Evangelical Christianity Does Not Exist In Scripture

Posted on March 27, 2020 by admin

The religious entity in the United States which call themselves “Evangelical Christians” is a creation of Lucifer. These individuals who falsely claim to be Christians – followers of Christ – do so, in part, as a cover and justification for their political agenda which is built upon lies.

They have distorted the true identity of Christ, and they have morphed him into a political force known as the ‘Right’. Sadly, it is through their actions many Americans define Christianity. However, the Bible condemns their hypocrisy and lies, because they are not followers of Jesus Christ.

What’s more, the Church of Christ does not need any modifiers. The word Christianity simple means those who are followers of Christ. All who have this faith are part of one body of believers. Therefore, “Evangelical Christianity”, or any other form of Christianity, is a distinction which does not exist in the Bible.

Furthermore, many who call themselves “Christians”, do not adhere to the teachings of Christ. American spiritual hegemony has created a religious pantheon of deception which disguises itself as Christlike.

Like America’s export of its “Democracy”, their “Christianity” is also destructive. They have substituted and assassinated the simple truths of the Bible with their own doctrines, religious verbosity and the ostentatious theatrics of so-called “Christian” pastors and television evangelists. The objective of all of this is to capitalise on the ignorance of many, while enriching themselves through the creation of numerous “Christian” products. This, however, isn’t anything new, because the Bible records God’s disapproval of such practices.

Priests interpret the Law for pay

The city’s rulers govern for bribes, the priests interpret the Law for pay, the prophets give their revelations for money—and they all claim that the LORD is with them. “No harm will come to us,” they say. “The LORD is with us.” – Micah 3:11 (GNB – Good News Bible)

There are many who consider themselves to be “Christians”, because of those who pass themselves off as authoritative figures of the “faith”. By using some method of religious ablution and speaking words which invoke the name of Jesus Christ, they mass produce “Christian” proselytes. However, the teachings of such religious groups, which inform and instruct these individuals in their new-found faith, is fraught with lies and deception, and they do not wholly conform to what’s actually written in the scriptures. Even their initiation into the fold of “Christendom” contradicts the Bible’s teachings of true discipleship.

For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. – Matthew 24:5 (KJV – King James Version)

Jesus Christ himself addressed this false evangelism that was practiced by the corrupt religious leaders of his day, which only served to create mendacious converts more akin to being children of Lucifer than followers of Christ.

“How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You sail the seas and cross whole countries to win one convert; and when you succeed, you make him twice as deserving of going to hell as you yourselves are! – Matthew 23:15 (GNB)

This is the primary reason why we have so many people today who consider themselves to be “Christians”, but whose conduct reflect anything but the righteous example of Christ.

For it is not merely those who hear the Law who are righteous in God’s sight. No, it is those who follow the Law, who will be justified. – Romans 2:13 (ISV – International Standard Version)

By claiming they have their authority from the Bible, “Evangelicals” or the “Right”, have infested American politics with their “Christian” agenda which seeks to impose upon all Americans a quasi-theocracy which bans abortion, among other things, and establishes unequivocal support for the nation-state of Israel – who falsely claim to be descendants of the Old Testament patriarch Abraham. However, despite Evangelical Christians staunch promotion of these positions, there is no scriptural support for either.

True followers of Christ are instructed by the scriptures that their life choices cannot and should not be forced upon those who are not believers. Therefore, the attempt by these hypocritical religious zealots to deny women access to an abortion through their various “Right to Life” organizations and their financial backing for faux Jewry through their religious and political stratagems have no support in the scriptures.

(12-13) After all, it is none of my business to judge outsiders. God will judge them. But should you not judge the members of your own fellowship? As the scripture says, “Remove the evil person from your group.” – 1 Corinthians 5:12 (GNB)

They are not to insult anyone or be argumentative. Instead, they are to be gentle and perfectly courteous to everyone. After all, we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, and misled. We were slaves to many kinds of lusts and pleasures, spending our days in malice and jealousy. We were despised, and we hated one another. – Titus 3:2-3 (ISV)

The time will come when people will not listen to sound doctrine, but will follow their own desires and will collect for themselves more and more teachers who will tell them what they are itching to hear. They will turn away from listening to the truth and give their attention to legends. – 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (GNB)

Again, much of what is taught and believed today to be “Christian” isn’t, because, like in Christ’s day, religious leaders and teachers rejected the commandments of God in favour of their own doctrine. Thus, Jesus had this to say about their apostasy.

