Divisions in the Churches
Greetings brethren, Wayne, a servant of God, by the grace of God, and placed into the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This video will address the teachings of divisions which cause offences by some of the churches of God contrary to the doctrine of Jesus the Christ, the head of the spiritual church which He established.
I will be the words in green. Purple highlights in the scriptures are key words of truth.
Some of you may be familiar with this verse:
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them.
It appears my wife and I have been branded as such due to my standing up for the teachings of the truth, and I am sure some of you viewing this have experienced the same shunning.
The doctrine I have learned comes directly from our Lord Jesus Christ as we will see, so they must be referring to their own doctrine – one mixed with hot truth and cold error - lukewarm. Perhaps I am guilty of the next verse:
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
I have not asked anybody for anything, and everything I have taught has all been backed up by scriptures for the people who should understand those scriptures – the people of God.
Now according to the doctrine of our Lord, and one would have to assume that that was the doctrine the apostle Paul was referring to, I now have marked certain men who cause divisions among brethren contrary to the teachings, or doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ. As I have said in a previous video, this is a doctrine of demons for the sole purpose of attacking the unity of the body of Christ.
There is no need to name names as they will be made evident by teaching doctrines contrary to the doctrine of Jesus Christ which is of God the Father (Joh 7:16). This is the spirit of anti-Christ (1Jn 2:18).
So we will look at that body of Christ using, as always, the scriptures to define it. Then we will have an understanding of a doctrine of truth to compare against a doctrine of error influenced by Satan to rob you of your crown:
1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
We see that servants of God do not attack – they warn – just as the prophets warned ancient Israel.
And with the apostle John addressing who he was writing to as beloved, would that not be the people of God today as well, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ? See Rom 1:7, 11:28, 12:19; then read Jude 1:17-25.
Now, am I being delusional in my warning about Satan attacking the unity of the body of Christ? Let us let scripture answer:
Rev 12:17 And the dragon [Satan (Rev 12:9)] was wroth with the woman [the unified spiritual body of Jesus Christ – His Church – His Bride], and went to make war with the remnant of her seed [the divided churches of God], which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Scripture clearly reveals what I have been saying about Satan attacking the unity of the body of Christ. The ones who hold to our Lord’s doctrine are described as the woman who will be taken to a place of safety: Notice:
Rev 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent [Satan].
But why will the rest of the ones who keep the commandments (of God) and (the) testimony of Jesus Christ not be chosen for the place of safety?
Based on my ten years of experience and direct dealings with four of these churches (now some would call this church hopping, and in the physical sense they would be correct, however, I have not left my first love which is the spiritual Church that our Lord built), three of the four churches teaching that they are the true church and not to fellowship with members in the others, I would have to say they will not be keeping the new commandment!
Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
Does shunning a fellow baptized member of our Lord’s church, who has done nothing to personally offend anyone, show love? Does this serve God or men influenced by Satan?
Now, if any of you brethren have fallen for this avoidance doctrine and you care anything about your crown, I strongly suggest that you read Mat 24:36 to 51 where it clearly shows how some will be gathered for the place of safety while others will be left behind to face the great tribulation that shall come upon the whole earth [verse 21].
Here, our Lord is being tested by Satan. Are we not being tested by Satan?
Mat 4:10 Then says Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.
Have you exalted yourself with a spirit of superiority over your brethren?
Mat 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
Mat 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
Mat 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Are you afraid to suffer persecution for disobedience from men who tell you to shun or avoid fellow brethren. Or perhaps they are telling you that you will be disfellowshipped from their church and not be in the kingdom of God using this scripture from the apostle Paul – and oh how they love to use the apostle Paul rather than plain scriptures from our Lord:
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness [evil], but rather reprove them.
Or this one:
1Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Am I evil for standing up for the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ? Do not fear men. Obey God, and here is your reward:
Mat 5:10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
A little comfort coming here for those of you suffering persecution for standing up to the truth:
Mat 5:11 Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
Now, in regards to some being kicked out or fired in a worldly manner, Let us see what our Lord teaches concerning His church:
First we see that the ones kicked out are not of Satan:
Mar 3:23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?
So then they must be of Christ. And what does our Lord say of those that are His:
Joh 6:37 All that the Father gives me shall come to me; and him that comes to me I will in no wise cast out.
This is the doctrine of our Lord; this is the doctrine my wife and I shall live by. We will never let a man tell us to avoid those who our Lord himself will no wise cast out. That would be a direct violation of the new commandment from our Lord to love one another. Blessed are you that have stood up for this same truth, notice from our Lord:
Luk 6:22 Blessed are you, 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.
So what is the fate of any who teach against a clear commandment from our Lord?
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Some teach love of brethren in their own church of God while also teaching them to stay away from the same baptized members of the body of Christ in all the other churches of God. Does that not raise a red flag?
Or they will use this scripture to describe those who have left a church because that church was not teaching the whole Truth of God:
1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.
Looks good on the surface, but continue reading to discover that the apostle John is talking about those who deny the faith, not those who stand by it.
Continuing:
Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
And what were the scribes and Pharisees doing?
Mat 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you compass sea and land to make one proselyte [prospective member is the term used today], and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
Pay attention to what you are being taught. Be armed with the sword of the Lord which is the word of the Lord, which is the whole truth of God.
Notice how our Lord used the word “us” signifying praying in one united body to God the Father:
Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Our Father is looking for a single united bride to present as a wife to the returning Jesus Christ – the bridegroom (Jn 3:29).
Now you may be asking, where do I go if I leave or am kicked out for standing up to the truth? Look for a Church of God that is not teaching the doctrine of avoidance of brethren in other churches, or look for other brethren who are like-minded, who obey our Lord Jesus Christ.
Is our Lord’s church not a spiritual church, not made with hands, or established by men? Look here:
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto you, That you are Peter, and upon this rock [Himself] I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
And here are some bearing false witness against our Lord but revealing an important truth:
Mar 14:58 We heard him [Jesus] say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
And why is there no longer any need for that temple which was eventually destroyed by the Romans?
1Co 3:16 Know you not that you [each and every member of the united body of Christ] are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
Is being with two or three other like-minded members of the spiritual body of Christ righteous with God? Let us ask our Lord:
Mat 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
And that means being in His presence, especially important at His return. Notice the apostle Paul here:
1Th 2:19 For what is our [speaking of true servants of God] hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
Let us continue with the apostle Paul admonishing or warning about divisions while teaching what we ought to be doing:
1Co 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:3 For you are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are you not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4 For while one says, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are you not carnal?
That continues today with “I am of this church or that church".
1Co 3:5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers [servants, in the Greek translation] by whom you believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: you are God's husbandry, you are God's building.
1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
1Co 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours;
1Co 3:22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;
1Co 3:23 And you are Christ's; and Christ is God's.
1Co 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest [known] the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.
That is, of course, every man or woman who endures in the truth till the end.
Continuing:
1Co 4:14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you.
1Co 6:20 For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
1Co 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
1Co 10:10 Neither murmur you, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
1Co 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
1Co 12:12 For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1Co 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
1Co 12:25 That there should be no schism [meaning split or gap; division] in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
So in conclusion, brethren of Jesus Christ and children of God, remember to flee from any doctrines which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine of our Lord Jesus Christ to the saving of your crown.
Back to the apostle Paul for the closing scriptures:
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
Rom 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
Rom 16:20 And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Freely I have received, freely I have given,
Farewell,
Servanthood
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.