IDENTITY
CRISIS
Let`s see, you all agree that as Christians we should
be identified with Christ? That we should be, and are becoming more
"Christ like" daily? How about we examine this a little further:
Phil 2/7,
"But made Himself of no reputation, ("kenoo", "meaning to empty oneself,
to divest oneself of rightful dignity by descending to an inferior condition,
to abase oneself." Zodhiates), and
took upon Him the form of a servant,
("doulos", "a slave, one who is in a permanent relation of
servitude to another, his will being altogether consumed in the will of other,
generally one serving, bound to serve, in bondage". Zodhiates), and was made in the likeness of men: And
being found in fashion as a man, he humbled ("tapeinoo"
" to humble, bring low". Zodhiates) Himself, and became obedient unto death even the death of the
cross."
HAVE YOU
MADE YOURSELF OF NO REPUTATION? TAKEN UPON YOURSELF THE FORM OF A SERVANT?
HUMBLED YOURSELF AND BECOME OBEDIENT UNTO DEATH?
Ro. 6/3,
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized ("baptizo" "to
dip, immerse, submerge, to overwhelm, saturate". Zodhiates) into his death?"
HAVE YOU
REALLY BEEN BAPTIZED INTO CHRIST`S DEATH?
Math. 16/24,
Mk. 8/34, Luke 9/23, "If any man will come after me, let him deny ("aparneomai", "to deny, refuse, to
abnegate, to ignore". Zodhiates) himself,
and take ("airo", "to take up, to lift up, to raise,
to take up and place on oneself, to take up and bear, meaning to bear, carry".
Zodhiates) up his cross, and follow
me."
DO YOU DENY
YOURSELF AND TAKE UP YOUR CROSS DAILY?
Mk. 13/13,
Luke 21/17, "And ye shall be hated ("miseo"
"active ill will in words
and conduct, a persecuting spirit, to detest,
abhor, loveless". Zodhiates)
of all men for my name`s sake:"
ARE YOU
HATED OF ALL MEN FOR HIS NAME`S SAKE?
John
15/18-19, "If the world hate ("miseo") you, ye know
that it hated ("miseo") me before it hated ("miseo") you. If ye were of the world, the world
would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you
out of the world, therefore the world hateth ("miseo") you."
Math.
5/11-12, "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, ("oneidizo", "to defame, disparage,
reproach, to rail at, revile, assail with abusive words". Zodhiates), and persecute ("dioko",
"to persecute, pursue with repeated acts of enmity". Zodhiates) you, and shall say all manner of evil
against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is
your reward in Heaven: for so persecuted ("dioko")
they the prophets which were before you."
John 25/20,
"If they have persecuted ("dioko") me, they will also persecute ("dioko") you;"
ARE YOU
REVILED, SPOKEN ILL OF, THOUGHT OF AS A RELIGIOUS NUT, DISPARAGED, DEFAMED,
SLANDERED FALSELY, MISUNDERSTOOD, PERSECUTED FOR HIS NAME`S SAKE?
Is. 53/1,
John 12/38, Ro. 10/16, "Who hath believed our report?
DO YOU FEEL
AS THOUGH NO ONE BELIEVES WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?
Is 53/2, "He hath no form nor comeliness;
and when we shall see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire
Him."
ARE YOU OF
LOWLY APPEARANCE? OR DO YOU PRESENT YOURSELF AS ONE OF IMPORTANCE, LOOKING LIKE
A STAR OF STAGE OR SCREEN, ...OR,... KEEPING UP WITH THE LATEST FASHION TRENDS:
Is. 53/3, "He is despised and rejected of
men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as
it were our faces from Him; He was despised, and we esteemed Him
not."
ARE YOU
DEPSIED AND REJECTED OF MEN? DO YOU TAKE UP THE BURDEN OF THE LORD IN LAMENT
FOR SINFUL MANKIND, ACQUAINTED WITH GRIEF AS IT WERE? ARE YOU ESTEEMED OR
ACKNOWLEDGED IN YOUR MINISTRY? OR AS CHRIST WAS NOT ESTEEMED, RECOGNISED OR
ACKNOWLEDGED SO ARE YOU?
Is. 53/4, "Surely He hath borne our griefs, and
carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God, and
afflicted."
DO YOU
APPEAR TO ONE AND ALL AS STRICKEN, SMITTEN OF GOD AND AFFLICTED?
Is. 53/7, "He was oppressed and He was afflicted,"
DO YOU
PARTAKE OF THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SUFFERINGS? PHIL 3/10.
