All posts by AOCM

My name is Pastor Tony Catron I graduate from K.S.U. with a degree in electronic/electrical engineering. While doing that I became a Junior Deacon and also a musician in my dad's ministry in Cleveland, Ohio. Years later, my career took me to Michigan where I worked as a Electrical/Electronic Engineer. While in Michigan I became a Minister, then later went to Seminary training at Birmingham Bible Institute and became an Elder at a large Pentecostal church in Michigan called LLCC. I was called to the ministry by God. So I headed up an outreach ministry based on the End Times, dealing with restoration in people lives. Then my dad called me back to Ohio to help him Pastor his church. During that time, God changed my outreach ministry, turning it into a full-time restoration ministry. He gave me the name Ark of Covenant Ministries and the rest is history.
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The Thief on the Cross

This Bible class was one of the most interesting yet, because questions were permitted to be asked, and research permitted to be done. Pastor Catron had somewhat of an open forum to discuss and ask questions. Our study started off with the account of the thieves on the cross with Jesus.

 

Luke 23:32-34, 38

And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, This Is The King Of The Jews. And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.

 

On the subject of paradise, when a saint dies, they don’t immediately go to heaven as some might think. They go to paradise. The word says “eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” The remark was posed as to what the rest of this particular passage says:

 

1 Corinthians 2:8-10

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

 

So as believers we know these things. Are you a believer who does not know by the Spirit these things? Pastor Catron says in order to hear what the Spirit says, you have to open yourself to God’s influence. Many things don’t happen in our lives because we so locked up on ourselves. “If I don’t read it, if I don’t have someone who shows me, then I can’t believe it.” This is the mentality we are prone to, and this is not a mentality to have when you want the Spirit to reveal things to you.

Back to the subject of the thief on the cross in Luke 23, moving to verse 39-44. Now, think about the situation of both malefactors who hung crucified with Jesus. One of them represented people who are caught in their sins, and can only think about themselves. The other represents the people who are remorseful and pose repenting hearts. Is this not like the conflicts in your life? The thief of remorse admitted that he and the other thief were getting their just desserts. Repentance starts in the heart. Christ knew his heart. Christ said “Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.” Now is that robber going to heaven or hell? Well if he’s going to paradise, he’s going to a holding place waiting for the Lord to return.

The question arose about heaven and paradise. Are they two separate places? A look in the Bible dictionary tells us that the original paradise was a garden. In traditional Hebrew theology, the dead would descend to Sheol or simply put the grave. After the emergence in the belief of resurrection however, this view was drastically modified. After resurrection the dead would go to a place much like Eden. Does this resurrection to and Eden like place coincide with our view of Heaven or Paradise? It seems as though they equate paradise to heaven.

What does the bible dictionary say about heaven? A word expressing several distinctive concepts in the Bible. 1) An expansion over the earth 2) Heaven is also the dwelling place of God, and the source of New Jerusalem. Because of the works of Christ on the cross, heaven is in part present with believers on the Earth as they obey God’s commandments 3)The word heaven is also used as a substitute for the name of God. At the end of time, a new heaven will be created to surround the Earth (Revelation 21:1).

Well, we will look more into this in next weeks bible study.

 

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It’s Time to be Aware, Look Around

Do you remember when you were growing up when your parents or relatives told you to “look out, be careful, or don’t do what your friends do? As the parent makes these statements, the child asks, “Why can’t I do what my friends do?” The parent responds, “If your friend jumps off a bridge, would you jump off too?” Like always you would say emphatically NO.”

Our water supply is contaminated with chemicals, our air is contaminated with chemicals; it is killing us. Outside of this neighbors are murdering one another, friends are murdering one another, and relatives are killing each other. Years ago things like this occurred much less frequently, but today, it happens on a daily bases. In so much that those statements of concern are going silent. We don’t hear parents tell their kids to watch out. We have come to a place of complacency in our lives, and that true concern for our well being has been kicked out the door. What can we say to all this? Well if we look at the Word of God, we can understand that the care and concern comes from Him and with out God in there lives  the list of concern go’s away, leaving a cold and calculating generation of young adults.