…You have a clever way of rejecting God’s law in order to uphold your own teaching. – Mark 7:9 (GNB)

Religious groups who espouse that they are Christians – followers of Christ – yet who reject the teachings of the Bible, negate the authority they claim to have through the Bible. In his day, Christ did not fail to expose their lies and hypocrisy.

“Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and yet don’t do what I tell you? – Luke 6:46 (GNB)

Jesus answered them, “How right Isaiah was when he prophesied about you! You are hypocrites, just as he wrote: ‘These people, says God, honor me with their words, but their heart is really far away from me. It is no use for them to worship me, because they teach human rules as though they were my laws!’ You put aside God’s command and obey human teachings.” – Mark 7:6-8 (GNB)

It may be surprising for many to learn that the Hebrew holy book, the Tanakh, the canonical collection of scriptural text which includes the Torah, and which is revered by those who consider themselves to be Jews, does not support the view that Jewish lineage can only be claimed by an individual who is born to a “Jewish” mother. What is so extremely amazing about this assertion is that despite the vast number of theologians, “Christian” leaders and individuals who have read the holy books of Judaeo-Christian sects, no one sees the dichotomy and error in this very long-held view – that Jewish heritage is ascribed through the Zionist matriarchy.

Israel’s genealogy, based upon the scriptures, has always been reckoned by their patriarchs. Throughout the Tanakh this is made abundantly clear.

And God said: ‘Nay, but Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son; and thou shalt call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his seed after him. – Torah GENESIS 17:9 LEKH LEKHA

And the Lord spoke unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying: [2] ‘Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male, by their polls; – Torah NUMBERS 1:1,2

However, despite the above, Zionists trace their claim to Jewish lineage via their women. Whatever the reasoning, historical context and justification Rabbis (religious leaders of today’s Jews) give for this perversion of natural and canonical law, they are not children of Abraham. Again, this conclusion is affirmed by the writings of their own holy book.

Furthermore, on a point of logic, Zionist unequivocally claim the much disputed land of Palestine as their possession due to the promise God made to Abraham. If they are referring to the same God of the Torah, wouldn’t He, as a matter of authoritative confirmation of female pedigree, have anointed and honoured Sarah instead of Abraham?

False teachers of Christendom, predominantly among the sect who call themselves Evangelicals, are the main proponents of the lie that the Zionist “nation of Israel” are the chosen people of God – descendants of Abraham. This assertion runs counter to the very teachings and foundation of Christianity — that Jesus Christ is the messiah.

Firstly, the progeny of Christ follows the lineage of the first man Adam, and includes David the king, and it is not based upon the matriarchal genealogy of today’s Jews (Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38). Therefore, any religious fealty to modern-day “Israel”, by those who claim to be Christians, is a paradox of major proportion, because Zionists’ claim Jewish lineage by being born to a “Jewish” mother. This negates the commandment of God and nullifies the progeny of Christ.

Furthermore, if “Evangelical Christians” actually believed the Bible, from which they claim to get their authority, they would know of the following scriptures:

After all, who is a real Jew, truly circumcised? It is not the man who is a Jew on the outside, whose circumcision is a physical thing. Rather, the real Jew is the person who is a Jew on the inside, that is, whose heart has been circumcised, and this is the work of God’s Spirit, not of the written Law. Such a person receives praise from God, not from human beings — Romans 2:28-29 (GNB)

It is, therefore, insane and counter to the scriptures for any follower of Christ to promote that which does not even acknowledge the very foundation of their faith — that Jesus Christ is the true messiah. Zionist still look for ‘their’ messiah, and it is no secret that they do not accept Jesus Christ as their saviour. In fact, they denounce, and some even persecute, Christians.

As I’ve said before, Evangelical Christianity is an aberration created by Lucifer, as are all such religious groups who reject the teachings of Christ.

False prophets appeared in the past among the people, and in the same way false teachers will appear among you. They will bring in destructive, untrue doctrines, and will deny the Master who redeemed them, and so they will bring upon themselves sudden destruction. Even so, many will follow their immoral ways; and because of what they do, others will speak evil of the Way of truth. In their greed these false teachers will make a profit out of telling you made-up stories. For a long time now their Judge has been ready, and their Destroyer has been wide awake! – 2 Peter 2:1-3 (GNB)

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Why Trinidad and Tobago Is A Failed State

Posted on March 10, 2020 by admin

The officers in the La Horquetta Police Station were shuffled like a deck of cards several years ago as a result of my appeal for assistance to the then Canadian-born Deputy Commissioner of Police Jack Ewatski. I only learned about this years after the fact, but it was satisfying and a victory against police corruption that had plagued me for over a decade. It took the appointment of foreigners, Canadians in this instance, to the highest law enforcement offices in Trinidad and Tobago to do what our local Commissioners of Police refused to do — uphold the law.