1 Pet. 2/23,
"Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again when He suffered, He threatened
not: but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously:"
WHEN, (and
if), YOU ARE REPROACHED, DO YOU STRIKE BACK, THREATEN? OR DO YOU COMMIT YOURSELF UNTO THE FATHER OF LIGHTS?
Tit. 2/14,
"and purify unto Himself a peculiar ("periousios", "treasured, a people in whom God has special
interest, one which exceeds His common concern
for mankind in general". Zodhiates) people, zealous ("zelotes", "to
be zealous or eagerly desirous of
good works". Zodhiates) of good
works." 1 Pet. 2/9, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar ("peripoiesis", "an
acquiring, obtaining, purchasing, a people for an acquisition {or purchase}
means a people acquired or purchased to Himself in a peculiar or unique manner,
'they shall be to me for an acquisition' i.e., a peculiar property") people;"
DO YOU KNOW
FOR SURE THAT YOU ARE TREASURED, A PURCHASED POSSESSION EAGERLY DESIROUS OF
GOOD WORKS, PURE, HOLY?
2 Cor. 6/17,
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, ("aphorizo", "to define, separate".
Zodhiates), saith the lord."
HAVE YOU
SEPARATED/CIRCUMSISED YOUR HEART FROM THE THINGS OF THIS
WORLD,........INCLUDING UNSAVED RELATIVES?
Math. 10/16,
"be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless ("akeraios", "without any mixture of deceit, without any defiling material".
Zodhiates) as doves."
IS YOUR EYE
SINGLE, ARE YOU WITHOUT ANY DUPLICITOUSNESS?
Gal. 5/24,
"And they that are Christ`s have crucified
("stauroo", "to
crucify, affix, or nail to a cross, to mortify the affections of the flesh
through faith and love of Christ
crucified". Zodhiates) the flesh
with the affections and lusts."
HAVE YOU TRULY
CRUCIFIED THE AFFECTIONS AND LUST OF THE FLESH?
Heb. 13/13,
"Let us go forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His
reproach."
DO YOU GO
FORTH WITHOUT THE CAMP BEARING HIS REPROACH?
Math.
10/17-18, "But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the
councils, and they will scourge ("machomai",
"to fight as in war or battle, to strive, contend, quarrel, dispute with
words". Zodhiates) you in their synagogues; and ye shall be
brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them
and the Gentiles".
DO YOU
SUFFER CONTENTION, DISPUTE WHEN AND IF YOU SPEAK THE TRUTH? ARE YOU DELIVERED
UP TO JUDGES/MAGISTRATES FOR PREACHING/TEACHING THE TRUTH? ARE YOU CONSTANTLY
KICKED OUT OF FELLOWSHIPS?
1 Cor. 4/13,
"Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth ("perikatharma" "in this scripture it means, wretches,
outcasts or refuse, garbage".
Zodhiates) of the world, and are the off
scouring ("peripsema" "scrapings, a vile and worthless
person, scum". Zodhiates) of all
things unto this day."
DO YOU
UNDERSTAND WHAT IT REALLY MEANS TO BE THOUGHT OF AS REFUSE, GARBAGE? DO YOU
KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN OUTCAST? TO BE A WRETCH? DO YOU EVER EXPERIENCE
BEING THOUGHT OF AS A VILE WORTHLESS PERSON, THE SCUM OF THE EARTH?
Math. 6/24
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love
the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. YE CANNOT
SERVE GOD AND MAMMON." And again,.. 2 Tim. 2/4, "No man that warreth
entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who
hath chosen him to be a soldier." And again,.. John 2/16, "Take these
things hence; make not my Father`s house an house of merchandise."
ARE YOU
TOTALLY FREE FROM ANY BUSINESS PRACTICES? OR DO YOU HAWK, SELL, PEDDLE, RETAIL,
ENGAGE IN TURNING A PROFIT:
THUS
SAITH THE LORD GOD:
"BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT: FOR THEIRS IS
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. BLESSED ARE THEY THAT MOURN: FOR THEY SHALL BE
COMFORTED. BLESSED ARE THE MEEK: FOR THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH. BLESSED ARE
THEY WHICH DO HUNGER AND THIRST AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS: FOR THEY SHALL BE FILLED.
BLESSED ARE THE MERCIFUL: FOR THEY SHALL OBTAIN MERCY. BLESSED ARE THE PURE IN
HEART: FOR THEY SHALL SEE GOD. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS: FOR THEY SHALL BE
CALLED THE CHILDREN OF GOD." MATH. 5/3-9.
