- Jan 1, 2024
- 1,140
- 643
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Male
- Faith
- Messianic
- Marital Status
- Widowed
This is part of a sermon preached by Gilbert Tennent, in 1739, and I add more after it:
"As a faithful ministry is a great ornament, blessing, and comfort, to the church of God (even the feet of such messengers are beautiful), so, on the contrary, an ungodly ministry is a great curse and judgment. These caterpillars labor to devour every green thing.
There is nothing that may more justly call forth our saddest sorrows, and make all our powers and passions mourn in the most doleful accents, the most incessant, insatiable, and deploring agonies, than the melancholy case of such who have no faithful ministry! This truth is set before our minds in a strong light in the words that I have chosen now to insist upon, in which we have an account of our Lord’s grief with the causes of it.
We are informed that our dear Redeemer was moved with compassion towards them. The original word signifies the strongest and most vehement pity, issuing from the innermost bowels. But what was the cause of this great and compassionate commotion in the heart of Christ? It was because He saw much people as sheep having no shepherd. Why, had the people then no teachers? O yes! They had heaps of Pharisee-teachers that came out, no doubt, after they had been at the feet of Gamaliel the usual time, and according to the acts, cannons, and traditions of the Jewish church. But, notwithstanding the great crowds of these orthodox, letter-learned, and regular Pharisees, our Lord laments the unhappy case of that great number of people who, in the days of His flesh, had no letter guides, because those were as good as none (in many respects), in our Savior’s judgment. For all them, the people were as sheep without a Shepherd.
From the words of our text, the following proposition offers itself to our consideration: that the case of such is much to be pitied who have no other but Pharisee-shepherds, or unconverted teachers.
In discoursing upon this subject, I would
I. Inquire into the characters of the old Pharisee-teachers.
Il. Show why the case of such people who have no better should be pitied. And,
III. Show how pity should be expressed upon this mournful occasion!
First, I am to inquire into the characters of the old Pharisee-teachers. No, I think the most notorious branches of their character were these: pride, policy, malice, ignorance, covetousness, and bigotry to human inventions in religious matters.
The old Pharisees were very proud and conceited. They loved the uppermost seats in the synagogues and to be called Rabbi. They were masterly and positive in their assertions, as if knowledge must die with them. They looked upon others who differed from them, and the common people, with an air of disdain and, especially any who had a respect for Jesus and His doctrine. They disliked them and judged them accursed.
The old Pharisee-shepherds were as crafty as foxes. They tried by all means to ensnare our Lord by their captious questions, and to expose Him to the displeasure of the state while, in the meantime, by sly and sneaking methods, they tried to secure for themselves the favor of the Grandees and the people’s displeasure, and this they obtained to their satisfaction (John 7:48).
But while they exerted the craft of foxes, they did not forget to breathe forth the cruelty of wolves in a malicious aspersing of the person of Christ, and in a violent opposing of the truths, people, and power of His religion. Yes, the most stern and strict of them were the ringleaders of the party. Witness Saul’s journey to Damascus, with letters from the chief priest to bring bound to Jerusalem all that he could find of The Way. It’s true that the Pharisees did not proceed to violent measures with our Savior and His disciples just at first; but that was not owing to their good nature, but their policy, for they feared the people. They must keep the people in their interests. Aye, that was the main chance, the compass that directed all their proceedings and, therefore, such sly cautious methods must be pursued as might consist herewith. They wanted to root vital religion out of the world, but they found it beyond their thumb.
Although some of the old Pharisee-shepherds had a very fair and strict outside, yet they were ignorant of the New Birth. Witness Rabbi Nicodemus, who talked like a fool about it. Hear how our Lord cursed those plastered hypocrites in Matthew 23: 27-28: Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; for ye are like whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead bones and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Aye, if they had but a little of the learning then in fashion, and a fair outside, they were presently put into the priest’s office, though they had no experience of the New Birth. O sad!"
