Tag: Billy Graham

Old Paths – Micro Church? #1

Path Without End

9021 Will modern church fight the Sea Change in spite of “over whelming” evidence of her failure in America? Why do I specify America? Because it seems we have not failed so badly overseas. It appears our dollars invested to send missionaries to third world countries, and such, is resulting in much multiplication and revival! But why is that? Is it because our American version of church is succeeding there? Not according to the studies I have read. They are succeeding for exactly the opposite reasons!

These oversea revivals are not adopting the big church modern system, but they are doing it much more closely to what the Early Church of the Old Ways did! House to house! What we see throughout our New Testament! Isn’t that interesting! You say No? Maybe? We will see.

And in a time when the American church should be self examining and asking why all this has come upon us “on our watch”, we do not self-examine, but simply say to pray, vote for Trump, and we will overcome! (Where is the humble yourself, repent, turn from your wicked ways, seek my face?) If this is your answer for where we are going, then what is your reasoning on how we got here? Have you yet to even admit it is the modern church that is responsible to God for America’s condition? And if these be judgments from God, then who has caused them, the unsaved world who do not know what they do? Or a modern church who is supposed to know what they do?

I must give Mario Murillo credit for this. I believe he pointed out our SIN in scripture, and once I saw it,  I needed no further explanation because it was all so plain! I don’t know the details he has taught on this, but here is what seems so prophetically accurate to me, and yes…this does relate to our new SERIES of Old Paths and Micro Churches. I’m so excited to be finally getting fully into this.

I recommend one and all to read Jonah in detail, for yourself, but here are a few points for us to “launch” with. 1)…The Lord gave a message to Jonah! This is 1:1 of Jonah! And what did he do with it? He did not speak it! He refused to even go to those people that the message was for…and he RAN from God!

He was to warn of coming judgment, but refused! You may say we have had lots of people screaming judgment for years. Yes…but did you listen to them? And the message of the modern church has not been judgment, but prosperity and success and king theology! It says in verse 3, Jonah did not preach the message of the Lord, but got up and went in the opposite direction! He went “DOWN” to Joppa and got on a ship for Tarshish, whose name in the Greek means = a stone, a jem, a reverse! And when I think of a “jem”, I think of money, prosperity, materialism!

2)…But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart! (Remember the vision I’ve shared in detail in previous articles? The whirlwinds, dry corn shucks, and wire fences? And two old gates?) Fearing for their lives these unsaved men started praying to their gods for divine help! But Jonah was not praying in the storm, he was sleeping! (Vrs. 5)

3)…The captain of the ship demands for Jonah to pray to his God also! This is like the world telling the church to wake up and pray! What are you doing sleeping in a storm like this? And soon, it is discovered, the whole storm is because of Jonah! It is not because of these ungodly men who know not what they do, but because of Jonah who knows exactly what he is doing! The storm has come on ALL of them because of Jonah, God’s man, not anyone else! This is our fault, church! And are you examining your modern ways to figure out why? Or must we be thrown overboard, by the world, into the sea, to be swallowed by a fish, before we will finally get serious about our calling as Priests in the earth!

We will be having much more to say about Jonah and the church, for example…in chapter 2, verse 10, it says the fish “spit” or “vomited” Jonah out of his mouth! That sounds a whole lot like the church of Laodicea to me! And what have we already been saying? But even as Jonah is spit out on that beach, he still has serious attitude issues! But I don’t want to just spend time on how we got here, but also where we go from here. In this series I want to talk about both. We need to speak about what Jonah did, and also what Jesus DID!

The clock is coming full circle! Is the church becoming as the Jewish church was in Jesus day? Jesus looked at the Pharisees and said, when speaking of Nineveh! > “The people of Nineveh will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah.”

“Now someone greater than Jonah is here — but you refuse to repent.” (Matt. 12:41b)

He goes on to say, “Now someone greater than Solomon is here — but you refuse to listen.”