 

1 Peter 5:2-8

Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

 

Luke 21:1-36 speaks of the destruction of Jerusalem.

 

Luke 21:1-6

And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

 

Now if you know the story of Jerusalem, when the Romans seized the temple, the temple had gold in laid, gold on the walls, and adorned with gold and very beautiful. The Romans burned the temple down to the ground in so much that all the gold that was in the temple melted down into the cracks and crevices of the stones of the temple. This is why Christ said one stone won’t be left upon another. Later the stones were picked out and gouged our for the gold in them.

 

Luke 21:7-17

And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.

 

If you really what to see what’s going on today listen to this, Christians all across the world are being hated and mistreated; even killed because they worship the one true God, Christ and what He stands for. In this country, the same hate is going to be felt like other believer around the world for those who believe in Christ. This is why Jade Helm 15, the urban response teams which are made up of military soldiers along with swat team in this country are coming in. Our government has issued different types of military equipment and military assault vehicles for the local government and law enforcement authorities. This will keep the local populous under control, just in case people may disagree with unfavorable decisions or disruption handed out by our government in our lives, other wise know as Urban Pacification “UP”. Well literally, it is to disposed of any one who the government deems to be a threat to their decisions on what policies this country enacts. “Well I guess, this post might be considered a threat and more so because I’m a Pastor.”  Many people will be running to their local church for protection. The church was to be seen as the enemy of the state; the enemy against the country. What is happening is that the populous is being geared to believe that the only way for humans to evolve the way Darwin’s Theory of Evolution intended is for humans to be enhanced by computers via Electronic multiplication through “Electronic Chip” development and implantation” or in other words to be more aware of their senses bionically. Computers controlling your hearing, computers controlling you kidneys; every part of your body so that it would function to the peak of power; to increase human capability. Those in this type arena feel that if God created our bodies, He didn’t do a very good job so we need to help out and improve ourselves. We really don’t understand that the way the world wants us to be tied into one central location. They know God communicate with every true Christian. They want to use the same concept into a world wide net, so if you don’t do what you are suppose to under the one world government, your connection can be shut off, rendering you completely disabled.

The recent installment of the new movie Total Recall, showed the main character whose arm functioned as a phone. His arm was a antenna and location device for the government and local authorities, the hand functioning as a receiver. If this technology was presented in a movie, then does this mean this technology has already existed? Is this movie just a move? Well just  take the time to look at the reach out there today and you come to your own conclusion. We don’t know the extend of the technology that this government has come in contact with or back engineered from so exotic technology. There are articles, documents and news broadcast that has said that United States Government is over 50 to 100 years beyond other governments and their technology that we are of today.

There are many things going on that we aren’t aware of; we’re not looking; we’re not seeing. Parents in one generation were aware, and cared about their children and there life. The next generation got laxed and most of their children are completely immoral. Growing up in the late 60s and 70s, a young woman who would have gotten pregnant out of wedlock was seen as taboo and the young man ostracized. Today, teen fornication and pregnancy is commonplace.

 

Luke 21:18-24

But there shall not an hair of your head perish.  In your patience possess ye your souls. And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

 

Has verse 24 happened in that Jerusalem was trodden down? Yes. When the Romans came and destroyed the temple, that opened the door for the Arabs to build their Mosque to build atop the temple grounds. This form of tribulation is the final, and this is when Israel will be compassed about with armies upon armies. A recent news broadcast said that Israel is poised to tear down the Mosque that sits on the temple grounds, so the temple can be rebuilt. Those who build the Mosque upon the temple grounds claim that Muhammad left to heaven from those same grounds. They want to keep the Jews from restoring the temple, and for this reason the Mosque was deliberately put there. It is all poised for the battled.

