Eat The Book

March 23, 2006

Eat the Book

Kathleen Maples

Jer 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. I looked up this word "eat" here. I've heard the term in my Father's Word many times, especially in John 6 when Jesus was telling the people unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life in you. According to Strong's Hebrew Definitions it means "to consume, devour, dine, feed, or burn up." Jeremiah was in a terrible situation here. God was telling him that because of the grievous sins of Israel, that even if Moses and Samuel stood before him, he would not listen to their intercession for this people. He was casting them out of his sight. Jeremiah knew judgment and destruction was coming up on his people for their refusal to listen to and obey God. They had declined so much they had begun to out-sin the world around them. At such a time, Jeremiah's strength was found in the word of the Lord. He held on to the word of the Lord tightly. He did not physically eat the parchment it was written on, but he read it and read it and read it until it was hidden in his heart, not to be forgotten, he accepted it as it was, without chiding with it or trying to change or rationalize it. He kept it. He did not compromise it. He obeyed it. He did not let it go or lose it.

Eze 2:8 But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee. Eze 2:9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; Eze 2:10 And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe. Here you have a prophet of Israel, Ezekiel, who is also suffering the consequences of his people's sins. The captivity and judgment and destruction that God had prophesied through Jeremiah had come to pass, and the captives were sitting in Babylon by the river Chebar. He got a vision of the Lord on his throne, for even though his people were suffering and had lost their homes, their homeland and many of their loved ones, God would not leave them alone. They had brought judgment down on their heads, and God had to judge them just as he'd had to judge the nations before them whose land they had been given. He'd warned them back then if they became like the nations he cast out before them, they would bring judgment on themselves. He'd warned them for years, sending prophet after prophet. Some they mocked, some they jailed, some they killed. But God knew he had a people, a select group who though they loved righteousness, and God and his word, were suffering right along with the rebellious. God must have loved all these people. He could have just written them off, left them there and forgotten about them. After all, he'd given them chance after chance to repent, and if you read the scriptures, you will see these people mocked him, his word, his prophets, his mercy, his grace. They were so arrogant, and had become so used to the blessings and prosperity of the Lord, they thought they didn't need him anymore.

And what a word he had to give Ezekiel, to digest. It didn't appear to be anything good.

Eze 3:1 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. Eze 3:2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. Eze 3:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. Eze 3:4 And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them. Eze 3:10 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all my words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears. God was preparing Ezekiel to receive a word-he says all my words, receive in your heart, hear with your ears. When we know what the word of God says, we have to keep it. And we have to know what He says. We have to instruct our children in His ways, rather than let them go their own way. We have to warn those we love. If we don't their blood will be on our hands that day we stand before him. God requires this of his people. The Word of God is precious, priceless. All through out history people who were holy, and devoted to God have been killed for his word. Killed for not denying his truth. Killed for proclaiming his Gospel. Many lost their lives who were part of writing this Precious Book we have. Holy Men, made Holy by the Holy God they served. Obedient servants of the Most High. Isaiah was sawn in two at the order of King Manasseh. Zechariah was killed in the temple right after the Spirit of the Lord came on him and he warned King Joash of his sin. All of the disciples, minus Judas Iscariot, the betrayer, but the remainder of the disciples, including Matthias who replaced Judas, were murdered for the Gospel's sake, except John. And they tried to kill him, but God wasn't done with him, yet. And we'll get to John, before this over. He too, was told to eat the Book. When a man or woman stops to consider that this Word of God has been written at the expense of the blood of many of the servants of God, including the precious and Beloved Son of God, HOW can we take it lightly or think we don't need to be in this Book every day? WHAT did these servants of God know about HIM that was so strong it was enough that they gave their lives for his Word, for his testimony, for their FAITH in what He said? Oh, Beloved, think about it!! Consider it very, very carefully. What did they know that compelled them to sacrifice all they had-including their lives? Sometimes God tells his people to do things that are hard. When I got to chapter 4 of Ezekiel, I had to stop. Part of me recoiled in horror at what I read-but I know God is good, and I had to ask God why did you tell him this? Why did it have to be this way? What does it mean?

Eze 4:12 And thou shalt eat it as barley cakes, and thou shalt bake it with dung that cometh out of man, in their sight. Eze 4:13 And the LORD said, Even thus shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, whither I will drive them. Eze 4:14 Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! behold, my soul hath not been polluted: for from my youth up even till now have I not eaten of that which dieth of itself, or is torn in pieces; neither came there abominable flesh into my mouth.