Refusal to take this seriously. Refusal to repent or listen. I no longer claim to be a Christian. I have tried to correct my habit of speech developed over many years of being a Christian. I try to always specify “I am a follower of Jesus”. I need to go deep into that, also. The modern church has so tainted the name of “Christian”, that I can no longer use that title in good conscience.

However, the name of Jesus still stands pure! If you truly follow Jesus, which is Christianity in its purest and simplest form, people will still respect you. But what does that mean? How have we sullied the name, Christian? Do you even understand? Love of money…king theology… power… sexual unfaithfulness. And related to power…”politics” now also “marks” the name Christian/church/Bible, in the eyes of the world. The world knows Jesus never went political, even though baited more than once by the disciples.

Do I plan to vote? Yes. Do I make a major issue out of politics? No. I focus on the transformation of hearts in Christ Jesus. I never want to speak of politics to the point someone will not listen to me concerning Jesus. Only if I were called of God to that work would I become that vocal, and God does call such people. But the church as a whole is meant to be preaching the Gospel! And multiplying through discipleship! Like salt out of a shaker!

Did you know the death of Billy Graham has proven itself to be a spiritual marker in time, for this nation? And consider this, even though Billy Graham was associated with every President we ever had, it seems, but he was not political! The few times he crossed that line he said he regretted! The young Rev. Graham got involved with Nixon and crossed the line. But the older Graham had learned! He was advisor to both Clinton and Reagan! He told “Christianity Today” in 2011 that he would have ‘steered clear of politics” and he had crossed the line a few times but would not do that now! He did not join the Moral Majority or the Religious Right! How do you think he was able to advise someone like Clinton and also Bush, or Jimmy Carter, and also Reagan? And yet remain above it all!

Billy Graham focused on changing hearts in the power of God, and then a right heart votes godly! And good political leaders with a true desire to serve the people become available. But in a world growing more and more worldly, it don’t matter how political you may get, soon, there will be no good choices! (And some would say we’re already there!) This storm is because of the church running from God’s true message and true ways! And the world plans to throw us in the deep blue raging sea! At least Jonah admitted it was because of him.

If the modern church fails to admit its sin, will God still prepare a fish for us? Or simply let us drown? If we are spit out on the beach, will we preach it then, or just remain a beach bum? Building sandcastles, and lamenting the days of yore?

I firmly believe when the first church in Acts was simply growing larger and larger in that one place, God was saying, “This is not what I want, guys.” So he put his Believers in a salt shaker and began shaking the bottle, because they were simply piling up in a large hump, in one place, not seasoning the whole plate at all! So he allowed persecution and sent them out like salt to sprinkle throughout the land and multiply. Invade, saturate, multiply, fight decay, and season the experience of life for all to see!

Is this thing being called “Micro Church”, the new move of God? Is it God trying to get us back to the wisdom and Holy Spirit power of the old ways? Are we in big lumps that don’t know how to truly be the “family” of God, experiencing shallow relationships instead of the deep? We have so much more to say on this subject, as to Modern Church…Micro Church…Jonah…and Jesus!

images

 

 

Church History & The MAZE

Path Without End

1694 I have been on such a journey. If you don’t understand the title of “Church History & The MAZE”, please read previous article. If you read several previous articles you will find a growing vision of “The Cross”, as I have read these early church fathers, of which I just downloaded today another 2,000 pages! This last week, Billy Graham himself, gave us another reminder of the Cross. And oddly enough, even a movie “Maze Runner 3” left us hanging as to what would “you” do if your blood could save the world? Do you give yourself to it so others can live, but your life becomes a continual sacrifice?

A lot of odd things going on for those who have eyes to see. I asked my wife the other day, (after reading some “David Platt”); I asked her, “Why is it if a Muslim decides to receive Christ as his Lord, he has to pay such a high price, whereas, we have had to pay so little, such a low price?” And then I asked, “Have we REALLY been asked to pay a low price, or have we been asked the same price, but just have not paid it?”