How long shall you not listen to what God is saying to you? How long shall you continue to do you in this world? We have a false sense of security and complacency in our lives; all of us. You ask people to stay over night for black Friday to get the best deals at local department stores or to hang out at the local club, bar, or as the young people say “just chillin or hanging out” . They respond with a resounding YES! But if you ask them to stay over night to have prayer service to help people come to the understanding who JESUS and to know what going on around them and in there life, their response is a resounding NO! What is the difference? One of these is for your flesh, the other is for your soul. I don’t want anything for my soul, I want it all for my flesh. We have become so complacent that we can’t see the truth and we don’t even know what we should be doing. Our relatives use to tell us to be careful, now they tell us to do as you feel; be independent; be who you want to be. There is no form of understanding and making logic sense in people lives today.

Be aware of what is going on around you! Our water, our food supply and our air are all being contaminated so that we can freely accept what this society deems right. This is not what God wants for us. This society is all about selfishness. “How can I get over on this person so I can get what I want?” God never ordained that. We need to work together to be together in the House of God. He is asking us to be believers, in the Body of Christ. In this Body there is no homosexuality, no murderers, no thieves; there are none of the things that cause negative in a persons life. The Word of God is plain and clear: no abomination shall exist with Him. When you say things of this sort to people, they immediately call you negative and unkind with no love. What is really hard, is that our government has backed up sin, for the purpose of taking over the people of this country, to usher in a police state to control the masses.

Everyone who reads or hears this be aware of your surroundings. Look around and be careful; don’t do what everyone else is doing. In all your getting get an understanding through the Word of God.

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A New Wind is Blowing

In this year and time, new technology and hostilities between countries and governments has increased greatly. God is now allowing a new will to usher in a change in the hearts of people in governments and of countries to begin to prepare for what is coming next: war. I believe He is letting people see themselves, so that they can make the choice to either live for Him or live for the world and burn for an eternity. They must make the final decision now.

Last night, the wind was blowing fiercely, and as I looked at the sky the Lord placed in my heart that there is a new wind that is going to be blowing, it’s  about the change that will take place now with this country and this world, because His return is eminent. He was sharing with me that He is letting this wind blow, a fierce wind. Because of the fierceness of sin and violence of this world, He wants His people to be ready to go at anytime during this time frame. He will not let us suffer his wrath. What we are going through now, it is a testament of what is happening in Revelation. This is the time to start making up your mind up what you will do, because this wind is going to blow very strongly that mean heavy test and trials in your walk..

The Bible speaks of the East wind; it brought the plagues to Egypt with the locusts (Genesis 10:13). This East wind also parted the Red Sea. There are also multiple types of winds: the south and north wind, east wind brought the locust to egypt the west wind….it drove away the locust from Egypt (Exodus 10:19). The south wind blew Paul’s ship gently across the sea before a fierce wind demolished the ship. God used the south wind to quiet the very Earth.

Job 37:15-17

 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge? How thy garments are warm, when he quieteth the earth by the south wind? Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass? Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness. Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up. And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passeth, and cleanseth them.

 

The wind is described so often to do some many different things. It also says in the Word on the day of Pentecost that the Holy Ghost came rushing in as a mighty rushing wind; an awesome thing (Acts 2:2-4).

The east wind is also equated for war, due to the violent nature of itself (Jeremiah 18:16-17). In other words, there is a wind that is blowing from the east of violence and of war. It came to me strongly last night that war is upon us. We need to be mindful, gathering food water, whatever we need to do to make sure we are sustained. Everyone one is looking at the presidency, but I am sensing something stronger than that is going to happen this year. So it behooves us to be more mindful of what we are doing. The Bible tells us never to give up, no matter how bad things get. We want to see more happen for this ministry, but I am not giving up on the ministry or any of these things. I believe God is going to cause people that you never would have thought to come into the house of God. He will open His heart to all those individuals and they will hear. Those who have been in Church the ones who came to church…they know too much about Church to their own understanding. The Lord wants a clean and fresh heart, not an old stale one that has been stale from their own mentality. The bible tells us lean not to thy own understanding, but in all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path. Well we don’t do that, we direct our path and then blame God. The Lord wants a humble Spirit.