Eze 4:15 Then he said unto me, Lo, I have given thee cow's dung for man's dung, and thou shalt prepare thy bread therewith. Eze 4:16 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, behold, I will break the staff of bread in Jerusalem: and they shall eat bread by weight, and with care; and they shall drink water by measure, and with astonishment: Eze 4:17 That they may want bread and water, and be astonished one with another, and consume away for their iniquity. God had given Israel way back in Exodus just before they came out of Egypt clear instructions on how to prepare their bread. It was to be pure, unleavened, baked carefully, cleanly. Abraham had Sarah make bread-carefully, using the finest ingredients she had, upon the hearth (Gen_18:6), in Exo_12:15 they were instructed to eat unleavened bread, having no leaven in their homes, at all for 7 days for the Passover. The Lord rained bread from heaven for them to eat in Exo_16:15. Further instructions in Ex 29:2 -unleavened bread, cakes unleavened with tempered oil, wafers unleavened, anointed with oil, of wheat flour thou shalt make them. Leaven is old dough in a high state of fermentation; it's the leftover dough from a previous baking which ferments and becomes acidic. I'm not too sure on what all that means, so I decided to look up ferment and see what it means. Easton's Bible Dictionary: The chemical definition of ferment or yeast is “a substance in a state of putrefaction, the atoms of which are in a continual motion.” Smith's Bible Dictionary says this: Leaven. Various substances were known to have fermenting qualities; but the ordinary leaven consisted of a lump of old dough in a high state of fermentation, which was mixed into the mass of dough prepared for baking. The most prominent idea associated with leaven in connection with the corruption which it had undergone, and which it communicated to bread in the process of fermentation. (Another quality in leaven is noticed in the Bible, namely, its secretly penetrating and diffusive power. In this respect it was emblematic of moral influence generally, whether good or bad; and hence our Saviour adopts it as illustrating the growth of the kingdom of heaven in the individual heart and in the world at large: because (1) its source is from without; (2) it is secret in its operation; (3) it spreads by contact of particle with particle; (4) it is widely diffusive, one particle of leaven being able to change any number of particles of flour; and because (5) it does not act like water, moistening a certain amount of flour, but is like a plant, changing the particles it comes in contact with into its own nature, with like propagating power. -Editor). **Source: Smith's Bible Dictionary, via E-Sword. Now when I remember how particular, and cleanly God wanted their bread prepared, and I see how he's asking his servant to prepare and eat it, baked over cow dung, instead of a clean fire, wouldn’t the bread be polluted? God instructs Ezekiel to use wheat, and barley. I'm not a chef or anything, but I wondered why he chose these ingredients. As I got to digging, I discovered barley is inferior to wheat, although necessary, and also used for making bread. Barley is also used for making alcoholic beverages. Next was beans-poor man's food, just as barley is the poor man's bread. Lentils is a small plant about 6 inches high bearing small reddish looking beans the size of seeds that are used in soups, and can also be used to make bread. This is where the Catholics get Lent from. Millet is

a kind of grain that when it's green is used for fodder, (only used for feeding birds in the U.S.) and for bread when it's ripe. Can be used for breads and cereals. Fitches is a plant that grows in south Europe and North Africa. It's black seeds are used like pepper and the Syrians sprinkle these seeds over their flat cakes before they are baked-as with rye bread. After I thought about all these ingredients, I saw quite a mixture of other things that though they are grown in Palestine, and surrounding countries from Egypt, (North Africa) to Palestine, (near Europe) the word "mixture" kept coming to mind. Mixture with the world. Why bake it over a fire made with dung? Dung has a very unpleasant smell to it. These people had taken the Holy things of God, the bread of God, and trampled them under their feet. It had just become ritual to them. They did their own thing, they mixed a little religion with lots of the world, and brought it into the House of The Lord. It was a stench in God's nostrils. You can read on in Ezekiel how his glory departed the Temple after he showed the prophet of the abominations and idols they had brought into the temple. God was just an unpleasant ritual to them, the world had their heart. Their idols had their hearts. They gave the Lord lip service, but couldn't wait to get out from under their "duties" to go back to their idols. He tells Ezekiel there's a famine coming-that bread and water would be measured out because of it's scarcity. And you know, I believe although he literally meant food and drink, he was also talking about the famine for the Word of God and the moving of the Spirit. Because without that-people will be consumed by their sins. And don’t tell me this is just the Old Testament, we’re under grace now. Because I will ask you why Paul told us in Hebrews 8:5 that these things serve as an example, a shadow of heavenly things which is why God admonished Moses to make the tabernacle according to the pattern he showed him on Mount Sinai. These things are a shadow and type of things to come. Examples given to us to help us understand with physical illustrations, spiritual things. So I can’t disregard the Old Testament. It always points to the New. They are so intertwined, you can’t separate them.

