Sermon by Bill Goff
February 9, 2008
Good evening brethren, I’ve been watching the world news a lot and most of my recent focus has been on Kenya, with all the kayos & lawlessness that’s going on there.
What a horrific and troublesome time it is for our brethren and all the people of Kenya right now.
If anyone ever doubted what man is capable of doing to another fellow human being, one only need to take a look there, and see the horrible atrocity that is taking place. What’s happening in Kenya, gives a clear and shocking picture of what man is capable of.
Many people have been brutally killed, even burnt to death. In one incident a number of women and children took refuge in a church, trying to flee their attackers, but those perusing them barricaded the exits and set fire to the church. At one point a baby was tossed out a window of the church, but was immediately thrown back in.
Kenya, the most peaceful and serene country in all of East Africa, seems to have turned into a habitation of daemons to say the least, and it happened at the flick of a switch.I don’t think there is a person in the entire Country who has not been affected by the trouble.
I received an E-mail from our brother Jacob in Kisumu Kenya. I have visited Jacob and his family in there home when passing through that area in the past. I’d like to quote part of his
E-mail here:
“Hello,
Yes, My family and I are fine, but we have gone through very difficult times since Sunday.
On Sunday, I went to see my Mom who due to stress and some fear, fell ill, she is over 75years
now. On my way back, that was in the evening, I met some very rowdy youths, they were
enquiring to know the identity of people, however, their main intension was to beat people up and
steal from them.
They really roughed me up, took my phone, some money and my jacket, sustained some
slight injuries when I fell, however, am ok. Now, come Monday and Tuesday, we were held
hostages in our homes, the youths barricaded all the passages in the estate and were looting at
will, the police were chasing them but in vain, It was an experience I have never seen in my
life, for the two days we really lived in fear, these youths I would say were being used by
SATAN. They were doing things you could not imagine. Today, things have cooled down,
and here I am in town writing this mail. Now, the biggest problem that is eminent here is famine,
over 50% of business premises have been destroyed, (along with scores of homes, I might add)
Most people have lost their sources of income. Lawlessness is very high, the available food
comedies are now too costly, and they are likely to run out.” END OF QUOTE.
Yes brethren, lawlessness is running rampant in Kenya. Now our brother Mutulu lives in
Nairobi, The capital of Kenya a few hundred miles away from Jacob, he also was beat up and
robbed the same week as Jacob. I would like to quote a little of his letter:
“Hello, How goes it with you tonight? Did you enjoy your Sabbath? Here we had it nicely and
enjoyed the fellowship. Now, as I was going home after the Sabbath, around 6.30pm,
The minibus we were traveling in was hijacked by a group of bandits who lead us into some
forest and beat us, after which they took our phones, and the money we had. I sustained
some slight injuries in the left eye and also in the mouth but not very serious. The general
situation in the country is worsening. The violence is spreading to new areas and
advancing towards Nairobi.” END OF QUOTE
From time to time throughout the history of mankind, the lid comes off in one area or another
for some to see how evil this world can be. Then as history is written and books are read,
one can learn of those atrocities. But now, in this final generation that we are currently living
in, when the lid is taken off for others to see, It is the whole world that is looking.
There is no longer any room for doubt, that this earth has become a very evil and a very
dangerous place to live. And will continue to be, and all the more as we approach the final
end.
Now we in God’s church should not be too surprised by the lawlessness and kayos that is
currently taking place over there In Kenya, and not only there, but in many other places
around the globe. There’s a Website called “Flashpoints” that will update you on all the
current conflicts and wars that are currently taking place around the globe. Last time I
looked I counted 41 troubled spots on this earth as we speak.
Now conflicts and wars are nothing new to this world; they have been taking place for
millennia, although they do seem to be increasing. But that too, the worsening condition of
this planet should not be a surprise to us either, because it has been outlined from Genesis to
revelation.