~~~~~~End
(I have on occasion run into these types, and it is quite sad. Other times there is a righteous anger of holy zeal, and there are times I have near come out of my pew to preach the true Word, and truly wrestled with what would be considered a disruption on one level, but on another level would be presenting truth to mostly dead people being ministered to by a dead person. The total DEADNESS of the church of Sardis is in the land, in many pulpits, today, and in the the late 1990s when I experienced it, just as it was in 1739.
Revelation 3:1-6 is a most dreadful telling of what happens when a church is dead:
"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
This is such a dire passage, and while most preachers focus on Laodicea, I am often led to Sardis because Sardis is as much a type of church today as is Laodicea. Dead religion is no salvation. The dry ramblings from the pulpit do not cut to the quick, and they do not quicken - that means they do not make alive. Only the living Word makes alive. Many of these churches do not even preach the new birth, nor repentance. They teach more about social skills, and they may teach good social skills, but social skills are not salvation.
There is no altar call, and no room for an altar call. If one were to come under conviction and rush to the altar and kneel down in tears, the clueless preacher would instruct a deacon to bring them back to a seat till service was over and then upbraid them for being disruptive. But no one will come under conviction by the preaching so they wouldn't have to worry much. Someone MIGHT come under conviction by the Holy Spirit being grieved by the unconverted unsanctified man or woman handling the Word of God from a place they should not be. It would surely make one cry.
Then there is this madness, which I'm not sure if it can be called "dead" or more along the lines of Thyatira, with a Jezebel spirit. Now this comes from Jonathan Edwards old church, and they openly speak of Edwards in positive ways, but certainly do not follow his Gospel!
"Click the link to join our Pride Worship Service!
Today’s worship features beautiful music from our combined choirs and the incredible preaching of the Rev. Darrell Goodwin who writes:
I am proud to serve as the First Black and Openly Queer Executive Conference Minister of the Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ. There were so many voices who told me if I shared my truth, I would have to stop preaching and that my ministry would never prosper. Thanks be to God that those narratives were LIES! The Holy Spirit did indeed have the victory. If you are a part of the LGBTQIIA community and are looking for a brave space to be your authentic self and journey in your faith, there is a church near you that’s ready to walk beside and have PRIDE in you."
I can assuredly say that was an unholy spirit giving them the victory, though they might accuse me of blaspheming the Holy Spirit! the Holy Spirit is HOLY, and as such will not openly sanction sin, nor secretly sanction sin, and this smacks of sanctioning sin, for the man openly confesses it!
"The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves." (Isaiah 3:9)
Please pray that these men and women that are trapped in this utter darkness be shown the true Gospel, and the true Holiness of the Holy Spirit who comes forth of the Father and of Jesus Christ, who dwell in the light, and no darkness allowed! Pride is the very sin of Lucifer, and pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall, and God hates pride as one of the 7 things listed in Proverbs 6:16-19,
"These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
That the apostate and unconverted have such a stranglehold on many churches in the land show the doleful state of much of Christianity. You know there's a website that you can look up gay churches and there are little pins showing every gay church, and there are thousands!
Look at Indianapolis, Nashville, and Little Rock, two of which are considered Bible Belt cities!
How has it come to this? Because of unconverted ministers, that's exactly why and how. 1 Timothy 4:1 also, "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;"
It says depart from the faith. That don't mean they lost salvation, it means they had a form of godliness, but were unconverted: they did not ever have saving faith, so they either walk in dead religion, or come under the influence of seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.
Man, the very best way to love an openly gay person is to warn them of the danger they are in, and their soul ain't right with God, and they need to repent.
You could just as easily find a bunch of "strait" churches in as many locations that are totally dead and unconverted. So you could easily double the number on those maps. It's sad when you realize that the professing Christian church is a mission field, but it is.
I pray that everyone here has a church that has a truly born again minister who preaches the whole counsel of God, and calls sin for what sin is. Amen.)
- And yes, those are real rainbow churches. I looked up a bunch of their websites, and like 95% have an official church website. I initially thought "This can't be true!" Or I didn't want it to be true, but alas, it is true.
