Sisters, you are probably experiencing a lot of rejection, perhaps in covert and mild terms, but nonetheless, a sense that you are not accepted and even avoided. This is because you desire to stay to the true meaning of the Bible in every way.
Our culture only loves people who say what they like to hear. This is the way it will be until Christ comes to remove His church.
Then many people remaining after the rapture will trust in the antichrist who will schmooze them with the language they love to hear while claiming to be Christ. These people will defend this devil while even turning in their own family and friends who do not follow him.
The characteristics below are from: — Adapted from whatchristianswanttoknow.com HARVEST BIBLE CHAPEL | SEPT 15-16, 2017
10 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ANTI-CHRIST there are more than ten… these are the most obvious.
1) He Claims to be God and is Worshiped
“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness
is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is
worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God“ (2 Thes 2:3-4).
2) He Will Blaspheme God
Revelation 13:6 says, “And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His
tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.”
3) He Will Display Miraculous Powers
Revelation 13:13 as he “performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven, to the earth in full view of
the people.”
4) The Anti-Christ Comes Back to Life
“ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived“ (Rev 13:14). What
a feat that will cause many to be motivated by the sight of this “fatal wound [that] had been healed“; so much so that
many will worship him (Rev 13:12).
5) The Anti-Christ Rules in Full Authority
For three and a half years he “was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation“ (Rev 13:5,7).
6) The Anti-Christ Will Control the World’s Economy
“forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their
foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its
name“ (Rev 13:16-17).
7) The Anti-Christ Desecrates God’s Temple
Jesus: “Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy
place’ (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains Let him who is on the
housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not to back to get his clothes.
“But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not
be in winter or on the Sabbath, For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the
the world until this time, no nor ever shall be“ (Matt 24:15-21).
8) The Anti-Christ’s Attempted Destruction of Israel
Satan and all of those under his rule have always sought the destruction of the Jews. The end times see this brought to
fruition. In Daniel 11:40-41 says, “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the
north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter
into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land [Jerusalem], and many
[countries] shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, [even] Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the
children of Ammon.” This happens after another treaty is broken. At first, he promises to help be Jerusalem’s savior but
he, as always, is a liar and the truth is not in him (Dan 9:27). He breaks one treaty after another and makes one promise
after another, breaking them all. It is obvious that his power comes from the father of lies, the Devil.
9) Causes Earth’s Armies to Fight Against Christ
“saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse
and his army“ (Rev 19:19).
10) Final Destiny in Lake of Fire
“And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the
horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his
presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These
two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
Romans 13:4
"For he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer."
Even a wicked leader was placed by God to punish a country in times past, he does the same thing today.
America is wicked and unrepentant, even believers are attempting to get back something they think they lost. It will not come back because as a nation America has not repented.
Also, let us remember that America is not mentioned in the bible. We have been a world power but that is coming to an end right before the antichrist is revealed.
Proverbs 25:26 "A righteous man who falters before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well."
Christians in this country have given into the ways of the wicked without even realizing it. The church as a whole has become apostate desiring prosperity and freedom above righteousness.
Most people I know who claim to be Christians twist more of the Bible to fit their own desires than they believe and obey as God wrote it.
"Out of context" plucking is not only common but continual among most.
Matthew 15:7-9 "…7 You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: 8‘ These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. 9 They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”…"
2 Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but having itching ears, they shall heap to themselves teachers in accordance with their own lusts."
Brothers and Sisters, you are probably experiencing a lot of rejection, perhaps in covert and mild terms, but nonetheless, a sense that you are not accepted and even avoided. This is because you desire to stay to the true meaning of the Bible in every way.
Our culture only loves people who say what they like to hear. This is the way it will be until Christ comes to remove His church.
Then many people remaining after the rapture will trust in the antichrist who will schmooze them with the language they love to hear while claiming to be Christ. These people will defend this devil while even turning in their own family and friends who do not follow him.
The characteristics below are from: — Adapted from whatchristianswanttoknow.com HARVEST BIBLE CHAPEL | SEPT 15-16, 2017
10 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ANTI-CHRIST there are more than ten… these are the most obvious.
1) He Claims to be God and is Worshiped
“Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness
is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is
worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God“ (2 Thes 2:3-4).
2) He Will Blaspheme God
Revelation 13:6 says, “And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His
tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven.”
3) He Will Display Miraculous Powers
Revelation 13:13 as he “performed great signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven, to the earth in full view of
the people.”
4) The Anti-Christ Comes Back to Life
“ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast who was wounded by the sword and yet lived“ (Rev 13:14). What
a feat that will cause many to be motivated by the sight of this “fatal wound [that] had been healed“; so much so that
many will worship him (Rev 13:12).