Our Creator has been prophesying of world troubles that would come, from the beginning of
time. Even the Apostles spoke often of what the world would be like in the latter days. I’m
sure we’re all familiar with what Paul wrote in 2nd Tm:3 concerning the “Perlous Times”
that would come at the end of the age, (Perlous means Difficult & Dangerous Times) The
time that we are now living in. The important part of that story, is to Heed what Paul
instructs all of us to do, as we live during these times of Peril. We don’t have time to turn
there right now, but maybe we can later 2nd Tim 3:5.
Now I want to begin today by focusing on a few things that Jesus tells us directly,
concerning what we need to be “Aware of”, and what we need to be “Doing” during these
perilous times, that we are living in. Yes, there are some important things that we need to be
Aware of, and that we need to be doing, as this troubled earth approaches it’s climax of peril,
and the time nears for the gathering together of Christ’s brethren at His return. That day
brethren when His Saints will be with Him standing on that sea of glass, is rapidly
approaching. We need to ensure, that we will be there amongst the saints on that day,
because the Scriptures make it very very clear, that not everyone will be there, not every one
will be ready on that day, to meet Christ in the clouds, and to head over to that sea of glass
with Him.
We are all familiar with Mat 24, where the disciples came to Jesus to show Him the buildings
of the Temple. That’s when Jesus told them “There shall not be left one stone upon another
that shall not be thrown down from that Temple complex.” His disciples then came to Him
privately asking Him when shall these things be, and what shall be the signs of your coming,
and of the end of the age? So Jesus began to outline for them all the things that would come
to pass right up to the end of this present evil world that you and I are now living in. In verse
12 of Mat 24, Jesus talks about a time when iniquity would abound. I would like to turn
there please and read that verse. That’s a very important verse for us, because that
“Abounding of Iniquity” would Fester into a deadly epidemic that would spread through
out much of the church of God, and cause the Agape love of many members of God’s church
to harden or wax cold. The Agape love brethren, the love that comes only from God
Himself, is not what is abounding in the churches of God today.
Mt 24:12:
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
That word iniquity means transgression of the law or lawlessness. It has to do with people
walking contrary to the law or way of God. The NIV translates that verse: Because of the
“Increase of wickedness, the love of many will grow cold.”
So Jesus said that as we approach His return at the end of this age, that iniquity, or
“wickedness” on this earth would be abounding or increasing. That’s what that word
“abound” means = To increase or multiply. Jesus told His disciples 2 millennia ago, that
wickedness would continue to increase on this earth, right up to His return. So when you
watch the news and read the paper, or open your eyes and observe the behavior of this world
and see that the evil things that people are doing all around this world, seem to be increasing,
there’s a reason for that, its because they are increasing.
Now this is a fruit of course (a bad fruit) that has been produces by mankind themselves, by
partaking of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And as some know, not only did
Satan get mankind to partake of that forbidden tree, with the lie that he told Eve. But he has
also been quite busy for 6,000 years now continuing to lie and deceive this whole world and
lead mankind “onto”, and “along”, the path that leads to destruction, the wide & broad
path. Remember that lie brethren? The story is found in the book of Genesis, lets go there
please. (We’re going to come back to Mat 24)
We have a lot to cover today brethren, and it’s very important to try and understand what’s
being said, because we’re approaching the very end of this age. The man of sin, the son of
perdition is already out and about on this earth, and soon to be revealed.
Gen 2:15:
And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to
keep it.
16: And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou
mayest freely eat:
17: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day
that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. That particular tree is very poisonous.
You know brethren, when I was a young boy, there was this bush growing along a trail that I
use to walk on that was quite appealing to the eye, it had these bright colorful berries on it.
So one day I was with a friend and I stopped and picked one of those berries and was going
to have a taste. My friend stopped me and said don’t eat those berries, there deadly poison.
That was around 50 years ago, I’ve probably moved 10 times since then, but funny think, just
recently I found one of those same bushes growing along the street in front of the house
where I’m living now. And guess what? Those berries are still as deadly a poison today as
they were back then. Just like that tree that God warned mankind about back in the garden
not to partake of because it was deadly. Yes, that same tree, is still here in this world today,
and is still just as deadly poisons as it was back then.