I wrote about this on a few occasions, since then, and I believe it is important to highlight once more how dark and dismal our fortunes are in Trinidad and Tobago when it comes to the extremely high levels of criminal activity in our country. I certainly don’t need the current Commissioner of Police, Gary Griffith, to tell me that our politicians are involved in actus reus. Due to my experience, I have inadvertently uncovered this fact.

To gain a little more clarity regarding events I am referring to, please see the following link before reading further: https://www.insightnewsnetwork.com/trinidad-and-tobago-police-service-corrupt-at-its-core/

I was literally stalked, shadowed, and had steps taken to fulfill the promise of my untimely demise by my then neighbor and nemesis Carver Felix, because I dared to stand up for my land rights against this member of our criminal underworld — a close associate of the assassinated crime boss Mark Guerra. Just the mention of such bad actors to people in the know, even today, results in a fearful distancing from the target of their ire.

During the height of these events, I approached notable lawyers — Anand Ramlogan and Keith Scotland — for assistance, but they all ran away from me. I wrote three Commissioners of Police — Everald Snaggs, Trevor Paul and Acting Commissioner James Philbert — after I had made countless reports to the La Horquetta Police Station and who refused to help me. Still, I didn’t get any help whatsoever from these men, who were at the time, the highest law enforcement officers in the land. I even went to the office of my member of Parliament, at the time, Anil Roberts, and I also reached out to two successive Ministers for Food Production, Land and Agriculture, Reginald Dumas and Vasant Bharatt, and I got no assistance from them either. When this failed, I wrote the then Attorney General, John Jeremy, and nothing was done. I subsequently, sent a letter to the office of the then Prime Minister, Mrs. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who forwarded my correspondence to Minister Vasant Bharatt, whom, as I had previously mentioned, did nothing this time around either. The list of government agencies and individuals in government I wrote and sought assistance from was, at least to me, mind blowing.

I wrote Trinidad and Tobago’s local chapter of Transparency International. They never responded. I wrote Pennelope Beckles, a former PNM member of Parliament with the portfolio of Minister for Public Utilities and the Environment, who forwarded my concerns to the CEO of WASA (Water and Sewerage Authority) and nothing came of my complaint. I wrote and visited the Police Complaints Authority on numerous occasions, and they did nothing either. I literally begged the various Commissioners of State Lands for relief, but my pleas fell upon deaf ears. I even tried the municipal and High Courts in Arima and Port of Spain respectively, and even this failed. Again, the steps I undertook to try to get anyone with the authority to help me goes way beyond what is plausible to itemize or mention in this post.

Through this most trying of circumstances, I had unwittingly uncovered, by my decision to stand up for my rights, the depths of the criminal elements’ influence and reach as well as the willingness of high-ranking law enforcement officers, renowned members of the legal fraternity and career politicians to protect the foot soldiers of the dark underworld and criminal activity in this country. Therefore, I am not at all ignorant of the forces aligned against me and the few of us who dare to stand up for our rights. Neither, as the apostle Paul boldly testified, am I lacking in confidence in the ability of the living God to keep that which I have entrusted unto Him — my life.

Years ago I was among the few reporters, working for Newsday, who were present in the courtroom of magistrate Lucina Cardenas-Ragoonanan when several young women from south America appeared before her charged with prostitution. Stories of being lured to Trinidad and Tobago with promises of work emerged. They soon; however, discovered it was only a ruse, because they had their passports seized by their benefactors, and they were forced to work as sex slaves. Eventually, when it came time to pay them, our intrepid crime-fighting police force raided their “prison”. How convenient. When magistrate Cardenas-Ragoonanan asked one of the young women if she had anyone to represent her, she motioned to a young man next to me in the public dock. Magistrate Cardenas-Ragoonan expressed her dim view of the individual who was now the focus of the court. However, he had no fear and scolded her in turn for what he saw as her hypocrisy in light of the “known” involvement of the police in the entire “industry”. Clearly taken aback by his bold response and knowing his rebuke had merit, she abashedly had no rejoinder.