DOES THE
ABOVE BRACKET YOUR LIFE AND MINISTRY? BECAUSE IT SHOULD IF YOU ARE A BONEFIDE
APOSTLE, PROPHET, PASTOR, TEACHER, EVANGELIST, UNCTIONED AND SENT OF LOVING
FATHER SON AND HOLY GHOST:
ARE YOU HOLY
AS HE IS HOLY? ARE YOU BLAMELESS BEFORE HIM? ARE YOU ONE OF THE PURE IN HEART?
HAVE YOU BEEN NUTURED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT? OR ARE YOU A MOULDED PROSELYTE OF AN INSTITUTIONALISED
ABOMINATION, TWO FOLD MORE THE CHILD OF HELL THAN YOUR MENTORS:
I KNOW WHICH IT IS HAVING TRIED TO WARN YOU ALL FOR
YEARS:
THIS IS MORE THE PICTURE OF YOUR DELUDED MINISTRY:
YOU PREACH AND TEACH PROSPERITY BEING A LOVER OF
FILTHY LUCRE: REV. 2/14-17, LUKE 12/15, 1 TIM. 6/7-10.
YOU WRITE YOUR OWN CV, HAVE MEN SPEAK WELL OF YOU:
LUKE 6/26.
YOU WORK AT MAKING YOURSELF POPULAR, ENDEARED TO MEN:
2 TIM. 4/3, JUDE 16.
YOU ALLURE FOLK THROUGH THE LUSTS OF THE FLESH, LOVE
OF MONEY, COVETOUSNESS WITH EAR TICKLING
PERVERTED DOCTRINES: 2 PET. 2/3,14-22.
YOU BOAST OF YOUR OWN SPIRITUAL PROWESS: JOHN 5/31,
7/18.
YOU LOVE ENTERTAIN AND BE ENTERTAINED: 2 TIM. 3/4.
YOU REJECT DOCTRINE THAT MAKES FOLK FEEL CHALLENGED,
CONVICTED, UNCOMFORTABLE JUST AS WE WITNESSED ON NATIONAL TV WITH BRIAN
HOLLYWOOD HOUSTON WHEN HE WAS ASKED WHAT HIS STAND ON ABORTION AND
HOMOSEXUALITY WAS HE WAS ALL BUT APOLOGETIC AND ASHAMED AS HE SHEEPISHLY SAID IT`S WRONG,.............HAVING
NO STARCH, NO JUICE TO STATE THUS SAITH THE LORD GOD, "THOU SHALT NOT KILL", EX. 20/13, AND, "THOU SHALT NOT
LIE WITH MANKIND AS WITH WOMANKIND, IT IS AN ABOMINATION:" LEV 18/22. HE COULDN`T SAY IT BLACK AND
WHITE BECAUSE HE DIDN`T WANT TO OFFEND ANYONE AS HE PRESENTS HIMSELF AS A POPULAR EAR TICKLER TO THE MASSES AS HE TRIES
TO ATTRACT MORE FOLK TO HIS CHARADE, HIS CIRCUS: A TRUE MAN PLEASER,.. NOT A
GOD PLEASER, A TRUE COMPROMISER. 2 TIM.
3/1-5, 4/3-4.
HE CERTAINLY GETS STRAIGHT TALK MINISTRIES RUBBER BACK
BONE AWARD FOR 2010 FOR THIS ONE AMEN: WHAT DOES THE APOSTLE PAUL SAY?
"FOR I
AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO
SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH; TO THE JEW FIRST, AND ALSO TO THE
GREEK." RO. 1/16.... HUH,...WHAT A FAKE:
YOU LOVE YOUR EASE AND COMFORT: 2 TIM. 3/2,4.
YOU PERMIT WOMEN TO PREACH AND TEACH: 1 TIM. 2/11-15,
1 COR. 14/34-35, REV. 2/18-29.
YOU THINK THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH DRINKING
ALCOHOL: PRO. 20/1, 31/4-5, 1 THES. 5/22.
YOU WORK AT BUILDING A REPUTATION AROUND TOWN: MATH.
23/5-7,27-28, 3 JOHN 9.
YOU DO NOT DENY SELF DAILY: MATH. 16/24, MK. 8/34,
LUKE 9/23.
YOU DO NOT TAKE UP YOUR CROSS: AS ABOVE.
YOU ARE NOT HATED OF ALL MEN FOR HIS NAME`S SAKE: MAL.
24/9, MK. 13/13, LUKE 21/17.