"As a faithful ministry is a great ornament, blessing, and comfort, to the church of God (even the feet of such messengers are beautiful), so, on the contrary, an ungodly ministry is a great curse and judgment. These caterpillars labor to devour every green thing.
There is nothing that may more justly call forth our saddest sorrows, and make all our powers and passions mourn in the most doleful accents, the most incessant, insatiable, and deploring agonies, than the melancholy case of such who have no faithful ministry! This truth is set before our minds in a strong light in the words that I have chosen now to insist upon, in which we have an account of our Lord’s grief with the causes of it.
We are informed that our dear Redeemer was moved with compassion towards them. The original word signifies the strongest and most vehement pity, issuing from the innermost bowels. But what was the cause of this great and compassionate commotion in the heart of Christ? It was because He saw much people as sheep having no shepherd. Why, had the people then no teachers? O yes! They had heaps of Pharisee-teachers that came out, no doubt, after they had been at the feet of Gamaliel the usual time, and according to the acts, cannons, and traditions of the Jewish church. But, notwithstanding the great crowds of these orthodox, letter-learned, and regular Pharisees, our Lord laments the unhappy case of that great number of people who, in the days of His flesh, had no letter guides, because those were as good as none (in many respects), in our Savior’s judgment. For all them, the people were as sheep without a Shepherd.
From the words of our text, the following proposition offers itself to our consideration: that the case of such is much to be pitied who have no other but Pharisee-shepherds, or unconverted teachers.
In discoursing upon this subject, I would
I. Inquire into the characters of the old Pharisee-teachers.
Il. Show why the case of such people who have no better should be pitied. And,
III. Show how pity should be expressed upon this mournful occasion!
First, I am to inquire into the characters of the old Pharisee-teachers. No, I think the most notorious branches of their character were these: pride, policy, malice, ignorance, covetousness, and bigotry to human inventions in religious matters.
The old Pharisees were very proud and conceited. They loved the uppermost seats in the synagogues and to be called Rabbi. They were masterly and positive in their assertions, as if knowledge must die with them. They looked upon others who differed from them, and the common people, with an air of disdain and, especially any who had a respect for Jesus and His doctrine. They disliked them and judged them accursed.
The old Pharisee-shepherds were as crafty as foxes. They tried by all means to ensnare our Lord by their captious questions, and to expose Him to the displeasure of the state while, in the meantime, by sly and sneaking methods, they tried to secure for themselves the favor of the Grandees and the people’s displeasure, and this they obtained to their satisfaction (John 7:48).
But while they exerted the craft of foxes, they did not forget to breathe forth the cruelty of wolves in a malicious aspersing of the person of Christ, and in a violent opposing of the truths, people, and power of His religion. Yes, the most stern and strict of them were the ringleaders of the party. Witness Saul’s journey to Damascus, with letters from the chief priest to bring bound to Jerusalem all that he could find of The Way. It’s true that the Pharisees did not proceed to violent measures with our Savior and His disciples just at first; but that was not owing to their good nature, but their policy, for they feared the people. They must keep the people in their interests. Aye, that was the main chance, the compass that directed all their proceedings and, therefore, such sly cautious methods must be pursued as might consist herewith. They wanted to root vital religion out of the world, but they found it beyond their thumb.
Although some of the old Pharisee-shepherds had a very fair and strict outside, yet they were ignorant of the New Birth. Witness Rabbi Nicodemus, who talked like a fool about it. Hear how our Lord cursed those plastered hypocrites in Matthew 23: 27-28: Woe unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; for ye are like whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead bones and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Aye, if they had but a little of the learning then in fashion, and a fair outside, they were presently put into the priest’s office, though they had no experience of the New Birth. O sad!"
~~~~~~End
(I have on occasion run into these types, and it is quite sad. Other times there is a righteous anger of holy zeal, and there are times I have near come out of my pew to preach the true Word, and truly wrestled with what would be considered a disruption on one level, but on another level would be presenting truth to mostly dead people being ministered to by a dead person. The total DEADNESS of the church of Sardis is in the land, in many pulpits, today, and in the the late 1990s when I experienced it, just as it was in 1739.