Eze 42:13 Then said he unto me, The north chambers and the south chambers, which are before the separate place, they be holy chambers, where the priests that approach unto the LORD shall eat the most holy things: there shall they lay the most holy things, and the meat offering, and the sin offering, and the trespass offering; for the place is holy. He’s talking here about the priests that approach God eating the Holy Things, in a separate place-oh, that got my heart pumping. Jesus said enter the secret closetwhich could be where ever you can get away by yourself with the Lord, enter his presence by prayer and faith, and commune with him. In secret. Not so you can say “I prayed, did my duty.” Not so you can be a show off with a “word from God” for people so they think you‘re something. But because you love him, and want to get to know him. Because you know the world is in need and you don’t have what your lost loved ones in yourself-you have to get it from HIM. A word of life, a word of hope. Revelation of Who He IS. Drawing from the Lord his strength, and wisdom. What thing can be more holy than the Holy Spirit of God being poured into his willing children who enter his presence, reverently seeking his face? Seeking to glorify him with their lives, not wanting to waste their lives on self.

Eze 44:4 Then brought he me the way of the north gate before the house: and I looked, and,

behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the LORD: and I fell upon my face. Eze 44:5 And the LORD said unto me, Son of man, mark well, and behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears all that I say unto thee concerning all the ordinances of the house of the LORD, and all the laws thereof; and mark well the entering in of the house, with every going forth of the sanctuary. It grieves my heart and I know it HAS to grieve the heart of God to see the things that go on in his name, in what is supposed to be his church in this country. People won’t leave their idols at home to come into his house. They come with the attitude, I’m going to dress comfortable, not respectable, I’m going to deck myself up so people will notice me. People think it’s okay to bring their cigarettes, their shorts, their worldly music, their video screen TV’s, their programs, their rummage sales, their bingo, their bake sales all into the house of the Lord. Too often the people come only to soothe their conscience, oh, God, I did you a favor, I came to your house, see ya next month, or next year. Or next funeral. I’ve been in churches where there are ashtrays on either side of the door going in to what is supposed to be the sanctuary when the Word of God clearly says in Rom 13:14 not to make provision for the flesh. But to put on the Lord Jesus Christ. I’ll never forget when I was a new Christian, and under conviction because I had a 17 year smoking habit. I can truly sympathize with anyone trying to quit. It’s hard. It literally took the love and help of God Almighty to deliver me. One morning getting ready for work, I went to put my cigarettes in my purse, and the Holy Spirit brought that verse to my remembrance like he whispered it to my heart. I put them down, I didn’t take them with me. It was a hard day, needless to say. I prayed much as my body was being detoxified from the chemicals in the cigarettes. Others around me were smoking, and I broke down and bummed a cigarette or two from a coworker. But after a 2 and a half pack a day habit to two or three cigarettes, I was amazed to see I survived. It wasn’t long after that the Lord helped me lay them down for good. It wasn’t easy, but He was my Resource-all the Resource I needed. No matter what the situation he is all the church needs to be what he says we are to be. Is it wrong to not want your children to wear cartoon figures on their clothes in the House of the Lord? Or sarcastic statements meant to be funny on their tee shirts? Is it wrong to want them to be clean, and not to allow them to run and holler in the House of the Lord? To instruct them to save the sports talk for outside the sanctuary after the service because the Word of God says in Psalms 89:7 “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him.” I don’t think it’s right to deal harshly with new Christians about their appearance in the church-that is the Holy Ghost’s job. When someone gets saved, and they don’t dress to suit you, pray for them. If you know they are doing something wrong, they are a babe in Christ, pray for the Holy Spirit to help them see. It’s not my job to criticize them. If I do I am overstepping my bounds. It’s not my job to tell them they need to change this or that. It’s my job to be a light, and pray for them. It’s not wrong to want to honor God in his own house. I am supposed to teach my children this. I have taken a lot of criticism over it, as well. And Lord knows, it’s not what you do or don’t wear that saves you, and I don’t want to be a Pharisee.