Now I know what you are saying, “Salvation is free, you idiot! Don’t you know that!” Ahem…well yes I do. BUT…maybe I should have said “to live out the salvation we have freely received.” (Better?)

After all, if we do not live it out…does it do us any good to have it? Are we not one of the bad grounds in which the seed never lived? And as I have read these early church fathers, and stories of Christians in countries where they cut out your tongue for speaking the name of Jesus, I realize what a low price I have paid. Did I just happen to hit a “SALE”, a Blue Light special on Jesus? Did I find him at the Goodwill store. (Well, in a way you could say that, it was a place of good will and good news.)

But…our conversation continued:  “I personally pay nothing for salvation and yet it is supposed to cost me everything, per Romans 12:1-2 and many many many other scriptures. The early church fathers knew this…and Polycarp knew this when he took a stand about how the Bishop of Rome was wanting to change Easter, or Passover. We have not gotten into this yet, but we will…and it is very very very rich!

What salvation actually cost me is “my surrender”. How much have I surrendered? How much is a Blue Light special surrender worth? They say you get what you pay for. Scripture says he who gives little will receive little, and he who gives much will receive much. My Blue Light special Jesus?

Our surrender is a call to crucify the monster we were born and embrace real love. This can only happen by the power of God as we care enough to SEEK HIM and show we really want it, followed by OBEDIENCE. Our surrender looks strangely enough like a cross.

You see, the CROSS is not only a picture of God’s love for us, but also a picture of our love for him. How’s your picture looking these days?

In my searching I have been almost blinded by the light of a revelation of Jesus shifting everything from cold hard Temples, to a relationship developed at warm and loving Tables. From there, the “Dove”, the “Cross”, and “Love” have become a template by which I can measure every action I still choose to commit and every path I choose to walk.

I have reached a point where I am convinced the Lord’s Supper is the “KEY” to everything. I am convinced that Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, probably even the Bishop in charge when Jesus gave them a report card in Revelation, he probably knew it was the Key too, and also the Apostle John, whom he learned under. But evidently some Bishops of Rome did not agree on this, and in this I see a fork in the road revealing all. I have been amazed at the mystery of history unfolding in the evidence I have examined.

So…let me start here. The first “Christian Mystic” we looked at was Origen, and we did an article on him that is dated as Feb. 15, 2018, if you want to examine it. He will be spoken of more as time goes by, as well as other Christian Mystics. But for today it is time we introduce what are considered some of the early church father “SUPERSTARS”. At this point I would group them as Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, and Polycarp of Smyrna. All three these guys became Bishops appointed by Apostles. (Some say Bishop Linus was the first Bishop of Rome, who was oddly enough connected to Paul, more than Peter. The order of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Bishops of Rome are a little foggy, but no serious problem.)

I call these guys “Superstars” because their testimonies are above reproach, which makes them very valuable as far as whether to trust their leadership on “issues” that arise. These men not only were discipled directly by Apostles, but proved themselves so faithful, and able to fulfill the role of Bishop, that Apostles appointed them as Bishops over churches. They went on to fulfill those roles even unto a martyrs death! You can examine these three as much as you want, but they were all highly regarded even by those who would follow them, of whom more of their writings have survived.

I’ve read and examined Polycarp’s letter to the Philippians and find it awe inspiring, scripture confirming in every way, enlightening in unexpected ways, and just what I would expect from a disciple of the Apostle John. One of his biggest and dearest points was maintaining UNITY in the church!

So…when I show you that Polycarp got into a big contention with the Bishops of Rome, concerning the Passover, believe me this is no small thing! It is weird the way I actually begin to see something that seems a little different, a little odd, starting with the 6th Bishop of Rome! (6, as in the number of man/flesh/sin/etc.) Very odd, I know. But anyway, be that as it may…Polycarp would not have taken this stand unless he felt very strong about this.