Now there is somebody going around today, contradicting what God said about that tree
being deadly to partake of, and he is very convincing. He’s got people believing that same
lie today. And believe it or not, he spoken of in the Book of Genesis.
Gen 3:1:
Now the “serpent” was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had
made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the
garden?
2: And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the “midst” of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall
not eat of it, neither shall ye “touch it,” lest ye die.
4: And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die.
Satan’s still quite busy brethren leading the whole world astray, but his main focus is on the
church of God. Don’t think for a minute that he’s not involved with the lives of each and
every member of the Body of Christ. Still walking about, as a roaring lion, Like the Apostle
Peter reminds us, seeking whom he may devour. 1Pt:5:8
There’s a lot of smooth talk going on around the churches of God these days brethren. But
we will not survive with smooth talk; we need to hear sound doctrine. Remember Jesus is
talking to His disciples here in Mat 24. When He says that iniquity shall abound, and that
the love of many shall wax cold, He talking about lawlessness abounding in His church, and
the love of many in His church waxing cold.
Now wait a minute, are you saying that lawlessness would be increasing, increasing and
running rampant right in the church of God? Amongst its members, the called out ones, His
saints, just prior to His return? Lawlessness means to be walking without the law, it means to
be walking this earth contrary to the way of God, That’s sin! Could it be possible, could the
called of God still be walking about, in a sinful manner? I know that there are plenty of
sinners walking about out there in the world, but in the church?
Brethren, this Scripture not only says that many in the church of God would still be sinning
just prior to His return, but it says that there sinning habits would be increasing.
Not decreasing, as one might think, but increasing.
Brethren, lets not fool ourselves. God will not dwell with sin (Jn:14:23) If we’re still
practicing sin, and we continue to do so, we will not be there standing with Him on that sea
of glass. Rv:15:2
Lets us not forget that the many that are called, are called to participate in a wedding
banquet, and those called, are required to be properly dressed. We have to have on a
wedding garment. You might want to check the Greek for some of those words. Wedding
garments are white and spotless.
Now we don’t have time here to read through all those verses which are in Mat chapter 22,
concerning the marriage banquet. But maybe we should just summarize that story real
quickly and then just read the last verse in that parable.
In that culture, two invitations were expected when banquets were given. The first asked the
guests to attend; the second announced that all was ready. Normally Just Two calls. But in
this story this King (Who happens to be God the Father Himself) calls His guests three
times. Yes, He calls them three times. But they still refuse to come. They just don’t want
to take the time to get cleaned up and properly dressed. They just don’t seem to recognize
the value of their calling.
So they ask to be excused, because they have what they believe to be “more important
things to do.” I think the Greek calls those “more important things”: “The Cares of this
World.” So many of those that are called just continue working in their fields and in their
businesses. But at the end of the day comes verse 14 of Mat 22. (Let’s read it please)
Mt:22:14:
For many are called, but few are chosen.
Lets go to 2nd Ptr 3:10-11
2nd Ptr 3:10:
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass
away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the
works that are therein shall be burned up.
11: Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye tobe in all holy conversation and godliness (our behavior)
Maybe we better go one more place here while we are on this important subject.
Luke 13: 6:
He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; (The fig tree
is you and me) and he came and sought fruit thereon, (That Man looking for Fruit of course is
God the Father, remember He’s the one that Jesus tells us elsewhere: Herein is my Father
glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be my disciples.) Brethren, the Father came
looking for fruit, and found none. So He went away and then came back a second time, and
found none, so again He went away and then came back a the third time, And Found None.
7: Then said he (The Father) unto the dresser of his vineyard, (Christ of course) Behold, these
three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it
the ground?
8: And Jesus answering said unto him, Lord, (Father) let it alone this year also, till I shall dig
about it, and dung it:9: And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it
down. That dunging is a good thing, but usually comes in the form of a difficult trial.