YOU ARE OF THE WORLD THEREFORE YOU ARE ACCEPTED BY THE
WORLD. JOHN 15/19.
YOU SPEAK OF THE THINGS OF THE WORLD AND THE
UNBELIEVING LISTEN TO YOU: 1 JOHN 4/5.
YOU ARE NOT PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE: MATH.
5/10,
YOU ARE NOT SCOURGED BY MEN IN CHURCHES AND DELIVERED
UP BEFORE MAGISTRATES FOR PREACHING THE WORD: MATH. 10/17-18.
YOU ARE NOT REVILED OR REPROACHED, THOUGHT OF AS A
RELIGIOUS KOOK, AND SHRINK AT THE THOUGHT OF IT HAPPENING: 1 COR. 4/12, HEB.
13/13.
YOU TRY TO BE TRENDY, 5 DAYS GROWTH ON YOUR FACE,
WEARING ALL THE LATEST CLOTHES, STOVE PIPE PANTS THAT LOOK LIKE YOU HAVE TO BE
POURED INTO THEM, SHIRT HANGING OUT OF YOUR PANTS, BALD HEADS ETC: 1 JOHN
2/15-17.
YOU TRY TO MAKE YOUR CHURCH ATTRACTIVE TO THE LOST BY
MAKING IT LOOK APPEALING, TAKING ON THE THINGS OF THE WORLD TO ENTICE SUCH AS
ROCK BANDS, ENTERTAINMENT, DIMMED LIGHTING, COFFEE SHOPS ETC. AGAIN 1 JOHN
2/15-17, 2 COR. 6/17-18.
YOU ARE DELUDED AND THINK THAT A GREAT REVIVAL IS
GOING TO SWEEP THIS NATION: JOHN 9/4, RO. 11/5, 2 THES. 2/3-4, LUKE 12/32,
MATH. 7/13-14, LUKE 13/24.
YOU THINK THAT THE TOP PRIORITY IS GETTING NUMBERS UP
IN YOUR CHURCH INSTEAD TEACHING FOLK TO LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY
HEART, MIND, SOUL AND STRENGTH BY THEIR OBEDIENCE TO HIM: MATH. 22/37-40, MK.
12/29-31, JOHN 14/15.
YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS ONLY EVER A HOLY
REMNANT ALWAYS: RO. 11/5.
YOU LOVE THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD, MONEY, CARS, REAL
ESTATE, YOU ENGAGE IN BUSINESS PRACTICES, PURSUING MAMMON: 1 JOHN 2/15-16.
YOU DO NOT PREACH SEPARATION FROM THIS WORLD, BUT
RATHER YOU LOOK FOR WAYS TO BE IDENTIFIED WITH IT: 2 COR. 6/14-18.
YOUR AFFECTIONS ARE ON THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD: COL.
3/2.
YOU ARE DUPLICITOUS, DECEITFUL IN YOUR PREACHING AND
TEACHING MAKING ALLOWANCES FOR THE FLESH: JA. 1/8.
YOU CONDUCT BUSINESS, SELL BOOKS, TAPES, VIDEOS, CDs,
DVDs, OP SHOPS, FETES, MERCHANDISING ANYTHING TO TURN A PROFIT: 2 TIM. 2/4-5,
JOHN 2/14-16, MATH. 21/12-13, MK. 11/15-17, MATH. 10/8-10, 6/19,20,24,25,31-34.
IS THERE AN
IDENTITY CRISIS IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHURCH?
I KNOW SO, AS
I WATCH MANY OF YOU STRADDLING THE FENCE BETWEEN THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE
WORLD, WANTING TO ACCOMMODATE MEN`S WEAKNESSES, BEING DELUDED, SIN ACCOMMODATING,
LUKEWARM, EAR TICKLING PROSELYTES, TRYING TO MIX THAT WHICH IS HOLY WITH THE
FILTH OF THE WORLD, CONFUSED, BOUNCING BETWEEN THE TWO, DOUBLE MINDED,
DUPLICITOUS, IDOLATROUS IN YOUR WALK WITH JESUS, SERVING NEITHER THE CHRIST NOR
THE DEVIL, NOT REALLY FULLY IDENTIFYING WITH EITHER ONE, FOR SUCH IS RELIGION,
FULL OF COMPROMISING HYPOCRITES:
THUS SAITH
THE LORD GOD: "THEY SHALL BE
ASHAMED, AND ALSO CONFOUNDED, ALL OF THEM: THEY SHALL GO TO CONFUSION
TOGETHER THAT ARE MAKERS OF IDOLS." IS. 45/16.