5) The Anti-Christ Rules in Full Authority
For three and a half years he “was given authority over every tribe, people, language and nation“ (Rev 13:5,7).
6) The Anti-Christ Will Control the World’s Economy
“forced all people, great and small, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hands or on their
foreheads, so that they could not buy or sell unless they had the mark, which is the name of the beast or the number of its
name“ (Rev 13:16-17).
7) The Anti-Christ Desecrates God’s Temple
Jesus: “Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy
place’ (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains Let him who is on the
housetop not go down to take anything out of his house. And let him who is in the field not to back to get his clothes.
“But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not
be in winter or on the Sabbath, For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the
the world until this time, no nor ever shall be“ (Matt 24:15-21).
8) The Anti-Christ’s Attempted Destruction of Israel
Satan and all of those under his rule have always sought the destruction of the Jews. The end times see this brought to
fruition. In Daniel 11:40-41 says, “And at the time of the end shall the king of the south push at him: and the king of the
north shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, and with horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter
into the countries, and shall overflow and pass over. He shall enter also into the glorious land [Jerusalem], and many
[countries] shall be overthrown: but these shall escape out of his hand, [even] Edom, and Moab, and the chief of the
children of Ammon.” This happens after another treaty is broken. At first, he promises to help be Jerusalem’s savior but
he, as always, is a liar and the truth is not in him (Dan 9:27). He breaks one treaty after another and makes one promise
after another, breaking them all. It is obvious that his power comes from the father of lies, the Devil.
9) Causes Earth’s Armies to Fight Against Christ
“saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the rider on the horse
and his army“ (Rev 19:19).
10) Final Destiny in Lake of Fire
“And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the
horse and against His army. Then the beast was captured and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his
presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These
two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone.”
An Armor Bearer Out of Context!
A question was possed to me this morning, "what is an armor bearer, and should a pastor be telling a person in his congregation they are 'their armor-bearer'?"
Here is the definition of "armor bearer":
"One who carried the large shield and perhaps other weapons for a king (1 Samuel 31:4), commander-in-chief (2 Samuel 23:37), captain (1 Samuel 14:7) or champion (1 Samuel 17:7). All warriors of distinction had such an attendant.
Rather than perish by the hand of a woman, Abimelech called upon his armor-bearer to give him the finishing stroke (Judges 9:54), and when King Saul's armor-bearer refused to do this office for him that he might not become the prisoner of the Philistines, he took a sword himself and fell upon it (1 Samuel 31:4).
David became Saul's armor-bearer for a time, and Jonathan's armor-bearer was a man of resource and courage (1 Samuel 14:7). The shield-bearer was a figure well known in the chariots of Egypt and Assyria and the Hittites, his business being to protect his fighting companion during the engagement.
O.K. Here is my take on this matter of a pastor calling a person in their congregation "their armor-bearer." Armer bearers were people who did the bidding, toting, and carrying of the armor for prominent people, for the commander of the army. There is no mention of such a person within the Christian church.
First the leaders of the church are elders and they are not commanders of a real army or have need of someone who carries weapons.
When I hear a pastor speaking these kinds of words to one person in his congregation I get the impression that the pastor wants absolute power over the person to do his bidding.
This is frightening because the pastor is counting on one person to uphold him and be for him whatever he wants. This is not Biblical, it is a pastor misusing his power to control someone.
God calls for leaders in the church to depend on Christ, not on any particular congregant.
The issue here really is the false "one man pastor" system that perverts the model of the commands of Christ for the gathering of the believers.
God told each gathering to appoint elders, several men who would lead. They led by preaching and example, but they were not the ultimate authority over the gathering. Everyone in the gathering was to be led by the Holy Spirit.
The modern meaning of "pastor" has been perverted to mean "lording it over" those they consider to be under them. This is not Biblical and leads to perversions within leadership.
Matthew 20:25-26 "25 But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,…"
Matthew 20:27-28
27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Acts 14:22-23 "…22 strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed. "
"Pastoring" is a gift and a calling it is not a title or a position. There are several pastors called for in every gathering, no one of them has power over the others or over the congregation. They are teachers, preachers, and examples to the flock, not kings or priests dictating to the congregation. They make decisions together prayerfully seeking God for their decisions.
When a "pastor" acts like "the authority" over the members of a congregation, even expecting to be served by them, this pastor is abusing his calling.
There is NO model of an "armor bearer" in the new testament church. This term had to do with a man who did the bidding of the commander in an army carrying out orders by that commander. The armor-bearer provided the armor while helping to carry the weapons for the commander.