Psa 22:26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live forever. Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Psa 119:72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver. Psa 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Pro 13:25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want. Isa 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Isa 55:2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. His word is available to those who want it. Seek and ye shall find. Pray for more understanding. He offers it, to those who are hungry. If you are only using it to further your own agenda, you’ll get no heavenly revelation of its precious truths. But if you are seeking it as the Pearl of Great Price, seeking to know him, it will humble and amaze and delight you. It never gets old. He always makes it fresh. Jesus demonstrated in John 6 that he could take a few loaves of bread and feed thousands. He showed them the natural application with food. Now consider his Word. It’s bread for our spirit. Can he not take his word and feed millions? He said the word he speaks is spirit and life. (verse 63) When you eat something, it sustains you. It becomes a part of you, it enables your body to continue to function. When you eat the word of God, and hide it in your heart, when trouble comes, it will sustain you. When the enemy lies to your mind, it will rise up against the foe, and defend you, when you are troubled, it will comfort you. When you are in danger, it will protect you. When he steps out on the clouds to get his Bride, it will quicken and change you. It’s the power that works within you, preparing you to meet him. He said if his word is not in you, you have no life in you.

Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. How can you eat his flesh? Get in the Book. Eat the Book. Devour it hungrily, whole heartedly. It’s addicting. I promise it is. When I did not have the desire to read it as I should, when I’ve went through troubled times, I had to pray and ask the Lord to open my eyes, stir up the hunger in me for his word, and I kept coming back to it. He would draw me back to it. Oh, he’s faithful. He knows what we need. His word will sanctify, wash, change, and separate you from sin. It’s my wisdom, my comfort, my guide. It’s my Treasure. He said in Psalms 34:8-Oh taste and see the Lord is GOOD. He is. But we must remember one more thing Jesus said about the Book:

Joh 12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. His word is what we will face at the judgment. Have we kept it? Changed it? Disregarded it? Neglected it? Let the enemy steal it from us? Let the influence of the world compromise it from us? Or have we sought to understand and keep it? Have we asked for power to walk in his light, in his truth? If we have, then we will know him. For he said ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall set you free. He said I am the way, the truth and the life. He’s the only way to get there. (John 14:6; John 8:32) What about all the self-help books written by Christian authors? What about that?

Ecc 12:12 And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. But what did Jesus say about his Word again? It is spirit and it is life. I love to read. I have a few books by Christian authors. Most notably, I’d have to say, my favorites are those I have by David Wilkerson. Anointed and power-packed. Good sheep food. But there are others, I could never get past the first chapter. It could not hold my interest. Some have sent a red flag up within my spirit, and I put them in the trash when I found them contradictory to scripture, like a book I bought on spiritual warfare, a few years ago. The author claimed Christians could be inhabited by demons in their flesh, but the Lord in their spirit at the same time. Rubbish. Poppycock, as the old timers used to say. The Lord is Supreme in his Holy Temple and he will not dwell with a demon in the same vessel. He does not share. He casts them out, he binds them.

Luk 11:19 And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your sons cast them out? therefore shall they be your judges. Luk 11:20 But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you. Luk 11:21 When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: Luk 11:22 But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils. If I hadn’t been reading God’s word for myself, and had I taken heed to this man’s book, I’d have been deceived, and would have opened myself up for all kinds of problems. When someone asks me what I think about things if I can’t give them an answer rooted in scripture, then I need to clarify all I have to offer is my opinion and that is not worth much. Only what the Word of the Lord says matters.

1Ti 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. 1Ti 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. If I keep my mind on his word, and marvel at his word, and it is something to marvel at, if I am seeking to live what I read, believe what I read, and share what I read-then listen to what it will do-it will SAVE me and those who will hear it. Oh, it’s such a priceless treasure. I know I’ve said it before, but it’s a Masterpiece. It’s in a class all by itself. There’s never been another book written like it. There never will be. Don’t accept anything less than the real thing.

2Co 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 2Co 11:4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 2Co 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 2Co 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 2Co 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