Now before we continue, let us stop and mention something here that is very important for
those who may be being dunged right now. If you’re going through a difficult trial right
now, don’t despair. Don’t lose or abandon hope, because “The trying of your faith worketh
patience.” That word patience means “Endurance”, a quality that does not surrender to
circumstances or succumb under trial. And remember what the “God who cannot lie” tells us
in Rom:8:28, That all things, not some things, now a few things, not most things, not many
things, but all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to his purpose.
That’s us brethren, we’re the called of God, we’re the church. And He tells us that all things
work together for good to those who love God. And loving God brethren, is a matter of
keeping His commandments. We are not on this earth for the soul purpose of eating,
drinking, and being merry. We are on this earth to learn to become like God. And for us, the
called of God, we have something very important to do now, we have to answer that calling
now, while it is still day, because the night cometh, when no man can work.
Ya know, Kenyans were working in their fields and in their businesses, But at the flip of a
switch all hell broke out. Let go to 2nd Thes. 2 for a minute and see the switch where all
hell is going to break out on this entire earth. God has a plan brethren, and His plan is to
bring many sons to glory, but He has a timetable and we need to be in tune with it.
2nd Thes:2:1:
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering
together unto him, (This is talking about the day of Christ here) 2: 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.
3: Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (Day of Christ) shall not come, except
there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4: 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.
5: Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6: And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7: For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth (or restrains) will
let, (or restrain) until he be taken out of the way. (That’s the switch brethren)
8: 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:9: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lyingwonders,10: And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because theyreceived not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.11: And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:12: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in
unrighteousness. That’s what we are talking about today brethren, iniquity abounding,
unrighteousness increasing in this world, and even in God’s church.
That switch is going to be flipped when that man of sin who is already walking about on this
earth will be revealed. Now he’s not going to be recognized by everyone. He’s not walking
around caring a big sign that says:
“MAN OF SIN” “DANGEROUS” “DO NOT TOUCH”
He will be transformed into and looking like an angel of light. But a very proud person,
exalting himself above all that is called God. And many in the church will adore him.
Sitting, like the Scripture says, in the Temple of God. I think there is more that can be said
about him, but I don’t think this is the time.
What we still need to have our focus on is our calling.
Do you know that each and every one of us when we were first called had something very
much in common with one another? Doesn’t matter which continent we live on, doesn’t
matter what tribe we were born into, nope, doesn’t matter what color, race, nationality, or
gender we are. When we were first called, we all had something very much in common. Do
you know what that was? (Lets go to Mark chapter 2 please)
We’re the called of God brethren, that’s true. But being the called of God doesn’t grant us
the round trip ticket, up to the Sea of Glass and back. Remember it is His saints that will be
standing on the sea of glass, and it is His saints that will be returning with Him to take
charge of this earth Rev 17:14.
Mark 2:14:
And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and
said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him.
15: And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners
sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed
him.
16: And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said
unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners?
17: When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the
physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to
repentance.
Yes brethren, when we were called, we all had something very very much in common, but it
wasn’t righteousness. We were all sinners back then, when we were first called. But we
were called to stop sinning. We were called, to be saints. We were called to change our old
ways, to change our old walk. And we’re in the church. Surely we are going to be sinning
less now then we were back then, right? But we read in Mat 24:12 that Jesus told His
disciples (His followers) that at the end of this age, just prior to His return and His gathering
together of His saints, that Iniquity would be abounding, not righteousness. He said that
transgressing His law, Sin, would be increasing, not decreasing as one might think, or reason.
But sin would be increasing in His church.
Now how could this be?
There’s a reason that sin is running rampant in the church of God and the love of many is
waxing cold. And you don’t have to go far to find the answer. It’s quite clear, and its right
there in the preceding verse.