Therefore, do you think citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, that these politicians who are entrusted with managing our country’s affairs as well as with the fight against crime and corruption, who are themselves neck deep in the very criminal morass which suffocates us, can liberate us from what they profit from? Sex and human trafficking are big business in our twin-island republic. Even our young secondary school students are “recruited” to participate. Let me remind you, in such a small country as ours with a population of about 1.3 million people, we led the world in internet searches for pornography as reported by Google statistics. Now, let this sink in. Yet, sadly, this only scratches the surface with regard to the litany of illegalities that are on the criminal carte du jour.

Our politicians are lying when they promise *new* initiatives to reduce crime. They are the architects of the crime we are suffering from. Where is Calder Hart? This foreigner, who suddenly appeared upon our political landscape with absolutely no explanation of who he was, and why he suddenly was sitting on several of our national boards, is currently enjoying life outside of our shores with millions of our “missing” money. Why is Lawrence Duprey still walking free after the infamous collapse of CL Financial and the loss of billions of our tax dollars to bail it out? Also, why were no charges ever brought against the former president of the now defunct Hindu Credit Union Harry Harnarine? He presided over the loss of tens of millions of investors hard-earned money and faced absolutely no legal repercussions. We can add to this list the Andre Monteil fiasco and the “mis-appropriation” of millions of dollars. Also, there is something many of us would like to ask the former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday, “Where is our rice?”

I can go on and on highlighting the numerous scandals, allegations of wrong doing and citing countless news headlines of unsolved murders, “missing” and “mis-appropriated” funds and their respective actors. Yet, there is a common theme here. NO ONE EVER FACES ANY CONSEQUENCES, because as the late and form PNM Prime Minister George Chambers boldly stated on the political campaign trail, “All ah we ‘tief.”

Whenever a sentence for a crime is not carried out swiftly, the human mind becomes determined to commit evil. — Ecclesiastes 8:11 (ISV)

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What It Means to Be a True Follower of Christ

Posted on July 31, 2019 by admin

It never ceases to amaze me how far removed today’s professed “Christianity” is from what Christ and His apostles preached.  There is practically NO resemblance between what is taught and practiced now with regards to the teachings, doctrines and instructions of the Bible.

2 Timothy 4:3-5  For 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;  (4)  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.  (5)  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Firstly, who is a Christian?  A Christian, is one who follows the teachings/example of Christ.  The next logical question would be, what are the teachings of Christ?  While there are many, I would like to focus upon what it means to be a follower of Christ, as opposed to what is actually being preached in many “Churches” in this era.

Luke 9:23  And he [Jesus] said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Mark 10:17-24  And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?  (18)  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.  (19)  Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.  (20)  And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.  (21)  Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.  (22)  And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.  (23)  And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!  (24)  And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!

Luke 5:11  And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him. Luke

18:28  Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

Matthew 13:44  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.

Matthew 6:21  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

It is important for me to lay a foundation with the above scriptures, because sadly, few read the Bible anymore with the intent to know what Jesus Christ expects of them, despite their claim to be Christians.

Like the rich young man in Mark 10:17-24, many want the promise of heaven/eternal life, but they are unwilling to part with the things of this world in order to attain this “treasure hidden in the field”.  Today’s so-called “Christian” teaching runs counter to the aforementioned scriptures.  The catch-all phrase for this major doctrinal exposition is called “The Prosperity Gospel”.

Many adherents to what is called “Christianity” today subscribe to some form of this teaching.  It advocates the eventual attainment of wealth, after suffering a period of austerity, as a testimony of the believers’ spiritual standing and well-being as well as victory over the forces of the devil which kept them, for a season, from their blessing.  Again, this is not what Christ or His disciples taught those who believed Him to be the savour of the world and the spiritual door through which access is gained into the Kingdom of God.

There are many who claim to be followers of Christ (Christians); however, Christ said not everyone who says “Lord Lord” shall enter into the kingdom of heaven – Matthew 7:21.

Christ also spoke of those whose love for the world caused them to abandon following the path of righteousness – Matthew 13:22.  Thus, such as these fail to see the example laid out by Him and His disciples in the scriptures.

The Disciples of Christ forsook family, friends and livelihoods to follow Jesus.  They were mocked, despised, lied upon, imprisoned and considered to be spreaders of sedition.  They embraced a greater treasure “hidden” in the world, which are the words and the example of Christ – the keys to the kingdom of heaven.