I had two ladies from the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter day saints knock on my door the other day. I confess right off, the first thought that hit my heart when I opened the door and saw two young women with long hair, and long skirts, I thought “Holiness.” And a pleasure hit my heart, as I thought, oh, boy, some good fellowship. It was only after I invited them in I noticed their name tags, and with a sinking feeling in my heart sat down in my living room with them. This one young woman pulled out her Bible, a KJV, my favorite translation, and began to remark about my home, for I have 3 gospel tracts taped to my front door on the outside, and they were looking at these when I answered it. I have a sign from Joshua beside my door “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” And as long as I trust God, and believe him, and seek him for my family, he will save them. (Acts 16:31 promises ) And wouldn’t you know it, I had been sitting quietly on my couch while my daughter played in her room, reading my own Bible for quite a while before they knocked. I was listening to this message Pastor Carter Conlon preached at Times Square Church last Sunday, (March 19, 2006), “A word for those who want to know God”. And it really ministered to my heart. I was rejoicing in hope, and in the Lord, and along came these two ladies right after the message went off. They seemed surprised as they looked, and saw an open, and much marked in Bible lying on the couch, with my dictionary, and some notes. I did not hesitate to tell them when they began to tell me about the Lord, that I am his. I cannot in all truth say I know him as well or as intimately as I want to or will, and I WILL, by his grace, know him better, but I love him NOW and everyday being his is a delight. I was struck by how she kept to her message, when I would speak, and mention what I was reading, because my Bible was open to 1 Sam 17. They would politely listen and then go back to their little message. It was like they had this perfectly rehearsed script, and they had to follow it. And they constantly referred to God as “Heavenly Father.” But for some reason it sounded wrong coming from their mouth. It irritated me to hear . It sounded strange. They way they pronounced it, I felt like -they were speaking about Someone who is a stranger to them. You know how if you were to refer in a conversation with a friend to President Bush, well, when you mention his name, there’s not going to be an intimate familiarity to your voice, because you aren’t familiar personally with him. That’s how it sounded when they said “Heavenly Father.” There was no mistaking their sincerity, or belief in what they were saying. But there were red flags flying up all inside me. Scriptures kept coming to mind, and when I’d open my mouth, they’d listen for a moment, and it was back to the script. But, praise the Lord, I did get my testimony in. That was the only time they really appeared to listen. The young woman with her well worn Bible, and I could see it had been much used, and she seemed very familiar with the stories in the Bible, and seemed to have a love of reading it. As I shared with her the condition the Lord found me in, and how he saved me, and the things and the life he marvelously delivered me from, miraculously, I was surprised that tears filled her eyes. She quietly whispered, “That is an amazing testimony.” My own eyes were full of tears, because I knew how real HE was to my heart, and all I could say is no one could ever convince me He isn’t real. She mentioned her feelings she’d had with the Holy Spirit, and I interrupted her because I couldn’t help it, and I said, we are not to walk by feelings, but by faith. I have been fooled by my feelings before. You can’t trust your feelings, they will deceive you. The other girl, however, seemed harder. And she quickly steered the conversation back to the script. My heart was hurting, because I kept thinking Oh, God, I am not smart enough to debate your word with them. I wish I could make them see the truth, and they are probably thinking the same thing about me. They talked about Jesus, and God, the scriptures, sounding very Christian, but then the first girl opened her back pack, while

talking about being so glad God had sent prophets. They were so glad God had talked to the prophets. I said, according to Hebrews 1:1-3 God has in these last days spoken to us by his Son and if we hear something not from his Son, reject it. Put an X on it. (I pray God prepares a special blessing for my Pastor who continually reminds us of that scripture). She just glossed over what I said, having recovered from her brief tearful moment and was back on script. She said, but there is a fuller revelation available to us and I am thankful to Heavenly Father for talking to the prophets and then she pulls out the Book of Mormon. I looked at it, and I could feel myself recoiling from it inwardly and I guess outwardly, too, because I said well you can stop right there because that is where you and I will never agree. That is not God’s word. It’s another gospel. Paul warned us about accepting another gospel, even if an angel brought it, let him be accursed. She quickly rose to the defense of the man (Joseph Smith) and the book. She was quick to tell me that she had prayed and the Holy Spirit had told her the book was true. I said “Put that thing away, I will not accept it. I can’t.” I had my Bible on my lap, and I picked it up “This is the only Word I can accept. If it’s not written in here, I can’t accept it. I won’t.” She put her book away, and smiled, and they talked another minute or so. She tried to reassure me that her book was true, and they both passionately tried to tell me how God had told them personally it was true. When I quoted the scripture in Galatians, about how if an angel even brought you another gospel to reject it, they didn’t even try to answer me, they just kept talking. I told them they were wrong. They couldn’t respond to the Scripture, and when they started to tell me what they believed (concerning their book) I interrupted them, and I said “I know the Lord had this Book written, I know he is coming back, and I just want my life to glorify God so others can see him in me because I don’t want my lost loved ones left here. I don’t agree with your book. It come from a man. You’ve elevated the man, not God.” They denied that, but they did leave. They asked me if we could pray together, before they left, and the scripture “How can two walk together unless they agree?” flowed through my mind, and here they’d done bowed their head, and I couldn’t pray with them. I felt so in over my head, and so bad that these two women had bought into a lie which the scripture clearly warns against.

Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. I did a little reading up on them after they left and found out that Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormons, received his revelation, according to what I found, from an angel in 1838. He is highly exalted among them, they sing hymns calling him blessed. Theirs is a religion of works. It takes away from the deity of Christ. It does away with the blood-for they believe by works you inherit eternal life. They say that we have to repent and be forgiven, through the blood of the atonement, but their salvation is still based on their works. They believe Joseph Smith got a word from God and called it

“The Book of Mormon.” I was doing some reading on this so I will be better informed in the future, and when I read this quote it amazed me, because it was almost word for word what this lady said to me. This comes from a Google search on Mormonism, and here is the link: Joseph Smith who was called of God to be a latter-day prophet. The Book of Mormon contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and is a companion to the Bible. I know The Book of Mormon is true. I have read it, I have prayed about it, and I have received a personal witness through the Holy Ghost, that it is true. I invite you to learn for yourself the truthfulness of The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

There were a couple dates, and names I left out of this paragraph, but this is exactly what the woman told me. I said to her “the Word of God is not open to private interpretation. Nobody receives a special revelation. God revealed the same truth to all who seek it.” She disagreed, saying Joseph Smith got a full revelation, and that the Book of Mormon is also the inspired word of God. While researching their theology, I was very unnerved as I read what they said about the Holy Ghost, how he teaches them through their feelings and thoughts....................for every true believer knows that is exactly where the enemy strikes and does everything in his power to convince you the Word of God is not true, and if he can’t convince you of that he will twist it until he has you believing a lie if you listen to your thoughts. Paul warned in Galatians that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. All it takes is to believe a lie and you are in big trouble. If you believe a lie, you’ll repeat that lie. You’ll base your life on that lie. Especially as it’s related to theology. This is the bad bill of goods the Mormons have bought in to. Paul warned the church-even if I come back to you with another gospel than that which ye have received of me, don’t believe it. Don’t accept it. They talk about the Holy Ghost in ways that truly are frightening. This is a quote from the Book of Mormon, about the Holy Ghost and what he does, taken from the above website: Teaches people the truth: • "And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." (• Μορονι 10:4−5)

Now, you can pray and with a sincere heart ask the Lord for truth, but you better believe the devil will be right there to try to imitate the voice of the Lord and sell you a lie. That’s why the Bible says ‘try the spirits to see whether they be of God or not.’ (1 John 4:1) The devil deceived one third of the angels in heaven into following him. What chance does man have of not being deceived if he doesn’t stay in the Word of God, and on his knees? This is why he says “eat my flesh and drink my blood.” If you have the Word of God in you, it won’t let you believe a lie. The Holy Ghost doesn’t work on feelings, but on faith. He’s not bound by human limitations, only unbelief and sin in your life will hinder his work. He comes to convict, correct, comfort, teach, remind, and help. And

he only shows you what the Word of God says “ things to come, and of Jesus Christ.” John 14. I don’t think that necessarily is prophetic just in the end times way, but in his working in your life. Things to come, the changes in your life that will come as he works. And everything is within the Word of God. The Lord does not operate outside of his Word. That is our safety. Security. How many times did the Lord warn us not to be deceived?

Rev 10:8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. Rev 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. Rev 10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter. This is a magnificently described angel who stands on the earth and sea with a book in his hand and declares time shall be no more. I’ve asked myself how the word of God can be sweet in your mouth and bitter in your belly. The common thread in all these scriptures about eating the book, with the exception of John 6, is this: he was telling his people on the eve of coming judgment to eat the book, eat the roll. When the righteous are constantly vexed by the deeds of the wicked, to read the pure and holy word of God is sweet. It’s sanity in an insane world. But when you see the human suffering, because they let themselves be deceived by sin, and it is deceitful, or because they were deceived by the enemy, it’s got to be hard to stomach. No one in their right mind wants to see people judged and destroyed. God doesn’t either. I believe that’s why he waited in Noah’s day for 7 days after everything was finished with the ark, and all were on board. 7 days, mercifully waiting, and surely his Spirit was dealing with men. But no one responded. They all refused the call, so he shut the door. It was too big for a man to shut. It had to be to allow for the animals who needed to board. But also, so the men inside could not open it when those left outside realized to their horror that Noah was right and begged for entry as the water began to rise. He’s still got the mercy call out. He’s still offering grace. Oh, Lord, help us not to trust our feelings, our flesh, our opinions, our thoughts, or our heart. Why not?