Mat 24:11:
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall
abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Jesus is talking about His church here, about many “false prophets” leading many of His
called out ones astray. That word “false prophet” comes from one Greek word, it means: A
spurious prophet, spurious means “Not proceeding from the source pretended” Yes, they
pretend to come in Christ’s name. They pretend to be Christ’s ministers, and they look like
Christ’s ministers, but there NOT Christ’s ministers, there imposters, there counterfeits. Just
back up a page and go to verse 4 of Mat 24. What was the first thing Jesus said to us when
He began to answer the question concerning His return and the end of the age?
Mt:24:4:
Take heed that no man deceive you. For many men shall come in my name, saying, I am
Christ; and shall deceive many.
Now I know that many of you know this already. And I know that there are genuine
ministers out there, because Christ tells us in numerous places that He gives us ministers, and
for a very important reason. “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ. Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the
fulness of Christ: You can read all that in Eph 4. But He also tells us, and warns us over &
over that the many ministers will be false ministers. Only the few would be true.
But what I want us to realize is that the damage in many serious ways has already been done
by those false ministers that have been up there in the pulpits for many years. And the
biggest thing that they have accomplished (and probably without even realizing it
themselves, because many of them are deceived themselves like we are told in 2nd Tm:3:13)
is that they have made us take sinning much too lightly. They have made many think that
we can just continue to walk in sin, that everything will be okay at the end of the day, like
God is going to wave some magic wand and at the snap of His finger we will be unblemished
and pure, yes saints, as we enter His Kingdom.
Brethren, it doesn’t work that way. There’s now magic wand at the end of the day, there’s a
path, and it’s for today. It’s a path that leads to eternal life in the Kingdom of God, a straight
& narrow path. And one has to individually choose to follow that path, if they want to arrive
at life. Lets go to Mat 7:13. We need to realize why so many are following the path that
leads to death, and so few the path that leads to life.
Mt:7:13:
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:
The Scripture says that many will go in through the wide gate, and follow the broad way that
leadeth to destruction. But Why? Why go through the gate that leads to death, don’t we all
want life? The answer is in the next verse:
Mat 7:14:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be
that find it.
There’s a reason that few find it, the reasons is in the meaning of that word “straight” Few
walk down the path that leads to life, because few can fit through the “straight gate”. Not
because of obesity, but because of the many obstacles that are in the way. The Greek here
for Straight is 4728 it means: Narrow from obstacles that are standing close about. Yes,
obstacles that are “close about”, and their obstacles that can only be removed by the
individual himself. But make no mistake about it, if we don’t remove the obstacles, we’re
not going to be there. You are not going to be there if you’re a drunkard, Just like I’m not
going to be there, if I’m a fornicator. Let’s go to 1st Cor. 6 please.
Just saying this as an example, but it is a fact. If we want to walk down the path that leads to
life, we have to first get through the “straight gate”. 1 Cor 6 contains part of the list of
those who have not yet passed through the “straight gate”. Lets not fool ourselves brethren,
because we have too high a calling, to be fooling ourselves. We are the church, our calling is
now, our judgment is now. We have been called by the Almighty God Himself to be Kings
and Priest in His soon coming Kingdom, Kings to rule, and Priests to teach.
If we find ourselves on this list, then we are not walk along the narrow path that leads to life.
And it means that we are still following the wide path that leads only to death. And again,
we need to remember that God is no respecter of persons. He means what He says. We are
told in Heb 6:18, that It is impossible for God to lie. If we’re still on this list, we need to
change our ways or we will not fulfill our calling.
1Cor 6:9:
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived,
neither fornicators (fornication is Illicit intercourse of unmarried persons)
Nor idolaters (Idolatry is a servant, or worshiper of idols. Now if we tried to list all of the
idles that people worship, we would be here all day, but the list includes anything and
everything that we place more value on then we do God. God alone is to be worshiped.)
Nor adulterers, (Intercourse of two persons, either of whom is married, to a third person.)
Nor effeminate, (Having womanish traits or qualities; unmanly.)
Nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (A big statement, but all that comes from only one
Greek word, a sodomite, but also includes any type of male prostitution.)
Nor thieves, (those who steal, doesn’t matter what they steal.)