Revelation 3:1-6 is a most dreadful telling of what happens when a church is dead:
"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.
Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.
Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches."
This is such a dire passage, and while most preachers focus on Laodicea, I am often led to Sardis because Sardis is as much a type of church today as is Laodicea. Dead religion is no salvation. The dry ramblings from the pulpit do not cut to the quick, and they do not quicken - that means they do not make alive. Only the living Word makes alive. Many of these churches do not even preach the new birth, nor repentance. They teach more about social skills, and they may teach good social skills, but social skills are not salvation.
There is no altar call, and no room for an altar call. If one were to come under conviction and rush to the altar and kneel down in tears, the clueless preacher would instruct a deacon to bring them back to a seat till service was over and then upbraid them for being disruptive. But no one will come under conviction by the preaching so they wouldn't have to worry much. Someone MIGHT come under conviction by the Holy Spirit being grieved by the unconverted unsanctified man or woman handling the Word of God from a place they should not be. It would surely make one cry.
Then there is this madness, which I'm not sure if it can be called "dead" or more along the lines of Thyatira, with a Jezebel spirit. Now this comes from Jonathan Edwards old church, and they openly speak of Edwards in positive ways, but certainly do not follow his Gospel!
"Click the link to join our Pride Worship Service!
Today’s worship features beautiful music from our combined choirs and the incredible preaching of the Rev. Darrell Goodwin who writes:
I am proud to serve as the First Black and Openly Queer Executive Conference Minister of the Southern New England Conference, United Church of Christ. There were so many voices who told me if I shared my truth, I would have to stop preaching and that my ministry would never prosper. Thanks be to God that those narratives were LIES! The Holy Spirit did indeed have the victory. If you are a part of the LGBTQIIA community and are looking for a brave space to be your authentic self and journey in your faith, there is a church near you that’s ready to walk beside and have PRIDE in you."
I can assuredly say that was an unholy spirit giving them the victory, though they might accuse me of blaspheming the Holy Spirit! the Holy Spirit is HOLY, and as such will not openly sanction sin, nor secretly sanction sin, and this smacks of sanctioning sin, for the man openly confesses it!
"The shew of their countenance doth witness against them; and they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not. Woe unto their soul! for they have rewarded evil unto themselves." (Isaiah 3:9)
Please pray that these men and women that are trapped in this utter darkness be shown the true Gospel, and the true Holiness of the Holy Spirit who comes forth of the Father and of Jesus Christ, who dwell in the light, and no darkness allowed! Pride is the very sin of Lucifer, and pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall, and God hates pride as one of the 7 things listed in Proverbs 6:16-19,
"These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
That the apostate and unconverted have such a stranglehold on many churches in the land show the doleful state of much of Christianity. You know there's a website that you can look up gay churches and there are little pins showing every gay church, and there are thousands!
Look at Indianapolis, Nashville, and Little Rock, two of which are considered Bible Belt cities!
How has it come to this? Because of unconverted ministers, that's exactly why and how. 1 Timothy 4:1 also, "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;"
It says depart from the faith. That don't mean they lost salvation, it means they had a form of godliness, but were unconverted: they did not ever have saving faith, so they either walk in dead religion, or come under the influence of seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.
Man, the very best way to love an openly gay person is to warn them of the danger they are in, and their soul ain't right with God, and they need to repent.
You could just as easily find a bunch of "strait" churches in as many locations that are totally dead and unconverted. So you could easily double the number on those maps. It's sad when you realize that the professing Christian church is a mission field, but it is.
I pray that everyone here has a church that has a truly born again minister who preaches the whole counsel of God, and calls sin for what sin is. Amen.)
- And yes, those are real rainbow churches. I looked up a bunch of their websites, and like 95% have an official church website. I initially thought "This can't be true!" Or I didn't want it to be true, but alas, it is true.