Jer 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. If you trust in flesh, it will fail you. It will go its own way. Flesh does not want God. Flesh can not be sanctified. It must be crucified. Denied. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Cor 15:50)

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Jer 17:10 I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. This may sound harsh, but I have learned the hard way-this is true. My heart will try to deceive me if I listen to it. But God’s word has to be the Only and Final Word. He knows me better than I know myself. And since he was willing to die for me, I have to trust and believe him, not myself who have failed myself so many times. I have failed me. God has not. So who should I trust? My fickle heart or my Savior? My Beloved

Savior, always.

1Ti 4:1 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; Anything that tries to bypass the Blood of Christ is a doctrine of devils. Anything that puts something written by man on the same level as the inspired Word of God, is a doctrine of devils. This I know the Holy Ghost used men to write the Word of God, but he zealously oversaw every little detail. He watches over his word to perform, preserve and protect it.

Pro 2:8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Psa 33:11 The counsel of the LORD standeth forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. Psa 100:5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Psa 102:12 But thou, O LORD, shalt endure forever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. Psa 105:8 He hath remembered his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. Psa 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Psa 12:7 Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever. Pro 22:12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the words of the transgressor. It is not in me to question the accuracy, integrity or validity of His Word. It’s not something I feel, it’s something I know. How? Because HE lives in ME and he tells me. His word is not always easy on the flesh or feelings. It hurts. It cuts. But it rejoices the soul, and the spirit. And that is what matters. Because flesh is temporary. My soul is not and it will dwell somewhere for all eternity. With him, I am determined. I have reached the place where I don’t have confidence in myself, my ideas, my thoughts, or feelings. I haven’t for a while now. I’ve let me down too many times. But his Word has never failed me. He warns me ahead of time.

Deu 11:16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; See, he even points out things that will deceive my heart if I am not careful. Other gods. Idols. What feels good isn’t always. What looks good isn’t always. What tastes or smells good can be dangerous.

Luk 21:8 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. They come in his name, with their Bible, and their other literature, elevating the other literature to an unworthy place of comparison. Nothing is needed except the Word of God. The Holy Bible. I can’t fault anyone for using different translations, though I prefer the KJV. I have about 30 different translations. Occasionally, I like to compare how a verse is translated. But the KJV is the Final Authority. It was translated straight from the manuscripts, with no men with carnal minds trying to make it more understandable or appealing to a carnal world. The Holy Ghost does not cater to flesh

or carnality. Not mine, or anyone else’s.

Jer 29:8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed. Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. Mat 24:5 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. They are going to have power, albeit demonic, to do things to awe the people and convince them. Unless you have HIS word in you, you are very likely to be deceived. Don’t take your neighbor’s word for it. Don’t take your preacher’s word for it. Read the Book yourself. Pray and ask God to teach it to you. He will. And it will be in agreement with what he has taught all his children. He’s the same, he doesn’t change, nor does his word. He doesn’t send angels to give different or new revelations or gospels to man. I can’t find scripture for it but there is plenty scripture against it.

Mar 13:5 And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you: Mar 13:6 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. 1Co 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. There is no shortage of different doctrines out there. There is no shortage of people who will come knocking on your door, with their doctrines. Even a large part of the Christian church who profess Christianity, do not keep his word, in or out of the church. I have been in churches where the music had a rock beat, where the females were painted up and decked out and looked just like the world. I have seen the adults send their children outside to shoot hoops with a basketball while they have church. They have their raffles, (gambling) and their yard sales, church rummage sales, and bake sales, hot dog and chili suppers, all at the house of God. I’ve made my son angry because I had to refuse to let him participate or attend churches who practice these sort of things when one of his friends invite him. I have to ask myself: How is that kind of behavior at the Lord’s House honoring him, reaching the lost, or caring for the souls of their children? I’ve seen coffee and donuts in the adult Sunday School classrooms, televisions in the children’s. The Word of God condemns such things. Jesus was furious when he saw how they’d turned his Father’s house into something other than what it was meant to be, and he drove those out who bought and sold and traded in his house.