He lived to be very old before being martyred. A lot of these early guys did not. Perhaps God kept him around for this very reason. Perhaps he got something from the Apostle John. Whatever the case, if you examine him, you will find nothing but a very humble Superstar for God and the church. He ran his race and served faithfully through all kinds of circumstances most of us will never see. (I hope.)

The Table is now set for us to get into the meat of this in the next article. I hope you realize how important these early church decisions are. After all, compare it to trying to send a rocket to the moon. You may be off by only a teeny tiny bit from the earth on your trajectory course, but by the time you get to the moon, you’re going to be LOST IN SPACE! (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

So in the meantime, ponder the Cross, our cross, our price. Pray for our fellow believers in hostile countries. Remember the Dove, the Cross, and Love. Think about how the Lord’s Supper and the Passover relates to all this. Don’t forget Billy Graham’s funeral this last week and his reminder of the Cross. And I might add, I had no vision of all this when I painted the Cross big, bold, and bright upon my Teepee. (More coming soon.)

cropped-20171021_162320

Church History / Maze Runner!

Path Without End

20171117_161659 I’ve been away for a few days, lost in running a maze. Hence, new title. And a very meaningful one. We are still in pursuit of unraveling the mystery of our early church fathers compared to our modern American church, because frankly folks, something is rotten in Denmark. And after several intense days in the maze, I’m beginning to have proof.

What has taken me many hours/days/weeks of research, and many many pages of reading, I will hopefully be able to condense for you in the articles to follow. My search is finally starting to pay off. I thought I was going crazy at one point. My mind was literally in a swirl. I wake up every morning with God speaking, helping me finally organize what I learned the day before, giving me some sanity before I come out from under those covers. So before we get into too much, I want to talk about this MAZE.

The devil has done a good job of trying to hide his tracks, but not good enough! The diligent can still find a true path. The discerning can still see Satan’s footprints where he has trod, and beware. But it’s not easy. This maze will eat you alive if it gets the chance! It will crush you in its walls! You may think I’m being too dramatic, exaggerating, but I’ve spent days there trying to survive and find my way. I now have a marked path you can take advantage of and research for yourself. It will unfold here slowly, but it can greatly speed your own research if you so desire.

God has also timed all this perfectly. You are not going to believe what I have found concerning Easter, and a big confrontation in the early churches concerning this! And I’m talking church fathers who sat under the Apostle John! And other Apostles. This has become one of my greatest finds, so far, and is a strong piece of evidence in this church court and trial we have begun to set up! And wouldn’t you know it, here we are in the time of Lent, well on our way to Easter! You would think I set this up, but not I! Grandpa White Feather is not that powerful. Believe me. I can’t even do a rain dance! (LOL).

There is a table I must set in order to properly present the spiritual food I have found. For as you know, this blog site is all about the “Table”, more than the “Temple”. (Please read earlier blogs to understand.) For the appetizer, I need to talk about this MAZE. First of all, I’d like to say it is EVIL! I’m not exaggerating when I say people have tried to use it to confuse the honest seeker, and lead them on paths that are dead ends! The end result being they never find their way out! They finally become so exhausted, they give up and simply yield to whatever strongest stream seems to be pulling them.

I am also amazed that I gave this site the name: “Path Without End”. The one path you are trying to find in a maze is the one without end! All the others dead end! The only path leading out of the prison of the maze is the path that does not end! I remember when I felt God gave me that title for the blog. I now shake my head in wonder.

So… if you have not already been thinking it, yes…this mission I have been on reminded me of the movie: “The Maze Runner”, which I saw a couple years ago, and the final episode of the trilogy is playing at theaters right now. Subtitle to final episode just happens to be: “The Death Cure”. (Wow.) (This is almost too much.)

So I stuck the first movie in my player and rewatched it, to refresh my mind on the details. (I wasn’t too big on episode 2, but looking very forward to #3, and will likely see tomorrow.) As I read the backside of the DVD, consider the plot description it gave >

Thomas wakes up trapped in a massive, ever-changing maze with a group of boys who have no memory of the outside world. Facing dangerous obstacles at every turn, especially the deadly Grievers that roam the concrete corridors at night, Thomas and the others must race to piece together clues in order to discover their true purpose, and find a way out before it’s too late!

I feel like in a spiritual way I have been living that movie! Notice a few coincidental details. His name is “Thomas”, doubting Thomas? – This maze is full of false paths and much opportunity for doubting. 2nd: “Wakes up?” God is calling his people to wake up! And when we do, we discover we are #3> “Trapped”… in a “Box”! And if we try to find our way out > #4 It is a “deadly maze” with changing walls and creatures that want to kill you! #5 And they have no “memory of their past”! (Early church fathers?) Or the world outside their four walls. They can barely remember their name! The deadly maze is between them and the vital answers they need! #6 A message is sent saying their will be no more food or supplies sent to this box, signaling “time is running out”! (Billy Graham passes and if you have not read the previous article “Billy Graham/ Methuselah”, I highly recommend you do!) #7 So they must piece together “clues”! #8 In order to discover their “true purpose”! #9 And find their way out before it is “too late”!

Wow…that even amazes me as I look at it, and I already knew of this comparison.

I try to keep my articles to approximately 1000 words. My recent days in the cave have been very rewarding and I have much to share, but do not want to choke you. Also, a peaceful meal is always best. He is the Prince of Peace. So my plan over the next few days is to keep it short, but write often and soon. So realize this is a very real and deadly maze. I invite you to explore it with me, there is much more to come, but I would like to end with a final note on Billy Graham.

Reverend Graham is being buried today, as a matter of fact, as I write these words, his services just started 10 minutes ago. It causes me to pause to consider that, but I want to point out his services are being held in a large tent, at the foot of a 40 foot glass cross in the side of what looks like a remodeled barn. The photo I saw even showed other farm buildings around. Reminds me of where my Teepee is, and the barn I worked on there just this week. The Internet said this barn is the “Billy Graham Library”. The part I especially want to point out is the CROSS. And here is the reason why>

Reading the early church fathers has greatly affected me. We have our popular modern day writers, and some of them excite us to the point of recommending to others. But because they are not canon scripture, Pastors do not generally preach from them in church. However, when it comes to someone who actually sat under the teachings of the Apostles, and were appointed church bishops by the Apostles, and proved themselves faithfully even unto death, just like the Apostles; I think I would like to know more of things they wrote and taught. I don’t know why our churches have not taught us more of these things? I think they are intentionally hiding certain things. And so far, what I have found, lends to confirming such an accusation. And our Lord’s CROSS has a big part in what I’m finding, even as Reverend Graham is reminding everyone of, this very day, probably this very moment. (Please read the below article, if you want to know more of Billy Graham and Methuselah). When we return we will begin revealing why I’m pointing out, once again, that CROSS. And so it seems is Billy Graham. More coming very soon.

 

Billy Graham / Methuselah?

Path Without End

20170430_151937 This may sound weird, and please allow me to explain what I mean by this, but I have been watching for the passing of Billy Graham for years. It did not surprise me when he lived to be so old, because I “suspect” Reverend Graham may have been a “marker” with God. Has there ever been a more well-known, or stronger preacher of GRACE, than Billy Graham? The GRACE preacher. And what does this mean?

Well…remember how we get a little mystical here…I can only make possible suggestions…you must decide if it has any value, or not. But I see a world racing towards the book of Revelation, just like mankind was in the days of Noah. But God had a marker in that day. His name was Methuselah. He is the oldest living man we have record of, living to be 969! Consider how spiritually interesting those numbers are. Methuselah’s son, Lemech (father of Noah), lived to be 777! Another set of very interesting numbers. And his grandpa, Grandpa Enoch, never died! But was translated 300 years after the birth of his son, Methuselah. More interesting numbers. Then Noah goes into the ark at age 600! (Interesting.) And if you calculate all these numbers you will find that in the same year Methuselah died, the great flood came!