If a pastor users this term in reference to a person in the congregation he is using it out of context while spiritualizing a term that was meant for battle in the Old Testament.
There is no such person in the context of the church. No one carries weapons for others. Everyone must gain their power from the Holy Spirit. If anyone is depending on someone else to prop them up then they are not depending on the Holy Spirit.
Armor bearers who carry weapons for a commander do not exist in the church. This concept is not only grossly out of context it is the misuse of God's Word.
2 Timothy 2:15
"15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."
When a leader takes scripture out of context as a means of exerting power over others or even to flatter them, they are abusing the Word and the person to whom they are speaking. We are free to reject the pressure as well as decline the expectations of a power monger.
There are many people now who take scripture out fo context to make it say what they want, but leads to a wrong and even sinful conclusion.
Never allow one of these scripture twisters to tell you what you must do. Christ will tell us what He wants and it will never be out of context with the truth of the Bible.
Here is the definition of "armor bearer":
"One who carried the large shield and perhaps other weapons for a king (1 Samuel 31:4), commander-in-chief (2 Samuel 23:37), captain (1 Samuel 14:7) or champion (1 Samuel 17:7). All warriors of distinction had such an attendant.
Rather than perish by the hand of a woman, Abimelech called upon his armor-bearer to give him the finishing stroke (Judges 9:54), and when King Saul's armor-bearer refused to do this office for him that he might not become the prisoner of the Philistines, he took a sword himself and fell upon it (1 Samuel 31:4).
David became Saul's armor-bearer for a time, and Jonathan's armor-bearer was a man of resource and courage (1 Samuel 14:7). The shield-bearer was a figure well known in the chariots of Egypt and Assyria and the Hittites, his business being to protect his fighting companion during the engagement.
O.K. Here is my take on this matter of a pastor calling a person in their congregation "their armor-bearer." Armer bearers were people who did the bidding, toting, and carrying of the armor for prominent people, for the commander of the army. There is no mention of such a person within the Christian church.
First the leaders of the church are elders and they are not commanders of a real army or have need of someone who carries weapons.
When I hear a pastor speaking these kinds of words to one person in his congregation I get the impression that the pastor wants absolute power over the person to do his bidding.
This is frightening because the pastor is counting on one person to uphold him and be for him whatever he wants. This is not Biblical, it is a pastor misusing his power to control someone.
God calls for leaders in the church to depend on Christ, not on any particular congregant.
The issue here really is the false "one man pastor" system that perverts the model of the commands of Christ for the gathering of the believers.
God told each gathering to appoint elders, several men who would lead. They led by preaching and example, but they were not the ultimate authority over the gathering. Everyone in the gathering was to be led by the Holy Spirit.
The modern meaning of "pastor" has been perverted to mean "lording it over" those they consider to be under them. This is not Biblical and leads to perversions within leadership.
Matthew 20:25-26 "25 But Jesus called them aside and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their superiors exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant,…"
Matthew 20:27-28
27 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Acts 14:22-23 "…22 strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith. “We must endure many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said. 23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church, praying and fasting as they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed. "
"Pastoring" is a gift and a calling it is not a title or a position. There are several pastors called for in every gathering, no one of them has power over the others or over the congregation. They are teachers, preachers, and examples to the flock, not kings or priests dictating to the congregation. They make decisions together prayerfully seeking God for their decisions.
When a "pastor" acts like "the authority" over the members of a congregation, even expecting to be served by them, this pastor is abusing his calling.
There is NO model of an "armor bearer" in the new testament church. This term had to do with a man who did the bidding of the commander in an army carrying out orders by that commander. The armor-bearer provided the armor while helping to carry the weapons for the commander.
If a pastor users this term in reference to a person in the congregation he is using it out of context while spiritualizing a term that was meant for battle in the Old Testament.
There is no such person in the context of the church. No one carries weapons for others. Everyone must gain their power from the Holy Spirit. If anyone is depending on someone else to prop them up then they are not depending on the Holy Spirit.
Armor bearers who carry weapons for a commander do not exist in the church. This concept is not only grossly out of context it is the misuse of God's Word.
2 Timothy 2:15
"15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."
When a leader takes scripture out of context as a means of exerting power over others or even to flatter them, they are abusing the Word and the person to whom they are speaking. We are free to reject the pressure as well as decline the expectations of a power monger.
There are many people now who take scripture out fo context to make it say what they want, but leads to a wrong and even sinful conclusion.
Never allow one of these scripture twisters to tell you what you must do. Christ will tell us what He wants and it will never be out of context with the truth of the Bible.
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