Lev 19:30 Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. How is any of the previously mentioned showing reverence in his sanctuary? My son got angry with me, and said well I want to have fun. Can’t I go to church and have a

little fun? I told him that is what the park is for, the boys’ club, home, etc. The House of God is supposed to be where the hopeless find hope, where the blind find sight, where the hurting find healing, where the lost find God. Where sins are cleansed, and lives restored. Where the saints of God are fed and sent out into a hurting and dark world to help and shine brightly, filled with the light and life of Christ. It’s a place where the Lord is to be exalted and honored and praised and adored for he is so good and he is so merciful. Is it a crime to want to see it that way? To want to see people recognize and honor God in his own house? Too many church members come in the door and meet up with one another and immediately start talking, rehashing the week’s events and sharing news with one another. I’ve done it, and I don’t feel comfortable continuing to do so. But how many walk in HIS house and acknowledge HIM first? How many walk in HIS house and come prepared to let him use them to reach out to others who might be there in need? How many walk in his house ready to worship him? I have been guilty of coming in and doing all these things. But the past several months I’ve had an increasing desire to acknowledge Him first when I come in his house, to be a blessing to others, and to HIM, and to save the chit chat and ‘how are yous’ till after the service. I don’t want to offend or hurt anyone, but I surely don’t want to offend HIM. I wonder how he feels when so many people come to his house each week, with his name on their lips, but not in their hearts across this world. When so many of us are too busy to pray and spend time with him through out our week. When too many of us neglect our Bibles, make excuses, and then to ease our conscience come on Sunday. How does he feel when he sees people come in to the sanctuary and let their children run and yell and play, and bring toys to entertain their children (and I’m not talking about babies here). I’ve seen kids with hand held video games in the sanctuary. What does that say to the children? How does that convey the reality of God and his holiness to the children? God loves children, but if they are not taught to respect and fear God, they will not. Do you think it hurts God’s heart and makes him feel used that people only call out to him when they are scared, in pain, sick or afraid of losing their job? Or when they need him? But other than that, they are content to keep their distance from him? I think it does hurt him. They make excuses why they can’t obey his word when makes available all the power needed to do so. He’s willing to give us the desire to obey, the power to obey, and the understanding, even his fear and the faith we need to believe him, to help us do what he says we must. We are all without excuse and he deserves better than that from the world he has been so good to. From children he has paid such a high price to redeem, myself included. Is it really unreasonable to ask that the ladies leave their pants at home and put on a dress to come to the Lord’s house? If they don’t have one, that’s different. If they are a sinner and need God, let them come however. But when you claim to be his, and you have his word, and you’ve heard the truth, why can’t order be set and followed? Aren’t we supposed to serve HIM not self? Who is more important? People’s desire for comfort and their habits, rather than their need to appease and revere an Almighty God who holds our lives in his hand with such mercy and love? Especially when he is WORTHY of all honor and praise and respect? I faced a confrontation this week over this in my home with someone I love dearly. It hurt. My heart cried out because God is more important than people catering to their flesh. And expecting him to understand this is just how they do things if he wants them to come to church, he’ll just have to put up with it. That is not how God operates. That is wrong. I was told that I just had too much pride because I wouldn’t bring my son to church unless he was clean and neat in appearance. That is was okay for women to wear what they wanted so long as they didn’t show too much flesh. That shorts were alright when it was summer. Everything within me cried out no! But to accuse me of pride-I had to think about that. If I let him,

my son wouldn’t remember to brush his teeth or his hair. He wouldn’t shower regularly. I always felt like I was teaching him to respect the House of the Lord, and fear God. To respect himself in doing these things. He protests having to do them because he’s a teenager who’d rather be doing other things. My concern is for his soul, not his feelings. Not his desire to play outside when it’s time to go to church. But I stopped and thought carefully. Oh, Lord, am I a Pharisee? A hypocrite? Am I being unreasonable? Is there really pride in me? Am I really worried about what people will think and deceiving myself into thinking I’m concerned for your feelings? But I’ve never been much of a people pleaser. It’s always been hard for me to get too close to people. But that word pride thrown at me hurt. I know what my Father’s word tells me on his feelings about pride in his children. He won’t tolerate it. It’s an abomination. It’s what caused Satan to revolt against him in heaven. Well, I know one thing for sure, I have been asking for him to turn the searchlight of his Word on and search me, and try me. I am, as David said in Psalms, asking oh Lord, let not any secret faults or presumptuous sins reign in this vessel. If there’s a fault and I can’t see it, show it. Confirm it. I’ll repent, oh, I don’t want pride in this vessel. I want this vessel to be full of the glory of God, to glorify God. To honor God and minister a blessing to HIS heart. I don’t want the blessing, I want the BLESSER. I am not concerned with a mansion and streets of gold, I want the Lord. He’s my Reward. Just to be able to bow at his feet, and hear his voice whisper my name, to be able to look him in the face, and return his love, oh, that’s all the reward I need. What could he give me that would be better than Himself? Nothing that I know of.