Changing things?
Proverbs 30:5-6 (NLT) 5Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection. 6Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you, and you will be found a liar.
In my many years of study I have found that if something is Key to our relationship to the Lord, you will find that God tells us three times in the Bible. If it is very, very important then you will find it in the word 4 times. In the case of messing with God's word you will find that God tells us 4 times to not add to or subtract from. Deuteronomy 4:2 (NASB) 2"You shall not add to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you. And Deuteronomy 12:32 (NASB) 32"Whatever I command you, you shall be careful to do; you shall not add to nor take away from it. And Proverbs 30:5 (NLT) 5Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection. 6Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you, and you will be found a liar. Finally, Revelation 22:18-19 (KJV) 18For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 19And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
As this world grows darker and darker it seems that the world is attempting to change God's word more and more. It is funny in a way because no matter how we puny human's try David said it all. Psalm 119:89 (KJV) 89For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. Get it FOREVER! Or Psalm 105:8 (KJV) 8 He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. Do you get the meaning here? The average generation of man is 70 years. Therefore David is saying that God is good to His word for at least 70,000 years. I won't be here to test that how about you?
As I said as the world grows darker this softening or changing of the word is of course to be expected. But, now it seems that almost every religion and ministry out that there are either boldly labeling whole parts of the Bible null and void or softly changing a few words to fit their ideas. We wonder why there is no real power in the Church today. How can you have power when you do not know what you really believe? I hate to give the religious cults credit, but that is one thing they are very good at. They teach or should I use brainwash their people into knowing down to the last dot and tittles what they believe and how to convince people they are right. All we have to do is look at the recent raid on the Mormon polygamist group in Texas when over 400 children and 200 women were removed. One of those removed was a 16 year old girl with 4 children. Figure it out. Those innocent were taught what they were to believe. What is the saddest to me was that along the boarder of New Mexico and Arizona there is a rock monument concerning the 1953 raid when 263 children were taken. Hum? Can anyone say these people do not learn!
But back to my point, this could not have happened if some person had not decided to add to or subtract from God's word. My friends if you really want an eye opening reality check just take a couple of weeks out of your lives and visit several of the different denominations in your area on Sunday. Pay especial attention to the very large and old denominations. Just sit back and listen carefully. I am sure you will notice all the different interpretations of God's word. As of 2001 there were over 34,000 religious groups around the world. Most of these started at the same point, Jesus. What happened to the pure and simple word of God? Man decided to change it for the "better" or for his own uses. Our latest guru of the false doctrine is one of the most popular non-Christians out there. Ms. Oprah. It was not bad enough that old slue foot got our own leaders to fall into the garbage and lead so many astray but, now for the final shot he has Oprah preaching her own new all embracing gospel. Well I guess I should not say all embracing because the one group that Oprah vehemently opposes is Christians. I loved how Dr. David Jeremiah put it. He said "I have many people come up to me and say that Hell does not exist. They tell me that "their god would never send anyone to hell. He is just to kind!" His answer is "I can understand that because your god does not exist!" But, you know something my God does exist and He will send the sinner to Hell! Why? Because my God is a fair and just God!
I am trained as a scientist I have had my idiot box (for those who don't know this term it means, Brain!) trained by mans education to be very logical in my thinking. As a young man, I had a real problem with this God thing. You know the concept of heaven, hell and salvation. I had an ego the size of Montana and I did not need a God. Oh, yes I was just like the Bible says, I was without excuse. I spent a lot of my time in the nature God created and I knew that it all just did not happen by accident. I knew someone or something had a hand in it. One time in my life no matter what I did things were going down hill. I was walking in the downtown of a small South Dakota town when I stopped in a small second hand store. On a shelf was an old King James Bible. It was well read and very worn. I cannot say it called my name but I was drawn to it. A little sticker said 50 cents. I thought what have I got to lose it is only 50 cents. God used that worn old Bible to take me on an educational journey. He taught me just how logical everything He has ever done was. He took my old idiot box and mans logical training and proved to me He was real. I consumed that old Bible from cover to cover. Each word, each phrase, each book showed me that what I was seeking was the one and only True Father in heaven. The one I could rely on because He never changed. He was the great " I AM!" He was not the I was or the I will be! But, He was the Great I AM! Ecclesiastes 3:14-15 (NLT) 14And I know that whatever God does is final. Nothing can be added to it or taken from it. God's purpose in this is that people should fear him. 15Whatever exists today and whatever will exist in the future has already existed in the past. For God calls each event back in its turn. And John 1:1 (NLT) 1In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3He created everything there is. Nothing exists that he didn't make. 4Life itself was in him, and this life gives light to everyone. 5The light shines through the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. What makes me a Evangelist and preacher is that I believe every word of God in the Bible, but more than that I as one with scientific training can see how it all fits if only we will open our eyes. Hebrews 13:8-9 (NLT) 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your spiritual strength comes from God's special favor, not from ceremonial rules about food, which don't help those who follow them.
My friends I stand on the firm word of God. I believe that as Paul told Timothy. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV) 16All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. I am no one special, in fact some days I wonder just why my Lord and Savior puts up with me. I think I know why but I will not know for sure until that moment after when Jesus and I meet face to face. I have one road map for my life, the word of God.
I will leave you with just one example among many in my life! Proverbs 22:4 (NLT) 4True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life. Study the Hebrew my friends that verse means exactly what it says. First the riches, this old pastor is 54 years old. I do not have a large retirement fund built up, but, Mary and I are totally out of debt and have money in the bank. In other words I have all the riches I could ever need. Mary and I have never gone without. No we will not be buying a million dollar condo in Vail, but you can take this to the bank, as long as we are humble before the Lord and truly fear Him we will never go without. Now the honor, this old pastor has always worked for a living to not be a burden on the ministry. This last year the Lord arranged it so that Mary and I not only have special favor with the company we consult to but has arranged to have all the people we work with at that company be Christians including the boss and the one you pays our bills. Just this week one said "Ah, but you are the amazing AJ Warner, capable of many great things." Now PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE understand this has nothing to do with me other than I fear the Lord God Almighty first. All the glory goes to my Lord and Savior because I am nothing without His hand upon me. I could not even write or preach one single word without His will being done and He getting all the glory. Finally, the long life, as I said I am 54 years old. I am approximately 75 pounds over weight and out of shape. Yet, I am perfectly healthy. My blood sugars are normal, my blood pressure is normal, I can ride a stationary bike 45 minutes a day without collapsing and I work over 300 days straight without a nervous breakdown. Mary just spent 5 days with a miserable virus. I nursed her back to health. God healed her in a shortened time. Those in this area who get this spend 4 to 6 weeks sick. Yet, I did not get it. Again, realize I am not a super human, I am a blessed human that believes all of the word of God and would rather lose my life than ever change one dot or tittles. I want to honor and glorify my Lord with all I have. It is all to the glory of God not myself. Proverbs 22:4 (NLT) 4True humility and fear of the LORD lead to riches, honor, and long life. One simple short truth that can change your life if you will only believe God's Word and not try to change it to what you think it should say. Psalm 33:4 (NLT)4For the word of the LORD holds true, and everything he does is worthy of our trust.
God Bless
Pastor A. J.
" I have no objection to a new theology if its newness consists of making old truths more clearly understood. But if its newness consists in trying to take the old truths out of our hearts, then to HELL with that theology." Bill Sunday 1924