Nor covetous, (Always desiring more, eager for gain.)
Nor drunkards, (One who drinks to much.)
Nor revilers, (to use abusive or contemptuous language.)
Nor extortioners, (To obtain from a person by violence, threat, opposition, or abuse of
authority.)
None on the list above, the Scripture says, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Not everyone
is going to be there brethren, and that includes us, if we don’t remover ourselves from this
list, if we’re on it. Sorry to be so blunt here, but our eternal lives are on the line. And
besides, Jesus sacrificed His life for each and every one of us, so we might have life, eternal
life, in His Kingdom. And He did it while we were yet sinners, but we cannot go on sinning.
And this is not the complete list, there are others listed in other places like:
Rv. 21:8:
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and
sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire
and brimstone: which is the second death.
Funny thing, I recently heard a leading minister of one of the churches of God who has a big
following say that we don’t have to worry about our everyday sins. You Know (he went on
to say) the ones that you and I commit every day. He went on to say that we’ll keep
committing those sins right up to our change, he told his followers. Brethren, don’t be
deceived by his ignorance, if we keep sinning, we may not be change.
Lets go to Eph 5 please. We have been called to become saints, but one has to develop and
grow into a saint.
Eph 5 :1
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2: And walk in love, as Christ also hath
loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling
savour. 3: But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named
among you, as becometh saints; (that word “becometh” means “To Tower up” One is not
a saint at baptism and hands brethren, and one is not a saint if they are still practicing sin.
That’s quite obvious from its definition alone: Saint means: sacred, pure, blameless.
Do we want to be there brethren, on that sea of Glass? Jesus is going to be there, He’s going
to be there Handing out Crowns? The Philadelphians will be receiving Crowns. The
Philadelphians are the ones with the Agape love. But it is the Agape love that is waxing
cold in the churches of God. It is the Agape love that has been affected by the deadly
epidemic that has festered and spread throughout much of the church of God.
Because many didn’t take the time to “Prove all Things, hold fast that which is Good”. Many
didn’t take the time to “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” “Try the spirits” The Apostle John
tells us, whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the
world. And many false teachers shall be among you, the Apostle Peter tells us, who privily
would bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them.
These false prophets and false teachers have deceived many, causing iniquity to abound in
the church of God brethren, and the Agape love in many, to “Wax Cold”. Lets go back to
Mat 24 now and take a look at that.
Mat 24:11:
Jesus speaking to His church here says: And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive
many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. That Greek
word for love there is “Agape” it’s the kind of love that only comes from God. It’s passed
on to those in His church through His spirit. And it’s a love that is much better than just
“brotherly love”. Brotherly love at its best is the kind of love that a mother has for her own
child, but that kind of love is a selfish love, because she doesn’t love her neighbors child in
the same way that she loves her own. Now “agape love” is the kind of love where one
would love all children just as much as they love their own. That’s the Godly type of love.
No one with agape love could ever harm another ones baby, like happened in that church in
Kenya, and in many other places and countless times, all over this earth.
Mt 24:12:
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Those words “wax cold” comes from only one Greek word, and a very unique Greek word.
Fact is, this is the only place in the Bible where this particular word is used. And it has a
very important meaning for us the church, the members of the Body of Christ. The word
means: to chill, to dispirit, reduction by evaporation.
This Scripture is talking about the “Agape” love of many in God’s church becoming cold and
evaporating, by the reduction of His spirit in many members in His church. This Scripture is
talking about death here, spiritual death. Brethren, we received that Agape Love, at our
baptism and laying on of hands. God gave us His Spirit at that time. But that Spirit has to be
used, it has to be stroked, it has to be poked, and it has to be flowing. It’s alive; It comes
from the Father, passes into us and then back out again. If you don’t use it, it will wax cold,
it will evaporate, and without it we will die. None of us on our own has the power to
overcome sin. It takes God’s spirit living in us, and leading us to overcome temptation. And
just like that fire that we like to burn in our fireplace brethren, you have to stroke it,
sometimes you have to poke it. But whatever you do, don’t let it go out, because once it’s
out, it’s out. Don’t let God’s spirit that was given to us at baptism and hands wax cold in
you, like it already has with many in the church of God. A good example of that is quite
obvious just from seeing how few in the church of God have responded to the plea for help
from our brethren in Kenya who are in such desperate need at this time.
Some in the church feel that Kenya has International relief to help the people there. But have
those brethren taken the time to talk to some of the overseer, to see if that is true? And I
don’t mean the false overseers. I know of a church of God whose minister (Pastor) had over
$200,000 of brethrens tithe money in the bank. And he had no clue what to do with it, so
someone suggested that he put some of it into stocks and bonds. At the same time, he had a
widow (A true widow) in his congregation who was in need, and he didn’t even know it.
Now there are plenty of so called ministers in the church of God today, like the ones that
Peter and John called “Super Apostles” But the true brethren in Kenya will receive no help
from them, because those “Super Apostles” or ministers refuse to recognize the true brethren.
We can read about there type in 3rd John.
3Jn. 1:9:
I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them,
receiveth us not.
10: Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with
malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and
forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.
11: Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of
God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.
Most of the imposters are easy to spot brethren, they love to “Lord it over” the brethren.
And they are always quick to present their “Rank” Quick to tell you that they are the elder,
or deacon.. Yes, they love to have the “Preeminence”. But they cannot have it brethren,
because There is one who already holds that position of being number One, Jesus, like we are
told in:
Col:1:18:
And he is the Head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the
dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.
Brethren, don’t let the Agape love that is within you wax cold. Kenyans have been fleeing
their homes by the hundreds of thousands. Many have been literally burnt out of their houses
and running for their lives with literally nothing except what they were wearing at the time.
We still have a number of brethren who we have not been able to help yet due to lack of
funds. Some have been sleeping on the bare ground without even a bedroll.
Now I’m not looking for those who have already been helping to send more, I’m looking for
others to recognize the need. We have been sending out letters ceaselessly to many of the
splinter church of God organization, trying to get them to spread the word that help is
needed desperately for our brethren in Kenya. Now aside from the few who have helped,
those pleas seem to have been falling on many deaf ears. It has fallen on deaf ears because
we are living at the time when iniquity abounds, when the Agape love of many, has waxed
cold.
I’d like to end today’s message with a couple of recent E-mail that were exchanged with our
brethren in Kenya.
Quote: “This is a time that a line is being drawn in the sand and separating mankind into two
groups. Makes no matter that man separates us into many groups according to tribe, color
nationality etc. There are really only two groups, the righteous and the wicked, the just and the
unjust. Let all men now choose which side they want to continue to walk on because there reward,
whether entrance into the Kingdom of God, or fire and brimstone, There reward is on the way.
Rev 22:10: says: Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is
righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his
work shall be.
The writing is on the wall, the END time is here with us, everyone must asses his/her baggage now
and repent so that he may be forgiven, What I mean is that we have heavy loads of Sins that we
must offload before the actual day reaches. I am afraid, our God is very annoyed with mankind
because man has refused to follow the path of life, and is doing very wicked things to fellow
mankind, and this is why we are where we are in KENYA today.
Yes, the time is now, and we must make a choice no more waiting, it is only the righteousness that
will save man!
Not any other choice. Let every man take his path and be judged according to his choice. We pray
every man will see light and take the right path! Altho ugh it may be a hard choice, considering how
man loves earthly things.” End of quote.
That’s all I have for today brethren. I pray that we don’t take our calling lightly, and that we will be ready to meet Jesus in the clouds at His return by following that narrow path, the only path that leads to life. That path that can only be followed by passing through that straight gate, the gate than many cannot fit through because of the many obstacles that are standing in their way. And don’t let that Agape love that is within you wax cold brethren, stroke it, poke it, do whatever you have to do with it, but don’t let it go out.
*Scriptures from the King James Version