This war coming on this Earth, I’m hoping and praying that the message gets out as the Bible says choose ye this day who you will serve, whether it be God or man. Don’t let this things come upon you unaware. I had a dream where I saw myself in a building. One side of me there was a table and chair, and there was a storm outside. A person was telling me  there is a storm you need to get out. But I said no I’ll just get underneath the table. Someone I knew had gone to another table across the way, and they looked and said it would be better if you came this way, you’d better come this way. So I said no the table I’m under is sturdy. But something told me “go to the other side of the room.” The moment I did, a tornado came and wiped the whole side where I was under the table  away. So the Lord was trying to teach me to listen to Him when He speaks when God say to move, move and if he say stop then stop.

No matter how hard the winds blow in your life, you can never give up. Change what God wants you to change. This new wind that is coming up is no joke. This is the wind of violence that is coming. Violence is going to take place more and more everyday, to the point where all you hear about is violence. The Bible says you’ll hear of wars and rumors of wars, but don’t be soon shaken. Realize that you need to get yourself together. There is no more doing what you want to do, but doing what God wants you to do; to do His will and to do His work.

There was a strong emphasis last night when the Lord shared with me on the new wind. The wind is about getting yourself ready as well as get prepared for Him. I feel an unction in my Spirit that His return is not going to be too long from now. Its no more playing church. When the wind comes, it will test you as to whether you are a Child of God, or not. Whatever is in your life that is causing a hindrance with your walk with God, it will be tested. This time your life is going to be very shaken and not stirred, harder than before many times over.

 

James 1:6-8 talks about how this wind with cause you to make a certain decision.

 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

 

This wind is going to test the very fiber of your salvation. Sure you’ve had tests and trials, but this wind that is coming is of a higher magnitude. Is the love you have for money or spouse more than your love for God? If so, when the wind comes, you will fail. Do you want to live for Christ, or do you want to die for the things you love in the world? When the East wind comes upon you, it will bring things up in your life that you won’t be able to stand. This wind will determine whether you are a saint or an aint.

We need to focus totally on our walk in Christ. The Word says, blessed is he who when he returns finds him so doing. Are you trying to win souls or trying to get them to like you? Are you doing God’s will or no. God wants a pure heart that is going to serve Him without doubt. People want to come to God in their own and with their own preconceived notions that it has to be “my way.” God is saying when this wind blows it will blow away all of those mentalities and reveal the real and raw you. Most people don’t want to let go of their carnal ways to serve God. But all those carnal things are not really you. They have just been pressed upon you because of your surroundings. God has made you to love people. But most people think serving God takes away from their freedom. You need to make a choice.

People take spiritual books that people write to be completely true. They are not 100% true. Speakers are not 100% true. But when the man of God speaks, it will prick something in you, then you’ll know that what he said was true.

Who you allow to be around you, teach you and talk to you; to dominate your life will be a part of who you are. If you allow Satan to be your guide, you life will be dark and controlled. If you allow the light through Jesus (Yeshua) then he will not control you, but guide you. When the wind comes, your false lifestyle will be blown away, your true emotional stand point will be revealed. When the clothes, and the images and the dress, and the lifestyle you lead are blown away and all that remains is you standing there, can you go through a test?

Be prepared for the storm ahead. Prepare for the war ahead. The war does not have to be between nations but it could be your personal war. As God to prepare you for that time.

