10/15/22 AS TRUE AS JOHN 3:16

10/15/22 AS TRUE AS JOHN 3:16

SADLY, THE FOLKS WHO NEED THIS WILL NOT READ THIS OR THEY WILL READ THIS BUT REFUSE TO HEED THIS.

If a person believes John 3:16 then he should believe the passages in this article. God's truth is not a smorgasbord to be picked over but it is a Divine provision to be gladly consumed, which will then produce life, godliness, love and unity in the family of God.

When a pastor's loving, Biblical counsel (notice, I said, BIBLICAL COUNSEL) is met with resistant argumentation, someone is not interested in following Jesus. Especially when other faithful believers receive the same counsel humbly and thankfully, even though the same counsel has been offered to hundreds of others for decades and those who have received it have been spiritually fruitful and strong for many years. (Be certain that your pastor meets Biblical standards and teaches Biblical truth).

The pastor's job is not to argue with parishioners. If he is a loving and wise shepherd, he is called to lead, feed, protect and care for the sheep; he is not called to argue with his flock about God's word or God given pastoral authority.

Acts 20:26-30
26  Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
27  For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
28  Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29  For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.

The pastor is called to fight darkness, the work of Satan, fight the wolves, lions and bears trying to devour God's sheep. It is not your job to lead the pastor or to mislead other believers. 

1 Peter 5:1-6
1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

The pastor's job is to pastor, to shepherd, it is not to fight with the believers. Infighting is for jackals, and wolves, not for sheep and shepherd. The sheep follow the shepherd's lead, and they submit to his God given authority and wisdom. The loving, Biblical pastor does not lord it over his congregation. He leads, feeds and cares for his people and spends his life giving them God's best. It is a major mistake for parishioners to resist and defy God's chosen ministers, in favor of un-Biblical, divisive, self oriented beliefs and behavior. 

Hebrews 13:17
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Remember, we either model Biblical truth or diabolic chaos. Rebellion to Biblical truth is submission to demonic deception. If you refuse to follow your pastor, then just be honest, do not be the cause of confusion and division. The actual response should be that the rebel humbles himself, repents and submits to Biblical leadership. 

Hebrews 13:7
7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation (behavior, conduct). 

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13
2 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Read this to your children, as a declaration of your own commitment to Biblical commitment. Tell your pastor that you will be a submissive, faithful part of the local body. Unity in the body requires submission of all believers, under the authority of God's word and Holy Spirit.  

Ephesians 5:21
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

Deuteronomy 6:1-9
1 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:
2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.