Of Christ it is written:  2 Corinthians 8:9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

Our Lord gave up the “riches” of His heavenly abode to become poor – He put on flesh for the purpose of death – so we could inherit the “treasure” of internal life.

Consequently, those who hear the seed sown – the good news of salvation through faith in Christ – the gospel, are tested by life’s fiery circumstances to prove the calibre of their heart’s confession.

Romans 10:8-10  But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;  (9)  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  (10)  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Luke 8:11-15  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.  (12)  Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.  (13)  They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.  (14)  And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.  (15)  But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

At every point of our earthly life, those who are truly followers of Christ must be willing to lay down their “lives”, as Christ did for us.   Lives in the earlier sentence is in quotes, because it speaks to more than just our physical life.  It speaks to all that we may hold dare in this world.  Whether we are called to sacrifice our family, friends, career, reputation, our money/wealth our home or country, nothing in this world, must be held in honour, worshiped or be loved above God.  This is the example our Lord and His Disciples left for us.

Luke 14:26  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

The scriptures record that those who are truly followers of Christ should look to Jesus:

Hebrews 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Think about what Jesus endured as a human being.  Many of us will do our utmost to preserve what little dignity we may have left in the midst of circumstances which threaten to destroy our upright standing in society.  NO ONE wants to be embarrassed.  Neither does anyone volunteer to be falsely accused of a crime and to suffer the resulting public humiliation that comes with such an accusation.  Yet, our Lord did along with many who followed His example for the promise of eternal life.

When the Lord said to those who would follow Him that they too must take up their cross, we must understand what He really meant.  The cross was a symbol of shame.  It was borne by those who were convicted of a crime.  The cross represented a tortuous and painful death.  For our Lord it also represented obedience to The/His Father through submitting to suffering, because to such was He appointed, even though He was innocent.  Therefore, for those who profess to be followers of Christ, they must also take up their cross and bare the test of obedience by suffering in the same manner.

Philippians 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Hebrews 12:3  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

The Lord NEVER promised earthly riches to those whom He called to follow Him.  In fact, He says this to His disciples:

Luke 6:20-25  And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.  (21)  Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.  (22)  Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake.  (23)  Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.  (24)  But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.  (25)  Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.

Furthermore, the Apostles of Christ taught the opposite of what is known today as the prosperity gospel, and they endured great hardship to preach the gospel.

1 Corinthians 4:11-13  Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;  (12)  And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:  (13)  Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

2 Thessalonians 1:4  So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:

1 Peter 4:12-14  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  (13)  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  (14)  If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

These scriptures, I have used here, which record the blessed example of those who deigned to follow Christ are a small sample of the many which document the hardships and trials endured by those who set their desire upon the heavenly treasure.  Yet, today this is not the teaching heard nor the example given.

In the testing/trying of our heart through these earthly hardships there is a truth that is missed by those who seek the riches of this world.  This precious truth is obedience.  Our Lord allows the question of genuine fidelity (love for God) to be asked and answered by our response to our suffering.  Will we obey His commandments even in the midst of great adversity or temptation?  Remember, this is the test that Adam and Eve failed in the Garden of Eden.  Yet, our Lord, being the second Adam, passed.

1Corinthians 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

John 14:15  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 15:10  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

Luke 4:2-4  Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.  (3)  And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.  (4)  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

Luke 4:7-8  If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.  (8)  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

Deuteronomy 8:2  And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.

Again, what more can I say about the patriarch Job who suffered much loss, but after he was tried, did not curse God and kept his integrity.

Job 2:3  And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause.

Job 2:9  Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

Job 23:10  But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Matthew 7:13-14  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  (14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Consider the word “strait” in the above verses.  It is not spelt straight – which means a direct and unaltered path between two points.  Strait, in this instance, means: difficulty and hardship.

Those who teach contrary to this truth are marked for destruction and lead those who follow them towards the same end.

2 Peter 2:1-3  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  (2)  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  (3)  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise (to use a person for gain) of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

What more can I say than that which is already so copiously recorded in the precious scriptures about what it means to be a follower of Christ?  Therefore, those who reject these writings, in fact, reject the true riches laid up in heaven for those who endure the trying of their faith and who remain obedient to the end.  Conversely, those who adhere to the prosperity gospel are not following Christ.

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