 

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The Great Apostasy

The Church has been led astray by the different books, and false teachers. The generation of the Apostles had a form of teaching, and today, teachers are speaking watered down teaching, and nothing to do with making the Word effective, exciting, and have action. Rather, the Word has become a story book. We need to understand that when we take away from the original Word of God, a state of apostasy is created. The word apostasy means abandonment of the former loyalties or teaching; people who once have been enlightened by the Word of God, who have turned away from it, heaping to themselves teachers after their flesh. When you teach in this manner, you don’t hear the true understanding of the Word of God.

When walking in apostasy, you deceive, causing the believer to believe a lie; beguile and betray them; to dilute or mislead an understanding. Understanding the Word of God is the key meaning for the walk in your life. We allow ourselves to be led astray.

Galatians 6:1-10

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For every man shall bear his own burden. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

People like to accuse others of not having the Word fully or not understanding the Word fully. When you say “that person doesn’t know what their talking about; that person doesn’t have an understanding; that person is just not learned of the Word.” You don’t know that. Many times people go through things; things are not where they should be. We are not perfect people. We try to obtain perfection through the Spirit.

Why are there so many people leaving the Church, coming back, and leaving again? When you have failures and inadequacies in your life, you tend to look for others who do not. Well, there aren’t people like that here on this Earth. We should allow God to order our steps instead, if we allow Him to do so. The apostasy comes when someone causes you to go astray because of what you have said or done. You are now attacking this brother or sister about what they are doing, instead of trying to understand them. Then you tell someone else, and you and those individuals act in accordance to your own personal understanding of the scriptures, causing them and yourself  to go astray; apostasy. We need to be careful how we entreat our brothers or sisters and those in the world.

2 Thessalonians 2:1-17

Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

 

Verse 3- A falling of the structure, move, teaching and Word of God. Misinterpretation of what God said, misinterpretation of the Holy Ghost in your life; Satan will use that to pull you in a state of apostasy.

 

Mark 3:24-28

And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. No man can enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

 

If the Pastor and laity have problems, then that house can not stand it will fall. If you have a disagrement with a brother or sister, then you need to go to them. You can’t come to them out of anger, with an educated mentality or superiority mentality, but under the unction of the Holy Ghost. In the Church we are so defeated all the time, we don’t know when we have the victory. You can’t understand it because your are so caught up in you. “You aren’t teaching what I want to hear, You got to please me because its all about me.” But it is not about You, its about God.

Satan can’t come into a ministry or house unless the Pastor or head of house be bound with thoughts of corruption. If the man is on his job, he will be more aware of what goes on in his house. Satan only will attack those within the house when the head of the house is not strong. God is not mocked. What a man sows that will he reap. If you sow corruption in your house as the head of your house, you will reap corruption. God communicates with the man of the house and everyone under that man must follow suite, if the man is God fearing.

1 Timothy 4:1-11

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained. But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach.

 

You have allowed apostasy to creep into your home. Some are even in the process of allowing Satan’s minions to destroy their house. Satan is highly organized; everyone has a responsibility in their ranks to succeed. Some shall fall from the faith, for many reasons. But one of the main reasons is teaching wrong doctrine and teaching man’s wisdom.

Mark 4:11-32

And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them. And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables? The sower soweth the word. And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts. And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended. And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick? For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath. And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come. And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: but when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

Be careful. You don’t know what sort of ground a seed was placed in. Someone will plant a seed and have someone else water it and God will give the increase. So if you are not on your job walking in Christ properly, the person whom you are suppose to witness to will be led astray. Be careful what you say and how you act when people’s souls are at stake. You can cause or be a part of the apostasy or be a part of the remedy.

God has given us the opportunity to bring more people into the kingdom. So its up to you as to whether you want God to move your walk along stronger, or be a hindrance o someone else. It all depends on you. How do you want your life to effect others?

 

 

 

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Methodism Faith Based System

This week as we moved on in our Study of Faith Based Systems, we will be talking about Methodism.