From the date of Methuselah’s birth a clock of judgement began ticking, but God, showing his great mercy and long-suffering for sinful man, extended Methuselah’s life to be the longest of anyone known! And even though Billy Graham lived to be very old against all the odds, and he died at 99, another interesting number, those are not the reasons I have looked at him as a possible marker, although they do add evidence. We have a lot to consider here, and I will try to be as concise and simple as possible.

In Noah’s case, it all started with his great grand daddy Enoch. This guy was the 7th generation from Adam! (Another special number.) And he was so special, it says he walked with God, and pleased God! So much so that “God took him”! He was translated!But before God took him, he had a son named Methuselah, and if you study the name deep enough, you will find meanings of “man”, “mature man”, “extension of”, and “coming judgement”, as in a dart or missile!

I was curious one day and began calculating all the very specific dates (ages) given from Enoch to Noah concerning birth of children and ages of death. It was then I discovered that the flood was unleashed the very year this very long-lived person, Methuselah died! In other words, and I assume no one knew this, but every year Methuselah lived was another year the judgement did NOT come. And in this I saw a tremendous testimony of God’s great mercy and how he does not want to pour out judgement, but eventually the wickedness reaches such a level that there is no other choice.

As you can see, Noah was of a very special linage. It wasn’t just Noah. But how does this relate to Billy Graham? It’s not his great age, or that his number is 99 and Methuselah was 969, or that he fell just short of 100, like Methuselah fell short of 1000. (I had suspected he would not see 100, for this very reason.)

It’s because of what his whole life stood for. God’s GRACE! And if there is to be a judgement, which we know Revelation predicts eventually, and if God would choose to have a “marker”, like he did “in the days of Noah”, then what more likely person than the preacher of GRACE, Billy Graham? What more likely person, in all of the earth, who spoke to so many leaders of the whole earth, was so well respected, was so consistent in his message of God’s love and grace, and whose age and numbers also seem to be “interesting”?

Now I add to this what I see as a civil war going on in the churches, which many do not even seem to be aware of, but a silent and mostly respectable war going on between the “Government Pleasing” churches and the “God Pleasing” churches. (Enoch pleased God?) Hhmmm. (And was raptured?) Hhhhhmmmmmmm.

Enough said on that, but I will add yet one more possibility. Again, only food for spiritual thought. You decide. Our President is known for the “Art of the Deal”, and his abilities in this area. And with the move he made concerning the capitol of Jerusalem, I see it as a move that had to be made if there will ever be the peace treaty there. At such a time as all this, am I saying Trump is the antichrist? NO, I AM NOT. I think before his 4-8 years are over, he could be the beginning of the white horse going forth. Is that the same person as the antichrist? I don’t know, but my theory is, if Billy Graham has been a marker from God, then God just took that marker away. His prayers are no longer rising up from the earth. Whatever the power of his prayers may have been, they are in heaven now, but they are not here.

The Ten Virgins heard a cry and woke from their slumber. They discovered their lamps had gone out! They begin to trim their wicks. I believe a trimming is going on even now. However, only five were actually able to light those wicks! So the five foolish go to the five wise asking for charity, give us of your extra oil, and the five wise say no! A division! A civil war? Hhmmm.

Billy Graham is now face to face with our Lord. I envy him. But he ran his race and completed it. Will we be able to say the same? Perhaps if we are wise, it’s not too late? Let a fire of God light in us before it is too late. The door of the ark closed, the five foolish were left behind, but in every case, the “faithful” made it. Jesus said, “Remember Lot’s wife.” Just three little words. Another special number. SELAH.

1240