2Ti 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
2Ti 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
I read a article recently that talked about having real success, a success built on doing what you love. Basically it encouraged us to do what we love, and to focus on the things you would do if you could, even if you weren't paid, and so this blog is born.
It has long been a dream to teach the Bible, not necessarily as a full time pastor, but even as an itinerant preacher. I love God's word, and in today's world I see men and women of God, people I assumed were strong in the Word and in faith, turning away and leading others astray in the process.
This really gets me fired up. I get passionate about the truth, and I get angry at "godly" men and women who water down the truth for the sake of money, popularity, or convenience.
There are numerous troubles on the event horizon for the Christ's church before long here in the USA, and if I can, and if God will allow me, I will take opportunity to preach the word, and be instant in season and out of season.
Out of season
Speaking of out of season, we live in Fort Jones, California. Population somewhere between 600 and 800 people. My home sits at about 3500 feet elevation, so the routine here is long cold winter, hot short summer, a week or two transition that might be called spring and fall anywhere else in the country.
I was looking at the seedbed of flowers we put together in May. Tee last frost had just occurred, and well, the seeds grew real slow because the nights were still in the 40's and the days rarely topped 75 or 80. Well, anyway, as I observed them, I thought they might not all blossom. The Cosmos sold at the nursery have long been sold out weeks ago, and ours are just now starting to bloom as of a week or two ago.
The giant marigolds haven't even got flower heads yet, and there are sunflowers only 12 inches high! If i had started them in a greenhouse and transplanted them, perhaps they would all flower on time, and in season. As it is, they are late bloomers, and a re on the verge of being out of season.
Why am I relating all of this? Because I have been like those seeds, asleep to the false doctrines running wild around me, and I am waking up to find the season of my life late, and I wonder will I be able to bear seed and fruit? I try to do my part, and several catalysts have woken me from my slumber.
Catalysts
The process started late last fall. I was attending a small house church. It was a strange fellowship in some ways. The emergent crowd might not think it strange, but as I look back on the experience, there were indeed some odd things made manifest.
First, the leader refused to accept the title of leader, teacher, pastor, or anything else that might infer some sort of biblical responsibility. This should have sent alarm bells off. This refusal became apparent over time. I was working long 12 and 14 hour days in hard physical labor, and often on Sunday's I could hardly keep my eyes open. I was slumbering through the alarms.
This doctrine of "no leader but Jesus" is deceptive. It sounds good that since Jesus is our true shepherd, we only need Him to lead us. Unfortunately, this is in direct conflict with the Scriptures. God places men in positions of leadership in order to edify the flock, and to equip believers for the work of the ministry.
Jesus was moved with compassion because He saw the multitudes as "like sheep with no shepherd."
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Mat 9:35-38
One of the roles of a pastor or teacher is to warn the flock of dangers, especially heresy and of false teachers, and to provide good pasture and clean water. I hope to be found a good shepherd, if Jesus sees fit to put me in that role.
The purpose of this blog is to preach the word, expose the lies and liars, warn the flock, feed the flock, and oh yeah, give me a place to talk about whatever else is on my mind.