Methodism is a religious movement founded by John and Charles Wesley and a group of associates in the 18th century. It grew to be a major Christian Revitalization Movement that made a significant impact on the 19th century Missionary Movement and Christian enterprises throughout the world. The original movement has developed into a family of churches loosely connected to the World Methodist Council and claims a membership of over 18 million and a community of 40 million. In 1739 John Wesley started a society in London to promote Evangelical Christianity in England.

What is Evangelical Christianity? Evangelical Christians believe in the inspiration of the Bible, to which they hold as the divine rule of Faith and practice. They affirm the fundamental doctrines of the gospel, including the incarnation, virgin birth of Christ, His sinless life, substitutionary atonement and bodily resurrection as the grounds of God’s forgiveness of sin, justification by faith alone, and the spiritual regeneration of all who trust in Jesus Christ.

Returning back to Methodism, in 1741 John Wesley began the training of lay ministers and in 1769 sent his first missionaries to serve in America. In 1784 Wesley and his followers finally broke away from the Church of England and established their own Church.

Now, the Church of England is also known as Anglicanism. The origins of English Christianity are unknown, but the presence of British Bishops at the council of Arles (A.D. 314) indicates the existence of an organized Church. Following the Roman withdrawal and Teutonic invasions, Christianity retreated to the Celtic lands, but in the late 6th and early 7th centuries, Roman and Celtic missions began the reconversion of England. The Synod of Whitby (663-664) secured the observance of Roman forms. The English church was largely isolated from continental Ecclesiastical affairs until the Norman invasion of 1066. Even afterwards distance from Rome, the conflict between England and France, and papal decline made English submission more nominal than real. It was an easy matter for King Henry VIII (1491-1547) to use his divorce from Catherine of Aragon as grounds for detaching England from papal obedience. The parliament of 1532-1536 gave Henry the title “Supreme Head on Earth of the Church of England.” Under Edward VI (1547-1553) the church underwent a liturgical and doctrinal reformation. The accession of the Catholic Mary Tudor (1516-1558) inaugurated a period of reaction during which many of the Edwardian reformers were martyred.

Returning back to our story of Methodism….with a few notable exceptions, such as Welsh Methodism, the movement of Methodism is Arminian in theology with a strong social concern. Arminianism is a general term embracing the teachings of Jacobus Arminius. The theological views of Arminius and his followers were summed up in five points which were designed to counter the prevailing Calvinist orthodoxy of his day. They are:

  1. God from all eternity predestined to eternal life those whom he foresaw would remain steadfast in faith;
  2. Christ died for all humanity, not only the elect;
  3. Through free will a person cooperates in his conversion;
  4. Humans may resist divine grace;
  5. Humans may fall from grace.

At the Synod of Dort  (also known as the Synod of Dordt or the Synod of Dordrecht) was an international Synod held in Dordrecht in 1618–1619, by the Dutch Reformed Church, to settle a divisive controversy initiated by the rise of Arminianism) the Arminian teachings were condemned by orthodox Calvanists as heretical. Today, Arminianism is the major teological force among North American Evangelical Christians.

Lets take a look at what Calvanism is since it so opposed Methodism’s basis in Arminianism. Calvanism originated with John Calvin’s interpretation and exposition of scripture found in his Institutes of the Christian Religion (1536). It emphasizes the sovereignty of God in salvation and was later closely associated with Puritanism. The five points of Calvinism, referred to by the acronym “Tulip,” were drawn up on response to Arminianism. They are:

  1. Total depravity;
  2.  Unconditional election;
  3. Limited atonement;
  4. Irresistible grace;
  5. The perseverance of the saints.

Presbyterians, various reformed churches, Anglicans and some Baptist Churches have been strongly influenced by Calvinism as a theological system.

So it seems the Methodist Arminianism and Calvanism has something of a rivalry. Of the two Arminianism would more closely resemble Biblical principles. In the 20th century mainline Methodism has tended to encourage Liberal Theology and has moved away from its revivalist roots.