"O
LORD, RIGHTEOUSNESS BELONGETH UNTO THEE, BUT UNTO US CONFUSION OF FACES,
AS AT THIS DAY; TO THE MEN OF JUDAH, AND TO THE INHABITANTS OF JERUSALEM, AND
UNTO ALL ISRAEL, THAT ARE NEAR, AND THAT ARE FAR OFF, THROUGH ALL THE COUNTRIES
WHITHER THOU HAST DRIVEN THEM, BECAUSE OF THEIR TRESPASS THAT THEY HAVE
TRESPASSED AGAINST THEE. O LORD, TO US BELONGETH CONFUSION OF
FACE, TO OUR KINGS, TO OUR PRINCES, AND TO OUR FATHERS, BECAUSE WE HAVE
SINNED AGAINST THEE." DAN. 9/7-8.
...........................REPENT........................
WHAT DID THE
APOSTLE PAUL SAY?
"I AM
CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST: NEVERTHELESS I LIVE; YET NOT I, BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME:
AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF THE SON OF
GOD, WHO LOVED ME, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME." GAL. 2/20.
AND
AGAIN,....."BUT GOD FORBID THAT I SHOULD GLORY, SAVE IN THE CROSS OF OUR
LORD JESUS CHRIST, BY WHOM THE WORLD IS CRUCIFIED UNTO ME, AND I UNTO THE
WORLD." GAL. 6/14.
"WHEN
PAUL SAYS, "THE WORLD IS CRUCIFIED UNTO ME, AND I UNTO THE WORLD,"
HE MEANS THAT HIS REGARD FOR HIS CRUCIFIED SAVIOUR WAS SO GREAT THAT THE WORLD
HAD NO MORE CHARM FOR HIM THAN THE CORPSE OF A CRUCIFIED
MALEFACTOR WOULD HAVE HAD, NOR DID HE TAKE ANY MORE DELIGHT IN WORLDLY
THINGS THAN A PERSON EXPIRING ON THE CROSS WOULD DO IN THE OBJECTS
AROUND HIM". (ZODHIATES) AMEN AND AMEN AND AMEN.
YOUR
IDENTITY SHOULD BE "HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD" COL. 3/3, INSTEAD IT IS A
SAMARITAN MIXTURE OF THE FILTH OF THIS WORLD AND RELIGION, YOU STILL IDENTIFY
YOURSELF WITH RELATIVES, FRIENDS, WORK, EDUCATION, SPORT, BOASTING OF YOUR
ROOTS SO TO SPEAK , MARKETING CHURCH LIKE A BUSINESS IN THE WORLD APPEALING TO
THE UNBELIEVING, CONFUSED ABOUT YOUR IDENTITY, NOT WANTING TO FULLY PAY THE
PRICE AND SELL OUT COMPLETELY FOR CHRIST, BECOME TOTALLY CONVINCED AND
CONVERTED, LUKE 22/32 MAKING "YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE" 2 PET.
1/10 AND RECEIVING THE "SEAL OF THE SPIRIT OF REDEMPTION." EPH. 4/30.
THUS SAITH
THE LORD GOD:
"I KNOW
THY WORKS, THAT THOU ART NEITHER COLD NOR HOT: I WOULD THOU WERT COLD OR HOT.
SO THEN BECAUSE THOU ART LUKEWARM, AND NEITHER COLD NOR HOT, I WILL SPUE THEE
OUT OF MY MOUTH." REV. 3/15-16. "AS MANY AS I LOVE, I REBUKE AND
CHASTEN: BE ZEALOUS THEREFORE, AND REPENT. BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR, AND
KNOCK: IF ANY MAN HEAR MY VOICE, AND OPEN THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM, AND
WILL SUP WITH HIM AND HE WITH ME." REV. 3/19-20.
"COME
UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT LABOUR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST. TAKE
MY YOKE UPON YOU, AND LEARN OF ME; FOR I AM MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART: AND YE SHALL
FIND REST UNTO YOUR SOULS. FOR MY YOKE IS EASY, AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT."
MATH. 11/28-30.
Bevan Kluver, Straight Talk Ministries,
Ph/Fax 07 55452874,
wwwstraighttalkmin.org bevan.kluver@bigpond.com
"speaking the truth in love, in the spirit of
meekness, earnestly contending for the faith";
HELPING HIM PREPARE A BRIDE WITHOUT SPOT OR BLEMISH:
HATING EVEN THE GARMENT SPOTTED BY THE FLESH: